"Shuo Shuo's competition has been all over social media. How could I not know," Qin Si Ye said, his gaze inadvertently falling on Shen Xi.
There was a complexity in his eyes that Shen Xi couldn't quite decipher.
"Does that mean Shuo Gege has become a little celebrity in K City after this competition?" Yan Yan asked, her large, expressive eyes blinking as she tilted her head, her voice sweet.
"I suppose so," Qin Si Ye replied, a slight curve to his lips. He handed the other two boxes to her and Chen Chen. "You two have gifts too. Open them and see if you like them?"
Chen Chen and Yan Yan accepted the gifts excitedly, never expecting to receive presents themselves. They felt as though they were benefiting from Shuo Shuo's good fortune.
Chen Chen received a tablet from a globally renowned electronics company, recently launched.
Yan Yan got a beautifully crafted set of Barbie dolls.
Both children’s faces lit up with excitement and satisfaction. They exchanged a glance and, in unison, replied, "Thank you, Uncle Qin! We love them so much."
Uncle Qin was so thoughtful. How did he know their preferences so well?
Unbeknownst to them, Qin Si Ye had spent an entire afternoon selecting gifts for them.
While Shuo Shuo's gift was a sure thing, he had spent over an hour discussing Chen Chen and Yan Yan's presents with Zhao Ze.
Afterward, he had people search through major department stores for a long time before finally purchasing these three gifts, which were currently the best quality available in K City.
"As long as you like them, that's all that matters," Qin Si Ye said with a smile, his eyes filled with fatherly affection and tenderness.
He didn't notice it himself, but everyone else present observed it.
Shen Xi walked over and took the toys from the children's hands. "Put them aside for now and let's eat."
Xu Zhi Lan, seated at the head of the table, had been holding back her anger, intending to criticize Qin Si Ye thoroughly when he returned.
However, seeing the heartwarming scene that had just unfolded, her anger dissipated completely, replaced by relief and a smile.
After Qin Si Ye sat down, the group continued to praise Shuo Shuo's performance in the competition that day.
Shuo Shuo's face turned a little red from their compliments, and he felt quite shy.
Chen Chen, however, envied him, thinking about when he could also be the center of attention like Shuo Shuo, the little genius praised by everyone.
After the meal, Qin Si Ye drove them back.
Yin Zhe, being perceptive, kept the three children moving quickly ahead, maintaining a considerable distance from the couple behind them.
"Why did you go to such expense, buying gifts for all three of them?" Shen Xi asked, glancing at Qin Si Ye as she looked at the gifts in the children's hands.
When she had accepted the gifts in the restaurant earlier, she had already recognized their significant value from their brands, packaging, and quality.
"What? You don't like them?" Qin Si Ye gently took her hand, his lips curving upwards.
"No, I do," Shen Xi replied, looking up at him without pulling her hand away. "I just think they're too expensive."
The next moment, she heard the man above her respond with a serious tone, "My children, Qin Si Ye's children, should naturally receive the best gifts. Do you think I can't afford them?"
Shen Xi's heart skipped a beat at his words, but then she considered that he wasn't wrong.
They were his children, even if he didn't know it yet.
At this moment, his affection for these three children wasn't due to a blood relation, but because of her.
However, she stubbornly retorted, "They aren't your children. We aren't together yet."
"But that's only a matter of time. I've already considered them my own children," Qin Si Ye said, suddenly stopping. He placed his large hand on her waist and drew her into his embrace.
"What are you doing?" Shen Xi's heart trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but glance around.
"No one is here," Qin Si Ye said, a smirk playing on his lips. "You took Shuo Shuo to the Rubik's Cube competition, such a big event. Why didn't you tell me about it beforehand?"
At that moment, they had arrived at the entrance of Villa No. 2. Shen Xi couldn't help but glance down the corridor leading to the back.
The last time, Xie Yi Fei had seen her embracing and kissing this man from that very spot.
Fortunately, no one was there.
"I just saw it by chance, so I signed him up," Shen Xi replied, gazing at him with a gentle expression, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "Did you really see Shuo Shuo's competition on social media?"
The buzz on social media had spread so quickly, reaching the supposedly aloof richest man in K City in such a short time.
"Not entirely," Qin Si Ye's inky eyebrows lifted slightly.
Recalling Zhao Ze's excited entrance into his office that afternoon, he couldn't help but chuckle.
As soon as Zhao Ze entered, he breathlessly reported, "President, the competition results are out. Guess who won the championship?"
Qin Si Ye looked up at him and continued reviewing documents, casually asking, "Who?"