"So, she never entered my study?"
Behind a spacious desk sat a man with cold eyes and long, crossed legs.
Before him was an ordinary-looking man, so ordinary that no one would notice him in a crowd. This man was A-K.
Song Duanli was listening to A-K's daily report.
"Yes, sir. Miss Shen sprained her ankle at the study door today, then tidied up the living room and went back to her room to rest. She didn't come out until you returned."
"I think your study door was probably left open by accident around that time."
"I understand. You can go out now and continue to observe." He waved him away and Song Duanli remained seated, lost in thought.
He always locked the study when he went out. Today, he had intentionally left it unlocked.
If Shen Jianxi had any ulterior motives, the study would be a good place to obtain information.
But she hadn't entered. So...
Did she genuinely have no intentions, or was she capable of holding back? This remained to be determined.
He looked up and noticed A-K hadn't left, his face etched with hesitation, as if he had something to say but couldn't.
He frowned and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."
"Please look at this, Miss Shen seems to have left."
A-K deleted the parts of the conversation where he and Wen Ze complained about Song Duanli, clicked on the picture Wen Ze had sent him, and handed it to Song Duanli.
It was two screenshots of Shen Jianxi's social media.
The first was a picture of the living room she had posted that afternoon, with the caption: "Living at my super handsome elder brother's place, so happy, hope we get along well."
The second was posted ten minutes ago, a reflection on the ground by the roadside, with the caption: "I never had a home..."
Song Duanli, recalling her earlier words about leaving, irritably pinched the bridge of his nose.
He glanced at his watch. It was past 10 o'clock. Song Qi had truly given him trouble.
"Find her," Song Duanli ordered A-K.
He had promised Song Qi he would take good care of this girl and couldn't lose her on his watch.
77: "Affection points +5. Current Song Duanli affection: -19."
Meanwhile, Shen Jianxi, pulling her luggage and walking on the roadside, smirked when she heard the rising affection points. It seemed Song Duanli had learned the truth.
77: "Host, why did you do this? Your affection points are still negative."
"Her guard needs to be lowered bit by bit." Otherwise, whatever she did, Song Duanli would suspect her of having ulterior motives.
This incident was just an appetizer.
Shen Jianxi walked slowly. She knew Song Duanli would send someone to find her.
A man like him would certainly keep his word, especially since she was leaving because he had wrongly accused her.
As the one-person and one-system chatted, they were suddenly blocked by four or five drunkards.
"Little sister, it's not safe to be alone this late. How about us uncles give you a ride home?" As he spoke, he reached out to put his arm around her.
"77, how long until the person looking for me arrives?"
"Five minutes."
"Good."
Since that was the case, she might as well make good use of it.
Looking at these men, Shen Jianxi's eyes welled up with tears. She gripped the handle of her suitcase tightly, wanting to retreat, but her intentions were noticed. People blocked her from behind as well.
"I can go back by myself, I won't trouble you." Her voice trembled with fear.
"Why is it trouble? If you really think it's trouble, sister, you can just invite us in for tea later." This time, she was not allowed to refuse. He directly grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace.
Shen Jianxi fought the urge to strike. She vaguely saw A-K's figure and began to struggle violently.
"Don't touch me! Let me go!" In her struggle, her hand hit someone's face with a clear slap.
Quickly, hit her!
Thoroughly losing his patience after the slap, the man's large palm swung towards her. Shen Jianxi adjusted her direction, making it look like she was hit. She pushed off the ground forcefully, throwing herself down, and simultaneously instructed 77,
"Quick, 77, make my face swell up, but not completely, so it doesn't look ugly. And add the pitiable aura."
After giving the instructions, she cried out in pain on the ground, clutching her face.
The man who had swung his hand stared blankly at Shen Jianxi and then at his own palm. No, it didn't seem like he had actually hit her?
Without time to ponder further, A-K had arrived, and his men had subdued the drunkards.
"Send them to the police station," he said coldly, not even giving them a chance to beg for mercy.
A-K turned to help Shen Jianxi up and said gently, "Miss Shen, Mr. Song sent me to find you. It's alright now."
She lowered her head, silent, trembling all over. A-K had no choice but to take her back.
Shen Jianxi remained silent all the way home. Upon arrival, Song Duanli was sitting on the sofa.
Seeing her disheveled state, he narrowed his eyes and looked at A-K.
A-K understood and explained, "Miss Shen was almost bullied."
Song Duanli naturally didn't take "bullied" literally. The aura around him became sharp, and he said coldly, "Do you know how to resolve this?"
His family, the Song family, was not to be trifled with.
"Don't worry, sir. Everything has been arranged."
Song Duanli grunted and signaled for him to leave.
He stood up and walked towards Shen Jianxi. She had been standing quietly since returning, not making a sound.
"Look up," his voice was stern.
Shen Jianxi didn't react.
Song Duanli lost patience and directly reached out to lift her chin. He paused when he saw her expression.
Her lower lip was bitten tightly, and her face was already streaked with tears. The handprint on her fair, delicate face was particularly striking.
Her usually bright eyes had lost their sparkle, drowned in tears, making her look exceptionally fragile and heart-wrenching.
Song Duanli suddenly felt that sending them to the police station was too lenient. Su Dan Novel Network.
He sighed almost imperceptibly, trying to soften his expression. He said gently, "I'll put some medicine on for you."
He then pulled her to sit on the sofa and went to get the medicine box.
Her tears had long since stopped. Shen Jianxi curled herself into a ball on the sofa, her eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought.
When Song Duanli returned, he saw her looking so insecure. She looked pitiful and evoked a desire to protect her. He suddenly understood why Song Qi was so concerned about such a young girl.
The sofa beside her sank as she flinched, feeling jumpy at the slightest sound.
"Don't be afraid, it's alright now." Song Duanli used his finger to get some ointment, his movements gentle, afraid of startling her again.
77: "Ding! Affection points +4. Current Song Duanli affection: -15."
"Thank... thank you." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's hum. If Song Duanli hadn't been close, he probably wouldn't have heard it.
He sighed and looked at the girl before him. She was only seventeen. Perhaps he had been too harsh.
"It's nothing." Perhaps because his voice was too gentle at this moment, the young girl threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly, crying.
He had intended to push her away, but feeling the tremors in the person in his arms, he hesitated for a few moments before placing his hand on her back and gently patting it.
77: "Ding! Affection points +10. Current Song Duanli affection: -5."