Chapter 21
Yu Li recalled that every time Yan Shiting called his name, it seemed to be like this: his voice was deep and his tone was solemn.
It wasn't intimate, but it wasn't distant either; he could just feel that this person was speaking to him with exceptional seriousness.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out, and Yu Li couldn't hold back; the tears that had been welling up in her eyes rolled down her cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Yan Shiting's voice rang out again.
Yu Li choked for a moment, her fingers unconsciously twisting together. "I...I'm a little scared."
On the other side, Yan Shiting raised his hand to signal to Jiang Miao.
Upon receiving instructions, Jiang Miao quickly stepped forward with her wine glass to help him deal with the several CEOs who approached.
Yan Shiting, holding his phone, went to the balcony outside the banquet hall. "What happened?"
Yu Li lowered her eyes and told Yan Shiting everything that had happened while she was washing clothes.
He calmed himself down for a moment, secretly wiped away his tears, and said with pursed lips, "I'm worried they'll find out I'm pregnant. I can get by these few days, but after that..."
Everyone says that pregnancy reactions are most severe in the first three months. Even if he can use gastroenteritis as an excuse, how can gastroenteritis last for a month and still not get better?
Yan Shiting listened quietly the whole time.
When Yu Li first started talking, she was somewhat incoherent, clearly overwhelmed with panic and still in shock.
Yan Shiting rested his hand on the balcony railing, his index finger tapping lightly.
After Yu Li finished speaking, he paused for a moment and asked, "Is it okay if I stay here?"
Yu Li was taken aback. "Where do you live?"
“I have other properties. If you agree, I will come and pick you up.”
Yu Li bit her lower lip and lowered her head to touch her stomach.
Yan Shiting knew that he was pregnant and was another father to the child. In his mind, Yan Shiting was now actually an ally.
Worried that others wouldn't accept it or would view him with prejudice, Yu Li didn't even dare to tell his mother and sister—his only two relatives—about his pregnancy.
Therefore, Yan Shiting is now the only person he can trust.
Yan Shiting didn't urge him to make a decision; he just waited quietly.
As the call ticked by, Yu Li finally managed a barely audible "Mmm."
Yan Shiting immediately turned and left the balcony, saying, "I'll be there in half an hour."
The call ended.
Yu Li saw a new message appear on his chat page with Yan Shiting.
The call lasted 6 minutes and 5 seconds.
He could hardly believe it; he had actually made a phone call to Yan Shiting.
He pursed his lips, put his phone on the table, and began to tidy up his things in a haphazard manner.
Half an hour later, the phone rang precisely on time.
Yu Li, carrying her packed daily necessities and her schoolbag, came downstairs.
It was past dinner time, and only a few people were passing by the dormitory building.
As Yu Li walked out of the dormitory building, he saw a low-key Maybach parked on the road diagonally opposite. Yan Shiting was standing by the car door, looking up at him quietly.
Yu Li felt a lump in her throat, and her heart started beating a little faster without her realizing it.
He gripped the straps of his backpack tightly and walked a few steps to Yan Shiting.
He was able to speak his mind normally when he was on the phone, but now that he's face to face with Yan Shiting, he doesn't know what to say.
While Yu Li hesitated to say something, Yan Shiting opened the passenger door and said, "Get in."
Yu Li nodded, sat in the passenger seat, and fastened her seatbelt.
After getting into the car, he realized that Yan Shiting had driven himself there.
The car was clean and tidy, without any mixed smells of leather seats and air fresheners, and there were no unnecessary decorations.
For some reason, I felt that this must be the car that Yan Shiting drove most often.
Yu Li looked away and gently leaned against the car window before starting the car.
Yan Shiting glanced at him, then reached out and took a soft cushion from the back seat.
"The journey is a bit long, you can lean against this if you want to sleep."
Yu Li was somewhat surprised and took the pillow with a slightly dazed expression.
As the car started, Yu Li looked down at the pillow in her arms.
It's beige, with a small fish embroidered on one corner. The fabric has short, fluffy fibers that feel smooth to the touch.
Such a cushion seems somewhat out of place among the black car seats.
but……
Yu Li glanced at her casual T-shirt and jeans, then at Yan Shiting in his four-piece suit and vest.
He seemed somewhat out of place here, yet there was also a strange sense of harmony between them.
Yu Li was surprised by her own thoughts.
He awkwardly looked away, placed a soft cushion between his head and the window, closed his eyes guiltily, and soon fell asleep during the smooth ride.
An hour later, the Maybach stopped in the garage, and Yu Li slowly woke up.
He was a little confused, and followed Yan Shiting out of the car and into the elevator.
Once inside the bright environment, Yu Li realized that she had accidentally brought the cushion with her.
He quickly hid the cushion behind his back, making a rather large movement, and then he saw Yan Shiting looking at him.
Yu Li felt a chill run down her spine and explained, "I forgot to put the cushion in the car."
Yan Shiting looked away. "It's nothing."
The elevator slowly ascended and finally stopped on the twenty-first floor.
Yan Shiting unlocked the fingerprint door lock from the front and stepped aside to let Yu Li go in first.
This property is a large single-level apartment, with a living room that is the size of three bedrooms, furnished only with a few simple dark-colored pieces of furniture.
When Yu Li walked in carrying a cushion, the dull house instantly gained a touch of color.
Yan Shiting watched quietly for a while, then bent down and took out two pairs of gray slippers from the shoe cabinet. He removed the tag from the new pair and placed it in front of Yu Li.
"It's late, go to sleep early. Your room is on the right."
Yu Li was taken aback and looked at Yan Shiting: "What about you?"
Yan Shiting said, "My room is on the left."
“I’ll be staying here tonight. I’m attending a charity art exhibition tomorrow, and it’s more convenient to get there from here.”
He took off his coat and draped it over his arm, loosened the cuffs, looked at Yu Li, and said, "You can call me if you need anything."
Yu Li held the corner of the cushion and nodded: "Okay."
"Thank you..." He paused, not knowing how to address Yan Shiting.
Neither President Yan nor Brother Yan are suitable.
Fortunately, Yan Shiting didn't seem to notice his hesitation. After changing his shoes, he walked towards the room on his left.
Yu Li breathed a sigh of relief and followed Yan Shiting's instructions to the bedroom on the right.
This bedroom also has its own bathroom. There are new non-slip slippers in the small shoe cabinet by the door, and two new sets of pajamas in the wardrobe.
The slippers and pajamas were his size.
After taking a shower, Yu Li lay on the big bed, touching the soft fabric of his pajamas. His intuition told him that Yan Shiting had specially prepared these for him.
From the day she found out she was pregnant, Yan Shiting took great care of her in every way.
Yu Li pursed her lips tightly.
He placed his hand on his still flat stomach and rubbed it a couple of times.
Should we keep this child...? Let's ask Yan Shiting what he thinks. After all, he's another father to the child.
But what if Yan Shiting doesn't want it?
Yu Li frowned in confusion.
A moment later, he turned over, grabbed a pillow and rubbed it to vent his frustration.
Yu Li was a little uncomfortable in the unfamiliar environment at first, but she gradually fell asleep while stroking the short fluff on the pillow.
I had a good night's sleep.
In the morning, Yu Li, having recovered from her morning sickness, opened her bedroom door and met Jiang Miao's gaze as she stood in the living room.
He was slightly taken aback.
Jiang Miao, who was in the living room, looked at Yu Li with a somewhat blank expression, so much so that her polite smile faltered a bit.
He then looked at Yan Shiting in front of him.
What exactly happened, and why did his boss suddenly get what he wanted?
Facing Jiang Miao's gaze, Yan Shiting remained calm and handed the signed documents to him.
"This plan is acceptable; we should implement it after the holiday."
Jiang Miao snapped out of her daze, put on a friendly and polite smile again, and said, "Okay, President Yan."
He raised his wrist to check the time. "President Yan, there are only two hours left until the charity art exhibition starts at ten o'clock. We need to leave as soon as possible."
Yan Shiting responded and turned to look at Yu Li, who was standing by the bedroom door, saying, "Breakfast is on the dining table."
After saying that, seeing Yu Li nod, he went back to the bedroom dressing room to change his clothes.
Yu Li watched the two of them quietly the whole time.
Today is the first day of the short holiday, and he didn't expect Yan Shiting to still be so busy, having official business to handle early in the morning.
He closed the bedroom door and walked towards the dining table. He felt a little embarrassed as he passed Jiang Miao, afraid that she would ask him why he was there.
Fortunately, Jiang Miao had no intention of probing him. She smiled and greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Yu."
Yu Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief and returned the smile: "Good morning, have you had breakfast?"
He glanced at the table and placed a slice of toast in front of Jiang Miao: "If you haven't eaten, have some with us."
"Thank you. I overslept today and didn't have time for breakfast," Jiang Miao said kindly as she sat down next to Yu Li.
The two did not meet often, and the only person they were familiar with—Yan Shiting—was not present at the moment.
Yu Li felt somewhat embarrassed and picked up a bowl of light porridge to drink.
Jiang Miao took a bite of toast and asked in a casual manner, "You're a senior this year, right? Have you looked for an internship yet?"
Yu Li thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No."
"I remember you did quite well in the New Century competition during your sophomore year. How about you consider interning at Yan's?"
Yu Li was somewhat surprised: "You remember me?"
Jiang Miao nodded: "That competition was sponsored by the Yan family, and I've seen the list of winners. The game assistant program you made is pretty good."
Yu Li suddenly realized that Jiang Miao wanted to find talent for the Yan family.
Unexpectedly, what he did back then was remembered by others.
He was a little embarrassed, his earlobes turning red, and said, "Thank you."
He thought for a moment and said, "However, I haven't thought about doing an internship yet."
Jiang Miao casually asked, "Are you thinking of taking the postgraduate entrance exam or the civil service exam?"
Yu Li said, "No, I just need to think about what I like more."
Jiang Miao had finished her toast and nodded, saying, "You're quite capable. If you want to stay and develop your career in Y City, the Yan family would be your best choice."
Yu Li unconsciously rubbed the hem of her pajamas, her eyes looking somewhat blank upon hearing this.
He thought for a moment and said, "Let's see. If... I might go back to my hometown, or go somewhere else."
If Yan Shiting doesn't want this child, he won't want to stay here after the abortion.
Jiang Miao smiled, saw Yan Shiting just walking out of the bedroom, and said meaningfully, "Is that so? That's not bad either."
He observed Yan Shiting with a sense of anticipation, wanting to see how his boss would react to Yu Li's words.
But Yan Shiting only gave him a cold look, and before leaving, he said to Yu Li, "You can call me if you need anything."
"Okay." Yu Li nodded and watched the two leave.
As the elevator descended, Jiang Miao felt the chill emanating from beside her, and the smile on her face faded somewhat.
"President Yan..."
He had just opened his mouth when Yan Shiting glanced over indifferently.
Jiang Miao had no choice but to shut her mouth.
＊
The charity art exhibition was held in a villa on the outskirts of the city.
It's called an art exhibition, but it could also be called an auction.
Some of the paintings in the exhibition were donated by the organizers, while others were donated by invited guests. After the auction, all proceeds will be donated to charity.
It's just another arena for fame and fortune.
In such situations, Yan Shiting is undoubtedly the center of attention, someone everyone vies to approach and exchange a few words with.
However, today, no one dared to approach Yan Shiting.
—Because his face was terribly gloomy.
Jiang Miao followed behind Yan Shiting, also somewhat hesitant to speak.
Although he knew why Yan Shiting was in a bad mood, he didn't have the courage to offer words of comfort.
And so the atmosphere at the art exhibition became strange.
Walking silently past each painting, Yan Shiting finally stopped in front of a painting of Guanyin.
The Guanyin in the painting has a compassionate face, with her eyes lowered as if looking at the people outside the painting.
A CEO noticed Yan Shiting's gaze, mustered his courage, stepped forward, and said, "This painting is an original work by the painter Zhang Ni from five hundred years ago. I had it in my collection before, and today I'm bringing it out to do charity."
He paused, then asked, "Does Mr. Yan like it?"
Yan Shiting did not answer, but looked into the eyes of the Guanyin in the painting and met her gaze.
Seeing this, Jiang Miao stepped forward and spoke with the boss.
The two voices did not affect Yan Shiting at all.
He thought of what Yu Li had said.
"...I might go back to my hometown, or go somewhere else."
Therefore, he and Yu Li are like two intersecting lines.
They used to be far apart, but by chance they grew closer and closer. After their paths crossed once, they drifted further and further apart.
From then on, they embarked on completely different paths.
Yan Shiting's hand gradually tightened into a fist.
You just don't dare admit that you have selfish motives too. But everyone has selfish motives, and that's not a big deal.
Is it really that big of a deal?
Yan Shiting quietly looked at Guanyin.
Even if... if you want to keep him by your side, is it really such a big deal to use despicable means?
Guanyin's face remained compassionate.
Yan Shiting tightened his lips and closed his eyes.
Perhaps this is his only and last chance.
-
In the afternoon, as soon as Jiang Miao returned to her office, she heard Yan Shiting say, "Take stock of the assets under my name, and then have Attorney Liu come over."
Jiang Miao was stunned and asked, "Taking stock of your assets? President Yan, may I ask what you're planning to do?"
Yan Shiting, with his back to him, paused, and coldly uttered a single sentence:
"Getting married."
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