Chapter 53 "How is it?..."

"How is it?" Jiang Huaichuan suddenly stood up, walked to Shen Li's side, grasped his cold hand, and stared at Lu Mingxuan with his dark eyes, as if afraid of hearing some bad news.

The more spirited Jiang Huaichuan was yesterday, the more dejected he was today. His fingers were trembling so badly that even Shen Li looked over in surprise.

"It's alright, the test results are all good." After a pause, Lu Mingxuan said with a smile, "Don't scare yourself, but..."

"But what?" Jiang Huaichuan's voice suddenly rose an octave.

"Family members, don't interrupt the doctor. Don't be so alarmed." Lu Mingxuan rolled his eyes and deftly tore off a hospitalization slip from the side. "You'll be hospitalized for observation tonight. I've already told Shen Li."

Lu Mingxuan was also extremely wary of Shen Li's special physique, and said he would not let her leave tonight.

This was exactly what Jiang Huaichuan wanted. His expression finally brightened a bit, and he took the hospital admission form and test results: "Thanks, how about we have dinner together?"

Lu Mingxuan took off his white coat, raised his chin at Lu He'an in the corner, and revealed a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes: "Forget it, I have to catch this little brat and take him back. President Lu specifically asked to see him."

President Lu, Lu Mingxuan and Lu He'an's older sister, Lu Mingshu.

It’s over!

Lu He'an then realized that there was another sinkhole waiting for him.

Not long after Lu He'an's identity was revealed, before it could fully ferment, Shen Li's "dirt" followed. Within a few hours, the usually quiet Shen Wenyuan went all out, and the evidence was practically slapped in the face of the rumor-mongers. The development, which resembled a satisfying novel, drew everyone's attention to Shen Li.

Even now, Shen Li and Shen Wenyuan's names are still among the top in the entertainment sector, and even occupy sixth place in the financial sector, which is enough to prove the impact of this matter.

Adding to the later accident involving the spinning cups, Lu He'an was so frightened that half of her soul flew out of her body, and she no longer remembered that she was the person involved.

"No, no, I'm not going back. I want to stay with Shen Li at her bedside."

Lu He'an retreated repeatedly, hiding behind Shen Li, but Jiang Huaichuan grabbed him and threw him back.

Jiang Huaichuan: "Do I need you to keep me company at the hospital? Do you think I'm dead?"

Lu Mingxuan restrained his younger brother's fidgeting hands.

"Chen Li, Chen Li, save me... Waaah..."

Lu He'an was dragged away by force.

An hour later, just after Shen Li finished dinner, Shen Wenyuan appeared at the door of the ward, carrying a large paper bag.

Jiang Huaichuan took the paper bag and looked at Shen Wenyuan: "The message I sent to Song An."

Why was it you who sent it?

The mockery in Jiang Huaichuan's eyes was too dazzling. Shen Wenyuan touched his nose, awkwardly looked away, and walked stiffly to Shen Li.

"I'll peel an apple for you, bro."

Shen Li: ? ? ! !

Shen Li quickly pressed down on the knife on the table and moved it further away.

Are you kidding me? Shen Wenyuan can peel apples? You might as well say he can go bungee jumping.

Is that apple peel or human skin that's being peeled off?

Shen Wenyuan sat for a while, then left, taking an apple with him as he went.

He was taken aback by Jiang Huaichuan's long, relentless peeling technique. As one of the "Kings of Peeling," he couldn't accept not having this skill in front of his beloved younger brother.

Shen Li lay on the bed, watching Jiang Huaichuan walk out of the bathroom wearing cat-patterned pajamas, and he suddenly sat up straight.

Jiang Huaichuan asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Shen Li: "What about the frozen pears?"

"Someone helped feed them."

Thinking of Shen Wenyuan, who had just left, and seeing Jiang Huaichuan's newly changed pajamas, Shen Li suddenly sensed something was amiss.

It is known that Dongli is free-range and they never put it in a cage at home, so... how did the older brother, who is so afraid of cats, get Jiang Huaichuan's pajamas?

Shen Li realized that she had overlooked a very important detail.

Shen Li frowned in thought, holding the pillow in his arms. His almond-shaped eyes were raised, and he looked serious, which made Jiang Huaichuan laugh.

Jiang Huaichuan sat down on the edge of the bed, opened his phone, and showed Shen Li Song An's chat screen. He said quietly, "There's something wrong between your brother and Song An."

Shen Li's gaze fell on the screen.

[Jiang Huaichuan: Could you deliver a change of clothes for me? It'll count as overtime. I'll ask HR to pay you 1.5 times the overtime rate.]

[Song An: Okay, Mr. Jiang, one hour.]

[Song An: President Jiang, do you need the cat fed?]

[Jiang Huaichuan: Yes, thank you. Overtime pay is triple, payable through my personal account.]

Shen Li's eyes were filled with confusion and astonishment.

Shen Li: "...When did this happen?"

How come he didn't notice anything?

Jiang Huaichuan shook his head: "I don't know, but when I went to City C on a business trip after the New Year, those two were already having an affair. Didn't you notice?"

Shen Li asked, bewildered, "What did you discover?"

“Shen Wenyuan has been coming to the company more frequently this year, and he often hangs around Song An’s desk whenever he has nothing to do.”

Shen Li: "I thought he was going to talk to Song An about the project details..."

Jiang Huaichuan asked seriously, "Will I go over the details with Shen Wenyuan's assistant?"

Shen Li: ...

——

After graduating, Shen Ci joined Chuangsheng Pharmaceutical, a well-known pharmaceutical company in City A, as a research staff member. The company dormitory was far from Shen's home, and the daily commute was tiring, so he applied for the dormitory.

The company offers good employee benefits. The dormitory has both double rooms and single rooms. Shen Ci was lucky enough to get a single room and moved in directly from school to the company.

He comes back to stay every Friday and leaves on Monday morning, without fail, for over two months. At first, Shen's mother found it novel and even joked that there was a high school student in the family this year.

Unexpectedly, on Monday of this week, as soon as Shen Wenyuan got home, he saw Shen Ci sitting on the sofa with a strange expression.

Shen Wenyuan: ?

"Why are you back today?"

As one of the people who knew about Shen Ci's laid-back attitude, Shen Wenyuan was very surprised. Today was not a special day, but this laid-back guy actually drove for an hour and a half to come back. You know, he just drove there this morning.

Shen Ci smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just came back to see you."

Unexpectedly, Shen Wenyuan was shocked. He walked quickly to Shen Ci's side with a horrified expression, his knee hitting the coffee table with a crisp sound. He seemed not to hear it, and his voice was weak: "What happened to your body?"

Shen Ci was instantly helpless. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Big brother, stop watching those exaggerated and melodramatic short dramas with Mom."

"Are you really alright?"

"It's really nothing."

Shen Wenyuan threw his coat on the sofa and muttered, "You scared me to death. Neither of you is easy to deal with."

"Mmm, you're the easiest to manage." Shen Ci took a meaningful sip of tea, then suddenly asked, "How's the progress?"

Shen Wenyuan paused for a moment, then said casually, "Everything is going smoothly. The cross-regional cooperation contract has been finalized, and we can officially start next month."

"Oh, that's great, bro! But you know, that's not what I'm asking."

Shen Wenyuan's attempt to cover up the truth only made things worse. He stood up and said, "I'll go check if dinner is ready."

Shen Ci: "Mom—mmm."

Shen Wenyuan quickly covered Shen Ci's mouth: "No, no, no, you ask, you ask."

If the gossipy Ms. Nan Ya finds out about this, he'll be in deep trouble. Since it's still far from over, it's best not to alert her.

Having received reassurance, Shen Wenyuan released his grip and sat back on the sofa: "Did Xiao Li tell you that?"

Shen Ci hummed in response.

"Speak, what do you want to know?"

"Where are we at?"

Shen Wenyuan stared at Shen Ci for a moment, then sighed deeply: "It's gotten to the point where your brother is shameless."

Shen Ci: ?

Shen Ci was shocked: "They still haven't caught up?"

"Otherwise what?" Shen Wenyuan slumped back on the sofa, exhausted. "If I manage to win you over, why wouldn't I introduce you to them?"

"Why? What went wrong? Tell me, and I'll give you some advice."

"You?" Shen Wenyuan lifted his eyelids. "Come on, you're a single dog."

——

"Don't send it. We're not a good match. We're not compatible in terms of family, status, or position, so please don't say anything."

A few days ago, on the Bund, Song An's pupils flashed with brilliant colors as the sparkler in his hand gradually burned out. He watched the fireworks go out, with only a faint smell of gunpowder remaining at the tip of his nose.

Shen Wenyuan felt the early spring night wind was unusually chilling, blowing cold into his heart. In his pocket, the gift he had confessed his feelings for was still unsent. He opened his mouth, but remained silent.

He wanted to say that these were not obstacles.

But the words got stuck in his throat, and he swallowed them back.

Song An has his own pride, and he has always been clear about what he is doing.

"Thank you for celebrating my birthday and setting off fireworks with me. This was the happiest birthday I've ever had." Song An avoided Shen Wenyuan's surprised and sad gaze. "Goodbye, Mr. Shen."

Shen Wenyuan's body stiffened. No, they had clearly started calling him Wenyuan, so why did he have to turn back into the cold and aloof CEO Shen?

Song An turned around with a smile, waved casually, and took a few steps, but tears soaked his cheeks.

That was so embarrassing.

Song Anxin thought to herself.

Back in her one-bedroom apartment, Song An threw herself into bed.

The phone screen is flashing.

[Unknown number: You think we can't find you if you don't come home?]

[Unknown number: Your mother and I know your company address. If you don't pay me, I'll go to your company and cause trouble.]

[Unknown number: Your mother and I spent a lot of money raising you, you ungrateful wretch!]

Song An, panting heavily, turned off his phone.

This is his family, his parents, everything is so unbearable. Those people are like leeches, only interested in sucking people's blood. He absolutely cannot drag such a good person as Shen Wenyuan into this swamp.

Shen Wenyuan is best suited to stand in the sunlight.

Shen Wenyuan went on a business trip, and Song An spent a few days in a daze until Saturday afternoon, when the annoying information that had been hanging over him like a woven rope suddenly disappeared.

Song An had a rare peaceful night, but the following afternoon, he was cornered at his doorstep by a familiar figure.

The man's eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept for days. His coat was wrinkled beyond recognition. He lowered his head, his voice filled with a humble pleading: "I've already settled things with your family... I'm so sorry for taking the initiative... Please don't be angry, could you please reconsider me..."

That afternoon, Shen Wenyuan nestled in Song An's small bed and had a comfortable nap.

He was exhausted. He had been on business trips for several days in a row, negotiating contracts while having people investigate Song An's family situation. He had just finished dealing with the issues and hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath when Shen Li was attacked online again.

——

Shen Li sat on the beanbag chair, listening with great interest, not even noticing Jiang Huaichuan coming out of the bathroom. Jiang Huaichuan sighed and helplessly pulled up the collar of his pajamas.

Tonight, I've truly been throwing myself at a blind man.

Half an hour later, I hung up the phone with Shen Ci.

"Why are you laughing so happily?" Jiang Huaichuan placed the warm water next to Shen Li.

"Yeah, I didn't expect my older brother to be the type to act first and ask questions later."

Seeing that Shen Li had finished drinking, Jiang Huaichuan lifted his buttocks and bounced him up a couple of times. His palm was enveloped in soft flesh, and Jiang Huaichuan couldn't help but pinch it.

Shen Li's almond-shaped eyes widened instantly. He was still holding Jiang Huaichuan's neck, and he let out a soft gasp.

"What are you doing? Brother Lu said we can't do it too often... no, too frequently."

Jiang Huaichuan chuckled softly, looked up, and kissed her without saying a word, biting and grinding against her.

In a daze, Shen Li felt her jaw being pried open, and her nimble tongue probing inwards, forcing them to interlock.

Five minutes later, Shen Li clung limply to Jiang Huaichuan, her legs dangling precariously in mid-air as Jiang Huaichuan moved.

"Go and handle it yourself. Come back soon. I want to sleep in your arms." Shen Li buried her face in Jiang Huaichuan's neck, and blushed as she noticed the unusual situation beneath her.

Jiang Huaichuan put Shen Li into the quilt and tucked the corners of the quilt in.

"Mmm." Jiang Huaichuan patted her twice, his fingertips brushing against Shen Li's thick, long eyelashes, and coaxed her gently, "Go to sleep first, I'll be back in a bit."

"Okay." Shen Li blinked and tucked her head into the blanket.

By the time Jiang Huaichuan returned, Shen Li was already fast asleep.