In the study.

You can hear a pin drop.

As an old man who has been in power for most of his life and has powerful means, he also has these rare moments when he is at a loss for words and feels awkward, and this is in front of his grandson who is related to him by blood.

Opposite the desk.

Shi Yan sat there with his face turned away indifferently. His impatience of not wanting to come here made his cold brows slightly frowned, his thin lips slightly pursed, and his mood so cold that he kept people at a distance.

People outside all knew that Shi Yan's identity was particularly sensitive, and being able to go to such an important place as the study was a reflection of the attention and importance paid to him by the people in power at home. However, little did they know that the truth was that he didn't want to stay there for even a second, and it was almost written all over his face.

——"What's the matter? Tell him so he can leave."

Mr. Shi was really at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

He wanted to say a few words to express his concern for the younger generation, but his words stopped abruptly.

"Xiao Yan," there was no choice but to get straight to the point. Mr. Shi restrained his expression and said seriously, "A few days ago, Sheng Yuan came to see me."

As soon as the words fell.

The man who had a cold expression in the last second, almost instantly raised his dark eyes and looked over with interest.

"She asked me for a favor."

Under Shi Yan's fixed gaze, Old Man Shi opened the drawer on his right, took out a brocade box, and placed it in front of Shi Yan.

It was a small square brocade box with a velvet surface, no bigger than half the size of a palm.

It is easy to imagine the items stored inside.

But Shi Yan paused hesitantly. He didn't move, but frowned and looked at Old Man Shi.

At the latter's signal for him to open it, Shi Yan stretched out his hand, touched the lid of the brocade box, and opened it easily.

With a subtle beam of light shining from the top of the box, the diamond ring inlaid in the center of the box was clearly exposed. The five-carat oval diamond was crystal clear, radiant and dazzling.

This is……

The pupils of those dark eyes suddenly shrank.

Shi Yan recognized the ring almost instantly. It was the one that belonged to Sheng Yuan, the engagement diamond ring.

Before he could think of any of these things, his brain went blank for a few seconds. He heard himself asking a question, his voice unconsciously a little dry, "…Why are you here?"

"Xiao Yuan asked me to give it to you."

“……” Shi Yan didn’t understand.

What do you mean...? "That day when she gave me the ring, she asked me to promise in person that if you..." Mr. Shi paused, "if you ever want to cancel this engagement in the future, then I must unconditionally respect your personal wishes.

When the words "cancel the engagement" pierced his ears, Shi Yan's whole body froze.

"when."

It was a low sound that Mr. Shi didn't hear clearly, "What?"

"The ring. When did she give it to you?"

"Four days ago."

Shi Yan continued to murmur and repeated, "...Four days ago."

He couldn't help but automatically let his memory slide back to four days ago. Four days ago, the girl came to the Shi family's house, she handed over the ring, and then they chatted and video chatted as usual, and she behaved no differently in front of him than usual.

Even today when the crew wrapped up filming, she arrived on set on time, gave herself flowers, and sent herself back. It was the same all the time.

No, not really.

Shi Yan suddenly recalled the abnormal behavior of the girl in the video earlier.

...How can this be?

She gave him the ring calmly and gave him the right to terminate the engagement at any time without asking her or anyone else. As long as he wanted, the engagement could be canceled immediately.

Fully respect his personal wishes, so what about her wishes.

Doesn't it matter?

The joy that filled Shi Yan's heart ten minutes ago when the girl smiled and waved to him has disappeared.

The person sitting opposite him had his head lowered, his black hair hanging down, casting a vague shadow on his eyebrows and eyes. His slender and handsome profile seemed a little lonely.

"Xiao Yan?" Old Man Shi asked doubtfully.

"Actually, I asked you to come here today for another matter."

As he spoke, he took out another document from the drawer on his right. On the cover of the document, there was a black title written in bold font.

——Share transfer agreement.

Old Master Shi sighed slightly, his expression slightly full of emotion and hope, "Xiao Yan, take this back, keep your own things for yourself, but Xiao Yan, come back, come back to the Shi family, okay?"

However, Mr. Shi's wish was destined to fail.

With a "sizzle" sound.

The chair opposite was pulled away, and Shi Yan stood up. The emotions that had just been revealed were all retracted in an instant, and he returned to his aloof look, only now, he was even colder.

The low-pitched voice said without any ripples, "No need."

The words fell.

He stretched out his hand with a gloomy look, grabbed the brocade box containing the ring on the table, held it tightly in his palm, pursed his lips, turned around, opened the door and left the study without looking back.

Outside the door.

Before the old butler's honorific title was called out, Shi Yan's figure quickly disappeared from sight.

"gentlemen."

The old housekeeper pushed open the study door and saw Mr. Shi sitting at the desk with a tired look on his face. He said with regret, "Xiao Yan didn't agree."

The old butler lowered his eyes in silence, not surprised by this result.

After a moment of silence, Mr. Shi suddenly turned his head and looked at the old housekeeper. He smiled again and suddenly said inexplicably, "To be honest, Xiaoyan is really like him, right, especially in his temperament."

Knowing that Master Shi was thinking of someone he shouldn't be thinking of, the old butler didn't obey his words for the first time. He frowned and said in a flat voice, "Sir, you are confused. That person has nothing to do with Master Shi Yan. How could he be similar?"

Mr. Shi stopped smiling, and he seemed to have aged many years in an instant. He shook his head and said, "That's right, how can they be alike?"

The old housekeeper was concerned about another matter and reminded, "When Master Yan went out just now, his face looked a little strange."

Speaking of this, Mr. Shi's expression relaxed a little.

When Sheng Yuan came that day, the housekeeper was not in the study for the subsequent conversation. Thinking back to that day when the girl was sitting in front of him and talking, her words were full of protection, and she was also afraid that the Shi family, or he, would be a little bit neglectful to Shi Yan. Mr. Shi felt helpless when he thought about it. He sighed slightly and said, "Don't worry." - The temperature suddenly dropped at night, accompanied by gusts of cool breeze. After a while, fine raindrops continued to grow on the transparent glass wine glass by the window.

The rain is getting heavier.

Sheng Yuan hugged her knees and looked at the rain across the balcony.

There was a knock on the door.

Without even turning her head, she said in a low voice, "Uncle Butler, I'm really not hungry. I don't really want to have dinner today."

"...Miss, Master Shi Yan is here." (End of this chapter)