C42 A Gift Demonic Beast

In just a short while, the sound of steady breathing filled the room. Shi Qian turned her head to look at him.

He was asleep!

That was quick!

He must have been exhausted from the overnight rush back, hardly getting any rest on the plane.

Before long, Shi Qian felt the pull of sleep herself and soon drifted off.

When noon arrived, Shi Qian slowly opened her eyes to find herself face-to-face with an incredibly enchanting visage.

Shaang Sizhan was propped up on one hand, gazing at her, "You're awake."

Shi Qian glanced at him, then at the blanket they were sharing, and her mind flashed back to that domineering kiss.

A faint blush tinged her ears, but she feigned nonchalance with a murmured, "Mhm."

She shifted her legs slightly, brushing against Shaang Sizhan's, and quickly retracted them.

Shaang Sizhan caught the movement, a hint of amusement sparkling in his dark eyes.

Shi Qian sensed his amusement but avoided his gaze.

Internally, she questioned herself, Was she really going to give in just like that?

She had never intended to fall in love, considering the fragility of such emotions.

Yet, when it came to Shaang Sizhan, she seemed to have no choice but to relent.

She couldn't best him in a fight, nor could she win an argument, and as much as she might want to, she couldn't bring herself to hurt him.

The idea of leaving Monarch Garden, of leaving him, was even less appealing...

Staring at the blanket covering her, she paused for a moment before finally speaking up, "Master Zhan, don't you think... we're moving a bit too fast?"

Shaang Sizhan's lips curved into a slight smirk. "Too fast? I actually think we're moving too slowly."

If not for the internal strife within the Shang family and the urgent competition for the position of clan master, along with the myriad of issues awaiting his attention, he would have claimed her right after last year's coming-of-age ceremony.

He wouldn't have waited until now.

Gently patting the girl's head, Shaang Sizhan spoke softly, "Alright, time to get up. Have something to eat, and then I'll show you the gift I've brought for you."

A gift!

Shi Qian's eyes lit up. Master Zhan had brought her another present!

Every time he went on a business trip, he would bring her a gift.

All sorts of rare treasures and oddities, she wondered where he found them all.

Shi Qian suddenly laughed. "Master Zhan, I think I could start a museum at this point."

Shaang Sizhan chuckled. "This time, you might not be able to add it to your collection."

"Not able to keep it? What is it?" Shi Qian inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Shaang Sizhan playfully teased her. "You'll see in a bit."

Once they had gotten up and freshened up, they headed downstairs.

In the downstairs living room,

Yan Yi approached from the direction of the dining room.

"Master Zhan, Miss Qian, lunch is all set."

Yan Yi's dark circles had vanished, and he seemed to have bounced back quickly.

Shi Qian joked, "Yan Yi, you sure have a strong recovery game."

Yan Yi laughed and responded, "The environment at Monarch Garden is exceptional, and so is the sleep quality."

Shaang Sizhan and Shi Qian made their way to the dining room.

The table was laden with delectable dishes.

They took their seats at the table.

Shi Qian eyed the spread and murmured, "I'm actually quite hungry."

Shaang Sizhan looked at her. "Let's eat. Once we're done, I'll show you the gift."

"Okay," Shi Qian said with a smile.

She was genuinely curious about what Shaang Sizhan had brought this time. It wasn't handed to her directly, so it must be something to see!

Exiting the dining room,

Shi Qian followed Shaang Sizhan out to the garden.

Yan Yi trailed behind them.

As they walked, Shi Qian was puzzled. Why had Master Zhan brought her to the garden?

Was the gift some kind of rare plant or flower?

But that didn't seem right, as they were quickly heading through the garden toward the bamboo grove.

Just then, Yan Yi's phone rang.

He pulled out his phone and stepped aside to take the call. After he hung up, he immediately tapped on the screen.

His expression shifted subtly as he looked at it, then he rejoined Shaang Sizhan and said, "Master Zhan, there's an issue..."

Before he could finish, Shaang Sizhan cut him off, "We can discuss this later."

Yan Yi's expression was one of difficulty as he cautiously added, "It's... quite urgent."

"Quite urgent!" Shi Qian turned to Shaang Sizhan. "Master Zhan, pressing matters should take precedence. Perhaps you should attend to this first. We can look at the gifts later."

Yan Yi quickly interjected, "It won't cause a delay, it's just that... Master Zhan, I think you should see this now."

Shaang Sizhan paused, a slight frown creasing his handsome brow, and turned to Yan Yi. "What's the matter?"