The baby slapped me, and I said, "Sit on my lap and slap me."

Inside the apartment, Wen Zhaoyue and Zhang Miaoke led Su Qingyao in.

Zhang Miaoke helped Su Qingyao sit down on the soft sofa, while Wen Zhaoyue went to pour hot water.

"Yaoyao, are you alright?" Zhang Miaoke stood close to her, her face full of unconcealed worry.

Su Qingyao's eyes were still somewhat unfocused. She subconsciously shook her head, then nodded. After a long silence, she spoke softly.

"I'm fine... I was just a little scared."

"That Li Chen is a real scoundrel! He's the worst of the worst!"

Zhang Miaoke was filled with righteous indignation and held her cold hand tightly, trying to convey some warmth.

"And those trash hiding behind their screens on the forum... Don't worry, Young Master Wen will definitely not let them get away with it. Don't be afraid, we're here for you."

Su Qingyao remained silent and did not respond.

The scene from just now kept replaying in my mind uncontrollably.

She remembered Wen Yu's broad back as he stood in front of her, the way he hid his bloodied hands behind his back, and the unfathomable tenderness in his eyes when he whispered, "Just look at me..."

Also, there are things she doesn't understand but is obsessed with to the point of madness.

My mind is a mess, like a ball of yarn that's been scratched by a cat.

Fear, lingering fear, helplessness, gratitude for surviving a disaster, an unconscious dependence on him and reluctance to part...

There was also a strange sense of security, a feeling of being strongly protected, that stirred her up and made her feel flustered.

Wen Zhaoyue came over at the right time and gently placed a cup of warm water at just the right temperature into her hand.

"Qingyao, drink some water first and calm down."

She sat down on the other side of Su Qingyao, her voice steady and gentle, carrying a calming power.

"Don't overthink it. It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong from beginning to end."

Su Qingyao raised her eyes and met Wen Zhaoyue's affirming and tolerant gaze.

There was no question of inquiry, pity, or judgment, only pure recognition and support.

The string in my heart that had been stretched to the point of breaking finally relaxed a little.

The three sat in the living room. Zhang Miaoke deliberately used her loud and boisterous manner to tell stories about interesting things at school, while Wen Zhaoyue occasionally chimed in softly, cleverly steer the conversation in a more relaxed direction.

In this peaceful atmosphere befitting a girl, Su Qingyao gradually relaxed, and a smile even slowly appeared on her face.

Just then, a slight turning sound came from the door lock.

Wen Yu pushed open the door and walked in.

He changed into clean and comfortable casual clothes, his hair was still slightly damp, with the ends still damp, as if he had just washed it quickly.

Her face held the gentle, doting look that Su Qingyao knew best, and she carried an exquisite paper bag in her hand.

"Baby, I bought your favorite taro mille-feuille, a new flavor."

He walked quickly to Su Qingyao, squatted down, looked up at her, and gazed at her gently.

"Eating something sweet will make me feel better."

He made no mention of what happened at the backdoor or the filthy words on the forum, as if those disgusting things had never existed.

Su Qingyao nodded, took the paper bag, opened it, used the included small fork to scoop out a corner of cake, and put it in her mouth.

She ate it in small bites, the sweetness of cream and taro paste melting on her tongue.

But somehow, the sweetness seemed to seep into my mouth as if it contained something else indescribable.

As she ate, Su Qingyao's eyes uncontrollably reddened, and a layer of moisture quickly filled her eyes, blurring her vision.

"Wenyu..." Her voice was thick with nasal tone, and she began to sob.

"Did you buy the wrong thing...? Why does it taste... a little bitter?"

Wen Yu's heart clenched at her words, and his face showed visible panic.

He immediately reached out and, using her hand holding the fork, took the small piece of cake she had just scooped out, still warm from her lips, and put it into his own mouth to savor it carefully.

Then he looked up at her, his gaze so tender it could melt hearts, his tone filled with utmost seriousness and indulgence.

"It is indeed a bit bitter."

He paused, then gently brushed his fingertips across the corner of her moist eye, wiping away the tears that were about to fall, his voice even softer.

"It's my fault. Next time we'll buy from a different store, okay? We'll buy the sweetest and tastiest ones so that the baby won't taste any bitterness."

Su Qingyao bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the sour feeling in her throat and the churning grievance in her heart.

But the tears wouldn't listen, falling in large drops and landing on the edge of the cake box.

"Those posts..." she sobbed, her voice broken, "none of them were true... I didn't..."

"Of course it's not true." Wen Yu replied without any hesitation, his tone resolute.

He looked straight into her tear-filled eyes, speaking each word clearly and firmly.

"My baby is the best, cleanest, and most precious treasure in the world."

His affirmation was like a warm and steadfast light, shining directly into her chaotic and uneasy heart.

But what followed was even deeper sadness and injustice.

"What right do they have...?"

Su Qingyao felt increasingly wronged and angry as she thought about it, and a blush rose on her pale face due to her emotional state.

"What right do they have to spread such rumors? Wenyu, I'm going to sue them! Sue them for defamation!"

"it is good."

A look of relief flashed across Wen Yu's eyes, filled with encouragement and support.

"We'll sue them until they issue a public apology, until they pay the price for every word they say, until they are utterly disgraced."

He made no secret of his determination to use any means necessary to avenge her.

But Su Qingyao was slightly taken aback after hearing this.

She looked up through her tear-filled eyes at the undisguised coldness in his gaze, sniffed, and added softly, "...There's no need to be so ruthless."

"As long as... as long as they realize their mistakes, publicly apologize, and promise not to do it again, that will be fine."

At this moment, Wen Yu's heart felt as if it had been soaked in a pool of hot water that was both sour and soft.

His baby...

Having suffered such great injustice and harm, carrying so much bitterness and lingering fear in her heart, she couldn't even bring herself to take drastic revenge, still thinking of leaving others a little room for maneuver.

How can she be so good?

She was so good that even the most beautiful words in the world seemed inadequate to describe her.

But those people, how could they possibly deserve even a fraction of her kindness?

He suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, reached out and gently pinched her red nose, his voice incredibly gentle.

"Okay, whatever you say, baby."

"We just want them to recognize their mistakes and sincerely apologize."

As for whether, after realizing their mistakes, they will "unexpectedly" pay a higher price, or whether they will "voluntarily" leave the city, that's another matter.

Thinking about those malicious speculations and filthy rumors, the source was nothing more than a few blurry photos of her getting into his car.

Wen Yu's heart felt as if it were being repeatedly cut by a dull knife, surging with a dense, stinging pain and intense self-reproach.

It was because he wasn't thorough enough.

He took Su Qingyao's hand in his and gently pressed the back of her hand to his lips.

"Baby,"

He raised his eyes, gazing intently at Su Qingyao, his voice unusually solemn, yet tinged with a vulnerable pleading.

Let's go public.