Chapter 23 [VIP]

Husband, the husband who doesn't exist.

Han Shu licked his lips and swallowed, trying to ease his guilty conscience.

What should I do? Am I going to be exposed? If he finds out she's not married and doesn't have children, and therefore doesn't meet the residency requirements, he'll probably kick her out!

“I’m not invading your privacy, I just want to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. As long as your husband knows and has no objections, that’s fine,” Wen Zhiyu hesitated, “Is this request—too much?”

"Not at all, not at all," Han Shu chuckled. "I understand."

Wen Zhiyu visibly breathed a sigh of relief and regained his appetite, so he reached out and pulled the bowls and plates back.

A wrist flashed past his eyelids, and Han Shu inadvertently caught a glimpse of several red marks. Just as he was about to take a closer look, the wrist bone was hidden again under the falling sleeve.

What happened to your arm?

"Hmm?" Wen Zhiyu flipped his wrist over, glanced at it, and then remembered, "It was scratched by a cat."

"Big Mimi?"

"Otherwise what?"

Amidst the screeching sound of the chair scraping against the floor, Han Shu abruptly stood up and rushed around the dining table. "It's scratched? Is it serious? Let me see, let me see!"

Wen Zhiyu looked up with two question marks, but before he could express his doubts, his sleeve was wiped down to his elbow, revealing a network of deep red wounds.

"Oh my! It's that serious!" Han Shu exclaimed dramatically. "Does it hurt? What happened?"

"I grabbed the cat, and the cat resisted." Wen Zhiyu didn't understand, but still obediently answered, "It hurts, not now—"

Han Shu snatched the fork from his hand and grabbed his sleeve. "Come quick, come quick, let me put some medicine on you. It's summer, the wound will get infected if you don't treat it! Look, some parts are already infected, if it's not treated soon it might fester..."

Wen Zhiyu was being pulled along, with the flustered mushroom-headed man in front of her and his incessant chatter filling her ears. She was terrified.

She cares about him? Why does she care about him so much?

That's so strange.

"Sit down, sit down." Han Shu pressed him down on the sofa, skillfully opened the drawer of the side cabinet, and took out iodine swabs—the same bottle she had used before. "I'll disinfect it for you."

"No need—hiss!" The cotton swab, soaked in medicine, smeared onto him, and Wen Zhiyu tried to dodge but couldn't.

"See, it hurts!" Han Shu said earnestly, "Just bear with it, some medicine will help it heal faster!"

“…” Wen Zhiyu frowned.

Now, he no longer presumptuously thinks she's taking advantage of him, especially since she's very tactfully avoiding physical contact. But! This feeling of being cared for is so strange!

Seeing that he no longer resisted or spoke, Han Shu smiled triumphantly.

—Call her husband, where do you call him and to whom?

It's better to distract ourselves for now and figure out a solution later.

She sat beside Wen Zhiyu, holding up his sleeve with one hand, and carefully applied the ointment along the scratches. He was already incredibly pale, making the crisscrossing marks appear even more gruesome. Clearly, he had been through a fierce battle.

Han Shu felt a little uneasy.

This guy... if you're talking about being kind-hearted, he hates animals so much that he'd jump three feet high to avoid a puppy just trying to sniff it—he's incredibly cold-blooded. But if you're talking about being cold-blooded, why is he so serious about catching cats, even getting scratched and bleeding but not giving up?

Han Shu sighed and applied the medicine more gently.

Wen Zhiyu took a breath and held it.

Iodine should sting when it seeps into the skin, but for some reason, he felt an itch. The movement of the cotton swab, the sensation of her sleeve brushing against his skin, all seemed to be connected to an invisible feather, sweeping across his heart with every move she made.

He wanted to reach into his chest or tear the feather to relieve his unease. His muscles were tensing involuntarily, and he tried to hold back, but finally couldn't bear it any longer when a strange breath sprayed onto his elbow.

"I'll do it." Wen Zhiyu's voice was strange and hoarse.

Han Shu waved his hand dismissively, "This was all Da Mi's doing, I'll take responsibility. Don't be shy."

"..." Wen Zhiyu's Adam's apple bobbed. "I'll do it myself."

"It's inconvenient for you to apply it with one hand while using the other, there are some places you can't reach, let me do it!"

Wen Zhiyu clenched her fist, then relaxed it. "Let me do it. You can use this time to call your husband."

"..." Han Shu's hand froze.

The feather drifted away.

Wen Zhiyu snatched the cotton swabs and iodine, wriggled and moved to the other end of the sofa, rolled up his other sleeve and began applying the medicine, not giving Han Shu a chance to interfere again.

"Go ahead and hit me, I won't say anything."

"..."

Han Shu wanted to curse.

Wen Zhiyu waited for a while but there was no movement. He looked to his right and saw her with her cheeks puffed out and her hands clenched, looking angry. "What's wrong?"

"...Nothing much." Han Shu shrank his neck and lied as soon as he opened his mouth, "My husband is working overtime on Saturday, so he can't call right now."

He tossed aside the iodine in front of him and said, "Then let's wait until tonight."

"……oh."

There's no escaping it.

Han Shu took out his phone, glanced at it, and then sent a message to Ling Lin.

[Invincible Strong Cabbage: Jiang has a husband!!!]

What are the plans for today?

Han Shu was so startled he almost dropped his phone. "Ah, ah?"

Wen Zhiyu stopped in front of her, his gaze sweeping over her. "You're acting strangely today."

"Really?" Han Shu forced a smile. "I was just considering whether or not to accept your suggestion."

"Wasn't that agreed upon?"

"..." Han Shu was speechless. "Did you even give me a chance to speak?"

Wen Zhiyu blinked, recalling for a moment—it seemed that he had indeed been too radical. "Alright. So what are your concerns? Please speak freely."

“Yes.” Han Shu thought for a moment, “Ever since I checked in, you’ve been saying you have no inspiration and haven’t written a single word.”

It sounded like he'd run out of ideas. Wen Zhiyu felt as if he'd been stabbed in the knees, and nearly collapsed to his knees in heartache. "What does whether I write something have to do with whether you check in?"

“Yes.” Han Shu nodded repeatedly. “My answer only has meaning because you are so eloquent. Otherwise, I feel that the value I provide does not match the value you provide for this guesthouse.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhiyu was stunned, then chuckled softly, "You said before that your husband doesn't like your unconventional thinking and personality."

"Where am I being out of line? I've been perfectly normal since I was a child!" Han Shu stubbornly protested, muttering to himself, before finally admitting, "Ugh, I don't like it."

"Then he really is blind," Wen Zhiyu said calmly.

Han Shu gasped and suddenly looked up.

The man still had his hands in his pockets, looking indifferent, but there was no hint of jest in his dark eyes. He was serious.

“I’ve met a few people, but not many either. At least within my knowledge, you are a very special person.” Wen Zhiyu paused. “Perhaps it’s just a casual answer to you, but to me, it’s worth far more than the room rental and the energy spent driving back and forth. I didn’t lose out in this deal; on the contrary, I made a huge profit. So you don’t need to worry about me.”

He nodded and walked toward the restaurant, but turned back after taking only two steps. "Also, I'm just not used to the new subject matter, not that I can't write it. Hmm."

After saying that, she sat down at the table with an air of arrogance and continued eating her breakfast, which had been interrupted.

Han Shu stood there, somewhat dazed.

Is she... special?

As a child, she was always the best-behaved child in her class, with above-average grades. She was the type of child teachers didn't have to worry about, but she was also the type who blended into the crowd the most. She wasn't the kind of mischievous but clever child who attracted attention, nor was she the kind of outstanding student who stood out.

After starting work, she was always the most down-to-earth and hardworking employee, treating every task with diligence and without complaint. She was the type of person the leaders trusted most and the type who needed the least favoritism. She neither had the silver tongue to please everyone nor the cleverness to say one thing and do another.

Han Shu muttered to himself.

Is her way of thinking... special?

During a break in elementary school, Xu Ying tore up a simple comic strip she drew on the back of her notebook, titled "Little Flowers and Grass Travel Around the World," as evidence that she wasn't paying attention in class.

During junior high school, Xu Ying threw away a suspense novel she had written in her diary, titled "The Disappearance of an Egyptian Mummy During an Overseas Exhibition," which she considered a sign of neglecting her studies and being lazy.

Over the long process of growing up, she gradually forgot those bizarre ideas, lost her imagination, and even regarded them as meaningless garbage produced during the brain's operation, just like Xu Ying.

But what if those overflowing images, words, and inspirations were treasures, not trash?

When Wen Zhiyu returned after finishing his meal, Han Shu was still sitting motionless in a corner of the sofa.

So he asked again, "What's the schedule for today?"

Han Shu lowered his head and said, "I want to go see Da Mi."

Wen Zhiyu noticed that Mushroom Head looked sullen and was a little confused. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Hmm?" Han Shu smiled faintly. "No."

That's good.

Wen Zhiyu scratched his temples. "Then... can you drive?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"If it's convenient, could you come with me to pick up a car?" Wen Zhiyu said. "I don't like taking taxis; I'd like to ride a motorcycle there. So..."

Han Shu understood. "Need a driver?"

"right."

Han Shu sat in the back seat of Wen Zhiyu again and hugged the bright red hiking backpack once more.

She opened the windshield and said with difficulty, "What's wrong with me just putting my arm around your waist? Does it really matter that I'm wearing a shirt, dress pants, and carrying a red envelope?"

“As for it,” Wen Zhiyu opened the windshield and turned his head slightly, “this is not just a hiking backpack.”

"...What else could it be?"

"I am innocent."

Wen Zhiyu snapped his mask shut, started the engine, and sped out of the garage.

Han Shu: ...

His innocence is proven.

Doesn't that mean she's clinging to his innocence?

As the car sped up, Wen Zhiyu's innocence remained firmly fixed on his shoulders. Han Shu had no choice but to hold him even tighter.

The day after the surgery, Da Mi was in even better spirits. When she saw Han Shu, she walked back and forth, rubbing against the cage bars. Han Shu's heart melted, and she felt a pang of tenderness and weakness. She didn't even dare to stay any longer, afraid that she might impulsively pick up the three kittens and run away.

Leaving the pet hospital, Han Shu sighed, worried about how to find an adoptive family as quickly as possible.

She continued to cling to Wen Zhiyu's innocence, wondering whether she should swallow her pride and ask the unfortunate car owner if there was any good news.

When they arrived at the 4S store, Han Shu took off his helmet with little interest. He was about to tell Wen Zhiyu that he would wait for him outside, but he changed his mind after seeing the huge logo.

—It was the brand she had always dreamed of!

Wen Zhiyu locked his motorcycle, put away his helmet, and hung his backpack on the handlebars, instantly transforming from a clown in the park into a successful person.

As soon as I stepped inside, a young man greeted me, "Hello, which car are you looking for?"

Wen Zhiyu nodded. "My surname is Wen. I made an appointment by phone. I'll pick up the car today."

Han Shu glanced at the salesperson's name tag, which read Li Yun.

Li Yun gestured, "Mr. Wen, this way please."

Han Shu followed behind, her eyes darting around, and soon she located her dream car among all the models.

So beautiful! I love it! I want to own it!

Just as she was about to find an excuse to slip away for a closer look, Li Yun pointed to her right and said, "Your car is ready."

Following the directions, Han Shu looked through the glass—outside the side gate, in the parking area, a brand-new dream car gleamed in the sunlight.

"!!!" Han Shu's eyes widened. "This car—is yours?"

"Um."

Wen Zhiyu stepped forward, about to open the driver's side door to check, but a hand moved faster than him.

"Wow!!!"

Han Shu peeked inside to take a look and touched the leather seats. "Hmm, it's the feeling of wanting to own something but not being able to afford it!"

She pulled her head back, stroking the car as she went. Yeah, it was that feeling of desperately wanting something but being unable to afford it!

Wen Zhiyu chuckled, "You like it?"

"Wow!!!" Han Shu stopped at the front of the car, gazing at it affectionately and gently stroking it. "This is the car of my dreams!!!"

"I'll leave it to you in a bit."

"good!!!"

Li Yun smiled sincerely and praised in a professional manner, "Sir, you have excellent taste. You've immediately won over Madam's heart."

Han Shu was shocked, "No!"

Wen Zhiyu sighed, "No."

The two reacted too in sync, and Li Yun's official smile froze, unsure of what to say to make up for it.

In the midst of an incredibly awkward silence, Han Shu's phone rang. She gestured to walk aside, and upon seeing the message, she was overjoyed.

[Linbao: I just saw it.]

[Linbao: My brother's here, but he'll be leaving in ten minutes! The script's been synchronized, hurry!]

Han Shu quickly changed AAA Ling Lin to "husband," then rushed back, shouting, "Wen Zhiyu, Wen Zhiyu!"

Wen Zhiyu was sitting in the driver's seat checking the dashboard when she suddenly pulled him out. He stumbled a few steps before regaining his balance. "What's wrong?"

Han Shu pressed the dial button and said excitedly, "My husband has time right now, I'll put it on speakerphone!"

Wen Zhiyu felt that her attitude was unusual, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong, so he nodded and agreed.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

After the dial tone, a clear male voice rang out, "Minor Heat?"

Han Shu cleared her throat and called out sweetly, "Husband~~~"

Li Yun, the salesman who was installing the wooden stakes nearby, stared wide-eyed like a copper bell, looking at the woman, then at the man, then back at the woman, then back at the man, and finally gasped.

At the same time, Wen Zhiyu's breathing became heavy, his fists clenched tightly, and a surge of anger rose up for no reason.

He glared angrily at the mushroom-headed woman, just in time to see her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with joy as she talked to her husband on the phone.

Why!

She spoke so gently and sweetly to her husband! Even though that man treated her terribly, not only did he not understand her, he wouldn't even let her learn to skateboard!

Why!

She always speaks to him so fiercely and nonchalantly! Even though he understands her so much, he not only helped her catch and neuter her cat despite being injured, but also bought her so many skateboards!!!

Why?! This is absolutely unfair!!!