Having been brothers for so many years, this was the first time Fu Xiao had ever seen Shang Che looking so hesitant and timid.
He looked nothing like the ruthless, decisive man he was in Jingcheng.
Watching Li Li get into her car, Fu Xiao turned back, gloating, "Who would have thought that our famous Master Che could be so henpecked by his—hey, where are you going?!"
Shang Che, who had been motionless until now, blew past Fu Xiao like a gust of wind, snatching the last remaining car key from his hand as he went.
On that lonely, rainy night, the only response he got was the man’s cold, retreating back.
"Damn it all!"
"There were only two cars, and you two took them both, leaving me to walk back?!"
Fu Xiao cursed and took off in pursuit, the noble young prince casting all concern for the torrential rain aside.
A policeman behind him caught up, holding out his coat. "Young Master Fu, your jacket."
"Keep it as a souvenir; I don't want it anymore!"
Fu Xiao charged into the downpour, wailing as he watched Shang Che drive away. "You bastard! You piece of trash! I didn't even get in the car yet, hey!!!!"
In the pouring rain, the only answer he received was the splash of oily water from the tires.
Drenched and disheveled, Fu Xiao stood still. "..."
To hell with brotherhood.
I’m breaking ties with you!
Breaking ties!!!!
Ten minutes later, a police car, siren blaring, pulled out of the station.
Fu Xiao sat in the backseat, clutching his coat and shivering.
"Is being dumped at a police station supposed to be some kind of honor?"
Fu Xiao’s face was cold, his freshly dyed chestnut-brown hair plastered to his cheeks as if he’d been ravished. "Should you buy two strings of firecrackers and set them off all the way home, too?"
The officer in front said nothing, silently turning off the blaring siren.
The world returned to silence. A moment later, Fu Xiao let out a sharp, "Damn it!"
A series of colorful language erupted from the backseat.
The officer: "..."
Graceful. Truly graceful.
Li Li realized she was being followed halfway home.
The supercar behind her was identical to her own in every way, down to the license plate, which differed by only one digit.
It was rumored that the Young Master of the Fu Family had a peculiar obsession: he liked to buy the same car in every color and line them up at home.
The car followed her at a steady, close distance all the way back to her mansion.
Before turning into the gate, Li Li pulled over.
The car behind her stopped as well.
The door opened, and Shang Che stepped out from the driver’s seat, striding toward her.
Li Li rolled down the window, refusing to look at the man’s anxious expression.
Before he could speak, she cut him off. "You can go back now."
Shang Che stared at the damp corners of her eyes, his heart twisting in a knot.
He reached out, wanting to wipe the moisture away.
Li Li didn’t give him the chance; she started her car and pulled into the mansion grounds.
As the gate closed, Shang Che heard her cold, clear voice: "Eight o'clock tomorrow. Don't be late."
The faint words reached his ears, sending an electric current through his very bones.
Shang Che stood frozen.
After a moment of shock, a surge of overwhelming joy washed over him.
Had she agreed to marry him?
His chest heaved with emotion. The dark look in Shang Che’s eyes was eclipsed by sheer exhilaration, and it felt almost surreal.
This was indeed the outcome he had calculated for every step of the way, but she was the only variable.
Now that the outcome was certain, the joy hit him harder than he had ever imagined.
As soon as she arrived home, Li Li threw herself into the bathroom. Only when the warm water of the tub began to envelop her did she feel the tangible sensation that she was still alive.
She quickly replayed everything that had happened today in her mind.
Li Li chose to work backward.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Qin Jia’s number. Before she could even speak, the woman’s concerned voice came through: "Are you hurt?"
"Why did it take you so long to answer?"
"You scared me to death. If you hadn't picked up, I would have stormed over to your place."
"Hey, why is there a car parked outside your house?"
"Is that the Fu family prince’s license plate?"
Shang Che hadn't left?
The thought crossed Li Li’s mind, but the business at hand was more important; he would probably leave soon.
"There was an accident, but I’m fine."
Thinking of Shang Che outside, Li Li didn’t want him to see Qin Jia. "Don't come over. I’m not sure if he’s a friend or a foe, so don’t expose yourself."
On the other end of the line, Li Li heard the sound of a motorcycle engine being cut.
Qin Jia replied, "Got it. I also think this Shang Che isn't simple, so we should be careful."
"I watched the surveillance footage of today's accident. The assistant next to him looked familiar, but I can't place him right now."
"Regardless of anything else, his driving skills are clearly not that of a 'useless playboy' as the rumors suggest. To have survived for so many years in a hellhole like Jingcheng and returned to the Shang family unscathed—at the very least, he isn’t some brainless fool."
Li Li had already realized this.
He was far from a fool; Shang Che was incredibly capable.
Just mentioning him gave her a headache.
"Let’s not talk about that for now. Help me look into the mastermind behind today’s accident."
"I'm already on it. I’ve traced a bit of information; I’ll send you the results once I’ve confirmed them."
After hanging up, Li Li pondered for a moment before searching for Shang Che’s name on her phone.
Unsurprisingly, all she found were negative news reports.
Endless scandals over the years, and the reports from back then about how he’d caused a death and been cast out to Jingcheng by the Shang family.
Li Li looked at the name of the woman involved in the accident, took a screenshot, and sent it to Qin Jia: [Check this person out.]
Qin Jia: [? Are you interested in women too?]
Li Li: [.. See if I'm interested in you.]
There was no further reply.
After showering, Li Li stepped out of the bathroom, hesitating over whether to call Ji Huaiyan.
Movement sounded outside.
Before she could become alert, she saw Old Madam Li being pushed in by Shen Xiao.
"Grandmother?"
Li Li hadn't expected Old Madam Li to appear here.
Her eyes grew tense. "Why are you out?"
With her health, being out of the hospital was dangerous.
The old madam looked at her with equal anxiety, pulling her in to check her from head to toe, her voice raspy: "Are you hurt?"
Li Li looked at Shen Xiao.
The latter nodded to her and explained, "Tonight’s multi-vehicle pileup hit the trending topics."
The rain today was the heaviest Wucheng had seen in a decade, and the accident involving over twenty cars in the city center had drawn massive attention.
The old madam had a habit of checking the news, and Li Li’s car—one of a kind in the world—was too conspicuous to miss.
When Li Li didn’t answer her phone, the old madam became desperate, ignoring the doctors' protests and urging Shen Xiao to find news of her.
After several attempts to reach the police, even after hearing that Li Li was safe and had returned home, the old madam still couldn't rest. She braved the heavy rain and had Shen Xiao bring her over, insisting on verifying for herself that Li Li was unharmed.
As sharp as the old woman was, how could she not see that this was a man-made accident targeting Li Li?
Li Li rarely saw such tears and panic in the old lady’s eyes, and her gaze softened. She squatted down in front of her.
"Grandmother, I’m fine."
"Look, I’m perfectly fine and healthy right in front of you."
Realizing she had lost her composure, Old Madam Li turned away to wipe her eyes, feigning severity: "You were home, so why were you going to the airport?"
That road led to the airport, the complete opposite direction of Li Li’s mansion.
Clearly, the old lady had guessed what Li Li had intended to do.