These past couple of days haven’t been easy for Long Aotian either.

Just after waking up, he saw Old Han sitting in the living room.

The old man had been watching TV, but the moment Long Aotian appeared, he started sighing heavily.

"Alright, I already told you the little teacher will come over another day. Look at you—turning into a resentful father!"

This was partly his own fault. Back then, he had confidently assured Old Han that the girl would come home with him.

The old man had even prepared a whole table of dishes that day...

But plans don’t always work out.

Ever since the divorce, everything Old Han did now was for Long Aotian’s sake.

A parent’s greatest wish is probably to see their child find a good wife.

He thought the little teacher was a great match. The first time he saw her with his son, he had a feeling—if the two could become a couple, his biggest wish would be fulfilled.

His son’s initial changes had started because of her.

No one understood Long Aotian’s temper better than his old father.

The little teacher could keep him in check, and Long Aotian was willing to change for her. How perfect!

Now that they were officially dating, and the brat had even visited her family, it was a good start. He was just being too impatient.

Thinking this, Old Han stood up and headed outside.

"Where are you going?"

"To have a drink with Old Zhu."

Long Aotian was about to tell him to take it easy when his phone suddenly rang.

Glancing at the caller ID, he retreated to his room.

He answered the call but hesitated, unsure what to say.

After all, he didn’t think his relationship with Shen Mengjie was close enough for New Year’s greetings over the phone.

"Help me."

Amid the silence, it was Shen Mengjie who spoke first.

"What do you mean?" Long Aotian frowned instinctively at the sound of her voice, strained from holding back sobs.

"Please... help me..."

The hoarse, choked voice was hard to associate with Shen Mengjie.

But it was undeniably her, and right now, she was asking him for help.

"What happened? Don’t panic, just tell me slowly," Long Aotian said in a calming tone. "Where are you?"

"I’m in Pingchang."

Long Aotian knew the place—about twenty kilometers from his college.

He didn’t ask why she hadn’t gone home for winter break. Instead, he asked, "What do you need me to do?"

"A place to stay... I need somewhere to stay..." Despite her efforts to suppress it, her voice cracked under the weight of emotion.

"I’m sorry, I can’t explain right now. Can you help me?"

"I’m not in Capital City..."

Before he could finish, he heard her sniffle on the other end. "Never mind... sorry."

Then she hung up.

Staring at the disconnected call, Long Aotian was baffled. He dialed back. "I just meant I’m not in Capital City right now, but there’s someone at my place. You can go there directly."

As soon as she picked up, he spoke in one breath.

"Thank you."

Her voice was soft but audible.

He shared the location with her via QQ, then called Lin Wanning.

The call connected quickly.

"What’s up? Did you finally remember me, brother?"

Long Aotian explained how Shen Mengjie had reached out for help and that she might need to stay at their place for a few days.

On the other end, Lin Wanning froze for a moment upon hearing this.

She had met Shen Mengjie before and knew about her.

After the photo incident, she hadn’t held back from criticizing the girl in front of Qingxue.

And now she was coming to stay?

Just as she was about to say something, Long Aotian continued, "I think she’s in real trouble—probably desperate if she called me for help. Just see what’s going on when she arrives and let me know."

Put that way...

If a girl was alone with no other options, she must be in dire straits.

With that in mind, Lin Wanning agreed.

After hanging up, Long Aotian sent Shen Mengjie a message.

Her reply was just two words: "Thank you." Then the chat fell silent.

Long Aotian didn’t know what had happened to her or how to comfort her. Maybe all she needed right now was a warm place to calm down.

He turned off his phone and lay on the bed, bored out of his mind.

That’s how holidays were—exciting at first, then devolving into laziness.

His gaze fell on the ring on his finger.

Rolling over, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand, thinking of video-calling his little sweetheart to see what she was up to today.

But the call showed she was already on another line...

Great. Now he was even more bored.

Two hours later, just as he was dozing off, a video call woke him.

"Wanning? Did Shen Mengjie arrive?"

This call could only mean one thing.

"Brother, do you know what happened to Shen Mengjie?" Lin Wanning whispered.

"No, why? What’s wrong?"

"It looks like someone beat her up. Her lip is bleeding, and there are bruises all over her face and body. It’s awful!"

Lin Wanning had planned to throw some shade at Shen Mengjie when she arrived.

But seeing her injuries, all those prepared words died in her throat.

When she asked if she should call the police, Shen Mengjie just gave a bitter smile and said, "It’s no use."

She had only stepped out to buy food while Shen Mengjie changed clothes, seizing the chance to call her brother and ask what was going on.

Hearing this, Long Aotian was stunned. He’d guessed she was desperate, but he never imagined she’d been assaulted.

From Wanning’s description, it sounded serious.

"Keep her inside for now. I’ll come back early in a couple of days, and we’ll figure it out then."

The holiday was almost over anyway. He’d return ahead of schedule to get to the bottom of it.

"Alright, I’ll let you go. I’m heading back with food—she probably hasn’t eaten."

Lin Wanning hung up.

Holding the takeout, she sighed and walked toward the courtyard house.

As much as she disliked Shen Mengjie, seeing her in such a state stirred a pang of sympathy...