Chapter 164: Embrace

"Shang Yucheng..." Liang Jinshang murmured.

Although she had repeated this name in her heart all night, she hadn't actually dared to expect him to show up so quickly.

Yet, he had really come!

The pain from her injuries was intense, the mountain wind was bone-chillingly cold, and Gong Nian beside her was still crying loudly, but at this moment, all of Liang Jinshang's senses seemed to vanish.

Only her eyes remained, fixing on the figure walking toward her.

"Jinjin." Shang Yucheng walked over, kneeling half on one knee in front of her, "I'm here."

The headlights from not far away cast a Rembrandt lighting effect on his face, tracing the sharp, smooth contours from his brow bone to the bridge of his nose with a soft halo.

It was truly too perfect a face.

Especially those deep, profound eyes, gazing solely at her.

Liang Jinshang was still lost in a daze, looking as though she had been frightened out of her wits.

Just as Shang Yucheng was about to lean down and pick her up, Gong Nian scrambled over, crying and crawling, latching onto Shang Yucheng's arm. "Brother! Wahhhhh, Brother! Niannian was so scared! Niannian almost burned to death!"

A spoiled child probably had a whole crowd of people coaxing her even if she just tripped and fell.

Today, she had suddenly encountered such a terrifying ordeal—kidnapping, a fire, and even being abandoned by her own elder sister.

For a child, the psychological blow was unimaginable.

Shang Yucheng had no choice but to free one arm, pull Gong Nian into his embrace, and pat her back. "Niannian, don't be afraid. I'm taking you home."

With that, Shang Yucheng signaled the bodyguard behind him to carry Gong Nian to the car first.

However, Gong Nian stubbornly refused to let anyone else touch her, demanding that Shang Yucheng carry her.

Liang Jinshang finally snapped back to her senses.

Seeing Gong Nian crying like this, she guessed that the little princess must have been suppressing herself terribly while alone with her earlier.

After all, since she was her archenemy, how could she dare show any vulnerability or dependence?

Now, seeing Shang Yucheng as her "family," her emotional defenses completely collapsed.

Fully understanding the child's terror at the moment, Liang Jinshang said to Shang Yucheng, "You should carry her. Anyone can help me up."

Her ankle might have been slightly sprained.

Ignoring her words, Shang Yucheng reached down and scooped Liang Jinshang up horizontally from the ground.

Gong Nian was still stamping her feet where she stood.

"Niannian, stop making a fuss. Let Lou Kuang carry you," Shang Yucheng said, casting a glance at the bodyguard behind him. "We need to get to the hospital as soon as possible."

Gong Nian was still intimidated by Shang Yucheng when he wore a stern expression.

Picked up by Lou Kuang, she wore an expression of extreme grievance, sniffing and sobbing, "Niannian only wants A-Cheng Brother to carry her, Niannian is so scared, wuwuwu... Why is Uncle Lou Kuang carrying me instead of Sister? Wuwuwu..."

Shang Yucheng acted as though he didn't see or hear her. At this moment, even if Shang Ao'er were here throwing a tantrum, he probably wouldn't indulge her.

Liang Jinshang wasn't delicate at all. "Forget it, put me down. She's driving me crazy with her noise."

Shang Yucheng shifted the person in his arms slightly, lowering his gaze to look at her, though his words were meant for Gong Nian: "No, Brother can't bear to let anyone else carry Sister."

Liang Jinshang couldn't help using the hand resting on his shoulder to give him a light punch.

Putting aside whether Gong Nian could understand, there were still so many people around!

Just as they were about to get into the car, Gong Nian suddenly cried out, "A-Cheng Brother!"

Shang Yucheng placed Liang Jinshang in the backseat first, then straightened up to look at Gong Nian. "What is it?"

"My sister... and my sister... there are still bad people chasing her," Gong Nian choked out between several sobs. "If we leave, what about Sister?"

Shang Yucheng had no idea what had happened in the fire, but Liang Jinshang did.

She was somewhat surprised; the Gong Nian she saw tonight seemed different from what she had imagined.

Born of the same mother, while the elder sister was so selfish and vicious, this eight-year-old younger sister actually possessed a broad mind and human empathy.

Even after being abandoned twice, she was still worrying about her sister.

Shang Yucheng looked down at Liang Jinshang as if asking for her opinion.

Liang Jinshang thought of Brother He.

No matter what, she needed to see a living person or a corpse.

Pondering for a moment, Liang Jinshang simply said, "Shang Yucheng, if your people are staying behind to search, remember to bring back the kidnapper's phone."

The recording of Gong Xueyuan's criminal confession was still on it.

If Gong Xueyuan were truly dead, it would be letting her and Zheng Shan off too easily.

If she were still alive, it would give her even less reason to have an easy time.

Shang Yucheng got into the car, and Gong Nian immediately tried to squeeze in with them as well.

Yet Shang Yucheng maintained his previous stance, telling her to go with Lou Kuang.

This time, however, Gong Nian refused to leave Shang Yucheng no matter what.

Clinging to the car door, her little hands kept wiping her eyes, smearing the soot from her face everywhere.

Where was there any trace of the pretty, fair little princess from before?

"...Sister doesn't want Niannian anymore, and Brother doesn't want Niannian either!"

Hearing it was heartbreaking.

Liang Jinshang poked Shang Yucheng, utterly baffled, "She's your precious pearl. Didn't you use to dote on her the most? Why do you keep provoking her tonight?"

Shang Yucheng turned his head to look at her. "I have something to say to you."

What urgent matter could possibly require avoiding a child?

Meeting Shang Yucheng's calm, undisturbed gaze, Liang Jinshang felt her face heat up for some inexplicable reason.

...This scoundrel of a man didn't seem to have something to *say*, but rather something to *do*.

At a time like this...

"Gong Nian, get in!" Liang Jinshang quickly averted her gaze, opening the car door from her side to let Gong Nian climb in.

Shang Yucheng's expression duly shifted, turning profound.

However, seeing Gong Nian get into the car and sit right next to Liang Jinshang, his gaze settled, and he didn't stop her.

The car quickly pulled away.

Almost as soon as the vehicle started moving, Gong Nian fell fast asleep, gradually slumping over onto Liang Jinshang's lap.

She was too exhausted, having suffered an asthma attack followed by drastic emotional fluctuations.

Liang Jinshang was frozen stiff from the weight of her, and she turned to urge Shang Yucheng, "Move her over to your side."

Her helping hand earlier had stemmed entirely from humanitarianism, which didn't mean she was willing to be nice to Gong Xueyuan's sister.

Instead of moving, Shang Yucheng leaned in closer, smoothing down Liang Jinshang's somewhat disheveled hair.

His gaze landed earnestly on her face, carrying a dark depth.

Liang Jinshang knew she must look a mess right now.

The light makeup on her face was undoubtedly ruined, her hair was a mess, and who knew how much soot she had on her.

"What are you looking at?" she muttered.

Because Gong Nian was sleeping, she kept her voice very low.

Like a butterfly beating its wings, it carried a hint of heart-tickling coquettishness.

A low chuckle escaped Shang Yucheng's throat as he countered, "What did you think I was going to do just now?"

Liang Jinshang had no idea what he was going to do.

She had simply been bewitched by his gaze and instinctively sensed a bit of danger!

"Take her away, I didn't—Mmph." Without any warning, Shang Yucheng kissed her lips.

After lightly kissing her for a few seconds, he pulled back.

"You looked like you were quite looking forward to it..." Seeing Liang Jinshang glare at him, the corner of his lips curved upward. "If I didn't do something, you'd be disappointed."