Song Qi left early the next morning. Before he left, he said a few words to her while she was still groggy. She didn't hear them clearly, only vaguely felt a warm kiss on her lips, a light touch that left as quickly as it came, so fast that Shen Jianxi almost thought it was an illusion.
When she woke up in the morning, she seemed to remember that Song Qi had told her she had the day off and asked her to move her things to Song Duanli's residence that morning.
Just as she was debating whether she had misremembered or if it was true, the doorbell rang.
Looking at Wen Ze at the door with a professional fake smile, Shen Jianxi once again witnessed the speed of Duanli.
She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was only 7 AM.
"Uncle Wen, long time no see."
One sentence made the professionally trained Wen Ze break character.
He was such a fool. Last time, he had actually worried a little about her being monitored by President Song.
Fortunately, Wen Ze remembered why he was there. He shot Shen Jianxi a resentful look and said, "Young Master Qi should have told you yesterday that I'm here to pick you up to President Song's residence."
"You only need to bring your textbooks, homework, and a change of clothes. President Song has already had the rest of your things prepared." He deliberately emphasized the words "textbooks" and "homework" with a hint of petty revenge.
Shen Jianxi: ...Textbooks and homework aren't really necessary.
She had intended to leave her homework at home, but as they were about to leave, Wen Ze suddenly turned and said, "Oh, Miss Shen, you forgot your homework. I'll go get it for you."
Shen Jianxi looked at him in disbelief. Was he a devil?
However, she had no reason to stop him, so she could only watch with resignation as Wen Ze walked back into the living room and picked up the stack of homework from the table, which made her feel utterly hopeless.
The homework was heavy, but Wen Ze carried it happily. As he passed Shen Jianxi, he even stopped deliberately and said, "Miss Shen, I've got your homework for you. Not a single piece is missing. We can go now."
His smile was more genuine than ever, and his tone was sincerely un-official.
Wen Ze: His damned competitive spirit had won him a round!
Watching his cheerful back, Shen Jianxi walked behind him, feeling her fists clench.
*
Song Duanli's residence was a two-story villa. It wasn't large but was more than enough for one person.
This surprised Shen Jianxi. The CEO of a multinational corporation lived so simply. Where was the domineering CEO aura? It didn't fit the typical image at all.
When they entered, Song Duanli was having breakfast. Seeing Shen Jianxi come in, he merely cast a cold glance at her, as if the girl moving into his home was of no consequence.
"President Song." Wen Ze stepped forward and greeted him. He wouldn't say redundant things like "the person has been delivered," as their president wasn't blind.
Song Duanli responded indifferently, put down his coffee, and stood up, walking towards Shen Jianxi.
He didn't seem that tall when seated, but now she saw how tall Song Duanli was. He was easily nearing 1.9 meters, exuding a strong sense of pressure. Shen Jianxi could only look up at him.
Song Duanli was tall and slender, like a prince, exuding a blend of elegance and sternness. His suit was even free of a single wrinkle.
A kind of ascetic beauty.
However, the scrutiny in his eyes as he looked at her was undisguised. "Miss Shen, I've heard a great deal about you."
Her actions over the past two days had all been reported to him by Ak, including how she skipped school and how she playfully tussled with that boy named Xie Shu on campus, all the details.
"I don't know how you managed to get close to my younger brother, but remember this: don't take us Song family members for fools." Even when threatening her, he maintained that same indifferent demeanor.
"Big Brother!" As if not understanding the underlying meaning of his words, Shen Jianxi's voice was cheerful and even carried a hint of trust.
This address of "Big Brother" caught Song Duanli by surprise. However, he was accustomed to hiding his emotions, so outwardly he appeared unfazed, though a flicker of disgust crossed his eyes.
He detested people who pretended to be foolish.
77: "Beep! Favorability -10, current Song Duanli favorability is -10."
Shen Jianxi naturally didn't miss his disgust, but it was within her expectations.
She knew from their first meeting that he didn't like her, but unlike Song Qi, conquering him wouldn't be easy.
Song Duanli's guard was exceptionally high, making it difficult for him to let down his defenses. If that was the case, then perhaps she should just make him detest and guard against her. This would inadvertently increase his attention towards her, and by the time he realized it, it would be too late.
Extremes breed reversals; extreme disgust could lead to a rebound in favorability.
This was a risky move, with significant risks. If they didn't have nearly a month of interaction, Shen Jianxi wouldn't have chosen this method.
"Big Brother, where is my room~?" Her voice grew increasingly soft and sweet, "My things must be the best! Brother Song Qi said my skin is delicate and can't use cheap things."
She was channeling her spoiled and arrogant persona to the extreme.
77: "Beep! Favorability -5, current Song Duanli favorability is -15."
Although it was part of the plan, Shen Jianxi still felt a pang of heartache at this drop in favorability.
This man was too ruthless.