"Nice handwriting."
After reading it, that was Xu Shiyan's first thought.
The man's handwriting was bold and unrestrained, carrying a rather free-spirited and ethereal vibe. She was somewhat surprised that the man had left her this note. After all, it had been just a one-night encounter, and in the pitch dark, she hadn't even managed to see his face clearly.
As for meeting again next time? She and this Mr. Bo probably wouldn't have much chance of crossing paths again.
Xu Shiyan quickly put the incident out of her mind. She didn't wake up until two o'clock the following afternoon.
When she went downstairs for lunch, Sheng Zhiyu was in the middle of presenting Xu Nuo with a gift he had won at an auction.
"Brother Zhiyu, this necklace wasn't cheap." Joy filled the depths of Xu Nuo's eyes.
Yet the moment Xu Shiyan saw the necklace, her expression dimmed slightly. Even after a span of three years, her memory of it remained crystal clear. This necklace was a rare piece she had collected three years ago. Back then, Sheng Zhiyu had promised her that he would help her win it at auction if the opportunity ever arose.
Times change, and so do things. Now, it was in Xu Nuo's hands.
Mother Xu also remembered the matter. Not long after Xu Nuo was brought back to the family, she had mentioned this necklace. At the thought of this, her gaze involuntarily shifted toward Xu Shiyan.
"Yanyan, I remember you also liked this necklace very much. How about Mom helps you ask if there's a matching one?"
Hearing Mother Xu's words, Sheng Zhiyu finally looked at Xu Shiyan. Memories welled up in his mind, and his gaze turned complicated as he looked back at her. Back then, Xu Shiyan really had liked this necklace very much. He had promised to help her buy it, too, but over the past three years, his memory of it had grown almost hazy. Besides, Xu Nuo liked this necklace as well.
"Sorry, it was my oversight." Sheng Zhiyu paused, then said flatly, "It's just that this necklace is one of a kind, and Nuonuo likes it too. Next time, I'll compensate you with a better one."
Hearing this, Xu Nuo looked hesitantly at Xu Shiyan, her eyes holding poorly concealed reluctance.
"It's alright, Sister. You've had it hard enough living on Qiongzhou Island for the past three years. If you really like it, I'll just let you have it."
Xu Minghua, however, frowned and said coldly, "Nuonuo, since you like it, keep it. She just got back; how could she snatch your things?"
The two of them played right into each other's hands, singing the same tune. Yet Xu Shiyan found it almost laughable.
It was just a necklace. The most interesting thing about a place like Qiongzhou Island was that while it lacked many things, precious stones and fine jades were in the greatest supply.
"A person's tastes always change." Xu Shiyan glanced at the necklace, the corners of her lips lifting in a slight, languid smile. "I was ignorant in the past and liked to mistake fish eyes for pearls, but I won't do that now. Since you like it so much, you might as well keep it as your own treasure."
Her words carried a hidden meaning. Hearing this, Xu Nuo turned pale.
Seeing this, Mother Xu hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. "Since Shiyan doesn't like it, then Nuonuo, you keep it."
Xu Nuo looked somewhat aggrieved, but she didn't say anything more and obediently nodded. Xu Minghua wore a look of dissatisfaction, but under Mother Xu's hint, he ultimately backed down.
Throughout the meal, Xu Shiyan was the only one who ate with genuine relish.
After the meal, Mother Xu stopped Xu Shiyan. "Yanyan, I've already spoken with your eldest brother. Starting today, you'll go work at your eldest brother's company just like Nuonuo. It just so happens that you also studied design, so you can help your eldest brother out."
Xu Shiyan didn't refuse. Coming out of Qiongzhou Island, she needed to take over the company left behind by Aunt Qing. After three years away, getting back into this field naturally required a transitional period, and the Xu family's company was as fitting a choice as any.
Perhaps because the atmosphere between Xu Shiyan and Sheng Zhiyu was too bizarre, Mother Xu, hoping to ease the tension between them, specifically arranged for Sheng Zhiyu to drive Xu Shiyan to the company.
Xu Shiyan accepted calmly. After getting into the car, the two of them remained silent the entire way.
It wasn't until they were almost at their destination that Sheng Zhiyu cast a gloomy, complicated look in her direction. After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "The necklace was my fault; I failed to keep my promise to you. Three years ago, you hurt Nuonuo, which is why I still feel a sense of indebtedness toward her. Now that three years have passed, as long as you stop targeting Nuonuo in the future, I will fulfill my obligations as a husband after our marriage."
Xu Shiyan looked at the man she had once fallen for, a sudden sense of absurdity welling up inside her. In the eyes of people like Sheng Zhiyu, his forgiveness and charity toward someone like her—a sinner—must have seemed like the greatest possible bestowal. Yet they had never considered that she had survived brush-with-death experiences on Qiongzhou Island and had long since stopped caring about these trivial affections.
"Sheng Zhiyu, I've already said this: if you're willing, I agree to call off the engagement." Xu Shiyan looked at him, speaking casually. "In fact, I have no interest in whatever is going on between you and Xu Nuo."
Sheng Zhiyu refused to believe her. Back then, Xu Shiyan had harbored romantic feelings for him and had out of jealousy harmed Xu Nuo. How could she possibly change her mind so easily just because three years had passed? She was simply acting out of spite.
He pressed his thin lips together, his tone turning slightly cold. "If you're doing this because of Nuonuo, there's no need. Whatever is between us has nothing to do with her. Don't worry, I will honor the engagement and marry you."
Without waiting for Xu Shiyan's reply, Sheng Zhiyu drove away.
Xu Shiyan watched his retreating car, withdrew her gaze, and let her eyes return to an indifferent calm. Everything she had said was the absolute truth. She genuinely wanted to break off the engagement with Sheng Zhiyu—provided she had a second option.
Unfortunately, Sheng Zhiyu was unwilling to believe it.
Recalling her gaze, Xu Shiyan headed to the company of her eldest brother, Xu Mingxuan, in accordance with Mother Xu's arrangements.
"President Xu, Miss Xu Shiyan is here."
Having not seen her for three years, Xu Mingxuan didn't even raise his head upon hearing the secretary's words, merely saying in an indifferent tone: "Got it. Find her some simple tasks to do."
Compared to Xu Nuo, Xu Mingxuan didn't care much for this younger sister. Next to Xu Nuo, who was a design genius, Xu Shiyan was utterly mediocre—not the least bit like a member of the Xu family.
He had his secretary show Xu Shiyan in to start her job, and asked no further questions.
Having just arrived at the company, Xu Shiyan was given only the most basic chores. Knowing she had backing, the manager didn't dare to make things difficult for her. Xu Shiyan goofed off all afternoon, and upon receiving a call from Jiang Min, she left behind a note and walked out.
It wasn't until four o'clock, while busy with work, that Xu Mingxuan finally remembered Xu Shiyan and casually asked, "How is Xu Shiyan performing?"
The tasks he had instructed his secretary to assign her were the most foundational parts of design work. Yet the secretary hesitated and stammered before handing over a slip of paper.
Xu Mingxuan frowned.
On the paper was a vividly drawn little turtle, accompanied by a line of added text:
"It is recommended that the company does not raise idiots."
Xu Mingxuan laughed out of sheer anger.
Meanwhile, after skipping work, Xu Shiyan went straight to the company Aunt Qing had run before her death. Following Aunt Qing's instructions from before she passed, she took over Aunt Qing's assets.
Aunt Qing possessed massive wealth; her exile to Qiongzhou Island back then had been due to emotional wounds, accompanied by other hidden circumstances. A starving camel is still bigger than a horse, and with Jiang Min's assistance, Xu Shiyan completed the formal procedures, then brought up the subject of Aunt Qing's surviving daughter.
"How is An'an doing?"
"The Sheng family has actually been quite good to An'an lately, but since Aunt Qing's enemies haven't been tracked down yet, it's hard to say what might happen."
Xu Shiyan nodded. An'an was still young, and whoever had harmed Aunt Qing wouldn't stoop to harming a child whose identity remained obscure. Still, knowing that danger surrounded her left Xu Shiyan feeling somewhat uneasy.
As someone left behind by Aunt Qing, Jiang Min was well-informed about matters concerning both Xu Shiyan and An'an. Naturally, she also knew that Xu Shiyan wanted to investigate Aunt Qing's death and protect An'an. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "What about you and that Sheng Zhiyu? Even though Aunt Qing picked him out for you back then because he was from the Sheng family, before she died, she hoped above all that you would find happiness."
"Forget about Sheng Zhiyu," Xu Shiyan said unhurriedly. "He and An'an aren't close. I plan on swapping him for someone else."
Ever since her return, Sheng Zhiyu hadn't been her first choice—especially given how thoroughly entangled he was with Xu Nuo.
The Sheng family had no shortage of children. If she had to marry into the Sheng family for the sake of looking after An'an, she would rather change grooms.
"If you're looking to change candidates, there is actually someone very suitable." Jiang Min smiled and suggested, "There's someone in the Sheng family who takes his mother's surname. He's Sheng Zhiyu's uncle, and his name is Bo Jinke. He's been quite attentive to An'an, and Elder Sheng has been putting a lot of pressure on him to marry. But this President Bo is famously aloof—he probably won't be easy to win over."
Bo?
Xu Shiyan paused.
When Jiang Min finished speaking, she pulled up a photo of Bo Jinke.
Xu Shiyan's gaze landed on the man, and for some inexplicable reason, he looked a bit familiar.