Volume One, Chapter Five: A Gift from My Mother

“This is great, now I can finally hold my head high. Xiao En, you don’t know, when I was young I loved dancing and always wanted my daughter to learn, but Qingyun had no interest in it at all,” Xu Huaying said to Shen Zhien.

Seeing her so excited, Shen Zhien could only grit her teeth and agree. Then she glanced at the “source of all evil,” Li Shen.

“How about you? Want to do a wire stunt for your entrance? Phantom Thief Shen?” Shen Zhien launched an offensive.

Li Shen’s eyebrow twitched but he didn’t reply.

Li Zhenting and Xu Huaying burst out laughing, while Li Qitai looked puzzled. “What are you laughing at?”

“That’s Shen’s private WeChat, it seems you two get along quite well,” Xu Huaying said with satisfaction.

“Private WeChat? Shen, you have a private WeChat?” Li Qitai was shocked.

Clearly, he was not a friend.

“Dad, you’re so busy, of course you don’t pay attention to such trivial matters,” Li Shen said coldly.

Even Shen Zhien, not the sharpest, could tell there was some tension between Li Shen and Li Qitai. High-society conflicts were sometimes like ancient royal courts, with no regard for family ties. It was better not to meddle.

“Monday looks like a good day. Why don’t you two go get your marriage certificate then?” Xu Huaying quickly changed the subject.

“No, the M Group acquisition is at a critical stage. I have to go on a business trip to the port city next Monday,” Li Shen declined coldly.

“Then get the certificate in the morning, take Xiao En out to lunch, and go on your trip in the afternoon. Get it settled early so Xiao En can move in and keep me and your grandfather company.”

“Women should stay out of work matters,” Li Qitai snapped angrily, scolding Xu Huaying before turning to Li Shen with a low roar. “I told you to delay the M Group case, don’t you understand?”

“Ah Tai, I’ve handed the case over entirely to Shen. Let him handle it,” Li Zhenting interjected. “Xiao En will move into Dongshan Villa next Monday. Shen, arrange it. She’ll stay in the detached house on the east side first. Young people need their own space, and it’s easier for wedding preparations. After the wedding, she’ll move in officially.”

Seeing no reaction, Li Zhenting raised his voice, “Did you hear that?”

“Yes,” Shen Zhien answered timidly.

“Hm,” Li Shen responded coldly.

Shen Zhidian’s surgery was scheduled for Friday and it was successful. Shen Zhien stayed at the hospital with her for two days, then returned home Sunday night to pack. Early Monday morning, a round-faced man in a black suit and glasses came to pick her up.

“Mrs. Li, I’m Zhao Jie. Mr. Li asked me to take you to Dongshan Villa.”

It was the first time Shen Zhien was called “Mrs. Li,” and she felt somewhat dazed.

At Dongshan Villa, Lao Jin led Shen Zhien to a villa.

A young woman stood at the door, looking a few years older than Shen Zhien, with a refined aura.

Lao Jin introduced, “This is Xiao Tao, your personal assistant. You can come to her with anything.”

Shen Zhien smiled and nodded. Xiao Tao returned a standard smile and bowed slightly. “Young Madam.”

After seeing Lao Jin off, Xiao Tao had already helped carry her luggage to the bedroom. Two maids were also there—Aunt Chen cooked, Aunt Zhang cleaned.

Shen Zhien lay on the bed, still trying to adjust, when Xiao Tao softly summoned her, “Young Madam, etiquette class in ten minutes. The teacher is already waiting in the classroom.”

“Etiquette class? There’s a classroom?” Shen Zhien was shocked.

“Yes, it was arranged by Young Master Shen. One etiquette lesson and one dance lesson every day. The classroom is on the first floor. I’ll take you there.”

“Arranged by Young Master Shen?” So Li Shen really set up etiquette classes!

There was an etiquette lesson in the morning for one hour, and a dance lesson in the afternoon for two hours—almost a full day under strict control.

More than a week passed like this. Shen Zhien was busy with classes, meals, dance practice, filming videos, and editing. She was thoroughly occupied.

The three elders of the Li family were all busy with important roles in the company or charity work. Except for Xu Huaying who visited once on the first day, Shen Zhien and Xiao Tao mostly faced each other in quiet companionship. The two maids seemed invisible, rarely crossing paths.

As for Xiao Tao, she was like a human machine. Shen Zhien tried countless times to chat with her, but after three exchanges Xiao Tao would excuse herself. Fortunately, her work was excellent, keeping Shen Zhien’s days perfectly organized.

One day, Shen Zhien was in the dance studio. After a simple warm-up, she began dancing to the music. Suddenly she lost her footing during a spin and fell, her ankle aching severely. She frowned in pain. Xiao Tao immediately rushed over to support her, anxiously asking about her condition.

Just then the door opened and a tall, slender figure rushed in. Shen Zhien momentarily thought it was Li Shen but quickly realized it wasn’t. His facial features were much softer than Li Shen’s, with large, pitiful puppy-like eyes, slightly drooping and glistening with concern. Li Shen would never have such a tender expression.

It was Li Heng.

He approached quickly, then knelt down to examine her ankle.

“It’s swollen. I don’t know if the bone’s hurt. I’ll take you to the hospital for an X-ray.” He scooped her up and hurried out.

“How did you get here?” Shen Zhien barely had time to react before he was carrying her in a position that felt quite intimate. It was awkward with Xiao Tao watching.

“First, to the hospital.”

Li Heng carried her briskly to the car, buckled her in, and drove off.

“The villa you’re living in was my old home,” Li Heng said in the car. “Back then, my father was still alive.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Shen Zhien said softly.

“It’s okay. You must have been surprised to see me suddenly there.” Li Heng smiled at her.

“I happened to be on an errand nearby today, so I stopped by to see Grandpa. Passing by the old home, I just wanted to take a look.”

His voice was gentle and magnetic, perfectly matching his demeanor.

“Seeing you dancing, I didn’t want to disturb you. Xiao En, I don’t understand dance, but I think you dance with a lot of spirit.”

“Thank you, I’m just dancing randomly.”

The light turned red and Li Heng stopped the car. He turned to Shen Zhien, “Has Shen come to see you?”

“He’s probably busy,” Shen Zhien replied. It had been over a week since she moved in, and Li Shen hadn’t visited once. Though she expected little, she still felt a bit disappointed.

“Arranged marriages must be very hard,” Li Heng said, looking at her with a trace of pity.

“Are you really ready for this?”

Shen Zhien didn’t know how to answer. She had agreed to the marriage and now it was the final step. She just had to grit her teeth and go forward.

“The light’s green,” she said.

At the hospital, the X-ray showed no broken bones. The doctor advised ice packs and prescribed some ointments to promote blood circulation and reduce bruising.

As night fell, Li Heng brought Shen Zhien back to Dongshan Villa. After helping her up the steps and just as they were about to enter, a white Bentley drove into the courtyard. Li Shen got out, followed by Lao Jin carrying several large bags.

Li Shen frowned upon seeing them and approached.

“Shen,” Li Heng greeted first.

“Don’t mind me. I just happened to come check on the old house and ran into Xiao En with a sprained ankle. It was urgent, so I took her to the hospital.”

Li Shen didn’t reply, turning to look at Shen Zhien.

“How’s your ankle? Did you get X-rays?” His voice was cold as a knife, cutting through the deep autumn night.

“I did. No broken bones,” Shen Zhien answered. For some reason, she felt ashamed, as if caught red-handed.

Li Shen then turned to Li Heng and slowly withdrew his hand from Shen Zhien’s arm.

“Thank you for taking her to the hospital. I won’t see you off.”

Li Heng smiled, paused briefly, then handed Shen Zhien the ointment and ice pack, nodding to her. “I’ll be going now. Xiao En, remember to apply the medicine. Shen, I’m off.”

Shen Zhien raised her hand apologetically to wave goodbye. Her arm was caught by Li Shen, who steadied her as they entered. His grip was hard and unyielding like iron tongs, impossible to refuse.

Li Heng and Lao Jin signaled and got into the car, leaving.

Inside, Xiao Tao helped Shen Zhien sit on the sofa. Lao Jin followed with all the bags—ice packs, heat packs, ointments for bruises and sprains, medicinal liquids, sports bandages, braces, and so forth.

“Young Madam, this is—” Lao Jin started but was cut off by Li Shen.

“My mother sent these,” Li Shen said coldly. “She heard you got hurt and insisted I come.”

Shen Zhien looked at Li Shen’s icy expression, then at Lao Jin who hesitated to speak. She said, “Thank you, Auntie. I just twisted it a little. It’s nothing serious.”

“I’ve seen you. There’s still a company meeting, so I’m leaving first.” Li Shen left without looking back. His long legs took him out in three strides.

Shen Zhien was baffled. A meeting in the middle of the night? If there was a meeting, why bother coming over personally?

Lao Jin looked uncomfortable. Shen Zhien noticed his strange reaction and quietly asked, “Did your mother really send these?”

Lao Jin nodded toward outside, winking, “Yes, Young Master Shen said it was from Madam.”