Chapter 281: Shield Her From Bullets

Qian Meng was about to get up when Mo Qingchen shook his head. 

"I'll go out and talk to them. I was the first one to see what happened, right?"

But Qian Meng was stubborn. "They'll ask whose car is it. So, I will need to come out anyway. Let's just go together."

Mo Qingchen looked at the meal longingly and nodded. "I'll talk to them. You pay and come out. We rushed out before without eating and the staff got anxious that we were running away."

Qian Meng cracked a smile before nodding. He wasn't joking. It was a matter-of-fact sentence meant to explain why he was going out first. 

She was curious about what he would talk to the cops. But she pushed it down and called the waiter over to ask for their bill. 

"Would you like the leftovers packed?" the waiter asked. 

Qian Meng thought for a minute before shaking her head. "No, thank you. Just the bill would be fine."

They scurried away and Qian Meng looked out of the window to see Mo Qingchen speaking to the cops with a grave expression on his face. She squinted to try and read what he was saying but she wasn't good at that. 

- - - - -

Qian Meng sighed and rolled over for what seemed like the thirtieth time that night.

"I know. I can't sleep either," Mo Qingchen said softly through the darkness. The day had passed mundanely after the police left. She worked and received reports. Mo Qingchen picked her up from work and they drove home in his car. 

She wondered how he got it and then chalked it up to someone bringing the car to his company because hers was unusable.

Actually, Qian Meng hadn't known that he was awake, but she wasn't surprised, either. Mo Qingchen didn't sleep much, to begin with. Moreover, who wouldn't have trouble sleeping after what had happened that morning? 

"You can never sleep," she whispered. And then she shuddered. Everything feels so creepy," she admitted. "Even the house."

"Come here," he spoke and she felt him stretch out his arms to her. 

She scooted over towards him and cuddled into his side, resting her hand on his abs. Laying against his strong body really made her feel a lot better.

Her body involuntarily assumed that no matter who tried to hurt her, he would shield her from it. A scary thought. She wasn't used to someone protecting her. She almost feared that when the gun was actually fired, the man who she thought would shield her would dodge it and it would hit her… unprepared. 

It would be death, right? 

His words came as a surprise. "I don't want you to feel unsafe here, Qian Meng. This is your home." He wanted to add something but didn't. 'I don't want you to feel unsafe anywhere. I won't let anyone hurt you. Today was a miss on my part. It will never happen again.' But all of this seemed like a poor excuse meant to console him more than her. 

"It's a little hard not to feel unsafe. How do I know that whoever did this isn't going to show up again? And who knows what they have up their sleeves? If they get to us…" she trailed off. 

"We'll see if the police can get any fingerprints. They are already looking through CCTV footage to find out who did it. Other than that, I will do everything in my power to make sure this doesn't happen again." That, he had to swear.

They were silent for a while, but still not close to sleep. 

"What if the security and police are unable to do anything?" she asked. "They couldn't do anything…"

"Qian Meng," he cut her off. "I am sure. You are safe."

"But how can you be absolutely sure?"

"I am sure. The guards had nothing to do with this," he said firmly. He knew that was the thought that came to her first. That there was someone spying on her from the guards. There was no other way they could know… right? 

"Well, if it wasn't one of them, I honestly don't know who would have access to me. It had to be someone who is around us, right?"

Mo Qingchen mulled over how he should respond. "We know so many people. It could be anyone. Who would have a motive to do something like this?" he asked. She turned to try and look at his expression despite the darkness. 

"Too many people," Qian Meng muttered. It was unfortunate. "For all I know, it could be my dad. The person I suspect most is in jail, so I don't know who else could do something like this."

Mo Qingchen stroked her shoulder. "It's going to be okay."

"You know… I am shocked that you don't have security cameras on the house," she commented as she turned her head up to look at his face. "What kind of person builds a mansion like this and doesn't have cameras?" she scolded. 

"We have cameras in the front gate. With the security staff there… I have thought about installing them a few times but I suppose I have procrastinated. I'll have someone come out as soon as possible to put them up," he assured her. 

She had been distressed when she heard that there weren't security cameras everywhere on the grounds.

"Okay," she said finally, unable to keep the thoughts out. 

His lips touched her forehead and she closed her eyes as they formed in a gentle kiss. 

"Get some sleep. I will watch over you," he whispered against her skin.

Qian Meng slept the entire night nuzzled into his side, at least feeling safe for the time being. Not once did she struggle or roll away. 

Mo Qingchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Usually, she would groan if he pulled her closer or if she felt hot and slide away, but that night, despite the heat, she didn't move an inch. She stuck to his side like something bad would happen if there was even an inch between them. 

In her sleep, she revealed how scared she really was.