Chapter 15: Stay Far Away from Him

On an early summer morning, the breeze carried a slight chill, prompting Yueyue Guan to instinctively wrap her arms around herself.

She stood at an intersection, waiting for Ziyu Xu, but instead, Zhi Shen appeared.

The moment she saw Zhi Shen, she wanted to run away. He seemed to have anticipated this, taking a long stride to block her path. “Ziyu Xu couldn’t make it, so I’m here to accompany you.”

Yueyue, much shorter than Zhi Shen, had to tilt her head up to look at him. “No need. You have so much work; you probably don’t have time.”

“I do. As long as it’s you, I always have time.” Zhi Shen looked at the obedient expression on the woman before him. Once a wild little tigress, now seemingly gentle and compliant—when had she changed? He was determined to find out what had happened to her.

Unable to refuse, Yueyue reluctantly agreed, “Then let’s go.”

Throughout their walk, Yueyue kept her distance from Zhi Shen. Whenever he reached out, she flinched as if startled, stepping aside or dodging.

“Why are you afraid of me?” Zhi Shen asked several times, but Yueyue remained silent.

Her silence wounded him. “We’ve been together for half a year, haven’t we? Every night together. Do you really think it was just fun and excitement? Don’t you feel even a little affection for me?”

Yueyue lowered her gaze. How could she not like him? At the very least, she was drawn to his body.

“I really like you,” Zhi Shen said, then fell silent.

The car drove deep into an alley. “Is this the place?” Zhi Shen asked.

Yueyue nodded.

After parking, Zhi Shen got out first and immediately came over to open the door for Yueyue. When he reached out to help her, she evaded him. “I can get out myself.”

Zhi Shen’s hand stiffened briefly, then lowered. Once Yueyue stepped out, he closed the door behind her.

Ignoring him, Yueyue headed into the alley.

Zhi Shen quickly caught up, following close behind.

Yueyue searched for Yuan Wu’s home. Since Yuan Wu had left, Yueyue felt responsible for informing her family to ease their worries.

After about half an hour, she finally found it.

In front of Yuan Wu’s door lay a makeshift stone slab. Careless, Yueyue stepped on moss-covered ground just before it, slipped, and almost fell. Fortunately, Zhi Shen was close behind and caught her in his arms.

Falling into his embrace, she hadn’t yet recovered when their eyes met. She immediately pushed him away, putting distance between them.

Zhi Shen’s eyes were striking—deep, jet-black, bright, with long lashes. His smile was gentle and captivating, yet she had seen those same eyes at their cruelest and most merciless. She would never forget that.

“Is this the place?” Zhi Shen asked.

Yueyue nodded.

Zhi Shen walked over and knocked on the door.

A worn-out door finally opened, revealing a woman who bore no resemblance to Yuan Wu.

The woman said, “You must have the wrong house.”

Yueyue asked, “Are you Yuan Wu’s...?”

The woman’s face was gaunt, almost devoid of flesh. “Yuan Wu? You know her? I’m her mother. Have you seen her? I haven’t for a long time. I don’t know where she’s gone. When she comes back, I swear I’ll skin her alive.”

Yueyue frowned. “You wouldn’t happen to be her foster mother, would you?”

The woman looked guilty, as if caught off guard. “How could I be her foster mother? Why are you looking for her? If it’s to collect debts, I don’t have any money.”

Yueyue had come to inform them about Yuan Wu, but given the woman’s attitude, it seemed pointless. It was clear Yuan Wu’s life at home was far from happy.

“Nothing. Sorry to bother you,” Yueyue said, glancing at Zhi Shen. “Let’s go.”

From inside, the woman grumbled, “What kind of people are these, making no sense at all.”

Zhi Shen glanced back. The woman hurriedly shut the door, guilt written all over her face.