HBWMA -Chapter 330 You Don’t Love Yourself Enough

After a moment, Shen Lanxi finally regained a bit of clarity. He composed his expression before getting out of the car.

The harbor in the daytime was bustling with constant traffic. Shen Lanxi scanned the crowd briefly before his gaze returned to Shen Guiling.

“I still have some things to take care of, so I won’t go back with you.”

“Okay. Goodbye, Brother Lanxi.” Shen Guiling didn’t ask further questions and got into the car with a gentle smile.

Lei Xing cautiously observed Shen Guiling through the rearview mirror. “Young Master, where to?”

Shen Guiling’s emotions were unreadable. “The government building.”

“Yes, sir.” Seeing no reaction from him, Lei Xing secretly sighed in relief.

From the port to the government building was about a ten-minute drive. Just keep turning right and you’d arrive. This time, every right turn went smoothly. Lei Xing turned the steering wheel fluidly, without the slightest hesitation.

Shen Guiling said nothing, resting his head on one hand as he looked out the window.

The car entered the government building smoothly. Lei Xing unfastened his seatbelt, preparing to get out and open the door, when a casual voice suddenly sounded beside him.

“Lei Xing, whose man are you?”

“Ah?” Lei Xing froze, not reacting immediately. He looked blankly at Shen Guiling. “Young Master, of course I’m your man.”

“My man?” Shen Guiling said calmly. “Is this how my man drives?”

Was the Young Master questioning his driving skills?

Lei Xing felt a bit guilty and lowered his head, not daring to look at him. “Young Master… you noticed? Nothing escapes you. But I really am your man, loyal and devoted. Look, along the way I didn’t let Miss Jiang touch you even once.”

“…”

Shen Guiling raised his eyes slightly, his gaze resting on Lei Xing’s honest face for a moment. His tone remained calm. “Who told you to do that?”

Lei Xing glanced at him, then quickly lowered his head again. “Gao Zhi.”

“Gao Zhi?”

Lei Xing nodded nervously. “Young Master A-Ling, Gao Zhi and I are senior and junior brothers from the same sect. When we trained together, he took good care of me. I ate a lot, and he even helped me grab food from other senior brothers. Back then, when the old master chose someone from the sect to accompany Young Master Lanxi to Qingxu Temple, Master recommended me for my sturdiness and strength. But Gao Zhi told me the temple was in the mountains, the conditions were harsh and there wasn’t enough food, so I backed out. Later, he went in my place and suffered through it.”

“So Gao Zhi tells you to do whatever you do?” Shen Guiling asked without judgment, only continuing the line of inquiry.

Lei Xing quickly waved his hands. “Of course not, Young Master. I’m not that stupid. It’s because of Miss Jiang. Gao Zhi said Miss Jiang likes Young Master Lanxi, so he asked me to create opportunities to test Young Master Lanxi’s feelings. You know Miss Jiang—she has the smallest temper. She even twists facts in the Shen estate, and not even the old master can control her. I had no choice but to submit to her pressure. But!”

His expression turned serious. “Young Master, don’t worry. I know my limits. I would never do anything that harms your interests for any of them.”

“…”

Shen Guiling looked at him silently for three seconds, then a gentle smile returned to his eyes. “You still keep in contact with Gao Zhi?”

Lei Xing nodded. “All of us senior brothers are in the same group chat. He’s always posting photos of his muscles.”

Shen Guiling said, “Call him. Ask where he is now.”

“I? I’m fishing at the port. Want to come?”

Gao Zhi was answering the phone while searching for someone at the harbor.

“Hey, you know my Young Master is like he has selective mutism—he barely speaks twenty sentences a day. Even the monkeys at Qingxu Temple couldn’t enlighten him. If I don’t come out and relax, my cheerful personality is going to be worn down.”

Midway through his nonsense, Gao Zhi suddenly felt something was wrong. He turned around—and saw Shen Lanxi standing right behind him.

“…”

He slowly turned back and raised his voice. “Oh, right, thanks for your help just now. For us bodyguards, the most important thing is keeping the Young Master happy. I’ll hang up now—drinks next time.”

That way, he couldn’t be punished by the Young Master.

Gao Zhi hung up and glanced back, pretending he had just noticed Shen Lanxi.

“Young Master, we’ve found the person.”

Shen Lanxi looked at him. “Lead the way.”

Gao Zhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and put on his sunglasses, clearing the way ahead.

Meanwhile, Jiang Huashan arrived at Pier No. 3, only to find someone had arrived earlier.

Su Miao wore a thin jacket, her hands resting on the iron railing by the shore as she looked out at the sea.

In such harsh weather, most people at the port were rushing by—only she was standing still.

“Su Miao.”

Jiang Huashan called out.

Su Miao froze slightly. When she turned and saw Jiang Huashan, a faint smile flickered in her eyes. She raised a hand to wave.

Jiang Huashan jogged over and took out a wool blanket from her bag. “Why are you dressed so lightly?”

Su Miao smiled and took the blanket, wrapping it around herself.

She had been there for a long time already. When the wind blew, she didn’t feel cold—but for some reason, the moment she saw Jiang Huashan, she suddenly realized she was freezing.

The two sat on a seaside bench, watching ferries and cargo ships come and go.

Jiang Huashan tilted her head casually. “What are you thinking about?”

“I was thinking about A-Shan. We said goodbye right here back then. I wonder how she’s doing now.”

“That was the place she longed for. How could she be doing badly? Maybe she’s thinking of you too—wondering if you’re okay.”

After a pause, Jiang Huashan asked the question she had been most concerned about these past few days.

“Su Miao, are you okay?”

Su Miao blinked. “No.”

She suddenly turned and hugged Jiang Huashan tightly, crying uncontrollably.

“Not okay at all… sob sob sob…”

At the hospital, people were always watching her. She didn’t even dare to cry loudly—she could only hide under the blanket and cry in silence.

But she really felt wronged. She desperately needed someone to talk to.

“My mom asked me what happened, but I didn’t dare tell her. My grandpa asked if I would hate the Su family for accepting Su Yun, and if I would hate everyone—I didn’t dare answer. My brother told me to go home, but I don’t even dare go home anymore. Tell me… how did I become like this? Afraid of everything… unable to do anything…”

Jiang Huashan hesitated for a moment before gently patting her shoulder.

“Why didn’t you dare tell Aunt Su? Were you afraid she couldn’t handle it, or afraid she’d choose Su Yun over you?”

Su Miao’s body stiffened slightly.

Jiang Huashan continued, “If it’s the first reason, then your fear is kindness. It means you’re becoming better.”

“And… if it’s the second?” Su Miao’s voice was barely audible.

Jiang Huashan said calmly,

“Then it means—you don’t love yourself enough.”