23 Screamed for Its Release

With Wang Lei telling Shu Xian what she has to know, Shu Xian still felt uneasy of staying under Professor Pan An's roof.

With everything happening so suddenly, she knew that she had no choice, especially if she is desperate to make both ends meet.

She wouldn't want to take advantage of Shi Lian's friendship—she didn't want to take advantage of the kindness of her parents.

They have already let her stay when she was in high school for a few years, making her earn money while she stayed so she could afford an apartment of her own.

And of course, even though she stayed there, the helpers of their house would look down on Shu Xian for staying there like a free loader.

She could choose to tell her best friend Shi Lian of their treatment while she stayed there, however, she chose to keep her mouth shut.

It would mean that the workers would lose their job, and it would mean more negative impression of her—making the workers think that she told them because she is Shi Lian's friend.

Other than that, what Shu Xian didn't want is to be involved if there were issues. Instead, the moment she was sure that she earned money, she went away and had decided to live in an apartment.

The parents of Shi Lian found Shu Xian mature and admirable—making them want their daughter Shi Lian to learn a thing or two from her when it comes to being responsible and being independent.

Even though Shi Lian's family had praised her for having such traits, what Shu Xian found admirable in their family was that there was no prejudice when they knew that Shu Xian didn't know much about her family background and when they knew that she had nothing at par with them.

It is rare for rich families to treat those people like Shu Xian as an equal.

Sighing, Shu Xian stood up from her bed, making way towards her personal bathroom to brush her teeth.

She had organized some of her things in the bathroom, slowly making it hers even though some things inside indicated that there was someone who stayed in the room before her.

While Shu Xian was brushing her teeth, she stared at the things in front of her. There was perfume and even some make up present before her. It made her think if these things were owned by Miss Ruo Xi, Pan An's ex-fiancée.

'Oh, well…'

Shu Xian shrugged as she spat out the water and toothpaste in her mouth. She then did one final gargle, making her flash her teeth before the mirror to check if she had brushed every corner.

Feeling satisfied, she then went out of the bathroom, gasping when she saw an unexpected visitor inside her room.

"P-Pan An!"

Shu Xian exclaimed rather loudly, waking up her dog for a few seconds before Wan Wan drifted back to sleep.

Pan An was standing by the bed, leaning on the vanity mirror beside it as his arms were crossed in front of his chest.

"Wh-why are you here?" Shu Xian asked, looking at the small clock present in the room, by the other side of the bed on a side table. "It's almost midnight," she added, Pan An, shifting back to the personality that he always had in the university.

"I knew you're still awake," he started, his eyes locked with Shu Xian's. "You were talking with Wang Lei and his sister, were you not?"

Shu Xian's eyes widened, not expecting for Pan An to know what she was doing. At the same time, she felt that her privacy had been violated, making her furrow her brows, feeling uncomfortable.

"Yes… I apologize if I was too loud, but coming here in this room at this time of night while knowing that you know who I was talking to is sort of prying into my privacy."

When Pan An heard this, he scoffed as he stood up straight, walking slowly towards Shu Xian. Her body then stiffened, but she tried her best to mask her fear as she held her head high, raising a brow at him with every step he took.

"Very nice of you for reminding me of your privacy, Shu Xian," he said, a smug grin appearing on his face as he tipped Shu Xian's chin up with his index finger. "But remember that I have provided you a place to stay."

Shu Xian rolled her eyes at the professor and replied, "Still. You gave this to me. It is the little privacy and safe haven I could have."

However, as Professor Pan An continued to stand before Shu Xian, the young lady scrunched her nose, her eyebrows, creasing together as she smelled a waft of alcohol lingering under her nose coming from the man before her.

"Did you drink?"

"Yes."

"Why did you drink when you were already inside your room?"

Shu Xian raised a brow at him, pulling her head away from his touch.

"And you have an early class tomorrow," she added, Pan An's eyes, reflecting sadness as it continued to stare into Shu Xian's eyes.

"I can't help it," he answered, a forced out smile appearing on his face. "I can't forget her," he added, walking away from Shu Xian as he sat on her bed, both of his hands covering his face.

Shu Xian continued to look at Pan An. For some reason, she felt bad about him feeling this way so she slowly approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

"This 'her' that you were talking about," she mumbled, enough for the professor to hear. "Is it… Ruo Xi, the woman you mumbled in your room—"

But before Shu Xian could even finish her sentence, she was taken aback when Pan An quickly caught her by the wrist.

It all happened so quickly when Shu Xian was pulled towards the bed, her lying down on her pillow as Pan An smoothly went on top of her, shushing her—surprising her—with how harsh the tone of his voice was.

"You are not to speak of that name in my presence. Do you understand!?"

"I-I'm sorry!" Shu Xian immediately apologized, her body slightly trembling in fear under him. "I won't, I—"

But Shu Xian was interrupted once more the moment Pan An's lips had crashed forcefully on her, Shu Xian's heart about to burst inside her chest as it screamed for its release.