Chapter 6: Ling Yichen, what are you trying to do to me?

Shi Niannian pressed against the back of her chair and held her breath, afraid that Shi Xinghe would make some excessive move the next second.

Shi Xinghe turned his head to look at her, his tall nose was about to touch hers.

"Thump thump thump!" Shi Niannian could hear her own heartbeat.

"What's making you nervous?" Shi Xinghe's mouth curved into a slight smile as he reached out to pull down her seat belt and fastened it for her.

Shi Niannian's tense body relaxed, one hand covering her chest, thinking to herself what was wrong with Shi Xinghe, making a simple seat belt so intimate.

"What would you like to eat?" Shi Xinghe returned to his cool demeanor.

Shi Niannian didn't dare take his polite inquiry seriously, "I'm good with anything, you decide, Brother!"

Shi Xinghe didn't ask further and drove to the entrance of a private restaurant.

Shi Niannian followed Shi Xinghe in, and the interior's antique decoration gave her the feeling of stepping into ancient times.

Shi Niannian rarely went out with the Shi family, and not many knew she was the adopted daughter of the Shi family.

She had never dined in such a high-end place before, and curiously looked around, admiring the layout.

The manager recognized Shi Xinghe and came over with a smile, "Young Master Shi, welcome! Let me take you to the private room."

Shi Xinghe nodded slightly and grabbed Shi Niannian's hand, following behind the manager.

Shi Niannian was taken aback. Was Shi Xinghe on the wrong medication today?

Shi Xinghe held Shi Niannian's soft, boneless hand, the delicate feel prompting him to rub it a few times with his thumb.

After they reached the private room, Shi Xinghe let go of Shi Niannian's hand, and they sat down opposite each other. Shi Xinghe didn't consult Shi Niannian and went ahead and ordered a few dishes.

Shi Niannian didn't mind; she wasn't picky. In the orphanage, having a meal was good enough, and in the Shi family, she ate whatever was available, feeling quite satisfied as long as she was full.

As soon as the dishes were served, before either of them started to eat, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Shi Shuyao walked in, arm in arm with Ling Yichen.

Shi Shuyao entered smiling, but when she saw Shi Niannian opposite Shi Xinghe, her smile struggled to stay on her face, "Brother, Niannian, how come you're here together?"

"I heard from the manager you brought a beauty for dinner, Shuyao and I got curious and came to have a look."

Ling Yichen glanced at Shi Niannian and, without waiting for Shi Xinghe's permission, just loudly sat down, "What a coincidence, let's eat together. The more people the merrier."

Shi Shuyao had no choice but to sit beside Shi Niannian.

Ling Yichen asked the waiter to bring two more sets of utensils and casually added a few more dishes.

"Brother, you and Niannian..." Shi Shuyao was puzzled about why her brother and Shi Niannian would appear here together.

Shi Xinghe looked up, "Is there a problem with me bringing Niannian here for a meal?"

Ling Yichen smirked, glancing disdainfully at Shi Niannian. He hadn't expected the girl to have such tactics. She had been in his bed, and now she wanted to flirt with Shi Xinghe as well?

Shi Shuyao's heart raced, wondering what her brother's intentions were towards Shi Niannian. Her mother and she had strategies against Shi Niannian that her brother and father didn't know about. It wouldn't do if her brother started to like Shi Niannian.

Shi Niannian felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, her head bowed as she focused only on the dishes in front of her.

Shi Xinghe quietly placed a few items into Shi Niannian's bowl.

Shi Niannian looked up and met Shi Xinghe's gaze, seeing the smile in his eyes, "Don't just eat one thing, the rest of the dishes taste quite good as well."

"Thank you, Brother." Shi Niannian quickly lowered her gaze to continue eating.

Ling Yichen teased, "Xinghe, you're quite biased, only serving Niannian and not caring for your own sister?"

"Yeah, Brother, I'm getting jealous here!"

Shi Shuyao pouted and acted coquettishly on the surface, but inside, she was panicking a lot—there was something off about the way her brother looked at Shi Niannian!

"Isn't it enough that Yichen is taking care of you?" Shi Xinghe replied indifferently.

"Brother~" Shi Shuyao glanced at Ling Yichen with a shy look on her face.

Finally, the meal was finished. Shi Niannian didn't dare to stand next to Shi Xinghe, fearing that he would hold her hand again. So, she walked at the back, following the three of them out of the restaurant.

Ling Yichen pushed Shi Shuyao toward Shi Xinghe, "You might as well take Shuyao home!"

Shi Xinghe looked at Shi Niannian, and she spoke up proactively, "Big brother, you and sister go home. I'll just take a cab back to school."

"Not staying at home?" Shi Xinghe's brow furrowed slightly.

Shi Niannian refused, "No, I have an early class tomorrow; it's too early."

"I'll take her to school; it's on the way for me!" Ling Yichen said, pulling Shi Niannian toward his Maybach.

Not giving Shi Niannian a chance to refuse, Ling Yichen opened the passenger door, pushed Shi Niannian in, and even waved at Shi Xinghe and his sister with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll definitely get your little sister to school safely."

The Shi siblings looked uneasy, but they couldn't go over and pull Shi Niannian out of the car.

Shi Xinghe was fine, knowing that Ling Yichen wouldn't do anything to Shi Niannian, "Get in the car, let's go home."

Shi Shuyao twisted her fingers, jealousy and resentment nearly bursting forth, but she couldn't show it in front of Shi Xinghe; she could only bite her lip and get in the car.

Ling Yichen drove with a serious face, and when Shi Niannian saw a bus stop ahead, she said, "You can drop me at the stop ahead, I can take the bus back to school."

As if he hadn't heard her, Ling Yichen floored the gas pedal and the bus stop flew by in a blur.

The car was moving too fast, and Shi Niannian was scared. She gripped the handle tightly, her voice trembling, "Brother Yichen, could you slow down?"

Ling Yichen glanced sideways at Shi Niannian, and seeing her pale face and the cold sweat on her forehead, he pulled over to the side of the road.

Shi Niannian wiped the sweat from her brow with her arm, breathing somewhat rapidly. She unbuckled her seatbelt, wanting to get out, but the car doors were locked.

Ling Yichen lit a cigarette and watched coldly as Shi Niannian jiggled the car door.

"I want to get out!" Shi Niannian turned to Ling Yichen and said.

Ling Yichen took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled towards Shi Niannian, "What's the hurry?"

Choking, Shi Niannian covered her nose and mouth, coughing several times, then angrily asked, "What are you trying to do?"

"I want you!"

Shi Niannian looked at him in horror; the usually well-dressed Young Master Ling had actually said such a shameless thing.

Ling Yichen smoked a few more puffs and threw the cigarette butt out of the window he had just opened. He then slid his hand up Shi Niannian's skirt, touching her smooth thigh.

"Don't!" Shi Niannian, in a panic, pushed away Ling Yichen's hand.

Ling Yichen was annoyed and grabbed Shi Niannian's neck, leaning down to kiss her.

Shi Niannian felt like she was suffocating, as if she was hovering on the edge of life and death. She wasn't ready to die yet.

She reached up to pull at Ling Yichen's hand locked around her neck, but he was too strong, and she couldn't budge him.

Knowing she couldn't overpower Ling Yichen, Shi Niannian had to show weakness to save her life. With a tender probe of her tongue, the soft approach worked well indeed. Ling Yichen's offensive gradually weakened, and the pressure on her neck eased.

That hand slid from her neck down into her blouse...