The distance was too great for Shen Xiaoxing to hear what they were saying. He only saw the girl reluctantly return the card to the man in front of her, while he clung to her stubbornly, holding her back and refusing to let her leave.
His gaze was as cold as frost. This girl really knew how to attract men!
"Han Chong."
Han Chong in the front seat couldn't help but shiver. "Young Master, your orders."
"Someone's bothering your young mistress. Go, give him a beating."
Han Chong also noticed An Ruo in distress. He nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes."
Over here, An Ruo couldn't shake off Zou Yikai's grip on her hand. Passersby kept glancing over, and she desperately wanted to escape.
But she couldn't push this man away.
Just as she was at a loss, Zou Yikai's shoulder was grabbed from behind, and then a heavy punch landed on his face.
An Ruo froze the moment she saw Han Chong approach.
Zou Yikai, a scholar at heart, couldn't withstand that punch. Not only did his lip bleed, but he stumbled back a few steps and fell to the ground.
He looked utterly pathetic.
"Who are you?"
Han Chong shielded An Ruo with one hand and glared at him expressionlessly. "Stay away from our young mistress!"
"Young mistress?" Zou Yikai was shocked. "You... got married?"
An Ruo didn't know how to explain, but then she thought, this was fine—it would save him from bothering her again.
"Yes. I'm married, and... my husband and I love each other deeply. Don't come looking for me anymore. Let's go back to being strangers."
With that, ignoring his shouts, she walked straight ahead.
"Ruo Ruo, Ruo Ruo..."
Zou Yikai tried to chase after her, but Han Chong immediately raised his hand to block him.
"Master Zou, I advise you to think about the bigger picture," Han Chong said. "If you keep pestering her, be careful—the Shen family will make sure the Zou family can't handle the consequences."
"The Shen family..." Zou Yikai couldn't believe it. "She's the young mistress of your Shen family?"
Han Chong didn't bother with more words. Seeing An Ruo had left, he quickly caught up.
"Young mistress, the young master's car is across the street. Shall we go back together?"
An Ruo looked up across the street and indeed saw a black car parked by the roadside.
"How did he get out?"
Han Chong's heart sank, but he had to lie. "The young master came to the hospital to pick up medicine and had a check-up while he was at it..."
He was a special case; coming to the hospital for a check-up and rehabilitation was normal.
-
Han Chong opened the car door. An Ruo saw the man sitting in the back seat, his eyes closed as if resting. She hesitated for a moment, then finally bent down and got in.
The car started, and the two of them sat in the back seat in silence.
The deathly stillness made An Ruo regret taking this free ride.
She glanced at the time—it was still early. The man beside her exuded an overwhelming presence, and rather than endure the silence, she decided to get off midway.
"Han Chong..." she said softly. "Stop at the intersection ahead, please."
The driver followed her instructions, but the man opened his dark eyes as she pushed the door to get out.
"Where are you going?" he asked in a low voice.
An Ruo was about to close the door when she heard him speak. She pouted and said, "I'm going to the supermarket to buy some daily necessities."
The man didn't answer her, nor did he tell her to go.
Watching his aloof demeanor, An Ruo was about to shut the door when she heard him call out, "Han Chong."
Han Chong immediately understood. He took a wheelchair from the trunk and helped the man sit in it. An Ruo stared blankly at the master and servant.
"You... what are you doing?"
"Haven't you always said I should get some fresh air?" The man's thin lips parted. "I'm in a good mood today. Let's go."
You've got to be kidding me!
She was trying to escape his oppressive presence by going to the mall, and now he was tagging along.
"The mall is too crowded. It'll be noisy."
"It doesn't matter."
Fine.
Since he was willing, what more could she say?
An Ruo pushed him toward the mall, with Han Chong acting as a bodyguard by their side.
"Hey, look... there's a handsome guy over there. He's really good-looking!"
"He is handsome, but his legs..."
"What a shame. He's disabled."
"It seems like he can't see either, or why would he have no expression?"
"Sigh, life's so unfair. Such a handsome guy, and he's disabled. What a waste!"
"But his looks are incredible. Look at that face—so restrained and alluring. One glance and you'd want to have his babies."
"You're so pathetic."
"Being pathetic won't help me catch a handsome guy."
A few passing girls pointed and whispered—some marveling at Shen Xiaoxing's looks, others pitying him, and a few even praising An Ruo for being lucky enough to marry such a handsome husband.
An Ruo couldn't help but roll her eyes. What were these people seeing?
Did her looks not match Shen Xiaoxing's?!
Forget it. She wouldn't bother with them.
She worried that their words might hurt the man emotionally. After all, no one wanted to be in a wheelchair unless they had a screw loose.
He should have been striding confidently down the street, drawing envious glances. Instead, he was stuck in a wheelchair, his eyes shrouded in darkness, trapped in solitude.
"It's less crowded over there. Let's go to the rest area and get some drinks."
Just like the man had said earlier, he was in a good mood today. Miraculously, he didn't snap at her or give her a cold shoulder. Instead, he obediently agreed.
An Ruo looked at the row of drink shops and asked, lowering her head, "Master Shen, do you want some milk tea?"
She almost forgot—this man didn't like sweets.
Just as she was about to change her mind, the man nodded. "Let Han Chong buy it."
Han Chong, standing nearby, asked An Ruo what flavor she wanted.
Watching him walk away, An Ruo found it strange how out of character both master and servant were acting today.