"An Yin, what’s wrong?" Wen Mei asked worriedly. "I... I need to go home," An Yin stammered, barely able to get the words out. Wen Mei noticed her pale face, as if she’d been struck a blow, "Did something happen at home?" An Yin nodded blankly, then shook her head; she really didn’t know how to explain this matter. Right now she just wanted to know where Mrs. An had gone. "An Yin, don’t panic yet." Wen Mei, seeing her looking so disoriented, glanced at the bodyguard nearby, "Go get Shi Qing." The bodyguard quickly left upon receiving the order. An Yin seemed lost, lifting her feet to head outside. "An Yin," Wen Mei was about to stop her when she saw the bodyguard bringing Shi Qing over. Shi Qing saw An Yin’s dazed state, and a tight feeling gripped his heart. He looked at Wen Mei with a harsh tone, "What happened to her?" Wen Mei felt frustrated; Shi Qing must have thought she bullied An Yin. At the moment, Wen Mei wasn’t in the mood to argue, lazily saying, "I don’t know either, I asked but she wouldn’t say. You talk to her, I’ll step out for a bit." Wen Mei lowered her head, a sly glint fleeting through her eyes. Once Wen Mei left, Shi Qing came to An Ying’s side, "What’s wrong with you?" Perhaps due to a bit of closeness to Shi Qing, when An Yin heard his voice, her eyes welled up, tears forming and ready to fall, "My neighbor called earlier, saying water leaked from my house to hers, and she couldn’t reach my mom. No one was at home, I called several times but my mom didn’t answer... sob sob..." "Shi Qing, do you think something happened to my mom... sob..." This thought emerged, and with it, An Yin’s frail body almost collapsed, but fortunately Shi Qing held her up. "Don’t overthink it, the immediate concern is to hurry home," Shi Qing clearly suggested after listening to her. "Mm-hmm." An Yin wiped her tears with her hand, speaking determinedly, "I need to go home... hic..." Seeing her sobbing with hiccups in between, Shi Qing supported her, "Can you walk?" Shi Qing noticed An Yin’s legs seemed weak, as if she was quite frightened. "I can," An Yin muttered, still crying. Shi Qing helped her, both wearing work clothes, headed to the locker room to change, running into Wen Mei at the door on their way out. "If you’ve got things to do, just go ahead." "Thank you." Shi Qing adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, speaking coolly. "No need to be polite, you’re always welcome to come work," Wen Mei smiled fawningly. An Yin’s wet eyelashes fluttered constantly, she glanced at Wen Mei, "Thanks, Mei Jie." The pitiful gaze of the young girl softened Wen Mei’s heart, the little beauty sure tugged at one’s heartstrings when she cried, "Mm, off you go." At this time, there were quite a few patrons in the bar, the sound of their lively chatter echoed through the hallway. Noticing this, Shi Qing suggested quietly, "Let’s take the back door." An Yin sniffled, nodding. They left "Night Charm." The two walked towards the roadside. An Yin held her phone, unwilling to relent, continuing to call An Ying, but no one answered. Seeing her tears ready to fall again, Shi Qing comforted, "Don’t worry yet." "I can’t reach my mom," An Yin pursed her lips, tears streaming down from her watery eyes. Shi Qing was about to offer more comfort but was interrupted by a cold, harsh voice. Both An Yin and Shi Qing looked up simultaneously, seeing a man standing a few meters away. The man was tall and well-built, standing with his back straight, his determined face showing slightly furrowed brows, revealing a hint of worry between his brows. Shi Qing noticed his tightly pressed lips and how he exuded a cold and handsome demeanor. Beneath the flickering gaze, there was even a touch of fierceness; the man’s aura was so commanding that Shi Qing’s grip on An Yin unconsciously weakened. "Get in the car first." Bao Shaojin, seeing the young girl sobbing cutely, couldn’t conceal the sharpness on his face. Bao Shaojin stepped forward, bending slightly, and before An Yin could react, her little frame was already locked into his embrace by his strong arms. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝕟𝕖𝕥 Shi Qing stood silently on the side, wanting to protest the man’s actions as he approached, but when she met his cold, sharp eagle eyes, she ultimately didn’t dare to speak. "Bao Shaojin." An Yin tilted her head up, looking at the man’s firm profile, pleading, "I can’t reach my mom." At this moment, she felt like a deeply wronged child. In the man’s embrace, she didn’t feel awkward; instead, her heart found a sense of reliance. Holding her, Bao Shaojin, upon noticing another person behind them, said softly, "Get in the car, I’ll drop you back at school on our way." Shi Qing was stunned, initially wanting to reject, but facing the man’s firm attitude, she eventually nodded. Shi Qing sat in the front passenger seat. Bao Shaojin and An Yin were in the back. After getting in, Assistant Lin threw a smile at Shi Qing, who also nodded in response. As Assistant Lin drove away, under an osmanthus tree not far down the road stood several girls, among whom was Jiang Keke. "Look, isn’t that our school belle? The guy holding her looks even more handsome than a celebrity," one of the girls remarked with a suggestive smile. Another girl chimed in, "I thought she was all high and mighty; she turned down Senior Su and all those rumors turned out to be true, she really does have a luxury car to pick her up, plus a wealthy big shot." "Keke, aren’t you and An Yin usually tight? How come I just saw her with our school’s top student," a girl teased before seeing Jiang Keke’s gloomy face, then quickly shut up. They got acquainted while rehearsing for the New Year’s Eve dance performance, growing closer and occasionally hanging out. Jiang Keke had suggested coming to this bar tonight, not expecting to witness the school belle’s "gossip." Jiang Keke stood under the tree, her somber gaze fixed in the direction where the car had disappeared. Despite the bone-chilling wind, the continuous chatter from the girls behind, Jiang Keke paid no mind. Just now, Bao Shaojin tenderly holding An Yin looked so perfect, like a prince and princess in a fairy tale, oblivious to everything around them, the man’s eyes only seeing the beauty in his arms. Jiang Keke’s gaze gradually turned icy, her slender fingers curling into a fist, her sharp nails digging into her palm, only when a sharp pain came did she start to sober up. Lately, she suffered from betrayal by a man, and her long-desired opportunity to join a drama group got impeded, life seemed to be a mud pit with no escape. But what about her good friend? Not only did she make a new friend, Shi Qing, but she was also treasured by Bao Shaojin? Thinking of this, a terrifying thought surged in Jiang Keke’s mind.