Chapter 38: Lost in Thought at Such a Moment

Today was the day Lin Nanxun was discharged from the hospital.

The minor injury on her leg had healed considerably, allowing her to move about freely, though her fractured left arm was still immobilized by a cast, rendering it useless for the time being. With her condition improved, she was able to leave the hospital earlier than expected.

That morning, Zhou Bei came to escort Lin Nanxun home.

Aunt Xu accompanied Lin Nanxun down the stairs to the hospital entrance. Lin Nanxun glanced around, a hint of disappointment flickering across her face.

"Where is that rascal..."

Why hadn’t he come?

"The boss’s schedule is quite full these days; he really couldn’t get away. He should be in a meeting right now," Zhou Bei explained, casting a glance at his watch.

With the end of the year approaching, this was the busiest time for companies and corporations alike. As the head of XG Group, Shen Hanzhi was naturally overwhelmed with affairs, his agenda packed to the brim.

Lin Nanxun understood after hearing Zhou Bei’s explanation.

The rascal visited her at the hospital every day, but most of the time, he’d simply doze on the sofa or work on his laptop, always looking tired and burdened.

He seemed to be working very hard.

As Lin Nanxun’s thoughts drifted to Shen Hanzhi, Aunt Xu’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Miss Lin, let’s get in the car. It’s far too cold out here."

Hearing Aunt Xu, Lin Nanxun nodded softly and followed her into the car.

……

It wasn’t until evening that Shen Hanzhi finally wrapped up his exhausting day, returning to his office from the conference room.

He leaned back in his chair, rolled up his sleeve, and glanced at his watch.

It was already half past seven.

He would need to work for at least another hour.

Today was the day Lin Nanxun left the hospital. By this time, Aunt Xu and the household staff should be close to returning home as well.

Without warning, a gentle image surfaced in his mind—the obedient figure shrinking in fear at the corner of the bed. His heart clenched suddenly.

A look of bewilderment swept across his handsome face.

What was happening to him?

He had actually lost his focus at work.

……

—Knock, knock!

……

At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.

"Come in," Shen Hanzhi said calmly, lowering his arm and returning his attention to the documents before him.

The door opened; his male assistant entered slowly, stopping at the desk and bowing his head with a polite smile as he offered a reminder.

"Boss, Miss Qiao scheduled a dinner with you last month. Should I confirm for tonight…?"

"Ignore it," Shen Hanzhi replied, not even bothering to lift his eyelids, his face expressionless.

The assistant was unsurprised by the response. He merely sighed softly and continued, "But… the Qiao family is still engaged to you. Shouldn’t you offer them some courtesy for the sake of appearances…?"

At these words, Shen Hanzhi’s expression finally shifted.

He slowly looked up at the assistant.

His sharp gaze startled the assistant, who realized he might have overstepped.

"Sorry, sir, I spoke out of turn," the assistant apologized hurriedly, flustered.

Shen Hanzhi frowned and responded in a measured tone, reminding him, "The engagement is with Qiao Yumo."

When the Qiao and Shen families arranged the betrothal all those years ago, the agreement had been for the firstborn of each family.

In his generation, he was the earliest born in the Shen family.

And in the Qiao family, it was Qiao Yumo—not the current Qiao Yumeng—who had been born first.