The air conditioning was on in the car—perhaps just right for most people.
But Tang Yan felt a little cold.
She knew it was psychological.
In her previous life, she had died in a frozen, snowy wilderness. Too cold!
The sensations before death had been too intense—that bone-piercing chill and agony she could not forget, even after being reborn!
Even now, in the middle of summer, she still felt cold.
Sheng Yanyu noticed Tang Yan rubbing her arms. His brow furrowed slightly, and he immediately took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
“Turn off the air conditioning,” Sheng Yanyu instructed the driver.
With the AC off, the temperature inside the car began to rise.
It was summer, so turning off the air conditioning was indeed uncomfortable.
Just as the driver was about to roll down the window, Sheng Yanyu spoke coldly: “Keep it closed.”
The driver: “…”
The window stayed shut. Tang Yan turned to the driver and said, “Turn the AC back on, please. I’m feeling quite warm.”
The driver glanced at Sheng Yanyu through the rearview mirror, only to see that Sheng Yanyu’s full attention was fixed on Tang Yan.
Sheng Yanyu said nothing, so the driver didn’t dare turn the AC back on.
Seeing Sheng Yanyu staring at her, Tang Yan quickly spoke up: “I’m fine. Turn the AC on—otherwise, it’ll get too hot.”
He hadn’t even cracked a smile, yet he was constantly attuned to how she felt.
Tang Yan couldn’t help but reach out and take Sheng Yanyu’s hand, smiling as she said, “If I sweat from the heat, my makeup will run.”
The moment her hand gripped his, Sheng Yanyu froze. Instinctively, he looked at Tang Yan and met the girl’s smiling eyes. Flustered, he reflexively tightened his grip around her hand.
Tang Yan was startled for a moment, then the curve of her lips grew even wider.
Progress! He actually took the initiative to hold her hand!
Tang Yan’s heart raced with excitement, and she made no effort to hide the change in her expression.
That radiant smile made Sheng Yanyu dare not look at her any longer. He turned his head away in a fluster and said to the driver, “Turn the AC on. Not too low.”
He wanted to pull his hand back, yet he couldn’t bear to. He tentatively tried to withdraw it, but Tang Yan held on tightly. In the end, Sheng Yanyu gave up on pulling away.
He turned to look out the window, but the corner of his mouth involuntarily lifted into a faint, subtle curve.
Half an hour later, the car arrived at the hotel. The driver reminded them, “President Sheng, we’ve arrived.”
“Mm,” Sheng Yanyu responded flatly, casting a cold glance at the driver.
The driver: “??”
What had he done wrong?
The assistant in the passenger seat, silent all along, twitched at the corner of his mouth. What could it be? He’d driven too fast!
Tang Yan stepped out of the car. Sheng Yanyu noticed her exposed shoulders, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
“Put the jacket on.” He took the suit jacket from her hands and draped it over her shoulders again.
Tang Yan: “…Wouldn’t it look a bit odd to wear a men’s suit jacket over an evening gown?”
The key point was that they hadn’t even gone inside yet—if she’d put it on after spending some time in there, it wouldn’t look so strange!
“It won’t!” Sheng Yanyu’s expression remained composed as he bent his arm at a slight angle at his side, signaling for Tang Yan to take his arm.
Though the gesture seemed casual, Sheng Yanyu was actually quite nervous at that moment.
Would she… refuse?
The moment her slender, fair hand looped around his arm, the tension in Sheng Yanyu’s expression eased.
As the two stepped into the banquet hall, they instantly drew the attention of the crowd.
Not only because of the aura Sheng Yanyu naturally carried, but also because a woman had actually appeared by his side.
After all, in the past, whenever Sheng Yanyu attended any banquet, he either came alone or brought his male assistant.
This time, not only did he bring a woman, but his jacket was also draped over her shoulders.
The implication of this relationship was unmistakable!
Envious and jealous gazes fell upon Tang Yan.
As soon as Sheng Yanyu appeared, a group of business tycoons flocked over to exchange pleasantries with him.
Knowing that Tang Yan disliked such socializing, Sheng Yanyu led her to the dessert area before the crowd could surround them.
“Is there a little cake you like?” he asked softly. “If not, I’ll have Xiao Zhao go buy you some.”
“No need, these are wonderful.” Tang Yan smiled and reached for a dessert, taking a taste. “It’s delicious. Want to try?”
She scooped up a spoonful and held it to Sheng Yanyu’s lips.
The people around them stared in shock at this scene, speculating whether Sheng Yanyu would disdainfully refuse—after all, rumors had it that his germophobia was extremely severe.
Previously, when someone accidentally brushed against the hem of his jacket, he had stripped it off and thrown it straight into the trash!
This girl was far too bold, too ignorant of her place!
Or was she presuming on his favor, unable to see her own position?!
The women who had just been envious now waited in anticipation for Tang Yan to be rejected by Sheng Yanyu and left humiliated, unable to save face.
Yet, at that very moment, Sheng Yanyu only froze for a second before opening his mouth and eating the cake from Tang Yan’s spoon.
Everyone: “!!”
What about the germophobia?!
“Good, right?” Tang Yan tilted her head and asked with a smile.
Sheng Yanyu met her expectant gaze and instinctively nodded. “Delicious.”
Tang Yan scooped up another spoonful of cake and popped it into her mouth, eating happily.
Sheng Yanyu’s gaze fell on the spoon in her hand, his eyes darkening slightly.
“Want more?” Noticing his stare, Tang Yan quickly scooped another spoonful for him.
Before Sheng Yanyu could respond, a voice suddenly rang out from beside them: “Yanyan…”
Hearing that voice, the smile on Tang Yan’s face vanished instantly. Even her hand holding the spoon tightened involuntarily, her fingertips turning pale.
Sheng Yanyu noticed her unusual expression, and the relaxed look on his face also darkened.
These past days of bliss had felt like a dream—and now the dream was over.
Tang Yan quickly concealed the cold glint in her eyes and calmly turned to look at the newcomer.
Shen Ze, dressed in a white suit, was handsome and refined, like a graceful gentleman—dashing and eye-catching.
His amorous peach-blossom eyes gazed at her with an inherent tenderness, as if she were the girl he adored.
Beside him stood Song Wan in a striking red evening gown, radiant and beautiful, her complexion looking exceptionally well—not a trace of the sickly pallor one would expect from an invalid.
Tang Yan’s gaze landed on Song Wan’s face, and a cold, self-deprecating laugh rose in her heart.
In her past life, how blind must she have been to overlook that everything about Song Wan was an act—those illnesses merely a ploy to deceive her!
And she had been like a fool, played for a fool by the two of them.
She thought of being wheeled onto the operating table, where they hadn’t even given her full anesthesia, forcing her to watch her own heart being taken, then injecting her with poison as she experienced the agony of her life slipping away.
No matter how much Tang Yan tried to restrain herself, the fury and pain etched into her very bones made her body tremble uncontrollably.
The hatred filling her chest could not be suppressed no matter what.
Suddenly, her tense hand fell into a broad, warm palm.
“Tang Yan.” Sheng Yanyu’s deep voice pulled her back from the pain to reality.