I got smashed with a phone box for rejecting the wolf’s phone.
It sounds absurd, but if Dr. Tingting hadn’t mentioned “making an appointment,” I wouldn’t have realized he was unhinged.

All my life, I’ve been used to people hurting me for all sorts of reasons.
It’s heartbreaking, but so what?
Would those who hurt me stop because of my gut-wrenching cries?
Would they care about my feelings?

My nose stung, tears streamed, and I clutched the pillow, making it rustle.

Dr. Tingting sensed something, ignoring the wolf, and leaned toward the bed: “Zhixia?”

I stayed silent, sniffing back snot about to drip, confirming to her I was crying.

She didn’t lift the pillow, just sat on the bed, resting her hand on my arm: “Zhixia, whatever you’re thinking, just say it. I’ll protect you.”

Her words unleashed a flood of tears.
Under the pillow, I roared: “Why am I always the one bullied?! Because I’m a beggar?! Why?! Why do they rob me just because I’m poor? Why do they take my home because I have none? Why do they beat me to vent their anger?!”

“Tell me! Who are they?!”
The wolf’s voice boomed, terrifying in its intensity.

I froze, silenced, breathing rapidly, gasping heavily.

Dr. Tingting gritted her teeth, shouting louder at the wolf: “Keep your voice down!”

I opened my mouth, slightly reassured.
She kept her promise, shielding me from his rage, stunning him.

The wolf coughed lightly, lowering his voice: “Who are they?”

“I… I can’t remember… I don’t know…”

Clutching my chest, my heart twisted in pain.
From childhood, I’d faced countless hardships—so many people, I couldn’t keep track.

That didn’t matter.
What did was that Grandma was truly gone.

And this murderer stood before me, yelling, roaring, hitting, stabbing, smashing, putting a dog collar on me to keep me from running.

I felt so tired, desperate for sleep, the world turning quiet.

The wolf broke the silence, coldly: “Speak when you remember.”

His tone was pure gangster—not something a security company owner would say.
And a security company wouldn’t kill!

Hopeless, I gripped my chest tighter, throwing caution to the wind: “Are you the Wolf King?”

The maid answered: “Zhixia, the Young Master isn’t.”

The wolf echoed: “I’m not.”

“That Greedy Wolf Gang?” Dr. Tingting, who’d heard of it, sized him up.
His arms crossed, muscles straining his black shirt, exuding menace just sitting there.

“The city’s top ‘Peace Security Company’—that’s the Young Master’s,” the maid said, dispelling her doubts.

Hearing he wasn’t the Wolf King eased me slightly, but not much.
I didn’t fully believe it.
If he was, the pressure would crush me.
If not for the “dog collar” I felt on me, I’d have fled already.

Useless actions weren’t worth it.
I took a heavy breath, drained, and pleaded: “I want to sleep…”

“Sleep,” Dr. Tingting said, tucking me in, letting me keep the pillow over my head.

The apple by my pillow had yellowed with time.
I heard the plate scrape on the bed—the maid wanted to clear it, but I didn’t want waste.
I reached out, holding it down.

She blinked, moving her hand.

Timidly, I peeked with one eye at the wolf.
He didn’t notice.
Emboldened, I pulled the blanket over my head, dragging the apple into my cocoon, stuffing pieces into my mouth in the dark, cheeks puffing like a hamster.

The maid chuckled outside: “Zhixia, you’re too cute.”

I pushed the plate out, adjusted my position, and slept.
The outside world felt unsafe; the dim blanket was my refuge.

I sank into sleep, dreaming of being pelted with stones, waking in a cold sweat.
The shower ran in the bathroom—likely the maid.

She’d turned off the light, only a sliver glowing from the bathroom door.

No sign of the wolf.
Relieved, I rubbed my eyes, yawning widely.

I was too indecisive, still unsure what to do.
In the end, it seemed I could only return to the mansion.

The bathroom door opened.
The maid, in pajamas with a towel around her hair, met my eyes and smiled gently: “Zhixia, hungry?”

I shook my head: “No, Sister.”
I sighed in relief—the wolf’s pressure was suffocating, so annoying.

She sat on the bed’s edge, her scent pleasant, stroking my hair with a damp hand: “Little Zhixia, from now on, the Young Master and I won’t let anyone hurt you. Will you trust us?”

I blinked, a strange feeling rising.
If only she hadn’t included the wolf.

Skeptical, I asked: “Really?”

“Really. No matter what happens, tell me first. Let’s pinkie swear.”
She extended her pinkie.

My mouth parted, a sense of safety washing over me.
I quickly hooked my pinkie with hers.

She smiled faintly, shaking our fingers: “A hundred years, no breaking it.”

My eyes lit up, the world clearer.
She extended her thumb: “Seal it.”

I grinned, pressing my thumb to hers: “No breaking it.”