The house had finally fallen quiet, its wall no longer echoing with chose. Yet inside Sheyaan.
The storm had not settled her heart still churned with turmoil and her body ached with lingering pain.
As Fangxi, Sheyaan, and Zavian stepped inside, they saw Mrs Li sitting on the sofa, waiting for them.
The moment she saw Sheyaan, she quickly stood up and rushed forward, holding her hand.
As soon as her eyes fell on Sheyaan's injured hand, soaked in blood, her face faded with pain. With deep concern, she gently made Sheyaan sit beside her on the sofa.
Sheyaan remained completely silent, and the same sadness still reflected in her eyes.
Miss Li immediately looked at Fangxi and said firmly,
"Fangxi! Bring the.. first aid box… quickly!"
Hearing his mom's command, Fangxi nodded at once and hurried to take out the first aid box from a drawer.
He handed it to Mrs Li and sat down on the sofa in front. A little distance away, Zavian stood quietly, watching everything with calm silence.
His face was expressionless, but his deep gaze remained fixed on Sheyaan.
Miss Li gently took Sheyaan's hand into her own and slowly began to bandage her wound.
A strange silence filled the entire hall. Sheyaan's moist, innocent eyes were fixed only on Mrs Li, as if she was trying to forget all her pain in the warmth of her care.
After finishing the bandage, Miss Li looked at Sheyaan with great gentleness.
With a soft smile, she held both of Sheyaan's hands in hers and spoke warmly,
"Beta… don't worry, we're always... with you. From now on, you.. won't have to face...any trouble."
Sheyaan felt a sense of truth and comfort in her words. After a brief pause, Mrs Li continued in a slightly heavy voice,
"What Lucy.. did today… I apologize to you on.. her behalf. Something like this... will never happen.. again."
Seeing a mother apologizing to her made Sheyaan restless. She immediately said, her voice filled with discomfort,
"Please… don't apologize. I don't feel..good about it."
Her innocence touched Mrs Li deeply. Gently placing her hand on Sheyaan's cheek, she smiled and said,
"Beta, I just want you...to always stay happy… and forget what Lucy did. Now you should focus only on... your studies, alright?"
The concern hidden in her aunt's words eased the weight in Sheyaan's heart a little. She took a deep breath and nodded softly,
"Okay… Aunty."
Sheyaan was about to say something more when suddenly Fangxi, who had been silently watching everything, spoke up.
Trying to lighten the mood, Fangxi broke into a wide smile with a energetic tone, he said.
"Alright... now that everything is fine, why don't we go shopping?!"
The moment she heard this, a spark lit up in Sheyaan's eyes. Just a while ago,
she had been so upset, but the mention of shopping made her forget all her pain. She quickly looked at Fangxi and said innocently,
"Yes! I totally forgot...about that... let's go!"
Seeing how quickly she agreed and how excited she looked, Fangxi was completely shocked. Widening his eyes, he asked in surprise,
"Huh?! You... you're really ready... to go? I thought... you were upset, so you might... refuse!"
Sheyaan adjusted herself slightly on the sofa and raised one eyebrow playfully as she said,
"What did you...think? That I'd forget my... bet so easily... huh?! Now stop talking... and let's go shopping... got it?!"
Seeing her usual bossy attitude, Fangxi made a slight face and replied in a mildly annoyed but soft tone,
"Yeah... fine, let's go!"
Watching their cute little banter, Mrs Li, who was sitting there, couldn't help but smile softly.
It gave her relief to see that Sheyaan's mood was getting better. Mrs Li looked at both of them and said with a gentle smile,
"Alright... you both go shopping.. and take care of yourselves.. okay?!"
Fangxi and Sheyaan replied happily at the same time,
"Okay Mom!" and "Okay Aunty!"
As soon as they stood up from the sofa, Miss Li's gaze suddenly fell on Zavian, who was standing near the door.
Zavian was leaning against a large drawer, facing outside, quietly lost in the view beyond.
His mysterious silence and stern demeanor made Miss Li thoughtful. She gestured to Fangxi and asked softly,
"Fangxi... who is that... boy?"
Fangxi understood that she was asking about Zavian. In a calm and confident tone, he replied,
"Mom... that's Zayan. Sheyaan's bodyguard and...also a very good friend of mine!"
Hearing the name Zayan didn't bring comfort to Mrs Li; instead, it raised more questions. Looking at Zavian, she said with slight concern and surprise,
"But... why would she need a...bodyguard? And just look at... him... he seems so strict... and unusual!"
Mrs Li's words made Sheyaan look at Zavian as well. He was still standing there, staring outside, as if nothing around him mattered.
Sheyaan looked at him, and a soft, hidden smile appeared on her lips.
Maybe she was the only one who could somewhat understand the person behind that hard exterior.
At the moment Fangxi meet his mother's gaze. his expression turning serious in a firm yet sincere voice he said.
"Mom, you know me… I don't want Sheyaan to get.. into any trouble. Zayan may look a bit strict... and rude, but he takes really good... care of her. So please don't.. worry."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sheyaan quickly nodded in agreement and said cheerfully,
"Yes, Aunty! Please don't worry.. at all… Zayan is an excellent bodyguard, and he solves... all my problems in no time!"
Hearing so much praise for him, Mrs Li looked at Zavian once again,
who was now casually walking around the hall, completely indifferent. She made a slightly funny face and smiled lightly as she said,
"Alright then! If both of you are praising... him so much, he must be.. good..."
But then suddenly, she pulled Sheyaan a little closer and whispered in her ear in a cautious tone,
"But Sheyaan… keep a little distance... from him! Boys these days can be...very clever, understand?!"
Hearing her aunty's advice, Sheyaan couldn't hold back her laughter and burst into giggles. Smiling, she replied,
"Okay Aunty… as you.. say!"
Miss Li then sent them off, saying,
"Alright, now go, or you'll...get late!"
Fangxi and Sheyaan moved ahead smiling and stopped right in front of Zavian. Looking at him, Fangxi said,
"Zayan… Sheyaan wants to go...shopping, shall we?"
Zavian cast a deep glance at Sheyaan. There was no expression on his face; he simply replied shortly,
"Alright, let's..go."
Just as they were about to step outside, Sheyaan suddenly stopped them and said something.
"Wait... wait!"
Sheyaan's sudden voice stopped both of them instantly.
Fangxi and Zavian turned back in surprise. And with a hint of alertness Fangxi asked,
"What happened.., Sheyaan?"
Sheyaan hesitated a little before saying softly,
"Um... I'll go get my... purse, I forgot.. it!"
Hearing this, Fangxi let out a small sigh of relief and nodded with a smile.
"Go, bring it... quickly. We'll wait for you outside...near the car!"
Sheyaan replied quickly,
"Okay... I'll be...right back!"
Saying that, she ran quickly toward the stairs.
Fangxi and Zavian quietly stepped out of the house and stood near the car in the parking area.
The cool breeze outside made the atmosphere feel a bit serious.
Just then, Fangxi took out his phone and made a call... the old worry and depth returned to his face once again.
Outside the house, as Fangxi stood near the car and made the call, Younshu's phone started ringing on the other side.
At that moment, Younshu was sitting with his friends, Kalene and Alisha, enjoying his breakfast.
As soon as he saw "Boss" flashing on the screen, he panicked a little.
Quickly tearing off a big piece of bread, stuffing it into his mouth, and wiping his hands in a hurry, he picked up the call. While still chewing, he spoke respectfully,
"Yes, Boss... what is.. it?!"
But his mouth was so full of food that his words weren't clear at all.
At first, Fangxi couldn't understand anything, but he quickly realized that this guy was busy devouring his breakfast. Slightly annoyed, Fangxi frowned and said,
"Either eat first... or speak, Younshu! What kind of manners.. is this?!"
Hearing the scolding, Younshu quickly swallowed his food, took a deep breath, and said in a softer tone,
"I'm sorry, boss... yes, now tell me.., what is it?"
Fangxi then spoke in a serious tone,
"I'll be late to the.. office today, so you handle everything. There shouldn't be any... mistakes."
Hearing this, Younshu thought for a moment and then asked playfully,
"Boss... can I also take a few...hours off?"
Hearing Younshu ask for leave, Fangxi immediately questioned him strictly,
"Why do you... need leave?!"
Younshu got a little nervous and quickly made up an excuse,
"Uh... I'm going to meet my.. dad. He's not feeling well... so can I...go?"
Fangxi thought for a moment, then let out a quiet breath and said,
"Alright... but you have to come...to the office today, understood?"
Younshu quickly replied happily,
"Okay... thank you!"
and Fangxi ended the call.
As soon as he put his phone back into his pocket, Fangxi's expression changed.
He looked at Zavian, who was standing beside him, and said in a serious tone,
"Zayan... should we talk about... last night? There's no one here.. right now."
Zavian leaned against the car, his gaze distant, lost in deep thought. In his usual cold voice, he replied,
"Hmm... alright. Say what you... have to."
Taking a deep breath, Fangxi looked straight into his eyes and said,
"I need your help... to find someone."
Zavian glanced at him briefly and asked calmly, "Who do you..want to find? Speak clearly."
Fangxi took another deep breath and, looking directly into Zavian's eyes, finally spoke the truth he had buried in his heart for years,
"I want to find..my father's killer...!"
Zavian's expression sharpened instantly. Fangxi continued,
"Because I.. know... my father didn't die of a... heart attack. He was..murdered."
Hearing this, Zavian—who had always remained as unyielding as stone—was completely taken aback. A strange glint flickered in his eyes, and his expression turned utterly serious.