Chapter 21: Viewing the Film

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My head aches terribly. Shi Ran rubbed her throbbing temples and opened her eyes to take in her surroundings. The last image in her mind was of the blond-haired man’s car. Yet here she was, standing inside her home. Could it be that everything that just happened was a dream?

She unlocked her phone and checked her ride-hailing history, glancing at the time. It was already past midnight. Her phone was flooded with missed calls and messages—some from Zuo Jiaqi expressing concern, others from Mei Lan full of insults.

The ride records showed she had canceled a ride earlier, and the timing matched the lingering memories. So it wasn’t a dream. But why was she now lying in her bedroom bed? What had transpired in between?

“Activate the playback function,” Shi Ran remembered the smart home system. Such intelligent devices should have recorded something. Though the bedroom, being private, might not have cameras, other areas likely would.

“Playback function activated. Please proceed to the viewing room,” the smart system replied.

Following the directions, Shi Ran found the viewing room. To be certain, she confirmed there was only one such room in the villa, then exhaled and entered. The lowered screen came into view, and the paused security feed from the doorway was displayed. The timestamp was shortly after she lost consciousness.

The footage was in clear color. Shi Ran saw Zuo Yelin carrying her into the villa, accompanied by Su Yu and the blond-haired man. So the blond-haired man had been brought there by Zuo Yelin?

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Was it all to disgust her in this manner? The thought of Zuo Yelin carrying her into the bedroom and surely touching her inappropriately made her stomach churn. Perhaps he had done everything one could imagine.

Shi Ran, usually obedient to Zuo Yelin, had no will to resist. But to be humiliated in such a way—she was convinced deep down that Zuo Yelin had taken advantage of her while she was unconscious.

Otherwise, how could her clothes have been changed if nothing had happened? Puffing out her cheeks in anger, she grabbed her phone to confront Zuo Yelin. At least before, such things had been done with her knowledge. Why now, behind her back?

Her finger hovered over Zuo Yelin’s contact, but she stopped. Would he admit it if she called? She only had the villa’s entrance camera footage, no internal videos. It was all speculation; what if Zuo Yelin denied everything?

“Damn it!” Shi Ran angrily left the viewing room. Back in her bedroom, she glared at the stuffed toy on the bed, growing increasingly upset. She ended up taking her frustration out on the toy, beating it.

This doll had come from her previous residence, delivered just a few days ago by movers arranged by Secretary Su. She usually hugged it to sleep, feeling comforted.

Now, after mistaking it for Zuo Yelin, she wanted nothing more than to toss it into an abandoned corner. After venting, her anger subsided, and she hugged the toy tenderly.

“Next time, I’ll commission a dummy with his photo stuck on it,” she decided silently. She didn’t want the doll to suffer anymore.

Eventually, Shi Ran fell asleep holding the toy again. The next morning, the shrill ringing of her phone woke her.

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“Annoying,” Shi Ran muttered, getting up. As she released the doll, she noticed something amiss to the touch. Her drowsiness vanished instantly, and opening her eyes, she saw the man lying beside her.

That familiar face—one she had often dreamt of—it was Zuo Yelin! When had he come here?

At that moment, the man’s closed eyes opened, fixing his gaze on her.

“Master, I’ll turn off the phone right away,” Shi Ran fumbled to silence the ringing.

“Can you drive?” His cold voice accompanied the piercing look he gave her.

Shi Ran shook her head.

“As an assistant who can’t drive, do you expect me to be your chauffeur?” Zuo Yelin’s gaze sharpened, the pressure making her struggle to breathe.

“Master, I can learn,” Shi Ran conceded. Living in the Zuo family, not knowing how to drive was a laughing matter.

“What will you learn?”

“Do you have a car?”

Those calm questions shattered Shi Ran’s resolve. She bit her lip and lowered her head, unable to argue. How could she? Her meager salary was nowhere near enough to buy a car.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Shi Ran said, seeking an excuse to leave.

A large hand grabbed her into an embrace; that restless palm began to explore downward, soon reaching forbidden territory.

“Master, don’t,” Shi Ran trembled, trying to stop him.

“Can you stop me?” His mocking voice whispered in her ear.

The scent from his body overwhelmed her instantly...