Volume One, Chapter 20: Keep Your Hands to Yourself!

The Si Family.

Having already guessed that this was another trick played by Liu Jinyue against her, Shen Nian’an no longer fussed about the kitchen. She leaned on her crutch and returned to her room to continue applying medicine.

After such a long delay, her injured ankle had swollen to the size of a large steamed bun, the redness alarming to behold.

Lifting the hem of her long skirt, just as she was about to apply the medicinal wine, Shen Nian’an’s mouth opened slightly, her eyes involuntarily widening—clearly she hadn’t expected the injury to be so severe.

Her delicate brows arched slightly, a plan quickly forming in her mind.

This injury requires a doctor’s attention!

She certainly didn’t want to become crippled!

Setting down the medicinal wine, she grasped the crutch and headed for the door.

At the doorway, her hand reached for the latch and pulled, but it wouldn’t budge—only a narrow three-finger gap appeared.

Through the crack, Shen Nian’an glimpsed a lock.

Liu Jinyue—was she afraid Shen Nian’an would report her?

Clenching her fists, Shen Nian’an snorted in defiance.

Did she think locking the door would keep me inside?

She was gravely underestimating me!

Turning sharply, Shen Nian’an walked away.

Sitting on the doorstep, Lu Zhenhua half-heard a crisp sound. When he focused to listen again, there was nothing.

Despite this, he forced his heavy eyelids open and scanned the surroundings.

Nothing unusual...

It must have been his imagination.

His mind foggy, his eyelids growing heavier, his head drooped slowly like a chick pecking for food.

Suddenly, a sharp tug yanked his neck upward, clearing his cloudy vision just enough.

He must not sleep!

He needed to see Nian’an! To bring Nian’an home!

Lu Zhenhua bit down hard on his tongue; the metallic taste of blood instantly spread through his mouth.

The pain dispelled his dizziness. He rallied half-heartedly and sat waiting for the Si family to return.

What Lu Zhenhua did not know was that his beloved daughter was just a door away.

Navy Command Center, Fifth Floor.

Si Jinnian stepped out of Commissioner Xu’s office. His expression was calm, but his aura was colder and more severe than before.

He turned to ask his superior for half a day’s leave.

Then, he drove out of the Command Center.

Five minutes later, his car stopped steadily at home.

The screech of the brakes caught the attention of Lu Zhenhua sitting on the doorstep.

He looked up just as a long leg stepped out of the car, and then—he saw a familiar face. Instantly, he convulsed with excitement.

Such an intense gaze could not be ignored by Si Jinnian.

He lifted his eyes and was slightly shocked.

Chief of Staff Lu was known for his pride throughout the Command Center.

But now, his face was mottled with scabs, his stubbled chin pale and patchy, his clothes wrinkled and covered in dried mud as if he had rolled in a puddle.

His neck was swollen and red, one arm waving excitedly in Si Jinnian’s direction.

In his mind, the truth that Commissioner Xu had reluctantly revealed lingered.

Frowning deeply, Si Jinnian strode forward and steadied Lu Zhenhua, who had nearly fallen from his sudden movement.

“Chief of Staff, be careful.”

Lu Zhenhua looked frightening to anyone who saw him, but he didn’t care.

Grasping Si Jinnian’s arm tightly, he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Chief of Staff, I’ll take you to the hospital!”

Lu Zhenhua clung to Si Jinnian, laboriously speaking, “No... going.”

“Nian’an... Nian’an...” His bloodshot eyes widened to their limits, his voice hoarse, “She’s still alive, isn’t she?”

Si Jinnian pressed his thin lips together, his little finger curling slightly as he supported Lu’s chest and back.

Suddenly, the grip tightened; Lu Zhenhua raised his voice hysterically, “Is she?!”

Then, he seemed to lose all strength, his hand slackened abruptly, and he fainted.

“Chief of Staff Lu!”

“Chief of Staff Lu!”

Si Jinnian bent down, lifting Lu Zhenhua and heading toward the car.

At that moment, Shen Nian’an, having rummaged through her suitcase to find a hairpin and dismantled its wire, arrived at the door.

She tugged at the door, slipped her slender arm through the gap, aligned it with the keyhole, and with a twist and turn, the lock clicked open.

She removed the lock, pushed the door wide, and the sunlight streamed in, causing her to squint contentedly.

Si Jinnian, pressing the accelerator and ready to drive away, glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Shen Nian’an suddenly standing at the doorway.

He slammed on the brakes, opened the door, and jumped out.

“Ahhh!” Shen Nian’an had just opened her eyes when she saw the dark-faced, intimidating man and instinctively recoiled.

Si Jinnian reached out with a long arm and pulled her back.

His tone was unreadable, neither angry nor pleased: “You locked yourself in?”

Shen Nian’an straightened and nodded, asking, “You drove back? Is it convenient? Can you take me to the hospital?”

Hearing this, Si Jinnian glanced at her ankle hidden beneath the long skirt.

He let out a soft “hmph.”

He said nothing else, his expression still cold, but Shen Nian’an inexplicably felt his anger.

“If it’s inconvenient, forget it.”

“Where’s the nearest hospital? Tell me—I’ll go myself.”

“On the way.”

Huh???

Before Shen Nian’an could ponder those words, Si Jinnian bent down, his unsupported arm sliding down to his knee, and with one hand, he lifted Shen Nian’an into his arms.

“Ahhh!”

The sudden lift startled Shen Nian’an into a scream, and she hurriedly wrapped her arms around Si Jinnian’s head.

Her cheek pressed against his soft, smooth abdomen, and a familiar delicate fragrance wafted over her—like blooming jasmine, intoxicating in its beauty.

A faint flicker of fire sparked behind Si Jinnian’s dark eyes.

“Raise your hands! You’re blocking the way!”

Shen Nian’an snapped back to reality, calming quickly and withdrawing her hands.

“Sorry, I wasn’t prepared. Please warn me next time.”

Si Jinnian said nothing; Shen Nian’an didn’t mind.

After a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and patted Si Jinnian’s head anxiously.

“Crutch! The crutch!”

“Don’t touch that!” Si Jinnian’s face darkened as he picked up the crutch from the ground.

Only then did Shen Nian’an realize the man was holding her with one arm.

A scene so beautiful, so heart-throbbing, overflowing with boyfriend energy and pure romantic tension.

Yet, Shen Nian’an, focused solely on her path, was startled but quickly regained composure.

Her refreshed mind sparked no romantic thoughts whatsoever.

Once seated in the car, Shen Nian’an immediately noticed a man lying on the narrow bunk behind the seat.

A man with a bleeding head.

His clothes identified him as Navy as well.

So, she was just tagging along.

Understood.

She glanced once, then looked away.

Si Jinnian, getting in from the other side, didn’t miss her sideways glance.

He got in, closed the door, and pressed the accelerator.

As the car sped along, Si Jinnian suddenly asked, “An’an, do you know him?”