Shane Yu gave her a week. He was busy with business and needed to go to Liancheng for five to six days. He wanted to have a thorough discussion with Sharon Yao before leaving, and he figured he could manage to come back in time.
Shane Yu’s logistics company was handling a project that involved a particularly long and circuitous mountain road. He wanted to fund its repair. Ideally, it would get approval from higher authorities, saving him money and potentially making a profit.
This road was located on the border of Shengcheng and Liancheng. Shengcheng was all on their side, so there wouldn’t be any problems. The only issue was whether the Liancheng government would agree. In Shane Yu’s eyes, anything that could be solved with money was acceptable.
He presented the Liancheng official with a lavish gift. He was an expert at giving gifts, making sure they were to the right person. He believed in the principle of “you can’t catch a wolf without risking your cub.” Besides, he had plenty of money.
According to Shane Yu, the Liancheng official was currently troubled by a problem: his son had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl. Because the girl was a minor… A slight misstep could cost him his position.
Sane Yu felt he could handle this easily. The person in charge smiled; as long as it didn’t go to court, everything was negotiable.
Looking at the honest, impoverished family before him, especially the innocent-looking little girl, Shane Yu felt a surge of pity.
Looking at the little girl, Shane Yu secretly rejoiced that his child was a boy. He thought to himself that men were indeed driven by their lower instincts, utterly shameless. But if he truly had a daughter, he would chemically castrate anyone who dared to harm her.
Sane Yu tried to soften his voice, saying, “Sexual assault requires evidence. You don’t have his crucial DNA, right? In court, if he denies it, you’ll not only be penniless but also ruin your daughter’s reputation. You might as well take the money, take her, and live a new life in a different city.”
The couple disagreed; they wanted the perpetrator to admit wrongdoing, apologize, and compensate.
“Then there’s no point in discussing it.” Shane Yu coldly got up and left. “His son apologized to you, which is practically confirming the sexual assault. How could he possibly admit to such a crime? Poor people really are all one-track-minded.”
Shane Yu picked up his phone and called Gangzi.
The next day, the Liancheng news reported that a family of three had perished in a fire caused by an electrical malfunction. The news served as a reminder to the public to be careful when using electricity and fire.
After finishing his business negotiations, Shane Yu was eager to see Sharon Yao. Passing through downtown Liancheng, he bought her a pearl necklace for over ten thousand yuan at a shopping mall.
Shane Yu thought her fair neck would look stunning in it.
Then Shane Yu picked up his phone and called Sharon Yao. He leaned back in his car seat, adjusting to a comfortable position, and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Tutoring.”
“What time are you finished? Can I pick you up?”
“Uncle, my mom’s coming to pick me up today.” I quickly came up with an excuse to refuse.
“Then I’ll pick you both up! I know your mom.”
“Yeah! I told my mom she doesn’t need to come, I’ll be done by 6.”
“Okay, me too, I should be there by 6. Send me your location.”
“Okay!” I hung up immediately.
After leaving the tutoring class, Chris He kept following me.
“Chris, stop following me.” I turned to look at the handsome and clean-cut Chris He.
Chris He’s expression revealed a faint sadness: “Sharon, can you please stop avoiding me? I just want to ask why we broke up?”
“Chris, you’re great! But we’re not right for each other.”
Chris He frowned and asked, “Do you have someone you like?”
“No, but I want to break up.” I feel like I’m not good enough for you.
“I… don’t want to break up with you.” He said each word slowly and deliberately, as if declaring his determination.
I lowered my eyes: “Chris He, many things don’t go the way we want them to.”
“I…” Chris He was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
A Range Rover pulled up in front of us, and Shane Yu, tall and long-legged, got out. His handsome, baby-faced man frowned, looking displeased at Chris He, who was standing not far away.
Shane Yu said angrily to me, “Get in.”
I slowly got in the car and saw Shane Yu walk over to Chris He and say something to him. Chris He’s face turned pale, and he turned and drove away.
I couldn’t help but ask, “What did you say to him?”
Shane Yu didn’t answer.
He looked at me sharply and pinched my cheek hard. “Did you ignore what I told you? I said I can’t tolerate any infidelity, and I don’t allow you to have contact with the opposite sex, didn’t you hear me?”
“You’re hurting me!” I pushed his hand away.
Shane Yu glared at me fiercely, pinching my cheek for a long time until tears streamed down my face before letting go.
My cheek was already a little swollen from his pinching.
Shane Yu’s eyes blazed with anger as he warned me again, “If there’s a next time, I definitely won’t let you off easily!”
Shane Yu released his grip on my cheek.
I touched my swollen face, a wave of intense humiliation washing over me. Tears streamed down my face as I sat silently, tears streaming down my face.
Shane Yu looked at my tear-streaked face and regretted hitting me so hard.
He sighed, gently stroking my cheek, and asked tenderly, “Does it hurt?”
I looked up at him, my eyes blurry with tears. “You made me feel so wronged!”
Shane Yu gripped my hand tightly. “I know I can be too forceful sometimes, but it’s because I care about you so much. I don’t want to lose you!” Shane Yu had a knack for sweet-talking girls; he had so many things to say.
I didn’t respond, only inwardly sneering. Sneering at my own miserable life.
