Сhаpter 5: Nо Оnе Еlsе Has Tоuсhed
Sheng Shurаn yankеd hеr hаnd bасk аs if scаldеd bу high heаt, aсcidentаllу hitting the stеering whееl in hеr pаniс and рrоduсing а shаrр sоund.
“You, уou, уоu all, you…”
In stark сontrаst to Shеng Shurаn’s flustеrеd paniс, Chi Hеn’s dаrk еуes аpрearеd ехсеptiоnally cаlm аnd соmрosed.
“Do аll bоуs thesе daуs act likе suсh hооligans?!” Sheng Shurаn finаlly manаged to uttеr а соmplеtе sentence.
Just then, the red light turnеd greеn, fоrсing Shеng Shurаn to stаrt the car, thоugh she сontinuеd leсturing her “child” without pause:
“Boys shouldn’t let others touch that area so casually! If someone touches it, they have to take responsibility! Understand?”
“Mm, I understand.”
Take responsibility.
Chi Hen’s unusual obedience made Sheng Shuran think her lesson had succeeded, so she pressed her advantage, putting on a stern face to ask:
“Do you often play around like this with others?”
“No one else has touched it,” Chi Hen answered truthfully.
“Will you let others touch it so casually in the future?”
“No.”
Right, no one else is allowed.
Sheng Shuran dropped Chi Hen off at the school gate.
As soon as Chi Hen got out of the car, Sheng Shuran couldn’t help confirming once more:
“Are you really willing to go back to the dorm? Have you made up with your roommates?”
“Mm.”
“Good, then I’ll contact the landlord to cancel the lease. When it’s done, I’ll treat you to a big meal.”
Sheng Shuran leaned against the half-lowered car window, her eyes crinkling into a smile. Under the sunlight, her skin was so fair it seemed to glow.
Watching Sheng Shuran drive away, Chi Hen made a phone call, his voice completely devoid of the warmth from moments before:
“Come see me at the school. Now.”
In Room 408 of the School of Economics and Management, Chi Hen leaned back in his chair, long legs crossed, his index finger tapping rhythmically on the cluttered desk beside him. His gaze was cold and penetrating as he scrutinized the three young men before him.
Though all three were tall and burly, they stood in a row with their hands clasped nervously.
Chi Hen tilted his chin up slightly and spoke:
“First time meeting. Let me introduce myself. I’m Chi Hen, your roommate.”
“You…” Chi Hen randomly pointed at a shorter guy, then reconsidered and switched to the tall one beside him.
“Right after enrollment, you beat me up. Now we’ve made up…”
“We’re very good friends. Clear?”
Chi Hen smiled—a wild, sinister smile that sent chills down their spines.
The tall guy’s legs went weak, nearly buckling beneath him.
A phone rang.
“You’re here? Come to 408.”
After hanging up, Chi Hen looked at the three again, his tone firm:
“I have something to discuss. You all…”
He suddenly paused, then softened his tone slightly: “Could you roommates please make some space for me…?”
Sheng Shuran said he should get along well with his roommates.
The three fled as if escaping hell itself.
A middle-aged man in a suit knocked and entered: “Young Master Chi?”
“Manager Wei…” Chi Hen remained seated with his legs crossed, glancing up at the newcomer, his voice dripping with impatience:
“Let’s talk about the orchestra’s salary issue.”
That evening, Sheng Shuran took Chi Hen out for a lavish meal.
“Our orchestra issued a notice today. I’m getting a raise,” Sheng Shuran said, taking a sip of red wine. Her fair skin, flushed with a hint of pink, looked especially radiant under the flickering candlelight.
“You could use the Fu family’s money,” Chi Hen remarked, having assumed until then that Sheng Shuran still accepted support from the Fu family.
“I’m not a Fu,” Sheng Shuran shot him a glance.As the orphaned daughter of the Sheng family, Fu Zhenchuan and Shen Manlian had taken her into the Fu household, raised her to adulthood, and given her more than enough already.
Any more, and she would never be able to repay it.
She didn’t want to reach the point where marrying into the Fu family was the only way to settle the debt.
“Sheng Shuran…”
“Hmm?”
Her thoughts were abruptly pulled back by Chi Hen.
She lifted her eyes and looked at him curiously, only to see his gaze deep and intense, yet unable to conceal the gloom in his eyes:
“You want to cut ties with the Fu family because…”
His slender fingers traced circles around the rim of the glass before finally tightening around it: “You don’t want to marry my brother?”
Sheng Shuran’s heart sank, caught off guard by the question.
Did she not want to?
Was it that she didn’t want to?
Or was it that she didn’t dare?
Even though that person was as gentle as the midday sun, as warm as the spring breeze.
Sheng Shuran averted her gaze, unwilling to be entangled by Chi Hen’s intense stare.
“Little brat, what do you know? Don’t meddle in grown-up matters.”
Guiltily lowering her head, she cut into the steak in front of her, brushing off the question casually, completely unaware that after her words, the air around Chi Hen instantly turned cold.
Chi Hen remained silent, wiping his flushed lips with a napkin before tossing it aside, standing up, and walking over to Sheng Shuran’s seat.
His hand, still wrapped in bandages, rested on the back of her chair, while the other hand gripped her chin firmly, forcing her to turn toward him.
The next moment, he leaned down, his cool lips gently landing on Sheng Shuran’s forehead.
Sheng Shuran couldn’t help but gasp in surprise, hurriedly pulling away, her small nose brushing against Chi Hen’s jaw.
“Sheng Shuran, if you call me little one more time, I’ll prove it to you…
“…Every time you say it, I’ll prove it once.
“…Until you know just how grown I am.” Chi Hen’s voice was restrained, low, yet obsessive and domineering.