Serenade

Shen Pingchuan slid his black Mercedes into a nice drift and parked in front of Bo Yan.

He rushed out of the car, slamming the door and face flushed red, eyes bloodshot.

Like a child who had done something wrong, Jin Xiwan hid behind Bo Yan, clutching his sleeve tightly, not daring to even look at Shen Pingchuan's expression.

"You've got some nerve!"

Shen Pingchuan was furious, face scrunched up like a monkey's butt. He walked over wanting to drag Jin Xiwan away, "How dare you not come home all night!"

"Senior, help me, Senior!" Jin Xiwan held onto Bo Yan tightly, using him as a human shield and trembling in fear.

Bo Yan stood in front of Shen Pingchuan and said in a low voice, "Don't scare her. Let's talk this through. Last night..."

But before he could finish, Shen Pingchuan suddenly threw a punch at him.

The fist landed firmly on Bo Yan's cheek, causing him to stumble to the side. Blood immediately appeared from the corner of his mouth.

Jin Xiwan cried out in alarm and quickly supported Bo Yan's arm, looking back in shock, "Shen Pingchuan, are you crazy?!"

Shen Pingchuan's eyes were bloodshot as he rushed over to grab Bo Yan's collar, "You bastard, messing with my sister! I'm going to kill you!"

Jin Xiwan was no match for Shen Pingchuan's brute strength. In the tussle, she was nearly thrown to the ground. Thankfully, Bo Yan still had a tight grip on her.

"Shen Pingchuan, he didn't do anything!" Jin Xiwan shielded Bo Yan and explained tremblingly, "I slept in the room, he slept on the couch!"

Hearing this, Shen Pingchuan's agitated emotions calmed down a little. He grabbed Jin Xiwan's arm and pulled her behind him, away from Bo Yan.

Bo Yan spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, looked up at Shen Pingchuan with a cold, sharp gaze.

"Calmed down yet?"

"Not yet!" Shen Pingchuan said, still wanting to move forward but held back firmly by Jin Xiwan.

Bo Yan's martial arts skills were exceptional. He could take on ten opponents at once and still place in the academy's annual fighting competition. For this rookie Shen Pingchuan to land a punch on him and remain unscathed was not because he was skilled, but because Bo Yan did not intend to fight back.

However, this did not mean he would back down again and again.

"You've got some guts, but you can't beat Senior Bo Yan in a fight."

Hearing this, Shen Pingchuan redirected his anger towards Jin Xiwan, grabbing her ear and yelling, "Out all night and staying at a man's home? You think you've grown wings and can disobey me now?"

"Ow, that hurts...Bro, that hurts..."

Bo Yan's face darkened. He walked over and disabled Shen Pingchuan's wrist with three simple moves, releasing his grip on Jin Xiwan's ear which had turned red from the pulling.

Heart aching, he gently massaged her ear and looked back at Shen Pingchuan coldly, "Yell if you want, but don't lay a hand on her."

Shen Pingchuan was taken aback for a second, "Who the hell are you to tell me how to treat my sister!"

Talking about status again.

Bo Yan rested his hand on Jin Xiwan's shoulder. Just as Jin Xiwan fully expected him to unleash some ultimate, domineering CEO line, Bo Yan just smiled faintly and casually said—

"I'm her father."

Jin Xiwan: ......

**

In the end, Shen Pingchuan did not harm Jin Xiwan again, not because he was afraid of Bo Yan, but because the girl was badly frightened. On the drive home, she curled up in the backseat, not even daring to look at him once.

Jin Xiwan recounted in fragments everything that happened last night to Shen Pingchuan. He gripped the steering wheel with one hand and leaned the other against the window, staring ahead wordlessly, dark eyes swirling with unseen undercurrents.

"Uncle Shen, he..."

"At work," Shen Pingchuan said expressionlessly. "This morning when I went to pick you up and heard you didn't go home, your dad freaked out and scolded your stepmom badly. I was about to go find Old Shen at the company when your phone switched on."

Hearing that Uncle Shen still didn't know about this, Jin Xiwan breathed a sigh of relief. "Bro, Uncle Shen is so busy. Don't tell him about this, okay?"

But Shen Pingchuan did not drive home. He pulled over at a 7-Eleven and bought several steaming hot buns. Getting into the backseat, he ripped open the door and sat down without a word, anger still unabated.

Jin Xiwan carefully opened the bag and obediently stuffed a bun into her mouth, chewing in small bites, sneaking glances at his expression from time to time.

"Cough."

She choked and reached into her schoolbag for her thermos, taking a sip of warm water.

Shen Pingchuan leaned his knuckles against his nose and said heavily, "I thought you were gone."

Jin Xiwan looked up at him. His face was somewhat pale, lips slightly chapped.

"I thought you were gone," he repeated, slowly closing his eyes and resting his head against the seat, exhausted.

Jin Xiwan could imagine the torment Shen Pingchuan went through in that first hour when he couldn't reach her.

Back in elementary school, some male classmates had invited Shen Pingchuan to go to an internet cafe to play games, something he rarely did then. Unable to resist the temptation, he went.

He told Jin Xiwan to take a taxi home by herself. But when he returned home that night and didn't see the girl, Shen Pingchuan freaked out and ran back out alone to search for her.

Jin Xiwan hadn't gotten lost. With the money Shen Pingchuan gave her for cab fare, she bought a milk tea and sat spacing out in the park.

When Shen Pingchuan saw Jin Xiwan, he cried and wailed, the first time Jin Xiwan had ever seen him shed tears when even Uncle Shen's vicious beatings didn't make him cry in the past.

He was terrified.

Shen Pingchuan cried as he led Jin Xiwan back home by the hand. From then on, he never went to an internet cafe again. Every day after school he would wait for her outside the classroom. Even when other kids invited Jin Xiwan over to play, Shen Pingchuan would tag along, or at the very least wait downstairs, insisting that he must keep an eye on her.

This continued until the second year of middle school when Jin Xiwan gradually made her own friends. Only when she started going home with her girlfriends every day did he finally let go.

Seeing Shen Pingchuan like this, Jin Xiwan felt awful and pulled his hand, "Bro, I was wrong."

Shen Pingchuan was silent for a while before directly opening the car door and climbing into the driver's seat. Starting the engine, he drove the sedan away.

Jin Xiwan realized they were not driving towards home, but rather...in the direction of the Jin family villa.

"Bro, aren't we going home?"

"Shen Pingchuan, I want to go home."

"Stop the car!"

......

Shen Pingchuan parked in front of the Jin family mansion. Jin Xiwan tugged at his sleeve, trying to pull him away, "What are you trying to do, Shen Pingchuan?"

"Get an explanation," Shen Pingchuan said expressionlessly as he knocked on the front door.

The mansion door opened. The house was brightly lit and festively decorated like Chinese New Year had arrived early. Jin Xiaobao, dressed in a new red down jacket, ran around excitedly.

Many Jin family relatives and children had also come over. A large group sat chatting animatedly in the living room.

The arrival of these two unexpected guests made the joyful family gathering atmosphere turn somewhat awkward.

Jin Mao had been sitting on the sofa chatting with relatives. Seeing Jin Xiwan come in, he immediately went up to her with concern, "Xiaowan, are you okay? Your dad nearly worried himself sick this morning when I heard you didn't go home."

Jin Xiwan stood behind Shen Pingchuan without speaking.

Seeing this, Aunt Jiang walked over with a smile, "Oh dear, as long as you're fine. Xiaowan, you really shouldn't act so recklessly in the future. Auntie knows you must have wanted to go home and didn't want to spend the night here. But you're a grown girl now. Running out alone at night, anything could have happened if you weren't careful. That would have been disastrous."

"I didn't want to go home," Jin Xiwan mumbled in a low voice, though she didn't dare say it loudly.

Jin Mao shook his head, "Xiaowan, if you wanted to go home, Dad wouldn't have stopped you. You should have told me, I would have driven you back. Why did you run off alone?"

"I didn't," Jin Xiwan said aggrievedly. "I didn't want to run off alone. Aunt Jiang was going to throw away the gift I got for Xiaobao and I got a bit upset."

Aunt Jiang quickly explained, "Kids shouldn't be touching stuff like oil paints that contain lead and other heavy metals. I was going to quietly put it away to save everyone's face. How was I to know this girl would misunderstand me like that?"

"You clearly meant...that I wanted to harm Xiaobao!" Jin Xiwan said anxiously, face flushed, "I was angry and that's why I left!"

"Who said you wanted to harm him? This ill-mannered girl really doesn't understand. Auntie knows you've never liked me. Of course, a stepmother can never do or say anything right. But you can't falsely accuse me like this."

"It's New Year's Day. Don't make a big fuss over small things like this," Jin Mao said to Jin Xiwan. "Auntie had Xiaobao's best interests in mind. You're older now and should be more sensible. It's best if you kids don't get involved in adult matters."

Jin Xiwan's eyes suddenly turned red. She clutched Shen Pingchuan's sleeve tightly, heart filled with grievances. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Grandpa and Grandma didn't like her. Her parents divorced. Her mother passed away. Her dad became Xiaobao's dad. Her home became someone else's. She never blamed or resented anyone for all this. How could adults make such a mess then tell her to be sensible?

"Bro, I want to go home," Jin Xiwan said in a choked voice.

Shen Pingchuan patted Jin Xiwan's hand and looked back at Jin Mao coldly, "When I called earlier saying Xiwan didn't come home, did you go out looking for her?"

Jin Mao's expression was unpleasant, "Today's the 30th. With so many visiting relatives and guests, I couldn't get away."

"You're her father. Your child goes missing yet you don't search for her, then tell me, an outsider, to help find your daughter. You and your family happily rang in the New Year while she was missing. What kind of father does that?!"

Jin Mao grew angry. "You insolent child, what right do you have to lecture me like this?!"

"You're right, I have no right to advise you. Tomorrow, I'll have her change her surname. From now on, she will have nothing to do with your family."

"You dare! You dare to do this, do you believe that I will go to court and take the child back!" Shen Pingchuan sneered coldly: "Our Shen family has been in business for decades, and we never make a loss-making deal. I have helped raise your daughter for more than ten years for free. Now you say you want to take her back, I tell you, no way."

"You unruly child, how can you be so ill-mannered!" Grandfather was so angry that he slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Shen Pingchuan: "Didn't your parents teach you how to treat your elders properly!"

Shen Pingchuan said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "My father only taught me one thing, to protect my sister well."

His hand fell on Jin Xiwen's shoulder, patting her forward a bit: "Whoever makes things difficult for her, I, Shen Pingchuan, will ask for an explanation."

Jin Xiwen crouched behind Shen Pingchuan again ungracefully.

"What difficulties? Who made things difficult for her? When she was at home, didn't we treat her well with good food and drink? She wanted to run away herself, how could we stop her?" Grandmother shrugged at Jin Mao: "I've always said that a daughter is an ungrateful white-eyed wolf that you can't raise well. Sons are better."

Shen Pingchuan looked at the big family, with a slight contemptuous sneer at the corner of his mouth: "Little Xi is a worthless daughter in your family, but she is a precious gem raised in our Shen family. Uncle Jin, let me tell you the truth, the project you discussed with my father last year, my father cooperated with you only because he cared about Little Xi. If you tolerate your wife treating Little Xi like this today, I dare to guarantee that when my father knows about this, he will not only refuse to cooperate with you, but it will also be difficult for you to do any business in City B in the future. "

"You, child, are you threatening me?"

Shen Pingchuan's expression was unchanged: "My father has not remarried for so many years, just to avoid wronging Xi Xi. You have no idea how much he treasures this precious daughter. If you don't believe me, feel free to try."

Madam Jiang's face was ugly as she looked at Jin Mao. Jin Mao pursed his purple lips angrily, his hands shaking. After a long time, he turned his head and said to Madam Jiang, "Go apologize to Little Xi."

Madam Jiang lost her composure: "All the relatives are watching, now you ask me to apologize to the child, do I still want face..."

"Go!" Jin Mao didn't bother to talk to her, and shouted sternly: "Xi Xi sincerely gave gifts, you not only refused, but also falsely accused her. You did something wrong and should apologize!"

Madam Jiang was so frightened by Jin Mao's anger that she walked over awkwardly with a "professional false smile" and said to Jin Xiwan: "Little Xi, auntie is wrong, I misunderstood you, don't take it to heart, let bygones be bygones, we are all one family without overnight feuds. You are still welcome to visit our home as a guest in the future."

Jin Xiwan held Shen Pingchuan's hand and plucked up the courage to say, "This house was bought by my mother and father together. It is jointly owned property. Half of the house belongs to my mother, now me. You have no right to welcome me to the house as a guest, because you are the guest."

"You..."

Madam Jiang looked extremely ugly. She had married into the Jin family as a third party. There were always some gossip behind her back among the relatives. After witnessing such a drama today, there was no telling what they would say about her afterwards.

Jin Mao said, "Let bygones be bygones. Xi Xi, don't be petty. Come on, it's almost noon, you came all this way, let's have a family reunion dinner."

Jin Xiwan pulled Shen Pingchuan and Shen Pingchuan said cheerfully, "No need. Our family also has a reunion dinner, so we'll take our leave, Uncle Jin."

"Um, if President Shen doesn't know about today's events, please don't..."

"My father went to the company early in the morning and is busy. I won't tell him," Shen Pingchuan said expressionlessly. "Uncle Jin can come to our house to see her if you miss Little Xi in the future. She won't come here anymore."

"Oh..."

Jin Xiwan took a final look at Jin Mao without saying anything, and obediently let Shen Pingchuan lead her away.

Back home, Shen Pingchuan completely lost the momentum he had at Jin's house earlier. He elegantly slumped on the sofa rolling his eyes—

"Tired to death, looking for you all morning, fighting with Bo Yan, and going there to make trouble. "

He sighed longly: "I feel emptied."

Jin Xiwan quickly poured a glass of water for Shen Pingchuan and handed it to him obediently: "Brother, you were so different today!"

Not to mention a student leader daring to roll up his sleeves and fight with Bo Yan, just looking at his overbearing words and deeds at Jin's house, he was even able to frighten the forty-something Jin Mao forcing Madam Jiang to apologize to Jin Xiwan.

This is just...too much like a CEO!

Shen Pingchuan drank the water in one gulp. He had been looking for her all morning without eating or drinking, and was really parched now.

"I have to get to know you again today." Jin Xiwan patted his chest: "Brother, you're so capable."

Shen Pingchuan found it unbelievable when he thought back to it. He had always maintained the image of a "gentle, restrained and humble" good boy in front of his elders. He went to Jin's house to make trouble on impulse today, something he would never have done in a million years.

"Who told you to be so weak." He looked at Jin Xiwan helplessly: "If you weren't such a coward, I wouldn't have to stand up for you."

"Your behavior of using Uncle Shen to pressure my dad just now..." Jin Xiwan said earnestly, "was really social. I'm convinced."

Shen Pingchuan raised his eyebrows and asked rhetorically: "'Money and power can bully people to death'. But you must never let Old Shen know. If he knows I bluffed using his name, I can forget about having a good New Year."

Jin Xiwan shook her head again and again: "I won't say it!"

Shen Pingchuan helped her conceal staying overnight at Bo Yan's house. The little kids would always be grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

Jin Xiwan fawned on him, saying, "Brother, just based on your style today, you will definitely become the most overbearing CEO in the future."

Shen Pingchuan raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's the style of an overbearing CEO?"

Jin Xiwan pressed Shen Pingchuan's shoulders and leaned in close to him, sniffing his armpit: "This damn woman is so sweet."

Shen Pingchuan: ...

Get lost!

**

On New Year's Eve, Shen's relatives gathered at a big hotel for New Year's Eve dinner. Shen Shishan gave his children several big red envelopes. Relatives also took out red envelopes to give to the children.

Taking advantage of everyone sitting in the living room watching the Spring Festival Gala, cracking melon seeds and chatting, Shen Pingchuan took Jin Xiwan out to the balcony and they opened red envelopes together.

"Ha, we got the same amount this year!" Shen Pingchuan held Jin Xiwan's flat red envelope: "Old Shen has shown favoritism for years, but finally this year we got equal treatment."

Both of their red envelopes only contained some small change, just a symbolic gesture. In previous years, Jin Xiwan's red envelope must have been bulging, much thicker than Shen Pingchuan's.

Shen Pingchuan said with a smile: "It looks like little sister also has days when she falls out of favor."

Jin Xiwan smiled mysteriously without saying a word.

Shen Pingchuan: "He didn't secretly give you New Year's money?"

Jin Xiwan: "Nope."

Shen Pingchuan frowned in puzzlement: "Really?"

Jin Xiwan finally couldn't keep it in and laughed happily. She waved her phone: "Old Shen didn't give private red envelopes because he learned to send money through WeChat!"

Shen Pingchuan was so angry that he ran out to argue with Old Shen: "I've seen favoritism before, but never to this extent!"

Shen Shishan calmly sipped tea and said righteously: "Sister is in college now, so her expenses are naturally higher than before. Don't college roommates need to spend money when eating out together? In the future when she has a boyfriend, won't they need to spend money dating, watching movies, and traveling?"

Shen Pingchuan: "Then...what if I get a girlfriend? Wouldn't I need to spend money?"

Shen Shishan: "Let's talk when you actually manage to get a girlfriend!"

The Shen family had always adhered to the principle of "frugal upbringing of sons, generous upbringing of daughters". Shen Pingchuan had no rebuttal. But in the end, Jin Xiwan still secretly stuffed more money into Shen Pingchuan's red envelope: "On getting a girlfriend, little sister fully supports you!"

Shen Pingchuan ruffled her hair and went to his bed to play games.

Jin Xiwan stood at the edge of the balcony, looking at the distant and vast night sky, with gorgeous fireworks blossoming from time to time. A red envelope message popped up on her phone.

Jin Xiwan opened it curiously. The red envelope was from Bo Yan, 66 yuan.

Bo Yan: "My daughter, come pay your respects to daddy for the new year."

Jin Xiwan pouted her lips. After collecting the red envelope, she sent him one back with 88 yuan—

"Good boy, here's your lucky money."

Bo Yan chuckled and asked, "Is video call convenient?"

Jin Xiwan looked at Shen Pingchuan in the room. He had headphones on and was immersed in his game, so Jin Xiwan sat on the bed, turned on a small night light, and tidied her hair—

"Convenient."

Soon, Bo Yan's video call came through.

The scene was not his home, but another unfamiliar environment. The furniture was mostly old-fashioned wooden styles. There were a lot of background noises, sounding like there were many people.

"At grandpa's house." Bo Yan explained.

He sat on a high stool, leaning on the table with one hand, wearing a neat light-colored shirt. A few shirt buttons were casually undone, revealing a section of long, fair neck. His hair was combed back, bangs gone, revealing his broad forehead, looking very spirited.

However, there was a bandaid at the corner of his mouth, Shen Pingchuan's "masterpiece" from today.

"Did your family ask about it?" Jin Xiwan pointed to the bandaid at the corner of his mouth.

"They asked." Bo Yan said nonchalantly, "I said the cat scratched me."

Jin Xiwan felt quite embarrassed and apologized to him on Shen Pingchuan's behalf.

"Caring leads to chaos. I would do the same." Bo Yan didn't mind at all and asked her, "Do I look different?"

"Oh my." Jin Xiwan smiled meaningfully, eyes narrowed, "Young Master Bo is dressed up today!"

Bo Yan straightened his collar and nodded at her: "Sorry to dazzle you with my handsomeness."

Jin Xiwan did not deny at all that Bo Yan looked really handsome in his shirt.

"What do you think of my changes, Bo?"

Jin Xiwan held her phone further away to let Bo Yan see her. Because she was going to have dinner with Shen Shishan's aunt and uncle tonight, Jin Xiwan specially put on light makeup and took off her glasses and wore color contacts, feeling that she must look beautiful today.

Bo Yan stared at her and looked carefully for a long time: "Is your stomach...full again?"

Jin Xiwan: ... 𝔣𝖗𝔢𝖊𝔴𝖊𝔟𝔫𝔬𝖛𝔢𝖑.𝔠𝔬𝔪

Want to hit someone!

Jin Xiwan wanted to hang up the video call, but Bo Yan stopped her: "The new year is almost here. Last time you didn't get to take a bath with me during the countdown. Let's count down together this time."

"Okay." Jin Xiwan still didn't want to give up: "But do you really not notice any changes about me?"

"Hmm..." Bo Yan stared at her again for a long time, as if working on a test question, and uncertainly asked: "Did you wear new clothes?"

Jin Xiwan: ...

So that's why girls and boys can't be friends! Girls can even tell if you've applied sunscreen today! For boys, light makeup on a girl is just bare face to them, and lipstick is like heavy makeup.

He noticed her new clothes, but didn't notice she had become more beautiful?

At this time, Shen Pingchuan's voice came lazily: "Idiot~~"

Bo Yan: "Yo, my brother Shen is still here."

He was very natural, not bothered at all by the fight today.

Jin Xiwan sat next to Shen Pingchuan and kicked him: "Bro, tell him what's different about me today!"

Shen Pingchuan took off his earphones, glanced impatiently at the phone screen: "She was too lazy to wash her hair today, super oily, can't even see that."

Author's note: Jin Xiwan: Don't want to be friends with you guys.