“Holy shit!” Gu Xingchen suddenly glanced at his phone and his eyes widened in disbelief. “That spendthrift Ji Yan is swiping my card like there’s no tomorrow?!”
Assistant Yan, who was organizing documents, paused briefly before lowering his head, pretending not to hear.
He Siyu sat on the sofa, flipping through files. At Gu Xingchen’s outburst, he lifted his gaze to give him a look.
Sang Ning had gone out with Ji Yan today.
As one of the investors in Hui Medical, Gu Xingchen had come to Huiyao to finalize some contract details.
“Four Dior summer dresses, six pairs of shoes, two Hermès bags, two Cartier necklaces, and two gemstone rings.” Gu Xingchen gritted his teeth. “My phone hasn’t stopped buzzing all afternoon.”
He Siyu glanced at his own phone—no notifications.
He had given her a card too.
With the Nan Group currently struggling with internal cash flow and the Hui Medical project just launched without dividends yet, he had handed her a card to spend freely.
Yet she hadn’t used it even once. His expression darkened as he put his phone away.
Gu Xingchen was still ranting. “She was quick to draw a line between us—even wanted to separate? What kind of married couple lives apart right after getting married? She clearly doesn’t see me as her husband! But when it comes to spending my money, she’s got no qualms at all, practically trying to bankrupt me.”
Bang!
He Siyu slammed the folder onto the table in front of him, his tone icy. “Sign it and get out.”
“Damn, you’re so cold! We’ve been brothers since childhood, and you don’t even care! Do you know how much my heart hurts?!” Gu Xingchen’s tone was theatrically exaggerated.
He Siyu’s brow furrowed at the last line, a familiar sense of disgust creeping in.
His gaze turned stormy. “Get out. Now.”
Gu Xingchen clicked his tongue and shook his head, picking up a pen to sign. “Fine, fine. I don’t wanna stay anyway. With that sour face of yours, I don’t know how Nan Sangning puts up with you.”
He Siyu’s eyes chilled further.
Gu Xingchen tossed the pen down and left. “I’m out. See you at the next celebration!”
The noisy office finally quieted down.
Assistant Yan silently finished organizing the documents and exited.
He Siyu leaned back in his executive chair, rubbing his temples.
His phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID: Grandma He.
He answered. “Grandma.”
Grandma He’s voice was sharp with irritation. “You and Sang Ning got back together? You broke up without a word, then got back together just as quietly—are you playing house?!”
He Siyu replied lazily, “Been busy lately. Didn’t get around to telling you.”
Not that she needed to be told—news of their reunion had spread everywhere the same day.
Grandma He snorted. “Since you’re back together, bring Sang Ning home for dinner. Has she finished up with her company’s affairs?”
“Mostly.”
“Her family’s going through a tough time. You better support her!”
“I know.”
His indifferent tone only made Grandma He feel more dismissed.
She lectured further, “You two should just settle the marriage soon. You’re so unreliable, breaking up and getting back together like it’s nothing—utter nonsense. Don’t you dare waste Sang Ning’s time.”
He Siyu lowered his gaze, his tone casual. “We’ll see.”
Grandma He knew that was just another brush-off. “Fine! I can’t control you anyway. Bring Sang Ning home for dinner soon.”
“Mm.”
She hung up without another word.
He spun the phone between his fingers, his dark eyes unreadable.
---
It was already 10 p.m. when Sang Ning returned home.
Ji Yan had taken her to a seaside bar, where they listened to live guitar music under the ocean breeze—a relaxing evening.
The lights were on at home. She changed into slippers and walked inside.
The study door was ajar, and voices could be heard. She peeked in to see the man behind the desk seated in his swivel chair, facing the computer. One hand rested on the armrest as he spoke in flawless British English, his tone stern.
Suddenly, he looked up and saw her. He muted the call and frowned. “Why so late?”
She tiptoed in, instinctively lowering her voice. “Ji Yan took me to a bar to listen to music. We lost track of time. Are you still working?”
His expression was unamused. “Yes.”
She turned to leave. “I’ll wait outside—”
Before she could finish, his large hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her back. She stumbled and landed on his lap.
She gasped, then quickly covered her mouth, flustered as she glanced at the computer screen, her face tense.
The screen displayed a virtual meeting room, most attendees being blond, blue-eyed foreigners.
His arm circled her waist as his deep voice murmured in her ear, “My camera’s off.”
Only then did her stiff posture relax slightly.
Of course—he was the boss. He didn’t have to turn his camera on.
His tone was cool. “Stay here with me.”
His grip around her waist made it clear he wasn’t letting her go.
She had barely been home these past two days, always out and about.
Sang Ning didn’t resist or speak.
The meeting had fallen into a brief silence after a report, everyone waiting for He Siyu’s response.
He unmuted and replied in English.
Sang Ning’s English wasn’t great—she caught only a few words. Bored, she zoned out.
Ten minutes later, He Siyu ended the meeting early, asking for the files to be sent directly to him.
Even after the call, he remained at his desk reviewing documents, his arm still around her. But Sang Ning felt much more at ease now.
Suddenly, he looked down and saw her nestled quietly against him, docile as a kitten. His heart softened unexpectedly.
His voice gentled. “Just ten more minutes.”
She nodded lightly. “Okay.”
But a restless energy surged in him, making it hard to focus on the files.
“You went shopping today?” he asked offhandedly.
“How’d you know?”
“Gu Xingchen mentioned it. Said Ji Yan nearly maxed out his card.”
Sang Ning froze, her gaze drifting awkwardly.
How embarrassing…
He kept his eyes on the screen, his tone neutral. “Why didn’t you use the card I gave you?”
“Forgot,” she said casually.
His lips pressed into a thin line, silence settling between them.
She looked down at the large hand still wrapped around her waist. Her lashes fluttered slightly as her small fingers began playing with his.
He was absorbed in the files, indifferent to her fiddling.
His hands were long and well-defined—she had never noticed how attractive they were until now.
After a moment’s thought, she pulled out a plain silver ring and gently slid it onto his ring finger.
He Siyu had been scowling at the documents, his mood irritable, when a cool sensation suddenly touched his finger.
He stiffened, glancing down to see the simple band now resting on his ring finger.
For three seconds, his breath stopped. Then his head snapped up, meeting her clear, glass-like eyes.
She gazed at him softly and whispered, “He Siyu, let’s get married.”
