The next day, Shen Nanyin caught a cold, as expected.
Inside the private, enclosed room, the incense made her head even dizzier.
The man in front of her, around forty years old, threw a stack of documents onto the table before her.
Shen Nanyin opened the file, and her face gradually paled.
This was no different from a mistress agreement.
She didn’t have the ability to hold onto Gu Zhiyan, so Shen Dingguo had simply and directly sold her off.
“Miss Shen,” the man looked at her bluntly, “I don’t think I need to explain the value of the S2 land parcel.”
The S2 land parcel… the project the Shen family had always wanted.
She could have tried to convince herself that marriages of convenience were normal in this circle for the sake of business development.
But this mistress agreement shattered her last shred of hope for Shen Dingguo.
After all, she was his biological daughter. Yet he had already abandoned all sense of family dignity, willing to let her become someone’s mistress.
Shen Nanyin dug her nails into her palm, struggling to keep her voice steady. “I’m sorry, I can’t accept this.”
Hearing this, the man was visibly displeased.
He had taken a liking to Shen Nanyin’s face. Having frequented pleasure quarters for years, he had never encountered someone with such a cold yet alluring appearance.
While playing hard to get could be a form of flirtation, taking it too far was just tiresome.
He had paid a hefty price—why should he put up with her attitude?
“I advise you not to be ungrateful. Behave, and you’ll suffer less.”
Shen Nanyin stood up to leave but was grabbed by the wrist and forcefully pressed down onto the table.
“What’s the point of playing the chaste martyr when you’re already here? Do you really think you’re still the Shen family’s young lady? Hmm?”
Chen Binsheng restrained her desperate struggles, his voice coaxing. “Shen Dingguo doesn’t see you as a dutiful daughter. In his eyes, you’re not even as important as a piece of land.”
“Why not just follow me obediently? I promise I’ll treat you well.”
Her ribs pressed painfully against the edge of the table.
Shen Nanyin bit her lip hard, her heart pounding so violently it made her chest numb. She forced herself to calm down, gradually ceasing her struggles as if swayed by his words.
Her gaze, however, flickered toward the door, calculating the distance.
“That’s more like it,” the man chuckled, loosening his grip on her as his hand began to wander downward.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Nanyin gathered strength in her elbow and struck backward with force.
Taking advantage of the man’s pained retreat, she quickly scrambled to her feet and dashed toward the door.
Chen Binsheng recovered swiftly and lunged after her.
The desserts on the table were beautifully arranged. The Chinese-style towel roll cakes, imprinted with ancient text using special edible ink, were shaped like scrolls—both delicious and innovative.
Lu Daiqing took photos with her phone, deliberately capturing a part of Lu Jingyan’s hand in the frame before happily posting them on her social media.
“Done~”
Lu Jingyan had no interest in accompanying her for the meal and stood up to leave.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Do you even know how to pursue a girl? Aren’t you going to pack some desserts to take to her?”
The man sat back down, his voice cold.
“Hurry up and eat.”
Lu Daiqing could hardly contain her laughter. “Brother, look at you now!”
Relying on her understanding of young women’s preferences, she leisurely finished her meal before selecting the most impressive flavors.
Carrying the packaged boxes, she headed out but heard faint, unsettling noises.
The sound of glass shattering, muffled curses.
“You bitch!”
Hearing the curses behind her, Shen Nanyin’s palms grew sweaty, and her legs trembled.
Just get out of the private room, and it’ll be fine. Faster, just a little faster.
The metal door handle slipped in her sweaty grasp.
Finally, just before Chen Binsheng could grab her hair, she pressed down on the door handle with all her might.
The door swung open, and she threw herself out with every ounce of strength.
As she nearly collapsed to her knees, a pair of strong hands caught her and pulled her into an embrace.
“Shen Nanyin?”
The magnetic yet cool voice was familiar.
“Help…”
Shen Nanyin clung to him tightly, like a drowning person clutching a lifeline.
“You damn—”
Chen Binsheng chased after her to the doorway, his voice cutting off abruptly.
“Young… Young Master Lu.”
The man’s brow was tightly furrowed, his expression dark and unsettling.
“What’s going on?”
Chen Binsheng cursed his own bad luck, wondering how he’d managed to run into such an imposing figure.
He forced a laugh and said, “Well, you see, it’s just a little trouble with a woman. I’m really sorry to have disturbed you, Mr. Lu.”
Beside them, Lu Daiqing shot him a look of disgust mixed with pity.
The girl in his arms had disheveled hair, her body was feverish, and her fingers gripping him were clenched so tightly they turned white.
Lu Jingyan’s eyes were cold and intense. Suppressing his anger, he lowered his voice to ask about her condition.
Seeing this, Chen Binshan understood immediately. Panic set in, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
That little bitch… she actually has ties to the Lu family’s young master… Could that old fool Shen Dingguo have done this on purpose?
Shen Nanyin was already running a fever and had exhausted too much energy. As soon as she tried to speak, an overwhelming wave of dizziness washed over her, and she fainted, unable to hold on any longer.
Her last conscious sensations were the firm arm wrapped around her waist and the urgent calls echoing in her ears.
“Shen Nanyin!”
When she opened her eyes again, she was greeted by an unusually high ceiling, with floating panels evenly emitting the soft glow of light strips.
Beneath her was a smooth, cool silk bedsheet.
She slowly shifted her gaze.
The minimalist decor was in shades of black and gray. Heavy blackout curtains hung by the window, also in dark tones, allowing only slivers of sunlight to filter through.
Where was she?
A slight sting on the back of her hand drew her attention. A round bandage was stuck there—she must have been given an IV.
After a moment of silence, just as Shen Nanyin tried to sit up, the door opened.
“Awake?”
She looked up at the sound, her pupils widening slightly.
Lu Jingyan?
She only remembered grabbing someone at random to ask for help, but she never expected it to be him…
Lu Jingyan held a bowl in one hand and handed her a glass of water with the other.
“Drink some water first.”
Shen Nanyin, still dazed from just regaining consciousness, had her hair slightly tousled from rubbing against his pillow. A faint blush lingered on her porcelain-white face.
She took the glass, and her dry lips moistened as she drank, gradually regaining their rosy hue.
She must have been terribly thirsty, as she finished the entire glass in no time.
Once she was done, Lu Jingyan took the glass and placed it on the bedside table.
The crisp sound of a spoon clinking against a porcelain bowl echoed in the room. The lofty and esteemed Young Master Lu, wearing an apron, pulled over a chair, sat down, and brought a spoonful of porridge to her lips.
The porridge, simmered to a soft and tender consistency, emitted an enticing aroma that stirred the hunger in Shen Nanyin’s stomach.
She was surprised and didn’t want to trouble him further. Raising her hand slightly, she said, “Thank you, I can manage on my own.”
“Open your mouth.”
Lu Jingyan remained expressionless. “The doctor who came earlier said the hand with the IV shouldn’t be strained.”
Shen Nanyin had no choice but to obey.
The porridge was neither too cold nor too hot—just the right warmth. Shen Nanyin lowered her gaze and drank earnestly.
The bowl was soon empty.
“More?”
Shen Nanyin quickly shook her head. “No, thank you.”
After placing the bowl aside, he reached out with the back of his hand to touch Shen Nanyin’s forehead temperature.
“Rest a bit more. I’ll take you back later.”
As he was about to leave, a small force suddenly held him back.
Lu Jingyan lowered his gaze, looking toward Shen Nanyin, who was tugging at his sleeve, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Nanyin spoke softly, “About today… thank you.”
You?
Raising an eyebrow slightly, he replied casually, “No need to be so polite. It was just a small favor.”