“What did she do today?”
After concluding a cross-border online meeting, Song Li Sheng removed the silver-rimmed glasses from his ears, massaging his Jingming acupoint with a furrowed brow as he casually inquired of his assistant.
“Madam visited ‘Gyrfalcon’ this morning, went to ‘Gardenia Star’ around noon, and just now entered a jewelry store. We haven’t received any updates about her departure yet.”
Jiang Chen adjusted his glasses with one hand while swiftly scrolling through his iPad, reporting Li Jiao’s movements to his boss with sharp efficiency.
Song Li Sheng, being inherently suspicious, remained doubtful about Li Jiao’s unusual behavior. Thus, the bodyguards assigned to surveil her had never been withdrawn, continuing their covert monitoring.
“How are the negotiations for the eastern land plot going?” He seemed genuinely casual, immediately shifting topics after hearing nothing amiss.
Jiang Chen, already accustomed to Song Li Sheng’s abrupt transitions, promptly closed his tablet: “We’ve currently reached 200 million…”
Completely unaware of being watched, Li Jiao was leisurely selecting necklaces at the jewelry store.
She had originally planned to intimidate the “old guards” Li Yichen left in the company, but plans often change unexpectedly.
To prevent losing her token of love, her current priority was finding a suitable necklace to hang it around her neck.
After careful consideration, Li Jiao ultimately chose the simplest pure silver chain.
The delicate chain draped around her snow-white neck, and she contentedly fiddled with the ring hanging from it.
If only modern people could attach items to their waistbands – Li Jiao would have preferred wearing it at her waist.
Still, this was far more comfortable than wearing it tightly around her finger.
“Any new updates from there?”
Just as Jiang Chen was about to leave the office to disseminate Song Li Sheng’s lengthy list of requirements to various departments, his boss’s deep voice sounded behind him.
“?” Momentarily stunned, his professional training kicked in immediately.
He promptly retrieved his tablet: “Madam departed by car twenty minutes ago, heading toward your usual residence.”
“She’s returning?” Song Li Sheng set down his fountain pen, calculating that Li Jiao should arrive home within ten minutes.
“Go attend to your tasks.” He dismissed Jiang Chen.
Within five minutes, news had spread throughout the company about President Song’s unprecedented early departure.
“Marriage changes people indeed. Love makes one neglect work – never thought President Song would be no exception,” an employee remarked while watching Song Li Sheng’s retreating figure.
This comment instantly drew a crowd, filling the office with buzzing gossip.
Even Jiang Chen could no longer remain silent. Heaven knew how desperately he’d been suppressing his curiosity these past days, so he immediately joined the group discussion.
Eventually, the participating employees reached a conclusion:
Their refined yet decisive President Song might actually be a love-struck fool!
Jiang Chen shook his head repeatedly, pounding his chest in frustration. President Song, love addiction is a disease that requires treatment!
Fortunately, Song Li Sheng remained temporarily unaware of these side conversations. Had he known, he’d have wanted to crack open their heads to see if they contained anything besides novels and no work ethic.
Love-struck fool? He was clearly…
He clearly—wanted to better observe Li Jiao, nip potential instability in the bud, and prevent future troubles. That was the real reason he hurried home!
When the fingerprint lock clicked open, Li Jiao was lounging on the sofa, frustratedly scrolling through food delivery apps unsure what to order.
Frowning, she glanced toward the entryway and saw Song Li Sheng carrying a heavy insulated takeout bag in one hand. After changing into slippers, he walked to the dining table and set it down.
“You’re home? Good thing I ordered for two,” he said with a smile, transferring the grilled fish from the bag to the table.
“You came back just in time! I couldn’t decide what to eat!” Li Jiao beamed, simply thinking Song Li Sheng was gentle, considerate, and wonderfully in sync with her.
Little did she know her every move was under his watchful gaze.
Seeing her skip cheerfully to his side, Song Li Sheng undid his cufflinks and rolled up his shirt sleeves, preparing to light the heating candles provided by the restaurant.
To his surprise, Li Jiao, noticing he’d rolled up his left sleeve, mimicked the gesture and helped roll up his right sleeve as well.
Song Li Sheng froze in place, not daring to move as he waited for her to withdraw her hands.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, but the person before him had already turned her eager gaze to the food on the table.
Just a normal social gesture.
That’s what he told himself.
So under Li Jiao’s watchful eyes, Song Li Sheng extended his slender, pale fingers, struck a match, and lit the four candles.
As the broth began to boil, steam rising in gentle swirls, Li Jiao heartily piled fish into her bowl.
Song Li Sheng held his chopsticks but had long lost his appetite.
He watched Li Jiao take bites of fish, rice, and side dishes in turn, but the diamond ring that should have been on her left ring finger—resting beside her bowl—was gone.
Pressing his lips together, not wanting Li Jiao to notice his stare, he stole one glance, then another, repeating the cycle countless times.
The white steam gradually dissipated.
But the ring still hadn’t reappeared.
It wasn’t an illusion—she had really taken it off.
Just yesterday it was still on her finger, Song Li Sheng thought, biting his lower lip.
Was it because of that agreement?
But… he was still wearing his ring.
A suffocating tightness filled Song Li Sheng’s chest. For the first time in his twenty-six years, he understood what it meant to reap what you sow.
He cared deeply but couldn’t bring himself to ask.
He had lost the right and the standing to inquire about the ring’s whereabouts.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Li Jiao, now eighty percent full, finally turned her attention to her Male Consort.
“Ah…” Song Li Sheng quickly adjusted his expression. “It’s a bit too hot. I’ll wait a little.”
He offered a random excuse.
“Hot is when it’s best!” Li Jiao disagreed.
Then she picked up a piece of fish, blew on it gently twice.
As she blew, she measured the distance between them.
Ah, this body wasn’t short, but it still fell slightly short of her original height.
Li Jiao had to rise slightly, extend her arm, and—under Song Li Sheng’s bewildered, flickering gaze as he held his bowl—release her chopsticks, letting the piece of fish slide into his bowl.
“It’s not too hot now, just blow on it a bit. If it’s cooked too long, it won’t taste good,” she said, blinking playfully at Song Li Sheng.
She had actually wanted to feed him directly, but couldn’t—her little husband would surely feel too shy to eat that way.
In the end, she could only place it in his bowl.
The fish meat melted in his mouth with the gentlest pressure.
Though his tongue wasn’t scalded, Song Li Sheng felt his cheeks burning.
He thought the steam was particularly hot and overwhelming.
Seeing no resistance from the one she was feeding, Li Jiao simply kept adding food to Song Li Sheng’s bowl.
Song Li Sheng always ate with extreme refinement, so the pace at which he could put food in his mouth was far slower than Li Jiao’s serving speed.
Soon, the small bowl before him was piled high like a little mountain.
“Alright, alright, I can’t eat that much,” Song Li Sheng said, using his chopsticks to block Li Jiao, this time smiling with genuine helplessness.
“Fine,” Li Jiao replied, sitting back in her chair. But instead of continuing to eat, she rested her chin in her hands and openly admired the handsome face across from her.
Distracted by her antics, Song Li Sheng’s discomfort momentarily faded.
He couldn’t understand why Li Jiao’s gaze always felt so intense.
No one could remain downcast under her warm, sunbeam-like attention.