Wen Liyang was kneeling beside Wen Xi, anxiously calling her name. His eyes had already turned red from panic.
At that moment, a figure dropped down from above. Han Tao came over and crouched beside her, reaching out to touch Wen Xi’s forehead.
He turned back to Shao Kunye and said, “Young Master Shao, it seems like she has a fever.”
Shao Kunye glanced at Wen Xi, whose eyes were closed and whose face was flushed.
Han Tao understood the look in his eyes and explained, “She really fainted.”
Shao Kunye clicked his tongue.
What a nuisance.
After a moment of silence, Han Tao said, “People from the Jiang Family must be keeping an eye on her. If we leave her here, they might come and take her away immediately.”
Shao Kunye didn’t say anything, but the impatience on his face deepened.
Han Tao asked carefully, “How about we take her back first and talk about it later?”
Shao Kunye neither agreed nor refused. Han Tao knew that meant consent, so he carried Wen Xi back to the car.
“Young Master Shao, the fever is caused by the high temperature and her weak immunity. I’ve already given her an IV drip. We’ll change the medicine in an hour.”
The family doctor came out of the room and reported to the man standing on the balcony.
Shao Kunye exhaled a puff of smoke. “What’s with the injuries on her body?”
At the mention of that, the doctor’s expression became more complicated.
“The scars on this young lady’s body were left by cigarette burns and tools like sticks. They look like they’ve been there for quite a few years.”
She didn’t say it outright, but it was obvious that Wen Xi had suffered long-term abuse.
Naturally, Shao Kunye understood. He turned to look at Wen Xi on the bed. She lay beneath the blanket like a thin sheet of paper. Although she was clearly an adult, her body looked no more developed than that of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl. She was pitifully skinny.
Since the Jiang Family had even been capable of giving Wen Xi away, those injuries were most likely their doing.
Wen Liyang was guarding Wen Xi’s side, quietly sobbing.
Shao Kunye frowned at the noise. “Are you done crying? Cry again and I’ll throw you out.”
Wen Liyang’s crying dropped several degrees, though his eyes were still red.
When the mother and son cried, they really looked exactly the same.
“What’s there to cry about? She’s not going to die,” Shao Kunye said indifferently. “If your mother dies, I’ll make sure you go down and be buried with her.”
Seeing that his father didn’t care about his mother at all and even said such harsh words, Wen Liyang’s cheeks puffed up in anger.
“It’s all because of you that Mom fainted!”
Shao Kunye looked as if he had heard a joke. “Because of me?”
Wen Liyang sniffed, feeling wronged. “That night when you took Mom away, the bad woman got very angry. She beat Mom and made her do lots and lots of work. That’s why Mom got sick.”
The “bad woman” he was talking about was Jiang Tinglu.
Shao Kunye crossed his legs and leaned lazily against the sofa. “Isn’t that your mom’s own fault? If people treat her badly, why doesn’t she run?”
Wen Liyang rubbed his nose. “Mom can’t run away. Grandpa Jiang and the others would never let Mom leave.”
Shao Kunye raised an eyebrow.
Wen Liyang said softly, “Mom tried to take me away once before. Uncle Jiang found people to catch us and bring us back. They even locked us up for a very, very long time. After that, Mom didn’t dare run away anymore.”
Most people would be eager to get rid of burdens, yet Jiang Songde seemed to be doing the opposite.
He certainly didn’t look like someone kind enough to raise Wen Xi and Wen Liyang.
Shao Kunye’s gaze gradually darkened.
Wen Xi slept unconscious for an entire day before finally waking up. Her throat was so dry it felt like it was about to crack.
As soon as she opened her eyes, Wen Liyang rushed over.
“Mom, you’re awake!”
His eyes were red, as if he had been crying.
Wen Xi patted his head. “Don’t be afraid. Mom is fine.”
Wen Liyang helplessly threw himself into her arms and hugged her waist tightly.
Wen Xi looked around. The surroundings were completely unfamiliar, and everywhere her eyes landed seemed to radiate wealth.
She blinked. “Liyang, where is this?”
Wen Liyang answered in his soft, childish voice, “This is Dad’s house. Dad brought us back.”
Wen Xi looked around the room again. The house was enormous. Even the wealthy Jiang Family couldn’t compare to this place.
In the end, Shao Kunye had still brought them back.
When Wen Liyang saw Wen Xi suddenly smile, he blinked in confusion.
“Mom, why are you smiling?”
Wen Xi lifted her head. The smile at the corner of her lips disappeared, replaced by a pale expression. She shook her head.
“It’s nothing. Can you pour Mom a glass of water?”
Wen Liyang nodded obediently and jumped off the bed to pour her some water.
“Splash—”
Shao Kunye stepped out of the bathtub. Water streamed down his strong and well-built body. In the mirror, a set of striking scratch marks could be seen on his chest.
Like they had been made by a cat.
Though it really was similar to a cat. Even if things got rough, she would only let out restrained sobs. Her voice never got loud; she would only tremble continuously.
The image of Wen Xi crying and begging him pitifully last night surfaced in his mind. The air around him seemed to heat up, and when Shao Kunye lowered his head, a certain part of him had already reacted.
“Tsk.”
He now suspected that Jiang Songde might have drugged him in his food as well. Otherwise, why would he react whenever he thought about that woman?
Shao Kunye casually grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist before leaving the bathroom.
He went downstairs to the living room to get some water. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a frail figure wandering in the kitchen.
Wen Xi had tied up her hair, revealing a section of her fair neck. The apron tied around her waist was a size too large, making her waist look even slimmer and more delicate. Her cheeks were flushed, either because she hadn’t fully recovered from her illness or because the kitchen was too hot.
At that moment, Wen Xi was stir-frying dishes while Wen Liyang bustled around beside her, helping.
Shao Kunye crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway, lazily asking, “What are you doing?”
The sudden voice startled Wen Xi. She turned around and saw Shao Kunye standing behind her.
Wen Xi nervously gripped the spatula. “I… I’m making dinner for you.”
Her soft hair stuck to her cheeks because of sweat, making her look even more obedient and youthful. It was hard to believe she was an adult.
Shao Kunye glanced at the dining table. Several dishes had already been placed there, and he had even seen one or two of them before at the Jiang Family.
As expected of someone used to suffering. Even while sick, she could still get up and cook.
“Are you hungry?” Wen Xi asked, her clear and clean eyes fixed on him. “It’ll be ready soon. Please wait a moment.”
After speaking, she sped up her movements, afraid of making Shao Kunye wait too long.
Five minutes later, a plentiful dinner was placed on the dining table.
Shao Kunye sat at the main seat. Chopsticks and a bowl were placed in front of him. On the table were five meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a soup.
Wen Xi didn’t know what Shao Kunye liked to eat. Seeing that there were plenty of ingredients in the refrigerator, she had made several extra dishes.
When Shao Kunye didn’t pick up his chopsticks for a long time, Wen Xi suddenly realized something and hurriedly explained.
“I didn’t poison it…”
Shao Kunye snorted coldly.
Even if Wen Xi had ten times the courage, she wouldn’t dare do such a thing.
Under Wen Xi’s increasingly uneasy gaze, Shao Kunye finally picked up his chopsticks and tasted the stuffed eggplant with minced meat in front of him.
Wen Xi asked cautiously, “How does it taste?”
Shao Kunye lifted his eyelids and saw Wen Xi looking at him expectantly.
He raised an eyebrow. “If I say it doesn’t taste good, what will you do?”
Wen Xi didn’t seem discouraged at all. She answered seriously, “I can make it again.”
When she shouldn’t be afraid of him, she was terrified. But when she should be afraid, she wasn’t afraid at all.
Shao Kunye snorted. “Barely edible.”
That meant it tasted pretty good.
A small trace of joy rose in Wen Xi’s heart.
Since Shao Kunye didn’t say it tasted bad, it should mean it was acceptable, right?
Besides, she remembered that when he had been at the Jiang Family before, he had eaten quite a few dishes she cooked. He should have been somewhat satisfied with her cooking skills.
He had said he didn’t lack servants. But maybe he lacked a cook?
Since coming downstairs, Wen Xi hadn’t seen a fourth person in the villa. Shao Kunye probably lived here alone. If she could make herself useful, perhaps he would be willing to let her and the child stay here.
Shao Kunye watched as Wen Xi’s expression changed from happiness to worry and then to secret delight. Even a magician’s face couldn’t change as quickly as hers.
Her little thoughts were practically written all over her face.
Trying to please him with dinner so she could stay.
Shao Kunye was too lazy to bother with it. His finger tapped lightly on the table.
“You two aren’t eating?”
Wen Xi quickly waved her hand. “It’s okay. We’ll eat after you finish.”
Shao Kunye had only asked casually. Seeing that Wen Xi misunderstood, he didn’t bother explaining.
Whether Wen Xi ate or not had nothing to do with him.
At that moment, Shao Kunye’s phone rang. It was a call from Dou Jingming.
Last time their conversation had been suddenly interrupted. This time Dou Jingming was asking him out to continue discussing the unfinished business.
When Wen Xi saw Shao Kunye stand up, his tall figure suddenly felt very imposing.
She subconsciously stepped back and clenched her fingers. Just as she was hesitating about how to bring up the matter of staying, Shao Kunye didn’t give her a chance to speak and walked out directly.
Inside the smoke-filled private room, Dou Jingming was leaning against the sofa drinking.
When he saw Shao Kunye push open the door and come in, he swirled the wine glass in his hand.
“You’re here?”
Shao Kunye sat down on the sofa. “Where did we stop last time?”
“Da Costa wants to buy Bremelanotide from you.”
Da Costa was Dou Jingming’s boss and lived overseas. Dou Jingming had flown back to the country specifically to discuss business with Shao Kunye, but their conversation had been interrupted last time by a phone call from Director Chen.
Shao Kunye said, “He wants to make medicine?”
“You know his country has a massive market for aphrodisiac drugs. The annual trading volume can reach tens of billions,” Dou Jingming said. “Because of that, the amount he wants this time is quite large.”
Looking at the number of fingers Dou Jingming raised, Shao Kunye crossed his legs.
“One ton?”
Dou Jingming said, “That shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”
Shao Kunye said calmly, “When does he want it?”
“The sooner the better.”
That meant it was urgent.
Shao Kunye said, “I don’t have much stock on hand. I’ll have to ask the old man in my family for it.”
Dou Jingming nodded. “Alright. I’ll wait for your news.”
After the business was settled, Shao Kunye stood up to leave.
At that moment, a staggering woman suddenly crashed toward him. Before she could touch him, Han Tao stepped forward and blocked her.
Dou Jingming grabbed the woman’s hair and looked at her. Her face was flushed, her eyes unfocused and hazy. It was obvious she wasn’t conscious.
Dou Jingming raised an eyebrow. “Drugged?”
In a place full of all kinds of people like this, being drugged wasn’t strange at all. In fact, it was quite common.
Before long, a man came over. He grabbed the woman roughly.
“How did you run over here? Come with me!”
The woman didn’t resist at all and was quickly dragged away.
Han Tao noticed the pill in the man’s hand. It was exactly the same as the one Jiang Songde had given Shao Kunye that day.
Han Tao subconsciously glanced at Shao Kunye.
Shao Kunye sneered.
Jiang Songde’s business was really expanding more and more. Even his territory had been infiltrated by “Liaoyuan.”
Thinking back to what Wen Xi had said about Jiang Songde drugging him, a trace of coldness flashed in Shao Kunye’s eyes.
When they left the nightclub, Han Tao hesitated before speaking.
“Young Master Shao, if you want to get the goods from the Elder, I’m afraid it won’t go so smoothly.”
Recently, Shao Kunye hadn’t been getting along well with the Elder. The Elder was getting old, and his health hadn’t been good for the past two years. Because of that, his desire for a great-grandchild had grown stronger.
But Shao Kunye had no intention of starting a family at all.
The last time they met at a dinner table, they had parted on bad terms and hadn’t spoken since.
If Shao Kunye went to get goods now, the Elder would definitely use the matter of marriage to threaten him.
Shao Kunye leaned back in his seat. Under the dim lights, his eyes flickered with shadows and light. The corner of his lips curved into a meaningful smile.
By the time he returned to the villa, it was already past midnight.
When Shao Kunye entered the house, the living room was pitch black.
He looked around but didn’t see the familiar figures of the mother and child.
Just then, something white flashed past his eyes in the courtyard.
Shao Kunye walked toward the abandoned doghouse and saw Wen Xi and Wen Liyang curled up inside it, sleeping. The big and the small huddled together, leaning against each other.
Neither of them even had a blanket.