Chapter 8：I Willing to Protect You
1381 Words
High-end residential areas typically have security guards at the entrance who do not allow cars to park for too long.
Xiao Mubai's car had been parked for less than a minute when the guard, seeing that no one had gotten out, approached to ask him to move it along.
Glancing around, Xiao Mubai turned the car around, finding a parking spot not far away. He parked the car steadily, unbuckled his seatbelt, and picked up the medicine he had brought for Shen Nian.
“Let’s go.” He then opened the car door.
Xiao Mubai had already exited the car, and Shen Nian couldn’t think of any other reason to refuse, so she silently unbuckled her seatbelt and followed him out.
The security guard on duty was the same one from last night. As they entered the lobby of the complex, the guard noticed Shen Nian and immediately asked with concern, “Miss Shen, are you alright?”
Shen Nian looked quite weak but was already much better than yesterday. She smiled slightly, her voice sounding pleasant, “I’m fine, just a bit uncomfortable, but it’s nothing serious.”
The guard, a middle-aged man who seemed honest and kind, felt relieved after hearing her response. However, noticing her still pale complexion, he said, “Young people need to take care of themselves out there.”
“Yeah.” Shen Nian nodded, “Thank you.”
As a resident of the community for several years, Shen Nian was recognized by the guard, but he did not know Xiao Mubai.
Seeing the guard’s gaze shift to him, Xiao Mubai smiled and introduced himself, “I’m her brother. I just picked her up from the hospital, and I need to take her to her doorstep, or I really won’t feel at ease.”
The guard nodded in understanding and used his access card to open the door for them.
“Thank you, sir,” Xiao Mubai expressed his gratitude.
Once inside the community, they walked a short distance before reaching the building where Shen Nian lived.
Shen Nian stopped and took off her outer coat to return it to him.
Xiao Mubai didn’t say anything as he accepted the coat, then handed her the bag he was carrying.
“The doctor has written on the box the details for the medication—how many times a day to take each one and how many to take each time. Don’t forget to take them.”
“Take the next couple of days off to rest at home. If you need anything, just call me. You know my phone is always on for you, 24/7.”
“Alright, don’t stand here in the cold. Hurry and go inside.”
Shen Nian accepted the bag and looked down at it.
Noticing she was still standing there and not going inside, Xiao Mubai was about to ask what was wrong when Shen Nian looked up at him, her expression serious.
“Xiao Mubai, let’s not contact each other anymore.”
She said this very earnestly.
“...What?” Xiao Mubai was stunned.
“Why?” he asked, “Did I do something wrong?”
Shen Nian shook her head, “You’re great, and I really appreciate all your help over the years, but we come from different worlds.”
Looking at him, each word she spoke was sincere: “You are a good person, and you deserve a gentle and kind girl, not someone like me who is unworthy.”
Xiao Mubai was a good man, so he should be happy.
“...How do you know that the gentle and kind girl in my heart isn’t you?” Xiao Mubai countered.
“...” Shen Nian slightly parted her lips.
He looked at her and said, “For years, you’ve stubbornly believed that you were the reason Lu Lingrui died, and you stayed with Lu Lingchuan to atone for your past sins. But in my eyes, I’ve also stubbornly believed that you are a good girl, and I’m willing to protect you.”
Shen Nian was lost in thought, her eyes reddening. She quickly lowered her gaze, hiding her emotions.
Xiao Mubai wanted to reach out and wipe away her tears but ultimately chose to respect her and keep his distance.
He simply placed his hand on her shoulder and said seriously, “What happened back then wasn’t your fault; you were a victim, just like Lu Lingrui. The ones at fault were those two drunks. So please, don’t hurt yourself anymore. You’ve never forgiven yourself, and if Lu Lingrui knew, how heartbroken she would be.”
Shen Nian’s shoulders trembled slightly, and tears flowed uncontrollably like a flood as she sobbed quietly, unable to speak.
Xiao Mubai embraced her, saying, “Shen Nian, don’t see me as a burden. I’m willing to treat you well. I just want to tell you that I will always be with you.”
Not far away, Lu Lingchuan stood on the gravel path, looking ahead with a blank expression.
He was still wearing the suit from yesterday, now rumpled after a night’s wear; his tie was slightly loosened, and upon closer inspection, the suit showed wrinkles and what looked like stains.
The man’s cold gaze was steady, his deep black eyes seemed endless, like a black hole capable of swallowing everything.
After an unknown amount of time, he shifted his body but did not walk over. Instead, he turned and strode away.
…………………………
After parting ways with Xiao Mubai, Shen Nian went upstairs, used her fingerprint to open the front door, and then closed it behind her.
The house was a bit messy because of the doctor’s emergency visit yesterday.
Shen Nian didn’t linger in the living room and went directly to the bedroom.
The bedroom looked the same as it had when she left yesterday; the bag that had fallen onto the carpet was still there, and the blood on the sheets had dried.
It seemed Lu Lingchuan had not returned home yesterday.
Taking a deep breath to steady her emotions, Shen Nian bent down to pick up the bag on the floor, collecting the lipstick and small mirror that had also fallen and placing them back in the bag, which she set on a nearby table.
Then she stripped the bedding off the bed.
After yesterday’s heavy bleeding, the blood had soaked through the sheets and left a large stain on the mattress beneath.
She first tossed the bedding into the washing machine, then rolled up the blood-stained mattress cover and discarded it at the front door.
Entering the storage room, she climbed a ladder to open the cabinet, bringing down a new mattress from the top shelf to lay on the bed.
Lu Lingchuan never slept on an unsterilized or un-dusted bed, so Shen Nian had gotten used to cleaning and disinfecting before laying down the bedding.
Once she finished this, she took her change of clothes into the bathroom.
Half an hour later, Shen Nian emerged from the bathroom, first using a hairdryer to dry her hair, then changing into a new outfit and putting on a jacket she had chosen from the closet.
After getting ready, she didn’t put on makeup, just applied some lipstick to brighten her complexion before leaving the house.
She disposed of the garbage in the recycling area before walking out of the community.
The security guard in the community lobby was surprised to see Shen Nian come out. “Why aren’t you resting at home?” he asked.
Shen Nian turned to look at him.
The guard smiled awkwardly and explained, “When your brother left, he went to the nearby supermarket to buy cigarettes for us. He said you’re not feeling well and need to rest at home, and asked us to keep an eye on you and not let you wander around.”
“We didn’t want them, but he insisted on giving them to us.”
Shen Nian was surprised that Xiao Mubai had asked the guards at the entrance to watch over her.
“I have a few things to take care of; I’ll be back soon,” Shen Nian said.
The guard nodded in understanding, recognizing that young people surely had their own matters to handle.
- Writer
