Volume One, Chapter 19: Heard Everything I Shouldn't Have

The police officer continued questioning, “Did you manage to record any videos? Or was there any footage from surveillance cameras?”

At that moment, Wen Yang felt both fortunate and frustrated, lowering her eyes and shaking her head.

“If the circumstances are serious, it could lead to a fixed-term imprisonment, but it depends on the actual situation…” The officer hesitated, trailing off without finishing the sentence, but Wen Yang understood the implication.

“Thank you,” Wen Yang replied.

Before she turned away, Pei Yanchuan stepped forward and strode out, pulling another phone from his pocket to make a call.

Director Song, passing by them, wondered why he had turned back and was about to greet him again, but was stopped in his tracks by Pei Yanchuan’s dark, piercing gaze.

Wen Yang emerged, feeling disheartened and conflicted, unsure whether she should return to the dark garage to look for her phone.

But recalling what had just happened made her hesitate.

While she was debating, she spotted the Cullinan parked by the roadside.

Next to the car door stood a tall, upright figure, speaking on the phone.

Noticing her approach, Pei Yanchuan slowly extended his hand from his pocket, shaking a phone in it.

Wen Yang narrowed her eyes—it was hers!

What kind of character was this man? He’d found her phone but hadn’t returned it when they were sitting in the convenience store.

“Yeah, the sooner the better,” Pei Yanchuan’s gaze locked onto Wen Yang as she drew closer. He pressed the end call button, ending the conversation.

A pale, delicate palm opened in front of him. He didn’t react, as if not understanding what she meant.

Wen Yang spoke up, “My phone. Give it back.”

Pei Yanchuan looked at the right side of her face; the redness and swelling from the ointment had lessened considerably.

“Why didn’t you ask me for help back in the garage?” He leaned forward, idly playing with her phone.

Wen Yang frowned, meeting his lowered gaze in such close proximity.

She wanted to refuse to answer but saw in his eyes a clear message: if she didn’t answer, she wouldn’t get her phone back.

After two seconds of silence, Wen Yang reluctantly began to recount, “You said yourself, you wouldn’t help me with any of my troubles anymore.”

Indeed, that was the harsh remark he had made when he was displeased.

Pei Yanchuan arched an eyebrow, straightened up, and returned to his usual nonchalant demeanor. “You remember my words so clearly?”

He mockingly applauded, clapping his hands with a trace of sarcasm, “Impressive. Standing alone against five, yet still so concerned about face.”

It wasn’t just about pride; he had said those words himself, and now he was turning around and mocking her concern for face.

Wen Yang was speechless, rolling her eyes and muttering softly, “Your face sure has become…”

Before she could finish her complaint, Pei Yanchuan’s hand suddenly reached out toward her.

Wen Yang instinctively stepped back, her heel catching on the curb.

As she lost balance, a hand slipped around her waist, steadying her.

The touch on her waist was intense and unmistakable.

“What are you dodging?” Pei Yanchuan glanced down at her.

After she regained her footing, the hand around her waist withdrew, and the other hand that had just stretched out now held her phone.

He handed the phone back lightly and added, “You refuse to hear what you should, but take in everything you shouldn’t.”

What did he mean by “refuse to hear what you should”?

Not wanting to argue further, he circled to the back and got into the car.

Assistant Xiao Yuan, seated in the driver’s seat, was especially attentive, getting out to open the door for her respectfully. “Miss Wen, please.”

Wen Yang hadn’t expected such kindness and stood still, hesitant.

Pei Yanchuan’s cold voice came from inside the car: “If you want to meet a few more thugs and heroically poke their eyes out…”

“Goodbye, no see you off.”

It was nearly midnight, and apart from the streetlights, the entire avenue seemed swallowed by the night, silent and still.

Wen Yang pondered for a moment.

There’s a saying: one who doesn’t seize an opportunity is a scoundrel.

She bent slightly and climbed into the car. “Please take me to Xuancheng University. Thank you.”

Xiao Yuan returned to the driver’s seat, glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror, and, seeing no objections, started driving quietly.

The car cruised steadily through the night.

Pei Yanchuan’s phone in his pocket rang.

He checked the caller ID and answered.

The voice on the other end was heavy and spoke right away, “I heard you went to the police station. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You and Aunt Xu really gave us a scare.”

Pei Yanchuan glanced subtly at Wen Yang, his tone impatient: “No need to worry unnecessarily.”

After a short conversation, he hung up, and the car fell silent again.

Wen Yang turned her head and looked out the window; the neon lights streamed past like flowing ribbons, swiftly flashing through the night.

This didn’t seem to be the way back to school…

She looked at Pei Yanchuan in confusion and repeated her request to Xiao Yuan, “Please just take me back to school.”

Xiao Yuan awkwardly pushed up his glasses without responding, glancing secretly at Pei Yanchuan in the rearview mirror.

Without instructions from his boss, he was uncertain how to act.

He smiled helplessly, attempting to ease the tension inside the car. “Miss Wen, I…”

“I’m going back to the resort, not on the way to your school,” Pei Yanchuan interrupted.

His expression was indifferent, posture relaxed, tone casual.

Wen Yang frowned slightly. “If it’s not on the way, why did you call me into the car?”

Pei Yanchuan rested one hand on the window edge, tilting his head to look at her, his brow lifting slightly. “When did I call you into the car?”

Wen Yang: ?

Xiao Yuan: ?

For a moment, the three were speechless, especially Xiao Yuan, who had just opened the door for Wen Yang and now felt like sitting on pins and needles.

“Fine.” Wen Yang was annoyed but forced a smile.

After all, he had stayed late at the police station taking her statement because of her.

“Please drop me off at the next intersection…”

She was cut off mid-sentence by another incoming call.

Pei Yanchuan answered. “What’s the update?”

On the other end, Han Ting had just seen off a group of important guests and finally got a chance to call him.

“How are things on your end? Is everything settled? I’ve already seen everyone off happily…”

“Hm? What now? Did the negotiation fail?” Pei Yanchuan’s gaze briefly swept over Wen Yang, his face expressionless as he began to fabricate a story.

The words “negotiation failed” caught Wen Yang’s ear, and she involuntarily looked up at Pei Yanchuan.

He furrowed his brow slightly, with a trace of regret in his tone. “Alright, I understand. Then put the loss on the company’s accounts.”

Han Ting: “...Are your ears malfunctioning? Or is the signal bad? I said I’ve handled them! Handled them!”

Han Ting’s rough voice penetrated the phone, forcing Pei Yanchuan to move the phone slightly away from his ear before decisively pressing the hang-up button.

Han Ting, after being hung up on: ...

What is this guy playing at?

The atmosphere in the car grew subtly tense after this interruption.

After a moment of silence, Pei Yanchuan slowly closed his eyes, his tone slightly weary.

“I played the role of a brave citizen today.”

“Letting my business negotiations tonight go to waste.”

The words sounded regretful.

Xiao Yuan in the driver’s seat thought silently: Do you really believe those words yourself?

Wen Yang pressed her lips and apologized softly.

Hearing this, Pei Yanchuan glanced over carelessly, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “Apologize? What good will that do?”

“Better yet.”

“Help me boost my sales tonight.”