32:How Do You Want To Play This?

No wonder Lin Cai'er had seemed so out of sorts at the company earlier, claiming she had some family issues. So, *this* was the reason.

Shen Yifei couldn't believe that such a gentle and soft-spoken girl before him was carrying such a heavy burden on her shoulders.

Lin Cai'er felt deeply wronged, and she too began to sob.

“Alright, alright, don't overthink it. Everything will pass,” Shen Yifei said, reaching out to grasp Lin Cai'er’s small hand, offering comfort.

Her small, tender, pale hand, cool yet comforting, stirred an inexplicable urge within Shen Yifei to hold it forever.

“Mmm,” Lin Cai'er murmured, her pretty face flushing slightly as she offered Shen Yifei a small smile.

After settling the payment, Shen Yifei and Lin Cai'er went to the hospital room to see Lin Xifu.

“Damn it, you brat, you dared to hit me!” Lin Xifu flew into a rage, almost leaping from his hospital bed.

It seemed his injuries were clearly not serious.

“Dad, he didn’t mean to!” Lin Cai'er rushed forward anxiously.

Lin Xifu exploded in fury, swinging a hand at Lin Cai'er.

A loud *smack* resounded, and Lin Cai'er cried out in pain, her body reeling backward.

Shen Yifei quickly caught her, his own face seeing red. He roared at Lin Xifu, “Laying hands on your own daughter? What kind of father does that?!”

“She’s *my* daughter, I’ll beat her whenever I please! It’s none of your damn business, kid! Now pay my medical bills!” Lin Xifu shouted back, agitated.

“Dad, Shen Yifei has already paid the medical bills!” Lin Cai'er’s delicate brows furrowed as she cried out softly.

Shen Yifei was utterly enraged, his mind reeling. How could such a kind and innocent girl be saddled with a scumbag like this father?

“You hit me, paying the medical bills isn't enough. You owe me compensation for emotional distress!” Lin Xifu declared without a shred of politeness.

“Dad, you can’t do this!” Lin Cai'er pleaded, biting her lip.

Shen Yifei could no longer suppress his anger. A thought struck him, and he decided, “Fine then. You’re Lin Cai'er’s father, right? Let’s make a deal. I’ll give you a sum of money, and you cut ties with Lin Cai'er. From now on, you never demand money from her again. How does that sound?”


“A sum of money? How much can *you* give?” Lin Xifu sneered. Seeing Shen Yifei dressed in cheap, mass-produced clothes, he figured the young man was probably just a penniless nobody.

“Name your price,” Shen Yifei scoffed.

“Three hundred thousand! Not a single coin less. Give me three hundred thousand, and I’ll give you my daughter. You can do whatever you want with her. She’s still a virgin, untouched, three hundred thousand is a bargain!” Lin Xifu quickly added the last part, fearing Shen Yifei might find the price too high.

“Dad…” Lin Cai'er’s head buzzed. Her father was selling her!

If it hadn't been Shen Yifei, if it had been any other man, Lin Xifu would have just as readily traded her away like a commodity.

How could such a father exist in this world?

Two lines of clear tears streamed down Lin Cai'er’s cheeks. She was choking with sobs.

“Alright. I’ll go to the bank now and get the money for you. But you have to keep your word. Your daughter will be cut off from you from now on. She’s *mine*,” Shen Yifei said with a cold sneer.

Lin Xifu hadn’t expected Shen Yifei to agree so decisively. His face immediately lit up with joy. He chuckled, “Good, good, good! I promise, this girl will be your woman from now on. She’ll have nothing to do with me!”

“Good!”

Shen Yifei ran to a nearby bank downstairs and withdrew the money from his card.

He put the retrieved money into a black briefcase. Back in the hospital room, he tossed the briefcase directly to Lin Xifu.

Lin Xifu opened the briefcase and saw stacks of cash filling it. His heart swelled with ecstasy—three hundred thousand! Not only could he pay off all his previous usurious debts, but he could even buy a car!

“Hahahaha…” Lin Xifu laughed heartily, imagining himself as a car owner.

Seeing this father who had completely lost his humanity, Lin Cai'er felt a chill seep into her very bones. She silently wept.

Shen Yifei immediately took Lin Cai'er’s small hand and led her out of the hospital room. If he stayed there for another moment, Shen Yifei worried he wouldn't be able to resist beating Lin Xifu to a pulp.

“Will you come to my place?” Lin Cai'er wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at Shen Yifei, asking.

Shen Yifei wasn't sure what Lin Cai'er meant, but he nodded in agreement. “Mmm.”

All the way there, Lin Cai'er remained unusually quiet, no longer sobbing. Shen Yifei also said nothing.

Upon reaching the Peach Blossom Community, the two walked up to her apartment.

“Please come in,” Lin Cai'er said, unlocking her front door and inviting Shen Yifei inside.

Her rented apartment wasn't large—a one-bedroom apartment—but it was clean and tidy. There were even two fresh potted plants on the coffee table. It was clear Lin Cai'er was a diligent and tidy person.

The apartment was sparsely furnished and very simple; only an old color television stood out slightly.

Shen Yifei glanced around casually when Lin Cai'er grabbed his arm and led him into the bedroom.

“Assistant Lin?” Shen Yifei was bewildered, unable to understand Lin Cai'er’s intentions.

The bedroom contained only one moderately sized bed, which was also neatly made. Lin Cai'er sat on the bed, a slight curve appearing on her lips as she struggled to offer Shen Yifei a small smile. “Alright, I’m yours now. How do you want to play this?”

“How to play? Play what?” Shen Yifei froze for a moment, still unsure what Lin Cai'er implied.

Lin Cai'er bit her lip, gathering her courage, then shed her dress, letting it fall from her upper body. She lay down on the bed, her face crimson with shyness as she whispered softly, “I am a woman. You can do whatever you wish with me now… I won’t blame you.”

“Cough, cough…” Shen Yifei choked.

Lin Cai'er slowly pulled her skirt further up, revealing her smooth, porcelain-like thighs and a pair of pink cotton underwear.

Shen Yifei remained silent. It dawned on him: this girl genuinely believed he had *bought* her.

“H-hurry… hurry now. But I can only let you… a few times. I can’t be your mistress, I’m sorry,” Lin Cai'er stammered, biting her lip.

It was clear then, the immense pain and torment this girl had endured.

His heart ached. He sat on the bed beside her.

Lin Cai'er tightly closed her eyes. Feeling his presence beside her, her heart immediately began to pound. Although she had mustered her courage, how could she not be terrified of such a thing?

But then, the thought that it was Shen Yifei who was beside her brought a tiny measure of relief. At least she didn't feel aversion towards him.

Shen Yifei gently stroked Lin Cai'er’s head, comforting her. “Silly girl, don't think of me as that kind of person. I just didn't want you to suffer your father's cruelty any longer. I didn't actually *buy* you.”

Upon hearing Shen Yifei’s words, her delicate body trembled slightly, and she felt tears welling up again. She choked out, “W-w-but I…”

“No ‘buts.’ Do you honestly want me to ‘play’ with you right now?” Shen Yifei asked, holding Lin Cai'er’s small hand.

She was as delicate as water, and Shen Yifei would be lying if he said he wasn't stirred. But taking advantage of someone in their most vulnerable moment was beneath him.

A flush crept up her pretty face. To be honest, if it were Shen Yifei, she probably wouldn’t feel revulsion.

However, Lin Cai'er was still a very conservative girl. The act of offering herself, of speaking those words, had pushed her to the very limit of her shame. She still had her own boundaries.

She sat up abruptly, a wave of panic washing over her. Another thought entered her mind: Could it be that Shen Yifei merely pitied her? That he didn't truly find her desirable?