The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

The moment Shen Ci stepped out of the house, Shen Xiaoming seemed to have lost his soul, becoming completely absent-minded.

He sat on the sofa in the living room, his eyes occasionally drifting towards the entrance, filled with worry and anxiety.

As the sky outside the window gradually darkened, Shen Xiaoming finally couldn't sit still any longer.

Could Youyou really have gone out with that Xie family kid?

He stood up, walked to Lin Ruojin's side, cleared his throat, and made a slightly awkward excuse: "I'm going downstairs to the supermarket to buy some more fruit."

Lin Ruojin knows her husband too well.

Seeing the deep worry in his eyes, she didn't expose him. Instead, she considerately stood up, straightened his collar, and gently said, "Go on. It's cold outside tonight, wear more clothes."

After Shen Xiaoming left, the originally gentle and tranquil atmosphere in the living room instantly turned somber.

The smile on Lin Ruojin's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold and resolute expression.

She walked to a quiet corner, took out her phone, and dialed a number for a friend who worked at the tax bureau.

"Ruojin?" The voice on the other end of the phone chuckled. "You're such a busy person, what made you think of calling me?"

"I need your help with something," Lin Ruojin said casually. "There's a company called Xingrui Building Materials, and the legal representative is Shen Xiaocun. Could you keep an eye out for it for me?"

"Their company's accounts have been heavily in deficit lately, which could cause tax problems..." Lin Ruojin paused, tapping her fingertips lightly on the table twice. "Anyway, keep an eye on things for me. If you find any issues, just handle it according to the rules."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. "Ruojin, this..."

"I know the rules," Lin Ruojin interrupted him, her voice still gentle but carrying an undeniable weight. "It's not about forging documents, it's about keeping a close eye on things. If there are no problems, fine; if there are, report them immediately. Handle matters strictly, understand?"

A laugh suddenly came from the other end of the phone: "Okay, I understand. Since you, Miss Lin, have asked, I will definitely help. However—"

He drawled, "I'm really curious, what did Shen Xiaocun do to offend you?"

After hanging up the phone, Lin Ruojin gripped it tightly in her hand, gazing at the night outside the window, a sharp, cold glint flashing in her eyes.

She has always been extremely protective of her own.

Shen Yuqian should never have made the mistake of trading Youyou's innocence.

It touched a nerve.

Since someone has already taken care of Shen Xiaocun's family for her, she doesn't mind adding fuel to the fire.

This will ensure they never have a chance to turn their lives around.

……

Jiang Duo parked the car steadily downstairs, turned off the engine, and the car fell into silence.

He didn't unbuckle his seatbelt immediately, but instead turned his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Shen Ci in the passenger seat, his eyes brimming with an intense and unyielding reluctance.

Although she spent a long time with him today, helping him make clay sculptures, having meals with him, and watching a movie with him, he still felt that the time was too short, not enough for him to savor the experience.

The mall is too noisy; it's packed with people and noise everywhere.

He wanted to take her to a quiet place, where only he and she could hear each other's breathing.

After getting off the bus, the night wind ruffled Shen Ci's hair. Jiang Duo reached out and pulled her scarf up a bit, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her cool earlobe.

"Youyou," Jiang Duo called her softly.

"Um?"

"Can I hug you?"

The streetlight shone into his eyes, and Shen Ci saw so much within them—reluctance, longing, and a touch of tentative, cautious exploration. His gaze was so intense, it made her heart tremble, and she nodded unconsciously.

The moment he received a response, Jiang Duo's arm was already around his.

He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice muffled:

"What should I do? I don't want you to go back."

Shen Ci buried her face in his chest and heard the steady heartbeat in his chest.

"I should go back now; it'll be too late, and my father will worry."

Just as Jiang Duo was about to let go, he caught a glimpse of a figure not far away.

A middle-aged man, carrying a plastic bag from the supermarket, walked slowly this way. The streetlights cast a long shadow, and his face gradually became clearer in the dim light—

Shen Xiaoming.

Jiang Duo's lips suddenly curled into a smile.

The smile came so quickly that Shen Ci hadn't even had time to react before he lowered his head, his warm lips touching her forehead, then her nose, and finally landing on her slightly parted lips.

It was a very light and quick kiss, with a hint of triumphant mischief. Before she could react, he had already straightened up and taken a half step back.

"you--"

Shen Ci's eyes widened, and the tips of her ears instantly turned red.

She had just opened her mouth when a suppressed cough came from behind her.

Shen Ci's back stiffened abruptly, and she slowly turned around—

Shen Xiaoming was standing not far away, holding a supermarket bag in his hand. He was frozen in place, his eyes wide open, his face full of disbelief.

His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"dad……"

Shen Ci's voice was as light as a falling leaf, and it was blown away by the night wind as soon as it came out.

She subconsciously took half a step forward, wanting to explain something, but found herself unable to utter a word.

Shen Xiaoming walked over and stuffed the shopping bag in his hand into Shen Ci's hand.

"Youyou, you go upstairs first." His tone left no room for argument.

Jiang Duo's gaze swept over Shen Xiaoming's face, which was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water, and the anger in his eyes seemed to want to devour him alive.

It seems that successfully abducting his daughter will be a long and arduous journey.

He reached out and gently grasped Shen Ci's free hand, his fingertips caressing her wrist.

"Youyou," he said softly, "listen to your uncle and go upstairs first."

Shen Xiaoming watched their clasped hands and saw his daughter and the young man exchanging glances.

I got even angrier.

"Dad—" Shen Ci called out again.

"Go upstairs." Shen Xiaoming interrupted her, a slight tremor in his voice at the end, "Be good."

Jiang Duo only looked away after her figure disappeared at the entrance of the building.

Shen Ci's temperament is like jade soaked in a cold spring; it can't be warmed up or melted away, and its slow-burning nature is agonizing.

Moreover, there are other competitors lurking in the shadows, eyeing the scene with predatory intent.

He wanted a legitimate identity, a solid title that would allow her to truly stay by his side.

Having found the right path in front of Shen Xiaoming is the sharpest and most direct shortcut available at the moment.

Tonight, the timing is perfect, the location is ideal, and the people are supportive.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He has to take this gamble.

But the other end of this shortcut may also be an abyss.

Jiang Duo's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his fingertips pinched a crescent-shaped mark in his palm.

He took a deep breath, suppressing all the turmoil in his eyes, and when he looked up again, he had regained his calm and composed demeanor.