Chapter Sixteen: I’ll Help You Escape
Yuhang arranged a long leave of absence for her.
The Lingchi she imagined did not come so soon; only the Wen family’s parents kept searching for her, and news of the Wen family’s impending bankruptcy spread across national newspapers. No one expected that this seemingly reputable family would decline so swiftly.
Behind the scenes, the family’s industrial operations had always depended precariously on the Bo family. Bo Ye’s withdrawal of investment and covert suppression almost immediately cut off all avenues for the Wen family.
Only then did Yuhang realize something was wrong.
Wen Zhi’s name seemed to vanish from City Z as if she had evaporated into thin air.
She was so tired, truly exhausted.
As she gently touched her slightly rounded abdomen, she became aware of the life growing within her.
She had lost weight again; without wearing tight clothes, her pregnancy was not visible at all.
That night, just as she lay down, a loud knocking at the door startled her awake.
Wen Zhi was terrified. She had heard that old residential buildings like hers were magnets for thieves. Peering through the peephole, she saw it was Shen Dan.
After hesitating for a few seconds, she opened the door.
Shen Dan’s usually stoic face immediately brightened upon seeing Wen Zhi. His chin was stubbled with fresh beard growth, and his suit was creased from long hours of travel, making him look more disheveled than when she had last seen him a few days prior.
“Zhi Zhi!”
“How did you find me here?”
“This is your only home, I know.”
“Oh…”
“Won’t you invite me in? I want to tell you about the situation in City W.”
Shen Dan forced a stiff smile.
Wen Zhi stepped aside, poured a glass of water, and placed it before him.
Shen Dan glanced around the modest, somewhat dated but impeccably tidy room—clearly cared for with great attention.
On the cabinet beneath the television sat a framed photo.
The elderly person in the photo smiled kindly, as if silently reminding Shen Dan to lend a hand to her granddaughter.
The coffee table before them was where he and the girl once did their homework back in high school...
Returning to the topic, Shen Dan drank the water in one gulp.
“Everyone in the Wen family is searching for you. Bo Ye just had to snap his fingers, and the Wen clan was thrown into chaos.”
“I know. I provoked Bo Ye.”
“What?”
Shen Dan was surprised.
Wen Zhi lowered her head in silence.
“Do you know that Bo Ye has a child in the hospital fighting for her life? How is she now?”
His eyes flickered. “Is her rescue related to you?”
“I didn’t know she was allergic to beef... so…”
“My only refuge is here. If anything happens to that girl, I’ll return to City W.”
Shen Dan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
In other words…
“That child?”
He dragged out the word, as if recalling.
“Yes, her name is Zhuang Sui.”
“She’s almost fully recovered.”
“That fast?”
Wen Zhi asked, puzzled.
Shen Dan sneered, “Bo Ye doesn’t lack money; the medical team is top-notch.”
“I’ve already sent people to gather information.”
“Good.”
She trusted him.
“Zhi Zhi, do you want to leave City W for good?”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation.
Here are the plane tickets I bought for you, the keys to the apartment in France, your phone, currency…”
Shen Dan took these items out of his briefcase one by one.
Wen Zhi opened her mouth, stunned.
“I know Master Zhou appreciates you. You must have signed up for the exchange study in France. If you don’t want to stay in City W, I’ll send you to study abroad in France, to completely break free from the Wen family and Bo Ye.”
Wen Zhi continued to look at him, disbelief in her eyes. Shen Dan smiled and added, “Zhi Zhi, believe it or not, I’ve been following your daily activities since you arrived in City W.”
“You got first place again, you’ve lost weight, and you and Bo Ye…”
His gaze turned sharp. “I told you, I’m not powerful enough yet... so I can only take you away, escape to a place where those villains can’t find us. There, you can study the cooking you love, become a unique and excellent chef. If you want to keep the child, we’ll raise them together.”
Wen Zhi’s eyes grew heavy with emotion. She didn’t know what he had endured to become so shrewd. Amidst her shock was a deep sadness, and tears streamed down her face.
Shen Dan reached out to embrace her but was stopped by her hand.
“Ah Dan, thank you.”
He withdrew his hand, knowing Wen Zhi would never accept him now that he was engaged, but he would wait patiently. Even if rejected, the fact she still called him “Ah Dan” meant he still held a place in her heart.
That was enough. That was enough.
“Then, are you willing?”
Shen Dan asked.
If Zhuang Sui really had recovered, then there was no longer any entanglement with Bo Ye; she had also started to see him anew.
She had no attachment to the Wen family. She didn’t want to be some saintly Mary Sue. The kindness the Wen family showed her ended the moment they handed her over to Bo Ye’s bed. Besides, she had cooperated since then...
“Okay.”
Wen Zhi nodded.
Shen Dan smiled like a child, then suddenly recalled something. “Zhi Zhi, do you remember this table?”
Her thoughts drifted back—
The short coffee table, where every summer they sat on the carpet, lying over it to do homework, the old electric fan humming slowly, blowing warm air.
“Grandma really wouldn’t turn on the air conditioning, even in such heat.”
Shen Dan wiped sweat from his brow while doing homework.
“That’s because you always ran around like a fool playing basketball in the summer!”
Wen Zhi said.
“Someone is now boldly claiming they caught me spying on their game~”
The girl blushed deeply, continuing her homework, then pushed Shen Dan away fiercely, “Get away, you’re just blowing hot air!”
Shen Dan cried out in mock pain, “You’re murdering your husband.”
Wen Zhi’s face reddened more.
Outside the old neighborhood, cicadas chirped in sync with the racing hearts of youths—loud yet discreet.
A feeling sensed but never quite found: the tacit understanding unique to youth.
—
Wen Zhi’s eyes darkened, choosing not to reply to him. “When I get settled in France, I’ll slowly pay you back.”
Shen Dan feigned injury, “We don’t talk about money between us, only love.”
“Do you still love me?”
Wen Zhi closed her eyes. “I admit I liked you once. Back then, I thought we had endless time together, and that Grandma would always be with me... Grandma is gone, and I don’t love you anymore.”
“Then why did you never respond to my feelings? I only ever wanted to marry you.”
“I know you stayed away from the Shen family for me, right?”
“Don’t sacrifice anything for me, Shen Dan. Walk your own path. And don’t ruin everything in front of you because of me.”
Work, love.
I liked you, I liked you…
Only this phrase echoed in Shen Dan’s mind.
“You liked me…”