Chapter 118: You

Jiang Ran glared fiercely at Lin Wei, protected Su Ruan, and left together with his family.

Yan Shen also clasped the still angry Jiang Jiaojiao and followed.

Lin Wei was left alone, standing there to endure the pointing gazes and whispered comments of the surrounding people, her complexion turning from white to blue, then from blue to red.

In the end, amid a suppressed chorus of snickers, she could no longer endure, covered her face, pushed through the crowd, and fled in a disheveled hurry.

The two youths beside her had already slipped away in the chaos.

On the way back, Jiang Jiaojiao was still fuming: "Just let her go like that? That's too cheap for her!"

Yan Shen gently patted her back and said warmly, "Su Ruan is right; entangling with people like this will cost you your identity. She has already disgraced herself today."

Jiang Ran tightly held Su Ruan's hand and whispered, "Wife, you just now… were so handsome!"

He hadn't expected his wife to be so silent yet so fierce in reasoning; a few words exposed Lin Wei's true nature.

Su Ruan smiled faintly, said nothing, and gently stroked her belly.

She didn't like this kind of conflict, but to protect her family she had to step forward.

After this incident, Lin Wei should be able to settle down for a while.

At least on the surface, she dares not be so reckless again.

After being publicly humiliated at the Cinema entrance, Lin Wei locked herself at home for several days, seeing no one, while shame and resentment corroded her like poison day and night.

Su Ruan's calm and cutting words echoed in her mind like a curse.

"Detestable… a rat in the gutter…"

Lin Wei suddenly knocked the bottles and jars off the dressing table onto the floor, producing a harsh shattering sound.

She stared at the woman in the mirror whose eyes were wild and face gaunt, almost unable to recognize herself.

"No! I'm not! It's all Su Ruan! She's to blame!"

She screamed at the mirror, tears mixing with a twisted expression streaming down.

She recalled her previous collaboration with Su Yanhua; that idiot Zhao Laoban had failed easily.

This time, she could no longer act through others; she would personally give Su Ruan an unforgettable lesson!

A malicious and insane thought, catalyzed by her extreme emotions, gradually took shape—

She would make Su Ruan lose the thing she cares about most!

For example, the child in her womb that everyone expects!

The thought made her tremble with excitement.

She began to secretly stalk Su Ruan, observing her daily routine.

She discovered that although Su Ruan still went to the shop, she usually returned home early in the afternoon to rest, walking through a small Alley that connected the shop and the back‑street residential area.

That Alley wasn't long, but had a few corners and was usually not crowded with pedestrians.

A near‑mad smile spread across Lin Wei's face.

The opportunity arrived.

She started preparing.

An inconspicuous pair of flat shoes, a loose old coat that could hide her shape, and a small vial of extremely potent chemical liquid she obtained through an underground channel.

She didn't need to cause great physical damage; she only needed terror—intense fright and chaos!

She calculated that when Su Ruan passed the blind corner, she would suddenly rush out, splash the liquid onto her face, or create chaos at her feet, causing her to be terrified and fall…

Just imagining Su Ruan's painful fall and loss of the child gave Lin Wei a sickly sense of pleasure.

At the same time, Su Ruan's pregnancy entered its final stage.

Her belly grew larger, making movement increasingly inconvenient. Jiang Ran had practically become her personal guard, unwilling to leave her side except when using the restroom.

Even the shop's affairs, he tried to handle them in the morning, and in the afternoon he steadfastly accompanied Su Ruan home.

"Wife, take it slow, hold onto me."

Jiang Ran carefully supported Su Ruan as they walked through the narrow Alley homeward. The setting sun stretched their shadows long.

"I'm really fine, you don't have to be so nervous."

Su Ruan smiled helplessly, but her heart felt sweet.

She could feel Jiang Ran's hand steady and strong, shielding her on the inner side of the road.

"That won't do; Mom and Grandma have warned me a thousand times, these last months are the most critical."

Jiang Ran's expression turned serious, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, like a lion guarding its territory.

Just as they were about to reach that corner, Jiang Ran's steps faltered slightly, his brows knitting imperceptibly.

He seemed to hear an unusual breathing sound coming from beyond the corner.

It was a suppressed, tense, malicious aura.

Years of street‑wise instinct put him instantly on guard.

He calmly pulled Su Ruan back behind him, using his body to completely block her forward view.

Almost simultaneously, a figure wrapped in a scarf burst out from the corner!

The person brandished a small bottle, raising it toward Su Ruan's direction!

"Watch out!"

Jiang Ran reacted astonishingly fast; the moment the figure appeared, he instinctively sidestepped, firmly cradling Su Ruan in his arms, turning his broad back toward the incoming liquid!

"Sss—"

A sharp, acrid smell spread out.

Most of the liquid splashed onto Jiang Ran's back and arm; his coat instantly corroded with a few small holes, and his skin burned with a sting!

"Jiang Ran!"

Su Ruan, held tightly in his embrace, heard the voice and smelled the odor, turning pale with terror, her heart nearly leapt out of her throat.

The attacker, seeing that his first strike missed and mainly splashed onto Jiang Ran, froze for a moment, then seemed poised to make another move.

But Jiang Ran gave her no chance!

As he felt a stabbing pain in his back, a surge of huge anger and relief made him flare up instantly!

He didn't even turn around, delivering a clean, decisive elbow strike that hit the person behind him squarely in the abdomen!

"Ugh!"

The person let out a painful groan, the bottle in his hand slipped out and flew, shattering on the ground, spilling more acrid liquid.

Jiang Ran then spun around sharply and ripped the scarf off the person's head!

Lin Wei's face, twisted by pain and terror, was exposed in the sunset!

"Lin! Wei!"

Jiang Ran forced those two words out between his teeth, the fury in his eyes nearly burning her to ash!

He grabbed her collar with one hand, his strength so great it almost lifted her up.

"You motherf***ing are asking for death!!"

He could hardly imagine, if he had reacted a bit slower, if that potion had splashed onto Su Ruan's face or body… the consequences would be unimaginable!

This mad woman! She is so vicious to this degree!

Su Ruan also saw Lin Wei's face, and her heart sank sharply.

She had guessed that Lin Wei wouldn't settle peacefully, but didn't expect her to go so far as to act directly, targeting her and the child!

"Jiang Ran! How are you? Where are you injured?"

Su Ruan couldn't attend to Lin Wei, hurried around to Jiang Ran's back.

Seeing the tear in his coat and the obvious reddened swelling on his skin underneath, her heart ached and tears instantly welled up.

"I'm fine, just a superficial skin wound."

Jiang Ran felt Su Ruan's tremor, immediately suppressed Lin Wei's impulse, and first soothed her.

"Daughter-in-law, don't be afraid, it's okay, I'm here."