Chapter 2 Living in the Sheng Family

What's her name?

When she was a junior, Hatsushimo went to driving school and had the same instructor. Sometimes when the practice was too late, they would carpool back to school. At that time, I only knew that she was from the drama academy across the street.

"Chen Yao?"

"It's Sheng Yao."

They only spent two weeks together at the beginning and never met each other again. It has been almost two years now. Chu Shuang was a little happy to meet an old friend in the imperial capital.

Sheng Yao has a very aggressive appearance, with deep facial features and a tall stature. Visually, he always gives people a feeling of being cool and unruly, and a little cold.

"Sorry, I only remembered the word Yao," Chu Shuang said with a smile, "I didn't expect to meet you in the imperial capital."

Sheng Yao sat down opposite her and clinked glasses with her, her thin crimson lips curled slightly, "Long time no see, beautiful sister."

Hearing this name again, Hatsushimo smiled.

Being called "sister" by a beautiful girl who looks like Sister Yu feels...very good.

At first, Sheng Yao liked to call herself that, but in fact, she was only one month older than her.

Sheng Yao looked at the people in the dim light of the bar and sighed, "I haven't seen you for a few years, but you are still as popular as ever. It's a pity that you didn't come to our school."

If Chu Shuang had gone to the drama academy, the school beauty of that year would have had to be replaced.

"You are the same, you are stunning no matter how many times you look at me."

Sheng Yao was delighted by her praise, "Are you coming to the capital to work?"

"Yes, I've just been here for half a month, working in a comics company."

"Kite Animation?"

"Do you know Kite Animation?"

Sheng Yao chuckled, you know it too well.

"I know. I also like to follow serialized comics. I didn't expect you to work there. You are so outstanding. I envy people with painting talent the most in my life."

Sheng Yao looks cold, but he is actually very straightforward and likes to brag. Chu Shuang quite likes to get along with people with this kind of personality.

Thinking about the house, she lowered her eyes slightly, "The job is good, but I didn't know it was so difficult to find a house in the capital before I came here. I ran into obstacles everywhere. I almost suffered all the losses that young people today have experienced when looking for a house."

Sheng Yao patiently listened to her talk about the troubles she had encountered in renting an apartment in the past half month. It was indeed not easy for a girl who had just entered the society.

After pouring out all the frustration of the past few days in one breath, Chushuang felt a lot more comfortable.

"By the way, do you work here too? Are there any suitable houses for rent near where you live?"

"I am a native of the imperial capital."

Sheng Yao thought for two seconds, and then she slowly curled her lips, with stars in her eyes. "I have many guest rooms at home. Do you want to consider it?"

Hearing this, Chu Shuang paused, "It's not good to disturb your family."

"There's not many people at home recently, just me. I'm bored every day and I've been wanting to find someone to chat and go shopping with." Thinking of having a companion to play with, Sheng Yao was slightly excited, "Come on, come on, just keep me company. Isn't it fate that lets you meet me today for the sake of our cohabitation life?"

Looking at Sheng Yao's bright eyes, Chu Shuang said slowly: "I am not alone, there is..."

"Anyone else? A boyfriend?"

"No, I have a puppy, but it's not convenient to bring it to your house."

"I like puppies the most. Bring it here and let's play with it!"

Seeing that Hatsushimo might still be a little hesitant, she continued, "Come to my house, we can eat snacks and watch movies together in the evening, and I can cook my favorite dishes. On weekends, you can drive my car to go to the suburbs for a picnic. Isn't this better than you going to the bar alone to drink? It's not easy to live alone in a strange city. With me, you don't have to be alone anymore."

Chu Shuang was a little moved by what she said. It would really be much better to have someone to accompany her and talk to. She really needed to rent a house now.

"Can you talk to your family first? I'll go if they agree. If they have a problem with it, forget it. I'll look elsewhere."

"Okay, don't worry. My family is easy to talk to, and my parents and brother never interfere with my friendships."

That night, Sheng Yao informed the family group:

No one cares about her...

Sheng Yao, who was raised in a carefree environment, has gotten used to it. His parents are probably having a great time in Phuket. As for his eldest brother, he is the type who won't reply to messages.

The next day she urged Chu Shuang to move in.

Hatsushimo: [Did your family agree? ]

Sheng Yao: [Agreed. Since it’s Sunday today, I’ll pick you up. Which hotel are you staying at?]

In the afternoon, Chu Shuang took Sheng Yao's car to Sheng's house.

As the car slowly drove into the alley full of pink peach blossoms and green willows, the surrounding environment became increasingly quiet, the streets were quaint yet had a sense of historical alternation, and Chu Shuang keenly noticed that this place was different from the outside in terms of depth... or rather solemnity.

The sky was clear and the air was fresh. The branches of the willows and late locust trees on both sides of the road stretched out, and with the breeze and the sunshine, bursts of fragrance were delivered to the nostrils.

The environment is so good that one cannot ignore the decency underneath the orderliness.

There are several families along the way, with neatly built houses. Outside the courtyard gate, there is a stone lion with a pearl in its mouth. The wide door is inlaid with a green dragon buckle, and the four corners of the eaves are carved with ridge beasts.

The legendary Beijing compound.

With such an atmosphere and reserved demeanor, the only family that could live here must be a prominent family in Beijing.

Arriving at the Sheng family's house, Chu Shuang secretly sighed. Even though she had seen many fine houses since she was a child, she was still amazed by the grandeur of the Sheng family's house.

As soon as you step into the door, you can smell the scent of books. The corridors, courtyards and pavilions have a classical beauty. This kind of house cannot be built with money in just a few decades. The foundation is there.

Sheng Yao led her upstairs to find the room. When passing by a landscape painting, Chu Shuang stopped and asked, "Is this the original work of Mr. Wu Yang?"

Sheng Yao raised his eyebrows, "Can you tell?"

"My grandfather likes these things and knows a lot about calligraphy and painting. I learned a little bit from what I saw and heard."

After moving into the Sheng family, Chu Shuang's life has been qualitatively improved. Not only are there birds singing and flowers blooming here, but the meals cooked by the Sheng family's aunt are also delicacies. On weekdays, she can take a ride to and from get off work with Sheng Yao, and on weekends, the two of them can dress up beautifully and go out to relax.

Sometimes they would go to the mall to get exquisite manicures and buy beautiful clothes, and sometimes they would set up a tent in the suburbs to enjoy the warm afternoon. They visited all the surrounding suburban attractions.

When they didn't want to go out, they would take their dog for a walk in the alley in the evening. They would often meet retired cadres playing chess at the stone table. They were all neighbors and relatives. Sheng Yao liked to take Chushuang to play chess with them. After a while, Chushuang became familiar with everyone. After get off work, they would be invited to other courtyards for tea and snacks.

These old men were all influential figures when they were young. Although some of them still have a serious look even after they are old, they are not arrogant when they get along with each other. Instead, they are cute in a serious manner. Hatsushimo grew up in this environment surrounded by big people and soon developed a sense of familiarity with this place.

Almost twenty days after she moved in, Sheng Yao's parents came back.

Chu Shuang doubted her eyes when she saw Madam Sheng. She was Ji Wenyue, the hostess of the International Channel, the face of the TV station who combined talent and beauty. When she was a student, Chu Shuang listened to too many of her programs to practice her listening skills.

Looking at the person in front of him whose appearance and temperament were more three-dimensional and more impactful than on TV, Hatsushimo felt the excitement of successfully chasing a star.

Mrs. Sheng's speech and behavior are those of a person who is well-read and elegant. One can feel her orderly dignity and gentleness during conversations.

In comparison, Mr. Sheng seems to be taciturn and intimidating without even getting angry.

Knowing that Sheng Yao's friend was at home, Madam Sheng also brought a gift to Chu Shuang. She was a little surprised that this child could be friends with her arrogant and bad-tempered daughter. Chu Shuang had great manners, spoke in a decent dialect, was good-looking, and most importantly, had the right amount of stable temperament. Thinking that Sheng Yao could learn to be calm by being with her, Madam Sheng liked her very much.

Ever since the first frost appeared in the house, Mrs. Sheng always bought double the snacks. Sheng Yao always said that she was like raising two daughters.

Looking at the two girls who were obediently eating the small cakes she bought, Mrs. Sheng smiled gently and said, "It would be great to have two daughters."

Hatsushimo has been particularly popular with elders since she was a child. Part of the reason is her quiet and gentle personality, and part of the reason is that she knows how to accompany the elders and please them.

When Mrs. Sheng was researching desserts at home, Chu Shuang would often help in the kitchen. Sheng Yao, who had no say in the preparations, would just sit back on the sofa and wait for the finished product.

She admired Chushuang very much. She was meticulous and patient in her work, and she never felt bored accompanying her mother in the kitchen every few days. If it were her, she would get tired after doing it once or twice.

With a diligent little helper accompanying her mother, Chu Shuang did all the things that Madam Sheng had insisted on her doing in the past, so Sheng Yao had a lot of free time.

The weather was good on the weekend, and Mrs. Sheng went camping with two young girls at the lake park. Chu Shuang packed up her drawing board to draw for Mrs. Sheng.

Mrs. Sheng had never had her portrait painted before, so she thought it was interesting and sat on a meadow full of wild flowers to model for Chushuang.

Sheng Yao ate watermelon while watching the two people painting. Behind his mother was the sparkling scenery of lake and mountains, and around the first frost on the painting board were the beautiful small flowers of various colors.

It was a heartwarming scene. She raised her phone to take a picture and sent it to the family group.

When returning home in the evening, there was a Lincoln parked in front of the Sheng family's house. Sheng Yao saw it from a distance and was quite surprised, "Didn't Big Brother have to go on a business trip for two months? He's back now."

Madam Sheng: "This child came back early without telling his family."

Chu Shuang looked in the direction of the Lincoln. The man who got out of the car was wearing a well-tailored suit vest. He was tall and slender, with his coat draped over his arm. He spotted their car out of the corner of his eye and turned to look.

The moment she saw his appearance clearly, Chu Shuang once again marveled at the Sheng family's excellent genes.

His eyebrows and eyes were as if painted and sculpted, and his cold temperament made him seem even more difficult to approach than Sheng Yao.

After getting off the car, Sheng Yao folded her hands and looked at him, "You're coming back empty-handed?"

Sheng Yang was not surprised: "Did you ask me to bring anything?"

Sheng Yao sneered: "If I don't tell you, you don't know how to buy it? Is there any brother like you?"

"Don't start bickering as soon as you get back," Madam Sheng laughed at the two childish people and remembered to introduce her son to Chu Shuang, "A Shuang, this is Sheng Yao's brother, Sheng Yang."

Hatsushimo nodded politely, "Hello, my name is Hatsushimo."

Madam Sheng: "She is Yaoyao's good friend."

Sheng Yang looked over and caught a glimpse of a bit of paint on the corner of her clothes. He said politely, "Not a bad name."

This look is even more impressive when seen up close. Hatsushimo curled her lips and said, "Thank you."

During dinner, Mrs. Sheng praised the portrait that Chushuang had painted for her today to Mr. Sheng, saying, "She is indeed an art student. Her brushstrokes are so vivid and her hands are so skillful."

"By the way, doesn't Ah Shuang work at a comics company? I didn't think of asking you before, which company do you work for?"

Hatsushimo: "Kite anime."

Mrs. Sheng thought for a few seconds and looked at Sheng Yang in confusion, "Does your company have a Kite Animation?"

Sheng Yang nodded, "Under Star Entertainment Culture."

Madam Sheng smiled and said, "What a coincidence, it's Ah Yang's company."