Master of Time Management?

"I..." She searched for an excuse to leave.

Thinking the young woman was simply shy, Shen Wan offered, "Zhiyu's still at the office. He should be back soon. Why don't you stay for dinner and let him take you home afterward?"

"No... no need," Sang Ya said quickly. "I was passing by, and my friend's waiting for me."

Worried that she sounded too eager to distance herself from him, she added, "I promised ages ago that I'd go shopping for a violin with my friend."

"I see. All right, then." Shen Wan didn't press her.

Sang Ya breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the sea cucumbers she was taking with her, and left. She had kept her distance the entire time.

Shen Baili narrowed her eyes. "There's something odd about her."

Sang Ya instinctively resisted any contact with Xie Zhiyu, yet she had come to the Xie Residence of her own accord?

Master of Time Management?

After leaving the Xie Residence, Sang Ya climbed into the black luxury car parked outside and set the gift box of sea cucumbers beside her.

"Uncle Li, take me to Haicheng Department Store Center."

The driver hesitated. "Miss, your grandfather..."

Sang Ya took out her phone. Her tone left no room for argument. "Haicheng Department Store Center. I won't say it again."

"Yes, Miss." The driver glanced in the rearview mirror. Sang Ya was looking at her phone, and something on the screen had brought a smile to her lips.

He looked away and drove toward the department store.

When they arrived, Sang Ya said, "Uncle Li, you can head back."

"If Grandpa asks, tell him I went to buy a violin with a friend."

Uncle Li nodded. "When should I come pick you up, Miss?"

Sang Ya paused. "I'll take a taxi home when I'm done."

With that, she walked into the mall without looking back, her steps light and cheerful.

The driver watched until she disappeared, then started the car and drove away.

Sang Ya knew her way around the mall. She headed straight to a bookstore café and spotted the man she was meeting at a glance.

He leaned back on a sofa, looking out the window. His perfect jawline stood out in profile, and he was as refined and handsome as ever. As though sensing her gaze, he turned toward the entrance and gave her a brilliant smile.

Sang Ya smiled sweetly back, as if she were steeped in honey.

Meanwhile, at the Xie Residence, Shen Baili went upstairs to change into loungewear, then returned to the living room to keep chatting with her mother.

They still had more to say after their conversation in the car. The two of them never seemed to run out of things to talk about.

Shen Wan had nearly finished her classes on high-society etiquette, leaving her with a lot of free time. She had mostly lost touch with her old colleagues and friends. Now and then, she attended tea parties with other wealthy wives, but honestly, she didn't find them very interesting.

She was bored at home sometimes. Going back to her old job was out of the question, so she had begun thinking about what to do next.

Should I start another garden plot? Or learn flower arranging? That seems popular among wealthy wives...

Truthfully, Shen Wan felt a little lost and couldn't make up her mind.

Shen Baili listened carefully, then suggested, "Mom, why don't you learn to paint or study fashion design?"

She had never believed her mother's life should revolve around her or Xie Chengyue. Her mother shouldn't be confined to the family home when there was a much wider world outside.

"I remember how pretty the little dresses you made for me were." Shen Baili hugged her mother's arm and gave it a playful tug.

Shen Wan was tempted. "Could I really?"

"Why not?" Shen Baili said. "We could ask Butler Lin if he knows any suitable teachers."

"And once you've learned, you can make clothes for me. I'll wear them every day." She had complete faith in Shen Wan.

Shen Wan punctured that dream. "You have to wear a school uniform. You can't wear them every day."

"But I'll make you a dress when the time comes." With that, she had accepted Shen Baili's suggestion.

Shen Baili kissed Shen Wan on the cheek. "You're the best, Mom."

Shen Wan's lips curved upward. "You got spit all over my face, you little cuddle bug."

Shen Baili gave her another quick kiss. "I'm going to kiss you anyway."

"And I'm going to stick to you. I'm Mom's little shadow."

Shen Wan hugged her back and popped a peeled orange segment into her mouth. "Here, little shadow. Have some fruit."

Shen Baili swallowed the orange and opened her mouth again. "Ah."

"Is it sweet?" Shen Wan asked.

"Sweet," Shen Baili said.

A sound came from the entrance. Shen Wan and Shen Baili turned together to find Xie Zhiyu standing there. In his immaculate suit, with his solemn expression, he looked every inch the commanding CEO. But the pastel takeout boxes in his hand softened his icy air.

Xie Zhiyu showed no surprise at seeing them. "Aunt Shen," he greeted her calmly.

"You're back. Are you having dinner at home tonight?" Shen Wan asked.

He had come home much earlier than usual.

"I don't have to work late today," Xie Zhiyu said. "I'll eat at... home."

"A new dessert shop opened downstairs from the office. I heard it's pretty good." He set the desserts on the coffee table. "You two can try them."

Shen Wan and Shen Baili exchanged surprised looks. Neither had expected Xie Zhiyu to bring desserts home.

"Thank you. We'll enjoy them," Shen Wan said with a smile. She then told him about Sang Ya's visit that afternoon.

Xie Zhiyu's expression didn't change. "All right. I'll get in touch with Sang Ya."

"I'll head upstairs."

Shen Baili looked at Xie Zhiyu curiously. She wondered how things were going between him and Sang Ya. Supposedly, their grandfathers had arranged their marriage when they were children. Were they

childhood sweethearts

?

Looking at the table laden with desserts, Shen Baili asked, "Big Brother, aren't you having any?"

He bought all these desserts and isn't keeping even one for himself?

"I don't like sweets," Xie Zhiyu said. "You two have them."

He doesn't like sweets, but he brought some home?

Shen Baili ventured a guess. Could he have bought them especially for us?

The thought had barely surfaced before she dismissed it.

Shen Baili knew her place. Xie Zhiyu was kind to them mainly out of his sense of duty toward the Xie Family. He took his responsibilities seriously.

Rankings

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Transmigration into a Book

Wish-fulfillment fiction

Rich CEO

Female Supporting Character Story

Transmigration and Rebirth Romance

Pumpkin Vine

Mind Reading

Beloved by Everyone