Chapter: 22 But He Did Not Want to Let Go of Himself

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Shen Shuyi called Xie Chenzhou under the watchful eyes of the police.

Five minutes later, Xie Chenzhou hurried over.

He was still wearing the formal suit he had on when he brought Shen Shuyi here earlier.

When they parted, Shen Shuyi had asked if he had an important meeting or event to attend, and Xie Chenzhou had clearly said no.

Shen Shuyi looked at Xie Chenzhou walking toward him and felt a faint sense of unfamiliarity.

Of course, he did not really know Xie Chenzhou, since they had only been married for just over a week.

A shiver of fear ran through him because just moments ago, he had been defending Xie Chenzhou.

He wanted to remove Xie Chenzhou from the list of suspects, yet he could not explain why, out of all the people in the surveillance video, only Xie Chenzhou’s characteristics matched all known details about the suspect.

Could it be that Xie Chenzhou had two faces even in front of him?

Shen Shuyi studied Xie Chenzhou.

Xie Chenzhou’s expression remained calm, as if nothing could startle him.

Shen Shuyi had taken off his jacket, soaked with sweat from earlier, yet the club’s air conditioning was set low. Seeing Shen Shuyi in only a thin shirt, Xie Chenzhou strode over and removed his own jacket.

The jacket, carrying a light fragrance, was extended toward Shen Shuyi.

It seemed he wanted to offer it to him, but Shen Shuyi stepped back slightly and did not take it.

Xie Chenzhou paused.

“Mr. Xie,” a police officer interjected, “you should understand the situation. Do you have anything to say about what happened to Mr. Shen in the club?”

Xie Chenzhou looked at Shen Shuyi.

Shen Shuyi did not look at him and silently stepped back, as if trying to keep his distance.

A barely noticeable pain flickered in Xie Chenzhou’s eyes, and finally, he spoke in a hoarse voice, “This is molestation.”

His tone was resolute, yet tinged with darkness. “I hope you catch the perpetrator and punish him severely.”

Shen Shuyi looked up at him in surprise.

Xie Chenzhou’s gaze was cold and firm like a winter night, never leaving Shen Shuyi. “Do not let him go.”

“No… actually, it’s nothing,” Shen Shuyi instinctively looked away. “He… didn’t actually do anything to me.”

“Are you sure?” the police pressed. “Mr. Shen, your attitude will determine how we proceed given the lack of evidence.”

“I…” Shen Shuyi’s mind was in turmoil. “I am sure.”

Perhaps he truly was a saint.

A stranger Alpha had tried to assault him in a dark, empty restroom, yet because the person stopped in time or failed, he wanted to be merciful.

Perhaps he was not a saint but simply crazy.

Even the Leshan Giant Buddha would not be so magnanimous.

But… the thought that the person could be Xie Chenzhou made him feel he could forgive him.

Why?

Shen Shuyi suddenly understood why people with children or pets felt compassion for helpless children or stray animals.

Out of pity.

He was almost certain the Alpha had psychological issues. If caught today, going to the police station or being detained could disgrace him and push him further into darkness.

If the person was Xie Chenzhou, he would want to help him.

If not, he would let it go.

He could act as the Buddha this once.

With that thought, Shen Shuyi made up his mind. “I am sure. I will not pursue it.”

With a sharp movement, Xie Chenzhou firmly grabbed Shen Shuyi’s wrist. “Do not let him go!” he said, word by word.

“Do not let him go!” he repeated.

He turned to the officer. “I do not agree. Please arrest him!”

His hand trembled as he held Shen Shuyi’s wrist, unusually agitated.

A police officer with a familiar face hurried over. “Mr. Xie, we understand your feelings. This happened in your territory, and the victim is your partner, but arrests require evidence. So far, we have not seen anyone matching Mr. Shen’s description. On the footage, you are the only one remotely resembling the suspect…”

“Then arrest me,” Xie Chenzhou said. “I will cooperate.”

“Are you crazy?” Shen Shuyi grabbed him. “Do not complicate things for the police. There is not enough evidence. Even if they try, it will be hard. Come over here…”

He pulled Xie Chenzhou aside. “Mr. Xie, is your pheromone unstable? You do not look well.”

Xie Chenzhou looked at him. “When I brought you here, I only thought of work, nothing else, so I reserved a private room.”

“I did not mean to hide it from you. I was waiting to pick you up.”

Shen Shuyi understood. Someone like Xie Chenzhou had little entertainment besides work. If not for this sensitive period, he might not even take leave.

Having lived under the same roof, Shen Shuyi knew Xie Chenzhou’s lifestyle well and fully believed his words.

Shen Shuyi felt guilty for doubting him earlier.

He could have done nothing, walked away, but he had worried and tried to prove his innocence at the same time.

“Forget it,” Shen Shuyi finally said. “I do not want to pursue this. Let’s let him go. Mr. Xie, I did not doubt you, I was just a little scared. I will be more careful in the future.”

“It is not your fault,” Xie Chenzhou said. “The perpetrator is to blame. If you pursue it, no one will blame you.”

He wanted to comfort Shen Shuyi further.

“But I do not want to pursue it,” Shen Shuyi said, looking up. His deep blue eyes were clear. “Mr. Xie, mercy is necessary. Let him go.”

Xie Chenzhou’s gaze trembled.

He looked at Shen Shuyi deeply.

His fingers gripped so hard they nearly drew blood.

But he did not want to let himself go.

“Then, in that case…” the police tried to persuade him. “Let us take a statement, Mr. Shen. We will close the case for now, but if you later want to pursue it, we will record it and contact you if there are new leads.”

“All right,” Shen Shuyi exhaled in relief. “How should I cooperate?”

After dealing with the follow-up and sending off the police, Shen Shuyi saw his classmates waiting in the corridor.

“Shen Shuyi?” they asked with concern. “What happened? The pheromone dispersal here is so strong. How could this happen?”

“Chengding Residence is a membership club. Non-members need an invitation. We only got in thanks to Tan Yu. Others who get in are likely influential people.”

“Even influential people are not guaranteed safe…”

Everyone whispered, but Shen Shuyi did not want to dwell on it. He cleared his throat. “It is nothing. I was not harmed, things are mostly settled, and someone is here to pick me up. I should go.”

Only then did they notice Xie Chenzhou standing silently behind him.

He had a strong presence, tall, yet only stood quietly behind Shen Shuyi.

“Ah, Mr. Xie?!” someone exclaimed.

“The Xie from Xie Cheng? So Hengye was right?”

“Well, not entirely. Look, their relationship seems good. When Shen Shuyi had trouble, Mr. Xie arrived immediately.”

“Really? Shen Shuyi said Mr. Xie treats him well?”

“I thought arranged marriages were more distant.”

“Shh…”

“So Tan Yu is out of the picture.”

“Tan Yu is an Alpha, not suitable for Shen Shuyi anyway.”

“Ha, are you crazy? Mr. Xie is also an Alpha!”

“Hmm…”

“Enough, stop talking…”

The classmates whispered among themselves. A boy close to Tan Yu said, “Tan Yu had some family trouble. Looks like business issues. His mother called him back.”

“I know,” Shen Shuyi nodded. “He told me. Sorry for disturbing everyone, but it is late, and I must go.”

“No problem!” With Xie Chenzhou present, no one dared stop him. “Go quickly, Mr. Xie, take care!”

Xie Chenzhou did not respond and left quietly after Shen Shuyi.

“Did you see how Mr. Xie looked at Shen Shuyi?”

After they left, the classmates whispered again. “I feel like he really likes Shen Shuyi.”

“I feel there is something else in his eyes… hard to say. Their relationship seems close.”

“Do you not think Mr. Xie only has eyes for Shen Shuyi?”

“I don’t think so… if that were true, wouldn’t it be strange?”

“What is Mr. Xie’s status? An Alpha of his level, and if he really only sees Shen Shuyi, is that not obsession? Have you read too many novels?”

“No… it’s just strange.” That classmate could not understand it, sensing a hint of possessiveness in Xie Chenzhou’s eyes.

But… how could that be?

As another classmate said, someone of Xie Chenzhou’s status…

Perhaps he was just imagining it.

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Translator note: 📌

Thank you for reading 💖 see you again in the next chapter~ cherries 😘