Stay at My Place Tonight, Professor Wen!

After Wen Shuang was harshly rejected by Qin You, the debt collectors’ actions escalated further. Previously, they had only spread malicious rumors at Wen Shuang’s training center, but now they even started accosting students’ parents, claiming that Wen Shuang was a notorious debtor who refused to repay her debts, warning that their children might be at risk if taught by someone like her.

The parents were outraged. They all withdrew their children from the classes, terrified of being associated with her in any way. Wen Shuang had once boasted the highest renewal rate at her center; now, after this ordeal, she ranked dead last.

She called the police, who came to handle the situation, but classified it as a simple civil dispute, beyond their immediate intervention. This only emboldened the debt collectors, who became even more brazen.

Under mounting pressure, the owner of the center asked Wen Shuang to take a leave of absence, suggesting she return only once the matter was resolved. Wen Shuang understood the unspoken message—if she couldn’t sort things out, she needn’t come back at all.

Exhausted, she returned home. As soon as she slid the key into the lock and twisted the handle, she sensed something was wrong. The lock had been tampered with.

She instinctively turned to flee, but in the next instant, a pair of large hands flung the door open and dragged her inside. It was the same man who had been hounding her for money—the debt-collecting uncle.

Wen Shuang screamed, but the man sneered, “Wen Shuang, I’ve torn through your whole place and there’s nothing worth a damn! Now that you’re back, why don’t you just pay with yourself?”

With that, he reached out to grope her chest and hips. He’d had his eye on this little vixen for a long time.

After the previous incident when Qin You had ambushed her, Wen Shuang had made a habit of practicing with her pepper spray every day before coming home. She darted aside, whipped the spray from her bag, and unleashed it mercilessly into the man’s eyes.

This time, her pepper spray was an extra-strength variety. The man howled, clutching his face in pain.

“My eyes! You bitch, you dare spray me? I’ll kill you tonight!”

Blinded and infuriated, he cursed her with abandon. Wen Shuang fled out the door and immediately dialed for help.

Six minutes later, police sirens wailed. Ji Shen kicked the man to the ground and swiftly cuffed him from behind.

Wen Shuang, her long hair disheveled, still clutched the pepper spray, her lips bitten red, visibly shaken.

Ji Shen handed the man off to another officer and turned to look at Wen Shuang, whom he hadn’t seen in over half a month.

“Ms. Wen, why is it that every time I see you, you’re in such a state?” he asked.

Recognizing him, Wen Shuang silently lowered her spray. “Officer Ji, I’ve troubled you again.”

In her panic, she’d called Ji Shen without thinking, not expecting him to arrive so swiftly.

“It’s no trouble at all. It’s a police officer’s duty to protect the public from harm,” Ji Shen replied.

On his way home from work, he had received her desperate call, immediately turned his car around, and raced back to the station to respond.

“Why was he after you?” he asked.

With her head bowed, Wen Shuang softly recounted the story of her family’s debts.

Ji Shen hadn’t expected that beneath her delicate appearance, she bore such burdens. Over ten million yuan was no small sum. No wonder she’d gone to dance at the bar the last time.

He turned sharply to his colleagues, “Take him in and keep him under guard. I’ll question him personally tomorrow.”

As Wen Shuang tried to stand, her legs gave way and she stumbled. Ji Shen caught her gently by the waist. “Careful, Ms. Wen.”

She awkwardly brushed her hair aside and righted herself. “Thank you, Officer Ji. I’ll just…”

“I’ll go up with you,” Ji Shen insisted, already moving ahead. “Let me check your apartment, just in case there are any more surprises.”

Wen Shuang, still unnerved by the idea that someone might be hiding inside, nodded and followed closely.

With Ji Shen’s tall figure leading the way, her fear subsided, replaced by a sense of security.

The apartment, once spotless, was now a chaotic mess. The little pieces of furniture she’d so carefully arranged were smashed; her clothes strewn everywhere. Bright red lace lingerie lay exposed in plain sight.

Instinctively, Wen Shuang moved to gather them up.

Ji Shen remarked lazily, “What’s there to be shy about, Ms. Wen? I’ve seen it before.”

With Wen Shuang’s fair skin and stunning figure, even the thought of her was enough to set one’s blood racing.

She braced herself and collected the garments. “That wasn’t the one you saw before, Officer Ji.”

Ji Shen nodded, as if recalling, “True, last time you were wearing black crisscross lace. My mistake.”

Wen Shuang fell silent.

Ji Shen took photos of the ransacked apartment, his gaze pausing on a set of men’s clothes hanging on the balcony.

“Ms. Wen, have you been hiding a man here lately?”

She followed his gaze. “No. I read online that single women should hang men’s clothes at home to make it look like there’s a man living here. They say it deters certain predators.”

Ji Shen nodded in approval. “Not a bad idea, though the underwear’s a bit small. Might make someone think the man of the house isn’t much of a fighter.”

Wen Shuang flushed. She’d never bought men’s underwear before—she’d just grabbed a couple of pairs at the supermarket and paid without thinking.

“I’ve recorded all the damages,” Ji Shen said. “He’ll have to pay compensation. Check if you’re missing anything valuable.”

Wen Shuang had only moved in two months ago and owned nothing of great value. She shook her head.

Ji Shen stood. “Now that the debt collectors have their eyes on you, it’s not safe for you to stay here alone. And with your place in this state, you won’t get any sleep tonight. Come on, stay at my place. I’ll put you up for the night.”

Wen Shuang’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that… a bit much? Officer Ji, I don’t want to trouble you.”

A month ago, she’d told herself to steer clear of him.

“You’ve troubled me plenty already. Besides, I don’t mind.”

His gaze lingered on her beautiful face. He had assumed she’d rejected him because she’d found someone else, but seeing her so alone made her seem all the more pitiable.

He’d been tormented these past weeks, dreaming of her alluring figure and waking to find his sheets in disarray.

At his apartment, the cold, austere atmosphere remained unchanged.

Wen Shuang showered in the guest room, changed into silk pajamas, and lay in bed, too exhausted to sleep. Parched in the middle of the night, she crept out to get a drink of water.

She found Ji Shen still in the living room, working on a case.

“Ms. Wen, you’re not asleep yet?”

She clutched her chest. “I was thirsty, just came out for some water.”

Ji Shen rose to pour her a glass, his eyes inadvertently drawn to her silk pajamas. She wore no bra, and even as she covered her chest, her curves were unmistakable.

His gaze darkened. He caught her by the waist. “Ms. Wen, after so many days apart, have you thought of me in the late hours of the night?”