Chapter 27 All Good

Chapter 27: All is Well

Song Xianghan smiled faintly, her eyes distant, lost in thought.

"I believe all girls are wonderful. From my teenage years until now, I've always done my best to help the girls around me in need. I can't bear to see girls sad, and I especially can't bear to see them cry. Each one of them has a special kind of light, a wonderfulness, that others just don't see."

As Song Xianghan said this, her expression was very gentle, just like when she was holding Gao Mengying.

She suddenly turned her head to look at Shen Shiyan. "During the initial vetting of potential partners, Yuhe couldn't catch Xingtu's eye. But because you were so young, just like I was back then, I got a little curious about how you ran the company. I had someone look into it and found out you transferred the receptionist, Miss Qi, to be your assistant. At that moment, I really wanted to meet you."

Shen Shiyan never expected that such a normal action of his would bring such a big opportunity to Yuhe.

Song Xianghan's coffee was almost finished. She signaled the server for a refill and thanked the waitress gently as she took the cup.

"I've always believed a boss who treats women right is a good one. When we were discussing the partnership, I saw how Miss Qi carried herself and understood she was doing well at Yuhe."

Song Xianghan leaned back, stretching her shoulders slightly, her muscles and bones relaxing for a moment. She joked, "I even started to wonder if I liked women. That day when I asked about your marital status, it was good you answered so straightforwardly. Otherwise, my little joke would have put me in an awkward spot."

Shen Shiyan gave a soft laugh, looking at the swirled latte art in his cup. "Any woman Miss Song liked would be very lucky."

Outside the convenience store, an elderly vendor set up her stall, hunched over, wearing what looked like two or three coats, with a black headscarf wrapped around her head. Her rough, ungloved hands were arranging the baked sweet potatoes on her stall, which emitted waves of warm steam.

A couple passed by. They inquired, paid, and thanked her. Then they shared a single sweet, fragrant potato, smiling.

Song Xianghan watched, captivated, and said, "It's all good."

Shen Shiyan asked, "What?"

Song Xianghan smiled and said, "Men or women, it's all good. As long as they're happy themselves and can make the other person happy too, then it's good."

Shen Shiyan nodded gently. His right hand was still in his coat pocket, his fingertips brushing against the cool edge of his phone.

Song Xianghan looked away. "What are you planning to do?"

The couple disappeared from Shen Shiyan's sight. He closed his eyes, a faint frown of irritation between his brows. "I don't know yet."

He had matured incredibly fast in just a few months—so fast that everyone forgot he was barely an adult.

Even though Shen Siwen was now removed from his position, practically under house arrest, Shen Shiyan didn't believe Shen Wenzhou would side with him if this kind of scandal, which only hurt the Shen family's reputation, were exposed. Moreover, he still didn't have the key evidence.

It was entirely possible that even Shen Shiyan himself wouldn't be able to escape unscathed.

But to ask Shen Shiyan to stand by and do nothing, as if nothing had happened—in all honesty, he couldn't do it.

Shen Shiyan sighed. "I might still have to trouble you with Assistant Gao's situation, Miss Song."

"Don't worry, Xingtu will poach her immediately."

Seeing the sweet potato vendor outside seemed to be packing up, they both stood up at the same time. As they left the convenience store, Shen Shiyan said, "The sooner, the better."

Song Xianghan was still smiling. She said okay, then bought all five remaining sweet potatoes from the old woman.

A small white speaker attached to the stall blared loudly: "Alipay payment received: 500 yuan."

After paying, Shen Shiyan took the initiative to take the sweet potatoes wrapped in several plastic bags. The old woman was stunned for a moment before repeatedly thanking the two who had already walked away.

Shen Shiyan's mood grew heavy every time he approached the hospital room door. He handed the bag to Song Xianghan and shook his head, indicating he wouldn't go in.

Miss Qi was driving. Shen Shiyan rested in the back seat, eyes closed.

She glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Shen, are you alright?"

Shen Shiyan said, "I'm fine," then seemed to remember something. He took out his phone, opened the voice message, and held it close to his ear.

"Shen Ci: It's clearly not ugly!"

The two-second message ended almost as soon as it began. He didn't reply, just played it two more times.

"Miss Gao will most likely take up a position at Xingtu. Assistant Qi, please make arrangements with Chonghe's HR department in advance. At the very least, make Shen Siwen's informants within the company believe that President Song insisted on poaching her," Shen Shiyan put away his phone. "Of course, we must first inquire about Miss Gao's personal wishes. She can choose to stay at Chonghe or resign."

Qi Zizhu turned a corner. "Received."

It was nearly two o'clock by the time they reached the company. Shen Shiyan felt a bit lightheaded. He pinched his own arm, forcing himself to muster his energy to deal with the unresolved contract termination issues from the morning.

In the evening, Miss Qi drove Shen Shiyan to Yunxi. On the way, Song Xianghan called, saying Gao Mengying's condition had improved somewhat—she had at least eaten dinner. Moreover, her assistant had already spoken with Gao Mengying, and she would assume the position of Song Xianghan's second assistant in three days.

Shen Shiyan felt a sliver of relief.

Winter days are short and nights long. The sunset disappeared quickly, the last remnants of twilight vanishing before they even reached the school. The streetlight next to the guardhouse was already lit early.

Shen Shiyan got out of the car and waited a few minutes. Finally, at the end of a group of children, he saw Shen Ci holding a large red lantern. He walked slowly, his head lowered under his little bee hat, shielding the lantern with his hands on both sides, afraid the wind would blow apart his paper lantern.

"Daddy! This is for you!" Shen Ci stuffed the lantern's handle into Shen Shiyan's hand, then urged him to get in the car quickly.

Shen Shiyan placed the lantern in the passenger seat, saying, "The lantern isn't that fragile."

"Hello, Sister Zizhu," Shen Ci greeted Miss Qi in the driver's seat after settling in, then replied to Shen Shiyan, who was fastening his seatbelt. "It's made of paper, of course it's fragile."

Shen Shiyan's complexion wasn't great. It was probably Gao Mengying's situation weighing on his mind, combined with running around all day and catching a bit of the cold wind. Now, his forehead felt a bit warm.

For once, he didn't argue with Shen Ci, just said softly, "Okay."

Shen Ci shifted a little closer to him, as if somewhat unaccustomed, and said, "Daddy, are you not feeling well?"

Shen Shiyan didn't deny it. "Mhm."

Shen Ci reached out and placed his hand on Shen Shiyan's forehead. As soon as it touched, Shen Shiyan caught it.

His hand was very cold, the winter wind having dried his skin. Shen Shiyan didn't let go, gently holding it in his own palm.

"Where are your gloves," Shen Shiyan closed his eyes again, "why aren't you wearing them?"

Shen Shiyan's body was very warm now. Shen Ci's hand quickly warmed up. He stared at Shen Shiyan's slightly trembling eyelashes and said, "By the time I finished putting on my scarf, everyone in the class was gone. I just grabbed the lantern and came out, I forgot my gloves."

"Mhm."