Shen Junhuai had a conference call in the afternoon. Instead of going to his study, he sat on the sofa in the living room.
Shen Zhaoran had slept her fill in the morning and was not sleepy, so she came out to lean against Shen Junhuai while he held his meeting.
Shen Junhuai paused for a few seconds. Even through layers of fabric, he could feel a surge of heat pressing against him.
When Shen Zhaoran was young, she was often sick, prone to crying, and hated taking medicine. Shen Junhuai would always hold her and coax her, and once she finished her medicine, she would fall asleep in his arms. As she grew older, her bouts of illness became less frequent, and Shen Junhuai no longer held her like that.
A source of heat on his hand interrupted his train of thought. Shen Zhaoran tugged at his hand and pointed at the screen, reminding him that the meeting was still in progress.
Shen Junhuai looked at the screen, but his mind was on the fact that Shen Zhaoran’s fever had not yet subsided. Even her fingertips were burning, carrying an irrepressible heat wave.
Shen Zhaoran’s fever lasted for two days. It was not a high temperature, but it kept coming and going.
Shen Junhuai did not go to the company on the second day either, having Xuan Zuo bring his files to the house.
By the morning of the third day, Shen Zhaoran had finally broken her fever. She was full of energy and ate more at breakfast than she had in the previous two days.
Seeing that she had finished eating, Shen Junhuai asked, “Shall I send you to the studio later?”
Shen Zhaoran shook her head. “I will go to the office with you.”
If she went to the studio, Shen Junhuai would definitely make Tong Jiu follow her and check her temperature eight hundred times a day. It was better to be obedient and follow Shen Junhuai.
Shen Junhuai did not say anything and took her to the company.
Shen Zhaoran was not idle either. She asked Xuan Zuo for some work. In truth, Xuan Zuo did not dare to assign her any tasks, but he could not stop her from snatching work for herself.
Eventually, Shen Zhaoran carried a pile of documents into Shen Junhuai’s office, typing away on her laptop. Along the way, a secretary brought her milk and cake.
Shen Zhaoran glanced at the other cup of coffee and asked, “Black coffee again?”
The secretary nodded and placed the black coffee by Shen Junhuai’s hand.
Shen Zhaoran clicked her tongue a few times; she certainly could not drink that.
Lunch was a nutritious meal sent from home. Shen Junhuai did not pay much attention to food, so he simply ate the same meal as Shen Zhaoran. Shen Zhaoran felt it was quite bland, but seeing that Shen Junhuai was eating it even when he was not sick, she obediently finished hers.
When Shen Junhuai went to a meeting in the afternoon, Shen Zhaoran changed into pajamas and took a nap in the lounge.
It seemed that someone had entered at one point, but she was too tired and simply could not open her eyes. When she finally woke up, the sun was about to set.
Shen Zhaoran: “Oh.”
Was she really that sleepy?
She changed her clothes and pushed the door open to see Xuan Zuo delivering files. She walked out quietly and took a few sips from her milk cup. It was actually still warm.
After Xuan Zuo left, Shen Zhaoran asked, “Brother, did you come in this afternoon?”
“Yes. I checked your temperature, but you were sleeping so soundly that I did not wake you.”
“I see.”
She really slept like a pig. She had not even woken up for that.
Shen Zhaoran followed him to the office for two days before finally heading to the studio on the third day.
During the days she was sick, Wei Li had also talked to her about the price of the sapphire. Shen Zhaoran was not as interested in the sapphire now, but since they had already added each other on WeChat, she chatted with him based on her target price and eventually acquired it at market value.
Wei Li did not send anyone to pick it up, simply saying he would drop it off at the studio while he was in the area, so Shen Zhaoran sent him the studio’s address directly.
Ruan Yan was the one who met him. After they met, Ruan Yan sighed for a long time.
“I have to say, I was actually tempted when he mentioned cooperation. We have been looking for a reliable partner, and the Wei family has quite the connections in this area.”
Shen Zhaoran had not been here for several days and had a lot of piled-up work. She said without looking up, “Then go and cooperate with him.”
Ruan Yan: “It is obvious that he has other motives. Our studio has not fallen to the point where we need to sell you to gain resources.”
Shen Zhaoran: “Right.”
Ruan Yan rubbed her chin and thought about it. “It is not that we could not sell you. We could sell you to Shen Junhuai instead. He would definitely pay a higher price.”
Shen Zhaoran: “Seriously.”
Ruan Yan: “What are your plans for the evening? Now that you are better, let us go out and have some fun.”
Shen Zhaoran turned her computer screen to show her, a thin, forced smile on her face. “Several project deadlines are approaching. As the bosses, we need to lead by example and work overtime.”
Ruan Yan: “Seriously?”
Ruan Yan: “Is this really something you should be saying, Miss Shen?”
In addition to working overtime, Shen Zhaoran also took time out to run an errand for Zhou Hongyu.
Zhou Hongyu had ordered a necklace at the studio for his girlfriend. It was supposed to be picked up at a set time, but he had gotten into an argument with her and needed it urgently, so he asked Shen Zhaoran to have someone send it over.
Shen Zhaoran looked around and realized she was the most idle person in the studio. Thinking of helping her unlucky childhood friend, she grabbed the item and set off.
She had her driver take her ten kilometers out of the way. When she got out of the car and saw the bar street, she fell silent.
Zhou Hongyu had received the message and was already waiting at the door. When he saw Shen Zhaoran, he waved wildly at her. “Zhaoran, Zhaoran!”
Shen Zhaoran: “Are you out here clubbing while trying to coax your girlfriend?”
She might as well have written “scumbag” across his forehead.
Zhou Hongyu: “No.”
Zhou Hongyu: “It really is not like that. I brought her with me because I thought I would introduce her to some friends.”
Shen Zhaoran shoved the item into his arms. “Fine then. You go and coax her properly, I am leaving.”
Zhou Hongyu: “Wait, since you are already here, why do you not stay and hang out?”
Shen Zhaoran played her trump card: “My brother called me home for dinner.”
Zhou Hongyu opened the car door for her, his posture more professional than a doorman’s. “Please sit, Miss, please take your seat.” He then shouted at the driver: “Old Zhang, drive quickly!”
Shen Zhaoran: “Goodness.” She really wanted to beat him up; half of her body was still outside the car.
Just as she got settled, she saw several people in the alley across the street surrounding a girl. She clicked her tongue, called over the bodyguards following in the car behind, and pointed. “Take care of that.”
The bodyguards had just walked over when everyone saw the girl knock all the men down in a few quick movements.
Shen Zhaoran: “Impressive.”
Zhou Hongyu: “Wow.”
Bodyguards: “What was the point of us coming over?”
However, the trip was not for nothing; at least the bodyguard could see clearly who the leader was.
Shen Zhaoran heard that familiar name, immediately got out of the car, and walked over, followed by Zhou Hongyu.
She pointed at Xue Jie, who was groaning on the ground, and asked Zhou Hongyu, “When did this guy get back?”
Zhou Hongyu: “I did not hear any news about it.”
The girl had originally planned to leave, but upon seeing more people approach, she immediately assumed a defensive posture.
Shen Zhaoran did not explain much. She took out her phone, searched for a number, and had her bodyguard write it on a piece of paper and hand it to the girl.
Shen Zhaoran: “This is the phone number of the assistant to Xue Jie’s father. If he troubles you again, call this number directly. You do not need to beat him up; his father will do it himself. By the way, Xue Jie is the guy lying at your feet.”
The other party took it, was silent for two seconds, and asked, “Who are you?”
“That is not important,” Shen Zhaoran said before walking back.
Zhou Hongyu clicked his tongue, looked down at Xue Jie, and smiled somewhat wickedly. “Next time I see you, I will beat you every single time.”
When Xue Jie saw who it was, he would have hidden right then and there if his entire body were not in such agony.
After speaking, Zhou Hongyu turned and caught up with Shen Zhaoran, warning her: “Do not go out alone from now on, in case Xue Jie loses his mind again and tries to pester you.”
Shen Zhaoran waved her hand dismissively. “My brother scolded me for days over the location-hacking incident last time. My security system has been upgraded several levels since then; I am perfectly safe.”
Zhou Hongyu nodded. “That is good.”
After he finished speaking, he suddenly froze. “Oh crap, my girlfriend is still waiting for me!”
Shen Zhaoran: “Good luck.”