Chapter 47: The Girlfriend Appears
It was like this — If there were a hundred views on Shen Shuyi’s selfies in his social circle, ninety-nine of them would be from himself.
Similarly, ever since he set off that hand-shaped firework for Zhao Yuheng that night, he’d been replaying it over and over these past few days.
My god.
I’m so good.
Shen Shuyi, you’re a born romantic — how could Zhao Yuheng not be moved to tears?
Good thing you’re self-disciplined and don’t play around; otherwise, with charm like that, wouldn’t it be effortless to have every man eating out of your hand?
kukukukuku, kikikikikiki—
Then came the strange laughter from under the sheets.
Through the crack in the door, Xiaomei anxiously watched her young master roll on the bed wrapped in a bedsheet, occasionally sticking his head under the blanket and giggling weirdly.
Worried, she asked, “Is the young master okay? Ever since he came back from Sanhe Bay, he’s been like this.”
“It’s fine,” Uncle Lin patted her shoulder reassuringly. “There must be a reason for it.”
But actually, the news that Zhao Yuheng wasn’t biologically related to the Zhao family had shocked Shen Shuyi.
No wonder he was so handsome while his cousins looked like they were on a completely different visual layer — turns out, not even from the same gene pool!
But then… a new doubt arose.
If Zhao Yuheng wasn’t the Zhao family’s biological son, what was this engagement all about?
Just as he began pondering, Shen Lu called — ordering him to get to work immediately.
Ever since his older brother stopped keeping a close eye on him, Shen Shuyi’s attendance had become a “three days fishing, two days drying nets” situation.
He’d used up every possible kind of leave — sick leave, personal leave, paid annual leave.
Shen Lu had always turned a blind eye.
Until today, when the branch office’s CEO came to check the attendance records — and found out this brat had actually applied for maternity leave.
The CEO knew who he was — the third young master of the Shen family, the chairman’s beloved younger brother.
Honestly, if he’d applied for bereavement leave, the CEO still wouldn’t have dared to reject it.
“What? Maternity leave? For who? I’m asking you—WHOSE maternity leave did you apply for?!” Shen Lu’s voice roared through the phone.
Shen Shuyi pouted, dug in his ear, and prepared to play deaf.
“Get to work right now! Or else, in ten months, I expect you to deliver that baby you’re carrying yourself!”
Shen Shuyi was furious. “Fine! I’ll give birth! Have you thought of what you’ll name your nephew yet?!”
Shen Lu took a deep breath, staring at his phone in disbelief.
Wow. This brat really was determined not to go to work.
“Half an hour,” Shen Lu said coldly. “Meet me at Shallow Bay. Either my cane breaks today—or your legs do.”
“Okay, big brother. I can’t talk anymore; you’re making me late for work.” Shen Shuyi slammed the call down.
“I hate Shen Lu!”
That was his departing statement as he stormed out of Shuiwan One.
He glared at Uncle Lin. “Make sure you tell that Shen, that’s exactly what I said!”
He didn’t even use his brother’s full name — clearly, he was truly angry this time.
Unfazed, Uncle Lin just smiled. He’d seen the brothers bicker since childhood — nothing new.
“Yes, young master.”
“You must say it exactly! And copy my expression — fierce, despairing, full of deep disappointment! Tell him I’ll never forgive him, unless he buys me that 8.41-carat pear-shaped pink diamond at Sotheby’s next week and pays next year’s full annual suite fee at the Peninsula Hotel, 58th floor, presidential suite!”
The level of detail made it obvious he’d planned this speech in advance.
Reproducing the expression, though, would take an Oscar-winning performance — but Uncle Lin could only nod. “I’ll do my best, young master.”
“And make sure you say I’m heartbroken!”
“Of course, absolutely.”
Only then did Shen Shuyi look satisfied.
Still, when he thought of Shen Lu’s ruthless capitalist face, he couldn’t help but feel aggrieved.
Ah, when will these days of living under someone’s roof finally end, TUT~
Utterly dejected, he dragged himself to work — but on the way, he called Zhao Yuheng to complain.
“How can there be brothers like him? What kind of family raises such a cold-blooded capitalist machine? Does he even know what love is? Are rich-family brothers doomed to destroy each other?”
Zhao Yuheng listened to the endless rant, finding him ridiculously cute — but didn’t dare laugh aloud, lest Shen Shuyi get mad.
So he comforted him gently while looking through contracts: “If you don’t want to work, why not come work for me?”
See, this is why people say — everyone needs a husband.
Immediately, Shen Shuyi’s mood lifted.
“I’ll clock in first before sneaking out — otherwise, my brother will catch me skipping again.”
He was, by now, an expert at absenteeism.
It wasn’t that he hated working; at first, the job actually had some value.
But then that parachuted-in Jessica had turned the secretary’s office upside down. Later, after her PR disaster online, the entire department got reassigned elsewhere.
Now, Shen Shuyi’s role was completely meaningless — a total ghost post.
Eight hours of sitting there doing nothing was pure torture.
And the CEO didn’t dare assign him real work either — for fear he’d go tattling to the higher-ups.
At first, Shen Shuyi could at least sit there playing Candy Crush.
Eventually, even that got boring. He was naturally lively and loved to travel; before Shen Lu froze his cards, he was jet-setting across the globe nonstop.
Now, ever since the engagement announcement, he hadn’t even left the country once.
He grumbled to Zhao Yuheng for a good while; the latter just listened patiently.
When he arrived at the company, Shen Shuyi was reluctant to hang up.
After clocking in, he sat for a bit at his desk.
Coworker A, seeing him there, was stunned — he thought Shen Shuyi had already quit.
Turned out, someone else was quitting.
“Jessica’s leaving?”
That was the biggest gossip bomb of the day.
“Yeah. She’s handing over her work, might stay another month until they find a replacement.”
“Didn’t she just transfer from Yingfutong? Where’s she going now?”
“Back to her old company, I heard — Yingfutong again. Apparently, she’s hooked up with their CEO. Whatever, as long as she’s gone from here. I’m so done with her ‘wolf culture’ crap.”
Shen Shuyi paused — wasn’t the current CEO of Yingfutong Yan Chi?
Ugh, all the annoying people gathered together.
He faked working for a few minutes, but his mind was already on the upcoming wedding.
He’d completely embraced his “bride-to-be” identity — whenever he had free time, he scrolled through wedding dresses and planners.
The wedding was set for before New Year, yet the Zhao family had made no moves.
Even someone as bold and passionate as Shen Shuyi had a sense of pride.
Since the other side hadn’t mentioned wedding prep, he didn’t dare bring it up first.
He knew Zhao Yuheng was extremely busy lately — though what kind of small company had that much work, he didn’t know.
Every time he called, Zhao Yuheng was either reading contracts, traveling, or in meetings.
Probably just too busy to plan the wedding.
Shen Shuyi browsed venue options again — switching from church, to island, to hotel.
Finally, he decided to combine them all: an island with a church and a nearby five-star hotel. Perfect.
He was still picking designs when Zhao Yuheng called — saying he had an urgent meeting, then a business trip to Zhuhai and Macau, wouldn’t be back until the day after tomorrow.
Shen Shuyi listened to the explanation several times before dryly saying, “…Oh.”
Sensing his disappointment, Zhao Yuheng comforted him softly: “It’ll be better after this busy spell.”
“What kind of job keeps you this busy? Want me to help you out?”
Zhao Yuheng was touched — then immediately refused. “No, it’s fine.”
Because if Shen Shuyi helped, it would double his workload — managing his messes on top of work.
Luckily, Shen Shuyi was easy to soothe. He was reasonable too — after all, they’d be married soon. Zhao’s money would be his money, so the more Zhao Yuheng earned, the more he could spend.
An eternal truth.
Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about the wedding.
Too embarrassed to bring it up with Zhao Yuheng, he switched targets — pestering his brother instead.
“Oh, so you do remember how to message me? Weren’t you just saying you hated me?”
“Of course not, brother! Who told you that? Someone’s clearly trying to sow discord between us! I’m your own brother — how could I ever hate you?” Shen Shuyi sounded utterly shocked that anyone could make such a vile claim.
“Heh.” Shen Lu didn’t buy it. “Go on.”
“Well, brother, I just wanted to ask — has the Zhao family contacted you recently?”
He hadn’t expected that.
And come to think of it, the Zhao family had gone unusually quiet.
With the wedding date approaching, neither family’s parents had even met properly.
He’d planned to vet the Zhaos himself — he wouldn’t throw his brother into a fire pit without due diligence.
He’d already reviewed Zhao Yuheng’s file — a smooth talker, raised in North America, probably shared common ground with Shen Shuyi.
But there was one thing he disliked: the kid’s hobby was professional F1 racing — far too dangerous.
“What? Weren’t you yelling about not getting married before? What’s the rush now?”
“I’m not rushing! Just asking!” Shen Shuyi snapped defensively.
Seeing his temper rise, Shen Lu quickly placated him. “Alright, alright, don’t get mad. I’ll look into it for you.”
“Oh.”
Only after hanging up did Shen Shuyi realize — he’d forgotten again to ask about Zhao’s background.
Three days later, Zhao Yuheng returned from his trip.
Meanwhile, Shen Shuyi had spent 48 grueling hours crafting a masterpiece at Shuiwan One — exhausting three pastry chefs — before everyone unanimously voted to just order a custom scenic cake instead.
Originally, he’d planned to bake it himself. But after the chefs tasted his attempt, they tactfully suggested that sincerity mattered more than execution — maybe they should just order one.
Shen Shuyi, aware of his own “culinary skill level,” graciously accepted.
Last time at Sanhe Bay, Zhao Yuheng’s birthday had been simple — too simple. Something felt missing.
After some thought, he realized: they never made a birthday wish.
To Shen Shuyi, birthday wishes were sacred. Every year, they came true.
Two years ago, he wished for a yacht. Got it.
Last year — a manor. Granted.
This year — a helicopter. On the way.
He always said his wishes out loud. Friends told him that made them not work, but he insisted it was the opposite.
If Shen Lu pretended not to hear, he’d badger him nonstop until the man acknowledged it.
Over the years, Shen Shuyi had reached a divine revelation —
Shen Lu might be God.
And therefore— even God revolved around him.
His sense of self-worth was innate.
That afternoon, he prepared to give Zhao Yuheng a surprise.
At 3 PM, half an hour before Zhao Yuheng’s return.
The “home” in question wasn’t the Sanhe Bay villa, but Zhao Yuheng’s rented two-bedroom apartment near his office.
Shen Shuyi had visited once; Zhao Yuheng had given him the door code, saying he could drop by anytime.
At the time, Shen Shuyi had thought, Why live in this shabby place when you have a mansion?
Now, thank goodness he’d kept that snark to himself — since he really was going to that “shabby place.”
Even if they were going to be a “plastic couple,” he still had to keep up appearances.
He thought about how Zhao Yuheng probably never even had a proper birthday cake growing up, and his heart tightened a little.
Maybe, since he’d always had that kind of happiness, he subconsciously wanted to share it.
He parked his Bentley at the Banyan Garden gate and headed up with the cake.
A tall, elegant woman entered the complex at the same time, asking the guard for directions to Building 12 — the same building as Zhao Yuheng’s.
He noticed her only because she was carrying a Kelly bag — same model as one of his own favorites.
Probably not a tenant, just visiting. He didn’t think much of it.
At Zhao Yuheng’s door, he entered the code and stepped in, texting Zhao: “Where are you now?”
He looked around, placed the cake on the table, then worried it might melt and put it in the fridge.
Just as he shut the fridge door, a voice called from the entryway — the same woman from earlier.
“Excuse me, does Zhao Yuheng live here?”
Shen Shuyi froze, turned around. “Who are you?”
The woman smiled — a little unfriendly — and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m his girlfriend.”
She hesitated for a second — noticing Shen Shuyi knew the door code — and added cautiously, “You’re his… friend?”
What a coincidence, Shen Shuyi thought blankly.
I’m his boyfriend.
Author’s Note:
Kitty: Currently angry enough to ignite the entire galaxy, but holding it in to see what’s going on first (expressionless).
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