"Does it hurt a lot?" Su Chen looked at Xia Qiuru's damaged skin, his distress evident.

"No, it's nothing. It stopped hurting a while ago," Xia Qiuru replied, her tone slightly unnatural.

"Stopped hurting? Just look at it." Su Chen gently applied medicine, softly blowing on her face. His breath sent a tingle across her skin, and a flutter through her heart. Her face flushed, though barely noticeable amidst the existing redness.

"How did you know I was in trouble?" she asked, attempting to mask her racing pulse.

"Your assistant, Xiao Xu, told me. She saw what happened and called me."

"Oh, right. Where is Xiao Xu?" Xia Qiuru had almost forgotten her assistant amidst the chaos.

"Don't worry, I had her return immediately," Su Chen smiled, continuing to apply the medicine.

Fifteen minutes later, he finished. Only as he moved away did Xia Qiuru's heart begin to slow, ever so slightly.

"Su Chen, you beat that man badly. What if Zheng Min from the Zheng family comes after you?" she worried.

"Are you worried about me?" he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"I'm serious," she said anxiously. "That was someone from the Zheng family!"

"Don't worry, I have a plan. Nothing will happen," Su Chen reassured her, patting her shoulder.

"But..." she began, but Su Chen interrupted, looking intently into her eyes.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course, I trust you, but..."

"No 'buts.' I deliberately made it that bad," he said with a mysterious smile. "I'm not that foolish, right?"

"Deliberately?" Xia Qiuru was perplexed.

"Don't think about it. Everything is under control. Rest easy," Su Chen stood, "The cuts will heal in a day or two without scarring."

"You should rest early too," Xia Qiuru replied.

After Su Chen left, Xia Qiuru pondered his words, unable to decipher their meaning. However, she was reassured; his actions seemed calculated, not impulsive.

That night, in a Yandu First People's Hospital room, a bandaged man lay like a mummy. A seductively dressed woman stood beside him.

"Little sister, avenge me! Make them pay a thousandfold!" he snarled, hatred blazing in his eyes. The doctors had declared him paralyzed, his life irrevocably altered. He craved revenge, the sole driving force remaining.

"Brother, don't worry. Young Master Zheng Min is abroad. Upon his return, I'll speak with him. He will hand that man over to you," the woman said icily. She was one of Zheng Min's mistresses and knew her place; she wouldn't disturb him while he worked.

"Good. I can wait," the man said, a glint in his eyes as he envisioned his enemies at his mercy.

The next morning, Su Chen drove Xia Qiuru and two PR department colleagues to work. Ran Ting and Shu Yin had secured the seats.

"General Manager Xia, does our chief have ulterior motives towards you?" Ran Ting asked playfully.

Xia Qiuru, startled, smoothly deflected the question.

"Because he can't seem to walk straight around a pretty woman," Ran Ting chuckled.

Xia Qiuru laughed, glancing at Su Chen. "It seems your subordinates know you well!"

"Ran Ting, don't ruin my reputation," Su Chen said sternly, though unconvincingly.

"Chief, which woman in PR haven't you flirted with?" Ran Ting challenged. Su Chen's hand trembled on the steering wheel.

"Guilty? Guilty of what?" he retorted, feigning composure. "Shu Yin, tell them. Am I that kind of person?"

"I... I don't know," Shu Yin stammered.

"You asked her? You told her her chest was too flat and duped her into thinking massage would help!" Ran Ting sneered. Shu Yin blushed deeply.

Xia Qiuru looked at Su Chen with a knowing smile. "You don't believe her, do you?"

Su Chen grew anxious under her gaze. "I do!" she nodded earnestly. "This is exactly the sort of thing he would do!"

Ran Ting laughed. "Seems General Manager Xia knows you well too!"

"You've ruined my good name today!" Su Chen complained.

"You had a good name?" Xia Qiuru and Ran Ting said in unison, laughing. Shu Yin silently agreed.

Su Chen glared at their smug faces, utterly frustrated.

The Imperial Map Tower, Yandu's tallest building, dominated the skyline. In the top-floor office, a charming middle-aged woman sipped coffee. A man in a black suit finished his report.

"Is that all?" she asked.

"Yes, Mistress. I apologize for the limited information," he replied cautiously.

"That's enough. You may go."

After he left, the woman walked to the window, watching the clouds. "All I need to know," she murmured, "is that you too bear the surname Su."