Chapter 33: Getting the Marriage Certificate
At the dining table, Zhao Yuheng looked at Shen Shuyi: “You…”
Shen Shuyi: “Don’t speak.”
“I…”
Shen Shuyi: “Don’t ask.”
Zhao Yuheng: “…”
Shen Shuyi said coldly, “And don’t even think!”
Zhao Yuheng was helpless: “I just want to ask, why are you wearing two watches?”
Shen Shuyi: “…”
He replied irritably, “Why do you care that I’m wearing two watches? My left eye watches the time on the left, my right eye watches the time on the right. Can’t my eyes take turns on duty?”
Zhao Yuheng didn’t know what part of that was funny, but he actually laughed a few times.
Shen Shuyi: …
Laugh, laugh, laugh!
And he even had the nerve to smile. The reason he wore two watches was because of whom?
Wasn’t it because a single twenty-million watch was no longer enough to stabilize his anchor point?
Still…
Shen Shuyi glanced at the Vacheron Constantin on his wrist. No matter what he wore on his wrist, it looked good. But wearing two watches at once—this was a bit too avant-garde.
He stewed for a moment, then removed one watch.
Last night he must have been out of his mind to be teased by Zhao Yuheng.
This morning, it was even worse—his illness acted up, and seeing him made his heart race.
It must have been because the villa’s fresh-air system wasn’t working diligently, causing him to breathe poorly.
Zhao Yuheng didn’t know why he was upset and didn’t bother guessing.
To him, Shen Shuyi would get angry over something as trivial as today’s weather being worse than yesterday’s. Who knows what else would trigger him?
Zhao Yuheng gently pulled apart a delicate custard bun and waited until the custard wasn’t too hot before offering it to Shen Shuyi.
Shen Shuyi, rarely picky, took a couple of bites but chewed absentmindedly.
He was studying Zhao Yuheng.
Zhao Yuheng peeled a boiled egg for him and said slowly, “Why are you staring at me? To stimulate your appetite?”
Shen Shuyi: “Stop getting me all worked up.”
Zhao Yuheng: “…”
Shen Shuyi paused. He didn’t eat the remaining half bun and suddenly asked: “Zhao Yuheng, how much is your current salary?”
Yes.
He had thought about it just now.
The reason he was swayed by Zhao Yuheng last night was purely because he didn’t know him well enough.
If he knew his salary, maybe he couldn’t even afford one of his ties—then, perhaps, he would have been immune!
Zhao Yuheng didn’t know why he was suddenly checking, but answered honestly: “Twenty thousand.”
Twenty thousand?
So little!
Shen Shuyi was pleased and relaxed.
Exactly, he couldn’t even afford one of his ties. He could never date someone whose salary didn’t even reach six figures.
Zhao Yuheng noticed Shen Shuyi’s expression and felt a pang in his heart.
He thought it was too little? But his salary had nothing to do with him. They weren’t even discussing marriage.
His heart sank, and he added: “Besides my main job, I have side jobs.”
Shen Shuyi, drinking soy milk, was shocked: “You have side jobs?”
He was so flustered that even Uncle Lin glanced over.
Shen Shuyi cleared his throat: “Oh, oh… it’s nothing, I was just casually surprised.”
Shen Shuyi recalled that when he first met Zhao Yuheng, he always saw him working part-time in different places. Why so ambitious? Did he think that working extra jobs and earning more money could make him worthy of him?
No way!
A pheasant could never match a phoenix!
Shen Shuyi’s mind was in turmoil, but he appeared calm and even concerned: “Why are you taking on so many side jobs? I’m worried about your health. Working so hard isn’t good for you. A commoner, just focus on your main job. You’re not someone a rich master can marry just by working extra jobs.”
“It’s fine.” Zhao Yuheng remained unmoved, only continuing to serve him food.
Damn!
He was determined to marry into a wealthy family! He could never go through a hard life in a humble house with him.
Shen Shuyi, failing at one tactic, tried another: biting his chopsticks, he said, “Actually, if you really need money, I can give you some.”
Zhao Yuheng raised an eyebrow at him.
He glanced at Uncle Lin and the others, who were unmoved by Shen Shuyi’s outrageous claim of giving her money and supporting her.
Zhao Yuheng realized that most people here were Shen Shuyi’s trusted subordinates; otherwise, how could he say such nonsense so openly?
“No need,” he reminded calmly, delivering a killer line: “You still owe me two million.”
Shen Shuyi choked.
He opened and closed his mouth, stammering: “Th-then… can I owe you the monthly allowance first?”
Zhao Yuheng flicked him a glance, not even bothering to reply.
Shen Shuyi paused for a few seconds, realizing how ridiculous his words were—but he was broke!
Gathering his pride, Shen Shuyi slapped the table and said coldly: “Don’t underestimate me.”
Zhao Yuheng: “Don’t lose your temper while eating.”
Shen Shuyi: “Uncle Lin, I’ll wash all the dishes on the table today!”
Washing dishes—he said it like he was laundering money.
Remembering his part-time job, he was ready to act.
Zhao Yuheng quickly pressed his hand: “Eat first, wash after.”
Shen Shuyi tried to pull away.
Zhao Yuheng didn’t understand his determination to earn money!
Zhao Yuheng sighed: “Just consider it done, okay?”
Shen Shuyi: “…”
Zhao Yuheng coaxed him: “Eat properly, I’ll wash later.”
Shen Shuyi hesitated, then hurriedly said: “Those dishes total thirty bucks—don’t forget to deduct that.”
Zhao Yuheng nodded, leisurely: “Won’t forget. Finish the bacon, and give me the rest if you can’t eat it all.”
After eating, Shen Shuyi lay on the sofa playing on his phone.
From this angle, he could see Zhao Yuheng washing dishes in the open kitchen.
Because he wanted to earn those thirty bucks, no one dared to steal Zhao Yuheng’s task.
Shen Shuyi scrolled Instagram halfheartedly, glancing at the kitchen from time to time.
He had to admit, although Zhao Yuheng was a bit poor, her figure was impressive. Broad shoulders, long legs, and with a scarf, she had her own charm.
Shen Shuyi remembered a term he’d seen online recently—husbandly vibes.
At this moment, it manifested in Zhao Yuheng.
Watching him, he suddenly wanted to secretly take photos.
He was action-oriented; once he decided, he acted immediately.
Pretending to scroll through social media, he snapped a few photos of Zhao Yuheng’s back.
This wasn’t his first time. He’d done it last night as well, capturing him focused on cutting cake.
He took four or five photos but stopped to avoid being caught.
Combining these with his selfies, he could make a four-photo grid for social media.
If Shen Lu saw it, he’d think Shen Shuyi’s arranged marriage was progressing well and reward him with cars or watches.
Shen Shuyi edited multiple times, alternating photo order and captions: cute, lively, artistic, and faux-snarky.
After a while, staring at it, he felt embarrassed. Maybe he shouldn’t post it—it was weird.
Later, he finally posted it, photo-only, caption short: “…”
Visibility: Only me.
The next few days, Shen Shuyi idled in the villa.
The four-inch cake Zhao Yuheng made, he finished the next day. Later, he made a strawberry one—his baking skills were improving, terrifyingly good. Shen Shuyi squinted in delight.
He posted cake photos on social media, and many asked which dessert shop the third master favored. Shen Shuyi coldly replied: “Not sharing.”
Happy times were always short, even with daily desserts.
Soon, Wednesday came, bringing the reality Shen Shuyi dreaded most—his internship at Yinghua Group.
That morning, after an hour adjusting his mood at home, he went to the company, resigned to a bleak intern life.
Shen Shuyi’s degree was impressive, but his internship experience was nearly nil.
Shen Lu assigned him to Yinghua Group’s branch, in the Finance Magazine Department under Yinghua News, to familiarize himself with all business elites in Hong Kong.
No more confusing CEOs at galas.
After a previous banquet fiasco, Shen Lu insisted he start at the grassroots.
Shen Shuyi knew he was in the wrong, fought hard, but still reported obediently.
“Shuyi, your seat is here. I’ll email your tasks shortly.”
At ten, HRBP brought him to his workstation. Fortunately, Shen Lu didn’t make him sit outside; as his brother, he got a small office by the window.
His morning torments were soothed.
“This is your independent office, Shuyi. Your colleagues will email tasks. If unclear, go to HR.”
“Okay.”
Just a job!
HRBP left. Shen Shuyi, full of fighting spirit, thought a little secretary job couldn’t challenge him—after years at Stanford.
His phone buzzed. Shen Lu messaged: [Little Shu, at the company? How’s work? Adjusting okay?]
Yinghua HQ sprawled over a million square meters in the suburbs. His branch was downtown in a single building.
Shen Shuyi smirked.
Shen Lu, by exiling him to a branch, should know he had lost him.
From now on, he’d be an emotionless work machine, never smiling, never calling Shen Lu “brother,” punishing him.
He ignored the message.
A knock—colleague A came in, leaving old tasks for him to review.
Shen Shuyi waved him off. A gossiped outside, whispering excitedly about how good Shen Shuyi looked up close.
Shen Shuyi ignored it, focused on pretending to be emotionless.
He donned glasses and laid out all his meticulously chosen office gear: Montblanc cardholder, pen, MacBook Pro case, Hermès thermos, LV keyboard… the work attitude was impeccable.
Opening the contract, he thought: Shen Lu, you’re about to train a ruthless, decisive business prince—the previous naive brother is gone.
Three seconds later, he closed the folder, removed glasses, and sent a desperate message to Shen Lu:
[Brother, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. Please, I don’t want to work. I’ll go home for the marriage. I feel like I was born to marry into the Zhao family. I’ll be obedient and never upset you again TUT…]
No reply. Shen Lu had probably blocked him, knowing this was coming.
Shen Shuyi accepted his fate and slowly read the complicated contracts.
By lunchtime, noises came from outside his office: playful chatting.
Bang! The door burst open.
Shen Shuyi looked up, startled, eyes red from crying earlier—he quickly swallowed back his tears.
“Something?” he asked calmly.
Colleague A timidly invited him to lunch.
Shen Shuyi: ? He was here to work, not socialize.
Ten minutes later, at the cafeteria, colleagues A-D asked why he came to the internship.
Shen Shuyi sulked, colleagues’ maternal instincts flaring.
They comforted him, but he knew his strong CEO brother was the real reason he got in—not his resume.
They were all true workplace elites, and their personalities were better than he imagined.
Shen Shuyi sighed faintly: only fifteen days off for holidays, until New Year.
Colleague B whispered: “You could take sick leave…”
Shen Shuyi internally dismissed the thought of bereavement leave.
Scrolling, he noticed at the bottom: Marriage Leave—30 Days!!
Shen Shuyi’s eyes widened.
Thirteen kilometers away, Zhao Yuheng finished lunch break and received Shen Shuyi’s call.
He knew it was his first day. He hadn’t replied to his morning message. He guessed he’d been secretly crying.
Now calling—probably done crying, ready to act cute and complain.
Zhao Yuheng picked up, in a good mood: “Yes?”
Shen Shuyi, delighted: “Zhao Yuheng, are you free tonight? Let’s go to the civil affairs bureau to get our marriage certificate!”
Author’s Note:
The tale of the little cat struggling at work.jpg
Little Shu Cat: That’s pretty much me. Usually playful and easygoing, but touch the cat’s reverse scale, and you’ll see real darkness. A seemingly innocent, smooth, clever cat. You can’t outwit a cat; from the start, you’re just a piece on the board. The cat has both wrath and compassion, but the dark side is sealed. Some people force the cat to unseal it—can you handle a true cat overlord in the world? [Angry]
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