Shi Miao raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a half-smile, "Old man, you're playing with fire."

“Anyway, so many people know you’re my apprentice, you can’t deny it now.” William coughed and touched the bridge of his nose.

Shi Miao glanced at the time on her phone and said lazily, "Alright, I'm leaving now."

"Ah... okay. By the way, I downloaded an app that young people like to use, let's add some friends." William said, taking out his phone and awkwardly trying to figure out how to add friends, Miao.

"Tsk, I'll do it." Shi Miao reluctantly took the phone and patiently taught him how to use it.

A few minutes later, she handed the phone back to William, saying, "Okay, I'm leaving."

William put away his phone and said gently, "Shall I have my assistant take you home?"

Shi Miao raised her hand to lower the brim of her hat and said casually, "No need, my friend is here to pick me up."

......

Hotel entrance.

Ji Yanchen stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the car.

He glanced at his watch and, seeing that Shi Miao hadn't come out yet, decided to go inside to look for her.

Just as Ji Yanchen entered the elevator, he saw Shi Miao appear in the hotel lobby.

Seeing this, the man took long strides and chased after him.

"Shi Miao." A man's cool, deep voice came from behind.

Upon hearing this, Shi Miao stopped and turned around. "How did you get in here?"

"I see you haven't come out yet." The man stepped forward, draped his coat over her shoulders, and naturally took her hand. "Let's go."

Shi Miao glanced down at their clasped hands, didn't pull them apart, and said calmly, "Mm."

Well, before meeting Ji Yanchen, she genuinely thought dating was a hassle. But as she spent more time with men, she found she wasn't averse to Ji Yanchen, and he didn't seem as troublesome as she'd imagined. However, she needed to observe him further.

Seeing that Shi Miao had tacitly approved of his actions, the man's eyes flickered slightly. He squeezed her hand and said in a serious tone, "It's cold. Let me warm your hands."

Shi Miao: "..."

*

The car slowly stopped in front of the Gu family villa. The man turned his head to look at the girl beside him, his clear eyes filled with a soft light, and his thin lips curled up. "See you tomorrow, good night."

"Good night." Shi Miao returned the coat to the man and got out of the car.

As Ji Yanchen watched her enter the villa and prepared to drive away, he suddenly caught a glimpse of her phone left on the passenger seat.

He reached for his phone, opened the car door, got out, and walked towards the Gu family villa.

......

"You're back?" Gu Yunbai sat on the European-style sofa in the living room, looking at Shi Miao with a gloomy expression.

Shi Miao stopped, hands in his pockets, and said coldly, "What?"

"You've ruined Xinxin like this, are you satisfied now? You've practically cut off her path! She's your sister, how could you be so heartless? How could you be so cold-blooded? Do you even respect me as your father?" Gu Yunbai stood up and pointed his finger at Shi Miao's nose, cursing.

Shi Miao's eyes were filled with a hint of irritation as he said in a deep voice, "Tsk, have you said enough? If you've said enough, then get out of my way."

"Shi Miao!" Gu Yunbai was so angry that he reached out to slap Shi Miao.

Just as Shi Miao was about to raise her hand, a large hand with distinct knuckles appeared in front of her and tightly gripped Gu Yunbai's wrist.

Shi Miao was somewhat surprised and looked up at the man who had suddenly appeared. "Why are you here?"

Ji Yanchen threw Gu Yunbai to the ground, a hint of coldness flashing in his deep eyes.

"Are you alright?" He pulled Shi Miao in front of him and carefully checked her for injuries.

Shi Miao raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone lazy and nonchalant: "It's okay, I can flip him over with one hand."

Gu Yunbai rubbed his wrist, stood up, and, out of respect for his status as a man, swallowed his anger and said, "Young Master Ji, what do you mean by this? I'm disciplining my own daughter."

"My people are not for you to lecture." Ji Yanchen's gaze was as cold as a thin blade, carrying the pressure of a superior, and his aura was domineering and intimidating.

Yun Rujin stormed downstairs, gritting her teeth, and said, "Shi Miao, how dare you come back?"

Shi Miao was getting a headache from the two arguing. She rubbed her throbbing temples and her eyes suddenly turned cold. "Have I been too lenient with you, allowing you to step on my head again and again?"

"Wait here for me," she said, walking past the couple upstairs.

A moment later, Shi Miao walked down unhurriedly with her schoolbag and said indifferently, "I didn't take anything from the Gu family. Don't try to cause trouble in front of me in the future, or my fists won't be for nothing."

Gu Yunbai's face stiffened, and he said in a deep voice, "Shi Miao, what do you mean? Do you want to sever ties with us?"

Shi Miao casually slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, her dark eyes fixed on him, and said nonchalantly, "We've never had any relationship. I'll talk to Grandpa about it."

Ji Yanchen stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall with his long legs casually draped over his shoulders, showing no intention of interfering.

However, if Gu Yunbai's family continues to court disaster, he wouldn't mind giving them a lesson they'll never forget.

After all, he cherishes the person most in his heart, and he wouldn't even dare to say a word about it.