Han Tao furrowed his brows. He had never expected that Wen Xi, having just arrived, would be bullied to this extent by the Jiang Family in such a short time.
He walked over and helped Wen Xi to her feet.
Wen Xi shivered. When she saw it was Han Tao, the tension in her body eased slightly. Her voice was hoarse and quiet. “Mr. Han… I’ve caused you trouble.”
Han Tao paused.
He had thought she might be angry at him for not coming sooner.
Wen Xi’s whole body felt weak, barely able to stand. Han Tao simply picked her up and grabbed the luggage bag that had fallen to the side.
Turning around, he looked at the startled Jiang Songde and the others with an impassive expression. “President Jiang, you can explain today’s events to Young Master Shao yourself.”
After speaking, he left the Villa with Wen Xi. Not a single person dared to stop them.
It wasn’t because of Han Tao alone, but because of Shao Kunye behind him.
Thinking back to Han Tao’s words before leaving, Jiang Songde grew nervous.
He had never expected Shao Kunye to send his own subordinate to accompany Wen Xi back!
But it made sense—after what had happened at the hotel, there was no way Shao Kunye would let Wen Xi go back alone.
He had underestimated Wen Xi’s value in Shao Kunye’s eyes, thinking that Shao Kunye didn’t care about her at all.
“Old Jiang, what do we do?” Fan Xuezhen panicked. “Wen Xi won’t tell Shao Kunye, will she?”
They had almost gotten the information they wanted from her just moments ago.
Jiang Songde’s face darkened. “Why panic? Right now, we are in a cooperative relationship with Shao Kunye. He won’t break ties with us easily.”
“Besides, Wen Xi is our Jiang Family member. What right does Shao Kunye have to interfere in our family matters?”
Yet the unease grew stronger. Jiang Songde turned to Jiang Tinglu, scolding angrily, “I told you not to act impulsively! You had to wield the knife, and now look—if Young Master Shao asks, how will we explain this?”
Jiang Tinglu hurriedly said, “I only wanted to scare her, who knew she’d really get hurt!”
She had been holding the knife at a distance, yet somehow Wen Xi had managed to get scratched.
Earlier, she had a vague feeling that Wen Xi had deliberately bumped into her.
But Wen Xi wasn’t foolish; she wouldn’t intentionally harm anyone.
Jiang Tinglu’s mind was in turmoil; she couldn’t explain what had actually happened.
The car ride was quiet. Han Tao glanced in the rearview mirror at Wen Xi, who had not spoken a word since getting in.
“Are you okay?”
Hearing the voice, Wen Xi snapped back and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Han Tao asked, “Do you want me to take you to the hospital to get that checked?”
Only then did Wen Xi realize he meant the wound on her wrist. She looked at it and spoke softly, “No need. I’ve been injured before. It will heal by itself—no need to waste money.”
She seemed as though she had long been used to it. Han Tao was silent for a moment. “They hit you often?”
Wen Xi shook her head calmly. “Not always.”
Most of the time, they treated her as invisible; only when they were displeased did she become a punching bag.
She lowered her gaze, hugging her luggage bag silently, staring out the window. A quiet, fragile aura radiated from her.
Han Tao observed her through the rearview mirror.
He had always thought Wen Xi was delicate, but if she were truly that weak, how could she have survived in the Jiang Family for so many years?
Two hours later, Han Tao returned Wen Xi to Shao Kunye’s Villa.
“Mr. Han, thank you for today,” Wen Xi said, her voice still hoarse.
Han Tao replied, “It’s nothing. I was following Young Master Shao’s orders.”
He had considered telling her she could have sought him out earlier, but judging from the Jiang Family’s demeanor, she probably wouldn’t have had the chance.
Wen Xi carried the luggage bag back into the Villa, her frame light and small, as if a gust of wind could knock her over.
After Wen Xi returned, Han Tao drove off to report back to Shao Kunye.
When Han Tao arrived in Tiger City, Shao Kunye had just finished a meeting.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke. Without looking up, Shao Kunye said, “You brought her back after getting her things?”
“Yes.”
Han Tao, unusually hesitant, paused. Shao Kunye glanced at him. “If you have something to say, say it. Don’t stammer.”
Han Tao hesitated a moment, then recounted what had happened at the Jiang Family.
Shao Kunye’s brow twitched slightly. “You said Jiang Songde was pressuring Wen Xi?”
Han Tao paused. He had thought Shao Kunye would be concerned about Wen Xi’s wounds, but then realized that if it weren’t for using Wen Liyang to block Elder’s mouth, neither mother nor son might have stayed.
He nodded. “I heard Miss Wen say she didn’t know, but I don’t know the specifics.”
Interesting.
The Jiang Family’s actions clearly weren’t out of concern for Wen Xi—they wanted something from her.
Recalling the report from the man by Chen Jinpeng’s side that night, he had mentioned that the Jiang Family wanted something from Wen Xi.
Shao Kunye’s interest was piqued.
He was curious what secret Wen Xi held that made the Jiang Family go to such lengths.
At that moment, Shao Kunye’s phone rang.
Han Tao saw him glance at the screen and gave a faint, knowing smirk.
He guessed who it was, checking the caller ID—sure enough, it was Jiang Songde.
Shao Kunye didn’t bother answering, slipping the phone into his pocket. He stood. “Take me back.”
“Yes.”
Shao Kunye returned to the Villa in the early hours of the morning.
The living room lights were on. A thin, fragile figure was curled up on the sofa.
Wen Xi leaned against the sofa’s backrest, asleep, eyelashes distinct. She wore the oversized T-shirt, her small frame making her look even more delicate and pitiful.
It was midsummer, and Wen Xi’s skin was fair. Shao Kunye immediately noticed the scar on her wrist.
The bleeding had stopped, leaving a prominent mark.
Sensing his presence, Wen Xi’s eyelashes twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Meeting his deep black gaze, she shivered and sat up abruptly. “Y-you’re back?”
Being close, she smelled a faint trace of alcohol on him.
“Have you eaten?” Wen Xi asked cautiously. “I can heat up some food for you.”
Shao Kunye held a cigarette in his mouth. “I’ve eaten.”
“Oh.” Wen Xi’s face fell slightly.
She wished she hadn’t cooked so many dishes.
Her small, careful thoughts were clearly written on her face, all noticed by Shao Kunye.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t eaten at home—what was there to worry about? It wasn’t Wen Xi’s money spent.
Besides, he was used to the house being empty and had long forgotten that a little troublemaker had moved in, cooking for him every day.
Shao Kunye spoke lazily, “I heard the Jiang Family bullied you today?”
Wen Xi guessed Han Tao must have told him. She lowered her eyes, voice soft. “Uncle Jiang asked if my father left me a chip when he passed away.”
Shao Kunye’s brow twitched. “A chip?”
Wen Xi muttered, “I don’t know what chip, or where it is. I don’t understand why they asked me.”
Shao Kunye raised an eyebrow.
As expected, the Jiang Family wanted something from Wen Xi.
But seeing her fragile, bewildered expression, she truly seemed to know nothing.
Shao Kunye didn’t ask further. He went upstairs, casually calling Han Tao. “Check Wen Xi’s identity for me.”