Su Jin turned sideways to make room, allowing Shen Yu to exit the elevator.
Her gaze swept calmly over Shen Yu from above her mask. She could tell that the girl in front of her, who looked so refined, possessed a certain extraordinary aura.
But a stranger—a hurried young woman—would never draw much of her attention. After passing by, she withdrew her gaze.
She was already in work mode, her mind filled only with thoughts of how to handle the PR crisis.
Shen Yu also saw Su Jin and Song Li waiting at the elevator door. Although Su Jin had most of her face covered, her outstanding aura still made Shen Yu instinctively take an extra look.
So familiar… She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d seen her somewhere before.
But the two merely brushed shoulders as Su Jin stepped into the elevator. The doors slowly closed.
Shen Yu shook her head. Forget it—what mattered most now was seeing Lin Lu’an.
To be honest, when her father sent her the message that Lin Lu’an was in the hospital, Shen Yu had been so shocked that her whole body went cold.
What was Lin Lu’an thinking?! How did he end up in the hospital just from going to work?!
But her father had made it clear—Lin Lu’an was out of immediate danger. That at least let her breathe a sigh of relief.
Still, she was furious. She wanted to give Lin Lu’an a good scolding.
Shen Yu hurried to the door of Hospital Room 1703, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.
The ward was silent, with only the faint ticking sounds from the medical equipment.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled spots of light on the white sheets.
On the bed, Lin Lu’an lay quietly.
All the scolding Shen Yu had prepared caught in her throat the moment she saw him like this. She couldn’t get a word out.
It felt as if an invisible hand had gripped her heart tightly, then slowly released it, leaving only a lingering ache.
Seriously…
The lecture could wait for another day.
Shen Yu sat down on the chair by the bed, her gaze softly tracing the lines of his sleeping profile.
“Idiot…”
This guy, it was just a job, why did he have to work himself to the bone…
Shen Yu glanced at the apple on the nightstand, its surface jagged from someone’s awkward peeling. Beside it was a fruit knife. Clearly, someone had been watching over Lin Lu’an before she arrived.
Of course, after Lin Lu’an was admitted, the hospital hadn’t even called his family. It looked like someone had taken care of everything.
Shen Yu glanced around. This wasn’t an ordinary ward—almost all the medical equipment was brand new, and the environment was quite good. No strange odors, and the view outside the window was excellent.
“Hmm…”
On the bed, Lin Lu’an let out a faint hum.
Shen Yu watched his profile quietly. Sunlight fell on his face, making him look even more handsome than usual.
But it was precisely because he was so handsome…
Lin Lu’an… must have a patron now.
Shen Yu’s hand unconsciously balled into a fist.
Her father hadn’t told her what the relationship was between Lin Lu’an and that “client,” but she didn’t need to guess.
Who else would order custom lingerie for a man? Only a woman, and not just any woman—someone powerful and high above.
Probably someone not only wealthy, but also extremely controlling, used to treating people as playthings.
Not long ago, Lin Lu’an had been fired from the convenience store and had fallen on hard times.
He’d been so anxious back then, running everywhere to pay for his sister’s tuition and living expenses, but always hitting dead ends.
Shen Yu had seen the exhaustion and helplessness in his eyes. Still, she’d thought, “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach him to fish…”
If Lin Lu’an really couldn’t make it anymore, she’d help him out.
Her relationship with her father wasn’t good, but she did have some savings—chasing dreams and keeping up piano lessons had always cost money.
But now it seemed someone had stepped in before her.
Could it have been at that time?
When he was most desperate, most in need of help, was it then that some powerful, wicked woman took advantage of him?
Suddenly, a scene played out in Shen Yu’s mind.
As Lin Lu’an wandered home in despair, a glamorous woman appeared before him, as if bestowing charity, offering him tempting conditions.
If he became her dog, she’d give him money.
And for his sister’s sake, Lin Lu’an, pressed by reality, would have had no choice but to accept that humiliating gift, to sign some kind of unspeakable agreement.
Shen Yu could even imagine him shakily sending his sister a message.
“Hey sis, we’ve got money now.”
Or something like that.
A sales job? Formal attire? All lies!
She knew Lin Lu’an’s character. He was the kind of person who, for the sake of family and friends, could completely ignore his own feelings.
As long as his sister was happy, he was happy too. That kind of man could totally fall into a bad woman’s trap!
Yes, he must have been tricked! That fox-like woman must have exploited his predicament, using sweet words or threats to lure him in, turning him into a pet to satisfy her twisted desires!
It was her, Shen Yu, who’d been there first. Why had some other woman snatched him away? Had she ever seen Lin Lu’an as a child?
Had she seen his tearful face when he wet the bed? Did she know what he was like in high school, how mischievous he could be?
She knew nothing! There was no way a woman like that could love Lin Lu’an’s soul! She could only be interested in his body!
Looking at Lin Lu’an’s pale face on the bed, Shen Yu’s heart wrenched with pain.
Was this injury also caused by that wicked woman? Was it abuse, after she got bored? Or punishment for trying to resist? Shen Yu bit down hard on her lip, fighting not to make a sound.
Lu’an, you fool… Why didn’t you come to me for help? Even if I have little ability now that I’ve lost my father’s protection, I still have some money! At least… at least I wouldn’t have let you end up like this.
Staring at Lin Lu’an’s handsome face, Shen Yu thought that it was precisely because of this face that he had become a plaything for a wicked woman.
For an instant, a terrifying thought flashed through her mind: if she used the fruit knife beside her to scar Lin Lu’an’s face, would other women lose interest in him…
Shen Yu shook her head hard.
What was she thinking?! No matter what, she couldn’t do anything to hurt Lu’an!
But… no matter what, Lu’an, I will definitely rescue you from that wicked woman’s hands.
***
Indigo Tech’s press conference venue.
The spotlights blazed as Su Jin took the stage. She had changed into a crisp white suit and skirt, her makeup immaculate, her long hair meticulously pinned up.
No one would guess that just days ago, she’d been kneeling in the blood-soaked rain, looking so wretched.
Standing before the podium, she calmly swept her gaze over the sea of media reporters. That innate aura instantly commanded the entire room.
“Friends from the media, thank you for your attention.”
She spoke coolly, “Regarding the accident that occurred outside our company’s press conference yesterday, I hereby issue an official response on behalf of Indigo Tech.”
She first gave a brief account of the incident, defining it as “a sudden and vicious assault,” and emphasized that the assailant had already been taken into custody by the police.
Su Jin’s wording was precise and logical, glossing over any details that could be subject to excessive speculation.
“At the time of the incident, a friend of mine happened to be by my side.”
Su Jin continued slowly, “He was injured while protecting me. Thanks to prompt medical care, he is now out of danger and recovering. I am deeply grateful, and will cover all of his medical and rehabilitation expenses.”
She did not give the media any chance to stir up “hero saves beauty” stories or to dig into Lin Lu’an’s background.
Without even mentioning his name, she quickly shifted the topic to the company’s response measures and future development plans.
Throughout her statement, she remained poised and eloquent, successfully steering public attention away from gossip and toward her leadership.
After the press conference ended, Su Jin returned to her office with Song Li escorting her.
She had just closed the door and hadn’t yet sat down when her phone rang.
Two characters flashed on the screen—【Father】.
Su Jin took a deep breath and answered the call.
“Dad.”
On the other end, Su’s Father’s steady voice sounded: “I watched the press conference. The way you handled it was decent enough.”
“Mm.” Su Jin replied, waiting for what would come next.
“That young man who shielded you from the knife—Lin Lu’an, isn’t it, that…”
Su Jin’s voice rang out, clear and without hesitation:
“Yes, Dad. He’s my boyfriend.”
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