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

Uncle Chen stood at the entrance to the living room and visibly relaxed when he saw them come in: "It's good that Miss is back. Madam hasn't rested since she got off the plane."

Lin Xueting pressed Shu Zi down onto the softest sofa in the living room, sat down beside her, held her hand tightly, and looked at her over and over again.

"Are you really not hurt? Did that person touch you?" Lin Xueting was still worried and asked again.

"No, Mom, Gu Yan was right next to me at the time, he didn't even touch the hem of my clothes."

Shu Zi assured her repeatedly, and to reassure her mother, she even stood up and spun around, saying, "Look, I'm as lively and energetic as ever."

Lin Xueting breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the chilled lemonade on the coffee table, took a big gulp, and after calming herself down, said, "Thanks to Ayan, this child has always been reliable since he was little."

She put down her cup, not pressing for details about Shu Zi and Gu Yan's current relationship, but simply looked at her daughter gently and patted her hand softly.

"It's a blessing that no one is hurt. Nothing else matters. Just keep that in mind. Mom believes you can handle it."

Lin Xueting knew her daughter's personality all too well, and she also knew Gu Yan's character. Some things didn't need to be questioned; saying too much would only add pressure to the child.

She didn't press for answers or test the waters; her attitude was clear.

She supports all of Shuzi's decisions.

Shu Zi naturally understood the meaning behind those words.

Shu Zi nodded gently, her voice soft and sweet: "Yes, I know, Mom. I'm sorry to have worried you."

She glanced around the living room and asked, "By the way, where's Grandpa?"

Chen Bowen replied, "The old master went out early this morning to meet an old friend for tea and chess. He didn't know about what happened last night when he left. Madam was worried that the old master would be troubled because of his age, so she specifically instructed us not to disturb him for the time being."

Shu Zi nodded.

That's true. Grandpa is used to a leisurely life. He likes to invite a few old friends over tea to discuss painting when he has nothing to do. His daily routine has always been regular.

Lin Xueting smiled and smoothly took over the conversation, talking about other lighthearted things, asking her how her work was going lately and if there were any interesting things happening on the show.

The mother and daughter talked for a while, mostly Lin Xueting reminding her to be careful and take care of herself.

Uncle Chen brought over a chilled calming soup, which Shu Zi obediently drank.

As evening approached, Shu Baizhou also rushed back, looking travel-worn.

Shu Zi was chatting with Lin Xueting when she turned her head and saw Shu Baizhou. She snorted and turned her head to the side, showing him the back of her head.

Shu Baizhou had just finished a multinational video conference and hadn't even had time to take off his suit jacket.

He glanced at his wife first, and seeing that she looked normal, he breathed a slight sigh of relief. But seeing his daughter's sullen expression, he felt a bit of a headache.

Shu Baizhou walked to the sofa opposite him and sat down, loosening his tie and deliberately putting on a stern face. "So you know how to come home?"

These words immediately ignited Shu Zi's temper. She turned her head sharply and retorted angrily:

"This is my home, why can't I go back? Besides, some people don't care about me at all, they'd rather I fend for myself out there!"

Shu Baizhou choked for a moment, his face breaking into a tense expression, and he subconsciously looked at his wife.

Lin Xueting elegantly picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and looked down at her, giving off an air of "you two, father and daughter, solve your own problems. I'm not getting involved."

Shu Baizhou cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension: "What nonsense are you talking about? When did Dad ever stop you from coming home? Dad is..."

"Who do you think you are? You just think I'm a disgrace to you by going into the entertainment industry! You think I deserve to suffer!"

Shu Zi grew angrier the more she thought about it, and unleashed a torrent of abuse on Shu Baizhou:

"When something happened, you didn't even care about me the first thing. All you did was ask me this and that, with such a long face! Am I even your biological child?!"

Shu Bozhou was taken aback by his daughter's series of accusations and wondered if he had gone too far.

His voice softened involuntarily: "How could your father not care about you?"

"As soon as I saw the news, I rushed to your apartment complex. I was relieved to see you and Gu Yan together. Then I immediately had my assistant investigate, contact the police, and put pressure on the property management..."

He paused, looked at his daughter's stubborn little face, and sighed:

"Dad is angry. He's angry that he didn't protect you well, and he's also angry that you had to choose this... such a nerve-wracking path."

"But your father has never thought you were a disgrace. You are my daughter, Shu Baizhou. What can't you do? It's just... your father can't bear to see you suffer or be wronged."

Lin Xueting then put down his teacup, looked at Shu Zi, and said with a smile and indulgence in his eyes, "Nuonuo, since Daddy has said so, how about... we give him a way out?"

Shu Baizhou immediately looked at his daughter with longing eyes.

Shu Zi nodded. "Alright, then I'll reluctantly forgive you."

Shu Baizhou breathed a sigh of relief and quickly changed the subject: "Is anything bothering you? Should we have Dr. Zhang take a look?"

"No need!" Shu Zi immediately refused. "I'm perfectly fine! It's just... I don't want to go back to that shabby apartment. Just thinking about it makes me sick."

"No reply! Of course not!"

Shu Baizhou immediately replied, his tone resolute.

"The security there is a joke! Dad will find you a new one. Which house do you like? What kind of layout do you prefer? I'll have Assistant Wang bring the information over tomorrow! No, Dad will take you to see it directly!"

Shu Zi: "...Dad, there's no need to exaggerate like that."

Her father's approach of "solving problems by throwing money at them" has remained unchanged for decades.

"How exaggerated? My daughter, Shu Bozhou's daughter, must live in a place that is absolutely secure!"

Shu Baizhou raised his eyebrows, revealing a ruthless and decisive nature characteristic of the business world.

Then, as if remembering something, his brows furrowed again, and his tone became somewhat complicated, "By the way, last night... you were at that kid's place?"

coming.

She knew she couldn't escape this!

Shu Zi raised her chin, speaking with righteous indignation:

"What else? Sleep on the streets? You're at the company, and Mom's on the plane. If I don't go to his place, am I supposed to go to a hotel and give the paparazzi a headline?"

Shu Baizhou was speechless.

He looked at his daughter for two seconds, his expression shifting.

He couldn't find any fault with Gu Yan himself, whether it was his character or his family background. He had watched him grow up and knew him inside and out.

After that incident, his abilities became outstanding enough, and he even admired me.

But... just thinking about how that guy "saved the damsel in distress" last night and even brought my daughter back to his place, a strange mix of bitterness and awkwardness welled up inside me.

It was a complex mix of feelings: a sense of crisis that "my own cabbage might really be eaten by a pig" and "this pig seems pretty good, but I'm just not happy about it."

"Dad, what are you thinking about now?" Shu Zi knew something was wrong as soon as she saw Shu Baizhou's expression.

"Ahem," he coughed, trying to sound like an enlightened and magnanimous elder, "Ah Yan reacted quickly and handled things properly this time, so we should thank him properly."

"Have you thanked me?"

"Thank you," Shu Zi said briefly.

"Yes, we must not neglect etiquette."

Shu Baizhou nodded, then changed the subject, his tone cautiously probing:

"So what are your plans now? Will you still stay at his place?"