Chapter 44: Clingy
That night, after dinner, Shen Shuyi went straight to his favorite place—the dressing room.
When Old Master Shen bought Shuiwan One Residence back in the day, he had spent nearly ten million building this custom wardrobe for Shen Shuyi. The space was nearly eight meters tall, connecting two floors with a spiral staircase and arched walls filled with display cabinets.
Inside were intricate collections of jewelry, sometimes more complete than the treasures shown at auctions.
One whole wall was dedicated to display cases of jewelry and diamonds he’d collected from around the world—some even unique pieces dating back to the Victorian era.
Shen Shuyi had a particular fondness for that period’s aesthetic, so the entire dressing room was imbued with a lazy, elegant, and romantic Anglo-French tone.
The Chaumet wedding ring he bought today looked inconspicuous amid this sea of glittering treasures, like just one more star in the Milky Way.
But Shen Shuyi was especially fond of it. He spent the entire evening rearranging his display shelves, trying to find the most prominent, most precious-looking spot for what was probably the cheapest ring in the entire room.
It took him two or three hours before he was satisfied.
He tried it in the display case, then on the rotating stand, back and forth several times.
It wasn’t until Uncle Lin called from outside—“Young Master, the hot water is ready for your bath”—that Shen Shuyi reluctantly cast one last look at the ring, left the dressing room, and headed for the second-floor bath.
Three seconds later—
Shen Shuyi turned right back, put the ring—still nestled in soft velvet—onto his ring finger.
“Better to wear it in the bath! Diamonds are waterproof anyway.”
After bathing, he took the ring off again and set it back on the display stand.
Xiaomei, watching this, asked, “Young Master, aren’t you going to keep it in your bedroom?”
“No need. Just leave it here.” Putting it in the bedroom would make it look like he was overly sentimental about this engagement with Zhao Yuheng.
Xiaomei nodded. “Alright, Young Master.”
Satisfied after one last glance, Shen Shuyi went upstairs to the third floor to sleep.
The villa was silent, the night tender.
Five minutes later, Shen Shuyi’s eyes snapped open.
“Wait… didn’t I place that ring a little crooked?”
He threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and hurried downstairs—thump, thump, thump.
Xiaomei was polishing the stair railing and greeted him, surprised. “Good evening, Young Master! Weren’t you already asleep?”
“Evening,” Shen Shuyi replied absently as he slipped into the dressing room, adjusted the ring, and squinted at it for a long moment.
Now it was perfect.
Upstairs again. Sleep.
…
Ten minutes later, he opened his eyes again.
“Did I forget to dust it before bed? It might’ve gotten dirty.”
Out of bed once more—thump, thump, thump.
Xiaomei, now mopping, looked up. “Good evening again, Young Master… wait, didn’t I already see this scene just now?”
“Mhm.”
Without turning, Shen Shuyi entered the dressing room, picked up the ring, polished it carefully, and admired how the diamond sparkled brilliantly under the lights.
Truly, his own taste was impeccable.
Alright, Shen Shuyi—one last look, and then you really must sleep.
Upstairs. Sweet dreams.
…
Half an hour later.
Shen Shuyi sat up straight in bed again.
“Just one last look.”
As Xiaomei carried laundry from the utility room, a familiar figure flashed by her once more—straight into the dressing room.
Shen Shuyi crouched before the glass case, eyes glittering as he gazed at the ring, utterly entranced.
When he’d passed her earlier, the air had carried a faint, sweet scent of jasmine.
Sniffing the air, Xiaomei froze.
Wait… why was the house cat running around doing parkour in the middle of the night?!
—
The next morning, Shen Shuyi got up early to visit Zhao Fuchang in the hospital.
As he stretched, the diamond ring on his ring finger glinted brilliantly. Halfway through a yawn, he paused, admiring it with great satisfaction.
He’d meant to leave it in the display case last night, but somehow, after worrying it was tilted or misplaced, and after several trips downstairs, he’d realized— the best place for it was right there, on his own finger.
Zhao Yuheng’s business partnership was still in its early stages, and he was swamped with work. So Shen Shuyi went to Mary Hospital alone— which actually suited him, since he had his own big move planned.
Since he’d already decided to marry Zhao Yuheng, Zhao Fuchang was practically his grandfather now.
Having watched his own grandfather’s suffering before he passed, Shen Shuyi didn’t want Zhao Fuchang to endure the same.
So, he decided—he would have Zhao Fuchang transferred from the public Mary Hospital to Yinghua Group’s top-tier private hospital.
He wasn’t bragging, but in all of Hong Kong, no hospital matched Yinghua’s medical standards.
Plus, with the surgery happening under his own supervision, he could personally oversee every step.
After making this decision, Shen Shuyi immediately contacted the hospital director.
Upon hearing who had arrived, the director hurriedly escorted the young master into his office, trembling with deference.
When Shen Shuyi plainly stated his request, the director didn’t dare object. He only cursed himself internally—had he known this patient’s family had ties to Shen Shuyi, he’d have used that connection long ago!
Now, it was too late to ride the Shen family’s coattails.
The director handled all the transfer arrangements. Shen Shuyi only needed to stay with Zhao Fuchang.
Lately, the old man’s condition had been fluctuating. Whenever he was awake, Shen Shuyi did his best to cheer him up— and in the art of charming elders, no one was better than Shen Shuyi.
Of course, he made sure to remind Zhao Yuheng just how hard he was working.
[You’ve worked hard, baby.]
Shen Shuyi replied with a “pat on the head” emoji.
By Wednesday, Zhao Yuheng finally had a free afternoon and said he’d come visit.
It had only been two days since they’d last met, but somehow, Shen Shuyi already missed him.
Not that he’d say that aloud—missing someone after just forty-eight hours? That’d make him seem clingy.
Still, when he went out that afternoon, he dressed up on purpose.
The past few days at the hospital, he’d dressed conservatively and neatly—like a model son-in-law meeting the elders—since Grandpa Zhao barely ever woke up to even notice.
So today, he went with something more stylish: a vintage 1986 Chanel tweed cropped jacket over a white shirt, metal buttons, a round-collar ribbon bow, and pearl accessories instead of diamonds.
Slim pants cinched with a wide metallic belt accentuated his slender waist.
He wore a delicate wristwatch—though he rarely chose women’s models, this narrow strap suited his elegant hands perfectly.
The moment he arrived at the hospital, heads turned.
He walked through the corridors like it was a runway show, then headed as usual to the inpatient ward.
Today was Zhao Fuchang’s last day at Mary Hospital. He’d been lucid earlier and chatted briefly with Shen Shuyi before falling asleep again.
After tucking the old man in, the door suddenly opened.
Shen Shuyi turned eagerly, thinking Zhao Yuheng had arrived— but frowned when he saw strangers standing there.
“Who are you?”
Zhao Cheng, hearing that his grandfather was being transferred, had rushed over with his parents.
They thought Zhao Yuheng, having received the compensation payout, was secretly moving the old man to seize all the demolition money for himself.
Panting, they barged in—only to find not Zhao Yuheng, but a young man who looked like a movie star.
Though Shen Shuyi was often mentioned in tabloids, his family had always kept his real face well-protected. Any photos that appeared were swiftly removed; the few remaining online were old and grainy.
So Zhao Cheng didn’t recognize him immediately—he just stammered at Shen Shuyi’s frosty tone.
“I—I’m family. Zhao Fuchang is my grandfather. And you are…?”
Another grandson?
Shen Shuyi thought for a moment. He hadn’t heard Zhao Yuheng mention anyone like this.
But then he remembered overhearing gossip in the corridor during the previous surgery—that Zhao Yuheng had an annoying, ungrateful cousin.
Could this be him?
Round-faced, shifty-eyed… honestly, how could someone as tall and handsome as Zhao Yuheng have such an unfortunate-looking cousin?
Completely lost the genetic lottery. Shen Shuyi felt visually assaulted just looking at him.
Come to think of it, Zhao Yuheng didn’t resemble Grandpa Zhao much either— perhaps he took after his late parents instead?
That thought made Shen Shuyi oddly unhappy.
“I’m Zhao Yuheng’s friend,” he said calmly.
Though his voice was polite, Zhao Cheng immediately noticed his air of quiet authority.
Just his wristwatch alone was worth millions—clearly, not an ordinary man.
“Cousin isn’t here?”
“He’ll be here soon,” Shen Shuyi replied. “What do you want?”
“Oh, nothing major,” Zhao Cheng said, shrinking under the young man’s cool aura. “We just heard Grandpa’s being transferred… why didn’t Cousin tell us? I mean, it’s such a big decision—”
“It was my arrangement. Nothing to do with Zhao Yuheng.” Shen Shuyi’s voice turned faintly sharp, his polite smile not reaching his eyes. “What would he need to tell you for? Grandpa’s been hospitalized for so long, and not once have you visited.”
Zhao Baoshan, Zhao Cheng’s father, flared up. “Watch your mouth, kid! That’s my father—you think I don’t care?”
“Really? Funny. I’ve been here more times than you, and I’m not even family.”
“You—!” Zhao Baoshan lunged forward, but Zhao Cheng quickly restrained him. “Dad, calm down—”
“Sorry, sir,” Zhao Cheng said hastily. “May I ask your surname?”
“Shen,” Shen Shuyi said flatly.
The name hit Zhao Cheng like a thunderclap.
Shen? There weren’t many Shens in Hong Kong—certainly not that Shen family.
Only someone with immense power could bypass them and directly arrange a hospital transfer.
Connecting the dots, Zhao Cheng’s mind raced.
“I see, Mr. Shen. We just came to check on Grandpa—glad to see he’s fine. We’ll wait for Cousin and talk then.”
He scribbled his number on a note and left it on the bedside table.
Shen Shuyi didn’t even glance at it. His arrogance was clear as daylight.
Zhao Cheng forced a few more polite smiles, then dragged his parents out.
Around the corridor corner, Zhao Baoshan shook him off furiously. “You idiot! Didn’t you call us here to stop that outsider from stealing the demolition money? Now you just let him be? Why didn’t you wake the old man up and have him sign over the inheritance!”
Chen Yumei, Zhao Cheng’s mother, hesitated but stayed on her husband’s side—after all, that money was enough to change their lives.
“Dad, listen,” Zhao Cheng said impatiently. “Didn’t you hear what that guy’s surname was?”
Zhao Baoshan frowned. “What about it?”
“Shen! You know how many Shens there are in Hong Kong?” Zhao Cheng’s tone grew excited.
Zhao Baoshan’s expression shifted from confusion to alarm.
“You don’t mean…”
“Yes—the Shen family of Yinghua Group. Shen Lu’s Shen family!”
That made both parents go pale. “You mean that man was… Shen Lu?”
Zhao Cheng shook his head. “No, I’ve seen Shen Lu on TV. This one’s younger. It must be his only brother—Shen Shuyi.”
Zhao Baoshan’s brows knitted. “But if he’s from that Shen family—weren’t they the ones who demolished Sanhe Bay? They owe us! I should go demand justice and compensation right now—”
“Dad!” Zhao Cheng stopped him. “Are you insane? Even if he’s from the Shen family, going in there won’t get us a dime. Do you even realize who they are? The Shens run Hong Kong. If he kills you in the hospital tonight, the news won’t even mention it tomorrow!”
That scared Zhao Baoshan enough to pause. “Then what do we do? Just let the money go?”
“Don’t worry,” Zhao Cheng said, his tone thoughtful. “My dear cousin… he’s got something interesting going on.”
He murmured, “Think about it. Shen Shuyi, of all people—the man richer than gods. The Shens demolished Sanhe Bay, they’re supposed to be our enemies. Yet he’s taking care of Grandpa, handling his transfer, visiting regularly… and he says he’s my cousin’s friend. What kind of ‘friend’ goes to that extent?”
His parents were baffled. They didn’t care about “what kind”—they just wanted the payout.
As Zhao Cheng frowned, lost in thought, the elevator behind them dinged open.
They didn’t notice three figures stepping out—because those figures were Zhao Yuheng.
When Baoshan saw him, he instinctively wanted to call out.
But Zhao Cheng quickly clapped a hand over his father’s mouth.
“Shh!”
They watched as Zhao Yuheng hurried down the hall—so focused he didn’t notice the three of them.
Just as he reached the ward door, Shen Shuyi turned at the sound and lit up, rushing over in quick steps.
“Zhao Yuheng!”
From a distance, Zhao Cheng’s eyes widened as the scene unfolded.
The same cold, aloof Shen Shuyi from moments ago suddenly sprang toward Zhao Yuheng—leaping into his arms like a cat.
He wrapped his arms around Zhao Yuheng’s shoulders and rubbed affectionately against his neck, smiling with the warmth of melting ice and starlight in his eyes.
And Zhao Yuheng—stoic as ever—merely placed one arm around his waist, holding him securely.
Zhao Cheng stood there, utterly stunned, heart pounding.
That… was definitely not how “friends” behaved.
Author’s Note:
The little cat only acts silly around people he likes. To outsiders, he’s a cold, elegant feline, hmm! ?
