Сhарtеr 5: Alwауs Ву Yоur Side
Snow begаn tо fall outsidе the window оnсе mоrе, trаnsforming thе Immоrtаl Fоx Gardеn into a scenе оf ethеrеаl bеаuty, likе а hiddеn parаdisе.
Shen Сiying, her bodу aсhing and wearу, cоllaрsеd directlу onto the сhаisе lоunge by thе windоw. Sееing its mistress, the littlе snowbаll of a fоx quicklу hopрed onto thе сhаise, whimреring softly as it nuzzlеd its heаd аgainst Shen Сiying’s chеek.
Shеn Сiуing smiled аnd gently rubbеd the little snоwbаll’s hеad.
A maid promptly steррed forward to mаssаge Shen Ciуing’s lеgs and shoulders.
Fu Ye intercepted a bowl of ginseng soup from another maid and personally carried it over, offering it to Shen Ciying as she asked:
“Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?”
Shen Ciying sat up, took the bowl and spoon, and after taking a sip, replied, “Whatever’s available is fine.”
Fu Ye: “Alright.”
While Shen Ciying ate, Fu Ye remained by her side, watching her intently. Her gaze lingered on the exposed skin, a subtle displeasure flickering in her delicate eyes.
Sensing that Fu Ye had something to say, Shen Ciying dismissed the masseuse beside her.
Once they were alone, Fu Ye suddenly reached out and lightly touched Shen Ciying’s neck.
There, a love bite left by Shen Rangchen remained.
Fu Ye only touched it briefly, as if afraid of causing pain, and immediately withdrew her hand. Frowning slightly, she looked at Shen Ciying and asked, “Does it hurt?”
“Huh?” Shen Ciying was momentarily caught off guard, responding with surprise, “What?”
Fu Ye: “The love bite.”
Shen Ciying instantly understood and gave Fu Ye a casual smile. “It doesn’t hurt.”
But Fu Ye, unconvinced, clenched her fist. “Shen Rangchen is no good. He disappears for ten days or half a month, and when he shows up, he just exhausts you, then leaves right after. Yesterday, he even yelled at you…”
Shen Ciying knew that Fu Ye’s past experiences had left her with an intense aversion to men, even disgust and nausea, especially when it came to matters between men and women—a lingering shadow.
So, every time Shen Ciying slept with Shen Rangchen, Fu Ye felt the urge to beat him to death.
Because Fu Ye believed she was being mistreated.
Shen Ciying pulled Fu Ye to sit beside her, comforting her by saying, “I’m not being mistreated. Shen Rangchen may not be perfect, but he isn’t that terrible to me either. Whenever he yells at me, I give it right back. So, don’t feel aggrieved on my behalf.
Besides…”
Shen Ciying suddenly continued with a meaningful smile, “When it comes to consensual matters between a man and a woman in bed, it’s hard to say who’s exhausting whom. After all… I enjoyed it quite a bit too. It’s just a bit tiring.”
Although Shen Rangchen could be a bit beastly, he had never treated her merely as an object for release.
Hmm… he was a top-tier performer in both software and hardware.
Fu Ye: “……”
Still feeling stifled, she spoke again, “We have money now, a lot of it. I can protect us now. We don’t need to please Shen Rangchen anymore.”
Shen Ciying set aside her lazy smile and looked at Fu Ye with a serious expression. “We may not lack money now, but we have no status. Without status, we can’t hold onto wealth.
The money we possess is a fragile, fleeting existence, entirely dependent on my staying by Shen Rangchen’s side.
If we were to leave suddenly now, Shen Rangchen has plenty of ways to turn all the wealth we have into mere numbers—unspendable and untouchable.”
Although she had a certain level of fame online, she never engaged in live streaming or product endorsements. What she aimed to cultivate was influence and a degree of authority.
Besides, she wasn’t short on money.
Shen Ciying understood Fu Ye’s worries and continued to reassure her, “Moreover, Shen Rangchen treats me decently enough. Staying by his side isn’t a hardship, so don’t worry about me.””As for status, it’s something that can be both important and not so important.”
“But he doesn’t care about you that much.” Fu Ye only spoke more in front of Shen Ciying: “Three months ago, when you were drugged by that aunt and nephew from the Fu family, he didn’t punish them. He doesn’t even know about it to this day.”
Shen Ciying couldn’t help but laugh at this: “You’re just looking for excuses to blame him now. How can he stand up for me if he doesn’t even know?”
She assured Fu Ye: “Don’t worry, I won’t suffer in vain. I’ll let him know about the drugging incident, but not now.”
Her eyes were firm: “This path is one I chose to walk myself. Shen Rangchen is the man I picked. I won’t change course until I achieve my goal.”
Finally, she said: “Ah Ye, we can’t go back to hell.”
They had both grown up in an orphanage since childhood—one funded by the Shen family’s charity foundation. On the surface, it was harmonious and beautiful, but privately, the children there suffered all kinds of abuse.
They were turned into lowly, humble slaves.
Subjected to psychological and physical brainwashing and exploitation.
That place was like a living hell.
Finally, one day, the child abuse scandal was exposed.
Grandma Shen, a lifelong Buddhist, personally went to the orphanage to investigate.
It was then that Shen Ciying seized the chance for rebirth.
When Grandma Shen was inspecting the orphanage, a huge metal oil painting frame fell from the wall, about to hit her. In that life-or-death moment, a ten-year-old girl rushed forward without regard for her own safety and pushed Grandma Shen aside.
The next second.
Bang!
The frame hit Shen Ciying’s shoulder, and she fell to the ground instantly. Blood immediately seeped through her thin clothes, staining them red.
Before losing consciousness, she tightly clutched the hem of Grandma Shen’s clothes.
Perhaps driven by a strong desire for “rebirth,” even in her unconscious state, that little hand still clung tightly to Grandma Shen’s clothes.
As if she were the only one who could lead her out of hell.
She couldn’t let go, not even in death.
Later, as she wished, she was taken back by the Shen family for emergency treatment.
When she woke up, a deep scar remained on her shoulder.
With the Shen family’s medical expertise, the scar could have been completely removed, but Shen Ciying chose not to.
After all, it was a symbol of her saving Grandma Shen.
No one knew that she had tampered with the painting frame beforehand.
But she was bold and meticulous, knowing that if Grandma Shen suddenly encountered danger, an investigation would follow to determine whether it was truly an accident.
So, she took the initiative to confess.
At the time, she cried pitifully and fearfully, injured and with swollen, red eyes: “I’m sorry, I frightened Grandma Shen. When the director learned you were coming to inspect, she had us clean up. I was responsible for the painting frame area. I tried my best to take care of it, but I don’t know how it fell. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, all my fault…”
Still in the hospital at the time, her shoulder wrapped in bandages, she looked frail and filled with fear and pity.
Grandma Shen, already grateful for her bravery in saving her, felt no blame toward this pitiful and helpless little girl—only gratitude and compassion.
She even asked with concern: “The painting frame was so heavy and hung so high. How did you even reach it?”
Shen Ciying nodded timidly, her heart pounding with fear: “Some of the other children helped. We used a ladder.”
Grandma Shen felt both heartache and anger: “Such young children climbing a ladder—how dangerous!”Shen Ciying said nothing more, only timidly biting her lips tightly, her eyes filled with shock and fear.
And this appearance made Grandma Shen even more certain about the child abuse incidents at the orphanage.
Shen Ciying knew very well that she could not return to the orphanage. After being taken away by the Shen family, the orphanage leaders would surely feel guilty, fearing she might expose all their misdeeds in front of the Shen family. If she went back, she would undoubtedly face even harsher abuse.
Moreover, her desperate gamble for survival was precisely to escape the orphanage.
So, while her injuries were still healing, she pleaded with Grandma Shen to let her stay by her side and serve her.
At that time, the news of child abuse was causing trouble, and the orphanage was undergoing reforms. Grateful for this kindness, Grandma Shen temporarily allowed her to stay in the Shen household to serve her.
But Shen Ciying was not content. Staying by Grandma Shen’s side meant she would remain a servant until her death.
Just like the maidservants serving the empress dowager in ancient palaces—even at their best, they were merely high-ranking servants.
Still living cautiously, always mindful of others’ moods.
A month later, she met Shen Rangchen.
It was the day of his coming-of-age ceremony.
The Shen family held a grand celebration.
That night, Shen Rangchen was the center of attention, surrounded by admirers, standing high above all.
Noble and aloof, yet still carrying the unrestrained spirit of youth.
A pair of stunning Ruifeng eyes, deep and bright, brimming with an air of nobility.
A face as exquisite as if carved from gold and jade.
One glance was enough to make everyone else fade into the background.
At that moment, Shen Ciying secretly vowed that she would go to this man’s side.
To have him protect her for life.
She would always remember the first day she went to Shen Rangchen’s side. The lofty young man spoke in a detached tone:
“Look up.”
Timidly, she raised her head to look at him.
He asked, “What’s your name?”
Deliberately, she replied, “I… I don’t have a name. Could Young Master Shen give me one?”
She added, “Choose one you like, so that in the future, you’ll be happy when you call me.”
That day, she was given a new name—Ciying.
She had read books.
She had read—mountains do not reject dust, rivers do not refuse fullness.
Rangchen, Ciying.
She loved this name.
It was the name of her rebirth.
And so, in the Shen household, thanks to having saved the Shen family’s grandmother and being given a name by the young master, she lived slightly better than the average maid.
Later, she took his surname.
And the moment she secured her footing in the Shen family, she went back to find Fu Ye.
The orphanage had been reformed, and Fu Ye was targeted by the remaining troublemakers who sought to violently assault her. Fortunately, Shen Ciying arrived in time to save her.
That year, Fu Ye was only nine years old and had contemplated suicide multiple times.
From a young age, she was left with psychological scars, despising all men.
It was Shen Ciying who saved her body, then her mind, giving her the courage to live again.
And Fu Ye was the new name she later gave herself—rising from the ashes, growing wild and free.
After that, she began learning martial arts to protect herself.
Outside the window, the snow gradually stopped. Fu Ye looked at Shen Ciying, whose eyes were resolute as she lay on the chaise lounge, and with a look of unwavering loyalty, she added:
“Whatever path you choose, I’ll walk it with you.”