Ye Huai just smiled and didn’t respond to her remark. Instead, he asked, “You’ve graduated from college, right? What are you doing for work?”
He was Sheng Yu’s man. Qin Sang didn’t want to get tangled with them, so she kept walking without stopping, barely lowering her head to reply, “Yeah… I’ve graduated.”
Ye Huai matched her pace, holding the umbrella to make sure not a single drop of rain touched her, even trying to make conversation.
But Qin Sang felt an instinctive aversion, offering only perfunctory answers while thinking of ways to put distance between them.
The wet ground was slippery, and with her mind unsettled, her heel suddenly twisted. Pain shot through her ankle, and she screamed instinctively, “Ahhh!!”
Just as she felt herself losing balance and about to fall into the rain, a strong hand grabbed her wrist. In the next instant, she found herself lifted effortlessly into a familiar embrace, pressed against someone’s chest.
Before she could react, Sheng Yu’s casual voice whispered in her ear:
“Troubling me all the way here… you’re hoping I’d get out of the car myself to carry you, aren’t you?”
Qin Sang flailed, panicked, trying to push away: “I—I wasn’t!”
But Sheng Yu’s strength was overwhelming. She couldn’t move an inch. He carried her directly into the back seat and, his expression unreadable, said:
“Then next time, just get in yourself.”
The driver, who had stepped out to hold the umbrella, immediately returned to the wheel once Sheng Yu was seated.
Qin Sang, pinned at the waist and unable to move, looked up at the domineering man beside her. She accused him, “You act like this toward an outside woman… doesn’t it shame your family?”
Sheng Yu didn’t know she was misinterpreting his past with Wen Li. He simply replied:
“I only need to be true to myself.”
“You…!” Qin Sang tried to pry his arm from around her waist, but it was useless. Frustrated, she muttered angrily under her breath: “Barbaric!”
She puffed up her cheeks, eyes lowered in exasperation, looking helpless—adorable in her defiance. Sheng Yu, who rarely showed emotion, allowed a small, amused smile to tug at his lips and responded lazily:
“Mm… barbaric.”
Then, glancing at her, he asked: “Where are you headed? I’ll take you.”
Qin Sang wanted to refuse automatically but realized it was pointless. She gave a casual answer: “The first shopping mall ahead.”
Sheng Yu chuckled. Who gave such vague directions? Clearly, she was trying to brush him off. He pressed further:
“The name of the mall?”
Caught off guard, Qin Sang blurted, “Luzhi Mall.”
Why that mall? Because it was the only one she could remember in Harbor City. She wasn’t even sure it was the first one ahead. Before coming to Harbor City, she had noticed this nationwide chain. Something about the name had struck her as unique.
Luzhi—green branches. Qin Sang: “Luzhi.”
The moment she said it, Sheng Yu’s gaze darkened for a heartbeat. Casually, he twirled the black jade beast ring on his finger, then instructed the driver:
“Luzhi Mall.”
“Yes, Sheng Sanye.”
Qin Sang thought Sheng Yu would make things difficult at the mall, but he simply dropped her off at the entrance, handed her a black umbrella, and left—without exposing her half-lie.
Because Luzhi Mall wasn’t actually the first mall she had passed.
Standing in the mall’s lobby, Qin Sang watched as the driver held the umbrella over Sheng Yu as he returned to his car.
Even through the rain, he looked tall and commanding, his back straight and proud, radiating maturity and sharpness that hadn’t been there five years ago.
She watched, captivated, until his figure disappeared into the black car. As the window rolled up, their eyes met briefly through the rain.
Sheng Yu’s lips curved faintly from afar, a smile that was almost teasing. Only then did Qin Sang turn and hurry into the mall, her retreating figure almost… fleeing.
Sheng Yu didn’t move his gaze from her until she vanished from sight, only then telling the driver to pull away.
After some distance, Ye Huai, in the front seat, asked casually:
“Hey Yu, you pushed through a whole day of work, skipped your evening meetings, even dragged me along while I’m on leave, all supposedly to accompany Qin Sang to that launch… so why’d you just let her go halfway?”
Sheng Yu lowered his head, rubbing his finger along the mark where Qin Sang had tried to twist his hand earlier, smiling lightly:
“Can’t you see she’s scared of me? Sitting next to me, even breathing carefully, afraid she’ll suffocate herself.”
He had thought Qin Sang would feel more comfortable with Ye Huai present. Instead, she’d been even tenser.
Unaware, Sheng Yu asked Ye Huai: “Do I seem scary now?”
Ye Huai snickered: “I’ve gotten used to being scared. Doesn’t affect me anymore.”
Then, glancing back at Sheng Yu in the rear seat with a knowing look, he scrutinized the scar along Sheng Yu’s brow. Smirking, he said:
“You ever think about changing your hairstyle? Maybe cover that scar on your brow?”
It was the only scar Sheng Yu had, from four years ago, barely noticeable. Ye Huai was simply teasing because the slicked-back style made him look even sharper, more intimidating.
Sheng Yu said nothing, absently twirling the black jade ring on his finger, eyes darkening with thought.
The software launch for Xingye Technology was being held in Harbor City’s most luxurious banquet hall.
As Qin Sang reached for her ticket, given to her by a friend, she found a familiar bank card tucked inside her bag—the same one she had left at Sheng Yu’s house. When had it returned to her bag? Had he slipped it back while she was in the car? She hadn’t noticed a thing.
While she puzzled over what to do with the money, someone called her name:
“Qin Sang, junior.”
She looked up and saw Liang Yufan, the senior who had given her the ticket. He worked at Xingye Technology and wore his ID around his neck.
“Senior Liang,” Qin Sang greeted, walking over gracefully. “Thank you for the ticket. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to get in.”
Liang Yufan smiled, clearly impressed: “It’s my honor to help you.”
After a brief pause, he added with a friendly smile: “If you really want to thank me, how about we grab a meal after the event?”
Qin Sang’s heart skipped. She recovered quickly, maintaining a polite, reserved smile: “Sure, I should treat you to a meal.”
Her soft, expressive eyes, even with a gentle smile, could stir anyone’s heart. Liang Yufan swallowed hard, trying to hide his reaction. “You’re as kind and beautiful as ever. Your other half must be very lucky.”
Qin Sang blushed, awkwardly laughing, unsure what to say: “…Senior, don’t tease me.”
“Let’s head in; we can talk on the way.” Liang Yufan’s tone grew serious: “Today’s launch is being presented personally by our CEO. Including the interactive session and Q&A, it will take about an hour and a half. Normally, you’d leave directly afterward. The manager has arranged for us to stay until the end and submit the reports of any issues to the CEO. Whether you get to say anything depends on you.”
Qin Sang felt grateful: “Thank you for helping me navigate all this, Senior. Afterward, I’ll treat you properly. And if there’s ever anything I can do to help, just let me know.”