Chapter 69: Family Banquet
Shen Shuyi stood leisurely in the bathroom, applying concealer to his neck.
Zhao Yuheng was just like a dog—how could a simple kiss leave such a heavy mark?
He had also been blinded by desire; before even letting the other person have their way, he had already taken advantage!
He picked up his phone and angrily typed in WeChat:
[I hate you!]
Half a meter behind him, Zhao Yuheng’s phone rang.
“Shen Shuyi, you can just talk to me directly.”
[I don’t want to talk to you right now ^ ^]
Zhao Yuheng stepped closer. Shen Shuyi braced himself like facing a formidable enemy. “What are you doing?”
“What’s this you’re using?” Zhao Yuheng asked, unabashed.
Shen Shuyi had intended to call it a nude lipstick, but seeing that he had applied it incorrectly, Zhao Yuheng asked cautiously.
“Concealer?”
“Mm,” Zhao Yuheng said. “Can I use it?”
“What are you going to use this for?”
Zhao Yuheng sighed. “You just slapped me. I still have a mark on my face. Am I supposed to go to Zhao Qing’s birthday banquet like this?”
Shen Shuyi turned his head and noticed the red mark on Zhao Yuheng’s face.
It wasn’t entirely his fault—Chen Fang had come so suddenly, and Shen Shuyi’s unflappable nature had caused him to push a bit too hard in the moment, creating the illusion of a slap.
Shen Shuyi stared at him.
He had just slapped such a handsome face; honestly, he felt a bit sorry now.
“Why didn’t you dodge just now?” Shen Shuyi asked, a little annoyed.
Who allowed Zhao Yuheng’s face to be slapped? Even if he did it, it wasn’t okay!
“I didn’t have time,” Zhao Yuheng said. “A cat’s reaction is seven times faster than a human’s.”
What the heck?
Shen Shuyi put down the concealer and hesitated. “Does it still hurt?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Shen Shuyi looked at the red mark on his face, then asked, “Do you think I have a bad temper?”
Zhao Yuheng was surprised. “No. Why are you asking all of a sudden?”
Hong Kong media had long reported that Shen Shuyi had a bad temper, but Zhao Yuheng thought the reports were probably fake.
He didn’t think Shen Shuyi had a bad temper—just that he was cute when being willful, harmlessly so.
“Hmm…” Shen Shuyi twisted the cap of the concealer, then turned to him. “You’re pursuing me, right? That means you must like me—my looks, my personality, etc. But I accidentally slapped you just now. Maybe that would ruin the image of me in your mind, making you think, ‘What? My taste isn’t that good! Shen Shuyi is nothing like the ideal person I imagined,’ or something like that…”
Zhao Yuheng listened and couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
But Shen Shuyi’s serious look was just too cute, and he couldn’t bring himself to interrupt.
“In fact, thinking like that is wrong. To pursue Shen Shuyi, you must accept all of me,” Shen Shuyi slyly defended himself. “Besides, I didn’t do it on purpose; I just pushed too hard, creating the illusion of a slap.”
“Hmm… and since you’re pursuing me, your position in our relationship is relatively low. So even if Shen Shuyi did something wrong, you should unconditionally forgive me this once. I’m telling you this not because I’m afraid you’ll stop pursuing me or change your mind… In short, you also kissed Shen Shuyi without permission, so now we’re even!”
Referee Shen Shuyi is fair and just.
“Even?”
“Yes.” Shen Shuyi looked slightly guilty and explained: “From now on, we need to follow the rules while pursuing Shen Shuyi, step by step. Only then can you succeed in pursuing me, got it?”
Zhao Yuheng almost went crazy from his cuteness, laughing: “Isn’t there a shortcut to get me to pursue you faster?”
“No!” Shen Shuyi pushed him awkwardly. “Don’t get closer!”
“Okay.” Zhao Yuheng said regretfully. “Then is there a progress bar? I want to see when I can kiss Shen Shuyi, or, you know…”
Shen Shuyi blushed furiously.
Damn!
He was seriously giving Zhao Yuheng a lesson on proper pursuit techniques! If he wasn’t careful, Zhao Yuheng might fail.
And now he dared make a dirty joke.
Shen Shuyi’s face darkened instantly. “Get away from me!”
Because of this, Shen Shuyi ignored him all afternoon.
Of course, Zhao Yuheng was also busy from afternoon to evening. As a responsible young master, Zhao Qing had started grooming him to maximize his potential from the day he returned.
Zhao Yuheng was smart, and no matter why he worked hard, Zhao Qing was satisfied. This birthday banquet was also meant to help him connect with influential people.
In contrast—
Zhao Ci eagerly brought two cakes from the dessert area: “Little Shu, I’ve tasted them for you. This blueberry one is sweeter; this strawberry one is more sour…”
Shen Shuyi: “…”
Shen Shuyi looked at him angrily: “You disappeared for half a day just to do this?”
“What else?” Zhao Ci said. “It’s important! We’re going to eat all night!”
Shen Shuyi facepalmed.
He was already a rare laid-back rich second-generation heir, but Shen Lu still forced him to work at the company.
And Zhao Ci was even lazier than him!
“Can you be more ambitious?” Shen Shuyi snatched a bite of blueberry cake.
What else could he do? It was kindly offered; he couldn’t refuse it.
“Look at you, look at you!” Shen Shuyi said angrily. “How did I end up with such a useless brat!”
Shen Shuyi finally understood Shen Lu’s usual resentment toward him.
“You’re not married yet!” Zhao Ci suddenly had an idea. “I have a better plan: you marry my brother, then use his money to support me. Not too much, eighty-twenty split, how about it? I’m okay with living off my brother-in-law…”
Shen Shuyi punched him twice.
Zhao Ci’s face twisted.
Zhao Qing looked on, genuinely pleased at their playful interaction: “Little Ci and Little Shu get along so well; young people can relate to each other.”
Zhao Yuheng didn’t reply, secretly smirking.
Zhao Qing said, “I’m not in a rush for Little Ci’s marriage. But your marriage, I don’t know how to arrange yet. At the recent banquets, all the famous young ladies of Yunjiang attended. Any of them you like?”
“Even small, humble families are fine if you like them,” he continued.
Zhao Qing felt guilty toward Zhao Yuheng, so he didn’t want to control his marriage.
After all, Zhao Ci already had Shen Shuyi, and Yinghua’s position in Hong Kong was unshakable, even compared to many top companies inland.
With such a good match, the Zhao family’s rise was guaranteed.
“My relationship with Little Shu is pretty good too,” Zhao Yuheng said calmly.
Zhao Qing paused.
…Does this matter? Is he comparing with Little Ci? Is he blaming me for not finding him a partner all these years? Zhao Qing wondered uncertainly.
Zhao Yuheng said lightly: “Little Ci, come here.”
Hearing this, Zhao Ci quickly escaped from Shen Shuyi’s grasp.
Brother! It has to be you! QvQ!
Shen Shuyi glanced at Zhao Yuheng and followed.
Zhao Qing snapped back to reality: “Why weren’t you here earlier? Didn’t you follow your brother to learn about these resources, and instead went somewhere slacking off?”
Zhao Ci never cared about the Zhao family’s fortune; a few million pocket money from Zhao Qing was enough. He didn’t want to manage such a big conglomerate!
“I wasn’t slacking. I was getting cake for Little Shu!”
He hoped his father would realize that pleasing Shen Shuyi was Zhao Ci’s most important mission.
By pleasing Shen Shuyi, he could please Zhao Yuheng, and pleasing Zhao Yuheng got him pocket money.
Zhao Ci’s ambition shifted from defeating the true young master to becoming the true young master’s son.
Dad, now it’s your war with Zhao Yuheng… Zhao Ci thought.
Zhao Qing didn’t blame him: “From now on, the Zhao family responsibilities fall on you two brothers. A-Heng, teach your brother to grow up faster.”
“Mm,” Zhao Yuheng agreed.
Zhao Qing nodded satisfactorily. Soon, an old friend arrived, and Zhao Qing left cheerfully.
Zhao Ci tried to sneak off, but Zhao Yuheng said, “Where are you going? I have something to teach you.”
Zhao Ci: “?”
Wait… you’re actually going to teach me?
“Brother, I’m not good at studying, you know.” Zhao Ci tried to appeal sincerely.
Zhao Yuheng gave him a calm look, no killing intent, but Zhao Ci immediately stood at attention: “Whatever you say, I’ll learn!”
Zhao Yuheng said slowly: “After the banquet ends, there’s a family meal. You’ll sit with Shen Shuyi, right?”
Zhao Ci nodded.
“Good,” Zhao Yuheng said. “Then remember what I tell you next.”
Remember what?
Zhao Ci became alert. Family meal, wealthy household, treacherous waters… Is it what to say and what not to say?
Say wrong, and it’s beheaded?!
“Shen Shuyi doesn’t eat onions.”
Zhao Ci: “Oh!”
Zhao Ci: “Eh?”
Zhao Yuheng calmly listed: “No cilantro, won’t eat mushrooms or celery, doesn’t eat raw tomatoes, must eat seedless apples cut into pieces—not with skin—doesn’t eat rice except jasmine rice, no pasta, noodles can’t be too soft, width must be about 1.5 mm, milk must be 27°C room temperature, no carbonated drinks at the table. If there’s pizza, keep it away—he thinks it’s vomit. No triangle cookies, no raisins in bread, no animal innards, allergic to mango and peanut butter.”
After finishing, Zhao Yuheng asked: “Remember?”
“Brother, did you just recite a sutra?” Zhao Ci’s mind went blank, hands clasped: “I think I’ve been saved… Where am I, the Western Paradise?”
“…”
Zhao Yuheng smiled faintly. “Do you think I’m joking?”
“QvQ!”
“Brother! This is too hard! How did you remember all this when you were dating Shen Shuyi?”
“What’s hard about it,” Zhao Yuheng said coldly. “Remembering what Shen Shuyi doesn’t like isn’t hard.”
Click! Some memory was triggered in Zhao Ci’s brain!
The familiar phrasing and tone reminded him of two years ago, when Shen Shuyi had a fever in America, and Shen Lu arrived in Los Angeles by private jet and said with commanding presence: “Is it hard to stay with Shen Shuyi twenty-four hours?”
…
So Shen Lu’s words weren’t without reason.
There really is someone who can revolve around Shen Shuyi twenty hours a day!
A god, brother.
Zhao Ci looked at Zhao Yuheng with admiration.
No wonder only you could pursue Shen Shuyi. With such persistence and patience, you can succeed at anything!
But Zhao Ci still couldn’t remember. 🙂
“Then say what Xiao Shu can eat.” Zhao Ci weakly suggested. “At the table, I’ll follow your cues. You tell me to pick food, I won’t serve soup. You tell me to remove fish bones, I won’t pick chicken bones!”
Zhao Yuheng gave him a doubtful glance. Zhao Ci patted his chest: “Trust me, brother!”
Twenty minutes later, Zhao Ci sat at the table, diligently picking fish bones.
Damn it.
What kind of fish did the chef make today? Why are there so many bones?!
After the banquet hall’s first part ended, it was finally time for the birthday banquet’s main meal.
Zhao Qing disliked crowds; after sending guests off, only direct family remained.
Shen Shuyi scanned the table. Apart from Zhao Ci’s aunt Zhao Yue, known from America, and a few unfamiliar uncles, on Zhao Qing’s right sat a beautiful woman, likely his current wife, the one who raised Zhao Ci.
Technically… his mother-in-law?
Shen Shuyi was always well-behaved around elders, betraying none of his rebellious heart.
Zhao Ci was still struggling with the fish on his plate, unaware that all the elders were quietly observing him and Zhao Yuheng.
One is the true young master, the other the fake. Zhao Qing, being old and slightly confused, believed they could get along.
The other uncles awaited their inevitable clash, ready to profit.
Zhao Ci’s second uncle had lost the inheritance battle against Zhao Qing years ago and had been “exiled” to Australia to manage a branch.
Now, Zhao Qing recalled him for his birthday.
Second Uncle had a greasy, sly look, ready to stir trouble between Zhao Yuheng and Zhao Ci.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Yuheng personally served Zhao Ci a piece of tender fish.
Everyone at the table straightened up.
“Little Ci, eat.” Zhao Yuheng said calmly.
I… eat?
Shocked, Zhao Ci looked at Zhao Yuheng. Was he hallucinating from food poisoning, or had his brother taken the wrong medicine?
Seeing Zhao Yuheng’s calm yet threatening smile, Zhao Ci imagined the full sentence: “Little Ci, eat—or die.”
Bitter smile.jpg
“Thanks, brother…” Zhao Ci took it, then immediately handed his fish to Shen Shuyi: “Little Shu, you eat.”
Shen Shuyi: ?
“Isn’t this your brother picking it for you?” Shen Shuyi whispered.
“Oh, I’m not hungry! Eat, Little Shu, or my brother will kill me!!” Zhao Ci whispered.
Shen Shuyi: …?
After half an hour of dawdling, Shen Shuyi finally ate his first piece of fish.
“Phew…” Zhao Ci exhaled.
He didn’t expect Shen Shuyi to be as picky as Zhao Yuheng had said!
Without supervision, he could have gone an entire meal pretending to eat, without touching a thing.
Zhao Ci quietly asked, “What else do you want?”
Shen Shuyi casually said, “Sweet and sour ribs.”
“Brother, I want sweet and sour ribs!” Zhao Ci called out.
Zhao Yuheng calmly removed the bones and handed them to Zhao Ci.
Zhao Ci quickly picked some for Shen Shuyi from his own plate.
“Brother, braised prawns…”
“Brother, Beijing-style shredded pork, but no fat…”
“Brother, hurry, give me a Peking duck wrap, no scallions, no garlic, no sugar, add hawthorn strips!!”
Thus, the table followed this flow:
Zhao Yuheng serves ? bones removed, peeled, etc. ? Zhao Ci’s plate ? Shen Shuyi’s plate.
All three found nothing strange.
Shen Shuyi never thought being served at meals was odd.
He bit into a duck wrap—worse than expected.
TUT.
Who allowed it to look tasty?
He threw it back into Zhao Yuheng’s bowl. Zhao Yuheng naturally picked it up and finished it in two bites.
Zhao Ci: “…”
The whole family: “…”
This… isn’t normal, right?!
Zhao Ci collapsed, warning: “Little Shu… you put it in the wrong bowl!!”
