Chapter 11: Are You Still Human?

Ye Xingmei arrived at the first-floor lobby and saw Qiu Yurou kneeling before Qiu Zhenhu, begging her father to save Ye Bufan, who had been captured. Qiu Zhenhu, furious, kicked her several times—his first time ever striking his child—and then ordered his female bodyguards to drag her back to her room for confinement.

Ye Xingmei felt even more delighted, her wounds forgotten in the thrill, and after saying her farewells, she couldn't help but hum a tune. Restless by nature, she went to the Night Cat Bar that evening, and before long, received alarming news.

Ye Bufan, who was supposed to be recovering from a gunshot wound in the hospital, had assaulted both a doctor and a security guard, escaping. Instantly uneasy, Ye Xingmei ordered her people to carefully check the bar’s surveillance footage. They soon spotted a suspicious figure entering the establishment, limping as he walked—a clear sign of injury.

“A sickly cat has come to court death!” she sneered, refusing to alert the police. She immediately sent her men to capture him alive, determined to kill him herself and avenge Duan Xingyu and her uncle.

Dozens armed with knives and clubs surrounded the bar, and two trusted aides brandished guns just in case, sending patrons fleeing in terror. Soon, Ye Xingmei witnessed a brutal massacre: Ye Bufan, cornered, snatched a knife. Though wounded in his right arm and forced to use his left, every strike was deadly—a slaughter commenced.

He even dodged bullets, hurling his knife to kill the gunman aide. Ye Xingmei trembled violently, dragged by a bayonet-wielding guard out the back door, and once in the car, she phoned Cao Mang.

“Hurry, save me! Ye Bufan is after me…” she gasped.

Ye Bufan, having fought his way through the bar, seized a car out back and gave relentless chase.

Cao Mang’s reply was indifferent: “I’m too far away—should I just come to collect your corpse? Find the nearest security station and hide there.”

Hearing this through the receiver, the bayonet-wielding guard immediately spun the wheel, speeding toward the security station. Ye Xingmei, with no time to spare, called the police.

Seeing her run into the security station, Ye Bufan did not pursue. In his eyes, the lives of her thugs meant nothing; there was always someone to clean up after him. But storming a security station would be a different matter altogether.

He redirected his course straight to the Qiu family residence, intent on confronting Qiu Yurou face-to-face. He knew the situation had escalated; even with someone to cover for him, he would likely be imprisoned for a while. Before being locked up, he wanted to seize the opportunity with Qiu Yurou—he felt it would not be in vain after chasing her so doggedly for over a month.

Indeed, it had only taken a month for Qiu Yurou to fall for him, forgetting she had a fiancé. On their wedding night, she watched as Ling Xingyu was wounded, then eloped with her lover.

Bang!

Ye Bufan crashed his car through the gates and barreled into the courtyard, nearly sending Qiu Zhenhu into a rage-induced frenzy.

The family’s bodyguards surged out, but Ye Bufan showed no fear as he stepped from the car, firing a shot into the sky.

“Don’t move! Bullets don’t discriminate. For Yurou’s sake, I’d rather not harm you.”

Qiu Yurou leaned out the window. “Don’t worry about me—run, quickly!”

Her concern delighted Ye Bufan, but he soon saw Cao Mang standing behind her, grinning wickedly and thrusting his hips suggestively.

Unable to endure this provocation, Ye Bufan, unable to shoot from his angle, charged into the villa.

A metal net descended, but Ye Bufan rolled aside swiftly, dodging it and firing without hesitation.

Several bodyguards fell, shot precisely in the forehead, their bodies collapsing as Ye Bufan dashed toward the stairs.

Seeing others blocking his path, he fired again, shouting as he did.

“Give me half an hour alone with Yurou, or I’ll kill everyone here without mercy!”

He rushed to the third floor, where Cao Mang stood protectively in front of Qiu Zhenhu. Qiu Yurou held a fruit knife to her throat, ready to end her life.

Qiu Zhenhu eyed the gun in Ye Bufan’s hand. “Fine, you have half an hour.”

He didn’t dare step out from behind Cao Mang, tugging at his clothes to signal a retreat.

Qiu Yurou entered the room joyfully. Ye Bufan shot Cao Mang a cold glare, gesturing a throat-slitting motion before entering and quickly locking the door.

“How could you be so foolish? What now?” Qiu Yurou asked anxiously.

Ye Bufan’s face softened, “Don’t worry. I’ll only be gone for a few days—someone will bail me out. Let’s make the most of our time.”

He placed the gun on the table and lifted Qiu Yurou onto it.

Only then did Qiu Yurou realize his intent. Unable to sit because of pain, she tried desperately to get down.

“No… not now… How can you think of that at a time like this?”

“Just indulge me this once. Who knows when I’ll be out again.”

“No matter how long, I’ll wait for you.”

Ye Bufan grew impatient. “Enough talk—let’s not waste time.”

His actions became rough, and Qiu Yurou could scarcely believe that this was her gentle, considerate lover.

“Stop, it hurts…” she protested.

When she pushed him away and stepped down from the table, Ye Bufan grew angrier. “If not for you, none of this would’ve happened. Bear the pain.”

He turned her forcefully, pressing her onto the tabletop, unable to restrain himself.

Qiu Yurou tried to resist but was held by the nape; instinctively, she grabbed the gun on the table.

Bang!

The gun discharged by accident. Ye Bufan slapped her on the back of her head, reaching to snatch the weapon.

Crash!

Cao Mang smashed through the glass door to the balcony, shards flying everywhere, startling Qiu Yurou into a scream.

As Ye Bufan tried to grab the gun, she clung to it, forcing him to curse and prepare to fight.

“Aah!” came a scream as Cao Mang delivered a whip-like kick to Ye Bufan’s injured right arm, sending him flying against the wall.

Before he could fall, Cao Mang struck his wounded abdomen with a punch, causing a spray of blood.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out—Cao Mang was shot in the back. Qiu Yurou had fired.

The door burst open and several bodyguards stormed in. Qiu Yurou pressed the gun to her own head.

“Let him go!”

Cao Mang ignored her plight, intent on finishing Ye Bufan.

“Stop!” shouted a group of heavily armed officers bursting in. A helicopter descended, its open cabin door revealing a sniper aiming a high-powered rifle.

Cao Mang had no choice but to stand down, watching as Ye Bufan was shackled and dragged away.

Blood trickled from Ye Bufan’s lips, and he glared coldly at Cao Mang. “We’ll meet again.”

A female officer seized the gun from Qiu Yurou’s hands, unable to help venting at Cao Mang’s expense.

“He was saving you, and you shoot him in the back? What kind of person are you!”

She barked, “Stretcher—bring it quickly!”

The stretcher arrived. Qiu Yurou, unsteady on her feet, tried to climb onto it, but the officer shoved her aside.

“You’re not injured—don’t make trouble.”

She turned to Cao Mang and ordered sharply, “Get on the stretcher, you’re going to the hospital.”

Cao Mang gave a harmless, goofy smile. “I’m fine.”

The female officer ignored his protest, tearing open the back of his shirt, then stared wide-eyed.

“Are you even human?”