"When the shooting star appears, that's when your father comes to see you," the young boy said softly, patting Shen Qi's back. "He'll send someone to love you in his place."
"Let me take your father's place and cherish you, okay?" The young boy's gentle voice was incredibly soothing, bringing an inexplicable sense of peace.
"Will you love me more than Dad?" Shen Qi looked at him with red, tearful eyes.
"Of course! Otherwise, let's make a pact—when we grow up, I'll marry you, how about that?" The young boy reached out and pinched Shen Qi's nose. "You look really ugly when you cry!"
Shen Qi pouted in annoyance and turned to run away.
"Hey, I was just joking!" the young boy called out from behind.
"I wasn't really mad at you either! Little brother, I need to go home! Next time I see you, I'll tell you my name, okay?" Shen Qi turned back and smiled at the young boy. "Little brother, I'll wait for you to grow up and marry me!"
The scene shifted, and the dream turned to herself and her brother, following their mother as she remarried into the Shen family.
The Shen family had been dirt poor, but after their mother married in, they instantly became a well-off household in the area.
Not long after, Shen Yinyin was born.
From the moment she was born, she and her brother never had a good day again.
Every day was filled with scolding and beatings.
Once, while her brother was out walking, a few bad kids bullied him. Jealous of his good looks, they wanted to slash his face with a knife.
She went crazy, charging in and fighting with those kids.
When they got home, the Shen family didn't even ask why she fought. Instead, they tied her to a pillar and hung her there all night.
The next morning, crying, she asked her mother if she was really her biological child. Why, when she and her brother were bullied, did their mother not defend them but instead punish them?
Her mother's expression was strange.
It seemed like anger, like restraint, and also... like the satisfaction of revenge.
How strange—she couldn't recall her mother ever having that expression before.
The scene shifted again.
She dreamed that her brother had returned from Germany, smiling as he called her name: Xiao Qi...
"Brother..." Shen Qi shouted excitedly, reaching out, and the book in her hand fell to the floor.
Shen Qi's eyes snapped open, and she sat up.
What met her eyes was still that simple, tidy room.
The two people beside her were still playing chess.
There was no five-year-old her, no father, and no little brother...
So it had all been a dream.
He Yining noticed the tear stains at the corners of Shen Qi's eyes and smiled gently. "Had a dream?"
Embarrassed, Shen Qi nodded at the abbot. "Sorry for disturbing you."
The abbot gave Shen Qi a meaningful look and said, "A fleeting dream, both real and illusory. Truth and falsehood intertwine. The real is false, the false is real. Never forget your original heart, and you'll achieve your goal."
"Thank you," Shen Qi said, pressing her palms together and bowing to the abbot. "I will hold onto my kindness and stay true to it."
He Yining put down his chess piece and said to the abbot, "Looks like we can't settle this today. Let's leave this unfinished game for next time."
"I'll see you both off." The abbot smiled and pressed his palms together. "Fate is written in the stars. Cherish this bond well."
He Yining and Shen Qi took their leave.
As they descended the mountain, He Yining drove while Shen Qi leaned back in the passenger seat, lost in thought.
Even though the abbot had said that, she had still let down her little brother.
Little brother, I'm sorry.
In this life, I might not be able to wait for you to marry me.
Little brother, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to deceive you...
He Yining didn't know what Shen Qi had dreamed about. Seeing her downcast, he couldn't help but say, "Had a nightmare? Have you been under too much pressure lately? Since there's nothing much tomorrow and Xiao Chun and the others can handle the company, how about we go to the seaside for a few days to relax?"
Shen Qi nodded and perked up. "Sure. I'm fine, just dreaming about the past and people from before."
"Missing your family?" He Yining drove slowly back, keeping the speed low.
"Yeah, I dreamed about Dad." Shen Qi sighed softly. "Dad said I did well, that I'm his best angel."
He Yining chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle Shen Qi's hair. "You're my best angel too. Let me take your father's place and love you!"
Shen Qi's head shot up, and she stared at He Yining in disbelief.
The way he said that sounded so much like that little brother...
No, impossible!
That little brother wasn't in this city!
That place was thousands of miles away—how could he be that little brother?
At this hour, the roads were no longer congested, and with the Koenigsegg's performance, they were home in no time.
He Yining tossed the car keys to Xiao Qiu and pulled Shen Qi inside.
His palm was broad and warm, inexplicably calming Shen Qi's heart.
Shen Yinyin greeted them with a beaming smile. She was about to put on a coy expression, but her gaze landed on their clasped hands and froze instantly.
Shen Yinyin glared venomously at Shen Qi, the fury in her eyes burning as if she wanted to reduce Shen Qi to ashes.
Shen Qi was too downcast to bother with Shen Yinyin, and He Yining didn't even glance her way.
The two walked past Shen Yinyin without a sideways look.
Shen Yinyin wanted to reach out and stop them, but her fingers shrank back—she didn't have the courage.
As long as He Yining was around, she cowered.
She only dared to act tough in front of Shen Qi.
That night, back in her room, Shen Yinyin immediately called Mrs. Shen. "Mom, that Shen Qi won't help me at all!"
Mrs. Shen comforted her. "I knew that little wretch wouldn't do as I said. It's fine. Yinyin, I put a packet of medicine in your bag. When the time comes, just slip it to He Yining. I doubt he'll be able to resist! Once you've slept together, don't keep it a secret—shout it to the world. Let's see what the He family does!"
Shen Yinyin exclaimed in delight, "When did you put it in my bag? I didn't know!"
Mrs. Shen snorted. "If I hadn't used medicine back then, how could I have married that deadbeat so smoothly? Enough of that. Just do as I say. Once you've slept with He Yining, that little wretch Shen Qi will definitely leave him! Then you'll be the rightful second young mistress of the He family!"
Shen Yinyin cheered up. "Okay, Mom, I'll listen to you! Once I marry He Yining, you'll be the He family's real in-law!"
After hanging up, Shen Yinyin rummaged through the hidden compartment in her suitcase and found a small packet of powder.
She clutched it in her palm, glanced toward the direction of Shen Qi and He Yining's room, and let out a cold smile.
He Yining, you can only be mine!
The next morning, Shen Qi and He Yining changed into light beachwear.
Shen Yinyin saw them and immediately chased after them. "Are you going out?"
Shen Qi just nodded lightly.
Shen Yinyin suddenly grabbed Shen Qi's arm. "I want to come too! Shen Qi—no, Sis! I came to you for help, you can't ignore me! Why didn't you tell me you were going to the beach?"
"Aren't you here for Jinghua Manor? Didn't I already let you have your way?" Shen Qi frowned slightly, glanced at He Yining loading things into the car, and turned back to Shen Yinyin. "Can you stop causing trouble?"
"I'm not! Ah, no. I want to go to the beach too! Shen Qi, help me one more time! Just this once! I swear, I won't bother you again after this!" Shen Yinyin raised her hand in a vow. "I promise I won't do anything else!"
Shen Qi hesitated and looked at He Yining.
He Yining had overheard the conversation and turned to look at them.
Shen Yinyin immediately ran to He Yining's side and pleaded, "Brother-in-law, I want to go too! I swear, I won't do anything! I'll behave!"
With that, she pinched her thigh hard, and tears welled up in her eyes. "My mom's not feeling well, that's why she sent me to find my sister. But my sister... Brother-in-law... please say yes?"
As she spoke, she reached out to grab He Yining's arm.
He Yining dodged swiftly.
"Want to come along?" He Yining gave Shen Yinyin a meaningful look. "Are you sure you won't regret it?"
Shen Yinyin looked at him, puzzled.
Why did He Yining keep asking if she wouldn't regret it?
What was there to regret?
Sleeping with He Yining had always been her dream!
How could a dream be regretted?
"I won't regret it!" Shen Yinyin answered firmly.
"No matter what happens?" He Yining smiled wickedly.
That smile enchanted Shen Yinyin. She stared blankly at his face, almost drooling.
Her crush's smile was so handsome!
Spellbound, Shen Yinyin nodded.
He Yining glanced at Xiao Chun, who stepped forward with a smile. "Miss Shen, please follow me. We'll take a separate car to follow along."
"And Shen Qi?" Shen Yinyin asked instinctively.
Xiao Chun replied smoothly, "The CEO will naturally be with the CEO's wife."
Reluctantly, Shen Yinyin followed Xiao Chun to another car.
Shen Qi approached He Yining. "You clearly dislike her, so why let her come?"
"Don't you have to give her a chance to mess up?" He Yining smirked.
He never considered himself a good person.
For people or things he despised, he would guide them toward their own destruction.
Shen Qi looked at him in surprise.
"Don't worry, I've got it under control." He Yining took Shen Qi's hand and led her into the car.
Once inside, he opened the fridge, grabbed a juice, and handed it to Shen Qi. "There might be a show today. I've prepared a big one for you!"
"Why so mysterious?" Shen Qi took the juice and sipped it. "Mm, tastes great."
"You'll find out soon enough." He Yining glanced meaningfully at the convoy behind them, his eyes growing darker.
The beach wasn't far, so the convoy arrived in just over an hour.
The He family had their own private beach and, naturally, their own private island.
While others might pitch a tent by the sea for a beach vacation, the He family took a ferry straight to the island.