Xu Zhen looked at the business card. The housekeeper's name was Li Xiaoqin—it sounded like a woman's name.She dialed the number on the card, and sure enough, a woman's voice came through.
They agreed on the daily schedule for pick-up and drop-off to and from work. Li Xiaoqin was very polite, always addressing her as "Madam."Just as Xu Zhen was about to hang up, she suddenly thought of something and asked,
"Sister Qin, could you help me buy a pair of crutches?"
Li Xiaoqin replied,
"Of course, Madam. I can buy you a pair. But if you need them right away, I can also ask the property office to send a pair over."
"The property office has crutches?" Xu Zhen was surprised.
This luxury community really offered an all-encompassing service.
"Yes, Madam. The property management here covers all kinds of needs."
"Then don't bother buying them. I'll ask the property office to send a pair."
Since she only needed them temporarily, there was no point spending money.After ending the call, she phoned the property service desk. As soon as she made her request, they promised to deliver right away.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Guessing it must be the property staff, Xu Zhen quickly steadied herself on a chair and hopped on one foot toward the door.
In the hallway, Shen Lingfeng had already come out of his study and was about to open the door. Seeing her hopping out anxiously, he frowned slightly and said coldly,
"Your leg's injured. Why rush to open the door?"
Xu Zhen explained,
"I called the property office to send a pair of crutches. It should be them."
He glanced at her, then at her injured leg, said nothing, and went to open the door.
Xu Zhen stood by her bedroom doorway, holding the frame for support. She heard the door open, faint voices outside, then Shen Lingfeng's low "thank you," and the door closed again.
He walked back holding a pair of crutches and handed them to her.
"Thank you," Xu Zhen said, taking them.
They were made of aluminum alloy—lightweight, well-crafted. She tried them and found them quite comfortable and easy to use.
She hobbled back into the bedroom, then came out again. Shen Lingfeng was still standing there, expressionless, simply watching how she used them. Once he saw she could walk steadily, he turned and went back to his study without a word.
Xu Zhen pouted at his retreating back.
This man always looked cold and spoke sharply, but deep down, he probably wasn't heartless. Spending a year with him—polite and distant—shouldn't be that hard.
She went back to her room, took a shower, and sighed in relief. The crutches truly made life easier.Since she had to wake up early for work the next day, she read for a while, then went to bed.
It was ten at night, and Shen Lingfeng was still awake, video-chatting from his study with his cousin Chen Lei in New York.
Chen Lei was a computer science expert. Shen hoped she'd return to China to work for the Shen Group.He offered a very high salary, but Chen Lei shook her head.
"I'm not planning to return yet," she said. "But I can recommend someone. He's top-tier—many big international companies want him—but he wants to come back to China. You'll need to offer him the same salary you offered me."
Shen Lingfeng trusted his cousin's judgment. She was confident and proud; anyone she praised must be exceptional.
"All right. Tell me about him."
"He's my junior—Jin Ximeng. Just got his master's degree and will return soon. If you want to recruit him, better act fast. I heard some companies in China are already reaching out."
The name sounded familiar to Shen Lingfeng. As Chen Lei continued, he sent a quick WeChat message to his assistant:
[Do you know a person named Jin Ximeng?]
A few minutes later, Yang Zhuming replied:
[Boss, Jin Ximeng is Madam's neighbor and also her senior in high school.][He went abroad right after undergrad.][The Jin family and Madam's family lived in the same building, across the hall.]
After a pause, Yang added one last note:
[Residents said they often went to and from school together, calling them a "golden boy and jade girl."]
Shen Lingfeng stared at the message for a while, uncertain whether to take it as coincidence or fate.
But then he reminded himself—Xu Zhen was already his wife. Whatever connection she had with that neighbor was just coincidence, nothing more.
"Lingfeng?"
Chen Lei's voice from the video pulled him back.
"Hmm?" he replied, looking up.
"So? Should I reach out to Jin Ximeng?"
His gaze darkened.He was a man who separated business from personal matters. Whatever relationship had existed between Jin Ximeng and his wife, talent was talent—and he wanted it.
Besides, Xu Zhen wasn't really his wife in any true sense—just in name. Their marriage wasn't even public.
"Yes, please contact him," he said calmly. "As long as he hasn't done anything illegal, the Shen Group must have him. The same salary I offered you."
After ending the call, Shen Lingfeng left his study, intending to rest.He glanced toward Xu Zhen's room; the lights were off. She must already be asleep.
He thought for a moment, then sent another message to his assistant:
[Did Madam and Jin Ximeng ever date?]
Just as he closed his bedroom door, the reply came:
[Probably not. The report only says they were neighbors and often went to and from school together. That "golden boy and jade girl" bit was just a neighborhood joke.]
Reading it, Shen Lingfeng gave a self-deprecating smile and tossed the phone onto the nightstand.
Who she'd dated before had nothing to do with him.As long as she didn't get involved with another man now—or make him wear a green hat—that was all that mattered.
The next morning at six, Xu Zhen woke up naturally.Her alarm was set for six-thirty since she'd arranged a car service.
Unable to fall back asleep, she got up, washed, and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.Shen Lingfeng's door was still closed; he must still be asleep.
She hadn't asked what time he usually got up, but since it was later than her, she decided to make his breakfast too.
Then she realized she didn't know how he liked his eggs—boiled, fried, or scrambled—so she texted Uncle Zhang, the butler:
[Good morning, Uncle Zhang. Does Mr. Shen prefer fried eggs or scrambled eggs?]
She had originally typed "Mr. Shen" out of habit but quickly changed it—addressing him so formally might make it seem like they were distant. Uncle Zhang might even tell the old master they acted like strangers.
Uncle Zhang, an early riser, replied quickly:
[Young Master Feng likes either fried or scrambled eggs, but not boiled. He's disliked boiled eggs since childhood—says they're tasteless.]
Just as she thought.
Xu Zhen replied:
[Got it, thank you.]