Chapter 157: A Tenderness Like Never Before

If this continued, he honestly couldn't tell whether it was a good thing or a bad one.

With that thought, Shen Hanzhi let out a silent sigh, his dark eyes gazing at her in a trance...

The space behind the rockery was extremely narrow. Given Shen Hanzhi's tall and broad frame, being pulled in here by her to hide meant he took up the majority of the room.

As for her, being so petite, she could only curl her body up and press tightly against his side, resting her small head softly against his arm.

The entire area behind the rockery seemed to be filled with her soft, sweet fragrance.

In such a confined and seemingly uncomfortable environment, Shen Hanzhi felt not the slightest bit of displeasure. On the contrary... looking at the small figure pressed closely against him, his heart suddenly softened, and his mood brightened instantly.

He actually found himself... somewhat enjoying this quiet, cramped space shared only by this silly girl and himself.

At this moment, the entire world seemed to quiet down.

There were no idle bystanders, no noise whatsoever.

There was only... the girl obediently leaning against him.

Thinking of this, a trace of contentment flickered across his handsome face. He raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling that this childish and boring game actually had some meaning after all.

The man narrowed his eyes, a special nuance lingering in the gaze he fixed upon the girl.

Just as Lin Nanxun was carefully pulling the scoundrel to crouch and hide behind the rockery, her heart pounding with nervous anxiety and a terrified dread of being discovered...

A burst of footsteps suddenly came from not far away, heading straight toward the rockery.

Zhou Bei, who was in the middle of searching, arrived beside the rockery, looked around with curious eyes, and finally had his attention caught by the concealed spot behind the rocks. He turned around and walked right over.

Hearing the sudden footsteps, Lin Nanxun's already nervous heart grew even tighter, and she instinctively shrank her neck further down.

The peaceful space was abruptly disturbed by the footsteps, causing Shen Hanzhi to frown, a look of displeasure instantly settling onto his handsome face.

With a deep frown, he turned his cold gaze, only to see Zhou Bei frozen in place, staring at them with a face full of utter astonishment.

Seeing the man hiding behind the rockery together with Miss Lin, Zhou Bei's face registered profound shock, leaving him completely dazed...

His boss was actually hiding in a place like this with Miss Lin...

Zhou Bei stood frozen in his tracks for a full several seconds.

Shen Hanzhi furrowed his brows in silence, merely pressing his thin lips together with a displeased expression.

Seeing this, Zhou Bei instantly understood something.

The next second, he let out a dry cough, and then spoke with utmost seriousness, entirely against his own conscience.

"There's nothing here."

Having said that, he turned around and walked away immediately.

Seeing that Zhou Bei knew how to read the room, the expression on Shen Hanzhi's face softened a fraction. He then turned his gaze back to the girl beside him and lowered his voice to murmur,

"It's alright now."

Hearing his reassuring and steady voice, Lin Nanxun was slightly dazed before she slowly raised her head, mustered up her courage, and poked her head out to take a look around.

There was no one left by the rockery.

Shortly after, the voices of Zhou Bei and Ron shouting that they had caught someone and that the game was over drifted in from outside.

Lin Nanxun lit up with joy, her eyes wide with excitement as she asked him,

"Bad guy, did we win?"

Shen Hanzhi looked at her joyful expression, a flash of light rippling through his ink-dark eyes.

The next second, he parted his thin lips and patiently gave her his reply.

"Mmhmm."

In his deep voice, there was an unprecedented gentleness.