Nan Chu realized belatedly what she had forgotten.
Counting the days, she indeed hadn’t been back to Qingshan Residence for a week.
Meeting Shang Lin’s cold, sharp gaze, Nan Chu instinctively straightened her back, her fingers on her thighs curling slightly.
“No, it’s just that Qingshan Residence is too far from the city center, and I’ve had a lot of overtime this past week. I didn’t want to make the trip.”
“Working overtime every day?”
“Yeah.”
Nan Chu thought Shang Lin would press further, but he merely stared at her for a moment before speaking flatly.
“I see.”
As the words landed, Shang Lin placed the cake box beside his seat onto the small tray table in front of Nan Chu.
“Overtime must be tough. Have a taste.”
Nan Chu was momentarily stunned. Shang Lin’s casual dismissal actually made her feel a bit embarrassed.
After all, she really had been working overtime the past couple of days, but her later refusal to return to Qingshan Residence was just being an ostrich.
She looked at the small cake in front of her, then at the osmanthus fragrance beside her, feeling a twinge of guilt.
“Mr. Shang, could you have the driver stop the car for a moment?”
Shang Lin didn’t ask questions and simply instructed the driver to pull over.
Nan Chu opened the door and got out. Ten minutes later, she returned holding a small box.
Shang Lin raised an eyebrow slightly, only to see Nan Chu’s clear, bright eyes looking at him, her gaze flickering a little.
“You’ve been working hard with overtime too.”
Shang Lin noticed her ears turning slightly red, his gaze calm and deep. “For me?”
Looking into his deep eyes, Nan Chu felt her face grow warm and lowered her gaze slightly.
“Yeah, this place has really good soufflé. You should try it.”
“Alright.”
The soufflé was freshly baked. As soon as the lid was opened, a milky aroma wafted out, sweetening even the air.
Nan Chu carefully cut the soufflé, placed it on a small plate, and handed it to Shang Lin.
“Thank you. You have some too.”
“Alright.”
Nan Chu took a small bite of the cake—so soft it melted instantly on her tongue, the chocolate flavor lingering between her lips and teeth.
So delicious.
She had never been able to resist sweets. One bite, and she felt completely comforted.
One more bite.
Shang Lin watched Nan Chu’s eyes narrow like a cat’s, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
That chuckle was too obvious in the quiet car. Nan Chu paused mid-bite and glanced sideways at Shang Lin.
Only then did she notice the man’s handsome eyes fixed on her without blinking. Her cheeks grew warm.
Before she could react, Shang Lin leaned toward her.
Seeing his face drawing closer, Nan Chu’s mind went blank for a moment.
The crisp, woody scent lingered at the tip of her nose. Instinctively, she raised her hand to cover her mouth.
The next moment, his fingertip landed on the back of her hand—cool yet gentle.
“Cream.”
Nan Chu’s face flushed bright red.
So Shang Lin was just helping her wipe off the cream.
What was she even thinking…
Nan Chu lowered her stiff hand, forcing a smile to save face. “Thanks, I was just about to wipe it off.”
Shang Lin’s dark eyes were deep, his thin lips curving slightly.
“I won’t presume to touch you without your permission.”
Nan Chu’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her gaze and gave a soft “mm.”
The next moment, Shang Lin pulled back, restoring a safe distance between them.
Nan Chu’s racing heart steadied. She pulled out a tissue, wiped the cream from the corner of her lips, and tactically looked out the window.
The ride was quiet all the way to Qingshan Residence.
Uncle Liu had already prepared dinner. Seeing Nan Chu and Shang Lin walk in side by side, the worry in his heart finally eased, and his face broke into a smile.
There was no rift between a husband and wife that couldn’t be mended.
The two of them were quite harmonious at the dinner table, though Shang Lin still slept in the guest room.
“Good night.”
Before Shang Lin closed the door, Nan Chu spoke up first.
Shang Lin nodded. “Good night.”
Back in the bedroom, Nan Chu wrapped herself in the blanket on the soft, large bed and let out a long sigh.
To be honest, although Emerald Bay was closer to the company, the bed at Green Mountain Residence was far more comfortable.
Nan Chu felt like she had fallen into a cloud and was soon fast asleep.
Today was Saturday, and Nan Chu rarely got to sleep in.
After washing up and heading downstairs, Shang Lin had already left.
Before leaving, he had sent her a WeChat message, saying he would be busy at the company all day but would come home for dinner at six in the evening.
Nan Chu was a little surprised.
Was Shang Lin reporting to her?
In the past, her parents were busy with work and she barely saw them a few times a year.
Later, she met Lu Si and became his little shadow, only ever chasing after his back.
She was used to being home alone, used to the empty rooms, used to chasing after someone—this was the first time someone had reported to her.
The feeling was somewhat unfamiliar, but she knew she didn’t dislike it. In fact, she rather liked it.
She typed back a few words.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you at home.”
After breakfast, Nan Chu was just thinking about naming yesterday’s piece when Xu Xiaoxiao’s name popped up on her phone screen.
She tapped to answer, and before she could even speak, Xu Xiaoxiao’s breathless voice came through.
“Chuchu, come downstairs, I’m at your apartment door.”
Nan Chu was taken aback. “Where are you?”
Xu Xiaoxiao chuckled.
“Surprise, are you happy? For my dear Chuchu’s birthday, I specially came back a week early.”
“My birthday is in December.”
“Don’t worry about the details. Come on, come downstairs, your girl’s taking you out to have some fun.”
Nan Chu laughed softly. “I don’t live at Emerald Bay anymore. Let me order you some food at Left Bank—you eat first, I’ll be there soon.”
An hour later, at Left Bank Scenery.
Xu Xiaoxiao stared at Nan Chu, who had just casually mentioned her whirlwind marriage, her jaw nearly dropping to the floor.
“You really got the certificate?”
“Mm.”
“And the groom isn’t Lu Si?”
“Mm.”
Xu Xiaoxiao patted Nan Chu’s shoulder, tears almost welling up.
“Your eyes are finally cured. That bastard Lu Si never deserved you.”
She paused, observing Nan Chu’s expression, and after confirming that Nan Chu showed no emotional reaction to hearing Lu Si’s name, she asked curiously.
“But who’s your husband? Do I know him? Have I met him?”
Nan Chu paused slightly, remembering that in Xu Xiaoxiao’s eyes, Shang Lin held the title of “the rightful empress,” and took a sip of water.
“He’s been pretty busy with work lately. Once he’s free, I’ll introduce him to you.”
Xu Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes, leaning in like a shrewd fox.
“From your tone, I know him?”
Nan Chu played it vague. “Sort of.”
Xu Xiaoxiao grew even more curious.
“I really know him? Give me a hint.”
Nan Chu was beautiful and had a great personality. From high school to college, her suitors could circle the whole of Beicheng, but Nan Chu was stubborn—her eyes only ever saw Lu Si.
Because of that, Xu Xiaoxiao didn’t have much impression of Nan Chu’s suitors either.
She simply asked Nan Chu directly. “Compared to that shorty Lu Si, who’s taller?”
Nan Chu remembered how she had to stand on her tiptoes just to reach Shang Lin’s chest, and answered with certainty, “He’s taller.”
Xu Xiaoxiao nodded, ruled out a bunch, and asked again.
“Compared to that idiot Lu Si, who’s better looking?”
Nan Chu answered with complete honesty: “He’s handsome.”
“Chuchu, you’re something else—quietly pulling off something big!”
Although Xu Xiaoxiao didn’t think much of Lu Si, there was no denying his face and height. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a legion of die-hard fans devoted to his looks even in an entertainment industry teeming with handsome men and beautiful women.
Xu Xiaoxiao was already getting a little excited inside and finally asked the last crucial question.
“So between your husband and Lu Si, who’s better in bed?”