"So, this connection isn't really mine—it's more like Brother He's," Mo continued. "The He family has been very dissatisfied with what Brother He has been doing outside all these years. But the one thing he did right was produce Yining as his heir."
Shen Qi was momentarily at a loss for words.
"If Yining uses me to make this connection, I'm afraid Brother He will come after me. Back in the day, Brother He swore up and down that he'd never meddle in He family affairs," Mo went on.
"Yining must be keeping this from his family too. If they find out, he'll probably face family discipline," Mo added. "That piece of land doesn't need to be developed urgently. If Yining has patience and works through other channels, he can still pull it off."
For some reason, Shen Qi suddenly felt that He Yining's real reason for coming to Mo for help wasn't about developing that land at all.
It was about... He Yining's father.
No matter how much the He family disliked this son, he was still one of them!
And he was He Yining's biological father!
He Yining wouldn't do something like this without a reason.
"Even so, I know it's a lot to ask," Shen Qi said softly, holding her teacup. "But please consider it. I lost my father when I was very young. Honestly, I really miss him. I think he feels the same way."
"I had prepared a lot of arguments to convince you, but after hearing what you said, I know they're all unnecessary," Shen Qi said calmly. "Right now, I just want to help a man who wants to see his father—using every means possible to meet him, even if it's just to get a little closer."
"I love looking at the stars. I remember clearly that a little boy once told me that when people die, they turn into stars in the sky. So I always wonder, which star is my father? Can he see me growing up, becoming sensible? Would he be proud?" Shen Qi gazed dreamily at the night sky outside. "I want to tell him that I've really grown up and become the person he always hoped I'd be."
"Sorry, I got carried away thinking about my dad. I'm not trying to play up my tragic past to win your sympathy. Besides, He Yining's father is still alive and happy, which is completely different from my situation," Shen Qi said, snapping back to reality. "The decision is yours. I can only make a suggestion."
Mo suddenly changed the subject: "What do you think of Yining as a person?"
Shen Qi didn't understand why he was asking, but she answered honestly: "He seems like a cold, aloof idol on the surface, but he's actually not a bad person at heart."
"Not a bad person?" Now it was Mo's turn to be surprised. "That's how you see him?"
Shen Qi frowned thoughtfully. Sure, he could be a jerk sometimes, always teasing her for no reason. But he'd never done anything truly terrible to her!
She ruined his clothes, and paying for it was only fair.
He saw she was short on cash and even gave her some money upfront.
He really wasn't a bad guy.
Mo finally smiled meaningfully. "He really is different with you..."
Shen Qi scratched her head in confusion, completely lost on what that meant.
And just like that, the conversation ended on a strange note.
When Shen Qi returned to her room, she was still in a daze.
He Yining was already in the room, opening a bottle of red wine. His eyes sparkled with amusement when he saw her.
"Come, let's celebrate your success," he said, handing her a glass.
Shen Qi looked bewildered. "I didn't succeed?"
He Yining said nothing, just clinked his glass with hers. "Cheers."
Shen Qi's eyes widened. "I really succeeded?"
He Yining downed his drink in one gulp.
Shen Qi was overjoyed!
Wow, it was that easy?
Great!
With the 500,000 debt cleared, she only had less than a million left!
And tonight, she got to sleep in He Yining's big bed!
Hahaha, she was practically dying of happiness!
"Is the big bed really mine?" Shen Qi couldn't help grinning from ear to ear.
"Yeah..." He Yining's smile was a little sly.
Shen Qi dashed straight into the bedroom and flopped onto the bed in a starfish pose, rolling back and forth twice.
Ah, it was so comfortable—even better than she'd imagined!
That guy He Yining really knew how to live!
"Ah, I'm going to shower first. Tonight, I'm finally going to enjoy myself!" Shen Qi scrambled off the bed, grabbed her toiletries, and happily rushed into the bathroom for a quick wash.
She was fast this time.
Clearly, the big bed was a huge motivator.
She was done in just twenty minutes.
When she came out, happily rolling around on the bed in her fluffy bunny pajamas, she looked up to see He Yining walking into the room.
Huh? What was he doing here?
Was he getting the blanket and pillow?
Oh, right, right.
She'd won, so tonight it was his turn to sleep on the floor.
Shen Qi dutifully grabbed a pillow and was about to hand it to him when, to her shock, He Yining started unbuttoning his shirt right in front of her.
Un... unbuttoning?
Didn't he say that if she succeeded, the big bed was hers tonight?
He wasn't planning to go back on his word, was he?
He Yining didn't miss Shen Qi's stiffening body or her wide, incredulous eyes.
He moved quickly, undoing all the buttons on his pajama top, then pulled back the covers, ready to get into bed.
Wait a minute!
Shen Qi clutched the pillow to her chest and stammered, "President He, you said that if I succeeded, I'd sleep in the bed tonight!"
A big CEO like you, going back on your word—aren't you ashamed?
Do you have any idea how hard I worked to sleep in this bed?
His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of amusement flickering in their depths as he glanced at her. "That's right."
Ha! So you admit it! Then why are you getting in?
Shen Qi puffed up indignantly. "This bed belongs to me now."
He Yining couldn't suppress his smile. "I only said you could sleep in the bed tonight. I never said I'd sleep on the floor."
Shen Qi's eyes went wide. "What?"
How could he do this?
A big CEO, playing word games with a lowly stylist!
He let her sleep in the bed, but he wasn't leaving!
He was going to sleep with her tonight?
No way...
She was his sister-in-law!