Chapter Fifty-Six: Yunhui Town

“You can’t exactly wear a suit just to go out and have fun, can you?” Fu Chen rested one hand lightly on the steering wheel, a soft laugh escaping his lips. The deep shadows in his eyes brightened, lit with a clear smile.

Shen Huaijing’s long, dense lashes quivered ever so slightly, her face clouded with confusion. “Who are you going out with?”

“I came to pick you up. Who else would I go with?” Fu Chen looked lazily at Shen Huaijing.

“Are you kidding? I’m not going.” Shen Huaijing refused without hesitation. The atmosphere between them these past few days had grown a little out of her control; if the two of them went on a trip alone now, wouldn’t that be even stranger? She was resolved—she absolutely wouldn’t go.

Fu Chen drummed his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, his lips pressed together, the ink-black depths of his eyes growing darker and more tranquil. “If you stay in South City, my mother will never let you off. You’d better come with me. Otherwise, if something happens to you, I won’t make it back in time.”

Ke Jing! Shen Huaijing threw that matter to the back of her mind—after all, she was still “pregnant” right now.

Fu Chen glanced at his watch and said coldly, “You have five minutes to decide.”

Shen Huaijing bit her lower lip, her mind racing. Compared to traveling alone with Fu Chen, dealing with Ke Jing seemed much more troublesome. Weighing her options, she could only compromise.

“I’ll go with you, but let’s go home first so I can pack.” Shen Huaijing quickly fastened her seatbelt, ready to set off.

A smile flickered in Fu Chen’s dark eyes as he started the car. “No need to go home. Aunt Feng already packed your things and put them in the car.” Fu Chen raised his hand, pointing at the back seat.

Shen Huaijing spun around. Sure enough, two large suitcases sat in the back, and only then did she realize she’d fallen right into Fu Chen’s trap.

“So I never really had the right to refuse, did I?” Shen Huaijing glared furiously at Fu Chen, realizing she’d been played by him yet again.

Fu Chen gazed calmly at the road ahead. “When have I ever forced you?” Suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on his lips as he lowered his voice: “Just like last night—I didn’t force you then either.”

Last night?

Forced?

Shen Huaijing suddenly remembered Fu Chen’s teasing words, and her ears flushed with a rosy tint.

“Fu Chen! Were you even drunk last night?” Shen Huaijing now seriously doubted the truth of everything Fu Chen had said the previous evening. Maybe he’d never lost consciousness at all.

Fu Chen raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer, appearing focused on driving.

Knowing she’d get nothing out of him, Shen Huaijing changed the subject, scrolling through her phone in a calmer tone. “So, where are we going?”

“Yungui Town.” A shadow seemed to fall across Fu Chen’s eyes.

Three hours later.

Yungui Town was a mountain village that had only begun to develop in the past couple of years, designed to help people escape the noise of the city and find peace for their souls. It was still barely commercialized, the tourist facilities were incomplete, and few people came here.

Fu Chen parked the car outside the entrance to the town. Shen Huaijing enjoyed breathing in the air, which seemed to carry the first signs of autumn. A cool breeze brushed past, the trees lining the road lush and green, sunlight refracting off the water, casting rippling waves.

Fu Chen looked perfectly at ease, leaning against the car, idly checking his phone, as if waiting for someone.

Struggling with her luggage, Shen Huaijing stood before Fu Chen and mocked, “Young master! Aren’t you going to carry the bags inside? What are you posing for?”

Fu Chen watched her with a smile but said nothing.

Shen Huaijing carried her luggage toward the town, when suddenly a familiar figure jogged toward them.

She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, squinting to look closer—was that Uncle Liu, their driver?

“Oh, young lady, let me carry that. You and the young master go on ahead.” Uncle Liu deftly took the suitcase from Shen Huaijing and waved at Fu Chen, leading the way.

Shen Huaijing was baffled. She frowned and asked, “Uncle Liu, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, didn’t the young master tell you? I’m actually from Yungui Town. The tourism industry here only developed because the young master and Young Master Lin invested together, so my wife opened a guesthouse here.” Uncle Liu’s face was flushed from running, but his joy was unmistakable.

As Shen Huaijing chatted with Uncle Liu, Fu Chen strode up beside her, the breeze lifting his tousled hair. With his hands in his jeans pockets, he looked a bit like a rebellious youth.

“It was only a few days ago that the young master said the young lady was pregnant and wanted to bring you here to relax, so I had my wife tidy up the room for you.” Uncle Liu smiled simply.

Shen Huaijing forced an awkward smile, glancing at Fu Chen from the corner of her eye. He showed no expression, staring straight ahead.

They walked along the smooth green path, fresh wind caressing their faces, the sunlight filtering through layers of leaves, falling on Shen Huaijing’s hair and shoulders, casting a patchwork of light and shadow on the ground, warming her heart.

Soon, they entered the town itself. It truly was a southern village—the sunlight gently falling onto moss-covered stone houses, the rays touching every dusty corner sealed by time, and the air was fragrant with the scent of plants.

Shen Huaijing traced her fingers over the cool stones, savoring the sensation. She felt as if she’d gone back decades, returned to the little town of her childhood, to those beautiful yet fleeting days.

A river split the town in two; along the stone paths were a variety of snack shops. Elderly men with silver hair dozed in rocking chairs outside their shops, fanning themselves, while children ran wild over the bridges, their laughter echoing from afar into Shen Huaijing’s ears.

It had to be said—this place was a true haven.

“Young master, young lady, we’ve arrived.” Uncle Liu stopped at the door of a two-story western-style house.

“Here, let me take that, Old Liu.” A middle-aged woman hurried out, warmly taking the suitcase and carrying it upstairs, mumbling as she went, “Old Liu asked me ages ago to get the room ready. See if you like it, and if there’s anything wrong, I’ll fix it.”

As the wooden door opened, a house with an old-fashioned charm appeared before Shen Huaijing; all the necessary amenities were in place, the room was spotless and free of any unpleasant odors, with a faint floral fragrance instead.

What drew Shen Huaijing’s gaze most was a pair of wide wooden windows, beneath which sat a rosewood chaise lounge. From there, she could take in much of the town’s scenery.

“I love it!” Shen Huaijing answered brightly, her voice clear.

Fu Chen watched the autumn-water depths of her beautiful eyes, which now sparkled with the brilliance of spring flowers, and couldn’t help but smile along with her.

“You’ve done a great job,” Fu Chen said approvingly to Uncle Liu.

Eager to see the view at the window, Shen Huaijing had no time for conversation, instinctively grabbing Fu Chen’s hand.

“Look, isn’t this window beautifully designed?”

The couple saw the scene and discreetly made their way downstairs.

Fu Chen lowered his gaze to where Shen Huaijing held his hand, and a gentle warmth flowed in his eyes.