The phone vibrated incessantly. It was a call from her mother, Yang Huimin.
"Where are you? Come home right now! Qin Hao is here waiting to discuss your marriage!" Yang Huimin urged.
Su Qi gave a cold "hmph" and hung up. Staring out at the lake, she seemed to have made up her mind.
"Can you take me home?" Su Qi suddenly asked.
"At your service." Wang Han wiped off the passenger seat of his electric scooter. "Please!"
Su Qi broke into a tearful smile. Sitting on the back, she caught a faint whiff of tobacco from Wang Han, a scent that surprisingly calmed her panicked thoughts.
Wang Han intended to leave as soon as he dropped her off, but Su Qi grabbed his wrist. "Could you come inside with me?"
Wang Han looked at her fearful expression. "Sure."
Upon entering, they saw Su Qi’s mother, Yang Huimin, sitting in the living room, along with a repulsive, lecherous-looking fatty. When the fatty saw Su Qi, his eyes glinted with lust and he licked his lips. Su Qi looked at him with undisguised disgust.
"Nannan, where have you been? Why didn't you answer your phone? Qin Hao has been waiting for you for so long!" Yang Huimin stood up to greet them, but her gaze shifted behind her daughter and landed on Wang Han. She paused, recognizing the delivery driver from earlier that afternoon, and her brows furrowed.
"I went out for a walk," Su Qi explained.
Yang Huimin hurried over. "Nannan, your wedding date with Qin Hao is approaching. He’s here to discuss the arrangements."
Qin Hao rubbed his hands together and grinned. "Nannan, I’ve discussed it with my dad. Next weekend is a good day. Let’s not drag this out any longer; we’ll get married then. I came today to tell you that. I’ve already contacted the Civil Affairs Bureau; let’s go register tomorrow."
Su Qi immediately refused. "Qin Hao, let's slow things down. Since the Qin Family didn't win the bid, the cooperation between our families hasn't been finalized yet."
Qin Hao glanced at Yang Huimin, who chimed in, "Nannan, Qin Hao said that as soon as you two are married, the Qin Family will provide one billion to help the Su Family through this crisis."
Qin Hao licked his lips, thinking he would just get Su Qi into bed first—the money could be discussed later, and by then, she would already be his.
Su Qi’s expression was resolute. She said, word by word, "I am not marrying you."
A flash of anger crossed Qin Hao’s eyes.
"What kind of talk is that?" Yang Huimin said anxiously.
Su Qi gritted her teeth, as if having made a massive decision. She linked her arm with Wang Han’s. "Mom, I’m already carrying his child."
Yang Huimin froze, then forced a smile. "You child, you’re joking with me again!"
"Mom, I’m not joking!"
***
The room went silent. One could clearly see Yang Huimin’s expression shift from embarrassment to stiffness, and finally, to pure rage.
Yang Huimin exploded. She pointed at Wang Han’s nose. "Nannan! Do you know what you’re saying? You’re pregnant with his child? He’s a delivery driver!"
Wang Han had been furious with Yang Huimin since that afternoon. "What's wrong with being a delivery driver? Did I dig up your ancestors' graves?" he snapped back.
Yang Huimin lunged at him and shoved him hard. "Get out of my house!"
Su Qi threw her arms out to stand between them. "Mom! I’m not marrying into the Qin Family. Give me time, and I will definitely help the Su Family overcome this crisis!"
Trembling with rage, Yang Huimin slapped Su Qi across the face. "Do you have any shame left?"
Tears streamed silently down Su Qi’s beautiful eyes, but she stubbornly refused to cry out. She stared at her mother, who seemed to have lost her mind. "What do you mean by shame? Is it 'having shame' to sell your daughter to a man with a chaotic private life just for profit?"
"How dare you talk back to me!" Yang Huimin shrieked as if her tail had been stepped on, raising her hand for another slap.
*Slap!*
The hand didn't land; Wang Han had grabbed it.
"You filthy delivery driver! Let go of me! You're disgusting!" Yang Huimin screamed.
Wang Han deliberately rubbed his hand on the sole of his shoe and then wiped it on Yang Huimin’s clothes. She shrieked, batting at her clothes as if electrocuted.
Qin Hao’s face twisted into a ferocious scowl. "Su Qi, I thought you were self-respecting. To think you’re just a cheap slut! Low enough to be ridden by a delivery driver!"
Su Qi looked at him coldly. "And how clean are you?"
"You bitch! You cheat on me and you still dare talk back!"
*Slap!*
Wang Han struck Qin Hao across the face. Su Qi and Yang Huimin were both stunned; they hadn't expected the delivery driver to actually dare hit Qin Hao.
"Motherfucker! You dare hit me!" Qin Hao, acting like a madman, grabbed a vase and threw it. It shattered into pieces.
Wang Han rolled his wrists. "She’s carrying my child, which makes her my woman. Who gave you the guts to lay a hand on my woman?"
Qin Hao was trembling with fury. Everyone in Jiangning City knew he was supposed to marry Su Qi—he had even thrown a three-day bikini party in anticipation. To think the woman he considered the prize of the local elite had been claimed by a delivery driver.
"Bitch! You’d let a delivery driver ride you, but not me? I’ll make you regret crossing me!" Qin Hao grabbed an ashtray and hurled it.
Wang Han ducked and landed a swift kick, sending Qin Hao sprawling. Not giving him a chance to recover, Wang Han stepped forward and landed another brutal kick. Qin Hao’s body folded as he slid across the floor and out of the room.
Just as Wang Han was about to chase him, Su Qi grabbed his arm. "Stop! You'll kill him!"
Qin Hao scrambled up. "Bitch! You just wait..."
Wang Han grabbed an ornament and threw it, hitting Qin Hao and leaving him bleeding from the head. "Get out!"
Qin Hao fled without looking back.
Yang Huimin’s face was ash-gray. "You shameless thing! Your father and grandfather are on their way! Let's see how you explain this!"
Su Qi’s eyes were filled with profound disappointment. Her own mother knew exactly what kind of man Qin Hao was, yet she was still trying to push her daughter into a pit of fire.
"Where is she? Where is she?" A roar echoed from outside. The Su family lived close by and arrived quickly, charging in aggressively.
Leading them was an elderly man with white hair. Upon entering, he spotted Wang Han in his delivery uniform, pointed his cane at him, and demanded of Su Qi, "Is it true you're pregnant with this delivery driver's child?"
Su Qi was pale but firm. "Yes!"
"Do you have no shame? How are you any different from those who sell themselves?" the old man roared. Su Qi’s father, Su Jianye, and her aunt were behind him.
"What do we do now? The Qin Family will be furious when they find out!" Su Jianye shouted.
"What else can we do? Go get an abortion!" the old man yelled.
"An abortion won't change the fact that she's no longer a virgin. That's the only reason Qin Hao wanted her!" the aunt added with a look of disdain.
Yang Huimin quickly jumped in. "That's easy to fix! We can have her get a hymen reconstruction; it doesn't cost much! We’ll just tell Qin Hao today was a prank, and once he sleeps with her, we can definitely fool him!"
Everyone chimed in, not a single person considering Su Qi’s feelings. Looking at these so-called relatives, Su Qi was overwhelmed by disappointment. Her body swayed, her head felt heavy, and she fainted.
Before she lost consciousness, she felt a strong pair of arms catch her.
Wang Han held Su Qi, glaring coldly at the rest of the Su family. For the first time, he felt that this woman, who appeared glamorous in public, was actually quite pathetic. He turned to leave, holding her.
"You stand right there! A toad wanting to eat swan meat? Do you think a delivery driver is worthy of a Su family heiress? Go look at yourself in a mirror!" Yang Huimin sneered.
Wang Han glanced at everyone and prepared to head out.
"If you dare take her, I'll break your legs!" Su Jianye threatened, throwing a glass at him.
Wang Han paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He lifted his leg and delivered a powerful kick down into the eight-centimeter-thick quartz coffee table. It shattered into pieces instantly.
Su Jianye turned white with fear and scrambled backward.
"I’m taking Su Qi. Does anyone have an objection?" Wang Han scanned the room. No one dared to speak.
***
Wang Han carried Su Qi to his rented room. As he unlocked the door, he stumbled slightly, and Su Qi’s bag fell to the floor. Her ID card slid out, and Wang Han picked it up, glancing at it.
He froze. Today was her birthday.
It was both ironic and pathetic—on her birthday, not a single person had wished her well, and she had gone through so much hell.
He placed her on the bed, gently removed her shoes, and tucked her in. He touched her forehead; she was fine, just faint from low blood sugar.
Some time later, Su Qi woke up feeling groggy. She looked around, surprised to find herself in a strange room. She sat up quickly, checking her clothes—they were intact. The room was clean and simple.
She got up and followed the aroma of food into the kitchen. She saw Wang Han, cigarette in his mouth, stir-frying something.
Watching his profile, she realized that despite his low social status, this man possessed an indescribable aura—the kind of temperament inherent to a born nobleman. Yet, he was just a delivery driver.
Wang Han looked over and saw her. He crushed his cigarette. "Awake? Sit."
Su Qi sat down as he brought over the dishes, followed by a bowl of longevity noodles. She took a sniff. "Smells good."
"You think? With my skills, even a princess from Dubai would be begging for a taste," he said, taking off his apron.
Su Qi shook her head. "Do you ever stop bragging?"
"Can't say 'stop' today!" Wang Han said, walking toward the entrance.
"Why not?"
He returned holding a small cake. "Happy birthday!"
***
Watching the flickering flame on the small cake and looking at Wang Han’s harmless face, Su Qi’s tears finally spilled over. She felt wronged, helpless, yet touched.
Wang Han sat down. "This shoulder, something even international models would kill for, is yours to lean on for a while!"
Su Qi hugged him, her tears soaking his shirt. After a while, he patted her back gently. "Alright, stop crying. The food is getting cold!"
Unexpectedly, with those few pats, he accidentally unhooked her bra.
Wang Han looked slightly awkward. Su Qi froze, then pulled away, looking at him warily.
"I didn't mean to!" Wang Han laughed sheepishly.
Su Qi covered her chest, her face and ears flushed red. "Close your eyes!"
Wang Han kept his eyes closed, listening to the sound of her fastening her clothes. After a long while, he opened his eyes to find her watching him while she ate.
"Why are you looking at me?" he asked, taking a sip of water.
"Who's looking at you?" she replied, eyes darting away.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "What are your plans now?"
Su Qi, finally eating heartily, didn't hear him. She wiped her mouth after finishing the soup, and Wang Han relit the candles. "It's almost midnight. Make a wish."
Su Qi closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and blew out the candles. Wang Han repeated his question.
"You said you'd support me and the baby, didn't you?" she countered.
Wang Han didn't overthink it. "Sure!"
Su Qi thought this delivery driver was just a reckless, ignorant commoner. "So, are we just going to stay like this without any status?"
"You mean register our marriage? Fine!" Wang Han answered bluntly.
Su Qi gave a cold laugh. "If we do that, neither the Qin family nor the Su family will let you off. Do you dare?"
Wang Han cleared the dishes. "Why wouldn't I? Do you dare register with a delivery driver like me?"
Su Qi felt a spark of defiance. "I dare! Why wouldn't I? But my standard of living is very high. If you can't support us, I’ll remarry immediately!"
Wang Han reached over to wipe her mouth. She pulled back, but he leaned in, wiped her lips, and pinched her cheeks. "You spendthrift!"
Su Qi looked at the delivery driver and realized she didn't find him annoying at all.
"Scared?" Wang Han checked the time. "Then let's go register tomorrow morning!"
Su Qi stared at him as he washed the dishes, stubborn. "Fine! Whoever backs out is a coward! I hope you don't run away when the time comes!"
Wang Han just smiled. His phone vibrated in his pocket; the caller ID said "Xiaohua." He walked to the balcony to answer. "What is it?"
"Boss, are you still in Jiangning City?" a young man's voice asked.
"Yeah, why?" Wang Han lit a cigarette.
"I received word that the Hydra, ranked fourth on the Assassin’s List, is coming to Jiangning to kill you."
Wang Han raised an eyebrow, dismissive. "Is the intel reliable?"
"Very. Boss, this grandson has average combat strength, but he’s a sneaky coward. You have to be careful."
Wang Han took a deep drag. "Small problem. Don't panic. Help me track him, and I'll make time tomorrow to take care of him."
On the balcony, Wang Han ignored the repeated calls from Yang Huimin and Su Jianye, eventually blocking them. Just as he was about to turn the phone off, Lin Xuefu called.
"Happy birthday, babe!"
Su Qi smiled. "Thanks."
"I was so busy today, I almost forgot," Lin Xuefu apologized.
"It's okay," Su Qi said, resting her chin on her hand, watching Wang Han on the balcony. He looked surprisingly handsome when he was serious.
"Am I the first person to wish you happy birthday?" Lin Xuefu asked.
"The second."
"Oh? Who was the first? Let me guess... your mom?"
Su Qi laughed bitterly. "No."
"Your dad?"
"No."
"Don't tell me it was that fat pig Qin Hao?" Lin Xuefu questioned.
"No, it was Wang Han," Su Qi replied directly.
"Wang Han?" Lin Xuefu didn't register it at first, but a few seconds later, she let out a string of curses. "You mean that delivery driver?"
Su Qi took a bite of the cake, a calm smile on her face. "Yes."
"Holy cow! How did you get mixed up with that delivery guy again?" Lin Xuefu’s voice went up an octave.
"We’re going to get our marriage license tomorrow," Su Qi said.
"Are you crazy? Marrying a delivery driver? Wake up! You're an heiress! He’s not even fit to carry your shoes!" Lin Xuefu was horrified. "Nannan, don't just settle! I know the Su family's business troubles are hard on you, but you can't just give up on yourself!"
When Su Qi didn't respond, Lin Xuefu grew frantic. "Where are you?"
"At his place."
Lin Xuefu fell silent, taking a deep breath. "Nannan, calm down. Wait for me, I'll find a way. The most effective way to solve the Su family's problem is the project in the New District. My grandfather knows the big shot who won the bid. Give me some time! I’ll beg him myself to cooperate with your family. You deserve better than just marrying some random delivery driver! Don't worry, whatever the cost, I'll make it happen!"
Lin Xuefu hung up. Su Qi looked at the call log, feeling touched.
On the balcony, Wang Han crushed his cigarette. "6 Building, Zone A, Longwan? Got it."
"Boss, there's one more thing," Lei Xiaohua said, sounding nervous.
"What?" Wang Han toyed with his lighter.
"The eldest princess asked me where you were the day before yesterday..."
*Click.*
The lighter dropped to the floor. Wang Han sounded uncharacteristically nervous. "You better not tell me you told her I was in Jiangning City?"
"Boss," Lei Xiaohua stammered, "you know her temper better than I do. She had me tied up. If I didn't say anything, she really would have castrated me."
"You can't sell me out like that! We’re brothers of different mothers!" Wang Han panicked.