An entirely unfamiliar voice.
Li Li, like a fawn that had stumbled into a wolf’s den, snapped her eyes open in sudden alarm.
Within her field of vision was the man’s bobbing Adam’s apple. Above her, his low, resonant voice rumbled: "I couldn't ask for anything more."
Li Li: "Huh??"
What kind of drama had she walked into this time?
The person sleeping in his arms had suddenly made a sound, and Shang Che went visibly tense.
His arms, which held her, gave a noticeable tremor.
The man opposite them watched the scene with a playful expression.
So, you finally have your day.
Shang Che shot him a lethal glare before looking down at the person in his arms.
Li Li yawned, the corners of her eyes flushed, looking like a little fox: "Put me down."
Shang Che: "..."
Better when she was asleep.
He didn't let go, just stared at her: "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Yes," Li Li said honestly. "Being held by you is very uncomfortable."
The worry in Shang Che's eyes vanished, replaced by three black lines appearing on his forehead.
"Pfft—"
"..."
The ill-timed laughter was jarring. Li Li and Shang Che wore identical scowls.
The man opposite them, seeing the young couple glaring at him, arched a brow.
Ignoring Shang Che’s warning look, he reached out toward Li Li: "Third Sister-in-law, we meet again."
Fu Xiao grinned, looking as flamboyant as a peacock: "Let me introduce myself formally. I’m Fu Xiao. I don’t have a nickname, just use my full name."
Wherever Shang Che was, Fu Xiao haunted him. If Li Li didn't know why Fu Xiao was here by now, she would be a fool.
She turned her head away aloofly, pretending not to see him: "My hand hurts, I can't shake yours."
Fu Xiao: "?"
Who was he?
He was Fu Xiao!
Where in the world was his face not treated like a star’s?
Fu Xiao glared at Shang Che: "Your wife is really picking on me."
The doting look in Shang Che’s eyes was enough to drown someone.
He looked at the person in his arms with a smile and nodded in agreement: "A girl needs to protect herself when she’s out and about."
Fu Xiao: "..."
Li Li... he couldn't bring himself to hit her, and he couldn't scold her.
Shang Che took all the hits, including the ones meant for Li Li.
"Mr. Shang, you..."
The policeman who had just walked in started to speak, only to receive a warning look from Shang Che.
The man shook his head silently and looked at Fu Xiao.
The latter stood up proactively.
Li Li had buried her head in Shang Che’s chest, but hearing the commotion, she peeked out. She saw Fu Xiao gesturing to the police officer.
The officer approached, holding a stack of files, looking at Shang Che uncertainly.
Only after a silent gesture from the man did he confidently turn toward Fu Xiao.
Only then did Li Li realize they were currently at the police station.
Following the police officer were several traffic police officers.
Seeing the crowd nearby stealing glances at them, Li Li patted Shang Che’s shoulder and frowned at him.
Shang Che glared at the swarming crowd by the door, then, with great reluctance, set his wife down. He grabbed Fu Xiao’s high-end coat from the chair, placed it on the seat for her, and only then let her sit.
Fu Xiao, who was negotiating with the police, caught a glimpse of this from the corner of his eye and closed his eyes in despair.
Was he some kind of pathetic creature?
A man named Shang, in the middle of a romance, uses his newly bought coat to cushion his wife’s bottom?
He hasn't even won her over yet and he's already using his coat to cushion her seat—what would he do if he actually won her?
Use his own face?
That was too insulting.
"Mr. Fu?"
"If everything is correct, please sign here."
Pulled back to reality, Fu Xiao nodded in resignation, took the papers, and signed them with a few quick strokes.
The traffic police walked in and handed over the report on liability.
"Based on the surveillance footage and the scene of the accident, we have determined that the primary responsible party is the vehicle driving against traffic. Mr. Shang, you were speeding in the rain and performed an illegal lane change; you bear secondary liability."
"The driver of the offending vehicle is currently in critical condition at the hospital. You will need to bear half the responsibility for the damages to the vehicles and the victim's losses."
Before Shang Che could speak, Fu Xiao raised his hand: "I’ll handle it. Whatever the compensation is, come to me."
Li Li couldn't help but glance at Fu Xiao, who was busy cleaning up someone else’s mess. A flash of suspicion crossed her eyes.
Even if it were said that Shang Che was hated by everyone in Wucheng, why did the heir to the Fu Family act as if he took orders from him?
If she hadn't heard wrong, the police had also addressed Shang Che respectfully the moment they entered.
Li Li couldn't help but turn her head to look at the man beside her, who was lounging in his chair, looking entirely detached from the situation.
She turned, only to be met by his burning gaze.
She looked away unobtrusively, but she could hear the pounding of her own heart.
Taking advantage of the moment Shang Che was signing the papers, Li Li’s crisp voice rang out: "May I see the surveillance footage of the scene?"
Shang Che’s pen paused. Everyone looked at him in unison.
Li Li was also watching him.
She confirmed it: everyone was waiting for his signal.
Only after the man gave an almost imperceptible nod did Li Li hear the officer say: "No problem, please come this way."
Li Li slid Shang Che’s coat off her shoulders, took a subtle look at him as she stood up, and walked after the officer.
Fu Xiao and the others stared intently at her back.
As she stepped out the door, Li Li slowed her pace.
She heard Fu Xiao’s gloating voice behind her: "Yo, yo, yo, your wife is suspicious of you."
Shang Che: "..."
Li Li watched the entire surveillance recording, seeing how Shang Che had suddenly turned his car around at the intersection and followed her the whole way.
At the exact moment the oncoming vehicle rushed straight at her, he had accelerated and swerved his car to block it.
Had there been the slightest error in his operation, they would have hit head-on, and no one in Shang Che’s car would have survived.
Li Li zoomed in on the footage. She clearly saw that at the moment of impact, Shang Che had steered his car to the side, using the right flank to ram the front of the oncoming vehicle.
In the end, it was the rear of his car that took the full force of the collision.
The entire right side and rear of Shang Che’s car were reduced to a pile of scrap metal.
The oncoming car was even worse; its front end was pulverized, and the engine had been knocked out. The driver likely wouldn't survive.
Leaving the surveillance room, Li Li didn't know how to describe her current mood.
There was no doubt about it—Shang Che had gambled his life for hers.
Why?
Li Li didn't understand. She had only met him three times. Although they had slept together, they both knew it was just an accident.
She didn't think she was worth him risking his life to protect.
And if he truly wanted to protect her, why had he tampered with the afternoon's surveillance footage to erase the part involving Li Xiang?
Shang Che, what exactly are you trying to do?
Li Li walked with her head down, not noticing the person standing in front of her until she bumped into his solid, muscular chest.
Shang Che reached out to hold her, wanting to show concern as he saw her distracted.
Li Li brushed his hand away unobtrusively and took a step back.
Meeting her cold, indifferent gaze, Shang Che’s hand froze in mid-air.
A flash of panic crossed his eyes.
But Li Li said: "You crashed into them to protect me. I will pay for the costs of this accident."
After speaking, she walked past him toward the exit, ignoring the words he seemed about to say.
Shang Che panicked slightly.
He hurried after her and took her hand: "I’ll take you home."
Li Li pulled her hand away and forced a polite, distant smile: "Thank you, I can manage on my own."
Facing Shang Che, Li Li felt a chaotic mess of emotions.
She needed time to sort out everything that had happened today.
Watching Li Li leave, Shang Che looked at Fu Xiao, who was standing to the side, enjoying the show.
The latter quickly hid his smile and trotted after Li Li: "This is my car. Take it, and when you have time, you can drive it back to me."
Li Li didn't move.
Fu Xiao quickly added: "Brother Yan specifically told me to take good care of you."
Li Li was silent for a moment before she reached out and took the keys: "Thank you."
Fu Xiao pulled a stiff smile: "You’re welcome."
He looked back at Shang Che, who was standing where he was, wanting to approach but not daring to. His eyes were full of sympathy.
It’s going to be a long road to win her heart, brother.