Ah! The Villains I Forced to Turn Evil Can Read My Mind

Ye Huining didn’t expect Qiao Chuchu to hear her. Embarrassed, she covered her mouth and quickly backtracked, "Miss Qiao, do you even know who this bodyguard you’re protecting is? He’s—"

Qiao Chuchu cut her off: "I know!"

Ye Huining froze, then scoffed in disbelief: "You know he used to be a murderer?"

Without hesitation, Qiao Chuchu replied, "Yes, I know."

Ye Huining: "?"

Ji Yanchuan: "?"

Shen Zhuoyan stood helplessly behind Qiao Chuchu, gazing at her with guilt.

Qiao Chuchu’s expression turned steely. "I don’t care what Shen Zhuoyan has done in the past. Right now, he’s my bodyguard. Insulting him is the same as slapping me in the face. I’m not happy with this deal anymore—I’m calling it off!"

She grabbed Shen Zhuoyan’s hand and turned to leave.

Shen Zhuoyan followed closely behind her. "Miss, what about the painting?"

"Forget it!"

Her back was ramrod straight. "I won’t let a painting chain me down and make me—and my people—suffer. It’s just a painting. My mother sold plenty of her works; I can buy something else."

Shen Zhuoyan tightened his grip on her hand. "But that was your mother’s first piece. You should buy it. It’s what you wanted."

He hurriedly explained, "I’m fine. That person was just telling the truth. I can take it. But I don’t want you to leave empty-handed. Really, I’m okay."

He had endured plenty of humiliation since his release from prison.

Some had even tracked down his address just to taunt him.

The Shen family had also given him no shortage of trouble, both openly and covertly.

He was used to it by now.

Shen Zhuoyan squeezed her hand. "Stay, Miss. I don’t mind. Buy the painting, and then we’ll go."

Qiao Chuchu stopped and looked at him seriously. "Shen Zhuoyan, my mother passed away twenty-one years ago. If reincarnation exists, she’d be twenty-one by now."

She held his hand tighter. "I wanted that painting for some emotional comfort. But if buying it comes at the cost of your dignity, what kind of comfort would that bring me?"

Shen Zhuoyan stared at her, stunned, his eyes reflecting her unwavering resolve.

The unspoken love in his heart bubbled up like a spring, warming every inch of his body.

At a loss for words, he could only fix his gaze on her face, watching her with an almost reverent intensity. "How could I ever deserve this…?"

Qiao Chuchu tugged him along. "Let’s go home."

Ji Yanchuan snapped out of his daze and hurried after her. "Miss Qiao, wait! It was my mother’s fault—let’s talk this over, okay?"

Qiao Chuchu didn’t look back, shoving Shen Zhuoyan into the car before declaring firmly, "Don’t bother. I’m not buying it!"

Shen Zhuoyan kept staring at her, his expression unconsciously adoring.

Qiao Chuchu angrily told the driver, "Drive."

The driver nodded and pulled away.

Ji Yanchuan watched helplessly as the car disappeared into the distance. He tore off his mask, struggling to catch his breath. "Mom! What was that for?! I just got her to agree to talk to me!"

He glared at Ye Huining. "Why did you have to stir up trouble?!"

Ye Huining shrugged, equally aggrieved. "I was just worried he’d hurt you if you got involved with her! Who knew Qiao Chuchu would be so unreasonable, keeping a murderer like him around?!"

Not to mention, Shen Zhuoyan’s father’s mistress had been her friend.

Shen Zhuoyan had gone berserk, killing his own father and her friend. It was only natural she still resented him.

She just hadn’t expected Qiao Chuchu to have such a temper.

Fuming, Ye Huining snapped, "Ji Yanchuan, mark my words—that look in Shen Zhuoyan’s eyes? He’s in love with Qiao Chuchu. And that woman isn’t short of men around her. If you really want to win her over, you need to eliminate the competition, not just fawn over her like one of her many admirers!"

Ji ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‍Yanchuan blinked. "Eliminate the competition?"

"Exactly!" Ye Huining huffed, hands on her hips. "Back in the day, I was the other woman. Your father had a wife. I got rid of her, then edged out the rest of his women, and that’s how I married him. So unless you deal with those men, she’ll never notice you. She’s got too many options—she won’t see how good you are!"

Ji Yanchuan lowered his gaze in thought, then looked back toward where the car had gone.

That… made sense.

He pulled out his phone. "Given what Shen Zhuoyan did, the Shen family must want him gone, right?"

Ye Huining rolled her eyes. "Of course, but what can they do? He’s still their blood. They just enjoy tormenting him whenever they can."

A sly grin spread across his face. "Maybe I can fan the flames."

---

Inside the moving car, Shen Zhuoyan stole several glances at Qiao Chuchu.

Hesitantly, he said, "Maybe… I shouldn’t be your bodyguard anymore."

Qiao Chuchu frowned. "Why?"

Shen Zhuoyan’s brows furrowed. "What happened back then was a huge scandal in our circles. Everyone around you knows what I did. Keeping me close will only bring you trouble. They’ll talk."

"Let them talk," Qiao Chuchu dismissed with a wave. "I don’t see anything wrong with you. You’re loyal and principled. Having you by my side makes me feel safe. Unless it’s my family guarding me, no one could replace you."

She met his eyes. "Shen Zhuoyan, you never used to care about what others thought. You don’t need to start now. You’ve got me."

Shen Zhuoyan stiffened, his heart pounding wildly.

A restless heat surged through him. Afraid she’d see him blush, he pressed the back of his hand to his cheek and forced a calm tone. "I’m your bodyguard. Why are you protecting *me*?"

Qiao Chuchu laughed and patted his shoulder. "Then from now on, I’ll handle the verbal attacks, and you take care of the physical ones. And don’t worry—people won’t dare insult you too often with me around. Even kicking a dog requires checking who its owner is first!"

She quickly added, "Not that I’m calling you a dog, of course."

The ghost of a smile touched Shen Zhuoyan’s lips. If anything, he found the comparison fitting. "Miss, I told you—as long as you employ me, I’m your loyal hound. Point, and I’ll bite. I’d never defy you."

Qiao Chuchu faltered, at a loss for how to respond. Just as she was about to awkwardly laugh it off, the driver suddenly slammed the brakes!

She nearly hit the seat in front of her. Looking up, she saw a luxury car blocking their path.

Several imposing men stepped out, led by a scowling figure who marched to her window and rapped on the glass.

"Shen Zhuoyan," he snarled. "Get the hell out here!"

Qiao Chuchu’s face paled. Shen Zhuoyan’s smile vanished as he pressed her back into the seat. "I’ll handle it."

He shrugged off his suit jacket, his gaze turning lethal.

"They’re the physical kind. Give me five minutes."