Mind Your Own Business

Shen Lang reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket watch. Time seemed to rewind, and his thoughts returned to an evening over a decade ago...

The sky was gloomy, the streets old and worn. A filthy boy curled up in a narrow alley, with disheveled hair and a few dried weeds tangled in it, clutching a loaf of bread he had just stolen.

Pedestrians hurried past, seeking shelter from the rain, too busy to spare a glance at such a ragged youngster.

"Boom!"

A flash of lightning pierced the dark sky, followed by a clap of thunder. The boy's small hand trembled, and the bread accidentally slipped from his grasp, rolling to the corner of the street.

He quickly reached out to grab the bread.

"Um... " A little girl approached, her voice gentle, her big eyes showing concern.

The boy tightened his grip on the bread and glared fiercely at the girl.

The girl took out a delicate candy box from her teddy bear backpack and said to the boy, "Do you like cream cake?"

She looked about five or six years old, with chubby little hands, holding a box of cream cakes in transparent packaging, her face slightly embarrassed.

The sky remained overcast, the streets old and worn. This pretty little girl, who seemed to have walked out of a fairy tale, became the only bright spot in the boy's eyes.

He knew where the girl got this cream cake from—it was from a pastry shop across the street, displayed prominently in the window.

"This one is strawberry flavored, very delicious. Here, take it."

The boy looked at the girl's fair face, suddenly lost in thought, then shook his head abruptly, but inexplicably nodded again...

His trembling hand took the cream cake from the girl's hand, and he could smell the strawberry fragrance emanating from the packaging box.

He hadn't eaten anything all day and was very hungry.

The little girl nodded happily, "Next time you have free time, come here again, and I'll give you another delicious strawberry one!"

The boy's lips twitched, as if the world in his eyes had suddenly frozen, filled with a warm current in his heart.

Just then, a black sedan slowly stopped by the roadside. The window rolled down, and a driver greeted the little girl.

"Miss, why are you here alone again? It's about to rain. Get in the car quickly!"

The little girl smiled foolishly and nodded, her skirt fluttering in the wind as she ran into the car like a little cloud.

But as she ran, she dropped a pocket watch. The boy reached out to call the little girl, but the car had already driven away.

The boy walked forward and picked up the pure gold pocket watch. The background of the dial was the innocent and lovely photo of the little girl.

In the days that followed, the boy waited in that alley every day, hoping the little girl would appear again so he could return the lost pocket watch to its owner.

But after waiting for a month, the boy never saw the little girl again, only occasionally encountering a shabby old man.

That shabby old man was Shen Lang's master.

Without that girl, without that pocket watch, without the month-long perseverance, Shen Lang might still be wandering the streets, or perhaps he would have starved to death long ago.

That girl was Su Ruoxue, the one who changed his life trajectory, the first woman to bring warmth to his life.

Su Ruoxue probably didn't remember this incident anymore. Shen Lang had intended to keep this memory to himself, but a chance encounter allowed him to reconnect with Su Ruoxue.

Of course, this accidental engagement had its reasons. Su Ruoxue's grandfather and Shen Lang's master had a deep connection, and they had arranged this engagement.

Su Ruoxue was now in a difficult situation, pressured into marriage by a wealthy young man with a powerful background. Co-habitating with Shen Lang was actually a scheme devised by Su Ruoxue's grandfather to protect his granddaughter from harm.

Shen Lang had never imagined he would enter into a flash marriage, but to protect this woman, he readily agreed.

His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Shen Lang picked it up and saw a familiar number.

"Sister apprentice, what's up?"

"Is there no reason to call if nothing's up? Lang ge, miss me?" A melodious voice rang from the other end.

Shen Lang sighed. "Sister apprentice, I feel so lonely every night, especially missing you."

"Cut the sweet talk. How could you be lonely when you have that beautiful fiancee with you? Let her warm your bed every night."

Listening to the playful voice on the phone, Shen Lang found it amusing yet somewhat exasperating.

Though he and Su Ruoxue were engaged, they hadn't even held hands, let alone slept together.

Their relationship now was far from that of an engaged couple, not even resembling friends.

"By the way, Lang ge, aren't you short on money? Want me to wire you a few million?"

"No need. Your Lang ge is a manly man. I wouldn't feel right asking money from a little lady."

"Who's a little lady!"

"Alright, alright, my Yun'er is a great beauty."

After some banter with his sister apprentice, Shen Lang hung up the phone.

Feeling somewhat better, Shen Lang actually wanted to work on improving his relationship with Su Ruoxue, but he felt somewhat powerless.

Having not eaten anything that night, Shen Lang felt hungry. As he stepped out of the bedroom, he heard laughter coming from the living room.

It was Su Ruoxue's laughter, surprisingly pleasant. Shen Lang was taken aback; this ice queen could actually smile.

It had to be said, Su Ruoxue looked really beautiful when she smiled, though she had never shown such an expression to him.

Shen Lang's hearing was sharper than most. Even from a distance, he could tell Su Ruoxue was talking to a man on the phone.

"Brother Wenzhi, why haven't we been in touch all these years? Are you doing well now?" Su Ruoxue's voice carried a hint of concern.

Listening to Su Ruoxue's voice with a touch of care, Shen Lang suddenly felt a surge of anger.

Though he and Su Ruoxue had no emotional foundation, he instinctively regarded her as his woman. His woman calling another man "brother" and laughing with him, Shen Lang couldn't stand it.

After Su Ruoxue hung up the phone, she glanced at Shen Lang, who approached without expression. She calmly said, "I'm going out to meet an old friend tonight."

Shen Lang asked expressionlessly, "Who is he to you?"

"Why do you care?" Su Ruoxue frowned.

"I'm your nominal fiance. Is it too much to ask such a question?" Shen Lang sneered.

Su Ruoxue frowned. "He's a classmate of mine, named Zhang Wenzhi. Are you done asking?"

"No wonder you call him Brother Wenzhi. It's late at night. Are you going on a date with your Brother Wenzhi?" Shen Lang chuckled coldly.

Su Ruoxue hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly, a playful curve on her lips. "Oh, you're jealous? I'm flattered. Let me tell you, Shen Lang, you better not meddle in my affairs. Brother Wenzhi is at least a hundred times better than a man like you!"

Zhang Wenzhi was Su Ruoxue's university classmate, who had asked her out several times before but she had always been too busy. This time, she couldn't refuse, so Su Ruoxue was preparing to attend a dinner with him.

Shen Lang's lips twitched slightly. He suddenly grabbed Su Ruoxue's delicate fragrant shoulder, sparks flashing in his starry eyes.

"Shen Lang, what... what are you doing? Let go of me!" Su Ruoxue felt a little flustered at Shen Lang's domineering gaze.

"A hundred times better? Woman, I'd like to see how that man is a hundred times better than me. If not, tonight I'll show you who's in charge!" Shen Lang's voice was cold and threatening.