Shen Qi quickly replied: "Forget it... It takes three hours just to drive from here to the city! By then, everything would be ruined!"
He Yining continued sending messages: "Mm, I'll give you a surprise today."
"What surprise?" Shen Qi asked casually.
"You'll know when the time comes." He Yining's phoenix eyes couldn't hide their tenderness as he rapidly typed back.
The company's top executives, who were in a meeting, stared at He Yining in collective shock.
Could someone come over and slap them all?
Were they hallucinating?
Why did they see President He smiling?
That's right! President He was actually smiling sweetly during such a serious meeting!
This had to be an illusion—yes, definitely an illusion!
He Yining put down his phone and gave a soft cough, snapping the group back to reality, all of them looking as if they'd seen a ghost.
After all, ever since He Yining took over the He Corporation, he had been renowned worldwide for his swift and decisive tactics.
He either did nothing or made a stunning move, never giving his opponents any chance to react.
And now, this unpredictable emperor of the business world was showing such a gentle expression—how could it not be terrifying?
"Alright, continue." He Yining's smile vanished, as if the person who had just smiled wasn't him at all.
Shen Qi was just wondering what surprise He Yining had in store when she saw Han Fei rushing toward her urgently.
Shen Qi was a bit surprised. Wasn't he supposed to be booking hotel rooms with Chen Chen?
"Shen Qi, I need to ask you something." Han Fei charged straight up to her and blurted out, "You and Zhan Bo..."
Shen Qi's eyes dimmed for a moment, then she firmly lifted her head to meet Han Fei's gaze, nodding without any intention of avoiding the topic.
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't ask this." Han Fei said, "Shen Qi, I've liked you since college. Even two years after graduation, I still can't let you go. Before, you said you had Zhan Bo, so I had no chance. Now, can you give me a chance to take care of you for the rest of your life? I promise I won't be like those other playboys—I'll be serious about spending my life with you."
Shen Qi's mouth fell open: "Ah? Han Fei, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't have that kind of luck."
"Why?" Han Fei looked at her earnestly. "Before, whenever I wanted to help you, you always refused me. I want to know what I did wrong that made you avoid me all these years."
Shen Qi gave a light smile: "Then, Han Fei, do you know that during the four years you liked me, there was also a girl silently liking you for four years? Her feelings for you are no less than yours for me. Not every feeling has to be reciprocated, right?"
Han Fei's face turned pale: "There are plenty of women who like me, but I only like you!"
Shen Qi calmly replied: "Yeah, there are plenty of men who like me, but I only want the right one!"
Their conversation was overheard by someone passing by.
That person was Feng Kexin's bodyguard.
When the bodyguard relayed what he'd heard to Feng Kexin, she burst into delighted laughter.
Shen Qi really couldn't stay still! Wherever she went, she attracted men.
She didn't believe that He Yining, seeing Shen Qi like this, could still defend her.
Last time, the man living with Shen Qi was her own brother, so He Yining didn't lose his temper.
But this time was different.
She didn't believe He Yining could remain unmoved!
Shen Qi's rejection was as crisp and clean as ever, without any hesitation.
Han Fei let out a bitter laugh: "Shen Qi, what is your heart made of? Even a stone would warm up after being held. Why can't I warm yours?"
Shen Qi subtly stepped back, widening the distance between them, and calmly replied: "Because I have someone I like, and because the person who likes you was once a friend I valued very much. So, I can't accept you. I'm sorry, Han Fei. We're really not right for each other."
Chen Chen came out and happened to hear their conversation.
She leaned against a pillar, and when she heard Shen Qi's last words, tears streamed down her face instantly.
So Shen Qi knew everything.
So all these years, she'd been playing dumb.
No wonder she chose to disappear right after graduation.
It wasn't because she was afraid of causing trouble for others, but because she didn't want to become an obstacle between herself and Han Fei.
She had thought she'd hidden her feelings well, that no one would notice.
But she never expected Shen Qi had figured it out long ago...
Chen Chen wiped away her tears, waited until her emotions settled, then pretended she'd just arrived, smiling as she said: "What are you two talking about? The rooms are all booked. Let's get everyone to take their stuff to their rooms. Xiao Qi, your room is on the top floor—you love that view the most, so everyone said to give you the best room."
Shen Qi nodded at Chen Chen: "Alright, I'll go thank everyone. You two chat; I'm off now!"
With that, Shen Qi turned and quickly left.
Han Fei looked utterly dejected.
Chen Chen felt a pang in her heart but forced a smile: "What, rejected again?"
Han Fei said nothing, just glanced at Chen Chen and walked away.
Chen Chen's smile couldn't hold any longer. Watching Shen Qi and Han Fei leave, she bit her lip hard.
After everyone settled into their rooms, they took out their easels and set up in suitable spots to start working.
Shen Qi dabbed paint onto her canvas, and as she painted, she became completely absorbed in her work.
Han Fei didn't paint the scenery; instead, he used Shen Qi as his model, capturing her immersed in her painting.
Chen Chen saw it clearly and inexplicably lost all interest in continuing her own painting.
Feng Kexin put down her binoculars and muttered to herself: "How interesting! Tsk tsk, what a touching drama of emotions!"
The bodyguard beside her took the binoculars and said, "Miss, President He is on his way here."
"Hmph, he came after all." Feng Kexin's face twisted with jealousy. "What's so good about this woman that He Yining would go this far?"
The bodyguard didn't dare respond.
"How's my brother?" Feng Kexin turned to ask her personal assistant.
"The young master is recovering well. The doctor says he can be discharged in a day or two and just needs to rest at home," the assistant quickly replied.
"If my brother were here, he might have a good idea to make Shen Qi leave He Yining's side quickly. That useless Shen family can't even handle such a small thing." Feng Kexin grew angrier as she spoke, pointing at the maids and bodyguards: "All of you, taking the Feng family's salary, can't even manage a tiny task!"
Feng Kexin's habit of taking out her anger on others was something the Feng family was used to.
To avoid more scolding, they had to find a way to change the subject.
Sure enough, one assistant spoke up: "Miss, Shen Qi is staying at our family's resort. Where will President He stay tonight?"
The assistant's words made Feng Kexin's eyes light up!
"Immediately secure the room next to Shen Qi! No matter the cost—double, ten times the compensation—I want that room!" Feng Kexin ordered. "If He Yining wants that room, notify me right away!"
As soon as He Yining arrived at Nanshan, he received all the detailed information.
Who came with Shen Qi, which resort she was staying at, who shared her room...
"Book the room next to Xiao Qi immediately." He Yining gave the order.
Not long after, news came back: "President, the room next to the second young madam can't be booked now."
"Oh?" He Yining's phoenix eyes darkened. "Is the Feng family up to something?"
As expected of He Yining!
With just one sentence, his sharp mind had already guessed the key point.
"Miss Feng says if you want that room, you'll have to see her in person," the mountain staff replied.
"Heh." He Yining let out a cold laugh. "Feng Kexin is always so childish and ridiculous. Xiao Chun..."
Xiao Chun stepped forward.
"Go tell Xiao Qi that I'll cover all the expenses for their entire group's room and board. Invite them to stay at the resort on the mountaintop and throw in a hot spring bath as a bonus." He Yining said dominantly. "Does Feng Kexin think she can threaten me with a room? Hah, how could Feng Manlun have such a stupid sister?"
Xiao Chun suppressed a smile and replied, "Yes, I'll carry that out immediately."
Feng Kexin had long known He Yining was coming up the mountain.
She waited and waited, but after a long time, he still hadn't come to see her.
Just as she was getting impatient, an assistant rushed over to report: "Miss, something's happened! Shen Qi's group has all checked out!"
"What? Checked out?" Feng Kexin was stunned. "Then where did they go?"
"They all moved to the resort at the top of the mountain!" The assistant's eyes flickered as he said, "I heard President He not only covered their room and board but also treated them to a hot spring bath."
Feng Kexin was completely dumbfounded.
Only the top of Nanshan had hot spring baths, so the He family's resort there was the most luxurious.
When Shen Qi's classmates heard they could stay for free at the most luxurious, top-tier resort with free meals and a hot spring bath, who would be foolish enough to refuse?
So, in a flurry, they all checked out and moved into the He family's resort.
Because of Shen Qi's special status, the front desk arranged the largest and most luxurious room in the resort for her.
Seeing that Shen Qi had such influence, with even the resort staff treating her with utmost respect, her classmates grew curious and pressed her for answers.
Shen Qi gave a wry smile: "You'll find out tonight."
So, was this the surprise He Yining had mentioned?
Well, it was certainly a surprise.
But Shen Qi had no idea that the real surprise wasn't this at all—it was a massive windfall big enough to blow everyone present away.