Chapter 16

“Shen Kuo, wait a minute, this girl… she looks familiar.”

Wu Qiang finished speaking, stood up, and walked towards them.

Lu Yan shifted her gaze and noticed that the hand Shen Kuo had placed on her shoulder tightened slightly. He instinctively pulled her closer to his side.

Wu Qiang and Zhao Shen, along with their group, approached, eyeing the girl behind Shen Kuo. Wu Qiang smiled and said, “She really does look familiar. Wasn’t she at the fire scene the other day? I think she was standing with that brat, Lu Zhen. Could she be his girlfriend?”

Seeing that Lu Yan had been recognized, Shen Kuo immediately pulled her forward, using one hand to push aside the hair by her ear, while the other hand cupped the back of her head, pretending to examine her closely.

His actions were somewhat rough, and Lu Yan could feel the skin on her ear being tugged painfully.

He held her face and studied her for a few seconds, then turned back and said, “Oh, I know this girl.”

Wu Qiang looked at Shen Kuo, a hint of meaning in his eyes: “Little Shen, you know her?”

“Lu Zhen’s sister, she’s a bit slow, and was even trafficked once, only just got found recently.”

Lu Yan understood Shen Kuo’s intention and quickly hid behind him, clutching his arm and pretending to be frightened, trembling in fear.

“Slow? Doesn’t look like it?” Zhao Shen walked over and leaned in to observe Lu Yan closely. Unexpectedly, Lu Yan grabbed a nearby wine glass and threw it in his face.

“Hahaha!” She clapped her hands and laughed loudly. “This is so fun!”

Even Shen Kuo was startled.

This girl’s fiery temper was just like Lu Zhen’s—sudden and sharp, clearly an act of revenge. However… her acting was surprisingly on point, she played the fool so convincingly.

“Damn it, this idiot…”

Zhao Shen, now with wine splashed all over his face, was clearly annoyed. He stepped forward and grabbed Lu Yan, saying, “You’re asking for it!”

Lu Yan hid behind Shen Kuo, peeking out from behind him with one large, dark eye, glaring at him warily—she looked just like a child.

Unlike Zhao Shen, who was quick to act, Wu Qiang was more observant. He had been watching Lu Yan’s movements and expressions closely.

“There aren’t many fools who come to the nightclub,” he said coldly. “Shen Kuo, are you sure she’s mentally challenged? She heard everything we just said.”

Shen Kuo retorted, “What did we just talk about?”

Wu Qiang smirked.

He knew that Shen Kuo was a sharp guy, and dealing with him required extreme caution.

“Since this little fool has come to our nightclub, we should at least show her some hospitality, treat her properly.”

After finishing his sentence, Wu Qiang signaled to his subordinates to take Lu Yan away.

Lu Yan tightly clung to Shen Kuo’s arm and called out softly, “Uncle Shen…”

Shen Kuo could tell that the girl was genuinely scared.

“Still calling ‘uncle’? Seems like she’s really a fool,” Zhao Shen laughed, looking at Shen Kuo. “Shen Kuo, with so many people here, she’s only holding onto you and won’t let go.”

Wu Qiang half-jokingly said, “Don’t be jealous. Who told us little Shen here is so good-looking? Look at these girls around me, as soon as he shows up, their eyes just follow him, like hungry wolves spotting a fat piece of meat.”

Shen Kuo casually smiled, his hand falling to Lu Yan’s face. He mischievously pinched her cheek. “Otherwise, why would she be called a fool? Who doesn’t know that I’ve got a rocky relationship with her brother?”

Wu Qiang told his men, “Take her to the private room. Anyway, she’s a fool, not like she can go out and talk nonsense .”

“Is that really necessary, Brother Qiang?” 

Shen Kuo gave him a sharp glance and spoke slowly, “Her father, Lu Jian, isn’t someone you want to mess with. We’re doing business here, it’s better to be on good terms with the Lu family. No need to make enemies over some momentary fun.”

Wu Qiang twirled an empty porcelain cup in his hand, thinking for a moment, weighing Shen Kuo’s words. “Let her go, but to be safe, we need to test her. See if she really doesn’t understand anything.”

Shen Kuo’s gaze sharpened, “How are you planning to test her?”

Wu Qiang lit a cigarette, then held the burning tip close to Lu Yan’s face. “Since she’s a fool, she won’t be afraid of getting disfigured.”

Lu Yan could feel the scorching heat of the cigarette tip inching closer to her face. Her large, dark eyes blinked innocently, her face calm and unaffected, as if she had no idea what they were planning.

Inside, she was on the verge of breaking down.

If the cigarette burned her face, she would be disfigured for sure… but the situation now was, if she didn’t hold on, her life might not be spared.

These guys weren’t harmless, they’d already done something as terrifying as starting a fire. Killing someone probably wouldn’t be a big deal for them!

Lu Yan’s mind was resolute, feeling like ^[1]“The wind is bleak, and the river is cold” (风萧萧兮易水寒) originates from an ancient Chinese poem. It symbolizes a sense of impending doom, sacrifice, or the acceptance of a … Continue reading“the wind is bleak, and the river is cold,” a sense of finality overtaking her. After all, she had gotten into their hands today.

As long as she could bring these people to justice, let her face get disfigured. At worst… she could always go for some minor cosmetic surgery later, and have Lu Zhen pay for it to arrange the best treatment!

Just when things were at their most critical, Shen Kuo grabbed the cigarette from Wu Qiang’s hand and pressed the burning tip into his own hand, extinguishing it on his back.

The sizzling sound of flesh burning was followed by a sharp cry of pain from Wu Qiang.

Shen Kuo grabbed Lu Yan’s wrist, pulling her along as they ran, darting into the chaotic crowd in the dance hall.

Wu Qiang quickly reacted, shouting at the men at the door, “Stop them!”

A few men rushed to stand in front of Shen Kuo, blocking his way, some even pulling out knives.

Shen Kuo’s skills were exceptional. With ease, he protected Lu Yan and quickly took care of the group of men.

Lu Yan was panicked and scared. In the chaos, she couldn’t see anything, stumbling as she followed him out.

They rushed through the narrow stairway and out of the chaotic nightclub, the heavy, smoky air quickly replaced by the fresh, post-rain atmosphere.

Shen Kuo pulled Lu Yan’s wrist forcefully, leading her as they ran down the entertainment street.

Wu Qiang’s men followed closely, intent on not letting them escape.

Of course, they couldn’t let them go. Right now, Shen Kuo and Lu Yan were holding leverage on Wu Qiang, and tonight would likely end with them either dead or captured.

Lu Yan was not in the best physical condition. After running nearly a kilometer, she leaned against the wall, gasping for air. “I can’t… keep going, Uncle Shen. I… I can’t run anymore. Don’t worry about me.”

Shen Kuo looked back, then pulled her into a dark alley.

The alley was so narrow that only one person could pass at a time. Shen Kuo pressed Lu Yan against the wall, his warm body pressing into hers, completely enveloping her petite frame in his arms.

The men chasing them ran past, looking around in every direction for their figures but didn’t notice the narrow alley.

Lu Yan’s back was pressed against the uneven wall, with Shen Kuo’s hard chest in front of her. She felt like she was being squeezed like a sandwich.

Shen Kuo’s hand pressed the back of her head, guiding her face into his chest. He carefully turned his head to glance at the alley entrance.

The men seemed to have run far, but Shen Kuo didn’t let go of Lu Yan.

She turned her head with difficulty and looked toward the alley entrance, asking in a soft voice, “Did they leave?”

Shen Kuo’s expression was dark, and he didn’t answer.

Lu Yan felt the tension radiating from him. She looked up at him in surprise and said, “Shen…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Kuo suddenly grabbed her collar and forcefully pushed her back against the wall.

Her back slammed against the uneven surface of the wall, and she cried out, “Ow! That hurts! What are you doing?”

Shen Kuo’s deep brown eyes were filled with faint anger. His hand tightened around her collar as he spoke in a harsh voice, “Who the hell told you to go to that place?”

“I… I came to find you,” she stammered.

“Who told you to look for me?”

Lu Yan didn’t understand why Shen Kuo was suddenly so angry. She quickly tried to explain, “I just wanted to return the hundred to you. I…”

Her words got stuck in her throat when she felt Shen Kuo’s body trembling slightly, his muscles shaking all over.

He seemed… afraid.

Lu Yan had never seen Shen Kuo look so terrified. He was Shen Kuo—the man with ruthless thoughts and deadly methods, the man who didn’t believe in fate or the heavens. Could he really be afraid?

It made sense, though. It had been truly dangerous earlier, and they had almost lost their lives. Any normal person would be scared in that situation.

Lu Yan reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, gently patting his back. “Uncle Shen, don’t be afraid. It’s okay now.”

Shen Kuo’s whole body stiffened, but his heart softened.

God only knew how terrified he had been when he saw Wu Qiang treat her like that.

He had once dug a hole in the dirt of his heart and buried all his sincerity, love, and desires deep inside.

He could talk to people as if he were one of them, speak to ghosts as if he were their own, charming and manipulative in every situation. But just now, everything he had carefully built shattered in an instant.

He couldn’t care about anything else. If Wu Qiang burned her face with the cigarette, Shen Kuo wanted his life.

At this moment, Lu Yan had no idea that Shen Kuo was worried about her. She thought he was just frightened by the men, so she gently patted his back, trying to soothe him. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t be scared.”

“Lu Yan, let go of me.”

His voice was deep and husky.

Lu Yan obediently let go of him. The alley was narrow, and standing together, they felt somewhat cramped.

Lu Yan’s eyes naturally met Shen Kuo’s chest. Even though he was wearing clothes, she could still see the outlines of his muscles beneath the thin fabric.

She turned her head, her face brushing against his neck.

The air around them carried the damp smell of moss-covered stone walls in the alley, a faint scent of tobacco from his body, and a hint of traditional medicine from his clothes… the mixture was somewhat strange, yet not unpleasant.

Standing so close together, the atmosphere between them grew subtly tense. Without knowing why, Lu Yan’s cheeks and even her earlobes began to heat up.

The air was both humid and warm.

Shen Kuo swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving slightly with the sound of a quiet gulp, which echoed in the still alley, carrying a touch of intimacy.

The man couldn’t bear this kind of tension, so he took a step forward.

Lu Yan quickly followed. “Uncle Shen, where are you going?”

“Home.”

“No, wait, I still have something to discuss with you.”

He didn’t stop walking and continued ahead, leaving her behind. Lu Yan had no choice but to quickly catch up.

“Shen Kuo!”

“Don’t follow me.”

As night fell, Shen Kuo took several twists and turns, passing through a few alleyways, and finally arrived in front of his door. He pulled his keys from his bag with one hand and opened the door.

Lu Yan followed him the entire way, stopping at his doorstep.

It was as though Shen Kuo didn’t even notice her. With a loud “bang,” he shut the door, locking her out.

Lu Yan jumped at the sound of the door slamming, instinctively taking a step back.

Being shut out was bad enough, and to make matters worse, rain suddenly started pouring down from the sky.

The heavy rain came with thunder and lightning, fierce and relentless.

Lu Yan hurried to shelter under the eaves, standing on tiptoe and pressing herself as close to the wall as she could to avoid getting wet from the rainwater dripping down.

What a bad luck…

The sky was dark and oppressive, and the lights in the nearby apartment buildings flickered on. The smell of food wafted through the air.

Lu Yan swallowed, pressing her hand against her flat stomach, which had begun to growl with hunger.

Inside, Shen Kuo was holding his arm, taking a medical kit from the shelf and walking over to the table.

When he looked up, he saw the girl standing awkwardly under the eaves outside. The eaves were so narrow that her pant cuffs were already wet from the rain.

Shen Kuo hesitated for a moment before finally feeling reluctant to leave her out there. He opened the door.

The door creaked open just a little. After waiting for a few minutes and seeing that Lu Yan didn’t come in, Shen Kuo couldn’t resist stepping outside to look. He saw the girl somehow pulling out a broken umbrella from some corner.

The umbrella’s frame was rusted and cracked, and half of the fabric drooped down. But she didn’t seem to care, rushing straight into the pouring rain.

“You… come back.”

Lu Yan turned around and saw Shen Kuo standing by the door with a helpless look on his face.

She hesitated, her foot that had stepped out into the rain quickly pulled back.

“Come inside.”

Shen Kuo’s voice was firm and concise. After saying that, he turned around and went back inside.

Lu Yan hesitated for a moment before slowly stepping into the house. Inside, there was only a bare white light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Because it was cloudy and rainy, it wasn’t dark yet, but the light was dim.

The room was small, and the furniture was tightly arranged, making it feel cramped.

The damp air carried a faint smell of traditional Chinese medicine. No wonder Lu Yan always thought she smelled a bitter medicinal scent on Shen Kuo—she had thought it was just her imagination.

On the cabinet, there were also some medicine capsules and tablets. It was clear that there was a patient in the house.

At this moment, a hoarse cough came from the inner room, and a thin, frail man stumbled out, his voice raspy as he asked, “Little Kuo, who’s here?”

“A classmate.”

“Oh, let the classmate sit down.”

Lu Yan politely greeted, “Hello, Uncle, sorry to trouble you.”

“Well… the classmate should stay for dinner.”

After Shen Jianxun said this, his gaze suddenly fell on the medicine kit on the table, and he asked in surprise, “Little Kuo, what’s the medicine kit for?”

“She got caught in the rain, so she’s taking some cold medicine.”

Shen Kuo took the medicine kit and pushed Lu Yan toward his room, closing the door behind her.

“Stay in the room.”

“Okay.”

Lu Yan nodded obediently and began to look around Shen Kuo’s room.

His room was fairly narrow, with few belongings. The sliding window revealed a black wall covered in moss and mildew, making the whole room feel very depressing.

By the window was a handmade wooden desk, looking very old. The edges were worn smooth from years of use.

There were no bookshelves, and the desk was covered with textbooks. The collection was small, mostly textbooks, with the only exception being a study guide—Complete Analysis of High School Math—which Lu Yan had secretly given him.

Unlike the other textbooks, this one was very well-kept. It had no curled corners or creases, looking almost new. But when opened, the pages were densely covered with notes.

Both their eyes fell on the book, and they exchanged a silent glance.

Another cough came from outside the room, and Lu Yan asked, “Is Mr. Shen’s health is bad?”

“Mm.”

“Then I’ll leave once the rain stops, I don’t want to disturb his rest.”

Shen Kuo saw that the girl’s bangs were damp and sticking together from the rain. She was standing by the desk, looking unusually obedient.

The rain outside was getting heavier, and it seemed like it wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

He turned around to pour her a glass of water.

Just then, Lu Yan noticed that the sleeve of Shen Kuo’s right arm had darkened significantly. She walked over, surprised, and touched it, only to realize it was wet.

Her palm was stained with blood.

Lu Yan gasped, “You’re bleeding!”

Shen Kuo rolled up his sleeve. In the earlier chaos, his right arm had been slashed, leaving a gash exposing flesh and blood.

Lu Yan urgently said, “I’ll take you to the hospital!”

“No need.”

“Why not?!”

“I don’t want to go.”

Since childhood, he had rarely been to the hospital. For headaches or colds, he would just bundle up under a blanket and sleep it off, gritting his teeth to push through. Going to the hospital meant registering, getting X-rays, and paying for medicine—a lot of money for just one trip.

Shen Kuo turned his back, took off his shirt, and tossed it aside, preparing to treat the wound on his arm himself.

Lu Yan couldn’t do much to help and couldn’t convince him, so she could only stand by and watch.

He turned around, leaving only his back to her.

Shen Kuo’s back was solid and muscular, completely different from the reckless bodybuilders Lu Yan had seen at the gym. His muscles were the result of years of physical labor, full of strength.

His way of treating the wound was rough. He poured alcohol directly onto the cut. Although the wound wasn’t deep, it was bleeding, and applying alcohol straight to it—how could that not hurt like hell?

Lu Yan didn’t have time to stop him. His body visibly trembled from the intense pain, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“Are you crazy?!”

Lu Yan rushed over and wiped the alcohol and blood from his arm with a clean gauze, saying urgently, “That must be so painful…”

Of course it hurt. Shen Kuo’s lips had turned pale.

“Disinfect,” he said hoarsely.

“I’ve never seen anyone disinfect a wound by just pouring alcohol on it! If you don’t know how to treat it, just go to the hospital!”

“I don’t want to go,” Shen Kuo opened his eyes and said weakly, “It’ll be fine after a while.”

Lu Yan scolded him for being so stubborn as she cleaned around the wound, then rummaged through the medicine kit for some ^[2]Yunnan Baiyao powder is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine widely used for its hemostatic (blood-stopping) and wound-healing properties. It originated in Yunnan Province, China, and is made from a … Continue readingYunnan Baiyao powder to stop the bleeding. She carefully applied it to the wound, bit by bit, using her fingertips.

Afraid of causing him more pain, she leaned in close to gently blow on the wound after applying the ointment.

Shen Kuo felt the cool breeze brush across his skin, delicate and slightly itchy.

Lu Yan finished bandaging his arm. Although she wasn’t a professional, fortunately, the wound wasn’t deep, so it shouldn’t be too serious.

“You should go to the hospital next time you’re sick or injured,” she said.

Shen Kuo didn’t respond. He stared at her for a long time.

She resembled Lu Zhen in appearance, but her eyes had a touch of natural cluelessness. Whether in speech or action, she was always earnest and sincere.

It seemed like she treated everyone the same way.

Shen Kuo had never known that being carefully taken care of by a girl would feel like this soft, tender sensation.

Since the only woman in his family left, Shen Kuo’s life had been cold and hard for more than ten years, with no trace of softness or gentleness.

Lu Yan, on the other hand, had been taken care of and pampered since she was a child. She wasn’t used to taking care of others, her personality was rather carefree, and she wasn’t the type to be particularly thoughtful or delicate. Yet, without realizing it, she had given him all the gentleness she had.

Shen Kuo felt like a child who had just tasted candy for the first time—greedy, wanting to claim all of her unique kindness for himself.

This girl was truly pure. If he used some tactics, he could make her his…

But that wild thought passed as quickly as it came.

She was as beautiful as the dew on grass after rain, and he couldn’t bear to tarnish her in any way.

In the end… he wasn’t worthy.

Shen Kuo lingered in his emotions, while Lu Yan recalled what had happened earlier and asked him, “You knew all along, didn’t you? That it was Wu Qiang and his group who set the fire?”

Shen Kuo froze for a moment, then nodded. He had suspected it for a long time, but only just confirmed it.

“Then… why did you still drink with them?”

Shen Kuo looked at the girl, who was furious and indignant, and smiled faintly. “So you’ve finally remembered to come and question me?”

Lu Yan grabbed his sleeve and tugged him towards the door. “You have to go with me to the police station and testify, you heard them admit they started the fire!”

Shen Kuo replied nonchalantly, “I don’t want to go.”

“Why?”

“I only promised Lu Zhen I’d find the real culprit. Now that the culprit is found, what happens next is Lu Zhen’s business, not mine.”

“But… if you don’t help me testify, the police won’t believe me.”

Who would believe a fool’s words?

Lu Yan thought of how Lu Zhen had been so desperate these days, nearly giving up everything just to catch the culprit. Now that they had finally identified the mastermind, she couldn’t let those guys get away.

She was frustrated and angry, and, without thinking, sat cross-legged on Shen Kuo’s bed, pouting. “I… I’m not leaving!”

Shen Kuo flopped down onto the bed beside her. “If you don’t want to leave, you can sleep with me tonight.”

“You!” Lu Yan was about to be driven crazy by him. “Who wants to sleep with you, you old man!”

Shen Kuo’s left arm reached over, and his rough fingers pinched her chin, making her mouth pout.

“You’re calling me ‘Uncle Shen’ and ‘old man,’ so what exactly do you think my age is?”

Sometimes, Shen Kuo really thought this girl was a fool, but other times, he found her rather clever, impossible to figure out.

Lu Yan mumbled, “I told you so.”

If you calculated it properly, his age was nearly a whole generation older than hers!

“If you’re not going to help, fine. I’ll just go report it myself.”

After saying that, Lu Yan stood up and pushed open the bedroom door. Shen Jianxun, hearing her come out, quickly called out, “Student, stay and have dinner. I just ordered takeout.”

“Oh, no need to trouble yourself, Uncle!”

“It’s no trouble at all, no trouble. Just sit, dinner will be ready soon.”

Shen Jianxun hadn’t been in the best of health, so it was rare for someone to visit his house, and he was very happy to have her over.

Shen Kuo walked out and said, “Sit down, have dinner first, then leave afterward.”

Since Uncle Shen had already ordered “takeout,” Lu Yan naturally couldn’t refuse and had no choice but to stay.

—

The rain stopped around eight o’clock.

Lu Yan felt especially guilty—she hadn’t been invited but had shown up unannounced, and now Uncle Shen was going through the trouble of hosting her. So, she tried her best to eat more, so as not to waste his kindness.

Shen Jianxun looked like a straightforward man, cheerful in speech, easy to get along with, though his complexion was poor. It was clear he had been suffering from illness for a long time.

“Little Kuo doesn’t have many friends. He’s never had any female classmates over to our house,” he said, but before he could finish, he broke into a harsh coughing fit.

Shen Kuo immediately hurried out to get his father some water and gently patted his back to help him breathe more easily.

“Dad, go lie down on the bed.”

“Alright, I’ll go rest in the room for a bit, I won’t disturb you two.”

Shen Jianxun hunched over and went back to his room to rest. Lu Yan and Shen Kuo stood in the living room, exchanging glances.

“Uncle Shen, what illness does he have?” she asked curiously.

“Pneumoconiosis.”

Lu Yan knew about this disease. It’s caused by long-term exposure to polluted environments, where the lungs absorb too much dust, leading to such an illness.

“Was Uncle’s previous job…?”

“A cement factory worker.”

“Oh.”

No wonder.

This disease is difficult to treat, and there’s essentially no chance of a full recovery. It’s just a matter of holding on, living day by day.

The house had a strong smell of traditional Chinese medicine, and even Shen Kuo’s body carried a hint of the bitter scent of herbal medicine. It was probably because he had been brewing medicine for years.

At this moment, Lu Yan’s phone rang. It was Lu Zhen calling, asking why she hadn’t returned home so late.

Lu Yan didn’t dare to tell him she was at Shen Kuo’s house, so she gave a casual excuse that she was having dinner at a classmate’s house and told him not to worry, and that she’d be back soon.

Lu Zhen had been traveling for business for years, and the once reckless young master of the Lu family had almost taken on all the responsibility of looking after Lu Yan.

An older brother is like a father.

Sometimes, Shen Kuo had to admit that Lu Zhen wasn’t such a bad guy after all. He was especially sentimental and treated family, friends, and lovers with an unmatched kindness.

But…

The grudges between him and Lu Zhen could never be easily forgotten.

When Lu Yan was about to leave, she lingered at the door, holding on to the last bit of hope. She looked up at him and asked, “Really… can’t you help me as a witness?”

Shen Kuo placed his rough finger against her forehead and pushed her out the door, speaking slowly and firmly: “Never expect me to help Lu Zhen with anything.”

Lu Yan turned around, disappointed, and watched as Shen Kuo closed the door behind him.

She could actually understand. After all, Lu Zhen had been in the wrong first. Relying on his wealth and power, he had often bullied Shen Kuo.

It was only natural that he didn’t want to help.

By the window, Shen Kuo watched the figure of the young girl gradually disappear into the shadowed alley, illuminated by the streetlights.

He paused for a moment, then took a portable recorder with a recording function from his bag and slowly placed it on the table…

Silly girl, there’s no point in suing without any evidence.