I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Gu Yan's face was so dark it looked like it could be wrung out of water, and his eyes were churning with an almost tangible ferocity.

He ruthlessly increased the pressure on his hands, and the man screamed in pain.

With his other hand, he quickly took out his phone and dialed the police. His voice was cold and hard as he clearly stated the address and a brief summary of the situation.

After hanging up, he immediately dialed the property management's 24-hour hotline. His concise and angry tone startled the property manager on the other end of the line, who apologized repeatedly.

While waiting for the police, Gu Yan pinned the struggling, foul-mouthed man against the wall, far away from Shu Zi.

The man first cried and begged for mercy, staring at Shu Zi with a crazed look in his eyes, and then he uttered a vicious curse at Gu Yan.

Shu Zi curled up in the corner, covered her ears, her body trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. The lingering fear washed over her like a cold tide.

If Gu Yan hadn't escorted her up today, if she had gone home alone...

She dared not think any further.

The police arrived quickly, collected evidence, took photos, and conducted inquiries.

The stalker was a little more obedient in front of the police, but he was still muttering Shu Zi's name.

The property manager also rushed over, sweating profusely. Faced with Gu Yan's cold questioning and Shu Zi's pale face, he was so frightened that he became incoherent, admitting that there had been serious negligence in the monitoring system and the patrolling security guards, and that he would definitely investigate and rectify the situation.

It was nearly midnight when the police finally took away the screaming stalker. The property manager stayed behind and repeatedly assured them that security would be strengthened and promised compensation.

Everything returned to silence, but the lingering scent of a strange man in the room, the signs of disturbance, and the pervasive, chilling sense of being watched and invaded, like a spider web, clung to every inch of air, suffocating Shu Zi.

Gu Yan walked up to Shu Zi and squatted down.

The chilling coldness on his face had faded, but a lingering icy glint remained in his eyes. He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, his voice low and tender:

"Nuonuo, don't be afraid, the person has already been taken away."

After a long while, Shu Zi lifted her head from his embrace, her eyes red-rimmed, her long eyelashes wet with tears. The lingering fear and extreme aversion to this space had drained her of all her strength.

Gu Yan looked down at her, his tone calm but leaving no room for argument: "You can't stay here any longer. Come to my place tonight."

Almost instinctively, she nodded vigorously, her voice hoarse and barely audible.

"……good."

Gu Yan drove in the opposite direction and finally stopped in front of a detached villa. The villa was decorated in black, white and gray tones with cold and clean lines, a typical modern minimalist style.

Shu Zi was no stranger to this place; Yunqi Platinum Mansion was the most prestigious villa area in northern Beijing, where the residents were all wealthy and powerful.

Gu Yan entered the password to open the door. The warm light and comfortable temperature were automatically adjusted. He led her upstairs and pushed open the door to the second room on the right side of the second-floor corridor.

The room is spacious and simply designed, but the details show great care.

Off-white curtains, a soft, long-pile carpet, and a huge floor-to-ceiling window overlooking a private courtyard view. On the dressing table are several of her favorite skincare products, all brand new and unopened.

Shu Zi was stunned and looked at Gu Yan.

"Always keep it on hand."

Gu Yan spoke calmly as he walked to the dressing room, took out a dark gray silk shirt, and handed it to her. "It's new, I've never worn it before. Wear this tonight."

Shu Zi reached out and took it. The shirt had the same clean and crisp scent as his, a scent she was very familiar with, and her tense nerves gradually relaxed.

"The bathroom is over there, and they have new toiletries," Gu Yan pointed. "I'm right next door, so call me anytime if you need anything."

"...Mmm." Shu Zi hugged the shirt and responded softly.

Gu Yan looked at her intently, and only after confirming that her condition had stabilized somewhat did he turn around and close the door.

Shu Zi stayed in the bathroom for a long time, the warm water washing over her body, but it couldn't wash away the chill and nausea in her heart.

She scrubbed vigorously until her skin turned red.

Gu Yan's shirt was too big for her; the sleeves were way too long, and the hem covered her thighs.

She climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers, which smelled wonderfully of sunshine mixed with his scent from her shirt, enveloping her.

My heart, still shaken, finally settled down little by little.

The phone on the bed kept vibrating. Shu Zi picked it up and saw it was Lin Xueting. She answered, her voice soft, "Mom..."

"Nuonuo, are you alright? Where are you? Don't be afraid, Mommy is coming to pick you up."

Shu Zi heard Lin Xueting's anxious voice through the receiver. Her nose stung, and her voice betrayed her hurt. "Mom, I'm fine..."

"Don't be afraid, baby. Mommy is coming to pick you up right now. Tell me where you are, and Mommy will be right there."

"I'm with Gu Yan, don't worry. It's too late, so don't come over."

"Are you with Ayan? I'm relieved. Mom was so scared. She called several times but you didn't answer."

"I was just taking a shower... But Mom, how did you know that?"

I saw it online.

Upon hearing this, Shu Zi switched to the call interface, and only then did she see that there were still dozens of missed calls and messages on the screen.

She opened Weibo first, and the trending topics were already exploding.

The top trending topic was prominently displayed with a dark red "Explosive" label:

#Shuzi encounters sasaeng fans breaking into her home#

Shu Zi's heart sank, and she clicked on it.

The top trending post was a long article by a whistleblower claiming to be a "resident of the same community," accompanied by several blurry photos, but it was clear that they were photos of police cars parked downstairs at her apartment building, as well as silhouettes of property management staff and police talking in the distance.

"Holy crap! Just now, police were dispatched to what appears to be the upscale apartment where Shu Zi lives! A friend at the property management said a stalker fan broke into the apartment and was caught red-handed! Apparently, it was a male fan, and his behavior was extremely perverted; he'd been lurking in the apartment for some time… It's terrifying to think about! Shu Zi seems to have gone home tonight; I wonder if she was frightened… Celebrity privacy and safety are really a serious problem these days!"

The comments and reposts below have gone crazy.

[My God!!! A sasaeng fan broke into my home?! And a man at that?! This isn't just being a sasaeng fan, it's a crime!]

[The photo definitely shows a police car! Is Shuzi alright? Is she injured?]

[This is terrifying! Is the security at this high-end apartment building made of paper?! How could they let someone in?!]

[@TomatoMedia and @ShuziStudio, please give us an explanation! Can't you even guarantee the personal safety of your artists?!]

Has that stalker fan been caught? They must be severely punished! This behavior is outrageous!

Am I the only one wondering where Shuzi is now? She probably doesn't dare stay at home anymore, right?

[@Brother Gu Yan! Look at our Zi Zi! She needs protection! (Although I know you can't see this)]

[Could this be a publicity stunt? This just happened right after the show ended?]

[Have some decency, upstairs! How can you use something like this as a conspiracy theory?]

In the top comments, fans have already tagged the official account and fan club, demanding that the company come forward to explain the situation and strengthen security.

Of course, many passersby also discussed the legal boundaries of celebrity privacy and obsessive fans, and public opinion was almost unanimously shocked, angry, and worried about Shu Zi.

Shu Zi stared at the screen, her fingers trembling slightly.

Although the report did not include a clear photo of her face, the keywords "luxury apartment," "caught on the spot," "male fan," and "lurking" were enough to piece together a terrifying picture, causing her nausea, which she had barely managed to calm down, to surge back up again.

She exited and saw that several related trending topics were still climbing rapidly:

#Stalker fans get out of the entertainment industry#

#Please protect the privacy and safety of artists#

#ShuziPeace#

She closed her eyes, said a few more comforting words to Lin Xueting, and then slowly hung up the phone.