Zhan Rong Xuan and Shen Yan were in Chen Shen’s lounge, drinking coffee.
“Fu Zheng’s little schemes—are you just going to let him climb up using this incident?” Shen Yan asked, looking at Zhan Rong Xuan.
“As long as Xu Yueyao likes it, it doesn’t matter,” Zhan Rong Xuan replied. He recalled the surprise and joy in Xu Yueyao’s eyes, as if she had won the lottery. Was she really that thrilled over such a trivial gain? Zhan Rong Xuan felt dissatisfied. It seemed he hadn’t been good enough to her.
“Forget it. Fu Zheng won’t be able to stir up much trouble anyway.” Shen Yan noticed Chen Shen had been spacing out and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
Chen Shen snapped back to reality and saw both of them staring at him, especially Zhan Rong Xuan. He really wanted to ask if Zhan Rong Xuan was still looking for that girl from back then. But in the end, he said nothing, shaking his head and insisting he was fine.
In the hospital room, Shen Yi and Xu Yueyao stared at each other. Shen Yi remembered his brother’s parting words, telling him to apologize properly to Xu Yueyao. He finally spoke up: “I’m sorry.”
Xu Yueyao looked at the young man before her—fair-skinned, gentle, and slender, with the face of a real-life idol. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of goodwill toward him. However, the original book had given little information about him. She only knew he was Shen Yan’s favorite younger brother and Fu Xiao Si’s close friend. Because of the conflicts between their older brothers, the two had drifted apart, though it seemed Fu Xiao Si still treated him well, often pleading with his brother not to harm Shen Yi.
Xu Yueyao thought she could start by befriending Shen Yi—one breakthrough at a time.
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m really not hurt.” With that, Xu Yueyao removed the bandage from her head herself.
“See? It’s nothing. So, I won’t accept the compensation your brother offered me.” Xu Yueyao said this, but her heart was bleeding. She had no choice—she needed friends, and sincerity was the ultimate weapon for making them.
“Why…?” Shen Yi looked at her in surprise. What puzzled him most was that even Chen Shen had helped her. It seemed all the older brothers were protective of her, which meant Xu Yueyao held some weight in Zhan Shao’s heart. He absolutely couldn’t let Xiao Si hurt her again, or else Xiao Si would truly be in danger.
“I just wanted to make Fu Xiao Si feel guilty so he’d stop bullying me in the future. Shen Yi, can you help me? I really don’t want to be your enemy. If possible, I’d even like to be friends with you all,” Xu Yueyao said sincerely.
“Do you really not like Fu Xiao Si at all?”
“Huh?” Xu Yueyao didn’t understand why he was fixated on this question. Was Fu Xiao Si even comparable to Zhan Rong Xuan? Even if she had to choose with her knees, she wouldn’t pick Fu Xiao Si.
“Of course not. I like Zhan Rong Xuan.” Xu Yueyao reiterated. Did she not seem like she liked Zhan Rong Xuan enough? Why did people keep doubting her?
Shen Yi looked at her but said nothing more. “You should keep the hotel my brother gave you. I’ll try to persuade Xiao Si not to bother you again.”
“Really? Thank you, Shen Yi.” Xu Yueyao thought this younger brother was truly wonderful—like an angel.
By the time Zhan Rong Xuan and Shen Yan returned to the hospital room, Xu Yueyao and Shen Yi were getting along quite harmoniously.Xu Yueyao, to make Shen Yi believe that she truly loved Zhan Rong Xuan, deliberately clung to Zhan Rong Xuan’s arm. She pouted her little mouth, her voice dripping with sweetness as if laced with honey, and with a pitiful look, she said, “Xuan, I was really scared this afternoon. I was so afraid I’d never see you again, hmm… hmm…” After speaking, she rubbed her little face against his arm.
Shen Yan’s mouth fell open. He tugged at Shen Yi and stammered, “Then… we’ll… not disturb you anymore, goodbye.” After saying this, he pulled his younger brother away. Once they had taken a step or two out of the room, he couldn’t help but look back, smiling as if he had discovered something incredible. So, Zhan Shao liked this type of girl. No wonder those high-society young ladies from the business world couldn’t catch Zhan Shao’s eye. Recalling Xu Yueyao’s voice just now, he shuddered, shook off the goosebumps, and led his brother away quickly.
In the room, Xu Yueyao watched the two leave and let out a sigh of relief. Now, Shen Yi must believe that she truly loved Zhan Rong Xuan, right?
Zhan Rong Xuan lowered his head, looking at her darting eyes, and thought of the heartfelt confession she had made in the video. He poked her forehead with his finger, making her release his arm, thinking to himself, Little liar, and said, “Pack up, we’re going home.”
“Going home? Don’t I need another check-up? Don’t I need to stay in the hospital for observation? What if I’ve become stupid from the fall?” Xu Yueyao asked. The brain was a precious thing, and it was especially important to her now, considering she had fallen from such a high staircase. She valued her life dearly.
“Are you sure you need to stay in the hospital? Do you need a check-up?” Zhan Rong Xuan asked. He had never met someone as cunning as her.
Xu Yueyao moved her neck, then her arms and legs. Everything seemed fine. Alright, going home it was. The hospital was nowhere as comfortable as home.
Back at home, Wang Ma looked at Xu Yueyao with concern and asked, “Miss Xu, what happened to you?”
Xu Yueyao shook her head and said, “It’s nothing, Wang Ma. I accidentally took a fall.”
Wang Ma hurriedly helped Xu Yueyao sit on the sofa to rest, poured two glasses of water for her and the young master, and then went to the kitchen to busy herself.
Zhan Rong Xuan leaned back slightly, reclining lazily on the sofa. His expression was indifferent. He sat in the shadows; the ceiling lights were not fully on, and the darkness outlined the contours of his profile, making it appear even more defined. The shadow cast by his eyelashes fell beneath his eyes, accentuating the innate sharpness about him. Looking at the pitiful Xu Yueyao, he said, “I can make those who bullied you leave the school.”
Zhan Rong Xuan looked at the slightly swollen, red wound on her fair forehead. It seemed a bit more serious than before, and he regretted listening to Chen Shen’s advice to bring her home.
Xu Yueyao disagreed. She extended a finger and said, “Give me one more chance. I’ll win them over. After all, by your side, I need some friends with status too.”
Xu Yueyao thought of An Zhiyi, then moved closer to Zhan Rong Xuan. She sat on the carpet at his feet, placed her hand on his leg, and looked up at him. A trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes as she said ingratiatingly, “Zhan Shao, I’m not afraid of others bullying me, but please, don’t you bully me. Even if you have a girl you like and you want me to disappear, I promise I’ll vanish immediately. But you must promise me to protect me and not let anyone harm my life.”After hearing this, Zhan Rong Xuan looked at her delicate features, forcibly suppressing the countless thoughts that had surged up all at once. He reined in his tangled and complex emotions, and only then did his mind gradually clear.
“Did someone say something to you?” Zhan Rong Xuan asked nervously. Could it be that someone had already given her trouble?
Xu Yueyao leaned her head against his leg and said, “No, I was just suddenly feeling emotional. After all, I have no one to rely on here—the only one I can depend on is you.”
Xu Yueyao lowered her head, her eyes slightly moist. She closed her eyes to hold back the tears, thinking of the way An Zhiyi had looked at him that afternoon. She knew they would meet sooner or later, and a faint ache stirred in her heart.
Zhan Rong Xuan gazed at her hair, reaching out as if to touch it, but in the end, he restrained himself.
“Be good, and I will definitely protect you.”
“Okay, I will be very good.” A soft voice sounded. For the first time, Xu Yueyao revealed her vulnerability in front of Zhan Rong Xuan.