Shen Yanli was frequently subjected to torment.
Some of it was physical, while some was psychological.
He accepted all of it, slowly growing accustomed to it over time.
He had never confided in anyone, nor had he ever imagined that someone would come to rescue him.
It had never happened before.
His chin was tightly pinched as transparent alcohol was poured down his throat.
The spicy, burning sensation robbed him of his ability to hear sounds from the outside world.
It felt as though his hearing aid had failed.
Or as if he had been plunged back into the days when he was beaten so badly that both of his ears went deaf.
Tilting his face upward, he could only see the cracked ceiling and the lights.
The glare was somewhat harsh, forcing him to narrow his eyes.
His throat swallowed the fiery alcohol mechanically.
And as he swallowed, he thought to himself that since the restaurant ceiling was cracked, maybe someone should fix it.
He had long since mastered the ability to let his mind wander when enduring pain.
Otherwise, what else could he do? He had no idea.
Yet, right as he was debating whether to suggest to the restaurant owner that they repair the cracked ceiling, a clear and pleasant voice pierced through the invisible barrier and fell straight into his ears.
The liquor that had been continuously pouring down his throat suddenly stopped.
Somewhat dazed, he lowered his head.
What met his eyes were the girl’s strands of hair swaying slightly with her movements.
The odors of alcohol and dishes coming from the private dining room were replaced by the pleasant fragrance of her body.
Shen Yanli was completely frozen in place.
Why was the little princess here?
And she had actually splashed wine on President Wang.
President Wang was a notorious local bully who made his living in the construction materials business and kept a gang of thugs on his payroll for the long term.
A sudden knot formed in his throat, and his heart leapt.
President Wang would never let her off.
Sure enough, President Wang stood up, his rolls of fat jiggling as he demanded, “Where the hell did some little brat come from to dare throw wine at me? Do you want to die?”
The greasy man stood a full head taller than Su Ning, his expression fierce and menacing.
Even his words seemed to carry biological weapons.
To say that Su Ning, who had grown up sheltered since childhood, wasn’t scared at all would be a lie.
She instinctively wanted to step back, but she managed to control herself.
Striving to maintain her composure, her eyelashes trembled slightly. “It is you who went too far!”
Shen Yanli frowned slightly.
She was stuttering from fear, yet she still dared to come and save him.
Who gave her such courage?
President Wang looked closer and realized she was an exceptionally pretty girl.
A trace of a smile suddenly appeared in the corners of his eyes. Using his plump hand to wipe the wine off his face, he narrowed his eyes. “Oh! Is the little sister feeling heartbroken? Why don’t you come drink in his place?”
Everyone hanging out with him knew that President Wang batted for both teams as long as someone was pretty and good-looking.
Someone echoed, “That is right! Why don’t you come drink instead? This wine is delicious. The little sister surely hasn’t tried it before, right?”
President Wang laughed loudly. “Hahaha, exactly, it is sweet! If you don’t believe me, ask this handsome young man!”
A cold chill dyed Shen Yanli’s clear, detached gaze.
He reached out and gently pressed down on the girl’s shoulder.
She looked very thin, but her shoulder felt soft to the touch.
With a motion that looked heavy but was actually light, he pushed her away from in front of him, his voice icy cold. “Who are you? Do we know each other?”
Feeling the strength in the young man’s palm, she turned around and looked at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. “We…”
How could this person be so ungrateful?
She was helping him!
Though it was true they didn’t seem to know each other and had only met briefly that afternoon.
Why was he acting so cold?
Seeing the corners of the young girl’s eyes rapidly turn red and moist because of his words, Shen Yanli’s heart sank inexplicably.
Yet, no soft words came from his mouth. “This is my business. You do not need to get involved.”
Still, he softened his tone just a fraction.
“That is right, it is none of your business. He wanted to sell more wine, which is why our President Wang asked him to drink it.”
“Exactly, exactly. One is willing to pour and the other is willing to drink.”
Two women chimed in to persuade her.
It was one thing for the boy to be tormented by President Wang, but if this pretty little girl suffered the same treatment, they wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
Su Ning pieced together the whole story from the two women’s words.
She turned her head and glared fiercely at the greasy middle-aged man. “So what if you have a bit of money? There is nothing great about that!”
Her words carried the distinct flavor of we may be poor, but our self-respect matters just as much.
Just when everyone thought her next sentence would be We do not want your pity, instead they heard her declare: “I have money too!”
Everyone in the private room: “(Speechless)”
Shen Yanli: “(Stunned)”
Su Ning pushed aside the fact that Shen Yanli had just acted cold toward her.
Her older brother’s future was far more important than her suffering a minor grievance right now.
With her slender, fair hand, she directly grabbed hold of Shen Yanli’s wrist. “Let us go! Whatever amount of wine you need to sell, I will buy it right now!”
President Wang hadn’t expected the girl to talk so big.
Just as he was about to say something, the girl had already grabbed the young male waiter and bolted out of the private room, moving as fast as if a ghost were chasing them.
President Wang angrily slammed his palm against the table. “Damn it! I am going to…”
“President Wang~” One of the women leaned against him. “Forget it. Why get so worked up over a waiter? Let me keep you company and have a drink!”
The woman’s spoiled tone diluted some of President Wang’s anger, though he still wanted to track down those two brats.
The other woman stepped closer as well. “President Wang, let us play a drinking game! We haven’t played in ages!”
With both paths blocked, President Wang had no choice but to drop the matter.
He sneered inwardly, vowing not to let those two cross his path again!
Otherwise, he would definitely make them pay!
Su Ning dragged Shen Yanli all the way from the third floor down to the second floor.
Fearing that her brother might run into Shen Yanli, she pulled him down to the first floor and out of the restaurant.
Taking a left turn, she came to a halt in a dimly lit alleyway.
The grip she had on him was very weak.
Her hands were so small that she could only barely manage to wrap her fingers around his wrist.
All he needed to do was apply the slightest bit of force to break free from her restraint.
Yet, Shen Yanli felt as though his body had been possessed, completely beyond his control.
His feet followed her outside entirely of their own accord.
“Did anyone chase us down?”
Su Ning panted as she released Shen Yanli’s wrist, her chest rising and falling.
If she had been by herself, she wouldn’t have been this scared.
She could have just gone straight to find her older brother and father.
But with Shen Yanli in tow, she had no choice but to hide.
There were no lights inside this alley, save for a dim street lamp at the entrance.
The two of them were standing very close right now.
Shen Yanli could clearly feel her breath brushing against his chest, even though he was wearing clothes.
“No.” His voice sounded a bit dry, the fiery burn of the liquor still lingering in his throat.
As the warm, soft sensation of the girl’s touch vanished from his wrist, a strange sense of emptiness filled his heart.
“Good.” Su Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
Straightening her posture, she raised her head with a bright smile and introduced herself formally, “Hello, my name is Su Ning. It is very nice to meet you.”
The hand the girl extended was slender and delicate, glowing white under the dim light.
Yet Shen Yanli did not take her hand, replying only in a detached tone, “Hello.”
They had met twice, and both times she had helped him.
Why?
It must have been out of pity.
And pity was the absolute last thing he needed!
With her cheerful and lively personality, Su Ning had always had plenty of people willing to be friends with her.
She had never encountered a situation where she proactively extended her hand only to have it left hanging.
Still, remembering the young man’s ungrateful attitude just a moment ago, she figured it was no big deal.
Pulling her hand back, she awkwardly curled it into a small fist.
Though she reasoned with herself, her words still carried a fair bit of grievance: “I helped you, and this is the attitude you give me? You are so impolite!”
When she started accusing someone, it sounded remarkably like pouting.
Shen Yanli’s cool gaze landed on her slightly pouting lips.
Her lips were thin and pretty like flower petals, with a clear, rounded Cupid’s bow.
The words I do not need your help sitting on the tip of his tongue twisted and turned until they became, “I am sorry.”
The moment she heard Shen Yanli apologize, the young miss’s tiny displeasure vanished into thin air. Tilting her head, she said, “It is fine! I am magnanimous, so I forgive you!”
The girl looked so cute and coquettish acting like this.
Shen Yanli found it hard to look away.
Then he saw the girl extend her hand once more. “Let us shake hands to signify that we are friends from now on.”
Shen Yanli didn’t understand why Su Ning was so fixated on shaking hands with him.
This time, however, he gently took her hand.
A soft, smooth texture passed from her palm into his, feeling like he was holding a slippery little fish.
Or perhaps like touching a live wire.
An electrical current coursed from his fingers through all his limbs.
A mere second later, he withdrew his hand, desperately suppressing the tremor in his fingertips.
Su Ning was thoroughly satisfied now.
If they were friends now, could being friends with her brother be far behind?
The boy’s hand was very cool, like jade soaked in ice year-round, yet slender and bony.
It was a dream come true for a hand enthusiast.
Not that Su Ning was a hand enthusiast, strictly speaking.
If she had to be honest, she was definitely a face enthusiast.
Since it was currently working hours, getting caught away from her post by the supervisor meant getting fined.
And money, to the Shen Yanli of right now, was something far more important than life itself.
“I am going back to work.”
The boy turned around and began to walk away.
Su Ning called out to him, “Shen Yanli, I just said I would buy your wine. How much do you need me to buy?”
How much did he need her to buy?
Those words were far too easy to misunderstand.
It sounded as whatever amount he wanted her to buy, she would agree to it.
But why? For what reason?
Shen Yanli hadn’t actually taken her offer to buy his wine to heart.
Stopping in his tracks at that moment, he turned back, staring at her with burning eyes as his deep, pleasant voice asked, “And you? What do you need me to do?”