With this thought, Shen Yue couldn't help but droop her eyelashes in disappointment, her jade-white fingers clasped together, their tips slightly discolored from the excessive force.
Xie Jiangsheng saw it and calmly shifted his gaze away.
Shen Yue's home wasn't far from the coffee shop, and they soon arrived.
Xie Jiangsheng parked the car outside the apartment building. The surroundings felt somewhat familiar, and he later realized this apartment was one he had given to Shen Yue, who had genuinely thought it was her own home.
This area was incredibly expensive; some people couldn't afford even a tiny place here after a lifetime of hard work.
As Shen Yue was unbuckling her seatbelt, Xie Jiangsheng suddenly asked softly, "Aren't you going to invite me in for a moment?"
Shen Yue blinked, then looked up at the man with a faint smile on his lips. She appeared naive and confused, perhaps nervous, as her words came out with a slight stammer, "But, but it's already very late. Maybe, maybe next time."
Xie Jiangsheng had only made a casual suggestion and hadn't expected such a reaction from Shen Yue. She was too pure. To the amnesiac Shen Yue, an unfamiliar man was indeed a stranger. And to so readily suggest inviting him in next time, she showed no defensiveness at all.
He suspected she'd be easily deceived, even helping the deceiver count their ill-gotten gains.
Too innocent, like a blank canvas, waiting for anyone to paint any color upon it.
The man, outwardly gentle and refined, had his eyes hidden beneath his gold-rimmed glasses darken for an instant, as if a beast had spotted tender, succulent prey. Yet, when he smiled, he appeared perfectly human.
"Just kidding, don't take it seriously. It's already late, hurry inside and get some rest."
Shen Yue let out a quiet sigh of relief. She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. She didn't leave immediately but stood outside, saying to the man in the driver's seat, "Mr. Xie, I'll be heading in then. Please drive safely."
Her eyes were as clear as a pool of snowmelt, her smile warm, with shallow dimples.
The man obscured the darkness in his eyes and adjusted his glasses with his index finger, his voice soft and gentle, "Alright."
Shen Yue waved goodbye and turned to leave. Once she entered the apartment building, she looked back again, only to find the understatedly luxurious Bentley still parked in its spot, not having moved.
Shen Yue didn't know if the man in the passenger seat was watching her, but she still waved politely. After a moment, the car finally drove away.
While waiting for the elevator, her shoulder was lightly patted.
She turned her head to see a woman with a delicate appearance. She also worked at the coffee shop, and they had spoken before, having a decent rapport.
Su Tao seemed surprised to see Shen Yue there, her gaze lingering for a moment on the plastic bag in Shen Yue's hand. "You live here?"
Shen Yue glanced at the elevator, which had only reached the twenty-something floor. "Yes."
Su Tao clearly didn't believe her. After all, this apartment building was in the city center, a prime location. Saving up to afford a place as small as a bathroom would be considered boasting. An apartment in the city center like this was something she couldn't save enough for in a lifetime.
But then she looked at Shen Yue's fair, beautiful, and peculiar face and felt as if she had guessed something.
"Shen Yue, are you living with your boyfriend?" Su Tao couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Anyone who could afford to buy a place here must have a good family background.
"I don't have a boyfriend; I live alone."
Shen Yue shifted the plastic bag to her other hand. She wasn't looking at Su Tao but at the elevator, which had now reached the 15th floor.
"How is that possible? You're so pretty, how can you not have a boyfriend yet?"
"I really don't."
It was Shen Yue's demeanor that made Su Tao feel she was arrogant. She couldn't help but sneer inwardly, feigning niceness in the shop but being aloof and dismissive once outside – truly hypocritical.
Su Tao glanced at her phone. Her rented apartment was very far from here; it was a remote and dilapidated small apartment.
Looking at Shen Yue's refined and beautiful profile, she suddenly had an idea.
"It's so late now, and my apartment is so far away. Taxis are so expensive. Shen Yue, I envy you so much. Your apartment has such a good environment, and it's close to the shop. And it's so late, I'm a bit afraid to go home alone."
Even a fool would understand the implication behind these words.
However, Shen Yue didn't like bringing people she didn't know well home. She could only pretend to be oblivious. "Then you should hurry back. It's so late, be careful."
The elevator arrived just then. Shen Yue smiled and waved goodbye to Su Tao, slipping inside before she could say anything else.
Su Tao stood there awkwardly, maintaining a fake smile on her face while inwardly cursing Shen Yue a thousand times.
The next morning, when Shen Yue arrived at the shop, she noticed the other employees' gazes were a bit strange. As she went to the changing room to get dressed, she overheard several female employees whispering together.
She didn't hear exactly what they were saying, only catching snippets.
"...so pretentious..."
"...a vixen..."
"...shameless..."
As soon as Shen Yue entered, they fell silent. Shen Yue, not understanding why, greeted them normally.
The employees' expressions were unnatural, and they soon dispersed.
Shen Yue didn't notice at first, but later she realized she was gradually being ostracized. This puzzled Shen Yue, but she didn't show much reaction.
Another time, when she went to the restroom, Shen Yue overheard someone speaking ill of her.
"Look at the brands Shen Yue wears. A necklace and earrings alone are tens of thousands, and she never wears the same thing twice. I even saw her pulling and tugging with a man by the entrance the other day..."
"I never would have thought she was that kind of person."
"There are plenty of people like that. Relying on their looks and youth to get by, it's disgusting."
Shen Yue finished using the restroom and waited for the person at the sink to leave before coming out. She lowered her head and quietly washed her hands, the bright yellow light casting a sense of loneliness upon her hair.
The little third whispered: [Don't be sad, just listen to these words.]
Shen Yue dried her hands and walked out of the bathroom. She took a candy from her pocket and ate it. The sweet taste instantly brightened her mood: [Okay, I'm not sad.]
This was the first time the system had encountered someone so easily appeased. So well-behaved, such a good host.
Shen Yue worked her day. She and Luo Kai took the bus together. After getting off the bus, there was still a walk.
This stretch of road was rarely frequented. Whether it was an illusion or not, Shen Yue always felt someone was behind her, but when she turned around, she saw no one.
It was empty, with only her own shadow.
She had finished work quite late today, almost ten o'clock. In the dimly lit, deserted street, the sound of a single person walking echoed along the road.