Lin Qiao pressed herself against the car window, watching Shen Qingzhou. He was focused on driving, occasionally glancing at his phone, his brows slightly furrowed as if deep in thought. She stared at him for quite a while, but he didn’t react at all, so finally, she couldn’t help herself and spoke up.
“Shen Qingzhou?” she called him softly.
He glanced at her but didn’t respond. His look seemed to say, “If you have something to say, just say it.” But to Lin Qiao, it felt like he was simply ignoring her.
She had no choice but to speak again, changing her tone and sounding even more pitiful: “Master Shen.”
He shot her a sharp look, clearly signaling her to correct herself. But Lin Qiao thought he was just getting annoyed by her, feeling even more wronged. Stubbornly, she kept calling him, cycling through various titles: “Shen Qingzhou, Master Shen, Shen the Fraud, Shen whatever—you could at least acknowledge me!” Her voice grew more emotional by the end. She turned her gaze away, lowered her head, and muttered while fidgeting with her fingers, “How can you be like this?”
Shen Qingzhou sighed helplessly and asked, “Why does Qin Muyao have my number?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback: “Uh… well…”
“You gave it to him,” he stated.
She covered her face and peeked at him cautiously: “Brother Qin said he wanted to consult you about some academic issues, and he sounded really sincere, so… I thought I was helping you get more business.” She raised her fingers, “I already explained everything about last time to Brother Qin.”
“How exactly did you explain it?” He frowned and pulled the car into a parking spot at a mall.
Lin Qiao spoke earnestly: “I apologized to him, explained the whole situation, and mentioned our relationship.”
“Our relationship,” Shen Qingzhou caught onto the key point. After parking, he turned to face her. “What exactly is our relationship?”
She looked at him seriously: “What do you think?”
Shen Qingzhou smiled, a hint of self-mockery in his expression: “Does what I think even count?”
“It does,” Lin Qiao nodded.
His smile deepened, and the way he looked at her was filled with meaning, making her turn her face toward the window, embarrassed.
He remained silent, so Lin Qiao, trying to avoid awkwardness, took the initiative to speak again, unable to resist asking about Jian Shi.
“What did the chairman’s secretary say to you when she got out of the car?” she mumbled.
Shen Qingzhou chuckled at her and deliberately avoided giving a direct answer: “Guess.”
Lin Qiao buried her face against the window and replied slowly: “I can’t guess.”
Shen Qingzhou, now in a teasing mood, said with a nostalgic tone: “Fine, I’ll tell you. Jian Shi said to me, ‘You fulfilled every fantasy I’ve ever had about men.'” So, what exactly are you upset about?
Lin Qiao didn’t catch the subtext. She stiffened in place and turned away even more.
She blurted out excitedly: “Don’t listen to her nonsense. That line was from Zhou Xun to Li Yapeng. Right after she said it, Li Yapeng ended up with Faye Wong!”
Shen Qingzhou was unfazed but asked curiously: “Why are you hiding and not looking at me?”
Lin Qiao’s voice faltered, and after a while, she said: “Because I don’t want to make eye contact with you.”
“Why not?” He asked, then reached out and pulled her toward him. She lay on her back in his arms, her long hair spilling over his lap. The garage wasn’t brightly lit, but her face seemed to glow in his eyes.
“Now you’re looking at me, and nothing’s missing,” Shen Qingzhou said calmly, then placed his hand near her lips gently: “Lin Qiao, sit up for a moment.”
Her back felt uncomfortable, so she obediently sat up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
He said: “Come a little closer. Let me kiss you.”
“…” Lin Qiao froze instantly, her mouth open, unsure of what to say.
Seeing her expression, Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but smile. He pinched her cheek lightly: “I’m kidding. She didn’t say anything. Come on, let’s get out. I’ll buy you some clothes.”
Only then did Lin Qiao realize they had parked outside a well-known mall, and from his words, he intended to take her shopping.
“No need,” she refused, “I have so many clothes already, I can’t even wear them all.”
Shen Qingzhou scoffed slightly: “I’ve told you many times, those clothes don’t suit you.”
Thinking of his previous advice, Lin Qiao frowned: “But I’m still so young. Those colors are too old-fashioned…”
Shen Qingzhou looked at her for a while and nodded slightly: “Fine, have it your way. I’ll help you with accessories then.” He turned the car on, ready to leave.
“Where are we going now?” she asked.
“To the hospital, to see your future son,” he replied.
“…”
For the first time, Lin Qiao thought being a stepmother might not be so bad.
Lin Qiao pressed her face eagerly against the car window, gazing at Shen Qingzhou. He focused on driving, occasionally glancing at his phone with a slight frown, as if deep in thought. Lin Qiao stared at him for a long while, but he showed no reaction. Finally, she couldn’t resist speaking up.
“Shen Qingzhou?” she called out softly.
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her but didn’t respond. His expression seemed to say, “If you have something to say, say it.” But to Lin Qiao, it felt like he was ignoring her.
After witnessing the person she liked with a formidable rival, her mind just couldn’t function properly.
So she called him again, this time with a more mournful tone and a different form of address: “Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhou shot her a sharp glare, intending for her to correct how she addressed him. But Lin Qiao thought he was annoyed by her calling out to him, making her feel even more wronged. Stubbornly, she continued calling him by various names: “Shen Qingzhou, Master Shen, Shen the Charlatan, Shen what’s-his-name… Could you at least acknowledge me?” By the end, her voice was full of grievance. She withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and fiddled with her fingers, muttering, “How could you be like this?”
Shen Qingzhou sighed helplessly and asked, “Why does Qin Muyao have my number?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback. “Uh… well…”
“You gave it to him, didn’t you?” he said.
Lin Qiao covered her face and looked at him cautiously. “Senior Qin said he wanted to consult you on some professional matters. He sounded very sincere, so I… I just thought I could help you get more business and make more money.” She held up a finger. “I’ve already explained what happened last time to Senior Qin.”
“How did you explain it?” Shen Qingzhou frowned as he parked the car in a shopping mall’s parking lot.
Lin Qiao said very seriously, “I apologized to him and explained what happened clearly. I also mentioned our relationship.”
“Our relationship.” Shen Qingzhou seized on the key point. After parking, he turned to look at her. “What is our relationship?”
Lin Qiao looked at him solemnly. “What do you think?”
Shen Qingzhou smiled, a hint of self-mockery in his expression. “Do I get to decide?”
“Yes,” Lin Qiao nodded.
The curve of Shen Qingzhou’s lips deepened as he looked at her meaningfully, making Lin Qiao shyly turn her face toward the car window.
He remained silent. To avoid awkwardness, Lin Qiao took the initiative to speak, and once she started, she couldn’t help but bring up Jian Shi.
“What did Chairman Fang’s secretary say to you when she got out of the car?” she asked sullenly.
Shen Qingzhou looked at her with an amused smile, deliberately withholding a direct answer. “Guess.”
Lin Qiao buried her face against the window and said slowly, “I can’t guess.”
Shen Qingzhou, feeling playful, said with a sigh, “Then I’ll tell you. Jian Shi told me that I fulfill all her fantasies about men.” So, what exactly are you dissatisfied with?
Lin Qiao didn’t catch the underlying meaning in his words. She stiffened and refused to turn around, only exclaiming agitatedly, “Don’t listen to her nonsense! That line was what Zhou Xun said to Li Yapeng. Right after she said it, Li Yapeng got together with Wang菲!”
Shen Qingzhou was unfazed by this and only asked curiously, “Why are you hiding over there and not looking at me?”
Lin Qiao paused before replying, “Because I don’t want to make eye contact with you.”
“Why?” he asked, then reached out a long arm and pulled her toward him. She fell back into his embrace, her long hair spilling over his legs. The light in the garage was dim, but her face seemed to glow in his eyes.
“Now you’re making eye contact with me, and it doesn’t seem to have cost you anything,” Shen Qingzhou said calmly. He then gently placed his hand near her lips and whispered, “Lin Qiao, sit up for a moment.”
Lin Qiao’s back was uncomfortably pressed against something, so she obediently sat up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Shen Qingzhou said, “Come a little closer. Let me kiss you.”
“…” Lin Qiao instantly froze, her mouth agape as she struggled to find words.
Seeing her like this, Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but smile. He pinched her cheek and said, “Just teasing you. She didn’t say anything. Let’s get out. I’ll buy you some clothes.”
Only then did Lin Qiao realize they had parked outside a well-known shopping mall. From the sound of it, he intended to take her shopping.
“No need,” she refused. “I have plenty of clothes. I can’t even wear them all.”
Shen Qingzhou chuckled lightly. “I’ve told you many times, those clothes don’t suit you.”
Remembering his advice, Lin Qiao said with a bitter expression, “But I’m still young. Those colors are so dull…”
Shen Qingzhou looked at her for a moment, then nodded slightly. “Fine, suit yourself. I’ll help you pick out accessories instead.” With that, he started the car and prepared to leave.
“Where are we going now?” she asked.
Shen Qingzhou said, “To the hospital to see your future son.”
“…”
For the first time, Lin Qiao felt that being a stepmother might not be so bad after all.
The two arrived at Peking University People’s Hospital together. Shen Qingzhou led Lin Qiao to Xiao Ning’s hospital room. Du Xinling was there, playing games with Xiao Ning. When they looked up and saw the two, they were both surprised.
“Miss Lin?” Du Xinling said in astonishment. “What brings you here? What a rare guest.”
Shen Qingzhou took Lin Qiao’s hand and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind them. “She’ll be coming often from now on.”
Du Xinling immediately understood and smiled meaningfully, poking Shen Qingzhou’s arm. “Did you seal the deal?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced down at him, noticing from the corner of his eye that Lin Qiao had shyly moved to the bedside to keep Xiao Ning company. To avoid embarrassing her, he lowered his voice to speak with Du Xinling.
“I’ve never encountered something I wanted to do but couldn’t accomplish,” Shen Qingzhou said confidently. Then he added, “Don’t bring this up in front of Lin Qiao. She’s a proud girl. Act natural and don’t mess this up for me.”
Du Xinling immediately looked pained. “Do you really think I’m that useless? That I’d mess things up for you?”
Shen Qingzhou snorted coldly. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“…” Well, remembering the incident with Qin Muyao, Du Xinling had nothing more to say.
And so, that day, Lin Qiao indirectly acknowledged her relationship with Shen Qingzhou. Though neither of them explicitly stated it, they both began to see themselves as each other’s significant other. When Shen Qingzhou’s Beijing home was fully renovated, he specially brought Lin Qiao to see it.
During these days, Lin Qiao had been comforting her father. Mr. Lin was anxious about the company’s affairs and didn’t fully trust Shen Qingzhou’s capabilities. It took a lot of persuasion from Lin Qiao to stop him from seeking out Fang Zheng again.
As for Fang Zheng, he had been busy moving these past couple of days and hadn’t actively caused any trouble.
Shen Qingzhou had purchased a two-story villa with an attic. The exterior looked very similar to his residence in Qiancheng, and most of the interior decoration was no different either. Lin Qiao figured this was just his taste—no matter how many places he changed, it wouldn’t vary much.
It was worth mentioning that when they toured the master bedroom, Shen Qingzhou’s attitude became quite ambiguous.
The master bedroom contained a very large double bed. The room itself was spacious, so the bed didn’t make it feel cramped. The rest of the furnishings strictly adhered to the highest standards of feng shui layout. Simply standing in the room made one feel refreshed and invigorated.
Lin Qiao couldn’t help but marvel, “You know, when you really look into it, feng shui is quite mystifying.”
“Feng shui originated as a school of thought during the late Warring States period. It’s a crystallization of ancient wisdom. You’re using the wrong adjective,” Shen Qingzhou expressed his dissatisfaction with the word “mystifying.”
Lin Qiao appeased him, “Yes, I misspoke. It’s a school of thought, a crystallization of wisdom.”
Shen Qingzhou’s dark eyes curved as he looked at her. He quietly closed the door behind him and asked casually, “Think this place is nice?”
Lin Qiao nodded repeatedly. “It’s excellent. From the renovation to the location, it’s absolutely top-notch.” She gave a thumbs-up.
Shen Qingzhou nodded slightly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Then how about testing out the bed?”
“What?” Lin Qiao was stunned, not daring to look at him anymore. Her eyes wandered confusedly over the large bed.
Shen Qingzhou walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and whispered, “Lin Qiao, let’s move in together.”
Lin Qiao stiffened, flustered and at a loss. She lowered her head, trying to break free from his embrace but failing.
Blushing, she said, “Let go of me first.”
Shen Qingzhou’s warm breath brushed against her ear as he said leisurely, “You haven’t answered me yet.”
Lin Qiao felt her entire face burning. Embarrassed, she said, “Isn’t this a bit too fast?”
Shen Qingzhou turned her around to face him. Calmly, he said, “It’s not fast. I’ve already compared our birth characters and chosen an auspicious date. The 7th of next month, your birthday, is a day where everything is favorable—extremely auspicious.”
“…That still seems a bit fast.”
“You’re destined to be mine in this lifetime. It’s fate. I’m just exercising my rights a little early. What’s there to refuse?” Shen Qingzhou stated unequivocally. He tapped her forehead and said, “It’s settled then. Before that day, I’ll help you deal with Fang Zheng.”
Lin Qiao made a pained face. “Hearing you say that makes me feel like I’m selling myself.”
Shen Qingzhou mercilessly teased her, “Don’t flatter yourself. This deal is worth over nine figures. You could pick any Hollywood A-lister with that.”
Lin Qiao punched him in the chest. “It’s fine if you say I’m not worth much, but I can’t decide on moving in with you. You’ll have to talk to my dad.”
Shen Qingzhou asked, “If Mr. Lin agrees, will you agree?”
Lin Qiao said, “Ask me again after you’ve convinced him.”
And so, Shen Qingzhou really did convince Lin Huiming.
As an open-minded and progressive single father, Lin Huiming had long wanted to marry off Lin Qiao. With a promising, well-established, wealthy, and strong-willed young man like Shen Qingzhou willing to take her off his hands, he couldn’t have been more pleased.
Moreover, Shen Qingzhou had helped resolve Lin Group’s financial crisis by quietly investing a sum of money and had also dealt with the Fang family’s troubles.
The Fang family was now in real trouble. Since moving into their new home, their business had been declining. Fang Mingjun’s health had also taken a turn for the worse—he often felt tired and was in a poor mood. Fang Zheng was even worse off. He frequently lost his temper at work without reason, even snapping at clients, causing them to lose several major contracts, all of which ended up in Lin Group’s hands.
In this matter, Mr. Lin reaped the benefits without lifting a finger.
Seeing her father’s improving mood comforted Lin Qiao, but at the same time, she was worried about Shen Qingzhou’s mother. She had a rough idea of where Shen Qingzhou had intervened. Since Xie Jiayi lived with the Fang family, would she be affected as well?
Concerned, Lin Qiao specifically asked Shen Qingzhou about it. His response was: “Didn’t I tell you? She went abroad to relax. She won’t be back for a while.”
Lin Qiao looked at him in surprise. “How did you convince your mother to go abroad?”
Shen Qingzhou said lightly, “I didn’t say anything. I just gave her a plane ticket and told her the scenery there was nice.”
“…” Both he and his mother were beyond ordinary comprehension.
“I need to go out now. Didn’t you say you wanted to visit Miss Wang? I’ll drop you off,” Shen Qingzhou said, grabbing his car keys and heading for the door.
Lin Qiao nodded, picked up her bag, and went out with him. As they walked, she unconsciously asked, “What are you going to do? When will you be back?”
Shen Qingzhou said offhandedly, “Jian Shi asked to meet me. Probably because Chairman Fang has been having too many troubles lately and guessed something was wrong.”
Lin Qiao stopped in her tracks. “So, you’re going to see Jian Shi?”
Shen Qingzhou looked into her eyes and asked cautiously and softly, “Yes, why?”
“…” No reason. I just really feel like ruining your face.
“I have to go. I’m in a hurry. If you’re not in a rush, you can take a taxi,” Shen Qingzhou said, seemingly sensing Lin Qiao’s displeasure. It was as if he deliberately wanted to make her uncomfortable, emphasizing his words with intention.
Seeing him walk away without stopping, not seeming to joke, Lin Qiao felt a stubbornness rise within her. Standing her ground, she said, “Fine, go ahead.”
Shen Qingzhou looked back at her, met her gaze for a few seconds, nodded, and turned to leave.
The moment he left, Lin Qiao ran out of the residential area and hailed a taxi. When his car appeared, she said to the driver, “Sir, follow that Ferrari. Let him experience the enthusiasm of us Beijing locals!”
The driver readily agreed, “No problem. With this traffic, a Ferrari isn’t necessarily faster than our taxi.”
Lin Qiao gave the driver a thumbs-up. “Sir, you’re truly magnanimous.”
Pleased by the praise, the driver worked even harder, cheerfully keeping close behind Shen Qingzhou. Shen Qingzhou wasn’t driving fast or recklessly, so they followed with ease.
During this tailing process, Lin Qiao decided to play undercover agent. She would sit at a table near Shen Qingzhou and Jian Shi, eavesdropping on their conversation to hear exactly what they were talking about.
“Miss Lin?” Du Xinling said in surprise, “You came? What an unexpected guest.”
Shen Qingzhou pulled Lin Qiao’s hand and walked in, closing the door behind him: “She’ll be coming around more often now.”
Du Xinling immediately understood and, with a meaningful smile, came over and nudged Shen Qingzhou’s arm: “You finally got her?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced down at him, catching sight of Lin Qiao shyly moving to the bedside to keep Xiao Ning company. To avoid embarrassing her, he lowered his voice to speak with Du Xinling.
“I’ve never encountered anything I wanted to do that I couldn’t manage,” Shen Qingzhou said confidently, then added, “Don’t mention this in front of Lin Qiao. She’s proud. Act natural and don’t hold me back.”
Du Xinling immediately looked pained: “Do you really think I’m that useless that I’d hold you back?”
Shen Qingzhou gave a cold snort: “You’ve done it before.”
“…” Well then, thinking of the incident with Qin Muyao, Du Xinling couldn’t argue further.
So, on this day, Lin Qiao indirectly confessed her relationship with Shen Qingzhou. Although neither of them said it outright, they both regarded each other as their significant other. When Shen Qingzhou’s house in Beijing was finished renovating, he specially picked up Lin Qiao to show her around.
During these days, Lin Qiao had been comforting her father, who was very anxious about the company and doubtful about Shen Qingzhou’s abilities. Lin Qiao had finally convinced him not to go looking for Fang Zheng again.
On Fang Zheng’s side, he had been busy moving recently and hadn’t actively caused any trouble.
Shen Qingzhou had bought a two-story villa with an attic. Its exterior looked very similar to his residence in Qian City, and the interior decoration was mostly the same as well. Lin Qiao thought this must be his aesthetic taste, which wouldn’t change much no matter where he went.
It’s worth mentioning that Shen Qingzhou’s attitude was particularly ambiguous when showing the master bedroom.
The master bedroom had a large double bed. The room was spacious, so a larger bed didn’t feel cramped. The other furnishings also strictly followed the highest Feng Shui principles. Just standing inside made one feel refreshed and invigorated.
Lin Qiao couldn’t help but exclaim: “Actually, if you study Feng Shui carefully, it really is quite strange.”
“Feng Shui originated as a school of thought in the late Warring States period. It’s the crystallization of ancient wisdom. You used the wrong adjective,” Shen Qingzhou was clearly displeased with the word “strange.”
Lin Qiao tried to appease him: “Okay, I was wrong. It’s a school of thought, a crystallization of wisdom.”
Shen Qingzhou’s dark eyes curved slightly as he looked at her. He quietly closed the door behind him and casually asked: “Do you think this place is nice?”
Lin Qiao nodded repeatedly: “It’s great. From the decoration to the location, it’s fantastic. Just the best.” She raised her thumb.
Shen Qingzhou nodded slightly, saying casually: “Then, do you want to try out the bed?”
“What?” Lin Qiao was stunned. She dared not turn to look at him again, her eyes misty as she stared at the big bed.
Shen Qingzhou walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, whispering in her ear: “Lin Qiao, let’s move in together.”
She stiffened, lowered her head in flustered confusion, and tried to break free from his embrace but failed.
Her face flushed red as she said: “Let go of me first.”
His warm breath lingered by her ear as he spoke slowly: “You haven’t answered me yet.”
Lin Qiao felt her entire face burning up with embarrassment: “Isn’t this a bit too fast?”
Shen Qingzhou turned her around to face him directly, his expression calm and composed: “Not too fast. I’ve already matched our birth dates and selected an auspicious day. The seventh of next month, which is your birthday, is perfect for all endeavors, very lucky.”
“…This still feels a bit rushed.”
“You belong to me for this entire life. It’s destined. I’m just exercising my rights a bit early. What’s there to refuse?” Shen Qingzhou said with an air of finality, then tapped her forehead lightly, “It’s settled then. I’ll help you deal with Fang Zheng before that day.”
Lin Qiao looked unhappy: “Hearing you say it like that makes me feel like I’m selling myself.”
Shen Qingzhou mercilessly teased her: “Don’t dream. This deal is worth more than nine figures; you could choose any Hollywood star you like.”
Lin Qiao punched his chest: “It’s fine if you say I’m not valuable, but I can’t decide to move in with you. You should talk to my dad first.”
Shen Qingzhou asked: “So, if Mr. Lin agrees, will you agree?”
Lin Qiao replied: “You settle things with him first, then ask me.”
So, Shen Qingzhou really did convince Lin Weiming.
As an open-minded and progressive single father, Lin Weiming had long wanted to marry off Lin Qiao. Now, with a promising, well-established, wealthy, and charismatic young man like Shen Qingzhou willing to take her away, he was more than happy.
Moreover, Shen Qingzhou had helped him resolve Lin Group’s financial crisis by secretly investing a large sum and dealing with the Fang family’s issues.
The Fang family was indeed in serious trouble. Ever since moving into their new home, their business had been going downhill, and Fang Mingjun’s health had also deteriorated, often feeling tired and in a bad mood. Fang Zheng was even worse. He frequently lost his temper at work for no reason and even treated clients poorly, causing several major deals to fall through, all of which were eventually secured by Lin Group.
In this matter, Mr. Lin was the one who reaped the benefits.
Seeing her father’s improving mood, Lin Qiao felt comforted, but at the same time, she was very worried about Shen Qingzhou’s mother. She roughly guessed what Shen Qingzhou had done. Would Xie Jiayi, who lived with the Fang family, also be affected?
Because of this, Lin Qiao specially asked Shen Qingzhou, who replied: “Didn’t I tell you? She went abroad for a vacation and won’t be back for a while.”
Lin Qiao looked at him in surprise: “How did you convince your mother to go abroad?”
Shen Qingzhou replied indifferently: “I didn’t say anything. I just gave her a plane ticket and told her the scenery there was nice.”
“…” They were mother and son, yet completely incomprehensible to ordinary people.
“I have to go out for a bit now. You wanted to visit Miss Wang. I’ll drive you there,” Shen Qingzhou said, picking up the car keys and preparing to leave.
Lin Qiao nodded, grabbed her bag, and walked out with him. As they walked, she couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going? When will you be back?”
Shen Qingzhou replied casually: “Jian Shi has arranged to meet me. Probably because Chairman Fang has been having too many problems lately, he might have figured out something’s wrong.”
Lin Qiao paused: “So, you’re going to meet Jian Shi?”
Shen Qingzhou looked into her eyes, asking carefully and softly: “Yes, what’s wrong?”
“…” Nothing, just a sudden urge to ruin your face.
“I have to go now, I’m in a hurry. If you’re not in a rush, just take a taxi,” Shen Qingzhou seemed to sense Lin Qiao’s mood and deliberately emphasized, almost trying to make her uncomfortable.
Lin Qiao saw him walking away without stopping, not joking, and a bit of stubbornness rose in her heart. Standing in place, she said: “Fine, then go.”
Shen Qingzhou turned to look at her, held her gaze for a few seconds, nodded, and then left.
Lin Qiao pressed her face eagerly against the car window, gazing at Shen Qingzhou. He focused on driving, occasionally glancing at his phone with a slight frown, as if deep in thought. Lin Qiao stared at him for a long time, but he showed no reaction. Finally, she couldn’t resist speaking up.
“Shen Qingzhou?” she called out softly.
Shen Qingzhou glanced at her but didn’t say a word. His expression seemed to say, “If you have something to say, say it.” But to Lin Qiao, it felt like he was ignoring her.
There was no helping it. Having just witnessed the person she liked together with a formidable rival, Lin Qiao’s mind simply couldn’t function properly.
So she called him again, this time with a different address and an even more plaintive tone: “Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhou shot her a sharp glare, intending for her to correct how she addressed him. But Lin Qiao thought he was annoyed by her calling out to him, making her feel even more wronged. Stubbornly, she continued calling him, cycling through various names: “Shen Qingzhou, Master Shen, Shen the Charlatan, Shen what’s-his-name—aren’t you going to acknowledge me?” By the end, her voice was filled with grievance. She withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and fretfully fiddled with her fingers, muttering, “How could you be like this?”
Shen Qingzhou sighed helplessly and asked, “Why does Qin Muyao have my number?”
Lin Qiao was taken aback. “Uh… well…”
“You gave it to him, didn’t you?” he said.
Lin Qiao cupped her face and looked at him cautiously. “Senior Qin said he wanted to consult you on some professional matters. He sounded very sincere, so I… I just thought I could help you get more business and make more money.” She raised a finger. “I’ve already explained what happened last time to Senior Qin.”
“How did you explain it?” Shen Qingzhou frowned as he parked the car in a shopping mall’s parking lot.
Lin Qiao said very seriously, “I apologized to him and explained what happened clearly. I also mentioned our relationship.”
“Our relationship.” Shen Qingzhou seized on the key point. After parking, he turned to look at her. “What is our relationship?”
Lin Qiao looked at him solemnly. “What do you think?”
Shen Qingzhou smiled, a hint of self-mockery in his expression. “Do I get to decide?”
“Yes,” Lin Qiao nodded.
The curve of Shen Qingzhou’s lips deepened as he looked at Lin Qiao meaningfully, making her blush and turn her face toward the car window.
He remained silent. To avoid awkwardness, Lin Qiao took the initiative to speak again, and this time, she couldn’t help but bring up Jian Shi.
“What did Chairman Fang’s secretary say to you when she got out of the car?” she asked sullenly.
Shen Qingzhou looked at her with an amused smile, deliberately withholding the answer. “Guess.”
Lin Qiao buried her face against the window and said slowly, “I can’t guess.”
Shen Qingzhou felt playful and said with a sigh, “Then I’ll tell you. Jian Shi told me that I fulfill all her fantasies about men.” So, what exactly are you dissatisfied with?
Lin Qiao didn’t catch the underlying meaning in his words. She stiffened and refused to turn around, only exclaiming agitatedly, “Don’t listen to her nonsense! That line was what Zhou Xun said to Li Yapeng. Right after she said it, Li Yapeng got together with Wang菲!”
Shen Qingzhou was unfazed by this. Instead, he asked curiously, “Why are you hiding over there and not looking at me?”
Lin Qiao paused before replying, “Because I don’t want to make eye contact with you.”
“Why?” he asked. Then, without waiting for an answer, he reached out and pulled her toward him. She fell back into his arms, her long hair spilling across his lap. The light in the garage was dim, but her face seemed to glow in his eyes.
“Now you’re making eye contact with me, and it doesn’t seem to have cost you anything,” Shen Qingzhou said calmly. He gently placed his hand near her lips and whispered, “Lin Qiao, sit up for a moment.”
Lin Qiao’s back was uncomfortably pressed against something, so she obediently sat up and asked, “What is it?”
Shen Qingzhou said, “Come a little closer. Let me kiss you.”
“…” Lin Qiao froze instantly, her mouth agape as she struggled to find words.
Seeing her like this, Shen Qingzhou couldn’t help but smile. He pinched her cheek and said, “Just kidding. She didn’t say anything. Let’s get out. I’ll buy you some clothes.”
Only then did Lin Qiao realize they had parked outside a well-known shopping mall. From the sound of it, he intended to take her shopping.
“There’s no need,” she refused. “I have plenty of clothes. I can’t even wear them all.”
Shen Qingzhou scoffed lightly. “I’ve told you many times, those clothes don’t suit you.”
Remembering his advice, Lin Qiao frowned. “But I’m still young. Those colors are so dull…”
Shen Qingzhou looked at her for a moment before nodding slightly. “Fine, suit yourself. I’ll help you pick out accessories instead.” With that, he started the car and prepared to leave.
“Where are we going now?” she asked.
Shen Qingzhou said, “To the hospital to see your future son.”
“…”
For the first time, Lin Qiao felt that being a stepmother might not be so bad after all.
The two arrived at Peking University People’s Hospital together. Shen Qingzhou led Lin Qiao to Xiao Ning’s hospital room. At that moment, Du Xinling was playing a game with Xiao Ning. When they looked up and saw the two of them, they were both surprised.
“Miss Lin?” Du Xinling said in astonishment. “What brings you here? What a rare guest.”
Shen Qingzhou took Lin Qiao’s hand and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind them. “She’ll be coming often from now on.”
Du Xinling immediately understood and smiled meaningfully as he walked over to poke Shen Qingzhou’s arm. “Did you win her over?”
Shen Qingzhou glanced down at him, his peripheral vision catching Lin Qiao shyly moving to Xiao Ning’s bedside to keep him company. To avoid embarrassing her, he lowered his voice to speak with Du Xinling.
“I’ve never encountered something I wanted to do but couldn’t accomplish,” Shen Qingzhou said confidently. Then he added, “Don’t bring this up in front of Lin Qiao. She’s a proud girl. Act naturally and don’t mess things up for me.”
Du Xinling immediately looked pained. “Do you really think I’m that useless? That I’d mess things up for you?”
Shen Qingzhou snorted coldly. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“…” Well, remembering the incident with Qin Muyao, Du Xinling had nothing more to say.
And so, on this day, Lin Qiao indirectly clarified her relationship with Shen Qingzhou. Though neither of them explicitly stated it, they both regarded each other as their other half. When Shen Qingzhou’s Beijing home was fully renovated, he specially brought Lin Qiao to see it.
During these days, Lin Qiao had been comforting her father. Mr. Lin was anxious about the company’s affairs and didn’t fully trust Shen Qingzhou’s capabilities. It took Lin Qiao considerable effort to persuade him not to seek out Fang Zheng again.
As for Fang Zheng, he had been busy moving these past few days and hadn’t actively caused trouble.
Shen Qingzhou had purchased a two-story villa with an attic. The exterior looked very similar to his residence in Qiancheng, and most of the interior decoration was also nearly identical. Lin Qiao thought this was probably just his aesthetic preference—no matter how many places he moved to, it wouldn’t change much.
It was worth mentioning that when they toured the master bedroom, Shen Qingzhou’s attitude became quite ambiguous.
The master bedroom contained a very large double bed. The room itself was spacious, so the bed didn’t make it feel cramped. The other furnishings in the room strictly adhered to the highest principles of feng shui布局. Simply standing inside made one feel refreshed and invigorated.
Lin Qiao couldn’t help but marvel, “Actually, if you study feng shui carefully, it’s really quite mystical.”
“Feng shui originated as a school of thought during the late Warring States period. It’s a crystallization of ancient wisdom. You’ve used the wrong adjective,” Shen Qingzhou expressed dissatisfaction with the word “mystical.”
Lin Qiao appeased him, “Yes, I misspoke. It’s a school of thought, a crystallization of wisdom.”
Shen Qingzhou’s dark eyes curved as he looked at her. He quietly closed the door behind him and asked casually, “Think this place is nice?”
Lin Qiao nodded repeatedly. “It’s excellent. From the renovation to the location, everything is perfect. It’s simply the best.” She gave a thumbs-up.
Shen Qingzhou nodded slightly, as if it were entirely ordinary, and said, “Then how about testing out the bed?”
“What?” Lin Qiao was stunned, not daring to turn and look at him. Her eyes were dazed as they fixed on the large bed.
Shen Qingzhou walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, whispering in a low voice, “Lin Qiao, let’s move in together.”
Lin Qiao stiffened, flustered and不知所措. She lowered her head, trying to break free from his embrace but failing.
Blushing, she said, “Let go of me first.”
Shen Qingzhou’s warm breath brushed against her ear as he said leisurely, “You haven’t answered me yet.”
Lin Qiao felt her entire face burning. Embarrassed, she said, “Isn’t this a bit too fast?”
Shen Qingzhou turned her around to face him, his expression calm and composed. “It’s not fast. I’ve already compared our birth characters and chosen an auspicious date. The 7th of next month, which is also your birthday, is favorable for all things—extremely auspicious.”
“…That still seems a bit fast.”
“You are destined to be mine in this lifetime. It’s fate. I’m merely exercising my rights in advance. What is there to refuse?” Shen Qingzhou stated unequivocally. He tapped her forehead and said, “It’s settled then. Before that day, I’ll help you resolve the issue with Fang Zheng.”
Lin Qiao made a pained face. “Hearing you say that, I can’t help feeling like I’m selling myself.”
Shen Qingzhou mercilessly teased her, “Don’t flatter yourself. This deal involves no small sum—enough to pick any Hollywood A-lister.”
Lin Qiao punched him in the chest. “It doesn’t matter if you say I’m not worth much. I can’t decide about moving in with you. Go talk to my dad.”
Shen Qingzhou asked, “If Mr. Lin agrees, will you agree?”
Lin Qiao said, “Ask me again after you’ve convinced him.”
And so, Shen Qingzhou indeed convinced Lin Huiming.
As an open-minded and progressive single father, Lin Huiming had long wanted to marry off Lin Qiao. Now that a promising, well-established, wealthy, and strong-willed young man like Shen Qingzhou was willing to take her off his hands, he couldn’t be more pleased.
Moreover, Shen Qingzhou had not only helped resolve Lin氏 Group’s financial crisis by discreetly investing a sum of money but had also dealt with the Fang family’s troubles.
The Fang family was now in real trouble. Since moving into their new home, their business had been declining steadily. Fang Mingjun’s health had also taken a turn for the worse—he often felt tired and was in a poor mood. In this regard, Fang Zheng was even worse off. He frequently lost his temper at work for no reason, even snapping at clients, causing them to lose several major contracts, all of which ended up in the hands of Lin氏 Group.
In this matter, Mr. Lin could be said to have profited from others’ conflicts.
Seeing her father’s improving mood, Lin Qiao felt greatly relieved. However, she was also worried about Shen Qingzhou’s mother. She had a rough idea of where Shen Qingzhou had intervened. Since Xie Jiayi lived with the Fang family, would she be affected as well?
To address this concern, Lin Qiao specifically asked Shen Qingzhou. His response was: “Didn’t I tell you? She went abroad to relax and won’t be back for a while.”
Lin Qiao looked at him in surprise. “How did you persuade your mother to go abroad?”
Shen Qingzhou said lightly, “I didn’t say anything. I just gave her a plane ticket and told her the scenery there was nice.”
“…” Both he and his mother were beyond ordinary comprehension.
“I need to go out now. Didn’t you want to visit Miss Wang? I’ll drop you off,” Shen Qingzhou said, picking up his car keys and preparing to leave.
Lin Qiao nodded, grabbed her bag, and left with him. As they walked, she unconsciously asked, “What are you going to do? When will you be back?”
Shen Qingzhou said offhandedly, “Jian Shi asked to meet me. Probably because Chairman Fang has been having too many troubles lately and has guessed where the problem lies.”
Lin Qiao’s steps faltered. “So, you’re going to meet Jian Shi?”
Shen Qingzhou looked into her eyes and asked cautiously and softly, “Yes, why?”
“…” No reason. I just really feel like disfiguring you.
“I have to go. I’m in a hurry. If you’re not in a rush, take a taxi,” Shen Qingzhou seemed to sense Lin Qiao’s change in mood. It was as if he deliberately wanted to make her uncomfortable, emphasizing his words with intention.
Seeing him walk away without stopping, not seeming to joke, a stubborn streak rose in Lin Qiao’s heart. Standing still, she said, “Fine, go ahead.”
Shen Qingzhou turned to look at her, met her gaze for a few seconds, nodded, and then turned to leave.
The moment he left, Lin Qiao ran out of the residential area and hailed a taxi. When his car appeared, she said to the driver, “Master, follow that Ferrari. Let him experience the enthusiasm of us Beijing locals!”
The driver readily agreed: “No problem. In this traffic, a Ferrari isn’t necessarily faster than our taxi.”
Lin Qiao gave the driver a thumbs-up. “Master, you’re truly magnanimous.”
Praised, the driver became even more enthusiastic, cheerfully helping Lin Qiao tail Shen Qingzhou closely. Shen Qingzhou wasn’t driving fast nor recklessly, so they followed with ease.
During this tailing process, Lin Qiao decided to play the role of an undercover agent. She would sit at a table near Shen Qingzhou and Jian Shi, listening carefully to what the two had to say.
The driver readily agreed: “No problem. With this traffic, even a Ferrari might not be faster than our taxis.”
Lin Qiao gave the driver a thumbs up: “Driver, you’re truly generous.”
Encouraged by the compliment, the driver worked even harder, happily helping Lin Qiao tail Shen Qingzhou. Shen Qingzhou wasn’t driving fast or recklessly, so they followed quite easily.
During this surveillance, Lin Qiao decided to play the role of a secret agent, sitting at a nearby table where Shen Qingzhou and Jian Shi were having dinner, determined to listen in and find out what the two of them really wanted to talk about.
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