Chapter 283: The Villain and the Heroines

Morning came slowly over the Shen estate.

The sky outside the enormous windows had only just started turning pale when Shen Tian opened his eyes.

For several seconds...

He didn’t move.

Yin Suyi was still asleep against his shoulder.

Rose remained curled up in the chair across from him.

One leg tucked beneath her.

Lin Yue had fallen asleep with a deck of cards scattered across the table.

Tang Meilin was asleep beside her with her head resting on folded arms.

Gu Qingya...

Still held the same book.

Still on the same page.

Her eyes were closed.

Shen Tian stared.

Then...

His lips slowly curved.

"She really committed to pretending."

Xu Ning appeared beside him.

[She hasn’t turned that page in forty-three minutes.]

Shen Tian glanced toward her.

"How long have you been watching?"

[Long enough.]

He looked back toward Gu Qingya.

She looked peaceful.

Far different from the cold CEO who normally seemed prepared to freeze entire boardrooms with one glance.

A strand of dark hair had fallen across her face.

Shen Tian considered waking her.

Then decided against it.

Instead...

His eyes moved toward Rose.

She was still wearing the clothes from the previous night.

One arm rested over her stomach.

Her expression had softened completely in sleep.

No mercenary alertness.

No teasing.

No sarcastic smile.

Just...

Rose.

Shen Tian stared a little longer.

Then...

Her eyes opened.

Immediately.

Sharp.

Green meeting green.

Silence.

Rose blinked once.

Then twice.

"...Were you staring at me?"

Shen Tian didn’t look away.

"Yes."

That answer caught her completely off guard.

Her cheeks warmed almost instantly.

"You..."

She sat up slightly.

"You’re supposed to deny it."

"Why?"

"Because that’s what people do."

Shen Tian smiled.

"I don’t."

Rose stared.

Then...

A faint blush spread farther across her cheeks.

"Why were you staring?"

Shen Tian thought for a second.

Then...

"You look less dangerous when you’re asleep."

Rose’s eyes narrowed.

"Less?"

"Considerably."

She glanced down at herself.

Then toward him.

"And that’s supposed to be a compliment?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Whether you like being dangerous."

Rose smiled.

"I do."

"Then no."

She laughed quietly.

The sound made Lin Yue stir.

Her eyes slowly opened.

She immediately looked around.

Then...

At the cards.

Then...

At Tang Meilin.

Then...

At Shen Tian and Rose.

Rose was still smiling.

Shen Tian was still watching her.

Lin Yue’s eyebrow rose.

"Oh."

Rose immediately looked over.

"No."

Lin Yue sat up.

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were going to."

"I genuinely wasn’t."

Rose stared.

Lin Yue’s smile widened.

"Now I am."

Rose’s face became pink.

"Go back to sleep."

Tang Meilin slowly lifted her head.

"What happened?"

Lin Yue pointed toward Rose.

"She woke up flirting."

Rose’s eyes widened.

"I DID NOT."

Tang Meilin looked toward Shen Tian.

Then...

Rose.

A sleepy smile appeared.

"That’s cute."

Rose stared.

"I hate mornings."

Shen Tian laughed.

The sound woke Gu Qingya.

Her eyes opened.

She immediately looked down at the book.

Then...

Turned the page.

Everyone stared.

Gu Qingya froze.

Slowly...

She looked up.

Rose’s smile became enormous.

"You weren’t sleeping?"

Gu Qingya’s cheeks warmed.

"No."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"You’ve been on that page since last night."

Silence.

Gu Qingya slowly closed the book.

"...I was thinking."

Tang Meilin laughed.

Lin Yue covered her mouth.

Gu Qingya’s face became pink.

"None of you are funny."

Shen Tian smiled.

"I am."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Especially you."

Yin Suyi finally stirred against him.

She made a small sound.

Then...

Her eyes opened.

She looked up at her son.

Then...

Smiled.

"Morning."

Shen Tian sighed.

"Morning."

She immediately hugged his arm.

Rose stared.

Lin Yue smiled.

Tang Meilin looked amused.

Gu Qingya covered her mouth.

Shen Tian looked down at his mother.

"You know I’m not going anywhere."

"I know."

"Then why are you holding me?"

"Because I can."

He stared.

Yin Suyi smiled triumphantly.

Then...

Her eyes moved toward Rose.

Rose immediately became suspicious.

Yin Suyi’s smile deepened.

"No."

Rose said it instantly.

Yin Suyi froze.

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were going to."

Shen Tian slowly looked between them.

"She’s learning."

Rose smiled.

"Survival."

. . .

Breakfast began shortly afterward.

And somehow...

The entire atmosphere felt different.

Lighter.

More natural.

Gu Qingya sat near Shen Tian.

Tang Meilin beside her.

Rose across.

Lin Yue beside Rose.

Yin Suyi remained at the head of the table.

Shen Yan eventually entered from morning training.

The moment she saw the four women...

Her expression paused.

Then...

Her eyes moved toward Shen Tian.

Shen Tian looked back.

Silence.

She remembered.

Boundaries.

Control.

Trust.

Shen Yan slowly exhaled.

Then...

Walked toward the table.

"Morning."

Rose raised an eyebrow.

"Morning."

Lin Yue smiled politely.

Tang Meilin nodded.

Gu Qingya did too.

Shen Yan sat.

No threats.

No interrogation.

No suspicious bodyguard stare.

Mostly.

Her eyes still lingered on Rose for half a second too long.

Rose noticed.

Their eyes met.

Shen Yan looked away.

Rose smiled faintly.

Interesting.

Shen Tian noticed too.

"Good."

Shen Yan immediately looked toward him.

Her expression softened.

"You noticed?"

"Obviously."

A small smile appeared.

Then...

Yin Suyi pushed food toward Shen Tian.

He stared.

"Mother."

"Eat."

"I’m eating."

"More."

"I’m not twelve."

"Eat."

Rose laughed.

Shen Tian sighed.

Then...

Tang Meilin suddenly reached toward a plate.

At the exact same time...

Shen Tian did.

Their fingers touched.

Both stopped.

Tang Meilin’s eyes widened slightly.

Shen Tian looked toward her.

Her face warmed.

Then...

Instead of pulling away instantly...

She hesitated.

Just a second.

Then slowly moved her hand back.

"You can have it."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"You reached first."

"No."

"You did."

"I don’t want it anymore."

Rose immediately leaned forward.

"You absolutely wanted it."

Tang Meilin’s cheeks reddened.

"Rose."

Rose smiled.

"What?"

Shen Tian picked up the pastry.

Then...

Instead of eating it...

He placed it on Tang Meilin’s plate.

She froze.

"Shen Tian."

"Hm?"

"You didn’t have to."

"I know."

Her heartbeat jumped.

There it was again.

That answer.

I know.

Not...

You owe me.

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

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