Chapter 228

"Long time no see, Mr. Li."

Jing Yi watched as the bodyguard kicked Shen Qi An to the ground, pinning him down with a knee on his back. The knife was kicked away and landed on the floor. Jing Yi's eyes flashed with disappointment—she had wanted to do it herself. After all, Shen Qi An's earlier words had upset her, and she had been looking forward to taking out her frustration on him.

The bodyguard, unfazed, casually exchanged pleasantries with Jing Yi. "You can just call me Old Li, Miss Jing."

Thankfully, he had arrived just in time! If Jing Yi had been injured or, worse, if Shen Qi An had escaped, his career would have been over!

Jing Yi smiled at Shen Xi, who had rushed over. "I'm fine, not a single hair out of place." She glanced at the bodyguard. "Tell Shen Huaichu that if he doesn't have the energy, he shouldn't take on so much. It's just a hassle."

She wasn't defending Shen Qi An, but she felt that as long as Shen Huaichu kept an eye on him, he wouldn't be able to move on. Sure, he could keep seeking revenge, tormenting his enemy, but each act of vengeance only deepened the memories he was trying to escape.

Her words were subtle, but the bodyguard understood. His expression turned troubled. He could relay the message, but with the complicated relationship between Shen Huaichu and Jing Yi, he wasn't sure how to respond.

Fortunately, Jing Yi didn't wait for an answer. After speaking, she turned to leave.

Shen Qi An, still pinned to the ground, struggled violently, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Jing Yi's retreating figure.

He was filled with unwillingness—he had finally found an opportunity! And now it was all ruined! He was going back to that dark, suffocating house! Back to watching those two hollow shells of people, day after day!

"Jing Yi! You don't understand Shen Huaichu at all! Do you really think he's some kind of saint?! One day, these same tactics will be used on you! Just wait!"

He shouted with all his might, but his voice only betrayed his growing despair and collapse.

The bodyguard was furious, twisting Shen Qi An's right arm viciously. "Shut your damn mouth! You're talking nonsense!"

He didn't know what had happened between the two, but his boss was definitely not the kind of person Shen Qi An was making him out to be!

"Ah!"

Shen Qi An's face contorted in pain.

Jing Yi paused, turning around calmly amidst Shen Xi's worried gaze. She even smiled, her eyes filled with amusement.

"Shen Qi An, the one who doesn't understand him... is you."

Someone who was willing to endure painful memories and physical agony just to protect her—how could he be a bad person?

Besides, she wasn't exactly a saint herself.

...

Meanwhile, upstairs, Shen Tu and Gu Lin, who seemed a bit distracted, were wandering around.

Shen Tu picked up a luxury handbag from the display and examined it. "What do you think, Xiao Lin?"

Gu Lin, staring at his phone, frowned deeply, clearly preoccupied.

When no response came, Shen Tu turned confusedly and put the bag back down.

"Xiao Lin? What's wrong? You've been distracted all along the way."

Gu Lin snapped out of it, quickly shutting his phone and forcing a smile. "Nothing, Mom. What did you ask me? Was it this bag? It's beautiful. It would look perfect with the cheongsam you bought earlier!"

Shen Tu looked at the bag in his hand, growing even more puzzled.

Earlier, she had seen Gu Lin walking with a group of people, assuming they were his friends. But after calling him, only he had shown up, claiming he had just gone back to pick up something he had dropped. She had even sent her friends away early for this.

As Shen Tu's gaze lingered, Gu Lin's smile grew increasingly strained.

Had he picked the wrong bag?

A store clerk, standing beside Shen Tu, subtly signaled to Gu Lin, indicating he had indeed grabbed the wrong bag.

Gu Lin quickly switched bags, picking up the one Shen Tu had initially held.

"Just kidding with you, Mom. It's this one, right? I think both are great. Let's take both."

Shen Tu crossed her arms, her expression serious. "Gu Lin, are you hiding something from me?"

Gu Lin's eyes darted around nervously. "No way! How could I be hiding anything from you?"

Shen Tu: ...Honestly, if you're not good at lying, don't try to lie. You have zero convincing power.

Just as Shen Tu was about to press further, Chen Yisi arrived.

"Aunt Shen."

Shen Tu looked over, her expression brightening. "Xiao Si, what are you doing here?"

Chen Yisi glanced at Gu Lin, who seemed to relax a bit, and smiled faintly.

"I was having dinner with some friends nearby. I heard Gu Lin was here, so I came to check on him."

Before Shen Tu could say anything, Gu Lin looked past Chen Yisi, searching.

Why was he alone? Where were Jing Yi and the others? Had they really gone home, heartbroken and disappointed, after hearing what Shen Qi An had said?

No way! His brother had finally come out, and he couldn't let Jing Yi leave now. His brother couldn't handle another round of this, and neither could he!

He had already lost so much weight recently!

Shen Tu, noticing her son's changing expressions, asked confusedly, "What are you looking at?"

Gu Lin quickly looked away. "Ah? Didn't he say he was having dinner with friends? I was just checking if they came along."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Chen Yisi, who had been calm, now looked a bit exasperated. If he hadn't come, this guy would have been grilled until there was nothing left of his secrets.

Gu Lin had nothing special going for him, and he wasn't good at lying. His face always gave away his secrets. The only thing he had was a stubborn mouth and a 'pure' demeanor that could soften even the toughest interrogators.

For years, Gu Lin had managed to keep secrets under Shen Tu's watchful eye.

Seeing that Shen Tu was about to ask more questions, Chen Yisi spoke first, smiling. "They've already gone back. Aunt Shen, did you find anything you like? I can help you pick."

Hearing this, Shen Tu's face lit up with joy.

"That would be great!"

Her husband and son had terrible taste, always picking the options she didn't like. But Chen Yisi was different—he was patient while shopping with her, and his choices always aligned with her preferences, with good reasoning to back them up.

Chen Yisi smiled and gently guided Shen Tu further into the mall.

"By the way, how's Xi Xi doing lately?"

"She's been learning how to manage the company from her brother, but it seems difficult for her."

"Xi Xi is just not finding her strengths yet. She's actually very smart."

"Exactly. Her family just wants her to learn more for now. Once she finds what she likes, they probably won't push her so hard."

"I think that's good. She's so pure, just like Jing Yi."

"Yes. Oh, and Jing Yi said she'll come visit you tomorrow."

"You saw Jing Yi?!"

"No, Xi Xi told me. She said it's a surprise for you."

"Then you have to help me pick out something great! I haven't seen Jing Yi in so long..."

Left ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍behind, Gu Lin: Wait, did they just leave like that? What about their son standing right here? Was the guy next to her actually her real son?