"Second Young Mistress..." Yan Ming looked complicated and didn't know how to dissuade her.
"Thank you for taking care of me recently."
After Shen Ximan politely thanked him and was about to leave, she was stopped in her tracks by a sudden commanding tone from behind.
"Stop!"
Bo Yanhai's face was as black as charcoal, and his imposing aura instantly flared up.
"Grandpa." She turned around and bowed.
"How dare you show your face here?"
Shen Ximan kept her head down throughout and didn't dare to look directly at him. "I'm sorry, Grandpa. I didn't expect things to turn out like this."
"Didn't expect? There are plenty of things you didn't expect!" He blew his beard and stared angrily, scolding, "There's not a single decent person in your Shen family."
Facing such humiliation, she didn't utter a single word. After all, it was truly her problem, and she had no reason to resist.
"That good-for-nothing Bo Jingyu unexpectedly found another useless person to anger me. Neither of you is a peacemaker!"
Bo Yanhai didn't care at all and swore loudly.
At that moment, even Shen Ximan herself was unclear. She could endure it when Grandpa scolded her, but as long as Bo Jingyu was involved in the slightest, she couldn't help but stand up to protect him.
"Jingyu is not such a person! How can you completely deny his efforts just because of one thing?"
Both Yan Ming and Bo Yanhai were stunned at the same time.
They never expected that such a thin and frail girl would suddenly shout out to defend someone.
"What... What did you say!"
Although Shen Ximan was afraid of his intimidating aura, since she had taken the first step, there was no way she would take it back.
"Please give him a little more time. He will prove himself with actions. You were absolutely right to entrust the group to him. Stop using those two words to hurt him. You're his dearest relative!"
Bo Jingyu had heard the argument downstairs just now. He supported himself against the wall and came out of the bedroom. Holding onto the wooden railing in the corridor, he stared in surprise with his eyes wide open.
"Second Young Mistress! Stop talking. Hurry up and apologize to the old master!" Yan Ming saw that the atmosphere was wrong and quickly came out to persuade her.
But the more he did so, the more stubborn Shen Ximan became.
"I'm not wrong! Why should I apologize?"
Bo Yanhai was so angry that he raised his arm and slapped her.
"No manners!"
She was directly slapped to the ground. A handprint immediately appeared on her side face, and the corner of her mouth was accidentally cut by her teeth. Blood slowly trickled down.
"Heh, wasn't my manners taught by Steward Qin?"
He gritted his teeth in anger.
Bo Jingyu suddenly appeared and stood in front of her. "Grandpa!"
"What, do you want to take the punishment for her?"
Taking the opportunity, Yan Ming quickly helped Shen Ximan up and pulled her back a distance. "Second Young Mistress, why do you have to do this!"
"I just can't stand his chauvinistic attitude."
"Enough!"
Before Bo Yanhai could say anything, Bo Jingyu roared and interrupted first.
"This is a matter of the Bo family. What are you, an outsider, interfering for?"
His eyes were bloodshot and scarlet. It was obvious that his body hadn't fully recovered yet and he was just holding on.
"I..." Shen Ximan didn't know how to reply.
She was so angry that she bit her lower lip and stared straight at him.
"Uncle Yan, quickly take her away. I don't want to see her."
"Second Young Master..."
"Do you still want to watch Grandpa arguing with her?"
Yan Ming sighed and reluctantly dragged Shen Ximan away.
"Look at the kind of person you've found. You really make me proud!"
Before the person had even left, Bo Yanhai pointed his finger and scolded.
As for Bo Jingyu, besides lowering his head and swallowing his anger, he didn't dare to resist a single word.
"I'm going to hand over the Huazhi Lake project to your elder brother. As for the position of the president, it'll be on hold for now!" His mind was made up without hesitation.
"... I understand."
Shen Ximan struggled to pull her arm back. "Uncle Yan! Jingyu has been scolded like that by that old man. Why are you still stopping me!"
Yan Ming sighed helplessly. "The old master has always been like this towards the second young master. Don't add fuel to the fire."
"The matter of Jingyu's mother was not his fault at all!"
Without thinking, she blurted out excitedly.
Immediately after, she regretted it.
Yan Ming didn't respond immediately. After thinking for a few seconds, he came to a conclusion.
"Was it Young Yang from the eastern suburb who told you?"
Shen Ximan bit her lower lip and lowered her head. "Sorry, Uncle Yan."
"You don't need to apologize to me. I know you're not a tricky and eccentric child. I'm very glad that Jingyu has someone to love him. But this kind of thing can't be explained with just words. Although the second young master is pitiful, in the family's power struggles and weighing of pros and cons, it's inevitable that the innocent will be affected."
She stubbornly disagreed. "Then is Jingyu just supposed to bear it? I don't agree with this kind of forced thinking. It's clearly a deprivation of freedom!"
Yan Ming looked at her straightforward personality and nodded in satisfaction.
There was never a shortage of beautiful women around the second young master, especially those with backgrounds and family influence. But there had never been anyone like Shen Ximan who would stand by his side regardless of her reputation and risk.
"Second Young Mistress, give them some time, and also give yourself some time. Settle down the things that have happened recently."
Yan Ming's words made sense.
Shen Ximan had indeed been a bit impulsive just now and hadn't considered Bo Jingyu's feelings. Moreover, with the current situation of rumors and gossips, there must be someone fanning the flames in the dark. She had to be careful everywhere.
"Sorry, Uncle Yan. I was just being so rude."
"It's okay, child. Everyone has impulsive moments. I'll take you back to the eastern suburb first to avoid the limelight. For the rest of the things, just wait for the second young master's notice. He won't leave you alone."
Shen Ximan shook her head. "Don't trouble yourself."
She felt in her pocket but couldn't find her phone. She smiled awkwardly. "Uncle Yan, could you please lend me your phone to make a call?"
Just as she finished speaking, Bo Jingyu came out and interrupted.
"No need. I'll see you off."
His cold eyes revealed nothing of his true thoughts. His pale face was bloodless, and he looked sickly.
"But the old master..." Yan Ming was in a dilemma.
"I've already talked to Grandpa."
Since Bo Jingyu had said so, Yan Ming obediently stepped aside.
"I'll take you back to the hotel first. Starting tomorrow, you'll have to find your own place to live. I'll take in An Ruo for a few more days."
In the car, he still looked cold. Shen Ximan really hated this feeling. Even a stranger she didn't know well wouldn't treat her so coldly, and his words were like stabbing her in the back.
At first, she felt sorry for him, but now she just thought he was both childish and stubborn.
"I'll pay the compensation. You don't need to interfere."
Bo Jingyu stared straight ahead and drove seriously. "I was the one who proposed it first. It has nothing to do with you."
"What would you do if I wasn't here today?"
He sneered. "There are so many famous doctors in the country. Why does it have to be you?"
Shen Ximan's eyes turned slightly red. "If those famous doctors were useful, why would you threaten me with An Ruo to stay by your side and treat you?"