Chapter 102: A Phone Call, Not a Single Message

A black sedan drove past the elevated bridge, heading in the direction of the Hot Spring Villa.

A car of the same color was parked under the bridge; the person inside frowned deeply, then took out a phone and made a call.

"Chairman Sheng, we have been following Yu Ge for several days, but we still haven't seen any woman appearing around him," the Bodyguard said, sounding troubled.

The person on the other end of the line pondered for a few seconds before saying gloomily, "Useless trash, he discovered you long ago!"

With Sheng Yu's capabilities, leading them on a wild goose chase was as easy as walking a dog.

Sheng Hongyao had no doubt about this; he hated Sheng Yu, but he had to admit that Sheng Yu's counter-surveillance skills were top-tier.

The Bodyguard hesitated, "Then is there still any need for us to follow him?"

Since they had been discovered and they still couldn't find that woman of Sheng Yu's, continuing like this would only be a futile effort.

"Follow him. Keep following him so he thinks I haven't given up yet. I will send another team to keep an eye on his every move."

Sheng Hongyao glanced at the deep, thick night outside the window.

Now they were just wearing each other down, seeing who could keep their composure longer.

Sheng Yu cared so much about that woman; it was easy to imagine how attached he was. How could he endure not seeing her for such a long time?

After hanging up the phone, the study door was knocked on. Sheng Hongyao withdrew the gloom from his eyes and said in his usual tone, "Come in."

Outside the door, Shen Yijing walked in carrying a glass of warm water.

After she entered the room, Sheng Hongyao's gaze fell upon her tenderly.

Shen Yijing said shyly, "Why do you keep looking at me?"

Sheng Hongyao smiled, took the glass from her hand and placed it on the table, then wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. "It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"We're both at such an age, yet you still hold me like this." Shen Yijing made a move to push his shoulders.

Sheng Hongyao held her tighter, stroking her face as if he couldn't get enough. "What does it matter? No matter how old we get, in my eyes, you are still that young girl from back then."

Shen Yijing stifled a laugh and said, "I'm old, how could I still be a young girl? Don't coax me; actually, I'm not afraid of getting old."

Sheng Hongyao teased her, "Really not afraid of getting old?"

Shen Yijing grabbed his hand, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Being able to grow old with you is something I never dared to imagine before. I only have one regret: how wonderful it would be if I could have given you a child."

A child.

Sheng Hongyao felt a prick in his heart.

Back then, a pregnant Shen Yijing had been hit by a car driven by Sheng Yu. The baby, not yet full-term, was delivered via emergency C-section. He had watched with his own eyes as the infant in the incubator stopped breathing, all within a few short minutes.

That incident also caused Shen Yijing to lose her ability to conceive.

Sheng Hongyao hugged the woman in his arms tightly, his heart aching, and kissed the top of her head, his voice suppressing hatred. "I will definitely make Sheng Yu pay the price."

The black sedan stopped at the Hot Spring Villa.

Situ got out to open the door. "Yu Ge, Chairman Sheng's people are still lurking near the elevated bridge."

Sheng Yu gave a grunt of acknowledgment. He stepped out and walked inside with long strides. Situ, following closely behind, heard him say, "Sheng Hongyao is old and cunning; he won't let this go easily."

It was just that for the past few days, he had been working overtime at the company almost every day, dealing with issues left over from his business trip via video conference.

He hadn't seen Zhu Yuan for several days.

Yet that woman hadn't made a single phone call or sent a single message.

At the thought that Zhu Yuan might be secretly happy, Sheng Yu's expression darkened. As he walked up the steps, Feiyuan came sprinting out from the house, its short little legs alternating rapidly, a sight that made one unable to help but frown.

After it rushed over, Sheng Yu bent down, grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, and brought it in front of him, while his other hand clamped over its mouth just as it was about to bark.

Poor Feiyuan widened its dog eyes, a whimpering sound of resistance coming from its throat.

Situ, watching from behind, frowned. Yu Ge was bullying the dog again.

Looking at those wide dog eyes, Sheng Yu's mind inexplicably flashed to the innocent-looking eyes Zhu Yuan had after being bullied by him. He let go, cradled Feiyuan in his hand, and walked into the house with long strides.

Feiyuan instantly lay obediently in the palm of his hand.

Sheng Yu lowered his eyes and glanced at it, unable to help but sneer.

It really was just like that dog-like temper of Zhu Yuan's—only willing to be obedient after being provoked.

He took the phone out of his coat pocket and was just about to make a call when the screen flashed; it was a call from Qi Jing.

The call connected, but on the other end was a milky, childish voice: "Uncle Yu~"

It was Qi Qi, Qi Jing's three-year-old daughter.

Although Qi Jing called Sheng Yu "Yu Ge," in reality, Sheng Yu was half a year younger than him, so Qi Qi called him "Uncle."

Even though Sheng Yu didn't usually like to smile and never showed any affection for children, Qi Qi liked him especially.

The displeasure in the man's eyes faded away.

He sat on the sofa, stroking Feiyuan's round dog head, and responded in a low voice, "Hmm."

Situ came over with a glass of water and heard Sheng Yu exchanging a few words with the person on the phone. Most of the time, Sheng Yu just responded, but the little girl kept asking questions, and he actually had the patience for it.

"Daddy said we're going horseback riding tomorrow. Shall we go horseback riding?" The milky voice came through, and even Feiyuan lifted its head to look at the phone screen.

"Tell your daddy to answer the phone."

"Okay," the little girl said obediently.

A few seconds later, Qi Jing's voice came through the phone: "Yu Ge, I didn't know Qiqi took my phone to call you. Did she disturb you?"

"Going horseback riding tomorrow?" Sheng Yu tossed Feiyuan aside; stroking that dog head wasn't as comfortable as stroking Zhu Yuan's hair.

He took out his cigarette case and lighter.

Qi Jing said, "Dong Shu said she was going to the Horse Racing Track to accompany Zhu Yuan for a magazine photo shoot. She remembered Qiqi saying she wanted to go horseback riding last time, so she called me to ask if I was going. I thought since it's warming up and the weather is nice tomorrow, I'd take her. Who knew she'd look for you."

Sheng Yu's movement of lighting his cigarette paused.

Just when Qi Jing thought he was going to refuse, he heard the sound of Sheng Yu clicking his lighter on the other end of the line. "Then let's go together."

The next day, Zhu Yuan gave a few instructions to the caregiver, said goodbye to Zhu Qi, went downstairs, and got into the car that Team Leader Hao had arranged for her.

Regiment Commander Hao said the theme the magazine wanted to shoot was at the Horse Racing Track.

Upon arriving at the Horse Racing Track, the Regiment Commander, his assistant, and the magazine staff were already waiting.

Zhu Yuan walked over and greeted them.

"Go change your clothes and get your hair and makeup done first; it will be a hard day for you today, Teacher Zhu." The magazine staff led Zhu Yuan to the lounge at the Horse Racing Track.

The riding outfit the magazine prepared for her consisted of white trousers, black tall boots, a matching white inner lining, and a red slim-fit jacket.

When Zhu Yuan changed into the red riding outfit, a flash of amazement crossed the eyes of the photographer and the makeup artist.

The magazine's coordinator praised her repeatedly: "Teacher Zhu, your compatibility with this riding outfit is truly high; I believe we can take perfect photos today!"

When Dong Shu brought people into the room, he happened to see Zhu Yuan brushing her waterfall-like long hair to one side; as she raised her eyes, even the sunlight outside the window dimmed a little.

The tall and upright man stood at the doorway, and upon seeing this scene, his heart suddenly stirred.