Sheng Chenjin smiled slightly, "All of this is as it should be. After all, I thought if I asked you to live with me when you returned, you definitely wouldn't agree, and you must be tired from such a long flight, so I had someone tidy up for you in advance. Keep the windows open these days to let in fresh air; that way, it won't feel so stuffy, and the air in the room will be better."
Honestly, Shi Xinxin felt a bit excited at this moment. After all, she hadn't expected Sheng Chenjin to do such a thing for her.
Shi Xinxin sincerely thanked Sheng Chenjin. However, Sheng Chenjin seemed to somewhat reject her thanks, "I'm your boyfriend, doing these things is only natural. Shi Xinxin, can you stop being so formal with me all the time?"
To appease the slightly agitated Sheng Chenjin, Shi Xinxin obediently took his arm and leaned her head against it, "Okay, okay. From now on, I'll treat you like my ox or horse and order you around. Alright?"
Sheng Chenjin sighed helplessly, "Do as you please. I have no right to refuse."
From the rearview mirror, he watched the interaction between the two people sitting in the back seat.
Actually, Tang Tang saw it all clearly. From Sheng Chenjin's eyes and tone of voice, she could tell that Sheng Chenjin indeed still had feelings for Shi Xinxin, and even seemed somewhat doting.
As for Shi Xinxin, her happiness was almost overflowing. Although Tang Tang had never been particularly fond of this couple, she sometimes had to believe in fate. In the end, Sheng Chenjin and Shi Xinxin were more destined for each other.
When the car stopped at the house where Shi Xinxin used to live, Sheng Chenjin's old butler was already waiting there.
Shi Xinxin exclaimed in surprise, "Butler? What are you doing here?"
The butler was also surprised to see Sheng Chenjin and Shi Xinxin getting out of the same car. After all, Shi Xinxin had disappeared from Sheng Chenjin's side for a year, and there had been no news of her at all during that time.
He hadn't expected Shi Xinxin to still be with Sheng Chenjin.
"Butler, what's wrong?" Seeing the butler frozen in place and not responding, Shi Xinxin asked again.
This time, the butler finally reacted, "Oh! I was just too surprised. I didn't expect Miss Shi, you to be with Master."
Shi Xinxin glanced at Sheng Chenjin, looking a bit shy.
"Now I understand. It seems Master has been flying to America all this past year just for you, Miss Shi," the butler said bluntly, making Shi Xinxin even more embarrassed.
Sheng Chenjin asked the butler for the key and instructed, "I won't be back for dinner tonight. Tell Aunt Yun not to prepare my meal."
The butler appeared very happy, as if Sheng Chenjin had regained his usual spirit upon seeing him with Shi Xinxin. "Alright, alright. I'll go tell her right away. Tell her not to prepare your meal, and you should spend good time with Miss Shi."
With that, the butler, a quick-witted old man, hurried back to his car and went home.
Looking at the butler's demeanor, Shi Xinxin found it somewhat amusing.
"Let's go, don't just stand there dazed."
What Shi Xinxin didn't expect was that when the three of them were having dinner at the restaurant Tang Tang had booked, they would run into a familiar person – Xu Jiayi.
Actually, when she first saw Xu Jiayi, Shi Xinxin had no particular feelings, and there was no awkwardness whatsoever. This was because she had always considered Xu Jiayi just a friend.
Moreover, Xu Jiayi was a generous person and wouldn't dwell on past events. It was Sheng Chenjin who instinctively moved closer to Shi Xinxin upon seeing Xu Jiayi.
"I thought you should have returned to the country by now, I didn't expect to meet so soon," Xu Jiayi said, appearing somewhat happy to see Shi Xinxin.
"Yes!" Shi Xinxin replied generously, "I also didn't expect to run into you at the restaurant so soon after returning. If you weren't with a group of staff, I would have thought Tang Tang deliberately booked this place."
Xu Jiayi laughed heartily and looked at Tang Tang, "Don't say that about Tang Tang. She's your best friend and a big supporter of yours."
Although the topic shifted to Tang Tang, she acted as if it had nothing to do with her and continued eating calmly.
Sheng Chenjin, however, seemed a bit nervous and directly interrupted Shi Xinxin and Xu Jiayi's conversation, "It is indeed quite a coincidence. However, Mr. Xu Jiayi, I must thank you. If you hadn't come to find me back then, perhaps Shi Xinxin and I wouldn't be where we are today."
As he spoke, Sheng Chenjin cast a loving glance at Shi Xinxin.
Xu Jiayi looked somewhat resigned, "Honestly, I struggled with that decision for a long time. After all, not everyone can let go of someone they love. But I, Xu Jiayi, also have my dignity. I can't stand having a woman by my side who has another man in her heart. In matters of love, I am rational and know whether I have a chance."
Although these words seemed to be a response to Sheng Chenjin, Xu Jiayi's eyes were fixed on Shi Xinxin as he spoke.
"I'm sorry," Shi Xinxin said those three words again.
But Xu Jiayi quickly raised his hand to stop her, "Don't say those three words. They're meaningless. Shi Xinxin, I understand that people's hearts cannot be controlled. It's just my bad luck that I didn't meet you sooner."
Sheng Chenjin felt a little uneasy hearing this and once again interrupted Shi Xinxin and Xu Jiayi, "Since we've met here, why don't we dine together?"
Only then did Xu Jiayi shift his gaze to Sheng Chenjin, "No need. I have a meeting with a business partner. I won't disturb you."
With that, Xu Jiayi looked at Shi Xinxin tenderly, "I'll be going now. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to me. Remember, like Tang Tang, I will be your best friend."
Shi Xinxin nodded seriously. In fact, Xu Jiayi's last words did touch her.
Only after Xu Jiayi had truly walked away did Sheng Chenjin relax and lead Shi Xinxin back to their table.
Finally, under Sheng Chenjin's incessant urging day after day, Shi Xinxin decided to proceed with the engagement ceremony as soon as possible. Otherwise, she felt she would be completely overwhelmed by his words.
From the second day of their return to the country, Sheng Chenjin had been incessantly talking about holding the engagement ceremony, as if he was afraid Shi Xinxin would run off with someone else.
Finally, after Sheng Chenjin proposed for the nth time, Shi Xinxin, who could recite his entire speech by heart, finally agreed.