Chapter 27

Chapter 27

His eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly as he stared back unblinkingly, like he was rising to a challenge. At that moment, Su He shifted slightly, leaning back against the headrest.

His tousled hair fell naturally, brushing against his lashes and obscuring half his eyes. His gaze grew even more distant—appearing both intensely focused and completely vacant.

Sheng Jinyu had never been looked at like this before. At first, he paid it no mind, waiting for the other to realize his displeasure and understand how rude it was to stare so openly before finally averting his gaze.

But as seconds ticked by, those eyes remained fixed on him, unwavering, as if laden with some indecipherable emotion.

To his own surprise, Sheng Jinyu was the first to break eye contact.

He grew bored and disengaged.

However, the person in the passenger seat had no idea about the mental drama playing out behind him. The stray strands of hair at Su He’s forehead tickled his eyes, snapping him out of his trance. He reached up to adjust his bangs, sweeping them aside to reveal a clear forehead.

When Sheng Jinyu glanced back, those eyes in the rearview mirror were gone.

He straightened from his reclined position, inexplicably feeling a twinge of disappointment. Just as he was about to look away, his eyebrows suddenly knitted together.

Sheng Jinyu’s expression darkened as he stared coldly at a certain spot in the mirror.

At the same time, the driver’s voice rang out: “Young Master, there's something fishy about the cars behind us. I’ll speed up to shake them off—hold on tight.”

Su He’s stomach dropped. He turned to look out the window and into the side mirror. Behind the trailing escort car, two unfamiliar SUVs had lined up side by side, effectively boxing them in.

To their left was a sheer cliff, and to their right, a jagged rock face—they were trapped with no way out!

The pursuers had chosen this moment to strike, clearly out for blood.

Before he could fully process the scene, all hell broke loose.

A violent crash came from behind as the two SUVs rammed the escort car into the cliffside. The trailing car slammed on its brakes, managing to block one of the assailants. A garbled report crackled through the intercom.

In an instant, Sheng Jinyu snapped, “Get down!”

Goosebumps erupted across Su He's skin. Though he didn’t understand the situation, he obeyed immediately, ducking forward. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sheng Jinyu lunge halfway from the center console and fling something over his head.

Everything went black. Dazed, he reached up and felt smooth fabric—it was a jacket.

A split second later—BANG!

An earsplitting sound followed by the sound of shattering glass as the passenger-side window exploded.

One of the pursuing SUVs had broken through the escort car’s blockade and plowed straight into the Cayenne’s rear quarter. The initial intent had been to force them off the cliff, but the driver swerved in time, grinding the car along the sharp, rocky cliffside instead.

The impact instantly shattered the side window. Sparks flew as the car’s body ground against the jagged stone.

Shards of glass became razor-sharp shrapnel. Without the jacket, Su He—closest to the right window—might have gotten his throat cut open by the flying debris.

Pulling the garment off his head, Su He saw the driver bleeding profusely from a head wound, he was fading fast. Grabbing tissues, Su He pressed them against the wound and turned to Sheng Jinyu. “What do we do? Should I take over driving?”

Without missing a beat, Sheng Jinyu ordered, “Hold the wheel.”

Su He obeyed instantly, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Sheng Jinyu manhandled the driver up with brute force, dragging him into the backseat and securing him in the safer footwell.

With no one pressing the accelerator, the car began to slow. Sheng Jinyu launched himself into the driver’s seat and shoved a signal transmitter from the console into Su He’s hands. “No need to adjust the frequency—just call for backup.”

The instant Sheng Jinyu grabbed the wheel, the car jolted violently before leaping forward with a growl.

Su He was slammed back into his seat by the sudden acceleration. “Hold on tight,” Sheng Jinyu said. “You don’t get carsick?”

“I—” Su He shook his head weakly, fibbing slightly. “No.”

He had no time to dwell on it, quickly grabbing the handhold and fumbling with the device. He relayed their situation, and the response was immediate—their location was pinpointed, and reinforcements were dispatched.

Sheng Jinyu slammed the accelerator, wringing every ounce of power from the Cayenne. The engine howled through the mountain pass.

In mere seconds, they left their pursuers eating dust.

The winding mountain road was full of sharp turns. At such high speeds, each curve required precise braking and drifting. Sheng Jinyu’s movements were seamless, his movements perfectly synchronized, as if he were racing on a professional track rather than a treacherous mountain pass.

But without the safety harnesses of a race car, Su He was bounced around like a ragdoll. He clung to the handhold for dear life, his insides feeling scrambled.

A glance at the speedometer made his blood run cold—nearly 180 mph.

How could he have forgotten? The man beside him was a damn racing savant!

Soon, the pursuing SUVs vanished from the rearview mirror.

Once they cleared the mountain pass, Sheng Jinyu adjusted the gears, his face set in grim determination. As they approached the highway, other vehicles began appearing, and he slowed down.

At that moment, several identical Mercedes sped out from a side road, flanking the Cayenne—two in front, two behind—forming a protective convoy.

After another minute of high-speed travel, they pulled over.

“Get out. We’re switching cars,” Sheng Jinyu barked to Su He.

He unbuckled and stepped out, instructing the team to send the unconscious driver and the escort car’s occupants to the hospital.

In the passenger seat, Su He’s face was ghost-white, his grip so tight his knuckles stood out white from gripping the handhold. Still shaken, he took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The moment his feet touched the ground, his legs gave way, nearly face-planting onto the asphalt.

At this highly inappropriate moment, it occurred to him: Being Sheng Jinyu's passenger was downright terrifying.

Several bodyguards closed in, shielding the two as they switched vehicles under the cover of night.

Su He, woozy and disoriented, lagged behind Sheng Jinyu. Then, a glint caught his eye.

He turned sharply—his eyes were far more sensitive to light than most—and instantly spotted a car lurking in the darkness, its headlights off. Only the faint glimmer of its license plate gave it away.

Like some hellspawn lying in ambush, it suddenly accelerated toward Sheng Jinyu!

“Sheng Jinyu!”

The moment Sheng Jinyu turned, Su He crashed into him, tackling them both into the roadside brush. Rocks and branches littered the ground as they tumbled together, rolling twice before coming to a stop.

The coppery scent of blood hit them. Sheng Jinyu realized something soft cushioned his head—Su He’s shoulder.

His expression darkened as he carefully turned Su He over, his pupils dilating in shock.

Su He let out a pained groan, reaching up instinctively, only to hear a low, restrained command: “Don’t move.”

“But… it… hurts.”

"I know, things will get better."

In his haze of pain, Su He felt himself being lifted. Pain tore through his nerves as he gradually lost consciousness in the jolting hold.

Extreme nausea coupled with blood loss was the main reason for Su He's coma. A broken tree branch in the grass had pierced his shoulder from behind—not deeply, but the splinters caused continuous bleeding.

By the time the doctor finished treating Su He's wounds, he still hadn’t woken up, lying quietly on the hospital bed.

Sheng Jinyu stood by the bedside, looking down at him. The man on the bed was wrapped in bandages from his back to his shoulder, his pale, bare ankle clamped in a brace—looking even worse than Sheng Jinyu himself had after his car accident some time ago.

Fortunately, the doctor said Su He’s shoulder injury wasn’t serious. As long as there was no infection, it would heal naturally. However, his sprained ankle would keep him off his feet for a few days.

Sheng Jinyu held Su He’s ankle CT scan in his hand while listening to the doctor discuss his condition.

He stared at the delicate white bones on the dark film—fine-boned and fragile, as if they could snap easily.

The doctor, noticing his focus, remarked, "The patient likely has a calcium deficiency. His bone tissue is already showing signs of loosening. If he doesn’t pay attention to calcium intake and exercise, he’ll suffer in old age!"

Sheng Jinyu rarely needed to feign humility in front of others. He nodded silently, putting on a show of attentiveness—though whether he truly remembered was another matter.

In the end, the doctor decided to keep Su He hospitalized for a while.

When Fang Cheng entered the room, he saw Sheng Jinyu standing wordlessly, seemingly lost in thought as he stared at the man on the bed.

He called out softly, "Young Master, the attackers have all been apprehended. What do you think—"

"Let’s talk outside," Sheng Jinyu raised a hand to stop him.

Fang Cheng nodded and was about to leave when Sheng Jinyu suddenly spoke, as if musing aloud, "Would someone risk their life just to earn trust?"

Fang Cheng didn’t dare answer lightly. He understood what Sheng Jinyu meant—the man on the bed had chosen to act in a life-or-death moment, but he was, after all, Chairman Sheng’s man.

They were destined to be adversaries. Yet no one could say for certain whether Su He’s decision to save him had been genuine or calculated—or perhaps both.

"People's motives are complex, Young Master," was all he said.

Sheng Jinyu’s expression remained unreadable. After a long pause, he nodded. "You’re right."

In just one night, Fang Cheng returned with news.

Because Sheng Jinyu had stolen the spotlight at the banquet, certain members of the Sheng family had finally made their move. These people hadn’t even bothered to hide their intentions—their motives were as clear as day. They wanted Sheng Jinyu to meet an "accident."

A car accident months ago had failed to kill him, and now they’d tried the same trick again—only to fail once more. Sheng Jinyu nearly cringed on their behalf for his great-uncle’s family.

During Su He’s hospitalization, Sheng Jinyu generously declared that he wanted to show consideration for his subordinates, granting Su He a medical leave to recover without worrying about anything else.

Fang Cheng stopped reporting Sheng Jinyu’s schedule to Su He, handling arrangements himself instead.

These past few days, aside from managing *Zhishen’s* projects, Sheng Jinyu had to spare mental energy to counter his adversaries. The mental strain exhausted him, leaving him too busy to rest.

With Su He gone, his surroundings were much quieter—no one fussing over him about trivial matters anymore.

He should have felt relieved, but strangely, he didn’t.

Fang Cheng didn’t live in the residence, and no matter how meticulous he was, he couldn’t attend to every aspect of Sheng Jinyu’s life. Before Su He’s arrival, Sheng Jinyu had never relied on servants for meals or dressing—Auntie Ling wouldn’t do these things unless instructed.

Now, without the person who always picked out his clothes and served his meals, Sheng Jinyu stared at the closet full of clothes, dissatisfied with every piece. Even when he went out, no one chased after him to apply mosquito repellent patches...

Ironically, it had been Sheng Jinyu’s own decision to give Su He leave. Yet now, he found himself questioning that choice.

Some things, unnoticed, had quietly changed—shifting in ways impossible to ignore.

A few days later, at a conference, Sheng Jinyu listened absentmindedly, twirling his pen absently.

The attendant sent regular updates on Su He’s condition along with photos from the hospital. Fang Cheng brought them to him, and Sheng Jinyu lowered his gaze to the phone, studying the image of Su He obediently eating, obediently getting his bandages changed—everything proceeding in perfect order.

It seemed that away from him, Su He was more at ease, smiling so broadly his teeth caught the light.

After staring for a while, Sheng Jinyu forced his attention back to the meeting, only to grow even more restless.

The *Da Hong Pao* (a premium oolong tea) was brewed just right, and the documents beside him were neatly arranged. Yet when he reached out thirstily, his hand met empty air—no one was there to anticipate his needs, passing him the cup precisely when needed and asking if it suited his taste.

Sheng Jinyu frowned and looked up.

The stand-in assistant, nervous under his gaze, wondered if he’d made a mistake.

Fang Cheng, observing from the side, understood. He stepped in, asking, "Young Master, are you thirsty?"

The assistant immediately offered the teacup. Sheng Jinyu hesitated before accepting it, then abruptly asked, "How’s his injury?"

Fang Cheng signaled for the confused assistant to step back and answered, "Mr. Su’s shoulder is healing well, with no signs of infection. His foot is almost better too. Shall I call him back?"

"No."

Sheng Jinyu refused without thinking. The man had gotten hurt protecting him, after all. He wasn’t some ruthless tyrant—he could afford to be generous.

But then Fang Cheng heard him mutter something in Cantonese, sounding almost like a lazy complaint: "Did I never give him time off before? A few days away and he’s already forgotten to call me."

Fang Cheng hid a smile but didn’t dare comment, merely smiling along.

A moment later, the nervous assistant whispered to Fang Cheng, "Assistant Fang, am I too slow? Did Mr. Sheng get angry?"

Fang Cheng sighed helplessly, patting his shoulder reassuringly. "Don’t worry. The Young Master isn’t that strict. He’s just..."

"Just what?" the assistant asked curiously.

Just used to being pampered...

*

Thanks to his injuries, Su He got unexpected downtime. Fang Cheng relayed Sheng Jinyu’s orders for him to rest in the hospital without worry.

Su He had no reason to refuse. Under the attendant’s watch, he spent nearly a week in the ward.

Servants from *Xiaoxie Garden* delivered an endless stream of nutritious meals and supplements. The attendant ensured he ate on schedule and in proper portions, followed by at least half an hour of sunbathing by the window. The regimen left him so over-nourished he suffered three consecutive days of nosebleeds.

When the nurse found out, she scolded them fiercely. Caught in the middle, the attendant awkwardly relayed the issue to Fang Cheng, who reported it to higher-ups—only then did the excessive care stop.

With his injured leg, Su He rarely moved around. Unable to engage in typical pastimes like gaming or browsing online—his eyes couldn’t handle prolonged screen time—he asked the attendant to fetch him paper and pen so he could resume his unfinished manuscript.

Coincidentally, a temporary editor from the website contacted him: a publisher was inquiring about potential publishing rights.

Given the story’s popularity, the advance was substantial. Su He found himself returning to his old profession—and doing even better than before.

After settling the contract and price, Su He transitioned from a freelance writer back to a deadline-driven writer.

To meet the publishing deadline, he spent his free time writing and revising furiously, going through a pen every two days.

Su He often found creative surges at night—fleeting, like sand through his fingers, gone if not captured immediately.

So after the nightly nurse’s rounds, he’d quietly set up his bedside table and write under the lamplight, often working into the early hours.

On the day Shao Fei arrived, he didn't notice that a certain young master was just a step behind him.

After Shao Fei entered the room, Sheng Jinyu stood at the door, peering through the narrow window with an inscrutable expression.

Inside, Shao Fei casually tossed a bouquet of flowers onto the table, looking nothing like a concerned visitor. He handed Su He the donation notarization documents and other procedural paperwork.

Su He took them, his peripheral vision catching the bouquet Shao Fei had thrown onto the bedside table—filled with wilted silk flowers and roses, likely picked from the discarded remnants of the garden downstairs. Only a few lilies still looked fresh, the mix exuding a kind of decadent artistic charm.

"No need to look, they’re just picked. Some old man was discharged downstairs, and his family tossed the lilies. Couldn’t be bothered buying you fresh ones," Shao Fei said, hands in his pockets as he sprawled on the sofa with a scoff.

Su He smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Gathering flowers is probably harder than buying them. Thank you, they’re lovely."

Shao Fei hadn’t expected Su He to smile at him like that. He shifted uncomfortably. "Hey, are you lost your mind from the stress? Shouldn’t you be yelling at me?"

Noticing the dark circles under Su He’s eyes, as if he’d drained himself dry, Shao Fei slapped his thigh. "You’re depressed, aren’t you? Look at those bags—they could trip you!"

"Is it that obvious?" Su He raised a hand to touch his face, suddenly embarrassed.

If the nurses saw him like this during their rounds, they’d surely scold him again.

"Of course it’s obvious! And what was that package at the office? The secretary signed for it, saying it was from you. I opened it and found a golf club!"

And not just any club—it was the exact brand Shao Fei wanted. He had no idea how Su He had found out.

"I backed out of the deal and affected the collaboration. I don’t know much about golf, but the secretary said you liked it. I wasn’t sure if that brand suited you," Su He explained.

Though the conflict with Shao Fei hadn’t been his doing, Su He still felt responsible for disrupting his business. The gift was meant as an apology.

Shao Fei froze, his face went through three emotions at once—too conflicted to decide between anger and amusement, his features stuck in limbo.

He’d long since had enough of the Su family drama, but he was a man of principle and loyalty, refusing to be the one to call it quits. He’d been waiting for Su He to do something unforgivable so he could rightfully cut ties.

Instead, Su He had been the one to withdraw first—and not only had he become weirdly nice, he’d even gone out of his way to apologize with a thoughtful gift?

"Well… it’s fine, I guess," Shao Fei grumbled, defeated.

Su He carefully examined the notarization documents, only to find that his wasn’t the only name listed—Shao Fei had included his own funds in the donation as well.

He looked up at the other man. Shao Fei rubbed his nose and glanced away. "What, you’re the only one allowed to do charity? I’ve got feelings too, you know. And you’d better recover fast, or the notarization will be delayed again. I don’t have time to waste waiting around for you…"

Su He smiled to himself, recognizing Shao Fei’s awkward attempt at reconciliation. He sped through the rest of the documents under Shao Fei’s grumbling.

It was clear to him that Shao Fei was different from most people he’d met these past few months—he might talk tough, but his heart was soft.

In this world where he knew no one, Shao Fei was, when you thought about it, the first friend who genuinely cared about him. Even if he never stopped complaining about his unreliability, Shao Fei had still been helping him clean up the mess.

Su He quickly confirmed the details with him. When he tried to get out of bed, Shao Fei blocked him with an arm, skepticism in his eyes. "Can you even walk with that foot?"

The brace on his sprained ankle had been removed, but the support bandage was still in place, making movement difficult. Su He had no choice but to ask, "I need to use the bathroom. Could you help me over?"

"Of course!"

Without hesitation, Shao Fei hoisted him up. They were about the same height, but Shao Fei was more muscular. After a couple of slow steps, he lost patience.

"At this rate, it’ll take forever. Why don’t I just carry you?" He bent down, going for a bridal carry.

Su He flinched, waving his hands like a traffic cop. "No, no, I’m fine on my own."

"You think I can’t lift you?"

Shao Fei got defensive. He hated being underestimated for his lean frame and was eager to prove his strength. Rolling up his sleeve, he flexed a toned arm.

He was actually quite handsome, with long hair—unsurprising given his entertainment industry background—and an artsy vibe. His looks were different from Su He’s, more angular and handsome, and the display of muscle added a youthful charm.

"Look at this. How could I not lift you? Are you looking down on me?"

Su He kept refusing, but Shao Fei only grew more determined. Their tussle made it seem, to an outsider, like they were engaged in some playful wrestling.

Then—*bang!*—the door slammed against the wall.

Su He, facing the entrance, immediately spotted Sheng Jinyu standing there, his face thunderous. For some reason, the man’s presence felt like a physical pressure.

A weird atmosphere filled the room.

Sheng Jinyu’s gaze swept over Su He from head to toe, missing nothing, before flicking to Shao Fei’s hand resting on Su He’s waist. His tone was cool. "A guest? Seems I came at a bad time."

"Sheng Jinyu!?"

Shao Fei clearly recognized him. His eyes darted between Su He and Sheng Jinyu before settling on Su He in shock. "Why is he here? Do you know him?"

To be fair, Shao Fei and Sheng Jinyu were old acquaintances, having grown up in the same elite circles. It was perfectly normal for scions of prominent families to know each other—they’d attended the same middle school, played on the same rugby team, and their families had long-standing business ties.

Even so, their personalities clashed, and interactions between them had always been minimal.

Sheng Jinyu didn’t even glance at him, interjecting, "He’s my subordinate."

"So you’re working for the Sheng family now!" Shao Fei whispered to Su He, who nodded silently.

Turning back to Sheng Jinyu, Shao Fei announced brightly, "I’m here to visit too. I’m Su He’s… uh, friend."

He’d almost said "business partner," but remembering their broken partnership, he changed his wording at the last second.

That hesitation spoke volumes—open to interpretation, depending on how one chose to read it.

Sheng Jinyu stepped forward leisurely, his face blank as he regarded Shao Fei. "Ah, a friend. Mr. Shao has friends everywhere. How admirable."

Irritation simmered beneath his calm tone—why did Shao Fei have Su He’s personal number when he didn’t?

The cooler Sheng Jinyu acted, the more sarcastic it came across. Shao Fei sensed an inexplicable tension sparking between them.

He’d always had an unspoken distrust toward Sheng Jinyu. No matter how many times they met or how much they spoke, he could never warm up to him. Shao Fei was straightforward and disliked veiled words, but Sheng Jinyu, despite being around the same age, carried an air of creepy grown-up vibes that made him hard to approach.

Now, getting goosebumps, Shao Fei frowned. His family’s recent dealings with the Sheng Group had been smooth, hadn’t they?

Why was Sheng Jinyu giving him attitude?

Su He, caught between them, massaged his forehead. He pulled his hand free and steadied himself against the wall, gesturing to the sofa. "Mr. Sheng, please have a seat. I’ll see him out and be right back."

His intention was to break the tension—giving Shao Fei a chance to make a graceful exit and spare himself Sheng Jinyu’s inexplicable coldness, avoiding further complications.

But Shao Fei, oblivious, completely missed the cue.

Not only did he not leave, he blurted out, "Weren’t you going to the bathroom? How will you manage if I leave?"

Dropping his voice to a stage whisper, he added in what he imagined was quiet, "Don’t be shy. If I go, are you really going to ask *him* for help? He doesn’t do personal favors. You’d rather hold it in and hurt yourself?"

Su He gave a nervous laugh, speechless. At this point, he’d rather just forget about the bathroom altogether.

Finally, he managed, "It’s fine. I’ll be fine."

"What could you..." Shao Fei was about to continue when his phone suddenly rang. He pulled it out and saw it was a call from his family's old man. He hastily answered, only to be told that their family's doe was about to give birth, urging him to return to see it born.

Grumbling, Shao Fei had no choice but to leave. Executive Assistant Fang smiled as he showed him the way, directing subordinates to enter and place several fruit baskets and insulated containers before firmly closing the hospital room door.

With the nuisance gone, only the two of them remained in the room.

Su He glanced at the pile of gifts on the table, his eyes immediately catching the basket of bright red cherries—plump, glossy, and perfectly ripe, looked delicious. Sheng Jinyu actually remembered he loved cherries...

He looked away and looked at Sheng Jinyu, who was walking toward him. The man reached out, flicked open the collar of Su He’s hospital gown to examine the bandage visible at his shoulder. In a low voice, he asked, "The doctor said you’re ready to be discharged. All better now?"

"It’s all fine. Shoulder just needs to heal naturally." Su He let him inspect it without moving.

Sheng Jinyu nodded. He had so many questions—like what exactly had been going through Su He’s mind when he stepped in front of that car.

Was this a transaction? What would he want in return?

But the words that came out instead were: "Everyone involved has been caught and dealt with. Do you want to hear the details?"

His low, resonant voice reached Su He’s ears. Su He knew exactly who he was referring to—the men who had chased them on the mountain road. Yet, inexplicably, he sensed something more in those words.

A warning, perhaps. A demonstration that no one who crossed Sheng Jinyu could escape unharmed.

Su He began to wonder—what did that mean for him? Could he secure any special treatment from Sheng Jinyu?

Right now, that didn't seem likely.

Su He shook his head. "Not necessary. Just you being safe is enough."

Sheng Jinyu’s hand stilled before pulling back. He studied Su He’s lowered gaze, his fingertips lightly rubbing together thoughtfully.

That single phrase—"Just you being safe is enough"—seemed to truly didn't care about his own safety. In truth, this time, Su He had indeed "saved the boss's life." Covered in injuries and hospitalized, while Sheng Jinyu emerged with nothing more than some minor scrapes—one from when he’d thrown his coat to shield against shattered glass.

Su He seemed genuinely sincere in his desire to stand on the same side.

"Not sleeping well?" Sheng Jinyu suddenly asked.

Su He: "..."

Even Sheng Jinyu had noticed his dark circles. Su He lied quickly, "Just some insomnia. It’s nothing."

"Something bothering you?"

"...Not really."

"I told you to focus on recovering. Don’t think about anything else."

Su He looked up at him, nodded, though not entirely convinced.

"What do you want?" Sheng Jinyu lowered his eyes, speaking unhurriedly.

Su He didn’t understand. "What? Want what?"

"I owe you a huge favor. I ought to repay you."

Su He understood now but hesitated to voice his true desire. What he really wanted was a "get-out-of-jail-free card," but this clearly wasn’t the right time to bring it up. Who knew if he’d even stay long enough to use it?

After all, he had nothing tying him down—always prepared to run at a moment’s notice.

"Can I cash in later?"

Sheng Jinyu’s brow lifted slightly, but he agreed. Then, he held out his arm to Su He, who glanced down but didn’t react.

"Didn’t you need to go to the bathroom?"

Only then did Su He realize Sheng Jinyu was offering support. After a brief hesitation, he reached out, carefully holding onto the sleeve to avoid direct contact with Sheng Jinyu’s skin. With his other hand braced against the wall, he limped carefully toward the bathroom, keeping weight off his bad foot.

"Thanks," he muttered.

Sheng Jinyu gave no response.

After a few steps into the tiny bathroom—hardly enough room for two grown men—it became awkward to have someone else present. Su He gripped the specially installed handrail and said awkwardly, "I can manage on my own."

The dismissal was clear, but Sheng Jinyu didn’t move.

His gaze lingered on Su He’s bare foot, the injured one without a shoe, forced to press against the floor. Even though the tiles were clean, it still felt unclean to him.

"Wait."

Through the mirror, Su He watched as Sheng Jinyu turned and left, returning mere seconds later.

In his hand was a slipper—Su He’s own.

Su He was taken aback by the gesture. After all, the young master never fetched his own shoes. He’d expected Sheng Jinyu to toss it at him, but instead, the man crouched down, one hand steadying Su He’s bandaged ankle as he gently slipped it onto his foot.

Before Su He could relax, he caught his breath.

He felt warmth against his foot. He looked down to see Sheng Jinyu’s hand resting there briefly, the man frowning slightly as he glanced up. "Why is it so cold? Is the AC too strong?"

Su He rarely saw Sheng Jinyu from this angle. The bathroom’s peculiar lighting accentuated his sharp brow, making him appear even more striking—yet somehow less distant.

His grip on the handrail tightened. "No, it’s just my constitution. My feet are always cold."

Only then did Sheng Jinyu straighten up, blocking the light as he loomed over Su He. Noticing the faint flush on Su He’s cheeks, his mood inexplicably improved. With a trace of barely-there amusement, he remarked, "Cold body, weak circulation. Auntie Ling should prescribe you some medicine."

Su He had never seen this considerate side of him before, his surprise plain on his face. Sheng Jinyu paid it no mind. "You did save my life. Did you really think I’d be ungrateful?"

With that, he finally stepped out of the confined space, closing the door with a soft click behind him.

*

During Su He’s hospital stay, the outside world had shifted dramatically.

Following orders, Executive Assistant Fang had gathered evidence on all the vehicles involved in the chase, submitting them to the police for investigation. The cars bore no license plates—clean, untraceable, textbook examples of premeditated assault vehicles.

This was expected, but it gave the police grounds to open a formal investigation. After some backdoor coordination, a high-profile task force was assembled.

Their digging soon yielded results. The police followed the trail and summoned Sheng Zhilin in for questioning. Confident in his airtight alibi, Sheng Zhilin shrugged off the interrogators, swearing he had no connection to the pursuers.

And indeed, the police found nothing—at first.

After three days in custody, just as Sheng Zhilin thought he’d walk free, the task force suddenly produced a tip-off record, demanding an audit of his assets and accounts. His face paled instantly.

The diversionary tactic caught him completely off-guard, leaving him no time to warn anyone.

Just like that, Sheng Zhilin and his elder brother’s underground casino was raided. A slew of shady dealings came to light, the golden palace emptied overnight—all that remained was the prime waterfront property itself.

Seized by the authorities, it was later handed over to Sheng Group’s real estate subsidiary. And who held the reins of that division? Sheng Jinyu’s father, Sheng Zonglan.

Round and round it went—from one family member’s hands to another’s, though the master had changed.

Upon hearing the news, Yan Yichen applauded the outcome, as he happened to be a collateral beneficiary of the whole affair.

The Yan family's operations are aboveboard and properly registered with the relevant authorities. However, Sheng Zhilin's illegal casino plays dirty and breaks all the rules, disrupting the peace of this industry in Guangzhou.

By turning against his own family this time, Sheng Jinyu has incidentally eliminated an enemy for the Yan family as well.

He gave Sheng Jinyu two thumbs up, praising him for being incredibly impressive.

But Sheng Jinyu said it wasn’t over yet—the car involved in the car crash in Singapore belonged to Chen Zhaoyuan. The Chen family must have had dealings with Sheng Zhilin and his associates, making them mixed up in this.

He wouldn’t allow anyone to lurk in the shadows, constantly eyeing his life. He needed to meet them face-to-face to gauge the truth.

Hearing this, Yan Yichen recalled that the Chen family was planning a jewelry exhibition tour and still scouting for venues.

So he took the initiative to charter a yacht for an offshore excursion, providing the Chen family with a venue to gather everyone while also repaying Sheng Jinyu’s favor.

Once the sailing date was set, Sheng Jinyu still hadn’t confirmed his boarding time. Yan Yichen called him up and asked, "Hey, Jinyu, are we going or not?"

Sheng Jinyu ignored the affectionate nickname and simply replied, "5 PM. I’ll board at the last possible time."

Yan Yichen scratched his head. "What’s so important that it’s keeping you?"

"Waiting for paperwork."

"What paperwork?"

"Hospital release."

"You weren’t even hospit—" Yan Yichen cut himself off mid-sentence.

Of course he knew who had been hospitalized the past few days. He found it amusing.

"What, Young Master Sheng can’t step out without his assistant now? Executive Assistant Fang isn’t enough for you? I’ll admit Assistant Su is great, but if he ever finds a better position, are you just going to give up?"

Yan Yichen’s words were exaggerated—he loved being dramatic—but there was a hint of real amusement in them.

Sheng Jinyu remained composed as ever by the jab and calmly retorted, "Jealous?"

"Fuck!" Yan Yichen snapped angrily before hanging up on him.