CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: THE WOMAN ABUSED AT HOME (PART 1)

"I apologize, I tripped a few days ago, so... I’ve been wearing a mask recently."

Li Mei noticed the scars on the woman’s mouth and face, her eyes flickered slightly. She looked at the woman’s pleading eyes, and her heart softened.

"Alright, come to work tomorrow. You have a three-day trial period..."

"Thank you, thank you, I’m so grateful! I will definitely come on time tomorrow!"

Li Mei watched the woman’s departing figure and sighed lightly.

The woman’s name just now was Liu Xin.

Li Mei thought about the scars on Liu Xin’s face; they didn’t look like they were caused by a fall, but more like they were from a beating.

But since she didn’t mention it, Li Mei wouldn’t ask.

In the morning, Lin Xiaoyan received a call from Xuan Shiyi.

Xuan Shiyi said that the money was to repay her for saving his life.

Lin Xiaoyan frankly said she didn’t want to accept it, but Xuan Shiyi insisted very seriously.

If she didn’t accept it, then they would get entangled in karma, which would not be good for their future cultivation.

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyan had no choice but to "apologetically" accept it.

That day, Lin Xiaoyan worked in a daze all day.

Everything she saw seemed like 1.1 million!

Even walking felt like she was suspended in mid-air.

At the same time, she was extremely excited. She had been excited for a long time with the previous 200,000, and now with this 1.1 million, she estimated she would be too excited to sleep for the next few days.

Beijing

Xuan Shiyi and his group returned.

They came back alive!

Although a few were seriously injured, as long as they got back to Beijing, they could be healed.

"Shiyi, you all had it pretty smooth this time, huh? You managed to eliminate the Drought Demon, impressive! Impressive!"

"Yeah, not only did you eliminate the Drought Demon, but you all came back safe and sound."

"It seems you gained a lot from this; when you compete against those from Little Dog Country next month, you’re sure to win!"

Upon hearing this news, Xuan Shiyi raised an eyebrow, "Next month? Wasn’t it supposed to be six months later?"

"Oh, the Ugly Country requested it, saying they have something else in six months and applied to have it earlier..."

"Pah!"

Xuan Shiyi spat, "Why does whatever the Ugly Country says have to go!"

"Hah, they are just Little Dog Country’s lackeys, who knows what they did, but they convinced people from other countries, and we were the last to be notified. Tsk tsk, these people can’t handle losing!"

After hearing this, Xuan Shiyi nodded, his gaze turned slightly cold, "No matter what tricks they’re up to, the first place will still be ours in Hua Country!"

"Right right, so it doesn’t matter if it’s moved up or not, they won’t win anyway!"

Xuan Shiyi thought for a moment, "Has the bureau chief returned?"

The person being questioned looked at Xuan Shiyi and smiled, "Which chief are you asking about?"

Xuan Shiyi rolled his eyes, "What do you think!"

"Hehe, yes, he has returned, just today. He should be at the Special Investigation Bureau now. Why are you looking for the chief?"

"Not telling you!"

Knowing the chief was at the Special Investigation Bureau, Xuan Shiyi shook the bandages on his body, stood up, and went to find the chief!

The competition was coming up soon, and he needed the chief to have that young girl join them, just in case!

Sea City

At this moment, in the milk tea shop, Lin Xiaoyan looked at Liu Xin, who just started working today, with horror.

She had just handed Liu Xin a new work uniform, and when she accidentally touched Liu Xin’s fingers, familiar images appeared in her mind.

She "saw" Liu Xin being beaten.

Beaten terribly.

The person seemed to be her husband.

Liu Xin noticed Lin Xiaoyan’s gaze and hurriedly lowered her head, trying to hide the injuries on her face.

"This... this was from when I accidentally fell a few days ago..."

Lin Xiaoyan snapped back to reality, looking at Liu Xin with a gaze filled with sympathy and pity.

She listened to Liu Xin’s words, looking at her with a complex expression.

Since she was unwilling to speak, Lin Xiaoyan wouldn’t ask, just pretending she didn’t know.

"Mmm, be careful in the future; it looks serious. Do you need some ointment for it?"

Lin Xiaoyan softly inquired.

"No... no need, thank you." Liu Xin replied in a cautious voice.

Seeing Liu Xin timid and shrinking, Lin Xiaoyan sighed inwardly. Based on the images she "saw", Liu Xin was likely experiencing domestic violence from her husband.

Lin Xiaoyan lowered her voice, "I’ll teach you how to make milk tea; once you’re dressed, come out."

"Okay"

Hearing that she could learn how to make milk tea, Liu Xin immediately perked up. She quickly dressed and came to the work area with enthusiasm, seriously learning from Lin Xiaoyan.

"Xiao Lin, I have something to do today and won’t be in the shop. Is it okay for you and Liu Xin to handle things here?"

Li Mei hurried into the store, seeing Lin Xiaoyan and Liu Xin already working. She felt satisfied; having an extra person made a difference, and she could take it easier.

"Sure, no problem," Lin Xiaoyan replied.

"Alright, I’m off. Contact me if you need anything."

"Okay"

Li Mei hurriedly left, and with the boss not around, Lin Xiaoyan let out a small sigh of relief.

"Xiao Lin, can you check if I did this right?"

Hearing Liu Xin’s call, Lin Xiaoyan looked over, "That’s right! You’re really good, learning it in one go!"

Hearing Lin Xiaoyan’s praise, Liu Xin smiled shyly.

"I used to work in a kindergarten before I got married, so I often made desserts for the kids back then..."

Talking about her past experiences, Liu Xin’s eyes shone brightly, her tone light and carefree, completely devoid of her initial timidity and fear.

The day’s work was fulfilling and joyful.

For Liu Xin, it was the happiest day since she got married a year ago.

No mother-in-law to incite or criticize, no children causing chaos or screaming, no terrifying gaze from that man... it was truly nice.

However, time was brief, and after work, she would ultimately have to return to that dreadful home.

With anxiety in her heart, Liu Xin watched Lin Xiaoyan closing the shop. She didn’t want to go home at all.

After securing the door, assured that everything was fine, Lin Xiaoyan turned to leave, only to see Liu Xin standing there with a face full of sorrow.

She paused, recalling the images she "saw" in the morning that suggested Liu Xin would be beaten tonight.

Throughout the day, she had tried to subtly probe and ask about her situation, but Liu Xin always avoided the topic.

She sensed that Liu Xin didn’t want anyone to know about her family matters.

During breaks, when there were no orders to fill, Lin Xiaoyan couldn’t help but say that if she ever needed help, she could always ask, as she knew people over at the police station across the street.

But Liu Xin continued to insist that everything was fine.

In fact, the more she asked, the more Liu Xin’s face clouded over, visibly rejecting the topic.

So, Lin Xiaoyan stopped mentioning it.

"If... you need any help, feel free to contact me."

Lin Xiaoyan thought for a moment and approached Liu Xin, speaking softly.

Domestic violence has always been a difficult issue to resolve.

Unless a woman has the courage to burn bridges, she may be tormented by it for life.

Upon hearing Lin Xiaoyan’s words, Liu Xin absent-mindedly looked up at her.

"Thank you..."

Liu Xin thanked her weakly.

She turned mechanically, the stuffy weather making it hard to breathe.

Who could help her?

No one could.