Chapter 63: Entangled
Shen Shuyi returned to the hotel and enjoyed a long, comfortable shower.
After changing into his pajamas, his WeChat suddenly buzzed. When he opened it, it was a friend request—from Zhao Yuheng.
There were two messages. Shen Shuyi stared at them for a moment and didn’t accept.
He set the phone aside, but another message came through:
[Can I add you as a friend, baby?]
He ignored it.
[Can I add you as a friend, baby?]
[Can I add you as a friend, baby?]
[Can I add you as a friend, baby?]
[Can I add you as a friend, baby?]
[Can I add you as a friend, baby?]
… x20
…Was he haunted by a male ghost?!
Shen Shuyi couldn’t pretend to ignore it any longer. He picked up his phone and replied directly on the friend request page.
[No. Where did you even get my WeChat ID from :)]
Zhao Yuheng replied almost instantly:
[I memorized it backwards and forwards.]
Shen Shuyi: …
Out of all the things to memorize, he remembered that?
[I also remember your waist size—and there.]
?
No! Not that!!
That’s sexual harassment, you pervert ^ ^
Two years ago, when they broke up, Shen Shuyi had deleted Zhao Yuheng the same night he flew to the U.S., afraid that if he didn’t, he’d never be able to move on. Worried Zhao Yuheng might add him back, he hesitated for a long time before blocking him entirely.
About a month later, Shen Shuyi quietly removed the block, thinking Zhao Yuheng had probably calmed down by now. After all, no matter how passionate a couple once was, a month apart should’ve been enough to let go.
But the moment he unblocked Zhao Yuheng, within seconds, a new friend request came in.
Shen Shuyi was so startled he immediately blocked him again.
Later he realized—Zhao Yuheng must’ve been trying to add him every day, waiting for that one moment of weakness.
After that, Shen Shuyi swore to never unblock him again.
When he returned to the hotel tonight, the memory resurfaced. Since they were on speaking terms again, there was no reason to keep him blocked.
Before his bath, Shen Shuyi had guessed Zhao Yuheng might try adding him again— but he didn’t expect it to be this fast.
If Zhao Yuheng hadn’t said those stupid “will you marry me” things earlier, Shen Shuyi might’ve graciously accepted the request. But Zhao Yuheng had offended him!
So—ignore.
Yet he couldn’t resist replying again:
[How do you even know that size? Maybe I’ve grown in the last two years!]
[Judging by sight, unlikely.]
[?]
[(Smiling bean emoji) Where exactly are you staring at?]
[Hard not to notice.]
[I will never add you as a friend again.]
[Sorry.]
[Can I add you as a friend, baby? I won’t message you randomly.]
Trust level: zero.
Shen SHuyi wasn’t falling for that again. He had no reason to add Zhao Yuheng at all.
So he decisively blocked him once more. Finally, peace.
After a full day out, Shen Shuyi was exhausted.
Still, before bed, he scrolled through SA’s latest haute couture releases, picking out what he wanted to buy.
He hadn’t brought enough clothes from Hong Kong—none showed off how gorgeous he really was. Some were even last spring’s trends. How tacky!
He placed orders for a dozen new outfits before finally putting his phone down.
Closing his eyes, he told himself— he was buying them because he needed clothes, not because he’d be seeing Zhao Yuheng again.
Yes, that’s right.
Shen Shuyi lay flat on the big hotel bed, wearing a sleep mask, looking perfectly serene.
Go to sleep, Shen Shuyi.
A second later, he suddenly rolled over, hugged the blanket, buried his face in it, and laughed. “Hehehe.”
So happy.
—
He went to bed early, so he woke early. By eight, he was wide awake, scrolling on his phone.
The first thing he saw on WeChat—someone had @-ed him.
[@Shuyi Awake?]
Who was that?
Still half-asleep, Shen Shuyi saw it came from a random group chat with no name—just four people.
He didn’t recognize the sender, but when he checked the members list, Zhao Ci was in it.
The other two were “???? (Virtue Bears All Things)” and the one who had @-ed him.
[?]
He clicked on that person’s profile. Their background photo was… a selfie of him—from two years ago.
His sleepy brain instantly cleared.
Zhao. Yuheng.
Was this guy insane?!
He couldn’t add him as a friend, so he made a group chat?!
If “Pretending to Be Depressed and Cyberbullied” was Zhao Ci, then “Virtue Bears All Things” must be… Zhao Senior.
Shen Shuyi wanted to quit the group, but Zhao Senior had already spoken:
[Is this a family group that Ah-Heng made?]
[Mm.]
[Just came back to the country—want to get closer with Dad and my brother.]
[(Hug)]
Shen Shuyi stared at the text in disbelief. Zhao Yuheng said that?!
Leave group—immediately!
But another person was added.
[This is your aunt.]
[@- It’s good that you’re willing to reconnect. It was your father’s fault before. Nothing’s more important than family blood (hug).]
Helen (Aunt): [(Rose)]
Then—
[This is your mother.]
[This is your uncle.]
[This is your third aunt.]
…
The group grew from 4 to 10 people.
Finally, “Virtue Bears All Things” renamed the group: “A Loving Family.”
[@Shuyi This is Little Shu, everyone, get to know him.]
Shen Shuyi: …
AAAAAAHHHH!!!
How was he supposed to leave now?!
Forced to make an appearance, Shen Shuyi typed:
[(cat-being-patted.jpg) Hello uncles, aunts. I’m Little Shu.]
[@Shuyi Awake?]
Shen Shuyi: …
Can I just play dead? Why ask again?!
Zhao Ci also chimed in— Given his cursed sleep schedule, he clearly hadn’t slept all night after getting his Koenigsegg.
[@Shuyi @Shuyi @Shuyi @Shuyi Little Shu, didn’t you see?! My brother’s calling you! Little Shu! Little Shu! @Shuyi @Shuyi @Shuyi O.O?]
One luxury car, and Zhao Ci was completely bought. He was no longer on Shen Shuyi’s team.
[When did Ah-Heng get so close with Little Shu?]
Red alert!
Shen Shuyi instantly unblocked Zhao Yuheng—and sure enough, a new friend request came in immediately.
Having witnessed his persistence firsthand, Shen didn’t dare ignore it this time.
He accepted— and a voice call came through the next second.
From the Bentley’s driver’s seat, Zhao Yuheng leaned back calmly, phone placed at a distance.
“Delete those messages in the group!!”
Shen Shuyi’s voice came through, almost hysterical.
“It’s been more than two minutes—can’t delete anymore.”
“Are you crazy?! You made a whole group just to @ me! What the hell are you trying to do?!”
“Adding you as a friend—that’s step one.” Zhao Yuheng’s tone was calm, patient, almost gentle. “Having breakfast with you—that’s step two.”
He was so honest about it that Shen Shuyi was momentarily disarmed.
What kind of man was this?!
“Well congratulations—you added me! Happy now?! I’ll never forgive you, you cold, heartless devil.” Shen Shuyi’s voice trembled. “I hate you!”
He added, “And that’s in response to your first line. As for breakfast, I’m too angry to eat! …But fine, where were you planning to eat anyway?”
“I made it myself. Brought it for you.”
Zhao Yuheng sighed quietly, suppressing the urge to bite him—he was just too adorable.
Shen Shuyi hesitated.
Two years apart, and he might’ve forgotten Zhao Yuheng—but he hadn’t forgotten Zhao Yuheng’s divine cooking.
It was that good—he could drop dead mid-bite and still die happy.
His appetite was instantly triggered.
Still, he didn’t want to seem eager.
“What did you bring?”
“A lot. And small cakes.”
“…”
“Where are you now?”
“Hotel lobby,” Zhao Yuheng said. “Can I come up?”
“Is the cake there?”
“Yes.”
“Then the cake can come up.”
“Can I come too?”
“…”
“Shen Shuyi?”
“Ask again and you’re not coming in!”
Zhao Yuheng chuckled. “Okay.”
—
When Zhao Yuheng entered, Shen Shuyi was already perfectly dressed.
He hadn’t curled his hair today—soft, silky strands framed his face, the tips gently flipped outwards. He wore a deep-V satin blouse with ruffled cuffs, a tan plaid vest, matching shorts, and ankle boots.
A white ribbon was tied neatly around his pale neck, falling softly to his waist.
He sat lazily on the sofa, elegant and composed.
The outfit—a mix of British charm and soft sophistication—was stunning on him.
Zhao Yuheng’s eyes lingered briefly on the smooth skin at his chest; his Adam’s apple moved twice.
“Where’s the cake?” Shen Shuyi asked directly.
Zhao Yuheng placed the food box on the island counter. Feigning nonchalance, Shen Shuyi watched as he unpacked one item after another— cake, sugar pancakes, tofu pudding, sticky rice rolls, baked buns, cream fritters, custard buns…
With each item, Shen Shuyi scooted a little closer.
By the time everything was laid out, he was sitting eagerly at the counter.
“You bought so much?” Shen Shuyi frowned. “That’s enough for four people!”
“Didn’t want you to go hungry.”
“I’m not a pig! How could I eat all that?”
Yet his hand had already reached for the cake.
One bite—Damn it. Still as good as ever =w=.
Shen Shuyi was happy.
Zhao Yuheng hadn’t bought too much—he just knew Shen Shuyi would want to taste everything.
Sure enough, after a few bites of cake, Shen Shuyi began sampling everything else— each sweet, one bite; each savory, ignored.
Ten minutes later, he was full and off to rinse his mouth.
On the table, half-eaten pastries— everything delicious had one bite taken, the ugly ones untouched.
Zhao Yuheng calmly finished the leftovers and packed the rest neatly.
He sent a message to Zhao Ci:
[Got you breakfast. Chen Fang will drop it off.]
[QAQ!!! Brother!!! You’re the best!!! Better than my real brother!!! QAQ]
[Mm.]
No guilt whatsoever. Leftovers had to go somewhere, right?
After breakfast, Zhao Yuheng didn’t leave. He even checked into the hotel.
Half an hour later, Shen Shuyi finally noticed.
“Why are you still here?”
“Oh. I’m free today. I can stay with you.”
Shen Shuyi: …?
Excuse me, who asked you to stay?
Was he hallucinating? Since when were they in a “hang out in hotel rooms” relationship?
“I don’t need company.”
“I know,” Zhao Yuheng said evenly. “But I do.”
Even Shen couldn’t miss the change in tone.
Everything from last night suddenly made sense— the apartment, the diamond ring, the ride to the hotel, the breakfast… and now this clinginess.
No, it wasn’t his imagination.
“You… you’re not trying to—reconcile, are you?”
Silence.
Then Zhao Yuheng raised his eyes. “Yes.”
He said calmly, “Why? Is that strange? That I want to get back together?”
…
What the—
He just admitted it. Openly.
It shocked Shen Shuyi—but it was so him.
Actually… it made sense. Who wouldn’t want him back?
But still—
“No way,” Shen Shuyi stammered. “You—you know what our situation is.”
“What situation?” Zhao Yuheng asked mildly. “We’re not in any relationship. If you agree to reconcile, then we’ll be lovers again.”
“Don’t play dumb. Zhao Ci is your brother—and my fiancé! You think it’s appropriate to say that?”
Shen Shuyi tried appealing to his conscience. Unfortunately, conscience and morality are things one must possess to be awakened. Zhao Yuheng had neither.
“What’s inappropriate?” Zhao Yuheng asked slowly. “Have you two gotten engaged?”
Shen Shuyi faltered. “…No.”
“Dating?”
“…Not really.”
“Public announcement? Media coverage?”
“…”
“So it’s just a verbal arrangement?” Zhao Yuheng concluded calmly. “If that’s the case, your true fiancé should be me, shouldn’t it?”
“So I just want to resume what we started—fulfill our engagement. What’s wrong with that?”
…
So bold.
Shen Shuyi’s eyes turned into spirals. Was he… actually being convinced by this twisted logic?!
“No!”
He shook his head furiously.
“Why not?” Zhao Yuheng asked patiently.
“Just—no!”
What a joke!
Even if they did get back together, you don’t win someone over with breakfast and sweet talk. No bag, no car, no diamond, no luxury watch—no sincere pursuit!
Did he think Shen Shuyi was cheap?!
He was expensive, thank you very much ^ ^
Zhao Yuheng, however, misunderstood.
“That’s fine,” he said. “If we can’t reconcile, I can start as the third party.”
GET. OUT.
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