A Twisted Love Affair-Chapter 192: Shen Jing, what are you doing, trying to offer yourself to me?
May 20th came and went swiftly; some spent it with their significant others, some did not.
「The next day, in the afternoon.」
Shen Jing personally delivered a gift to a major client’s home. The moment the nanny led her in, she faintly heard children’s laughter and the "KO" sound from a video game. Just like that, she encountered a familiar figure in the client’s living room.
The man, dressed in a smart white polo shirt and grey trousers, sat on the sofa, playing games with the client’s child.
"Miss Shen, come in, come in."
Shen Jing handed the gift to the client’s nanny. "Miss Sun’s house is quite lively, isn’t it?"
Miss Sun personally welcomed her at the door. "It’s my child’s birthday today. You were so thoughtful to remember and even come personally to deliver a gift."
"I was just passing by on my way home from work," she said sincerely.
At the sound of her voice, the man on the sofa finally turned his head indifferently.
A mature face, sculpted by time, was right before her. Shen Jing was surprised for a moment. "How come you’re here too?"
Sun Qiyan gestured towards the child in his arms. "This is my nephew."
Alright. Shen Jing didn’t pry into his family affairs. She was only responsible for managing this client’s funds.
Having delivered the gift, Shen Jing didn’t want to disturb the client and made an excuse about having other matters to attend to, leaving early.
Sun Qiyan put down his little nephew and picked up the jacket from the back of the sofa. "I’ll see you out."
It was a considerable distance from the affluent residential complex to the main gate.
The blazing sun made her face flush.
Sun Qiyan chuckled lightly, tugging her arm towards the shade of the covered walkway.
This was a familiar gesture between acquaintances, so she didn’t refuse. She obediently walked with him into the shade. "The roses you gave me wilted. I was too busy and forgot to change the water."
"I’ll send you more in a few days for Children’s Day," he said.
Whenever he gave her flowers, he had to choose an appropriate time, he thought. Giving them every day would be a nuisance.
Previously, her relationship with Zhou Luchen had been ambiguous. He wasn’t used to getting too close to her, afraid it would lead to rumors and gossip about her within their social circle. Now that she had no ties to Zhou Luchen, it felt more appropriate.
Shen Jing thought for a moment. "It’s Children’s Day."
Sun Qiyan slowed his pace, turned sideways, and looked her up and down. "Are you very old?"
"Brother Qiyan, you’re so kind."
Sun Qiyan chuckled, his stride relaxed.
Shen Jing tilted her small face up to look at him. "When you return to Shanghai, could you let me know? I want you to bring some things for my grandma."
Sun Qiyan’s gentle voice was close to her ear. "My flight is at 5 PM."
"I’ve also brought you a gift," she said.
Sun Qiyan’s expression suddenly brightened. He wanted to ask what the gift was, but though his lips moved, he didn’t.
"It’s rare for Miss Shen, all the way from Beijing, to remember me."
Shen Jing said, "You gave me a gift, so I must return the courtesy."
Sun Qiyan frowned slightly.
Such a polite child. This isn’t fun, he thought.
It was his nephew’s birthday party, but this maternal uncle was off sending a friend to the Xihe River area to fetch something, thereby missing the celebration.
Shen Jing bought many gifts for her grandma.
「The highway in the Xihe River area.」
「By the car.」
Sun Qiyan helped her place the items one by one into the car’s trunk.
What she gave Sun Qiyan was a small, pure black lambskin cardholder.
It was a return gift for the bracelet. Even with close friends, she didn’t accept gifts without reciprocating.
Shen Jing reluctantly took it out, her gaze occasionally drifting to the gift bag. "This cost me a whole month’s salary. It really stings."
Sun Qiyan discreetly shifted his gaze to the gift bag in her hand. Countless thoughts about its contents flashed through his mind.
His curiosity was profound. "I don’t need anything too expensive," he said.
"I thought it suited you, so I bought it. It’s a newly released wallet. The sales associate also needed to make sales and insisted it had feng shui for attracting wealth. I couldn’t see how, but you try it. If it works, let me know, and I’ll buy one for myself too."
Just this? Attracting wealth? Sun Qiyan thought.
He took the gift box, seeking an answer to one question. "Did you only buy one?"
"It was hard enough to get them to transfer one from another store. You want two? Don’t be so greedy, Sun Qiyan," Shen Jing said.
Sun Qiyan finally understood from her words: she had only bought one wallet. Then Zhou Luchen probably didn’t have one, he thought.
He clearly felt pained to see her spend her money on gifts and even wanted to tell her to return it and keep the money for herself. Yet, he found himself inexplicably placing it in the car and accepting it calmly. Was he being too sensitive? he wondered. He didn’t want to receive the same gift as Zhou Luchen.
Zhou Luchen was even more sensitive. Previously, when he and Zhou Luchen collaborated on projects in Shanghai, they could find common topics to discuss, even at gatherings with people of different ages.
Since Shen Jing’s appearance, he and Zhou Luchen had found themselves with nothing more to say to each other.
At this thought, an involuntary smile spread across Sun Qiyan’s face. "I really like the gift you gave me."
Shen Jing handed over another gift bag. "This is for Uncle Sun."
It was clearly an expensive and thoughtfully chosen gift. Sun Qiyan felt a twinge of annoyance; he didn’t want her to spend so much on others, potentially at her own expense.
"Don’t waste your money like this in the future," he said. "My grandfather has everything he needs."
She remained silent.
The moment he spoke, Sun Qiyan regretted it. Perhaps his tone had been too harsh, or his words poorly chosen, making her feel wronged.
Seeing her lower her head, Sun Qiyan stumbled over his words. "I... I wasn’t blaming you. Please, don’t feel bad, okay?"
Shen Jing explained, "I know. You’ve all helped take care of my grandmother unconditionally."
Sun Qiyan forcefully slammed the trunk shut, almost reflexively. He looked at her with a smile. "What’s all this for? Instead of these gestures, why not just devote yourself to me?"
Their eyes met. In his pupils, Sun Qiyan saw only her face; the scenery behind her seemed to fade into nothingness, as if she were the only one there.
The years had eroded his youthful naivety and elegant demeanor, leaving his brow looking dark and heavy.
He must be joking, Shen Jing thought. She was aware of his kindness, his gentleness, and the self-control that always kept their relationship strictly within the bounds of friendship.
Shen Jing said, "Did you bring your household registration book? Let’s go, then."
She was really just joking, she thought, knowing that people from other provinces couldn’t register for marriage in the Imperial Capital.
Sun Qiyan’s laughter was tinged with regret. He replied, also in a seemingly joking manner, "My family has had Shanghai residency for three generations. We can’t register here."
Shen Jing shrugged. "Just kidding. You’re always so serious and stern-faced. You should smile more; it would make you seem gentler and more charming. Go find me a sister-in-law."
At her last sentence, Sun Qiyan abruptly turned his head away.
Sun Qiyan opened the car door and settled inside. His voice, soft yet firm, drifted out, "Next time you say that, I’ll really take you to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get a marriage certificate. No backing out."
Shen Jing barely heard him, waving her hand. "Drive safely. Let me know when you land."
Sun Qiyan tapped the steering wheel with his long fingers. He wanted to ask, "Shall I take you back to Shanghai with me?" but the words died in his throat.
He started the car and drove away.
In the distance, he saw in the rearview mirror that she had already turned and gone inside her home.
He didn’t understand, nor did he want to understand, whether this was love. He just wanted to be good to her, to take care of her. He didn’t want her to fall for a philanderer like Zhou Luchen. But he also knew that to Shen Jing, their relationship was that of friends, perhaps bordering on family. He didn’t want to force things, nor did he want to disturb her life excessively. Yet, he couldn’t resist wanting to check if she was doing well. Some boundaries, once crossed, would only make one fall deeper.
