Chapter 507 - 506: If Storyline: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 75

Chapter 507: Chapter 506: If Storyline: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 75

He Hanshi didn’t bring a dedicated driver with him to L City, just Assistant Chen.

After Assistant Chen got out, Shi Lan gave him her own umbrella. Though it wasn’t raining at the moment, it was just in case.

"Thank you, Miss Shi Lan."

Assistant Chen accepted it gratefully.

He Hanshi got into the driver’s seat. Chen Xinyi, being perceptive, got into the back seat. After hesitating for a moment outside the car door, Shi Lan took the front passenger seat.

’He Hanshi was already doing them a favor. If she and her best friend both sat in the back, it would be rude, making him look like a chauffeur.’

He Hanshi held the steering wheel, his gaze flicking to her from the corner of his eye. The corner of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly. He reminded Shi Lan, "Miss Shi Lan, please fasten your seatbelt."

"Okay."

Shi Lan’s face flushed a little. She had almost forgotten. She pressed her feet together primly and fumbled for the seatbelt to buckle it.

’Thank goodness, I didn’t make a fool of myself.’

"I’ll take your friend home first. Where does she live?"

Shi Lan told him the address, and soon He Hanshi drove away.

After the car sped off, another vehicle slowly pulled forward from behind. Yan Huoshui rolled down the window, took off his sunglasses, and said with a flippant smirk, "Assistant Chen, how come your Mr. He just ditched you here all alone?"

Assistant Chen looked at his flashy red hair, maintaining the calm and composed demeanor of a professional. He beamed and said, "Second Young Master Yan, what a coincidence."

"Mr. He left me here to take care of something."

In truth, Yan Huoshui had arrived not long after He Hanshi’s car stopped, but he had kept his distance, curious about what He Hanshi was up to.

In his impression, He Hanshi was great in every way, except that he was completely uninterested in women—terse and cold toward them, even more aloof than he was. Yet today, he had willingly taken two women into his car.

The corners of his mouth curved into a knowing smile. "Assistant Chen, is the eternal bachelor finally showing some interest?"

Assistant Chen would never reveal any of He Hanshi’s private affairs. He maintained his smile. "Second Young Master Yan, if you wish to know, you should ask Mr. He directly. I am just his assistant; I’m not involved in such matters."

"Tsk, no fun."

Yan Huoshui shot him a disdainful look, then put his sunglasses back on, rolled up the window, and told Zhang Chen to drive, leaving Assistant Chen with a mouthful of exhaust fumes.

...

It was about a twenty-minute drive from where the car broke down to her best friend’s house. Shi Lan wasn’t sure if it was He Hanshi’s steady driving or the exhaustion from her period, but her initial nervousness soon faded, and before she knew it, she had closed her eyes to rest.

Perhaps noticing she had fallen asleep, He Hanshi turned off the navigation voice.

Chen Xinyi, sitting alone in the spacious back seat, noticed his action. She lowered her voice and asked, "Th-This Mr. He, are you interested in my Lanlan?"

He Hanshi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He glanced at her sleeping face again and, without any attempt to hide it, nodded. "Yes, I like her."

Chen Xinyi broke into an excited smile. ’She knew she’d been shipping the right couple!’

After a moment’s thought, she added a piece of unsolicited advice, "In that case, you’ll have to show your sincerity and patience. My Lanlan isn’t that easy to win over."

"I will."

He Hanshi’s tone was resolute. He had delayed his trip here by half a month precisely so he could arrange matters at the Capital Company in advance, making it easier to stay in L City longer and see Shi Lan more often.

Hearing this, Chen Xinyi didn’t say anything more. She was a little intimidated by such a powerful figure, feeling an inexplicable sense of awe, especially when He Hanshi’s face was without a smile. He looked cold and stern. It seemed he only showed a hint of gentleness when facing Lanlan.

She fell silent and focused on chatting with her partner, sharing some photos she’d taken at the concert.

Soon, the car stopped at Chen Xinyi’s home.

Chen Xinyi said a quick "thank you" to He Hanshi and got out of the car. Shi Lan was still asleep, so they both moved quietly with an unspoken understanding.

Shi Lan slept quite soundly. It wasn’t until the car stopped again, this time outside her home, and He Hanshi called her name that she blinked her drowsy eyes and murmured in confusion, "Are we here?"

Perhaps because she had just woken up, her eyes were misty, and her lost, dazed gaze was like that of a fawn lost in the forest, making one’s heart soften inexplicably.

He Hanshi’s gentle gaze fell on her. "Yes, we’re here."

’He hadn’t wanted to wake Shi Lan, but a car, no matter how comfortable, was no match for a bed. He wanted her to go home and get some proper rest.’

Shi Lan stared at him blankly for a few seconds before she fully woke up. Her cheeks grew warm, and she nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Mr. He. Next time you’re free, come to my shop for some flower tea. My treat."

He Hanshi let out a low chuckle. "Alright. How about I come tomorrow?"

"Sure!"

Shi Lan undid her seatbelt, feeling it would be rude to linger in the car. Her eyes flicked to the empty back seat, and she felt a pang of regret for sleeping so soundly that she didn’t even know when her best friend had left.

"I’m heading home now, Mr. He. Goodbye."

She quickly got out of the car and was about to say her final goodbye and leave, but he got out too.

Shi Lan blinked in confusion. He Hanshi chuckled lightly. "Yes, I’m staying here for now."

"Oh, right."

She had almost forgotten he was Jiang Xia’s cousin. "But hasn’t Jiang Xia moved out recently?"

He Hanshi was walking silently by her side. Hearing her question, his pace faltered for a fraction of a second. "You’re close with my cousin?"

’She calls me Mr. He, but calls my cousin by his name.’

Shi Lan didn’t know what to say and gave an awkward smile. "It’s alright. We’re not that close."

"I see."

The two of them entered the elevator together. Shi Lan pressed the button for the fifth floor. He Hanshi didn’t make a move.

Just as Shi Lan was about to ask him why he wasn’t selecting the sixth floor, He Hanshi suddenly spoke up. "Miss Shi Lan, we’ve met a few times now. May I call you by your name from now on?"

Shi Lan was taken aback for a second. "Of course you can, Mr. He."

A small smile touched He Hanshi’s lips. "In that case, you should call me by my name as well. You can call me He Hanshi."

"Oh, okay."

Shi Lan awkwardly fiddled with her fingers. All of her things were in her best friend’s car, so her hands were empty. Fiddling with her hands was the only way to distract herself.

In the cramped space of the elevator, He Hanshi’s tall figure beside her had a very strong presence. Shi Lan silently prayed for the elevator to arrive faster.

Thankfully, the fifth floor came up in no time.

He Hanshi noticed her discomfort and didn’t press the issue, simply saying, "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Shi Lan waved at him, then watched as he keyed in a password and the elevator ascended.

She let out a sigh of relief. Touching her stomach, which no longer hurt, she went home, drank a cup of hot water, and eagerly lay down to rest.

Just as she lay down, a heavy rain began to fall outside the window.

Shi Lan suddenly remembered something. She found Assistant Chen’s business card and asked him about the tow truck situation. Only after confirming that he was already with the tow truck and hadn’t been caught in the rain did she feel at ease.

Assistant Chen looked at his phone after the call ended and promptly reported to He Hanshi that Shi Lan had called.

He Hanshi didn’t say much, just told him to send Shi Lan’s phone number to him.

A little while later, Shi Lan received a new friend request on WeChat.