Translator: Dragon Boat Translation | Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
■•If you insist on giving it to me, I’ll do as you said before-I’ll throw it away on the spot. Right now, we’re by the Ning River, and unlike a trash can, once it’s gone in there, you won’t ever find it again. It would be a clean break.”
She handed the choice over to Shen Qian.
To discard or to keep, in any case, this bracelet would never appear in front of her again. The expression on Shen Wan’s face was chillingly composed.
Another long silence followed, and Shen Qian eventually made his decision-
He would keep the bracelet and take care of it himself.
Shen Wan wasn’t surprised by his choice. Something worth several million yuan couldn’t be tossed away just like that. At the very least, it could be resold; that was the most practical and rational course of action.
And Shen Qian’s calmness had never disappointed her, just like now when he put the bracelet and the lighter into his shirt pocket simultaneously. His expression remained indifferent, and his gaze steady.
Having passed on the hot potato, Shen Wan instantly felt a lot more relaxed.
“It’S late, let’s go home.”
The man gave her a deep look. “Alright.”
Back at the old mansion, it was already ten o’clock at night, and the living
room was brightly lit.
Upon entering, they found Shen Yan sitting alone on the sofa, watching TV.
“Brother, you’re back…”
When her gaze landed on Shen Wan, her smile visibly stiffened and disappeared at a rate visible to the naked eye. It eventually turned into a sinister expression as she threw the pillow aside and rushed forward. “How did you end up coming back with my brother?!
Her unfriendly eyes and questioning tone were filled with displeasure and disdain.
Shen Wan still changed into her slippers without lifting an eyelid.
Feeling ignored by Shen Wan, Shen Yan was about to erupt, but a warning glance from Shen Qian froze her in place. She felt wronged and embarrassed, and her resentment toward Shen Wan deepened.
The eldest sister was like this, and so was the eldest brother. What was so great about that little seductress? They both protected her…
Clearly, she was the closest to them, but Shen Wan was considered more important!
Shen Qian asked, “Where are Mom and Dad?”
‘■They have some social obligations and haven’t returned yet. Big sister is on a business trip. I’m all alone at home, feeling bored. How about… I come to intern at your company, brother?” Her tone was questioning, tinged with nervousness, a stark contrast to her haughty attitude when facing Shen Wan.
“Tianshui is very busy lately and can’t take on interns. If you’re really bored,
you can invite some classmates or friends to come over.”
“Is that okay?” Shen Yan’s attention was diverted, and she dropped the topic of interning.
“It’s fine, just don’t make a mess when Grandpa and Mom and Dad aren’t at
home.”
Shen Yan happily went upstairs, calling her classmates and friends one by one before leaving. Before she left, she glared at Shen Wan, as if to say—just wait, I’ll have plenty of chances to deal with you in the future.
Shen Wan remained calm, her dark eyes showing a hint of indifference.
“The bracelet has been returned. Don’t provoke Lushen in the future.” The man’s cold voice broke the silence before he headed upstairs.
Without looking back, Shen Wan replied, “What if he provoked first? You know
I don’t have a choice.”
“He wanted the bracelet, and you tell him it’s with me.
“Alright.” Whether the other party listened or not was not her concern.
Shen Wan had no desire to provoke either Lushen or Shen Qian, if she could help it.
It was too troublesome.
“As for the development project, there won’t be a next time.” As Shen Wan climbed the last step, he gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice.
Without stopping her footsteps, she turned the corner and disappeared.
It remained uncertain whether she heard him or not.
Shen Qian stood in the living room, illuminated by the crystal chandelier. However, his expression was unclear, as if shrouded in a layer of mist.
Back in her room, Shen Wan first checked the cactus on the windowsill. She remembered that she hadn’t watered it for about a week, but the small green body still appeared plump and juicy, thriving.
“You’re quite resilient…” She smiled and extended her index finger to tap one of the small thorns on top.
The next day, Shen Wan woke up naturally.
With no need to go to the office, she enjoyed her leisure. After completing a full set of yoga exercises in her room, she changed clothes and went out for a morning run.
The air still held the coolness of dew and the earthy scent. The breeze carried a faint floral fragrance.
Shen Qian also had the habit of morning running, and despite the busy season for Tian Shui Real Estate, she thought he might not be interested, but they ended up crossing paths.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
They exchanged nods as a brief acknowledgment and then continued their separate runs, without further conversation.
Shen Wan noticed that Shen Qian’s discipline extended not only to his work but also to his daily routines.
He had a set of rules for everything, including the time he went downstairs, his morning run schedule, breakfast time, running routes, and duration.
He never broke them unless there were exceptional circumstances.
As the ancients said, having no desires makes one resolute.
A person who was self-disciplined to the extreme often implied an extreme level of rationality, able to endure and conquer what others couldn’t. In this way, how could they not be powerful?
Shen Wan cleared her mind and stopped overthinking. She synchronized her breathing with her steps, establishing a rhythm.
Forty minutes later, she finished her morning run and went upstairs to take a shower.
The wound on her right elbow had already shed its scab once, and now fresh pink flesh had grown, no longer afraid of getting wet.
Shen Wan previously wondered if the herbal medicine was too slow to work, but it turned out she had underestimated Zou Lian’s skills.
Speaking of herbal medicine, Shen Wan suddenly remembered the night at the Hot Spring Villa. When she had barged in, Quan Hanting was soaking naked in the hot spring pool. Besides the natural sulfur scent of the hot spring water, there was also a strong medicinal fragrance in the air.
At that time, she hadn’t paid much attention to it, and she hadn’t thought about it afterwards. But now, as she recalled, she became curious about what illness Quan Hanting might have had.
He seemed perfectly fine most of the time, right?
He was strong, had a good appetite, and could sleep well. His only issue was his fair skin, but paired with his delicate face, it felt fitting and natural.
After showering, Shen Wan changed into clean loungewear and went downstairs for breakfast.
Old Master Shen had returned for a few days but went out again. This time, he seemed to be going to a temple in the mountains for a spiritual retreat. He had a few old friends accompanying him, a driver to drive him there, and even hired bodyguards—everything was well-prepared.
In Shen Wan’s past memories, Shen Zongming didn’t often travel far. Most of the time, he rotated between the old mansion, Shen Chunting’s house, and Shen Chunhang’s house.
With three sons, he could change houses whenever he pleased.
It was hard to believe that four years ago, he was so robust and energetic.
Shen Wan didn’t dwell on it too much. After all, at this age, every year was a milestone, and no one could predict what Shen Zongming’s physical condition would be like four years later. It was normal for a person to become less inclined to travel and venture far from home with age.
After breakfast, Shen Chunjiang and Shen Qian went to the company, Shen Ru was away on a business trip and wouldn’t be home for a few days. Yang Lan and Shen Yan, mother and daughter, sat on the sofa watching TV. Only Shen Wan, an outsider, was idling.
She didn’t mind, having had her fill of this kind of detached existence in her previous life. She had long grown accustomed to it.
Calm and at ease.
Having never hoped for anything, where could there be room for extravagant desires?
