Chapter 39: Get Your Dirty Hands Off Her

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Get Your Dirty Hands Off Her

Song Yao’s expression darkened.

Xiao Li didn’t turn around, but he instantly felt the atmosphere change.

The car stopped in front of a traditional courtyard house.

Song Yao glanced at the gatehouse and couldn’t help but let out a whistle.

Blue bricks, gray tiles, intricately carved wooden doors, and a pair of stone lions guarding the entrance—it was all very grand.

"Whoa! I’ve really hit the jackpot, getting to live in a big courtyard house like this!"

She rubbed her hands together, unable to hide the excitement on her face.

Xiao Li couldn’t be bothered to burst her bubble.

’The people in this house will probably look at her with utter contempt when they see her.’

After getting out of the car, Song Yao carried her small bundle while Xiao Li hoisted two large bags onto his shoulders.

They were all things Shen Zhenwu had foisted upon her in Nanhui City.

But just as she took a step toward the entrance, the two soldiers on guard duty raised their hands to block her.

Song Yao’s face immediately fell.

She narrowed her eyes, staring at the two men.

"What’s this act all about, comrades?"

"Sorry, the madam said no outsiders are allowed in."

Hearing this, the corner of Song Yao’s mouth twitched.

Not wanting to waste her breath, she took a step back and waved Xiao Li over.

Xiao Li walked over and, without a word, tossed the two bags into the guards’ arms.

The two men didn’t recognize Song Yao, but they knew Xiao Li.

"Li Hanchen! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!"

The first guard roared, his face flushing red.

Xiao Li said coolly,

"Since you’ve got nothing better to do, you can make yourselves useful and carry the young lady’s things inside."

"Are you insane?!"

The other guard flared up.

"The madam gave explicit orders...!"

Before he could finish, Xiao Li’s fist flew out and connected.

The man immediately clutched his nose and squatted down, groaning in pain.

"Li Hanchen, you’re crazy! How dare you hit someone!"

The man next to him exclaimed, instinctively about to make a move.

Xiao Li’s expression was calm.

"The leadership has my back."

Those words were more infuriating than a slap to the face.

And that wasn’t all.

Xiao Li even jutted his chin at the man.

The gesture was impossibly arrogant.

"If the leadership finds out that you’ve barred the young lady from entering her own home, what do you think will happen? Best case, you’ll be packing your bags and leaving. Worst case, you’ll get a demerit on your permanent record, you can forget about any promotions, and even the madam won’t be able to protect you."

Watching this, Song Yao clapped her hands in delight.

"Brilliant job, Xiao Li! I like you so much!"

Xiao Li scratched the back of his head, looking a little awkward.

"Alright, stop standing around like statues. Hurry up and open the gate, this young lady is home!"

Seeing the two soldiers’ expressions change, Song Yao immediately lifted her chin, her tone impossibly haughty.

"’What young lady’? Isn’t that just putting on airs! A filthy country bumpkin like her should be locked up at the village entrance and never let out."

The soldier who’d been hit was still muttering through clenched teeth, but the other one had already swiftly pushed the main gate open.

He turned back to Song Yao, his voice softening.

"Please... please come in."

"Pah, what a bootlicker."

The one who’d been punched spat again, cursing his partner.

Song Yao’s brow furrowed, her gaze locking onto the soldier who was stubbornly opposing her.

"What’s your name?"

The man tilted his nose to the sky, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and completely ignored her.

"His name is Wu Yufeng."

Xiao Li answered for him.

Song Yao slowly repeated the name under her breath.

"Wu Yufeng?"

’It sounds a bit familiar... Suddenly, she remembered!’

She let out a cold laugh.

"Well now, Shen Shuangshuang’s charm truly knows no bounds. Men just keep flocking to her one after another. First it was Ji Xianbei and Ling Qinghan buzzing around her, then that Cheng Hai I ran into at the train station was her little follower, and now it’s your turn."

"Comrade Wu Yufeng, are you all competing to be her biggest fanboy? So infatuated you’ve lost your minds, ready to charge wherever she points?"

Wu Yufeng’s face paled and flushed in turns.

"I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting. I’m just on duty. It has nothing to do with Shuangshuang."

After hearing him out, Song Yao’s eyes went cold and she strode forward.

SLAP!

A crisp slap landed squarely on his face!

"Wu Yufeng, let me make this crystal clear for you. Shen Zhenwu is my biological father. I don’t care what rumors people spread outside, but as long as my dad acknowledges me, then I am his legitimate daughter and one of the rightful masters of this house!"

"He assigned you to guard the gate, not to block his own family. But you? You can’t get your priorities straight, blowing things way out of proportion. You’ve blocked me from coming home time and again. Do you think sticking up for Shen Shuangshuang makes you look good? Makes you feel like some kind of hero?"

"You dare to hit me?!"

Wu Yufeng exploded with rage, raising a hand to grab Song Yao’s collar.

But before his hand could reach her, his entire body was suddenly sent flying through the air!

"Stay away from the young lady. Don’t touch her with your filthy hands."

Li Hanchen’s kick had landed squarely on the small of his back.

Wu Yufeng’s elbow and back slammed hard onto the concrete, a searing pain shooting through them.

He tried to push himself up, but the kick had been so powerful it left him dizzy and disoriented.

All he could do was kneel there, holding his breath, his cheeks twitching.

"Yu Feng!"

His partner rushed over to help him up.

Wu Yufeng shoved his hand away, glaring at Li Hanchen through clenched teeth.

"Li Hanchen, you kicked me today. The Wu Family will not let this go!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Song Yao was tired of hearing it. She curled her lip, casually pushed Xiao Li aside to stand in front, and retorted to Wu Yufeng,

"Wu Yufeng, you messed with me today. Just you wait for my dad to deal with you personally!"

Wu Yufeng’s face turned ashen.

Reason told him he couldn’t keep this up, or he might not make it out of this courtyard tonight.

He took a sharp breath, turned around, and walked quickly away with his head down.

His partner hesitated for a moment before hurrying after him.

Song Yao patted Xiao Li on the shoulder twice, then turned her head to stare at Wu Yufeng and spoke slowly.

"Xiao Li answers to me now, and my dad has my back. If you dare to touch him, you’re crossing me, which means you’re crossing my dad too. Understand?"

Wu Yufeng’s jaw tightened, and his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists, his face turning red with suppressed rage.

His steps faltered for a moment, but he ultimately didn’t look back, quickening his pace as he left the courtyard gate.

Seeing that he didn’t say a word, Song Yao’s lips curled into a contemptuous smile.

"Let’s go, Xiao Li. Follow the young lady inside and broaden your horizons."

She lifted her chin and strode forward, leading the way in.

"Yes, Young Lady."

Li Hanchen replied, his expression as impassive as ever.

But there seemed to be something new deep in his eyes, something indescribable.

However, Song Yao didn’t notice such minor details at all.

She was already chattering away, looking around as she walked.

This two-courtyard residence was an ancestral property of the Shen Family, passed down through generations.

Though the walls were somewhat mottled with age, the structure was solid.

Several old pagoda trees grew in the courtyard, their branches spreading out to cover most of the skywell.

The family often gathered in the large main room of the central building.

The wooden doors were open, revealing a tidy interior.

"Shuangshuang, this is for you. A birthday present."

Cheng Hai stood by the table, holding the box, his voice gentle.

Shen Shuangshuang took it and opened it to find a glittering gold necklace, exquisitely crafted.

"My birthday was a long time ago."

She closed the lid and gently pushed it back, her voice a little weaker.

"I can’t accept something so expensive."

"I’m not part of the Shen Family anymore. These nice things... they aren’t for me."