[Urban] Hidden Sin (Complete) - 10-12

Chapter 46 First Love

After breakfast, Xue Jin drove his son to his summer tutoring class, then returned home to handle matters at Jinbu Company. Around noon, he received a call from Ding Bu.

They had arranged to have lunch together.

Xue Jin tidied up his documents, changed into casual clothes, and went downstairs.

"Hey, take my car." Ding Bu's BMW gleamed in the bright sunlight, looking quite impressive.

"No, after we meet, I have errands to run." Xue Jin turned and explained, then went to the garage and drove out his brown Jeep.

"Where to eat?" Xue Jin rolled down the window, exhaling a puff of smoke. He expected Ding Bu to say, as usual, whatever you want.

But this time, unexpectedly, the kid looked at him with his small eyes, pretending to think, and after a moment, said, "Let's go eat stone pot fish."

"Damn, really?" Xue Jin frowned, quite unconvinced—they had offended him last time, and going there again felt a bit unlucky.

"Hehe, that fish smells delicious." Ding Bu grinned, revealing his white teeth, his eyes gleaming with a suggestive glint.

"Is it the fish that smells good, or the girl?" Xue Jin asked, a cool breeze blowing by.

"Both smell good. I think that girl is pretty good." Ding Bu said, his eyes gleaming with a sly glint, looking rather malicious.

"Okay, you're going to pick up girls, I support you, but be careful. What if you end up getting scammed instead of the girl?" Xue Jin said pessimistically.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Ding Bu said confidently, turning the steering wheel with a smile.

Seeing this, Xue Jin didn't say anything more. He was happy if Ding Bu succeeded, and he could bring Xiao Yu out for some fun too; if he failed, he wouldn't lose anything. He

just had to be careful that the girl didn't get angry, or they'd have some trouble.

The two cars sped along, one after the other, and soon arrived at the Sichuan restaurant where they had eaten last time.

Ding Bu got out of the car first and looked up at the banner above the entrance: "Spend 100 yuan and get a 10 yuan voucher; spend 300 yuan and get a 50 yuan voucher.

" "We've hit the jackpot today," Ding Bu chuckled greedily.

Xue Jin raised an eyebrow dismissively, thinking that they weren't here to eat, but rather to sneak a bite. However, whether they'd actually get a bite was another question.

He strode into the restaurant's small lobby, where a girl in red gracefully approached.

"Ah, you're here again!" The girl wasn't very old, but she looked too ordinary; her common face made it hard to have any romantic thoughts.

Hearing this, Xue Jin understood. Ding Bu must have been coming back quite often since last time, making the waitresses familiar with him.

"Hmm. Where's Xiao Yun?" Ding Bu asked, maintaining a composed and expressionless demeanor.

"Yunyun, she's entertaining guests in a private room. If you're looking for her, I'll go get her for you." The waitress was very perceptive; although Yunyun didn't particularly like this guest, she had served him several times over.

"Yes, I'll have Hall 4 again this time." Ding Bu had chosen this place for his company's last dinner party, and he was quite pleased to see Yunyun bustling around serving him.

"Uh..." The waitress hesitated slightly, but considering there were still two large private rooms left, she reluctantly agreed.

Ding Bu strolled ahead, carrying his crocodile-skin handbag, while Xue Jin silently followed behind him into the spacious large private room—it was indeed different from the small room. It was bright and clean, with warm sunlight streaming in, very comfortable, and a television was placed in the corner.

The two sat down close together. Xue Jin took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and placed it on the table, offering one to Ding Bu. The guy shook his head and pulled out a 95 from his pocket.

Damn! Xue Jin thought to himself, this kid really knows how to show off; he's even upgraded his cigarettes.

Suddenly, Ding Bu bent down slightly to unpack the disposable chopsticks. The glittering gold chain around his neck caught Xue Jin's eye, and Xue Jin narrowed his eyes to examine it closely.

"Ding Bu, did you just buy that gold chain?"

Ding Bu chuckled and touched the heavy thing on his chest. "Yeah, it's new."

Xue Jin couldn't help but curl his lip. "Aren't you tired? How many grams does it weigh?"

"I'm used to it, not tired at all. It looks impressive, right?" Ding Bu was a bit vulgar, with the air of a nouveau riche, and indeed, that was the case.

If it weren't for Xue Jin's investment, he would only be moderately well-off now.

Xue Jin couldn't help but feel a little 'sympathetic' towards him. He wasn't exactly handsome, so he tried to enhance his appearance with accessories, but the more he tried, the less classy he became.

If he encountered robbers, they would target someone who flaunted their wealth first.

"Hey, buddy, can you be a little more discreet? You're a prime target for thieves like this," Xue Jin kindly reminded him.

Ding Bu paused slightly, thought for a moment, and felt that his good friend made sense. But since he had already bought it, he would have to keep it for a while: "Okay, once I get Xiao Yun, I'll keep a low profile."

Xue Jin couldn't help but roll his eyes at him: This kid just loves to show off.

"Here~~" Xue Jin turned around and took out a few pages of documents from his briefcase and placed them on the table.

"This is the quotation I've prepared. You go to submit the bid on Monday. We can discuss any problems later." Xue Jin had one great advantage.

He would meticulously study anything he was interested in until he had a complete grasp of it. This usually didn't take much effort. He had a strong ability to learn. Take interior design, for example. At first, he knew nothing about it, but after working with Ding Bu a few times and reading some books, he became an expert.

Ding Bu couldn't even dream of matching this ability and admired him immensely.

"Okay." Ding Bu took it without even looking at it. He trusted Xue Jin completely and was honored to have such a partner.

"This deal requires a 50% down payment. I checked, and this company isn't very reliable; they've defaulted on payments to other companies before. To be on the safe side, let's be cautious." The decoration market is a huge pie; you can't monopolize it all. That's why Xue Jin only chooses projects with good cash flow.

After all, the money in hand is what matters; the contract is just a number.

Ding Bu nodded without objection and said, "Let's do it your way. Our cost is only 30% of the project cost. If they really back out, we still have a guaranteed 20%."

The two were perfectly in sync, finishing their business in a few words. Of course, most of the time, Xue Jin was the big boss, and he was the one who made the final decision.

Then they turned on the TV. After a while, the girl named Xiao Yun came in. She didn't even glance at Ding Bu, but she was slightly taken aback when she saw Xue Jin.

"You're here," she said to Xue Jin, and then handed him the menu.

Ding Bu's expression wasn't good, but he didn't say anything. Actually, he'd come several times, but they barely paid him any attention, basically treating him like he wasn't there.

"What do you want to eat?" Xue Jin felt the atmosphere was a bit cold.

"Stone pot fish..." Ding Bu stared intently at the girl. Today, Xiao Yun was wearing light makeup, with a touch of powder, and black eyeliner drawn on her upper eyelids, extending to the corners of her eyes, making her eyes look much larger, and her phoenix eyes were even more alluring.

"Then let's get it..." Xue Jin ordered two more dishes, and when he looked up, he saw Ding Bu practically drooling. He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

His smile drew the girl's attention to Ding Bu's lewd appearance. Her face flushed slightly, and she glared at him, annoyed. "What are you looking at? You're shameless!"

Without asking what they wanted for their main course or drinks, she hurriedly ran out.

Her coquettish manner made Ding Bu grin foolishly, drool slowly dripping from his half-open, thick lips. Xue Jin almost vomited at the sight.

He thought, "Can't you have any self-respect?

" "The more I look at you, the more you resemble Pigsy," Xue Jin couldn't help but tease.

"Damn it, can't you speak like a human being? I'm not like him at all! I'm just a little chubby! Besides, I exercise, I'll lose weight eventually," Ding Bu quickly retorted.

"Not just chubby, you're lecherous too," Xue Jin continued, showing no mercy.

"..." Ding Bu was speechless. He was indeed lecherous, but upon closer inspection, something was amiss. Xue Jin was lecherous too, and the number of girls he'd hooked up with wasn't much less than his own.

"You've been eating vegetarian for a few days, and now you're making fun of me?" Now, whenever Ding Bu mentioned going to nightclubs, dance halls, or karaoke bars, Xue Jin would shake his head vehemently.

He'd never seen Xue Jin bring any girls out, so Ding Bu was very curious about his elusive new conquest.

"Are you feeling weak? Taking aphrodisiacs?" Ding Bu further mocked, hoping to elicit some juicy gossip, at least to let him know how good his new conquest was in bed.

Men all have a tendency to fantasize, and Ding Bu was definitely one of the most severely affected.

Before Xue Jin could answer, Xiao Yun, who had come in to deliver the appetizers, overheard them. With one leg inside and one leg outside the door, she was momentarily at a loss.

The girl was still a virgin, and hearing their lewd conversation, she wished she could disappear immediately.

Xue Jin stared at Xiao Yun without changing his expression, inwardly cursing Ding Bu a hundred and eighty times. Aphrodisiac? He should be taking aphrodisiacs. "

I'm a dragon, my penis never fails, I could hold a woman for an hour without a problem," Xue Jin managed to maintain his polite and refined image.

Xiao Yun finally steeled herself and stepped inside, her face flushed. She threw the plate on the table and hurriedly turned to leave.

Ding Bu, gazing at her graceful figure, stroked his chin and murmured, "So cute."

"I think you're the one who should be taking aphrodisiacs. How's that Xiao Mei?" Xue Jin remembered the girl from the gym—very pretty, but also quite shrewd.

"..." Ding Bu glanced at him, his expression cold: "You really know how to rub salt in the wound."

"Tell me? That girl's skills in bed are pretty good, and you've already gotten tired of her?" Xue Jin could tell from his friend's expression that the two weren't getting along.

"She's nice in bed, but she's too greedy. All she does is try to get money from me in various ways. Today she says she wants to buy a phone, tomorrow she says she's got her eye on some clothes at the mall, and the day after that someone in her family is sick... Don't you think I'm disgusting?" Ding Bu's brows furrowed with impatience.

Xue Jin couldn't help but gloat: "Heh, aren't you rich? She's honest enough, she's only after your money. You think she's after you for who you are?"

Xue Jin deliberately sized him up a few times as he spoke.

"Damn it, what kind of talk is that? What's wrong with me? I'm a man, for goodness' sake!" Ding Bu retorted, howling defiantly.

Xue Jin scoffed: "A man? Girls like that have no shortage of men. Why would she be with you? Is your gender listed as male on your household registration?"

Ding Bu stared at him, dumbfounded.

"You say she'd be with you, but you have no one to rely on. How many days a month can you spend with her? You can't even get married. She has so much of her youth to give to you. It's only your little bit of money that's somewhat useful."

Ding Bu swallowed hard; he'd never seen Xue Jin so sharp-tongued.

"Of course, there are also those who just want to relieve loneliness and desire. In that case, you're just a slut." Xue Jin was getting happier with each word.

He secretly gloated, thinking that targeting young girls was the right choice

. They were blank slates, untouched by the harsh realities of society; whatever he wanted to paint on them would be much more fitting. The thought of women being with him for money made him feel disillusioned. He didn't lack women; he didn't need to buy them. But then again, he wasn't noble either, because he wanted to use money and benefits to bind Lian Yu.

"Damn, you're making me feel cold-hearted." Ding Bu glared at him, agreeing with his point. But his games with women had always been this way—mutual benefit, but never too greedy.

Did he really need to change the rules?

"That's why I'm telling you, try finding a virgin. The feeling is absolutely different," Xue Jin suggested maliciously, as if a little devil with a trident appeared behind him, grinning wickedly.

"Don't you want to relive the feeling of first love?"

Virgins are naive and need to be pursued diligently, experiencing the bittersweetness of the process; while a flower that has been trampled and plucked has completely lost its fresh and alluring flavor.

As soon as the words left his mouth, both of them were stunned. Ding Bu looked as if he had suddenly understood, while Xue Jin was struck dumb—first love?

Had he ever had a first love? Then Lian Yu's pretty little face appeared before his eyes.

Chapter 47 Punishment

"Waiter, the bill, please," Ding Bu called out loudly, a toothpick dangling from his mouth.

As soon as he finished speaking, the waitress came in and smiled politely at him. "Sir, the total is one hundred and forty-two. We'll keep the two yuan; one hundred and forty will do."

Ding Bu chewed on a toothpick, his lips twitching in dissatisfaction. "Tell Xiaoyun to come and collect the money."

Seeing that the customer seemed unhappy, the waitress, being just an employee, didn't want to cause trouble. She smiled apologetically and turned to leave, returning a moment later. "Excuse me, sir. Xiaoyun is eating."

Ding Bu was immediately annoyed. She hadn't come to deliver the food earlier; it seemed she was frightened by their conversation. But he wanted to see her now.

"Tell her that if she doesn't come, I won't pay the bill for this table." Ding Bu's temper flared. Xue Jin's words had ignited his passion.

He refused to believe he couldn't handle a little girl.

"Hey buddy, you've gone a bit too far. That's not how you pursue someone," Xue Jin said, a cigarette dangling from his lips, the cool breeze blowing on it.

"Hehe, I'm just giving her a taste of her own medicine so she'll be more submissive once I get her." Ding Bu felt annoyed just thinking about the little girl's arrogant attitude.

Xue Jin curled his lips in a mocking smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

A moment later, Xiao Yun came in with her cheeks puffed out, shoved the bill in front of Ding Bu without even looking at it: "Sir, it's one hundred and forty-two in total."

Ding Bu stared at her with his toad-like eyes, completely losing his temper, and just smiled at her: "Sister Yun, can you give me a discount?"

"No, it's the fixed price." The little girl no longer cared about how he addressed her; he was too shameless.

Ding Bu's lips twitched twice: "When I called for the bill earlier, the waiter said he'd round it down, but you're offering to keep the difference?"

"..." The girl thought for a moment, then remained silent, her face tense.

"Look, little sister, I've eaten here six times this week alone." Ding Bu remembered clearly that he had initially tried to get close to the girl, really wanting to disgust her, but somehow, his feelings softened later. While eating, he would often call out to the girl—waiter!

When Xiaoyun reluctantly ran over, it wasn't anything serious—just small things like needing water and napkins.

"..." Xiaoyun glanced at him silently, her teeth itching with anger—the people you hate most always seem to be around you!

Her brother had gone out of town for some class reunion these past few days, leaving her at home 'swallowing her anger'.

"Here's what I was thinking," Ding Bu said, "my company isn't far ahead—the Caiyuan Building, you know? We order our employee lunches from you, how about a discount?" He was about to bait her.

Hearing Ding Bu talk about serious matters, the girl finally looked at him properly—although she didn't like him, everyone wanted money, and their restaurant was in business.

Even though Ding Bu had touched her that time and scared her, he'd been a customer several times since, and she'd secretly kept an eye on him. There was no way she could avoid him; he'd call her over at least three times for a single meal. He

drove a BMW, had so many subordinates, and wasn't particularly aggressive, just a bit of a thug.

"How terrible is he?" Xiaoyun didn't think so. She just thought he was a bit rough, a bit lecherous, and had the arrogance of a rich man. As for being extravagant? When ordering food, he was quite generous, eating several dishes by himself and leaving a lot of leftovers without taking them home, which was a bit wasteful.

"I can't make the decision on this. My brother decides. Let's wait for him to come back. Do you have a business card?" This was the most amicable thing the little girl had ever said to Ding Bu.

Usually, it was just a few polite words that she had to say, or she would simply remain silent.

Ding Bu was a little flattered, smiling like a lapdog, and took out a business card from his card holder, handing it over with both hands: "This is my business card."

Ding Bu had specifically chosen their restaurant for his company dinner. At that time, the little girl's brother was still in the restaurant. When he saw him, he was stunned for a few seconds, and then looked at the twenty-odd people behind him—men and women, all wearing uniforms. He

immediately realized what was happening, and before he could say anything, Ding Bu stepped forward, pulled him aside, and sincerely apologized again.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, especially since the girl's brother had repeatedly apologized. He felt embarrassed to hold

a grudge, though he still harbored a slight resentment, but outwardly continued to chat and laugh warmly. At this moment, Ding Bu secretly rejoiced that he hadn't brought in some thugs to cause trouble, but instead, by a twist of fate, he had let go of past grievances, making things smoother.

"Okay, I'll charge you 140 today. You can pick up the voucher at the front desk later." Xiao Yun thought about the lunch for the twenty-odd people, her expression softening, a faint smile appearing on her face.

After the two left the restaurant, Xue Jin approached with a smile, whispering in his ear, "I didn't expect you to have this trick up your sleeve."

"Hehe, how about it? Pretty clever, huh?" Ding Bu cautiously glanced at the curtain behind him, then turned back, smiling smugly.

"Hmm, not bad, but I'll wait and see what you do next. Don't even talk about whether that little girl likes you or not; her brother alone is no pushover." Xue Jin recalled the young man's fiery temper that day, how he'd come at him aggressively, ready to throw punches. Luckily, they apologized in time.

Ding Bu rubbed his nose and gave a dry laugh: "Let's deal with the little one first."

At the restaurant entrance, the two went their separate ways. Ding Bu went to the company to assign work, while Xue Jin drove towards Lian Yu's house.

On this hot afternoon, the sky was cloudless, a pale blue canopy like a clean, translucent velvet cloth, exceptionally beautiful.

The trees on both sides of the road were wilted, drooping listlessly and swaying gently in the breeze. Xue Jin's car drove in the shade on the side of the road, because he disliked the sun; even with air conditioning, the weather was unbearable.

Perhaps it was the intense heat, but Xue Jin's heart was also burning. Amidst this scorching torment, a subtle feeling welled up from the depths of his heart: anticipation, relief, and a slight struggle.

Xue Jin took a deep breath and smiled inexplicably. He licked his lips, shook his head, somewhat bewildered.

Weekend traffic was relatively smooth; no one wanted to go out in this sweltering heat unless they had errands to run. Xue Jin drove quickly, unknowingly arriving at the shantytown.

By the time he realized it, he had already passed Lian Yu's small courtyard. Xue Jin, not paying much attention, snapped out of his reverie and skillfully reversed the car.

After getting out, Xue Jin locked the car door, then turned and entered the courtyard. He reached for the door, but surprisingly, it wouldn't budge. He paused, then increased his grip, but the door remained firmly in place. He

immediately noticed the lock on the door.

Xue Jin frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, thinking the little girl had gone out, then turned and returned to the car.

There were few trees lining the road; usually, each house had only two or three willow trees planted in front of its door. Xue Jin's car was too large to park entirely in the shade.

But he couldn't park in the middle of the narrow street either, so he turned into an inconspicuous corner, barely able to see the little girl's house. Despite the bright sun overhead, Xue Jin figured Lian Yu would probably be back soon.

He smoked cigarettes with the windows down, putting them out when it got too hot and turning on the air conditioning. He waited like this for two hours, but Lian Yu didn't appear.

He was starting to get anxious. He had clearly told Lian Yu yesterday to pack her bags and wait at home; he would pick her up in the afternoon.

But it was almost 4 PM, and the little girl still hadn't returned. Had something happened?

Xue Jin's heart pounded with worry. As the end of the workday approached—there were factories nearby, and many workers worked shifts without weekends off—the streets were getting increasingly crowded.

Xue Jin searched intently among the crowd for the little girl, but was repeatedly disappointed. As the number of people dwindled, Xue Jin's heart sank.

He jumped out of the car. The sky had already darkened, and the edges of the greyish-white silk were now trimmed with gold lace—even without looking at his watch, Xue Jin could guess it was around 7 PM. Pushing

open the courtyard gate, he glanced at the lifeless little storage shed next door, then strode towards the main house.

The landlady, Aunt Zhang, was eating when she saw a large man enter the yard. Upon closer inspection, she recognized him and saw him walking towards her.

Aunt Zhang put down her chopsticks and came out to greet him. The two met in the outer room.

"Isn't this Xiaoyu's uncle? Come in and sit down!" Aunt Zhang was simple-minded but very hospitable, and she led him into the inner room.

"No, thank you. I came to ask if you've seen my Xiaoyu," Xue Jin asked loudly with a smile.

"Oh, Xiaoyu? She just moved out today." Aunt Zhang's words immediately caused the man's expression to change, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

But Xue Jin quickly composed himself, his gentle demeanor returning.

"When did she move out today?" Xue Jin asked calmly.

"Around nine this morning, a young man helped her move, didn't you know?" The landlady was a gossipy and inquisitive person.

"Yeah, she seemed to have mentioned it to me, but I didn't expect it to be so soon." Xue Jin lied without batting an eye—his mind was in turmoil.

He had been worried about her safety, but now she had the audacity to run away again. The worst thing for a man is lying and deception, and this girl had it both ways. What was he going to do with her?

And that Cheng Chaoyang, what was he up to? Did he really have feelings for Xiaoyu? Who did he think he was, to protect this little girl? Don't even think about it. Lian Yu has given herself to him, and he's determined to have this concubine.

"She didn't tell me anything beforehand, she just moved out. But Xiaoyu must have had some difficulties, so I didn't make things difficult for her and even refunded her 150 yuan rent."

Xue Jin nodded and smiled politely. "Really? That child sometimes does things without a plan. Did she say where she was moving to?"

"I think it's on XX Road, it's more lively there than here." Aunt Zhang casually asked.

"Really? I see. Sorry to bother you, I'll be going now." Xue Jin knew he probably wouldn't get any more valuable information, so he decided to leave. "

So soon? Why don't you come in and sit for a while?" Aunt Zhang also said politely.

"No, maybe next time. Don't see me off, come in and eat." Xue Jin turned to leave, and Aunt Zhang was about to follow him out, but Xue Jin quickly declined politely.

Xue Jin's Jeep was conspicuous in the shantytown, even when parked in a corner. And Xue Jin, a tall, handsome man, kicking the tires so hard, was particularly eye-catching.

After a few kicks, the man's agitated emotions calmed down. He leaned against the car, took out a cigarette case from his pocket, lit one, took a couple of deep drags, and pulled out his phone as he exhaled smoke.

Although he knew he couldn't call the little girl's phone, he dialed it anyway. After a mechanical female voice answered, Xue Jin hung up and dialed Ding Bu's number.

"Hello?" Music was playing on Ding Bu's end, along with muffled laughter.

"Where are you?"

"Uh… singing karaoke at Qian Gui." Ding Bu said as he left the private room.

"Who's there?"

"Nobody, just a few friends getting together. Want to come?" The earlier chaos made Xue Jin's voice clear—deep and suppressed.

"No, I want you to help me find Cheng Chaoyang's address." The embers flickered, dancing between the man's fingers.

"Now?" Ding Bu wondered if anyone was still at the company. -- It was the weekend, the HR manager certainly wouldn't be working overtime; he wasn't that busy.

"Yes, now." Xue Jin's answer was firm and insistent.

"Okay, I'll call you back later." Ding Bu sensed his urgency, so after hanging up, he called the employee in charge of personnel files, asking him to return to the company immediately to retrieve the information.

Although the man agreed verbally, he was reluctant, but had no choice but to rush back.

Twenty minutes later, Ding Bu sent Cheng Chaoyang's address, contact information, and basic family information via text message, followed by a phone number.

"What do you need his address for? Can you tell me?" Ding Bu felt something was amiss. Cheng Chaoyang was someone Xue Jin had introduced him to, but it seemed his friend wasn't very familiar with him.

"It's a private matter, keep it a secret for now. How's the thing about finding him a girlfriend, which I told you about?" Xue Jin hadn't forgotten about it; it was clearly crucial now.

"..." Ding Bu squinted and pouted, "He's only been here for a month, hasn't even gone to the company dinner yet, hasn't had much time to build a 'relationship' with him. It's not good to introduce a girl to him rashly, let's wait a bit longer."

"Oh..." Xue Jin gave a perfunctory reply; his friend's words made sense.

"Ding Bu, you do your thing, I have something to do, I'll hang up now." Before the other party could react, he cut off the call. Ding Bu listened to the busy tone and frowned helplessly.

Cheng Chaoyang definitely knew where Lian Yu had gone. Xue Jin wasn't worried about not finding a girl; what troubled him most now was how to punish her.

Chapter 48 Reunion

After arriving at work on Monday, Xue Jin called his driver in.

"You don't need to drive for me these next few days. I need you to do some private business for me." Xue Jin sat behind his desk, his face expressionless.

"..." The driver had been driving for him for quite some time, but he still didn't quite understand Xue Jin's temperament. However, one thing he knew for sure was that whatever the boss said, you had to do carefully.

"Please don't hesitate to ask, Chief." The driver stood in front of the man with a fawning expression.

"Sit down and talk." Xue Jin was unusually polite to him, which made the driver feel quite flattered, but he still didn't dare to sit down, shaking his head: "Chief, I'll stand, standing is fine."

Xue Jin didn't press him, and casually picked up a file folder.

"These next few days, you'll be following him closely. I need to know who he meets every day and what he does." Xue Jin said, pulling out a two-inch photo from the file.

The driver was startled; he hadn't expected the chief to assign him such a task.

"This contains his basic information. You should know where to find him." Xue Jin said, pushing the file folder in front of him.

"Uh, I understand, Chief. Don't worry, I'll definitely do it well." The driver didn't dare to ask anything, confidently agreeing—following someone? That should be interesting.

"Keep this a secret. If you do a good job, I'll keep you as my driver forever." Driver Xue Jin's words carried weight.

"Yes, yes, definitely, definitely." The driver felt the weight of this matter.

"Do you remember the girl we bumped into at the prison gate last time?" Xue Jin asked slowly.

"..." The driver tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then said, "I vaguely remember."

"She seemed frightened, her mental state isn't good. This Cheng Chaoyang is in contact with her. If things go wrong, we might be in some trouble." Xue Jin's expression was cold, and his words carried considerable pressure.

"No, really?" The driver stammered, swallowing hard. "Last time, I thought she seemed fine?"

Xue Jin shook his head. "Just because she was fine then doesn't mean she'll be fine now or in the future. Anyway, you need to keep an eye on their every move. If they make contact, tell me immediately. And one more important thing: you need to find out exactly where this little girl lives."

The driver was intimidated by his stern expression and didn't know what to do. He was the one driving that time; could he really be that unlucky?

"Alright, whatever you do, don't let them find out you're following them. Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, but absolutely no third person can know, understand?"

The driver increasingly felt the seriousness of the situation. He pleaded softly, "Chief, I'll be alright, won't I? Please, save me."

If he hit someone and caused them injury, his job would be truly in jeopardy.

Xue Jin waved his hand, interrupting him, and gave him a calm look: "Don't worry, with me here, you'll be fine. I'll talk to them; it'll only cost a little money."

The driver was deeply grateful and left in a panic.

Xue Jin felt incredibly pleased with his cowardly appearance—he couldn't keep watch around Cheng Chaoyang himself because they knew each other; he had considered hiring a detective agency, but was afraid of making things worse. Xue Jin had occasionally read in the newspapers about employers being investigated and extorted, deeply feeling the unpredictability of human nature; as for having his own driver do it, as long as the trap was well-made, the man would be under his control, serving him unknowingly.

As for betrayal, it was highly unlikely; his knowledge was limited.

Around noon the next day, the driver called, having completed his task perfectly—he had found Lian Yu's address and briefly described their daily routines.

Xue Jin listened silently, his heart pounding with rage: They're actually living 'together'? Xiao Yu is really bold; he forbade her to see Cheng Chaoyang—she defied him, treating his words like dirt.

"Chief, what do you think we should do? The two seem to have a good relationship; they're always whispering together." The driver was uneasy, and his words became serious—he had been assigned to follow them since yesterday, and in just one day, he had already identified the person as a 'chief'.

"You don't need to worry about this. Just come back immediately. I'll handle the rest," Xue Jin reassured him calmly.

"This, this is all I ask of you. I'll be right back," the driver said reluctantly, but he didn't dare say anything, trying to comfort himself—the chief was in the car at the time; he would take responsibility if anything happened, right?

Just as he hung up the phone, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Xue Jin said, his temper flaring, his tone harsh.

"..." Yan Tingting was dressed in striking white today, her long hair styled in a loose, trendy bun, looking very beautiful.

"..." Xue Jin, his

face grim, glanced at her several times before asking in a deep voice, "What is it?" Yan Tingting, who had entered with high spirits carrying the documents, was met with her boss's cold demeanor. She suppressed her slight smile and said cautiously, "Director, your speech draft."

She placed the folder on the table in front of her—within Xue Jin's reach.

Xue Jin picked it up and glanced at it briefly. The draft was of good quality, but he was in a bad mood today, so she was in trouble.

Yan Tingting was very nervous. She had revised the draft several times, consulted numerous sources, and even had a former clerk revise it. It should be fine.

Yan Tingting's heart pounded. Seeing Xue Jin's slight frown, her breathing became erratic.

After a long pause, Xue Jin coldly spoke: "How did you write this speech? I'm here to give ideological education to all the prisoners, not to sing praises to the Party. You keep mentioning the Party, how am I supposed to speak?"

Xue Jin was nitpicking; there was nothing wrong with the speech itself, so he shifted his focus to the girl's clothing.

"What are you wearing? Do you think this is a runway? If you don't want to wear a uniform, don't come to work anymore. I need people who can walk the runway."

Yan Tingting felt like she'd been doused with hail by her boss, completely stunned.

"Your work is a mess, but you've got plenty of crooked ideas. Don't let me see you dressed like this to work again, or you can go home and eat your own ass." Xue Jin's words were both cold and harsh, making the girl's eyes redden.

Yan Tingting felt wronged. She thought her speech was quite good, so why was the warden criticizing it? He wasn't usually this fierce. Stealing a glance at the man, unfortunately, a stack of documents flew towards her, and the girl instinctively turned her head away.

The moment Xue Jin threw the paper, he realized his lapse in composure, but the damage was irreversible—the stiff paper had left a bloody gash on the girl's face.

"Ah..." Yan Tingting let out a short gasp, then covered her cheek and froze.

Xue Jin clenched his fist in front of his chest. Damn it, he'd gone too far. It was all that little devil's fault for making him so uneasy. He'd get his revenge later.

"What are you still standing there for? Get out of here." Xue Jin was caught in a bind, and with a stiff upper lip, he shooed the girl out. Seeing her tearful face, Xue Jin cursed his madness again.

Yan Tingting wiped her tears outside the door before slowly walking towards the office, only to bump into the deputy director. Both of them froze for a moment.

"I'm sorry." The girl looked up to apologize, but after meeting his strange gaze, she instinctively lowered her head.

"What's wrong? Xiao Yan?" The girl was crying, and the deputy director followed her path, immediately noticing the nameplate on Xue Jin's office door.

“…No, nothing.” Yan Tingting gave a vague reply and turned away.

The deputy director stood there for a moment, looking at the documents in his hand with a vague unease—he had to deliver the documents now, but the director…it seemed there was trouble there.

In any case, the deputy director still gritted his teeth and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Xue Jin frowned, watching as the other person respectfully nodded to him.

“Director, excuse me, please take a look at this.” The deputy director lowered his head and handed over a document.

His eyes darted between the words, Xue Jin’s face grew colder and colder, almost icy. Finally, he slammed the document on the table.

“What’s going on? Who does that Chen Lin think he is? An emperor?” Xue Jin narrowed his eyes, tapping his cigarette case lightly on the table with a forced smile.

A cigarette slipped out.

“Director, he’s a bit domineering, you see?” The deputy director carefully smiled apologetically.

"You can go out now." Xue Jin lit a cigarette, a dangling from his lips, and turned to the side, puffing away.

"Chief..." The deputy chief wanted to say something—Chen Lin was going to be sent to a farm in a few days, but now this kid had made a request: bring a 'companion' to serve him.

Xue Jin slightly raised his hand, signaling him to shut up: "Let me think about it."

Then he waved his hand towards the door. The deputy chief bowed slightly, not daring to say anything, and turned to leave. After the door closed, Xue Jin leaned back in his leather chair, his posture comfortable and elegant, but his shrewd mind was far from idle.

Lian Yu sat upright at her desk, diligently doing her summer homework—sometimes frowning and pausing to think, sometimes writing with a slight smile.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. The little girl paused, then turned her head—was it Brother Cheng? She immediately realized he should be at work at this time, so who could it be?

Lian Yu pulled out a chair, turned, and went to the door. She had only moved in a few days ago, and out of caution, asked softly, "Who is it?"

Xue Jin glanced at the stove and the pile of clutter in front of the door, his brow furrowing. "It's me."

The man's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an air of authority. Lian Yu froze instantly, her heart pounding wildly, almost leaping out of her throat.

"You, what are you doing here?" Lian Yu's hands and feet turned icy cold with shock. Instinctively, she took a few steps back; the room was small, and her waist bumped against the edge of the desk.

Xue Jin snorted coldly, "Aren't you going to invite me in? This corridor is quite dark."

Lian Yu subconsciously bit her lower lip, the force enough to draw blood from her tender flesh. She hesitated for a moment, then said in a trembling voice, "Go back. I don't want to see you."

The little girl hadn't expected him to come so quickly. She had just enjoyed a few days of peace, and now she had to deal with his harassment. She was both angry and afraid.

"Go back?" Xue Jin tilted his head slightly, glancing at the ears of wheat hanging in the corridor. A wave of disgust washed over him; this was the kind of tenement building where the city's poorest people lived.

"I finally found you, I won't leave without a glass of water!" Xue Jin said slowly, his face a picture of roguish arrogance.

Lian Yu trembled with anger, knowing he wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted. What if Brother Cheng saw this? The little girl's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open.

What if her uncle said something? What if Brother Cheng noticed something?

Lian Yu lowered her head in anguish, her small hands clutching her hair into a tangled mess. As her scalp stung, the eerie voice outside the door came again: "Little Yu, I'm very patient, but if you don't open the door, it might not be good if others see me waiting outside."

The little girl thought of the strange looks she would receive, and her anxiety grew. She weakly loosened her clenched fists, slowly walking forward, dragging her feet to the door.

"Uncle, what do you want?"

Hearing her pitiful voice, Xue Jin showed no sympathy: "Open the door, we'll talk after you open the door."

Lian Yu's arm felt as heavy as a thousand pounds; she lifted and lowered it several times before finally grasping the doorknob. Then, as if in slow motion, Xue Jin's face slowly revealed its true form.

His features were clear, but his gaze was ashen and gloomy.

Lian Yu stood in the doorway, looking up at the tall man, feeling a sudden surge of powerlessness and shame—powerlessness at his dominance, shame at their clandestine physical relationship.

Xue Jin squeezed in, while Lian Yu, like a puppet, made way, her expression somewhat dazed.

The house was small, making the man appear even more imposing; he could almost touch the incandescent light bulb. Xue Jin glanced around, curling his lip in disdain.

—Why not enjoy a good life instead of holed up in this shabby place? Was it for Cheng Chaoyang? Or did she really hate him that much?

Whatever the reason, Xue Jin couldn't bear it.

Chapter Forty-Nine: Two Wishful Thinkings

A gentle breeze blew outside the window, ruffling the little girl's bangs and obscuring her beautiful eyes.

Xue Jin walked to a chair and sat down, his eyes fixed on the little girl silently. He had been very angry, but seeing the little girl's thin frame and her worried and frightened expression, his anger suddenly vanished, replaced by a different kind of restlessness.

Xue Jin took out a cigarette case, tapped the foil with his index finger, and several cigarettes inside flicked up unevenly. He picked one out and held it between his fingers.

"An ashtray!" Xue Jin said calmly and concisely.

Lian Yu's lips pursed into a straight line. After hesitating for a moment, she stepped forward and pushed the rough-mouthed cup in front of him: "Use this for now."

Xue Jin took out a lighter, and a bright yellow flame leaped out. The man brought it closer, lit his cigarette, took a deep drag, and stared intently at her.

The room was brightly lit, making the little girl's skin appear even whiter and more translucent, with a subtle, delicate sheen. Her smooth skin seemed to exude a certain fragrance, attracting not only the man's eyes but also arousing his desire.

He wanted her again after only a few days apart.

"Uncle, you..." Lian Yu felt things shouldn't be like this; the man should be angry, but he appeared calm and composed, which made her feel more at ease.

After all, aside from forcing her into a physical relationship, the man hadn't done anything too outrageous. He had even helped her take care of her brother, hadn't he? Lian Yu tried to think positively, fantasizing that the man would let her go, but she ultimately dared not delve deeper...

If she could live a normal life, she would forget the harm he had done to her—Lian Yu sought peace and tranquility.

"Little Yu, Uncle has been looking for you so long. Come here and let me see you." Xue Jin smiled gently, extending his broad arms, waiting for the little girl to walk into his trap.

Lian Yu's fantasy was instantly shattered by reality. Her uncle hadn't changed at all; he still wanted to touch her.

“No…” Lian Yu shook her head, becoming wary like a little thorn.

Xue Jin narrowed his eyes: the little girl was so naive and simple-minded; she had run away again and again, and now she was rejecting him? He really didn't know whether to call her courage commendable or foolish.

“Oh~~” Xue Jin withdrew his arms and crossed them over his chest, expressionless: “It’s been a few days, and we’ve really grown apart.”

Hearing his familiar and ambiguous tone, Lian Yu’s face turned pale and then red, her two small hands unconsciously twisting together, looking helpless and angry.

Xue Jin flicked the ashes from his cigarette, then looked at her with interest: "What's so good about that Cheng Chaoyang? He's as skinny as a bamboo pole."

Lian Yu was startled: "It has nothing to do with Brother Cheng, I just didn't want to see you."

Xue Jin raised an eyebrow, his tone somber: "What did you promise me that day? Was it fun to deceive me? Were you playing me?"

The little girl's eyes were filled with panic. She looked up at the man in fear: "I, I was confused that day, it wasn't intentional, I couldn't force myself to... to be your concubine, I'm still young!"

Xue Jin looked at her coldly, his gaze sweeping over her—he didn't want to hear her excuses now, he wanted to strip her naked.

"Uncle, please let me go, you can find a better girl than me." Lian Yu pleaded.

Xue Jin took a deep breath. He really couldn't bear to lay a hand on such a little girl, but she had forced him into this situation—he had to deliver a fatal blow, to make her understand who her man was.

"Okay, if that's how you see it, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll be going now." Xue Jin really wanted to pin the little girl down right then and there, but he wasn't a lecherous glutton.

He stubbed out the remaining half of his cigarette and stood up. "Xiao Yu, if you ever need anything, just come to me. I'll do my best to help you."

Lian Yu was inexplicably surprised. She stood there, stunned, watching the man push open the door and walk out. It took

her a long time to come to her senses. He just left like that? He didn't threaten her into going back with him? Lian Yu could hardly believe her luck, but looking at the closed door, she felt unusually clear-headed and excited. In just a few minutes, her nightmare was finally over.

The little girl quickly ran to the window, and Xue Jin's car sped away, leaving only a thin cloud of dust.

Xue Jin gripped the steering wheel with one hand, making a phone call: "Okay, that's settled."

Hanging up, a cunning, wicked smile appeared on Xue Jin's lips: Didn't that Chen Lin need someone to serve him? Then he'd send Lian Jun there!

Thinking of that tough nut to crack, Xue Jin smiled lewdly and smugly. Their lives would definitely be exciting then. As for the little girl? If she couldn't find her brother, wouldn't she come throwing herself into his arms? The more

Xue Jin thought about it, the happier he became, the deeper the curve of his lips grew, and finally he burst into a wide, unrestrained laugh: "Xiao Yu, want to fight with your uncle? You probably don't even know how your brother died."

The man muttered to himself, his words extremely vicious, and a dark, eerie light gleamed in his eyes.

After leaving Lian Yu, Xue Jin went straight home—he was going to pick up his son and wife to have dinner at his father-in-law's house.

One of his father-in-law's former subordinates had caught a particularly large wild salmon and brought it to him to help him recover. The old man was thinking of his daughter's family and had called them yesterday to invite them over to enjoy the meal.

"Why are you only coming back now? Mom said the fish is almost ready, and she's been urging me several times." Bai Sisi pouted and glared at Xue Jin, then sat in the passenger seat.

"Dad, I'm starving!" The son climbed into the car, sat in the back seat, and rubbed his stomach, complaining.

"Hehe, something came up and I was held up." Xue Jin said, glancing at the rearview mirror as he turned.

The Jeep circled a bit before leaving the residential area and merging into the main traffic. Xue Jin drove leisurely, while Bai Sisi tidied her hair with a makeup mirror.

After going outside, a gust of wind messed up her newly permed wavy curls.

"Honey, how's my hairstyle?" Bai Sisi looked around, quite satisfied with her new look.

"Not bad." Xue Jin slightly lifted his eyelids, inwardly quite disapproving: So flamboyant, who's she trying to impress? Has she hooked up with another guy?

"Hmm..." Bai Sisi was unhappy with his cold attitude, but didn't say anything, just gave a soft hum, then put away the small mirror, reached for the mineral water bottle beside her, and took a few small sips.

"Son, do you want one?" Bai Sisi turned around and asked the little guy in the back seat.

"Give me a bottle." Before she finished speaking, Bai Sisi pulled a bottle from the small hanging shelf next to her, but she accidentally saw something and her eyes lit up - the storage box was not closed properly, and through the gap, she could vaguely see a beautiful little box.

Curious, the woman opened the lid, revealing the item in its entirety—a small, exquisitely packaged red velvet box with the words "Jade Bracelet" printed on it, along with the seller's shop name.

Bai Sisi frowned, glancing subconsciously at Xue Jin before taking the box out.

Xue Jin paused, then immediately realized—it was a small gift he'd bought for Lian Yu; how could he have just left it there? He then remembered how angry he'd been that day, and the more he looked at the item, the more annoyed he became, so…

Bai Sisi first handed her son a bottle of mineral water before opening the box, her expression turning grim—she took out the bracelet, examining it closely, and found it to be of decent quality.

"Honey? Who did you give this bracelet to?" Bai Sisi held it up to her wrist; it was too small, clearly a girl's size, and she grew increasingly jealous.

Xue Jin glanced at it nonchalantly: "Oh, you mean this? It's a gift for a client!"

Bai Sisi, upon hearing this, angrily continued to press: "Client? A woman, right? Giving a jade bracelet is too thoughtful of you."

The more the woman looked at the bracelet, the more something seemed off; it was far too small. How slender must the female client's wrist be?

"What are you thinking? This is for the male client's youngest daughter." Xue Jin feigned impatience: "The client has mentioned it to me several times, saying his youngest daughter's birthday is coming up soon, and he doesn't know what to get her. He asked me for advice, and I thought I'd take this opportunity to give him a gift."

Bai Sisi was somewhat skeptical, but the bracelet was indeed too small; most adult women couldn't even fit into it.

"Sisi, you're overthinking things again. What's wrong with you lately? You're too sensitive. How am I supposed to work like this?" Xue Jin, his hands firmly on the steering wheel, turned and teased.

Before the woman could reply, her son snatched the bracelet from her hand.

"Hey~ you~" Bai Sisi was startled by the little guy's actions. Then Xue Jin's voice rang out again: "Kid, be careful, don't break it, it's not cheap."

The little boy muttered nonchalantly, "I know."

Then the little guy took the bracelet with one hand and tried to put it on his wrist, his grimacing face making Bai Sisi quite nervous: "Son, if you can't get it in, don't try."

Kids love to be stubborn, if you say no, they'll do the opposite. Until his little hand was red from pulling, the bracelet was finally barely on. Bai Sisi scolded him impatiently: "You silly boy, does it hurt?"

Xue Jin was driving in front and couldn't turn around, but he also felt sorry for his son: "How are you? Are you okay?"

The little boy chuckled twice: It hurts, but it's finally in, and it's actually quite pretty.

"Dad, it's okay, Mom, do you think it looks good?" The little guy waved his wrist in front of Bai Sisi, finding it very amusing.

“Okay, okay, it’s nice, but this bracelet isn’t something a boy should wear. If you like it, Dad will take you to the store to pick out a pendant sometime when he has time.” Bai Sisi couldn’t help but blow on her son’s red little hand—even though she was usually busy and didn’t have much time to spend with her son, he was still her own flesh and blood, and she cherished him dearly.

“Take it off quickly.” Hearing his mother say this, the little guy didn’t object and readily brought the bracelet over and handed it over—no matter how nice it was, it was still a girl’s item.

“Wife, do you believe me now? This is indeed for a little girl, not what you think.” Xue Jin raised his head slightly, feeling completely at ease.

Bai Sisi glanced at him but didn’t say anything, and then carefully examined the bracelet for a while: “How much is this? It’s not cheap, is it?”

Xue Jin answered slowly: “It’s not cheap, almost ten thousand.”

Upon hearing the price, Bai Sisi pursed her lips but didn’t say anything, put the item back into the gift box, and threw it into the storage box, while Xue Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At this crucial moment, he couldn't afford to make any mistakes in his conduct, or his career would be in jeopardy.

The meal was enjoyed by everyone—the large fish was delicious, a testament to his mother-in-law's excellent cooking. Xue Jin praised it enthusiastically throughout the meal, making the old man beam with joy.

After dinner, the women cleared the table, the grandson went to his grandfather's study to play on the computer, while Xue Jin and his grandfather went for a walk—under the bright streetlights, the lake flowed gently, and the green trees swayed, a scene of tranquility and peace.

Frankly, Xue Jin loved the environment here; he hoped that in a few years, he too could own a government-owned villa like this.

"Xue Jin, your report last time was excellent. Lin Hao and Lao Li both praised you in front of me, saying you were young and promising, which made me proud." The old man, a former soldier, was nearly 60, walking with a robust gait and a strong build.

"Dad, don't worry, I'll do even better in the future," Xue Jin said, neither humble nor arrogant, exuding confidence, yet his tone was extremely respectful.

"Well, which department do you want to join?"

"Dad, I'd like to hear your opinion first." Xue Jin was very humble.

"Well, I don't have any opinions. If you're confident you can do well in a certain department, I'll smooth things over for you." The old man's words were somewhat reserved, but Xue Jin understood that although his father-in-law said he would "smooth things over," it was definitely not a problem.

"I..." Xue Jin was about to say something when his father-in-law suddenly interrupted him.

"That old Li thinks highly of you. Why don't you go to the Ministry of Justice to be the second-in-command? He'll be retiring soon, and then you can take over his position."

Xue Jin thought for a moment and cautiously spoke up: "Dad, I don't want to go to the Ministry of Justice. The work is too complicated, and the interpersonal relationships are too complex. If I'm not careful, I might offend people."

"Hmm, that makes sense. So where do you want to go?" The old man nodded calmly.

"Dad, I want to go to the Construction Department." Ever since his last report, Xue Jin had been secretly planning his future. After much deliberation, he finally came to a conclusion—the Construction Department was in charge of urban construction, and he also owned a decoration company. Getting a multi-million dollar project would be a piece of cake!

"..." Old Master Bai Qi paused, quite surprised—this was very different from Xue Jin's current industry. Could he really do it?

As if sensing his doubts, Xue Jin said confidently, "Dad, the real estate industry has developed rapidly in recent years and has a bright future. I wouldn't dare say I'd be the director, but I'd be more than capable of being a deputy."

Bai Qi was even more astonished. He carefully looked his son-in-law up and down, thinking, "This kid has quite the nerve," but there was no contempt in his voice; instead, he was filled with satisfaction and pride.

"Good, as expected of my son-in-law, Bai Qi. It seems Sisi chose the right person." The old man exclaimed loudly, then asked with great hope, "Do you really want to become a deputy director-general?"

What kind of position is that? Deputy director-general—director-general—deputy provincial—provincial—only two steps away from the top of the pyramid.

"Yes, I will humbly learn from my seniors, work hard, and definitely bring you honor." Xue Jin's words were firm and full of pride.

The old man was also moved, patting his son-in-law's arm vigorously and shouting excitedly, "Good, good!"

Everything went smoothly. Xue Jin didn't like to climb the ladder of officialdom like a grandson, but that depended on the stakes. Many people were unwilling to pay the price because the stakes were too small. If the stakes were high enough, no one could resist the temptation of profit.

Furthermore, Xue Jin's official position wasn't just about the benefits of being a civil servant; more importantly, the position itself could bring him even greater benefits. This was what Xue Jin had always dreamed of: to succeed in both officialdom and business, to have his dreams fulfilled a thousand times, but only today did he truly experience such splendor. June 4th, Chapter 50: Junyi Hotel.

Lian Jun was somewhat uneasy because his sister hadn't come to see him over the weekend—he was about to be discharged from the hospital, and he wanted to see his sister one last time in his free time.

It was Tuesday evening, but unexpectedly, the deputy director arrived.

"Lian Jun, you're in luck! The warden has secured you a chance to be sent to a farm. Once you finish your labor camp, you'll be released on a reduced sentence."

Lian Jun could hardly believe his ears—he'd heard fellow inmates mention this special treatment before, but he never expected it to happen to him.

"Really? Thank you, thank you, Warden Xue."

The deputy warden was on business today and happened to think of Lian Jun, so he came to see him personally. The official order wouldn't be issued until tomorrow, so he was giving him the 'good news' in advance.

Of course, there are always trade-offs. This kid might have to suffer a bit, but getting a reduction of more than a year's sentence just by being shoved in the butt doesn't seem like a huge loss to him.

"When you get there, do your best. The warden and I have high hopes for you." The deputy warden looked at the young man's handsome face, full of joy, completely oblivious to everything, and subconsciously felt a little sorry for him.

"Lian Jun, although the farm is relaxed and free, the prisoners there aren't easy to get along with. You'll have to be clever when you get there." The deputy warden, unusually kind, offered some advice.

"Yes, definitely, I will be humble." Lian Jun didn't catch the hidden meaning in his words, only focusing on his happiness.

The deputy director, seeing his 'foolish' look, didn't say much. He was waiting for someone, so he just wandered over to chat out of boredom.

"Alright, the official approval will arrive tomorrow. You should prepare well." Saying this, the deputy director slowly took a sip of water and then stood up.

"Are you leaving? Won't you stay a little longer?" Lian Jun was very grateful to Xue Jin.

"No, you should rest early. I have something to do, so I'll be going now." The deputy director gave him one last look before leaving. Lian Jun, left in the room, paced back and forth excitedly. Finally, he clasped his hands together and knelt on the ground.

"Thank God, thank you, I'm finally going to get through this." Lian Jun's face was somewhat distorted, it was hard to tell whether he was crying or laughing.

He missed his sister constantly. He loathed prison life, so dark and nauseating. Now he finally had a chance to escape temporarily, and a bright future lay ahead. How could he not be excited!

That night, Lian Jun didn't sleep a wink. He imagined life on the farm—blue skies, white clouds, herds of cattle and sheep. He also dreamed of living with his sister in the future.

"Xiao Yu, I'm so sorry. I'll take good care of you when I get out." Lian Jun stared into his clear, dark eyes, tears streaming down his face.

Then he thought of Xue Jin: if it weren't for Xue Jin's help, he wouldn't have had such a smooth journey. He would definitely thank him properly someday.

Lian Jun's heart felt bright and clear. He felt truly alive again—the gloom in his heart vanished instantly, as if he had been reborn, full of energy and hope.

Early Wednesday morning, Bai Sisi quickly washed up and took a taxi to the beauty salon.

As soon as she entered, she saw the young staff cleaning—some sweeping, some wiping windows, and others tidying up the small rooms.

Everything was in good order, requiring little attention from Bai Sisi.

The shop usually didn't open until after nine o'clock, and everyone was relaxed, chatting in small groups, while the staff kept busy.

Bai Sisi was a decent person, friendly to her employees, but she could also be strict when necessary.

As she groomed herself in front of the mirror, she glanced to the side and suddenly saw Xiao Lan cleaning up the mess under the chair.

"Clean it up, there's hair everywhere." It was a casual remark, not meant to be harsh, but the young girl took it differently.

Xiao Lan remained silent, but her movements became even more meticulous, inwardly rolling her eyes: So what if she's a boss? What's so great about that? She's only doing this because of a man! Shameless.

Out of admiration for Xue Jin, Xiao Lan harbored jealousy and resentment towards Bai Sisi, but there was nothing she could do. As a girl from out of town with no family power or influence, how could she survive in society without learning real skills?

She herself studied beauty and hairdressing, and Bai Sisi's shop was quite famous, so she came here to learn—not only her techniques but also her management methods. She dreamed of one day opening her own shop.

She had been searching for a man she could rely on, but while there were many capable men, truly trustworthy and conscientious ones were few and far between.

Bai Sisi finished applying eyeliner and then applied a layer of honey-colored lipstick, looking both alluring and sexy. She narcissistically ruffled her voluminous curls and turned around with satisfaction.

"Everyone, stop for a moment!" Bai Sisi clapped her hands twice, attracting the employees' attention. Only when they all stopped what they were doing and looked at her attentively did the woman speak slowly.

"Who's the team leader on duty today?"

"Me." Everyone's eyes turned to Xiao Lan.

"Okay, I have something to do today, so you'll be in charge of the shop for now. Don't call me unless there's something special. If Brother Xue needs me, have him call my cell phone." Bai Sisi gave her instructions cautiously, even though she felt the chances of Xue Jin calling her were slim.

Every Wednesday, Xue Jin was busy with his regular meetings.

"I understand, Manager. Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself." Xiao Lan was very respectful on the surface, but inwardly she was full of disdain: Was he out flirting again?

"Alright, everyone, let's get back to work." After giving her brief instructions, Bai Sisi picked up her small handbag and left. The

Junyi Hotel in City A was a three-star hotel directly under the Central Military Commission. It was the usual place to entertain important military figures. There were guards standing at the entrance. Bai Sisi had heard of this place, but when she actually arrived, she found everything to be very formal and strict; registration was required to enter.

Bai Sisi's father was the top official in the Central Military Commission, but she wasn't very familiar with the place. She took some simple notes, and as the sliding doors hummed, she felt a little nervous.

Usually, her trysts took place in her own shop or ordinary hotels; this was her first time in a place with the five-star red flag.

Upon entering the lobby, a pretty young woman unexpectedly stopped her: "Miss, who are you looking for?"

Bai Sisi's heart pounded. Feeling a little guilty, she hesitated before speaking, "I'm looking for the guest in room 606."

"Okay, I'll take you there." The young woman was very friendly and enthusiastic.

"No, no, I can go by myself." Bai Sisi felt the young woman was being overly enthusiastic.

"It's alright, it's what we should do." The young woman smiled and then walked ahead—actually, she was an intern practicing reception etiquette.

Bai Sisi was uneasy, but she had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow her into the elevator.

Upon reaching the sixth floor, the waiter politely declined, but Bai Sisi didn't stand on ceremony and stepped out. The waitress followed her in, and the two went to room 606.

Bai Sisi intended to politely ask her to leave, but the waitress rang the doorbell for her. A moment later, the heavy wooden door opened from the inside.

Old Song was taken aback when he saw the two beautiful women outside. Then, the waitress's clear voice rang out, "Sir, this lady is looking for you."

Old Song nodded expressionlessly, then let Bai Sisi in. Turning back, his expression changed, a playful smile spreading across his face. "Thank you."

He then pulled a 50-yuan note from his pocket and stuffed it into the waitress's hand, taking the opportunity to squeeze the girl's soft hand.

The waitress was startled, feeling both embarrassed and angry—she was still an intern; if she were caught accepting money from a customer, would she be fired?

"No, no..." The waitress tried to push the money back, but Old Song was faster, already closing the door.

Bai Sisi entered the room and looked around, her eyes widening in amazement: high-end carpets, a comfortable and soft bed, and elegant decor—everything was perfect, instantly lifting her spirits.

"How is it? Not bad, right?" Old Song walked over and put his arm around her shoulder, asking with obvious pride.

"It's wonderful! Why didn't you bring me here before? Is this your surprise?" Bai Sisi, with a touch of girlish sentimentality, also loved the ambiance.

"Not really. Let's have a glass of red wine first." Old Song walked to the small bar in the corner of the room, opened a bottle of XO provided by the hotel, poured two glasses, and then strode over to the woman.

"Please." Old Song handed her the wine, which Bai Sisi accepted without hesitation.

She first brought the glass to her nose and sniffed it—the aroma was faint, but the color was quite delicate and mellow, suggesting it was a high-

quality wine. Before she could examine it closely, Old Song raised his glass. "Honey, come on, let's drink to our happy life." The two glasses clinked together, producing a clear, resonant sound.

Bai Sisi then tilted her head back and downed the wine in one gulp.

"Okay, again." Old Song's glass was empty too, and they both refilled it. This time, they sat down at the coffee table in the corner of the room.

Bai Sisi crossed her beautiful legs, flirtatiously tossed her hair a few times, then lifted her eyelids and gave Lao Song a charming smile: "Brother Song, how's the business license thing going?"

Lao Song's eyes crinkled with a smile at her mention of it: "Good sister, how could I forget? It's all done, it's in my briefcase, I'll get it for you now."

He tried to stand up, but the woman quickly stopped him: "No need, just give it to me when I leave."

"Okay." Lao Song sat up straight again, but his lustful eyes lingered on the woman's bare, white legs, while Bai Sisi seemed oblivious, delicately sipping her red wine.

She was waiting for him to make his move—in fact, her body was already aroused, but she didn't like to take the initiative, preferring to be the prey, waiting for the hunter's favor.

A moment later, Old Song leaned closer and whispered, "Sister Bai, how about we go dance?"

Bai Sisi was quite puzzled. Old Song was usually such an impatient fellow; what was he up to today, being so romantic with red wine and dancing?

But women like this kind of thing, so Bai Sisi readily agreed.

Old Song went to the stereo, played several pieces of music, carefully selected one, and finally chose a slow waltz. He then beckoned, and Bai Sisi happily went over.

The music was melodious. At first, Old Song was very polite, but after a few minutes, their bodies were very close. Finally, the man buried his head in the woman's neck, as if to kiss her. Just then, the doorbell rang— Chapter 51 Hotel 4P Part 1. "Coming." Old Song opened the door, and two men entered, one tall and one short, both with very well-proportioned figures—the taller one wore glasses and looked very refined,

while the shorter one was more rugged. Both men stared at Bai Sisi, their gazes gentle without a trace of lewdness. "Old Song, introduce this beauty," the taller man said with a forced smile. "This is my friend Bai Sisi. Sisi, this is Director Liu from the Health Bureau, and this is Director Cheng from the Quality Supervision Bureau," Old Song introduced them simply, but his eyes held a deeper meaning. Actually, their work was somewhat related, and they had become good friends over time. They had heard of Bai Sisi before and knew she owned a beauty salon, but hadn't seen her on their two previous visits. Today, they had specifically asked Old Song to arrange a meeting. As for the purpose of the meeting, they all knew without saying a word. "Oh, hello, hello, so you're the leaders. Do you have something to discuss? Then I'll be going now." Bai Sisi was also a shrewd woman: when a woman is in a hotel room with several men at the same time, anything could happen. Although she usually enjoyed having fun, she wasn't mentally prepared for today's situation: the situation was clear—a foursome! She'd never even been in a threesome, let alone a foursome, so Bai Sisi was a little scared. As she spoke, the woman picked up her purse and was about to leave . Directors Liu and Cheng's faces darkened. They'd made a special trip to come, and after doing nothing, she wanted to leave? They both gave Old Song a knowing look, and the man, understanding, gave her a reassuring glance. "Sisi, what are you doing? My two friends came specifically to see you. What will happen if you leave?" Old Song stepped forward and grabbed the woman's purse. "..." Bai Sisi feigned ignorance, looking at him, then coldly said, "I think I only met them today." "Yes, yes, but they care about you a lot. Your shop's hygiene is substandard, and the product quality is poor. If I hadn't asked these two for help, you would have had a hard time getting your business license!" Old Song's expression wasn't good either. In his opinion, Bai Sisi was a slut, wanting every man in the world to sleep with her, and now she was pretending to be innocent—it was all too pretentious. Bai Sisi's heart skipped a beat. She turned to look at the two men; they were dressed quite well. Then, the scene of the four men entangled in the [email protected] film flashed through her mind, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. She didn't know if she was excited or scared, but she was undeniably intrigued: after all, the women in the [email protected] film seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Seeing that Bai Sisi's expression had softened, Old Song quickly continued to coax her: "Sisi, you're so outstanding, any man would like you. Give everyone a chance, okay? It'll be good to have someone look out for you later." Bai Sisi loosened her grip on her handbag, and Old Song, quick as a flash, snatched it away and tossed it aside. He then gave the other two men a smug look. The taller man sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette, while the shorter one went to draw the curtains. Old Song turned on the wall lamp, and instantly, the entire room was bathed in a soft, orange light, the air thick with an ambiguous atmosphere. "Sisi, go take a shower, use that one." The presidential suite had two bathrooms, and Old Song had Bai Sisi go to the one further inside. The woman took off her high heels, then removed her long dress, her stunning figure drawing the stares of several men. They only snapped out of their daze after she disappeared into the bathroom. "Old Song, this woman is quite something," Director Liu chuckled, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Of course, she's my childhood sweetheart. I'll be thinking of you guys when I have something good, so don't always hog it all to yourself." With that, the men exchanged glances and burst into unrestrained laughter. A gentle stream of water poured down from above, quickly bringing Bai Sisi's feverish mind to a clearer state: What was she going to do? Was she really going to do it? What if her husband found out? She rarely thought this far ahead; the long period of calm had made her complacent. But now she panicked. There were three grown men, each at least once! The woman grew increasingly confused and uneasy. She quickly rinsed off, put on a bra and panties, and then covered herself with a bathrobe before emerging. As soon as she appeared, the men noticed her unusual expression. "Sisi, come here. What are you standing there for?" Old Song's tone was soft, trying to sound relaxed.

"I... I thought I had something to do at the shop, I want to go back!" the woman stammered, glancing at the expressions of the men. A chill ran down her spine: they all seemed unhappy.

"What did you say? You're not joking about letting me go back?" The tall man laughed arrogantly. "Do you know how much this presidential suite costs? Exactly ten thousand silver dollars."

They had already planned to take advantage of her; they could get reimbursed for their food, drinks, and entertainment, but a ten-thousand-dollar room fee was something they absolutely couldn't get reimbursed by the company—it was too much.

So they split the bill. Now they'd already spent the money, and they were about to enjoy themselves when the woman said she wouldn't have it? Anyone would be furious.

"Then, then I'll give you the money." Bai Sisi felt the tall man wasn't as refined as he appeared; maybe he was a violent man?

The thought made her scalp tingle.

"Sisi, even I can't speak up for you. Aren't you just playing with people?" Old Song also felt the woman had gone too far; she was fine a moment ago, but her attitude changed drastically.

"Your shop has a lot of substandard products. One inspection is enough to keep you in trouble for half a year. Don't be ungrateful." The short man leaned forward, grabbed her hair, and sniffed it. His hands were relatively well-behaved, but his words were chilling.

Now the woman was in a dilemma. She couldn't afford to offend any of these people. Why didn't she just act decisively? Even if they made things difficult for her, at least there would be room for maneuver. Judging from their tone now, they were furious.

Bai Sisi was filled with regret, but there was no way out. She could only helplessly let the short man pull her to the bedside.

Chapter 53 Late Return

Xue Jin was a bit busy today. He didn't get home until after 7 p.m.

as soon as he entered the door. His son came out of his room after hearing the noise—he was holding potato chips and eating them in small bites. He pouted when he saw his father: "Why are you so late? What did you buy?"

"Fish, shrimp, crab!" Xue Jin glanced at the little guy, smiled, picked up the shopping bag, and walked to the kitchen.

The little boy casually placed the potato chips on the coffee table in the living room and followed him with a smile: "Dad, did you cook them all today?"

Xue Jin placed the plastic bag on the kitchen counter, picked up several bowls, and poured the contents out: "You want to get fat overnight, you greedy little glutton."

"..." The little boy curled his lip indifferently: "I'm still growing, I'm lacking a lot of things."

Xue Jin ignored him and turned around to ask: "Have you finished your homework?"

"Finished!" The little boy didn't dare to be careless when his father mentioned studying: "The homework the teacher assigned today was quite difficult, but I finished it all."

Xue Jin nodded, becoming less serious: "Son, what do you want to eat?"

The little boy blinked his big eyes at the contents of the bowl: "Make a live fish, I want to eat fish, and I also want to eat stir-fried eggs with chives."

The fish seemed to understand him, thrashing around anxiously in the half-filled bowl of water, before desperately blowing bubbles, looking like it was on its last legs.

“Okay, fish it is. What flavor?” Xue Jin said, taking a clean apron hanging nearby and tying it around his waist. Then he bent down and rummaged through the drawers of the cupboard for special tools.

“Sichuan-style boiled fish, I guess. Do you have any seasoning?” The little boy watched his father busily preparing the fish, feeling a warmth in his heart.

Hearing his son's suggestion, Xue Jin straightened up, frowned, and thought to himself: Why Sichuan flavor again? Didn’t he just eat it with Ding Bu a few days ago?

But since his son liked it, Xue Jin didn’t object.

“Son, come inside and wait. The kitchen will be smoky later.” Xue Jin said, rolling up his sleeves and taking out an iron knife to start scraping the fish scales.

“Dad, is there anything I can help you with? Like washing the rice, or cracking some eggs?” The little boy took a few steps closer, watching his father’s hands, the veins bulging, blood faintly visible, his large hands moving up and down deftly, powerfully and forcefully.

"No need, you can go in!" Xue Jin thought to himself: his son is still young, it's better to let him experience it in two or three years.

"Oh..." The little boy was a little disappointed—he was at an age where he was full of curiosity about everything, and he greatly admired his father's cooking skills, secretly resolving to learn a thing or two in the future.

"Wait..." The little guy had just turned around when he heard his father calling him. He turned back and looked at Xue Jin with confusion: "What's wrong?"

Xue Jin had already finished cleaning one side of the fish scales, turned the big fish over, and rinsed the knife in the water—to wash off the scales sticking to it.

"Call your mother and tell her to come home for dinner early." Xue Jin instructed, bowing his head: Bai Sisi's work hours were irregular, and her dinner time was also unpredictable.

"Oh, I know, I'll go now." The little guy replied and turned to leave.

Xue Jin's house was spacious and well-laid out, with bedrooms on both sides and a living room in the middle, while the landline was placed in a corner of the living room, near the television.

The little boy picked up the phone and skillfully dialed Bai Sisi's shop number. The clerk, Xiao Lan, answered.

"Hello, can you find my mom, Bai Sisi?" The little boy had been to Bai Sisi's shop a few times, but the clerk remembered him well, after all, he was the owner's son.

"Lele, your mom's out. You can call her on her cell phone if you need anything." Xiao Lan's tone was gentle. Hearing his voice, she couldn't help but think of Xue Jin, but even if she missed him, she didn't say anything.

"Okay, I understand." The little boy hung up and then dialed Bai Sisi's cell phone again.

It rang many times, but no one answered, which puzzled Xue Tianle. He dialed twice more; the line was clear, but still no one answered.

Finally, the little boy gave up and ran into the kitchen—there were some chopped ingredients on the cutting board, Xue Jin was pouring oil into the pan, and the shrimp and crab had already been put into the refrigerator.

Amidst the barely audible noise of the range hood, the little boy said, "Dad, Mom's not at the shop. I called her several times, but she didn't answer. Is something wrong?"

The boy was worried about his mother.

Xue Jin, who had just poured oil and was adding ingredients to the pan, paused for a second upon hearing this.

Then, while stirring with a spatula, the man turned to his son and said, "Mom's probably busy, entertaining someone. It's not convenient for her to answer the phone. It's okay, don't worry, we don't need to wait for her to eat."

The little boy nodded, pursed his lips, and said helplessly, "Yeah, Mom's always like that."

Xue Jin's expression darkened. He didn't know what his son meant by "always like that." Did she not eat with him? Or did she not answer the phone? Or was she always out fooling around with other men?

Of course, the latter was just Xue Jin's own speculation; his son was naive enough that there were many things he shouldn't know.

The father and son finished dinner after 8:30. Xue Jin checked his son's homework just before 9:00, then went into the bathroom for a hot shower.

Xue Jin, wearing a large bathrobe, sat in the living room and turned on the TV. Recently, marital dramas had become popular across the country: ten months of pregnancy, divorced women, long-married couples…

The man was currently watching one of them: When a Marriage Comes to an End.

Although he had only watched half an episode, Xue Jin's sharp mind immediately grasped the theme of the drama: the wife, tired of the mundane family and husband, sought an opportunity to escape the "walled city" of marriage, while the husband, in order to give his son a complete world, constantly wove lies…

As Xue Jin watched, he felt sorry for the man, and then he thought of his own marriage: similarly filled with deception and lies. When did it begin?

Xue Jin couldn't remember; it seemed she was already like that when he found out about his wife's affair!

But did he really blame her? Perhaps it was precisely because of his implicit indulgence that she became so promiscuous! Xue Jin flicked off the long ash from his cigarette with a cold laugh, his eyes filled with gloom.

He looked up at his phone on the coffee table in front of him, then got up and took another phone from his briefcase, pressing the green power button.

The screen showed a low battery—he hadn't used it in a long time, and the battery was draining badly.

Xue Jin ignored the constant beeping of incoming text messages, instead flipping through his phone book, then went back to the bedroom and dialed a number.

"Xiao Lan, it's me." Xue Jin smiled mischievously.

"Ah... I recognized your voice, Brother Xue, what made you think of calling me?" The voice on the other end was excited.

"Yeah, I missed you, so I called, haha!" Xue Jin joked, half-jokingly.

"Really? You're just saying nice things to fool me." Xiao Lan couldn't figure out his intentions either.

"I'll treat you to dinner sometime." Xue Jin didn't wait for her reply and continued, "What time did you get off work today?"

"Okay, I think it was 9 o'clock. I just got home not long ago, I haven't even taken off my clothes yet, I'm washing my face." The girl lived quite far away, and her living conditions were average.

Xue Jin licked his lips, understanding what she meant. Not taking off her clothes? Was she ready to accept his invitation to go out at any moment?

"When did your boss's wife leave today?" After a few pleasantries, Xue Jin got straight to the point.

"Oh..." Xiao Lan couldn't hide her disappointment: "She just stood in the shop for a bit and then left."

"Hasn't she come back?" Xue Jin's voice was indifferent.

"She hasn't come back." Xiao Lan told the truth—she couldn't wait for Bai Sisi to get a divorce. The girl herself wasn't innocent, but at this moment, she was cursing the other woman as a bitch in her heart.

"..." After a moment of silence on the other end, the girl mustered her courage and said, "Brother Xue, you've suffered too much. Sister Bai isn't good enough for you. A man as outstanding as you deserves better."

Xiao Lan was right that the man was outstanding, but Xue Jin himself wasn't exactly a saint. They'd had a past relationship, and her words implied she was trying to get close to him—or so the girl had always thought. A

sarcastic smile curled at the corner of Xue Jin's lips: She's not good enough? You are!

"Xiao Lan, I know what I'm doing. You're a good girl, thank you." Xue Jin then abruptly hung up the phone.

When Xue Tianle called Bai Sisi, the woman was enjoying herself. Because they were making so much noise, someone had turned on the TV, and Bai Sisi, with her phone in her bag, hadn't heard a thing.

By the time the men were satisfied, it was past nine o'clock. Bai Sisi was completely exhausted and unable to move. She vaguely wanted to go home, but she was so tired she didn't even have the strength to blink.

The tall and short men finished dressing, and Old Song tightened his belt. He leaned over and nudged the woman, who was covered in mud, saying, "Sisi, get up. I'll take you home."

Bai Sisi struggled to open her eyes. In her eyes, Old Song had become a two-headed monster. She squinted to barely make out his features. "No, no, you guys... go ahead. I... I'll rest for a bit,"

the woman muttered softly, causing the others to exchange bewildered glances. The deposit was substantial, but no one could stay with her; her family had already called to urge them to pay. The

tall man smiled and patted Old Song's shoulder casually. "Then we'll come back tomorrow to settle the bill!"

Old Song nodded, thinking that was the only option. Then, the men came over, kissed the woman, whispered sweet nothings in her ear, left her 1000 yuan for "taxi fare," and left.

After the door closed, the room became quiet. Bai Sisi's whole body ached, especially her front and back. The men acted like they hadn't touched a woman in centuries, savage and aggressive. What

she didn't know was that the men were all taking drugs, constantly playing with her kidney deficiency. They were taking tonics and aphrodisiacs, a two-pronged approach, doing both simultaneously.

Bai Sisi thought a short nap would do the trick: half an hour.

She drifted off into a hazy, dreamlike state, her mind preoccupied, so her sleep was restless. But the exhaustion almost made her hallucinate—that she was in her own bed at home.

In this hazy, dreamlike state, three hours passed unnoticed. When Bai Sisi finally came to, it was already past midnight. Looking around, her head throbbed.

While getting dressed, she pulled out her phone from her purse: several missed calls from home!

Bai Sisi frantically dressed, then suddenly remembered she hadn't showered; her body still contained the fluids of other men.

The woman was on the verge of tears. She took off all her clothes, ran into the bathroom, stayed for two minutes, and then rushed out again. After dressing properly, she finally saw the banknotes on the sofa.

Bai Sisi was filled with remorse. She had enjoyed herself, but she had been roughed up, her whole body ached, and the feeling of being too full had left her feeling disgusted: she didn't want to have sex for a month.

The woman thought angrily, grabbing the banknotes: If she didn't take them, who would benefit?

The streets were brightly lit in the early morning. Bai Sisi hailed a taxi, got in anxiously, and said, "Driver, to XX neighborhood, hurry."

The driver glanced at the woman in the rearview mirror and smiled wickedly: "Okay! On the way."

On the way, the driver wanted to tease her a bit: A woman coming out of a hotel so late, she must have done *that*. This woman is pretty; he wondered if she was a prostitute, and if there was any possibility of them developing a relationship!

He tried to say something, but the woman retorted forcefully, "You drive your car!"

Taxis are a relatively ordinary service industry, and the driver was speechless, his face turning red. He thought to himself how unlucky he was: his attempt at infidelity had backfired, and he'd run into a black widow.

Bai Sisi, trying to appear calm, pushed open the bedroom door. Afraid of disturbing Xue Jin, she didn't dare turn on the light. Just as she was about to undress in the dark, something flew towards her.

The woman instinctively reached out and caught it—it was a pillow. Then her gaze fixed on something in front of her, her heart leaping into her throat—the man who had been lying flat on the bed was now sitting up, his eyes gleaming coldly in the darkness.

"Where have you been? Why are you only coming back now?" Xue Jin's voice was devoid of warmth, instantly petrifying Bai Sisi.

Chapter Fifty-Four: Evidence

"Husband, you're still awake?!" Bai Sisi asked timidly, subconsciously not wanting to answer his question.

"How can I sleep if you don't come back? Wife, you should know what time it is, right? Aren't you going to explain to me?" Xue Jin sat on the bed, staring coldly at her.

He knew perfectly well what she was up to, but this time it had really gone too far. Coming home in the middle of the night, if he didn't question her, he'd be a complete coward.

"Oh, I went to dinner with friends, then went to a bar for a while." Bai Sisi turned away, taking off her clothes as she groped her way to the wardrobe in the dark.

A snap sounded, and the wall lamp in the room was turned on.

The woman's heart skipped a beat, even her movements slowed: Bai Sisi wasn't sure if there were any obvious marks on her body, but her face was a little swollen—from those bastards.

Xue Jin's anger flared. He knew she was lying, but he wasn't going to let her off the hook today.

"Really? A friend? Do I know them?"

Bai Sisi opened the wardrobe, deliberately sticking most of her body inside to look for her pajamas, then discreetly changed her clothes. "You don't know them."

"Male or female? How many people?" Xue Jin continued to press, expressionless.

"..." Bai Sisi's mind was a little confused, but she wasn't incapable of making up a lie: "There were men and women, four in total."

"Which bar did you go to?"

The woman's pajamas were very conservative; except for her neck, her feet and arms were covered in fabric—Xue Jin noticed this and understood immediately.

"A newly opened one; you wouldn't know even if I told you." Bai Sisi closed the closet door, keeping her head down to avoid Xue Jin noticing the injury on her face. She walked towards the bed, reluctantly answering his question.

"A newly opened one? Tell me, maybe I know. Even if I don't, I think Ding Bu should know something." Xue Jin's tone was flat. Bai

Sisi sat on the edge of the bed, wondering to herself, the man was acting strangely today; had he discovered something? She then carefully examined herself, seemingly finding nothing wrong, and gently touched her cheek; it wasn't swollen much.

"Honey, it's so late. Let's sleep. We can talk about it tomorrow, okay?" The woman lifted the covers and lay down.

Xue Jin shifted his position, leaning against the bed, then picked up a cigarette from the bedside table and lit it. In the flickering embers, the man was deep in thought.

After the cigarette burned out, he finally understood something.

"Sisi!" Xue Jin stared at a corner of the wall and said calmly, "Are you seeing someone else?"

The woman was tired but couldn't sleep. She felt something was about to happen, but dared not break the silence—Bai Sisi felt guilty.

Hearing the man's words, the woman turned around, instinctively wanting to deny it: "You, what are you saying? What are you thinking about in the middle of the night!"

"Am I thinking things? Who were you with today? What did you do? I want the truth." Xue Jin's face was terrifyingly dark, and his tone carried a hint of anger.

"Didn't I tell you? My friend, we, we went to a bar." Bai Sisi still tried desperately to cover up the truth. She thought she could get away with it because Xue Jin had always 'pampered' her.

"A bar? A bar whose name you can't even remember?" Xue Jin's anger was already burning on his brow, which resembled a small mountain.

"..." Bai Sisi was speechless for a moment, then she mustered her courage and shouted at him, "I don't remember, what right do you have to question me? I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Wrong? What is wrong? Does sleeping with other men count?"

"You, what nonsense are you talking about? I haven't even bothered with you, why are you interfering?" Bai Sisi was almost furious with embarrassment. She herself came from a pampered family, and it was really hard for her once gentle husband to accept that he had changed his attitude.

These words were offensive and sounded very harsh to Xue Jin. He narrowed his eyes and his lips twitched twice: "Have I been too lenient with you? Is that why you're so presumptuous?"

Bai Sisi also regretted her words, knowing that she had spoken out of turn, but she did not intend to apologize. She turned over and closed her eyes.

"Take off your clothes!" Xue Jin felt his turtle shell was incredibly hard, almost unbearable—he let her play around as she pleased, but this 'blatant' behavior was unacceptable.

Bai Sisi's body stiffened, her heart pounding.

"Don't want to take them off? Want me to help you?" Xue Jin leaned closer, his hot breath brushing against the woman's ear, sending shivers down Bai Sisi's spine.

"What do you want to do?" The woman didn't dare move, instinctively pulling her single blanket tighter.

"What do I want to do? You didn't admit to seeing men, so I'll have to find out for myself." The cold words uttered from Xue Jin's warm lips stabbed Bai Sisi's heart.

The woman turned around in disbelief, hardly accepting what she was hearing—when had a man ever been so domineering?

Xue Jin snorted: a whore who had served him like a slave for over ten years, now it was time for her to take the lead.

Bai Sisi noticed the man's twisted smile, and her heart sank. She knew Xue Jin wasn't joking.

"...You, you can't do that to me." The woman felt her blood freeze; she couldn't imagine how Xue Jin would react if he knew the truth.

"I can, I have the right." Before the words were finished, Xue Jin abruptly ripped off the thin blanket covering the woman, and with a scream, quickly began tearing at her nightgown.

"Ah...ah..." Bai Sisi curled up, hugging herself tightly, trying to resist Xue Jin's ever-present clutches, but the disparity in strength and size between men and women quickly forced her to give in.

A chill ran down her lower body as the hem of her nightgown was lifted to her waist, followed by her underwear being pulled down.

Bai Sisi's hands were pinned down; her eyes widened, and she rolled on the bed like a snake, but soon the man held a thin strip of cloth in his hand—it was the woman's nightgown strap!

Xue Jin quickly tied a tight knot, binding the woman's hands firmly. Then, he moved to her crotch and forcefully spread Bai Sisi's closed, pale legs apart.

"No, no, let go, let go!" The woman still kicked her legs defiantly, but then fell silent amidst cries of pain—Xue Jin had used too much force, spreading her legs as wide as possible, as if her tendons and bones had been strained.

Bai Sisi's face contorted in pain, tears glistening in her eyes and streaming down her flushed cheeks.

"Please, please, it hurts so much..." The woman's pleas and pain were genuine, but Xue Jin remained unmoved. He glanced at her coldly, then fixed his gaze on her genitals.

"I, I'm going to die, take me to the hospital." Bai Sisi was utterly desperate—her lower body must be swollen and unsightly; anyone with eyes could tell what had happened.

Xue Jin's face turned deathly pale. Knowing was one thing, but actually seeing it was a completely different feeling. After all, Bai Sisi was his wife. The swollen genitals and the tattered anus were enough to prove everything.

The man's eyes flashed with disgust. He roughly flung the woman's legs away, causing Bai Sisi to groan in pain.

"Bitch, you're such a bitch." Xue Jin felt the cuckoldry on his head was almost crushing him. A large amount of pent-up anger filled his chest, making him see stars.

"Bitch, I married a bitch!" the man mumbled incoherently, his expression growing increasingly cold and terrifying. The next moment, he suddenly dragged the woman, who was still softly crying on the bed, off the bed and began to beat her mercilessly.

Bai Sisi's hands were bound, and her thigh was strained. She had no strength to dodge and could only be beaten like a sandbag. Amidst the screams and howls, a sharp cry suddenly rang out.

"Dad..." The door opened, and Xue Tianle stared in disbelief at what he saw—he could hardly believe it: his father was hitting his mother.

This sound quickly calmed Xue Jin down. He stopped his violence and looked at his son with bloodshot eyes: "Go back inside."

Bai Sisi was covered in bruises, blood still trickling from her mouth. She was also stunned when she saw her son.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Xue Tianle noticed his mother wasn't wearing any clothes on her lower body and didn't dare go in rashly. But should he leave now? He was extremely worried about his mother.

"Adult matters are none of a child's business." Xue Jin stood in front of the door, reaching out to push his son away.

"Dad...you're hitting Mom! How can I not do anything? Please, please don't fight!" Xue Tianle was truly shocked. His parents, who almost never argued, were now engaged in such a bloody scene.

"Son, listen to Dad. Dad promises you, I won't hit Mom again, okay?" Xue Jin patiently talked to him.

"But, but..." Xue Tianle wanted to say something, but suddenly heard Bai Sisi speak up: "Tianle, go back to sleep, Mom is fine."

Bai Sisi didn't want her child to witness domestic violence, especially since it was all her fault. How could she bear it? She was already busy and not a good mother, and now she didn't want him to know anything more.

"Mom?" the boy whispered uncertainly.

"Dad promises you, he won't hit Mom anymore. You can rest assured. Okay, go back now." Xue Jin said, pushing his son out the door, then closing it and plopping down on the edge of the bed.

The room became eerily quiet. Bai Sisi lay awkwardly on the floor, while Xue Jin rolled over, took out a cigarette, and leisurely lit it.

Both of them knew their son hadn't left, and Xue Jin had something to discuss with Bai Sisi, but he didn't want his son to know, so he chose to remain silent for the time being.

After finishing his cigarette, Xue Jin pushed open the door and went out, saying something to his son before quickly returning with two things in his hand: a pen and paper.

He tossed them onto the floor, looking down at Bai Sisi: "Write it down, write down everything you've done!"

Bai Sisi's mind went blank. Hearing his words, she trembled, her heart pounding. She shook her head violently in horror: she hadn't expected Xue Jin to use the same methods he used in prison on her. Writing down her crimes would put her in trouble from now on.

"Not writing?" Xue Jin smiled coldly, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"Honey, please, don't do this, I'll never do it again." Bai Sisi's mouth hurt terribly as she spoke, her words slurred

. "One thing at a time, let's settle things today first." Xue Jin showed her no sympathy.

"I, I can't, hit me, honey, I can't write it down." Bai Sisi understood the seriousness of the matter; if she admitted to adultery, the evidence would be too great.

The woman was terrified. She staggered over and grabbed the man's thigh: the hair there was thick and almost prickly.

"You won't write it, huh? I'll call your father right now. We're getting a divorce. The son will stay with me, and as for the property... I'll hire a lawyer to fight you in court." Xue Jin raised his leg, intending to kick Bai Sisi away, but the woman held on tightly, clinging to him like a leech.

Hearing "divorce?" Bai Sisi was stunned. She wouldn't get a share of the son, and the property would probably be split equally. Wouldn't she be at a huge loss? The woman had been calculating her own meager savings, but she hadn't expected Xue Jin to have such a large sum of money—of course, the man hadn't let her know.

"No, no, we can't get a divorce." Bai Sisi cried, tears streaming down her face, refusing to agree no matter what. She still had feelings for Xue Jin.

"No divorce? Then what was the point of me being a cuckold? What if you keep cheating on me?" Xue Jin remained unmoved, his words sharp and cutting.

"I... I won't! I promise, I swear!" The woman desperately wanted the man to believe her, even resorting to oaths.

But Xue Jin scoffed at that kind of thing; he'd done it all before.

“I don’t believe your vows, I only believe the facts. If you can’t give me a reassuring guarantee, we’ll only have divorce as our option.” Xue Jin wanted to obtain the evidence she had written to control her.

“…” Bai Sisi was now somewhat dizzy. She looked up at the man and realized for the first time how ‘tall’ Xue Jin was. His cold and imposing aura made it hard for her to breathe.

Seeing her staring blankly at him, Xue Jin was utterly disgusted and said irritably, “Write or don’t write, you only have these two choices.”

Bai Sisi was extremely helpless, her body numb and cold. She released Xue Jin’s leg, wiped the bloodstains from her mouth and nose, and then picked up the paper and pen on the ground with a hint of determination, saying pitifully, “I, I’ll write.”

In less than a hundred words, the woman wrote for a few minutes. Xue Jin looked at what the woman had written and curled his lips in dissatisfaction: “You haven’t written the location and people clearly enough. Where did it happen? With whom? How many times? Do I have to teach you how to write?”

After saying that, the man threw the paper in front of the woman.

Bai Sisi was filled with bitterness: Write it clearly? Can she write the truth? Old Song? Other men? She immediately dismissed the idea and decided to fabricate a lie.

After writing it a second time, the woman showed it to the man. Xue Jin reluctantly nodded, then had the woman sign and press her fingerprint before smiling with satisfaction.

He had gotten what he wanted; this was a priceless treasure—with it, his future would be much brighter.

Xue Jin was in high spirits, but his face remained calm. He knelt down, briefly examined her injuries, and decided to take her to the hospital: "Sisi, don't say I'm mistreating you. I was really angry today. I'll take you to see a doctor."

After saying this, Xue Jin changed his clothes, helped Bai Sisi dress, and then drove her to the hospital that night. After a flurry of activity, the examination results came back—all superficial injuries. With

everything settled, the sky began to lighten. Xue Jin stepped out of the ward, breathing in the fresh air, feeling that life was incredibly beautiful.

Chapter 55 Having Fun

Although Lian Yu couldn't see Brother Cheng every day, she was still very happy without Xue Jin's disturbance.

Cheng Chaoyang was very busy at work, sometimes working late into the night, and Lian Yu would already be asleep by then, so he didn't want to bother her. But whenever he came home early, he would go to Lian Yu's place for a while.

If it was mealtime, he would bring her a big bowl of food, and Cheng's mother would often cook a nice meal, including an extra portion for Lian Yu.

The girl was filled with gratitude, both happy and heartbroken—feeling the care of family, yet also feeling uneasy and constrained by her own situation.

Sometimes she felt extremely inferior, like a beggar.

Lian Yu always felt indebted to him, unable to repay his kindness immediately, almost burdened by a debt of conscience, but also with a sweet burden—Brother Cheng seemed to be treating her better and better.

Last week, the two went to the amusement park together.

On Friday evening, Lian Yu had just finished her dinner with pickled vegetables when she heard a knock at the door. The girl's heart leaped with joy; it was most likely her brother Cheng who was looking for her at this hour. She quickly put down the dishes she was about to clear and went to open the door.

The man was dressed in a professional suit: trousers, a white shirt, and a tie; he looked very smart.

"Brother Cheng, come in quickly!" Lian Yu couldn't help but smile when she saw him, her heart pounding. At the same time, she inwardly scolded herself for being so useless; why did she always feel nervous when she saw her brother?

The man smiled slightly at her, nodded, and stepped inside. He immediately noticed the girl's food: steamed buns again? Hadn't he bought her rice a few days ago?

"Xiao Yu, why are you eating this again? Are we out of rice?" Cheng Chaoyang's expression changed slightly. The girl was good in every way, except that she was too harsh on herself, and she was very concerned about her image and had a strong sense of pride.

"Ah... I haven't touched it yet. I'm thinking of eating it in a few days. I've been craving steamed buns lately." Lian Yu lied without batting an eye. Actually, she just didn't want her brother to spend money: once the rice was finished, he would definitely buy her more.

Cheng Chaoyang was clearly a little unhappy, but he couldn't bring himself to scold her. Instead, he felt even more sorry for her: "Your brother's salary is very high now. Spending a little money on you is nothing. Can you not be so frugal?"

"..." Lian Yu bit her lip and smiled awkwardly: "Brother Cheng, please sit down and talk. I'll get you a glass of water."

Seeing that she was deliberately avoiding the topic, the man didn't dare to elaborate. After all, she was a girl and easily embarrassed. He simply bent down and sat on the wooden chair.

"I'll be right back." Lian Yu took away the two bowls and a pair of chopsticks, washed them quickly, and turned back to pour a glass of cold water and hand it to the man.

Cheng Chaoyang had been running around outside all day under the sun and was thirsty. He gulped down more than half the glass in one go, then took a deep breath and looked up at the girl.

“I was a bit busy last week and didn’t have time to take you out. We’re free tomorrow, let’s go to the amusement park!” Cheng Chaoyang had been thinking about this, and now he finally had the chance.

“Uh…” Lian Yu had almost forgotten about it. She wanted to go but didn’t want to: going would mean making him spend money, but not going seemed like missing a great opportunity to go out alone with Cheng-gege.

The girl was torn, but Cheng Chaoyang didn’t allow her to think too much: “Xiao Yu, don’t hesitate, it’s settled. We’ll leave promptly at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Looking at the man’s bright smile, Lian Yu didn’t know what to say, and after hesitating for a while, she finally nodded in agreement.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Cheng Chaoyang stood up and said with a smile, "Brother hasn't eaten yet, have some with me!"

The girl was taken aback: "I've already eaten."

"You've eaten, but eat some more. It's the weekend, let's eat out." The man wouldn't allow her to refuse, tucking his briefcase under his arm: "I'll go change my clothes first, I'll be right back."

"Brother Cheng?!" Lian Yu wanted to say something, but Cheng Chaoyang had already walked out the door without looking back.

They found a clean snack shop nearby, ordered two dishes, and Cheng Chaoyang ordered a large bowl of rice, giving Lian Yu a small portion.

The girl initially didn't want it, but the man was so enthusiastic, she finally had to take a small bite: she usually didn't have a very good appetite, and she had already eaten dinner, so she swallowed the rice with great difficulty.

Cheng Chaoyang was starving, and his bowl was empty in no time. Just as he was about to ask for more, he suddenly heard Lian Yu say, "Brother Cheng, I can't finish this."

She said it almost instinctively: when her brother was around, he would always clean up her leftovers, so she had a habit of leaving food uneaten, though not always.

But steamed buns were different; she'd eat them the next day if she left them.

As soon as the words left her mouth, both of them froze, the girl blushing with embarrassment. She just didn't want to waste food; she hadn't thought much of it.

"Then, then..." Cheng Chaoyang glanced at the dry rice in the girl's bowl and felt his face burning too. "Then give it to me."

He took the bowl, scooped the rice into his own bowl, and then ate in silence, not looking up at the girl again until he paid the bill.

Lian Yu sat in the bustling little shop, unsure what to do. Everything seemed wrong. She stole a glance at her brother Cheng: he was eating her leftovers, and she felt a surge of satisfaction.

On their way back, they remained silent. Lian Yu deliberately took a small step behind him, following closely behind. They crossed a moon gate in the residential area, where a general store was not far away.

Cheng Chaoyang stopped after a few steps, and the absent-minded girl behind him bumped into his back. "Ah..." Lian Yu was startled and quickly jumped away. After realizing what had happened, she felt extremely embarrassed.

"I'm sorry," the girl said with a smile, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"..." Cheng Chaoyang put his hands in his pockets, smiled faintly, and didn't seem to mind. "I'm going to buy something. Wait for me here, I'll be right back."

Lian Yu nodded and watched him walk into the general store. After the door closed, Lian Yu stomped her feet a few times in frustration, muttering under her breath, "You're so clumsy!"

A few minutes later, the man came out with a hat in his hand: a white, hand-woven hat with a large brim.

"Here, try this on!" Cheng Chaoyang said, placing the hat on Lian Yu's head. The girl was basically in a daze.

The man had bought her many things, but this small gesture, this small detail, touched her deeply.

"It's very pretty, not bad." Cheng Chaoyang took a step back, stopping under the streetlight to examine the girl, nodding approvingly. "The shopkeeper said this was the only one left. I wasn't satisfied at first, but now it seems like it suits me perfectly."

"..." Lian Yu felt a warmth in her heart, her gaze burning and glistening. She seemed to have something to say, but before she could speak, Cheng Chaoyang turned around and walked away leisurely.

"The temperature will be very high tomorrow, and Xiao Yu is so delicate. What if she gets sick from the sun?" After walking a few steps, the man turned back, smiling at the girl.

Lian Yu wasn't good with words, and at this moment, she couldn't bring herself to say thank you. The 'gift' was too light to contain all her emotions.

The moon was full tonight, and the sky was cloudless. In the bright moonlight, Lian Yu looked at the familiar face before her and felt his figure was incredibly tall and imposing.

A gentle breeze blew, and something wet crept into her eyes: Why hadn't she moved in sooner? Why did she only receive belated 'love' after being hurt?

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Cheng Chaoyang was stunned by the sudden turn of events. He quickly went to the girl, his outstretched hand hesitating for a moment before landing on her face.

He had never had a girlfriend before, and the situation left him somewhat at a loss. He frantically wiped her face, but why were Xiao Yu's tears increasing?

"Can you talk to me?" Cheng Chaoyang looked around, sensing someone approaching, and became even more anxious: What if someone saw them and misunderstood?

He really hadn't bullied the girl.

"Don't be like that, hehe." The man's laughter became dry and distorted as he heard footsteps getting closer.

"It's not good if people see this, Xiaoyu, please don't cry, okay? Let's go home." Seeing that he couldn't comfort the girl anytime soon

, Cheng Chaoyang immediately realized—let's go, we can't just stand here and let people laugh at us. He pulled the girl's thin shoulders into his arms, half-pushing her forward. Unconsciously, he sensitively noticed that the girl seemed to lean even closer to him.

For a moment, his heart raced, and even his steps became unsteady…

That night, Cheng Chaoyang had a dream, a wet dream at that. Although the girl's outline in the dream wasn't very clear, he was absolutely certain that it was Lian Yu.

The next morning, the wonderful feeling left him momentarily dazed. Once fully conscious, he felt guilty: how could he be such a beast, having a wet dream about a little girl?

The man lay in bed in a daze for a long time until his mother came in to call him for breakfast, at which point he reluctantly got up to wash.

Last night, Lian Yu looked at the hat again and again, quite delighted. The next morning, she got up early, ate a simple breakfast, and couldn't resist going to the Cheng family's house.

Cheng's mother was cooking outside. The girl greeted her with a smile, then casually asked, "Is Brother Cheng up yet?"

Because it was the weekend, she didn't dare disturb him.

"Not yet, probably soon. He rarely has such a leisurely weekend, so sleeping a little longer won't hurt," Cheng's mother said, chatting with Lian Yu while frying eggs.

"Yeah, that's true. Um, didn't he tell you we're going out to play today?" Lian Yu stood there with her hands behind her back, watching the woman busy at work.

"He did, isn't it eight o'clock?" Cheng's mother's movements were swift and efficient; in a moment, several tender eggs became delicious.

Lian Yu nodded.

"Are you in a hurry? If you are, I'll go call him," Cheng's mother said, placing the eggs on a clean plate and carrying it into the house.

"No, no, I'm not in a hurry. I was just asking. Please don't call him. I'm going back now." With that, Lian Yu ran off without looking back.

Watching the girl's retreating figure, Cheng's mother shook her head with a smile: "This girl, why is she running away!"

Before eight o'clock, Cheng Chaoyang knocked on Lian Yu's door, and the two of them went out together and boarded a bus. Lian Yu was very excited on the way, and soon the bus arrived at the amusement park.

The large iron gate was wide open, with three eye-catching characters above the lintel: Amusement Park. The character for "amusement" was particularly large, as if to proclaim the boundless joy that could be brought to people inside.

They bought two bottles of mineral water at the grocery store in front of the gate and then followed the not-too-dense flow of people inside.

As soon as they entered the amusement park, they saw "Zhuge Liang's Eight Trigrams Formation." The Eight Trigrams Formation was made by inserting many small bamboo sticks into the ground, then weaving them into a net with thread and tying it to the bamboo sticks. The remaining space was the path.

If you could find a way out of the Eight Trigrams Formation, then you would win.

This was a game of wits, requiring some brainpower; otherwise, you would have spent at least half an hour wandering around inside. Fortunately, Cheng Chaoyang was clever, and the two of them found their way out in just a few minutes.

Then, following the cobblestone path of varying shapes, they arrived in front of Cinderella's Castle.

The castle had three floors; the first two were flesh-colored, and the third was red, making it look like a magnificent and beautiful palace.

To the right of the castle was a toboggan run, sometimes slowly going uphill, sometimes rushing downhill, sometimes somersaulting, and sometimes tilting downwards – truly breathtaking!

To the left was the Time Shuttle: several rotating seats connected together, manually operated and computer-controlled, going up and down several times in just a few seconds.

Of course, riding this required courage; heart patients should absolutely not attempt it.

Cheng Chaoyang looked left, then right, smiling at the girl: "Xiaoyu, which one do you want to ride?"

Lian Yu was hesitant about both, but now that she was here, it seemed a shame not to try them. She looked around, truly unable to decide.

"Looks like you're interested in both. Let's try them both, starting with the Time Shuttle." Saying this, the man naturally took her hand and walked towards the ticket booth.

Lian Yu's steps were incredibly stiff, whether from fear or the shock of holding the man's hand, she didn't know.

Cheng Chaoyang spent 40 yuan to buy two tickets and waited in line behind a group of people. When it was their turn, Lian Yu's face was already a little pale.

"What's wrong? Are you scared? Then we won't play." Cheng Chaoyang asked with concern.

"No, I'm not scared, it's our turn." Lian Yu forced herself to remain calm. She was reluctant to spend the money; how could she not play after buying the tickets?

The two were seated next to each other. After the staff fastened their seatbelts, Lian Yu's heart was pounding in her chest. Cheng Chaoyang could see she was truly terrified, so he reached out and tightly grasped her small hand, genuinely transferring the warmth of his palm to her: "Don't be afraid, I'm here, it's okay!"

Lian Yu's anxious heart miraculously calmed down. She turned to look into the man's gentle, watery gaze, almost drowning in it. Just then, someone shouted, "Attention, countdown: 10, 9... 1, begin!" The

wind whistled past her ears, and gasps of surprise filled the air. The feeling of weightlessness and g-forces was unpleasant, but the girl wasn't afraid because Brother Cheng was holding her tightly…

The girl's hat couldn't withstand the external pressure and flew off, her hair was a mess, but she felt great, so great that she wanted to do it again. (06-04 Chapter Fifty-Six: The Office)

After visiting the amusement park, Lian Yu and Cheng Chaoyang went to the hospital to visit Lian Jun, only to be told that the patient had been discharged. The two had no choice but to return home.

The girl secretly vowed to visit her brother in prison next month.

Time flew by, and the day of Lian Yu's first day of school arrived. On this day, the girl nervously stepped into the school gate—the classmates, who had just returned from vacation, seemed very lively, chatting and laughing in small groups.

Because classes would be divided according to grades, Lian Yu was very worried—she belonged to the average group, and she didn't know how her scores were this time; she hoped she wouldn't be placed in a lower-ranked class.

Following a few classmates, she arrived at the notice board: it was crowded with people, and the noise was deafening.

The girl slowly squeezed her way in, vaguely seeing several red lists posted on the blackboard. Suddenly flustered, her movements became a little rough, and she seemed to have stepped on someone's foot.

"Ah…" A sharp cry of surprise drew the attention of those around her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Lian Yu apologized instinctively, her smiling face full of shame.

The girl who had been stepped on glared at her, muttering angrily, "Aren't you blind?"

Although her voice wasn't loud, Lian Yu heard her clearly. However, knowing she was in the wrong, she didn't want to escalate the situation and quickly moved to the other side.

In a slightly off-center corner, the girl could barely make out a red list in front of her, only to realize later that it was the senior year's ranking.

Lian Yu stood on tiptoe, trying desperately to increase her altitude, but was still disappointed—she couldn't see what was written on the other side of the red paper. Just

as the girl was at her wit's end, a familiar face appeared before her—Guo Jia, the boy who always bullied her.

"You're quite late."

Lian Yu didn't intend to speak to him, hoping he would tactfully leave: Guo Jia was a top student and would likely be placed in the best advanced class, while what about herself? The girl didn't have high expectations; being in the middle class would be fine.

"Hmm..." Lian Yu didn't even look at him, snorting through her nose, and then continued looking to her right.

The boy pouted in dissatisfaction and said indifferently, "Are you checking which class you've been assigned to?"

Lian Yu was taken aback for a moment, then turned her gaze to him. After hesitating for a moment, she asked indifferently, "You've checked? You should know."

Her tone was flat: because everyone eventually leaves, she would always know which class she was assigned to.

The boy became even more displeased and wanted to leave immediately, but for some reason, his originally unpleasant expression softened, and the corners of his mouth slightly pursed, his attitude arrogant and dismissive: "You really surprised everyone this time."

Lian Yu looked at him, confused, but her heart was pounding. A thought flashed through her mind: could she have any hope?

"Did you cheat on the exam?" the boy said slowly, his words somewhat hurtful.

"What are you talking about?" Lian Yu was a little angry. She knew he hadn't come here for anything good, and ignoring him was the right thing to do.

"I never expected someone like you, a country bumpkin, to actually get into the top 10," the boy said sarcastically. He was furious; he'd rarely paid attention to her before, except for the day she was on duty. Seeing her grades this time, he

was quite impressed. He'd seen her here earlier and, for some reason, had inexplicably moved closer, intending to tell her the good news, but instead received a cold shoulder, making him feel incredibly embarrassed.

Lian Yu didn't care about his sarcasm at all. She was stunned by the news: Top 10? That meant she was in the advanced class?

"You, are you serious?" The girl still couldn't believe it, but her beautiful eyes sparkled like tiny light bulbs, catching everyone's eye.

The boy's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded almost instinctively, his young heart pounding. He hadn't really looked at the girl properly in a long time, and suddenly he noticed how much prettier she had become.

"Then, which class did I get into?" Lian Yu's excitement was palpable. She stepped forward, grabbed the boy's arm tightly, and shook it vigorously.

"Ah..." Guo Jia was startled by her action and subconsciously tried to push her away.

Lian Yu belatedly realized what was happening, her pretty face flushed, and she quickly turned around and returned to her original spot, while her eyes were fixed intently on the bulletin board.

The boy was flustered, unsure whether to strike up a conversation again. After struggling for a while, he reluctantly leaned closer: "I'll tell you, you've been placed in the advanced class."

Lian Yu turned to look at him: the boy seemed a little awkward, his face flushed, and he actually looked somewhat cute.

"Thank you, I understand."

"You're in my class," Guo Jia added.

"Really?" Lian Yu didn't care much; she was very happy, almost wanting to jump for joy—if her brother Cheng knew, he would definitely say she was very smart, and what about her brother? Her brother would be proud of her too.

In the girl's excitement, a discordant figure suddenly flashed into her mind—Xue Jin. In fact, without a man tutoring her, the girl's grades wouldn't have improved so quickly.

But it was the very person who had once helped her who had done the most despicable thing to her.

"What's wrong?" Seeing the girl's radiant face suddenly dim, the boy was somewhat confused.

"Ah, it's nothing." Lian Yu's smile was forced, but the moment she looked up, she immediately realized her lapse in composure: What was she doing? She was actually thinking about that bad uncle.

The boy tilted his head to look at her: the girl was truly like mist, rain, and wind, hard to understand.

Two weeks after school started, on a Wednesday morning, Lian Yu took leave to go to the prison. She had thought she could see her brother, but everything turned out differently than she expected.

It was drizzling that day: because Xue Jin's care was gone, Lian Yu could only visit her brother on public days.

So, in this kind of weather, the girl had no choice.

After getting off the bus, she carried a bag of snacks and rushed to the registration office. When she pushed open the door, the room was crowded with people, all relatives and friends visiting their brother in prison.

The girl obediently followed the crowd and queued up. After waiting for half an hour, it was finally her turn.

"Fill out the form first." The staff member coldly handed her a piece of paper: it had the word "application" written on it, and the boxes below were for what needed to be written.

"Thank you." The girl sat on the bench, picked up a pen, and filled out the form carefully. A minute later, she handed it back.

The staff member glanced at it, then looked up at the girl.

"Are you sure it's 7505?" Her face was stern, devoid of any warmth, like the impenetrable walls of a prison.

"Yes, he is. He's my brother. I've visited him a few times before." The girl nodded, not understanding why she asked that.

Then she saw the woman turn her head and whisper something to a male staff member beside her. The man also had a grim face, his gaze fixed coldly on the girl.

Lian Yu felt a surge of tension, a sudden bad premonition: Had something happened to her brother?

After a moment, their heads finally separated. The man continued his unfinished work, while the woman turned back and said, "7505 has been transferred."

"What?" Lian Yu's eyes widened in surprise.

“7505 isn’t in this prison. It happened about three or four weeks ago,” the woman explained further.

“No way,” Lian Yu was disappointed, but also extremely alarmed. “What happened? Where did he go?”

“I don’t know the specifics either. You should go ask upstairs. That’s all I know,” the woman said impatiently—there was a long line behind the girl.

Lian Yu licked her lips and stood up listlessly. “Thank you.”

Her mind was a mess; she didn’t know what to do. Her first thought was to call Brother Cheng, but then she remembered—she didn’t have a cell phone, and the nearest phone station was far away, so she had to give up.

Lian Yu’s steps were heavy; it took her a long time to leave the room. A gust of wind blew, and raindrops pelted down, stinging and freezing her face.

The girl belatedly opened her umbrella, turned around, and looked at the office building not far away.

The woman had told her to go ask upstairs—who was upstairs? As Lian Yu pondered this, she numbly continued walking forward, her ominous premonition growing stronger...

Lian Yu stopped in front of the building, looking at everything with apprehension: heavily armed soldiers stood motionless in the guard post in front of the building, guns strapped to their backs.

Such a heavily guarded place, and with a wicked uncle inside, made the girl hesitate. She paced back and forth, constantly trying to reassure herself. "

Just asking shouldn't cause me any trouble."

After a while, the girl finally took another step forward, but after only a few steps, she heard a soldier at the door call out to her: "Stop, come here."

Lian Yu took a deep breath and forced herself to walk over calmly: "Uncle!"

The soldier looked her up and down. He had seen her acting suspiciously earlier and had wanted to chase her away, but the girl was young and posed no threat, so he thought she would leave quickly. He hadn't expected her to approach again.

"What are you doing? Don't you know you can't just wander around here?" The soldier's tone was stern and harsh.

"I...I came here because I had something to do." Lian Yu felt a cold wind blowing against her ears, making them sting.

"What is it?" the soldier asked dutifully.

"My brother was transferred from prison, and the people at the registration office asked me to come and ask." Lian Yu felt she was in the right, but she was still intimidated by this place, so her voice was very soft.

"Come and register." Seeing that she really had something to do, the soldier decided to let her go. As for a body search? No need, a lonely little girl shouldn't be a threat.

"Thank you." Perhaps it was because the weather was too cold, but when Lian Yu held the pen, she felt numb and cold all over, and even her handwriting was crooked.

"Alright, go in, to the archives department, you know? Second floor, there are big signs on the door." The soldier gestured to the location of the archives department as he spoke.

Lian Yu thanked him again before turning around and running into the office building.

After pushing open the heavy iron door, she found that the inside was very spacious, with a long corridor that stretched for a long time. She found the stairs in the middle.

Climbing the steps, the cold iron railings on either side, the girl soon reached the second floor and followed the corridor to the archives.

She knocked gently, and a response came from inside.

The girl cautiously opened the door and saw rows of heavy iron cabinets opposite, filled with file folders of various sizes. In one corner of the room, two tables faced each other, where three people sat.

"Who are you looking for?" one of the men, wearing glasses, asked, surprised.

"I...I have something to say," Lian Yu said, placing her dripping umbrella outside the door before turning and entering. She briefly explained her purpose, her words tumbling out in a jumbled mess due to nervousness.

The men opposite her exchanged glances.

They clearly remembered that unfortunate girl had been assigned to keep Chen Lin company. This girl seemed unaware of this.

They were obligated to provide her with some information, but orders were given to maintain a temporary information blockade; any issues should be reported directly to the director.

After hearing the man's words, Lian Yu's mind went blank for a moment, and her cold palms were even sweating.

Chapter 57 Office H On

this gloomy, rainy morning, Xue Jin was hunched over his desk, working on official business. Seeing that he was almost finished, he glanced at his watch: it was almost lunchtime.

The man couldn't help but speed up his writing, mentally planning what to eat at the cafeteria later.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Xue Jin answered without looking up, and then heard a few creaking sounds, indicating someone had entered.

After waiting a moment without any movement, Xue Jin finally looked up.

Lian Yu! Upon seeing the person, a hint of surprise flashed in the man's eyes, but he immediately noticed the girl's distressed face and dejected expression, and quickly regained his composure, his face darkening.

"Uncle!" the little girl called out timidly.

"Hmm, what brings you here? Is there something you need?" Xue Jin was dressed formally, in a sharp suit. Although he wasn't wearing a tie, the deep navy blue suited him perfectly.

He looked shrewd and capable, exuding the wisdom of a mature man.

"I, I..." Lian Yu bit her lip, stammering, unable to speak—her uncle seemed unwelcoming. Would she get news of her brother from here?

Xue Jin glanced at her, then lowered his head to continue his work, casually taking a cigarette from his pack and lighting it. The only sound in the room was the scratching of pen on paper.

Seeing how busy he was, Lian Yu couldn't bring herself to say what she had just wanted to say.

Time flew by, each second feeling like torture. Finally, the man stopped writing, neatly tidying up the documents and setting them aside.

"Uncle, are you done?" Lian Yu mustered her courage and asked softly.

Xue Jin rubbed his slightly sore temples, looking up to meet her gaze, but his expression and attitude were not good: "Finished? Did you need something?"

The man knew the answer already. He was excited, because he had been waiting for this day for a long time—Xue Jin had been back to the house where Lian Yu had lived more than once. It was always very tidy, but it lacked a female homeowner, which frustrated him: the prize he had almost got was gone.

But despite his frustration, he wasn't discouraged: the little girl would soon walk right into his trap.

Regardless, Xue Jin's desires had nowhere to go lately: he didn't want to touch Bai Sisi, nor was he interested in the girls he dated with Ding Bu, and even his past lovers didn't catch his eye.

He only wanted Lian Yu, or to put it more bluntly, he was utterly infatuated with the little girl's body—that fragrant, youthful body, how could a few times be enough?

But the thought of the little girl's resolute stance filled Xue Jin with anger. Now that she had come to him, this game had to be played according to his rules.

He needed to know who he couldn't afford to offend, so the man kept a cold face from the start.

Lian Yu didn't understand Xue Jin's inner thoughts. She was terrified, feeling that she had offended her uncle, and that things were going to be difficult. But thinking of her missing brother, the girl didn't hesitate.

"Uncle, can you tell me where my brother went?" the little girl asked the man hopefully.

Xue Jin indifferently put the cigarette in his mouth, took a puff, and then coldly exhaled a puff of smoke: "Your brother? What's his name again?"

Lian Yu's heart sank: He had gone to the hospital with her to visit her last time, how could she have forgotten him now?

"Lian Jun."

"Oh!" Xue Jin deliberately sighed, then seemed to realize something: "You mean 7505? I think I vaguely remember."

Hearing this, the girl's legs went weak: "Uncle, you helped my brother when he was hospitalized last time, how come you don't remember him now?"

Xue Jin was very displeased with her words, his face showing obvious anger: "Are you questioning me?"

Lian Yu trembled, knowing she had misspoke, and quickly shook her head to apologize, but the man was already 'furious' and continued aggressively: "I'm the warden, there are many things to do in the prison, I'm very busy, what kind of nobody is your brother, I really don't remember him."

Lian Yu was both shocked and angry: A nobody? This was clearly an insult!

But when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. She came to ask for a favor, and if she argued with her uncle, she might leave empty-handed.

The girl, though young, vaguely understood something.

Lian Yu took a few steps forward, her expression pitiful, and said softly, "Uncle, I'm sorry, about last time, I'm sorry."

Xue Jin feigned ignorance, his tone flat but laced with sarcasm: "Last time? What good thing happened between us? I really don't remember."

Lian Yu stiffened; their relationship still made her ashamed to speak of it. Even being subtly criticized by a man made her uneasy: "Uncle, it was all my fault, I shouldn't have..."

The girl couldn't finish her sentence, only a sob escaped her lips.

Xue Jin narrowed his eyes, took another drag of his cigarette, and then looked at her with interest, seemingly waiting for her to continue.

Lian Yu looked up and saw his expression. She bit her lip tightly and murmured softly after a long while, "I shouldn't have been so ungrateful as to refuse your offer."

Xue Jin's expression softened this time. He stood up from his chair, walked to the girl, and leaned his tall body against the corner of the executive desk.

He stared at her with a half-smile, his gaze hot and lewd, almost as if he were staring into the little girl's flesh: "Offer? What offer?"

Lian Yu thought things had taken a turn for the better and gritted her teeth as she answered, "To be your concubine."

"Oh..." Xue Jin dragged out the word, then looked down at her with a contemptuous smile: "Little Yu, Little Yu, what should your uncle say to you?"

The girl was slightly stunned.

"A concubine? Do you think I'm really lacking in women? Can't I find anyone else besides you?" Xue Jin said, raising a cigarette to his lips, taking a light drag, then tilting his head back to exhale a few white smoke rings. He continued, "I used to fawn over you, buying you this and that, and what did you do? You ran off again and again, did you even respect me?"

Seeing that he wouldn't budge an inch and was now furious, Lian Yu was almost scared out of her wits. She quickly stepped forward and grabbed the man's suit jacket hem tightly: "Uncle, it's all my fault, it's all my fault, it has nothing to do with my brother, please help me, I want to see my brother, I want him to be alright."

The little girl spoke while tears streamed down her face.

Xue Jin looked down expressionlessly and saw the little girl's slender hands tightly gripping his navy blue coat. A thought struck him, and he looked her up and down: In the month since he last saw her, Lian Yu seemed to have become even fairer.

He took a few final drags, and as the cigarette was about to burn out, Lian Yu immediately ran to the side of the desk, cupped the ashtray in her hands, and handed it to him.

Xue Jin said nothing, stubbed out the cigarette, then turned back behind his desk and plopped down in his chair. "Xiao Yu, you're just a country girl, what do you have? Besides your decent looks, you're really good for nothing. I've seen plenty of pretty girls, but none of them are as difficult as you."

Lian Yu lowered her eyelashes, clenching her small fists tightly, desperately suppressing her urge to run away.

"How long have you been running? More than a month, right? Has that Cheng Chaoyang slept with you? Is he as good as me?" Xue Jin's words were vulgar, and Lian Yu felt disgusted, but she had no choice; for her brother, she had to endure everything.

"No, no." The little girl's face was deathly pale. "

I don't believe it. Every man loves meat. Isn't Cheng Chaoyang a man?" Xue Jin knew she was telling the truth, but he wanted to humiliate her, to make her remember this for the rest of her life.

Lian Yu's face turned pale and then red, wishing she had no ears: This man was really going too far. It was one thing to insult her, but why did he have to insult Brother Cheng

as well? "Uncle, I was wrong. I really didn't do anything with anyone else. Please, please let my brother go." Lian Yu was now completely sober: It was all Xue Jin's doing.

"Words are no proof..." Xue Jin said casually, glancing at the girl's body out of the corner of his eye, lingering on her private parts for a few seconds.

Lian Yu felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze, and after a long pause, she stammered, "What do you want?"

"Go lock the door." A mocking smile played on Xue Jin's lips as he spoke, his words effectively sealing off the girl's only escape route.

Lian Yu's hand lingered on her waist for a moment, then she bent down and pulled her capri pants down to her knees, then froze—she stood there, her pale fingers hesitating at the edge of her underwear.

"Hurry up, I have things to do this afternoon!" Xue Jin glared at her impatiently.

Lian Yu felt an overwhelming sense of shame and sorrow. This was the first time she had undressed primarily in front of a man, and tears of humiliation silently streamed down her face.

Hardening her resolve, she closed her eyes and quickly pulled her underwear down.

Chapter 57 Office H

The girl was naked from the waist down. When the man placed her on the desk, a chill ran down her spine, making her shiver.

Xue Jin snorted, his burning eyes fixed on the girl's fair and beautiful face. He felt hot all over, and the desire in his lower abdomen made his blood run cold.

He couldn't wait to throw off his suit jacket and reach to unbutton his shirt. Suddenly, he heard a soft murmur: "Uncle, can you turn off the light?"

Xue Jin didn't stop, but just curled his lips in a mocking smile: "Why should I turn it off?"

Lian Yu crossed her arms in front of her chest, shrank her small shoulders, and looked pitiful, making the man's heart itch: "It's too bright, I'm not used to it."

Xue Jin unbuttoned all the buttons on his shirt. In the gap between his words, he suddenly saw the clean glass window opposite—a white rain curtain outside, but the transparent mirror reflected the ambiguous figures of the two.

A thought flashed through the man's mind, a realization of his carelessness: if someone saw him from the outside, he'd be in trouble.

Xue Jin quickly turned and went to the door, pressing a button on the wall. With a click, the room dimmed, but everything remained relatively clear.

"Satisfied now, little wife!" The man's teasing tone made Lian Yu turn her head away uncomfortably.

"Shy? What haven't we done? No need to act like this in front of your husband." Xue Jin had already taken off his shirt and casually tossed it on the floor.

Then he went to unbuckle his belt, and after a few moments, his navy blue suit trousers slipped down his crotch.

"Uncle, can you tell me where my brother went?" Lian Yu slightly lifted her eyelids—trying not to notice the man's body, but even so, Xue Jin's tall and strong physique still made the little girl's heart tremble.

Lian Yu thought her uncle was really ugly; he had a lot of leg hair, and there were faint muscle bulges on his upper arms and thighs, completely different from the adult male physique she remembered.

Hearing her gentle tone, tinged with pleading, Xue Jin didn't want to make things difficult for her again: "Your brother has been sent to a labor camp, which is a great job."

What the man said wasn't false, but a great job can turn into a hellish journey if it's schemed against by a villain.

"Ah...?" Lian Yu looked at him, confused.

Xue Jin didn't explain anything, but instead placed his hands on the table beside the girl, stuck out his long tongue, and half-closed his eyes, looking like a rogue.

The little girl, who had just kissed him, felt a chill run down her spine at the sight of that tongue.

But she needed his help, she had to obey and please him—Lian Yu raised her hand and gently placed it on the man's shoulder, while simultaneously offering her lips, slightly parting her cherry lips to reveal her pink tongue.

Chapter 58 Office H

The spring in the office was in full swing when there was a knock on the door.

The two of them were startled at the same time, and Lian Yu was so frightened that her whole body stiffened, but her lower body gripped the man even tighter.

"Hiss..." Xue Jin didn't want to make a sound, but it was too pleasurable, and he couldn't help but let out a long breath.

"Chief, are you in there?" A woman's voice came from outside—Yan Tingting. She was pressing her ear against the door. Xue Jin cursed under his breath and reluctantly pulled his large penis out.

But the man's penis was too big and long, and both of them felt pleasure as it was pulled out.

"Chief, are you alright?" Xue Jin closed his eyes tightly, wishing he could kill the woman outside who had ruined his good time. Finally, with a "pop," the two entangled figures separated.

Lian Yu immediately slumped onto the low table, her buttocks a little sore, but she didn't cry out. She just stared wide-eyed in fear, looking at the door and then at Xue Jin.

"Don't be afraid." Xue Jin lowered his voice, gently picked up the little girl, and hid her behind the desk. He then opened the window, letting the scent of rain and flowers drift into the room.

He quickly dressed, turned on the overhead light switch, and opened the door.

"What is it?" Xue Jin's face was cold as he wouldn't let the woman in.

"Chief, Chief, you have a document that needs your signature." Yan Tingting nervously handed over the folder, simultaneously bringing her other hand, which had been behind her back, to the front.

"..." Xue Jin looked at the lunchbox without saying a word.

"You didn't eat lunch, did you? This is what I bought for you." Yan Tingting had seen the man's cold face many times before, so she wasn't as afraid anymore—she hadn't seen Xue Jin in the cafeteria and had been thinking about him.

Seeing his car parked in front of the office building, she knew he probably hadn't gone out, so she took the liberty of bringing him a meal.

Xue Jin didn't want it, but considering the little girl seemed to have missed lunch, he thanked her softly and took the food bag.

"Is there anything else?" Xue Jin asked, annoyed, seeing the woman still standing there, dazed.

"No, no, I'll go back now." Yan Tingting felt that the man seemed different: his short hair was messy, his eyes were red, and he exuded a subtle aura of aggression, seemingly more sexy.

Lian Yu, her small body huddled behind the large desk, listened nervously to the conversation between the two. Only after the door closed softly did she instinctively let out a long sigh of relief.

Rain was falling outside, the wind carrying dampness that brushed against her bare skin. The little girl looked up at the world behind the glass, seeing only a gray blur—as if the rain was getting heavier.

"Xiao Yu, come out, they're gone." Xue Jin turned off the light, making the room even more oppressive and dim. He went to the desk and looked down at the poor little thing.

"..." Lian Yu's legs were numb. She slowly stood up, a wave of dizziness washing over her. Instinctively, she grabbed the edge of the desk and sat down in the leather chair behind the executive desk.

"What's wrong? Dizzy?" Xue Jin bent down, gripping the armrest of the chair with one hand, examining the girl's pale face with concern.

"It's nothing, I used to feel like this too." Lian Yu took a deep breath, feeling much better.

"Oh~" Xue Jin thought for a moment, then understood somewhat: "Are you anemic?"

Lian Yu shook her head; she didn't think it was anything—before, when she helped her grandmother add fuel to the fire, she would always feel a little uncomfortable when she squatted down and stood up again. Of course, this time, the dizziness seemed to be more intense.

"Uncle, I'm fine, I just need to rest a bit," Lian Yu said weakly. Xue

Jin also understood that anemia wasn't a serious problem, but she felt a little uneasy. She reached out and touched the little girl's forehead: it wasn't too hot, nor too cold; it seemed normal.

"In a few days, I'll take you to the hospital for a checkup. Look how thin you are. If you're still anemic, we'll have the doctor treat you properly," Xue Jin said, explaining his plan, feeling a little relieved.

Lian Yu pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back: she was very tired, a slight pain was coming from below, and her heart was filled with sadness. All she wanted now was peace and quiet.

But she knew this was a vain hope. The next moment, she watched the man's actions in horror: Xue Jin unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a white cotton vest underneath...

Xue Jin slowly removed his upper garments, and when he looked up, he met a pair of fearful eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he wanted to say something to comfort her, but no matter what he said, it felt hypocritical and powerless.

He wanted her; he wanted to continue what they had just been doing.

Xue Jin felt hot all over and lowered his head to kiss the little girl's lips. Just as he expected, Lian Yu wanted to dodge, but he didn't want to back down, and reached out to support the back of the little girl's head. The

man gently bit Lian Yu's pink lips, hoping she would take the initiative, but after a few bites, that alluring cleavage became even more taut and tight.

"What are you doing?" Xue Jin looked up, his gaze icy. "Don't you want me to kiss you?" (

See personal profile for more details.)

After the sexual encounter, Xue Jin withdrew, only to see a white, cloudy liquid flowing from the little girl's body, instantly staining the large stack of documents at the bottom.

Xue Jin remained unmoved, turning to take a towel from his drawer: brand new and clean. He always kept toiletries in his office, just in case.

Lian Yu's face was flushed, her head was dizzy, and she felt lightheaded, her small hands gripping the handrail—she was instinctively afraid of losing her balance and falling.

There was a water dispenser in Xue Jin's office; he filled the towel with water, dampened it, and went to the little girl to clean her body.

The warmth of the towel sent a shiver down Lian Yu's spine. She instinctively looked up to see what the man was doing, but due to her awkward posture, she couldn't see anything.

"What's wrong? Your arm is numb!" Xue Jin only then noticed the little girl's discomfort and quickly picked her up and placed her on the desk, helping her move her arm.

"Ah...it hurts...don't move." The numb arm, being freely shaken by the man, was hard to describe, but certainly uncomfortable.

"It's okay, it'll be over soon." After a dozen or so shakes, Lian Yu's scrunched-up face relaxed, indicating that the method was effective.

"Feeling better?" Xue Jin carefully observed her expression.

"Mmm." Lian Yu felt the numbness had subsided, just like when she was feeling better: "Thank you, I'm all better."

Hearing her say this, Xue Jin stopped moving her arm and bent down slightly to continue what he hadn't finished, but the next moment, Lian Yu interrupted him.

"No, no need, I can do it myself." Lian Yu covered her private parts with her small hands, not letting him touch her.

Xue Jin knew she was shy, and slightly curled the corners of his mouth, handing her a towel without saying anything more.

A moment later, after they both dried themselves off, they got dressed. Xue Jin took a lunchbox from the side and handed it to Lian Yu, saying, "Xiao Yu, eat this."

Lian Yu was sore all over, tired and hungry, but she didn't want to eat—she had something on her mind.

"No, you eat it." Lian Yu shook her head and pushed the lunchbox back.

Xue Jin stared at her for a moment, then opened the lunchbox. The food inside was plentiful: fish pieces, braised pork, peanuts, and stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers—a large box full.

"You didn't eat lunch, and we've been working on this for most of the day. You must be hungry." Xue Jin opened the disposable chopsticks, picked up a piece of braised pork, and ate it first.

Lian Yu bit her lip, feeling ashamed and wronged. She subconsciously swallowed, but unfortunately, her stomach rumbled loudly, startling them both.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to eat?" Xue Jin saw the little girl awkwardly lower her head and wanted to tease her, but he refrained in the end.

Lian Yu stubbornly shook her head, only wanting to resolve her brother's matter first.

"..." Xue Jin raised an eyebrow, ate a few bites of food, and then offered the little girl a piece of fish he had been holding between his chopsticks.

Lian Yu still refused, only staring intently at him with her large, expressive eyes.

Xue Jin, no longer wanting to play dumb, licked his lips and said, "Your brother is at the farm, xx farm. If he behaves well, he should be able to get out in about six months."

Lian Yu's heart skipped a beat, her eyes shining with joy: "Are you serious?"

"Of course it's true, he's mine after all..." Xue Jin thought to himself, "You're my concubine now, so your brother is my brother-in-law." But then he realized he seemed to be at a disadvantage in terms of seniority, so he changed his words at the end: "My concubine's brother, would I harm him?"

Although Xue Jin said this, in reality, he didn't want Lian Yu's brother to be released from prison so soon; that would be troublesome.

But on the surface, he acted flawlessly.

Hearing this, Lian Yu's eyes dimmed slightly, but the thought that perhaps her brother would suffer less made the humiliation of her new identity lessen. She then asked, "Can I go see him?"

Xue Jin lowered his head, his mind racing, and quickly gave his answer: "Of course you can, as long as you're good. I'm happy to grant you this request."

Lian Yu excitedly said, "Thank you," and then kept grinning from ear to ear.

Looking at her innocent and simple joy, Xue Jin's heart skipped a beat, a warm feeling flowing into his heart, but he didn't want to ponder what it meant.

"Alright, I've said what I needed to say. Now let's eat."

The meal was shared between the two of them, and neither of them was full, but Xue Jin was very happy, while Lian Yu was shy because there was only one pair of chopsticks, and she felt a little uncomfortable when the man fed her.

After dinner, Lian Yu rested on the sofa, while Xue Jin handled some official business...

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Farewell. At

five o'clock sharp, the building staff began to leave work.

Half an hour later, when everyone had almost left, Xue Jin tidied up the folders spread out on his desk. He then went to the sofa and looked down at the little girl. The

brown sofa was spacious, and Lian Yu could lie on her side comfortably—even if she rolled over, she wouldn't easily fall to the ground.

Because the little girl was facing the wall, Xue Jin couldn't see her sleeping face clearly, but even just her fair profile was pleasing to the eye.

Her hair was spread out on the sofa, looking a little messy. Xue Jin gently stroked her smooth hair, almost unable to put it down—he loved Lian Yu, loved every inch of her skin and hair.

Xue Jin stood there silently for a few minutes before finally raising his wrist to check the time, then turning his head to look out the window: the heavy rain was still falling.

He was worried about his son; was the little guy home yet?

Xue Jin walked out, lost in thought. The corridor was empty and desolate. He walked all the way to the third-floor stairwell, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

After a deep drag, he took out his phone and dialed home. After a few rings, a familiar voice came from the other end: "Hello!"

Xue Jin's heart calmed slightly. Through the clean glass, his gaze fell on some unknown spot: "Son, how long have you been home?"

"Not long. When are you coming home?" the boy replied, eating an apple.

"I might be home a little late today. Make yourself something to eat." Xue Jin's tone was gentle, finding the sound of his son chewing fruit quite amusing.

"Oh, is there anything else?" the boy asked, already used to his parents' late returns.

"Yeah, nothing else. Remember to do your homework."

"Okay, I got it. Go home early. I don't want to stay home alone in the rain." The little guy expressed his dissatisfaction.

"I know, I'll try. Okay, Dad's hanging up now." After saying that, Xue Jin cut off the signal and stood by the window, leisurely smoking.

After a moment, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Old Ding, are you off work yet?" Xue Jin exhaled a smoke ring, watching the smoke dissipate little by little.

"Not yet. What? You want to treat me to dinner?" Ding Bu was a bit busy today, but his words were light—although he was very serious about his work, he didn't deliberately mistreat himself. He ate and played as he pleased, and his work was never-ending.

Xue Jin chuckled: "I'll treat you to dinner? Didn't you see how hard it's raining outside?"

"Oh~" Ding Bu pretended to be disappointed, dragging out the word: "Then what did you want to talk to me about?"

"What time do you get off work today?" "

About half an hour! What's wrong?" Ding Bu wasn't sure what Xue Jin's intentions were.

"Are all your employees working overtime?" Xue Jin continued to ask tactfully.

"Yes, they are." Ding Bu frowned and answered honestly.

"Can they work a little longer? At least until 8:30!" Xue Jin squinted, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and felt the slightly spicy taste in his nostrils.

"..." Ding Bu was stunned: "What do you mean? Why?"

"I'm practically a boss, you know. Do as I say, and I'll explain later." Xue Jin didn't want to say anything more right now, and his attitude was somewhat cold and hard.

"..." Ding Bu raised an eyebrow. Although he was very curious, he didn't ask, because he knew Xue Jin well. If he didn't say, asking wouldn't get you any results.

"Okay, then I'll let them go back at 8:30." Ding Bu stroked his chin, his mind racing, but he had limited information and found it difficult to analyze Xue Jin's intentions.

"Alright, thanks. Let's get together in a few days. I have something important to discuss with you." Xue Jin hadn't revealed a word about his involvement with the Construction Committee to Ding Bu. He was about to leave and get promoted, and it was time.

This was important for both him and Ding Bu. Partners were more reliable than old friends, so Xue Jin planned to stick with Ding Bu and open a larger engineering company to take on specific projects.

Back in his office, Lian Yu was still fast asleep on the sofa. Although reluctant, Xue Jin decided to wake her. It would be difficult to explain if he went back too late, and besides, he needed to move Lian Yu's things before Cheng Chaoyang returned home.

"Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu..." Xue Jin gently nudged her shoulder.

The little girl was exhausted after all the commotion and was sleeping soundly, but the man's voice quickly woke her.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she opened her eyes a crack.

"Xiaoyu, wake up, we have to go." Her uncle's voice was gentle, and the pressure on her shoulder was light. Lianyu blinked, turned over, and looked at the man blankly.

Long eyelashes almost completely enveloped the little girl's half-open eyes, and a few bright eyes occasionally peeked through the fine gaps, warming one's heart.

"Baby! You're sleeping like a little pig now, you'll have insomnia tonight," Xue Jin teased with a laugh.

Lianyu pinched him with the corner of her eye, raised her little hand, rubbed her sleepy eyes with the back of her hand, and then used the sofa for support to sit up.

It was better not to move; her whole body ached, especially her lower body, which burned intensely.

"What time is it?" Lianyu cursed Xue Jin several times in her mind, turning her head to look at the torrential rain outside the window, feeling very annoyed.

"It's past 6 o'clock, we should go." Seeing that she was fully awake, Xue Jin turned around and went behind his desk, starting to pack his briefcase. "Let's go to your place first to pack our things, then come home with me, and then we'll go eat."

Lian Yu was sitting on the sofa, looking listless. Hearing his words, she was stunned for a moment: "Home?"

"Yes, home." Xue Jin stuffed a contract into his briefcase, looked up at her, and replied firmly: "You're mine now, you have to stay at my place."

"..." Lian Yu's expression was unhappy, her lips pursed, and she hesitated for a moment: "Can I... can I continue to stay at my old place?"

Thinking that she couldn't see Brother Cheng every day, the little girl felt very sad.

Xue Jin was taking a ballpoint pen from the pen holder. Hearing her words, his hand paused slightly, and he looked up, his gaze very sharp: "No, you shouldn't have asked that question in the first place."

Lian Yu was intimidated by him, feeling indignant, but she couldn't say anything.

A few minutes later, Xue Jin tidied up the office—the items on the executive desk were neatly arranged, and the stained tissues on the floor were all thrown into the trash bag.

Xue Jin thought for a moment, then packed the trash bag up and took it with him—it wouldn't be good if the cleaning staff saw some of the contents.

Xue Jin turned off the lights and then walked down the corridor with Lian Yu, one after the other.

Because the man was lost in thought, he walked very quickly and didn't pay attention to Lian Yu. When they reached the building entrance, he realized the little girl hadn't followed.

Xue Jin hurried back to look for her and met her at the turn of the stairs on the second floor—Lian Yu's steps were small, and she walked down the stairs cautiously, her expression wary, whether from fear of falling or some unspeakable difficulty.

"Does it hurt?" Xue Jin felt a pang of guilt, silently scolding himself for his negligence.

"..." Lian Yu remained silent, walking past him without even glancing at him, just lowering her head and walking forward. For a moment, Xue Jin felt she seemed quite 'pitiful'.

He leaned forward, bent down, and scooped her up in his arms. The sudden movement made Lian Yu scream, but she quickly realized where she was and fell silent.

"You're really strong, you didn't even tell me you were in pain." Xue Jin smiled tenderly, his handsome face, with its sharp features, looking gentle and kind.

"Tell me? Tell me what? I have nothing to say to you." Perhaps knowing there weren't many people in the building, the little girl's words became more unrestrained, or perhaps she just wanted to vent her dissatisfaction.

Xue Jin was amused by her words and gave a forced, aggrieved smile.

"Am I that bad? Look at what you're saying, it sounds like I've bullied you." Xue Jin's strides were long, and his chest was broad. Lying in his arms, she felt very safe.

Lian Yu felt a warmth in her heart as he held her: this feeling was familiar, as if a long time ago, when she was very, very young...

Xue Jin thought she would say something, but suddenly that little head leaned in and gently rested against his shoulder, which surprised the man.

Xue Jin felt a surge of joy; the feeling of being relied upon was truly wonderful. He didn't want to disrupt the tranquility and harmony of the moment, so he silently continued forward.

In front of the building, the rain was heavy, large raindrops pounding against the concrete ground. Further ahead, below the steps, water had gathered into a shallow stream.

Xue Jin put Lian Yu down, then took her umbrella and quickly rushed into the rain.

Lian Yu disliked rain; it always put her in a bad mood. More importantly, her recent romantic encounters had all occurred on rainy days, which deepened her aversion to rain.

The car headlights were dim, approaching slowly until they stopped in front of the building. Xue Jin, umbrella in hand, ran to her, pulled her into his arms, and helped her into the jeep.

"Aren't you cold?" The weather outside was damp and chilly. Xue Jin started the engine.

Lian Yu shook her head, ignoring him, and simply turned to look out the window.

Xue Jin, feeling awkward but not annoyed, pressed down on the accelerator, and the car sped away, breaking through the stream, stopping and starting along the way…

After some time, the scenery outside became familiar, and soon they arrived at the tenement building where she lived.

“I’ll go up myself.” After turning off the Jeep, Lian Yu took the umbrella and was about to get out.

“I’ll go with you.” Xue Jin said, snatching the umbrella from the little girl’s hand and opening the car door first. Lian Yu felt a slight pain in her palm—the man had been too rough, scratching her, and she was furious, but dared not say anything.

She wondered if Brother Cheng had returned yet? How would she explain if he saw her with Uncle Xue?

Xue Jin opened the car door, waiting for her to get out, but the little girl just stared at him, seemingly unwilling to move.

“Why aren’t you getting out?” Xue Jin met her gaze, where tiny sparks of fire flickered.

“If you go up, it won’t be good if someone sees us.” Lian Yu said angrily.

"What if someone sees this?" Xue Jin said expressionlessly, his tone flat.

"..." Lian Yu was panting heavily, her eyes slightly red. She pouted and shouted at him, "What if someone sees this?"

Seeing that she was about to cry, Xue Jin didn't want to pressure her further. He stared at her for a moment, then said coldly, "I'll give you 20 minutes. If you don't come downstairs in 20 minutes, I'll come up."

Hearing his concession, Lian Yu took the umbrella and went upstairs without looking back.

The stairwell was dark, the corridor narrow, and the lighting dim. Most people had prepared dinner and were eating, the aroma of food wafting everywhere.

Lian Yu looked at the Cheng family's house: the door was tightly closed. She wondered if her brother Cheng was inside!

Thinking of Cheng Chaoyang, Lian Yu's heart pounded: first love is always unforgettable. She would come back, and then she would definitely be with her brother Cheng.

Lian Yu's tears silently streamed down her face. Just then, she heard a sharp sizzling sound of oil splattering, followed by the crackling of vegetables hitting the pan.

Someone must have started a fire.

The little girl wiped her face in a fluster, turned, and went to her little house. She took out her key, turned it gently, and the door opened.

Looking around, the clean and tidy room was just as she had left that morning—small but cozy.

Lian Yu sighed and began packing her things: she had very few belongings—a few clothes, daily necessities, and a delicate purse containing some money and a bracelet.

That was all she could take. The pots and pans outside were all bought, but she couldn't take them now.

It took Lian Yu ten minutes to pack everything, then she sat on the bed, lost in thought: the bed was hard, the blanket thin, but it was a gift from Brother Cheng, and she thought it was nice.

Lian Yu reached out and touched the clean sheets, thinking that she might be back soon, but now she had to leave; a bad uncle was waiting for her outside.

Carrying two small bags, Lian Yu arrived at the Cheng family's door. After hesitating for a moment, she knocked. She was there to say goodbye; if she left without a word, they would worry.

Inside, she only saw Cheng's mother. This disappointed Lian Yu somewhat, but also brought her a sense of relief—relief that she didn't have to lie to Cheng's brother in person.

Cheng's mother, seeing her with so many bags, was first taken aback, then immediately put down her chopsticks and came forward.

"Xiao Yu, what's this?" she asked, looking the little girl up and down.

"Auntie, I'm leaving. I'm going to stay with relatives for a while," Lian Yu explained softly.

"Oh, really? What relatives?" Cheng's mother asked, staring at her, making Lian Yu feel guilty.

"An uncle. I came to tell you thank you for taking care of me. I'll come to see you again." Lian Yu looked somewhat dejected.

"Hehe, it's nothing, we're all neighbors, why are you being so polite?" Mrs. Cheng looked at her, wondering to herself: Uncle? Is this going to live with relatives?

"Auntie, you eat, I'll be going now." Lian Yu forced a faint smile, turned, and opened the door.

"Leaving?" Mrs. Cheng wanted to say something, but there really wasn't much to say, so she saw her out. When Lian Yu told her to go back, she only told her to take good care of herself and to visit often.

Lian Yu sat in the car, looking at the once-familiar little building, growing increasingly blurry until it disappeared from sight. She still gazed longingly in that direction: her heart ached with a sharp pain; that place held the person she loved.

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