Shu Yu felt her composure crumble, her fingers trembling over the keyboard. So that’s why he kept sending me money—does he think taking more means I’m getting a heavier sentence?
Little Fish Swimming Around: I didn’t do anything to him…
Could it have been that line about being a “puppy” that set him off?
Little Fish Swimming Around: Maybe… a little bit?
Shen Qinghan: What exactly did you say?
Little Fish Swimming Around: I said… I like it when you’re like a protective dad outside, and a loyal puppy at home… ]((o_ _)’ 彡☆
Shen Qinghan: Holy hell—you really are done for. You called him old and a dog. Basically saying he’s an old dog, aren’t you?
Shu Yu went quiet. Is that what I meant? That’s not what I meant, right?
But Shen Qinghan sounded so sure—did Si Yiheng think that too?
Oh no.
That was not what she meant. Never again would she use a meme—no one ever got her weird, abstract humor!
Shen Qinghan: You know what happened to the last person who called Si Yiheng a dog?
Shu Yu hugged herself, trembling.
Little Fish Swimming Around: No… what?
Shen Qinghan: His dad’s mistress called him a “mongrel pup.” Si Yiheng had her fed to the dogs. They broke every bone in her body—black, blue, oozing blood all over. Just looking at her made you sick.
Shu Yu’s mind twisted it into something worse: a body, bruised purple and blue, torn apart.
She shivered. “Tie Dan—book me a plane ticket! I’m leaving this world right now!”
Tie Dan wanted to gulp nervously, but systems don’t have saliva—so it gulped nothing at all.
Shen Qinghan: Did you take his money?
Little Fish Swimming Around: Yeah…
Shen Qinghan: How much?
Little Fish Swimming Around: Over ten million.
Shen Qinghan: Damn.
Even he was stunned—she really had the nerve to ask, and he really had the nerve to give. They’d only been “dating” online for less than a month.
One bold to ask, one bolder to pay.
Shen Qinghan: You think his money comes free? Ten million is enough to put you away for life. And even if you get out—Si Yiheng’s ruthless. He’d make sure you never walk right again.
Shen Qinghan: Such a pretty girl… such a waste.
Little Fish Swimming Around: I’m sorry! I really am sorry!
Shen Qinghan: Calm down. I’ll book a flight, get you out of the country. I’ll try to smooth things over with him too.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Thank you so much! What do I need to bring?
Shen Qinghan: I’ll take care of everything.
Shu Yu didn’t have words to thank him.
Little Fish Swimming Around: I’ll pay you back, I promise.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Can I go now?
Little Fish Swimming Around: Can I take my kitten too? 〒▽〒
A faint smile tugged at Shen Qinghan’s lips. Adorable.
Ready to run at the first kind word—like she’d follow anyone who offered her comfort. No wonder Si Yiheng talked to her every single day.
Shen Qinghan: Of course. Take your kitty and go.
Shu Yu stuffed all her clothes into her suitcase, then scooped up Little Orange, who’d been batting at a toy by the window.
The kitten, caught mid-play, tilted its head in confusion.
Shu Yu pressed her nose to its soft pink nose. “Baby, we have to run. Your daddy might throw us to the dogs—you’re so little, they’d swallow you whole.”
Little Orange stared up at her, tilting its head again, as if wondering why her eyes were leaking. It nuzzled her cheek, trying to wipe away the tears.
Shu Yu gently set it into its pet carrier.
Tie Dan let out a sharp alarm—its host was about to bolt, and that was wrong.
Tie Dan: [Wait, Yu Bao! Shen Qinghan’s the second male lead—he’s the female lead’s devoted admirer!]
Shu Yu: “Exactly! If I leave now, we break up—then the real female lead can take my place.”
Shu Yu: “It fits perfectly with what he’s always wanted for her. He’s not lying—don’t stop me, I’m leaving!”
Tie Dan almost fell for it, then snapped back to sense. [You can’t run! You haven’t finished the mission. Straying from the main plot means punishment.]
Shu Yu: “……”
Why does fate have to do this to me?
Shu Yu: QAQ
Shu Yu: “Tie Dan… what do I do now?”
Tie Dan had never faced a crisis like this. [Maybe… apologize to Si Yiheng? He’s not unreasonable—give it a try.]
Tie Dan: [Yu Bao—you made the knot, only you can untie it! You can do this!]
Shu Yu had no other choice. Fine. If he won’t forgive me… then I’ll run.
Hands shaking, she typed:
Little Fish Swimming Around: Brother… I’m sorry.
ATM: Sorry for what?
She wanted to cry even harder—she could practically hear his voice, cold and stern.
Little Fish Swimming Around: I shouldn’t have said you’re a dad outside and a puppy at home, a wolf in bed, a bank in your pocket. I shouldn’t have asked for an Emperor Qin who waits on me hand and foot.
Si Yiheng went quiet, gaze lingering on each word: dad… puppy… wolf… bank… waits on hand and foot… bed.
ATM: No. Think again. What are you really sorry for?
He could tell she was terrified—though he didn’t know why. But this was his chance to get her to be honest.
Shu Yu: “Tie Dan… he knows I was just after his money! He wants me to admit I’m a gold digger!”
Tie Dan: [Don’t cry, Yu Bao! If he really tries to feed you to the dogs, I’ll zap every single one of them—we’ll run off to the mountains and live as wildlings!]
Shu Yu stared blankly. That didn’t help at all.
She was socially anxious, yes—but she didn’t want to swing through the Amazon jungle like a monkey.
Desperate, she started typing: I’m sorry I tricked you out of your money…
Before she hit send, another message popped up.
ATM: You’re leaving school early because you don’t want to see me. Be honest, Xiao Yu.
Her defenses had already crumbled thanks to Shen Qinghan. She typed back, quiet and defeated.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Yes.
ATM: You hate me. You don’t want to meet me.
Little Fish Swimming Around: I don’t hate you.
ATM: Then you don’t want to see me.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Yeah.
Little Fish Swimming Around: I don’t want to see anyone else either.
ATM: I see.
Fear of crowds. Avoiding class. Even when she leans on me, she keeps finding excuses not to meet face-to-face.
She doesn’t hate me—she’s just afraid of people.
Si Yiheng understood her perfectly now. But Shu Yu was squirming in panic—does he know? Is he suing me? Is he going to feed me to the dogs? Am I going to end up black and blue all over?
ATM: Accept the money.
ATM: Forwarding the lawyer’s contact.