Shi Ran dared not look directly at Tang Si. She lowered her head, took the IOU from his hand, and opened it.
The IOU was scrawled with the time Shi Junrui borrowed how much money, and at the end was Shi Junrui's strong and powerful signature and handprint.
One could imagine that when borrowing money, Shi Junrui must have been full of confidence, thinking that with this money he could gamble and quickly turn his fortunes around to repay the debt.
"It's my brother's, no mistake."
She recognized her brother's handwriting, of course.
"That's good."
Tang Si nodded, his gaze fixed on Shi Ran, his furrowed brow seeming to hold a myriad of emotions, and his heart filled with countless words he wished to say, yet found himself choked, unable to speak.
Though Shi Ran kept her head down, she could feel a burning gaze upon her.
She knew Tang Si was looking at her, but she lacked the courage to look up.
Biting her lip lightly, her small hand tightly clutched the IOU, and after a moment of internal struggle, she finally said, "Thank... Thank you, President Tang. I should go now."
Facing him, Shi Ran didn't know what emotions to harbor.
He was Zhao Wuyan's husband, and Zhao Wuyan was her enemy.
She truly loved him, yet... also hated him.
The turmoil of such emotions almost drove her mad.
Turning to leave the office, Shi Ran walked extremely quickly, as if fleeing in panic.
However, after just a few steps, she realized Tang Si was following her.
Shi Ran walked faster and faster, her pace growing more urgent. Finally, on the stairs, she was too rushed, her shoe tip kicked the steps, and she stumbled. Instinctively, she reached out to steady herself against the wall.
Although she wouldn't fall, the next moment a hand steadied her arm. "Are you that afraid of me?"
Tang Si asked her.
Perhaps because they were so close, Shi Ran could feel the faint warmth of his breath.
She never looked up. "No, no. I'm just in a hurry to go back and see my father." She made up an excuse.
Shi Ran tried to walk away, but Tang Si yanked her back with sudden force.
"Ah~!"
Her feet were on the stairs, and with his forceful pull, Shi Ran worried she might fall and injure the child in her womb. Her hands instinctively went to cover her abdomen.
This movement caught Tang Si's attention.
"Why are you covering your stomach?" Tang Si asked in a low voice.
Of course, he asked casually, not paying much attention to his own question. But upon hearing it, Shi Ran's pupils widened, her face suddenly paling, and she shook her head in panic, "Nothing... nothing."
Tang Si had known Shi Ran for a considerable time, and he was familiar with her usual expressions and reactions. Shi Ran's current reaction was clearly overdone.
The man frowned, staring at her, then abruptly lowered his head to look at her abdomen.
Shi Ran's hand rested on her abdomen, her fingers now nervously clutching her down jacket. Seeing Tang Si staring at her stomach, she began to suck in her belly and moved her hand away, trying to remain composed.
From the last time he saw Shi Ran, Tang Si had felt she had put on some weight, assuming she was living a better life and had gained some pounds.
But now, looking at her sallow, haggard face, there was no trace of weight gain.
So...
Tang Si suddenly raised his hand, one hand grabbing her collar, the other quickly unzipping her down jacket with astonishing speed. Shi Ran had no chance to react before her pregnant belly was exposed.
She was wearing a loose sweater underneath, but no matter how loose, the sweater accentuated her pregnant belly. Especially since she was carrying triplets, her belly was larger than that of an average pregnant woman, making the situation clear at a glance.
Tang Si stared at her protruding abdomen, stunned into silence.
Shi Ran reacted violently, pushing Tang Si away with a shove, and tightly wrapping herself in the down jacket. "Are you crazy? What are you doing!"