Shen Yue was close enough to have heard most of what was said.
No wonder Sang Fan was dressed so formally today; he was going on a date.
However, Shen Yue was quite surprised. Sang Fan seemed to come from a good family, and his looks and physique were beyond reproach. Such a guy should be very popular with girls.
She figured the girl Sang Fan liked must be someone very special.
Thinking this, Shen Yue asked softly, "Are you going on a date?"
Sang Fan, who was pretending to adjust his collar, froze. He didn't turn his head, keeping his gaze lowered as he tidied his clothes.
Shen Yue naturally interpreted this behavior as shyness or embarrassment.
She hadn't expected Sang Fan to have such a side, and found it a little amusing. "Then hurry up and go. After all, girls don't like people who are late."
Sang Fan frowned slightly, finally deigning to turn his head and look at the girl. "You still want me to leave?"
Shen Yue blinked, not expecting him to misunderstand her words so much. She quickly explained, "No, it's just that I'm a girl too, and I understand girls' feelings pretty well. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. Perhaps I can even help you, as a way of thanking you."
With that thought, Shen Yue felt it was increasingly feasible.
After all, she felt a bit awkward about living here for free. But she could help Sang Fan pursue someone!
Helping him win the heart of the woman he liked would be a way to repay him.
A nameless frustration arose in Sang Fan's heart, he couldn't quite pinpoint why. His expression turned cold.
The corner of his lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.
"Mind your own business."
The girl seemed startled by his icy demeanor. Her long, dense eyelashes, like butterfly wings, trembled slightly. Her dark, moist eyes were as clear as a bottomless lake.
She pursed her vibrant lips.
She whispered, "I'm sorry..."
It seemed he had scared her.
He hadn't wanted to scare her.
A more intense anxiety than before swept over him.
Sang Fan tensed his jaw, feeling as if he were being slow-cooked from the inside.
He went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water, finishing it in one go.
When he faced the girl again, his expression had regained its composure. His voice was low and a little awkward.
"No need to apologize. It's my fault. I, I shouldn't have had a bad attitude."
Shen Yue simply smiled. She wasn't one to dwell on things and didn't take his unpleasant attitude to heart.
She gently shook her head, a faint smile gracing her lips. Her dimples deepened, her expression soft and unthreatening.
"It's okay."
Sang Fan lowered his gaze, concealing the turbulent emotions in his eyes.
---
It was a shame.
By the time Sang Fan arrived at the museum, it was already over.
Xiao Yansheng was beside him, exasperated and more anxious than Sang Fan himself, filled with anger.
"You, you forgot such an important matter! Such a great opportunity, and you just let it slip away!"
Sang Fan's posture was languid, his face half-lit against the light, his expression distant.
He felt utterly bewildered, unable to understand himself. It was as if something was stuck in his heart, making him feel an unbearable discomfort, yet he couldn't identify the root cause. He didn't even know where this feeling came from.
He leaned against the car, a cigarette held in his mouth. The wisps of smoke thinly veiled his eyes, adding a touch of ethereal beauty.
Xiao Yansheng was still chattering away beside him, acting like the eunuch worried about the emperor.
Seeing something, Xiao Yansheng's voice was abruptly cut off. After a few seconds, he excitedly nudged Sang Fan, who was still looking down and smoking.
"Holy hell, holy hell, Sang, Sang, look!"
Sang Fan instinctively looked over.
They were currently in the museum's parking lot.
Not far away.
Xia Qiong, who had always been cold towards him, was chatting happily with a man. Her face wore a shy, bashful smile, and the way she looked at the man was incredibly… off.
Xiao Yansheng was quite familiar with that man.
Of course, it wasn't just to understand his brother's rival; more importantly, this man held a certain prestige in their circle, though not the same one as Sang Fan.
One was a self-made first-generation rich man.
The other was a born prodigy.
There was no comparison.
Jiang Bainian wore his perpetual gentle smile, which, in Xiao Yansheng's eyes, seemed utterly hypocritical.
Xiao Yansheng grumbled resentfully, "I knew it! Xia Qiong suddenly wanted to come to the museum because of Jiang Bainian!"
Looking at Xia Qiong's demeanor, it was clear she was deeply infatuated. This gave Xiao Yansheng a sense of urgency.
He said to Sang Fan, "Brother, if you don't make a move soon, it'll be too late."
No matter what, Xiao Yansheng couldn't help but feel anxious. He couldn't possibly pursue her on Sang Fan's behalf, even though he didn't think much of Xia Qiong.
How should he put it?
Xia Qiong carried an air of aloofness, as if she looked down on everyone, and specifically targeted them, the spoiled rich kids, acting superior.
But Xiao Yansheng had also heard that Xia Qiong had benefited greatly by using Sang Fan's name, secretly believing she could deceive everyone.
In reality, she had already been seen through by Xiao Yansheng.
He hadn't said anything out of respect for Sang Fan.
But there was nothing he could do; Sang Fan simply liked this type.
That's why they said love was the most trying thing of all.
Sang Fan's expression didn't change much, but Xiao Yansheng could sense the deepening of the color in his eyes.
Knowing Sang Fan's temper well, Xiao Yansheng quickly tried to placate him. "Old Sang, calm down, don't be rash."
He told Sang Fan, "Brother, if you don't make a move soon, it'll be too late."
No matter what, Xiao Yansheng couldn't help but feel anxious. He couldn't possibly pursue her on Sang Fan's behalf, even though he didn't think much of Xia Qiong.
How should he put it?
Xia Qiong carried an air of aloofness, as if she looked down on everyone, and specifically targeted them, the spoiled rich kids, acting superior.
But Xiao Yansheng had also heard that Xia Qiong had benefited greatly by using Sang Fan's name, secretly believing she could deceive everyone.
In reality, she had already been seen through by Xiao Yansheng.
He hadn't said anything out of respect for Sang Fan.
But there was nothing he could do; Sang Fan simply liked this type.
That's why they said love was the most trying thing of all.
Sang Fan's expression didn't change much, but Xiao Yansheng could sense the deepening of the color in his eyes.
Knowing Sang Fan's temper well, Xiao Yansheng quickly tried to placate him. "Old Sang, calm down, don't be rash."