BXBX NOVEL Chapter 56 - 56: How to Appease
“Still angry?” Shen Qian was the first to break the silence.
“No.”
“Then why didn’t you answer the phone?”
Shen Wan lowered her head, carefully examining the potted cactus, completely ignoring Shen Qian.
In theory, even if he didn’t show it, he should have been extremely angry deep down. However, strangely, none of that happened; he only felt helpless.
The nineteen-year-old girl, while having a spat with him, unintentionally displayed her stubbornness.
The current Shen Wan was fundamentally different from the cautious, gentle, and timid girl she used to be. All the changes and differences were due to him.
This realization pleased Shen Qian immensely, making even an apology easy.
“Last night, I misunderstood you because 1 didn’t fully understand the situation.”
“So?” Shen Wan raised her eyes slightly.
“Is it too late to apologize now?”
Shen Wan pressed her lips and, with a slight bow, concealed the astonishment in her eyes.
Could it be that Shen Qian had just apologized to her?
Was that possible?
It was the first time in her two lifetimes that she had received such treatment, and it felt incredibly rare!
“What… did you say?” She raised her head in bewilderment, looking at Shen Qian as if she hadn’t understood or maybe hadn’t even heard it.
Of course, that was absolutely impossible.
She had intentionally made Shen Qian repeat it!
Frustrated and amused, he said, “I said—sorry. Do you understand now?”
Shen Wan nodded. “I understand.”
“You don’t… have anything to say?”
“No.”
H H
She had quite the temper.
In the end, Shen Wan put down the potted plant, clapped her hands, and went inside.
Shen Qian stood there, utterly bewildered.
During dinner, the whole family gathered. Yang Lan seemed to be in a good mood and spoke up.
“All Ru, remember to call Xiao Yan and have her come to the hotel early tomorrow to assist with the guests.”
“I got it, Mom.”
“Chunjiang, if possible, try to free up your afternoon. We should go to the mall and get everything we need.”
“I’ll try.”
Yang Lan gave everyone instructions, and finally, it was Shen Wan’s turn. With a touch of malicious sarcasm, she said, “As for you, it’s best to stay at home.”
Shen Wan’s slightly bewildered gaze turned to Shen Chunjiang.
The latter cleared his throat uncomfortably and said, “Tomorrow is All Ru’s maternal grandfather’s seventieth birthday banquet.”
Clearly, he had no intention of bringing her along.
Shen Wan’s inner feelings remained calm, but her eyes dimmed. She appeared indifferent, quietly sitting in her chair and eating her meal.
Little did she know that this calmness only made people feel more sympathetic.
Shen Chunjiang sighed heavily.
Shen Qian’s complex gaze briefly landed on her for just three seconds before he looked away again.
The meal continued in prolonged silence until it was finished.
“Dad, Auntie, I’ll go upstairs first.” Shen Wan nodded slightly to the two.
Yang Lan acted as if she hadn’t heard.
Shen Chunjiang retrieved a check from his bag and extended it toward her. “Here, take this. Tomorrow, we won’t be at home, so go out and buy whatever you want. If it’s not sufficient, just ask your dad for more, alright?”
“Thank you, Dad.”
Shen Chunjiang’s stiff expression finally softened, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden, and he seemed more relaxed.
That night, Shen Wan heard an argument coming from the study on the first floor.
As she got closer, she realized it was between Old Master Shen and Shen Qian.
“No matter how you explain it, it doesn’t change the fact that the resort project failed. As the person in charge of Tian Shui Real Estate, you bear the main responsibility for this!”
“I’m sorry to have disappointed you,” the man’s voice remained calm and composed.
“In the future, you’ll be in charge of the entire Mingda Group, but your current state does make me feel uneasy…”
“Grandfather,” Shen Qian interrupted him, “the business world is like a battlefield. Temporary wins and losses don’t necessarily determine the final outcome.” His tone was gentle yet forceful, conveying a sense of strength. Upon hearing this, Shen Wan furrowed her brows slightly, then decided not to eavesdrop any longer. She took her cup and headed upstairs.
Indeed, a single win or loss wouldn’t reveal the complete picture. But what if there were more to follow?
Would Shen Zongming continue to trust Shen Qian without reservation?
She curved her lips into a smile.
As the lukewarm liquid settled in her stomach, a soothing warmth enveloped her entire abdomen. Shen Wan turned on the air conditioning, laid out a soft mat, and prepared to finish her yoga session before going to sleep.
All her poses were set, but they were abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
Shen Qian.
The door swung open, revealing the man’s clear and smiling face. If Shen Wan hadn’t heard it herself, who would believe that this seemingly carefree man had just been scolded not long ago?
“It’s so late, aren’t you going to rest?” Shen Wan held onto the door, making it clear she had no intention of inviting him in.
In the middle of the night, with only the two of them in a bedroom, even if they were siblings, it didn’t seem entirely appropriate.
“I forgot to give you something,” he said, handing her a small box.
It was the latest model of the “Hi-Phone”, but Shen Wan didn’t accept it. She even took a half step back, making it seem as if she was eager to distance herself as if what he held in his hand was some kind of explosive or poison.
The man’s brow furrowed slightly. “Don’t like it?”
Shen Wan shook her head. “I like it, but 1 don’t need it because I already bought one myself.”
“I came here not just to give you a gift,” he said, his deep black eyes as clear as springwater, radiating a hint of indifference and coldness around the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.
“Oh. Is there something else?” Shen Wan pretended to be clueless.
“Wan Wan, you’re still angry,” he stated.
The young woman raised the corner of her lips mockingly and countered, “Shouldn’t I be upset?”
Their eyes locked, one cold, the other indifferent, and the air seemed to stop flowing, gradually crystallizing into invisible ice shards.
After a while, a sigh escaped from the man’s lips, Shen Qian said, “What will it take for you to calm down?”
“I want to attend the birthday banquet tomorrow..”