Hiss—everyone present gasped sharply at those words!
Nanshan actually belonged to Shen Qi now? Oh my god, this news couldn't be more explosive!
The women present turned to look at Shen Qi again, their gazes burning with envy and admiration! Why was Shen Qi so lucky? Not only did she have a ridiculously wealthy, super handsome husband, but even his casual gifts were mountain peaks worth hundreds of millions!
It was enough to drive anyone mad with jealousy, right? Even the He family's wealth wasn't meant to be thrown around like this, was it?
Shen Qi was stunned for a long moment before finally snapping back to reality, her eyes widening. "You mean... this mountain is under my name?"
He Yining raised his hand and ruffled the top of Shen Qi's head, the tenderness in his gaze unmistakable to everyone present.
Many of the people there were shrewd enough to tell the difference between acting and genuine emotion. The way He Yining looked at Shen Qi had absolutely no trace of pretense.
Besides, at his level, did he need to put on a show for a bunch of irrelevant people? He wasn't an actor.
"You rarely tell me you like something. As long as it's something you like, and it's within my power to give, I'll give it all to you." He Yining pinched Shen Qi's nose. "Don't worry, your husband is still quite wealthy. Even if you're the biggest spendthrift, I can afford to support you."
Oh heavens, that line struck a chord with countless women present.
How many women dreamed of a life like this—having a husband who doted on them, telling them to spend recklessly because he had the money to back it up?
This meal was practically impossible to finish now, right? Showing off their love like this was seriously painful to witness!
Shen Qi said with slight embarrassment, "Stop it, there are so many people here!"
As soon as she said that, Shen Qi immediately realized what she'd done. Oh no, she hadn't meant to say that! Really, she hadn't!
But the women present already looked like they couldn't take much more. Please, stop showing off your love, okay? We're genuinely envious to the point of wanting to die!
"Alright, let's eat." He Yining let out a soft laugh. "I heard that after dinner, you all plan to continue painting. The scenery here is at its best—late at night, the night view is absolutely stunning. The stars twinkle, the mountain breeze rustles. The resort has plenty of prime viewing spots, so feel free to move around as you like."
Everyone's eyes lit up, and they thanked him one after another.
This meal, though prepared by the same chefs, left each person tasting something different. Some felt envy, some jealousy, some resentment, some unwillingness, and some... desolation and despair.
After Shen Qi finished eating, a servant immediately brought her soup. Seeing that only she had it and no one else did, Shen Qi knew it had been sent from the He family estate.
Ever since her last visit to the He family mansion for dinner and her move to Jinghua Manor, every move she and He Yining made was reported back to the estate. The old Madam He was overjoyed and immediately issued an order: every day, a pot of soup would be sent to Shen Qi, specially formulated to aid conception.
That's right, conception!
Unfortunately, no one knew that although Shen Qi and He Yining shared a bed, they remained completely innocent!
Shen Qi actually wasn't unwilling to take things further with He Yining, but his words from that day still echoed in her ears. Once that step was taken, it meant never being apart for life.
After the meal, the tables were cleared and replaced with painting supplies. Everyone found their favorite spots and began to paint.
Shen Qi set up her easel and was about to reach for her paints. He Yining, quick as ever, had already squeezed them out for her.
The people nearby saw this and remarked that the scene was just too much. It dealt a billion points of damage to single people.
Shen Qi paused, and He Yining smiled gently. "It's fine. You paint, and I'll do my thing."
Shen Qi put down her brush and looked up at him. "You're not thinking of painting too, are you?"
He Yining tilted his head, looking at her with a raised brow, his handsome features sharp. "I studied architecture, you know. Drawing a building plan is no problem."
"Come on, that's completely different!" Shen Qi raised her brow in return.
"Don't believe me? I'll show you," He Yining challenged, his brow still arched.
Seeing his cocky attitude, Shen Qi shoved the brush into his hand. "Fine, you paint! Here, this mountain forest—let's see what you can do!"
"You said it! If I paint it, what's my reward?" He Yining didn't refuse, adjusting the colors as he spoke casually. "If I do, you'll scrub my back tonight!"
"Deal!" Shen Qi agreed without hesitation. There was no way he'd paint it well!
A hint of triumphant amusement flickered in He Yining's eyes as he tapped Shen Qi's nose. "Little one, don't go back on your word!"
"Hmph! No way!" Shen Qi raised her brows defiantly. "You definitely won't paint it well!"
He Yining quickly mixed the colors, glanced at the scenery, and began to paint.
His fingers were incredibly elegant. Shen Qi's hands were already beautiful, but He Yining's were even more so by three degrees. Especially when he held a brush—his entire aura seemed to transform in an instant!
From a commanding business tycoon, he became a refined, romantic, and unparalleled genius. If his posture alone was captivating enough to hold one's gaze, then the moment he set brush to paper, Shen Qi regretted her words!
Oh heavens! How could there be such an extraordinary human in this world? Why could He Yining, who had never studied fine arts, paint a landscape with such skill?
He Yining's pace wasn't fast, and his technique couldn't compare to true masters. But the fundamentals and essential features were all there.
In less than half an hour, a simple painting was presented before everyone.
The others painting nearby gathered around and couldn't help but applaud He Yining.
Shen Qi was dumbfounded. "Didn't you say you never studied fine arts in college?"
This didn't make sense! How could someone who never learned art paint?
He Yining glanced at the pale-faced Han Fei in the distance and said meaningfully, "My personal seal was carved by me."
"Wow..." Another wave of exclamations rippled through the crowd.
Shen Qi couldn't sit still anymore. "How... how can you do everything?"
He Yining mischievously pinched her cheek. "What, trying to back out?"
"No, I'm not..." Shen Qi's face was slightly distorted from the pinch, but He Yining had grown fond of the texture and couldn't stop.
"I just think it's impossible! We all have four years of college training, and many of us started practicing in middle school!" Shen Qi argued stubbornly. "You must have cheated!"
He Yining nodded. "It's not that I cheated; it's that you're too slow. I didn't study fine arts in college or during my time abroad, but that doesn't mean I didn't learn as a child. Little one, do you know that aristocratic families start artistic training from a young age? The He family's children have brushes in their hands as soon as they can walk!"
Shen Qi's eyes widened. "You definitely cheated!"
"Did I?" He Yining turned to the others. "What do you all think?"
"No!" The people present looked at He Yining like adoring fans gazing at their idol, practically ready to kneel!
Whatever the idol said, that was the truth!
Shen Qi glanced bitterly at Chen Chen. Why had she defected too!
"A bet's a bet." He Yining kneaded Shen Qi's cheek again.
That little face of hers—how was it so satisfying to pinch?
Shen Qi slumped her shoulders in defeat. "Can I take it back?"
"Sure." He Yining answered readily, but before Shen Qi's eyes could light up, he added, "For ten million!"
Shen Qi shot him a fierce glare.
Ten million! No way!
Just then, a sudden gust of wind howled outside, sending the curtains inside fluttering wildly.
He Yining glanced at the sky. "Oh, looks like it's about to rain. Seems we can enjoy the rain scene tonight."
Shen Qi gloomily looked at the darkening sky. Why did it always rain so much whenever she was with He Yining?
Actually, Shen Qi was overthinking it. It was the rainy season, so of course, there was plenty of rain.
With the sudden weather change, everyone packed up their things, deciding to find a spot to sit and chat instead of painting.
He Yining directly dragged Shen Qi away. Shen Qi only had time to wave at her classmates before being pulled off by him.
Leaving the dining hall, Shen Qi felt increasingly uneasy. Was he going to take a shower now and drag her in to scrub his back? Oh dear, how could she possibly bring herself to do that?
But to her surprise, He Yining didn't head to the room. Instead, he pulled her up to the rooftop.
There was only a small attic here, entirely paved with durable, corrosion-resistant sandalwood. Walking barefoot on it was incredibly comfortable.
"This is my private garden. Now, there's one more owner—you." He Yining turned back with a gentle smile, the light above casting a halo that made his features even more exquisitely carved and captivating.
Whether it was the atmosphere or the magic of his words, Shen Qi's gaze grew dazed.
He Yining raised his hand and gently traced her brows and eyes.
Suddenly, he wanted to etch Shen Qi's image deep into his heart, never to forget it for a lifetime.
This feeling had been growing stronger lately. He Yining realized he seemed to have fallen under the spell of a flower called love.
Love blooms when the feeling is there. Love withers when it fades.
Shen Qi looked at him with soft eyes, greedily savoring the warmth of his fingertips.
At this moment, she admitted she was truly captivated.
Blame it on the beauty of the moonlight. Blame it on the tenderness of this rainy night. Blame it on how real this man before her was.
If this was a dream, then let her never wake up. Let her indulge herself just this once, just this once. Let her completely let go for one moment.