Chapter 5 Chapter 5 "Uncle, please respect yourself."
Half asleep and half awake, Yao Yingxia remembered the summer vacation after graduating from the third year of junior high school.
It had been half a year since Yao Qihang's death. She performed exceptionally well in the high school entrance examination and obtained the qualification of a free student in A Middle School, which was one of the best among thousands. It was a double blessing.
After a brief period of free time, Yao Yingxia finally discovered that her mother had undergone amazing changes.
In the past, Yao Qihang forbade her from wearing makeup, and even occasionally putting on lipstick would result in her being humiliated as a slut. Now, Xu Nian could finally dress as she pleased. She was naturally beautiful, but her life had been hard, and her face always showed fatigue. Now that her husband was dead, she looked radiant.
She thought her mother must be in love, and the man was very generous. There were many expensive bags and jewelry in the house. Xu Nian was finally nurtured and radiant.
Yao Yingxia only prayed that the man would be emotionally stable and not be as bad as Yao Qihang. Xu Nian had three broken ribs and would feel a dull pain every time it rained.
A few days before the end of summer vacation, Xu Nian finally took the initiative to talk to her about his own affairs: "Xia Xia, I have been in contact with an uncle recently."
Yao Yingxia wasn't surprised. She was only concerned about whether her mother could be happy in this relationship: "Does he have a proper job? Is he healthy? What's going on at home? Is he treating you well?"
It was rare for her daughter to throw so many questions at her. Xu Nian felt like laughing for a moment as she answered them one by one: "He has a proper job, is in good health, is widowed, has no children, and treats me very well."
Yao Yingxia felt a little relieved. Xu Nian probably wouldn't have to deal with complicated family relationships in the future. She thought for a moment and asked again, "Mom, how did you two meet?"
Xu Nian briefly recalled: "About four months ago, he had some problems with his blood pressure and came to the hospital for treatment. I was his attending nurse."
Xu Nian understood her daughter's concerns too well. They had depended on each other and been each other's allies over the years. "Mom knows that you want her to live a good life more than anyone else. If you're willing, I'd like to arrange a meeting for you two."
In the following several contacts, Yao Yingxia gradually confirmed that Shen Changhe was a good dating partner. He was gentlemanly, considerate, emotionally stable, and spoke modestly. Being rich seemed to be his least noteworthy advantage.
So much so that later on, Yao Yingxia often lamented how it was that such an outstanding brother could raise a younger brother like Shen Xingchuan.
At this time, Shen Xingchuan had just carried Yao Yingxia into the passenger seat and fed her a piece of candy.
But Yao Yingxia's brows were furrowed, and no one knew what she was dreaming about.
His little niece always looked bitter and resentful. It was rare to see her relax, as if she had a huge and unsolvable worry.
When she came to her senses, Shen Xingchuan was already rubbing her eyebrows.
Yao Yingxia woke up at this time.
Shen Xingchuan's face was reflected in her light brown pupils. They were too close, and those peach blossom eyes seemed to want to eat people. Yao Yingxia was extremely frightened and leaned back suddenly.
Just as she was about to hit the car window, a big hand supported the back of her neck. The posture was too ambiguous, as if he was going to kiss her in the next second.
Yao Yingxia was quite frightened, her entire body becoming very stiff, but her eyes grew colder and colder as she looked at him and said, "Uncle, please respect yourself."
Yao Yingxia rarely addressed him like that, so Shen Xingchuan was stunned for a moment, a slight surprise flashing in his eyes. He pulled his hand back angrily: "I'm not interested in a child like you."
As he said this, he felt a little uncomfortable. Shen Xingchuan attributed it to his self-esteem, as he was always the one who rejected others.
Yao Yingxia did not let down her guard. She had been deeply harmed by men in the past 18 years. Yao Qihang had always been an indelible shadow in her life. Later, He Ming chased her like a mad dog. In addition, she had to endure all kinds of stares and slander. She hated men without a sense of boundaries.
Later, neither of them spoke again. Shen Xingchuan drove the car very fast. The street lights outside the window had turned into phantoms. Yao Yingxia felt a little dizzy again. She couldn't help but wonder if Shen Xingchuan was angry and took the opportunity to take revenge.
Just at this moment, Yao Yingxia's cell phone rang. The caller was Xu Nian.
She pressed the answer button and heard Xu Nian ask anxiously, "Xia Xia, are you okay?"
She pretended to be relaxed and said, "Mom, I'm fine, don't worry."
She wasn't ready to tell Xu Nian about her dismissal yet. She was so far away and couldn't get back in a short while. She didn't know how anxious she would be. She would talk about it after she returned home.
Shortly after hanging up, Shen Xingchuan's phone rang again. His phone was placed on the car holder, so Yao Yingxia could clearly see that the caller was Xu Nian.
Xu Nian knew his daughter too well and knew that she always reported good news but not bad news, so he went to Shen Xingchuan for confirmation.
He didn't answer the call immediately, letting the ringing echo through the car like a death knell.
Out of the corner of his eye, Shen Xingchuan saw the girl beside him purse her lips. Sure enough, a moment later, he heard her apologize: "I'm sorry, I was too sensitive just now. You were here to save me."
Thinking of all the ridiculous things that happened today, she gave a very forced smile: "Thank you for helping me today."
Such a dry apology did not make people feel the slightest sincerity, but Shen Xingchuan felt refreshed. Even though she was so reluctant, she had to give in to him.
Yao Yingxia pleaded again, "Please don't tell her that I was fired, and about the rumors you just heard."
Shen Xingchuan didn't say yes or no, he just turned on the hands-free mode and called out "Sister-in-law".
Yao Yingxia's heart was about to jump out of her throat. She knew that Shen Xingchuan always held a grudge and was afraid that he would not let it go just like that.
Xu Nian's voice rang out on the phone: "Xiaochuan, have you been to school today? How was the cheating incident handled? Did Hou Wenbin embarrass Xia Xia?"
Shen Xingchuan said in a deep voice, "I just came out of school. This matter is very serious. Hou Wenbin's handling of it was also biased. He actually let Yingxia..."
Seeing that he was about to be fired, Yao Yingxia rushed over and covered his mouth in desperation.
Her hands were small and cold, as if they had been frozen in the snow, which made his breath seem even hotter. Yao Yingxia shuddered, relaxed a little, and then came to her senses and covered his hands tightly again.
Xu Nian on the phone was even more anxious: "Xiao Chuan? Xiao Chuan, are you still there? Why did you suddenly stop talking? What did Hou Wenbin ask Xia Xia to do?"
Yao Yingxia felt her heart beating like a drum and the blood flowing through her body accelerated, but the man in her palm seemed to be smiling, and the upturned corners of his lips brushed across her palm. Yao Yingxia finally let go of her hand because she could no longer bear it.
She felt that her behavior just now was really ridiculous. If Shen Xingchuan really wanted to tell the truth, how could she stop him? She couldn't always block his mouth.
Yao Yingxia turned her head dejectedly and looked out the window. Let him say whatever he wanted. Sooner or later, she would take revenge on him.
"Xiaochuan?" Xu Nian's voice was already a little sharp in his anxiety.
"Sorry, the signal here is suddenly bad." Shen Xingchuan's voice seemed very happy.
Xu Nian was confused for a moment, then listened to him again: "Hou Wenbin insisted on getting Yingxia to reconcile, but I refused. The matter was resolved very satisfactorily, sister-in-law, don't worry."
Xu Nian was probably busy over there. It seemed like someone was calling her from a distance. She didn't ask how the problem was solved and hung up the phone in a hurry.
Yao Yingxia finally breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't believe that he would actually help her keep it secret, and whispered "thank you".
Shen Xingchuan obviously didn't want to let her go just like that: "Little niece."
Yao Yingxia couldn't help but frown every time she heard this name, but considering he had just helped her, she still responded: "Hmm?"
They happened to be at an intersection at this time. The light was red and the surrounding area was the most prosperous area in the city center. He stopped the car and turned to look at her. There were bright lights behind him, which made his eyes clear and bright with a playful smile.
When the light was about to turn green, he finally spoke: "Please respect yourself."
Shen Xingchuan repeated what she had said exactly, which made her very uncomfortable. However, she also knew that her behavior just now had indeed crossed the line. But who told him to scare her first?
Yao Yingxia then threw back what Shen Xingchuan had said: "Sorry, I'm not interested in older men."
Shen Xingchuan's face immediately darkened. He was only seven years older than Yao Yingxia, and was in the prime of his life. Many women were attracted to him, and no one had ever called him old.
Shen Xingchuan was determined to take revenge, so he called Xu Nian back immediately.
Yao Yingxia instantly exploded, and hurriedly pressed the hang-up button. Finally, she lowered her head again and said, "I was wrong."
Shen Xingchuan's fingers tapped the steering wheel slowly, and he was very calm: "What's wrong?"
Yao Yingxia said unconscionably, "You're not old, not at all."
Shen Xingchuan snorted coldly, still looking unsatisfied, and turned the car into an underground parking lot.
Yao Yingxia really didn't want to get off the car: "Aren't we going home?" She was too tired today and just wanted to take a nap.
Shen Xingchuan became increasingly angry: "Thanks to you, I rushed to school as soon as I got off the plane. I haven't eaten for over twelve hours."
Shen Xingchuan has a discerning palate and never eats airplane food. There are very few private chefs who can satisfy his taste, so much so that he hasn't moved out of Shen Changhe's villa yet.
Yao Yingxia didn't say anything else and followed him out of the car obediently.
Because she couldn't eat spicy food, Shen Xingchuan specially chose a time-honored Cantonese restaurant. Located in the heart of the city, where every inch of land was valuable, there were only eight tables in the nearly 1,000-square-meter hall. The waiter led them to a seat by the window, where they could overlook most of City A.
The night view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is very charming, bright and exquisite everywhere. The illusion cut out from piles of money is the most confusing to the mind. Once you have tasted it, you can't give it up, so Yao Yingxia will work harder.
She didn't want to live in poverty anymore. She wanted to go to the best university. She wanted her future to be bright and foolproof. Even if her mother broke up with Shen Changhe one day, she could still live out her old age in peace and comfort.
Even when she was in a trance, she exuded a sense of determination, as if no one could defeat her. Shen Xingchuan found himself unable to take his eyes away, and not just because of this overly beautiful face.
The petal chandelier above her head was bright but not dazzling, making her face look even paler. Perhaps it was due to low blood sugar, but she looked very tired, as if she hadn't slept well for a long time.
Shen Xingchuan always knew how hard she worked. The cleaning maid said that the test papers she had done in her room could be piled up into a small mountain. But even though she was such a hard-working girl, those people would do anything to bring her down.
Shen Xingchuan suddenly felt angry.
Yao Yingxia keenly noticed his change in mood and looked at the man opposite her somewhat at a loss. She saw him staring at her with a frown, looking bitter and resentful.
Yao Yingxia couldn't help but sigh again. When men are petty, nothing can surpass them. She just called him an old man, but Shen Xingchuan actually held a grudge against him to this extent.
Yao Yingxia didn't want to coax him and looked away pretending not to notice.
Fortunately, the waiter started serving the dishes at this time. The exquisite and beautiful but very few expensive dishes were very suitable for her small appetite.
Shen Xingchuan suddenly said, "Little niece, eat more."
He still liked to persuade her to eat. Thinking of the not-so-good memories of the past, Yao Yingxia suddenly felt a headache.
Shen Xingchuan's thoughts went back to half an hour ago, when he carried her away. Yao Yingxia was so light that she seemed to weigh nothing. She was really too thin.
Even such a weak girl like Yao Yingxia dared to challenge the head teacher. Shen Xingchuan suddenly laughed out loud when he thought of her scolding Hou Wenbin.
Is this guy crazy? Yao Yingxia thought with some fear. His emotions were too unstable. People with erratic moods were the scariest. Yao Yingxia decided to stay away from him.
But Shen Xingchuan said with lingering emotion: "You are not even as heavy as Caesar when I hold you."
Caesar is a dog raised by his second sister Shen Suxi. It is an unusually fat Samoyed, and Yao Yingxia likes to play with it very much.
But this isn't funny at all.
Yao Yingxia angrily took a bite of the appetizer. Perhaps his provocation worked, but Yao Yingxia ate more than ever that day. Shen Xingchuan was very satisfied.
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