Shen Qi nodded to the group and went straight to find Chen Chen.
Shen Qi grabbed Chen Chen’s arm. “What’s going on? Aren’t they from the sculpture department? Why are they coming along to sketch with us?”
“They heard about it and came on their own. What could we do? Besides, the event was organized by our alma mater, not us!” Chen Chen shrugged helplessly. “I know you’re bothered by Han Fei, but it’s fine, right? Besides, Zhan Bo already…”
Shen Qi’s expression immediately turned cold.
Chen Chen quickly added, “Ah, look at my big mouth. Sorry, Xiao Qi, I didn’t mean it that way. If you don’t like Han Fei, I’ll go tell him to stay away from you…”
Chen Chen started to leave, but Shen Qi grabbed her in time. “Oh, you. That’s not what I meant either. We’re all classmates, how could I do that? Maybe I’m overthinking it. After all, it’s been so long since graduation. Those were just college days. Everyone’s probably moved on.”
Just as she finished speaking, Han Fei walked over to Shen Qi.
Han Fei was a rich kid from another province, handsome and never short of admirers. But throughout four years of college, he had his eyes set on Shen Qi, constantly fawning over her in public and private. Unfortunately, Shen Qi always turned him down, citing her boyfriend as the reason.
Han Fei looked at Shen Qi with a bright smile. “Xiao Qi, it’s finally good to see you again. How have you been?”
Shen Qi nodded politely. “I’m doing well. And you?”
Han Fei shook his head lightly. “Just getting by.”
Chen Chen chimed in from the side, “Han Fei, weren’t you studying sculpture? Still into that?”
“Stopped a while ago.” Han Fei waved his hand. “My family didn’t want me wasting time on hobbies. They said college was my four years to play, and after graduation, I had to go home and run the business.”
Han Fei scratched his head. “This time, I’m only getting to indulge my art itch by using the excuse of visiting the alma mater. Don’t mind us crashing the party, okay?”
Just then, a few classmates nearby started teasing.
Back in the day, Han Fei’s pursuit of Shen Qi had caused quite a stir.
He’d sent flowers, played the piano in the pouring rain to confess his love—it was a huge sensation on campus.
Shen Qi offered a polite smile. “How could we? We’re all classmates. It’s great to be together.”
Seeing Han Fei’s gaze fixed on Shen Qi, Chen Chen quickly stepped between them. “Oh, I haven’t had a good chat with Xiao Qi in ages. I’m riding with her in the car—don’t any of you try to steal her!”
The words Han Fei had been rolling around in his mind, wanting to say—*Xiao Qi, ride with me*—were swallowed back by Chen Chen’s interruption.
Sensing Chen Chen was helping her, Shen Qi went along smoothly. “Sure, we’ve got too much stuff. Can’t take anyone else, sorry about that!”
A faint flicker of disappointment passed through Han Fei’s eyes.
Other classmates chimed in, “No worries, no worries. Everyone knows sketching requires a lot of gear. We all drove here, it’s fine.”
Chen Chen decisively pulled Shen Qi into her BMW.
Han Fei watched Shen Qi’s retreating figure, reluctant to let go.
A male classmate nudged him with an elbow. “Hey, it’s been two years since graduation. Still can’t let it go?”
Han Fei looked away, putting on a nonchalant expression. “How could that be? I just… just haven’t seen her in a while, so I thought I’d catch up.”
“Yeah, right! Who doesn’t remember how you felt about our department’s beauty back then?” the classmate said with a grin. “But now, you might have a chance. A few months ago, it seems something happened to her first love.”
Han Fei’s eyes lit up. “What did you say?”
Just then, someone cleared their throat softly, and the gossiping classmate immediately shut up.
But Han Fei understood—things had taken a turn.
Once everyone gathered, they drove off toward Nanshan.
Nanshan, located on the southern outskirts of H City, was a two-to-three-hour drive from downtown.
So they planned to stay overnight at a resort in Nanshan and have a good time.
Shen Qi drove in the middle of the convoy, keeping a steady pace.
In the passenger seat, Chen Chen pulled out a mirror to check her makeup. “Xiao Qi, I didn’t want to ask with everyone around. How are you doing now?”
“Pretty good.” Shen Qi said flatly. “Much better than before. No more beatings. My brother and I moved out of the Shen family. We’re done with them.”
“Really? That’s great! Congratulations on finally getting out of that house.” Chen Chen said with a relieved sigh.
“I guess so.” Shen Qi rested one hand on the steering wheel and rubbed her temple with the other.
She’d jumped out of the Shen family’s fire pit, only to fall into He Yining’s honey trap.
Could she survive the Shen family’s abuse and break free from He Yining’s snare?
These past few days, he’d been so, so good to her…
So good she couldn’t find a single fault.
Soon enough, she’d probably sink into his tenderness, wouldn’t she?
How could anyone resist a man like that?
“What about you? How’ve you been?” Shen Qi asked Chen Chen in return.
“Me? Same old, same old. Doing a job I don’t really like, earning a decent salary. Isn’t that life?” Chen Chen reached over and patted Shen Qi’s shoulder. “Han Fei’s not a bad guy, you know. You should really think about your own situation.”
Shen Qi shook her head. “No. Han Fei and I could never work out, because I’m already mar—”
Her words were cut off by a sudden phone ring. Shen Qi answered on speaker.
He Yining’s deeply magnetic voice came through the speaker. “Where are you?”
“Mm, on the way to Nanshan.” Shen Qi thought for a moment. “I might stay overnight on the mountain.”
“Okay.” He Yining didn’t ask further, gave a few brief instructions, and hung up.
As soon as the call ended, Chen Chen in the passenger seat looked stunned.
“Xiao Qi, who was that? Oh my god, that voice—it’s criminal! It could make ears pregnant!” Chen Chen could barely contain her excitement.
“Uh… he’s…” Shen Qi hesitated, then decided to keep her marriage a secret.
After all, from the start, she’d planned to leave.
Until she was sure of her own feelings, it was best not to stir up trouble.
“He’s a friend,” Shen Qi said lightly.
When they arrived, everyone parked in the lot, stretching and breathing in the fresh air.
As Shen Qi got out, she saw Han Fei approaching.
He said directly, “The resort is in peak season, so we need to book rooms now, or it might be too late tonight.”
Shen Qi turned to Chen Chen. “We’ll share a room?”
“Sure!” Chen Chen shot a quick glance at Han Fei. “Han Fei, want to come along?”
Han Fei looked disappointed, having hoped to go with Shen Qi alone.
But since Chen Chen had spoken, he couldn’t refuse, so he nodded and followed her.
By coincidence, the resort they chose was owned by the Feng family.
Feng Kexin was about to leave when she overheard a man and woman talking near the front desk.
A name they mentioned made her stop in her tracks.
“Han Fei, are you back for Shen Qi?” Chen Chen grabbed his arm. “Give it up. You don’t stand a chance.”
“That’s my business. You don’t need to meddle.” Han Fei frowned. “Tell me, did something happen to Shen Qi’s boyfriend?”
Chen Chen bit her lip. “Yes. Zhan Bo went on a hiking trip four months ago, fell off a cliff, and when they found him, he was unrecognizable.”
Hearing this, Han Fei turned to leave.
Chen Chen blocked him. “Just give up! On the way here, I heard her talking to a man on the phone. Their relationship is clearly different. You have no hope.”
“Is that so?” Han Fei pushed her aside. “Even if there’s no chance, that’s still my business.”
With that, he turned and ran off.
Chen Chen looked frustrated.
After all these years, why couldn’t he let go?
Didn’t he know someone else was still waiting for him?
From a distance, Feng Kexin caught their conversation and sensed that the man Chen Chen mentioned was somehow He Yining.
He Yining was coming to Nanshan?
Feng Kexin had been about to leave the resort, but now she changed her mind.
The man and woman’s talk had revealed a lot of information!
Anything involving Shen Qi now piqued Feng Kexin’s interest—whether it was her past or present.
This man liked Shen Qi, didn’t he?
If she could set him up with Shen Qi, even if He Yining refused to let go, what could he do?
Feng Kexin immediately told her attendants, “I’m not leaving. I’m staying here tonight.”
Her attendants and bodyguards, used to her changing plans, took her things back to the room.
Shen Qi pulled out her phone to take pictures of Nanshan’s scenery.
She hadn’t expected Nanshan to look like this after a year of development.
She remembered coming here during college, when it was all barren.
Now, several resorts stood in neat rows, elegant and refined.
The hotel rooms were independent, honeycomb-like structures.
Each room was a standard one-bedroom, one-living-room, one-kitchen, one-bath setup.
Wooden boardwalks connected every room.
Surrounded by trees, with small bridges and flowing water.
Looking down from above, the red rooftops looked like little mushrooms sprouting after rain, utterly charming.
No wonder they’d chosen Nanshan for sketching—the scenery was really nice.
Even just coming here to sleep would feel refreshing, wouldn’t it?
Shen Qi sent the photos from her phone to He Yining, along with a big mischievous emoji: “The scenery here is no less than Jinghua Manor, you know.”
Seeing Shen Qi’s message, He Yining, who was in a meeting, couldn’t help but curl his lips.
He quickly replied, “How about moving to Nanshan to live?”