Stranger

At Sky Hotel...

PA Wang walked closely behind his CEO, looking somewhat concerned. "CEO, you suddenly want to marry... What if your family disapproves? The Qin family is one of the six richest families, and the Shen family is…"

"Do you really think they'll oppose my marriage after what happened with my big brother?" Qin Yuheng interrupted with a smirk, as he walked into his room. "Tsk, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to accept Ning."

Once inside, Qin Yuheng quickly got undressed and took a bath. When he lay down on the bed, his thoughts wandered back to the days when he first met Shen Ning...

Flashback—

It was a quiet afternoon by the river. Shen Ning had come to visit her aunt and decided to take a walk along the shore. As she strolled, her eyes landed on a dark figure lying motionless near the river's edge.

Is he dead? she thought, approaching cautiously. But as she drew closer, she realized the figure was still breathing. "Oh... Alive. But unconscious," she muttered to herself.

Without hesitation, she knelt beside him and, in a quick panic, started artificial respiration. "To save you, I sacrificed my first kiss. Where else would you find someone as kind-hearted as me? You'd better be grateful. Hmph." Her words were tinged with a hint of frustration.

After a few moments, he coughed and slowly opened his eyes. He heard her words but didn't have the strength to respond.

"Hey, now that you're saved, I'm leaving," she said, about to stand up and walk away. But before she could take a step, he reached out and grabbed her hand. Shen Ning's brow furrowed in annoyance.

"Can you take me somewhere safe?" he asked weakly. "I'm being targeted by some bad guys. Please, I need to hide until my people can find me."

Shen Ning immediately pulled her hand away. "How can I trust you? You could be one of those bad guys. What if you're on the run from the police?" Realizing she might have been a bit hasty, she took a few steps back.

He pursed his lips, struggling to speak but unable to stand. The wound on his back had started bleeding again, and he grimaced in pain. "I'm injured... I can't do anything. Besides, you saved me."

He looks handsome. Handsome guy shouldn't be bad person, right?

Shen Ning sighed, her expression softening. "Fine. There's a small house nearby. It's abandoned. No one lives there." She turned and pointed in the direction of a cottage that was nearly hidden from view.

He glanced at her with a look that seemed to ask if she was sure, but then again, she wasn't wrong—handsome guys couldn't be all bad... could they?

She helped him into the cottage, which was run-down, but it would have to do for now. "You sit here," she said, pointing to the bed. "I'll go buy some supplies for your wounds. You can't go to a hospital if you're hiding, right?"

He nodded weakly, and she left to get what he needed.

When she returned, she found him sitting on the bed, grimacing in pain. His upper body was bare, revealing the extent of his injury. Without a word, she moved to treat his wounds, carefully disinfecting them before applying the medicine and bandaging him up.

"Can you move over a little?" she asked, gently adjusting the bandages.

"Okay," he replied, shifting slightly to give her space.

Once she had finished, Shen Ning noticed the old, thick blanket on the bed. She pulled it off, spread it over him carefully, and made sure he was comfortable. "Rest now. I'll bring you food later."

He was already exhausted, so he fell asleep almost immediately.

Later that night, Shen Ning returned with a small box of food and a water bottle. She gently woke him. "You're injured. Eat something, and don't forget to take your medicine." She handed him the box but didn't linger too long—he had to eat on his own.

"Thank you," he murmured, genuinely grateful for her care. He ate his meal and took the medicine she had provided.

Shen Ning stood up, preparing to leave. "Alright, I have to go now," she said, taking the empty box with her.

"Wait," he said, his voice quiet but insistent. "Can you bring me a mask tomorrow?" He paused. "I can't let anyone see me right now."

He was also worried that she won't come here anymore. Why should come and trouble herself?

She glanced back at him with a soft smile. "Okay. I'll bring one tomorrow."

(✷‿✷)