It was Shao Guangrong!

You Li had long known she couldn’t aspire to Shao Guangrong’s level. She focused all her thoughts on working hard and had given up any hopes regarding him.

But Young Master Shao kept seeking her out.

At first, his words were harsh. You Li knew she was in the wrong and endured all his difficulties through gritted teeth.

Later, Shao Guangrong stopped saying those harsh words, and You Li felt relieved.

When Shao Guangrong called her, she still didn’t dare refuse.

Without Shao Guangrong as a shield, that man would never have been pacified… That man still hoped You Li could marry into a high-ranking official’s family, counting on a future son-in-law’s promotion.

You Li needed to use Shao Guangrong to buy time, using him as a front, so naturally she couldn’t be tough whenever she met him.

Today when Shao Guangrong came again, You Li’s steps were light.

“Young Master Shao!”

She hadn’t been this cheerful in a long time; even Shao Guangrong was infected by her mood.

“What’s up, got another raise?”

You Li only showed happiness when she got a raise. Seeing her so cheerful today, Shao Guangrong guessed her commission must have hit another record. He noticed You Li’s eyes were particularly bright, and perhaps it was these eyes that had attracted him… All that submissiveness had been fake, You Li’s deception. You Li was particularly stubborn.

But Shao Guangrong didn’t like the submissive You Li, feeling it was fake, no different from his previous girlfriends.

The stubborn, aloof You Li was real, full of vitality.

Just like now, You Li’s eyes sparkled, her whole being enveloped in joy:

“No raise, but I’m changing jobs. Sister Xia wants me to be her secretary! Young Master Shao, I’m so happy!”

Going to be Sister-in-law Xiaolan’s secretary?

Shao Guangrong’s first reaction was that Sister-in-law was impressive, already needing to hire a secretary.

His second reaction was that Sister-in-law Xiaolan’s company was in Pengcheng – wouldn’t that mean You Li would be working in Pengcheng?

Damn!

This girl was heartless, ready to leave just like that, without any reluctance.

Shao Guangrong suddenly slammed on the brakes.

You Li hit the windshield and clutched her head, angry but not daring to speak out against Shao Guangrong’s sudden braking.

Shao Guangrong lit himself a cigarette:

“I know you’re cursing me inside. What, now that you don’t rely on me for food, you still don’t dare curse out loud?”

“Not at all, Young Master Shao, you misunderstand!”

You Li firmly denied it.

Shao Guangrong chuckled, “You Li, you don’t know what I want, always calling me ‘Young Master Shao,’ watching me make a fool of myself. You’re quite pleased with yourself, aren’t you?”

Wasn’t she just watching him slap himself in the face?

Shao Guangrong didn’t mind.

Let her watch!

He still hadn’t abandoned his initial assessment – You Li was calculating.

But he had become too focused on this calculating woman, and over time, he’d even gotten used to this attention.

What was this?

How could a veteran of romance like Shao Guangrong not understand? He had fallen for You Li… His feelings for You Li were different from his previous relationships, even different from his first love in his teens.

When he got together with his first love, Shao Guangrong had given his whole heart, unable to see any flaws in her.

With You Li, he knew exactly what kind of person she was, saw both her flaws and merits, yet didn’t care.

Damn, he had been planning to wait until this girl turned 18, which wasn’t quite yet, and now this dead girl was going to be Sister-in-law Xiaolan’s secretary – would she never return?

Shao Guangrong was still puzzled.

With You Li’s education level, selling clothes in the store was fine, but could she manage to be a secretary?

Sister-in-law Xiaolan did have an unconventional eye for talent.

With Shao Guangrong’s hints being so obvious, it wasn’t appropriate for You Li to keep playing dumb.

If it were before, You Li might have been very happy.

If she could get together with Shao Guangrong, she could rescue her mother from that “home.” But now, You Li was troubled. She had accepted Xia Xiaolan’s job offer to be her secretary.

She would be working away from Beijing.

She would be running away with her mother.

Accept Shao Guangrong’s goodwill?

You Li shuddered. How could she be in a relationship now? Shao Guangrong was just temporarily intrigued by her.

You Li had always been clear-headed. With her background, how could she possibly cross the threshold of the Shao family… She knew her place and had never thought about seriously dating Shao Guangrong.

Shao Guangrong was a good person, but not a good match.

“Young Master Shao, you’re a good person, but we’re not suitable.”

Shao Guangrong was nearly angered to death.

He wanted to kick You Li out of the car, but remembering it was late at night and a young woman with her figure wouldn’t be safe on the streets, he held back.

Thugs wouldn’t care about You Li’s actual age.

Shao Guangrong was so angry he didn’t speak the whole way, dropping You Li at the entrance of her hutong alley:

“About you using me – we’re not done with that! Now you’re going to be a secretary, you think you can just cut me off? Think about whose secretary you’re going to be!”

Shao Guangrong threw these words at her and sped away with a roar of the engine.

You Li stood there, not angry at being scolded, her face full of smiles:

“…Young Master Shao is a good person.”

Even knowing she had used him before, he still drove her home. Shao Guangrong had intentionally acted as her shield, though he probably didn’t know why she needed this shield.

Shao Guangrong only knew her family conditions were poor, her mother bedridden, probably seeing her as a girl who had to quit school young to support her family, which was why he overlooked her “deception.”

But he didn’t know You Li wanted to escape that “home,” not support it.

If she told others about her home situation, no one would believe her, and she wouldn’t tell Shao Guangrong, hoping for his pity.

She was truly grateful to Shao Guangrong, not just for his outward sharp tongue and inner magnanimity, not just for being her “shield,” but most importantly because through Shao Guangrong, she had met Xia Xiaolan!

Whether Sister Xia or President Xia, Xia Xiaolan had given her another possibility in life.

You Li walked with light steps, humming a tune as she hurried home.

She wanted to tell her mother this good news.

Just endure a little longer – in at most half a month, after handling the handover at the clothing store, she could take her mother and fly far away!

You Li believed her docile and submissive behavior had lulled that man into complacency.

She was sacrificing some money but would gain permanent freedom!

Late at night, You Li cleaned and changed her mother, lying beside her and whispering:

“Mom, I’m so happy. President Xia is transferring me to be her secretary. She’s the most capable person I’ve ever met. Being President Xia’s secretary means your suffering will turn to sweetness! I’ll take you away, to a place where that beast can never find us. When he comes back and finds us gone… just thinking about his expression makes me so happy!”

Never again would she have to see that hypocritical face.

Never again would she have to endure that sticky, disgusting gaze.

No one would force her to go hook men.

No one would use her mother to threaten her.

You Li’s smile infected her mother, and this bedridden woman felt life had something to look forward to.

How wonderful.

Her daughter was valued by her boss and surely had a bright future ahead.

Even if she died now, she could close her eyes in peace.