Shi Heng nodded, "It seems that my good brother can't wait to stand up for his fiancée."

With a turn of the steering wheel, the car drove towards the Shi family's old house.

Gu Youran tilted her head and looked at his chiseled profile. The eyes that always smiled gently at her were now as cold as ice.

"Don't worry." He suddenly held her hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "Just watch the show tonight."

…

The Shi family's old house was brightly lit.

As soon as the two stepped into the living room, they heard Luo Zifu's sharp voice: "Uncle Shi, this is clearly a malicious order grab! You have to make the decision for us."

In the living room, Luo's father and daughter, Shi Jue, and Su Manyun sat on one side, while Shi Zhengyang sat alone on the single sofa.

Shi Heng strode in holding Gu Youran's hand, and everyone's attention was immediately focused on them.

"Brother, you've arrived just in time." Shi Jue spoke sarcastically, tapping the armrest of the sofa with his fingers nervously.

Shi Heng didn't even glance at him and walked straight to his father, "Dad."

Shi Zhengyang raised his eyes and said calmly, "Explain James's matter in front of everyone."

Without waiting for Shi Heng to speak, Luo Zifu stood up suddenly and pointed her bright red nails at Gu Youran.

"Boss Shi! Our Luo family has been preparing for this project for half a year. How can you intercept it? Just relying on those silver needles your wife played with on the plane?"

Gu Youran frowned and was about to speak when Shi Heng gently pinched her fingers.

"Intercept?" Shi Heng sneered, pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase and threw them on the coffee table.

The documents unfolded, revealing a striking "Technical Comparative Analysis Report".

He pointed his slender finger at the data sheet. "The plan you showed James even dared to falsify the thermal runaway threshold."

Father Luo suddenly grabbed the document and when he turned to the key page, he suddenly glared at Shi Jue, who turned pale instantly.

Su Manyun quickly stood up to smooth things over, "My dear relatives, this is all a misunderstanding..."

"Misunderstand?"

Shi Heng threw out another patent document, "What you call 'innovation' was registered by us three years ago."

Luo Zifu snatched the document and flipped through it with trembling fingers, her expression becoming increasingly grim. "This is impossible..."

Shi Heng's voice suddenly rose. "Do you want to video chat with Director Zhang? He's on vacation in Country M. The core data he took with him are all versions that Shi's company has eliminated."

The entire living room fell silent.

Father Luo's face turned pale as he pulled his daughter up and said, "Let's go!"

Su Manyun and Shi Jue also stood up and left angrily.

Before leaving, Su Manyun looked back at Gu Youran unwillingly.

But she saw Shi Heng bending down and gently tidying up the loose hair around her ears, his eyes full of doting that could make tears drip out of them.

Shi Zhengyang looked at this scene, smiled with satisfaction, then looked at Gu Youran with a kind tone.

"You Ran, I heard that you saved James yesterday?"

Gu Youran was about to answer when Shi Heng had already put his arm around her waist, his tone filled with undisguised pride.

"She saves many people every day. This time she just happened to save James."

Shi Zhengyang laughed and shook his head when he saw his son's expression that said "my wife is the best in the world".

"You stinky boy, you're so proud of marrying such an outstanding wife, aren't you?"

Shi Heng raised the corners of his lips. "Dad, don't you praise her every day? At the last family dinner, you said in front of the whole family that the Shi family was able to marry Youran because of the good deeds of our ancestors."

Shi Zhengyang laughed heartily and patted Gu Youran on the shoulder. "Of course! Youran is a skilled doctor with a good personality. He's much more likable than your cold and icy son."

Gu Youran's ears turned slightly red from the praise.

Shi Heng lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Did you hear that? Even my dad says you're more attractive than me."

Gu Youran pinched him secretly, but Shi Heng remained calm and hugged her even tighter.

Shi Zhengyang stood up and waved his hand, "Okay, it's getting late, you two should go back."

Shi Heng nodded and walked out with Gu Youran.

Shi Zhengyang's voice came from behind: "Stinky boy, this cooperation is good!"

Shi Heng paused and added without turning back, "Dad, this is called the disciple surpassing the master."

Shi Zhengyang laughed and scolded, "Show off!"

Gu Youran couldn't help laughing. Shi Heng glanced at her sideways, his eyes full of tenderness. "What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing at you two, father and son. You have such a good relationship, but you act so arrogant in front of outsiders."

Gu Youran squinted her eyes and looked at him, "Especially you, Mr. Shi. Everyone in the company says you're as cold as an iceberg. Who knew at home..."

"What happened at home?" Shi Heng pinched her chin and spoke in a low voice.

"He's such a clingy person at home." Gu Youran muttered softly with a red face.

Shi Heng chuckled, leaned over and pecked her on the lips, "Only you."

Back in the car, Shi Heng started the car.

"When the news of James's collaboration spread today, Shi's stock price hit the daily limit as soon as it opened."

He held the steering wheel with one hand and kept holding her hand with the other.

Gu Youran tilted her head to look at him, "Boss Shi, your tail is about to fly to the sky, right?"

"It's okay." Shi Heng admitted generously, and when he glanced at her sideways, there was a smile in his eyes, "It's just that the admiration in someone's eyes is too dazzling."

Gu Youran pinched his arm, "Who worships you?"

Shi Heng suddenly lowered his voice and said with a hint of coaxing, "Youbao, tonight... can you take the initiative again?"

Gu Youran's ears instantly turned red, and she turned her face away, "You wish!"

She pretended to look at the scenery outside the window, but she saw the wicked smile on Shi Heng's lips in the reflection of the glass.

The car fell silent for a moment.

Shi Heng suddenly said, "There's a charity dinner tomorrow. Will you go with me?"

"Is it that boring occasion again?" Gu Youran recalled the tea party a few days ago, when the inquiring gazes of those socialites made her feel uneasy.

The red light came on and the car slowly stopped.

Shi Heng turned his head, and the light from the street lamp fell into his deep eyes, like a handful of broken stars.

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "This time is different."

Gu Youran bit his lower lip unconsciously. This habitual little action made him feel itchy.

I really want to kiss you.

He said seriously: "James specially invited you, saying that he wanted to thank you in person for saving his life."

"Besides, I want everyone to know that Madam Shi is not only an excellent doctor, but also incredibly beautiful."

Gu Youran's heart skipped a beat, and she patted his arm, "Stop it."

But she couldn't help but feel a slight warmth in her heart at the pride in his words.

Shi Heng took advantage of the situation and grabbed her hand before she could withdraw it, interlocked their fingers and pressed them on the central armrest.

The green light came on and he turned the steering wheel with one hand.

Gu Youran looked at their clasped hands and suddenly said, "I don't have any scenes tomorrow afternoon, so I'd like to go to the set."

Shi Heng gave him a questioning look.

"Tomorrow... the actor who plays my childhood is going to appear on stage."

Her voice was a little softer, with a barely perceptible nostalgia.

He understood that Gu Youran wanted to relive the days when she spent her childhood with her adoptive parents.