CHAPTER 588: 228 SMILES SO GENTLY, HE IS SCARED_3

Once the head lowers, raising it again becomes difficult.

The Yu family contentedly enjoys this blazing oil-like power and influence.

The Xiang family, relying on the Yu family’s clout, has stood firm all these years. The two families mutually benefit each other. To put it bluntly, they’re like grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

Over the years, they’ve offended too many people. If they slacken even a bit, they’ll surely be devoured and divided by others.

They are bound together, floating and sinking on the same boat. Either they reach the shore, where bright flowers and green willows await, or they capsize and perish together.

In such circumstances, as a promising young member of the Xiang family, who has recently emerged in the limelight and been entrusted with heavy responsibilities by the Yu family, Xiang Chenyu seems... a little different.

She thought about Xiang Chenyu’s earlier outburst while clutching her father’s photo.

She understood in her heart.

There was no sound from the bedroom direction.

Xiang Chenyu didn’t dare let her guard down for a moment. Without turning her head, she instructed Shen You’an, "Go to the kitchen and get the sharpest kitchen knife for self-defense. Hide inside and don’t come out, no matter what."

Shen You’an obediently went into the kitchen as instructed.

Xiang Chenyu held her gun, slowly approaching the direction of the bedroom.

Her expression was cold and guarded.

"Come out now!"

Following the explosive shout, the tightly closed bedroom door burst open with a "bang," and a figure forcefully entered.

In the kitchen, the girl took a sharpened cleaver from the knife rack. Its gleaming cold light flashed briefly but couldn’t measure up to the bottomless chill in the girl’s eyes.

Sounds of fighting emerged from the bedroom. Within moments, Xiang Chenyu emerged, pushing a man forward.

Jiao Long had his hands cuffed, his head drooping as he walked out.

He appeared calm, showing no signs of embarrassment despite being a prisoner.

Shen You’an stood at the kitchen door with the knife in her hand.

Seeing the sudden appearance of a man in the room, she showed a timely expression of panic and fear, "Who is he?"

A strange glint flashed in Jiao Long’s eyes as he silently observed the girl’s impeccable acting skills before quietly lowering his head again.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, only to be quickly wiped away.

"An’an, I know this scared you. Don’t stay at home for the time being. Move to my place. I’ll explain it to you later," Xiang Chenyu said.

Before Shen You’an could refuse, Xiang Chenyu hastily added, "This is about your life and safety. Listen to me."

Her tone carried a hint of indulgence.

Shen You’an...

She went to her room to change her clothes before coming out again. She also wanted to learn more about her father and the Yu family’s past from this old acquaintance of her father’s.

After all, no one understood the history better than the Xiang family.

As she passed the dining table, Shen You’an picked up the photo of Xiang Chenyu’s father placed there and tucked it into her pocket.

Jiao Long withdrew his gaze as the image of the man in the photo emerged in his mind.

In the bedroom earlier, he had overheard their conversation in detail.

It had initially puzzled him, but the moment he saw the man in the photo, the strings of doubt in his mind aligned, gradually forming a clearer picture.

Suddenly, he understood—ah, that’s how it is.

Xiang Chenyu looked at him with no trace of kindness, "Let’s see how your master plans to protect you this time."

Jiao Long pressed his lips together, "My actions are solely my decision. They have nothing to do with my master."

Xiang Chenyu sneered coldly, "Do you take me for a fool?"

Jiao Long shot her a sideways glance, his demeanor steady, "Xiang Chenyu, have you forgotten why you came to Qingzhou?"

Xiang Chenyu kicked him hard to vent her frustration, "That’s none of your concern!"

Jiao Long’s expression remained defiant, "Xiang Chenyu, I advise you to release me. Otherwise, the young lady won’t let you off the hook."

Xiang Chenyu slapped him hard across the head, "Have you mastered the art of bluffing like her? Well, let’s see how your so-called young lady fails to hold me accountable."

Shen You’an pursed her lips, "Officer Xiang, the young lady he mentioned is likely Yu Ruohuan, isn’t it?"

Xiang Chenyu glanced at her and sighed.

Shen You’an appeared calm, "Officer Xiang, you should let him go."

Even Jiao Long turned to look at her now.

Xiang Chenyu frowned, "An’an...."

"Officer Xiang." The girl’s gaze was bright and poised, "I know you mean well for me. But the lesson from Chunzhou taught me one thing: in this world, the wicked don’t always face retribution. This venomous snake lurking in the shadows might be terrifying, but I believe there’s a way to subdue it. Until then, let’s avoid alerting the snake."

Hearing the phrase "alerting the snake," Xiang Chenyu trembled, raising her head in disbelief.

How could she have been so irrational earlier? Indeed, publicly confronting Yu Ruohuan would only make the path ahead more difficult.

"But...." She frowned, looking at Jiao Long.

After all, he was Yu Ruohuan’s most loyal dog.

Shen You’an smiled at Jiao Long, "I suppose he wouldn’t want his master to find out he’s a powerless failure of a dog, would he?"

Jiao Long shivered violently.

Her smile was so gentle that it terrified him.