Jiang Tang was an extremely straightforward person.
This was something Shen Yihan had always known.
But he hadn’t expected her to be this direct.
When she suddenly asked that question,
Shen Yihan’s mind went blank for two seconds, his heart pounding violently.
His left hand unconsciously twisted the Buddhist beads around his right wrist,
trying to slow his racing pulse—but to no avail.
Right, why was he so interested in what Jiang Tang’s ex-boyfriend was like?
Jiang Tang had only asked casually,
but the prolonged silence on the other end of the phone made her frown slightly.
No way… Did CEO Shen actually want to date her?
She had witnessed firsthand how Shen Yihan had treated Li Huanyu back then—
generous to a fault, granting every request, the epitome of a lovesick fool.
But with her, he’d always been… ordinary.
It couldn’t mean what she thought.
“Yes. Is that okay?”
Shen Yihan’s voice, slightly hoarse, came through the phone.
Jiang Tang: “…”
Shen Yihan’s heart thundered uncontrollably, his palms damp with sweat.
He wanted to talk to Jiang Tang, yet he kept asking these inexplicable questions.
This clearly went beyond mere discomfort.
There was only one explanation—he had feelings for her.
The silence stretched, gnawing at him. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Well?”
His voice dipped lower, weaving into Jiang Tang’s ears like a whisper, sending a faint itch down her spine.
She had to admit, Shen Yihan was someone she admired.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have worked under him for so long.
But tonight’s exchange had caught her completely off guard.
He didn’t sound drunk either.
What was going on?
After a few seconds of deliberation, Jiang Tang pressed her lips together and replied coolly, “CEO Shen, I think you’re not in the right state of mind tonight. Let’s hang up.”
Beep—beep—beep—
The call ended abruptly.
Shen Yihan sat stunned, his heartbeat still erratic.
Things had spiraled in a way he hadn’t anticipated.
The moment he realized his feelings for Jiang Tang, he’d blurted them out.
But who confessed so casually?
This was no way to treat her!
Still, Jiang Tang hadn’t outright rejected him—she’d just hung up.
Did that mean she wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea?
The thought made the corners of his lips lift unconsciously. His fingers brushed over the beads.
Picking up his phone, he sent Jiang Tang a WeChat message:
[Sorry, that was too abrupt. Just forget what I said earlier.]
Jiang Tang read the message in the quiet of her study.
Her lashes lowered as she typed back: [Okay.]
So Shen Yihan really had just been out of sorts—not actually interested in her.
Setting her phone aside, she tried to refocus on revising the proposal, but her concentration kept slipping.
After several failed attempts, Jiang Tang leaned back in her chair with a sigh.
Was Shen Yihan having some kind of episode?
If he didn’t actually like her, why say something so provocative?
She loved her job, but she wasn’t emotionless.
For four years, they’d spent nearly every waking moment together.
Whether it was his looks, competence, or character, he stood out among their peers.
She admired him—that much was true.
But given their professional relationship, she’d never considered romance.
Now, though, it felt like a pebble had been tossed into the still waters of her heart, sending ripples across the surface.
And that pebble had the audacity to say, “Pretend I was never thrown.”
Jiang Tang was irritated, but she wasn’t about to act on it.
Romance was just a bonus in life—nice to have, but not essential.
Steadying her emotions, she returned to work.
The next day arrived swiftly.
Jiang Tang reached the office early, having slept poorly but still functional.
The morning was packed with meetings.
When she finally returned to her office, she froze at the sight on her desk—a bouquet of flowers.
Approaching, she recognized them as Polar White Red Roses.
Unlike ordinary red roses, these had petals tinged with a frosty white, a striking blend of elegance and vibrancy.
Without thinking, she reached out to touch a petal before catching herself.
Who sent these?
Sitting down, she dialed her assistant. “Where did the flowers on my desk come from?”
The assistant replied, “They’re from CEO Shen.”
