Shen Yixuan frowned at her words. He didn’t like her tone and felt uneasy after taking Ning Ning home. As if guided by spirits, he found himself here, spotting a figure he disliked. He usually avoided meddling in others’ affairs, yet he had already gotten out of the car and was approaching her.
Seeing her skills shocked him. For a moment, it felt unreal. Yet, the facts before him were clear; she was not just a reporter—she likely had another identity. Normally, he wouldn’t interfere, but now he was curious. Her skills nearly matched his, but facing so many experts alone was dangerous.
He recognized the men sent by them, faces etched in his memory, and noticed Wang Liang among them. What were they up to? When she attempted to chase after them, he stopped her. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to watch her go to her death.
“Hey! What are you doing? Why did you bring me here? I don’t even live here… Hey!”
Hey! Shen Yixuan…” Luo Yaling called out anxiously as he was about to walk away.
“I’m going to get a towel,” Shen Yixuan replied expressionlessly.
Luo Yaling confirmed it. The person in front of her was indeed the arrogant Shen Yixuan. She was in pain now, having not been in a fight for so long that she had grown rusty. Those guys were even stronger than an old man’s lackeys. If she continued fighting, she might die. What was his background to have such strong subordinates?
“Here, wipe your face,” Shen Yixuan awkwardly handed her a towel.
Luo Yaling instinctively shrank back because of the scar in an inconspicuous place—a scar from when her mother saved her.
That year, Luo Yaling was seven years old. It was her birthday, and she went shopping with her mother. Their happy day was interrupted by a suddenly rushing car. Luo Xiaoqing swiftly threw Luo Yaling aside. With a “Bang!” sound, Luo Xiaoqing lay in a pool of blood. Little Luo Yaling crawled up crying and ran toward her mother, unable to understand her words.
“Bang!” “Slap!”
A gunshot. Little Luo Yaling was stunned.
Her pupils dilated, taking in everything around her. Luo Yaling’s small body trembled as she reached out to push Luo Xiaoqing.
She had just seen her mother suddenly stand up from the blood pool and block a bullet.
Maternal love was truly great.
Passersby had long disappeared; no one dared to take them to the hospital, fearing they’d die in transit. They sensed that the attackers intended to kill them, so everyone hid and didn’t dare to come out.
“Baby… I’m… sorry… Mommy… can’t… celebrate… your birthday…” A fading voice drifted past Luo Yaling’s ears.
“No, Mommy. Don’t, don’t.” Luo Yaling cried out, realizing her mother wouldn’t be with her.
“Good… baby… don’t cry… here…” Luo Xiaoqing struggled to slip a ring from her hand onto Luo Yaling’s. Her hand slowly fell. What a crisp sound!
“Woo… Mommy, wake up! Don’t sleep, Mommy! We were going to eat lots of delicious food and play in many places…” Blood flowed down Luo Yaling’s chin as the ring cut into her skin when Luo Xiaoqing hugged her. The impact was staggering.
Luo Yaling cried out for her mother, hoping for her to wake up and comfort her. But her mother lay unresponsive, covered in blood. Desperate and dizzy, little Luo Yaling fainted from blood loss.
A large group rushed to the scene. When Shen Tianghong arrived, he was horrified to find them, unsure of whose blood was whose.
“Quick! Take the madam and young miss to the hospital!” he shouted at his subordinates, trembling with fear. His son, Shen Yaojun, looked on, watching his father seem to age years in an instant.
At the private hospital, Luo Xiaoqing did not survive. Luo Yaling slipped into a coma from blood loss, suffering continuous nightmares. Meanwhile, Shen Tianghong and his family endured a living nightmare.
Shen Yaojun vowed to protect his sister.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Embarrassment
“You…” Was she avoiding him? Shen Yixuan was confused by Luo Yaling’s actions.
The ring on her chest seemed to sense her sadness, emitting a faint glow for an instant before disappearing.
Shen Yixuan noticed how familiar the ring looked, a strange light appearing in his eyes.
Luo Yaling quickly covered the ring, thinking she had been too exposed. “Give it to me,” she snatched the towel from Shen Yixuan and wiped her face, then tossed it back to him.
“What was that expression? He wronged her! Who made her look like this?” His gaze made her uncomfortable. “Was there something on my face?”
Suddenly, Luo Yaling realized and covered her face with her hands, embarrassed about her makeup. The towel was black, after all.
“Don’t hide it anymore; it’s all been seen.” Shen Yixuan was surprised, but her face seemed familiar somehow.
“Huh?” Luo Yaling spread her hands in confusion. “Why are you hiding your face? Why not dress beautifully?”
“I have no obligation to answer you.” Hmph! Now he was showing concern. Too late.
She was no longer interested in him. Wanting to probe her privacy? Not a chance, not even through the window. He first gave her bitterness, then wanted to give her sweetness. She wasn’t falling for that trick. Bitter first, then sweet? No way; she wasn’t going to accept being at a disadvantage.
Hadn’t their roles been reversed? How did he become so gossipy? It wasn’t just women who could be nosy; men could be too. If she didn’t want to answer, fine. Shen Yixuan looked at Luo Yaling, who was covered in dirt, and frowned.
“The bathroom is over there,” Shen Yixuan pointed.
“What are you trying to do?” Luo Yaling crossed her arms defensively, looking at him strangely.
“I’m not interested in your body.” Her expression made it clear she had misunderstood.
“???” He wasn’t satisfied with her body? She had a devil’s figure; curves in all the right places and an attractive face. He actually said he wasn’t interested? Was there something wrong with his taste?
“I’m not interested in men either.” What was this girl thinking? Always dwelling on pointless thoughts. Then he remembered the person she had forgotten.
She was so stupid! Someone was already taken, and she hadn’t realized he was so loyal, remaining pure for her. Luo Yaling sighed internally.
“Oh! How could I forget Miss Zhuo Ning? You’re staying faithful for her. I understand,” Luo Yaling said, patting Shen Yixuan on the shoulder.
At this moment, she had completely forgotten her own pain.
“No,” Shen Yixuan shook off her hand.
Luo Yaling’s hand froze awkwardly. Seeing his reaction, she could only retract it.
“What do you mean, no?” Luo Yaling was confused.
“Not the kind of relationship you’re thinking of.” He didn’t want to be misunderstood, especially by her.
“Don’t tell me… you’re not lovers?” Her intuition suggested that Zhuo Ning and he weren’t that simple.
“No,” Shen Yixuan replied.
“Then what is your relationship?” Not lovers? Why did he look at her that way? Why was she so curious about their relationship? No, no. She was just curious about how he treated Zhuo Ning.
“Are you annoying or what? Jumping around. Don’t you feel pain?” He wondered what her body was made of, injured yet so energetic.
Shen Yixuan looked at Luo Yaling suspiciously.
“Ah!!! Ow… So painful!” As soon as he mentioned it, her whole body hurt.
“Really missing a few brain cells,” Shen Yixuan muttered, then carried Luo Yaling into the bathroom.
“You, you, you… What are you doing?” Luo Yaling exclaimed, confirming she hadn’t broken anything.
“Are you sure you can wash yourself?” Shen Yixuan asked.
“I have hands and feet! I can wash myself. Get out! I don’t need your fake kindness!” Luo Yaling shouted in embarrassed anger.
“Fine. I’ll go out.” Shen Yixuan walked out.
What was done was done—no amount of explanation would change that.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Falling Asleep
