Footsteps closed in, and panic flared in Yun An'an's eyes. With no other choice, she threw her arms around the man’s neck, yanked him down, and pressed her lips to his. Ever vigilant, a chill settled in Jiang Suichen's eyes. He had already resolved to shove the woman aside and make his escape. His fingers brushed against the cold steel tucked at the small of his back, poised to strike. When it came to survival, the life of a stranger was utterly insignificant to him. But that thought was shattered by the woman’s shockingly audacious move. The men reached the head of the alley and immediately spotted the couple by the telephone pole, locked in a passionate embrace. A chorus of snickers erupted. “Tsk, damn these couples, always looking for a thrill. Got to pick a place like this for their romance!” “Alright, alright, stop gawking and get searching. What’s the big deal?” “What if that guy is Jiang Suichen?” At the mention of his name, Jiang Suichen’s breath hitched. He stared at the woman inches from his face, a flicker of annoyance in his almond-shaped eyes. He had never been so utterly powerless. Yun An'an, her nose brushing against his, was just as uncomfortable. Terrified of being discovered, she could only pull him down further, using her hair and the angle to shield their faces. As if sensing her intent, Jiang Suichen wrapped a large hand around her waist, steadying her before her strength gave out and exposed them both. “Everyone knows Jiang Suichen of the Yanmen is practically a monk. He’s never seen with a woman. No way he’d be here, wrapped this tight around some girl.” “Less talk, more searching! Find him, now!” The group of men, whistling and jeering, quickly walked past Yun An'an and left the alley. Yun An'an let out a huge sigh of relief and immediately shoved Jiang Suichen away, stumbling back several steps as she glared at him. This man had nearly gotten her killed. From the sound of it, that group was bad news. Jiang Suichen’s back slammed against the wall, aggravating his wound. A low grunt escaped his lips as he slid down to sit on the ground. Yun An'an’s stomach dropped. The scent of blood—faint, but unmistakable to her keen nose—told her he was injured, and the wound had clearly been treated in a way to mask it. She didn't want to get involved. The smart thing to do was to walk away. But her grandfather had always said: a healer must have a benevolent heart. Sighing, Yun An'an resignedly walked over, intending to check his pulse. But his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. His wary almond eyes fixed on her, silent. "If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have just saved you," Yun An'an snapped, her brow furrowing. "Let go. I'm checking your wound." He released her, though the suspicion in his eyes remained. The moment she took his pulse, she knew. He had been dosed with a potent aphrodisiac poison, one with no known cure. This kind of toxin was long forbidden. It amplified a person’s lust to an uncontrollable degree, driving them to their death through sheer exhaustion. And yet, aside from a burning fever, the man showed none of the desperate, undignified signs of someone suffering its effects. His willpower was formidable. Jiang Suichen watched with lowered eyes as Yun An'an inserted the golden needles into his pressure points. His right hand clenched into a fist, then relaxed, his expression unnervingly calm. He was supposed to die here today anyway. What was a little more danger from this woman? Two minutes later, Jiang Suichen felt his body temperature begin to drop. Five minutes later, the explosive desire that had threatened to tear him apart began to subside, replaced by a profound sense of relief that washed through him. Even a man as composed as him couldn't help but look up at Yun An'an in astonishment. She had neutralized the poison with just a few needles? "All better," Yun An'an said calmly, retrieving her golden needles. She scribbled a prescription on a slip of paper, then with a beaming smile, shoved her phone with its payment screen right in front of his face. "Apologies, small business, no tabs. So, how would you like to settle up?"