Сhарter 25: ‘Dоn’t Вe Afraid, It’s Ме’
Shen Jie rеspondеd еаrnеstlу аnd urgentlу, “Sесоnd Brothеr, rest assured, Fu Yuan will dеfinitеly rоt in рrisоn. Whаt hе did to Shеn Сiуing is enough tо lаnd him in jail fоr a long time.”
Вasеd on the informаtion рrovidеd bу Shen Ciуing, the poliсе hаd sеized all оf Fu Yuаn’s еlеctroniс deviсes and unсoverеd a largе number of seсrеtlу takеn intimаte photоs.
“I’ve аlrеady сontaсted sеvеrаl of thе women invоlved and will filе а jоint lawsuit. Some of them might even be minоrs, but thаt’s still being confirmed,” Shеn Jiе continued. “I hаvе plenty of ways to ensure he’s locked up for good.”
Shen Rangchen listened with his eyes half-lowered and asked, “What about A Ying’s situation?”
Shen Jie replied, “Justifiable self-defense.”
Only then did Shen Rangchen stand up and toss out a command: “Handle it as quickly as possible.”
Shen Jie nodded. “Understood.”
Shen Rangchen returned to the bedroom and saw Shen Ciying still asleep.
Whether it was the sound of footsteps, the door opening, or simply her restless sleep, her fair fingers clutched the thin blanket tightly around herself as she turned over.
Shen Rangchen thought she might wake up, but after watching for a while, she remained asleep, merely curling herself tighter under the blanket.
The room temperature was moderate, even slightly warm.
So it wasn’t the cold that made her huddle—it was her troubled sleep.
Shen Rangchen sat down gently by the bed, watching the restless girl as his gaze gradually deepened.
He was used to her usual antics that gave him headaches, but seeing her like this felt unsettling.
Zhuo Feng called to report on work and sent over two contracts for review.
Shen Rangchen simply set up his laptop on the balcony of the bedroom to work.
By evening, after finishing his tasks, Shen Rangchen went out to instruct the kitchen to prepare dinner.
When Fu Ye woke up and saw Shen Rangchen, she was momentarily surprised.
This man had actually returned.
Remembering A Ying’s instructions, she quickly scanned her surroundings and immediately focused on a maid carrying a plate of jujube paste and yam cakes—Shen Ciying’s favorite dessert.
Fu Ye walked over and asked without hesitation, “Has the food been tested for poison? A Ying’s meals must be handled with extra care. We can’t risk her being drugged again.”
Shen Ciying had never treated Fu Ye as a subordinate, and everyone in the villa knew that Fu Ye and Shen Ciying were as close as sisters—both were to be treated with respect.
So when the maid heard Fu Ye’s question, she hurriedly replied, “Miss Fu Ye, the food is safe, please rest assured.”
Indeed, ever since Shen Ciying had been drugged, all food, drinks, or items in close contact with her had to be tested for safety.
Not far away, Shen Rangchen, who had unintentionally overheard the conversation, suddenly turned cold and angry. His voice carried a hint of fury:
“A Ying was drugged last night?”
Fu Ye walked over then and greeted him, “Mr. Shen.”
Then, expressionless, she said, “Not last night. It happened three months ago.”
She added, not because Shen Ciying had asked her to, but because it was something she had held back for a long time:
“With all your power and influence, Mr. Shen, if you had paid even a little attention to A Ying, she wouldn’t have been bullied repeatedly by your family without you knowing.”
Shen Rangchen’s eyes instantly turned icy.
Three months ago.
Repeated bullying!
Perhaps feeling that his possession had been violated and his authority challenged, his voice grew cold and furious: “Who drugged her?”
Fu Ye replied, “Your dear cousin, Fu Yutang.”
Shen Rangchen couldn’t stand Fu Ye’s sarcastic tone, and his icy voice carried a hint of impatience: “Explain clearly.”Fu Ye: “A Ying won’t let me say. If you want to know, Mr. Shen, go ask her yourself. Don’t make things difficult for me.”
Shen Rangchen knew that this Fu Ye only listened to Shen Ciying. Usually quiet and reserved, he couldn’t be bothered to speak with her any further.
Walking back to the bedroom, his footsteps grew heavy, his expression complex as if tangled with countless thoughts.
Why wouldn’t she tell him anything?
Hadn’t he said he would take good care of her, including not letting her be bullied?
On the matcha-green bedding, Shen Ciying turned over again, the thin blanket slipping off her body.
She really couldn’t stay still even while sleeping.
Shen Rangchen leaned over once more, reaching to pull the thin blanket back, his fingertips accidentally brushing against the skin of her arm.
“Hmm!”
Shen Ciying abruptly shrank back in her sleep, and the next second, her eyes flew open in alarm.
Her wary gaze met Shen Rangchen’s eyes directly.
Seeing the defensive panic in her eyes, Shen Rangchen quickly spoke to soothe her: “Don’t be afraid, it’s me.”