"Before you appeared, she had nothing to do with me, but now, she does," the fat man said deliberately, fearing he would lose Mu Anxiao, his cash cow.
"So, you mean..." Shen Yan glanced curiously at the girls and men around them and asked, "Are you gay?"
Mu Anxiao covered her face in exasperation at Shen Yan's nonsensical words.
Shen Yan stared at him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, remaining silent.
The fat man, feeling he couldn't out-argue Shen Yan, turned his head and said, "Guards, seize this man who knows no fear!"
"Knowing no fear," Shen Yan said coldly, glancing at Mu Anxiao, who was still sitting on the ground. "What are you still looking at? They're about to arrest me, and you're not protecting me."
"Huh?" Mu Anxiao couldn't keep up with Shen Yan's pace.
Shen Yan stepped back to Mu Anxiao's side and gently kicked his leg. "Hurry up, they're ready." As he spoke, he eyed the men emerging from behind the fat man.
Mu Anxiao looked down at where Shen Yan had kicked him and frowned. "No, I don't know any martial arts, I can't fight..."
"I'll pay more," Shen Yan interrupted.
Mu Anxiao's mouth twitched. He stood up unhurriedly and looked at Shen Yan. "If I die, remember to burn the money for me."
"No problem." Shen Yan took two steps back.
Mu Anxiao swallowed and took out a dagger from his sleeve. However, as soon as he took a step forward, a man snatched the dagger from his hand.
Shen Yan sneered at the sight.
Mu Anxiao's eyes widened, and he chuckled awkwardly, quickly cupping his hands. "Brother, have mercy."
"You do know him after all," the fat man said coldly.
Mu Anxiao gave the fat man a foolish smile.
"Very well, since you want to be his shield, I'll grant your wish," the fat man said, pointing at Mu Anxiao and roaring, "Beat her."
The next second, as the men stepped forward, Mu Anxiao quickly crouched down.
Thus, Mu Anxiao was beaten soundly because of Shen Yan.
The fat man walked up to Shen Yan and said, "She was someone who earned money for me. Now you want to take her, so you should give me some silver, right?"
Shen Yan looked down at Mu Anxiao, who was lying on the ground unable to get up, and sighed softly, taking out a money pouch and handing it to the fat man. "If she ever returns, you are not to trouble her again."
"I understand." The fat man nodded, took the money pouch, and led his men into the brothel.
Mu Anxiao lay on his side on the ground, groaning in pain.
Shen Yan stepped forward and knelt down, asking, "How do you feel?"
"It's all your fault. If you hadn't shown up, I..."
"If I hadn't appeared, you would have been beaten even worse." Shen Yan reached out and supported Mu Anxiao's arm.
"Can you please not touch me? It hurts." Tears streamed down Mu Anxiao's face.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's state, Shen Yan smiled and said, "Let me carry you."
"No need, I don't want to owe you a favor." Mu Anxiao said, enduring the sharp pain and pushing himself up with the ground.
Shen Yan also stood up. "Good, my trust in you has increased again."
Mu Anxiao raised his arm to wipe away the tears from his face, supporting his arm with one hand. "Let's go now."
"Go." Shen Yan nodded.
From that day on, Mu Anxiao followed Shen Yan on his journey to find the woman he admired.
Half a year later...
Mu Anxiao, dressed as a man, followed Shen Yan, saying as they walked, "Shen Yan, why do you always ask me to approach every decent-looking girl we meet? It's not like I'm looking for a wife."