Chapter 66: Chasing You
In the hallway, Zhao Ci and Chen Fang sat side by side.
Zhao Ci hesitated, wanting to speak: “You…”
“Second Young Master, please don’t ask anything.”
Zhao Ci opened his mouth again: “I…”
“I don’t want to say anything.”
Chen Fang silently covered his face. “Second Young Master, please… give me a bit of personal space. I want to be alone for a while.”
Zhao Ci patted his shoulder, thinking of something. “Assistant Chen, I didn’t expect… ah! My brother really is something. How could he make you work both day and night shifts?”
Inwardly, there was another impolite thought—
My brother’s taste isn’t that great either!
Thinking of Shen Shuyi’s face, Zhao Ci sighed inwardly. “A wife’s beauty is a husband’s glory”—and Shen Shuyi was so beautiful it almost defied logic.
Chen Fang looked like he was about to collapse. “Second Young Master, please stop talking. It’s not what you think.”
“I understand, I understand.” Zhao Ci had the knowing look of someone who had “been there.” “Office romance, huh? Very exciting! I’ve seen tons of short dramas like that—‘The CEO’s Flash Marriage Wife Turns Out to Be His Secretary!’”
Chen Fang grabbed his hair in despair and said weakly, “Second Young Master… have you ever seen a plot where the brother’s wife turns out to be the older brother’s lover?”
“?!”
Zhao Ci was shocked. “There’s such a ridiculous story?! What’s it called? Send it to me—I want to see who the male lead is.”
Chen Fang: “…”
“Or… why don’t you go look in the mirror?”
Zhao Ci: “?”
What kind of riddle talk was that?!
After washing up, Shen Shuyi hesitated at the doorway. “Your brother and your assistant have been whispering for ages. What are they talking about?”
“I don’t know.”
Actually, Zhao Yuheng wasn’t interested. The only thing that interested him was Shen Shuyi. “Hungry? I bought breakfast. There’s no little cake today, but we can make do.”
Shen Shuyi turned his gaze to the table full of food.
Then he suddenly remembered—it was Zhao Yuheng who was the patient. He was just the one keeping watch.
Looking down, he realized he was the one sleeping soundly on the only bed in the ward, while Zhao Yuheng, hooked up to an IV, sat on the hard attendant’s chair.
A faint sense of guilt—barely existing—pricked Shen Shuyi’s heart.
His face felt a little hot. “You… come sleep on the bed.”
“I’m fine sitting.”
Shen Shuyi silently stared at him.
With a sigh, Zhao Yuheng switched places—he sat on the bed, and Shen Shuyi sat on the chair. “Happy now? Let’s eat.”
“Fine.”
Satisfied, Shen Shuyi picked through the pastries, popped a piece of rice cake into his mouth, and said, “What about your brother? Shouldn’t we call him to eat?”
“I didn’t buy his share.” Zhao Yuheng said calmly as he wiped the crumbs from Shen Shuyi’s lips with his thumb.
…Who was he kidding? There was enough food for four people!
But since it wasn’t his money, Shen Shuyi didn’t argue.
After eating a little, he glanced at Zhao Yuheng—he did look better than yesterday. Still wearing yesterday’s clothes, though—no shower, no change of outfit. For Shen Shuyi, that was a disaster.
His eyes flickered as he searched for an excuse to escape.
After all— Given their current “relationship,” staying under the same roof with Zhao Yuheng was a moral landmine.
He straightened up and said politely, “You look much better now, so I’ll head back to the hotel—”
“Does what you said last night still count?”
Zhao Yuheng’s sudden words hit like a bomb.
“What I said last night?”
His memory only lasted seven seconds. He couldn’t recall a thing.
But Zhao Yuheng was happy to remind him—
From the quiet ward came the faint sound of his own tearful voice: “Can’t we just get back together already…”
Shen Shuyi froze like a startled cat—his back arched, his body tensed in full alarm mode.
“What is that!”
“A recording.” Zhao Yuheng said calmly, playing it again. “You promised me—you said you’d get back together.”
Shen Shuyi: “…”
What the hell?!
He thought he was clever last night, hiding his phone just in case. He’d totally forgotten about the recording. Turns out Zhao Yuheng was twice as sneaky!
“Did I really say that?” Shen Shuyi asked suspiciously. “You must’ve misheard.”
Zhao Yuheng replayed it.
“Can’t we just get back together already…”
“Huh. Doesn’t sound like me.”
He replayed it twice.
Shen Shuyi suddenly brightened. “AI-generated, right?”
Replay ×5.
Replay ×10.
Replay ×20.
“Shen Shuyi, must I make this my alarm tone?”
Shen Shuyi, on the verge of collapse: “…”
“AHHHHHHHH! Turn that stupid thing OFF!!!”
God.
Did Zhao Yuheng have no shame hearing his own voice?!
Shen Shuyi always hated hearing his recorded voice—it never sounded like him, just… wrong.
He lunged forward, snatched the phone, and quickly deleted the file.
“Too late. I have backups.”
His hands froze. He looked up, eyes cold.
Zhao Yuheng never yielded when it came to his “benefits.” “You promised me.”
“I didn’t.” Shen Shuyi said firmly. “I forgot!”
“Oh? Did you also forget saying you ‘won’t marry anyone but me’?”
“???” Shen Shuyi exploded. “Nonsense! Fine, say I agreed to get back together—but when did I ever say that?!”
“So you admit you agreed.”
“…”
What a terrifying trap!
He’d been cornered like a cat caught by the scruff.
For a moment, he was speechless—completely trapped.
“Little Zhao.” Shen Shuyi tried reasoning, which for him was rare—usually it meant the cat had lost.
“Why are you so obsessed with getting back together? Isn’t this good enough? You still see me every day.”
“Is just seeing you enough?” Zhao Yuheng looked at him calmly. “Can I kiss you? Sleep with you? Touch you?”
Shen Shuyi: “…”
Two years apart, and Zhao Yuheng’s shamelessness had leveled up!
“If you don’t want to get back together, fine.” Zhao Yuheng added lightly, “Then let me be your lover.”
Shen Shuyi slapped a hand over his mouth. “You—!”
“Now you’re afraid?”
“My god, Zhao Ci is right outside! You’ll say anything, won’t you?!”
“Why not?” Zhao Yuheng’s free hand circled his waist. “Wouldn’t that make it more exciting?”
Exciting your head!
“And even as your lover, I have conditions.” He sat boldly on the bed, pulling Shen Shuyi right into his lap.
Caught off guard, Shen Shuyi grabbed his shoulders, ending up straddling him, face to face.
Bodies pressed tightly together—the upper one soft and slender, the lower one hard with muscle. Shen Shuyi could hear the pounding of Zhao Yuheng’s heart— Loud, alive, undeniable.
Such a strong presence.
“Let go! I’ll bite you!”
“You’d better kill me with one bite, or I won’t.”
Shen Shuyi: “…”
TUT
Help! Someone please help me!
This man didn’t belong in a hospital—he belonged in a mental institution!
Zhao Yuheng ignored him, pressed down on his waist, and Shen Shuyi gasped—a soft sound escaped his lips.
…Wait, that sound was from him?!
Thankfully, Zhao Yuheng didn’t notice—too busy explaining his “lover plan.”
“I won’t just be your lover now. Even after you marry, we won’t end it.”
I want to run away. Can I return this lover, please?
“And on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you’ll come to my place. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I’ll go to yours.”
“Wait.” Shen Shuyi blinked. “That’s… every day.”
“Mm.”
He even sounded proud about it!
“And Sundays, we’ll meet at the company.”
If we’re together all week, when do I go home?!
Shen Shuyi pinched his cheek. “What kind of ‘lover’ arrangement is this? Totally unreasonable!”
“Then get back together with me.” Zhao Yuheng smiled. “No unreasonable terms.”
“…”
Back to square one.
He couldn’t reason with this man. He pushed him away, trying to get up.
Zhao Yuheng held him back. “You haven’t agreed yet.”
“I’m not agreeing!”
“Not today?”
“Not tomorrow either!”
“The day after?”
“…”
“What about next week? The week after? Next month?”
Shen Shuyi: “…”
The look in Zhao Yuheng’s eyes said it all—he knew there was hope.
Finally, Shen Shuyi snapped. “No, no, absolutely not!”
He gave Zhao Yuheng a light smack on the head—not hard, just enough to stop him from leaning in again.
“Then what would make you agree?”
That did it. Shen Shuyi shoved him hard, shouting, “You never even courted me! You think you can just ask for a reunion? Dream on!”
Zhao Yuheng froze.
Shen Shuyi, clearly fired up, went on like a string of firecrackers:
“Two years ago, you didn’t court me either! I’m not saying I’m bitter about it, but it’s unreasonable! Why should I be with you if you never confessed, never pursued me? And anyway, we weren’t even together back then! How can you talk about ‘getting back together’? What, do I look cheap to you?!”
Zhao Yuheng was stunned. So that’s what’s been bothering him…
His throat moved; his voice was hoarse. “No, you don’t.”
His mind turned fast. Grasping the key point, he said slowly, “So… what you’re saying is—if I pursue you, if I confess, we can get back together?”
Shen Shuyi ignored him—but his ears betrayed him, turning bright red.
“That’s your business,” he muttered. “Now let go.”
This time, he finally broke free, darted to the door, and slammed it shut behind him.
Outside, Shen Shuyi’s racing heart began to calm—until Zhao Ci’s voice startled him.
“Did my brother hit you?”
Shen Shuyi nearly jumped out of his skin.
“Why are you still here?!”
“I was waiting for you!” Zhao Ci said earnestly. “I’m not heartless, you know. You’re the fake young master’s fiancé—being alone in a room with my brother can’t be safe! I was worried about your life!”
…Oh.
Still playing the “fake young master” drama, huh.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t pretend.” Zhao Ci patted his shoulder. “Look, your ears are red. Did he pinch them? My brother’s really something—so rough!”
“…Kid, go home and play, will you?”
Shen Shuyi sighed, eager to get back to the hotel to change clothes.
But Zhao Ci stuck to him like glue all the way downstairs, still babbling about the Koenigsegg sports car and how awesome its specs were, and how his brother promised to get him a custom one. His heart was already racing toward the track—ready to show everyone how amazing his “wife” was.
Shen Shuyi said nothing, simply looking at him. From the outside, he looked deeply focused, like he was carefully listening. But anyone who knew him would see it—he was spacing out.
Is this really the person I’m supposed to marry someday?
The Shen and Zhao families had talked about the engagement for years—so much that it felt inevitable, like an exam you couldn’t skip.
No matter the result—you just had to take it.
He’d never really thought about what kind of life that would be.
They’d agreed—after marriage, they’d live separately, not interfere with each other. Only during holidays would they act like a polite couple for the family’s sake.
But… was that really the kind of marriage he wanted?
Probably not.
And if it were Zhao Yuheng instead…?
He’d imagined it before—many nights, two years ago.
He already knew the answer.
Zhao Ci, after chattering forever, realized Shen Shuyi hadn’t heard a word.
“Little Shu! Am I not the man you love most anymore? I talked so long, and you didn’t hear anything!”
“You never were.” Shen Shuyi said bluntly. “You’re not even in my top five.”
Zhao Ci: “???”
He knew it—but hearing it out loud still hurt!
“Zhao Ci.” Shen Shuyi suddenly stopped walking.
“What’s wrong?”
Shen Shuyi touched his nose and said mysteriously, “I once heard that when you’re about to tell someone something big, you should distract them first—so they’re less shocked.”
Zhao Ci blinked. “Really? That’s genius!”
“Mm.”
He nodded, then said sincerely, “Actually, I’ve always thought you look really handsome when you drive.”
Zhao Ci’s eyes lit up like fried eggs—Shen Shuyi had never complimented him before!
“QvQ! Little Shu…”
Then Shen Shuyi said quickly, in a single breath, “Oh right, by the way—your brother, Zhao Yuheng, is actually my ex-boyfriend.”
Zhao Ci: “…………………………???”
Before he could react, Shen Shuyi went on even faster, like ripping off a bandage: “I think he’s about to start chasing me.”
“You don’t like me, right?”
“That’s good. Because if both of you chased me—”
He touched his nose. “—I don’t think your odds are very high.”
“I’d choose him.”
Author’s Note:
Our little cat used open tactics!
No angst, no melodrama!!
(And no worries—Zhao Ci doesn’t like Little Shu ??)
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