Chapter 27 As you wish. ...

It took Sheng Yi twenty minutes to finally reach her third aunt's front door. She felt like a grasshopper that had been roasted until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sizzling with oil.

My third aunt's house is a self-built two-story detached house with black tiles and white walls. There is a bamboo grove behind the house and a vegetable garden in front of the door. It looks like the kind of idyllic and healing vlog you see.

Not far away, there is a small building with red tiles and bricks, which looks quite old-fashioned. It is said that the grandson of the third aunt lives there.

Time was tight, and Sheng Yi didn't even have time to go over and greet them. After checking the ingredients in the house, she started cooking. Since it wasn't a familiar place, the process was slower than usual. Worried that the other person might be hungry, she chose a few quick and easy dishes to make.

After stir-frying and plating the food, she put it on a tray and carried it to the next table.

Old Qian said that his nephew, besides having a bad temper, also doesn't like to interact with strangers, so she just leaves the things at the door and rings the doorbell to remind him to come and get them.

The doorbell rang a few times. Wen Shili looked up from the pile of manuscripts on the table, put down his pen, and stood up. He glanced at the time and realized it was almost one o'clock.

On the tray were a dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a dish of water spinach with garlic, and a dish of dry-fried green beans. The colors were distinct, and the dish looked quite appealing.

The weather was hot, and Grandma Zhao preferred dishes with lots of oil and salt, so he couldn't eat much. Therefore, he had to ask the old lady to prepare smaller portions each time. The newcomer, however, seemed to prefer lighter flavors; after a few bites, he had a better appetite than usual.

After finishing his meal and cleaning up the dishes, he noticed a note under one of the bowls. The handwriting was strong and bold, asking what he wanted to eat that evening. Wen Shili found a pen, pulled out a piece of paper, and replied: "Whatever you like."

Sheng Yi went home, unpacked her luggage, took a shower to feel cooler, lay down on the bed to play on her phone, but unexpectedly fell asleep until four o'clock in the afternoon.

She hurriedly got up to collect the dishes, but the original note was gone. There was a folded piece of white paper on the tray. When she unfolded it, there was a line of pencil writing, written in a very elegant style.

"Little brat, your handwriting isn't bad." Sheng Yi smiled and started preparing the ingredients for dinner after listing the menu. Lao Qian was also preparing dinner and sent a video call. The two chatted while cooking.

Sheng Yi asked how his third aunt was doing, and Lao Qian said she was still on an IV drip and would need surgery in a few days. He then asked Sheng Yi if he could manage things here. Sheng Yi thought of the little boy she had never met, shrugged, and smiled, "Don't you know who I am?"

From a young age, she was very popular with children, and kids her age loved to hang out with her. Although she's not as outgoing as she was as a child, children still smile at her whenever she goes out. Teenage boys might be a little awkward at first, but with a little more effort, they'll understand.

Old Qian said that it was probably because his parents weren't home and he was with his elderly parents, so there were bound to be some things he couldn't pay attention to. He asked her to help take care of him more when she had time.

Sheng Yi instantly conjured up the image of a lonely, left-behind child in her mind, and felt the burden on her shoulders inexplicably become heavier.

Because of what Lao Qian said, Sheng Yi waited outside the door after putting down the tray that night and didn't leave.

If surgery is needed, it's uncertain how long it will take for my third aunt to recover. Since she will be taking care of him from now on, perhaps we should first greet each other and get to know each other.

The doorbell rang twice. Wen Shili looked at the figure that appeared on the big screen and wondered if he hadn't woken up from his afternoon nap yet.

The woman had her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a black T-shirt and denim shorts, her long, slender legs boldly exposed. Her face was probably only the size of a palm, fair and clean, showing no signs of fatigue. She was biting her lip, looking up at the door. After a while, she frowned, raised her hand, and pressed the doorbell.

Judging from her expression, she seemed determined not to leave until he opened the door.

Wen Shili stood in the living room, observing her subtle expressions. Cao Jun shouldn't have the audacity to reveal his whereabouts, so why was she here?

He was used to asking directly about things he couldn't understand, "Didn't you say you'd find another man?"

“Yes, Grandma Zhao said her nephew would come over to help for a few days.” Cao Jun asked, “Did something go wrong?”

"We'll talk about it later."

Sheng Yi stood at the door and waited for four or five minutes, but there was still no response from inside. She knocked on the door again, "Is anyone home?"

I don't know what material this door is made of; it didn't make a sound when I tapped it a couple of times, but my hand hurt. Old Qian's nephew is quite something.

Sheng Yi frowned as she stared at the tightly closed door, wondering whether to turn back immediately or continue to make her presence felt, when suddenly the door opened from the inside.

She looked up in surprise and saw a boy peeking out. He was tall, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and headphones around his neck. He looked clean-cut and youthful, making it hard to guess his age. It was just a pity that his face was covered by a mask.

These days, boys grow so fast during puberty. Sheng Yi glanced back and forth between the two of them. He looked half a head taller than her. He must be in high school now.

She looked up at him and said, "Hello, I am—"

Wen Shili lowered his eyes, not missing the fleeting look of surprise in her eyes. Could her acting be any more perfunctory?

He frowned involuntarily and asked in a hoarse voice, "Is something the matter?"

He was indeed a child with a bad temper, but luckily Lao Qian had given him a heads-up beforehand, so Sheng Yi wasn't intimidated by his cold face. She took another step forward and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Wen Shili lowered his eyes and gave a soft "hmm," "I have a bit of a cold."

Ah, so he was sick. Sheng Yi immediately forgave his rudeness. "If you can't eat dinner, then eat less. I'll take care of you for the next week. You can tell me if you need anything."

Lately, I've been trying to please all sorts of clients, and I always make sure to add a "ha" to my greetings as a polite gesture. Now, in my eagerness to please them, I've inadvertently started using "ha" in my speech too. I silently cross this out in my mind and remind myself, "Can't I speak normally?"

From Wen Shili's angle, her little actions were crystal clear. Her eyes darted around, clearly indicating a busy mind. Who knows, she might get him on the front page again tomorrow.

It seems I can't stay here any longer.

Whether it was her imagination or not, Sheng Yi suddenly felt a chill. She rubbed her arms and asked him if he had any dietary restrictions, but he shook his head. She gave him a few more gentle instructions and then turned and went back to her third aunt's courtyard.

Regardless of her motives, her cooking skills were indeed quite good. Wen Shili cleared away the dishes, sat on the sofa, and dialed Cao Jun's cell phone.

I don't know what they're doing on the other end; there's been no answer.

He simply returned to his study, intending to continue searching for inspiration, when the urgent doorbell snapped him out of his daze. He looked up in surprise to see the manuscript paper spread out before him, spotless as ever.

The doorbell rang again and again, and he could almost picture her arms crossed, head bowed, muttering to herself. He was confident he could outlast anyone in terms of endurance, at least a few times better than the woman outside, but the summer night was too hot for him to calm down.

Wen Shili suddenly stood up, unsure whether he was angry at himself or at someone else. He stopped at the door, cleared his throat, and opened it.

The woman held out a bowl of porridge, saying, "It's freshly made, but it's been sitting for a while. You can drink it now."

His anger was baseless to begin with, but when he met her bright, sparkling eyes, it vanished without a trace. He coughed lightly and said, "No need to bother."

It's such a pointless little scam, not worth all that effort. Clearly, her acting is terrible; she can't hide her true self, and she can't see through others.

Wen Shili inwardly scoffed.

Sheng Yi had no idea what he was thinking. Despite his impatient look, she advised, "Why don't you have something to drink? It's getting late. I'll make you something else tomorrow."

After finishing his bowl of porridge, Cao Jun finally called back. "Brother Li, what's up? My phone was charging inside, so I didn't hear it."

Wen Shili stared at the empty bowl for a long time, lost in thought, before Cao Jun asked, "Are you settling in well? Do you need me to come and help you?"

He thought of Wen Shili's previous phone call and guessed that it might be because Grandma Zhao's nephew wasn't considerate enough, and Wen Shili wasn't used to it.

There was a moment of silence on the other end before he replied, "Everything is fine, don't worry."

So he called to tell him not to worry? Hmm, that's a little strange. Cao Jun scratched his head and steered the conversation back to work, "How's the progress on your end?"

Wen Shili paused for a moment, then, thinking of the unfinished manuscript, said calmly, "It's alright."

The countryside was very quiet. Sheng Yi lay on the bed, listening to the rustling of the wind through the bamboo forest, occasionally mixed with the croaking of frogs.

In this environment, she couldn't help but recall He Jinping's questioning of her.

"Do you still think you can make it in this industry on your own?" That was a discussion they had years ago. Looking back now, perhaps she has unknowingly strayed from her original intentions.

In the quiet of the night, shut out all unnecessary noise, Sheng Yi had to admit that when she was struggling in vain, she had indeed taken a shortcut.

In her dazed state, she suddenly remembered what Lao Qian had told her: that she had benefited from Wen Shili's influence. If the beginning was just a series of coincidences, what about what happened later? She had watched everything unfold before her eyes.

Seeing herself receiving more and more attention, didn't she secretly feel smug? All the reasons and excuses were just attempts to deceive her inner guilt and resistance.

Now that everything is over, perhaps it's time to find an opportunity to thank him. After thinking for a long time, Sheng Yi decided to send a message to Cao Jun, asking when Wen Shili would be available.

Cao Jun had just hung up the phone with Wen Shili when Sheng Yi sent him a message. Why did both of them have to come tonight?

He thought for a moment, then pushed Wen Shili's business card towards her, "You can just talk to him directly."

If it can be added.

In terms of professional matters, Wen Shili was completely worry-free, but Cao Jun still couldn't figure out his emotional issues. However, one thing was undeniable: Sheng Yi held a certain special place in Wen Shili's heart.

No matter how grand and impeccable his reasons may be, the fact is that so many celebrities, big and small, who tried to ride the wave of popularity only showed their goodwill, but did not receive any overt or covert warnings from their studios.

The marketing accounts received a barrage of lawyer's letters. Although the public opinion surrounding him has subsided, that decisive action also caused all the rumors about Shengyi to disappear.

Otherwise, why would Xiao Lin treat him so coldly these days? It's all because he's Brother Li's man.

I can't stand being at the company lately.