Shen Nanyue let out a regretful sigh.
Zhou Yushen was far too serious.
She only wanted to slap Chen Mu in the face figuratively—she had never intended to truly get entangled with anyone.
More than anything, she hoped Zhou Yushen would keep things physical rather than emotional.
Shen Nanyue didn’t reply to any more of Zhou Yushen’s messages.
That evening, she treated several university professors to dinner.
The jointly organized competition between the school and her studio had benefited both sides greatly, but in the end, the school had still been the one to give her the opportunity.
As the cooperating party, social obligations were unavoidable.
Near the end of the gathering, Shen Nanyue went to the restroom.
On her way out, however, she unexpectedly saw Zhou Yushen talking with a woman.
The corridor lighting was dim.
Zhou Yushen held a cigarette between his long fingers, looking down at the woman indifferently.
The flickering ember illuminated his refined side profile.
The woman bit her lip, her eyes red with tears, looking pitiful and delicate.
“Brother Yushen, can’t we really go back to how things used to be?”
Zhou Yushen lifted his eyelids coldly, and his words were especially heartless.
“There’s no ‘before’ between us.”
“You’re really that cruel? You’d rather come all the way to Fengcheng than see me again…”
The woman broke down crying.
Unfortunately, the prince had no heart to pity her.
Shen Nanyue didn’t reveal herself.
She had seen enough reunion dramas between couples before, and whether as Zhou Yushen’s former car-fling partner or merely a bystander, it wasn’t appropriate for her to appear.
Besides, regardless of whether Zhou Yushen intended to reconcile with the woman or not, Shen Nanyue had no intention of having any further involvement with him.
So when her senior sister later came over again to ask whether she had managed to “hook” Zhou Yushen, Shen Nanyue made her stance very clear—deeply touched, but respectfully declining.
“Mr. Zhou is wonderful, but I don’t plan on rushing into marriage for now. I only need a suitable partner for a long-term relationship.”
In simpler terms:
He could be a bed partner. He could be a lover.
But definitely not a real husband.
Shen Nanyue had witnessed the marriage between her mother and father firsthand.
Back then, because of company matters, the two had delayed divorcing for years.
Arguments, cold wars, insults…
To the point that her father eventually died from depression.
After her mother remarried, her stepfather was indeed gentle and obedient.
But every bit of it stemmed from benefit and self-interest.
To Shen Nanyue, marriage was nothing more than restraint and a cage.
What’s more, she had no intention of reconnecting with Zhou Yushen.
Soon enough, the matter was pushed to the back of her mind.
The competition was progressing in full swing, and Shen Nanyue’s studio had been especially busy these days.
Ever since their last interaction, Zhou Yushen had not texted her again.
Shen Nanyue recruited several students from the design department to help out at the studio.
Her studio itself wasn’t very large—aside from a few junior apprentices she had personally trained and several custom tailors, there weren’t many staff members.
Yet the number of orders remained substantial.
After checking the fabric and sewing supplies in the warehouse, she stepped into the studio and immediately heard a familiar female voice.
“I want to custom-make a dress that can make my boyfriend fall back in love with me. Preferably something a bit more revealing…”
It was Zhou Yushen’s ex-girlfriend.
The same woman who had been entangled with him outside the restroom when Shen Nanyue had gone to dinner with the professors.
Shen Nanyue paused.
She walked over and took over the reception from the blushing university student.
“Hello, I’m the owner of this studio.”
The woman looked somewhat surprised.
Shen Nanyue was wearing a modern Chinese-style qipao.
Roses were embroidered across the satin fabric, while lustrous pearls traced the delicate curve of her waist.
Her waist-to-hip ratio was perfectly proportioned, making her look irresistibly alluring.
Both her figure and face were exceptionally stunning.
“Hello.” The woman took a while to recover herself. “I want to win my boyfriend back, so I’d like a sexier dress made. I wonder if that’s possible?”
Shen Nanyue didn’t refuse.
Instead, she smiled and asked, “Boyfriend? Forgive me for asking, but are you and your boyfriend currently in a cold war?”
For a split second, the woman’s expression stiffened, though Shen Nanyue failed to notice it.
She only heard the woman bite her lip and reply softly, “Yes. There’s just been a small misunderstanding between us. He’s still angry with me…”
Shen Nanyue withdrew her gaze with an unreadable expression.
He still had a girlfriend, yet he was flirting with her about marriage?
Was he treating her like part of some twisted couple’s game?
“A woman dresses to please the one she loves. But if you’re putting in effort for a man who isn’t worth it, that’s really a pity.”
Shen Nanyue smiled lightly.
“I’ll have my assistant send you some design drafts later. If there’s one you like, we can discuss the details further.”
After all, it was someone else’s private life.
Shen Nanyue only offered a brief reminder and didn’t pry further.
After seeing the woman off, Shen Nanyue pulled up the number Zhou Yushen had used to text her and decisively blocked him.
She admitted that Zhou Yushen was attractive.
But refined men were often the worst scoundrels.
Especially someone like Zhou Yushen—playing with her would probably be effortless for him.
There was no need to deliver herself up as someone else’s joke.
After finishing her work, Shen Nanyue selected the design drafts she liked and prepared to bring them to the school for the second round of judging.
When she arrived, her senior sister was entertaining a guest.
Shen Nanyue waited for a while, only to see Zhou Yushen walk out of the office.
Light and shadow intertwined around him.
The man’s figure was lean and tall as he casually pushed open the door against the backlight.
He toyed with the car keys in his hand, phoenix eyes half-narrowed as he coolly examined her.
“You blocked me?”
And he sounded completely justified about it, too.
Shen Nanyue almost laughed from anger.
Meeting his gaze, she sneered, “Mr. Zhou, you still haven’t cleanly cut ties with your ex-girlfriend, yet you come talking to me about marriage. Are you playing with me?”
As soon as she spoke, her senior sister came out.
“What ex-girlfriend?”
Shen Nanyue originally had no intention of exposing someone else’s private matters, but now she had no choice but to explain.
“A few days ago, I accepted an order from Mr. Zhou’s ex-girlfriend. That young lady still seems to have feelings for him.”
Her senior sister looked surprised.
“You’ve been misled, haven’t you? Yushen’s been abroad all these years—what girlfriend would he have had? He’s had plenty of admirers, though.”
Leaning against the wall, Zhou Yushen looked at her with a half-smile.
Shen Nanyue froze, realizing the woman had probably only been one of his pursuers.
Her senior sister smiled.
“Just give me the drafts. Let Yushen drive you home. If there’s a misunderstanding, it’s better to clear it up quickly.”
Feeling somewhat guilty, Shen Nanyue didn’t refuse again.
Sitting in Zhou Yushen’s car once more, she apologized first.
“Sorry. I misunderstood the situation.”
Inside the car, Zhou Yushen lit a cigarette.
His dark eyes studied her as he spoke unhurriedly.
“I’m serious about the marriage.”
His grandfather had been pressuring him relentlessly, demanding that he find a woman and register their marriage within a month.
For some reason, whenever marriage was mentioned, Zhou Yushen felt that Shen Nanyue was the most suitable candidate.
On top of that, he had a strong aversion to emotional messiness and also possessed a sense of responsibility.
If you slept with someone, you were supposed to take responsibility.
Shen Nanyue frowned slightly.
Even if Zhou Yushen wasn’t a scumbag, she truly was resistant to marriage.
“What a pity. I’m not suitable material to be Mrs. Zhou.”
The sandalwood scent lingering around Zhou Yushen carried a coolness to it.
Flicking away some ash, he remained calm.
“What’s the reason?”
“We’re not compatible.”
“In what way?”
Shen Nanyue blurted out instinctively: “The size isn’t compatible.”
The air fell silent for a moment.
The corners of Zhou Yushen’s thin lips suddenly curved upward.
He grabbed her slender wrist, his tone meaningful.
“Then perhaps… we should sleep together one more time.”
Shen Nanyue: “…”
Even if Zhou Yushen wasn’t truly eighteen centimeters or capable of seven times a night as she’d exaggerated, he was still far from insignificant in that department.
In fact, that encounter in the car had left her wanting more.
Still, Shen Nanyue smiled faintly.
“Forget it. I have trauma when it comes to marriage.”
Zhou Yushen looked at her, his tone calm.
“Maybe I can help you get rid of that trauma.”
His gaze fell onto her lips.
He leaned closer, his voice low and deep.
“For example… starting with a kiss?”
One of his hands tightened around her waist.
— The end of the Chapter–
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