Chapter 83: When the Rascal Is Neither Stern nor Fierce, He Is Like This...

A strange sense of guilt crept into his heart. He should never have gone to that so-called important meeting today. A business deal, after all—even if it fell through, it would mean nothing to him. He would never blame himself for that. And yet now...

He hadn't expected that, seeing her like this, he would find himself apologizing to her... His heart ached as though stabbed, and his demeanor unconsciously softened. Never before had he lowered himself for anyone. Not even as a child, when the old witch of the Shen family had beaten him black and blue, had he ever yielded. He had been only six years old then.

Until now, he would never have believed he’d bend for a little girl.

...

After Shen Hanzhi spoke, Zhou Bei’s face showed a flash of startled surprise. Had the boss... just apologized?

Lin Nanxun was also taken aback. The villain’s voice just now... was so gentle.

Unable to help herself, she looked up at him, at that striking face that had shed much of its usual cold severity. She stared, momentarily lost.

So this is what the villain looks like when he isn’t stern or fierce...

Shen Hanzhi, eyes lowered, looked at the girl, who had stopped crying and was now gazing at him in a daze. A trace of confusion crossed his face.

“What is it?”

Caught peeking, Lin Nanxun’s pretty face flushed with a hint of panic. She lowered her head, then mumbled softly, “Villain, I want to eat cake.”

Hearing this, Shen Hanzhi’s expression turned helpless. “Are you hungry?”

As simple as she was—just moments ago she had been so heartbroken, but now, apart from her still-red eyes, there was no trace of sadness left.

“Miss Lin hasn’t eaten yet; she must be hungry,” Zhou Bei chimed in with a smile.

At this, Shen Hanzhi glanced at the time, pressed his lips together, and said, “Let’s go home.”

...

On the way back, Zhou Bei stopped the car outside a cake shop and bought a ready-made cream cake. The shop even threw in a few candles. With the cake secured, they set off toward the lakeside villa.

During the drive, Lin Nanxun earnestly told Shen Hanzhi about her ordeal. She didn’t mention how worried or scared she’d been; she just said that after Zhou Bei had bundled her into the car, a kind young man had rescued her and taken her to the police station.

To her, as long as the villain came to find her, nothing else mattered.

After hearing her simple account, Shen Hanzhi couldn’t help but frown.

She called another man a kind and handsome brother, but only ever called him “villain”?

“A kind and handsome brother?” For some reason, the word “handsome” from her lips rang unpleasantly in his ears.

“Yes,” Lin Nanxun nodded seriously. Although he had lied and said the villain wouldn’t come for her—something that made her sad—he truly was a kind person.

Seeing her earnest face, Shen Hanzhi furrowed his brows but said no more, though a faint displeasure stirred within him...

The car grew quiet. Lin Nanxun’s attention was suddenly caught by a group of kids playing with skateboards under a streetlamp. There were both boys and girls. The skateboards were colorful, their wheels flashing with different lights, looking especially cool and fun in the night.

A look of curiosity appeared on her face.

Noticing her sudden silence as she stared unblinking out the window, Shen Hanzhi turned his head as well, following her gaze.