A meaningful glimmer flashed in the man’s deep eyes as his fingers slowly tightened into a loose fist.
Under the lamplight, Xu Jialan’s brows and eyes remained coolly composed, yet her gaze held unwavering determination, as if telling Shen Xichuan that no external factors could alter her decisions and convictions.
Shen Xichuan’s gaze lingered on her, his heart burning with intensity.
“I gave you the opportunity,” he said.
Xu Jialan’s lips curved slightly. “I know.”
She had never dared to hope for a day when she could stand by his side.
Now that fate had granted her this chance, how could she possibly regret it just because he couldn’t accompany her?
…
At nine o’clock in the evening, the two returned to Nanhu.
“Do you work tomorrow?” Shen Xichuan asked as he switched on the lights.
Xu Jialan nodded. “I have scheduled work tomorrow and can’t take leave.”
Shen Xichuan placed the women’s slippers he had just bought from the supermarket by her feet.
“It’s already very late. Stay here for tonight, alright?”
Xu Jialan froze for a moment, instinctively replying, “But… I didn’t bring any change of clothes.”
Seeing she hadn’t refused, Shen Xichuan’s lips curled slightly. “Tell me your size. I’ll have someone deliver fresh clothes for you.”
After a few seconds of silence, Xu Jialan recited a series of numbers.
Shen Xichuan paused briefly before nodding. “Alright.”
He took out his phone and sent a message to Shen Yankai’s assistant.
The assistant happened to be in Shen Yankai’s office when he received the message.
He froze momentarily.
Shen Yankai looked up. “What is it?”
The assistant swallowed before truthfully relaying Shen Xichuan’s instructions.
The man seated in the office chair fell silent for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I understand. Go prepare what he needs.”
“Yes, President.”
Just as the assistant was about to leave—
“Wait.”
Shen Yankai suddenly called out to him.
The assistant turned back in confusion.
…
At half past nine, the apartment door was knocked.
Shen Xichuan opened the door.
The assistant greeted him respectfully. “Second Young Master.”
The man nodded. “Where are the items?”
The assistant handed over several shopping bags.
His expression seemed hesitant.
Shen Xichuan narrowed his eyes slightly. “Speak if you have something to say.”
The assistant cleared his throat. “Second Young Master… there are items inside the bags that the President prepared for you.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”
Shen Xichuan glanced at him and hummed in acknowledgment.
Seeing this, the assistant quickly departed.
Watching his retreating figure, Shen Xichuan frowned.
What exactly was going on?
Noticing him standing motionless at the doorway, Xu Jialan asked in confusion, “What’s… wrong?”
Shen Xichuan snapped back to reality and turned. “Nothing.”
He closed the door and lifted the shopping bags.
“Your clothes are here. Go freshen up.”
As he spoke, he handed her the shopping bags.
“Alright.”
Xu Jialan took the bags, glancing down briefly.
That single glance made her pause.
Weren’t these supposed to contain only her change of clothes?
Why were there also…
Her expression grew complicated, the tips of her ears faintly warming.
Shen Xichuan noticed her expression and paused, suddenly recalling the assistant’s mention of additional items Shen Yankai had prepared for him.
What exactly had Shen Yankai prepared for him?
Shen Xichuan cleared his throat lightly. “Well, I forgot to mention earlier—besides your clothes, there are some of my things in there too.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Jialan’s voice trembled slightly. “…Oh.”
She lowered her head and handed one of the bags over to him.
Shen Xichuan had just taken it, not yet having a chance to see what was inside, when he watched Xu Jialan pick up the remaining bags of clothes and turn to leave.
Then he heard the bathroom door open and close.
The man stood frozen in place for a few seconds.
A puzzled expression crossed his face before he glanced down at the contents of the bag.
Half a second later, Shen Xichuan’s face darkened instantly.
He shot a look at the tightly shut bathroom door, his jaw tightening slightly.
Pulling out his phone, he strode toward the balcony and made a call.
The other end picked up almost immediately.
“Did you get the stuff?”
Hearing this, Shen Xichuan’s brow twitched. “Brother, I asked your assistant to bring me some clothes. What’s with sending me all this… stuff?”
Shen Yankai finished signing a document before responding casually, “So you’re planning to retire? If you are, you can just send the stuff back.”
Shen Xichuan fell silent.
Shen Yankai set down his pen and leaned back in his chair.
“Xiaochuan, I’m not stopping you from getting married. But if you truly want to build a life with your wife, you need to think about her too.”
Shen Xichuan remained silent.
Shen Yankai continued, “No one can predict what will happen in the next second. Of course, I hope you can retire safely and soundly. But if something unexpected were to happen to you, what would your wife do alone?”
He paused, then added, “And if you’re gone, you can’t stop her from remarrying, can you?”
Shen Xichuan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Brother.”
A faint smile tugged at Shen Yankai’s lips. “The stuff is yours now. Do what you want with it.”
Without waiting for Shen Xichuan to respond, he hung up.
The assistant standing across from him hesitated before speaking quietly, “Sir, are you trying to force the Second Young Master to retire… in a different way?”
Shen Yankai chuckled softly and set his phone aside.
“Since we were kids, I’ve never seen Xiaochuan care deeply about anything—except for one thing: choosing to become a firefighter after his college entrance exams.”
“But now, he’s telling me he’s fallen for someone and even married her.”
Shen Yankai tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. “I’ve never interfered with his choices. Whatever he likes, I’ve let him pursue. This time is no different.”
He simply wanted Shen Xichuan to reconsider what truly mattered most within the choices he had already made.
After listening, the assistant fell silent.
The CEO’s move was indeed a ruthless one.
…
Meanwhile, at Nanhu.
Shen Xichuan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze deep and contemplative as he looked out at the night scenery.
His brother’s words echoed relentlessly in his mind.
He rubbed the shopping bag’s handle absently with his thumb.
After a long while, he faintly heard the sound of water from the bathroom stop.
Shen Xichuan withdrew his gaze and tilted his head slightly.
Then, carrying the shopping bag, he walked into the study and stuffed the contents deep into a cabinet.
Just as he stepped out of the study, Xu Jialan emerged from the bathroom.
Their eyes met unexpectedly.
Xu Jialan froze for a moment.
Shen Xichuan’s gaze lingered on her, his Adam’s apple bobbing unconsciously.
Two seconds later, he averted his eyes. “Finished washing?”
Xu Jialan softly hummed in acknowledgment.
She licked her lips and added, “Um, I couldn’t find the hairdryer.”
Hearing this, Shen Xichuan replied, “I rarely use one, so there isn’t one in the bathroom. Wait a moment, I’ll find it for you.”
“Okay.”