3 Don’t Argue / 03

Two people stood in the elevator, one behind the other.

As He Chenye spoke, the elevator doors happened to close, and Sheng Huaining did not hear him clearly.

"What?" she asked out of curiosity.

He Chenye’s eyes curved slightly, and he echoed her sentiment, "It is quite a coincidence."

She gave a small "oh" and leaned forward for facial recognition. Once finished, she stepped to the side, but the person next to her remained motionless.

She couldn't be bothered to dwell on such trivial matters. After all, the residential complex where this property was located was the most secure and well-known one in Hong Kong, housing not only red-hot celebrities but also numerous wealthy entrepreneurs.

If the person behind her dared to harbor any ill intentions, she would post the footage captured by the surveillance cameras all over Hong Kong and ruin his reputation.

Sheng Huaining mused to herself, completely unaware that the elevator doors had chimed and opened.

"Miss Sheng."

"Hmm? Yes?"

Her thoughts were still drifting, and she responded absentmindedly.

He Chenye had an online overseas meeting later, so with his left hand blocking the elevator door, he had no choice but to turn his head and cough softly.

Sheng Huaining suddenly came to her senses, inwardly scolding herself for losing her mind tonight.

It was embarrassing enough that she had made a fool of herself earlier, but she had just spent the last few minutes mentally plotting various ways to torture him—even the thought of tying him up and whipping him had crossed her mind.

Truly... she was insane.

She bit her lip, only releasing it when she looked up, her expression sweet and innocent. "I was just thinking about work for tomorrow. My apologies."

He Chenye gave a neutral nod, withdrew his hand, and waited quietly.

Sheng Huaining stepped out sideways. As she unlocked her front door, she cast a subtle, fleeting glance back. Then, before the elevator doors could close, she offered a calm, composed smile before quickly slipping inside.

The heavy bronze door clicked shut, and the smart, warm lights in the foyer flickered to life.

She scanned the pitch-black space that greeted her and slumped, defeated, onto the velvet sofa nearby. Her slender, shapely legs were slightly bent, and she buried her pristine face into the arms wrapped around her knees.

Despite having this rare moment of solitude, Sheng Huaining felt no sense of relaxation.

She reached into the bag behind her to fumble for her phone, and the next second, as if by magic, every main light in the apartment turned on.

Sheng Huaining closed her eyes as a reflex, then let out a startled cry at the sudden, eerie occurrence.

After a moment, she squinted, tilting her head to peer through her fingers toward the living room.

Against the cream-colored semi-circular sofa stood two tall, elegant figures, their gazes fixed intently upon her.

She exhaled, kicking off her high heels in the unrefined manner she reserved for private moments, and began removing her accessories with languid indifference.

As she walked barefoot into the room, she complained impatiently, "Old man, are you trying to scare me to death?"

After saying that, her tone softened into a coquettish lilt, "Good evening, Mommy."

In Hong Kong, November is often rainy. It was manageable during the day, but going out and returning left one feeling sticky from the humidity. Yet, once night fell, any breeze would send a chill through the air, causing one to shiver involuntarily.

Shen Shicen stroked Sheng Huaining’s bare arms with a look of concern, not forgetting to ask, "Are you cold? Why didn't you take a shawl with you when you went out?"

"I'm not cold, Mommy. Don't worry."

***

This was the first time Sheng Huaining had met with Sheng Luanjing and Shen Shicen since returning to Hong Kong after her tour.

She knew she was in the wrong for not reaching out sooner, but she didn't want to yield too easily, so she proactively changed the subject.

In no time, she had examined Shen Shicen from head to toe, flattering her with such a sweet, coaxing tone that she seemed like a cozy, draft-proof winter garment.

"Mommy, that tan diamond necklace looks absolutely stunning on you. Did Daddy just bid on it for you at Christie's? Seeing the two of you so affectionate really makes me happy. I truly am a child raised in a honey pot."

Shen Shicen was beaming, unable to hide her delight, and playfully patted Sheng Huaining on the back.

This harmonious atmosphere was abruptly punctured by a cynical snort from Sheng Luanjing.

Sheng Huaining stopped pretending. With a sullen face, she picked up an unopened bottle of mineral water from the coffee table, her lips glistening as she muttered, "Old man, if you don't want to come, then don't. You’re as good as ever at ruining the mood."

Sheng Luanjing mimicked her, picking up a bottle of water, but after twisting it open, he handed it to Shen Shicen beside him before glancing coldly at his daughter. "You've been back for a week and haven't stepped foot in the family home once. Does this pathetic, palm-sized place make you that comfortable?"

Palm-sized?

In Hong Kong, 130 square meters was considered a luxury property, especially in an area as prime as the Victoria Harbour waterfront, with a market value of at least 30 million.

The old man really had no idea how expensive daily life was, yet he was being so extravagant himself.

Dissatisfied that the place she had spent three months meticulously decorating was being belittled, she grabbed the tissue box from the coffee table and threw it straight at Sheng Luanjing. "This is the apartment with the best Feng Shui and layout among all my properties, and I designed every corner and decoration myself. I won't have you talk about it like that."

Seeing another argument brewing, Shen Shicen, a seasoned peacemaker, quickly intervened. It was no easy task to soothe Sheng Huaining and then calm down Sheng Luanjing.

In the spacious room, the two people sitting opposite each other were breathing heavily, their chests heaving.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Sheng Huaining pushed the cushion off her lap and, as she passed the sofa, tossed it into Sheng Luanjing's arms for good measure before running off to answer the door.

When she pulled the door open, she saw the person she had parted ways with just minutes ago.

He Chenye had his coat draped over his elbow, his British-style shirt tucked meticulously into his dress trousers, accentuating his sturdy, powerful frame.

She paused, her unfocused gaze slowly sharpening. Strands of his hair, damp with sweat, clung to his forehead—a stark contrast to his impeccably dressed lower half.

"Are... are you okay?"

He Chenye, knowing it was improper to stare, didn't dare to glance past her into the room.

"Huh?" Sheng Huaining was momentarily stunned, bewildered by the ambiguous question. She replied blankly, "I'm fine, very fine. And you?"

The air seemed to freeze for a minute.

He Chenye finally realized his sudden visit was quite impolite. His gaze swept over Sheng Huaining, and upon confirming she was unharmed, he calmly raised his right hand. "You left something in the car. I forgot to give it to you earlier."

He opened his palm to reveal a platinum diamond bracelet.

She glanced at it, frowning. She didn't remember wearing any jewelry when she left, though she did indeed have a piece like that in her storage cabinet.

Despite her confusion, she reached out and took it with her fingertips.

On second thought, perhaps she had taken it off one day and left it in her bag, forgetting to put it back.

"Thank you, sorry to trouble you with another trip."

Near the entrance, a small section of the floor was not covered by carpet. Standing barefoot in the air-conditioned room, Sheng Huaining couldn't help but curl her toes, rubbing them together for warmth.

He Chenye, who was looking down, caught these small movements instantly. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a melodic female voice from inside.

"Ningning, who is that?"

Sheng Huaining bent down to put on her slippers and called back, "Mommy, just a friend. We’re just chatting."

After a brief silence, He Chenye offered a resigned smile and took a step back. "It’s very late, I won't disturb you further. Get some rest."

***

"Oh."

Still feeling somewhat bewildered, she watched the man step into the elevator and disappear from sight.

At this point, Shen Shicen, seeing that she hadn't returned, walked over. She brushed her warm hand against the back of Sheng Huaining’s hand and looked in the direction the girl had been staring. "What kind of friend comes over this late?"

"My car broke down in Central, so I caught a ride with a friend. He just came to return the bracelet I left in his car."

As if to prove her point, Sheng Huaining held up the snake-shaped clasp to show Shen Shicen.

It wasn't that Sheng Huaining was being overly sensitive; it was just that for over twenty years, while Sheng Luanjing and Shen Shicen wouldn't excessively interfere with her friendships, they couldn't help but secretly investigate anyone she knew.

They called it "protecting her from being taken advantage of."

As for whether there were other hidden reasons, she didn't care to pry.

As long as they didn't cross her bottom line, she let them do as they pleased.

"Alright, alright, Mommy. I'm so hungry. I'm sure you brought something for me to eat."

She pressed her palms together, acting coquettishly toward Shen Shicen, and then naturally draped her arm around her mother's shoulder as they headed to the kitchen.

-

Back home, He Chenye pulled off his tie and threw it onto the sofa, feeling irritable.

He had been in Hong Kong for a month, yet he still wasn't quite acclimated—his IQ seemed to have dropped along with his adjustment.

Earlier, he had stopped the elevator doors just as they were closing, and shortly after, he had heard Sheng Huaining’s sharp cry of surprise.

Unable to set his mind at ease, he had sought help from the building's management, and fearing he might have misunderstood, he had convinced the property staff and security to accompany him upstairs.

Fortunately, it was a false alarm; the woman stood in the room, barefoot and flustered, her face flushed—hardly the look of someone in danger.

For the sake of his pride, he had blurted out a lie, using a gift he had intended for Xixi as a pretext to return her "lost" item.

It was truly ridiculous and laughable.

In the minimalist, monochrome apartment, only the floor lamp in the corner was lit.

The window was half-open, and the warm light occasionally swept across He Chenye’s slightly tensed jawline.

The phone, discarded on the side table, suddenly rang.

He opened his eyes, still feeling a lingering sense of unease from the earlier phone call, and hesitated for a long time before answering.

Finally, the screen went dark, and the call came through again.

He Chenye stood up, swiped to answer, and switched it to speakerphone.

His assistant, Mr. An, spoke up, "Mr. He, the compensation for the car accident has arrived. The company has scheduled maintenance for your vehicle. Would you like me to take it to the repair shop tomorrow?"

He Chenye didn't respond, lost in thought.

He remembered half a month ago when he was in Mong Kok for business. He had parked his car on the side of the street when a heavy motorcycle running a red light had slammed directly into it.

The insurance company had been highly efficient, repairing the most severely damaged parts quickly, leaving only a small scratch on the side mirror.

Because the car, a Yangwang U8, was imported from the mainland, its exquisite paintwork was in short supply in Hong Kong, and they were still waiting for parts.

The events from two hours ago flashed before his eyes again—the way she had pointed at his scratched car with a pout, and after getting his contact information, had threatened to compensate him.

He Chenye gave a low chuckle, stood up, and walked to the balcony to pull the window shut. He said to the person on the other end of the line, "Thank you, that won't be necessary. I'll handle it myself."