Chapter 36 The Deity in Xiao Ya’s Heart

Chapter 36: The God in Xiao Ya's Eyes

Lin Wei stood by the car holding her child, looking a little lost.

Shen Qingci glanced at her, then turned to the driver: "You take her car."

Lin Wei quickly spoke up: "I still need to pick up the kids, no need to put you out, I can drive myself, it's fine..."

"You're holding a child; it's not safe for you to drive." Shen Qingci interrupted her, in a tone that didn't leave room for argument.

Lin Wei opened her mouth, looked at her little daughter sleeping in her arms, and finally nodded.

The driver took the car keys, and Lin Wei gave the address of a school.

The BMW slowly pulled out of the neighborhood.

Shen Qingci, using his cane, walked toward Lu Lin's car and instinctively reached for the back door handle.

But the moment his hand touched the handle, he heard Lu Lin's voice from the driver's seat:

"Brother, you're not gonna sit up front?"

His voice was a little hesitant, but also hopeful.

Shen Qingci shot him a glance, said nothing, and just opened the back door and got in.

Lu Lin looked at him through the rearview mirror, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, but he didn't say anything. He obediently started the engine and followed the BMW ahead.

Lu Lin drove carefully, his eyes glued to the road, his long fingers gripping the steering wheel, strong and elegant.

The streetlights outside cast shifting shadows across his face, highlighting his focused profile.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was especially loud in the quiet car.

Lu Lin glanced at it but didn't make a move.

"Brother," he said, "it's probably a message from Zhou Jin. Can you check it for me? The password is your birthday."

Shen Qingci glanced up at him.

Lu Lin kept staring straight ahead, his expression natural, like he'd said something totally normal.

Shen Qingci was quiet for two seconds, then reached for the phone from the front seat.

When he unlocked it, the first thing he saw was a face he knew very well.

After all, he saw it every morning—hard not to know it.

Shen Qingci didn't think too much about Lu Lin using his photo as the wallpaper or his birthday as the password.

He typed in the password, and the screen unlocked.

Zhou Jin's message popped up.

Zhou Jin: Mr. Lu, the investigation is done. Here's everything on Lin Wei's husband.

There was a document attached.

Shen Qingci opened the file.

It was very detailed.

Lin Wei's husband was Chen Zhiyuan, thirty-five years old, a lawyer.

He was Lin Wei's high school classmate; they had a seven-year romantic relationship before getting married.

They fought a lot because Lin Wei was too busy with work, plus the tension with her mother-in-law, so Lin Wei's life was pretty miserable.

Lin Wei handed over her entire paycheck, keeping just a little for herself.

Chen Zhiyuan was a total mama's boy, did whatever his mother said.

He'd also beaten Lin Wei multiple times, starting in the second year of their marriage and going on ever since.

He preferred sons over daughters, and because Lin Wei gave birth to two daughters, he called her a "useless hen."

The worst part was that Chen Zhiyuan was cheating on Lin Wei with another woman. The other woman was nine months pregnant, and the baby was confirmed to be a boy.

Chen Zhiyuan and his mother planned that once the child was born, they'd kick Lin Wei out with nothing and also take custody of the two daughters.

Shen Qingci read through it all with a calm expression.

He felt no emotional turmoil inside.

People are complex, with good and evil, light and darkness.

He had seen far more disgusting things than this; he had long become numb to it.

He just hadn't expected that his secretary—the sharp and capable woman in the business world who could sort out a million-dollar contract clause in half an hour—would have such terrible taste in men.

How did she manage to find the worst person in the trash to marry?

A connoisseur of garbage?

Should he give her an award this year?

Shen Qingci thought to himself, lightly tapping his cane with his finger.

Then he looked up and, through the rearview mirror, saw Lu Lin driving seriously.

Lu Lin's profile was especially clear under the streetlights. His eyelashes were long, his nose bridge straight, and his lips slightly pursed.

Shen Qingci suddenly thought of a question.

If, in the future, the person Lu Lin chose also came from the trash...

Would he have to intervene?

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Shen Qingci himself was startled.

Why should he care?

Lu Lin was twenty-six, an adult with his own judgment.

Even if he chose the wrong person, it was his own business.

But…

Shen Qingci watched Lu Lin’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

Those deep brown eyes were sneaking a look at him through the mirror.

The second their eyes met, Lu Lin, as if caught red-handed, quickly looked away, the tips of his ears turning red.

Shen Qingci frowned a little.

Whatever.

He’d deal with Lu Lin later.

-

Lin Wei picked up her oldest daughter and followed Shen Qingci back to the villa.

Her oldest daughter was named Xiao Ya, twelve years old and in middle school.

Shen Qingci had met her a few times.

Back when he was alive, Lin Wei would bring her kids to visit for New Year’s.

Even though ten years had passed, Shen Qingci’s memories were still stuck ten years ago.

He remembered that Xiao Ya used to laugh a lot when she was little.

Back then, she was only two or three, with two tiny pigtails, snuggled in Lin Wei’s arms, her eyes bright and sparkly. She’d get shy when she saw him and then sneak another look.

But now…

Shen Qingci looked at the girl standing behind Lin Wei, gripping the hem of her mom’s shirt.

Twelve years old, already as tall as Lin Wei’s shoulder, but she was hunched over, head down, too scared to look at anyone.

At an age when she should be lively and cheerful, she seemed timid and withdrawn, like a scared little animal.

Lin Wei noticed Shen Qingci looking at Xiao Ya and managed a weak smile:

“Mr. Shen, the last time you saw her, she was only two. It’s been so many years, she probably doesn’t remember you.”

Shen Qingci said nothing.

Leaning on his cane, he was about to turn and go inside.

Just then, a shy voice spoke up:

“I remember.”

Shen Qingci stopped and turned around.

Xiao Ya was still hiding behind Lin Wei, but she had lifted her head slightly, her eyes red like a rabbit’s.

She looked at Shen Qingci, her voice small but clear:

“I remember this big brother. He gave me a really big red envelope and some sweet candy.”

Shen Qingci was taken aback.

That was many years ago.

Not long after Lin Wei started working at Tianchen Group, one Chinese New Year, she brought two-year-old Xiao Ya to wish him a happy New Year.

Shen Qingci didn’t like kids, but Xiao Ya was well-behaved—no crying, no fussing, just sitting quietly on the couch eating an orange.

As they were leaving, Shen Qingci took out a red envelope and grabbed a handful of candy, stuffing it into Xiao Ya’s pocket.

He hadn’t intended for anyone to know; it was just a whim because the child was well-behaved.

He never thought she’d remember it after all this time.

Seeing Shen Qingci looking at her, Xiao Ya shrank back in fear but continued:

“But when we got home, Grandma took the money, and the candy was given to my cousin.”

Her voice grew softer, tinged with grievance:

“Grandma said girls can’t take things from others; everything has to go to the older brother.”

Shen Qingci listened quietly, his face expressionless.

Xiao Ya looked at Shen Qingci, and tears suddenly fell:

“Big brother is handsome and gentle, like an immortal. When Mom was being hit, I wanted to come find you for help. I ran over alone, but they said you weren’t here anymore.”

She sobbed, her voice breaking:

“They told me to find the police, but it didn’t help… The police came, said a few words, and left. Every time, Mom got beaten even worse.”

She stepped forward, looking up at Shen Qingci with tearful eyes:

“Big brother, can you please help Mom? I beg you, I’m willing to work for you! I’m very capable! When Mom’s not home, I do all the chores, you can count on me!”