Looking at the chilling expression in Shen Li’s eyes, Ning Zhiyuan immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Shen Li wasn’t acting like himself.
Ever since hearing her conversation with Pei Jin and coming upstairs with her, he had been unnaturally calm.
His gaze shifted from the bruises on her arm to her eyes as he spoke casually.
“Yuanyuan, if you dislike Pei Jin that much, how about making him disappear forever?”
The moment she called Pei Jin an illegitimate son, Shen Li had become certain that she no longer had any feelings for him.
Without Yuanyuan’s affection protecting him, Shen Li very much wanted to deal with Pei Jin himself.
Pei Jin had squandered Yuanyuan’s love without hesitation.
He had treated her as a tool to show off and exploit.
He had orchestrated a kidnapping as part of the business rivalry with the Ning family, nearly causing harm to her.
And now there was today’s relentless harassment.
Every one of those offenses crossed Shen Li’s bottom line.
Even if Pei Jin died ten thousand times, it still wouldn’t be enough.
Ning Zhiyuan shivered at the coldness in his eyes.
“Actually, it’s not that bad. It doesn’t really hurt.”
She definitely didn’t want things to spiral out of control.
In her previous life, after her death, Shen Li had personally dealt with Bai Xiaoxiao.
And he had done so in an exceptionally brutal manner.
When the elders of the Pei family caught wind of it, they feared Shen Li’s retaliation.
To protect the family’s only heir, they joined forces with several other business groups and twisted the truth.
Shen Li became a public villain.
A monster who supposedly tore apart a loving couple.
Her death was portrayed as a suicide committed after Shen Li used his power and influence to force her into a relationship.
Meanwhile, Pei Jin became the tragic victim everyone pitied.
Despite the overwhelming pressure of public opinion, Shen Li still single-handedly destroyed the Pei family.
He tortured Pei Jin to death in order to avenge her.
Now that she had a second chance, she didn’t want Shen Li to stain his hands because of her.
Shen Li should remain clean and untarnished.
The man withdrew his gaze and walked toward the window.
His eyes darkened with thought.
No one knew what was running through his mind.
His tall figure looked lonely and isolated.
In her previous life, Shen Li had always remained on the sidelines.
Watching her fall in love with someone else.
Watching her walk away.
She had never understood his feelings.
She had even trampled on them and slandered him.
Only after her death had she realized just how wrong she had been.
This time, she would never miss him again.
Ning Zhiyuan walked over and took his hand.
Rubbing her cheek gently against his palm, she called softly,
“Brother Shen Li.”
Her eyes sparkled.
Her tone was sweet and affectionate, as though she were coaxing him.
The warmth of her soft skin against his palm made Shen Li’s dark eyes contract slightly.
Footsteps outside the room grew closer.
When Shen Li tried to pull his hand away, Ning Zhiyuan caught it and held on.
Tilting her head, she blinked at him.
“We can just ignore him from now on. I really don’t like him.”
Only then did Shen Li come back to himself.
He quietly replied,
“Mm.”
“Boss, everything’s been taken care of.”
Assistant Qi stepped inside.
The moment he saw the scene before him, he hurriedly lowered his head and did his best to make himself invisible.
“Yuanyuan, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Thinking about the way Shen Li had practically fled moments earlier, Ning Zhiyuan smiled and slipped her jacket back on before heading downstairs.
Next to the café was an entertainment venue.
Outside the entrance, a middle-aged woman and a young man were locked in an argument.
The boy looked about eighteen or nineteen years old.
Still a student, judging by his appearance.
His features were handsome and refined.
He wore a cheap plaid shirt and work pants, looking completely out of place among the stylish young men and women coming and going.
Ning Zhiyuan found him strangely familiar.
But she couldn’t immediately remember where she had seen him before.
Still, she had no intention of getting involved.
The young man appeared unwilling to cooperate.
He bent down and shrugged off the shirt the woman was desperately clutching.
Underneath was a black tank top.
The woman threw the shirt onto the ground and slapped him hard across the face.
Then she tried once again to persuade him.
“As long as you earn enough money at the club to pay off your uncle’s gambling debt, you’ll be free. Then you can continue your studies.”
“Cheng Ye, think about your grandmother. She’s seriously ill. She only has one son. Can you really bear to let her bury her own child?”
Cheng Ye.
Ning Zhiyuan suddenly looked up at the boy.
Sure enough.
There was a distinctive tear mole beneath the corner of his left eye.
She immediately remembered who he was.
In her previous life, Pei Jin had spent a fortune buying the freedom of a male escort from a nightclub.
He had even paid a huge amount to send him overseas for school.
That person was Cheng Ye.
The way Pei Jin treated him had never seemed like the relationship between a superior and subordinate.
It was more like friendship.
Or perhaps something even closer than friendship.
Cheng Ye was intelligent and learned quickly.
He had secretly returned to China several times and helped the Pei family secure multiple business deals.
Strangely, when Pei Jin found out, he had flown into a rage.
Afterward, he insisted Cheng Ye remain overseas and handle foreign operations, refusing to let him appear in Jincheng.
At one point, Ning Zhiyuan had even suspected the two men were romantically involved.
She secretly investigated.
But found nothing.
Still, for someone as calculating and profit-driven as Pei Jin, being willing to pour his heart and resources into a friend with no background whatsoever was simply too unbelievable.
There had to be a secret between them.
And if Cheng Ye could be used by her instead…
That would make things very interesting for Pei Jin.
“What era are we living in? People still force others to become male escorts?”
Ning Zhiyuan stepped forward and motioned for Cheng Ye to move behind her.
Standing between the two of them, she folded her arms and looked at the woman sideways.
“Emotional blackmail isn’t illegal, but doing something this shameless is bound to bring retribution.”
The woman immediately snapped back.
“Mind your own business! This is our family matter. Who do you think you are? Even the King of Heaven couldn’t interfere.”
“Well, I’m interfering anyway.”
The woman was about to argue further when several burly bodyguards stepped forward behind Ning Zhiyuan.
Instantly, she shut her mouth.
“You win.”
Even as she left, she repeatedly turned around to glare viciously at Cheng Ye.
After the woman was gone, Ning Zhiyuan waited for Cheng Ye to speak first.
Then she could generously offer to help him.
A critically ill grandmother.
A gambling-addicted uncle drowning in debt.
A greedy aunt.
A talented young man forced to quit school and work in a nightclub.
The tragic backstory was practically complete.
She watched him expectantly.
Yet Cheng Ye simply stood there with the red handprint still visible on his face.
His black hair was disheveled.
Without saying a word, he picked up his shirt and turned to leave.
At a single glance from Ning Zhiyuan, the bodyguards blocked his path.
Only then did Cheng Ye look back at her.
“Is there something else?”
There was no gratitude in his expression.
No emotion at all.
Caught off guard, Ning Zhiyuan blinked.
“Aren’t you going to thank me?”
“You didn’t actually solve any of my problems. The difficulties I’m facing still exist. I don’t think I owe you thanks.”
“How do you know I can’t help you?”
“There would be a price.”
His pale eyes met hers directly.
As though he could see straight through people.
“Or rather… there’s something you want from me, isn’t there?”
The young man’s voice remained calm and composed.
He accurately identified the heart of the matter.
“Otherwise, why would someone who clearly didn’t intend to get involved suddenly change her mind and step in?”
Cheng Ye could tell she came from a wealthy family.
If he asked, his current problems could likely be solved with ease.
But he also understood a simple truth.
Anything you received came with a corresponding cost.
And he wasn’t sure whether he could afford whatever price this wealthy young lady wanted in return.
Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Ning Zhiyuan finally came to a realization.
No wonder so many people liked rescuing someone in distress.
A person burdened with endless troubles.
Proud, helpless, and intelligent.
If she didn’t help him, who would?
But intelligence alone wasn’t enough.
Once Cheng Ye reached the end of his rope, he would eventually find a way to contact her.
Returning to the car, she found Shen Li asleep against the seat.
His bangs hung slightly over his forehead.
Without his usual alertness, he looked much gentler.
His eyelashes were long.
His nose was straight and elegant.
His thin lips were pressed together softly.
Pei Jin was selfish and calculating.
Cheng Ye was proud and untamed.
But Shen Li was unwavering in his devotion.
Ning Zhiyuan tilted her head upward and gently kissed Shen Li’s forehead.
Then she rested her head lightly against his arm and slowly closed her eyes to rest.
She never noticed the faint tremble of his eyelashes.