Chapter 36: Architectural Drawings

Nan Jiaojiao rubbed her brow, suddenly feeling disinterested.

“Shen Shichu, how long do you think I can remain foolish?”

“What?” Shen Shichu asked with a laugh, but his eyes held a cold intensity.

Nan Jiaojiao didn’t spell it out, but her gaze slid from him to Ye Shiqing, her thin lips curling into a short, derisive sneer.

That laugh erased what little feigned tenderness Shen Shichu had.

The hand grasping the knife and fork tightened, veins prominent on the back, his eyes staring at Nan Jiaojiao like cleavers.

Moments later, he composed himself and pushed the steak towards Nan Jiaojiao, “Eat first, you shouldn’t go hungry.”

He was always considerate.

Whenever he was with Nan Jiaojiao, regardless of whether there were spectators or even if his bed partner was sitting opposite, his care for Nan Jiaojiao was meticulous, flawless.

Even if they were to break up later, the blames would lean one-sidedly towards Nan Jiaojiao.

It was her own fault for not recognizing what was good for her.

Nan Jiaojiao stood up, “I need to use the restroom.”

Shen Shichu stood as well, helping her out from their seating and summoned a waiter to guide her.

Once she was gone, his expression darkened.

He took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep inhale, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke that veiled his somber, fierce face.

Soon a waiter came over to stop him, reminding him that smoking wasn’t allowed here.

“Get lost!”

Shen Shichu flung a wad of money at the waiter’s face, “Go away, don’t crowd around here!”

The waiter didn’t dare utter a word, continuously apologizing, nearly in tears.

Ye Shiqing picked up the money joyfully, handed it to the waiter, and dismissed him, then swayed over and sat next to Shen Shichu.

“Brother Chu, don’t be angry.

Maybe sister didn’t do it on purpose.

I’ll explain it to her later; she will understand.”

Shen Shichu harshly turned to her and said, “Ye Shiqing, I have warned you not to flirt with me in public, and, did you just see Jiaojiao here?”

“No!”

Ye Shiqing stammered in fright.

She had never been looked at by Shen Shichu with such a gaze, as if he wanted to tear her apart, frightening her until her face turned pale.

Shen Shichu growled, “Go back and sit down, don’t let her see you.”

Ye Shiqing trembled all over, tears brimming in her eyes.

She stood up and bumped into Nan Jiaojiao’s purse on the table, which fell and its zipper got caught on the corner of the table, spilling its contents.

The items fell onto Shen Shichu’s foot.

He looked down, reached to pick them up with his cigarette-holding hand, then halted abruptly.

Scattered on the ground were several sheets of drawing paper; once he saw the architectural sketches, Shen Shichu nervously snuffed out the lit cigarette in his palm, not minding the pain from the burn, his hands shaking as he picked up the papers.

“This is…”

Ye Shiqing leaned over to look, barely glimpsing anything before Shen Shichu suddenly withdrew his hand, intentionally covering the papers to prevent her from seeing.

About half a minute later, Shen Shichu calmed down and neatly arranged the papers.

He said, “What are you standing there for?

Help Jiaojiao pick them up.”

Ye Shiqing bit her lip hard, feeling utterly unimportant.

Even in Nan Jiaojiao’s absence, they had to play act this pretense of affection.

This man had wrapped his arms around her in bed just two hours earlier, sweetly calling her “darling.”

She wanted to throw away Nan Jiaojiao’s belongings, but she dared not, so she bent down and began picking up the items.

After everything else was gathered, Shen Shichu handed her the architectural sketches.

Ye Shiqing subconsciously went to put them back in the bag when her gaze suddenly sharpened.

Were these the architectural blueprints for the North City site?