CHAPTER 239: CHAPTER 239: WITH YOU, I FEAR NOTHING

Su Junxian understood what her "I don’t want to" meant.

"The security system here is very comprehensive. You can stay here for now. You’ll have my bodyguard accompany you to and from work, but if it’s not essential for you to be there, I suggest you stay here. Once things are settled, I will notify you."

Su Junxian wrote a string of numbers on the sketch. "This is my private number. It’s on twenty-four hours a day. Contact me if you need anything."

After speaking, Su Junxian left with Su Junhui.

Su Qinnuan sat alone in the living room for a long time before getting up and going upstairs.

She chose a guest room, checked the doors and windows, then curled up on the bed.

Very tired, very weary, yet without a hint of sleepiness.

Naturally, Su Qinnuan would not call Su Junxian.

She didn’t have many friends.

And she never allowed herself to appear vulnerable.

After racking her brain, the only person she could think of was Fu Bing.

Fu Bing wasn’t even her friend, yet she desperately wanted to confide in Fu Bing as if she were.

Su Qinnuan sent a message to Fu Bing: "Bing, it’s Su Qinnuan. Can I talk to you? I’m really scared."

Fu Bing saw Su Qinnuan’s message while out for her morning run.

"I’m here. What can I do for you?"

Su Qinnuan hadn’t expected Fu Bing to actually reply.

Fu Bing’s words soothed her anxious heart.

"We’ve only just met, so I don’t dare hope for too much. Just being able to talk with you for a bit would be enough."

Fu Bing made a video call to her.

Su Qinnuan hesitated before accepting.

Fu Bing’s smile was gentle, her eyes conveying a comforting indulgence.

"Since you can’t sleep, send your address. Wu Shi and I will come pick you up for breakfast."

"Really? Is that okay?" Su Qinnuan was surprised and flattered.

"Of course. Although I’m not rich, I can still afford to treat someone to breakfast occasionally."

Su Qinnuan nervously sent her address.

Fu Bing glanced at the address. "We’re not far. Wait for me."

Fu Bing looked at Wu Shi. "Mr. Driver, let’s go."

"You don’t suspect she’s putting on an act?"

"With you here, I’m not afraid."

Wu Shi, unable to refuse her, went with her to get the car.

"What kind of driver needs the boss to accompany him just to fetch the car, huh?" Fu Bing teased.

Wu Shi’s lips involuntarily curled up. "The boss should also show some concern for her employees."

The two of them headed out in their little pink car as usual.

They drove to the main gate of the residential complex Su Qinnuan had sent and messaged her upon arrival.

They waited for ten minutes before Su Qinnuan emerged.

Upon seeing Fu Bing, a smile suddenly bloomed on Su Qinnuan’s face, and she trotted over.

"Bing."

Fu Bing asked, "You live here?"

Su Qinnuan shook her head. "No, Su Junhui brought me here last night."

"Are the Su Family planning to acknowledge you?"

"Not really. They’re very certain I’m not their sister but said I’d be safer on their territory."

"Their concern is not unfounded."

A bodyguard not far away saw it was Fu Bing and reported truthfully to Su Junxian.

Su Junxian instructed, "Just follow at a distance. Don’t disturb her."

The "her" he referred to was Fu Bing.

"Yes, sir."

Fu Bing sat in the back seat, next to Su Qinnuan.

"Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?"

"As long as I can eat with my idol, anything is fine."

"Then I’ll choose based on my preferences." Fu Bing looked at Wu Shi. "Wu Shi, let’s go to West Street. I mentioned before that there’s a place there with delicious fried dough sticks and soy milk, and the scenery is lovely too."

"Mm-hmm."

Wu Shi couldn’t suppress the smile on his lips.

Before she became famous, they often went there for breakfast.

Su Qinnuan looked at Fu Bing with envy.

How much love must she have received growing up to treat everyone around her like family? Even after facing setbacks and falling to rock bottom, when she stood up again, there was still no malice in her.

The owner of the shop recognized Fu Bing.

"Haven’t seen you in a long time! How have you been?"

"I’m doing well, same as always."

"Good."

After Wu Shi paid, he went to the next stall to buy a serving of freshly made rice noodles.

He divided the rice noodles into two portions and placed them before Fu Bing.

Fu Bing watched him skillfully divide the rice noodles, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes.

She thought she might have mentioned to him before that when she used to have breakfast with Qin Jinhai, they ate this way too. She couldn’t eat much, but she still craved it. So he would buy one serving and split it for her. That way, she could enjoy a taste without getting too full.

Su Qinnuan observed the interaction between the two.

The atmosphere between them was so intimate; it seemed no outsider could intrude.

The owner brought over the fried dough sticks and soy milk.

The three of them were eating.

Suddenly, a crisp slap echoed from the quiet riverside.

"Xu Si, you’ve gotten bold, haven’t you? Sneaking off to university! I let you go to high school to increase your bride price, to help out your brother later!"

"Mom, if I go to university, I’ll find a better job. Then all my salary will go to you."

"Pah! Your heart’s gone wild now. How can I expect you to listen to me in the future?" The middle-aged woman viciously grabbed the girl’s hair, dragging her towards the bus stop.

"Go drop out of school right now!"

Seeing Fu Bing looking at the girl, the owner said, "Xiaobing, don’t get involved. That girl’s mother is trouble. I spoke up for the girl once, and that woman came and harassed my shop for two months straight. Not even the police could handle her."

The girl’s heart-rending cries of despair echoed in the soft morning light.

Fu Bing couldn’t bear it any longer. She put down her chopsticks and quickly walked over.

The onlookers, mostly locals, wanted to intervene but feared trouble, so they could only watch as the girl was abused.

"Mom, please, I can’t drop out!" Xu Si’s face was filled with terror.

The middle-aged woman, annoyed by the noise, raised her hand to slap her again.

Her upraised hand was caught by a slender, fair one.

No matter how the middle-aged woman struggled, she couldn’t break free.

The pain Xu Si anticipated didn’t come. She opened her eyes in terror.

Seeing Fu Bing, a glimmer of hope instantly ignited in her eyes.

But just as quickly, she extinguished it herself.

"Sister Bing, don’t interfere. My mom won’t let you off."

Fu Bing smiled gently. "Don’t worry about me."

Fu Bing looked at the middle-aged woman. "I am Fu Bing. Your daughter is an artist I’ve signed, and I’ve come today to give her an advance of two hundred thousand yuan."

The middle-aged woman’s eyes lit up at the mention of two hundred thousand.

"Really? Two hundred thousand?"

"However, my only requirement is that she finishes university before entering the entertainment industry."

"If you slap her face like this and something happens, can you afford the hefty contract termination fee?"

"I..." The middle-aged woman’s small eyes darted around. "You talk a good game, but where’s the money?"

Wu Shi had already withdrawn cash from a nearby ATM.

He walked over to Fu Bing’s side.

Fu Bing took a stack of bills from her bag and threw it right in the middle-aged woman’s face.

The bills were new, their corners sharp. One grazed the woman’s forehead, drawing a line of blood, but she dared not make a sound.

Clutching the money that had fallen to the ground, she had no time to bother with Xu Si.

Fu Bing helped Xu Si up and pulled her behind her.

"I wasn’t aware of Xu Si’s family situation before. It seems I need to add another condition."

"What condition?" the middle-aged woman asked offhandedly.

"She has to sever ties with her family. If you agree, I’ll give you another million yuan."