Emma became anxious and said, "You can stay with us; there's plenty of space here."
Ni PingSen was currently staying on the second floor, while Jason and Emma lived on the third floor, so there wouldn't be any disturbance to their living space.
"How can a father-in-law stay at his son-in-law's house? That's not proper," Ni PingSen said with a chuckle.
Emma understood his concerns but still didn't want to accept it. She said, "You've been gone for so long; you should at least stay with us for a few days."
Seeing the softening expression on Ni PingSen's face, Emma felt a bit regretful.
She quickly added, "At least for a month."
A few days were too short.
While Ni PingSen was still hesitating, Emma hugged his arm and pleaded, "Please, please."
Emma was surprised at herself for naturally shaking Ni PingSen's arm like that.
Was she acting coquettishly?
Ni PingSen obviously noticed it too and chuckled, speaking in a somewhat indulgent tone, "Alright, I'll do as you say."
Emma's vacation was about to end, so before going back to work, she invited Hua Zheng and Tang Mi out for dinner. After all, it had been a long time since they last met.
She specifically chose a high-end restaurant by the Bund, planning to treat them to a feast.
When Hua Zheng saw her downstairs, she immediately rushed over, wanting to stick to her. Tang Mi, who had met her once before, was a bit less excited.
But when Hua Zheng heard that they had met before, she immediately got angry, saying, "You guys actually left me out."
"So I'm making it up to you, that's why I specifically invited you to this restaurant today," Emma cut her off in advance.
But Hua Zheng said a little aggrievedly, "But Sister Mi is still coming today."
Upon hearing this, Tang Mi flicked her forehead and hummed, "Do you still want to work in my studio?"
"Would you take me? As long as you say yes, I'll quit right now, today, immediately," Hua Zheng immediately grabbed her hand, pleadingly saying.
Tang Mi lifted her chin towards Emma and said haughtily, "You ask her; after all, she's the biggest investor in my studio."
Hua Zheng's eyes widened.
The three of them talked and laughed as they walked into the restaurant. It was a Western restaurant, famous for its steaks and very atmospheric, with the only drawback being the indoor lighting was too dim.
However, in this dim environment, it was easier for ambiguity to arise.
Thus, this type of restaurant was particularly suitable for couples or those about to become couples to dine in.
As for Emma and the others, they were there purely for the food.
Halfway through the meal, Emma went to the restroom. Since the restroom was outside the restaurant, she overheard a frivolous voice joking as she returned, "It's just a family-arranged blind date, saying she's young, only twenty-two. If she's obedient and sensible, I'll take her to a hotel room tonight."
The man spoke vulgarly and indecently, without any concern for his volume, not deliberately lowering his voice.
Emma looked at him with some disgust.
As a result, when the man caught Emma's gaze, he actually raised his eyebrows at her, with a provocative expression.
Emma took a deep breath, barely restraining her impulse.
When she returned to her seat not long after, she found that this man had also entered and was sitting not far from her. At this time, a girl was sitting in the position with her back to Emma.
She appeared to be the young blind date the man had mentioned on the phone.
"Do you think if I see a jerk, I should pretend not to see him or give him a friendly reminder?" Emma suddenly picked up her wine glass and asked the two people beside her.
Tang Mi and Hua Zheng were both taken aback by her question.
Tang Mi scanned the surroundings: "Where's the jerk?"
Emma took a small sip of wine, her eyes fixed on the man. Tang Mi followed her gaze, and since the girl had her back to their table, no one could see her face.
However, the man was clearly visible.
"His facial features do indicate a jerk," Tang Mi nodded, then looked at Emma and said, "Emma, what's going on?"
Tang Mi knew Emma well and understood she wouldn't say this without reason.
But at that moment, the girl with her back to Emma suddenly tilted her head. Even just a slight tilt was enough for Emma to catch a glimpse of her face.
The wine she had been holding in her mouth almost came out.
This is fucking...
It turned out to be Shen Qiqi.
So the young, obedient, and easily deceived daughter in this man's mouth was actually Shen Qiqi. Originally, Emma wanted to intervene in this matter, and now that she saw it was Shen Qiqi, she certainly couldn't let it go.
When she stood up to go over, she suddenly sat back down again.
Tang Mi whispered, "Don't you want to deal with it anymore?"
Emma smiled and said, "I'll find someone else to handle it."
Then she searched through her phone, found Han Zhao's number, and dialed it directly.
But no one answered the first time.
Emma didn't get discouraged and called again.
Han Zhao was returning to the dormitory from outside, wearing a black training suit over trousers and combat boots. It was evening exercise time, and even though he was now an officer, his training load was no less than those under him.
He had been in the army for too long, and it had become a habit ingrained in his bones.
As soon as he entered the room, he heard his phone vibrating. He walked to the table and saw the word 'Emma' flashing on the screen, and he was stunned for a moment.
When he answered, the other end directly said, "This is Emma."
Han Zhao politely said, "Sister-in-law."
"Is there something here you want to take care of?" Emma asked directly.
Han Zhao frowned and was about to ask what it was when Emma lightly said, "I saw Qiqi seems to be on a blind date."
Han Zhao's eyebrows tightened sharply, and his muscles visibly tensed under his fitted clothes. He was about to ask where Shen Qiqi was, but then he remembered the harsh words he had spoken a few days ago and suddenly didn't know how to start.
Seeing that he was silent, Emma guessed that there must have been a problem between him and Shen Qiqi.
Otherwise, the girl wouldn't have been so upset as to go on a blind date.
So she said calmly, "I just heard at the door that her blind date was on the phone saying, if she's obedient and easy to deceive, he would take her to a hotel room tonight."
"If you don't want to deal with this..."
"Where are you?" Han Zhao abruptly interrupted her, almost going crazy, wishing he could fly over immediately.
Emma gave an address, and Han Zhao said, "Sister-in-law, please make sure to keep an eye on her until I get there."
After the call was hung up, Emma looked at her phone.
Since he's so anxious, why didn't he do something earlier?
Tang Mi saw her hang up the phone and curiously asked, "Did you find someone to handle this?"
"I did," Emma smiled.
She glanced down at the time on her phone, making a mental note.
She didn't know how much time had passed, but as Emma was eating and keeping an eye on the other table, suddenly a tall figure rushed over.
She looked up, a smile playing on her lips, as if she was watching a drama unfold.
Han Zhao walked up to Shen Qiqi, and before she could say anything, he reached out and pulled her up. Shen Qiqi was initially delighted to see him.
But she also remembered their previous argument and immediately got angry, shaking off his hand.
However, he firmly grasped her wrist, and she couldn't break free.
The man across from them stood up, pointing at Han Zhao and angrily shouting, "What are you doing? What are you doing?"
But as soon as his finger pointed, Han Zhao's hand followed, grabbing his wrist and in the blink of an eye, the man was locked in a hold.
"Try to think about touching her again, and I'll make sure you regret it."
With that, the man's scream of pain echoed throughout the restaurant like a pig being slaughtered.
Emma covered her ears and innocently said to Tang Mi beside her, "That's so scary."
Tang Mi was almost convinced.
Wasn't this the person you called?
The next second, Han Zhao kicked the man in the knee, causing him to collapse to the ground. Han Zhao turned to look at Shen Qiqi. She was stunned, and the next second, she screamed too.
Because Han Zhao had lifted her onto his shoulders and walked away.
As he left, he politely passed by Emma's table, "Sister-in-law, thanks this time, I'll treat you to a meal next time."
Look at that, how polite he is.
Shen Qiqi didn't come to her senses until she was carried out of the restaurant and to the elevator entrance outside. She lay on Han Zhao's shoulders, slapping his back and angrily shouting, "Han Zhao, you jerk, put me down."
Han Zhao completely ignored her. Shen Qiqi's fists hit his muscles as if pounding on a steel plate, not affecting him at all but causing her own fists to throb with pain.
Shen Qiqi's legs kicked about in mid-air. She was wearing shorts that day, and her snow-white, slender legs swung before his eyes, somewhat dazzling him.
Han Zhao finally said in a deep voice, "Stop moving."
"Put me down," Shen Qiqi said impolitely.
Han Zhao let out a cold laugh and directly said, "No way."
Shen Qiqi was infuriated by his attitude and shouted, "You pervert."
Just then, the elevator door opened, and the people inside probably didn't expect to see such a scene as soon as they opened the door, leaving them all looking at each other in surprise.
Han Zhao courteously stepped aside, indicating for the people inside to exit first.
Shen Qiqi continued to hit him, cursing as she did so, "Han Zhao, you jerk, put me down now. What gives you the right to treat me like this?"
After she finished her tirade, the people from the elevator had all come out, and Han Zhao carried her straight into the elevator.
Seeing that neither hitting nor cursing had any effect on him, Shen Qiqi was so angry she wished she could bite him.
Until she sobbed a little and said with a sense of grievance, "You don't like me, yet you're stopping me from finding my own happiness."
Her own happiness...
This sentence immediately cooled Han Zhao's expression. He put Shen Qiqi down from his shoulders. As soon as she steadied herself, she felt his body approaching her. Shen Qiqi couldn't help but retreat a few steps, her back pressing against the elevator wall.
Han Zhao reached out and placed his hand beside her head, leaning in slightly.
Shen Qiqi was momentarily flustered by his action, wondering why he had to get so close just to talk.
Finally, Han Zhao spoke, "Your own happiness? Do you have any idea that if that guy hadn't called me today, you might have been sold and still be counting the money for them?"
Thinking about what Emma had told him over the phone, Han Zhao was still fuming.
He had really restrained himself just now, after all, he was a soldier, and it was pointless to fight with an ordinary person. Otherwise, he would have really beaten the guy up, even breaking his legs.
Shen Qiqi was stunned for a moment, then asked after a while, "What do you mean by 'sold'?"
Han Zhao didn't bother to explain the sordid details to her. As a man, he knew all too well the baser instincts of some men, seeing a slightly pretty girl and immediately thinking of taking her to bed.
Not to mention a girl like Shen Qiqi, who was delicately pretty and had a good figure.
"Little kids should ask less about these things," Han Zhao said with a stern face.
In fact, he said this for Shen Qiqi's sake. He couldn't just bluntly tell Shen Qiqi that the guy wanted to take her to bed, which was why he came over.
But when Shen Qiqi heard the word "little kid," she exploded.
Han Zhao always treated her this way, always seeing her as an immature child, not realizing that she was already twenty-two years old.
She was no longer a child but a young woman who knew what it felt like to like someone.
Shen Qiqi pushed him hard, causing Han Zhao to step back as the elevator door opened. Shen Qiqi stepped out, and Han Zhao chased after her, dragging her to the car.
"What are you getting angry about now?" Han Zhao asked helplessly.
This was probably why he didn't want to be in a relationship; he never knew what her mood would be like the next second.
Shen Qiqi said nothing and let him lead her to the parking lot across the street.
There was no parking lot under this restaurant, so Han Zhao had to park in the hotel across the street.
When he led her to the car, Shen Qiqi was still angry. Han Zhao pinched her nose tip to stop her from breathing and said with a light smile, "You always claim you're not a kid, look at how you're acting when you're angry."
What does it mean to add fuel to the fire?
What does it mean for a straight man to annoy someone to death?
Shen Qiqi looked up at him hatefully, her big black eyes filled with resentment, helplessness, and unwillingness. How many times did she have to say it? She was not a child, not anymore.
Seeing her look at him like that, Han Zhao felt somewhat helpless. He had just released her nose tip and was about to open the car door to let her in first.
But Shen Qiqi seemed to have given up and shouted, "Han Zhao."
Han Zhao turned around, and Shen Qiqi rushed over, pushing her chest directly into his.
The soft touch almost threw her into his arms.
Even Han Zhao, known for his first-class reaction ability, was stunned and didn't have time to dodge. He always thought Shen Qiqi was a child because he had watched her grow up since she was little.
There was an eight-year age gap between the two of them, which was even greater than the age difference between Emma and Jason.
Moreover, Emma had always been calm and composed, and no one would ever see her as a child because she had taken on the responsibility of a family at an early age.
But Shen Qiqi was pampered as she grew up. The Shen family was a large clan, and most of the children were boys.
This generation had only Shen Qiqi as a little girl.
From a young age, she was the younger sister, someone to be protected. So when she told Han Zhao she liked him, he didn't take it seriously. In his eyes, she was still a sweet-smiling little girl, his little sister who he watched grow up.
But just now, in this very moment, she was so angry that she pushed her chest against him, and that feeling of being thrown into his arms made Han Zhao have a thought.
It turned out she really had grown up.
Shen Qiqi was genuinely angry, but she wasn't the type to lose her mind when angry. Han Zhao had always called her a child, a little kid, so fine, she would show him whether she was still a child or not.
At this moment, Han Zhao was silent, and Shen Qiqi felt satisfied.
She was indeed thin, but she had curves; she just didn't like dressing in a sexy and mature way, nor did she like to flaunt her chest.
Now, with this sudden 'chest attack,' she really confused Han Zhao.
Shen Qiqi stared at him and said earnestly, "Han Zhao, do you still think I'm a child now?"
Han Zhao looked at her with her hands behind her back, provocatively looking at him, her face full of defiance as if to say, if you dare call me a child again, I'll show you again.
Shen Qiqi had never gotten the upper hand with Han Zhao before, but this time, she really had him cornered.
After holding back for a while, Han Zhao finally said with a stern face, "You're not allowed to do that next time."
Do that?
Seeing him turn away after saying that, as if he dared not look at her, Shen Qiqi humphed and said indignantly, "Do you think I do this to everyone?"
It's because of you.
Because it's you, she dared to do this. Because it's you, she wanted to do this.
Han Zhao couldn't help but touch the tip of his nose, and at this moment, both of them fell into silence until Shen Qiqi said, "What did you mean by someone selling me just now?"
Han Zhao was taken aback but still said, "You don't need to worry about this, I'll handle it."
"If you don't tell me, I'll call Sister Jingxi. She was the one who called you just now, right?" Han Zhao said goodbye to Emma when he left, and although Shen Qiqi was carried on his shoulders, she still saw it.
Han Zhao thought for a moment but still didn't say it directly, just reminding her, "Don't go out to eat with people like that next time, it's too dangerous. You never know what might happen."
Shen Qiqi was stunned and said subconsciously, "Does he want to do something to me?"
She indeed didn't like this person very much; when looking at someone, there was an unconscious predatory gaze in his eyes, and his whole body was filled with the air of a rich and arrogant offspring.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. If it weren't for Emma's accidental discovery today, she might have really fallen for his trick: "You didn't tell me just now, or I would have definitely beaten that bastard up."
After saying that, she actually turned around and wanted to go back.
Han Zhao reached out to pull her and asked, "Where are you going?"
"To go back and beat him up to let off steam," Shen Qiqi said resentfully.
Shouldn't such a scumbag be beaten up every time you see him? She looked at Han Zhao with some grievances; he didn't tell her just now, or she would have definitely kicked the guy's...
Han Zhao looked at her gritting her teeth and reached out to pick her up.
But Shen Qiqi didn't care and still wanted to go back. In the end, Han Zhao really didn't want to talk to her anymore, so he picked her up in his arms, opened the car door, put her in, and quickly pulled out the seat belt to strap her to the chair.
Shen Qiqi still wanted to move, and Han Zhao looked up at her, "If you dare to move again, I'll..."
While he was talking, Shen Qiqi's face suddenly leaned forward, and the distance between the two suddenly became so close that their noses almost touched. Han Zhao instinctively took a step back.
Shen Qiqi glanced at him sideways, with a bit of triumph and a bit of disappointment.
Finally, she slightly opened her lips and softly said, "Coward."
He was a coward? Han Zhao was both angry and amused. He found that this little thing really had growing courage, scolding and mocking him all night.
The next second, Han Zhao sneered and bent down to get close to her.
This time, it wasn't just their noses almost touching, but really touching.
Shen Qiqi was also a paper tiger; she wanted to dodge backward, but she couldn't avoid it while sitting in the chair, and she was finally scared into closing her eyes.
Han Zhao was too close, and his breath was filled with the scent of the girl.
A bit sweet and fresh, pure and charming.
Han Zhao also closed his eyes, feeling like his mind was about to get confused from the heat, and he actually had an impulse at this moment.
The impulse to kiss her.
When Emma came home, she happened to meet Jason's car driving in at the door. Tang Mian got out of the car to open the door for him, and he wasn't wearing his coat, with one button undone on his shirt.
"Did you drink?" Emma went up to him and smelled the alcohol on him.
Tang Mian's face was also flushed, looking like he had drunk a lot, and he said, "Today's entertainment was really impossible to refuse, they were all government department people."
Emma glanced at Jason, reached out to hold him, and turned to Tang Mian, saying, "You go back first, I'll take care of him."
Jason rarely got drunk, and Emma had never seen him so dazed from drinking.
Tang Mian nodded and turned to leave.
Emma, under the cool moonlight of the sky, looked up at the man beside her and asked in a low voice, "How are you? Is it particularly tough?"
Jason wasn't really drunk; he was just a bit dazed from the alcohol.
At that moment, he looked down at Emma earnestly and called out softly, "Jingxi."
Emma responded, thinking he was about to say something to her, but he just called out her name. Emma, with a touch of helplessness, led him towards their home, where Ni PingSen had already retired for the night.
As Emma pulled him up the stairs, halfway up he suddenly called out again, "Xingxing."
Knowing he had drunk too much, Emma still turned around and responded earnestly.
Suddenly, Jason bent down and embraced her; his body was too warm, the natural heat that came from drinking alcohol, transferred through his thin shirt to her.
Emma's skin was branded with the scorching heat.
Jason's cheek pressed against her neck, his warm breath conveying a sense of closeness. Emma didn't rush him but let him hold her quietly like that.
Until he whispered, "Don't leave."
These three words stabbed into her heart like a knife, cutting through the flesh and causing an agonizing pain.
His tone carried a hint of pleading.
Emma could hardly bear to think that such a cool and indifferent man could utter these words, and in such a tone. Perhaps only when alcohol numbed his senses could he voice his deepest fears.
Emma's body trembled slightly until she gently turned in his arms, cupped his cheeks with her hands, and said softly, "Shenyan, can you see me clearly?"
Jason's gaze shifted from being blurred to regaining its focus.
Those deep eyes seemed to have a vortex that slowly sucked her in.
Emma hugged him, stood on her tiptoes to get closer to his ear, and whispered, "I won't leave, not for a lifetime."
Seeing her parents' situation, the once deeply cherished memories were gone just like that.
So how could she bear to leave him?
She would remember everything about him for a lifetime and stay by his side.
Not leaving, she was determined not to leave this time, no matter what.
Finally, Emma managed to get Jason into the room. After he sat down on the bed, Emma began to undress him, removing his shirt that reeked of alcohol.
As Emma held the collar of his shirt, she suddenly felt something bulging at the back.
She looked down and saw a star embroidered on the inside of his shirt collar. Emma was stunned, and after a while, she finally touched it.
The star was embroidered.
Holding the shirt in her hand, her fingertips stiffened, and her mind went completely blank. Emma touched it, and as if by some sudden intuition, she turned and went to the cloakroom.
His clothes were all custom-made and well-maintained, and Emma rarely paid attention to them.
Until she opened the wardrobe full of shirts and casually took one out, she saw the same star on the inside of the collar.
One, two... until she went through all of his shirts.
Every single shirt had a star embroidered on the inside of the collar.
Chapter 69
The morning villa was filled with abundant sunlight, exuding a fresh and pleasant atmosphere. The nanny, Aunt Qian, arrived early at the house, only to find Emma already in the kitchen.
"Jingxi, why are you up so early?" Aunt Qian quickly picked up her apron, preparing to put it on.
Emma glanced back and smiled, "It's okay, I want to make breakfast for Shenyan."
Previously, Aunt Qian had always called her "madam," but Emma was not used to it, after all, she was a girl in her twenties being addressed that way by an aunt, which was a bit awkward.
Now Aunt Qian was accustomed to calling her Jingxi, and usually, when they were at work, Aunt Qian would just clean the house.
At this moment, Aunt Qian sighed softly and said, "Jingxi, there's something I want to talk to you about."
"What is it?" Emma turned to look at her and asked.
Aunt Qian seemed to have found someone to take charge and said, "Could you please talk to Mr. Ni about letting me cook in the future?"
Lately, with Mr. Ni living here, Aunt Qian was supposed to cook for him, but Mr. Ni took over the cooking, making Aunt Qian feel uneasy every time she ate.
After all, it's not usual for the homeowner to cook for the housekeeper.