She Really Felt for Him

The golf center was actually a large entertainment and leisure complex, with many private lounges where guests could rest and recharge.

Shen Heng shut the door behind him, cutting off the noise outside. Inside was a perfect place for an interrogation.

Sensing danger, Chu Tianqing instinctively took a step back, though she kept a smile on her face. "Brother, what's wrong? What is it?"

Shen Heng remained standing, leaning against the door with his arms crossed as he scrutinized her with a stern expression.

Chu Tianqing pressed her lips together, her dark eyes darting around. She didn't dare look Shen Heng in the eye.

It was a sign of a guilty conscience.

"I should be the one asking you that," Shen Heng said, putting on a full show of authority. He leaned forward slightly and stared into her eyes. "What are you and those two plotting?"

"N-no, nothing. Brother, you're overthinking it, aren't you? We just came out to have fun together." Chu Tianqing stubbornly refused to admit it.

The main thing was that she didn't know how to comfort Shen Heng. It would be arrogant to presume to tell him to stop loving someone because it would never work out.

"Xixi," Shen Heng said in a low voice, his gaze growing sharper, "even after everything that's happened to the Shen family, I still think of you as my little sister. Whenever you ask me for help, I do my best. Do you admit that?"

Chu Tianqing nodded.

"Then remember this," Shen Heng said with an imposing air. "If you dare turn your elbow outward to help outsiders, I'll break your legs."

Chu Tianqing jolted in fright, her defenses crumbling. She hurried to explain, "What do you mean, turn my elbow outward? You really think that little of me? Besides, even if you suspect me, you can't suspect your brothers, can you? They've been with you for so many years. Don't you know what they're like?"

"The human heart is unfathomable. Who can say for sure?" Shen Heng smiled coolly and pressed her. "So you really are hiding something from me, right?"

Chu Tianqing took a deep breath, looked behind her, and picked a chair to sit in, giving up all resistance. "We are hiding something from you, but we're not trying to hurt you. We care about you. Brother, we could all see that you haven't been yourself lately, so we wanted to cheer you up."

Shen Heng was taken aback, and his expression softened considerably. "Thank you, but I don't need you to cheer me up. Everyone has moods. I'll be fine once this spell passes."

In fact, Shen Heng really had been restless lately.

As for the real reason, it had nothing to do with Fang Ke. Work had affected him, but that was only a small part of it, twenty percent at most.

The other eighty percent came from a worry he couldn't speak of. He wanted to leave Jincheng and sever all his ties to the place.

Because he knew that as long as he stayed here, he couldn't cut his ties with her, and they would continue to affect him until things reached a point of no return.

In truth, his feelings for her were currently no more than a tiny sprout.

But he was a man who thought far ahead, and the thought that he would step into an abyss of eternal damnation if he didn't cut his losses in time placed him under immense psychological pressure.

Chu Tianqing looked up at the man, genuinely feeling a little sorry for him.

His family was at odds, his career wasn't going smoothly, and the one he loved was beyond his reach. There was simply no peace to be found anywhere.

"Brother," Chu Tianqing said earnestly and with heartfelt sincerity, "even though we aren't brother and sister by blood, I still really want to care about you. Of course, it's your choice whether you need that, but I can't just show no concern. Wouldn't that make me an ungrateful wretch? I'm not that kind of person."

"Then what kind of person do you think I am?" Shen Heng sighed and walked over to sit in another chair, feeling both helpless and amused. "Some fragile little girl who needs you all to discuss how to cheer me up? Mingchen and Old Qiao must be laughing at me behind my back."

"Oh, stop clinging to your pride and making yourself suffer," Chu Tianqing said, propping up her chin and turning to him with a grin. "Brother, you really do have it hard. Your family situation is so complicated that if you posted it online anonymously, everyone would sympathize with you: an overbearing grandmother, an invisible grandfather, a father with a love-struck brain, a fragile mother, and a biological younger sister who's been missing for more than twenty years."

Shen Heng laughed in exasperation. "Go on, then. What are you?"

"A cute little fairy," Chu Tianqing answered shamelessly.

Shen Heng frowned, unable to listen any longer. Seeing her smiling face so close, he raised a hand to flick her forehead.

"Hey! Don't even think about it!" Chu Tianqing hurriedly dodged backward, holding both hands in front of herself. "I absolutely won't fall for that a second time."

A mischievous smile appeared on Shen Heng's lips. "Didn't you want to cheer me up? Let me flick you once, and I'll be happy."

Chu Tianqing's eyes widened. Wait, what was wrong with him?

But after quietly observing him for a moment, she saw that Shen Heng didn't look like he was joking, and she actually began to waver.

She really did feel for him.

"Just once, then." Chu Tianqing leaned forward and offered him her face with her eyes closed. "Go easy. If you flick me stupid, you'll have another burden on your hands."

She came very close. Shen Heng betrayed nothing, but a ripple had stirred in his heart.

He had never looked so closely at her face: her delicate skin, full red lips, pert nose, and trembling eyelashes.

Why did she agree if she was scared? What a... fool.

Shen Heng reached out, and Chu Tianqing caught the fresh scent of mint on him, startling her into a shiver.

Shen Heng smiled silently, then suddenly reached out and ruffled her bangs.

"Huh? What are you doing?" Chu Tianqing opened her eyes and covered her hair. "Wait, haven't you heard? Heads may be severed and blood may flow, but your hairstyle must never be messed up. You might as well have flicked me."

Shen Heng sprang to his feet and said in a good mood, "It's not like I'm a violent maniac. Come on, let's go out. You don't need to worry about me anymore. I'll talk to Mingchen and Old Qiao myself."

Chu Tianqing wrinkled her nose in annoyance and pulled a face at him.

He's so annoying. I'm never worrying about him again.

They played a little longer that afternoon, and Shen Heng was noticeably in much better spirits. All in all, the trip to the golf center wasn't a failure.

That evening, Chu Tianqing received a WeChat message from Ye Mingchen. He said Shen Heng had spoken openly with him, told them not to worry, and apologized for losing his composure.

The important thing was that Shen Heng had given Ye Mingchen time off, so he had time to ask Chu Tianqing out.

Chu Tianqing used being too busy as an excuse, but Ye Mingchen actually came to help at their restaurant.

Jiang Lean studied Ye Mingchen curiously, then turned to Chu Tianqing and murmured, "He's pretty handsome, and he's rich too. I think he's a good catch. If you can't be a rich family's young lady, you can still be a rich man's wife."

Chu Tianqing quickly made her position clear. "I don't feel that way. Don't go saying things like that, or everyone will end up embarrassed."

Ye Mingchen was cheerful and easygoing, and soon became friendly with everyone at the restaurant.

Chu Tianqing occasionally asked him how her dear big brother was doing.

"Not bad," Ye Mingchen said. "He's changed his approach lately. He's stopped butting heads with those directors at the company and leaves work on time to go out to social engagements. Old Qiao goes with him. Don't worry, he's fine."

Chu Tianqing was relieved, but then a phone call from Jiang Youyi sent her heart back into her throat.

Jiang Youyi asked gently, "Xixi, are you close to the Yan Family's youngest daughter? The one named Yan Ruyu."

Chu Tianqing had been lying on the sofa, but she abruptly sat up. "Yes, I am. What happened to her?"

Jiang Youyi answered with a smile, "Oh, your Aunt Liang wants to play matchmaker and set her up with A-Heng. Do you think they'd be a good match?"

Chu Tianqing was stunned. "Huh?"