"I will be careful." Shen Jingrou’s lips curved slightly, a faint smile spreading across her mouth.
Shen Jingrou’s features were refined, and her gaze was gentle yet dignified.
Just then, the auntie entered with a cup of tea, placed it beside ng Heming’s hand, and silently withdrew.
In the living room, with a hint of sandalwood scent, ng Heming picked up the teacup, took a sip, and as he was setting it back down, Shen Jingrou softly said, "Dad wanted to bring so tea over." She had given it to the auntie when she arrived.
"That was thoughtful of him." ng Heming nodded.
Shen’s father had surely sent expensive tea.
"Uncle ng..." Shen Jingrou spoke, her eyes sowhat distant, her words halting.
"If you have sothing to say, just say it." ng Heming’s piercing gaze swept over her.
Seeing him so composed, as if assured that she had sothing on her mind, Shen Jingrou hesitated, looking around before speaking gently, "I would like to stay here for a while."
ng Heming looked at her, surprised by the young girl’s request to stay.
Seeing no response and his expression appearing aloof and gloomy, Shen Jingrou awkwardly added, "If it’s inconvenient, Uncle ng, just pretend I never said anything."
"Do you really see as so unapproachable?" ng Heming replied slowly.
"Not at all." Shen Jingrou shook her head in denial, and then tried to placate him, "Uncle ng is the best. I’m just worried about bothering you."
ng Heming noticed the girl’s smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and knew she must be hiding sothing serious. A trace of pity surfaced on his face, "Just treat this place as your ho."
Suddenly, Shen Jingrou’s eyes welled up, the rims turning red.
Seeing her emotional state, ng Heming asked in a deep voice, "Do you want to send soone to bring the little one over?"
"No need," Shen Jingrou replied nervously.
Thinking of her daughter, Shen Jingrou felt a faint ache in her heart.
"Alright then." ng Heming respected her decision, though he felt a pang of disappointnt at not being able to see the adorable little one.
At that mont, ng Heming called for the servants to prepare a guest room.
Seeing the efficient arrangents, Shen Jingrou asked timidly, "Uncle ng, aren’t you going to ask why I’m staying here?"
"If you want to talk, you’ll tell even if I don’t ask," ng Heming responded indifferently.
His complexion appeared unnaturally pale, yet his eyes were exceptionally bright, like stars in the night sky, shining brilliantly.
"Thank you for understanding, Uncle ng." Her eyelashes fluttered lightly, framing her lively, beautiful eyes.
Just then, Uncle Ma entered from outside.
"Miss Shen!"
"Uncle Ma."
After bowing to Shen Jingrou, Uncle Ma approached the man, "Sir, it’s ti to leave."
ng Heming understood the implication in Uncle Ma’s words. Leaning on the armrest of the chair, he stood up with pride, "Jingrou, I have to step out for a while."
Seeing his stern deanor, Shen Jingrou guessed that he had sothing important to attend to. "Okay."
Afterward, ng Heming walked leisurely toward the backyard.
Uncle Ma was about to follow when a cool voice caught his attention, "Stay here and see if there’s anything Jingrou needs."
With that, he left.
Shen Jingrou had wanted to say she needed nothing, but seeing Uncle ng rush off, she decided not to bother him.
Uncle Ma then turned around, "Miss Shen, let show you to the room. If there’s anything you need, just tell , and I’ll have it sent over."
"Uncle Ma, there’s no need to trouble yourself." Although she said this, Shen Jingrou still followed Uncle Ma in the direction of the guest room.
When Shen Jingrou was young, she often ca to the An Residence to play and had stayed here many tis.
Back then, Shen’s father frequently visited ng Heming for drinks, and Shen Jingrou liked to stick to her father. Over ti, whenever Shen’s father ca to the An Residence, Shen Jingrou would follow along like a shadow.
Every ti they ca to the An Residence, Uncle ng would always prepare a lot of food and toys for her, while the two adults would drink in the courtyard. Sotis, after getting thoroughly drunk, Shen’s father would stay over, and Shen Jingrou would stay as well.
In her blurred mories, there was a ti when Uncle ng was addicted to alcohol, appearing unkempt and looking like a recluse from the countryside.
Later, as she grew up, those vague monts gradually faded from her mory. Yet occasionally, when she saw Uncle ng’s well-grood features, she would feel a mont of bewildernt, thinking the disheveled man from that ti couldn’t have been Uncle ng...
Of course, she never dared to verify it.
Although her father and Uncle ng were friends, and Uncle ng was kind to her, when facing him, she always felt his star-like bright eyes hid countless secrets, revealing a transcendence in his nature, as if nothing in the world concerned him.
Shen Jingrou recalled a sentence her father once said when he was drunk.
He said Uncle ng lived his life for love.
Upon first hearing this, Shen Jingrou didn’t feel touched until she went through her youth... Looking back, she gradually understood the aning behind her father’s words and grew to respect Uncle ng even more.
More than once, she prayed fervently that Uncle ng could fulfill his wishes in his lifeti!
In the quiet courtyard, Shen Jingrou spoke up to the figure of Uncle Ma ahead, "Uncle Ma, how has Uncle ng been lately?"
"Ah, the sa as always," Uncle Ma answered truthfully.
Shen Jingrou’s pace paused slightly, and she mumbled, "Uncle ng said I lost weight, but what about him?"
Uncle Ma’s eyes lit up, "Now that Miss Shen is here, with your supervision, sir probably won’t dare to stay up late and will obediently take his dicine, naturally becoming healthier."
"I don’t have that kind of influence." Shen Jingrou listened to Uncle Ma’s suggestion and denied it.
"You’ll see," Uncle Ma laughed.
Shen Jingrou’s eyes sparkled like a clear autumn water, confidently proclaiming, "Since Uncle Ma has such faith in , I won’t disappoint during my stay."
"Haha..."
The previously tense atmosphere was lightened by their exchange.
***
On the city’s outskirts, rows of skyscrapers rose up, expanding from the city center to et the demand for housing. New developnts spread out, with the locations becoming increasingly remote.
Ordinary communities in the suburbs were everywhere.
On New City Road, freshly planted trees along the sidewalks sprouted new, vibrant green shoots.
At this mont, a luxury car was parked by the roadside, attracting the attention of passersby, especially those interested in cars, who paused to take a few glances.
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