Jiang Li: “?”
Aren’t we just returning the clothes? Who said anything about chatting with you?
As if sensing the shock on her face, Shang Chi, in a rare good mood, deigned to explain.
“This coat is very expensive. I’ll come pick it up in person when I have time. Adding me on WeChat will make it easier to stay in contact.”
Jiang Li hesitated, clearly reluctant. “Well… there’s really no need for you to come all the way in person. A courier would get it to you in no time…”
“This jacket was custom-made for me by the retired head designer of a certain luxury brand,” Shang Chi glanced down at her, adding leisurely, “There isn’t a second one like it in the entire world.”
“I wouldn’t feel at ease sending it by courier.”
Jiang Li: “…”
At ease my ass! If it’s that precious, it’s been sitting at my place for days now—I didn’t see you send your manager to even ask about it once!
As if hearing Jiang Li’s silent grumbling, the man curled his lips and leaned in closer.
The distance between them suddenly shrank.
The warm breath at her ear, carrying the man’s distinctive masculine scent, made her body go rigid in an instant.
“If it goes missing… how do you plan to compensate me?”
The man’s voice was pitched low, practically speaking right against Jiang Li’s ear.
Jiang Li flinched on reflex and leaped aside, jumping a full three meters away.
She furiously rubbed her ear while glaring at him. “If you’re going to talk, just talk. Why do you have to get so close?”
Her fair, delicate earlobe, subjected to such rough treatment, quickly turned red.
Shang Chi raised an eyebrow, about to say something, when the elevator let out a “ding” and the doors slowly slid open.
The next second, he watched this person—who had failed at least four out of five events in her high school PE exam—sprint with her assistant in a blur, vanishing into the elevator in a flash.
Her pale fingers frantically jabbed at the door-close button, as if terrified it would close even a second too slowly.
Jiang Li smiled. “A man and a woman riding the same elevator alone together doesn’t seem quite appropriate. You should wait for the next one.”
Xiao Qing: “?”
Boss? What about me?
The elevator doors slid shut before his eyes.
Shang Chi recalled the sight of someone fleeing in panic just now, and for some reason, he laughed out loud.
Another “ding” sounded as a second elevator arrived.
Chen Yan, who was just about to step out, paused mid-step.
If he hadn’t known that his artist’s handsome face was impossible to replicate, he might have thought he’d come to the wrong place.
While he was still frozen in confusion, the man had already spotted him and strode in with his long legs. “Didn’t I tell you to wait in the parking lot? Why did you come up?”
With that, he pressed the button for the basement level.
At the mention of this, Chen Yan was at a complete loss for words.
“Come on, boss! I’ve been waiting in the parking lot for an hour! I texted you and you didn’t reply, I called you and you didn’t pick up. How was I supposed to know you weren’t in some kind of trouble? I had to come up and check!”
But Shang Chi ignored him, standing lazily with one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone, staring at something.
After looking at it for a long while, he suddenly curled his lips into a smile.
Hiss.
Chen Yan felt goosebumps rise all over his skin.
What’s gotten into the boss today? Is taking a promotional photo really that exciting?
In the past, whenever he was asked to shoot a magazine cover, didn’t it always take Chen Yan begging and pleading multiple times before he’d reluctantly agree?
And even then, he’d wear a sour face like someone owed him millions.
But today, of all days, this boss had woken him from a beautiful dream of inheriting billions and reaching the peak of life with a single phone call.
And the first thing out of his mouth was a barrage of scolding, demanding to know why Chen Yan hadn’t come to pick him up yet.
Chen Yan’s heart skipped a beat: Could it be that he’d slept so soundly he hadn’t even heard the alarm?
With Shang Chi’s status and popularity, even arriving slightly late could easily give malicious critics an excuse to claim he was being difficult.
The thought that Shang Chi might get unfairly criticized because of him filled Chen Yan with guilt.
After hanging up, he frantically washed up and changed.
But when he’d gotten himself ready in three minutes and was about to head out, he pulled out his phone to check—
Damn, it was only five in the morning!
His vision went dark, and the breath in his throat nearly failed to continue.
After finally making it to Shang Chi’s place, the little emperor dawdled in the walk-in closet for a full half hour before coming out.
Chen Yan took a deep breath.
After all, this was his own artist—what else could he do? Pamper him!
Remembering something, Chen Yan looked back at Shang Chi. “Speaking of which, why did you suddenly post a selfie on Weibo a few days ago?”
“There were rumors going around online, so I needed to clear things up.”
Shang Chi’s expression was calm and indifferent. After a pause, he added, “Can’t let people get the wrong idea for no reason.”
Chen Yan didn’t suspect a thing and nodded. “Good, you know what’s right. You used to be too headstrong. Even if you don’t follow the traffic-star route, sometimes you still need to clarify things.”
“But—” His brow furrowed. “Did we run into a stray cat the night we came back? Did it scratch you? I didn’t see it… and you never mentioned it to me…”
As they spoke, the elevator doors opened, and Shang Chi walked out first.
“Weren’t you stuck in the airport bathroom with constipation for an hour right after landing? It’s normal that you wouldn’t know.”
Chen Yan’s attention was indeed diverted in a second. “That was just me not adjusting to the local water and food!”
Back in the car, he finally remembered what he’d wanted to ask, having been led off track by Shang Chi.
“By the way, who are the guests on this travel variety show?”
But Shang Chi didn’t answer. He simply took out his earbuds, put them on, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes.
“Tired.”
The words “do not disturb” were written all over his sharply defined face.
Chen Yan’s temple twitched violently.
This brat had gotten bold now, hadn’t he?
He really didn’t have his manager in his eyes anymore, did he?
He endured, and endured, and endured some more. Finally, he couldn’t hold back—he raised his hand—
And reclined the seat for him.
Letting out a long sigh.
His own artist—what else could he do? Pamper him!
On the way back, the phone beside Jiang Li’s seat suddenly vibrated.
The moment she picked it up, her breath caught inexplicably.
Only when she saw the caller ID on the screen did she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
She swiped to answer and brought it to her ear, teasing in a leisurely tone, “What’s up, Miss Shen? What brings you to call me today? Not busy slacking off?”
Shen Luojia had always been a laid-back person with no grand ambitions.
Right after graduation, she started working at her family’s company, living a carefree and easy life.
Her daily joy was slacking off and binge-watching dramas right under her parents’ noses, which she called: “Every minute not slacking off is an insult to this job.”
But at this moment, silence hung on the other end of the line.
The smile at the corner of Jiang Li’s mouth unconsciously froze. She frowned and asked, “Jiajia? What’s wrong?”
Shen Luojia stayed quiet for a long time. Just as Jiang Li was about to wonder if something had happened to her, the other end suddenly burst out with a wail, “Ahhh, I can’t live like this anymore! I’m running away from home!!”
A familiar voice, a familiar tune.
Jiang Li relaxed back into her seat, amused. “What is it now?”