After applying the medicine, it was getting late. He Su stood up and walked into the bathroom.
Listening to the sound of running water, Shen Xingrou breathed a slight sigh of relief. She wanted to find a charger to turn on her phone, but suddenly remembered she was running away from home and couldn't reveal her whereabouts.
So she gave up on charging and sat slumped on the sofa, surveying this monotonous apartment.
It wasn't even as big as the kitchen at Mingyuan. She really wondered how this man could be so poor!
Before long, the bathroom door opened, and He Su came out casually with a towel wrapped around his lower body.
Shen Xingrou immediately let out an "Ah!" and covered her eyes. "You... why aren't you wearing clothes!?"
With a grim expression, He Su went back to the bathroom and grabbed a bathrobe to put on. He'd momentarily forgotten there was still a young girl in the house.
"What are you screaming about? Never seen a man before?" He Su wanted to say: Haven't you seen those two beasts in your own family? But thinking about it, considering she was still young and had been raised with some legal education, he chose to keep his mouth shut on some things.
"Charge your phone and call your dad to send someone to pick you up."
Shen Xingrou hid her phone behind her back. "My phone... those guys threw it away."
He Su clicked his tongue in irritation, then handed her his own phone. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up."
"I don't remember their numbers."
"Then I'll contact your brother." Luckily, he had that bastard Shen Tingfeng's number, but... unless absolutely necessary, he really didn't want to call him.
That bastard had beaten him up, and since he had nothing better to do these days, calling him would be digging his own grave, wouldn't it?
Before he could dial, Shen Xingrou shouted anxiously, "Don't call!"
He Su looked at her, confused.
"I ran away from home..." Shen Xingrou bit her lip and told the truth. "I don't want to go back so soon."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"I'll give you another five hundred thousand. Let me stay here."
He Su: "How long?"
"About a week."
He Su's face lit up with joy. He nodded slightly. "Fine, stay as long as you want." After a pause, he added, "You ran away on your own. When your dad's people come looking, don't drag me into it."
"Don't worry. I'll take responsibility for my own actions. I won't involve you."
"You damn well better not involve me!" He Su shot her a glare. Typical rebellious teenager, threatening her parents by running away from home.
Just now, with the situation she'd gotten into, if he'd passed by a step later, tomorrow's headlines would definitely be about a teenage girl found dead on the street—and gang-raped at that!
He shook his head. Why did he have to meddle? This girl was rich but dumb; he should take advantage of her down-and-out state to squeeze out as much money as possible.
After all, the Shen family, except for Shen Xiaoxing—that guy who prioritized women over friends—had no one decent. Especially their second branch, every single one of them was utterly heartless!
Shen Xingrou took off her watch. "This is a watch my dad bought me in Italy. It's said to be the same model as the royal family's, worth seven hundred thousand..."
Before she could finish, the watch was snatched away by the man.
He Su rubbed his thumb over the watch face's texture. The outer ring was set with diamonds—clearly an expensive luxury item.
Those thugs didn't know what they had. Why bother cornering her and forcing her into illegal acts? A few sweet words to trick her out of her valuables would've worked—she was practically a glittering little princess!
Seeing his reaction, Shen Xingrou rolled her eyes in exasperation. If she didn't need a favor from him, she'd never give him her beloved watch.
"Can I stay?"
"Yeah." He Su thought for a moment. "But this little place of mine isn't like the Shen residence. No servants fawning over you. I'm on duty during the day and don't eat at home, so you'll have to handle dinner yourself."
"I'll add another four hundred thousand. You come back every day to cook for me, or hire a maid." Shen Xingrou placed the necklace from around her neck on the table.
He Su raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"
"Serious about what?"
"Running away from home."
Shen Xingrou, now in a position of power, had the final say. "Of course I'm serious."
"Why?"
"Why should I tell you?"
He Su's mouth twitched stiffly as he held back the urge to curse. He nodded. "Fine, I won't ask. You pay, I deliver. Neither of us meddles in the other's private affairs."
"I need to add one thing." Shen Xingrou crossed her arms and looked at him. "You're not allowed to tell my brother I'm staying here. You're closest to him. If he finds out and takes me home, you won't get a single cent of this money!"
Little brat, daring to threaten him!
"As long as the money's enough, I'll keep my mouth shut."
"And I'm hungry. You need to prepare some food for me."
"Want some shit?" He Su smirked. "Sorry, don't have any on hand right now. But if you're in a hurry, I can take a fresh dump."
"..."
Shen Xingrou rolled her eyes dramatically. "Do you still want the money or not?"
"Wait here."
...
He Su stood in the kitchen, annoyed. Why had he agreed to cook for this little girl? He couldn't do anything!
After a moment's thought, he started working...
Shen Xingrou curled up on the sofa watching TV. There wasn't even a snack or fruit on the table. She wondered what kind of primitive life this guy was living.
Half an hour passed, and her stomach kept growling. Just as she was about to call out and ask if he was done, the kitchen door opened, and a rich aroma wafted over...
"Eat up." He Su placed a plate of egg-fried rice in front of her.
Shen Xingrou stared at the yellow-and-red concoction. "What's this?" It smelled good, but she'd never seen it on the Shen family's dining table.
"It won't kill you."
He Su sat to the side, remote in hand, changing channels.
The girl picked up the spoon, sniffed it cautiously, and took a small bite.
Seeing her wary demeanor, He Su let out a cold snort.
So inexperienced!
Shen Xingrou had thought the man had made some dark culinary creation to mess with her, but it actually tasted pretty good. The flavor was a bit unusual, but it was still quite fragrant.
"What's this?"
"Egg-fried rice." He Su lazily held the remote, glancing over. Noticing she kept picking out the carrot pieces, he raised an eyebrow. "You like carrots?"
Shen Xingrou's mouth was stuffed full of food, making her look like a sneaky rabbit, cheeks puffed out as she nodded. "Mm."
He Su looked away. This girl wasn't so annoying after all—just too spoiled, in need of a harsh lesson from society!
Full and satisfied, Shen Xingrou let out a burp. She instinctively covered her mouth and stole a glance at He Su.
The man was looking at his phone, too lazy to notice her lapse in manners.
"I'm sleepy. Where do I sleep?"
"The sofa, obviously. You think you're getting the bed?"
Shen Xingrou's eyes widened. "I gave you that much money, and you're making me sleep on the sofa?"
"..." He Su probably realized that was going too far. Having swindled so much cash from this silly rabbit, he generously gave up the bedroom.
"You take the room. I'll sleep in the living room."
He Su went to the bedroom, grabbed a blanket, and came back out, waving his hand. "There's a clean blanket inside. Find one yourself. Don't bother me anymore."
This guy turned on her as soon as he got what he wanted!
Shen Xingrou hopped on one leg into what was originally his bedroom.
A faint, cool scent lingered in the air, the same one she'd smelled on him when he carried her on his back.
Shen Xingrou hopped to the bed, too exhausted to look for a blanket.
A few minutes later, the man suddenly walked in, pulled a clean blanket from the wardrobe, and spread it out for her. Just as Shen Xingrou was about to gratefully praise him, she heard:
"That'll be a thousand for making the bed."
"..."