Chapter 50 [VIP]
All night, Han Shu was working on project evaluation, scheme design, and investment calculations. From major future development plans to minor details like how to spend a few thousand yuan, the business management student's professional abilities were only lightly displayed, yet they still shocked Wen Zhiyu, who was watching from the sidelines.
"This...is all just made up out of thin air?"
"What do you mean by 'out of thin air'?" Han Shu pressed the tip of his ballpoint pen repeatedly. "This is all the blood and tears accumulated from countless all-nighters of studying during final exam week, as well as the experience gained from falling into fire pits during internships and work."
Wen Zhiyu pinched her cheek and said from the bottom of his heart, "You're amazing, really amazing."
Han Shu hadn't been praised like this since kindergarten. She chuckled, "These are just small things, nothing compared to the wealthy and powerful Teacher Wen."
Wen Zhiyu smoothly sat down from the sofa, then casually put his arm around Han Shu, who was sitting cross-legged by the coffee table, and then rested his head on her shoulder, rubbing against her.
"What's wrong?" Han Shu was tickled by his hair and couldn't help but laugh while dodging.
Wen Zhiyu held her waist tightly without saying a word, just rubbing against her again and again, like a big dog trying to please its owner.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on?"
Wen Zhiyu hooked his little finger with Han Shu's little finger and said in a tense voice, "If you need money, come to me."
"..." Han Shu stroked his hair gently and asked in confusion, "Teacher Wen, how did you manage to say the most domineering CEO-like statement in the most timid tone?"
Wen Zhiyu stopped rubbing against him this time, straightened up, put his elbow on Han Shu's shoulder, and asked in a gruff voice with a very casual sitting posture, "Did you hear me?"
Han Shu laughed for a while, clutching his stomach, before closing his laptop. "What's the deal with using your money? Don't worry, I have a plan."
Wen Zhiyu was already afraid that she would resist, so he didn't insist after hearing this.
After all that fuss, it was time to go to bed. Everyone should have gone to their rooms to sleep peacefully, but Han Shu hesitated.
What did Wen Zhiyu say this morning?
Yes, let her sleep in the master bedroom.
Whether it's a master bedroom or not is not important; what matters is whether you sleep together.
Of course, it wasn't that she was against it, it's just that she felt... she wasn't ready for cohabitation. All told, they'd only been together for four days—that was way too fast!
Han Shu fiddled with the sofa handle, unsure of what to do, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Suddenly, I was bumped on the shoulder.
Wen Zhiyu appeared out of nowhere and pressed his arm tightly against hers, coughing.
Han Shu's back was pressed against the handrail, so he bumped back and coughed.
Wen Zhiyu scratched the side of his neck, realizing he had used a bit too much force, so he softened his movements and nudged her with his shoulder instead, "Do you remember what I said this morning?"
Han Shuxin's heart pounded. She squeezed back and asked, feigning ignorance, "What did you say?"
Wen Zhiyu squeezed in and said, "It's a promise, I'll stay in the master bedroom."
Han Shu squeezed back, "What...what are you saying?"
Wen Zhiyu squeezed in again, "Can I sleep on the floor?"
Han Shu squeezed back in, "What's the difference between that and me sleeping in the guest room?"
Wen Zhiyu squeezed in again, "It's different. You're not a tenant anymore. There must be a clear distinction between host and guest."
Han Shu squeezed back in, saying, "Wherever the owner lives, that's the master bedroom. This is just formalism."
Teacher Wen was a little confused. She wanted to explain but didn't know what to say. She couldn't explain it clearly no matter what she tried.
Han Shu regretted it a little. It wasn't that she wanted to refuse, it's just that... she just had to make things clear...
"Never mind." Wen Zhiyu suddenly stood up, scooped the person up by the back of his knees and back, and carried him up in the air like a naughty little kid caught stealing watermelons from the field, and ran upstairs.
"Hey!" Han Shu was dizzy from being jostled around, and even slapping him on the forehead couldn't stop him. "Why are you still forcing me?"
Wen Zhiyu said with a straight face, "I don't care."
Han Shu then grabbed his hair, "Put me down!"
"I won't let go!"
Wen Zhiyu stepped into the room and closed the door with his foot. Just like in the morning, he put her on the bed, rolled up the blanket into a seaweed rice roll, then stopped with satisfaction, bent down and kissed her hair, "Go to sleep."
After settling Han Shu in, he started to settle himself. First, he hopped over to reach the top shelf of the closet, only to have the blankets fall on his face. He spread them out on the edge of the bed, crawled in, and turned off the light in one swift motion. "I'll sleep too."
Han Shu fumbled with his chin on the blanket for a while until he could finally breathe easily. "Wen Zhiyu, you—"
"I'll sleep here, don't worry about me."
"No, I—"
"Don't worry, I'll definitely behave myself. I just want to be with you, that's all."
Wen Zhiyu knew what she was thinking. It was normal for a girl to have concerns, but after last night, he really didn't want to wake up in the middle of the night staring at that cold door and wondering where he was.
Just as he was trying to find the right words to convey the simple motives behind his seemingly complicated suggestion, Han Shu rolled to the edge of the bed, poked his head out, and said innocently, "I want to go to the bathroom, could you move over a bit?"
"..."
Wen Zhiyu sat up abruptly, moved to the bedside, turned on the bedside lamp to escort her there, then turned back and insisted on moving her back to the bedside.
Han Shu turned to face her right and said, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight" is at hand.
The two agreed that Wen Zhiyu was content with Han Shu's presence, and Han Shu believed that he should gradually adapt. However, before he could even make a name for himself in adapting, he received an invitation to "Wen Zhiyu's Night."
Wen Zhiyu initially wanted to refuse, but was threatened. In the end, the two of them each took a step back, and Wen Zhiyu...
When Qin Jianling saw the young couple who were late at the entrance of the venue, his eyes lit up repeatedly.
Han Shu wore a dark green halter-neck long dress, her hair pulled back to reveal her slender shoulders and back. The flowing fabric swayed with her steps like ripples on water. She wore no jewelry, which made her appear clean and elegant.
As for Wen Zhiyu, he was dressed as usual, but two things about him caught people's attention. One was the suit jacket draped over his arm, which he had probably put on Han Shu's shoulders before entering. The second was his double-breasted silk tie, which was also dark green and the same color as Han Shu's skirt.
"Oh my, Little Heat Sister, you've made a magic trick!"
"I bought it right away," Han Shu said, lifting her skirt apologetically.
—After all, going to Hainan Island is a vacation, so all the clothes suitable for formal occasions were left in Beicheng along with the job I quit.
Wen Zhiyu gave him a cold glance.
The two were too familiar with each other; Qin Jianling knew what Wen Zhiyu meant with just a flick of his finger. He chuckled and said, "She's already younger than me; using her full name would seem too formal. 'Little Heat Sister' would be much more suitable."
Wen Zhiyu snorted coldly, "Change it."
Qin Jianling raised his hands. "Then what do you suggest we change it to?"
Wen Zhiyu, holding Han Shu's hand, took the lead and walked up the steps, then looked down at her and said, "Call her sister-in-law."
Han Shu: !!!
"Hey, you're taking advantage of me?" Qin Jianling strode after him. "You're clearly a month younger than me, so you should call me sister-in-law, right?"
Han Shu: !!!
"sister in law."
"Sister-in-law!"
"sister in law."
"Sister-in-law!"
"Shut up!!!"
Han Shu glared at them, and both Ah Dai and Ah Gua fell silent.
Upon entering the venue, Qin Jianling led the two to seats with nameplates, settled Han Shu down, and then grabbed Wen Zhiyu's arm to prevent him from sitting down, saying, "Little Shu, please sit for a moment. You can borrow your boyfriend for a while."
Wen Zhiyu frowned. "What are you up to now?"
Qin Jianling lowered his voice, "Do you recognize that old man at the first table on the right? He's the former editor-in-chief of 'Book House.' And the woman wearing glasses two seats away from him is the new editor-in-chief of Nancheng Publishing House. Come and say hello to him."
Wen Zhiyu didn't even look at it, "I don't want to go."
"We have to go!" Qin Jianling put his arm around Han Shu's neck and pulled him away, not forgetting to nod to Han Shu, "It'll only be a little while, you eat first!"
Han Shu nodded with a smile. Following the direction, he saw a table teeming with people, all there to greet the bigwig. Some were obsequious, some wore awkward smiles, some were completely at ease, and others—
His face was so sour, as if someone owed him money.
Qin Jianling weaved through the crowd, shaking hands with this person and exchanging a few words with that person, his demeanor impeccable and his social skills adept. Wen Zhiyu, following behind him, had a cold face and didn't even bother to greet anyone, let alone turn his head.
Finally reaching the big shot's side, amidst a group of guests raising their glasses, Wen Zhiyu not only had his hands empty, but also one hand in his pocket. Qin Jianling subtly nudged his arm to remind him, but he ignored her, appearing completely detached and indifferent.
However, to everyone's surprise, the two editors who had been sitting calmly stood up and, among a group of respectful industry professionals, shook hands with only that incongruous, grumpy-faced man.
Wen Zhiyu bowed politely, his expression remaining unchanged. He was neither flattered nor did he change his behavior or way of handling things because of the "favoritism."
Han Shu suddenly thought of himself.
That version of myself, forced to watch my boss's every move, serving tea and water; that version of myself, unable to refuse to drink while holding a wine glass; that version of myself, wanting to overturn the table but lacking the courage to act meekly.
She lacked Wen Zhiyu's decisiveness in leaving the card table. Behind this decisiveness lay his strength, his independent character, and his determination to be himself.
Wen Zhiyu sat back down and finally took his left hand out of his pocket. He took Han Shu's hand, picked up the water Han Shu had already opened and taken a couple of sips of, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Drink slowly," Han Shu instructed.
"It's nothing." Wen Zhiyu paused for a moment, then said with a pitiful expression, "It's really annoying. Can we leave first?"
"I came with you, of course I can." Han Shu scratched his palm. "I don't like these kinds of occasions."
"Yes, but Lao Qin thinks I should interact more with people in the industry."
"Teacher Qin has his reasons for saying that. It's a society based on personal connections, and it's always easier to get things done if you know more people."
“Maybe, but that doesn’t apply to me.” Wen Zhiyu unbuttoned his suit jacket. “If I write a bunch of garbage, no one will even glance at it if I kneel down. But if I write something of decent quality, people will appreciate it even if I stand on a table.”
Han Shu gazed at the man's profile, a thought stirring within him. He remained somewhat tense, lacking his usual unrestrained childishness and the maturity that adults pride themselves on. He was simply a writer, a writer who remained true to his original aspirations.
Halfway through the process, Wen Zhiyu greeted Qin Jianling and then left with Han Shu.
At the end of October, the southern part of the city still retained traces of summer amidst the autumnal atmosphere.
Wen Zhiyu draped his suit jacket over her shoulders and straightened the sleeves that reached her thighs. "Are you cold?"
"It's not cold." Han Shu pulled his coat tighter. "It can't compare to Hainan Island, but it's already considered warm. If I were dressed like this in Beicheng at the end of October, I would be sent to a mental hospital."
Wen Zhiyu touched her hand; his palm was still warm, and he felt relieved. "Old Qin has already booked a hotel. Shall we go back and rest?"
Han Shu shook his head. "I want to go for a walk."
Where to?
"Go...to the place where you lived."
Han Shu clung tightly to Wen Zhiyu's waist, her skirt and strands of hair flying wildly in the roar of the motorcycle engine. They sped along, cutting through the streets and alleys and the hustle and bustle of traffic.
Han Shu rested his chin on Wen Zhiyu's shoulder and asked loudly, "How come you have a motorcycle everywhere?"
"It'll be easier to take the back streets!" Wen Zhiyu turned his head and raised his voice, "There are many old buildings and narrow streets in the south of the city. Hold on tight!"
Han Shu tightened his arms again, his palms pressed firmly against the thin muscles under his shirt, and his smile gradually widened.
This was a city she had never set foot in before, yet it didn't feel unfamiliar at all. The flashing signs and straight plane trees along the roadside receded into the distance; under each sign might have been a restaurant Wen Zhiyu had eaten at, and under each tree might have sheltered Wen Zhiyu from the wind and rain and blocked out the sunlight.
She wanted to go against the current and follow the path he had taken, perhaps in this way she could draw courage and become as brave as him.
"Where to now?" Han Shu asked.
"Go to the heart storage facility," Wen Zhiyu replied.
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