Nie Yixiao chuckled: "I thought you were so mighty, hiding behind your brother’s subordinate and still blowing your trumpet to the skies."

"Sounds like you’ve also had your fair share of experiences, tell me something impressive." Qiao Yongyong shook his arm but didn’t forget to avoid his injured hand.

He was annoyed by her persistence, and he didn’t know why, after escaping a fire covered in ashes and in such an embarrassing state, he still ended up coldly staring at her and began to speak:

"Once, I led a few subordinates to chase an international gang. We were left with only a little over thirty bullets and two bullet-proof vests to share, fighting against the enemy for two days. In the end, I personally captured their gang leader. Let me think, that boss should still be in an American prison, probably in his sixth year of incarceration."

Qiao Yongyong’s face showed a slight awkwardness; of course, she could hear the irony in his words.

Does he look down on me for being from the underworld?

However, she had also inquired about Nie Yixiao’s background from Huo Zhenyang.

Being so young and able to take on a bodyguard company, assuming such a great responsibility for the safety of numerous businessmen and officials, he must have some extraordinary experiences.

Indeed, at a young age, he was chosen by the International Criminal Investigation Organization ISM of the United Nations and was highly trusted by his superiors, enjoying a significant status within the organization.

It was only recently that he had left ISM.

So it turned out that she and Nie Yixiao were like black and white, mouse and cat.

"If you were still with ISM, or, if one day you return to the ISM Crime Investigation Department, and if one day, either I... or my brother fell into your hands, would you possibly also hunt us down? At that time, would you let me off the hook?" Qiao Yongyong cautiously probed.

He furrowed his handsome brows: "If? I don’t like answering hypothetical questions."

Unsatisfied, Qiao Yongyong pursed her plump lips and muttered, "Hypothetical situations won’t kill anyone..."

Her dirty face paired with the pouted red lips didn’t resemble her usual gorgeous and perfect, haughty and proud demeanor of a rich young miss, but more like the girl next door.

Nie Yixiao’s heart stirred unexpectedly, he leaned in a few inches closer to her, their distance merely a palm apart, his breathing growing slightly heavier: "Do you want me to tell the truth? Don’t be upset if you do not like it."

Qiao Yongyong brightened up: "Mhm!"

"If there really is such a day, I will handle it impartially and won’t let you off."

Qiao Yongyong’s expression stiffened, she bit her lip, sat back down, and stopped interacting with him.

She had wanted him to speak the truth, and now that he did, she was not pleased.

The heart of a woman is truly unfathomable.

Seeing that she was unusually not cozying up to him, Nie Yixiao knew she might genuinely be a little angry. Just as he was about to speak, an amusement park staff member came in:

"Sir, miss, excuse us, we have already called the ambulance, and they will take you to the hospital shortly."

Qiao Yongyong didn’t have the luxury to stew in her sullen mood; she exchanged a look with Nie Yixiao.

Nie Yixiao understood what she was thinking.

Today’s fire, being so close yet not harmfully impactful, couldn’t have been a mere coincidence that it just so happened when Qiao Yongyong was there.

The door was clearly locked from the outside on purpose.

This fire was deliberately set against Qiao Yongyong.

The purpose was to silence her.

If they went to the hospital, they would have to make a police report, and it was best not to make a big deal out of this matter before it was clear.

Nie Yixiao faced the staff member: "No need, we are alright. I want to ask if there’s a surveillance camera outside the public restroom where the fire started."

The staff member was taken aback: "There used to be a camera outside the restroom, but it broke and hasn’t been fixed."

As expected, whoever wanted to harm Qiao Yongyong must have been watching for a long time before finally finding such a blind spot.

Nie Yixiao didn’t ask anything else; he walked up to Qiao Yongyong and wiped the remaining ash off her face with a towel, then took her hand and left.

*

Nie Yixiao drove towards Disheng.

Perhaps because they had just been through a life-and-death ordeal, she hadn’t completely calmed down yet.

Or perhaps it was because of Nie Yixiao’s response to her earlier.

All along the way, Qiao Yongyong was much quieter than usual, no longer chattering as she used to do.

It was not until they were about to enter Huo Mansion that Qiao Yongyong caught sight of the familiar Bentley and realized that Huo Zhenyang had already returned before her. She quickly said, "I’ll go upstairs by myself, you can go back first."

Because of the fire incident, she had been delayed outside for too long, and Huo Zhenyang had already come back. He would definitely have noticed she wasn’t home and knew she had sneaked out.

If Nie Yixiao went in, he would definitely be blamed.

However, Nie Yixiao maintained a calm expression, drove directly into the courtyard, stopped the car, got out, and opened the car door, walking around to the passenger side: "Get out."

"You should go back first. I can go in by myself, being scolded alone is better than both of us being scolded..." Qiao Yongyong was still good at calculating the odds.

Was she protecting herself?

He was certainly not going to let a little girl stand in front of him.

Nie Yixiao, without a word, grabbed her hand, pulled her out of the car, and led her inside with him.

"Mr. Nie, Miss Qiao." Along the way, the servants greeted them respectfully, yet their tone betrayed a bit of apprehension.

As expected, as soon as they entered the house from the entrance hall, Huo Zhenyang, sitting on the living room sofa, coldly looked over with an eagle gaze devoid of warmth: "Having a good time, weren’t you?"

Qiao Yongyong loosened Nie Yixiao’s hand, stepped forward a few paces, and voluntarily confessed:

"It’s my fault, I insisted on getting Mr. Nie to accompany me out. It’s not his fault."

"Go upstairs." Nie Yixiao said.

"Brother Yixiao..."

"Upstairs." His tone became a few degrees heavier.

Qiao Yongyong, fearing that Huo Zhenyang would make things difficult for him, didn’t move one bit and faced Huo Zhenyang, her teeth clenched: "Don’t blame Mr. Nie."

Huo Zhenyang coolly mocked: "How long has it been, and you’ve already taken in another little wolf dog? I haven’t even started to scold, and you’re already so protective? As your bodyguard, he took you out without notification, breaking the bodyguard rules and agreement, and I shouldn’t blame him?"

Qiao Yongyong humphed: "Anyway, if there’s any trouble, let it come at me. Don’t scold him!"

"Qiao Yongyong, you’ve really taken self-delusion to the extreme. You’re disgracing your brother. Does anyone else fall for that?" Huo Zhenyang said coldly.

Qiao Yongyong’s skin wasn’t that thin; not feeling even a bit embarrassed, she retorted defiantly, her lips curling: "Look who’s talking, Mr. Huo. Isn’t Miss Chu also someone you shamelessly cajoled and forcefully brought to stay at Disheng? We’re just like the pot calling the kettle black, neither of us is in a position to laugh at the other."

Huo Zhenyang’s expression soured.

"Okay, go upstairs now. I have something to discuss with Mr. Huo." Nie Yixiao finally broke through the confrontation between the two.

Only then did Qiao Yongyong glance at Nie Yixiao, reluctantly going upstairs.

Seeing Qiao Yongyong leave, Huo Zhenyang’s expression suddenly changed, glancing at the gauze on the back of Nie Yixiao’s hand: "What happened."

When the two had first come in, he had indeed noticed that Qiao Yongyong was covered with ash as if she had rolled through a pile of coal, and Nie Yixiao’s hand was wrapped in gauze, obviously injured.

What had happened to them outside.