Chapter 129: Waiting for You to Look My Way

“Mai Xijun, from now on, you must remember that a part of me, Shen Yanlie, resides within your body. Nothing should harm him without my consent.”

He couldn’t let her go, couldn’t let her run wild, couldn’t indulge her recklessness any longer. He knew that at this moment, he had to be domineering, forceful, and pull her back firmly; otherwise, he would lose her.

“I will protect myself well. He is my child too; I will take care of myself. But right now, I must find Little Stone. You tell me where he is…” Mai Xijun’s tone softened, no longer as rigid as before. In Shen Yanlie’s presence, everything could be discussed calmly and sensibly. She knew he responded better to gentleness than force. Continuing with her previous stubbornness would only bring her trouble.

“When he was little, he gave me so much that I never had the chance to repay...” Mai Xijun continued. Shen Yanlie was a man with a strong possessiveness and a domineering streak; he couldn’t stand seeing the woman he loved worry or fear over any man other than himself. Mai Xijun understood this, so she felt compelled to explain a little more.

Yet, the gaze she fixed on him grew increasingly hazy, until finally it flickered with resolve. That was her steadfastness—her Little Stone. His reappearance had silently done so much for her, and she was the last to know. This time, no matter what, she would find him, regardless of the hardships.

“He is living his own life now. If he wants to, he will come to you. Trust me.” Of course, Shen Yanlie hoped he would never appear in front of her again to disturb her heart. He disliked any ripple of emotion in her. From the start, he knew she would never be a woman willing to stand quietly behind him and sacrifice silently. She had dreams, beliefs, and her own convictions. Though she once gave up a crucial opportunity for further study for him, it didn’t mean she would obey him blindly in the future.

“I trust you. I want to believe everything, but what does Han Xinyao’s past words mean? Can you explain?” Was it baseless rumor? She hadn’t seen Little Stone for some days now, and his phone was unreachable. She couldn’t explain this, nor was she certain whether Shen Yanlie was involved.

Shen Yanlie’s expression stiffened noticeably, his face darkening. “Those are things she said in the past. She never told me alone before. Though I am clever, it doesn’t mean I truly understand everything, especially human hearts.”

His demeanor was always cold, and even that slight stiffness barely registered on his usually impassive face. Mai Xijun didn’t notice how many turns his mood had just undergone.

She saw him turn and sit down in his office chair without looking back, his eyes fixed on the computer screen as if he had resumed work.

“I trust you. I want to believe everything.” Undeniably, the first part made him adore her, but the latter part sparked a sudden urge to strangle someone. She would never give him peace, always wielding a blunt but glaring knife, inching deeper into his marrow, tormenting him with a desire he could neither satisfy nor resist.

“Then help me find Little Stone.” Mai Xijun mulled it over and finally made this unreasonable request. Mo Shaoxing’s resignation letter was personally signed by Shen Yanlie; no one knew the reasons behind it better than him. Back then, he said nothing, merely handed Mo Shaoxing a stack of documents and signed the resignation letter directly.

“How do you think I will handle your request?” Shen Yanlie raised an eyelid, glanced at Mai Xijun, then returned to his work.

“You won’t help me find him, right? I knew it.” She just knew...

He knew she was still wavering about him.

“Just take good care of yourself and the baby. Don’t worry about unrelated matters. Making money to buy milk powder is my job. You only need to love me and give birth to this child safely. Leave everything else to me.”

Saying this, Shen Yanlie didn’t look at Mai Xijun but remained absorbed in his work. When his Mai worried about another man, it displeased him. He didn’t want to see the pleading look in her eyes, so he simply ignored it, refusing to meet her gaze.

Beneath the CEO’s aura, he was just a man—a man who needed love, understanding, and nurture.

“I understand.” Mai Xijun forced no smile because she simply couldn’t. Shen Yanlie wouldn’t tell her where Mo Shaoxing was; what he intended to keep secret, he wouldn’t reveal or let her discover.

Now, she had to find a way on her own. Han Xinyao’s words forced her to care deeply: was Mo Shaoxing alive or dead?

Mai Xijun knew Han Xinyao truly liked Mo Shaoxing—everyone in the company knew it. Had nothing really happened to Mo Shaoxing, Han Xinyao wouldn’t have recklessly come to confront her. She couldn’t confront Shen Yanlie, so she struck at the woman he cherished most. Only by hurting Mai Xijun would Shen Yanlie feel pain, and only then would he understand how her whole world shattered the moment she learned Mo Shaoxing was gone.

Mai Xijun made no extreme choices. Instead, she obediently returned to her desk and resumed work. Shen Yanlie made no further moves or expressions, burying himself in his own tasks.

* * * * *

Nian Yuchen called Mai Xijun and arranged to meet at a coffee shop to catch up. Though they had known each other for several months, their total time spent together barely amounted to a few dozen hours. They were hardly close, but he had helped her more than once. She felt grateful toward him, and in her mind, he was as important as Little Stone.

“Do you know why I chose to meet you at a coffee shop?” Nian Yuchen asked softly. It was then Mai Xijun noticed a small dimple on the right side of his cheek—utterly charming.

Mai Xijun tilted her head, thinking carefully, then admitted honestly, “I don’t know.”

“Because it’s quiet there. Being with you, even silence feels like a beautiful pleasure. And if we choose to talk there, as long as we have things to say, we can chat until the shop closes. No one will rush us away, as long as you want.”

What a rare, exquisite enjoyment life could offer.

Mai Xijun burst out laughing. Nian Yuchen frowned slightly, puzzled. “What’s so funny?”

He smiled along, still handsome with every frown and gesture. Changing out of his usual silver-gray suit, he looked even more refined and gentle.

“Afraid your fiancée will come find me to collect a debt!” Mai Xijun joked.

Nian Yuchen’s handsome features twisted in a mix of torment and amusement. This girl was truly mischievous and the one who delighted him most. He laughed freely, raising his coffee cup. “Drink coffee.”

Nian Yuchen apologized for not bringing Mai Xijun’s mother to see her at the rehab center back then. After Mai Xijun expressed her gratitude, she swiftly changed the topic.

“By the way, tell me why you paid a million for my ring.” Mai Xijun sipped her coffee and set the cup aside. Now she had a baby; she couldn’t drink too much coffee.

“Uh...” Nian Yuchen was at a loss, scratching his head. When he looked up, Mai Xijun was watching him playfully, almost provocatively.

Nian Yuchen cleared his throat, “I just thought it looked nice.”

“Oh... What looks nice? Me?” Mai Xijun smiled foolishly, but there was a cunning spark in her eyes. She tucked her hair behind her ear, leaned against the window sill, propping her chin on her hand, and teased him with a mischievous gaze.

“Pfft...” Nian Yuchen couldn’t hold back his laughter, completely denying what Mai Xijun had just said.

Mai Xijun wiped her brow. Though she had said that to lighten the mood, mostly it was because of the way Nian Yuchen looked at her and the heaviness of their previous topic. Before she could fully accept gratitude, she had to ease into this connection.

“How embarrassing. Even if it’s not true, just pretend it is. Let me enjoy it secretly for a while,” Mai Xijun joked, revealing her sunniest side beneath her usually cool exterior.

“Alright then… I’ll make an exception today. I paid a million because of your beauty. You stunned me with your looks, caught my eye, so I wanted to attract your attention in a way that would make you look my way.”

He laughed as he spoke, and Mai Xijun’s mood shifted instantly to embarrassment. How awkward.

Jokingly, he revealed the truth: when he first saw her, she seemed so lonely. He thought if given the chance, he’d try to approach her step by step. At that time, he knew clearly that Cheng Manli was still behind him, but he wanted to let go and love once more.

As for his later retreat, Nian Yuchen didn’t want to admit the real reason. Though he appeared refined and gentlemanly, he was deeply conflicted about love. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so uncontrollably drawn to Mai Xijun, never knowing whether to advance or retreat. Eventually, he chose to avoid the matter, to look away, thinking that out of sight meant out of mind—but it was only self-deception...