"When I was little—"
The voice was low and teasing, all honey and silk, and it made Shi Wan shiver as if a cold wind had run down her spine.
"It's you?" Shen Siyuan's gaze narrowed toward the woman who had just been taking photos at the Li Group.
"It's me." Qi Wu faltered a little when Shi Wan recoiled; disappointment flashed across her face. "I want to follow you."
Shi Wan raised an eyebrow.
"I like you. That's why I want to follow you."
Shi Wan went speechless.
An Si nearly staggered—this was another walking disaster. A woman like this, throwing herself at them—would Mr. Shen even care?
"You're an artist?" Shen asked, tone clipped.
"I am," Qi Wu said quickly. "I'll break my contract with my old agency. Don't worry about the money." Her voice trembled with a little nervousness. "If you're worried about finances, I—"
"We'll take you." Shi Wan interrupted before she could finish. She was impatient; she wanted the whole thing over and done with. "Once you're in the company we're family."
Qi Wu blinked. That was fast—faster than she'd expected. She had thought they'd haggle.
"What about the others in your company? I'd like to meet them."
"Except for a few artists who haven't come back, everyone's here," Shi Wan said, scanning the small crowd. "You mean—us two?" Qi Wu looked around in disbelief. "Is that who you meant?"
Shi Wan nodded once. "Welcome to Bloom Entertainment."
Qi Wu stilled. If she hadn't been staring at that face, she wouldn't have wanted this shabby, half-empty company for anything.
"Aren't you a studio, not a full company?" Qi Wu asked.
"It is a company—only everyone else left." Shi Wan said blandly. The previous manager had given up on it as hopeless; even the staff had dwindled since Qi Wu had arrived. Qi Wu took a breath. "It's fine. I'll invest. Just don't let it fail."
Shi Wan and An Si both blinked. The artist was richer than the boss—how did that happen?
Qi Wu changed her clothes and barreled across to Shi Wan, slung an arm around her and planted a kiss on her lips. "I only came because of this face. If you don't let me kiss you, what's the point of following you?"
Shi Wan dabbed at her mouth. Qi Wu kissed her again.
"No—" Shi Wan started, but the words froze as if an icicle slid into her chest. A frigid stare cut through the air, colder than the night. She shivered and scooted closer to Shi Wan, pouting for another kiss.
In the next instant, the space beside Shi Wan was empty; she almost kissed the car door. The chill intensified.
An Si took a few steps back, as if the man might actually maim someone. He didn't dare speak.
"What—"
"Qi Wu!" The voice was ice. Qi Wu turned and nearly twisted an ankle.
"Y-You—what are you doing here?"
Wasn't Shi Wan his wife? Why would it be strange for her to be here?
"Brother Shen." Qi Wu flipped her hair, still not grasping the gravity of the situation. "You here too?"
"Don't get tired of living, I guess?" Shen said flatly.
"What?" Qi Wu blinked.
"I'll have someone contact your family and give them a proper lesson," Shen said. The words were clinical and dangerous. Qi Wu went pale. Her earlier bravado wilted. “I’m sorry—I was wrong.” She bowed her head, immediately contrite. Her parents adored Shen; one sentence from him could ruin her.
Shen dabbed at Shi Wan's face with a wet wipe over and over, each gesture full of contempt for Qi Wu. He seemed to resent her nearness in a way that went beyond genders—if anyone got near Shi Wan, his jealousy filled the room like smoke.
"I was wrong," Qi Wu muttered again, humble now.
Shi Wan watched him, frowning at his repeated motions. "Are you...disgusted with me?" she asked.
"Shouldn't I be?" he said. He sounded wounded, as if the kiss had been a personal affront.
"Hey—you're going too far! Careful, or I—I'm not going to kiss you anymore." Qi Wu tried to bellow bravado, but under Shen's cold stare she shrank.
She shot a pleading look at Shi Wan, wanting her to come closer. But Shi Wan turned and leaned into Shen as if exhausted. "Tired," she murmured.
"Let's go home."
They climbed into the car, and Qi Wu let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. She'd kiss her when they left.
Once inside, Shi Wan opened her eyes and spoke softly. "Why are you making a fuss? She kissed you."
He said it like a matter of fact; even he hardly kissed her, so why should Qi Wu get away with it?
"You kiss her less than I do?" Qi Wu snorted. "Besides, I didn't start it."
Shen's face shifted. "You did?"
"It wasn't deliberate." Qi Wu suddenly lunged and, with theatrical fervor, pressed a kiss to his face. "I just like you like this!"
He averted his eyes, made a small hum of displeased pleasure. There was humor in the corners of his gaze.
"I only comfort you. No one else." Shi Wan said, watching him with an affection made small and fierce by all the worry after her grandmother's death. Her patience had been drained dry; whatever she had left belonged to him.
"How do I know you're not lying?" Shen asked, only half teasing. He let his fingers ghost over his cheek, as if checking for damage. "What? You ruined my face?"
"No," she replied, eyes shining. "But my man is especially handsome."
"That's better." He smiled, delighted—bright as spring. If he had a tail, it would be wagging.
"Let's go home," Shi Wan said.
He told the driver to change course.
•••
At Wanfeng Manor, Shi Wan changed into work clothes and went down into the garden to tend the herbs. Shen came out of his study, rolled up his sleeves, and picked up the tool she had been using. Even going into the dirt, his bearing was impossibly noble. He looked less like a man and more like a carved statue come to life.
"You look so good. Are you an immortal who's come down to undergo a trial?" Shi Wan teased, leaning on her hand, not noticing the smudge of soil darkening her cheek.
He glanced back at her, and his deep eyes shone. "If you like me, that's all that matters."
Shi Wan watched him, wanting to leap into his arms. She patted her waist and stopped herself.
"Will you finish after this?" she asked, focused on the work.
He stepped forward and wiped her cheek with his hand. The smile on his face warmed the cool afternoon. "Go sit over there when you're done, okay?"
He brushed her face once more, then grinned with mischief. He loved how she looked at him—like the world narrowed down to nothing but him.
"What are you doing?" she protested, touching her face and discovering the dirt smears.
She glared at him. "You did that on purpose."
"What? I did no such thing." He pinched her cheek. "Don't accuse me of things."
She slapped his hand away and, quick as lightning, grabbed his wrist. "Shen Siyuan!"
He dodged her swipe, stepping back to avoid being smacked. "It wasn't me—I only tried to wipe it off."
Shi Wan lunged and, in the struggle, planted a handful of mud on his clean face. Shen looked helpless and amused, breath hitching as he wrapped his arms around her to steady her.
"Take that," the small woman crowed, and then kissed him again, smearing him further with earth.
Shen's expression was exasperated and indulgent. "Happy now?"
"Yes. Will you come finish the rest with me?"
"I will." He carried her toward the house, cradling her like fragile pottery.
"We didn't finish..." she protested as he bore her away.
"We'll finish it at home," he said, giving her a little pat on the hip that spoke more than words.
"Take a day off?" he suggested, watching the way her shoulders tensed at the thought.
"Hm?"
"Your back—"
She stopped him with a look, then heard his low, pleased laugh vibrating against her as she curled into his chest. "Who's supposed to do it then?" she asked, eyes bright.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes! It isn't the same when you do it."