Perhaps because this was the world of a novel, this was probably the fastest police response Wen Ning had ever seen.
It did no good, though. Bo Xubai was the Bo Family's beloved eldest son and the original novel's male lead. How could the police possibly take him away so easily?
The police had barely arrived when Father Bo, who had previously ignored Bo Xubai's beating of Bo Yan, showed up right behind them.
Even though Wen Ning had only just arrived in this world and was not yet familiar with its people, she recognized Father Bo at first sight.
The middle-aged man, past fifty, wore a simple black shirt and narrow gold-rimmed glasses. His phoenix eyes were cold and sharp. Whether in his features or his bearing, he was much like Bo Xubai, who stood behind him.
Only Bo Xubai looked considerably less mature, and his air of authority fell far short of Father Bo's.
With Father Bo's sudden arrival, Wen Ning could no longer take Bo Yan away just yet.
Worried about Bo Yan's condition, she stole another glance at him.
Bo Yan did not look much like Father Bo. Both Father Bo and Bo Xubai had sharp features that made it clear at a glance that they were not to be crossed.
Bo Yan's were softer. He looked like a fallen young gentleman, gentle and lustrous as jade.
But anyone who had dealt with Bo Yan knew his strange temperament bore no resemblance to that face. He was a cold-blooded lunatic through and through.
Thinking of the military knife that had nearly slaughtered her like a pig, Wen Ning shuddered involuntarily. The wound on her neck seemed to start stinging again.
Over there, Father Bo seemed to be acquainted with one of the officers. After exchanging warm greetings, he walked toward them.
Wen Ning could manage giving Bo Xubai a lesson, but faced with an imposing old fox like Father Bo, she immediately became much more subdued.
The spirit of a corporate beast of burden, carved into her bones, instinctively made her offer Father Bo a somewhat ingratiating smile.
Father Bo probably had some affection for the original owner of her body. He nodded slightly and returned a gentle smile.
Then his sharp phoenix eyes fell on the person in her arms, and he asked mildly, "What happened?"
Like an employee called on by her boss at a morning meeting, Wen Ning immediately prepared to answer.
But before she could open her mouth, a low, hoarse voice came from above her head.
"I deliberately angered my elder brother. I'm sorry."
Wen Ning froze.
She looked up to find that Bo Yan, who had been unconscious a moment ago, had woken at some point. Now, with his lashes lowered, he was answering Father Bo.
He was as meek and obedient as a dog.
Father Bo looked at him in silence. "Who struck first?"
Bo Yan raised his heavy eyelids to look at Bo Xubai nearby. His thin lips pressed together, and he did not answer immediately.
A brief silence settled over them.
A few steps away, Bo Xubai clenched both fists when his eyes met Bo Yan's.
Wen Ning had good eyesight. Even from this distance, she could see cold sweat rolling down Bo Xubai's forehead, and even his right hand was trembling slightly.
Just minutes ago, that hand had nearly taken a life.
She did not know whether Bo Xubai feared Father Bo or was shaken by how close he had come to accidentally killing Bo Yan.
Probably more the former.
Wen Ning gained another little insight into the Bo Family.
Seeing that neither of them would speak, while the servants who had witnessed the whole thing stood like mutes, Wen Ning's gaze darkened. She had more or less guessed Father Bo's intentions.
She had always believed in keeping herself out of trouble. She should not have gotten involved.
But Bo Yan was now barely breathing, and for some reason, Wen Ning could not quite bear it.
"His elder brother struck first."
In the deathly silence, Wen Ning delivered each word firmly.
Bo Yan, who had been about to shoulder all the blame as he always had, froze slightly and looked down at the person holding him up so tightly.
Wen Ning's expression was resolute. Her deep, alluring peach-blossom eyes met Father Bo's with neither servility nor arrogance.
She was actually speaking up for him?
A rare trace of bewilderment flashed through the eyes of Bo Yan, who had long grown used to having no one to turn to.
Father Bo most likely had not expected Wen Ning to stand up for Bo Yan either. He gave her a somewhat surprised look.
Then he asked Bo Yan, "Is that so?"
Bo Yan remained silent.
Wen Ning had to hand it to this great villain. He had shown no mercy when trying to kill her, yet whenever he faced the Bo Family, he swallowed every insult.
So she, the brainless supporting female character, was just easy to bully, huh?
With a smile that did not reach her eyes, she said to Father Bo, "About that-Dad, shouldn't you be asking his elder brother?"
Father Bo's gaze settled on her again, his eyes narrowing with both scrutiny and intimidation.
Only after a moment did he turn and call mildly, "Xubai."
At this point, Bo Xubai could only admit it.
He slowly walked over and stood behind Father Bo with his head hanging. "I'm sorry, Dad."
Father Bo swept him a cold glance. "Was I the one you hit?"
Bo Xubai nearly ground his back teeth to pieces!
He would rather be killed than apologize to a bastard!
But with Father Bo there, he had no choice but to bow his head.
Everyone present, including Wen Ning and Bo Yan, heard the Bo Family's eldest young master, who had always been insufferably arrogant, say through gritted teeth to the illegitimate son he despised most, "...I'm sorry."
Bo Yan glanced at this fine elder brother of his, then at this fine wife of his.
For the first time in his life, someone was willing to take the initiative to apologize to him.
What a novelty.
But when he met Father Bo's warning gaze, Bo Yan still lowered his head and said meekly, "I was also at fault tonight. I'm sorry, Brother."
Wen Ning wanted to say, What are you apologizing for? You did nothing wrong!
When she met those icy phoenix eyes behind Father Bo's lenses, she instantly fell silent.
As the saying went, the Bo Family was basic, but its people were anything but.
Father Bo really was rather frightening.
Forget it. Ultimately, this was Bo Yan's own business. If he was willing to offer that apology, what more could she say?
Wen Ning felt stifled, but said nothing more.
Seeing that she had quieted down, Father Bo's expression finally eased a little.
He checked Bo Yan's injuries-or rather, merely swept a couple of cursory glances over them.
Then he said, "Doctor Xie will be here shortly. Have him treat your wounds."
It looked like concern, but in reality, he was simply brushing Bo Yan off.
Yet despite Father Bo's attitude, Bo Yan still said with immense gratitude, "Thank you, Dad."
Whether that gratitude was real or merely a performance for outsiders was another matter.
Father Bo grunted in acknowledgment. "Go back and rest."
With that, Wen Ning could only take Bo Yan back to that wretched basement first.
The servants had already dispersed.
Wen Ning supported Bo Yan, who could barely walk steadily, as they headed back.
Not far behind them, Bo Xubai watched those two limping figures-
That woman, Wen Ning, seemed so afraid of hurting the bastard that she was practically carrying him on her back as she walked.
Hadn't she kept insisting that he was the one she liked? Since when had she cared so much about that bastard?
Or had that bastard used some trick to steal the woman's soul?
That had to be it!
That bastard had even been seducing his Wanwan last night!
He just wanted to steal everything from him!
For a moment, Bo Xubai found those two figures utterly offensive to the eye!
Wen Ning had no idea what Bo Xubai was thinking. She had originally wanted to take Bo Yan to the hospital. With injuries this bad, he needed a scan at the very least.
"Let Doctor Xie treat you first when he gets here. We can see what he says, too." Supporting Bo Yan made it difficult for Wen Ning to open the door. Just as she was about to switch hands, Bo Yan, who was leaning on her for support, reached out and turned the handle.
Wen Ning's gaze flickered slightly.
Bo Yan had used his right hand to open the door.
Unless one looked closely, it was impossible to see anything wrong with the little finger on that hand, which had been crushed underfoot.
But just now, the instant Bo Yan pressed down the door handle, that little finger had fallen out of alignment with the others, twisting at a grotesque angle.
That finger could exert no force.
It was an outcast.
Just like Bo Yan himself.
Wen Ning remembered her best friend saying that it seemed to have happened when Bo Yan was seven or eight...