Shen Yankai had just finished his meeting and stepped out of the conference room.
His assistant promptly handed him his phone.
“Young Master Er has called you over a dozen times.”
Surprised, Shen Yankai passed the folder in his hand to the assistant and took the phone.
He glanced down at the missed calls on the screen, tapped to answer, and quickly walked into his office.
“What’s so urgent that you need to reach me so many times?”
Shen Xichuan paused briefly before speaking, “I remember you bought an ancient book at an auction a few years ago.”
Shen Yankai’s movement to pull out his office chair halted as he narrowed his eyes slightly. “There is such a book. Why do you ask?”
It was an authentic ancient text containing numerous records about pharmacology.
To the medical field, it was considered a treasure.
Fortunately, it had been acquired by Shen Yankai, who had the financial means to secure it at auction.
Over the years, it had been kept securely in his collection vault.
Why would Shen Xichuan suddenly ask about this book?
“Can you sell it to me? Price is not an issue,” Shen Xichuan said.
Shen Yankai clicked his tongue and sat down. “Since when do we talk about money between us?”
He paused briefly. “I recall you’ve never been interested in these things. Why the sudden…”
At this point, Shen Yankai seemed to realize something. “Is this for your wife?”
He had previously investigated and learned that Xu Jialan was a senior analyst at the Laboratory and also a senior member of the Medical Association.
If the book was intended for Xu Jialan, it wouldn’t surprise him.
“No.”
“Then who is it for?” Shen Yankai asked.
Shen Xichuan pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m having dinner with her master tonight.”
Xu Jialan’s master…
Shen Yankai remembered. “Old Liang, the chairman of the Medical Association?”
Shen Xichuan acknowledged with a sound of agreement.
“No wonder.”
Shen Yankai found it somewhat amusing. “You’re even calculating your gift-giving this carefully. It seems you’re genuinely worried about being thrown out.”
And why wouldn’t he be?
He had married the man’s disciple without even giving prior notice.
As her master, how could he not be angry?
“Brother.”
Shen Xichuan massaged his temples. “Are you going to sell it or not?”
“No,” Shen Yankai replied succinctly.
Shen Xichuan: “…”
After a few seconds, Shen Yankai chuckled lightly. “I’ll have my assistant deliver it to you later.”
Shen Xichuan’s brow relaxed as he acknowledged with a sound of agreement.
Suddenly remembering something, he added, “Don’t deliver it to Nanhu. Send it to Star Lake Bay.”
Shen Yankai narrowed his eyes. “You’ve moved into your wife’s place?”
The investigation data had included Xu Jialan’s address.
“Yes, I just moved in recently.” Shen Xichuan glanced around the living room, a warm smile touching the corners of his mouth.
Shen Yankai: “…”
He sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead. “You didn’t even prepare a marital home after getting married, and just moved into her place instead?”
Shen Xichuan: “…It’s not that I wasn’t prepared.”
Things had just happened too suddenly.
Shen Yankai clicked his tongue in mild disapproval. “Understood. I’ll have the items delivered to you shortly. Do you need anything else?”
He remembered that besides having a master, Xu Jialan also had a master’s wife.
Hearing this, Shen Xichuan didn’t hold back. “I recall you also bought a jade Guanyin pendant at an auction before.”
That piece of jade was quite exceptional.
He had happened to see it at the time – truly priceless.
Shen Yankai had spent 7 million to acquire it at auction.
Shen Yankai was somewhat exasperated. “I’m really starting to suspect you’ve had your eyes on my collection for a long time.”
Otherwise, how could he know even what Shen Xichuan had bid on at an auction years ago in such detail?
Shen Xichuan raised his eyebrows and smiled with a hint of roguishness, letting out an “ah” sound. “Not really, I just happened to remember it.”
Shen Yankai: “…”
“Got it. I’ll send everything over to you later.”
After saying that, he directly hung up the phone, afraid that Shen Xichuan would set his sights on something else the next second.
Looking at his phone, Shen Yankai didn’t show any anger on his face. Instead, he chuckled helplessly.
Shen Yankai looked up at his assistant. “Send the items to Second Young Master later.”
The assistant bowed his head. “Yes, President.”
…
Evening.
Shen Xichuan took a taxi to the Laboratory.
He brushed up the short hair on his forehead, revealing his smooth, full brow. His eyes were somewhat deep-set, and his thin lips were pressed together lightly. Standing under the streetlight, his tall figure appeared slightly lonely.
A security guard nearby noticed him and, seeing his extraordinary demeanor, took a few extra glances.
The security measures at the Laboratory were also very strict.
Ordinary people basically couldn’t enter freely.
Not long after, a car drove out from the underground parking lot of the Laboratory.
The security guard knew the owner of this car—it belonged to Professor Xu, the youngest senior analyst at the Laboratory.
He glanced over curiously.
But then he saw the car actually stop next to the man who had been waiting under the streetlight for a while.
The next second, the security guard saw the indifferent-looking man reveal a gentle smile.
The security guard widened his eyes. Could this be Professor Xu’s newlywed husband?
He couldn’t help but sneak a few more glances in that direction.
Xu Jialan rolled down the passenger side window, her expression softening slightly. “Have you been waiting long?”
Shen Xichuan put away his phone, the corners of his lips quirking up as he opened the passenger door and got in.
“Not at all, I just arrived.”
Xu Jialan paused for a moment, then hummed in acknowledgment. “Let’s get going then.”
Just as she was about to start the car.
Shen Xichuan suddenly spoke up. “Wait, let’s go home first.”
Xu Jialan: “?”
A trace of helpless amusement flickered in the man’s eyes. “The gifts for your master and his wife are at home. Let’s go back to get them first, then I’ll drive.”
This was also why he hadn’t driven to pick her up.
He had to return to his team tomorrow and wouldn’t be able to drive her.
Only then did Xu Jialan understand. “Alright.”
Shen Xichuan added, “The things are at Star Lake Bay.”
Hearing this, Xu Jialan’s movements paused slightly. Under the dim light, the tips of her ears grew slightly warm.
She hummed softly in acknowledgment and started the car.
Shen Xichuan sat beside her, watching her with a faint smile.
…
Xu Jialan’s driving skills were quite good.
The Laboratory wasn’t far from Star Lake Bay, and they arrived in less than ten minutes.
Shen Xichuan had already moved the items into his SUV.
In addition to the two grand gifts sent over by Shen Yankai, he had also bought some other presents at a nearby mall.
Xu Jialan looked at the back seat filled with gift boxes and was stunned for a few seconds. “This… isn’t it a bit too much?”
Shen Xichuan started the car skillfully, turning the steering wheel.
He casually glanced at the rearview mirror.
“Too much?”
Xu Jialan fell silent for a few seconds, momentarily unsure how to answer that question.
The car drove out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic on the road.
The man tilted his head to look at her and sighed. “I married you without saying a word. I should at least apologize to your master and his wife.”
His voice was slightly low, carrying a unique magnetism.
Xu Jialan stared at him in a daze.
The light inside the car was rather dim.
Half of the man’s face was shrouded in darkness, leaving only his sharp jawline clearly visible to Xu Jialan’s eyes.
She clenched her fingers slightly. “They… won’t blame you.”
Because this was what she wanted.
They would never object.