Shen Xiuqi quickly finished his call, his expression looking noticeably tense. He tossed the blanket aside, got out of bed, and began dressing. While doing so, he said to Su Yaya, “There’s an urgent matter, and I need to head back. Do you want to come with me or stay here and continue having fun?”

How could she enjoy herself if he wasn’t around? Without hesitation, she replied, “I’ll go back with you.”

Shen Xiuqi nodded. “Alright.”

As he went into the bathroom to freshen up and change, Su Yaya climbed out of bed and began packing their things. By the time Shen Xiuqi came out, she had already finished. She glanced up to see his face, taut with worry, his brows furrowed in deep concern.

“I’ll go freshen up quickly,” she said. In the bathroom, she skipped her usual elaborate routine and opted for a quick wash, finishing in less than half the time she normally took. Then, she walked back out.

Shen Xiuqi was already on another call. “Assistant Chen, book me a ticket to H City immediately. It’s urgent—I need to be there as soon as possible.”

Assistant Chen confirmed and rushed to make the arrangements. Shen Xiuqi ended the call and turned to find Su Yaya standing nearby.

He picked up his luggage. “Let’s go. Uncle Zhong is waiting for us downstairs.”

The two left the room and took the elevator down. When the elevator stopped on the second floor, the doors opened, and Wang Wenhao and Xiao You stepped in. Upon seeing Su Yaya, Xiao You greeted her warmly, “Sister Yaya!” She then turned to Shen Xiuqi with a polite smile. “Hello, President Shen.” Su Yaya returned Xiao You’s enthusiasm with a friendly smile, but Shen Xiuqi remained expressionless, his focus elsewhere.

Noticing their luggage, Wang Wenhao asked casually, “Are you heading back already?”

Su Yaya glanced at Shen Xiuqi, realizing he had no intention of explaining, so she quickly came up with an excuse. “Yeah, my manager asked me to come back.”

Wang Wenhao smiled and cast a knowing glance at Shen Xiuqi. “President Shen is quite considerate.”

Su Yaya returned the smile without saying more.

As they spoke, the elevator reached the first floor. The moment the doors opened, Shen Xiuqi stepped out first. Su Yaya turned to say goodbye to Wang Wenhao and Xiao You, then hurried to catch up with him.

A sleek black Bentley was already waiting at the entrance. Shen Xiuqi and Su Yaya climbed into the car one after the other, and it drove off swiftly.

After a moment of silence, Shen Xiuqi turned to Su Yaya and said, “I need to head to the airport shortly. Once we arrive in the city, you’ll need to get off, and Assistant Chen will take you home.”

Sensing his somber mood, Su Yaya nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Shen Xiuqi reached over and gently stroked her hair. “It’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

But in truth, it felt like the words were less for Su Yaya and more to comfort himself.

Su Yaya looked at him and replied softly, “I know.”

The car soon arrived in the city, where Assistant Chen’s vehicle was parked by the roadside. Su Yaya stepped out with her luggage while Assistant Chen handed Shen Xiuqi his belongings. Moments later, the black Bentley sped off.

“Miss Su, I’ll take you home,” Assistant Chen said as he approached.

Su Yaya gave one last glance at the departing car before nodding and following him to his vehicle.

The drive to the villa was smooth, and upon arrival, Assistant Chen helped Su Yaya carry her luggage into her room. “Miss Su, President Shen won’t be around for the next few days,” he said. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll do my best to assist you.”

Su Yaya smiled politely. “Okay, I understand. Thank you.”

Assistant Chen nodded. “Good. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

Su Yaya walked him to the door and watched as his car disappeared down the driveway. Returning to the villa, she sank onto the sofa, feeling drained. She had slept late the previous night and woken up far too early this morning. Still half-asleep, she decided to rest for a while.

What was meant to be a short nap stretched into almost three hours. Su Yaya awoke to the sound of her rumbling stomach. Hungry and a little disoriented, she got up from the sofa, tidied her hair, slipped on her shoes, and headed to the kitchen in search of food.

Opening the fridge, she found some eggs, tomatoes, and noodles. Perfect for a simple meal of tomato and egg noodles.

She started by frying the eggs until golden, then added the sliced tomatoes to the pan, letting them sizzle and soften. While that cooked, she boiled water in a pot, waiting until it was bubbling to add the noodles. To achieve a chewy texture, she let them cook just long enough—taking care not to let them over-soften. Once the noodles were ready, she drained them and placed them in a bowl. She topped them with the fried eggs and simmered tomatoes, creating a warm, satisfying dish.

“Done.”

Su Yaya smiled as she carried the steaming bowl of tomato and egg noodles out of the kitchen. Just as she set the bowl on the table and prepared to sit down to eat, the doorbell rang.

“Who could it be?” she murmured, puzzled by the unexpected visitor. She walked to the door and peered through the peephole, spotting Zhou Peiyun standing outside.

Su Yaya frowned slightly, wondering why Zhou Peiyun had come unannounced. She hadn’t called beforehand. Nonetheless, Su Yaya quickly opened the door.

“What’s going on with you? Why did you turn off your phone? Do you have any idea how long I’ve been trying to reach you?” Zhou Peiyun stormed in, her tone filled with frustration. It was clear she was upset about Su Yaya’s sudden disappearance and unreachability.

In that moment, Su Yaya remembered. Last night, she had been playing games with Shen Xiuqi until late, so late that her phone had run out of battery. Afterward, both of them were so exhausted they fell asleep immediately. This morning, in her rush to leave, she’d completely forgotten to charge her phone. And after taking another two-hour nap earlier, it had undoubtedly shut down due to lack of power. No wonder Zhou Peiyun couldn’t get ahold of her.

^_^