Chapter 47-Part 1

When Ji Ran reached the entrance of the villa area, her entire body was still trembling incessantly. The cold winter wind blew against her cheeks like knives, causing aching and chilling sensations.

As she stepped out, the security guard at the entrance hurried over and whispered, “Miss Ji, why are you going out so late?”

The security guard couldn’t help but ask more questions upon seeing a young girl leaving at such a late hour.

Ji Ran nodded and walked away with her backpack still on her back.

Even if she wandered aimlessly on the streets tonight, she couldn’t be bothered to go back and see those faces again. Today, Ji Ran had no intention of pretending; she was truly annoyed.

The entrance of the residential area was illuminated by soft lights, casting a delicate “no trespassing” atmosphere over the magnificent and intricate gates. Across the street, brightly lit streetlights emitted a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Ji Ran leisurely walked to the bright convenience store across the street.

With a ding, the glass door of the convenience store opened, and she walked in.

Convenience stores on cold nights were a bit desolate, with no customers except for her. The entire store only had one quiet clerk standing behind the checkout counter.

Ji Ran walked over, watching through the glass as oden was being cooked inside, emitting a faint white steam.

Her fingers touched the glass, pointing at the items inside. The clerk quickly took out a paper cup and diligently filled it with the items she pointed at. When she finished her purchase, he added a generous amount of hot soup.

Ji Ran lowered her head and took off her backpack. Just as she entered, she hadn’t even put down her backpack when she heard such big news.

They always talked about the butterfly effect; a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rainforest could potentially cause a tornado in the United States.

So, what about her? Returning to her ten years ago, what changes would she bring?

In her previous life, Jiang Liqi didn’t give birth to a child for Ji Qingli, but now she was pregnant. Could this be the change brought about by her return?

Thinking of this, Ji Ran couldn’t help but sigh.

But as soon as she sighed, she caught sight of someone standing beside her.

When she turned her head, Shen Zhi was standing next to her, squinting his eyes as he looked at her.

Ji Ran was startled and took a step back. She hadn’t expected to see him here. She just looked up at him dryly.

“Why are you here?” Ji Ran asked.

Shen Zhi furrowed his brows slightly, looking down at her. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Why are you here?”

He saw her entering the residential area, yet she appeared in this convenience store late at night.

Ji Ran pursed her lips and didn’t speak. Just then, the clerk handed her the oden.

Shen Zhi took out his wallet from his pocket and handed over the money for the oden.

Ji Ran stood in place, waiting for the clerk to give him change. After that, she turned around to go sit down. However, as she turned, Shen Zhi suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Shen Zhi squinted his eyes, looking at her cheek, then leaned in slowly, examining her face attentively.

Ji Ran couldn’t help but lower her head, trying to pull her arm back with a little force, but Shen Zhi didn’t let go.

With his black eyes slightly narrowed, the surprise in Shen Zhi’s eyes gradually turned into coldness. His lips tightened, and the cold white light above him enveloped him, accentuating his sharp and cold demeanor even more.

“What happened to your face?” Shen Zhi’s voice was particularly cold. After a pause, he asked again, “What happened?”

Ji Ran had calmed down by now. She didn’t want to talk about such an embarrassing thing, so she simply said, “It’s nothing; I just bumped into something.”

Shen Zhi looked at her coldly, suppressing the anger in his voice. “Haven’t you seen your own face?”

The girl’s skin was particularly fair and delicate, so the red marks on her face were very conspicuous. There were even visible finger marks on her cheeks, clear evidence of being slapped.

And she actually said it was from bumping into something. What a lie.

Ji Ran wasn’t particularly embarrassed. She just glanced at him and said softly, “I’m hungry.”

She hadn’t eaten much before evening self-study, and after experiencing such a long time now, with such large fluctuations in emotions just now, she was really hungry.

“Okay, eat first.” Shen Zhi didn’t keep pressing her; she just nodded.

So she sat down by the window, and Shen Zhi sat down beside her. He couldn’t help but take out a cigarette from his pocket, but after fumbling for a while, he couldn’t find his lighter.

Only then did he remember that the reason he came back was to find his lighter.

If it weren’t for this lighter, he wouldn’t have known that she had run away from home late at night.

Although Ji Ran didn’t say anything, Shen Zhi understood her character. She wasn’t the kind of person who could be easily bullied. Moreover, he had witnessed what happened with Jiang Yi before, so he probably guessed what the situation was like at Ji Ran’s home.

Ji Ran didn’t know what he was thinking; she just quietly ate her oden.

Shen Zhi looked at her, eating slowly, not looking particularly depressed, but he was quite unhappy deep down.

Why did his little girl have to suffer injustice? Not only did she get beaten late at night, but she also had to eat alone here.

Ji Ran turned her head, and she saw him staring at her. She cleared her throat. “Do you want some too?”

After all, he paid for it; it wouldn’t be fair not to offer him any.

Shen Zhi nodded, and Ji Ran pushed the paper cup in front of him, indicating he could take some.