Chapter 58. Startled.

Sheng Yi had thought many times about whether there was any possibility of meeting He Jinping again.

The messages she sent her never received a reply, but she still couldn't help sending them again and again, on birthdays, holidays, and at every happy or unhappy moment, those blessings and thoughts that might be insignificant to her.

They came together from their innocent youth, but at some point they parted ways. If she could, she would like to hold her hand again and ask, "How have you been lately?"

However, none of these assumptions are correct.

The girl, who was always proud and independent, seemed like a pampered sparrow. Through the dim lights, all her yesterdays were just a fleeting moment.

But that is clearly the soil on which they stand and the source of their struggle.

Sheng Yi couldn't help but choke up, but she was afraid that her expression would be seen by the other person, making her look too pathetic and embarrassed. So she could only try to smile and pretend that she hadn't noticed anything, "Jinping, what a coincidence."

The room was covered with a soft carpet, and He Jinping walked barefoot on the carpet, lazily strolling over to Sheng Yi.

Even when they had just met, she knew that Sheng Yi's beauty would eventually be discovered by everyone.

However, she ultimately did not accompany her to this day.

The beautiful woman's eyes were full of affection. When she looked at her, her gaze was still one of complete trust, yet it held a thousand unspoken words.

She couldn't help but sigh, "That smile is so ugly."

If Jingjing heard this, she would probably be unable to resist rolling up her sleeves and arguing with He Jinping.

Unfortunately, she was not there at the time.

The bodyguard in black politely led her to another room. The room was large, but now that she was alone in it, she had no mood to appreciate it and only felt it was becoming emptier.

Time had never felt so unbearable. She paced irritably around the room several times, but the bodyguards at the door didn't even glance at her, completely ignoring her existence.

Sigh. Maybe I should contact Lao Qian. But Sheng Yi just told her to wait patiently for her to come out.

Finally, I had no choice but to sit down and resign myself to my fate, and pull out my phone to scroll through it.

Unsurprisingly, K's event dominated the trending topics. Among them, the most talked-about were the comparisons of makeup, styling, and beauty among the female celebrities.

She clicked on several entries, and regardless of the original content, the comments section unanimously praised Sheng Yi's beauty. Even those who wanted to find fault couldn't find an angle to criticize her.

Sheng Yi naturally didn't care about the comments others made about her appearance, but when she heard the woman in front of her speaking in a distant tone that concealed a familiar intimacy, her forced composure crumbled instantly.

"How could you do this..."

He Jinping tilted her head, revealing a quirky smile that she would never have shown before. "What?"

On the way back, He Jinping's sneer and ambiguous smile kept echoing and replaying in Sheng Yi's mind.

She turned her head to look at her, her eyes seemingly full of meaning, "Only you think I'm unhappy."

"And what about you?"

If happiness is so important, does it hold equal weight in your choices?

The driver was not a talkative person. The car sped along the designated track without looking back.

Jingjing seemed to know that she was in a bad mood, so she quietly sat down to work in the car, and the sound of her typing on the keyboard was very soft.

At the intersection ahead, a car accidentally drove into the wrong lane and is hurriedly trying to get back on track.

Sheng Yi calmly looked ahead, wondering if he was on the right track.

Once you join the carnival, there are predetermined rules. You gain some things and lose others along the way—it couldn't be fairer. But were those things she held so tightly truly worth taking that leap?

He Jinping said, "This is the path I chose myself, and I have never thought of turning back."

"I'm just trying to make myself happier."

So what does she want?

The countless strands of thread are tangled together, and the original thread can no longer be found.

"Put me down up ahead, I have an appointment."

Before the driver could answer, Jingjing straightened her back and turned around to ask, "Sis, who else did you make plans with?!"

I've never heard of this before.

However, judging from Sheng Yi's expression, she knew she wouldn't get any answers. She watched her get off the car with a hesitant expression, still emphasizing with some unease, "Contact me anytime if anything happens."

It was already late at night. Sheng Yi pulled her coat tighter and wrapped the scarf around her neck even higher.

Having lived in S City for so many years, she still hasn't fully adapted to the winters here.

Dry, cold, and gloomy sky.

It is those vibrant people who illuminate the autumns and winters in our memories, making them unique.

I don't know how long I wandered around the streets, but the complicated thoughts in my mind gradually cooled down.

But...where is this?

Using the streetlights to identify the street signs, Sheng Yi realized that she had unknowingly walked onto an unfamiliar street.

She took out her phone, followed the navigation to determine the direction, and then headed forward.

The wind grew colder in the middle of the night, and fallen leaves lay on the ground. The sanitation workers hadn't had time to sweep them up yet, and stepping on them made a rustling sound.

The sound of footsteps, some high and some low, was jarring and eerie, mixed in with the others.

Sheng Yi paused, pretending to look at her phone, and the footsteps behind her also stopped.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment, and something was quietly approaching in the darkness.

She steeled herself and started walking, not having time to think about the banquet or the choices she had to make.

All she knew was that she had to be fast, even faster.

One step later, and we would be dragged into the muddy swamp.

She walked faster and faster, until finally she almost started jogging.

Those footsteps followed her at a distance, neither too close nor too far; she was fast, and so was he.

Her nervousness fueled the other person's emotions. Amidst the chaotic footsteps, a light male voice could be heard, tinged with laughter, "Miss, why are you running?"

His nonchalant tone, even in the dead of winter, gave her a fright.

Sheng Yi was no longer in the mood to pay attention to what he was saying, because the phone's frame was cutting her palm painfully from the force of the pressure.

Looking at the high wall erected before her, all her struggles seemed so futile.

The man, hands in his pockets, strolled slowly towards her, as if he had expected this, a gloating look on his face. "Oh, no way out now."

Contrary to expectations of his furtive behavior, the young man before them—or perhaps a teenager?—did appear quite respectable.

He leaned forward slightly, his body slightly bent, and said to her, "Miss, where are you going? I'll see you off."

Sheng Yi leaned back forcefully, his body almost taut like a bow.

She tucked her hands inside her coat, fumbled for her phone to unlock, and smiled sweetly, "My home is quite far from Guihua Road, so I won't trouble you."

Her face was completely covered by a scarf and mask, so all you could see was her bright white forehead. But when she smiled, all the light fell into her eyes.

The boy clicked his tongue and looked away, then tentatively reached out his hand again.

Sheng Yi turned her head to dodge.

"Why are you hiding?"

He seemed annoyed. Sheng Yi's voice became even more delicate, "Brother, don't be like this, you're scaring me."

Anyone who heard this would feel a chill run down their spine. Wen Shili gripped the steering wheel as if trying to survive, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Even with the accelerator floored, there are things to consider, so you can only speed within certain limits.

He was like a caged beast in shackles, with only one goal in his eyes.

Hurry up, faster!

The disconnected call was like a rope tugging at reason; with a snap, something inside me collapsed with a deafening roar.

He could only grit his teeth, calmly analyze the situation, and give instructions on how to proceed.

"Brother Li, I've already spoken to the nearest police station, and I'm on my way there."

The constant phone calls did nothing to soothe his anxiety.

He felt as if his mind had been split in two, one half teetering on a tightrope, the other half calmly telling itself that this was not the time to break down.

"Brother Li."

Qin Zheng saw the person approaching, stepped forward to greet them, and then quickly lowered his head upon seeing the other person's expression.

The sound of sobbing drifted through the alley and into the ears of those at the alley entrance.

Wen Shili's steps were unsteady. Qin Zheng caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye and quickly pulled him up. The usually burly voice was so loud that it was almost impossible to hear without trying. "The person is inside."

"Hmm," Wen Shili responded softly.

Reason told him that Qin Zheng was waiting there, which meant everything was alright. But upon hearing that cry, a belated sense of fear surged towards him.

He stood in the wind, wanting to scream, but in the end he just pursed his lips tightly.

Listen carefully, and you can hear the sobs mixed with scolding voices that rise and fall.

"At such a young age, you're already behaving badly, trying to scare whoever you're trying to frighten, huh?"

"We live in a society governed by the rule of law. You think you can act recklessly without surveillance? I think you're just lacking the harsh lessons of society."

"What are your parents' phone numbers? Or do we have to wait for the police to come and arrest you so we can meet your parents?"

The voice paused briefly, then resumed a moment later, "Have you finished your homework? You're just... you're trying to flirt with girls like that."

Sheng Yi became angrier and angrier as she spoke. If it were her younger brother, she would have loved to slap him twice.

The boy, with snot and tears streaming down his face, tugged at her trouser leg, "Waaah, sister, I was wrong, I just wanted to scare you."

In all honesty, he only meant to point out that she had taken the wrong path, but seeing her pitiful state with a withered leaf on her head and all wet, he impulsively decided to scare her.

Who knew this young lady, who acted like a delicate flower, would be so ruthless when she started hitting people? He almost squeezed out all his tears before she gave up the idea of ​​turning him over to the police.

He blew his nose, wanting to howl a couple more times, but Sheng Yi's scalp tingled instantly. "Hey, don't smear your snot on me! It's expensive to wash off!"

When Wen Shili came in, he saw Sheng Yi patting the man's shoulder hard. The man's eyes were red and his face was bruised and swollen. When he saw Wen Shili coming over, he was both relieved and grateful.

Sheng Yi was clutching a bag, still looking sullen. Hearing footsteps, her back visibly stiffened.

Wen Shili clenched his fingers, his heart aching terribly. "Yiyi, it's me."

Her tense back suddenly slumped, and Sheng Yi turned around to meet his gaze. A feeling of grievance suddenly welled up from the bottom of her heart.

"What are you looking at? He scared me first!"

He seemed ready to fight him to the death if he said anything offensive.

The boy, who had been quietly standing by without daring to utter a sound, let out two exaggerated sobs upon hearing this. The next instant, the illusion of being stared at by a wild beast crept over him, and he froze, so shocked that he had an urge to bite his tongue off.

Stunned, he hiccuped in fright.

Wen Shili tried his best to hide his fierce aura, and heard Sheng Yi shout at the boy's back, "Hurry up and leave, or I'll tell your parents!"

The boy, stumbling along, disappeared around the corner.

Sheng Yi caught her breath and then looked seriously at Wen Shili, who had appeared there. "Did I call you? Then you must have pressed the wrong button."

Although she could tell that the boy posed no threat, she still didn't dare entrust her safety entirely to someone whose conscience she didn't even know existed.

But she originally wanted to find Jingjing...

She felt bad that he had made the trip, so she waved her hand and said, "It's alright, everyone can go now."

She acted casually, as if it were just a trivial matter. Wen Shili gritted his teeth, trying to put on a stern look and tell her that if she encountered something like this again...

Thinking of this, he recalled her pleading and vulnerable demeanor on the phone. A dense, throbbing pain filled his chest, and his heart throbbed softly.

It's good that you're alright.

The turbulent emotions subsided abruptly. He stepped forward, took her hand, and said in a voice so gentle he himself was unaware, "I'll take you home."

Sheng Yi was completely unprepared for this sudden move. Just as she was about to struggle, she heard a series of furtive whispers coming from the alley entrance. They were getting closer and closer.

"They're still inside and haven't come out yet."

"I didn't misjudge you, did I?"

"Brother, that's impossible."

Sheng Yi leaned forward to listen and felt Wen Shili tighten his grip on her hand. The slight pain, in the darkness of the night, brought a strange sense of peace.