Shen Qi took the opportunity to retrieve her phone.
In truth, she had no idea what the He family's number was.
Seeing Shen Qi back down, Madam Shen said with satisfaction, "Alright, Yinyin and I just came to see how you're doing. Since you're fine, I can rest easy. If there's nothing else, we'll be going now."
With that, Madam Shen picked up her bag and turned to leave.
Shen Qi sat slumped on the sofa, burying her hands deep in her hair, overwhelmed by a sense of defeat.
She truly wondered if she and her brother were even her biological children.
Where in the world was there a mother like this?
Shen Qi didn't cry; her tears had long since dried up.
The moment they schemed to drive her brother out of the Shen family, all her feelings and hopes for that family vanished into thin air.
After resting for a while, Shen Qi wearily stood up, turned off the lights in the room, grabbed some food from the fridge, and left the villa.
What Shen Qi didn't know was that every move she made was being watched by someone else.
The man who had given her the keys on her wedding day saw the surveillance footage from the villa delivered by his subordinates and smirked. "This woman is interesting indeed. I wonder if Yining will regret missing out on her? Ah, forget it, I shouldn't meddle!"
"Do we need to keep monitoring her?" one subordinate asked.
"No need. Let her do whatever she wants." The man said with a smile. "After all, Yining doesn't plan to have any real connection with her."
Shen Qi carried her things back to her rented apartment. As soon as she entered, she saw Shen Lu still stubbornly drawing lines.
But now, he wasn't sketching the combination to Shen Gang's safe anymore; he was drawing the architectural layout of an exhibition hall three streets away.
Shen Qi put the food in the fridge and said to Shen Lu, "Brother, I've found a caretaker for you. When I'm not home, he'll keep you company, okay?"
Shen Lu paused his brush. "No."
Shen Qi smiled and sat down beside him. "But Xiao Qi has to go out and work to earn money! If Xiao Qi doesn't earn money, she'll be unhappy!"
Hearing that Xiao Qi would be unhappy, Shen Lu's face showed a conflicted expression.
To Shen Lu, his sister Xiao Qi was the most important person in the world.
Shen Qi hugged him and continued, "The caretaker will only stay with you for a while. I'll come back to be with you after work, okay?"
Shen Lu remained silent.
"When Xiao Qi saves enough money, I'll take you somewhere no one can find us, and we'll never be apart, alright?" Shen Qi said gently.
At the promise of never being apart, Shen Lu finally smiled and nodded firmly. "Okay."
With Shen Lu's agreement, Shen Qi felt relieved.
The next day, the caretaker arrived.
Because Shen Lu was exceptionally handsome, Shen Qi specifically hired a male caretaker.
To help the caretaker bond with Shen Lu, Shen Qi stayed by their side, involving the caretaker in everything she did.
She also explained Shen Lu's taboos and other important details.
After three days, Shen Lu finally stopped resisting the caretaker's presence.
The caretaker's name was Wei Wei, a kind-hearted man in his fifties with a gentle demeanor. Seeing how neat and capable he was, Shen Qi chose him to look after Shen Lu.
Just as Shen Qi had settled the caretaker and Shen Lu, a message from He Yining came in: "Half an hour, Jinghua Manor."
Shen Qi received the message and immediately said to the caretaker, "Uncle Wei, I have to start work now. Please take care of my brother."
Wei Wei nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, Miss Shen. I'll look after him."
Shen Qi turned and hugged Shen Lu. "Brother, I'm off to work. Be good at home!"
Shen Lu watched her leave with a sullen expression, then retreated into his own world, stubbornly drawing lines.
Shen Qi grabbed her makeup kit and practically scrambled to Jinghua Manor.
But when she arrived at the villa's entrance, she saw He Yining walking out with his four chief assistants, ready to get into a car and leave.
Huh? Didn't he call her over to do his styling?
If he was already leaving, how could she do his styling?
Besides, he already looked perfect today—no touch-ups needed.
He Yining noticed Shen Qi and simply nodded. "Get in."
Shen Qi froze for a moment before quickly following him into the car.
As the car sped away, Shen Qi finally couldn't help asking, "Where are we going?"
"To City C," He Yining replied briefly.
"What?" Shen Qi shot up, forgetting she was in the car, and banged her head on the roof. She winced, clutching her head in pain.
He Yining gave her an exasperated look. "Clumsy."
Ignoring his comment, Shen Qi pressed on, "How long will we be gone?"
"Three days." He Yining frowned slightly. "As my personal stylist, you follow my schedule."
Shen Qi's mouth fell open.
If she went on this trip, what about her brother?
Wouldn't he panic without her?
She quickly sent a message to Wei Wei, asking if he could stay with her brother for three days, offering double pay.
Wei Wei readily agreed.
Relieved, Shen Qi decided she would video chat with her brother once they reached their destination to calm him down.
As Shen Qi sat there lost in thought, she didn't notice He Yining studying her.
He felt this girl harbored many secrets.
He usually had no interest in others' secrets, but after hearing her sing that day at the restaurant, he inexplicably wanted to know more about her.
He didn't want others to investigate her; he wanted to hear it from her own lips.
Shen Qi rested her chin on her hand, watching the scenery blur past the window, lost in a daze.
Her delicate profile betrayed the melancholy in her heart.
"What are you thinking about?" He Yining finally asked.
"Huh?" Shen Qi turned around in confusion, meeting his deep, starry eyes.
His gaze was like the ocean or the night sky—profound and unfathomable.
No one could guess his thoughts or emotions at that moment.
Certainly not Shen Qi.
She stammered, "I... I haven't traveled much."
"Oh?" He Yining's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you need so much money for?"
Shen Qi stayed silent.
"Don't want to answer? Then let me ask you something else." He Yining felt an unusual urge to pry some secrets out of her today. "Who is Zhan Bo?"