Chapter 174: Chapter 174 - 174: One-Hundred and Seventy-Four: Protection

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation      Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Yun Nan naturally heard what those people had said. She smiled and stated, “Mom, don’t worry. Shi Nian is here to help me if I need it. You should go home, too, if you’re tired. You can arrange a welcome home party for Shi Ke.”

Xu Yun nodded. “Alright then. I’ll leave things here to you two. I’ll go prepare some delicious food for you!” So saying, Xu Yun left without a single word to

Han Yuan and the others.

Han Yuan couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed and told Yun Nan, “We meant no offense; we were just worried for your mother-in-law’s sake.”

Yun Nan smiled lightly and no longer looked at her. She spoke to the crowd, “Ladies, please feel free to explore and look around. If any product catches your eye, you can ask the attendants to come over and put your name on the register. We’ll deliver the products to your residence within the stipulated time.”

Yun Nan turned to look at Shi Nian. Shi Nian put his arm around her shoulders and smiled. “Thank you all for your support,” he stated, the implied dismissal clear in his tone. Then, they walked away, leaving the group of embarrassed and angry ladies behind.

Yun Nan shook her head and sighed, “I really don’t understand what these people are thinking. They just won’t stop until they’ve humiliated themselves.”

“Some people take pleasure in directing and controlling other people’s lives,” Shi Nian remarked.

“Fortunately, Mom and Xiang Yang aren’t easily influenced,” Yun Nan thankfully commented.

The corners of Shi Nian’s lips curled up slightly. Yun Nan had become very used to addressing his family the same way he did and didn’t differentiate between

“yours” and “mine.”

Gu Man’s sugary sweet voice spoke from behind them. “Shi Nian, what a coincidence! You’re here to see the exhibition too.’

There was laughter in Yun Nan’s eyes when she smiled and glanced at Shi Nian before she turned them around. “Fancy meeting you here, Miss Gu. I don’t think it’s much of a coincidence. Shi Nian isn’t here to look at the exhibition— he’s here to help me.” Yun Nan shielded Shi Nian and interrupted Gu Man’s attempts to get friendly with him.

Gu Man’s smile remained unchanged as she uttered derisively, “Ah, it’s you. I thought Shi Nian would’ve had a new lover by now! You’re funny; you’re actually making Shi Nian help you? Who do you think you are?”

Yun Nan beamed as she plunged the proverbial dagger into Gu Man’s heart,

“I’m his wife.”

Gu Man’s gaze turned cold. Yun Nan turned to look at Shi Nian and said,

“Darling, I’m hungry. Let’s go to the lounge to eat something. ‘

Shi Nian was overjoyed when Yun Nan called him “darling” and couldn’t help but gently kiss the top of her head. “Alright,” he replied.

Yun Nan looked a little uncomfortable at Shi Nian’s intimate gesture, but Shi Nian had already put his arm around her shoulders and led her toward the lounge room.

Considering that Gu Man was behind them, Yun Nan said nothing. For the first

time, Shi Nian didn’t hate Gu Man for causing trouble.

Fang Xi’s head hurt; it felt like it was about to split open.

She leaned back on the sofa with her eyes closed, her face as white as a sheet.

“Fang Xi, are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?” Ye Kun asked worriedly.

“It’s fine. It’s just my usual migraine. I’ll be fine after some sleep,” Fang Xi gathered all her strength to say softly.

Ye Kun didn’t say anything. He went to his apartment, carried Tuan Tuan over, and placed him in Fang Xi’s arms. “You can sleep with Tuan Tuan tonight.” Fang Xi smiled gratefully at Ye Kun.

Fang Xi didn’t have a restful sleep. Perhaps it was because she saw Ye Kun open the door when he went to pick up Tuan Tuan, but Fang Xi kept seeing doors in her dreams.

She pushed open a door and saw a familiar figure sitting by the bed smoking, and her heart ached.

“Smoking isn’t good for the body,” she often advised him, but he always didn’t listen. He never took her words seriously.

‘FangXi,” someone called her name.

“FangXi.” It echoed in her dreams.

Fang Xi reached out to touch the figure, but he disappeared, and another door appeared before her. She pushed the door open and saw that he was changing his clothes, looking ready to go out.

“Fang M,” she heard her name echoing out once more, like a record on repeat.

“FangXi.”

“Fang Xi, which tie should I wear with this jacket?” She seemed to hear his voice speak in her ears.

“Fang Xi, I want to wear that blue striped shirt today. Help me pick out a tie!”

“Fang Xi, where are my socks?”

Fang Xi stretched out her hands, wanting to help him straighten his collar. He disappeared, and yet another door appeared in front of her.

Fang Xi again anxiously pushed open the door. The door was quite heavy. She had to push it hard a second time to open it when it didn’t budge the first time she tried.

The door opened. He was lying on the bed with his back facing her. She opened her mouth to call his name, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make a sound. Her throat felt like it was on fire.

She wanted to tell him that she wasn’t feeling well, that she wanted to drink water, that she was cold… but he ignored her.

She sighed and curled in on herself; she wanted to cry but couldn’t.

‘FangXi!”

“FangXi!’

A series of calls rang out in her ears. She didn’t have the strength to respond. She was getting hot and cold flashes; one moment, she felt like she was on fire and would be freezing cold the next. Like on a roller-coaster, she went from one extreme to the other.

‘This must be Hell, isn’t it? Fang Xi thought.

This was her punishment for overreaching and stepping into a relationship that didn’t belong to her. This was her debt, and she would pay it off this time. She didn’t want to be entangled with him anymore; she didn’t want to be trapped by her feelings anymore. She just wanted to let it all go..