Chapter 20: The Protector (Please Vote)

Shen Siyuan did not decline Jiang Wenxin’s kind gesture. He stepped into the elevator and accepted the breakfast she handed him.

“These are buns from Nongxing Hall,” Jiang Wenxin said.

Nongxing Hall was a recently popular bun shop in Binhai, known for its slogan: genuine ingredients, handmade buns, a taste of childhood.

Aside from using generous fillings, to be honest, the texture wasn’t as refined as that of Hex Technology’s, but their marketing was excellent. Coupled with a growing public focus on health, the shop had become quite the sensation in Binhai over the past two years. Every morning, long lines formed outside their stores, especially among the elderly, who were particularly fond of their buns.

Since the buns were handmade and likely didn’t use yeast, biting into one didn’t feel overly soft; instead, the filling was large and plentiful.

Jiang Wenxin had bought meat buns again, glistening with oil, making them very appetizing.

In addition, there was a cup of soy milk—soy milk paired with buns was simply perfect.

Dou Dou stood nearby, gazing longingly at the buns her mother had bought, clearly eager to have some.

So, Shen Siyuan lowered his wrist and let Dou Dou take a sip.

Seeing Shen Siyuan’s action, Jiang Wenxin’s eyes brightened with surprise. Her gaze shifted downward, clearly realizing that Dou Dou was also inside the elevator.

However, there were two strangers in the elevator at that moment, so she didn’t dare speak up. The elevator had already arrived and was opening.

As soon as the doors opened, Ding Youguang and Zhou Zheng hurried out; Shen Siyuan followed closely behind, while Jiang Wenxin lingered, slowing her pace.

Once inside the company, Ding Youguang and Zhou Zheng exchanged a glance, had a few words they wanted to say to Shen Siyuan, but then turned without looking back and headed to their offices.

Before entering, they couldn’t resist glancing back once more, confirming that Shen Siyuan was indeed talking with Jiang Wenxin.

Jiang Wenxin’s face was lit up with a broad smile, as if extremely pleased.

The two of them seemed to have uncovered a great secret. Without waiting for Shen Siyuan to invite them into a group chat, they proactively found each other on the corporate WeChat, switched to private WeChat, added each other, and began gossiping.

“Dou Dou is right beside you…”

“She’s fine, no need to worry…”

“You want to see her? No, I only let you meet Dou Dou before because of a wisp of nether energy. That stuff is bad for you; prolonged exposure erodes your body and turns you into living dead. It’s dangerous…”

“Don’t be disappointed; after some time, she’ll be able to appear fully, and you’ll see her again. But humans and spirits are different paths. If you keep clinging to her, it’s actually harmful to you…”

“Now? Not yet. She’s just gained some abilities but can’t control them well. If she appears now, she might hurt you…”

“Just one glance? Well, okay…”

Clearly, Jiang Wenxin was quite uneasy about her daughter.

Seeing the time was still early, Shen Siyuan headed toward the stairwell.

Few people came here; some employees usually gathered here to smoke, but early in the morning, it was certainly empty.

Even so, the stairwell lingered with the smell of smoke, and a makeshift ashtray crafted from a soda can sat nearby, filled with cigarette butts.

“All right, stand back. I’ll make her appear so you can see her; otherwise, you won’t be at ease,” Shen Siyuan said to Dou Dou.

Upon hearing this, Dou Dou ran up the steps and then manifested her form.

Jiang Wenxin’s eyes widened, mouth agape, utterly stunned to see her daughter.

Dou Dou was still herself, but her hair was burning with blue flames, licking the air, appearing profoundly supernatural.

“What... what’s happening? Is Dou Dou alright?” she asked anxiously, turning to Shen Siyuan, and tried to step forward to embrace her daughter but was pulled back sharply.

“Don’t get close. The flames on her are dangerous. When she didn’t manifest, it was fine, but now she can harm people…”

“Why... why is she like this?”

Dou Dou, however, showed no worry. With her small fists pressed to her chest, she beamed proudly. “Mom, I’m really powerful now…”

Shen Siyuan pondered and explained, “I’ve temporarily taken her as my protector and taught her some divine abilities. She’s not yet skilled, but she’ll improve soon…”

Jiang Wenxin’s pupils constricted slightly as she looked deeply at Shen Siyuan, hearing words that sounded quite esoteric.

She quickly composed herself and said, “Dou Dou is still young.”

Her unspoken meaning was that Dou Dou was too young to be helpful and shouldn’t be involved in dangerous matters.

Shen Siyuan smiled in response, “Don’t worry. She’s only with me temporarily. Naming her my protector is only beneficial for her, no harm…”

“Thank you, Mr. Shen. I appreciate you taking care of Dou Dou,” Jiang Wenxin expressed her gratitude again.

She had been addressing him by his given name as per their agreement, but with no one else around, she reverted to the more formal “Mr. Shen.”

At this moment, Dou Dou seemed to sense her mother’s disbelief and reiterated, “Mom, I’m really powerful now…”

Then she summoned a gust of dark wind and surged upward in the stairwell.

“Come down right now,” Shen Siyuan commanded.

Though this little one appeared obedient, she was still a child with a lively spirit.

Dou Dou’s action startled Jiang Wenxin, but seeing her able to ride the wind, she was both shocked and delighted.

“After becoming my protector, besides the flames that protect her, she can also ride the wind and manifest,” Shen Siyuan explained.

“Thank you, thank you so much, Mr. Shen…”

Now understanding that her daughter had gained a chance and divine powers, Jiang Wenxin was both astonished and deeply grateful to Shen Siyuan.

“Don’t thank me yet. This is only temporary,” Shen Siyuan waved his hand.

By now, Dou Dou had landed back where she’d been, proudly looking at her mother, seemingly waiting for praise.

Jiang Wenxin knew her daughter well and immediately said, “Dou Dou, you’re amazing! You really scared me just now.”

“Hehe...” Dou Dou placed her hands on her hips, puffed out her little belly, and looked thoroughly pleased—an utterly endearing sight.

“All right, now disappear again. Don’t manifest unless I tell you, understood?”

“Okay!” Dou Dou responded, her form gradually fading until she vanished before Jiang Wenxin.

“If you ever miss Dou Dou, just call out. If a gust of dark wind rises nearby, it means she’s right beside you…”

“Thank you~”

Jiang Wenxin bowed deeply to Shen Siyuan.

“We’re colleagues, and my meeting Dou Dou was fate. Please don’t thank me anymore…”

With that, he strode toward the stairwell exit, tired of her repeated gratitude.

Jiang Wenxin hurried to catch up, about to thank him again but stopped herself just in time.

“Oh, I’ve already arranged with my cousin. Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll set up a meeting…”

“How about next Wednesday?” Shen Siyuan suggested after some thought.

Though others had introduced potential matches before, none had come one after another like now.

He had one meeting tonight and probably another at home tomorrow, so he planned to rest for a couple of days before the final one.

Exiting the stairwell, Jiang Wenxin resumed her warm, big-sisterly demeanor.

At that moment, the elevator opened, and many company employees stepped out, including Zheng Can, the general manager of the online gaming department.

Seeing the two emerge from the stairwell, his surprised gaze lingered on them.