Chapter 55: Hello, Miss An

Nan Zhechuan saw this Shen family heir for the first time.

He was even younger than he had imagined.

After a flash of amazement crossed his eyes, he quickly stepped forward, smiling and extending his hand. Hello, Chairman Shen, I am Nan Zhechuan.

The man gave a soft Mm and politely shook his hand.

An Ling also extended her hand, lowering her eyes and saying softly, Hello, Chairman Shen, I am An Ling.

The man's distinctively knuckled hand grasped hers, his gaze sweeping lightly across her face.

Hello, Miss An.

A familiar voice, an unfamiliar title.

An Ling's expression froze slightly.

She subconsciously looked at the man's left hand, only to see that his long, pale fingers were strikingly bare.

She blinked, then gently curved her eyes into a smile and withdrew her hand.

After taking their seats, An Ling sat next to Nan Zhechuan, while Shen Linyan sat with Shen Fuyuan.

Shen Linyan picked up his chopsticks and said warmly, Please, everyone, let's eat. I haven't eaten here before, so I ordered their signature dishes. I hope they suit your tastes.

Shen Fuyuan couldn't wait to start. I'm starving. Let's eat first and talk later. My eldest brother is treating us today, so please don't be polite.

Nan Zhechuan nodded quickly. Okay, okay.

But a strange atmosphere still permeated the private room.

In the air, only the crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks clinking remained.

Noticing from the corner of his eye the woman opposite him eating in silence with her head down, Shen Linyan's movements paused slightly.

He lowered his eyes and suddenly asked gently, Shen Fuyuan, when does that show of yours start filming?

Shen Fuyuan's movements halted. She almost thought there was something wrong with her ears. She swallowed the food in her mouth and replied, Next week. This week is just test shooting.

The man still kept his eyes lowered gently. ...Will you find it tiring?

?

Clatter—

The food on Shen Fuyuan's chopsticks dropped into her bowl. She looked up in disbelief, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

This was the first time her eldest brother had ever shown concern for her.

Could it be because of the photo??

She opened her mouth hesitantly. Uh... well, probably not?

The sound of conversation broke the silence in the private room, slightly easing the atmosphere.

Taking advantage of a break in eating, Nan Zhechuan lowered his head slightly.

He used his chopsticks to cover his mouth and spoke in a low voice to An Ling beside him.

Scared me to death. I originally thought this Chairman Shen would be super strict, like threatening us that if we dared to bring bad publicity to his sister, he'd bankrupt our company.

Cough, cough—

An Ling almost choked, quickly turning to the side to cough twice. Unable to hold back, she covered her mouth and laughed out loud. Brother Nan, you have too much imagination. You should be a screenwriter.

She couldn't even imagine Shen Linyan saying such things.

Seeing her so calm, Nan Zhechuan said in surprise, Ah Leng, you're incredibly steady.

In contrast, he was scared to death.

Hearing this, An Ling raised an eyebrow and proudly pressed her hand down. Of course. Small scene, I can handle it.

Even she, the ex-wife, was sitting here without saying anything.

Nan Zhechuan looked enlightened. Wow... amazing. Seeing you like this, I'm not scared anymore.

An Ling smiled and looked up, subconsciously glancing toward Shen Linyan, only to unexpectedly meet a pair of pitch-black eyes.

Under the soft lighting of the private room, the man had stopped talking at some point.

His eyes were dark, hiding a faint stillness, quietly looking at her without a word.

The smile on An Ling's lips faltered slightly.

A few seconds later, she sat up straight, leaned back against her chair, picked up her water glass, and took a slow sip.

While drinking, the woman suddenly gave him a subtle, playful raise of her eyebrows, her eyes holding a smile.

Shen Linyan was stunned.

A few seconds later, a faint smile crossed his eyes. His expression relaxed, the corners of his mouth turned up, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he was about to speak.

Nan Zhechuan beside her spoke up: Ah Leng, do you want some more water?

The man's expression suddenly froze.

Hearing the voice, An Ling quickly turned her head and looked away, smiling as she pushed her glass over. Yes, thank you, Brother Nan.

No problem.

Nan Zhechuan took the glass, but when he handed it back, the water accidentally spilled over the rim, some of it splashing onto the back of An Ling's phone.

He instantly gasped, his eyes widening, and quickly pulled out a tissue to wipe it. Sorry about that, Ah Leng.

An Ling smiled and waved her hand. It's fine, it's fine. No harm done.

After wiping it clean, Nan Zhechuan hurriedly returned the phone to her, looking nervous. Check if it still works. I hope the water didn't ruin it.

An Ling took the phone and looked down to unlock it. It's okay, it doesn't break that easily.

Nan Zhechuan leaned over to take a peek, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was fine.

Shen Fuyuan was still wondering why it had suddenly gone quiet.

As soon as she turned her head, she saw her eldest brother staring blankly in a certain direction.

She was about to speak when she suddenly caught sight of the man's tightly clenched, white-knuckled fingers under the table. She instantly swallowed her words.

She glanced at the two people opposite her who were getting along so well, then looked at her quiet eldest brother beside her, and silently lowered her head to eat.

Isn't this just asking for suffering...

Later on, there was only the sound of Nan Zhechuan and Shen Fuyuan chatting. An Ling and Shen Linyan remained silent.

After the meal, Shen Linyan suddenly went out to take a phone call.

Nan Zhechuan and An Ling stood at the restaurant entrance. Nan Zhechuan smiled and thanked her: Miss Shen, I hope the filming goes smoothly this time. We'll head back now. Please let Chairman Shen know.

Chewing gum, Shen Fuyuan waved at them. Got it, got it. See you.

An Ling glanced inside the restaurant, didn't say much, and also turned to leave.

The figures of the two retreated further and further into the night, until they could no longer be seen.

As soon as Shen Fuyuan turned around, she saw the man standing quietly at the doorway.

Eldest brother, I took the blame for you this time.

An Ling had blamed her, saying she deliberately invited her eldest brother out.

Goodness! She was so wronged; it was her eldest brother who told her to do it!

The man didn't speak. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, and the top button of his shirt was undone, faintly revealing a silver chain inside. With an air of noble elegance and long, straight legs, he looked down and pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

With a click, a flame flickered in the night breeze. His long fingers held the lighter as he lowered his eyes to light the cigarette between his fingers, his tone flat.

Tell Secretary Chen whatever you want.

Then OK!

Shen Fuyuan put her hands in her pockets. After a long silence, she couldn't help but ask, Eldest brother, if you wanted to invite sister-in-law to dinner, why did you have me bring that guy along too?

When she sent the photo earlier, her eldest brother hadn't said anything else, just replying: Bring them to dinner tonight.

Fine to bring them, but Shen Fuyuan didn't understand why that Nan Zhechuan guy had to come along too, only for her eldest brother to watch them chat and torture himself?

Hearing this, the man lowered his head, biting his cigarette, and said nothing.

The night was heavy, and the swirling smoke blurred his handsome profile. Shadows fell beneath his eyes, masking his emotions, leaving only an indifferent aloofness.

The temperature at night was a bit low. Shen Fuyuan rubbed her hands together. Eldest brother, I'm going home. You should go home too.

The man's movements paused, his eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Just as Shen Fuyuan lifted her leg to leave, the man's voice suddenly rang out behind her.

Shen Fuyuan.

Hmm?

She turned her head in confusion, only to see the man slowly lifting his head, his voice very soft.

After a divorce, how long does it take to get used to being alone?

An Ling said it was normal to feel sad.

But right now, he still missed An Ling so much.