The people around Ji Zechen had always been efficient. Not long after the call ended, a group of bodyguards appeared before Shu Qianzhi. However, their demeanor was noticeably different from before—gone was the relaxed cheerfulness, replaced by an oppressive tension.
Shu Qianzhi looked up at the figures blocking the light and suddenly felt like a prisoner about to be restrained and left at others’ mercy.
The Crew-cut Bodyguard’s gaze toward her also seemed different. His expression was stern and severe, no longer allowing any slack. “Miss, please come with us,” he said.
…This made it feel even more like she was a criminal.
Shu Qianzhi rubbed her wrist, her pale face nodding obediently as she stood up and followed the bodyguards.
Several bodyguards immediately surrounded her, keeping a close watch the entire time, as if worried she might try to escape.
But Shu Qianzhi had no intention of running away. There was nowhere for her to go.
In fact, she felt somewhat relieved that Ji Zechen hadn’t abandoned her.
The group took the elevator down, and the bodyguards led her out of the commercial building toward a car parked downstairs, signaling for her to get in.
Shu Qianzhi recognized it—it was Ji Zechen’s car, the same one that took her Ji Zechen away from her every day.
A sense of anticipation welled up inside her. Before she even reached the car, she craned her neck to peer inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the person behind the one-way glass.
Only when the bodyguard opened the door and the person sitting inside came into view did a glimmer of light return to Shu Qianzhi’s pale face.
“Brother!” she called out softly, immediately scrambling into the car and tightly embracing the person sitting upright inside. She buried her head in his shoulder, greedily savoring the space filled with his presence.
She had missed him so much—so, so much. After three days apart, all she wanted was to cling to his side and never let go.
Ji Zechen’s body noticeably stiffened, but after a moment, he coldly pushed Shu Qianzhi away and, right in front of her, disdainfully brushed off his clothes.
As if she were something filthy.
Shu Qianzhi bit her lower lip, and the feeling of grievance surged through her once again.
She unwrapped the tissue wrapped around her hand, revealing her scraped and bloodied elbow. “Brother, I went to the restroom earlier and accidentally scraped my hand on the way out. It hurts so much,” she complained pitifully.
But he didn’t even glance at her. After coldly instructing the driver to start the car, he fell silent, showing no intention of responding to her.
Shu Qianzhi knew Ji Zechen was angry, but the angrier he was, the more it proved he cared about her. This thought gave her a sense of confidence.
“Brother, were you worried about me?” she asked, looking at Ji Zechen with sincere eyes, her voice softening further with a hint of apology. “I didn’t expect to hurt my hand, but it really hurts. You have no idea—I almost cried, but I held back because I don’t want to be crying all the time.”
Ji Zechen still didn’t acknowledge her, treating her as if she were invisible. No matter how she acted cute or played the victim, he remained unmoved.
“I’m sorry, brother. I didn’t mean to not answer your calls. Please don’t be angry.” With no other options, Shu Qianzhi simply took Ji Zechen’s hand and swayed it back and forth. The pain in her elbow intensified with the movement, but she didn’t make a sound.
Her dry, pale lips moved again as she spoke, “I had my phone on silent, so I didn’t hear the messages. If you don’t believe me, you can check my phone…”
But before she could finish, Ji Zechen directly flung her hand away with a ruthless, forceful motion, his eyes fixed on Shu Qianzhi as if watching a clown.
Caught off guard, Shu Qianzhi stumbled backward, instinctively bracing herself with her elbows, only to accidentally hit her wound once more.
A sharp pain surged through her violently, her mind seeming to explode as she was momentarily stunned into a daze.
Yet Ji Zechen’s expression instantly snapped her back to reality. It was the first time she had seen him look like this—devoid of warmth, devoid of emotion, saturated with icy coldness.
“Tell me, where did you run off to?” Ji Zechen questioned coldly, enunciating each word deliberately.
Following his gaze, Shu Qianzhi’s eyes landed on the screen in front of them, which was playing surveillance footage from the building. One clip showed her hurriedly dashing from the shop toward the restroom.
Staring at the screen, Shu Qianzhi suddenly felt suffocated. She dug her fingernails into her palms, her heart pounding wildly and completely out of control.
Ji Zechen had found the surveillance footage and knew she had sneaked out. Did that mean he had also seen Shu Mingkai? Had he already discovered her identity? Was he going to abandon her again? Would she be left all alone once more?
The atmosphere inside the car seemed to drop several degrees. The slight warmth she had felt upon seeing her brother earlier was now completely smothered by the chill. The pain in her elbow grew more pronounced, and a sense of helplessness washed over her.
“I… went to the restroom,” she murmured, her voice so faint she wasn’t sure if Ji Zechen could hear it—she could barely hear it herself.
Ji Zechen let out a soft, derisive snort, as if he couldn’t even be bothered to expose her lie.
“Listen,” he spoke again, his tone deeply displeased and tinged with anger. “I don’t have the time or patience to deal with your nonsense. Either behave yourself or get the hell away from me.”