Beijing-Hong Kong Rosemary

Chapter 7: Can I leave my contact information?
Han Yi tacitly agreed.

Shen Guining looked at him with hazy eyes and pleaded, "I just want to say thank you in person. It won't take up too much of your time, please."

Han Yi hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing to her request.

The van was parked near the shopping mall across the street. The windows were half-rolled down, and the light and shadow were slightly dim. The man's profile was smooth and distinct, and his expression remained indifferent, showing no concern for the outside world.

Shen Guining followed behind Han Yi, her figure appearing even more slender under the large umbrella.

Han Yi walked to the car door and asked, "Mr. Qu, Miss Shen said she would like to thank you in person."

Qu Yanci turned his head and his gaze fell on the little girl behind him.

Han Yi stepped aside.

After a brief eye contact, Shen Guining gripped the umbrella handle tightly, knowing she was in a sorry state and dared not get too close.

My hair was wet and dripping, and my body was soaked through, making it very uncomfortable to stick to my skin.

Fortunately, she was wearing dark clothes today, otherwise it would have been even more embarrassing.

The person inside the car exuded an air of nobility, was dignified and composed, and was beyond the reach of others.

Even with such a short distance between them, taking another step forward would be inappropriate.

Having been soaked in the rain for a while, her voice became nasal. "Mr. Qu, thank you for the umbrella and the pearl."

Qu Yanci said indifferently, "Getting wet in the rain can release emotions, but it won't solve the problem."

Shen Guining was slightly taken aback. His gaze seemed to have a penetrating power, able to see right through a person.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, she gave a soft "hmm," paused for a few seconds, and then said, "I'm so sorry for disturbing you that day."

Qu Yanci looked away. "It's nothing."

He wouldn't stoop to arguing with a young girl over something so trivial, even though he was indeed displeased at the time.

Shen Guining gently bit her lip, "Could I leave you my contact information? I'll return the umbrella to you later."

She realized something was wrong as soon as she asked the question. What if the other person thought she was deliberately trying to get his contact information?
Just as she was about to make amends, Qu Yanci refused, saying, "No need."

The car window rolled up, blocking out his deep, mellow voice, "Drive."

Han Yi returned to the passenger seat and closed the car door.

The van drove away in front of Shen Guining.

She stood there in a daze for a while before snapping out of it and taking a taxi back to her apartment.

As soon as she got home, she went straight to the bathroom to change out of her sticky clothes. When she saw her smudged makeup in the mirror while removing it, she sighed to herself, "It looks awful."

I wonder how bad her image was in Mr. Qu's eyes.

Shen Guining squeezed two pumps of makeup remover oil onto her face, emulsified it, washed her face, took off her clothes, and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

A hot shower gradually warmed my body.

Amidst the rushing water, that deep, magnetic voice echoed in my ears once more.

"Getting caught in the rain can release emotions, but it doesn't solve problems."

Yes, she had vented her emotions, but the problem remained unresolved, and she didn't know what to do.

After getting caught in the rain, Shen Guining caught a cold that day. She didn't eat lunch or dinner and just wanted to lie in bed.

Zhu Sixuan didn't get back until 8 p.m. after working overtime. She found that Shen Guining wasn't feeling well, so she woke her up and gave her some cold medicine.

"You haven't had dinner yet? Shall I cook you some porridge?"

Shen Guining leaned against the headboard, her voice low and hoarse: "Okay."

Zhu Sixuan got up and went to the kitchen.

The phone rang at that moment; it was an unknown number.

Shen Guining answered the phone.

"Miss Shen, how have you been lately?"

The voice on the other end of the line was lewd and indecent; I was waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

Shen Guining was filled with utter disgust, and she clenched her palms tightly. "Don't think you can force me to compromise like this."

Zhou Shilin laughed dismissively: "Is that so? Then we'll wait and see."

He continued, "I haven't settled the score with you for that kick yet. If you back down now, maybe I can let bygones be bygones. A smart girl should know when to be pragmatic. Why make trouble for yourself?" Shen Guining replied with three words: "You're dreaming."

After saying that, he immediately hung up the phone and blacklisted the number.

Zhou Shilin was so angry that his face turned ashen, and he cursed a few times.

Such a pretty face, yet she shows no mercy when kicking people.

Because of that kick, he developed a physical problem; he would finish in a few minutes, and no amount of pleasing him would help.

"Shen Guining, you'll fall into my hands sooner or later, and I'll make you pay the price." A sinister glint flashed in his eyes.
-
When Zhu Sixuan brought the porridge into the room, Shen Guining was still lost in thought, seemingly preoccupied with something.

She walked over and sat down by the bed. "Are you feeling better?"

Shen Guining snapped out of her thoughts and said, "Mm."

Zhu Sixuan handed her the bowl, "Drink some millet porridge, be careful it's hot."

Shen Guining reached out and took it. "Thank you."

"Was today not going well?" Zhu Sixuan guessed from her expression.

Shen Guining lowered her eyes slightly, picked up the spoon and scooped some porridge from the bowl, "The other dance troupes don't dare to offend Zhou Shilin either."

Zhu Sixuan frowned. "Isn't there any other way? How can the Zhou family be so arrogant in Hong Kong?"

I need to go back tomorrow.

Shen Guining pondered for a long time, realizing that there were some things that needed to be made clear.

She will not give up dancing, but she will never marry Zhou Shilin.

If a marriage alliance must bring benefits to the Shen family, she would rather choose someone else; the Zhou family is not the only large family in Hong Kong.

"Let's talk about it when you're better from your cold." Zhu Sixuan suddenly remembered and asked, "By the way, whose is that long-handled umbrella by the door? And the Bentley emblem too."

Shen Guining took a sip of porridge to warm her stomach and said briefly, "It's Mr. Qu's. I ran into him on Central Street, and he had someone give me an umbrella."

Zhu Sixuan remembered, "Is she the one you said was very pretty?"

"Ah."

"He's handsome, rich, and a gentleman to you! Is he single?"

This last sentence is the key point.

"Seems to be."

"That……"

Shen Guining guessed what she was going to say, "Stop, that's impossible."

Not a worldly person.

Mr. Qu's status is not something an ordinary person can match, and such a man is very dangerous. The fact that he has been able to maintain a high position for so long means that his methods and shrewdness should not be underestimated.

As for helping her twice, it was probably just out of good manners and courtesy.

Zhu Sixuan pouted, "Okay, I was just saying it offhand."
-
Shen Guining's minor cold was almost completely cured after a night's rest.

The rain had stopped, but the weather was still gloomy and the air was damp, making people feel a bit depressed.

She went back to the Shen family home in the afternoon.

At the entrance of the villa, several servants were sweeping fallen leaves from the flowerbed.

Shen Guining went over and asked, "Aunt Zhang, are my uncle and aunt home?"

The latter replied, "It seems that the gentleman did not come back last night, but the lady was at home, arranging flowers in the backyard with the eldest daughter."

Shen Guining nodded, but did not enter the gate. Instead, she walked straight to the back garden, easily navigating a cobblestone path. In the distance, she saw two figures sitting at a stone table tending to the flowers and plants.

As she approached the greenhouse, she overheard Shen Yue say, "Mommy, what if Gui Ning absolutely refuses to marry Zhou Shilin?"

“She had no choice. Without the Shen family, she is nothing.” Tang Hui said while pruning the branches. “She’s just a young girl in her early twenties. She offended the Zhou family, and no one in the Hong Kong area can protect her.”

Shen Yue smiled and said, "That's true."

The rose had thorns, and Tang Hui was accidentally scratched by a branch. She cut it off without hesitation. "If it weren't for the fact that she could marry into the Shen family and bring them benefits, how could your father and I have spoiled her for so many years? Do you really think we are philanthropists?"

(End of this chapter)