Early morning, the bell sound rang.
The small bulge on the bed struggled and moved a bit, not long after, a fair-skinned arm stretched out from inside the blanket, groping randomly on the bedside table.
At this time, Shen Lingge’s video meeting was also about to end.
When the other collaborators all closed their videos, Shen Lingge’s secretary Xiao Song probingly asked: “Boss, when will you come to work? Yesterday Madam came to look for you, I said you went on a business trip.”
Shen Lingge responded: “Tomorrow afternoon.”
Had said to accompany her for three days.
Just as the video hung up, Shen Lingge then heard a dull thump sound coming from Wen Xian’s room. He pinched his brow with helplessness and walked to her room door, knocked on the door: “Wen Xian, what are you doing?”
Wen Xian’s muffled voice came from inside: “Nothing! I fell off the bed!”
Shen Lingge: “……”
Shen Lingge continued knocking on the door, “Did you fall painfully?”
Not long after his words fell, the room door was opened from inside.
Wen Xian poked out her messy head, raised her head to glance at him, in her beautiful big eyes there was still sleepiness, “Gege, Qin Song called me, said he wants to explain.”
Shen Lingge raised an eyebrow, “What did you say?”
Wen Xian pursed her lips, softly said: “I said I have no time.”
Shen Lingge turned and walked toward the living room, his tone very light, “Wait for Qin Huai to call you then consider whether to go see him, as for Qin Song, no need to care about him.”
He paused for a while, “Just a mere playboy anyway.”
Wen Xian was stunned by Shen Lingge’s slightly contemptuous “playboy,” this sentence sounded a bit strange.
She thought about it but couldn’t think of what was wrong, so she closed the door and went to change clothes.
Shen Lingge slowly strolled back to the small balcony, left hand holding coffee, right hand touching Qiuqiu, gaze falling on the notebook screen, carrying gentle morning light faintly shining on his body.
This scene made this cold man look a bit more gentle.
–
Wen Xian and Shen Lingge both thought Qin Huai wouldn’t come looking so soon,
But nearing noon, just as Wen Xian was about to cook, Qin Huai called Wen Xian.
When the bell sound rang, Wen Xian was burying her head doing her task, without even raising her head she shouted: “Gege, take a look who it is?”
These two days Shen Lingge was already used to being ordered about by Wen Xian, upon hearing did not even furrow his brows. Only when he saw the caller ID did his gaze have a bit of change.
It was Qin Huai.
Slender fingers lightly tapped at his leg side once, then he held the phone and walked toward Wen Xian.
Wen Xian casually said: “Whose call?”
Shen Lingge lightly said: “Qin Huai.”
Shen Lingge did not listen to what Wen Xian and Qin Huai said, he was wondering why Qin Huai would be so anxious.
So he walked back to the living room and sent a message to assistant Xiao Song.
[Shen Lingge: Check the recent financial situation of Qin Group.]
[Assistant Xiao Song: Yes, President Shen.]
[Assistant Xiao Song: President Shen, there is one more thing. Mr. Chi came to the company this morning to look for you, seems to have an urgent matter, he said he couldn’t get through to your phone, and couldn’t find anyone at Shen Residence either.]
[Shen Lingge: Got it.]
The Mr. Chi in Assistant Xiao Song’s words was Shen Lingge’s childhood friend Chi Yanyu, and also the person Shen Lingge trusted most besides his parents and the butler. If he didn’t have an urgent matter, he wouldn’t go to Shen Residence to look for someone.
Of course Chi Yanyu couldn’t get through to Shen Lingge’s phone. Before Shen Lingge was called back by Wen Xian, he didn’t have time to bring his own phone. The number he was using now was still a Licheng number.
Shen Lingge walked to the balcony and called Chi Yanyu back.
The phone rang for a while before it was picked up, Chi Yanyu’s impatient emotion almost seemed to transmit through the phone, “Who is it?”
Shen Lingge: “A’Yu, it’s me. What happened?”
Chi Yanyu’s voice paused, tone immediately changed: “Ge, something happened at my home, my younger sister didn’t come back after school yesterday, couldn’t get through to the driver’s phone either, until now there’s no trace of her.”
Shen Lingge was startled, “That middle school younger sister of yours?”
Chi Yanyu: “Mm, this morning the driver was found knocked unconscious in the car, car and person were both abandoned near an unfinished building with no surveillance cameras, my parents are almost going crazy.”
Shen Lingge furrowed brows, “I’ll come back right now, immediately have people investigate.”
And on the other side, Wen Xian also had to go out. Qin Huai said he was waiting for her right at the entrance of her residential compound, he didn’t even give her a chance to refuse.
Wen Xian unhappily took off the apron from her body, somewhat apologetically said: “Gege, today you have to eat alone again, Grandpa Qin is waiting for me right at the compound entrance, I have to go out for a bit.”
Shen Lingge had already expected Qin Huai would come to look for her today.
He nodded, “Don’t worry, don’t reveal your attitude to him. Just stay silent, once he gets anxious he’ll naturally show his flaws.”
Saying this, Shen Lingge’s voice paused slightly, “Also… Wen Xian, this afternoon I’ll be going to Mingcheng. There’s something I want to do, tomorrow I’m afraid it’ll be too late.”
Wen Xian only froze for a moment before reacting, while going to get the suitcase she had prepared for him earlier she said: “Then I might not make it back in time to see you off, take my car.”
Shen Lingge didn’t plan to refuse her this time, “Alright.”
After Wen Xian hurriedly packed Shen Lingge’s things, she went into the room to get her bag and then left the house, she didn’t even have time to put on makeup.
After she left, Shen Lingge started contacting the people from Licheng Shen Group to prepare a private jet for him.
After hanging up the phone, Shen Lingge turned back to the living room to add new cat food to Qiuqiu’s small food bowl, and changed its water too.
Didn’t know when Wen Xian would make it back, couldn’t let this timid little guy go hungry.
—
At the entrance of the residential compound, Qin Family’s driver was standing in front of the car waiting for Wen Xian.
After Wen Xian got in the car she realized there wasn’t only Qin Huai, Qin Song and Qin Zan were both there too. She greeted each of them one by one and sat down.
Qin Huai and Qin Song were sitting side by side, Wen Xian could only sit next to Qin Zan, facing them directly.
As soon as she sat down she felt Qin Zan’s gaze falling on her, silent yet direct.
Seeing Wen Xian turn her head to look, Qin Zan spoke in a low voice: “Do you like the gift I gave you?”
In the narrow space, what Qin Zan and Wen Xian said could be heard clearly by the people sitting opposite. Qin Huai and Qin Song both seemed particularly sensitive to the words “gift,” both of their expressions stiffened for a moment.
Qin Huai glared at Qin Song, Qin Song pretended deaf and mute.
Wen Xian actually had not seen what style the pocket watch Qin Zan gave was.
Because Shen Lingge glanced at it once then hid it away, in the name of safekeeping for her.
Wen Xian hesitated for a moment before lightly saying: “A very beautiful pocket watch, I like it very much.”
Qin Zan lightly nodded and then did not speak again.
Opposite, Qin Song strangely glanced at his big brother. Originally big brother was going back to the company, but after hearing Grandpa say he was coming to pick up Xian Xian at noon, he stayed.
Qin Huai smiled at Wen Xian, he spoke gently: “Xian Xian, Grandpa hasn’t gone out to play with the juniors in a long time. Only suddenly thought of calling you today, you wouldn’t blame Grandpa, right?”
Wen Xian obediently responded: “How could I, I also haven’t gone out to relax in a long time, recently I’ve been busy with graduation matters.”
While speaking, Qin Huai’s tone carried a bit of reminiscence: “Before when fishing, us old fellows always liked to call your father along. Your father loved fishing, also chatted well with us.”
Hearing Qin Huai mention Wen Tianlin, Wen Xian’s hand resting on her lap slightly clenched. She spoke in a low voice: “Mm, back then dad would always bring back small fish for me, those fish were all raised in the pond.”
Qin Huai lightly sighed: “These years have not been easy for you either, Grandpa also hopes there’s someone who can properly take care of you. Your father must have thought the same.”
Wen Xian lowered her gaze, did not respond.
Seeing Wen Xian not picking up his words, Qin Huai then changed the topic.
One hour later, the car slowly stopped.
This trip, Qin Huai and the others’ destination was a summer resort villa, the summer resort villa built on Luo Qing Mountain, was Qin family’s private property.
Calling it a summer resort villa, it was more like a natural estate. Inside it was full of all kinds of vegetables, melons, and fruits, besides the fish pond there was also a small pasture, little lambs were happily running inside the sheep pen.
On a small patch of grassland there were a few small rabbits hopping around.
Wen Xian silently stared at the black and white rabbits for a while.
She slowly followed along with Qin Huai and the others to continue walking forward, while Qin Zan was following unhurriedly behind her.
Keeping a certain distance from her.
When they walked to the fish pond, Qin Huai waved at Qin Zan, “A’Zan, accompany Grandpa to fish for a while. A’Song, take Xian Xian to the small garden at the back to have a look, I remember there are quite a lot of roses planted there.”
Wen Xian liking roses was something well-known within the circle.
In past years, Wen Xian’s birthday parties were like grand rose exhibitions; in Wen family’s garden, you could see all kinds of rare roses.
Qin Song lightly coughed, “Xian Xian, let’s go over and take a walk.”
Wen Xian did not refuse, she took the lead walking in the direction Qin Huai pointed to.
Seeing her move, Qin Song couldn’t help quietly letting out a breath of relief, he lifted his steps and followed.
The rose garden Qin Huai spoke of was not far, only about five minutes and they arrived.
Wen Xian gave it a rough glance from outside the garden, all were some ordinary looking roses. She didn’t have particular interest, even more so with Qin Song standing behind her.
At this moment the atmosphere wasn’t bad, Qin Song slightly leaned closer to Wen Xian.
His warm breath faintly brushed past behind Wen Xian’s ear. Just as he was about to put his arm around Wen Xian’s shoulder, Wen Xian suddenly coldly said: “Qin Song, I do not like you.”
Qin Song’s movement paused, after a few seconds he finally reacted to what Wen Xian had just said.
He furrowed his brows: “You don’t like me? Then why did you agree to the engagement with me back then?”
At that time, the Wen family had many choices.
The Qin family was not the first choice.
Wen Xian glanced at him coldly, “Our engagement can be canceled at any time. The one who doesn’t want to cancel the engagement now is not me, it’s you all.”
For so many years, Qin Song had always thought Wen Xian liked him since four years ago, which was why Wen Tianlin personally went to the Qin family early on to set Wen Xian and his marriage. In his heart, he couldn’t help feeling proud.
Back then, Wen Xian was like the moon in the sky to most people.
Although later the Wen family went bankrupt, Wen Xian looked good. Even though Qin Song had complaints in his heart, he wasn’t too averse to this marriage.
Until now, Wen Xian stood in front of him coldly telling him she did not like him.
For some reason, Qin Song felt very wronged. He stared fixedly at Wen Xian for a moment, then turned and left.
After Qin Song left, Wen Xian finally had time to take out her phone and send Shen Lingge a message.
[Wen Xian: Gege, where have you reached? Did you drive there? Did you bring your ID card?]
[Shen Lingge: Reached the airport, didn’t drive, I took a taxi myself.]
[Wen Xian: Ugh, mama can’t come see you off, you have to pay attention to safety, take care of your valuables.]
[Shen Lingge: .]
Shen Lingge, just getting off the Bentley, walked in front with a blank face. Behind him followed a group of bodyguards carrying Wen Xian’s sofa.
The surrounding staff all looked at them with strange expressions.
Wen Xian’s messages kept coming.
[Wen Xian: Next time I will definitely send you to the airport.]
[Shen Lingge: No need, I’m scared.]
[Wen Xian: Next time I definitely won’t cry.]
Shen Lingge mercilessly thought: No, I’m scared you’ll find out about my private jet airplane.