Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

Shen Yan left, and this time Shang Song didn't stop him.

Shang Song sat there, looking at the dishes on the table that had long since gone cold, and felt inexplicably choked up.

He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

Maybe the food was cold, or maybe I've become too picky about food lately; it didn't taste good.

He ate slowly, pondering how he could help Shen Yan.

After racking my brains, I could only think of a few possible solutions.

Call the police, contact the company, and confront them head-on.

But Shen Yan had already made it clear that none of these approaches would work.

The only remaining path is through Xie Jing.

Given Xie Jing's status and influence, dealing with a minor character like Zhou Xu'an would probably be a simple matter of a single sentence.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Shang Song suppressed it.

It's not that he's afraid, or as Shen Yan said, there's the issue of dependence or inequality. He knows best what kind of person Xie Jing is and what his relationship with Xie Jing is like.

He just... couldn't bear to part with it.

Xie Jing is clean.

Although the title of "family head" sounds impressive, in Shang Song's eyes, Xie Jing was simply an academic whose life was so simple it was almost monotonous.

The scheming, entanglement, and filth involved in Shen Yan's affair should not have tainted Xie Jing.

His wooden self should stay in a place like the Western Hills, reading thread-bound books, restoring ancient texts, and feeding fish—that would be perfect.

But what can he do without Xie Jing? Calling the police is useless, and the company... is unlikely to confront a powerful boss in the industry for the sake of an employee.

Are we really just supposed to watch Shen Yan get forced to leave?

no way.

Shang Song put down his chopsticks and couldn't eat another bite.

He picked up his phone, opened WeChat, and joined the dormitory group chat.

Song: Brothers, I'm in deep trouble!

Boss: [Cat looking confused.jpg] At this hour? Shouldn't you be spending some time alone with Professor Xie?

Second Brother: Hey Shang Xiaosong, your public beta test seems to be going pretty smoothly, right? Is there some huge bug somewhere?

Third brother: Brother Song, what happened?

Song: It's not my business, it's a colleague of mine who's in big trouble.

Shang Song spoke concisely, omitting some overly personal details, but recounted how Zhou Xu'an used his power to entangle and threaten Shen Yan into getting back together.

Song: He's being forced to take his mother and leave S City to hide. You guys are quick-witted, help me think of any ways to help him? At least, don't let him be so passively beaten!

The group was quiet for a few minutes.

Boss: Holy crap! This guy surnamed Zhou is a total bastard! This isn't chasing someone! It's so damn shady!

Second brother: Just hearing that makes me furious! This kind of rotten person does whatever he wants just because he has a little money and power!

Third brother: Your colleague is so pitiful, but the other party is a company boss, how can we help?

Second brother: By the way, why don't you ask your Professor Xie about this?

Boss: That's right, Professor Xie can deal with these small bosses with just a few words, right?

Song: This is Shen Yan's private matter... It's a bit dirty, and Xie Jing is like that, I don't think he should be involved in this kind of thing.

Boss: ...I understand. You don't want Professor Xie to feel like you're using him, or dragging him into trouble. I understand.

Second Brother: But Song, I'm not trying to discourage you, but in this kind of situation, the other party is rich and has connections, and they even resort to underhanded tactics. You've only been working for a short time, and even if the three of us are just ordinary guys, we still can't win if we go head-to-head.

Shang Song looked at the words on the screen, his heart heavy.

He knew his brothers were telling the truth.

For a bunch of greenhorns who have only recently entered the workforce to try and fight a scumbag like Zhou Xu'an is like throwing an egg against a rock.

He scratched his hair in frustration, and a new bubble appeared on his phone.

Second brother: Okay, I'm going to the new district next Monday. My dad's always wanted to open a branch there, so he wants me to go and check things out first. I'll cover your lunch next Monday, and bring you a big braised pork knuckle. I'll also check on your colleague.

Upon seeing the words "braised pork knuckle," Shang Song subconsciously swallowed.

Song: I want the pork knuckle to be leaner; too much fat makes it greasy.

Eldest brother: !!! Second brother: ! I want one too!! I'm so hungry!

Third brother: Second brother!!! My dear second brother! Big braised pork knuckle!!! I want the big braised pork knuckle that your old man makes!!! [Wild boar frantically nudging the screen.gif]

Second son: Okay, okay, you're all the bosses. We'll talk about it next Monday.

Second Brother: @Song I know you have a good heart and can't stand seeing your friends being bullied. But you also need to calm down and think about it. There are just too many unfair and upsetting things in this world. Can you handle them all? Your colleague has already chosen to leave, which means he knows he can't fight it out. If you insist on getting involved, what if that scumbag surnamed Zhou goes crazy and targets you too? You've just established yourself at Qingguo, and your future is bright. Don't get yourself into trouble.

The second brother's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, completely extinguishing Shang Song's impulsive, hot-blooded enthusiasm.

He stared at his phone screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard, unable to type a single word for a long time.

He knew that what his second brother said was right.

He leaned back listlessly in the simple plastic chair, feeling uncomfortable as if the cold food he had just eaten was stuck in his stomach.

Just then, a new message notification popped up on WeChat.

From Xie Jing: "Still not finished eating?"

He stared at the message for several seconds, but didn't know how to reply.

What should I reply to?

Saying "I'll be right back after I finish eating"?

But he didn't want to go back to Cloud Peak at all. He didn't know how to face Xie Jing or how to explain why he was feeling down.

He was even a little scared, afraid that Xie Jing would see his frustration, afraid that Xie Jing would ask him what was wrong, and even more afraid that he would not be able to help himself and reveal everything about Shen Yan.

He didn't want that.

But Xie Jing was waiting for him.

Finally, he took a deep breath and slowly typed a reply:

"I'm done eating."

Xie Jing replied quickly: "Where?"

Shang Song sent his location.

"Wait."

Shang Song stared at those two words for a moment, then a smile still crept onto his lips.

He paid the bill and left the small restaurant.

I found a spot under a streetlamp and stood there.

Before long, the three familiar black cars silently pulled up and stopped in front of him.

The rear window rolled down, revealing Xie Jing's incomparably handsome face.

Shang Song opened the car door and got in.

As soon as he sat down, he naturally leaned closer to Xie Jing.

He looked up at Xie Jing, who was also looking at him, his eyes appearing particularly deep and focused in the dim light, with a hint of inquiry.

"Give me a hug," Shang Song said.

Xie Jing seemed to be taken aback for a moment, but then he stretched out his arm.

Shang Song immediately leaned into his arms, buried her face in his shoulder blade, and took a deep breath.

It was Xie Jing's pleasant scent. Shang Song couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he could tell it was a faint woody fragrance.

Xie Jing's large hands, warm yet firm, gently pressed against Shang Song's back.

"What's wrong?" Xie Jing's deep voice sounded from above his head.

"It's nothing," Shang Song said sullenly in his arms, "I'm just a little tired."

He tightened his grip on Xie Jing's waist, holding him even closer.

He didn't mention Shen Yan or those unpleasant things; he simply absorbed the sense of security that came from the hug.

Xie Jing didn't ask any more questions, but simply hugged him and gently patted his back.

After a while, Shang Song seemed to have recovered and loosened his arms slightly, but still lingered in Xie Jing's arms without moving.

"Tomorrow and the day after are the weekend," Xie Jing asked. "What do you want to do? Go back to Xishan, or rest at Genting Highlands? Or, maybe go see another movie?"

He offered a choice, but Shang Song could sense the thoughtfulness in his words.

Xie Jing remembered that he liked watching movies, and also remembered that he had been working overtime recently and was very tired and needed to rest.

Shang Song snuggled closer to him, finding a more comfortable position, before lazily asking, "Weren't you unhappy living in the Cloud Top?"

"Go back to Xishan, do nothing, just stay there, bask in the sun, feed the fish, or just daydream."