If we swapped lives, I'd be the CEO and you'd take care of the kids.

Shi Yuan drove Zhu Tingyue home in a huff, and as he left, he looked at her with a hint of something in his eyes.

Zhu Tingyue asked him suspiciously, "Is there something else?"

Shi Yuan lowered his head slightly, his thick and long eyelashes obscuring the light in his eyes, and his voice was as soft as a breeze rustling through the leaves.

"Um... are you free next Wednesday? Let's get together."

Zhu Tingyue was taken aback at first, then realized what she meant, "Next Wednesday? I'm free!"

She looked at Shi Yuan with some confusion, wondering to herself why he was acting so hesitantly, as if he were constipated.

Upon hearing Zhu Tingyue's affirmative reply, Shi Yuan's tense body instantly relaxed, and a relieved look appeared on his face.

He looked up, his gaze meeting Zhu Tingyue's, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and even his tone of voice unconsciously rose, "Alright! It's settled then, see you next Wednesday!"

At this moment, he shed his previous restraint and hesitation, and became cheerful and light-hearted. His visible ease seemed to infect everyone around him.

"No, what's going on?" Zhu Tingyue found his behavior very strange.

Shi Yuan looked at her in surprise and asked, "Nothing's wrong. You didn't forget your own birthday, did you?"

"I... I didn't forget my birthday, I know. You should go back now! Drive carefully."

Zhu Tingyue immediately stopped talking and waved her hand at Shi Yuan, her intention to drive him away was obvious.

"I'm leaving now, as long as you haven't forgotten."

Shi Yuan stepped on the gas and quickly drove away.

Zhu Tingyue, who was standing still, was shocked by the message he left behind. Next Wednesday was Shen Yanqiu's birthday, and she really didn't know that. He was really something, why didn't he tell her?

If she hadn't prepared anything, Shen Yanqiu would have been angry for a long time! There's still time, so she should think about what gift to prepare for him.

Before that, I should still give him a call and subtly inquire about his intentions, since I don't really know his preferences.

Wouldn't it be too embarrassing if I didn't choose a good gift?

The phone rang again and again, but just like the previous times, no one answered.

Zhu Tingyue was puzzled. Shi Yuan could always answer Shi Yuan's calls promptly, but he couldn't hear her calls?

Her patience was limited. She would call one last time, and if he didn't answer, she would never call him again.

The phone kept ringing. The long wait made Zhu Tingyue's temper rise. Finally, her patience ran out, and Zhu Tingyue reached out to hang up. At that moment, Shen Yanqiu's calm voice came from the phone: "Hello?"

Zhu Tingyue gritted her teeth, gripping her phone tightly, trying hard not to get angry as she thought about the purpose of her call.

"It's me, Zhu Tingyue."

Although Zhu Tingyue tried her best to suppress the turbulent emotions in her heart, it was still easy to detect the turmoil in her heart from her cold words.

Shen Yanqiu was incredibly perceptive; he almost instantly caught the unusual tone in Zhu Tingyue's voice. An ominous premonition immediately welled up in his heart, making his previously calm heart begin to tremble with unease.

Could it be that... Zhu Tingyue got angry because I deliberately didn't answer her calls before?

Thinking of this, Shen Yanqiu unconsciously tightened his grip on the phone, and even a fine layer of sweat seeped from his palm, making the phone case a little damp.

At this moment, Shen Yanqiu was no longer as calm and composed as before; his heart was filled with fear and worry about the unknown consequences that Zhu Tingyue's anger would bring.

He gripped his phone tightly, as if it were his only lifeline, not daring to relax for even a moment.

After hesitating for a long time, Shen Yanqiu finally mustered up her courage and asked cautiously in a slightly trembling voice, "Is there something you need?"

Zhu Tingyue didn't notice the change in his tone. She only felt that he was being concise and deliberately ignoring her, so her voice unconsciously turned cold.

"It's nothing, just letting you know that your dad still acquired the company."

Shen Yanqiu was not surprised by this matter at all; Zhu Tingyue's phone call to him yesterday was probably about this.

She always puts herself first, yet I threw a tantrum and wouldn't answer her calls because of a few words from someone else. No wonder she's angry; it's my fault.

His tone softened instantly, like a gentle spring breeze brushing past your ear, as he said tenderly, "I know, thank you so much! How about this, to express my gratitude, I'd like to treat you to..."

However, at that moment, his words came to an abrupt halt because a crisp "beep" sounded from the phone.

Zhu Tingyue hung up the phone without hesitation, leaving the rest of his sentence stuck in her throat.

Shen Yanqiu stared blankly at the now-black phone screen as if frozen in place, her heart filled with doubt and unease.

He began to reflect on whether he had apologized too slowly, causing Zhu Tingyue to mistakenly believe that he was not sincere enough or did not care about her feelings, which was why she was so angry and hung up the phone directly.

Various speculations swirled and intertwined in his mind, making him increasingly agitated.

Zhu Tingyue must be very angry. I have to apologize and make sure she feels my sincere remorse.

He turned on his phone and dialed back. The phone rang again and again, but Zhu Tingyue didn't answer.

What goes around comes around, and this time it's his turn to suffer.

Looking at the pitch-black night sky outside, it was only eight o'clock. It was almost late autumn, and it got dark early. If he went and came back quickly, he could be back before ten o'clock.

Without hesitation, he furtively opened the door and peered through the crack to listen to the sounds downstairs. At that moment, Zhu's parents should be chatting downstairs.

Prick up her ears, hold her breath, and listen for a moment. Once she was sure there was no more noise downstairs, Shen Yanqiu tiptoed out through the half-open door.

I quietly closed the door, went around to the other side of the stairs, and crouched down like a thief.

Just as she was about to step off the last step, Zhu's mother's voice suddenly came, startling Shen Yanqiu.

"Oh dear, Yueyue isn't asleep yet, is she? The moonlight is beautiful tonight, let me go and call her to come down for a walk!"

Zhu's father readily agreed, his cheerful voice ringing out: "That works too. That girl is definitely annoyed with me now that she's not as affectionate as before!"

Zhu's mother nudged his arm and said with displeasure, "What are you saying? That's your own daughter. If she's not close to you, who else can she be close to?"

Despite being stabbed in the arm, Zhu Mingchuan was in high spirits; his wife's words made him extremely happy.

"Heh, I was just saying. Yueyue is my closest friend, how could I not know?"

The couple's voices faded into the distance. Shen Yanqiu silently withdrew her foot and ran towards the room at a speed a hundred or a thousand times faster than when she came down.