C17 How Can I Not Accept It?

"What do you want me to do? I left for America, heartbroken and wandering alone, just to avoid seeing you and her together. I couldn't stand being the target of everyone's judgment. Six years, six long years, and no one knows how tough it was for me in America. I finally mustered the courage to come back, only to face all this cruelty. Has anyone ever thought about me? Who understands my frustration?" Pei Xinxiao looked into his eyes, speaking each word deliberately.

As she finished, tears began to fall.

Du Zeming sighed, lowering his head in resignation.

"I just want to reclaim what's rightfully mine. There's nothing wrong with that," she said, turning to look out the window, quietly gathering her emotions.

"Xinxiao, you're not ready yet. Rushing into this will only hurt you more. Wait a while, until you're strong enough to fight back. But remember, anything that can be taken away isn't worth having."

"I know what's worth it to me, so you don't need to worry," Xinxiao replied, leaving money on the table and walking away with her head held high.

Halfway out, she stopped, her eyes still bright but her words cold and distant, "Zeming, I really misjudged you."

The wind blew gently, sending a chill through Xinxiao's heart.

What was she supposed to do now?

On the bustling streets, everything seemed unfamiliar, and in the vastness of H City, there wasn't a single place for her.

She felt so desolate. The warm home she once knew was no longer hers, and she wandered aimlessly like a fish out of water.

Pei Xinxiao had no idea how long she had been walking. When her thoughts finally cleared, she found herself in the middle of the street, a car speeding toward her...

In that instant, she heard her heartbeat, wanting to move but frozen in place.

"Watch out!" A sharp shout pierced the air, and she was tackled to the ground, rolling a few times before stopping by the roadside.

Shen Yunsheng, ignoring the pain in his arm, quickly helped her up, anxiously checking her over. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

Pei Xinxiao looked at the man who had rushed out to save her and couldn't help but laugh.

In that moment, she felt warmth. Her heart, cold for so long, was gently cradled by him, slowly reigniting...

"Xinxiao, is your head hurting?" Shen Yunsheng's face turned pale with worry as he prepared to rush her to the hospital.

Pei Xinxiao patted his shoulder, shaking her head with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"Are you really okay?" Shen Yunsheng asked, full of doubt, not quite believing her words.

Pei Xinxiao nodded firmly. "Yes, really, I'm perfectly fine." She felt no pain, no dizziness—only overwhelming gratitude.

"How could you be so careless? Do you even know where you are? Ignoring traffic rules and rushing around like that is a recipe for disaster," Shen Yunsheng said, his voice cooling as he recalled the tense situation.

Pei Xinxiao blinked her wide, curious eyes, looking puzzled. How did his mood change so quickly? He was just happy a moment ago, and now he's upset?

Seeing her standing there, adorably confused, his anger dissipated almost entirely. Softening his tone, he said, "From now on, you need to call me when you cross the street. If I find out you did it alone, you're going to be in big trouble."

Pei Xinxiao put her hands on her hips and looked at him. "Isn't this my own business? Why are you so concerned? This city isn't yours. What I do has nothing to do with you. Do you even have the right to say that?"

Her lively eyes blinked, and he felt his heart soften. Watching her assert herself, Shen Yunsheng couldn't bring himself to scold her and finally relented. "Just be careful from now on."

"Thank you, you're so good to me," Pei Xinxiao said sincerely. She thought she would always remain unchanged by others, but his actions warmed her heart instantly.

Shen Yunsheng gently patted her head and took her hand as they headed home. Pei Xinxiao didn’t resist; feeling isolated and vulnerable, she especially longed for someone to help her at that moment.

Cradling a warm glass of milk, she nestled comfortably on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. After dealing with unresolved issues from the office, Shen Yunsheng emerged from the study holding a dark purple folder.

“This is the beginning,” Shen Yunsheng said ambiguously as he sat across from her. She looked at him, puzzled, and he gestured for her to open the folder.

Confused, she opened it but quickly shut it again, firmly refusing, “Thank you for your kindness, but I can’t accept this.”

Shen Yunsheng glanced at her, his voice steady and unyielding, “Why not?”