The year I was brought back to the Shen family at sixteen, everyone in the city knew that the Shen family's Third Master had taken in a little burden.
He was strict, cool, and distant, treating me like fragile porcelain and taking care of everything himself.
Grateful to him, I tried my best to please him, always afraid that one wrong move would get me thrown out.
Then I overheard him telling someone that he was only honoring a promise to an old friend, and that he had no feelings for me at all.
I felt relieved. I began rebelling without restraint, even going on dates with other people right in front of him.
But late one night, he cornered me against the wall, his eyes bloodshot and his voice trembling as he struggled to hold back:
“Go ahead and get into as much trouble as you want. I'll handle it.”
“Don't leave me, okay?”
