Chapter 5 Marriage?

“You think… they can really get married…?”

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“If I’m not mistaken, this is Wei Lin’s place?” Shang Beize’s car stopped in front of Building 16 as he asked.

“You know my brother?” Su Yundai asked in surprise.

Although both men were outstanding among the younger generation, Wei Lin still carried a touch of youthful energy, while Shang Beize radiated the decisive, domineering aura of a ruler. She had never thought to connect the two together.

She studied Shang Beize’s expression, unsure of whether he and Wei Lin had a good relationship. She racked her brain for clues and realized she knew nothing at all about Wei Lin’s friendships or the circles he mingled in.

Shang Beize smiled faintly. “Friends. Go on, I’ll wait for you outside.”

Su Yundai didn’t disturb anyone. She quickly took a rushed shower, blow-dried her hair halfway, and immediately came out.

Shang Beize’s car was waiting at the entrance. He himself stood in the rain, holding a black umbrella. His tall figure was like a crane in the mist, his skin glowing with a cold whiteness like water refracting light. Through the curtain of rain, his eyes fixed on her. Even his eyelashes, damp with raindrops, glimmered beneath the streetlights, making them look even longer and thicker.

His features were so perfectly sculpted they seemed unreal, yet appeared utterly natural. The raw magnetism of his strong looks, swept up by wind and rain, pressed forward irresistibly.

The storm whipped his collar, making it billow loudly in the wind. When he saw her come out, he opened the car door and waited by it, the wide umbrella shielding hers.

By the time she folded her umbrella and slid into the car, not a single raindrop had touched her.

“No one at home came with you?” he asked.

He ignores you.

Even at a time like this, he doesn’t stay by your side—still wrapped up in his own work.

He ignores you, he ignores you, he ignores you!

Su Yundai hadn’t told Wei Lin—she was afraid he was busy.

As for Uncle Wei and Aunt Lin, she feared that if they found out, they’d come rushing over to stand up for her and completely fall out with that Liu man.

By not involving them, today’s matter would remain her personal action.

For the Wei family, there was still room to maneuver.

Besides, she wasn’t the type to act spoiled.

“I can handle it myself,” Su Yundai said.

By the time they reached President Liu’s house, the police had just arrived.

Su Yundai went in, and Shang Beize naturally held the umbrella for her.

She felt President Liu’s threatening stare, but once that gaze met Shang Beize’s, it quickly shifted away from her. In fact, Liu’s imposing presence seemed to weaken by several degrees in an instant.

Instinctively, Su Yundai looked up at Shang Beize, only to see him smiling gently at her, the ruthless edge from moments ago entirely gone.

That sudden change of face stunned both President Liu and the policemen.

President Liu tried to explain: “The child was just being naughty. I tried to stop him, maybe my voice was a bit loud, the neighbors misunderstood. The kid wouldn’t listen, he fell while playing around.”

Just then, one officer’s phone rang.

Afraid Liu had pulled strings, Su Yundai turned to Shang Beize. “May I borrow your phone?”

He unlocked it and handed it to her.

Su Yundai began recording the scene.

When the officers noticed the camera, she explained: “The child’s grandparents aren’t here yet. I’m recording so they can clearly see what’s happening.”

As long as it didn’t obstruct law enforcement, recording was every citizen’s right.

The officer, a broad-minded man, didn’t argue. He hung up the call and continued handling the case.

They all entered Liu’s home.

The child was a boy, about six or seven, with gauze wrapped around his head. He was awake, sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at the cartoon playing on the huge TV.

Su Yundai’s breath caught—she recognized this child.

The officer crouched down before him. “What happened just now? Can you tell Uncle Policeman?”

The boy’s vacant gaze flicked toward President Liu, terror lurking in his eyes.

That instinctive reaction was as honest as it was direct.

The officer frowned, his sharp eyes cutting toward Liu. He lifted the boy’s shirt, revealing bruises and swelling covering half his body.

He also removed the gauze to check the wound on his head.

Su Yundai recorded everything.

President Liu insisted it was all from a fall, trying to coach the boy into saying so. He pretended to be gentle, but whenever he spoke, the child trembled.

“Enough,” the officer cut him off. “Stay away from him.”

Su Yundai told the officers, “I have recordings on my phone proving he’s abused the child multiple times. Many neighbors have heard it too. Please investigate—you’ll find this isn’t the first time. I request that the child be placed in temporary protective custody. He cannot stay here.”

She didn’t want the whole scene to end with a few empty warnings. That would solve nothing.

The boy heard this and immediately ran to hug her leg.

Her heart softened.

She had seen him once before in the neighborhood, practicing jump rope in a corner, and had taught him a little. Other than the people at home who beat him, she might be the only one he knew.

The officer said, “The grandparents are overseas. Normally they’d return at once, but the grandfather caught a bad flu yesterday and won’t be able to travel for a few days.”

Su Yundai frowned.

The officer looked at the boy. “He seems to rely on you, and you’re his neighbor. Why not let him stay with you temporarily?”

She was troubled.

She lived in the Wei household. How could she bring the child there?

“What right do you have?! He’s my son! You can’t just hand him over to someone else! I’m not dead yet!” President Liu roared.

The officer shot back firmly, “What right? You’ll find out once you’re inside getting a legal lesson.”

Liu’s eyes bulged with rage, but the police handcuffed him and took him away.

The officer asked Su Yundai again, “Well? I can see you know him. He needs someone familiar. The neighborhood is a safe environment for him.”

She apologized. “I can only spare tomorrow and the day after. After that I have to return to school.”

After all, she was only boarding with the Wei family. Bringing in a child would be difficult. If anything happened, the Wei family could get dragged in too.

At her words, the boy’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Su Yundai’s chest tightened. She quickly patted his head. “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

Caught in the dilemma, she felt a gaze on her. She instinctively looked up—right into Shang Beize’s eyes.

She asked, “Um… maybe… would it be convenient at your place?”

The corner of his lips curved with an unreadable smile. “You’re asking me to babysit?”

The scratching of the officer’s pen paused. The atmosphere turned oddly strange.

Oblivious, Su Yundai said, “You must have a housekeeper, right?”

“Of course I do,” Shang Beize replied smoothly. “But mine only handles cooking and cleaning. Shouldn’t I also hire a nanny just for the child?”

The officer blinked. Why did this sound so much like the kind of conversation he had with his own wife?

Su Yundai felt something was off but didn’t dwell on it. “He’s already old enough. The housekeeper should be able to keep an eye on him. Maybe just ask her to take on a little extra.”

Shang Beize raised an eyebrow and agreed at once. “Alright.”

Gladly. Very gladly.

Su Yundai sighed in relief.

But unexpectedly, the boy clung to her leg, refusing to let go, his teary eyes heartbreaking. “Big sister, I’m scared. I don’t know him.”

Su Yundai realized he was probably frightened of tall, imposing men. And this man’s sharp features radiated such force that even restrained, the aura was still intimidating.

No wonder the boy was afraid.

“Uncle isn’t a bad man. He’s strong, capable, and very kind. He’ll definitely protect you from bullies,” she reassured him.

Shang Beize crossed his arms, lips curving slightly.

So this was how she saw him.

The boy peeked at Shang Beize, then quickly looked away, asking Su Yundai, “After school, will you go to Uncle’s house too?”

Her face flushed. “No, big sister doesn’t live at Uncle’s house. But I live here in the neighborhood too, Building 16. Tomorrow and the day after, I can come play with you in the community. I’ll visit often.”

Shang Beize chuckled inwardly.

Play in the neighborhood? Not step into my house?

Do you think I’ll allow that?

At last, the boy nodded.

With that settled, they all took him for a medical check.

His name was Liu Liye. The scans showed no major head injuries, just surface wounds.

After two exhausting hours at the hospital, the police left. Su Yundai’s phone, now evidence, was taken into custody.

Unable to call a cab, she shamelessly asked for a ride. Shang Beize’s Rolls-Royce pulled up once again in front of Building 16.

She smiled at him. “Thank you for today, Mr. Shang.”

He reclined against the crimson leather seat, lashes lowered. The soft light outlined his face, highlighting the hard planes of his features in a way that was both striking and seductive, a tension that drew the eye.

He lifted his gaze, watching her with a half-smile. “Raising a child comes with heavy responsibility.”

Su Yundai nodded.

“I’ve never done it before,” he continued. “Tomorrow, you’ll help too.”

She knew she had indeed handed him a troublesome burden. It was thankless, risky, and if anything happened to the boy, it would fall on him.

Liu Liye looked up at her with hopeful eyes.

She reached out and ruffled his hair. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She opened the door to leave.

But Shang Beize caught her wrist. “Wait.”

“Hm?”

“What time tomorrow?”

“Whenever he wakes up, just call me.”

He released her. “Alright.”

His gaze followed her until she disappeared behind the door.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror, hesitating. After the fourth glance, Shang Beize finally asked in a low voice, “What is it?”

“Sir… that young lady… she isn’t the Wei family’s biological daughter.”

Expressionless, Shang Beize slowly, deliberately rubbed the skin of his palm, as if savoring the lingering warmth she’d left there.

The driver, sweating nervously, pressed on: “When she was four or five, she was raised in their home… as a child bride. Her father was President Wei’s secretary. He died protecting him in an accident.”

Shang Beize lowered his gaze, lashes shadowing his eyes, continuing the motion, over and over.

The driver trembled but forced himself to finish. “I heard… the Wei family has already arranged her marriage these past couple of days.”

Shang Beize’s hand stilled.

The driver’s back stiffened.

Slowly, Shang Beize toyed with the cord around his wrist, brushing a pendant with his thumb. He let out a cold laugh.

“You think… they can really marry?”

The driver: “…”