Chapter Forty-Three
Shen Qianzhan didn’t catch it the first time.
Ji Qinghe repeated, “The old master wants to see you.” His voice was low, mature, carrying the magnetic quality unique to grown men.
Shen Qianzhan first savored the sound of his voice, and when she processed the content of his words, she was briefly taken aback. “Old Master Ji?”
“Surprised?”
The elevator rose to the second floor and paused briefly.
Ji Qinghe switched the umbrella to his other hand and moved closer to her side just before the doors opened.
A crowd of people squeezed at the elevator entrance, some holding medical record books or test reports—all patients or family members heading to the specialist clinics upstairs.
A nurse softly called out for people to make way as she pushed an elderly patient in a wheelchair, still hooked up to an IV drip.
The floor beneath Shen Qianzhan’s feet sank slightly as people filed in one by one, and she could almost feel the elevator’s capacity gradually nearing its limit.
She retreated toward the corner, her leg brushing against the damp umbrella. Ji Qinghe noticed before she did and handed it to her. “Hold this.”
As soon as Shen Qianzhan took it, he turned, using his back to shield her from any contact, enclosing her between the elevator wall and himself.
For a moment, she forgot what she had been about to say. Before her were his rain-dampened strands of hair, which softened his usual strict and meticulous demeanor, making his face appear gentler. Only his eyes remained as deep and unfathomable as a cliff, offering no sense of safety.
Shen Qianzhan swallowed, her gaze involuntarily drifting from his eyes and brows to his lips.
Ji Qinghe’s lips weren’t particularly thin; his lower lip was slightly fuller than his upper, the lines as precise as if 3D-printed, exquisite as a template.
He didn’t smoke or drink, and he carried little of the mundane world’s scent. At times, he was as faint as cold smoke; at others, as dense as pine mist. Even the lingering fragrance after intimate moments carried the crisp, cool scent of pine and mist.
More than once, Shen Qianzhan had felt the urge to lean in and breathe in that elusive, haunting fragrance at his neck.
Now, in the confined space of the not-so-spacious elevator, her wish was granted. She quietly took two breaths of that ethereal scent and asked in a hushed voice, “Does Endless Year have any perfumes that smell particularly nice?”
As the elevator ascended, the hum of its operation was gradually accompanied by murmurs of conversation.
Ji Qinghe obligingly lowered his head, a strand of cool hair brushing past the tip of her nose as he leaned in close to her ear, signaling for her to repeat herself.
Shen Qianzhan cursed inwardly.
If they weren’t in an elevator, she definitely wouldn’t be holding back.
Taking a deep breath, she silently grumbled, “What kind of demon is Ji Qinghe anyway?” while calmly saying, “Never mind, let’s talk outside.”
Ji Qinghe curved his lips slightly, pretending not to understand, and pressed closer, his lips near her ear. “I didn’t hear you.”
As he spoke, his breath brushed against her ear, stirring a faint itch in her sensitive skin. A familiar shiver traveled from the crown of her head all the way down to her feet, her heart tingling as if electrified.
Shen Qianzhan had first tasted passion at twenty-nine; now thirty, she yearned for those soul-stirring, transcendent collisions of desire. His deliberate teasing made her blood rush, and she glared at him angrily. “Behave yourself.”
Ji Qinghe chuckled softly, a hint of triumphant pleasure in his laughter.
Ji Qinghe knew Shen Qianzhan’s three vulnerabilities all too well.
The first was her right ear, the second the small of her back, and the third… was unspeakable. Just as a snake has its vital spot and a person their weaknesses, when these three areas of Shen Qianzhan were targeted, she was almost entirely at his mercy.
Their movements were subtle, tucked away in the corner, and their hushed conversation went unnoticed.Shen Qianzhan, whose skin was usually as thick as old tree bark and impervious to embarrassment, felt unusually thin-skinned today. She couldn't shake the feeling that the surrounding whispers and scrutinizing glances were directed at her.
——
The elevator stopped at every floor. By the time it reached the seventh, half the passengers had cleared out.
Shen Qianzhan had also arrived at her destination.
Ji Qinghe stepped out of the elevator ahead of her. As they walked down the corridor and the operating room came faintly into view at the far end, he paused briefly and stopped in place with gentlemanly courtesy. "The surgery should be wrapping up soon. The setting ahead isn't quite appropriate for me, so I'll leave you here."
Shen Qianzhan, well-acquainted with his consistent restraint and propriety, nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Ji."
Whether her gratitude was genuine or merely superficial, Ji Qinghe could tell at a glance. "No need for false courtesy."
Used to him seeing through her, Shen Qianzhan's smile turned more sincere. "Aren't you going to wait for Doctor Fei?"
"We arranged to meet in his office ahead of time," Ji Qinghe explained, glancing at his wristwatch. "I came over earlier because I heard Doctor Fei was still in surgery and wanted to check on the situation."
At this, Shen Qianzhan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Her features tended toward softness, so the eyebrow raise lacked some of its usual forcefulness and instead carried a touch of allure.
"Has the elder Mr. Ji been waiting all this time?"
"Yes," Ji Qinghe replied. "He came over this afternoon for a few tests."
He sensed what Shen Qianzhan was really asking and met her gaze. "Not today. If you're willing, I'll arrange a proper meeting at another time."
The weight behind his last words gave her pause. She pondered the meaning of "proper" and, for once, felt a twinge of guilt.
Back when she hadn't known about Ji Qinghe's relationship with the elder Mr. Ji, her face had been thicker than a city wall. She'd repeatedly extended invitations without the slightest hint of embarrassment. Now, with a golden opportunity right before her, all she could think was, "Sorry I slept with your grandson."
Shen Qianzhan had a particular trait—opportunism. After considering that the worst-case scenario was likely having her legs broken by the elder Mr. Ji, she yielded to the temptation of a face-to-face conversation with a master of imperial clock restoration. With a touch of reserve, she nodded. "Alright, I'll wait for your arrangement."
Ji Qinghe nodded in return, a flicker of profound, nearly imperceptible amusement passing through his eyes.
——
During the Spring Festival holiday, while bored at home, Shen Qianzhan had flipped through the Endless Year Chronicles that Su Zan had accidentally compiled while investigating Ji Qinghe. The online sources were patchy and incomplete, making for a disjointed read. Though she never fully unraveled the relationship between Ms. Meng Qiongzhi and Mr. Ji Qingzhen, she gained a rough understanding.
The materials indicated that Ms. Meng Qiongzhi was a talented upper-class socialite with a rich life experience. While girls her age were still vaguely sketching out their futures, Ms. Meng had already demonstrated sharp insight and clear purpose, diving into art and design and making a name for herself in Europe.
Online accounts of the elder Mr. Ji and Ms. Meng's story were sparse, offering only fragments. After their relationship fell apart, interviews with Ms. Meng Qiongzhi contained no trace of Ji Qingzhen whatsoever. Had Ji Qinghe not revealed his background, Shen Qianzhan estimated she would have spent considerable time verifying this connection.
After all, who would have imagined that the founder of a globally renowned luxury brand would have a history with a master of traditional Chinese clock restoration?
Based on the above, Shen Qianzhan listed three possible reasons why the elder Mr. Ji wanted to meet her.First, the incident of Ji Lin, that little brat, secretly hiding the proposal had been exposed. After Old Man Ji learned that Ji Qinghe was collaborating with her, he wanted to meet to clear up any misunderstandings.
Second, Ji Qinghe, representing Endless Year, had invested in "Time." After hearing about the inspiration behind "Time," Old Man Ji decided to meet and chat with her.
Third, Old Man Ji knew that Ji Qinghe had been slept with by her and, as the head of the family, was coming to hold her accountable.
With mental preparation, everything could be planned accordingly.
Shen Qianzhan maintained an optimistic mindset and quickly set the matter aside for the time being.
—
Grandfather’s heart bypass surgery was very successful. After the operation, Doctor Fei left first. Nearly half an hour later, Grandfather was wheeled out of the operating room by the anesthesiologist and, accompanied by family members, taken to the ward for further observation.
Mr. and Mrs. Shen had accompanied him all afternoon and only now could truly relax. After staying for a while to keep watch and seeing there was nothing they could help with, they decided not to take up space or cause trouble. They went home with Shen Qianzhan first, planning to visit again tomorrow.
With a caregiver looking after Grandfather and his children taking turns staying by his bedside, in Shen Qianzhan’s opinion, the medical care conditions hardly required Shen’s Mother to help. But she couldn’t stop Shen’s Mother’s deep affection and sense of duty. As a junior, it wasn’t appropriate for her to say anything, so the next day she could only take a longer route to drop Shen’s Mother off at the hospital before heading to work.
Around noon, Ji Qinghe sent her a WeChat message: “Free tonight? The old man is flying back to Xi’an tomorrow.”
Shen Qianzhan thought about her schedule for the day… She suspected Ji Qinghe had privately asked Qiao Xin about her work arrangements. Otherwise, how could he be so certain she’d be free tonight?
Thoughts aside, she replied: “Yes, send me the specific time and location.”
Ji Qinghe replied: “The courtyard house next to Time Hall.”
Shen Qianzhan’s eyelid twitched.
She was beginning to understand just how “formal” the meeting Ji Qinghe mentioned yesterday was—formal enough to bring her home?
But then again, elderly people often dislike staying in hotels. Since he had a place to stay in Beijing, there was no need to go to a hotel just to meet a junior. Moreover, when she met with screenwriters, directors, or artists in Beijing, she often visited their homes too. It was no big deal.
Save time, save costs!
With this in mind, Shen Qianzhan regained her composure. After entrusting the task of picking up Shen’s Mother to Old Shen, she left work early to prepare gifts for the meeting.
Thanks to her experience last year of making three visits to invite Old Man Ji out of retirement, Shen Qianzhan’s groundwork was exceptionally thorough.
She bought two elegantly packaged jars of vintage wine, acquired an inkstone, and also packed a handmade silk scarf for Madam Meng Qiongzhi. After completing these tasks, Shen Qianzhan finally felt much more at ease.
As the agreed-upon time approached, Shen Qianzhan timed her departure to head to the courtyard house.
To appear thoroughly courteous, she sent Ji Qinghe a WeChat message just before the last intersection, letting him know she was about to arrive.
Ji Qinghe’s reply came quickly: “Be careful on the road.”
Shen Qianzhan felt slightly reassured.
Just three seconds later, her still-navigating phone vibrated again. Ji Qinghe sent another message: “I’ll wait for you.”
Though the words were cold and simple, Shen Qianzhan inexplicably sensed a hint of ambiguity unlike his usual tone.
She lifted her gaze back to the road.
The latter part of the journey was slightly congested due to a bus stop.
Distractedly watching the slowly moving pedestrians, she couldn’t help but lightly bite her finger.It was already ten minutes later when she arrived at Time Hall. Shen Qianzhan hadn’t been in touch with Meng Wangzhou for a long time and didn’t know if he was still waiting in the usual spot to park her car. With a tentative mindset, she drove over and saw a black vintage bicycle parked in the only spot in front of Time Hall.
A young man was sitting on the back seat.
He wasn’t wearing his usual suit, which always exuded a cold and imposing aura. Instead, he had on a solid-colored sweater, draped with a dark overcoat, and loose-fitting casual pants that draped softly over his feet, giving him a lazy, handsome, and gentle appearance.
Only the unchanged gold-rimmed glasses framed his features as usual, refined and steady.
Shen Qianzhan’s little heart, which had never been under her control, skipped a beat again, as if sniped, her blood rushing backward.
Damn it, why isn’t the dog man acting like a dog today? Who can handle him growing younger like this every day?
Author’s Note: Sister Deng: My heart feels as if it’s been sniped.
Today, I’ll give out a hundred red envelopes in the front row~ Thank you for your support.
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solutions between 2020-03-16 18:05:19 and 2020-03-17 21:54:57~
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