"What are you waiting for?"

  Ke Xiang was lying on Shen Hui's stomach like a small cat, seeing Shen Hui take out his phone and put it on the table, but he didn't call anyone. At first, she thought Shen Hui was considering calling someone to settle this matter, but after waiting for half an hour, seeing Shen Hui holding his head and lying on the bed almost asleep, she realized that he was just waiting for someone to call him.

  Shen Huai looked at his phone, which was still silent, then glanced at his watch and said, "It's not even 10 o'clock yet, it's still early." Seeing Kou Xuan trying to climb onto his stomach again, he couldn't help but say, "Since I've already told you to stop interfering, don't try to play tricks on me anymore. I'm not interested in a naive kid like you." He stared into Kou Xuan's eyes and continued, "I really don't understand, if you're really 16 years old, how can you be so calculating? Aren't you afraid that I might actually do something to you, and then just pat your butt and leave?"

  "I've already said it, I like you. If you don't believe me, then take me now?" Kou Xuan shifted her body upwards, leaning against Shen Hua's chest, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him, with an expression that seemed to say "try me".

  Shen Huai reached out and pinched her tender cheeks, which were so delicate they seemed to be dripping with water. Looking into her eyes, he saw a maturity that belied her age, yet also a childlike dependence. He let out a gentle sigh and said, "Why don't you just be my little sister, like Xiao Li? Go back to school and study hard, okay?"

  "I'm not like Xiao Li, I've wasted so much time and can't calm down to go back to school; you don't want me, I don't know if I'll come find you in a few days," Kou Xuan said dejectedly. She opened Shen Hua's arm and leaned on it, her body curled up as she spoke. "I really envy Xiao Li, that time when the big snow fell, seeing you rub Xiao Li's head like an older brother, I was so envious to death. But I also know I'm not as lucky as her. My requirements for you aren't many, I can work to support myself, and you occasionally come visit me, okay?"

  "Suit yourself, you can still be friends with Little Li, that way you should be able to see me too. However, the thoughts in your mind and the tactics you've learned from society, it's best not to use them on Little Li..."

  "You don't want me, it's not that I'm not pretty, nor is it because you're afraid of Chen Dan knowing; are you afraid that Xiao Li will be sad if she finds out?" Kou Xuan asked.

  Kou Xuan's straightforward words made Shen Huai feel a bit awkward: as an adult, he had a more vulgar view of relationships between men and women. Chen Dan might be able to tolerate his infidelity, but the innocent Xiao Li would never accept that he was having an affair with Chen Dan while also messing around with her good friend Kou Xuan.

  "What's the point of talking so much nonsense?" Shen Huan glared at Kou Xuan with a look of exasperation, thinking that this young girl was as cunning as a demon and deciding it would be better to keep his distance from her in the future.

  At this time, the mobile phone started to vibrate. Shen Hua leaned over and picked up the phone, seeing that it was an unfamiliar number. He answered the call, which turned out to be Yang Lili's voice, whom he had been waiting for.

  On the other end of the phone, Yang Lili's voice was also somewhat anxious, saying: "Secretary Shen, I'm really sorry. My child has been ill for a few days and I took some time off without going to work at Ying Huang. The girl you liked last time seems to have agreed to go down (to the countryside) and received 4,000 yuan from someone. I just found out about this news now. That girl's grandfather passed away a few days ago, she took a few days off, but she should have come back to work yesterday. I don't know if she changed her mind or what happened, but until now she hasn't shown up..."

  "Oh, you know who she looks like?" Shen Huan asked.

  "It's just that General Manager Dai, who often comes to Ying Huang with Gao Gongzi, has put a lot of thought into that girl and seems determined to get her. At this time, the girl hasn't arrived yet, but General Manager Dai is already throwing a tantrum at Ying Huang and has smashed up the private room. Wang Zong just sent someone to find that girl," said Yang Lili, "I think..."

  Shen Huan asked as he listened to Yang Lili's hesitant tone over the phone, "What is it, just say it."

  "There are some pretty girls in Ying Huang, Secretary Shen, if you like them, you don't have to compete with Director Dai for that girl, after all, she has received money from others." Yang Lili said on the phone.

  Shen Huai said to Yang Lili, "I know, is there anything else? You can call me anytime," and hung up the phone. Looking at Kou Xuan, he said, "You really know how to get me into trouble. Are you staying here? Does the British royal family know?"

  "You should know, I was looking for a house with a girl, and we were planning to live together." Kou Xuan said.

  "I don't know whether to say you're clever or stupid," Shen Huai said irritably, "but if there's something you need to take, hurry up and pack it, let's go." Kou Xuan had shown wisdom beyond her years in this matter, but many things were still handled poorly due to her lack of experience, full of loopholes everywhere.

  "Are you also afraid of Director Dai?" Kou Xuan saw Shen Huai suggest running away and became a bit flustered.

  "You," Shen Huan knew that this little girl was digging a hole for him to jump into, and he glared at her, saying, "Wang Ziliang sent people over to find you, they're all street thugs, I'm slender and weak, how can I fight them? Of course, only a good man wouldn't take advantage of the situation. And if you don't tell me what's going on later, I'll drive you to Ying Huang and leave you there, I won't care whether you live or die!"

  Shen Huai and Kou Xuan had just stepped out the door to go downstairs when they heard several people coming up from below, thudding loudly. Shen Huai pulled Kou Xuan back onto the stairs with a reverse grip and hid upstairs, holding their breath.

  At the time of the stairs, vaguely saw three big men running past, kicking open the door of Kou Xian's rented house, seeing no one in the room, and turning to run downstairs again; listening to them scolding and seemingly knowing where Kou Xian's relatives lived, wanting to rush over to catch people.

  Ke Xuan's body was pressed against his, and Shen Huai could feel her heart racing wildly. In the dim light, he glared at her and scolded in a low voice, "You're afraid now?" But seeing her curled up like a cat in his arms, feeling the warmth of her body, he felt a pang in his heart and said, "Don't move, I'll go down first. If you don't hear any noise, then come downstairs..."

  Shen Huai came down first and saw that the three people who had rushed upstairs to catch someone earlier got into a Santana and drove out of the compound.

  Shen Huai confirmed there was no danger before driving the car to the entrance of the stairs and picking up Kou Xuan.

  Kou Xuan hadn't experienced such a scene before and was still in shock, so she asked: "They ran to my little aunt's house to find me, what do I do now?"

  Shen Huai drove the car out of the residential area and stopped by the side of the road, asking Kou Xuan: "Where does your aunt live?"

  "Tianxin Lake, third group," Kou Xuan said.

  Shen Huai nodded and picked up the phone to dial Liu Wei's home number.

  Liu Weiguo happened to be at home, and the time was urgent. Shen Hua had a brief conversation with him on the phone, saying directly: "Old Liu, I just received a tip that a case of forced prostitution of a young girl is happening. The source of the clue, I can't tell you, and you can't let this matter out. Pretend you don't know anything about it, and immediately bring the police to patrol near Tianxin Lake Sanzu..."

  Liu Weiguo didn't ask many questions over the phone and immediately got up to make arrangements.

  Not long after Shen Hua hung up the phone, Yang Lili's call came in again, her voice somewhat anxious, saying: "That girl should be regretful, Wang Zong's people didn't find anyone in the house she rented, now they're rushing to her relative's house to look for someone. Looking at Dai Zong's side, it seems like they won't give up until they see the person..."

  "Ah," Shen Hua said to Yang Lili in a flat tone, "Since Wang Ziliang has made such a big fuss, it seems that the one surnamed Dai is really serious about that girl. I won't compete with Director Dai anymore. Tell Wang Ziliang that another day he should remember to compensate me with two fresh goods..."

  "Director Shen, I really didn't discuss anything with Wang Zong this time. Wang Ziliang doesn't know that I made this call. It's just... it's just..." Yang Lili stammered on the other end of the phone.

  "What's going on?" Shen Hua asked.

  "That girl is quite good..." Yang Lili said regretfully on the other end of the phone.

  "Oh, it's fallen into my hands and can't be wasted?" Shen Huai smiled and said, "If you really think that girl is a waste for the surname Dai, then report it! I won't stop you." Seeing Kou Xuan lean over to eavesdrop, he stretched out his hand and pressed her little head back.

  Shen Huai hung up the phone, and Kou Xuan asked: "Who is she?"

  "You dug such a big hole for me to jump into, don't you know who she is?" Shen Huan retorted, "I still can't trust her now, nor will I unconditionally trust you."

  "I," Kou Xuan said with a hint of resentment, her eyes reddening, "I was willing to give up at first, but Grandfather couldn't make it in time for the surgery. I regretted it, but since I had already taken the money, I couldn't back out. What could I do? When I went to find Xiao Li today, did you think I still had much hope in my heart? I just wanted to grab onto that last straw before drowning. And I didn't expect your help for free either; I had already stripped myself bare, but you refused, and now you're blaming me?"

  Looking at Kou Xuan's tears falling down, Shen Hui felt quite helpless. It was really not suitable for a little girl to talk about human transactions, and in the end, he would only end up being wronged. He reached out to wipe away the tears on her face and said, "Okay, don't cry. This isn't your fault. However, you should tell me directly, it would be better that way..."

  "What should we do now?" Kou Xuan asked.

  "Am I not already a reporter?" Shen Huan said, "However, the whole thing has blown up and will have some negative impact on you, are you afraid or not?"

  "Don't worry, whatever you want me to do, I'll go and do it." Kou Xuan said firmly.

  "That line, those few people, will probably be waiting for you at your little aunt's house when you get back. I'll take you to the tiger's mouth right now, without you as the victim, this play won't go on well." Shen Huai said.

  Just as Shen Hua was driving, Liu Weiguo's phone came in again: "The police station just received a report from 110, but it didn't say too much. It said someone was causing trouble at Tianxinhu Village Sanzu and the Municipal Command Center wants us to go take a look. Is it related to what Secretary Shen told you?"

  Prince Liang sent someone to Meixi Town to stir up trouble and catch the thief, Shen Huai thought that Yang Lili was afraid to say too much when reporting the case, probably fearing that she would get into trouble herself. This report will naturally be transferred to the Meixi Town Police Station, letting them send someone to investigate the situation.

  "It should be so, you just follow the procedure to deal with it." Shen Hua said, hanging up the phone and saying to Kou Xuan, "You didn't tell Yang Lili that you know her, did you?"

  "No. She's been getting close to me this whole time and even hinted that you had a crush on me, so I really thought you did." Kou Xuan said.

  "Then you..." Shen Huai was somewhat perplexed by what the little girl was thinking.

  "Seeing how good you are to Xiao Li, I thought it might not be bad to follow you," Kou Xuan said with a slightly smug expression, "I didn't expect you to care about me too."

  Shen Huai let out a soft sigh and said, "You seem to have some schemes, but you're still too naive..."