Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 402 - 281: Can I Trust You? (2 Updates)

Shi Nian nodded and smiled slightly: "It’s morning, I need to take a shower and change clothes, get ready for work."

Huangfu Huazhang understood that Shi Nian was politely asking him to leave her room.

He nodded, rose silently. Standing by the bed, he neatly arranged his pajamas: "Alright, go ahead. I’ll accompany you to the office in the morning, after you’ve sorted out your work, we can discuss how to help your senior brother."

Shi Nian was embarrassed.

Xiang Yuan said he would visit her at the office in the morning, but Huangfu Huazhang also said he’d accompany her to work in the morning?

Shi Nian frowned, lowered her head slightly, avoiding his gaze: "There’s a meeting tomorrow morning, I might need to stay at the office all morning. Sir, please attend to your own matters first, I’ll call you after I’ve finished my work."

He gazed at her expression, then sighed softly: "Alright."

The tall figure spoke and walked towards the door, dressed in pure white pajamas, fading quietly in the dim light at the doorway.

Shi Nian sighed lightly and walked into the bathroom.

.

Huangfu Huazhang walked back to his room along the long corridor, also barefoot.

In fact, it wasn’t until he stepped out of her room that he realized he was barefoot. Still trying to maintain his usual composure in front of her, yet unable to suppress the undercurrent in his heart, he left his slippers in her room.

Walking along the deep corridor, he closed his eyes, returning to the scenes in his dream.

He didn’t tell her the continuation of that dream.

He stood on the altar, turning back with a smile, watching her walk alone towards him... Passing through the shadows of flowers, with a bright smile, yet she was all alone.

No father to guide her, like a small white dove without protection. Beautiful, but so distressingly.

Just as she was about to reach the altar, about to hold the hand he extended to her, a person suddenly emerged from the shadows of the flowers. That person showed no panic of an uninvited guest, instead seemed like the true master of this wedding. He calmly walked towards her and held her small hand.

Almost standing in the place her father should have been, holding her hand as if in her father’s stead; yet the posture was clearly more than just a father’s.

He looked at her with a smile: "Silly girl, you chose the wrong way. The one you should walk towards isn’t that person," he pointed at him, then disdainfully lowered his gaze, focusing on her again: "The one you should walk towards is me. You lost your way, but it’s okay, I’ll take you back."

The sky suddenly cleared, flowers rained down, and she turned to follow that person without looking back, walking towards the light bathed in the flower rain.

Meanwhile, he stood clad in black on the altar built of blood-red roses, no matter how he screamed, he seemed unable to be heard by her. He wanted to rush down from the altar, wanted to reclaim her, but those blood-red roses raised thorns, stabbing his feet, preventing him from running.

Just when he felt so hopeless, just when he was about to scream in the dream. In reality, she came.

Like a drowning man about to sink, he saw someone casting a lifeline towards him. He grabbed her hand without hesitation, and then opened his eyes — the nightmare faded, she was truly there before him.

No need to worry about her abandoning him.

He didn’t lie, with her beside him is his most beautiful dream.

She may never know how afraid he is that one day she might leave him.

She will never know, and he hopes she never gets the chance to know.

.

The next morning, after meeting with Li普曼, Shi Nian went to the entertainment department to find Joseph.

Returning to the office, Ye He nervously approached: "Boss... you’ve been running to the entertainment department a lot lately, are you really thinking of transferring over there?"

Shi Nian smiled: "Yes, I do have that in mind. You see, I’ve been full of joy recently, and I can’t seem to write the socially critical pieces anymore. I might as well switch to the entertainment section, write some cheerful articles."

Ye He lowered his head: "Boss, you don’t have to hide it from me. I know you’ve been secretly investigating Meng Chuyan."

Shi Nian laughed: "If you know, then stop worrying pointlessly."

Ye He lifted his eyes: "If that’s the case, then Boss, transferring to the entertainment section might be safer."

Shi Nian nodded: "That’s what I think, and I’ve mentioned it to the boss this morning."

Ye He formed an ’O’ with his mouth: "What about me? Boss, surely you won’t abandon me once you’re on top?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Shi Nian smiled: "Of course not. You, Xiao Mai, Gao Shan, you all will always be under my leadership, we’ll go together."

.

After finishing her work, Shi Nian walked to the window to look outside. Xiang Yuan’s sapphire blue BMW had quietly parked downstairs. The sky was deep blue, reflecting the color of his car, radiating a clear, bright light.

Shi Nian sighed lightly, went downstairs, and walked to his car.

Xiang Yuan raised his gaze to her. At this moment, he unexpectedly carried a hint of surprise and shyness.

He was no longer the Xiang Yuan who once frightened her, but seemed to be the gentle gentleman from the early years, treating her with tenderness.

The two found a quiet tea room to sit down, and Shi Nian spoke of Qi Xiuqi’s situation. Shi Nian lowered her eyes to watch the monkey tea unfurl in the hot water. For a moment, the peaceful tea leaves transformed into a storm of "knives and spears gathering, dragons flying and phoenixes dancing". Shi Nian said softly, "Qi Xiuqi, A Yuan, do you still remember him?"

Back then, Dad took on many apprentices, Qi Xiuqi was one of them, and later on, so was Xiang Yuan. Dad loved talent and often showcased his previous outstanding apprentices to his newer ones. Moreover, her house was filled with photos of Dad’s apprentices achieving accolades, so it was impossible for Xiang Yuan not to know Qi Xiuqi.

Xiang Yuan was slightly startled: "Of course I remember. Teacher once said, among all the apprentices he took, Xiuqi was the one he disciplined the hardest. While he was like a supportive father to the other students, encouraging them, he was stern and critical towards Xiuqi, rarely praising him even when things were done right."

Shi Nian felt a twinge of guilt upon hearing this.

Dad treated Qi Xiuqi that way because of past events. He was worried Qi Xiuqi would still be as irresponsible as before, fleeing at the first scolding.

Xiang Yuan’s eyes wandered as he spoke, smiling quietly: "But as an observer, I could see how much Teacher liked Xiuqi as an apprentice. Xiuqi was the only apprentice of his who would bring a genuine, emotional smile to his face when mentioned."

Shi Nian gave a soft hum: "Xiuqi worked very hard and later achieved many accomplishments in the Qingcheng City Bureau, bringing much honor to my father."

Xiang Yuan looked up: "I’m very surprised that I am actually defending Xiuqi. It’s somewhat unbelievable to me that Xiuqi would make such a basic mistake."

.

Amidst the aroma of tea and steam, Shi Nian stared at Xiang Yuan.

For a moment, she was so nervous that she didn’t dare to breathe.

Xiang Yuan was incredibly perceptive.

Shi Nian changed the subject: "A Yuan, I’ve heard you’re also serving as George’s lawyer."

Xiang Yuan awkwardly chuckled: "To be precise, I’m not George’s personal lawyer. His personal lawyer is Cheng Xiangdong. I represent his associated interests."

Shi Nian lowered her head again, focusing on the tea leaves still swirling in the cup: "So that means, you were hired by the Ford family."

Xiang Yuan’s smile froze, he nodded dejectedly: "That’s right, it was at the behest of Huangfu Huazhang."

Shi Nian looked up and quietly gazed into his eyes: "A Yuan, does this mean we are both working under the same gentleman?"

Xiang Yuan closed his eyes briefly: "...Time, I didn’t expect you to really be with him!"

In fact, Shi Nian had already sensed his restrained anger in the phone call last night.

Shi Nian lowered her head again and asked very softly: "A Yuan, can I trust you?"

Xiang Yuan suddenly reached over, grabbing Shi Nian’s wrist. His gaze was intense and urgent: "Do you think I would help him harm you?"

Shi Nian quickly glanced around and withdrew her hand.

"A Yuan, Xiuqi’s case is just an internal investigation by the police, it doesn’t need to go to court. You just need to stay by his side, help him understand M Country’s laws, and ensure he doesn’t suffer from navigating different legal systems."

Xiang Yuan somberly withdrew his hand, sat back down, once again the gentle gentleman with brows and eyes like a painting.

"Alright, rest assured."

The two quietly drank tea, and after finishing, Shi Nian stood up to say goodbye.

Xiang Yuan also got up, his gaze settled serenely: "...Mom is also staying at the castle, how is she doing?"

Shi Nian thought for a moment: "Hmm, she’s doing well."

.

Xiang Yuan returned to the Xiang Family after work. As usual, he first went to his father’s study to chat with him. The father and son quietly finished a Cuban cigar together.

After finishing today, Xiang Yuan smiled slightly: "...M Country and Cuba’s relationship, frozen for so many years, finally shows signs of thawing. In the future, Dad won’t need to resort to smuggling to enjoy these Havana cigars anymore."

Xiang Jingsheng looked over, quietly glanced at his son, but said nothing.

Lately, his father seemed gloomier and more silent than ever.

Xiang Yuan then averted his gaze, as if going off-topic, saying: "Today, due to work, I met with Time. She said my mother-in-law is at Huangfu Huazhang’s castle, and everything is fine."

Xiang Jingsheng finally looked over suddenly, with a somewhat sharp gaze.

"Has your mother been gossiping in front of you again?"

Xiang Yuan just shook his head: "No. Dad, after so many years, there are some things your son can see clearly with his own eyes."