Chapter 78: The Goddess of Fortune
Housekeeper Chen led Shen Lu all the way to the room where Shen Shuyi was staying.
Shen Lu took a glance around — the layout was surprisingly similar to the one at Shuiwan One: a suite with three bedrooms, one living room, a dressing room, and a balcony.
The designer behind this was obvious without needing to say.
Once Old Chen had brought him there, he tactfully withdrew.
The atmosphere along the way had been subtle — he could tell that the two Shen brothers had something to talk about privately.
With a soft click, the door closed.
Standing before the living room sofa, Shen Lu unfastened his wristwatch and asked, “Where are you going?”
At that very moment, Shen Shuyi — who was trying his best to reduce his presence to zero — had almost reached the bedroom door handle. He was this close to success—
Until the invisible hand of fate grabbed him by the scruff of his neck like a cat.
Shen Shuyi straightened up, pretending nothing happened, and yawned. “So sleepy. I’m going to bed, brother.”
Shen Lu glanced at his watch. “It’s only eight o’clock. You’re sleeping now?”
“I’m adjusting to jet lag,” Shen Shuyi said solemnly.
“There’s a time difference between Hong Kong and Beijing?” Shen Lu let out a cold laugh. “If your tutor were here right now, he’d beat you before I even raised a hand.”
“……”
“Can’t you come up with a better excuse?” Shen Lu sat down on the coffee table. “Then tell me — what exactly are you and that Zhao brat up to?”
Oh no — not even calling him by name anymore.
Zhao Yuheng, you’ve lost your true name!
At this point, Shen Shuyi knew his brother was actually angry.
He rushed over, pouring tea and massaging his brother’s shoulders, trying every flattering trick he knew. “Didn’t you hear what Uncle Zhao said earlier? What else do you want me to say? I was shocked too! Who could’ve guessed that Zhao Yuheng was actually the long-lost Zhao family heir? It’s terrifying!”
Really? Shen Lu’s expression said. You sound thrilled, not terrified.
“That’s what Old Zhao said. I want to hear what you think.”
When in private, Shen Lu no longer called Zhao Qing “Uncle Zhao.”
Hearing that, Shen Shuyi obediently squatted in front of him, hands resting on Shen Lu’s knees.
“Brother, I want to be with Zhao Yuheng.”
…
He knew it! He knew this little cabbage had been eaten!
“You think Zhao Yuheng is some kind of yacht or diamond you can just buy because you want him?” Shen Lu sipped his tea. “He’s the eldest young master of the Zhao family now. I can’t exactly buy him for you.”
Shen Shuyi pouted, trying to summon a few tears for effect.
“Changing a fiancé isn’t a small matter.” Shen Lu looked down at him. “Since you’ve already gotten this close to that Zhao kid, I assume you’ve thought of a way to fix it?”
Shen Shuyi blinked.
The room fell into a dead silence.
Still silence…
And more silence.
Until Shen Lu suddenly realized something, staring in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you want me to go talk to Zhao Qing and ask him to change your fiancé?”
Shen Shuyi nodded sweetly, eyes full of hope, hands clasped together. “Mhm! Please, brother, please~”
Shen Lu: “……”
You brat ^-^
I’m your brother, not an automatic wish-granting machine ^-^
—
Shen Shuyi was the type who wouldn’t give up until he reached the Yellow River.
After being pestered endlessly on the sofa, Shen Lu finally tore the clingy boy off his leg.
Was this kid made of super glue? How could he stick to him so tightly?!
In the end, Shen Lu had no choice but to sigh and agree that he would consider it — find a suitable time to discuss the engagement with Zhao Qing.
He’d raised this troublemaker himself — what else could he do but clean up after him?
“Yay!” Shen Shuyi grabbed his brother’s face and smothered it with kisses.
“Muah muah muah! Long live brother! Long live brother! Long live brother!”
Wiping the slobber off his face, Shen Lu sighed. “How old are you now? Still acting this childish.”
“Awhooo~!” Shen Shuyi jumped off the sofa, raising both arms in victory. The movement lifted his shirt, revealing a pale sliver of his belly.
“Put your clothes on properly!” Shen Lu scolded. “It’s winter in Beijing — why are you dressed like that?!”
“Got it, got it! You’re such a country bumpkin, brother. All houses here have central heating!”
“……”
“And shoes! Put them on! Running around barefoot — what kind of look is that?!”
“Okay~!”
What came next was a loud slam of the bedroom door.
Then, a few seconds later, a small click — the door was locked from the inside.
Shen Lu: “……”
He pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh.
This brat — he was clearly afraid Shen Lu didn’t know Zhao Yuheng was coming tonight.
—
Shen Shuyi hadn’t seen how Zhao Yuheng climbed up the first time, so tonight, he stood watch at the balcony.
After observing, he realized that outside his room’s balcony was a small first-floor garden with a glass roof.
Beside it grew a tall tree — an easy climbing route to the second floor.
The Zhao family’s security probably noticed this weak point but figured nobody would be crazy enough to scale the wall in the middle of the night.
Which was exactly why Zhao Yuheng could exploit it.
The agreed time was ten o’clock. Zhao Yuheng arrived by nine-thirty.
If Shen Shuyi hadn’t leaned over to look, the man might’ve waited half an hour in the snow.
It had even snowed heavily that afternoon!
“Why are you here so early?” Shen Shuyi whispered from the balcony, glancing nervously at the bedroom door.
“For something like this…” Zhao Yuheng said calmly, “who wouldn’t be impatient?”
Something like this?
What something?!
Was he still stuck in that secret-affair fantasy of his?!
To be fair… the current scene really did feel like one.
Shen Shuyi’s heart actually started racing.
Zhao Yuheng took a step closer. The second-floor height wasn’t that great, and Shen Shuyi suddenly had a bold idea. “Wait — what if I come down instead?”
“It’s freezing,” Zhao Yuheng said.
“I know,” Shen Shuyi replied mysteriously. “That’s why it’s exciting.”
Truthfully, he just thought sneaking out at night felt rebellious and new.
His youth had been filled with elite education — skiing, vacations, polished manners. Life had been predictable, even boring.
This sneaky balcony rendezvous felt thrilling — like something straight out of a novel.
“You sure?” Zhao Yuheng frowned. “You could get hurt.”
“I’m sure, I’m sure! Trust me. Stand there — yeah, right there — and catch me when I jump!”
Following his confident instructions, Zhao moved and cleared away flower pots and sharp stones.
Then, light as a cat, Shen Shuyi hopped down into his arms — a gust of warm, fragrant air surrounding them both.
“So cold!”
The moment he landed, he shivered violently.
“If it’s too cold, maybe we should go back?” Zhao Yuheng offered.
Shen Shuyi gave him a ‘are you stupid?’ look. “Then what was the point of all that effort? For the aesthetic?”
Zhao Yuheng laughed softly, took off his coat, and wrapped it around him.
Bundled in thick pajamas and a heavy coat, Shen Shuyi could barely move, but he was too excited to care. “So, what now? Where are we going?”
Zhao Yuheng hesitated — he hadn’t actually planned this far. Originally, he just wanted to sneak a glance at him and leave.
“You… didn’t plan anything?”
“I was only going to look at you,” Zhao Yuheng admitted with a chuckle. “Now that you’re out here… there’s nowhere to go.”
The snowy mountains were silent except for the faint, distant howls of wolves.
“Yeah, scratch the woods off the list,” Shen Shuyi muttered.
“What about the villa? The greenhouse?”
They both glanced that way — every room was brightly lit. It was only 9:50.
Who would be stupid enough to sneak out this early?
Realizing they’d rushed out with nowhere to go, standing here getting snowed on — the heir of Yinghua Group and the Zhao family’s eldest son — two elite young masters doing something so ridiculous…
“Pfft.” Shen Shuyi couldn’t help laughing.
That laugh — bright and brilliant — felt like it could melt the snow around them.
“What’s so funny?” Zhao Yuheng asked helplessly.
The more Shen Shuyi laughed, the softer he became, until his body went limp. Zhao Yuheng quickly caught him, holding him close while he giggled into his chest.
“We’re such idiots…”
“Perfect match, then,” Zhao Yuheng replied. “Neither of us can mock the other’s IQ.”
Once Shen Shuyi stopped laughing, Zhao Yuheng asked quietly, “Did your brother do anything to you?”
“What could he do?” Shen Shuyi said lightly, trying to shrug off his coat, only for Zhao Yuheng to tighten it again.
“Did he agree to let you be with me?”
“Why do I need his permission? He’s not the one marrying you.” Shen Shuyi plucked a snowflake from his sleeve. “Besides, what if he doesn’t agree? I told him I’d be with you anyway—”
He suddenly stopped.
“Why’d you stop? I was waiting for that ending,” Zhao Yuheng teased.
“Hmph, you just want me to say nice things. Not happening.”
Then, his eyes lit up with mischief. He poked Zhao Yuheng’s cheek. “Did you forget to say something to me?”
Zhao Yuheng looked down at him, eyes filled with affection. Then he leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips.
“Hey! No kissing!” Shen Shuyi grabbed his face and pulled it back — though even stretched, Zhao Yuheng’s face still looked annoyingly handsome, almost cute.
“I don’t remember forgetting anything. Maybe if I kiss you again, I’ll remember.”
“I don’t believe that!” Shen Shuyi muttered. “Wait, seriously — did you forget?”
“Shen Shuyi.”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t forget.” Zhao Yuheng’s voice softened. “I like you.”
Shen Shuyi froze. Zhao Yuheng brushed a kiss at the corner of his eye.
“I love you.”
“I’ll always love you — whether or not you love me back.”
Under the quiet snowfall, in the deep of night — his lover’s confession.
Even years later, Shen Shuyi would still remember that moment.
His mind went completely blank.
He’d always known Zhao Yuheng was the quiet, reserved type — sometimes serious to the point of stiffness.
They’d been tangled up for more than two years, and not once had he heard a proper “I like you” from the man. He’d even prepared himself for more silence when Zhao Yuheng pretended to forget earlier.
He didn’t need the words — Zhao Yuheng’s actions had already said it countless times.
But hearing them aloud — his heart wavered.
All his casual “haha, no need for cheesy confessions, who cares about rituals these days” bravado shattered instantly.
He wanted to hear it. So badly.
T_T
He stood there frozen for several seconds before stammering, “That… that was a confession, right?”
“Yes.”
“Or,” Zhao Yuheng added with a faint smile, “something else, if you prefer.”
“Something… else?”
“Shen Shuyi,” Zhao Yuheng said quietly. “I’ve thought about it. No matter who you marry — as long as it isn’t me — I’ll haunt you for life.”
Shen Shuyi, who had been floating in romantic bliss, froze.
Zhao Yuheng’s arms tightened, clinging like a deep-sea creature with poisonous tentacles, wrapping around every inch of exposed skin.
Shen Shuyi suddenly felt like prey caught by a predator — every nerve screaming danger.
But he couldn’t escape.
“You know,” Zhao Yuheng murmured, “there are many ways to tie someone to you for life.”
He continued, voice low.
“And many kinds of feelings that make someone unforgettable — love, hate… Either one will do. If you don’t kill me with your own hands, I’ll follow you even after sunrise tomorrow.”
“Maybe you’ll think I’m selfish, or disgusting,” he whispered, trembling slightly. “But I can’t change. If I can’t see you, I’ll go mad. I really will.”
Silence followed.
Shen Shuyi blinked, slowly coming back to himself.
And then—
=?=?
He’s actually insane.
Zhao Yuheng, realizing his emotions had slipped, loosened his grip. “Did I scare you?”
“Not that much,” Shen Shuyi muttered. “Though… maybe a little. Have you always thought like that?”
“Yes.”
…
What the hell?!
So all that talk about being your side lover — he meant it?! Wait — and that stuff about locking him up, too?!
“What do you feel… hearing that?” Zhao Yuheng’s throat bobbed. Would Shen Shuyi feel disgusted?
Of course not!
Shen Shuyi was shocked, yes — but also a little smug.
Oh my god.
Someone in this world actually couldn’t live without Shen Shuyi.
Amazing.
“I think… I’m surprised,” he admitted, looking genuinely dazed.
Then quickly added, “Not that I’m rejecting you! I’m just… curious.”
He tilted his head thoughtfully. “Shen Shuyi likes Zhao Yuheng because Zhao Yuheng is handsome and treats him well. But why does Zhao Yuheng like Shen Shuyi so much?”
Leaning his chin on Zhao Yuheng’s shoulder, his warm breath fogged the cold air. “Shen Shuyi’s money isn’t his own — it’s Grandpa’s and Dad’s. The yacht, the jewels — all gifts from my brother. All I have are a bad temper, a bit of arrogance, and a talent for spending money.”
He counted on his fingers, face turning sheepish.
In truth, aside from his face, he had more flaws than merits.
Even with all his confidence, Shen Shuyi was self-aware enough to admit it.
His family’s love was unconditional — bound by blood. But Zhao Yuheng? He had started as a stranger. Why would he love him this much?
Lost in thought, Shen Shuyi didn’t realize he was speaking his worries aloud.
Zhao Yuheng smiled faintly.
“Shen Shuyi, since I was young, I believed that everything in life — wealth, fame, success — could be achieved with effort. To me, they were only a matter of time.”
“But there’s one thing that’s pure chance.”
Shen Shuyi blinked.
Zhao Yuheng leaned his forehead against his, their breaths mingling in the cold, silent snow.
The flakes fell heavier, softer.
“If I wanted Shen Shuyi’s love,” Zhao Yuheng said softly, “I would need the Goddess of Fortune’s special favor.”
“Even then, it would only be a one-in-a-million chance.”
He looked into Shen Shuyi’s eyes — stars reflected in his gaze.
“But now, my goddess has descended.”
“Shen Shuyi,” he whispered, “will you let me be the one person in your life who isn’t family by blood — but still counts as family?”
