【28.】

  After going upstairs, I found that the house was decorated in a classical style, and it felt like I had seen a movie from the Republic of China era. Shen Duan's house is very large, with a king-size bed, which reminded me of the bed in his bar, and I couldn't help but sigh at how wasteful this kid is.

  He didn't know what he was looking for, I sat on the sofa and didn't ask, just quietly sizing him up.

  "Your computer looks great. White Apple."

  "Hmm." He replied absent-mindedly while still flipping through things.

  I suppose such things are probably quite ordinary for him, but it makes me seem inexperienced.

  Shen Duan suddenly exclaimed "Ah" and then took out a photo album as if presenting a treasure.

  "Look!"

  "What's wrong?"

  "My childhood photo album." He looked up at me with his head tilted "Take a look and see how handsome I was when I was young."

  "I muttered under my breath as I flipped through: 'Really haven't seen anyone as narcissistic as you.'"

  Hmmm... As expected, this girl's childhood appearance was rosy-cheeked and had white teeth, really making people want to go up and pinch her cheek.

  "Good heavens!" I pointed at one of them "Is this synthetic?"

  He came over and took a look: "Get rid of... who would be willing to synthesize this kind of thing?!"

  "So you really know him?"

  "He was an old subordinate of my grandfather's."

  Old classmate?

  Even Lao Bu's subordinate is so capable, I started to reflect on myself for thinking Shen Dong's family background was too simple. No wonder Su's mom was so nervous earlier.

  "What is this?"

  "Oh no, Grandpa!"

  I was surprised: "Doesn't he usually wear civilian clothes at home?"

  Shen Duan told me with a bit of helplessness: "During the two sessions, I wore more."

  "Hmm." I rather agree "Every time I see him he's in uniform. Does he have several sets?"

  "I never really asked... who's like you, always thinking about these boring things all day."

  Hey! Being scolded by a kid three years younger than me for being boring doesn't feel good, I pouted and quietly looked at him. The photo of him in the album is just a miniature version of what he looks like now, that unruly gaze and unyielding attitude has been there since childhood, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

  "What are you laughing at?"

  I pointed at him in the photo: "Look at you, as if someone owed you money!"

  "He pouted: 'I didn't like taking pictures when I was a kid. My grandfather didn't like it either.'"

  "But he just kept taking pictures!"

  Shen Diao shrugged and said with extreme indifference: "When receiving foreign leaders, can't not take a photo, right?"

  It's also...

  He indeed didn't like taking pictures, a thick photo album had only a few pages, I flipped through it for a while and then stopped.

  The last photo was of him with a girl, and I felt a surge of what seemed like discomfort in my heart. Pointing to the girl, I asked very casually: "Who is this? She's really pretty!"

  He thought for a moment, as if there were many ways to say it, before finally settling on one: "Friend."

  What kind of person is he? Worth Shen Zong's attention like this.

  I hung my head and said nothing.

  He came over and took a look at me: "Angry?"

  I didn't even look at him: "No, why say that?"

  "Because I lied to you."

  He is indeed an honest hater!

  "Why cheat me then."

  Shen Duan didn't speak, his head lowered as if lost in thought. His slender fingers caressed the back of my hand, sending shivers down my spine. Yet I couldn't bear to let him pull away, the warmth from his fingertips drawing me in uncontrollably.

  "I was quite confused before."

  I glanced at him: "It's still not much better now."

  "That woman is my wife."

  Awesome!

  I couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Wow, how refreshing! Are you kidding me? What era is this? You're still talking about arranged marriages? Are you messing with me?"

  "Really."

  I saw his expression was very wronged, didn't seem like he was deceiving anyone. Gradually, he also collected his smile.

  "What's wrong with you, coming to provoke me?"

  "Ah!" He grabbed my hand "No! You listen to me first."

  I gazed at him coldly.

  Shen Duan moved his mouth, rarely showing tension: "Her name is Hu Wei. We grew up together since childhood. When my father came to power, her family helped a lot, and my mother said at the time that she would be my daughter-in-law. I didn't expect them to be serious..."

  "What's going on here?!"

  "I don't like her, I even ran here to study to escape her. When my dad went back to Beijing, I didn't follow him."

  I don't know what I was thinking in my heart, but my mouth just blurted out: "What's the point of telling me these things, what does it have to do with me?"

  "What does it have to do with you?" He was a bit angry "If it has nothing to do with you then who does it have to do with?"

  He added another sentence without me saying a word: "This life can only be related to you!"

  "Shen Duan." I looked at him quietly "Why do you like me? Do you believe in love at first sight?"

  "I don't know..." He hugged me "Liu Jia... I don't know what I believe in, but every time I see you, I like you a little more."

  I didn't say anything, but I was deeply moved by his genuine emotions.

  "When I don't see you, I miss you, but I know you don't like me being clingy."

  He actually knows everything...

  "Shen Dang."

  He held me tighter: "My historical leftover problem is just this one. Every time a girl appears by my side, you're not at ease. It's my fault..."

  I muttered: "I'm not uncomfortable."

  Shen Diao didn't say a word either, I let him hold me, savoring the tranquility of this moment.

  "Willow Jia."

  I'm unhappy he broke the nice atmosphere, angrily asking: "What's wrong?"

  "When did you fall in love with me?"

  ……

  Do you have to ask so directly?

  "What's the point of asking this?"

  His warm breath tickled my ear: "Wait a moment."

  "I don't know."

  Shen Dang heard me say this and got a little angry, slapping my hand.

  I didn't say anything, after a while, he asked again: "Then will you fall in love with me?"

  "I don't know."

  He didn't ask further, probably because he was satisfied with the answer "I don't know".

  Dinner was eaten at Shen's house, and it was really Su's mother who insisted on treating us with great enthusiasm.

  He filled a big bowl of rice for me and said foolishly: "I'll give you more, eat slowly."

  I looked up at him: "What's the inevitable connection here?"

  Shen Dang smiled with a hint of satisfaction: "This way you can stay a little longer."

  My heart has become incredibly soft because of this sentence, it's hard to describe what kind of feeling it is.

  "Master, it's been a long time since you've been so happy."

  This is the second time she said this sentence to me, but I still feel heartbroken as if I heard it for the first time.