Chapter 54 [VIP]

Wen Zhiyu sat at the top of the stairs on the first floor, chin in hand, questioning his life while waiting for the footsteps that never came.

He was being neglected after only a month of dating.

Han Shu's life revolves entirely around chasing waves.

I get up at six and have breakfast at eight, then wash up, put on makeup, and design promotional materials. After breakfast, I stay at the club until eight in the evening. When I get home, I have to review the day's customer traffic, revenue, beverage popularity, instructor class schedule, and student post-class experiences.

It was past midnight, and Wen Zhiyu couldn't wait any longer. He rushed downstairs, hoisted Han Shu, who was curled up on the sofa typing on his keyboard, like carrying a sack of potatoes, and shouted, "Let's go upstairs to sleep!"

"Hey! Put me down, I'm not done yet!" Han Shu twisted and struggled.

Wen Zhiyu strode up the steps in a few strides, "No, I'm going to sleep!"

"no!"

The stair railing was within reach, and Han Shu immediately reached for it, but Wen Zhiyu turned around slightly, and his lifeline drifted away.

"Staying up late every night is bad for your health."

"You stay up late too, don't you?"

"I was waiting for you." Wen Zhiyu kicked open the door and crouched down to enter the master bedroom.

"I don't need it." Han Shu's mind was still on the lifeguards' shift today, and he muttered unhappily, "You weren't this health-conscious when you were working before, but now you're being hypocritical with me?"

"Girls," Wen Zhiyu said, pulling her under the covers. "It's important to balance work and rest."

Under absolute military suppression, Han Shu gave up resistance. "You've been quite free lately?"

Wen Zhiyu kissed her puffed-up cheek. "You were at the club during the day, and I took care of everything I needed to do."

Han Shu retorted, "If you're so free, go play on the pogo stick or skateboard! You used to do so many activities, why are you just causing trouble next to me now?"

Wen Zhiyu shook his head and lowered his eyelids. "Before, I didn't have you. Now, I just want to be with you. I'll do anything, or I'll do nothing."

He was serious. Han Shu's romantic side, suppressed by his career ambitions, was awakened a little, and his tone softened, "I haven't been spending much time with you lately... I'll make it up to you after this busy period and once the club is back on track, okay?"

Wen Zhiyu rolled over and lay down next to her, resting his head on his arm, and playfully hooked her finger with his other hand, "How will you make it up to me?"

"So how do you want to compensate me?" Han Shu said boldly, "I'll do whatever you say."

Wen Zhiyu let out a cryptic laugh, then lay on his side, his gaze sharp, "You'll listen to me, won't you?"

Han Shu sensed something was wrong, but out of guilt, he stubbornly insisted, "Okay! Whatever you say goes!"

The next second, the ceiling light in the master bedroom, along with the warm-colored light, was blocked out.

Wen Zhiyu leaned forward, his dark eyes unfathomable, a dazzling smile playing on his thin lips. "I don't want to deposit it; I'll withdraw it now."

"Um--"

Before Han Shu could understand the hidden meaning in those words, his slightly parted lips were pried open.

Wen Zhiyu's hand stroked her hair, then her slender neck, before he gripped her waist tightly, holding her close so she couldn't escape.

Under the intense kiss, Han Shu gradually stopped struggling, clinging to Wen Zhiyu's shoulders, tears welling up in her eyes.

Wen Zhiyu's half-open eyes narrowed, then he released her already rosy lips and placed a kiss on the corner of her tightly closed eyes.

Another salty tear rolled down his cheek, and he asked in a hoarse voice, "Are you angry?"

Han Shu rubbed his cheek haphazardly with the back of his hand. "No."

The next kiss landed on her eyelids. "Then why are you crying?"

Han Shu turned his face away, "No."

The next kiss landed on her brow. "Hmm?"

Seeing that he was going against him, Han Shu finally opened his eyes and said, "I'm not angry!"

Wen Zhiyu didn't miss the tears welling up in her almond-shaped eyes and the glaring red veins. "What's wrong? Speak up."

Two beams of car headlights cast cold, white afterimages on the gauze curtain, the man's handsome face appearing and disappearing in the light.

Han Shu pinched his thin chin and shook it, as if talking to herself, "Why do you like me?"

Wen Zhiyu was stunned. "What?"

Han Shu looked disappointed, but his expression was unusually focused. "You are a very outstanding young writer with a successful career. I am just an ordinary person, and I don't know if this path will work out or what the future holds."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Wen Zhiyu pinched her cheek. "How could you have such a thought?"

“I’ve always had this idea.” Han Shu lowered his hand, his index finger hooking around the collar of his loungewear. “It’s become even more frequent since I started my business. Chun Jing said that opening a store requires years of hard work, and I accept that and am willing to try. But what if I fail? What will I do then?”

"Whether we succeed or fail, I will be there for you," Wen Zhiyu said firmly.

Han Shu chuckled self-deprecatingly, “Relationships require equal effort. I live in your house for free, you cover the cost of the three cats, and you pick me up and drop me off. Maybe that works in the short term, but what about in the long run? Thinking about this, I feel I have to try harder. I can’t fail, and the objective circumstances don’t allow me to fail.”

Wen Zhiyu propped himself up against the headboard, letting Han Shu rest his head on his chest. "Is this why you've been working so hard lately?"

"Originally, I genuinely enjoy surfing and want to share that joy through the club. But some things I've done haven't completely turned the tide in terms of public opinion, and I still frequently receive abusive and attacking private messages. There's been a lack of consensus on the jet skis, salary and shift schedules are being re-adjusted, and the amount of stock we purchase is inconsistent; sometimes we run out of stock, and sometimes we have fruit that spoils before we can use it all. It's so worrying..."

Wen Zhiyu ran his fingers through her hair, which had reached her back, and asked, "Then why didn't you ask me for help?"

Han Shu shook his head vigorously, "No."

"I don't really know much about running a shop. But I can help out, like saying, 'I'm your boyfriend.'"

"No." Han Shu shook his head again.

Wen Zhiyu felt a little disappointed and heartbroken. He said gently, "Who isn't an ordinary person? I'm just an ordinary person who has published a few books. Besides my decent financial situation, what else do I have to offer? With a family like this and a personality like this, let alone being considerate, I can't even cook. In today's terms, I'm incapable of taking care of myself. If you insist on saying that, then I'm the one who's not good enough for you."

"You're talking nonsense." Han Shu looked up at him. "You're not even presentable enough to show your face to others."

Wen Zhiyu chuckled, "Well, that's barely a good point. But you're different. You know how to grow plants, you know how to take care of cats, you're good in every way."

"What kind of advantage is that?" Han Shu poked his ribs.

Wen Zhiyu felt both pain and itchiness, and flinched, but her tone remained calm. "You have no idea how happy I was when you agreed to divorce your husband and be with me! I was like a patch of moss in a dark corner, and you were a towering tree in the sunlight... no, you were the sunlight itself."

When a writer says something, it sounds more than just a compliment. Han Shu's ears turned red. "You...you're exaggerating that!"

"You understand what I mean." Wen Zhiyu also belatedly felt embarrassed. "Ahem, anyway, I just like you, I'll like you for the rest of my life, I'll like you no matter what you become. Don't mention such things again."

"And so domineering." Han Shu snorted, feeling a sweet warmth in his heart.

"Mmm." Wen Zhiyu stretched out his long arm to turn off the light, pulled the person into his arms, and said in a gruff voice, "Go to sleep."

Han Shu found a comfortable spot, wrapped her arms around his waist, and said, "Goodnight."

Wen Zhiyu's Adam's apple bobbed several times as he forcefully suppressed the raging fire in his chest. "Goodnight."

Despite Wen Zhiyu's protest, Han Shu remained true to her workaholic ways, continuing to work long hours and overtime every day.

She knew very well that the gap between her and Wen Zhiyu wouldn't be bridged by his confession. She wasn't insecure, but she lacked confidence. The root of this insecurity lay not in the relationship, but in herself.

From coming to Hainan Island to relax to staying there, it's all about pursuing what I love and what I value.

Han Shu wanted to take control of her life, to prove herself to herself, and to prove to her parents that she was fully capable of living according to her own wishes. Only then could she openly hold Wen Zhiyu's hand and tell her parents that he was her boyfriend.

Unfortunately, plans can't keep up with changes.

That morning, Wen Zhiyu, as usual, took Han Shu to Houhai. The two opened the shop door, each with a cup of coffee, and sat on the steps, admiring the cloudless blue sky and enjoying the gentle sea breeze while waiting for the shop to open.

This is the only time of day they can leisurely spend together.

Wen Zhiyu downed the last half cup in one gulp, saying, "Your coffee is getting better and better."

"Right?" Han Shu held the mug in both hands, smiling brightly. "Ten yuan, scan the code or pay cash?"

Wen Zhiyu lightly touched his back teeth with the tip of his tongue, "Isn't there a third option?"

Han Shu's eyes widened. "You want to dine and dash? I'll call the police."

Wen Zhiyu put down his cup, put his arm around Han Shu's shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "What I mean is, sexual compensation."

Han Shu's pupils contracted, and his cheeks flushed red. "You're a pervert!"

Wen Zhiyu kissed the corner of her lips and said matter-of-factly, "Yeah, I'm a pervert with you."

"Ugh!!!" Han Shu frowned. "No greasy Teacher Wen allowed!"

"Greasy?"

Wen Zhiyu, unwilling to accept defeat, wrapped his arms around her waist and demanded a solid good morning kiss. After what seemed like an eternity, he reluctantly pulled away slightly, murmuring, "I barely managed to return three yuan; I'll return the remaining seventeen yuan when I get back."

Despite being together for so long, Han Shu still felt embarrassed by his undisguised desire and waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no, no, this is enough no matter how you look at it. It's all paid off!"

Wen Zhiyu smiled, "Not enough, you're not—"

"Han Shu".

From below the steps came a voice that Han Shu knew by heart.

She jumped vertically, nearly dropping the cup to the ground, but Wen Zhiyu caught it in time, preventing a disaster.

Han Shu ran down the steps in a few strides, his hands clenched into fists behind his back. After a long while, he finally managed to call out in a trembling voice, "Mom..."