Chapter 18: Comfort
At this moment, Zhao Yuheng felt a twinge of regret, just like the message he had sent.
Especially when he thought about Shen Shuyi’s recent flirtatious and frivolous behavior, and all the messages and calls sent late at night.
Zhao Yuheng instinctively felt that between him and Shen Shuyi, it was best to stick to that five hundred thousand compensation and have no other contact—especially nothing related to private romantic matters.
He had already resolved to clarify things with Shen Shuyi and draw a clear boundary between them.
Zhao Yuheng had many thoughts, but Shen Shuyi couldn’t read minds.
Seeing such a cold, indifferent message from him at a time when he had just broken up made Shen Shuyi’s temper flare instantly.
Even the sadness from the breakup was completely overshadowed.
Did this Zhao guy have any empathy at all??
He just broke up, and Zhao Yuheng was being so cold and heartless?
Shen Shuyi had a temper that flared on the spot.
Standing by the roadside, he furiously tapped on his phone, ready to scold Zhao Yuheng.
But after typing a dozen or so words, he deleted them all.
Forget it.
Shen Shuyi put down his phone.
He suddenly remembered—this Zhao Yuheng was his cheap fiancé.
He had just broken up. Wouldn’t that make it easier for Zhao Yuheng to join the Shen family, enjoy the benefits, and eventually inherit the family fortune?
Haha. How could he expect such a self-interested person to empathize with him?
Perhaps, Zhao Yuheng wouldn’t feel sad at all; he might even pop champagne to celebrate.
Damn arranged-marriage fiancé.
After a long time without replying, Shen Shuyi still hadn’t sent a message. Zhao Yuheng began to wonder if he had been too harsh earlier.
After a few seconds’ hesitation, he sent a message: “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine!”
It seemed squeezed out through gritted teeth—angry and fierce.
“Good.”
Zhao Yuheng thought for a moment and decided to give Shen Shuyi a humanitarian-style comfort—even if he really wanted to keep him as a kept man, he had only committed a moral mistake, not a crime.
He didn’t see any need to be too cold toward Shen Shuyi.
He carefully typed a long message: “Shen Shuyi, breaking up isn’t a big deal. This is just the end of a relationship. You’ll meet someone even better next.”
Shen Shuyi immediately laughed: “Haha, someone better?”
He added sarcastically: “Don’t tell me you’re volunteering yourself?”
Stop.
The topic was getting sensitive again.
Zhao Yuheng massaged his forehead, bewildered at how Shen Shuyi could interpret such a simple comfort—from someone not even close to a friend—as something more.
He decided to clarify: “Shen Shuyi, you seem to have misunderstood. I don’t mean anything like that. Once the compensation is settled, let’s not meet again…”
Before he could finish typing, Shen Shuyi sent a voice message.
He paused and played it.
The night was quiet. Shen Shuyi’s voice came from the phone—lonely, with an indescribable sense of grievance and sadness.
He murmured: “Zhao Yuheng…”
“Actually… I’m still a little sad.”
…
Zhao Yuheng: …
He pinched his phone, deleted his long message, and sent a voice message instead: “Where are you? Send me the address.”
Shen Shuyi was in the city center. From the university area, it would take forty minutes by subway.
Zhao Yuheng knew that this young master wouldn’t have the patience to wait, so he decisively chose to take a taxi—a rare, expensive choice for him, but the situation was special.
He got out and quickly spotted Shen Shuyi on the street.
There was no mistaking him. Shen Shuyi stood out in the crowd like a pearl dropped in the sand.
It was nearly midnight. Hong Kong’s outdoor temperature was close to freezing.
Shen Shuyi was playing fashionable, wearing a thin, see-through white suit—clearly cold.
He wasn’t completely oblivious to the weather and had found shelter outside a wind-protected café.
When Zhao Yuheng approached, Shen Shuyi was daydreaming.
Even if Zhao Yuheng wasn’t interested in men, he had to admit Shen Shuyi’s face was exquisite—universally attractive.
He couldn’t help wondering if Shen Shuyi’s ex-boyfriend had some issue; otherwise, how could any normal man break up with him?
Unless, of course, he was a straight man like Zhao Yuheng.
Shen Shuyi turned and noticed him, looking listless: “What are you doing here?”
…
Weren’t you the one saying you were sad on WeChat?
What else could he come for? Was it fun for him to take a taxi across half the city at night?
Zhao Yuheng took a deep breath and calmly sat beside him.
He didn’t have many friends and hadn’t dealt with many breakups, so he just went with his instincts:
“Why did you and your ex break up?”
“He’s deceased, thanks. Did I forget he’s dead?”
Anger. Clearly angry.
But Shen Shuyi was still talking, meaning his mood wasn’t as bad as it seemed.
This young master couldn’t keep things bottled up. His previously feigned melancholy had reached its limit; Zhao Yuheng brought up a topic, and he couldn’t help venting.
“Do you know what that dead guy did?” Shen Shuyi’s expression became lively, eyebrows furrowed with anger but still strangely attractive.
“He returned to China without telling me and on the first night went to book a room with his mistress—in my family’s hotel!”
Zhao Yuheng: “He cheated?”
Shen Shuyi: “Yes!”
Zhao Yuheng, finding a way to comfort him, said: “There’s no one in Hong Kong more attractive than you; it’s just that he has no taste.”
Shen Shuyi looked at him, surprised.
“You… are quite the talker.”
“Exactly! He could never match your taste.”
Zhao Yuheng, on alert, quickly replied: “I’m okay too.”
Shen Shuyi glanced at him. Zhao Yuheng added: “Just not as good as your deceased ex’s taste.”
Li Sijia’s taste couldn’t have been bad—he had chosen Shen Shuyi.
Shen Shuyi had to admit Zhao Yuheng’s point.
Zhao Yuheng, feeling cautious, continued calmly: “But I like a different type than your ex.”
Shen Shuyi: ?
Crazy. Who asked you?
Still, he was curious. He turned: “What type do you like?”
Zhao Yuheng, feeling the question was intrusive, replied coldly: “No comment.”
“Oh, fine. Not telling me, I’m not interested anyway.”
Shen Shuyi pouted, clearly unhappy.
“Shen Shuyi,” Zhao Yuheng called.
No reply.
“Shen Shuyi?”
Still nothing.
Haha.
Zhao Yuheng sighed, helpless: “Swore again you wouldn’t talk to me?”
Shen Shuyi: …
Haha.
Zhao Yuheng: …
This little master had such a big temper. Who could handle it?
“I like gentle, sensible people.”
Zhao Yuheng was careful. He didn’t say outright that he didn’t like Shen Shuyi’s type. He feared the next second the bag in Shen Shuyi’s hands might hit him.
So he gave a safe answer, describing a type opposite of Shen Shuyi’s personality.
Finally, Shen Shuyi spoke: “Gentle and sensible?”
“Yes.”
Hmph. Isn’t that me?
Shen Shuyi thought Zhao Yuheng was being mysterious, but he also felt it was natural for someone to like him. Zhao Yuheng was his fiancé—of course he liked him.
Thinking of the fiancé situation, Shen Shuyi’s mood darkened again.
He noticed the street was empty, just him and Zhao Yuheng, in the dead of night.
If paparazzi caught this, his arranged marriage would be known worldwide. Could he escape it then?
Shen Shuyi immediately stood up alertly, startling Zhao Yuheng.
“What’s wrong?”
Zhao Yuheng couldn’t have guessed that Shen Shuyi’s anger had shifted from his ex to him in mere seconds.
“Nothing,” Shen Shuyi said seriously.
“I feel better. I’m leaving.”
He glanced around, checking for paparazzi.
Uncle Lin’s car arrived just in time. As soon as Shen Shuyi got up, the driver, Xiao Liu, had parked at the curb.
Shen Shuyi hurriedly greeted Zhao Yuheng and got in.
Everything happened so fast that Zhao Yuheng hadn’t even processed it—the Rolls-Royce had already sped away.
Before leaving, Xiao Liu politely bowed slightly.
If not for the faint lingering scent of Shen Shuyi’s perfume, Zhao Yuheng might have thought seeing him tonight was just a fleeting dream.
Awake, the street was empty—only him.
Zhao Yuheng rubbed his forehead. He was used to Shen Shuyi’s come-and-go attitude.
If it weren’t for his grandfather’s five hundred thousand compensation, he might never have interacted with someone like this.
Get the money, then part ways.
It was still early.
The last subway hadn’t left yet; the nearest station was a kilometer away, fifteen minutes’ walk.
Zhao Yuheng had walked two steps when a luxury car stopped beside him.
The driver leaned out: “Mr. Zhao? Plate ending 0667.”
Zhao Yuheng froze. The driver continued: “Mr. Shen called for me to pick you up. That’s right, isn’t it?”
Zhao Yuheng, usually expressionless, looked surprised. His heart skipped a beat. He calmly said: “Shen Shuyi?”
Driver: “Yes! It’s windy outside. Please get in.”
Zhao Yuheng sent Shen Shuyi a message: “You called a car for me?”
Shen Shuyi quickly replied with a sunglasses emoji, a smug expression Zhao Yuheng could imagine perfectly.
Indeed, it was him.
Zhao Yuheng, smiling unknowingly, asked: “Your card is frozen. Where did the money come from for this ride?”
Shen Shuyi had some conscience—he didn’t let it go to waste.
“I used my ex’s money to pay for your ride ?”
Zhao Yuheng: ? …
The driver asked again: “Sir?”
Zhao Yuheng hesitated—he didn’t really want to get in.
Author’s note:
I, Zhao Yuheng, even if I miss the last subway tonight, will walk home on my own two legs. ?
Cat: ? Not taking a car when there is one, crazy!
Cat steals ex-boyfriend’s money to support you, so just enjoy it, little Zhao! ??
