[A/N: Thest two chapters were entirely in the present tense. I was quite sleepy and didn''t notice, but I have manually fixed them for now. There might still be some mistakes left.


    From here on, I will be extra careful with it!


    Thank you for your support!]


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    Josephine managed a shaky nod, her mind racing. "Y-Yeah..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her thoughts were a whirlwind. ''Is this really happening? Who is this man?'' she wondered, her heart still pounding in her chest, echoing the chaos that had just taken ce.


    Wang Xiao, ever the embodiment ofposure, moved towards Aisha. He lifted her effortlessly, as though she weighed nothing, mounting her over his shoulder with practiced ease.


    The sight was startling yet strangely reassuring.


    ''He''s strong, capable...'' Josephine thought, her mind trying to reconcile the violent savior with the gentle way he handled Aisha.


    Josephine''s eyes flickered with a mix of confusion and concern. She opened her mouth, a question hovering on the brink of being asked.


    But Wang Xiao cut her off before she could voice her thoughts. "Follow me in," he said, his voice decisive, brooking no argument.


    Josephine felt a surge of frustration at being dismissed so easily, yet she also recognized the authority in his tone.


    "Ah... okay!" Biting her lip, she gave a hesitant nod, her mind still nodding in agreement to her. ''What choice do I have?'' she thought, the reality of her situation striking her.


    With slightly shaky steps, she hurried to keep up with Wang Xiao. As they left the scene behind, Josephine cast a lingering look over her shoulder, the images of the battle etched in her memory.


    Despite her fears and the shock of the violence, a part of her felt an undeniable sense of safety in the presence of this mysterious protector.


    Wang Xiao, carrying Aisha, strode ahead with a clear purpose. Josephine followed, her mind a storm of thoughts and emotions.


    This unexpected turn of events, this departure from her once secure and predictable life, marked the start of something new, something terrifying yet strangelypelling.


    Her life, once defined by luxury and predictability, was now veering into uncharted territory.


    Each step she took behind Wang Xiao was a step away from her former self, her world reshaped in the span of a few minutes.


    As they moved forward, the silence between them was heavy with unasked questions and unspoken thoughts.


    Josephine found herself studying Wang Xiao''s back, the way he carried Aisha with such care yet absolute control. ''Who is he? A rescuer or something else?''


    Josephine''s earlier fear slowly morphed into a curious intrigue. She waspelled to know more about this enigmatic figure. "Who are you?" she finally asked, her voice steadier now, but still carrying a tremor of the fear that had not entirely dissipated.


    Wang Xiao didn''t answer immediately, his focus still on the path ahead. Then, after a moment that seemed to stretch too long, he replied without turning back. "Someone who was in the right ce at the right time," he said cryptically.


    His response left Josephine more puzzled, yet also strangelyforted.


    There was an undeniable sense of safety in his presence, a stark contrast to the fear she felt just moments ago.


    __________


    Inside the vi, the atmosphere shifted palpably as Wang Xiao entered. Anran, positioned near the entrance, observed the scene with a sharp, discerning gaze. Her eyes momentarily nced at Aisha, limp and unconscious over Wang Xiao''s shoulder, but it was Josephine''s meek demeanor that captured her attention.


    ''Tamed already?'' Anran thought, a hint of surprise and skepticism coloring her thoughts. She observed Josephine, noting the subtle tension in her body, the way her fingers curled into a nervous fist.


    It was clear that Josephine was out of her element, stepping into an unknown world that was vastly different from her own.


    Wang Xiao, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents of tension, moved with purpose. He gentlyid Aisha down on a nearby couch, his actions gentle and careful.


    He then turned to Josephine, his tone shifting back to one ofmand. "You, follow me upstairs," he saidmanding, not waiting for a response before he nced over at Anran.


    Her posture, stiff with a long sniper rifle awkwardly hidden behind her, didn''t escape his notice.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His gaze briefly swept over her before he spoke again, his instructions clear and firm. "Don''t make any noise, and don''t let anyonee inside. Also inform Li Zhiming to contain the damage outside and clear the site."


    "Ah? okay!" Anran responded, her voice a mix of eagerness and determination. She snapped a quick military salute, already pulling out her phone.


    In her mind, she reaffirmed her capability and resolve. ''This is my chance to prove myself,'' she thought, her fingers moving swiftly over her phone''s screen. ''A simple task, I won''t fail!'' she chuckled inwadly, delightful.


    Watching Anran''s zealous response, Wang Xiao couldn''t help but wonder if he should handle the call to Li Zhiming himself.


    However, deciding to trust her for such mundane task, he simply shook his head and turned towards the stairs, leaving Anran to her duties.


    Meanwhile, Josephine stood frozen in ce, lost in her thoughts. Wang Xiao''s voice, calling from the stairs, jolted her back to reality. "Are youing?" he asked, his tone indicating it wasn''t really a question.


    "Huh?" Josephine blinked, her trance broken. She looked up to see Wang Xiao waiting, his expression unreadable.


    Meeting his gaze, a flush of shyness tinged her cheeks.


    Slowly, she began to ascend the stairs, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. ''What does he want to do with me?'' Despite her confusion and the surreal nature of the situation, she found herselfpelled to follow, drawn by the mysterious aura of Wang Xiao and the sense of security he provided.


    _______


    In the room above, the air was thick with unspoken questions and a sense of uncertainty.


    Wang Xiao''s demeanor was calm, yet there was an underlying intensity in his actions. He sat on the bed with a casual authority, his eyes never leaving Josephine as he gestured toward the chair.


    "Take a seat," he stated, his voice neither harsh nor weing, butmanding in its simplicity.