Shi Nuan lowered her head quickly before glancing guiltily at Lin Yu who was indeed looking at her, with a hint of resignation in his smiling eyes. Shi Nuan shot him a look asking him for help so he wouldn’t expose her.
Lin Yu rapped his knuckles on the table and glanced sternly at Yuan Jia. “We shouldn’t gossip about Mr. Fu like that. It’s getting late. Finish your lunch quick and go back to work!”
Yuan Jia stuck her tongue out at Shi Nuan and stopped talking about it. But Shi Nuan was wondering if that Song Jingyu really liked Fu Chengyan.
Her question remained unanswered until she got off work. Recently, both of them had been leaving the company together. When it was almost time to get off work, Fu Chengyan would call her and tell her to wait for him downstairs. The man did the same today.
Fu Chengyan even asked her what she wanted to have for dinner tonight. They would talk about dinner every day after work, so Shi Nuan thought they were behaving like a couple who had been married for a long time.
Shi Nuan was about to leave after packing up her stuff when Yuan Jia stopped her. “Shi Nuan, are you free tonight?”
“Hmm?” Shi Nuan paused, “What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s actually nothing important. We’re colleagues, right? Since you started working for Shengyuan, we’ve never shopped or ate together after work. Do you want to have dinner together?”
“Now?” Shi Nuan faltered. “I’m afraid I can’t make it today.” Shi Nuan was heading to buy ingredients for dinner as she had just agreed to have dinner with Fu Chengyan back at home. But she felt slightly embarrassed because this was Yuan Jia’s first time asking her out. “Can we make it another day? I told my family I’ll be heading home.”
“Oh, I see.” Yuan Jia seemed disappointed. “It’s nothing. Well, I’m not young anymore. My parents kept urging me to get married, but I don’t even have a boyfriend! My mom just got someone to introduce me to a man and I’m going to meet him today. But it seems strange to go alone.”
Yuan Jia seemed so troubled. “Actually, I’m not that old but my mom kept urging me to get married! It’s like she thinks I can’t do that myself.”
Shi Nuan grinned. “Your parents are doing this for your sake.” She patted Yuan Jia’s shoulders. “I think you should go. If the man isn’t to your liking, you can leave instantly. I’m really sorry but I’m not free today.”
“It’s fine. I’ll go myself!” Yuan Jia rubbed her head in frustration. “You should leave first. I have to head there after packing up my stuff.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow!” Shi Nuan bid goodbye to Yuan Jia and headed to Fu Chengyan’s parking lot. After she walked in, a shrill female voice rang out. “Yan, I didn’t drive to work today. Can you give me a ride home?”
Shi Nuan narrowed her eyes. After realizing it was Song Jingyu, she turned and hid behind the pole quickly. Exhaling heavily, she heard Song Jingyu said, “Yan, why are you silent? I came with uncle this morning. I don’t have a car and don’t know my way around Jiang City. Yan, please give me a ride home!”
Song Jingyu’s voice was so coy and sultry that most men wouldn’t be able to resist it. Shi Nuan who was hiding behind the pole couldn’t help but shiver in disgust even though she was wearing thick clothes. The young lady’s voice gave her goosebumps.
Swallowing hard, Shi Nuan thought, Should I leave and go to Yuan Jia now? Or should I step forward to declare my right?
She was pondering when Fu Chengyan’s icy voice rang out, “Call my mother and tell her to send her driver to pick you up.”
Shi Nuan was relieved as she was actually afraid Fu Chengyan would give Song Jingyu a ride. Song Jingyu was Fu Chengyan’s cousin sister but Shi Nuan couldn’t explain her distaste for that young lady. It might be of the incident that happened in the F&B department at noon.
Shi Nuan knew she was neither stubborn nor unreasonable. But it would be a lie if she said she was fine with this.
“Yan, how can you do this to me? I’m your cousin, and also your family’s honored guest. Your mom told you to take good care of me. You can’t do this to me!”
“Song Jingyu, this is my last warning. I am fine with you working in Shengyuan but if you want something from me; I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. You’d better stay away from me or risk being humiliated.”
Fu Chengyan got into his car and refused to let Song Jingyu in.
Shi Nuan who was hiding out of sight was delighted as Fu Chengyan acted that way. No matter what Song Jingyu’s ulterior motive was, at least Fu Chengyan didn’t feel the same way for that young lady.
She was deep in her thoughts when her phone suddenly beeped from an incoming text.
“Hey! Who is it?” Song Jingyu heard the beep too. The young lady demanded, “Come out!”
Shi Nuan squinted before setting her phone into silent mode. She unlocked her phone to read the text sent by Fu Chengyan. The man was asking: Where are you?
She pursed her lips and replied: I’m already in the parking lot. But how do I come over?
Fu Chengyan’s eyes narrowed in displeasure. He wound down the window before glaring icily at Song Jingyu. When Song Jingyu saw the man winding down his window, she thought he had changed his mind. The young lady hurried over to him, seemingly forgetting there might be someone else here.
Song Jingyu tried to pull at the door handle, but it was locked. “Yan, unlock the door.”
“Jingyu.” Suddenly, Fu Chengyan called her name gently.
A joyous look appeared on Song Jingyu’s face. “Yes, Yan.”
“Oh, I forgot I left a file in my office. Do you mind taking it for me?” Fu Chengyan asked with a smile on his face.
Song Jingyu was already on cloud nine upon seeing the smile on Fu Chengyan’s face. She nodded hurriedly. “Of course. Yan, wait for me. I’ll go find it for you now. You must wait for me!”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.” Fu Chengyan grinned. “Make it quick.”
Fu Chengyan watched as Song Jingyu left. After a moment, he drawled, “Will you come out now?”
Shi Nuan stuck her tongue out. Song Jingyu must’ve entered the elevator by now. She walked out from her hiding spot and entered the car. “Yan, let’s go!”
“You’re scared?” Fu Chengyan caressed his jaw before glancing at Shi Nuan. “Buckle up.”
Shi Nuan hurriedly buckled her seatbelt. She couldn’t help but retort back. “I’m not scared. Why would I be scared? Shouldn’t you explain what happened?”
Fu Chengyan’s brows arched as he reached out to tousle Shi Nuan’s slightly messy hair. The man made a U-turn and drove out of the parking lot.
“I thought you’d understand since we’re married.” Fu Chengyan had one hand on the steering wheel and his other hand stretched out to squeeze Shi Nuan’s.
Shi Nuan pursed her lips pretending to be angry. She shoved Fu Chengyan’s hand away and harrumphed. “Why should I understand? I understand nothing. During lunch, almost everyone gossiping about our CEO’s new secretary who is pretty and capable.” Shi Nuan kept her eyes on Fu Chengyan when she said that.
Fu Chengyan glanced at his hand that was shoved away as he listened to Shi Nuan’s words laced with jealousy. The man raised his brows as a smile lit up his face. “May, are you jealous?”
“You’re the jealous one!” Shi Nuan disagreed. “I’ve never gotten jealous before!”
“Really?”
The smile on Fu Chengyan’s face deepened as he reached out to squeeze Shi Nuan’s hand again. “She’s Song Jingyu, my uncle’s adopted daughter.”
“Adopted daughter? She’s not his biological daughter?” Shi Nuan was taken aback. She heard the gossip but since it was mere gossip; she remained suspicious about it. The woman only confirmed it was the truth after Fu Chengyan told her about it. “Your uncle doesn’t have children?”
Fu Chengyan shook his head. “He only has a son.” The man continued squeezing Shi Nuan’s slender fingers. “The boy is younger than me but older than Song Jingyu.”
“Then why did he…” Shi Nuan trailed off in confusion. Since Fu Chengyan’s uncle has a son, why did he adopt Song Jingyu?
“She’s the daughter of my uncle’s first love.”
“Are you serious?” Shi Nuan was dumbfounded. “She isn’t related to your uncle at all? Then your uncle… His first love must be his true love. His family didn’t say no?”
Fu Chengyan’s mother seems to adore Song Jingyu a lot.
Fu Chengyan nodded. “It’s complicated. The Song family didn’t really say no but they knew it was useless to go against my uncle. Song Jingyu was raised up by my uncle and mother. My uncle adores her and my mother… Perhaps because of my uncle, my mother adores her too.”
“So your mother arranged for Song Jingyu to enter Shengyuan? So she can get close to you, make you fall in love with her and marry her?” Shi Nuan put the puzzles together and was shocked with the conclusion. “But even though you’re not related by blood, you’re still cousins. They can’t simply change the household registration, can they? Your mother… Did your uncle agree to this too?”
Fu Chengyan shook his head in resignation. When the car stopped at the red light, he petted Shi Nuan’s head. “May, sometimes you don’t need to be so smart.”
