Being rejected in front of mutual friends, Song Qian could only force a bitter smile.
He placed the bouquet on the sofa in the private room, looking utterly dejected.
Yin Shuyang suddenly felt like she was in the wrong place, that she shouldn’t be there.
When would she ever be able to act like Xie Guanlan, remaining expressionless and unruffled even when rejecting someone?
“Manman, you stay and have fun with them. I’m leaving first.”
She couldn’t stay any longer.
Not even half a minute more.
“I’ll walk you out.”
“No need! You stay and enjoy yourself!” Yin Shuyang quietly stood up and left.
She missed Xie Guanlan.
Yin Shuyang took a taxi to the residential complex where Xie Guanlan used to live.
The complex was very close to the Xie Group headquarters.
Since she wasn’t a resident, the security guard wouldn’t let her in.
Brother always said she was foolish, but she wasn’t.
She was actually quite clever!
She had contacted a real estate agent a long time ago, planning to rent an apartment in the same building where Xie Guanlan lived.
As the saying goes, the moon favors those who are closest.
Get close first, then get in, and finally, get him in…
By the time she arrived, the agent was already waiting for her.
Swiping the access card to enter the complex, Yin Shuyang absentmindedly listened to the agent’s introduction.
Even though she had spent so much time here before, she had never really appreciated the surroundings. She noticed that despite being in the city center, the complex had excellent greenery and remained very quiet inside.
The environment was actually quite nice.
The only question was whether Brother and her parents would allow her to live alone outside, especially for the purpose of chasing after a man.
It didn’t sound very reliable.
Entering the lobby, the agent explained that each floor of every building had only two units, but each unit was accessed by separate elevators, ensuring privacy—essentially one elevator per household.
Yin Shuyang began to hesitate.
Would it be better to live on the same floor as Xie Guanlan, or on a different floor, where they might run into each other in the elevator?
Yin Shuyang walked around the 15th floor. Since there was no separation, she decided on the same floor!
The agent looked troubled. The units above or below were available, but the one on the same floor had already been sold.
The agent called the landlord, who flatly refused.
“Miss Yin, perhaps you could consider the units above or below. They’re both very nice and have the same layout,” the agent suggested with a smile.
“Could you give me the landlord’s phone number? I’d like to talk to them directly,” Yin Shuyang said, taking out her phone. She was willing to pay more!
But someone who could afford to buy here probably wasn’t short on money.
No matter what, she had to try.
Nervously, she dialed the number. When the call connected, she could hear some noise in the background.
Yin Shuyang asked gently, “Hello, I was wondering if you’re renting out your apartment at Yuejiangshan?”
“No!”
The call was hung up.
“I’ll think about it some more. It’s late, and you’ve worked hard. You can head back first. I’ll look around a bit longer,” Yin Shuyang said, giving the agent a thousand yuan as a token of appreciation.
“Take your time, Miss Yin. I’ll let the security guard know, so you can leave whenever you’re ready,” the agent said with a smile before leaving.
Yin Shuyang stood in front of Xie Guanlan’s door. What was the passcode?
She could sneak in and surprise him!
No.
That would make her seem like some kind of weirdo!
Xie Guanlan might call the police and have her arrested.
Yin Shuyang stood at his door, poking her finger against the black surface as if facing a wall.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of the elevator doors opening behind her.
Thinking it was the agent returning, she didn’t turn around. But the footsteps were steady and heavy—clearly not the sound of high heels.
Yin Shuyang slowly turned her head to the side, only to find Xie Guanlan already standing right in front of her.
Oh no!
Caught red-handed as a little pervert.
Quick, brainstorm—how should she explain this suspicious situation?
When did he return from his business trip?
Yin Shuyang silently stepped back, making way for him at the doorway. “Mr. Xie~”
Mr. Xie?
Xie Guanlan had known her for almost a month, but this was the first time he’d heard such a distant, cold address from her lips.
She did look a bit thinner than half a month ago. Lovesickness—was it real or not?
“Did you go to see a doctor?”
Yin Shuyang looked up, her voice soft and gentle. “Going to the hospital was fake, but missing you was real.”
“You don’t need to feel burdened. I miss you, but I don’t expect you to miss me or give me any response. Tonight, I was just confessed to by someone else, and I suddenly understood how utterly despicable my previous behavior must have seemed from your perspective. You don’t even like me, yet I kept clinging to you, hugging you, taking advantage of you… I’m just… just… a female hooligan…” She weakly lowered her head. “Please don’t call the police on me, okay?”
Did her actions constitute sexual harassment?
Shivering in fear!
If she were arrested and taken to the police station, her grandparents would be furious.
Xie Guanlan caught onto another key point—she was confessed to by another man tonight!
Yangyang is so adorable; it’s only natural for other men to confess to her.
Xie Guanlan opened the door. “Come in.”
Yin Shuyang pretended to be reserved for a moment. “Can I really come in? Aren’t you afraid I might do something to you?”
“Can you beat me?” Xie Guanlan retorted coolly.
Yin Shuyang shook her head slightly. “Not even a little.”
She lowered her head to change her shoes, hearing his cold, clear voice from ahead. “You should worry about yourself.”
“I actually hope you’d do something to me…” she muttered under her breath.
But Xie Guanlan had already walked away, and she wasn’t sure if he’d heard her.
If this were a novel trope, a domineering CEO like Xie Guanlan would definitely have sharp ears and keen eyes, hearing every word clearly.
He heard, but he wouldn’t do anything to her.
Xie Guanlan went into the kitchen and soon returned with a glass of milk for her.
Yin Shuyang took a sip—it was actually sweet strawberry flavor!
Xie Guanlan, you actually like strawberry milk!!
What a contrast.
So cute!
Wait, Xie Guanlan was drinking plain water.
Only she had strawberry milk.
“Did you specially prepare strawberry milk for me at home?” Yin Shuyang held the cup, her eyes sparkling as she stared at him.
This is exactly the kind of domineering CEO who’s fierce yet gentle—a heart of a tiger, sniffing a rose!
I love it, I love it.
Xie Guanlan replied, “The housekeeper prepared it.”
“Then the housekeeper must have prepared it for me too~ It’s been so long since I last came. I wonder if the housekeeper misses me. I really like the home-cooked meals she makes.” Yin Shuyang obediently finished the milk, holding the empty cup and sitting quietly.
If she didn’t do something, the air would just be awkward.
Yin Shuyang regretted not drinking a little at dinner—she could have pretended to be drunk and stayed here.
Sigh!
Yin Shuyang, oh Yin Shuyang, why is your mind filled with nothing but improper ideas for chasing a husband?
You clearly promised yourself to pursue him properly, not to always covet Xie Guanlan’s good looks or think about these wicked schemes—pinning him down, hugging him, kissing him wildly, making him cry… Xie Guanlan is so indifferent to women, how could that ever happen?!
“Running away here after being confessed to? Was it someone your brother introduced?” Xie Guanlan stretched out his legs and sat down on the single sofa to her right.
“No, it was a friend I knew before.” Yin Shuyang’s mind was a mess. “My brother… how do you know my brother wants to introduce someone to me!”
Great! Yin Shujun!
So you’re definitely the obstacle between me and Xie Guanlan!
“Xie Guanlan, are you even a man? My brother told you not to like me, so you just don’t dare to like me? Are you that cowardly?” Yin Shuyang put down her cup and shifted her body sideways.
She moved to the end of the sofa, her slippers touching his, leaning forward with her beautiful amber eyes fixed unwaveringly on him, her voice soft and moist. “Really, do you have absolutely no feelings for me at all?”