As Shen Qi made her phone call, her other hand nervously touched her earlobe, and she bit her lip hard—a sight that He Yining caught clearly. He couldn't make out her words, but her expression was unmistakable. What kind of trouble had she run into? A flicker of anticipation stirred in He Yining: would this little one take the initiative to ask him for help when faced with difficulty?
After finishing the call, Shen Qi took a deep breath, gathered all her negative emotions, and turned to face He Yining. She resumed her work without once seeking his assistance. This inexplicably gave He Yining a sense of defeat. Why did other women practically throw themselves at him, while she always seemed to avoid him at all costs?
Once Shen Qi had set the hairstyle, she slightly lowered her head, and both of them looked at each other in the mirror. "You look stunning today," He Yining said in a low voice. Shen Qi was momentarily taken aback: "Ah... thank you." She quickly averted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes. Being complimented by a top-tier handsome man like him stirred a flutter in her heart, even if she had no feelings for him.
Assistant Xia nudged Assistant Chun with her elbow: "Hey, have you noticed how she interacts with the CEO? It's so different." The other two assistants nodded in agreement: "It's not just different—it's extremely special. The CEO has never been nice to women who approach him before!" "Because Miss Shen isn't one of those women who throws herself at him," Assistant Chun shot a glance at the other three. "Is the CEO's business something you should be gossiping about?" The three fell silent, rubbing their noses.
Just as Shen Qi was about to stand up, He Yining suddenly pointed to a box on the table. "Pick one you like." "Huh?" Shen Qi was startled, her gaze shifting to the box. She instinctively reached out and opened it. Inside lay three rows of exquisitely beautiful earrings. "These are new designs from He's Group's jewelry line, not yet on the market. Pick one—you're too plain. Don't look so shabby when accompanying me to events," He Yining said flatly. Shen Qi's face flushed bright red. She spent all her money on her family, and the most valuable thing she owned was a gift from Zhan Bo, now stored away. Lately, she had nothing but shirts and jeans to wear.
Knowing this was just a temporary loan that would need to be returned, Shen Qi didn't refuse. From the dazzling array of earrings, she chose a pair of tourmaline studs. Though small, she knew they cost over hundreds of thousands of yuan. Carefully, she put them on, checking twice to ensure they were secure before letting go. "You really have an eye for matching," He Yining said, standing up. "Let's go. It's almost time." With that, he looked at Shen Qi, who immediately stood at attention, keeping a meter's distance—neither too close nor too far, the safest distance. A faint glimmer flickered in his phoenix-like eyes, as if hiding a hint of amusement.
He Yining walked ahead, and Shen Qi followed obediently. After two steps, he suddenly stopped and sighed. "Shen Qi, you're my date, not my assistant." Shen Qi's eyelashes fluttered as she replied softly, "Ah... yes." He Yining deliberately crooked his arm. Shen Qi's eyes widened, and she blurted out, "Do we have to do this here?" The assistants couldn't help but stifle a laugh. He Yining raised an eyebrow at her, and only then did she step forward, carefully threading her arm through his. Through the thin fabric of his clothes, his solid arm conveyed a sense of security to her.
He Yining led her down the elevator. As they passed through the first-floor lobby, the entire company's staff froze in shock. Oh, heavens! The CEO actually had a date! Shen Qi felt her scalp tighten. Those gazes were like knives and arrows, threatening to pierce her through. He Yining, He Yining—you're nothing but a catalyst for a world war!
An Aston Martin was parked downstairs. Shen Qi noticed that every time she saw He Yining, he drove a different sports car, matching the occasion and his outfit. Today, she had chosen a smart-casual look for him, so the Aston Martin was a classic model. She couldn't help stealing a glance at him. Was it just her imagination, or had he chosen the Aston Martin because she was wearing Burberry today? Assistant Chun respectfully opened the door for He Yining, then for Shen Qi, guiding her into the car with a steady hand.
Once inside, Shen Qi silently clutched her phone, sending message after message. But each one vanished without a trace, unanswered. She gazed out the window, feeling despondent. Why was borrowing money so hard these days? She had asked everyone she could, but no one responded. In her earlier call, the doctor had said that Shen Lu's autism had shown significant improvement. With continued treatment, the chances of him living a normal life were high. Last night, she had also discovered her brother's extraordinary intelligence, and now hearing the doctor's words—Shen Qi felt torn. Where could she find so much money? She had tried calling Mrs. Shen earlier, but the woman hung up as soon as she saw her number. Clearly, she wouldn't offer any more support. What could she do? Was she really going to watch her brother sink back into darkness?
Though He Yining drove quietly, he caught glimpses of Shen Qi's troubled profile. "Are you short on money?" he asked casually. Shen Qi snapped back to reality and forced a smile. "Ah... yeah. I still can't pay you back what I owe." A hint of irritation flickered in He Yining's eyes. When had he ever asked her to repay him? "I mean," he said, his handsome brow furrowing, "do you need me to lend you some?" "No!" Shen Qi refused instinctively, then quickly backtracked. "Ah... I mean, I already owe you too much. I can't trouble you further!"
He Yining was taken aback. Was this the first time in his life he had offered to lend someone money, only to be rejected? He hit the brakes and turned to smile. That smile sent a chill down Shen Qi's spine. Had she said something wrong? "What did you just say?" He Yining raised an eyebrow, his phoenix eyes fixed on her meaningfully.