Han Xianyun's thoughts were always difficult to fathom.
Even the police chief dared not speculate on his intentions.
Let alone anyone else?
However, since the higher-ups had not directly ordered his release, they couldn't afford to treat him too well.
"Then take a break for now," the interrogator said, picking up his water cup and standing up. "We'll discuss the specifics once Mr. Han arrives."
Song Jiamiao echoed with a smile, "Yes, yes, a break is good."
He tried to pour a cup of water for Xie Jinyi, but was stopped midway. "What are you doing?"
The interrogator frowned and looked at him. "Who told you to act on your own? Get out!"
"..." Song Jiamiao struggled. "She's thirsty."
"What's it to you?" the interrogator commanded sternly. "Out!"
"..."
Song Jiamiao looked at him with conflicted eyes, then at Xie Jinyi.
The latter gave up. "Thank you, but no need."
She smiled faintly. The curve wasn't large, but it was exceptionally beautiful.
No wonder her fans said she was best suited for the "beautiful but tragic" roles.
She truly became more attractive the more down on her luck she was.
Especially that unyielding spirit within her, so tenacious it made one's heart ache.
"You drink it!"
Song Jiamiao, ignoring the obstruction, handed her the cup of water.
"Song Jia..."
The interrogator was about to scold him when a figure entered the doorway.
Tall and cold.
Clad in a crisp suit, emanating a chilling aura.
Even without speaking or moving, he could make one's legs tremble.
The room fell into a deathly silence.
Xie Jinyi resignedly withdrew her hand, with a hint of despair, she smiled. "No, I don't want it anymore."
After all, even if she wanted to drink, she wouldn't be able to if he deliberately made things difficult.
It was just a cup of water, she didn't want to be a monkey for others to watch.
Even if she were to die, she wanted to die with some dignity.
Otherwise, how pathetic would that be?
She leaned back, appearing to calmly await her fate.
Han Xianyun frowned, his voice as cold as ice. "Give her the water."
The moment he entered, he noticed how dry her lips were, completely lacking her usual allure.
Her complexion was also unnaturally pale.
Although beautiful, he didn't like it.
He preferred to see her in her usual, captivating state.
"?"
Xie Jinyi looked up in confusion.
What was he doing?
Planning to kill her slowly?
"What?" Meeting her bewildered gaze, Han Xianyun let out a chilling smile. "Do you want me to feed you?"
Song Jiamiao quickly pushed the water forward.
The interrogator who had been blocking them was now sweating profusely.
"..."
Though he didn't understand Han Xianyun's sudden outburst, it seemed he wouldn't be making things difficult for her right now.
Xie Jinyi reached out to take the cup.
Regardless, she should drink first.
She was truly parched.
As her fingertips brushed the paper cup, it was snatched away.
"..."
Xie Jinyi was somewhat annoyed by the teasing and was about to look up and argue when she heard him say calmly, "Aren't you going to unlock it?"
"Oh, oh."
The police officer, stunned by Han Xianyun, quickly stepped forward to open the lock.
*Click—*
Her wrists, bound for eight hours, were finally freed.
Xie Jinyi's taut nerves relaxed, and she then saw Han Xianyun squatting down in front of her, holding the water cup and saying, "Open your mouth."
His expression was not gentle.
His tone offered no room for negotiation.
Xie Jinyi, not daring to refuse, opened her mouth in an arc.
Han Xianyun clicked his tongue. "Do you need me to get a knife?"
His patience was at its limit. Xie Jinyi quickly opened her mouth wider.
Water was poured into her mouth.
The action was surprisingly gentle.
Xie Jinyi, unable to fathom it, lowered her gaze. Her eyes swept across the rim of the paper cup and landed on his still indifferent face.
Handsome, but filled with anger.
Making him unapproachable.
Yet, he showed no signs of losing his temper.
After she finished the cup of water, he reached out and rubbed her lips. Only when the dry skin was no longer visible, and her lips were flushed red, did he slightly calm his temper and ask, "Do you want more?"
Their usual interactions were mostly in bed.
He asked this question not infrequently. Xie Jinyi instinctively thought of something else and her ear tips blushed. "No, no need."
Noticing her reaction, Han Xianyun curved a smile, a very cold one.
It was as cold as his words whispered into her ear.
"Don't worry, I'm not in the mood to touch you today."
"..."
-
With the lawyer handling the rest, Xie Jinyi had been sitting for too long and her legs were numb. Han Xianyun simply carried her away.
He shoved her into the car.
Very roughly.
Xie Jinyi rubbed her bruised wrist, completely unable to understand why he was so angry today.
If it was because she had injured Song Chenglv, then he wouldn't have bothered to get her out.
They loved her, but they had also deeply hurt her.
Therefore, no matter how good they were to her later, she couldn't give her whole heart.
She watched them pursue and appease her like an outsider, her heart unmoved.
However, Wen Tingxue and Han Xianyun were different.
They had never hurt her, yet they could... for her.
They had no blood relation, and she hadn't given them anything, yet how could they...?
Xie Jinyi bit her finger, turning her face towards the window.
In the fleeting darkness, she could see her reflection in the glass.
Her eyes were red, brimming with tears, her expression one of rare grievance and helplessness.
In an instant, all of Han Xianyun's anger dissipated.
He even felt a hint of guilt.
He had almost forgotten that her childhood environment was different from others.
While other girls were still being pampered in their parents' arms.
She had already been pushed out by her mother to become the perfect tool to deal with her father's infidelity.
Her childhood held no happiness.
And certainly no fairy tales.
Everything she encountered was something others only experienced after growing up.
Indeed, some people never encountered it in their lifetime.
Those fortunate ones grew up in a world of sweetness.
While she had to fight her way through obstacles from a young age.
As a result, she could accept all sorts of benefits, schemes, and harm, but she simply couldn't accept kindness from others.
Especially kindness for no reason.
"In your eyes, am I that heartless?"
Han Xianyun rolled up the car window and asked her calmly.
In the excessively quiet space, she had no way to escape.
"He," Xie Jinyi tried her best to suppress her tone, maintaining a normal voice, "is your brother, someone you grew up with."
Han Xianyun had been with her for nearly a year and knew she was sharp-tongued.
The rare instances of her losing composure were only in bed, when she couldn't resist.
Never during normal times.
But today, she had gotten her words mixed up.
She glared at Xie Jinyi, wishing she could flay her alive.
"If not for the ruthlessness of certain people, why would my son have to suffer like this! Fourth Master, Little Lu grew up following you, you can't just abandon him, you must seek justice for him!"
Han Xianyun furrowed his brow slightly. "He is innocent, but what about my sister?"
"..." Madam Song's clamoring expression froze.
Han Xianyun leaned slightly to the side, and his body language clearly indicated he was siding with Xie Jinyi.
"Jinyi is my woman. Everyone in the capital knows that. Even if she had something with Little Lu before, that's in the past. I know he still has feelings for Jinyi and is unwilling to let go; it's human nature, and I understand.
"But he should never have taken advantage of my person, my sister, while I was away from the capital."
"What?" He smiled. "Does the capital belong to the Song family now?"
"No, no, no!"
Madam Song waved her hands in panic, daring not to incur such a charge.
"I, I didn't mean that."
Her face had already turned pale.
Anyone who had interacted with Han Xianyun knew that when he wanted to help you, right or wrong was yours; when he didn't want to help you, even if you were an elder, he would bury you alive.
His actions were based entirely on his mood and preferences, with no regard for human sentiment.
Unlike Fu Yuchuan's overt ruthlessness, he was truly unfathomable.
Which made him even more terrifying.
Madam Song had witnessed his methods firsthand and naturally dared not offend him.
"Little Lu, he, he absolutely didn't intend to hurt Miss Wen. He was drunk at the time..."
She explained frantically, no longer dwelling on Xie Jinyi.
"Oh~" Han Xianyun drew out his words with a smile. "If that's the case, then Jinyi acted in self-defense?"
Self-defense?
Madam Song felt a surge of blood rise to her throat, almost choking her to death. "..."
"Isn't that right?" he countered with a smile.
Madam Song dared not argue with him and could only respond with a bitter smile. "Yes, yes..."
"Jinyi," he said, lifting his hand in a languid gesture, "apologize to Madam Song. This matter is over."
Over?!
Madam Song's eyes widened abruptly.
Her son was so badly injured, why was it over just like that?!
Xie Jinyi was also a little surprised.
She had truly not expected him to resolve the matter this way.
She had thought she would be made to suffer, and she had even prepared herself to endure it repeatedly.
But unexpectedly, he had defended her.
"I'm sorry, Madam Song. Please forgive my lack of restraint, which caused your son to be hospitalized."
A very polite and perfunctory set of words.
It represented that subconsciously, she didn't feel she had done anything wrong.
It was merely yielding to reality.
Madam Song wore an expression as if she had eaten a fly, yet she dared not openly oppose Han Xianyun.
She had no choice but to grudgingly swallow this fly.
"It's fine. Little Lu needs to rest. You should go back now."
She knew that Han Xianyun wouldn't be angry if she urged them to leave at this moment.
From what she knew, he had had countless lovers over the years, but those he had publicly acknowledged were virtually zero.
He was the typical type: no public commitment, no rejection, no responsibility.
If you wanted to hook him and he was interested, then get into bed.
If he was satisfied, the money or resources he gave would not be small.
If you were more compatible, you could meet occasionally. Anyway, he was generous, and he mostly chose intelligent women.
Therefore, over the years, there had been very few gossip about him.
But everyone in the circle knew that he was sentimental and dissolute.
No one could make him settle down.
She didn't believe she could make him settle down either.
But at this moment, she was indeed a little tempted.
"I told you," he said, smiling faintly at her surprised gaze, "you are my person. Only I can bully my people. If anyone else wants to overstep, they have to see if they have the capital."
These words were meant for both her and Madam Song.
He was warning her.
Xie Jinyi stared at him blankly for a few seconds, then lowered her eyes and chuckled softly.
Speaking of which, she hadn't been protected like this for a long time.
It was quite... interesting.
"Thank you," she said, reaching out and hooking his little finger, her voice seductive. "Fourth Brother."
This address carried both a hint of playful flattery and a plea for leniency.
After all, Song Chenglv had treated her not too badly.
His sudden drastic change had a part to do with her.
Madam Song's hatred for her was understandable.
A few slaps were something she could comprehend.
Han Xianyun looked down at her, a storm brewing in his dark pupils that no one else could fathom.
Dare to provoke him at this moment, it was probably only Xie Jinyi.
"Fourth Brother~" Her spoiled tone made her intention even clearer.
"Heh." Han Xianyun genuinely laughed in anger.
He was standing up for her here, and she not only smashed it herself but dared to turn around and act cute with him?
She was truly... a captivating demon.
Han Xianyun flexed his jaw and said, "Next time, I'll chop off your hands."
He said this with a smile.
But Madam Song didn't dare to doubt the sincerity of his words.
She repeatedly assured him she wouldn't.
Only then did Han Xianyun take Xie Jinyi away.
However, before stepping out of the ward, he gave an instruction.