Shi Xinxin walked beside him without much thought.
The two walked along the riverside green belt.
The night breeze brushed against Shi Xinxin's cheeks, ruffling her soft hair. She reached up to push it aside, revealing her fair and delicate face.
She tilted her head and looked at Sheng Chenjin. "Is something wrong?"
Sheng Chenjin remained silent. He took a photo out of his pocket and handed it to Shi Xinxin.
The photo showed Shi Xinxin from behind.
Shi Xinxin recognized it as being taken at an amusement park.
She remembered Sheng Chenjin seemed to have complimented her on her beauty at the time.
"This photo..." Shi Xinxin looked at him doubtfully. "Where did you get it?"
Sheng Chenjin didn't explain. He continued to ask, "I'm asking you, have you become friends with Shen Shiying?"
"Yes," Shi Xinxin replied honestly.
Sheng Chenjin frowned. "You've only met her once, are you sure she's sincere with you?"
"Brother Chenjin," Shi Xinxin bit her lip. "Why do you think Shiying isn't sincere with me?"
"She said before that she wouldn't be friends with any boys, let alone opposite-sex friends. Did you forget?" Sheng Chenjin retorted.
Shi Xinxin was dazed. She had indeed forgotten about that.
"At that time, we were friends," she insisted. "Shiying is different from other girls."
Sheng Chenjin was silent for a few seconds. "She's quite special to you."
Before he finished speaking, a pleasant voice suddenly interjected, "Brother Chenjin."
Shi Xinxin turned her head to look.
She saw a beautiful woman with a stunning figure walking towards them.
Shi Xinxin blinked, and an image flashed in her mind.
That beautiful woman had been here before. She remembered that the woman and Sheng Chenjin were on a date that time!
She glanced at Sheng Chenjin. His face showed no emotion.
"Chenjin, I've been waiting for you for half a day," the beautiful woman said with a smile as she approached Sheng Chenjin, taking his arm. "Let's go, Mom and Dad want us to go back early."
Shi Xinxin stood frozen, watching the beautiful woman embrace Sheng Chenjin and walk into the teaching building. She clenched her fists.
"Xinxin, does Brother Chenjin have a girlfriend?" Shen Shiying walked up to Shi Xinxin and asked with concern.
Shi Xinxin sighed softly. "I suppose so."
A flicker of sadness crossed Shen Shiying's eyes.
...
At six in the evening, Shen Shiying was preparing to leave school.
Mr. Shen and Mrs. Shen were already seated at the dining table.
Mrs. Shen called out to Shi Xinxin to wash her hands and eat.
After dinner, Mrs. Shen took Shi Xinxin's hand. "Xinxin, we have a new apartment close to the school. If you want to come over on the weekend or Sunday, you can stay with us."
Shi Xinxin blinked her eyes and refused. "Auntie, I don't want to move for now."
"You live alone, it's not safe! What if you run into bad people?" Mrs. Shen asked worriedly. "It would be safer if you moved in with us."
Shi Xinxin still refused. "Auntie, thank you for your concern. I'll protect myself."
Seeing her firm attitude, Mrs. Shen didn't press further. "Alright, if you need anything, just let Auntie know anytime."
"Okay, I understand," Shi Xinxin nodded with a smile. "I'll be going now. See you next time!"
"Goodbye," Mrs. Shen waved.
As soon as Shi Xinxin walked out of the villa, her phone rang.
She pressed the answer button. "Hello."
A magnetic male voice came from the other end. "Where are you?"
Shi Xinxin looked around. "At the school gate."
"Wait for me there, I'll come and pick you up."
Shi Xinxin was taken aback. "I can just take a taxi back myself."
"Be good, wait for me."
"Okay!" Shi Xinxin relented.
...
Twenty minutes later, a luxurious car stopped steadily in front of Shi Xinxin.
The car window rolled down, revealing Sheng Chenjin's handsome profile to Shi Xinxin.
"Get in," he said.
"Okay," Shi Xinxin obediently got into the car.
Sheng Chenjin started the engine, stepped on the accelerator, and the car sped away.
They didn't speak for the entire journey, Sheng Chenjin focused on driving.
"Sheng Chenjin," Shi Xinxin suddenly called his name.
Sheng Chenjin raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her. "What is it?"
Shi Xinxin pursed her pink lips and said softly, "Thank you for taking me back."
"Hmm?" Sheng Chenjin smirked. "We're legally married. I'm not only responsible for your daily life but also for your personal safety."
Shi Xinxin pursed her lips and remained silent.
Sheng Chenjin glanced at her. "Shi Xinxin."
"What?"
Sheng Chenjin curved his lips, his tone doting. "We haven't been married for long, but I'm getting more and more used to having you around. So, whether you want to or not, I hope we can minimize conflicts."
Shi Xinxin paused slightly, then nodded. "Okay."
...
Back at the Shi family mansion, Sheng Chenjin got out of the car and walked around to the other side to open the door for Shi Xinxin.
The two walked inside together.
As soon as they entered the house, Mrs. Shen warmly greeted them. "Xinxin, you're finally back."
Shen Shiying also came forward. "Sister."
Shi Xinxin nodded at her politely.
"Xinxin, stay here for dinner tonight," Shen Shiying said, linking her arm affectionately with Shi Xinxin's. "I made something delicious for you."
Shi Xinxin smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Mrs. Shen was extremely pleased.
After dinner, Shi Xinxin returned to her room and took out her textbooks to review her studies.
The tip of her pen glided across the paper, and she suddenly remembered what Shen Shiying had said that day.
Did Shen Shiying like Sheng Chenjin?
At that moment, her phone vibrated. She opened WeChat.
It was a message from Sheng Chenjin.
He asked her, "I'm going to a banquet tonight. Do you want to come with me?"
Shi Xinxin hesitated. She wasn't sure what kind of banquet Sheng Chenjin wanted to take her to.
After thinking for a moment, she typed a message. "Sorry, I'm a bit scared. I'd rather not go."
After a long while, her phone beeped.
[Brother Chenjin: It's okay, we're just having dinner.]
Shi Xinxin pursed her lips, hesitated for a long time, and finally replied: [I still don't think I'll go.]
Soon, another message arrived.
[Brother Chenjin: You'll be lonely by yourself in the dorm. I'll come find you.]
Shi Xinxin held her phone, her heart skipping a beat for no reason.
Although she knew Sheng Chenjin was interested in her, he was actually inviting her to his house?
Her heart pounded erratically. She quickly covered her chest with her hand, trying to suppress the flutter within.
"Knock knock!" A knock sounded at the door.
Shi Xinxin jumped in surprise and quickly stuffed her phone under the pillow.
She walked to the door, took a deep breath, and then opened it.
"Little Xinxin, are you asleep?" Shen Shiying stood outside the door, looking at her with a pleading expression.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Shi Xinxin asked curiously. "It's already past eight."
"I can't sleep," Shen Shiying pouted her red lips. "Sister, I want to chat with you, can I?"
"Of course," Shi Xinxin smiled. "Come in."
Shen Shiying walked into the room.