The next day, Shi Ying woke up early.
Her alarm hadn’t even gone off when she groggily opened her eyes.
She lay in bed blankly for a while before suddenly remembering—
Hadn’t she fallen asleep on the sofa last night?
She had planned to wait for Shang Chenyan and Shang Nian to come back before going to bed, but somehow, while watching television, she had drifted off without realizing it.
The sound of knocking interrupted her thoughts.
“Coming.”
Shi Ying hurried out of bed. The moment she opened the door, she saw Shang Chenyan’s exceptionally handsome face.
Still in her pajamas, her hair a complete mess, Shi Ying instinctively raised a hand to cover her face.
“I haven’t washed up yet…”
A faint laugh escaped Shang Chenyan.
“No rush. I have a meeting this morning and need to leave earlier, so I came to wake you ahead of time.”
“Okay, I’ll be ready soon.”
Shi Ying turned to run toward the bathroom, but paused midway and looked back.
“Last night… when did you come home?”
Shang Chenyan’s gaze settled on her, his voice gentle.
“A little after ten. When I came back, I saw you had fallen asleep. I was worried you’d catch a cold, so I carried you back to your room.”
“If I offended you, I’m sorry.”
“No, no, no!”
Shi Ying shook her head repeatedly, making the little strand of hair sticking up on top of her head sway adorably.
“I should be thanking you instead. I wanted to wait for Shang Nian… and you to come back, but I got too sleepy…”
Warm amusement lingered in Shang Chenyan’s eyes.
“If I come home late in the future, you don’t need to wait for me. Rest early.”
Shi Ying gave a soft mm.
After Shang Chenyan left, she rushed into the bathroom and got ready quickly.
As soon as she went downstairs, a faint aroma drifted out from the kitchen.
Shi Ying poked her head over curiously and saw Shang Chenyan carrying out two bowls.
He wore a gray silk shirt, the cut accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His proportions were exceptionally good.
“I made seafood noodles. Come eat a little.”
Shi Ying swallowed unconsciously.
For a moment, she wasn’t sure whether she was tempted by the food—
Or by the man.
The moment she sat down, Shang Chenyan pulled out a chair and sat opposite her.
Whether outside or at home, he was always impeccably dressed and meticulous.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing lean yet strong wrists beneath faint blue veins.
“Didn’t Aunt Zhang come?”
What Shi Ying really wanted to ask was—
Did a domineering CEO actually have the leisure to wake up early and cook?
Her own breakfasts were usually just bread. She couldn’t be bothered putting in effort.
“She’s on the way. She’ll be here soon.”
Without lifting his head, Shang Chenyan asked casually,
“Does my cooking not suit your taste?”
Shi Ying nearly choked.
“How could that be? What you make tastes even better than Aunt Zhang’s cooking.”
Then she covered her mouth and whispered,
“But don’t let her hear that.”
Shang Chenyan laughed softly.
The rising steam from the bowl concealed the smile in his eyes.
To keep someone—
You could first keep their stomach.
Once she grew accustomed to traces of him in every part of her life—
She would never be able to leave him again.
After breakfast, Shang Chenyan drove himself to the company.
As they neared the office, Shi Ying hurriedly stopped him.
“President Shang, stop here. I’ll get out here. Otherwise, if people see me getting out of your car, I won’t be able to explain it no matter what I say.”
The veins on the back of Shang Chenyan’s hand tightened around the steering wheel.
Yet he said nothing.
Patiently, he pulled over to the side of the road and even reminded her,
“Walk carefully.”
Shi Ying waved at him.
“See you later.”
The moment she left, the man’s expression darkened instantly.
They were clearly husband and wife.
So why couldn’t they even walk together openly?
He was becoming greedier and greedier—
No longer satisfied with merely having her back by his side.
He longed for everyone to know she was his wife.
He wanted to hold her openly, kiss her openly—
To do all the things husbands and wives should do.
***
The day passed peacefully.
Near the end of work, Shi Ying received a message from Shang Yu asking whether she needed him to pick her up.
Shang Yu was at school today instead of the company.
Thinking about rush-hour traffic, Shi Ying decided it would be easier to meet directly at the concert venue.
Shang Yu replied:
【Okay.】
A few seconds later, another message arrived:
【Be careful on the way. Tell me when you arrive.】
The corners of Shi Ying’s lips lifted.
Just thinking about getting off work and going out made her happy.
“What time will you be back tonight? Do you need someone to pick you up?”
The sudden male voice made Shi Ying reflexively flip her phone face-down onto the desk.
Looking up—
She met the man’s calm gaze.
It felt strangely like getting caught daydreaming in class by a teacher.
Shi Ying tugged lightly at her clothes and answered softly,
“It ends at eleven. I’ll just take a taxi back.”
Shang Chenyan gave an absent-minded hum.
The cold silver-rimmed glasses concealed the gloomy emotion in his eyes.
Shang Yu.
Why did she want to get close to Shang Yu?
Back then, she had said she liked mature, dependable, family-oriented men.
Which one of those qualities did Shang Yu possess?
If…
He could keep her bound by his side, so she could only see him—
Shang Chenyan’s gaze settled quietly on Shi Ying.
She was focused on her computer.
A bracelet encircled her slender, beautiful wrist, making soft sounds whenever it touched the desk.
He couldn’t help thinking—
If it were replaced with handcuffs, they’d probably look beautiful too.
At exactly six o’clock, Shi Ying got off work on time.
When she said goodbye to Shang Chenyan, the happiness in her voice was impossible to hide.
Yet as she walked out of the office, she failed to notice the deep, shadowy gaze lingering behind her.
After she left, Shang Chenyan leaned back heavily in his chair and exhaled.
Then he picked up his phone and made a call.
“Professor Yang, it’s me. Shang Chenyan.”
“Yes. That’s right. Shang Yu is graduating soon. As his uncle, I wanted to ask how his studies have been lately.”
Whatever the person on the other end said—
A faint smile curved Shang Chenyan’s lips.
“Professor Yang has taught so many outstanding students. Being strict is only natural.”
“With writing this poor, don’t give him a break. Keep him at school and make him study properly.”
“Oh, right. There’s an academic seminar tonight. If Professor Yang is interested, why not take Shang Yu along? I’ll send you the materials.”
After chatting a little longer, Shang Chenyan finally hung up and tossed the phone aside.
Adjusting his glasses, he lit a cigarette casually.
Shi Ying disliked the smell of smoke.
He had never smoked in front of her.
Actually, he rarely smoked before.
It was only during these five years that he had become used to using nicotine to fill the emptiness inside him.
Smoke curled upward, forming a thin mist over his cold lenses.
Only those pitch-black eyes remained visible.
***
Meanwhile, just as Shang Yu was preparing to leave, his advisor called him into the office.
The moment he heard he was being dragged to some tedious academic seminar—
Shang Yu felt as if struck by lightning.
He tried negotiating.
“Can’t you bring someone else? I already have plans tonight.”
“Professor, do you know that breaking a promise to a girl is very rude?”
Professor Yang smiled.
“Then you can break your promise to your advisor instead. If you fail to graduate, I’ll personally teach you what rude means.”
Shang Yu: “……”