Because of the lingering thoughts before sleep, Shen Jiyuan had a restless night, tossing and turning while having dreams that made little sense.
When he woke up in the early morning, his whole body felt sticky, sweat covering his forehead. He had no choice but to go to the bathroom immediately to wash up. As the steaming water fell on him, his gaze drifted down to the white tiles at his feet, following the flow of the water.
It was no longer enough to just avoid looking at Shi Qing’s social media or clear their chat history, pretending he wasn’t paying attention.
The behavior of secretly observing her life, without ever having direct interaction, had been something only he knew.
Even he didn’t have to think about its meaning.
But overnight, everything had gone off-track, developing wildly beyond control.
He had kissed Shi Qing in the car.
From that moment, the balance was broken. Their relationship could no longer be what it was before—just him quietly watching from the shadows.
Shi Qing would never allow him to act as if nothing had happened, and he could no longer forget last night.
Even after going home, he kept thinking of Shi Qing, comforting himself in the quiet night. Even in his dreams, his mind was restless.
From last night until now—half a day later—his brain had been entirely occupied by thoughts of Shi Qing.
Why had it come to this?
Last night, Shi Qing had been drunk, and he had not. Why hadn’t he pushed her away? Why had he accepted her kiss? Why had he silently allowed everything to happen?
At what point had his attitude changed?
Shen Jiyuan walked out of the bathroom in a daze and dressed.
Rarely in such a state, he didn’t rush to work. Instead, he sat at his desk, staring blankly at his phone.
During this time, Shen Shu, worried that he hadn’t left on time, ran over to check. Shen Jiyuan brushed him off and had the servants bring coffee and work documents.
The documents were placed on the desk. Shen Jiyuan ate a little, intending to start work, but couldn’t get into the rhythm, frequently glancing at his phone.
Shi Qing must be awake by now.
She drank a lot at the banquet last night—would she even remember what happened in the car?
If she did, would she contact him? If not… how should he respond? Pretend he didn’t know, or…?
Shen Jiyuan’s mind was a mess. His fingers kept rubbing the knuckles of his other hand.
He didn’t even know what he was doing, just sitting there, restless, waiting as if for a judgment.
Time passed, though he didn’t know how long, until suddenly his phone “beeped” twice and the screen lit up.
He straightened in his seat, holding his breath.
The message was from Shi Qing.
Shen Jiyuan had no idea what kind of message she would send, nor what he wanted to receive.
He didn’t even know if the anxiety he felt was fear or anticipation.
His heartbeat raced so fast his fingertips grew cold, yet he stiffly tapped open the message.
Shi Qing: “Yesterday, Xia Shu’s gift… did you forget to give it to me?”
Shi Qing: “Will you have time to bring it over later?”
Her tone was casual; she didn’t mention last night at all. But by bringing up the gift, it was clear she remembered.
Until now, their interactions had only involved matters related to the child. Even when they met, Shen Shu had always been present, and they would part after a few words.
This was the first time Shi Qing had asked him to do something.
If he went, what would he face? The treatment in the lounge, or last night’s? Shi Qing wouldn’t let him leave easily, would she?
Should he agree, or refuse?
Shen Jiyuan stared blankly at the screen, utterly lost, anxious. He held the phone for a long time, unsure how to reply.
Then a third message came quickly.
Shi Qing: “If you don’t have time to bring it, I’ll come get it myself later.”
Good—no choice needed. This tyrant didn’t even give him a chance to decide.
Shen Jiyuan felt a subtle relief, a weight lifted from his chest, though his heartbeat was so fast it made it hard to breathe, his ears burning hot.
After thinking for a long time, he finally replied:
[No need.]
[I’ll come over later when I’m free.]
He had already showered in the morning, but now he went to the bathroom again for a thorough cleaning. After coffee and brushing his teeth, he spent considerable time choosing a tie, rejecting some colors for being too flashy or too dull.
Before leaving, he sprayed on perfume, went to the private garage to find the car he drove yesterday, grabbed Shen Shu’s gift, and arrived at Shi Qing’s apartment, still unsettled in mind.
Standing at her door with the wrapped gift, he hesitated.
What was this? He was really here, entering Shi Qing’s home—wasn’t it like walking straight into the tiger’s den?
Moreover, she hadn’t mentioned last night. Wasn’t rushing over with the gift making him look cheap?
Perhaps he could just leave the gift at the door and text her that it had arrived, then go home.
As he hesitated, his fingers brushing the phone in his trouser pocket, the door suddenly opened.
Seeing Shi Qing at that moment, all his words died in his throat. He froze in place.
Shi Qing wore a pristine white bathrobe, drying her hair. Her straight, black hair looked even smoother when wet, with a few strands sticking to her cheeks.
Her face was flushed from the steam, and her dark eyes seemed brighter, purer, and more luminous.
“You came quickly,” Shi Qing said, casually inviting him inside. “Why didn’t you drive the car from yesterday?”
Shen Jiyuan paused, feeling his face burn. She must have been watching him from the window when he arrived downstairs, letting him linger at the door all this time.
Shi Qing ignored his thoughts and sat down on the sofa, wringing out her hair.
After a long hesitation, Shen Jiyuan followed and sat on the other sofa, facing her across a coffee table.
Shen Shu’s gift was placed on the table.
The gift was wrapped neatly in cartoon wrapping paper, clearly not something a three-year-old could have done by themselves.
Shi Qing, after wiping her hair for a while, grew a little tired, so she set the towel down and picked up the gift box.
“Do you know what’s inside?” she asked, shaking it lightly. Shen Jiyuan didn’t answer, but she didn’t mind. She untied the ribbon, glanced inside, and smiled. “Chocolate, huh.”
With her status, she had surely tasted all sorts of gourmet foods and probably wouldn’t care much for such an ordinary gift.
“This was made by Shen Shu himself,” Shen Jiyuan finally spoke. “You can eat it without worry. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“So… you watched him make it? Or did you make it together with him?”
Shi Qing thought of the father-and-son duo busy in the kitchen, and a warm feeling rose in her heart.
She casually picked one up and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm… delicious.”
It had a fresh orange flavor.
Seeing her smile, Shen Jiyuan felt a relief in his heart. It seemed she liked it… now he could report back to Shen Shu.
Shi Qing ate several at once, then suddenly lifted her head, her dark eyes staring straight at Shen Jiyuan. “Have you tried it? Do you want some?”
She held one up toward him, her tone casual. “Why sit so far away?”
Seeing her expression, Shen Jiyuan felt his spine tingle, alarm bells ringing in his mind. He was far too familiar with that look…
But he knew that going against Shi Qing was never a good choice.
After hesitating, he slowly got up and sat at the other end of the long sofa where Shi Qing was sitting, leaving enough space in between for one or two people.
He knew Shi Qing would probably be displeased, but this was the limit he could manage while suppressing his pride.
Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, she didn’t ask him to sit closer.
Curious, Shen Jiyuan raised his eyelids and noticed Shi Qing smiling at him.
“Shen Jiyuan, what have you been looking at since just now?”
She spoke slowly.
From her spot, she could see that his gaze had been fixed on one place—the coffee table—without moving.
“What’s so interesting there?”
She already knew the answer but teased him as if playing with a little mouse, provocatively. “Something that draws your attention so much?”
Shen Jiyuan’s hand, resting on his trousers, slowly clenched. Shi Qing noticed the veins on the back of his hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
Seeing this made her even more excited. That always-pristine, monk-like appearance made her want to tease him even more—
Back then, he would look so flustered, make those expressions, yet in public, he remained the untouchable high mountain flower, aloof and reserved.
Excited, her voice grew even sweeter, soft enough to seem as if it could drip water. “Aren’t you daring enough to look at me?”
Before yesterday, Shi Qing had already noticed that Shen Jiyuan seemed to have a strong interest in certain parts of her body.
It wasn’t strange, but Shen Jiyuan was ashamed of it and tried hard to hide it.
Seriously, almost thirty years old, always calm and collected in public, aloof and untouchable—but so childish in private, in every way.
Shi Qing found it amusing and wanted to tease him more.
At the same time, she wanted to enjoy it herself.
Shen Jiyuan didn’t know what she was thinking. His face burned red—what was he supposed to look at? Why not look at her? Didn’t Shi Qing know?
His lowered eyelashes trembled, his heartbeat drumming.
Shi Qing continued to press, “Shen Jiyuan, will you eat it or not?”
What’s so good about chocolate? He had already eaten plenty while helping Shen Shu! Shen Jiyuan gritted his teeth and looked up, and suddenly glimpsed a patch of snow-white skin.
Shi Qing’s smile curved her eyes like the crescent moon. She casually opened her robe, revealing skin more translucent than frost and snow, making Shen Jiyuan’s heart skip a beat.
She smiled gently. “Come over.”
A handsome face buried in her embrace—what a striking sight.
Shi Qing, extremely excited, lowered her gaze, noticing Shen Jiyuan’s long eyelashes. He was so anxious that he even forgot to take off his glasses. The cold frame brushing against him gave a different kind of sensation.
His nose was high, eyebrows thick—truly a beautiful face.
The warmth of his breath made her itch with excitement. Shen Jiyuan’s flushed face and entranced expression gave an unparalleled thrill.
Half in affection, half in enjoyment, Shi Qing lowered her gaze toward him, then pressed her foot onto his trousers, applying pressure slowly, watching Shen Jiyuan arch his back yet unwilling to leave, his fingertips trembling with excitement.
Her voice carried a soft mixture of fondness and teasing.
“Shen Jiyuan, don’t ever say I didn’t care for you.”