Chapter 2: He Is a Man of Passion

Because of an argument at the dining table, Shang Ao’er announced a three-day cold war with Shang Yucheng.

Shang Yucheng was in no mood to indulge her unreasonable tantrum and stood up to leave for work without another word.

Liang Jinshang had to deliver her thesis to her professor today. Having been delayed all morning, she was already running late. The worst thing was her waist and legs were in such poor condition that it was nearly impossible for her to walk to the subway station.

She leaned against the car window and asked the culprit, “Mr. Shang, could you give me a ride on your way?”

Shang Yucheng refused with an impassive expression. “It’s not convenient.”

It hadn’t seemed the least bit inconvenient for him last night, had it?

Liang Jinshang’s smile didn’t waver as she turned to the driver. “Uncle Li, I just need to go to the nearest subway station…”

Her tone was a perfect blend of gentle difficulty and obedient charm; her innocent face was her most reliable weapon.

Sure enough, Uncle Li spoke up for her. “Young Master, it’s on the way anyway, it won’t delay you.”

If Uncle Li had been on Shang Yucheng’s payroll, Liang Jinshang would never have put him on the spot. But Uncle Li was the old family driver, having served Old Madam Shang for over twenty years. Shang Yucheng was merely borrowing his services.

Liang Jinshang had guessed correctly that Shang Yucheng would give Uncle Li face, and so she successfully took the passenger seat.

As the car started, Liang Jinshang covered her mouth and yawned several times.

“Miss Liang, you should rest your eyes for a bit,” Uncle Li said kindly. “You must have worked hard last night, didn’t you?”

He was referring to her tutoring Shang Ao’er, but Liang Jinshang, guilty at heart, instinctively glanced at the man in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

By some coincidence, her eyes met Shang Yucheng’s dark, unreadable gaze.

Liang Jinshang’s lips curled in a slow smile, but she replied to Uncle Li, “It wasn’t hard. When both sides enjoy something, how can it be considered hard?”

Uncle Li didn’t see her teasing expression and genuinely couldn’t make sense of her words. “Ah?”

After a pause, Liang Jinshang explained softly, “Teaching is mutual. When I tutor Ao’er, I gain a lot myself.”

“Oh, oh!”

Shang Yucheng’s phone rang at that moment. He lowered his eyes but didn’t answer right away.

What a shameless thing, she could turn a car ride into a boat trip.

“Xueyuan.” Shang Yucheng finally took the call, listening patiently to the person on the other end. “…All right, you pick the restaurant.”

His tone was as low and magnetic as ever, but when speaking to his fiancée there was a tenderness Liang Jinshang had never heard directed at herself.

Uncle Li fell silent, allowing the couple their peace.

Liang Jinshang put on her headphones and began reciting English vocabulary.

She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but when Uncle Li woke her, the car was already parked at the entrance to Jincheng University.

Already fifteen minutes late for her appointment with the professor, Liang Jinshang had no time to ask how she’d ended up at the university.

It was never wrong to thank Uncle Li; Shang Yucheng would never be so considerate.

Uncle Li turned the wheel and continued on, only realizing after dropping Shang Yucheng off at the Shang Group building that Liang Jinshang had left her bag in the car.

“Oh dear, Miss Liang forgot her bag! …I’ll take it back and have the young lady give it to her.”

Shang Yucheng’s gaze landed on the slightly open bag. He suddenly said, “Give it to me. Tell her to come to the company to retrieve it.”

Uncle Li was momentarily taken aback. He’d always thought his young master rather disliked Miss Liang.

Just now, if he hadn’t pleaded repeatedly, not wanting to wake Miss Liang right after she’d fallen asleep, the young master would have made her get out at the subway station.

Shang Yucheng picked up the bag and left.

Inside the bag was a nightgown he had personally torn to shreds.

Given Shang Ao’er’s nature, she’d never think twice about rummaging through someone else’s belongings. If she were to see that nightgown—especially since Shang Yucheng was the only adult man in the main house last night—who knew what kind of scandalous scenario that girl would imagine.

Though, whatever her imagination conjured, the truth of what he’d done was likely far more outrageous.

But with the marriage alliance with the Gong family proceeding smoothly, he had no desire to stir up further trouble.

Watching Shang Yucheng walk away carrying a woman’s bag, Uncle Li was suddenly reminded of something.

It was last winter, on a night when snow began to fall unexpectedly. Out of habit, he’d gotten up to check the car engines. As he passed by the main house kitchen, he saw Shang Yucheng holding a woman in his arms at the stove, his chin resting on her shoulder, their hands entwined on the spatula as they cooked a midnight snack together—a scene so intimate it lingered in his mind.

The floor-to-ceiling windows had been fogged over, making it difficult to see clearly, but now, thinking back, he was almost certain the woman’s profile looked just like Miss Liang.

Uncle Li shook his head, dismissing the thought as absurd.

His young master was known as a man of deep affection—apart from the one who married and moved to America, there had never been any rumors of him caring for anyone else.