Just as she felt her face go pale, Shen Shiyan’s voice suddenly cut through the air.
His cold, crisp tone sounded like heaven to Qin Nuan’s ears: “Since the work report is finished, everyone go back to work. There’s no need to stand here.”
Shen Junhong gave an inscrutable laugh and glanced at Shen Shiyan again, though he didn’t say anything more this time.
Qin Nuan all but fled the office; a thin layer of cold sweat had already broken out on her back. She took a deep breath, ignoring the strange looks from her colleagues. Only one thought remained in her mind:
Thank goodness! I escaped that disaster!
If Shen Junhong had really exposed her in front of everyone, she would have been finished.
But—Qin Nuan bit her lip, looking worriedly at the CEO’s office door.
What about Shen Shiyan?
Shen Junhong clearly still remembered what happened. Would he take this opportunity to complain to Old Master Shen?
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t look where she was going and slammed straight into Li Yue, who was rushing over with a stack of documents. The files scattered all over the floor. She apologized profusely and crouched down to help him pick them up.
Li Yue was clearly in a hurry, checking his watch repeatedly. Finally, feeling like he really didn’t have the time, he said to Qin Nuan, “I’m sorry, Miss Qin, I’m in a rush. These reports are for the CEO, but the Chairman has ordered me to handle another matter. I can’t wait here.”
“Would you mind tidying these up and waiting at the CEO’s door to deliver them when he needs them?”
“Huh?” Qin Nuan froze, then felt deeply embarrassed.
Are you kidding? I just barely managed to escape! If I have to go back in there, wouldn’t that be throwing myself into the lion’s den?
Qin Nuan struggled: “That doesn’t seem right, does it? These must be confidential company documents. It would be better if you delivered them personally, Assistant Li.”
Li Yue replied, “They aren’t confidential, just some reports. Please, Miss Qin, help me out. I really am in a hurry.”
Jiang Yiwen, impatient with her lack of awareness, interrupted, “Qin Nuan, just help Assistant Li. It was you who bumped into him in the first place, and you don’t have anything urgent on your plate.”
Since her superior had spoken, Qin Nuan had no choice but to agree, bracing herself. Before leaving, Li Yue smiled at her: “Don’t worry, Miss Qin. You don’t have to enter the CEO’s office after you organize them. Just stand by the door, and the CEO will call you if he needs anything.”
Qin Nuan agreed and, after tidying up, stood obediently at the door.
However, perhaps the last person to leave hadn’t closed the door properly; it was left slightly ajar, and voices drifted through the crack.
Inside, Shen Junhong spoke first, with a mocking tone: “Xiaoyan, was that Qin Nuan just now the woman who came out of your room that morning?”
Shen Shiyan didn’t stop writing, his voice flat: “Regardless of whether she is or not, Second Uncle, you shouldn’t have brought it up in front of everyone just now.”
“Oh, quite protective, aren’t we?”
“Shiyan, is what your Second Uncle said true?” Hearing this, Shen Wanshan looked at Shen Shiyan. Seeing that he didn’t deny it, his face darkened, and he struck the floor heavily with his cane. “Absurd!”
Outside, Qin Nuan trembled, biting her lip. The conversation inside continued.
“It’s a disgrace! Bringing such messy relationships into the company! What would people say if this got out?” The Old Master, who had been amiable moments ago, was now furious: “Shiyan, you’ve disappointed me!”
“Dad, calm down. Xiaoyan is still young; it’s only natural he’d be impulsive and lack a bit of maturity.”
“But speaking of which, Xiaoyan, don’t blame your Second Uncle for saying this, but no matter how much you can’t control yourself, you shouldn’t mess around with company staff. Fortunately, I’ve already suppressed the matter. Dad, don’t worry, no one in the media will say anything out of line.”
Shen Shiyan’s voice remained calm: “I’m sorry, Grandfather. I will handle this matter.”
“Dad, I think Xiaoyan’s character really needs some polishing. It’s too hasty to hand the group over to him now. Since Shiqian has returned, why not find a position for him in the company? It would be good for the two brothers to look out for each other.”
…
Qin Nuan could no longer hear the rest. Her heart felt tight, bitter, and heavy.
So, because of that unintentional accident, she really had pushed Shen Shiyan into a position where he was under attack from all sides.
Not long after, Li Yue returned and took the files from Qin Nuan: “Sorry to trouble you, Miss Qin. My business is finished; I’ll take it from here.”
Qin Nuan nodded distractedly. Just as she was about to leave, she couldn’t help but stop. Biting her lip, she turned back and asked tentatively, “Assistant Li, did you know about the relationship between me and the CEO?”
Li Yue adjusted his glasses, maintaining his polite, gentlemanly demeanor, and smiled gently: “Do you want me to know, Miss Qin, or not?”
Old fox. Qin Nuan couldn’t help but mutter.
He clearly knew. Since that was the case, she didn’t beat around the bush and asked worriedly: “Assistant Li, I want to ask—has that day caused a lot of trouble for the CEO? Is his situation in the Shen family really that bad?”
…
Qin Nuan left, weighed down by thoughts, with Li Yue’s words echoing in her ears:
“Objectively speaking, the CEO’s current situation is indeed precarious. President Junhong is pressing hard, and his father is also sabotaging him from the shadows. The relationship between father and son was already poor, and after knowing about this, Junru has been lobbying the Chairman to take this opportunity to arrange a position for Shen Shiyan’s half-brother, Shen Shiyu. The CEO is currently facing enemies on all sides.”
“The CEO didn’t want me to tell you these things. He respects your opinions and doesn’t want to pressure you.”
After hearing what Li Yue said, Qin Nuan felt even more guilty. She never imagined that a single accident would have such a massive impact on Shen Shiyan. He was under fire, yet he had acted so nonchalant in front of her, not bothering her for an entire week.
If she really caused him to lose his status in the Shen family, how could she live with herself?
It’s just marriage, isn’t it!
Come to think of it, she was the one profiting from getting a husband like Shen Shiyan! Besides, it was only for a year. After they divorced, she would receive a high compensation—enough to pay off her mortgage in one go. Looking at it any way, she wasn’t losing anything!
With that, Qin Nuan gritted her teeth and made a decision.
.
Elsewhere.
After Shen Wanshan and Shen Junhong left, Li Yue walked into the office and placed the files on Shen Shiyan’s desk.
“CEO, as you ordered, I had Miss Qin stand by the office door for a while.”
He paused, then added, “Also, before Miss Qin left, she asked me some questions about your situation in the Shen family. I took the liberty of telling her a few things.”
After saying this, Li Yue couldn’t help but observe Shen Shiyan’s reaction. Although everything he had told Qin Nuan was true, it was his own decision to disclose it; Shen Shiyan hadn’t actually instructed him to say those things.
But Li Yue had been by Shen Shiyan’s side for many years and was fairly confident in his understanding of the CEO’s intentions. Sure enough, after hearing this, Shen Shiyan’s expression remained indifferent, neither confirming nor denying—which counted as tacit approval.
Li Yue breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had done the right thing.
His boss had never been close to women, remaining disciplined and self-restrained for so many years. Many had tried to push women onto him, but they couldn’t even get close to him, let alone climb into his bed.
Yet now, he had broken his own rules for a woman named Qin Nuan and had gone to such lengths. It was clear that this Miss Qin was no simple person. And as a subordinate, all he needed to do was follow his boss’s heart.
After Li Yue left, Shen Shiyan stood by the floor-to-ceiling window with one hand in his pocket, overlooking the city.
He had to admit, Li Yue handled things in a way that truly pleased him.
He had miscalculated earlier; the “little white rabbit’s” personality was even more cautious than he had anticipated. It had been nearly a week, and she hadn’t contacted him once.
It seemed the fire hadn’t been stoked enough.
Since that was the case, he would add more fuel to the flames. It just so happened that his Second Uncle and Grandfather coming to the company today had given him the perfect opportunity.
He wanted Qin Nuan. Since that night, he had decided he would never let her go.
He had spent years cultivating his character and controlling his desires; no one had ever been able to get close to him—until Qin Nuan appeared. Her purity, her scent, and her softness… others only brought him irritation, but Qin Nuan was different.
Even after a week, his longing for her hadn’t diminished in the slightest; instead, it had deepened, like an addiction he couldn’t break.
He had never been a “good guy.” If he wanted something, he would naturally find a way to get it.
It was time to pull in the net.
The moment this thought crossed his mind, his personal cell phone rang. Shen Shiyan turned around, and a phone number he had long since memorized appeared on the screen.
Shen Shiyan’s thin lips curled upward as he picked up the phone and answered.
“Hello.”
“CEO Shen, it’s Qin Nuan.”
The voice on the other end carried a hint of nervousness, yet it was exceptionally clear.
She took a deep breath, finally gathering all her courage:
“I’ve thought about it. I agree to marry you.”