From Dropout to Housemaid-The Upper Crust's Favorite - Chapter 45 - Look Up, Look at Me

Wang Wei stood at five foot ten, not as tall as Su Linyuan, but certainly towering over Jiang Xianyu, who was only five foot three. His eyes bulged with rage as he charged forward, resembling a mad bull. In contrast, Jiang Xianyu seemed as delicate as a rabbit in front of him. The onlookers couldn’t help but scream.

Jiang Xianyu’s gaze was steady, eerily calm. She gripped the handle of the shopping cart firmly, and as Wang Wei made his move, she ruthlessly rammed the cart into him. Wang Wei stumbled, losing his balance and falling to the ground. With her first strike successful, Jiang Xianyu clutched her handbag, ready for another blow. She had never been afraid of this man. Her parents’ beatings and scoldings when she was a child were far more terrifying. Back then, she was small, much smaller than her parents. When they lashed out at her, their faces twisted like monstrous beasts, capable of tearing her apart in an instant.

Wang Wei was hit hard by the cart. He got up and kicked it aside. With the cart no longer in the way, Wang Wei was sure he could teach her a lesson this time. Su Linyuan was selecting fruits in the produce section when he overheard someone mention a fight between a man and a woman. Initially, he paid no attention, but then he heard a young girl say it was happening in the feminine care aisle. His heart skipped a beat-Jiang Xianyu was there!

He dropped everything and sprinted towards the commotion. By now, a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle. Around the sanitary napkin display, a throng of people had formed. He could faintly hear a man shouting Jiang Xianyu’s name. Inside the circle, Wang Wei swung his fist, yelling, “Damn you, Jiang Xianyu! I’ll make you pay!” Jiang Xianyu swung her handbag at his head. She aimed to incapacitate him, using all her strength. She was calm and clear-headed, knowing the supermarket had surveillance cameras. If Wang Wei attacked viciously, she was merely defending herself.

The handbag hit Wang Wei’s head, leaving him momentarily stunned. Before he could react, a fist landed on his face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Su Linyuan’s expression was as dark as the sea, his gaze colder than Jiang Xianyu had ever seen. He stood before her like a tower-silent, dependable. Without turning back, Su Linyuan pushed Jiang Xianyu behind him, then stepped forward, grabbing Wang Wei by the collar and delivering another punch.

Jiang Xianyu, momentarily stunned, quickly realized the situation. Wang Wei was already incapacitated and had lost the will to fight; if Su Linyuan continued, it could lead to trouble. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Su Linyuan’s waist, trying to pull him back. “Mr. Su! You can’t hit him anymore!”

Su Linyuan’s strength was formidable, pulling Jiang Xianyu forward with him. Fortunately, feeling her tugging from behind, he eased his grip. Sensing the relaxation in his hold, Jiang Xianyu breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing his hand still gripping Wang Wei’s collar tightly, she tugged at his other arm. “Mr. Su, there are cameras. If you keep hitting him, it could become a problem.”

Su Linyuan fixed his gaze on Wang Wei for several moments before reluctantly releasing his collar. Wang Wei felt as if his neck was about to snap; as soon as the grip loosened, he gasped for air like a fish out of water, lying on the ground.

At that moment, a few young girls led the security guard over.

Seeing the scattered belongings and the man lying on the ground, the guard quickly moved to disperse the crowd and check on Wang Wei’s condition.

Su Linyuan turned to look at Jiang Xianyu, his voice softening considerably, “Are you hurt?”

Jiang Xianyu hung her head, overwhelmed with guilt, “I’m fine. I’m sorry, Mr. Su, for causing you trouble.”

Su Linyuan, seeing her apologetic demeanor, felt a surge of anger.

He stood in front of her, radiating an aura of cold indifference that warned others to keep their distance.

It was reminiscent of how Jiang Xianyu had seen him at a party in her past life.

Su Linyuan asked in a deep voice, “Why are you apologizing to me?”

Jiang Xianyu’s hand tightened around her bag strap unconsciously, “I caused you trouble…”

Su Linyuan scoffed, his tone slightly stern, “Jiang Xianyu, look up.”

Jiang Xianyu’s lowered lashes trembled, her heart tightening.

Su Linyuan repeated, “I said, look up, look at me!”

Her knuckles turned white as she slowly lifted her head, her eyes slightly red but dry.

Su Linyuan was struck by her gaze, feeling a pang in his heart. After taking a couple of deep breaths to ease his discomfort, he said, “I don’t know the details of what happened. I just want to know, did you start this?”

Jiang Xianyu pressed her lips together, shaking her head after a moment.

“If you didn’t start it, why are you apologizing?” Su Linyuan declared firmly, “Whoever started it should apologize. If it’s not your fault, don’t take it upon yourself!”

Jiang Xianyu’s throat tightened, and she turned her head to the side, her usually smiling lips trembling slightly.

Seeing her silence, Su Linyuan grew impatient, “Did you hear me?!”

Jiang Xianyu opened her mouth, but her throat was tight. She managed to nod just before Su Linyuan’s temper flared.

She knew she wasn’t at fault, but as a housemaid, it was undeniable that her personal issues had inconvenienced her employer.

Yet, Su Linyuan’s words stirred something in her heart.

So, if it wasn’t her fault, she didn’t need to apologize?

Su Linyuan watched Jiang Xianyu, sighing inwardly.

This woman appeared gentle and composed, even maintaining her calm during a fight.

But she was also incredibly stubborn and fiercely proud.

Although she hadn’t started the trouble, she insisted on apologizing, which only fueled his frustration.

However, seeing her struggle to hold back her emotions, he couldn’t bring himself to say more.

His imposing demeanor softened, and he raised his hand to gently pat her head twice.

Someone had called the police, and soon officers arrived.

They were all taken to the police station.

The station was conveniently located next to the supermarket, so they arrived quickly.

Wang Wei’s face was bruised and swollen, and he staggered as he walked.

At that moment, he wished Jiang Xianyu and the other man would end up behind bars.

He wanted to request a medical examination and accuse them of attempted murder!

But before he could voice his demands, Su Linyuan’s words shattered his bravado.

The officer taking statements asked Su Linyuan, “What’s your name?”

Su Linyuan replied with three words, “Su Linyuan.”

The mention of Su Linyuan’s name elicited little reaction from the others, but Wang Wei was thunderstruck.

Who in the investment bank didn’t know the name Su Linyuan?

Was he really Su Linyuan?!

No wonder he hadn’t recognized him in the supermarket; Su Linyuan never gave interviews, and there were no photos of him circulating. Those who met him were typically at high-profile financial events.

And Wang Wei wasn’t yet qualified to attend such gatherings.

He felt as if the sky had fallen.

No one understood better than him what Su Linyuan represented in Hai City. If Su Linyuan wanted, Wang Wei wouldn’t even know how he met his end.

At that moment, he realized why Jiang Xianyu had the courage to quit her job-she had latched onto a golden opportunity.

He had been plotting revenge, but now he could only hope they would spare him.

Another officer took Jiang Xianyu’s statement, asking for her name as well.

After Jiang Xianyu gave her name, the two officers chuckled, “You two have matching names.”

Both Jiang Xianyu and Su Linyuan were momentarily taken aback.

“Yeah, Linyuan and Xianyu¹, quite interesting,” another officer added.

The officers’ comments eased Su Linyuan’s expression considerably.

Jiang Xianyu explained, “It’s just a coincidence.”

Honestly, she always called him Mr. Su, so she hadn’t thought about it much.

Footnote:

1. Linyuan and Xianyu(临渊羡鱼):Linyuan (临渊) means ‘facing the abyss,’ and Xianyu (羡鱼) means ‘envy the fish’—together referencing the Chinese idiom 临渊羡鱼 (Lín yuān xiàn yú), which means ‘to stand by a pond and long for fish’ (i.e., idle wishes without action).