"Xiao Qi, if only this moment could last forever," He Yining murmured softly. "You're so well-behaved like this."
Shen Qi, who had been dazed, snapped back to reality at those words.
Hmph, this guy!
Does he even know how to date?
"Was I not well-behaved before?" Shen Qi blurted out.
He Yining seemed to snap out of his reverie too, a smile he couldn't hide in his phoenix eyes: "What do you think? The human who fought a mother goose for an egg!"
Shen Qi's face flushed bright red: "Still bringing that up! Didn't we agree not to mention it?"
"But you keep bringing up the things I bought for you." He Yining glanced sideways at Shen Qi. "Come on, the view of the rainy night is best from here!"
With that, He Yining gently took Shen Qi's hand and led her toward the window.
By the window lay a carpet with a small coffee table on it.
Shen Qi followed He Yining over and sat down on the carpet, looking out.
The entire resort was brightly lit.
Even at night, everything outside was clearly visible.
From Shen Qi's vantage point, the whole mountain was bathed in mist and rain, with countless small red-roofed buildings looking even more vivid under the downpour.
Because of the day's heat, the cool rain instantly raised wisps of white steam as it fell.
The beautiful lights cast over it all made it utterly stunning.
No wonder He Yining said the scenery here was the most beautiful.
He wasn't lying.
Shen Qi leaned against the window and couldn't help sighing: "It's really beautiful! You can take in the whole mountain range."
He Yining said lazily, "I passed by here one day, also on a rainy day like this. I looked up and saw misty mountains, green peaks all around, and clear springs babbling. Suddenly, I had the idea to build a resort here."
"And then you bought the whole mountain in one big move?" Shen Qi turned to smile at He Yining.
"Yeah." He Yining's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. "What I want, I always get."
"Then you must have been spoiled," Shen Qi replied casually.
"No." He Yining chuckled lightly. "There are no useless heirs in the He family. If at ten years old, the family finds you incapable of bearing the family's burden, you're stripped of your inheritance rights on the spot. Otherwise, why do you think the He family grew so strong?"
Shen Qi looked at him in surprise.
He Yining lifted his chin slightly, his phoenix eyes closing gently, as if recalling something. He spoke slowly: "My childhood was spent in countless high-intensity training sessions."
This was the first time He Yining had mentioned his childhood to an outsider.
Strangely, he didn't feel awkward; instead, he wanted to share his story with Shen Qi.
Shen Qi tilted her head, watching him.
"My family situation is a bit complicated. From what Brother Mo said that day, you only know my dad doesn't take his duties seriously, abandoning the family business to run wild in Africa. You don't know what my mom is, do you?" A bitter smile curled at the corner of He Yining's mouth. "The esteemed Madam He being a professional killer—you probably never imagined that, right?"
Shen Qi's eyes widened in shock: "Really?"
He Yining smiled helplessly. "So from the moment I was born, my parents forced me into all kinds of training. As you can see, my artistic talents were drilled into me by the He family. By the time I was ten, I had defeated all my cousins with inheritance rights and secured the He family's succession. Along with me, my brother, He Yiqi, also got the inheritance rights."
Shen Qi nodded.
He Yiqi—the man she almost married.
"Because of my dad's irresponsibility, the He family nearly fell into the hands of my uncles and aunts. Grandma stepped in and said the kids should have a fair chance to compete. Whoever won would inherit. So at ten, all of us kids were thrown into the mountains. In the end, only my brother and I made it out safely; the others... gave up." He Yining recounted his past as if telling a story. "In the mountains, you had to use wit and courage, understand the laws of the jungle. I'm lucky—my mom gave me brutal training from a young age, so I was the first to come out."
"After returning home, my brother and I had a talent showdown. He lost to me, so I was groomed as the He family heir. It feels like all these years, aside from studying like crazy, I've just been working like crazy. By fourteen, I was already managing a subsidiary. I proved myself with strength, defeated all the enemies trying to swallow me, and finally stood at the top."
Though He Yining said it lightly, Shen Qi could sense the danger beneath.
How did a fourteen-year-old boy turn the tide in an environment surrounded by strong foes?
No wonder he was called the business emperor, the workplace tyrant.
If his methods weren't ruthless, how could he command respect?
"I don't have time for sentimentality, or for regret or remorse. I can only keep charging forward, killing my way through. Only then can I laugh last. Do you think that makes me terrifying?" He Yining looked down at Shen Qi.
Shen Qi shook her head gently: "To defend what you believe in, any means are justified. Haven't I sacrificed everything to protect my brother?"
Her words softened He Yining's heart.
He knew his little one would understand him.
"Thank you for understanding me." He Yining gently pulled Shen Qi into his arms. "I'm really glad you think that way."
For the first time, He Yining showed his vulnerability to Shen Qi, and she couldn't bear to resist his closeness anymore.
Shen Qi leaned into He Yining's embrace, and they held each other gently.
Outside, the rain grew heavier, pounding on the leaves with a crackling sound.
But inside, the two felt an unprecedented peace of mind.
In that moment, their hearts were so close.
Shen Qi thought dazedly, for He Yining, his parents' return was probably his greatest wish, wasn't it?
Otherwise, why would he go to such lengths to find Brother Mo and use his connections?
She had been right after all.
He Yining really was doing it for his parents.
No wonder the old Madam He had said what she did back at the He mansion.
From this, it was clear that wealthy families weren't as simple as outsiders thought.
On the surface, all harmony; beneath, schemes and unpredictability.
One misstep could mean utter ruin, with no chance of recovery.
He Yining had made it this far not just by luck, but through his hard work, right?
He Yining held Shen Qi, saying little, but every word softened her heart.
Shen Qi couldn't see the smile in He Yining's phoenix eyes.
How could she know he was using psychological tactics on her?
Pitting wits against a business emperor—Shen Qi was far too inexperienced.
He Yining contentedly held Shen Qi, sharing the beautiful rainy night together.
But even the best scenery grows tiresome.
When it did, it was time to head back to the room.
He Yining took Shen Qi's hand and led her to their booked room. Shen Qi, still lost in her thoughts, finally snapped back to reality.
She remembered—hadn't she lost a bet earlier and had to scrub someone's back?
Her mind instantly conjured up that image.
Steam rising, a handsome man bathing...
No, she couldn't think about it anymore.
She'd get a nosebleed.
He Yining suddenly leaned in, his breath warm against her ear: "Why are you blushing? Are you imagining something forbidden?"
"I'm not! I wasn't thinking about you bathing!" Shen Qi blurted out in defense.
As soon as she said it, she met He Yining's amused eyes.
"Oh? Imagining me bathing?" A big grin spread across He Yining's face as he raised an eyebrow. "So you really want to see me bathe..."
Shen Qi's mouth fell open, mortified.
Ah...
May heaven strike me down with lightning!
How could I have said that out loud?
"I... I... I wasn't..." Shen Qi stammered, her face burning hot.
"Since you're so eager, how could I not fulfill your wish?" He Yining playfully bit her earlobe, his seductive voice lingering in her ear: "I remember someone lost to me and promised to scrub my back..."
Shen Qi felt a jolt of electricity shoot from her earlobe through her entire body.
The spot he bit was unusually hot.
That heat stirred something restless in her heart.
Shen Qi couldn't help cursing He Yining inwardly.
Stuck with such a top-tier handsome man, and exactly her type...
Even if he didn't make any intimate moves, she was already swooning!
Now he was this close...
How could she keep her composure?
Just as Shen Qi was about to speak, she turned her head, and He Yining's lips brushed past her cheek, finally stopping at the corner of her mouth.
"So you not only want to see me bathe, but also sneak a kiss?" He Yining's phoenix eyes barely suppressed the flicker beneath, the corners slightly lowered, making his gaze even more dazzling—utterly enchanting.
From this angle, Shen Qi caught that shimmer in his eyes, her heart racing uncontrollably. She couldn't even hear what he said anymore; her mind went blank...
"You could have just said so. I wouldn't resist." He Yining teasingly bit the corner of her lip. "Mm, sweet."
Shen Qi felt like a boiled shrimp, red all over.
She didn't dare move.
They were so close; one wrong move and she might touch something she shouldn't...