He bent down and patted her, "Qiao Xi."
Qiao Xi opened her eyes, her phoenix eyes still carrying a hint of confusion.
Upon recognizing Shen Dang, she completely woke up.
She was startled for a moment, and the script she held fell to the floor, "Shen Dang, why are you in my room?"
She had forgotten to lock the door.
Shen Dang helped her pick up the script and tapped her on the head, "Come downstairs for a meal."
It didn’t hurt, it was just the gesture that was odd.
Qiao Xi’s eyes were downcast, her expression unreadable, "You go first, I’ll be there in a bit."
"Okay." Shen Dang withdrew his gaze and turned to leave her room.
Just as she had walked downstairs, Shen Dang approached her with a mobile phone, draping an arm over her shoulder.
The two leaned in close together, the man handsome and commanding, the woman cold and ethereal—an extraordinarily pleasing sight.
Qiao Xi greeted, "Grandfather."
Why didn’t Grandfather tell her he was calling through video?
"Grandfather is eating, too." Old Master Shen turned the camera around, and Qiao Xi saw Shen Hongxuan and Ran Jing.
She couldn’t help but smile.
"You all should eat quickly, too."
Old Master Shen cheerfully ended the call.
He knew this would work!
Shen Dang removed his hand from her shoulder and gracefully walked over to sit at the dining table.
Seeing Qiao Xi still standing, Shen Dang raised his eyes towards her and urged, "What are you spacing out for? Come over here."
Qiao Xi stared at him steadily.
So this man really had forgotten about the mishap he caused last night while drunk!
She should have felt relieved, but a sour, indescribable feeling churned inside her, making her feel uncomfortable.
It was as if the things she forcefully remembered and cared about were trivial to others. Insiginficant.
A one-sided show was always .
Shen Dang was truly adept at playing with people’s emotions.
Shen Dang suddenly stood up, then returned with two lit candles, placing them on the table.
Shen Dang raised his eyes as if to explain, "Assistant Gao bought them. It’d be a waste not to use them, so I lit them."
A candlelight dinner?
But Qiao Xi wasn’t foolish enough to ask.
The lights in the dining room were on, making the candles merely decorative.
Just as she thought this, she saw Shen Dang stand up to turn off the dining room light.
In the dark, the flickering candles in Shen Dang’s deep, dark eyes seemed to ignite something, crackling softly.
"Don’t overthink it, Assistant Gao told me the effect is better with the lights off."
Qiao Xi lightly fluttered her eyelids, this setting typically meant to stir up a bit of romance.
But Qiao Xi just thought the two of them were absurd.
What was with the candles? Could Boss Shen not afford to waste two candles?
Qiao Xi lowered her head to eat.
During the meal, the two of them did not exchange a word.
This was more like their usual way of interacting.
Shen Dang glanced at her cold demeanor, then lowered his head again.
Not quite the beautiful effect Assistant Gao spoke of.
He turned the light back on.
Qiao Xi inexplicably stared at him.
Had Boss Shen gone mad again?
Shen Dang blandly said, "It’s brighter this way."
Qiao Xi nodded, agreeing, "I think so too."
After the meal, Shen Dang put his bowl down and said as usual, "Remember to wash the dishes."
Qiao Xi still nodded, "I won’t forget."
Then they each returned to their rooms.
Thinking about Shen Dang’s peculiar actions, Qiao Xi found it nonsensical and called Baola, who was far across the ocean.
Why not ask Su Tutu?—because Su Tutu’s imagination was simply too wild.
Dressed in innocence with Shen Dang, Su Tutu could still fabricate a whole bouquet of possibilities.
It was day time abroad.
"Bao, there’s something I want to ask you."
Feeling a bit impulsive with her call, Qiao Xi suddenly wasn’t sure how to phrase her question, yet she felt as if cats were scratching at her inside.
Together with last night’s impact, Qiao Xi was utterly confused.
"It’s like, if a guy takes out two candles to light during a meal, what do you think it means?"
"Is this a guy you’re dating? Or someone pursuing you?" Baola directly interrogated.
One had to admit, women are a very sensitive species.
Qiao Xi casually made up a story, "Just a friend from the cast."
"He’s not pursuing me."
"Actually, those candles were just props. After filming, he said it would be a waste not to use them."
Her best friend, like her sinister sisters, tended to overthink too.
To this day, Baola didn’t know about her and Shen Dang; Qiao Xi didn’t want to worry her, so she didn’t mention it.
No one else would go talking to Baola abroad about it either.
"Really?" Baola’s eyes lightly narrowed, "If someone is pursuing you, you must tell me. I’m worried you might be deceived."
"My agent doesn’t allow me to date."
Baola was relieved, "Since you described the situation like that, then that guy must want to flirt with you." Follow current novels on NovᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt
There was also an underlying pursuit behavior, yet not to that stage, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen.
Qiao Xi was always slow on the uptake, so Baola didn’t say much.
She concluded, "Such fancy behavior is not acceptable. The guy dining with you must be quite flirtatious; stay away from him!"
"Bao, you’re absolutely right!"
Qiao Xi couldn’t agree more.
Shen Dang was indeed flirtatious.
She indeed needed to stay away from him.
Qiao Xi directly sent Wang Li a message: [When does "Detective in the Republic" start filming?]
[Wang Li: You’re really keen, huh? Just left the set and already eager to return.]
[Wang Li: But it probably won’t be soon. I’ll let you know when I get the notice.]
Qiao Xi responded with a lukewarm "Oh."
At night, Qiao Xi lay in bed, suddenly remembering Baola’s words.
She carefully pondered again, then suddenly sat up from the bed.
Shen Dang flirting with her?
Why would Shen Dang want to flirt with her?
Did that seem like flirting?
Qiao Xi was utterly frustrated.
Since she had a magazine shoot the next day, Qiao Xi got up very early.
Shen Dang was still there when she came downstairs.
"You’re up early today?" Shen Dang glanced at her, his gaze somewhat probing.
The woman who had avoided him yesterday morning was now dressed strikingly.
Qiao Xi’s eyes were indifferent, "I have work today."
He was unusually dressed in a white shirt and black trousers that day, his shirt neatly tucked into his pants.
Compared to his normally unapproachable cold nobility in all black, he now looked somewhat refined and scholarly.
"Come have breakfast."
Shen Dang’s eyes briefly lifted, his gaze inscrutable as he observed her.
Qiao Xi, looking down, didn’t see this.
They ate breakfast in silence.
"Do you need a ride there?" Shen Dang picked up the car keys from the coffee table, looking at her as he lifted his eyelids.