I don’t want to trouble you.

The Xia family.

“Oh my heavens, my precious Ranran, what happened to your face?” Mrs. Xia caught sight of the red mark on her daughter’s cheek and rushed over, deeply distressed. “Who hit you?”

“Mum! Sob, sob, it was that little wretch Wen Shuang…”

In front of her parents, Xia Anran exaggerated the incident tenfold, painting Wen Shuang’s actions in the worst possible light.

Mr. Xia rose in fury. “This Wen Shuang is truly out of control! How outrageous! I’ll take care of her right now!”

Xia Hanyan interjected, “Don’t let Anran stir you up. She’s hardly the type to suffer losses. Today, Qin You and I went to pick her up from work, and we happened to see her chasing after Miss Wen with raised hands. In the end, she was the one who landed the slap.”

He winced even watching from the sidelines.

Yet that Miss Wen never uttered a sound throughout.

She could endure a lot.

“Serves her right! She bullied me first!” Xia Anran nestled closer to her mother, pouting. “Mama, look at my face, it really hurts.”

Mrs. Xia fumed. “One slap isn’t nearly enough. If she hit you without knowing right from wrong, you must pay her back double!”

Xia Hanyan frowned. “Dad, Mum, don’t spoil Anran too much. She’s not someone who suffers quietly—if she’s not bullying others outside, it’s already fortunate.”

“Brother! You’ve just come home and you’re already siding with outsiders!” Xia Anran grew increasingly unhappy. “Is Wen Shuang your sister, or am I?”

Xia Hanyan sighed helplessly. “I’m just stating the facts. That Miss Wen actually didn’t do much to you—it’s you who’s always aggressive towards her.”

He knew Anran’s temperament well.

If she hadn’t provoked others first, no one would dare lay a finger on her. He guessed Miss Wen must have endured a lot before finally retaliating.

Anran, furious, turned to her parents to complain.

Mr. Xia, noticing Qin You still standing nearby, coughed twice. “Enough! As long as you’ve hit back, that’s all that matters. Our Xia family’s daughters shouldn’t suffer outside. And, Anran, now that you’ve just been released from the detention center, you must keep a low profile—don’t be so ostentatious again!”

He had gone to great lengths and lost face to get Anran out early.

Qin You gently wrapped his arm around Anran’s shoulders, soothing her.

“Your brother just came home today—don’t be upset.”

Only then did Anran let it go, reaching out for her brother’s gifts.

Xia Hanyan tapped her nose with a smile. “I brought you a globally limited Chanel bag and five custom LV pieces—they’re already by your bedside.”

Anran cheered, declaring him the best brother in the world, then dashed off to her room.

Xia Hanyan shook his head. “Anran is still like a child.”

Qin You smiled, “Anran is a little princess, and little princesses need extra pampering.”

Xia Hanyan glanced at Qin You. “You’ve worked hard, brother-in-law.”

Today was his first meeting with Qin You—a handsome, refined young man with good family background.

Yet Xia Hanyan’s first impression was less than favorable.

Especially when he saw Qin You with Anran tonight, he sensed that Qin You was hiding something. Though he seemed to be indulging her, in truth, Anran depended on him far more.

Qin You smiled softly. “Being with Anran is never hard for me.”

Xia Hanyan patted his shoulder. “That’s best.”

...

Ji Shen noticed the distinct slap mark on Wen Shuang’s face under the light.

“Who bullied you?!”

Only then did Wen Shuang realize the mark hadn’t faded; she’d turned the light on absentmindedly.

“...I’m fine.”

“Don’t tell me you just bumped into something,” Ji Shen’s gaze was sharp as a blade, and he pressed her again, demanding to know who did it.

Wen Shuang didn’t want to answer.

She didn’t wish to drag Ji Shen into her work troubles—her family’s mess had already inconvenienced him enough.

But Ji Shen’s expression was stern.

So Wen Shuang admitted it was Xia Anran, briefly explaining what had happened in the dance troupe recently.

Ji Shen was furious, wishing he could storm the Xia house and tear Anran apart.

“Should have left her in there longer—she deserved to learn her lesson!”

Wen Shuang covered her face.

“Don’t hide it—let me see.” She dropped her hand, and Ji Shen asked her to come closer. On her beautiful, striking cheek, the mark was swollen and vivid.

“Does it hurt? Have you seen a doctor?”

Wen Shuang lowered her gaze, saying she’d already applied ointment.

Ji Shen, full of concern, asked, “If I hadn’t asked, would you have told me about this grievance?”

Wen Shuang paused.

She didn’t deny it.

Ji Shen was displeased. “Wen Shuang, I am your man. Whatever happens to you, you should tell me first—even if the sky falls, I’ll stand up for you.”

He couldn’t bear to see his cherished woman bullied like this.

Wen Shuang spoke softly, “But, Shen, you’ve already done so much for me before. I don’t want to burden you anymore.”

Ji Shen had helped with the Wen Fanhai situation—he’d done enough.

Though they lived together now, they would eventually part ways. Wen Shuang didn’t want to owe Ji Shen too much, for she’d never be able to repay him.

“What do you mean by burden?” Ji Shen’s brows knit. “Wen Shuang, I have never considered your troubles burdensome!”

Realizing his tone was too harsh, he softened.

She lowered her eyes, the warm yellow bedside lamp casting her face in gentle vulnerability.

“Shen, I’m tired. I want to sleep early.”

Ji Shen understood she didn’t want to talk anymore.

His voice deepened. “Alright, sleep well.”

Wen Shuang urged him to rest early too, then hung up.

Afterward, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She knew her words would anger him—he’d think she was ungrateful to have someone to rely on yet not speak up.

But men had always been like this: when interested, they wish to know everything about you, but once that fades, even a single word is too much.

Wen Shuang didn’t want to become the latter.

She was keenly aware of her relationship with Ji Shen.

So some things, she preferred to bear herself. If she got used to leaning on him, she’d lose herself even more.

Ji Shen, after being hung up on, felt a tightness in his chest.

He called Yu Tian.

It took a long time for the call to be answered.

“Shen, why are you still awake so late? You might not have a nightlife, but I certainly do!”

“Have you had any recent project collaborations with the Xia family?”

Yu Tian climbed off Zhou Zhou. “Yes, what’s up?”

The man’s voice on the other end was low and icy. “Terminate all cooperation with them. As compensation, I’ll give you a twenty percent share in the Ji family’s latest project.”