This was clearly unexpected by the person behind him, and by the time he realized what was happening and tried to dodge, it was too late.
When Duan Sisi saw the look on that face as it hurriedly hid in the bushes, she didn't think twice and immediately turned around and ran like a madwoman towards the building entrance.
She looked towards the bushes while frantically searching for her keys. But the more anxious she became, the less she could find them.
The figure behind the bushes also began to react, slowly emerging from behind, approaching Duan Sisi step by step as if toying with prey.
He walked in the shadows of the trees with every step. Duan Sisi couldn't see his face, but she could clearly see his figure approaching step by step.
Panic instantly overwhelmed her; she was so anxious she was almost in tears, and she reached out to pound on the building entrance door.
With just one knock, the unit door was suddenly opened from the inside.
Warm light peeked through the crack in the door, enveloping Duan Sisi's trembling body, and standing in the light was Qiao Chen.
When Duan Sisi saw him, she burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.
Qiao Chen was completely stunned. He had only thought it was too late and Duan Sisi hadn't returned yet, so he went out to check, but he never expected to see Duan Sisi like this at the door.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
Duan Sisi didn't dare to lift her head, her finger trembling as she pointed to the location where the dark figure had appeared.
"Someone is following me!"
Qiao Chen looked in the direction she was pointing, but there was nothing there except the shadows of trees.
"There's no one here."
"Huh?" Duan Sisi turned her head to look, but all she could see were messy tree shadows and nothing else.
She was stunned. "I clearly saw someone following me."
Seeing her terrified expression, Qiao Chen immediately put his arm around her and led her into the building.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here, let's go home."
Duan Sisi leaned against him, murmuring repeatedly, "I clearly saw it."
Qiao Chen carried her into the elevator. "I know, it's okay now. Don't stay up so late next time. I'll come pick you up."
Duan Sisi looked at him with teary eyes and nodded gently.
"Honey, don't tell Mom about this yet. I'm fine anyway, so don't tell her and scare her."
"Okay, I understand. Don't be afraid, I will always protect you."
Qiao Chen tenderly wiped away her tears and hugged her tightly.
He comforted her again, and only after Duan Sisi calmed down did he take out his keys, open the door, and go home.
Hearing the door open, Qiao Xiufen impatiently stood up from the sofa and hurried over.
"Sisi, I'm not trying to be mean, but look how late it is! Why are you only just getting back? Is your coffee shop that busy? Open until late at night? Who goes there for coffee so late at night?!"
What she was implying was that Duan Sisi was using the coffee shop as an excuse not to go home.
Duan Sisi was still in shock when she was subjected to such a barrage of words, making her feel incredibly wronged.
Before she could speak, Qiao Chen interrupted, "Mom, stop talking. It's clearly your own ignorance that's the problem, but you insist on using it as a grand principle to justify yourself. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Qiao Xiufen was immediately displeased. "Me, short-sighted? If I'm short-sighted, I've been a teacher for so many years and educated so many students! If this is what you call short-sighted, then there's no one in this world with profound knowledge!"
Qiao Chen could only decide to avoid her since he couldn't afford to offend her.
"Okay, okay, I was wrong. Let's not argue about this anymore. It's late, I'm starving, let's eat."
Qiao Chen intended to shut Qiao Xiufen up with these words, but she never expected that she would give her another opportunity to criticize Duan Sisi.
"Sisi! Did you hear that? Your own husband is starving because he's waiting for you! I'm so old, it doesn't matter if I eat a little more or a little less. But Qiao Chen's health can't collapse! What if he gets a stomach problem? If it develops into stomach cancer or a perforated stomach!"
Qiao Chen immediately exclaimed, "Mom! Why are you cursing me?!"
"I was just explaining the seriousness of the problem, not cursing you!" Qiao Xiufen explained, then turned to Duan Sisi, "Sisi, don't blame me for talking too much. Qiao Chen has to go to work every day; missing a bite or eating a little later can cause serious problems!"
Duan Sisi, who had been listening silently without arguing, suddenly felt incredibly wronged upon hearing this, especially after experiencing such a frightening event. She was both scared and aggrieved.
"Mom, I work too, and I eat this late every day too."
Qiao Xiufen retorted without hesitation: "How can that be the same! Your coffee shop, to put it nicely, is a job. To put it bluntly, it's just a place where you squander money. Tell me yourself, you've been running it for several months now, have you made a profit? You haven't even made back the money spent on renovations yet."
Qiao Chen hurriedly explained for Duan Sisi, "Mom! It can't be that fast! Do you think this is robbing a bank, making a fortune with no risk!"
"I'm just stating the facts! You don't need to chime in." Qiao Xiufen gave him a disgruntled look, then changed the subject, "Besides, you're both of age, shouldn't you be trying to conceive? You stay up so late every day, can your body handle it? How are you going to conceive?"
Not to mention Duan Sisi, even Qiao Chen was driven crazy by the nagging.
"Mom, didn't you say that if I eat even a little bit late, I'll get a perforated stomach? Can you please not delay my treatment?"
Qiao Xiufen couldn't help but laugh out loud at his witty remarks.
"All you do all day is spout nonsense! Instead of wasting your time with this fancy talk, you can't even give me a proper introduction!"
Afraid that he would continue nagging, Qiao Chen pushed her shoulder and led her to the dining table.
"Alright, let's stop talking and eat."
He turned to Duan Sisi and called out, "Wife, come and eat."
Duan Sisi's mouth was full of bitterness, and she was so frightened that she almost lost her soul. She had no appetite at all.
She said weakly, "I'm not eating anymore, you and Mom eat," and then turned and went back to her room.
Qiao Xiufen stared blankly at the gently closing door for a moment, then slammed her chopsticks down on the table.
"What does she mean by this? I said a couple of things, and she gave me a hard time, didn't she?"
Qiao Chen hurriedly explained, "It's not Mom, it's just that Sisi isn't in a good mood and doesn't have much of an appetite."
Qiao Xiufen rolled her eyes in annoyance and picked up her chopsticks again.
"Eat it or not, it's up to you to go hungry, it's all because you're spoiled!"
Duan Sisi lay on the bed, her body aching all over. She heard every word Qiao Xiufen said outside.
She suddenly didn't know what the meaning of her marriage was.
And standing below her window was a figure.
Sheng Feichen looked up at the lit window, his entire face shrouded in shadow, making him look particularly sinister and terrifying.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
