Seeing Shen Qi awkwardly stand up from the bath, soaked from head to toe, He Yining couldn’t help himself and let out a chuckle. Seeing Shen Qi so flustered, he finally felt pleased.
Watching He Yining drop his usual aloof CEO demeanor and laugh so heartily for the first time, Shen Qi felt a surge of frustration. Spotting the candle she had stepped on and flattened, she couldn’t help but say, “Why is this here? It nearly killed me!”
He Yining raised an eyebrow. “Who told you not to look where you were going?”
Shen Qi bit her lip, climbed out of the bath dripping wet, and glanced down at her disheveled state. Summoning her courage, she asked, “Mr. He, do you have any spare clothes here?”
He Yining looked Shen Qi up and down. Because she was completely soaked, her clothes clung tightly to her body, clearly outlining her curves. His eyes deepened as he gave her a glance, then turned and left. A moment later, he returned with a shirt and tossed it to her. “I don’t have any women’s clothes here.”
“Oh,” Shen Qi said, swallowing her pride. “I’ll wash it clean.”
He Yining said nothing, just nodded faintly and left the bathroom.
Shen Qi stripped off her clothes, tossed them into the washing machine, and put on He Yining’s white shirt. It was far too big, hanging on her like a dress. Rolling up the sleeves, she knelt by the bath and cleaned it bit by bit. After hanging her clothes to dry, she stood properly before He Yining. “Mr. He, I’m done. If there’s nothing else you need…”
He Yining’s gaze suddenly landed on the pale, bare thighs beneath the shirt. A flicker of something entered his phoenix-like eyes. His gaze dropped to her feet. She wasn’t even wearing slippers, standing there barefoot. Did this girl have any idea what she was implying, dressed like that in front of a man? If she weren’t keeping her distance and even avoiding him, he might have thought she’d finally wised up and was trying to seduce him like the others.
“Nothing else. Go find a corner to stay in,” He Yining said, forcing himself to look away and out the window. “Don’t wander off, and don’t disappear.”
Relieved there was nothing more, Shen Qi let out a breath. Standing in front of He Yining dressed like this was seriously stressful. As long as there was nothing else, she’d find a spot to hide until her clothes dried and change back quickly. She nodded without another word and scurried off.
Once Shen Qi left, she finally had the chance to take in the scenery of the estate. She knew that while Jinghua Estate was exquisite and beautiful, it was nothing compared to the Jing family mansion. The Jing family mansion in H City was the finest Chinese garden, rivaling Suzhou gardens with its antique architecture, pavilions, terraces, winding bridges over streams, and clusters of rockeries. Jinghua Estate was just a small villa, not a home. Though it was gorgeous, it lacked the artistic conception of the Jing mansion. She wondered why He Yining preferred living in a villa like this over the mansion. Well, it wasn’t her concern. Wasn’t she just the Jing family’s daughter-in-law, who hadn’t even met her own husband? When the time came, she’d take the money and leave, escaping all this noise.
Shen Qi went to the balcony, spotted a daybed, and lay down without a second thought, turning over comfortably. Ah, this was so nice. The sunlight fell on her, and the central air kept the room at a steady temperature. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and with a tilt of her head, she drifted off to sleep.
She slept soundly. When she opened her eyes, the sun was setting, and evening had arrived. She blinked, jolting upright. Oh no, what time was it? She’d actually fallen asleep! She jumped up barefoot and rushed to the door, colliding with someone.
“Uh…” She bumped into a familiar chest, catching the cool scent she recognized. A large hand caught her waist, and a teasing voice came from above. “Oh? So eager to throw yourself into my arms? Have you finally thought it over and decided to pay off your debt with your body?”
Startled, Shen Qi tried to pull away, but her waist was firmly held. “Mr. He, it’s getting late. I should go,” she mumbled. “Sorry, I’ve been too tired these past few days and fell asleep just now.”
He Yining looked down. From his angle, he could clearly see the flame-shaped birthmark and the partially hidden curves. He felt a slight change in his body. He released his grip instantly, and when her body moved away, a hint of loss stirred in his heart. Feeling the pressure on her waist vanish, Shen Qi stepped back quickly. “If there’s nothing else…”
“I’m hungry. Come eat with me.” He Yining gave her a deep look, then turned and walked away.
Shen Qi opened her mouth but didn’t dare call him back. What mood was he in now? With the boss giving orders, she didn’t dare disobey. She sighed and sent a message to Shen Lu’s nanny, asking her to stay a bit longer. At this rate, she might as well have the nanny move in. She quickly changed clothes and headed downstairs, just as He Yining, in a black silk shirt and black trousers, slowly descended the stairs. At the door, the butler and servants, who had been absent all day, appeared to respectfully see him off. Shen Qi felt like everyone was looking at her oddly.
He Yining stood at the entrance, where someone had already parked the car he’d be driving today and handed him the keys. The four chief assistants, Xiao Chun, Xiao Xia, Xiao Qiu, and Xiao Dong, stood nearby awaiting orders. Shen Qi felt like after just one nap, many things had changed. She couldn’t pinpoint the strangeness, but something felt off.
The door of the pure white Koenigsegg opened, and He Yining looked back at Shen Qi. “Can you drive?”
“A little,” she replied hesitantly.
“Want to give it a try? This is a brand-new car. Only ten exist worldwide, a special custom edition not sold publicly, only by internal subscription.” He Yining tossed her the keys.
Shen Qi’s eyes widened. “Me drive?”
He Yining raised an eyebrow. “What, afraid to?”
Gripping the keys, she bit her lip. “My driving skills are terrible…”
“It’s fine, take it slow.” He Yining turned and walked toward the passenger seat.