Several days earlier, Shi Qianyu had given Xiao Xiao a rough rundown of the situation over the phone.
The two had been good friends since their student days. Later, one became a director and stayed in the country while the other became a lawyer and went abroad for further studies. They hadn’t crossed paths much in recent years, but their bond remained as strong as ever.
Shi Qianyu wasn’t comfortable entrusting Wen Xin’s troubles to just anyone. Fortunately, Xiao Xiao had returned to the country over the past couple of years and started her own law firm. Shi Qianyu trusted this old friend implicitly, making her the perfect person to ask for help.
They had agreed to meet at the company. Shi Qianyu had originally planned to introduce Xiao Xiao to Wen Xin once she had adjusted her mood and returned to work, but this snag had gotten in the way.
Well, in that case, they might as well meet together.
“Lawyer?” Auntie blinked in confusion at the word. Her bluster fizzled for a few seconds before roaring back to life. “Who sent you? That little brat Wen Xin, right?”
“Fine then—we busted our asses raising you, and this is how you repay us, you ungrateful wretch. What, you gonna sue us? You think…”
She launched into another endless tirade of curses.
Shi Qianyu cut her off with a cold voice. “This has nothing to do with Wen Xin. I called in Lawyer Xiao.”
“You?” Beside her, Uncle—who had stayed silent until now—finally spoke up, clearly baffled. “Director Shi, we’ve got no beef with you. What’s this about?”
Uncle seemed reluctant to let things blow up bigger. Uncle shot Auntie a subtle glance, signaling her to pipe down. “Is there some mix-up here? We didn’t come to make a scene—we just want an explanation. This is between us and Wen Xin. You’re an outsider; no need to wade into these muddy waters.”
“Outsider?” Shi Qianyu shot back, arching an eyebrow. “On a professional level, Wen Xin’s my subordinate. I pay her to work for me, and she’s supposed to deliver results in return. But you’ve been harassing her, leaving her too rattled to perform. If she slips up on the job because of it, who’s footing the bill for the losses?”
“On a personal level, she’s a close friend. I can’t just stand by while you harass and shake her down endlessly. I’ve got to do what I can to help.”
“On top of that, you’ve insulted my other employees and trashed company property on purpose. The security cameras caught every bit of your nonsense. If this goes to court, it’ll all be evidence.”
…Was she for real? Was it actually that serious?
Uncle and Auntie both looked visibly panicked.
“If that’s all, please leave now.” Shi Qianyu had no interest in talking further and ushered them out. “Keep hanging around, and I’ll call security.”
With that, she turned to Wen Xin and Xiao Xiao at her side, something she wanted to discuss with them. “Too many eyes and ears here. Let’s head to the break room.”
“Hey!” Uncle panicked and grabbed Wen Xin’s arm on instinct.
The touch filled Wen Xin with disgust and alarm. She yanked her arm free in reflex.
The move made Uncle lose face on the spot, but Uncle didn’t snap back. Instead, Uncle plastered on a kindly, obsequious smile. “Listen, Wenwen—we were just messing around. No need to take it seriously.”
“Uncle and Auntie are getting on in years. Folks get foggy-headed at our age, falling for some busybody’s lies. There’s no real bad blood between us, right?”
“Say what you will, we watched you grow up. We poured years into raising you—no merit maybe, but plenty of sweat. For your late parents’ sake alone, you could cut us some slack.”
Late parents.
Wen Xin bit down hard on her lower lip. The memory of that day was still fresh—even now. They’d hurled abuse at her, and they’d gone after her deceased parents too. Her mom and dad had lived kindly, helping Uncle and Auntie’s family out of the blue more than once while they were alive. No one deserved the venom they’d spewed, no matter what.
Uncle kept on wheedling. “Wenwen, Uncle and Auntie are heading home. Just tell the lawyer it’s water under the bridge, okay? We’re your elders, after all. Can’t be too…”
Wen Xin shook her head, cutting Uncle off. “No.”
Uncle froze. “What?”
Wen Xin repeated clearly, “No.”
Uncle clearly hadn’t expected the pushback. Uncle’s face hardened in an instant, the fake smile crumbling. “Fine. You win. You’re the tough one.”
“Broke a few things, yelled a bit—we’re in the wrong. Lock me up for a few days if you want. What’re you gonna do? I’m all in!”
“Let’s go!” The whispers from the gathered employees made Uncle’s embarrassment burn hotter. Uncle grabbed Auntie and bolted. “We’re out—home!”
Their voices and footsteps faded away.
“Show’s over, everyone. Back to work.” Shi Qianyu dispersed the onlookers. She comforted the receptionist they’d shoved to the ground earlier and offered compensation. Once that was sorted, she returned to Wen Xin’s side.
“It’s over.” Shi Qianyu gripped Wen Xin’s hand tight as she spoke.
This was the first time they’d held hands at the office, right there under their colleagues’ stares. Wen Xin had always dreaded those looks before—slander, gossip, any bad fallout that might drag her or Shi Qianyu into needless trouble.
She used to be such a timid, cowardly sort.
But in that moment when she’d mustered the guts to say “No,” something inside her had shifted quietly. All the scars she’d buried deep were ripped open and bleeding for the world to see. She should’ve been freaking out, lost, crushed. Yet with Shi Qianyu right there, she realized it wasn’t half as bad as she’d feared.
She could handle it. The worst was behind her now. Things could only look up from here—nothing could top this low.
And so she gripped Shi Qianyu’s hand right back, just as firmly.
~~~
After a thorough discussion, Wen Xin signed the retainer agreement with Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao asked about a great many things—some Wen Xin hated dredging up—but she held nothing back.
Shi Qianyu stayed glued to her side the whole time. By the end of the hour-and-a-half session, Wen Xin felt stripped bare, every ugly shadow from her past laid out raw before Shi Qianyu.
She didn’t dare meet Shi Qianyu’s eyes. She knew Shi Qianyu wouldn’t sneer or tear her down like others had in the past, but that didn’t make it easier.
Maybe it was just that Shi Qianyu meant so much to her. She wanted Shi Qianyu to see her best side, not the shameful, murky bits.
Once Xiao Xiao had gone, Wen Xin didn’t budge. She sank back onto the sofa like a punctured balloon and sat in heavy silence for a long, long while.
Shi Qianyu said nothing, just held her close with downcast eyes. Shi Qianyu’s arms were warm around her, heartbeat steady and strong. Shi Qianyu’s soft palm stroked her back in soothing passes, each one pure tenderness.
Wen Xin settled without realizing it, though she kept her gaze dropped, avoiding Shi Qianyu’s face. At last she murmured, “I’ve put you out. Made you see all my worst sides.”
“Thank you for stepping in—for bringing Lawyer Xiao especially.” Her thanks came earnest and heartfelt. “A-Yu, you’re too good to me. I don’t deserve it; I don’t even know how to pay you back.”
“How can I make it up to you?” She whispered into Shi Qianyu’s embrace. In that instant, she wished she were rich, accomplished—able to hand Shi Qianyu anything her heart desired, repaying every kindness in full.
But she wasn’t. She had zilch. Wen Xin racked her brain for something—anything—that might please Shi Qianyu.
At last, the woman before her spoke softly. “In that case, Sister—look up at me.”
“Okay.” Wen Xin didn’t get it but lifted her chin. “Now what?”
Shi Qianyu pressed her forehead to Wen Xin’s. “Give me a kiss?”
Wen Xin blinked. “That’s it?”
“Yep.” Shi Qianyu smiled. “Not allowed?”
Of course it was.
Wen Xin brushed her lips against Shi Qianyu’s—soft, deliberate, lingering. “More?”
“There is.” Shi Qianyu grinned, pushing her luck with shameless greed.
Wen Xin tensed up, bracing herself mentally.
But Shi Qianyu didn’t press. She just made the simplest request, voice gentle.
“Tonight, after goodnight—give me one more hug.”
“Okay?”
