Chapter 44: Into His Arms

The bustling, glamorous scene of the banquet hall was utterly boring. The air felt heavy and suffocating. Shen Muyan left the hall alone and headed towards the garden.

The night breeze was cool, but the air was clear and filled with a subtle fragrance. The dazzling fireworks illuminated the surroundings, and at this moment, she felt like a celestial maiden who had descended to earth, radiating beauty and ethereal grace.

She strolled leisurely through the garden, enjoying the serene atmosphere.

Suddenly, her tranquility was disturbed. Xu Ruize, a distinguished gentleman, approached Shen Muyan with two glasses of red wine. He walked around the garden, blocking her path, and plastered a forced smile on his face, which she found repulsive.

As the only son of the Xu family, Xu Ruize wasn’t ugly, in fact, he could even be considered handsome. But his arrogance and self-importance grated on Shen Muyan’s nerves.

Xu Ruize began his usual playful harassment.

Shen Muyan, not giving him the satisfaction of a response, bluntly exposed his hypocritical facade.

No one could stand his persistence. Xu Ruize stepped closer, offering her the wine: “Since we’re both here, why play hard to get?”

He was handsome, yes, but his actions were over the top and annoying.

Shen Muyan felt nothing but disgust. She continued her walk, turning to leave, ready to put a stop to this. She had never encountered someone like him before.

As her graceful back disappeared around the corner, Xu Ruize clenched his wine glass tightly, his eyes narrowed. He felt that this woman was extremely disrespectful.

He had never been rejected like this before. He couldn’t swallow his pride.

He quickly followed her, his footsteps quickening.

Shen Muyan could sense someone following her. She turned around and saw the man, feeling a slight panic. But she forced herself to stay calm. There was no one else around, and she was determined to get rid of this man.

“What’s wrong, sir? Is there something you need?”

She couldn’t believe his audacity. He was so brazen, so disrespectful. Did he think he could just insult her to her face?

She always tried to maintain a certain level of decorum, believing that everyone possessed a basic level of decency. But this Xu Ruize, with his appalling manners, was an exception.

He was a spoiled brat.

He was the future heir of the Xu family, and she had given him a chance to build a bridge between them. But he hadn’t appreciated it.

No wonder he wasn’t the future heir. She thought Xu Ruize’s sister would be a more suitable successor.

Shen Muyan’s words struck a chord with Xu Ruize. Was she mocking his incompetence?

“Good, very good.”

Xu Ruize tilted his wine glass, and if Shen Muyan hadn’t stepped back, the wine would have splashed across her chest. As it was, a stain of wine marred her skirt, infuriating her.

This gentleman, completely abandoning all pretense, grabbed Shen Muyan’s arm with no reason whatsoever.

Shen Muyan, in a moment of desperation, turned and ran towards the brightly lit corridor. She saw Qin Yanzhou emerging from a lounge.

Without a second thought, she ran into his arms.

“Qin… Qin!” Tears welled up in her eyes, like a storm-tossed bird seeking shelter in a tree.

Qin Yanzhou, though initially shocked, didn’t refuse her embrace. He gently raised his hand, covering her lower back, and asked softly, “What happened?”

Lu Lin stood silently beside them, eyes wide.

Suddenly, he saw Xu Ruize, the only son of the Xu family, emerge from the corner. In that instant, everything clicked.

“Miss Shen is being harassed by this young master, isn’t she?”

Xu Ruize was known for his scandalous behavior, with rumors of illegitimate children circulating. The Xu family had to expend considerable effort to quell the scandal.

“He’s bullying her.”

The young lady choked back a sob, her eyes red and swollen, filled with fear. Her shoulders trembled slightly, a picture of vulnerability.

Qin Yanzhou gently stroked her back, his warm hand resting on the delicate bone structure of her back. He looked at Xu Ruize, and in that instant, before Xu Ruize could even react, he felt a chill run down his spine.

“Qin… Qin.” She finally realized that her position was not as simple as it seemed.

Xu Ruize’s face turned pale with fear. He kept his eyes fixed on Shen Muyan’s back, unable to believe that she was clinging to Qin Yanzhou!

“Your skirt is dirty.”

Shen Muyan lifted her head from Qin Yanzhou’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Crystal tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping onto Qin Yanzhou’s raised back.

Her usual delicate features were now even softer, her tear-filled peach blossom eyes making her look like a weeping willow.

She had been pampered her entire life, and this was the first time she had encountered such a situation. It was only natural for her to be afraid.

The pristine skirt had been ruined by Xu Ruize’s malicious act, adding to Shen Muyan’s distress.

“Good girl, don’t cry.”

Qin Yanzhou’s sharp gaze swept over the room, and Lu Lin instantly knew what to do. He clenched his fists, gathering his strength, ready to strike. The man who dared to act so recklessly was instantly knocked down.

Qin Yanzhou’s voice was chillingly cold: “Is this how you were raised, Xu?”

“Qin… Qin, it’s all a misunderstanding.”

“It’s none of your business.”

Xu Ruize clutched his jaw, feeling as if his bones had been broken. The pain was excruciating, and his brows furrowed tightly. He was afraid of offending Qin Yanzhou, and he shakily rose to his feet.

The girl in his arms was still crying. No amount of public scrutiny had ever brought her to tears like this. Now, because of Xu Ruize, tears streamed down her face like pearls, wetting Qin Yanzhou’s suit.

“Qin, wait here.”

“I have something to take care of. I’ll be back.”

His arms were cold, and her skin felt icy. After Xu Ruize stumbled away, Qin Yanzhou took off his suit jacket and draped it over her.

“Don’t cry, I’ll stand up for you.”

Qin Yanzhou gently stroked her hair, his deep voice soothing. His words were clear and firm.

His dark, phoenix-like eyes were filled with icy coldness. He gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. If she had really been in trouble today, he would have made Xu Ruize pay for his actions.

He didn’t speak further, but instead bent down easily, scooping her up in his arms and heading towards the main hall.

Shen Muyan instinctively wrapped her arms around Qin Yanzhou’s neck, her eyelashes wet and fluttering. She looked as if she had been crying for a long time.

This was the first time she had ever been held by Qin Yanzhou.

It felt so safe.