At noon in Beicheng, the sun was scorching.
There was no shade at the front gate, making the heat even more unbearable.
Shen Chuhe had been left kneeling there without anyone watching her. The two servants had found a cool place to hide.
They all assumed she would obediently listen as she always had, weak and easy to bully, never daring to disobey or defy Rong Shuhua.
But Shen Chuhe stood up at that moment, and her vision immediately went black as a wave of dizziness swept over her.
But this was the best opportunity.
She could run.
Fortunately, when she had gone to see the Old Master, she had brought all her belongings with her.
One phone and the 1,015.50 yuan she had earned from working part time during university.
She probably would not be coming back here again.
After kneeling for so long, Shen Chuhe’s legs trembled slightly. She glanced at the Rong family’s gate before walking forward without looking back.
The Rong residence was enormous and located halfway up a mountain.
From the main gate to the road leading into the city, there were still at least seven or eight li.
Before long, the sun made her head feel dizzy.
As her body swayed slightly, someone grabbed her arm.
She turned around.
It was Shen Yi, her biological father.
What was he doing here?
Shen Chuhe frowned and looked back. Fortunately, he was alone.
“Good thing I’ve been following you! What, you really dared to run?”
Shen Yi pulled her toward a nearby pavilion and sat down with her.
“Should I not run and wait to be tormented to death?” And then be thrown out like garbage!
“She really did go too far! But you too, why did you have to make her angry?” There was obvious reproach in Shen Yi’s voice.
Shen Chuhe listened, the corner of her lips curling into a mocking smile.
She had always been deeply disappointed in this father of hers, but she had once harbored the natural affection a daughter had for her father. Now, she no longer knew what she was supposed to feel.
Shen Yi did not notice her reaction and continued talking.
“And another thing, why did you make things so tense with Lao Si? You’re the one who suffers when you end up in trouble like today!”
“What did you say?”
What… did he know?
Panic seeped into Shen Chuhe’s voice as her heart gave a heavy jolt. She suddenly had a terrible feeling.
“Don’t worry! You’re my daughter, and I don’t object!”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
Impossible!
How could he know?
Shen Chuhe was already breaking out in a cold sweat. Despite the scorching sunlight, a chill crept through her body.
“You’re still pretending? I happened to overhear a little last night… Then when I think back over the past, he really has helped you deal with some small troubles! Look at what happened last night. He didn’t even step in to help you today!”
Shen Chuhe’s face immediately turned pale, and her steps became unsteady.
She had always believed that what happened between her and Rong Yuchuan was a closely guarded secret.
Only now did she finally allow her panic to show.
“Shut up! You’d better keep these matters buried! If they find out…”
A ruthless look flashed through Shen Chuhe’s eyes.
For the Rong family, crushing the two of them would be as easy as stepping on an ant.
Shen Yi was frightened by her words as well, but moments later, a hint of smugness appeared on his face as he nodded along.
“Don’t worry. Something like this only needs to stay between us father and daughter! I just didn’t expect my daughter to be so capable, actually managing to win over the future head of the Rong family! But a man like Rong Yuchuan could never devote himself to loving one woman. You need to take advantage of the fact that he’s still interested in you and quickly find a way to get some benefits!”
Shen Chuhe’s gaze grew colder and colder, and her heart sank further and further at her father’s words.
Shen Yi was still dreaming about the wealth that awaited him, calculating everything in his head.
“If I use a few tricks and fool Rong Shuhua, wouldn’t some of the Rong family’s enormous wealth end up in the hands of us father and daughter?
The most important thing right now is for you to properly coax Rong Yuchuan. You can’t play tricks the way you did last night! With a man like Rong Yuchuan, you need to go along with him. Be sensible and listen to me, understand?”
Shen Chuhe stared steadily at the father in front of her for a long time, her gaze becoming increasingly cold.
She could see that too much time had already been wasted.
She closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, her reason had returned.
“Fine. Then the most important thing right now is for me to go down the mountain and find him! If I keep kneeling here, I’ll die on my knees. Then who will help you win over the future head of the Rong family?”
“You mean you’re going to find Rong Yuchuan? So you weren’t trying to run away!”
“So, Father… Can you let go of me now?”
A smile spread across Shen Yi’s face.
The more Shen Chuhe looked at him, the more disgusted she felt.
“Beep beep!”
The sound of a car horn completely shattered the silence.
The father and daughter both looked toward the sound.
A black Bentley drove over and stopped on the road beside the pavilion.
The car window slowly lowered, revealing the face of Rong Yuchuan’s trusted assistant, Assistant Li.
The rear window also rolled down. Rong Yuchuan wore an amused yet unreadable smile and called out, “Brother in law,” without looking at anyone.
Shen Yi responded with a smile. “It’s Yuchuan. Aren’t you going to the company today?”
Rong Yuchuan smiled and finally glanced at Shen Yi.
For some inexplicable reason, Shen Yi felt a chill in his heart. He had always felt an inexplicable fear toward this younger brother in law, and now he had the uncomfortable feeling that his thoughts had been seen through.
“Hmm. Something happened last night, so I didn’t sleep well.”
After saying that, he glanced at Shen Chuhe.
Their eyes met.
Shen Chuhe lowered her head, her expression completely calm.
Rong Yuchuan’s expression darkened, mockery hidden deep in his eyes.
“Not getting in?”
Shen Chuhe’s pupils trembled slightly. Surprised, she opened her mouth to refuse.
“What? You still don’t want to?”
Rong Yuchuan made a gesture as though he were about to raise the window.
“No, no, no!”
Shen Yi hurriedly smiled and forcibly dragged Shen Chuhe out of the pavilion, pushing her toward Rong Yuchuan’s car.
He had confidence now!
As he did so, he continued talking without pause.
“She was just talking about you! The sun is so strong, and she gets to ride with you… I mean, sitting in the same car as you is her good fortune!”
“Chuhe, be obedient and sensible! Do you hear me?”
Shen Yi gave her a pointed hint, pushed Shen Chuhe into the car, and closed the door. He wore an ingratiating smile and was about to say something else when Assistant Li stepped on the accelerator.
Shen Yi’s smile instantly froze on his face before turning into a cold and resentful expression.
“Rong Yuchuan, what are you so proud of? One day… Hmph!”
Inside the car, silence prevailed.
Shen Chuhe turned her head toward the window.
She had thought that after what happened last night, Rong Yuchuan would never take the initiative to speak to her again.
This was not like him.
“Does your head still hurt, or do your legs hurt more?”
Rong Yuchuan spoke, his tone half cold and half mocking.
How could Rong Yuchuan not know what happened in the Rong family?
Shen Chuhe turned back and answered calmly.
“Both hurt.”
Rong Yuchuan reached toward her face.
Shen Chuhe tried to dodge, but in her panic, she hit her head against the roof of the car.
It hurt.
“Weren’t you coming to find me? Why are you avoiding me?”
Rong Yuchuan’s hand did not stop. His fingers brushed across her face, where a trace of blood marked the slap, clearly a scratch left by fingernails.
His brows furrowed slightly before he coldly said,
“You deserve it!”
Shen Chuhe finally realized what was happening and stared at him with wide eyes.
She had only said she was going to find him to deceive Shen Yi!
How did Rong Yuchuan know?
“Did you install a listening device on my phone?”
Rong Yuchuan’s gaze turned cold.
“You’re not worth the effort of playing such despicable tricks.”
“Then you…”