Li Sheng adheres to the principle that when she can climb up the pole, she will never be soft-hearted.
So she got into the car without saying a word.
"Millennium Hotel, thank you."
She sat in the back seat with a good posture—neither humble nor overbearing—without any embarrassment or bewilderment.
The smile in Shen Xiuci's eyes grew stronger, but when he looked up, he saw Ji Kaicheng's expression of "am I sleepwalking?"
"Um?" Shen Xiuci raised a brow, half-smiling. "Can't drive anymore?"
Ji Kaicheng, who had just woken up from his dream, broke out in a cold sweat.
"Obey, Fifth Master."
The luxury car started and slowly merged into the traffic flow.
But today, for some reason, the road was extremely congested.
Li Sheng's face remained calm, but she was silently counting the time in her heart.
After delaying for so long, she feared the surveillance she needed to retrieve had already been deleted.
The footage was very important. It determined whether she could convict the executioners who pushed the little girl into the water and held her head down—attempted murder.
Of course… it didn't matter if she couldn't get it.
She had a hundred ways to find evidence.
The atmosphere in the car was quiet.
Li Sheng calmed down and suddenly caught a faint scent of medicine floating in the air—clean, refreshing.
It came from the man beside her.
Li Sheng turned her head, and inadvertently met Shen Xiuci's scorching gaze.
He seemed… to have been looking at her the whole time.
This man is a bit too blatant, right?
Li Sheng asked, "Do I know you?"
He replied without hesitation, "Shen Xiuci."
Li Sheng: "…"
So he meant: We didn't know each other before, but now we do?
She paused but still politely said, "Li Sheng."
Unexpectedly, when the man heard her name, his smile deepened.
Then he extended a hand to her—clean, slender fingers, clearly pampered and noble.
Li Sheng was generous. She extended her hand as well.
Their hands touched lightly, then separated immediately.
No one noticed Shen Xiuci's fingers curling slightly afterward, as though he wanted to keep the fleeting warmth.
Soon, the car stopped in front of the hotel.
Li Sheng thanked him and got out.
Unexpectedly, when she closed the door, she found Shen Xiuci also stepping out.
He stood behind her, facing the early-summer sun, his whole body glowing in gold—so radiant it was hard to look away.
Before Li Sheng could ask, he casually said, "By the way."
Li Sheng raised a brow but said nothing.
She entered the hotel and headed straight to the security room—ignoring Shen Xiuci, who followed unhurriedly like a shadow.
After she explained her purpose, the security guard was surprisingly easygoing.
He didn't question her and pointed at the screens.
"Miss Li, check as you please."
A random search like this meant nothing could be found. Someone had tampered before she came.
She expected this.
As soon as she pulled up last night's surveillance, the screen was blank—nothing at all.
The security guard groaned as if remembering something.
"I'm so sorry, Ms. Li. The surveillance system broke down this morning, and the maintenance personnel mistakenly cleared everything."
Li Sheng said lightly, "I see. Quite a coincidence."
She looked disappointed but didn't argue.
The security guard sighed in relief.
Fortunately, this little girl is stupid. A few words and she's done.
But he didn't notice Li Sheng's hands moving rapidly behind the screen—typing a line of code after another.
In just a few seconds, the footage she wanted appeared on the screen.
She pulled out the USB drive she'd prepared, copied the files, and restored the system.
The host machine showed no trace of hacking.
The entire process took less than half a minute—smooth, silent, flawless.
Li Sheng pocketed the drive and stood up.
"Excuse me."
She walked toward the door… and bumped into a human wall.
"Mm."
Holding her sore nose, she raised her head and saw Shen Xiuci—who had apparently arrived here by "coincidence."
"What a coincidence," he said. His voice was magnetic and sultry, yet his face held no frivolity.
Li Sheng glanced at him.
"Unfortunately, I think some people are clearly waiting for a rabbit."
She refused to believe he just happened to appear here at this exact moment.
Shen Xiuci smiled lightly and leaned closer.
At such proximity, Li Sheng could clearly smell the refreshing medicinal scent on him.
Not unpleasant—almost calming.
Seeing that monstrously handsome face coming closer, she sighed internally—
Truly a man capable of bringing down kingdoms.
Those peach-blossom eyes were deep, intoxicating. Any other girl would be stunned senseless.
But she wasn't "any other girl."
She could tell instantly:
This man's approachable exterior hid an icy, invincible nature.
Her expression remained calm—unmoved.
Shen Xiuci's eyebrows lifted slightly. His smile turned more seductive.
He said, "Since Miss Li noticed I was waiting for a rabbit, I must fulfill my merit. Where are you going next? I'll drop you off."
Li Sheng: "…"
He deliberately emphasized drop you off—with a deeper meaning.
Li Sheng touched her empty pocket, paused for a second, then reported the address without hesitation.
"Qiyuan Road Mansion. Thank you."
If you have no money, you must have the awareness of someone with no money. She had always been highly aware.
Shen Xiuci's lips curled slowly.
"By the way. Let's go."
The two walked forward side by side.
Ji Kaicheng, left behind, nearly dropped his jaw.
Did he just hear Fifth Master say—"by the way"?
By the way??
The Shen residence and Qiyuan Road were completely opposite directions!
So much trouble—could it be…
The Fifth Master, who had always been pure-hearted and ascetic, actually had thoughts about this foolish Li family girl?
The more he thought, the more shocked he became.
He swallowed his surprise, drove steadily, and finally parked at the mansion gate on Qiyuan Road—a wealthy district where the Li villa stood.
"Here, thank you."
Li Sheng got out. Before leaving, she paused and looked at Shen Xiuci's perfect face.
"I suggest you change the medicine you usually take. It's cold in nature—your condition is the opposite."
Then she closed the door and walked away.
No one had ever told her that Shen Xiuci had taken cold-natured medicine for years because of his illness.
The only explanation: she could smell the faint medicinal scent.
Ji Kaicheng was stunned.
"Fifth Master, this Miss Li really dares to lie through her teeth. Talking nonsense like she knows better than the genius doctor Old Madam hired."
Shen Xiuci narrowed his eyes, light flashing in their depths.
"She is repaying a favor."
The little girl was really clean.
"Huh?" Ji Kaicheng was confused. What did talking about medicine have to do with repaying favors?
As he turned, he saw Fifth Master's gaze fixed on the direction Li Sheng left.
Ji Kaicheng couldn't help murmuring, "Fifth Master, you're not really interested in Miss Li, are you? Let me remind you—you were away all year!
She's engaged! Her fiancé is Qi Yu's grandson!"
"And then?" Shen Xiuci's smile didn't reach his eyes.
He said slowly—
"It's just a marriage certificate. What's wrong if I steal her?"