513: Chapter 58 My Family, Do You Have Time?

Night began to shroud the city.

The streetlights came on, and the traffic flowed like woven silk.

Half an hour later, at 'Quiet Whispers Pavilion'.

A private dining establishment with an elegant and serene ambiance.

When Shen Yan arrived, Liu Hui was already seated in her usual spot by the window.

She was wearing a cream-white dress today, her long hair simply swept up at the back of her head. Without makeup, she was even more captivating than any heavily adorned woman.

She was taking small sips of tea, gazing at the bustling traffic outside—as tranquil as a painting.

Seeing Shen Yan, she smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

"You got off work early today."

"The matter is settled."

Shen Yan sat down opposite her and naturally picked up the teapot to refill her cup.

"What was the matter that required such secrecy?" Liu Hui asked curiously.

Shen Yan didn't reply, merely taking out a dark blue velvet box from the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

The box was small, but its craftsmanship was exquisite, with dark silver patterns inlaid around the edges.

He gently pushed the box toward Liu Hui.

Liu Hui's breathing hitched for a moment.

She looked at the box, then looked up at Shen Yan.

Shen Yan's gaze was focused and gentle.

"Open it and see."

Liu Hui reached out, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She slowly lifted the lid.

In that instant, the soft ambient light seemed to be absorbed, then refracted into a brilliant radiance.

Inside the box lay a necklace.

The pendant was a teardrop-shaped sapphire, its color as deep as the midnight sea.

Surrounding the gem was a circle of tiny diamonds, like countless stars encircling the deep ocean.

It had a name: 'Tear of the Stars'.

Shen Yan had instantly fallen for it at a private auction in Country M a while ago.

He felt at the time that only Liu Hui's neck was worthy of wearing this necklace.

"This... this is too valuable."

Liu Hui's voice was slightly tight.

She had seen fine things before, but never jewelry this soul-stirring.

"No," Shen Yan said. "It's just right for you."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight.

He stood up, walked to Liu Hui's side, and took the necklace out of the box.

"Let me put it on for you."

The icy chain touched Liu Hui's warm skin.

She instinctively pulled her neck back slightly.

Shen Yan's fingers brushed past her earlobe, sending a faint shiver through her.

He fastened the clasp for her.

Liu Hui lowered her head, gazing at the profound blue resting against her chest.

The coolness of the gem seemed to transmit through the fabric, reaching her heart.

Her eyes grew moist.

This man never spoke sweet nothings.

But everything he did told her that he cherished her above all else.

"Do you like it?" Shen Yan returned to his seat and asked.

Liu Hui nodded firmly.

"Mhm."

"Next week, the company is having a team-building event on a private island," Shen Yan looked at her. "The rule allows bringing one family member."

He paused.

"So, my family member, do you have time?"

Liu Hui looked up, tears welling in her eyes, but a brilliant smile bloomed on her face.

"I do," she replied emphatically.

"Any time."

After dinner, Shen Yan drove Liu Hui home.

On the way, he received a call from his sister, Shen Ya.

"Brother, I heard the company is going to an island for team building?" Shen Ya's voice held a hint of laughter.

"That news travels fast."

"Chen Guangke's big mouth has been shouting about it in the company group chat for ages," Shen Ya chuckled on the other end. "He even said you can bring a family member."

"Mhm."

"I won't be going," Shen Ya stated directly.

"Why?" Shen Yan sounded somewhat surprised.

"What would I go for? To be a third wheel?" Shen Ya's tone carried a touch of teasing. "You and Huihui-jie should enjoy your time as a couple. I'll take care of Youyou."

"Besides, if Youyou went with me, that little one would cling to you all day. How could you two relax?"

"I'll stay home with Youyou and wait for you to bring back souvenirs."

Shen Ya's words warmed Shen Yan's heart.

His sister had truly grown up, understanding how to consider his feelings.

"Okay," he responded.

"Brother," Shen Ya said again, "Huihui-jie is a wonderful woman. Don't make her wait too long."

"I know."

After hanging up, Shen Yan tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

The matter of proposing should be put on the agenda.

But what he wanted to give Liu Hui wasn't a rushed ceremony.

It was a truly stable future, free from any further storms.

The next morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Shen Yan did not go to the company.

He drove alone to a villa complex on the outskirts of the city.

He parked his car and sat quietly inside without getting out.

The [Daily Wealth Intelligence] had refreshed every day recently.

"XX Company stock will experience abnormal fluctuations tomorrow..."

"A batch of forgotten antiques is hidden in an old warehouse in the West City..."

"Boss Wang at the XX Antique Market is eager to sell a piece of Imperial Green jade rough..."

Every piece of intelligence was worth a fortune.

But Shen Yan's expression remained completely unmoved.

He was waiting.

Ever since the janus Project got on track, he had been waiting for a specific piece of intelligence.

It was a piece of advanced wealth intelligence he had triggered once—the 'Foundation of Future Technology'.

That advanced intelligence vaguely pointed toward disruptive technology in the semiconductor chip field.

But it lacked a crucial entry point.

A person or object that would allow him to enter the market precisely.

He had scrolled through the daily intelligence updates for nearly half a month just to find this entry point.

Finally.

The information on the screen froze.

【Daily Wealth Intelligence】: Sea City, Jing'an District, Wutong Road No. 112, under the outdoor seating of 'Iris Cafe', a design draft named the 'Dawn Chip' project has been lost. Returning it to the owner, Xia Xue, will yield a reward of two thousand yuan.

This was it.

A slight curve appeared on Shen Yan's lips.

He immediately booked the earliest flight to Sea City.

Two hours later, the plane landed.

The air in Sea City was humid and warm.

Shen Yan did not delay, taking a taxi directly to Wutong Road in Jing'an District.

Wutong Road was lined with somewhat aged French-style buildings.

Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

'Iris Cafe' was tucked away in an inconspicuous corner by the roadside.

Shen Yan pushed open the door, walked in, and ordered an Americano.

He chose the outdoor seat specified in the intelligence report.

He sipped his coffee slowly, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.

Beneath the table, he could vaguely see a brown cardboard tube.

He didn't immediately reach for it.

Instead, he took out his phone and began dealing with emails.

About ten minutes passed.

He stretched as if tired, and his phone 'accidentally' slipped from his grasp.

The phone fell under the table.

He bent down.

While picking up his phone, he also subtly grasped the cardboard tube in his hand.

The entire process was seamless.

The customers at the neighboring table didn't even spare him a second glance.

He slipped the tube into his briefcase.

He paid and left.

Walking into a deserted corner, he opened the tube and pulled out the blueprints inside.

The blueprints were covered in dense circuit diagrams and mathematical formulas.

In the bottom right corner of the drawing, the project name was written—'Dawn'.