Are you showing yourself off to seduce me?

Ji Shen stood at the entrance of the hospital room, dressed in his police uniform. His tall, upright figure radiated authority, commanding respect without a word.

Qin You was startled for a couple of seconds. “...Uncle Ji? Why are you here?”

Ji Shen’s gaze was cold. “I’m in charge of Wen Shuang’s kidnapping case. Leave.”

Though Ji Shen was only five years older, Qin You had always been somewhat afraid of his uncle and didn’t think to question the relationship between the two.

Ji Shen closed the door, looking toward the pale-faced woman lying in bed. His tone was as chilly as ever.

“I thought Miss Wen would be focusing on her recovery while in the hospital, but I didn’t expect you’d still be restless enough to seduce my nephew.”

Wen Shuang’s face flushed with embarrassment under his accusation. “I didn’t seduce your nephew. He was shameless enough to come here and pester me.”

Ji Shen raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is Miss Wen’s charm truly so irresistible?”

Wen Shuang turned her head away.

Of course. There was no point explaining to him—Ji Shen was Qin You’s blood uncle and would obviously take his side.

“If you have any questions, Officer Ji, please ask quickly. I need to rest.”

After a day of people coming and going, Wen Shuang’s head was throbbing. All she wanted was a good sleep and to be discharged the next day so she could return to class and earn some money.

For the first time, she acted willful before him; before, she’d always been frail and coy, trying to entice him.

The striped hospital gown looked oversized on her. Ji Shen, being tall, could easily see the rise and fall of her chest from his vantage point.

A flash of passionate memories passed through his mind.

“Do you know Wang Hu?”

“I don’t,” Wen Shuang replied swiftly, then asked, “Is he connected to my kidnapping?”

Ji Shen said, “The thugs confessed today. They said Wang Hu ordered them. I came here to ask whether you and this man have any private grievances.”

Wen Shuang genuinely had no idea who that was.

She shook her head in bewilderment.

“Not even a little?”

“I’ve never met him!”

“Wang Hu is the secretary to the general manager of Guangxia Group.”

Guangxia Group?

That was Summer Anran’s father’s company.

Wen Shuang hesitated over whether to mention her personal grudge with Summer Anran, but given that Anran was Qin You’s fiancée, she dared not take the risk.

“What are you hesitating about?” Ji Shen asked.

“It’s nothing... nothing at all.”

Ji Shen’s tone was bland. “I’m just here to ask you. Wang Hu is in custody now. I’ll interrogate him myself later.”

Wen Shuang nodded absently.

As he was about to leave, Ji Shen recalled something. “By the way, Miss Wen. I paid your last hospital bill for you. It came to 3,457 yuan. What’s your WeChat? Transfer it to me.”

She hurried to take out her phone, but Ji Shen snatched it. “I’ll do it myself.”

Wen Shuang: “.........”

“Forget it, you don’t even have two thousand in your balance.” Ji Shen tossed her phone back. “You can owe me for now.”

Wen Shuang pouted.

Her lips were rosy.

Ji Shen was suddenly seized by the urge to kiss her.

He said, “Miss Wen, did you pull your collar so low on purpose? Are you trying to show me something?”

Her neckline plunged deeply.

It was impossible not to recall the slippery sensation of that night.

Looking down, Wen Shuang realized her collar was indeed wide open and quickly pulled it shut.

She had no idea how long Ji Shen had been looking at her like that.

A flush of embarrassment colored her cheeks.

Ji Shen said, “A woman shouldn’t wear her collar so low—it easily attracts the wrong kind of attention.”

After he left, Wen Shuang looked down at her phone and found a new friend had been added to her contacts.

Ji Shen’s profile picture was minimalist.

She’d expected that someone like him would also keep his Moments clean and empty.

But when she tapped in, she found a long string of police-related news reposts, nearly two every day.

It was probably a work requirement, and Ji Shen couldn’t be bothered to delete them.

With one hand in his pocket, Ji Shen exited the building, idly scrolling through Wen Shuang’s Moments.

Before May this year, her feed was lively, full of selfies in strappy dresses, check-ins at sushi and Western restaurants.

But in the past two months, she hadn’t posted anything at all.

“Uncle Ji.”

Qin You was waiting nearby. Though he was afraid, he still wanted to ask about the kidnapping case.

Ji Shen lifted his eyelids, suddenly finding his nephew rather disagreeable.

“What is it?”

“I wanted to ask if they’ve found out who was behind Wen Shuang’s case?”

Ji Shen replied coolly, “Whether there’s a result or not, it’s not your concern. Or... do you have some connection to Miss Wen in there?”

Qin You was taken aback. Now that he had a fiancée, he didn’t dare mention his past with Wen Shuang.

“There’s nothing between us. I was just asking.”

Ji Shen turned away coldly. “Good. If there’s nothing, don’t bother her again!”

Qin You ran into Wen Yao at the corridor turn.

Wen Yao greeted him sweetly, clinging affectionately to his arm. “Brother Qin, my sister isn’t good with words. Did she upset you just now?”

Qin You studied her face.

She and Wen Shuang didn’t look alike.

Wen Shuang bloomed like a rose; Wen Yao, though pretty, was a touch garish and couldn’t compare to her sister’s radiance.

Wen Yao edged closer. “Brother Qin, my sister refused to be your lover, but I’m willing.”

Qin You lifted his brows, tilting her chin up. “Is that so?”

“Of course! I’ve actually been secretly in love with you for a long time.” Seeing his interest, Wen Yao brazenly pressed herself against his shoulder.

Qin You didn’t push her away—instead, he backed her into a corner and lifted her by the hips.

“Then let’s try it. I want to see what difference there is between you and your sister.”

If he couldn’t have Wen Shuang for now, her sister would do just as well.

The Xia household.

Father Xia was furious. “Xia Anran, how many times have I told you? You must consult us before you act! If I hadn’t stepped in to cover for you this time, Ji Shen wouldn’t have arrested Wang Hu—he would’ve come straight for you!”

Xia Anran’s scheme had been exposed.

She whimpered in the corner, “Dad, I just wanted to teach that Wen Shuang a lesson for trying to steal Brother Qin!”

Father Xia thundered, “Even if you wanted to teach her a lesson, did you have to use such methods? Sending so many men after a young girl—are you trying to ruin her life?”

Xia Anran trembled under his scolding.

Madam Xia couldn’t bear it and rushed to comfort her precious daughter.

“Oh, Xia, must you be so harsh? You’re frightening our darling Anran! @Anran did nothing wrong. That wretched girl seduced Qin You—she deserved to be punished! Anran’s only mistake was leaving a trail. And why are you so afraid of Ji Shen? He’s just a squad leader! Besides, the Ji and Xia families have business dealings. Even if he finds out, isn’t it just a matter of smoothing things over?”

“You know nothing!” Father Xia snapped. “Ji Shen has never bent to anyone, not since he became the captain of Jinghai District. He even arrested his own cousin when he broke the law—do you think he’d spare our family?”

“That boy is ruthless.”

Hearing this, Xia Anran was frightened. “What do we do, Dad? Ji Shen won’t trace this back to me, will he?”

Father Xia said irritably, “Now you’re scared! I saw Ji Shen investigating Guangxia Group yesterday. I’ve already sent someone to take the fall for you.”

Madam Xia frowned. “Is that secretary reliable? What if he says too much under questioning?”

“He can say whatever he wants.” A chilling light flashed in Father Xia’s eyes. “If he opens his mouth, his whole family won’t get to live.”

Only then did Madam Xia relax.

“Don’t ever do something so foolish again!” Father Xia flung his sleeve. “If there’s a next time, you can rot in jail!”