Han Qing was an unpredictable man, and so not anyone could ever guess what he had in mind.
Su Jiu, who had been working for him for ages, could not even figure him out, not to mention Shen Qi, who only had a handful of encounters with him.
However, the two of them had different opinions.
Shen Qi did not think deeper because she used her heart to sense and feel. From her point of view, Han Qing was truly like an older brother.
She thought that it was rather strange as well, because after all… no man had ever made her feel this way.
But Han Qing gives me that feeling. Well, I suppose it’s most probably because he is Han Xueyou’s older brother. Shen Qi went through several explanations and finally settled on one to convince herself.
Shen Qi felt grounded when she came to that conclusion. Then, she answered Han Qing’s question with a soft voice.
“My family consist of both my parents and a younger sister.”
She has a younger sister as well? Han Qing pursed his lips before asking again, “Have you been living with them ever since you were a child?”
Shen Qi was stunned when she heard that, but she nodded anyway. “Well, of course.”
Han Qing seemed lost in his thoughts because previously, that was the same information Su Jiu gathered. She has been living with her parents ever since she was a child. Even when she was captured by those traffickers, they didn’t swap her out.
But… what went wrong?
If she truly is the Shen family’s daughter, why would Shen Qi have such a similar temperament to her? Why would the two of them look identical when they are quiet and grounded?
Is it possible for two people who are not related by blood to be so similar to each other in temperament, looks and demeanor?
Han Qing remained silent for a very long time, and his brows were tightly knitted together. It was obvious that he was pondering something important in his mind.
The car became silent again, and Shen Qi kept quiet while keeping his suit jacket on.
After passing by countless neon signage and skyscrapers, the car was already parked nearby the Ye residence by the time Shen Qi snapped back to reality.
“Miss Shen, in order to avoid gossip, we can only drop you here.” Su Jiu turned around to inform Shen Qi with a smile.
Shen Qi looked outside and realized that it was a familiar street. She threw Su Jiu a grateful look, and before she opened the car door, Shen Qi took off her suit jacket to return it to Han Qing. “President Han, thank you so much for today. I am leaving now. If there is a chance, I will treat you to a meal another day.”
Something lit up in Han Qing’s eyes when he heard Shen Qi’s offer to treat him to a meal. “I am available in two days’ time,” he remarked with a nod.
Shen Qi paused for a while, but she smiled faintly when responding to him, “Alright, I will be in contact with you within a few days, President Han.”
Once Shen Qi got out of the car, Su Jiu lost her patience and asked him, “President Han, don’t you think that you are too direct?”
Han Qing cocked a brow at Su Jiu when he heard that. “How am I direct?”
Su Jiu’s lips twitched awkwardly before she shook her head. “Nevermind what I said, President Han. You are entitled to your opinions. However, President Han, there’s something I don’t understand.”
After that, Su Jiu asked the chauffeur to turn the car around.
Han Qing’s gaze was still focused on the slender figure, which was getting farther away, and he seemed deep in thoughts. “Do you have doubts regarding how I treat her?”
Su Jiu nodded.
“That’s right. I’ve worked for you for many years, President Han, and this is my first time seeing you… treat a woman in this way. But the look in your eyes… confuses me.”
“There’s nothing to be confused about,” replied Han Qing expressionlessly. “This matter does not concern you.”
Since Han Qing gave her such a blunt reply, Su Jiu knew that she would be out of line if she continued questioning him, and so she merely smiled and nodded politely. “Yes, it does not concern me if you say so, President Han.”
Han Qing’s expression darkened suddenly, and after a few moments, he seemed to have recalled something and instructed Su Jiu, “Investigate everything there is to know about the Shen family, their background and past.”
Su Jiu was shocked when she heard that. “President Han, you want to investigate everything about the Shen family?”
“You should go ahead and start investigating this matter, and keep me updated with any information you manage to collect. Don’t leave anything out.”
Su Jiu was shocked to silence for a few seconds before finally answering, “Yes, I understand!” Despite her surprise, Su Jiu would not disobey a direct demand from Han Qing. Furthermore, she would never question him as well, and so she agreed immediately with her head bowed.
Coincidentally, just when the chauffeur was turning around, Su Jiu looked out the car window and caught sight of the slender figure from afar, who was walking all alone. Her long hair was billowing with the wind, and her thin, frail body seemed to be swaying unsteadily, as if she might be swept away by the wind any second now.
…
Shen Qi made her way back to the Ye residence alone.
There was not another house in sight along the route toward the Ye residence because the surrounding area belonged to the Ye family. Hence, the grounds were maintained as a green area, and the road toward the Ye residence were lit up by street lamps. The warm and glowing light shone on Shen Qi as she made her way slowly and steadily back to the Ye residence.
The journey seemed never ending, and Shen Qi came to a sudden halt in her tracks while staring ahead in confusion.
This doesn’t seem like the way back home.
But I don’t even know which way would lead me home.
There was the rumbling sound of a car from behind, but Shen Qi did not turn around. Finally, the car stopped beside her, and a familiar voice rang. “Why are you standing here?”
Shen Qi’s shoulders shook in surprise when she heard that voice, and she marched forward without another backward glance.
It’s Ye Moxuan’s voice. I am sure of it.
Why is he here?
“Stand right there!” Ye Moxuan thundered. However, Shen Qi ignored him and continued marching forward.
“Are you making me get out of the car to accompany you?”
Shen Qi stopped dead in her tracks before turning around to look at Ye Moxuan.
He was staring at her coldly.
“Get in the car.”
Shen Qi stood rooted to the spot for several seconds, and in the end, she didn’t get into the car anyway.
Ye Moxuan’s eyes were gleaming menacingly, like those of a wild beast in the dark, while he stared at her from the car.
The two of them remained stationary for several moments, and Ye Moxuan broke the silence unexpectedly. “Open the door.”
Xiao Su got out of the car in a hurry when he heard that, and he opened the car door for Ye Moxuan before lowering his voice. “Young Master Ye, are you getting out of the car? But—”
“It’s not too far away. You go ahead and head back home,” Ye Moxuan instructed frostily before pushing his wheelchair out of the car.
Xiao Su nodded in response.
After the car drove away, there was another person standing under the forlorn-looking street lamps.
Ye Moxuan was sitting in his wheelchair, and he happened to be quite close to Shen Qi.
“If you want to walk, I can accompany you too,” he uttered coldly, and his tone sounded odd. Initially, Ye Moxuan wanted to force her to get into the car, but he changed his approach because he recalled what Xiao Su told him in the afternoon.
Maybe this is a chance for me to change.
I’ve been making so many exceptions for the sake of this woman.
Shen Qi regarded Ye Moxuan, who was in his wheelchair, and although he had an icy gaze, she was taken aback by what he said. After that, she countered reflexively, “Who needs you to keep me company? I can walk alone.”
With that, Shen Qi turned around to leave.
Ye Moxuan got upset and demanded coldly, “Come over here to push me.”
“Why should I?”
Ye Moxuan chuckled before thundering, “I got out of the car for you! You foolish woman!”
Foolish woman?
This was the first time Ye Moxuan called her names, and Shen Qi’s face flushed in fury. It seems like there is no limit for his sharp tongue; he is now even adding foolish woman’ to the list!
Shen Qi hissed through gritted teeth, “You have hands, so push it yourself!”
