The noise of Meng Shuyun’s voice gradually faded into the distance. Only then did Tsing Ying carefully peek out from Shang Chenyan’s arms and glance toward the door.
“Is she gone?” she asked cautiously.
“Yes. She’s gone. She won’t come again.”
Shang Chenyan looked down at her. She still seemed a little slow to react, as if she hadn’t realized she was still pressed against him.
A few soft strands of hair on the top of her head brushed lightly against his chin—ticklish and distracting.
Only then did Tsing Ying finally realize her position. She shot up abruptly.
“Be careful,” Shang Chenyan said, leaning back in his chair calmly. “No one else will come in and see. I just didn’t want her recognizing you and causing you trouble.”
“I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you.”
The air in the office suddenly felt thin.
Tsing Ying stepped back in a panic and took a deep breath.
The warmth on the back of her neck still lingered—his fingers had left behind a burning imprint.
“I-it’s fine,” she muttered, touching her reddening ear.
Shang Chenyan asked softly, “Do you have any questions?”
She hesitated. “That Miss Meng said you cut off all cooperation with her family because of what happened on Saturday… because she hit me?”
“Both yes and no,” he replied.
She blinked. “What does that mean?”
“You are a guest I personally invited, along with Nian Nian. I should have taken good care of you, but instead you were wronged and even injured. I felt responsible.”
“More importantly, that villa is my private residence. She used my mother’s name to enter without permission and offended my guest. That made me angry.”
“Even if it hadn’t been you, anyone in your place would have been enough to anger me.”
Tsing Ying understood now.
Being hit was only the trigger—the real reason was her arrogance and trespassing.
Her heart felt unexpectedly light after that.
She wasn’t someone who liked unnecessary guilt. Business world consequences like “bankruptcy” or “collapse” felt too distant to her—abstract things she had only ever seen in textbooks and news.
If someone really suffered because of her, she would feel uncomfortable.
Shang Chenyan observed her shifting expression silently, then took a slow sip of tea, hiding the emotion in his eyes behind the rising steam.
The entire morning, Tsing Ying stayed in his office.
She didn’t have much to do—just occasional errands and document delivery.
Right now, she was playing Minesweeper on her computer, bored out of her mind.
After losing another round, she was about to restart when—
“Xing Ying.”
The deep voice made her instantly sit upright.
“Let’s go.”
“Go… where?”
“It’s noon. I’m taking you to lunch.”
With her boss?
She internally wailed but still followed him out obediently.
She originally thought they’d go to some high-end restaurant—but after driving for over ten minutes, she realized they were near a university.
“Mr. Shang, where is this?”
“Jiangcheng University.”
“You graduated from here?”
“Yes.”
So it was a return to his old stomping ground.
They walked through the campus area. It was lunchtime, and the streets were full of energetic students.
Shang Chenyan in a suit stood out sharply among them.
Too eye-catching. People kept stealing glances.
He led her into a small stir-fry restaurant.
“Sit,” he said, pulling out a chair for her.
She sat down a little overwhelmed.
“You used to eat here often?”
“Yes.”
The owner came to take orders and looked at Tsing Ying for a moment.
“You still like these dishes after so many years,” she said with a smile.
Tsing Ying froze. “Huh?”
The woman had already walked away.
She turned to Shang Chenyan. “What did she mean?”
“Maybe she’s mistaken,” he said calmly. “I used to eat here often.”
She accepted the explanation.
Then suddenly—
A voice rang out.
“Uncle?”
Shang Chenyan looked up.
A young man walked in—Shang Yu.
“Uncle, why are you here at school?”
He pulled a chair and sat down casually.
Shang Chenyan’s gaze darkened slightly when he looked at Tsing Ying.
“Who told you to sit?” he said coldly.
Shang Yu grinned. “Don’t be so stingy, Uncle. Just let me eat with you.”
When the owner came to take more orders, Tsing Ying added lightly, “Add a steamed fish.”
Shang Yu immediately lit up. “How did you know I like fish?”
Clink.
Shang Chenyan placed his cup down heavily.
Tsing Ying quickly corrected, “I-I was just saying it for myself.”
Shang Yu was very talkative during the meal, chatting with her nonstop.
On the other hand, Shang Chenyan said almost nothing.
The air around him grew colder by the minute.
After finishing a bowl of rice, Tsing Ying stood up.
“Let’s go,” Shang Chenyan said immediately.
So soon?
She glanced at his barely touched food—but didn’t dare ask. Maybe work had come up.
She quickly followed him out.