chapter 17

I had been keeping people to watch Su Wantang.

Ever since I overheard that phone call between Cheng Song and her.

It wasn’t for any other reason-just that I knew she was underage.

Even if she had nothing to do with me, I understood that adults naturally hold an advantage over young girls like her.

She probably saw Cheng Song as a reliable elder. She wanted a better life, so she accepted Cheng Song’s financial support. There was nothing wrong with that.

I knew that even if she showed the slightest sign of crossing the line emotionally, Cheng Song wouldn’t get furious on Xu Sixian’s behalf.

Su Wantang truly didn’t like him, and Cheng Song hadn’t found an opportunity to do anything to her.

There hadn’t been any physical contact. After all, at that time, he was my Fiancé-he wouldn’t dare be so bold.

What I said to Cheng Song that day was also true.

People should have boundaries.

If he really did something to Su Wantang and I found out, I wouldn’t hesitate to send him to prison.

He wouldn’t have the chance to appear before me again.

The nausea I felt in my stomach that day was because I realized he actually harbored such thoughts toward a seventeen-year-old girl.

I just didn’t want to meddle too much.

Clearly, Su Wantang hadn’t been seduced. She even sensed something was wrong and confided in Xu Sixian.

The disaster that befell Xu Sixian came from Cheng Song. At Cheng Song’s request, Su Wantang hadn’t told anyone who her benefactor was.

But she kept her lips sealed, except Xu Sixian noticed something was off.

“I told Su Wantang that I have a girl I like,” Xu Sixian said. “Later, she asked me if the person I liked was the one who sponsored me, if she was like Cheng Song, forcing me.”

“I said no, she’s not like Cheng Song. I liked her from the very first moment I saw her. I’m willing.”

“But…” Xu Sixian hesitated here, “I advised her not to accept Cheng Song’s support anymore.”

She’s a young girl, inexperienced in the ways of the world.

How could she know that the elder she trusted and respected, the ‘Brother Cheng’ she felt she could share anything with, would do such a thing to her?

After we kicked open the door, we all heard the girl’s desperate sobs.

Cheng Song had already been subdued, reeking of alcohol, his belt undone, kneeling on the floor and wailing.

The people watching Su Wantang reported to me: “We acted quickly. Nothing happened.”

“Good work. You’ll get a raise when you get back,” I nodded. “Did you call the police?”

“Not yet.” They hesitated. “Young Master Cheng…”

After all, it was attempted rape, and his status was much higher than Su Wantang’s.

They didn’t know how to handle it.

I looked at Xu Sixian beside me: “Wait here for me.”

He nodded, clearly relieved.

I didn’t let them go in, simply because I was a woman and there were no other women here.

Sure enough, what I hated most was meddling in other people’s business.

When Su Wantang threw herself into my arms, her warm tears soaking me, I couldn’t help but think.

“Wuuu… wuuu…” Her clothes were disheveled, two buttons torn off, and she was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. “Sister, I’m so scared…”

I got goosebumps all over.

As expected, I only like planting trees-I can’t handle delicate little flowers like her.

But I still had to be patient and comfort her: “You’re safe now. You can even send him to jail.”

“Can I?” She pulled away from my arms, revealing her swollen red eyes. “But he didn’t…”

“This kind of behavior is already a crime,” I said bluntly. “But I won’t help you call the police. It’s up to you.”

Whether to settle or pursue it to the end-it all depended on what she wanted.

She was quiet for a long time.

I wrapped her in the coat I’d brought: “Put it on.”

A moment later, she reached out with trembling fingers and picked up her phone, shattered by Cheng Song: “Sister, my phone doesn’t work anymore.”

She used my phone to call the police.

Before the police arrived, she spoke in a muffled voice: “Sister, are you the person Brother Xu likes?”

I was startled: “You know me?”

“Mm, I saw your photo as Brother Xu’s phone wallpaper,” her voice grew quieter, “and I saw your picture at Cheng… Cheng Song’s place too. Sorry, I didn’t know he used to be your Fiancé.”

I honestly didn’t know what to say, so I just gave a dry response.

Saying ‘it’s okay’ felt strange, because this really had little to do with her.

She looked at me, her eyes bright, showing a hint of dependence: “Thank you for protecting me. You’re really wonderful, even better than Brother Xu said.”

Me: “…”

She was just a young girl, with no ill intentions.

I couldn’t lose my temper at her, nor could I scare her. I really didn’t know what to do, so when she hugged me, I didn’t pull away, and just patted her head.

“It’s over,” I said. “But you have to learn to protect yourself from now on.”

That was the most I could say-I couldn’t possibly comfort her any more tenderly.

Absolutely impossible.

The police arrived.

Before being taken away by the police, Su Wantang, wrapped in my coat, looked back at me, hesitating: “Sister Lingyue, just now…”

But when she saw my hand intertwined with Xu Sixian’s, she didn’t say anything in the end, just gave me a bright, relieved smile.

It was radiant and full of release.

Su Wantang recalled how, just moments ago, Cheng Song, like a beast in heat, had pounced on her, tearing at her clothes, his eyes bloodshot, muttering ‘Lingyue’ under his breath.

But suddenly, she felt there was no need to tell He Lingyue.

Such a pure moon shouldn’t have to know about such filth.

Cheng Song didn’t deserve to appear in her world again, or stir even the slightest emotion in her.