She might not talk much, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t observant.

From the bashful micro-expressions on Shen Yun’s face, Xia Nuonuo understood everything.

She just hadn’t expected that her mother, who had sealed her heart away after the pain of her marriage, would one day be ready to accept another man.

This made Xia Nuonuo a little worried.

’Is he just after Mom’s money?’

"Who is he?"

Xia Nuonuo was finally speaking—and asking a question, no less—which left Shen Yun feeling both surprised and flattered. She quickly started her introduction with a beaming smile.

"Oh, him... He’s a wonderful person!"

"He’s handsome, has a great figure, and a fun, humorous personality. Even though he’s young, he’s mature and reliable, and he’s also doing very well in his career!"

"..."

Xia Nuonuo stared speechlessly at her mother’s slightly excited expression. It was hard to imagine that a forty-two-year-old woman could still have such a sweet, romanticized view of love, like a teenage girl.

’Have you forgotten how Xia Qingguo betrayed you?’

’No man is any good!’

Xia Nuonuo’s eyes narrowed, her curiosity suddenly piqued.

’I’ll have to see for myself just who this man is that dared to bewitch her mother!’

’She refused to believe someone that perfect actually existed.’

Xia Nuonuo got up, hung her guitar on the wall, and headed upstairs with her glass of milk.

"Wake me up early tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night..."

Seeing Xia Nuonuo suddenly slip away, a bitter feeling spread through Shen Yun’s heart.

"Sigh—!"

Shen Yun sighed softly. After going upstairs, she stood in front of Xia Nuonuo’s door for a long time, raising her right hand again and again, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to knock.

In the end, she returned to her own room. She sat on the edge of her bed, lost in thought for a moment, before sliding open her closet door.

Inside hung a dazzling array of clothes.

"What should I wear to meet Lin Shen tomorrow?"

After some thought, Shen Yun’s gaze fell upon the depths of the closet.

A gift box was sitting there, a present from her best friend for her birthday.

As for what was inside... those who know, know.

Shen Yun had thought she would never have a use for it again, but unexpectedly, a day had come when she could wear it.

"I’ll give Shen a surprise tomorrow."

Shen Yun unwrapped the gift box. She picked up the "scraps of cloth" inside, gave them a little stretch, and after confirming the elasticity was still good enough to wear, a deep longing began to fill her enchanting eyes.

’I hope you won’t let me down... ’

——

——

September 4, 2025. Friday.

24°C–35°C, sunny, level-3 southeast wind, 30% humidity.

[Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received a deposit of RMB 110,000 on September 04 at 00:01. Current balance: 11,515,000]

Sunac Binjiang No.1 Courtyard, Building 8, Unit 2102.

At 8:00 in the morning, the master bedroom was pitch-dark.

DRING DRING DRING—!

The familiar sound of the alarm clock rang out once again.

Lin Shen groggily fumbled for his phone. He opened his blurry eyes, only to realize it wasn’t his alarm that was ringing.

So he turned his gaze to the woman in his arms.

At that moment, Qin Yuenan was nestled docilely in the crook of his arm, fast asleep. Her hands were folded in front of her, and her makeup-free profile was absolutely stunning.

Lin Shen’s heart warmed. He gently pinched the mature beauty’s lovely face and chuckled softly.

"Nan, your alarm is ringing."

"Turn it off for me!"

Qin Yuenan mumbled in her sleep, leaving Lin Shen feeling helpless.

"The phone’s on your side. I can’t reach it."

"So annoying."

Qin Yuenan whined coquettishly. She was about to lift her head to grab the phone when her face scrunched up and she sucked in a sharp breath, swatting "hard" at Lin Shen’s arm.

"You’re lying on my hair!"

"Sorry."

Lin Shen immediately lifted his right arm, teasing her.

"You can’t blame me for that. You’re the one who insisted I hold you while you slept last night."

"I’m not blaming you..."

Qin Yuenan muttered. After turning off the alarm, she tossed her phone aside and immediately lay back down in Lin Shen’s arms, curling up to find his warmth.

This made him a little confused.

"Aren’t you going to work?"

"Nope."

Like an ostrich, Qin Yuenan buried her head under the covers. A muffled voice came from within.

"I want to keep sleeping with you~"

"That won’t do. You were very clear yesterday that you wanted me to drive you to work."

Lin Shen never would have thought the cool, mature woman would suddenly become so clingy and fond of acting cute.

He couldn’t help but smile as he patted the head resting on his chest through the blanket.

Seeing that Qin Yuenan absolutely refused to get up, he let out a mischievous chuckle and tried to scare her.

"If you keep this up... I just might..."

SWOOSH—!

The moment she heard that, Qin Yuenan shot up into a sitting position, tossing the blanket behind her. With her messy hair sticking up in a few places and a look of flustered annoyance, she looked rather disheveled.

"Yesterday you said you’d take care of me! But this morning you’re already rushing me to go to work!"

As she spoke, Qin Yuenan grabbed Lin Shen’s hand and gave it a hard bite to vent her dissatisfaction.

Of course, it looked rough, but the bite was actually very gentle.

"It’s mainly because I have something to do today."

"What is it?"

Qin Yuenan immediately clutched Lin Shen’s hand to her chest, her expression wary as she stared intently into his eyes.

"Are you sneaking off to fool around with some other girl?"

"How could I!"

Lin Shen sat up in bed as well, ruffling Qin Yuenan’s hair as he teased her.

"Your husband has to go talk business. How else am I going to support you?"

"Who’s your wife..."

Qin Yuenan mumbled, her pretty face blushing slightly. She then leaned over and planted a light kiss on Lin Shen’s neck, darkening the hickey she’d left there last night as if declaring her sovereignty.

After that, Qin Yuenan finally got out of bed to wash up in the bathroom.

However, she didn’t use the new toothbrush prepared for her, casually grabbing Lin Shen’s instead.

Toothbrush, cup, facial cleanser, towel... she used them all without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Shen was a bit surprised when he saw this.

He clearly remembered that Qin Yuenan was something of a germaphobe.

Of course, her actions also warmed his heart, but then he heard the mature beauty complain.

"You have so few skincare products, and no makeup either."

"You think my face needs skincare?"

Lin Shen chuckled.

"Besides, it’s a good thing I don’t have any makeup at home. If I did, a certain someone would be hopping mad and demanding answers."

"You think I get jealous that easily?"

Qin Yuenan looked at Lin Shen defiantly, but when his smiling eyes met hers, she guiltily averted her gaze.

"Well, I’ll buy you some skincare products to keep here next time. Even if your skin is great, guys need to take care of it too."

"Then why don’t you just move in..."

"No way!"

The thought of how Lin Shen had thoroughly worn her out last night only strengthened Qin Yuenan’s resolve not to live with him.

’If this happened every day, she’d eventually drown in it!’

After washing up, Qin Yuenan left the bathroom, changed her clothes, and got ready to leave with Lin Shen.

Since there was no makeup at his place, she was going to work completely bare-faced today.

But for someone as naturally beautiful as Qin Yuenan, there was almost no difference between wearing makeup and not.

In fact, her bare face gave her an added sense of pure, unadorned beauty.

——

[8:40 AM, Huamao Mansion.]

They were a little late for work because they’d stopped to buy breakfast on the way.

But Qin Yuenan didn’t care at all. She even spent some extra time being lovey-dovey with Lin Shen in the underground parking garage before finally getting out of the car and taking the elevator upstairs.

The woman who had just been acting coyly with her boyfriend instantly became cold and aloof the moment she stepped into the office.

The CLACK CLACK CLACK of her high heels on the floor gave her the air of a swift and decisive career woman.

Of course, this was Qin Yuenan’s usual demeanor, so the employees at Pet Guardian Home were used to it and didn’t think much of it as they greeted her.

Her makeup-free face, however, sparked a fair bit of speculation and discussion.

"President Qin’s skin is amazing! She’s so beautiful even without any makeup!"

"Seriously. If I had her looks, I’d be looking down my nose at everyone."

...

Fourth-floor conference room.

Sun Mingli was just about to dismiss the meeting when the door was pushed open with a BANG.

When she saw it was Qin Yuenan, her brow furrowed. She tapped the table and reprimanded her in a cold voice.

"Director Qin, I told you there was a meeting today, and you’re still late. Do you have no regard for company rules?"

"As a leader in this company, how can you set an example for your subordinates with such a lazy and casual attitude toward your work? Go back and write a self-criticism report and submit it to me! And while you’re at it, reflect on your recent performance issues!"

Hearing Sun Mingli’s merciless rebuke, no one in the room dared to even breathe too loudly.

After all, everyone was well aware of the conflict between her and Qin Yuenan. Speaking up at a time like this would be suicide.

"..."

In response, Qin Yuenan’s expression remained indifferent and unfazed. She calmly walked up to Sun Mingli, pulled out a "report," and placed it lightly on the table, the faintest hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"Manager Sun, here is my ’self-criticism.’"

?

Sun Mingli looked down, and her expression froze.

A resignation letter?