Chapter 26 Hero Complex of Girlism

Chapter 26: The Idealistic Girl's Savior Complex

"The right to power is not a license for harassment, and cooperation is certainly not a shield for sexual misconduct."

The words Song Xianghan had spoken during the press conference regarding Shen Siwen's sexual harassment, which Gao Mengying had on repeat days before, now echoed in her ears once more.

She admired Song Xianghan for having such courage, yet she also felt a pang of shame. For in that moment, a dark part of her mind thought that Song Xianghan's bravery stemmed from her power, status, and wealth, not from a personal charisma that an ordinary woman could possess.

If she, too, had been born into a prominent family, with her own company and career, with money, influence, and power, would things have been different? Would she have been spared those horrible torments?

Gao Mengying envied and resented Song Xianghan.

But she never imagined that the woman from the news would now be sitting right in front of her, holding her cold hand, and telling her with firm conviction that she could help her.

By the time Gao Mengying came back to herself, tears had already covered her face, dripping from her chin onto her hospital gown.

Song Xianghan patted her back gently. "It's good to cry. It's good to be able to cry."

Shen Shiyan, worried that his presence might add pressure to Gao Mengying, quietly slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him. Leaning against the wall, his drooping hand touched the cold wall. In that moment, he remembered the sight of Song Xianghan smoking in front of him.

Shen Shiyan suddenly felt a strong urge to have a cigarette himself.

His phone vibrated suddenly in his pocket. His hands were cold and stiff as he unlocked the screen. It was a WeChat message from Shen Ci.

Shen Shiyan opened the attached photo. It was likely from Shen Ci's handicraft class. The picture showed two red-and-yellow snapdragon lanterns being held up. The more exquisitely crafted one was in Song Qiuchi's hand, while the other looked a bit misshapen, though it was clear both were attempts at the same thing.

Another message from Shen Ci quickly popped up.

"Shen Ci: Daddy, our handicraft class just ended! What do you think of my lantern?"

The turmoil, unease, and guilt Shen Shiyan felt as a member of the Shen family were quietly soothed a little by Shen Ci's message.

He felt a bit calmer as he typed with one hand.

"Shen Shiyan: It's ugly."

Shen Ci quickly replied with a voice message. Shen Shiyan tapped it and held the phone to his ear.

"Shen Ci: Wow... but this was supposed to be a gift for you, Daddy. Do you still want it? I can make another one..."

He could hear the sounds of other children playing in the background, mixed with Song Qiuchi's voice saying, "See? I told you mine looks better."

Shen Shiyan still typed his reply.

"Shen Shiyan: I want it. This ugly one."

Another voice message came through quickly, but before Shen Shiyan could listen, the hospital room door opened. Miss Qi peeked out, her expression complex. "Mr. Shen, Miss Gao asks that you join us."

Shen Shiyan took a deep breath, nodded, and followed Qi Zizhu into the room.

Gao Mengying's tears had been wiped away. Her red, swollen eyes beneath her willow-leaf brows looked particularly pitiful. She was still holding Song Xianghan's hand, and her initial resistance upon seeing Shen Shiyan had noticeably lessened.

She took a moment to steady herself, trying to keep her voice, still tinged with a sob, level. "My family was poor. My parents did odd jobs to raise me until I was twelve. That winter, a car accident took both of them from me. For many years, it was just me and my grandmother, relying on each other. I got through university by taking under-the-table jobs and with a bit of government assistance for my grandmother. I thought life was finally getting better, but then my grandmother fell seriously ill. I had no choice. I took out loans while studying. By the time I graduated, my family owed over a million..."

Gao Mengying's voice trembled. Speaking of her grandmother, fresh tears spilled from her eyes, which Song Xianghan gently wiped away.

"I was selected by Chonghe during campus recruitment. At first, I thought heaven had finally taken pity on me, allowing me to enter such a large company as an intern. I made it to the special assistant position in just two years. But I never imagined... Shen Siwen wasn't interested in my talent or outstanding work ability. It was only because I had a pair of hands that matched his... aesthetic."

The heavy atmosphere made everyone's hearts sink. Gao Mengying let go of Song Xianghan's hand, removed the gauze, and held up her bruised and wounded hands, turning them over with a self-mocking tone. "I never knew a pair of hands could become an outlet for his desires. I rejected Shen Siwen several times, and he never showed any displeasure. On the final day of negotiations between Chonghe and Xingtu, I was left at the company to handle other work. I don't know what happened, but Shen Siwen returned furious. He locked the office door, pinned me down on the desk... No matter how much I resisted or screamed..."

Gao Mengying's body began to shake violently, and she couldn't continue. Song Xianghan stood up, moved behind her, and embraced her, whispering softly and repeatedly in her ear, "It's over now."

After a long while, Gao Mengying spoke again, her voice strained. "I resisted for a long time... but he still raped me. He said my hands were beautifully made, born to be used by men. So he bit them, crushed the backs of my hands with his dirty leather shoe soles... He recorded the entire assault and used it to threaten me. He said if I told anyone, not only would the video be leaked, but my grandmother would also lose her life because of me..."

Qi Zizhu's eyes were already red, tears of heartache falling. She bit her lower lip hard, trying not to sob aloud.

After speaking, Gao Mengying felt a wave of relief. The grievances she had endured these past few days finally saw a glimmer of daylight.

Her eyes turned to the standing Shen Shiyan. She stretched out her scarred hands towards him and asked, "This is your Shen family's doing. So I ask you, Mr. Shen, on what grounds do you say you will help me?"

Shen Shiyan's hands clenched into fists inside his coat pockets, nails digging into his palms. After a long pause, he gave a bitter smile. "I don't expect Assistant Gao to think highly of me. But I still have to say... I am not like the other Shens."

Gao Mengying let out a short laugh. She didn't understand why she laughed, just as she didn't understand why she was directing her resentment at Shen Shiyan as well.

"Let's hope so," Gao Mengying uttered these three words softly and closed her eyes. "I'm a little tired."

Shen Shiyan said nothing more.

Song Xianghan helped Gao Mengying lie down and left Qi Zizhu to stay with her in the room.

In the café diagonally across from the hospital, the aroma of pastries mixed with the rich, bitter scent of coffee, dispelling the chill of early winter.

Shen Shiyan and Song Xianghan sat side by side at a long table by the window.

"I thought it was Shen Ci who was sick," Song Xianghan said, holding a warm coffee cup, a slight smile on her face.

Shen Shiyan remembered the voice message from Shen Ci he hadn't had time to listen to yet. "No," he replied.

The atmosphere remained somewhat awkward. The image of Gao Mengying's eyes flashed before Shen Shiyan. He paused, then asked, "Miss Song, why did you offer to help Assistant Gao without even knowing the reason?"

Song Xianghan took a sip of her coffee, watching the pedestrians outside hurriedly tightening their collars against the cold. She countered, "Do you know about the 'savior complex' of a girl's idealism?"

Shen Shiyan shook his head, bewildered.