Song Duanli woke up to find the spot beside him long gone cold.
He sat up abruptly, a wave of panic washing over him.
He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and dialed.
"Beep, beep, beep—"
Each ring struck him like a blow, filling him with dread.
"Sir?" the call was answered.
"Where is she!?" His voice lacked its usual calm composure. Sudannovel.com
If she disappeared...
No, she wouldn't.
Song Duanli couldn't imagine such a possibility, his hand gripping the phone trembling uncontrollably.
"Miss Shen, she, she..." Ah K hesitated.
"Speak!" Song Duanli had lost all patience.
"Miss Shen is at the police station, suing you, suing you..." He couldn't bring himself to say the remaining two words.
Upon hearing this, he breathed a sigh of relief.
At least she was still here.
Song Duanli himself didn't realize that his first reaction to this news wasn't about how to handle being sued, but relief that she hadn't vanished.
"Keep an eye on her. I'm coming over now." He hung up the phone immediately.
All he wanted was to see her right away. Everything else was secondary.
*
"Miss Shen, please calm down. You'll be able to explain things clearly when you're calm," the female officer said, handing her a tissue and gently comforting her as she sat beside her.
This young girl had looked incredibly distraught when she arrived this morning; anyone seeing her would have felt immense pity.
The officer cursed inwardly, thinking how even such a lovely girl wasn't spared, truly a beast!
"It's okay, it's okay."
Perhaps encouraged by the officer's gentle voice, she was about to speak—
"I..."
"I apologize for the interruption. My young lady is a bit unwell and tends to hurt herself," Wen Ze said, entering from the police station entrance with a proper smile, exuding an air of grace.
To Shen Jianxi, however, he looked as terrifying as a demon.
"No! I didn't..."
"Miss should be going home now. Your brother has been waiting for you for a long time."
She glanced towards the entrance, where a discreet black car was parked outside.
Shen Jianxi felt as if she had made eye contact with someone inside through the glass. Her body stiffened, her eyes filled with terror, and she was unable to utter a word.
She knew she wouldn't be able to seek justice for herself.
All her strength drained away, she was escorted into the car like a puppet by Wen Ze.
As soon as she got in, the driver started the car. Wen Ze stood at the police station entrance, watching them leave. A trace of pity crossed his mind, but he quickly composed himself, putting on his professional smile to handle the remaining matters.
He knew who had hired him and paid his salary.
*
Shen Jianxi curled up in a corner as soon as she got into the car, not making a sound, afraid to.
She heard a sigh, followed by a warm embrace. She froze, not daring to move.
Song Duanli rested his chin gently on her head, the fear in his heart finally subsiding.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Though he knew it was unlikely, a sliver of hope still lingered in his heart.
What if she forgave him?
But fate was not in his favor.
From the moment she got into the car, Shen Jianxi had been like a lifeless statue, neither speaking, smiling, nor moving, showing no reaction.
Song Duanli held her quietly until the car drove through the gate.
All the memories flooded back.
The person in his arms suddenly struggled violently.
"I don't want to go back!" Her voice became sharp with terror, afraid of returning to this hell.
Song Duanli held her down tightly, unconcerned even if he was hit.
He gripped her wrist with one hand and led her out of the car.
He hoisted her over his shoulder and, ignoring her protests, walked towards the main entrance.
One step,
Two steps,
Three steps,
...
As they got closer, Shen Jianxi gave up struggling, her hands falling limply.
Song Duanli brought her back to her room, gently laid her down, covered her with a blanket, and then sat by the bedside, watching her.
He felt as though he couldn't look at her enough. Her disappearance that morning had filled him with dread, but now, seeing her lying in bed, even without her looking at him, he felt content.
While he was at ease, Shen Jianxi, lying on the bed, was incredibly uncomfortable.
He just sat there looking at her without saying a word, and she had to pretend to look in only one direction.
Could he please leave! Her eyes were so sore!
Having seen enough, Song Duanli stood up and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
Shen Jianxi turned her head to avoid him, and his lips landed on empty air.
He didn't seem to mind, tucked the corner of her blanket, and prepared to leave—
"To be honest, Mr. Song, you really aren't capable. As expected, you're getting old."
Her sarcastic voice came from behind him.
The hand holding the doorknob tightened. Without turning, he said with a sigh, "Be good, don't provoke me, or you'll be the one to get hurt."
He then opened the door and left.
The moment the door closed, a deafening cry erupted from within the room.
He slid down the wall, powerless.
I'm sorry.
...
He sat outside the room for as long as she cried inside. His demeanor was listless, and though dressed impeccably, he exuded an air of dejection.
After a long while, he stood up, tidied his clothes, and resumed his impenetrable, cold demeanor.
He opened the door—
"Stop crying."
The crying continued inside.
"If you don't want your new boyfriend to know about this, then close your eyes and sleep now."
Startled by his words, Shen Jianxi bit her lower lip. She didn't want Xie Shu to know.
With hateful resignation, she closed her eyes, but her body still trembled uncontrollably beneath the covers, looking utterly pitiful.
Song Duanli sighed and closed the door, not wanting to provoke her further.
However...
"Where is she?!" The man's enraged roar echoed through the villa.
Ah K and another person stood before him, heads bowed, not daring to speak.
It was indeed their oversight, yet they couldn't fathom how she had managed to evade their surveillance and escape.
"All of you, go find her!" After dismissing everyone, he sank onto the sofa, his trembling hands supporting his head.
In just this short time, she had disappeared.
Where could she have gone?
Song Duanli forced himself to calm down, closing his eyes in thought.
His eyes suddenly brightened. She must be in one of those two places.
He took out his phone—
"Find out who that young man from last night was, and send another group of people to Song Qi's house!"
Meanwhile, Shen Jianxi was nowhere near Xie Shu's or Song Qi's house. She was leisurely sitting in a food court filled with delicious food, a table laden with everything she craved.
"Host, you have quite the nerve!" Even 77 couldn't help but exclaim. They were frantically searching for her, and yet she was here, enjoying her meal.
"I'm starving! That Song Duanli guy is so inconsiderate, he didn't even prepare any food for me. Even the donkeys in the production team wouldn't last like this!"
As she spoke, she took another bite of the cheese stick in her hand.
Mmm, delicious. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and wonderfully stringy.