NOVPUBEarly the next morning, Old Lih and Loo Zhen left Star City. They had come on leave, but now they needed to return to work.
Plus, there was no immediate stock of the M9, and they would have to wait until next week to pick it up.
Shen Yuan spent a pleasant morning with Teacher Lih. During this time, he noticed something subtle—a change in her aura.
She used to be gentle and thoughtful, her smile like the warm sun of spring. Most striking was that she retained a maiden's purity and bashfulness.
But now, her gaze held not only softness but also an unmistakable maternal strength. It was a juxtaposition of intellect and allure, evoking the imagery of a rose in full bloom.
No wonder people say young mothers are the epitome of beauty—Teacher Lih was starting to have that effect.
Every now and then, he would catch her standing on the balcony, basking in the sunlight, touching her smooth, flat belly, her expression tranquil and content.
Shen Yuan wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind. The baby was just one month along, so there was no sign of a bump, leaving her figure as graceful and supple as a willow branch.
"Teacher Lih, I'll head back after lunch and come again in a couple of days to keep you company."
Sensing Shen Yuan's gentle tone, Lih Xiao nodded slightly, her face adorned with a smile. "Okay."
"Tch, you two are so glued to each other. It's only been one morning, and look at how many times you've hugged already."
Lih Meng sat on the sofa hugging her knees, muttering under her breath. She knew she shouldn't feel jealous of her sister, but she couldn't help the sourness bubbling up.
Still, when she thought about how her sister was pregnant now, and Shen Yuan would inevitably give her less attention during his visits, a hint of amusement tugged at Lih Meng's slightly upturned lips.
That might not be so bad after all.
On the balcony, Shen Yuan cherished the moment, leaning close to Lih Xiao's ear and whispering, "Aside from the nanny, I'll assign you an Alphard and a driver for your use. Once you start going for check-ups and whatnot, just have the driver take you. Got it?"
"Mm, whatever you say," replied Lih Xiao softly, nestled in Shen Yuan's embrace.
After having lunch, Shen Yuan enjoyed a delightful afternoon nap with Teacher Lih before heading back to the Silver Lake Bay Villa.
Ji Ya was helping him inspect the private jet, Tan Xin was in her own room, Aunt He was busy in the kitchen—all in all, the sprawling villa felt oddly hollow and quiet, lacking a certain vitality.
Perhaps it was missing some warmth.
"I should host a housewarming party sometime. A day for the Puyue Bay Team, a day for the dance troupe, a day for Dong Ya and Qi Xi's nurse-and-nun duo. Hmm… and another day when Luo Bingying and Pei Wei come back from their holiday. Oh, and one more for Lin Yuchang and Dai Lu, those inseparable friends through thick and thin."
"Tch, I could warm the house for a whole week without repeating guests."
"Boss, it's almost time for departure."
Just then, a cold voice sounded from behind him. Shen Yuan turned around to find Tan Xin dressed in a black tracksuit.
Her slender figure, orderly outfit, neatly tied ponytail, and lifeless expression made her seem distant.
Feigning dissatisfaction, Shen Yuan remarked, "Can't you try smiling? You always keep such a stiff face. People might think someone owes you money. You're quite pretty—you should start making better use of that."
"Sorry, I can't," she replied in an even colder tone.
Well, there's no point in expecting her to change expressions.
"Where exactly are you talking about heading?" Shen Yuan asked.
"Nanzhong University. Ji Ya informed me that Vice Principal Wei Zhuo of Nanzhong scheduled a building naming ceremony today at 4 PM and invited you to attend," Tan Xin replied.
"Oh, she reminded me yesterday, but I nearly forgot about it."
Originally, Wei Zhuo had planned to hold a donation ceremony open to the public and media. However, Shen Yuan had felt that was too ostentatious, so he declined. Eventually, Wei Zhuo proposed naming Nanzhong's new teaching building after Shen Yuan's name, 'Yuan Yi,' and today was the unveiling.
Old Wei had put in a fair amount of effort, and since the ceremony was limited to Nanzhong's internal audience without involving social news, Shen Yuan decided to accept the invitation.
Shen Yuan checked the time. "It's not even 3 PM yet. Let's head to Nanzhong first and look for my little sister-in-law."
Little sister-in-law? 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Tan Xin glanced at Shen Yuan quizzically but didn't press for more information.
"Boss, which car are we taking?"
"The Koenigsegg. That car's been gathering dust in the garage for ages."
"Alright."
In the garage, Tan Xin was about to climb into the driver's seat when Shen Yuan waved her aside. "Let me indulge myself first. You can drive on the way back."
"Okay."
Tan Xin halted her movements and instead walked around to the passenger seat.
Pausing before opening the scissor door, Tan Xin cast a few glances at the supercar—its futuristic design, streamlined contours, low-slung, aggressive front, and tightly raised rear resembled an arrow poised to strike.
While the boss might be overly fond of flashy things, his aesthetic sense was undeniably impressive.
Sitting in the passenger seat, she felt the interior material—everything was crafted with high-strength carbon fiber, its textures elusive yet captivating.
The design of the cockpit was minimalist, devoid of excessive ornamentation, prompting her to steal a few more glimpses.
As Shen Yuan buckled his seatbelt, he turned to her. "Do you like sports cars?"
Upon hearing his question, Tan Xin quickly withdrew her gaze and sat upright. "Yes."
Heh, pretending to be serious—turns out she has personal interests too.
Shen Yuan chuckled teasingly but kept his eyes on her while she fastened her own seatbelt. Her slender arm pulled the strap across her chest, and with a crisp "click," the belt tightened, accentuating the contours of her chest like two hills.
"Though you're slim, you're surprisingly well-endowed," Shen Yuan commented matter-of-factly.
A flash of mortified anger crossed Tan Xin's face. "Boss, please behave yourself."
"Can't you come up with something new? That's so boring," Shen Yuan retorted.
Starting the car, he drove off smoothly. The precise handling and zero-lag throttle response made driving feel—well, silk-like.
As soon as they exited the community, Shen Yuan instantly pushed the speed up. With 1,600 horsepower and a zero-to-100 acceleration in just 1.9 seconds, the full-throttle experience brought a sense of exhilaration stronger than any roller coaster.
