Just as her face turned ashen, Shen Shiyan’s voice suddenly rang out.
His cool, clear tone sounded like heavenly music to Qin Nuan’s ears: “Since the work reports are done, everyone should head back to your posts. No need to stand here.”
Shen Junhong let out an ambiguous chuckle and shot Shen Shiyan another glance, but this time he said nothing more.
Qin Nuan practically fled out of the office, her back already damp with a thin layer of cold sweat.
She let out a deep breath, unable to even spare a thought for the strange looks her colleagues cast her way. Only one thought occupied her mind.
Thank goodness! She’d dodged that bullet!
If Shen Junhong had really exposed her in front of everyone just now, she would have been finished!
But—Qin Nuan bit her lip and cast a worried glance back at the CEO’s office.
Even so, what about Shen Shiyan?
Shen Junhong clearly still remembered the matter. Would he take this opportunity to tattle to Elder Shen?
Her mind heavy with worry, she failed to watch where she was going and collided head-on with Li Yue, who was hurrying over with a stack of documents in his arms. The papers scattered all over the floor.
She quickly apologized and crouched down to help Li Yue pick up the documents.
Li Yue was clearly in a rush, glancing at his watch repeatedly as he gathered the papers. Finally, as if he truly couldn’t afford to wait any longer, he said to Qin Nuan, “I’m sorry, Miss Qin, but I’m really pressed for time. These reports are what President Shen just asked for, but the Chairman has also assigned me another task, and I don’t have time to wait here.”
“Would you mind organizing these and waiting outside the president’s office? When President Shen needs them, could you bring them in for me?”
“Huh?” Qin Nuan was taken aback, then flushed with embarrassment.
Are you kidding? She’d barely escaped that place. Going back in again would be like walking straight into the tiger’s den!
Qin Nuan hesitated: “That doesn’t seem appropriate, does it? These should be confidential company documents. It’d be better if you delivered them personally, Assistant Li.”
But Li Yue said, “They’re nothing confidential—just some reports. Miss Qin, please help me out. I really am in a hurry.”
Jiang Yiwen, annoyed by her lack of discernment, quickly chimed in, “Qin Nuan, just help Assistant Li out. You’re the one who bumped into him in the first place, and you don’t have anything urgent on your plate anyway.”
With her supervisor having spoken, Qin Nuan had no choice but to steel herself and agree.
Before leaving, Li Yue even smiled at her. “It’s fine, Miss Qin. Once you’ve organized them, you don’t need to go into President Shen’s office—just wait by the door. He’ll call for you if he needs anything.”
Qin Nuan acknowledged with a soft sound, and after tidying up, she obediently stood by the door.
However, perhaps the last person to leave hadn’t shut the door properly, because it was left slightly ajar, and voices drifted out through the crack in fragments.
Inside, Shen Junhong spoke first, his tone teasing: “Xiao Yan, that Qin Nuan—she’s the woman who came out of your room that morning, isn’t she?”
Shen Shiyan’s pen didn’t pause, his tone flat: “Whether she is or isn’t, Uncle, you shouldn’t have brought it up in public just now.”
“Oh? Protective of her, are we?”
“Shiyan, is what your second uncle said true?” Shen Wanshan turned to look at Shen Shiyan upon hearing this. Seeing that he didn’t deny it, his expression gradually darkened, and he struck the floor hard with his cane.
“Nonsense!”
Outside the door, Qin Nuan’s body trembled, and she bit her lip.
The conversation inside continued.
“That’s outrageous! You’ve brought all sorts of messy relationships into the company! What will people think if this gets out?” The old man, who had been all smiles moments before, was now seething with anger. “Shiyan, you’ve disappointed me greatly!”
“Father, please calm down. Shiyan is still young—it’s only natural for him to lose control now and then. He’s just not steady enough yet.”
“But speaking of which, Shiyan, don’t blame your uncle for saying this—even if you couldn’t hold back, you shouldn’t have fooled around with someone from the company. Luckily, I’ve already kept a lid on it. Father, rest assured, the media won’t say a word.”
Shen Shiyan’s voice remained calm as ever: “I’m sorry, Grandfather. I’ll handle this matter properly.”
“Father, I think Shiyan’s temperament still needs some refining. It’s too soon to hand the group over to him entirely. Since Shi Qian is back now, why not give him a position in the company as well? That way, the two brothers can look out for each other.”
…
Qin Nuan could no longer make out the rest of the conversation.
Her chest felt heavy and bitter, weighed down with sorrow.
So that unintentional accident had truly pushed Shen Shiyan into a corner, with enemies on all sides.
Before long, Li Yue returned and took the documents from Qin Nuan’s hands. “Thank you for your trouble, Miss Qin. I’ve finished my business—leave the rest to me.”
Qin Nuan nodded absentmindedly. As she turned to leave, she couldn’t help but pause, biting her lip and looking back at Li Yue. She tested the waters: “Assistant Li, do you already know about my relationship with President Shen?”
Hearing this, Li Yue pushed up his glasses, maintaining his impeccably polite demeanor, and smiled gently. “Does Miss Qin hope that I know, or that I don’t?”
Old fox.
Qin Nuan couldn’t help but mutter under her breath.
So he did know.
Since that was the case, she decided to stop beating around the bush and asked with concern: “Assistant Li, I wanted to ask—did that incident really cause a lot of trouble for President Shen? Is his position in the Shen family really that bad right now?”
…
Qin Nuan left with a heavy heart, Li Yue’s words still echoing in her ears.
“Objectively speaking, President Shen’s situation is indeed not good right now. Mr. Hong is closing in on him step by step, and his father is also making moves against him in secret. The relationship between father and son was never great to begin with. After learning about this incident, Mr. Junru has been urging the chairman to arrange for President Shen’s half-brother, Shen Shiyu, to join the company. President Shen is truly caught between a rock and a hard place.”
“President Shen didn’t want me to tell you any of this. He respects your wishes and doesn’t want to put pressure on you.”
After hearing what Li Yue said, Qin Nuan felt even more guilty.
She truly hadn’t expected that one accident would have such a huge impact on Shen Shiyan. He was already besieged from all sides, yet he had acted so nonchalant in front of her, not bothering her for an entire week.
If she really caused Shen Shiyan to lose his standing in the Shen family, how could she ever forgive herself?
It’s just marriage, isn’t it!
Come to think of it, landing a husband like Shen Shiyan was actually a win for her!
Besides, it was only for a year. After the divorce, she’d get a hefty compensation—enough to pay off her mortgage in one go. No matter how she looked at it, she wasn’t losing out!
So, Qin Nuan gritted her teeth and made a decision.
.
On the other side.
After Shen Wanshan and Shen Junhong left, Li Yue walked into the office and placed the documents on Shen Shiyan’s desk.
“President Shen, as you instructed, I had Miss Qin stand outside the office door for a while.”
After a pause, he added, “Also, when Miss Qin was leaving just now, she asked me some questions about you and the Shen family, and I took the liberty of sharing a few things.”
Having said that, Li Yue couldn’t help but observe Shen Shiyan’s expression.
Although what he had told Qin Nuan was all true, it had actually been his own initiative—Shen Shiyan had never instructed him to say those things.
But Li Yue had been by Shen Shiyan’s side for so many years that he had a fairly good grasp of his boss’s intentions.
Sure enough, Shen Shiyan listened with an indifferent expression and said nothing, which was as good as tacit approval.
Li Yue breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had done the right thing.
His boss had never been one to chase after women. He had remained disciplined and restrained for so many years—some had even tried to send women his way, but not only had none managed to get into his bed, they could barely even get close to him.
Yet now he had made an exception for Qin Nuan and gone to such lengths. Clearly, this Miss Qin was no ordinary woman.
And as his subordinate, all Li Yue needed to do was follow his boss’s wishes.
After Li Yue left, Shen Shiyan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window with one hand in his pocket, gazing down at the city below.
He had to admit, Li Yue’s actions truly suited his intentions.
His earlier estimate had been off—the little white rabbit was even more cautious than he had thought.
Nearly a week had passed, and she still hadn’t contacted him.
It seemed the fire he had started wasn’t burning hot enough.
In that case, he would simply add more fuel.
As it happened, his uncle and grandfather had come to the company today, giving him an opportunity.
He wanted Qin Nuan.
From that night onward, he would never let her go.
He had cultivated self-restraint for so many years, disciplined and free of desire—no one had ever been able to get close to him, until that night when Qin Nuan appeared.
Her purity, her scent, her softness… Others only disgusted him, but Qin Nuan was different.
Even after a week had passed, his longing for her had not diminished in the slightest—if anything, it had deepened, like an addiction he couldn’t shake.
He had never been a good man, and when he wanted something, he would find a way to get it.
This net was ready to be drawn in.
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the private phone on his desk suddenly rang.
Shen Shiyan turned around, and a phone number he had long since memorized appeared on the screen.
A faint smile curved his thin lips as he picked up the phone and answered.
“Hello.”
“Mr. Shen, this is Qin Nuan.”
The voice on the other end carried a hint of nervousness, yet it was remarkably clear.
She took a deep breath, finally summoning all her courage:
“I’ve made up my mind. I agree to marry you.”