Chapter 125 Anyone Will Do?

Chapter 125: Anyone Will Do, Is That It?

Since Qian Youyou, who knew the whole story best, wasn’t present, Qin Shuyi easily dodged the question.

“Nothing much, just sleeping and spending time with family to recharge my batteries.”

A perfectly ordinary answer.

But for someone like Qin Shuyi, who seemed to have strong mental fortitude, it also seemed perfectly reasonable.

No one doubted it.

Only one person caught a whiff of something unusual.

While Director Tian was considering organizing a lively, down-to-earth get-together to help the production crew feel grounded, Ling Jue stopped one of Qin Shuyi’s colleagues at a corner after the meeting let out.

“You mentioned she was under a lot of pressure for a while before. When was that?”

Ling Jue didn’t bother to hide his special interest in Qin Shuyi. They had seen him before—their first meeting even involved a bet about him with Qin Shuyi, leaving a deep impression.

Regarding his whole 'winning her back' campaign, everyone had their reservations.

However, this question wasn’t something they couldn’t answer.

“It was during that infamous serial murder case a while back. Several family members entrusted their cases to us. After the case concluded, the boss even gave Shuyi a very long vacation.”

“She rarely has moments where she can’t handle things, but she was really struggling during that period.”

“After her vacation, she seemed to have recovered, though we don’t know what she did.”

“Probably spending time with family. It seemed quite effective.”

After they chattered and filled in the details, Ling Jue’s deep, dark eyes darkened.

“I see. Thank you.”

Watching his broad back as he strode away, the women exchanged glances.

His expression looked so strange—like anger, yet also self-mockery, with a hint of pain.

Tsk, hard to understand.

...

Perhaps even Heaven was weeping for the loss of a good person, as the weather had been rather dreary these past few days.

By the time work ended, rain was pouring down.

Director Tian, sensitive to the mood, had kept the filming schedule light for the past couple of days, and they wrapped up early today.

When Qin Shuyi came out of Jiang Mulan’s office after a meeting, she remembered she hadn’t brought an umbrella.

Her car was parked in the open-air parking lot, a few minutes’ walk from the office area.

She noticed two shared umbrellas left on the umbrella rack.

Recalling Jiang Mulan had just complained about the sudden change in weather, she picked up the more worn-out one.

It was only a short walk anyway.

Stepping out the main door and standing under the eaves, she was hit by a gust of wind and rain.

She quickly opened the umbrella.

Then, she heard a cheerful male voice.

“That umbrella’s broken. Let me walk you to your car.” A flash of bright gold in the gloomy weather, Shen Yaochuan appeared before her with a radiant smile.

He had been waiting here for her.

“Didn’t you say you were sneaking out for hotpot behind your manager’s back tonight?” Qin Shuyi asked.

Shen Yaochuan flashed a bright, toothy grin. “But I saw it started raining. I thought you might need someone to walk you after work. Looks like my wait was right on point.”

During the program filming, he had few chances to chat with Qin Shuyi alone, especially with that beast keeping a close watch.

Tonight was a rare opportunity—that guy was off doing who-knows-what, and noticing Qin Shuyi hadn’t left yet, Shen Yaochuan seized the opportunity. He sent his manager and assistant away first.

Staying put and waiting for luck to fall from the sky wasn’t his style.

He was interested in Qin Shuyi, so he would take the initiative.

The puppy might look enthusiastic and simple, but he was far from lacking in cunning.

If you don’t guard what’s precious, someone might just steal it away.

“I’ll walk you…”

“Oh!” A soft exclamation.

As Qin Shuyi turned, the fragile old umbrella was suddenly flipped inside out by the wind, its canopy facing outward, with two ribs sticking out.

Qin Shuyi’s long hair, blown by the wind, got tangled in them.

Shen Yaochuan frowned and stepped closer. “Let me help you.”

...

“What are you two doing?!”

A voice, sharp with shock and fury, pierced through the wind and rain, reaching the ears of the two who were standing very close.

From a distance in the rain, Ling Jue saw a tall man leaning down, almost embracing the slender woman in his arms. Their heads were close together, moving occasionally, creating a scene so intimate it was painful to watch—like they were kissing.

Ling Jue’s face was as cold as ice, yet his eyes burned like a wildfire ready to consume the wilderness.

Already unsettled and irritated by certain speculations earlier, he had gone to his car for an impromptu international conference, thinking to calm down before coming to talk to her.

But before he could confirm his suspicions, he witnessed a scene that made him lose all reason.

So to relieve pressure, anyone will do, is that it?

Ling Jue’s heart clenched.

Two faces, very close together, turned to look at him through the curtain of rain.

One cool and aloof, the other sunny; one delicate and beautiful, the other handsome and dashing—unexpectedly harmonious.

The hand gripping the umbrella handle was corded with veins, his jaw tight.

"Qin Shuyi, go home."

His voice was hoarse, each word forced out with difficulty.

Shen Yaochuan freed the last snagged strand of hair, leaning close to Qin Shuyi's ear. "All done."

He pulled away quickly after speaking.

It looked like he'd given in to the urge to kiss her ear.

The man finally stepped from the rain into the shelter of the eaves.

The three of them stood in a tense standoff.

Ling Jue reined in his fury, restraining the overwhelming urge to kill as he reached for Qin Shuyi's hand to pull her to his side.

Shen Yaochuan threw up a hand to block him.

Ling Jue's eyes snapped open. The gazes of the two men clashed mid-air, sharp as unsheathed blades.

Shen Yaochuan put on an innocent look, a casual smile still playing on his lips. "It's not gentlemanly to seize a girl's hand without permission, you know."

"Get lost."

That was the only word Ling Jue offered.

For days, the head of the Ling family, who had blunted his sharp edges before Qin Shuyi and appeared surprisingly amiable to everyone, finally revealed his fierce, domineering nature.

If Qin Shuyi weren't here, Shen Yaochuan would already be a cold corpse.

Yet Shen Yaochuan seemed impervious to the pressure.

"Can't do that. After all, I still have to see my sister home."

As he spoke, he even raised a hand to touch his lips, as if relishing the memory.

Ling Jue gave a cold snort.

The next second, a fist charged with killing intent was suddenly hurled at Shen Yaochuan.

Shen Yaochuan paused, recalling something, and let his raised blocking hand drop.

The punch landed solidly on his face.

Ling Jue genuinely meant to kill him. Shen Yaochuan twitched his cheek, pain flaring instantly.

He staggered back a few steps, turning a pitiful look toward Qin Shuyi. "Sister, that really hurt."

Ling Jue's face fell.

Damn dog!

"I didn't..." He was quick to react, also starting to explain to Qin Shuyi.

However, when they both turned their heads, they saw only an empty wall.

The person who had been standing there had already left the moment they started fighting.

Qin Shuyi gave a tug on the umbrella, which had been blown inside out, readjusting the canopy.

Though the inside was rusty and two ribs were loose, it would hold for the short walk.

Holding the umbrella, she stepped easily into the rain, walking unhurriedly toward the parking lot.

Men were truly strange. Did she ever agree that whoever won the fight could take her home?

She had her own car; she could leave by herself.

Failing that, she could always wait and leave with Jiang Mulan.

This male rivalry was clearly about their own desires and glory. They shouldn't turn around and blame any resulting problems on the innocent party being fought over.

One of these two had a prestigious status, the other a massive fanbase.

She wanted no part of it.

Better to make her exit.

Shen Yaochuan's pitiful expression froze on his face.

Meanwhile, a light chuckle of "that's just like her" escaped Ling Jue's lips. Before the other man could recover, he too strode into the curtain of rain.

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