“A new client. She said she wants to design a wedding dress for her future daughter-in-law as a surprise.”
Zhou Yushen looked surprised. “Your studio even takes wedding dress commissions?”
Shen Nanyue didn’t stop moving her hand, answering him while sketching.
“Now that you mention it, our studio’s business really is all over the place.”
The pencil danced skillfully in her hand, almost like Ma Liang’s magical brush.
In no time, she had sketched a strapless wedding gown with layered pleated folds.
She stopped drawing and stared at the design on the page, obvious dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes.
“Designing wedding dresses really isn’t as simple as I thought.”
Looks like she would need outside help.
She set down the pencil and noticed the man standing beside her, silently staring at her drawing board.
She waved a hand in front of his eyes.
“What are you thinking about?”
Zhou Yushen caught her hand in his, his gaze shifting from the drawing board to her upturned face.
Under the cold white lighting, the girl’s fair skin looked even smoother and more delicate, like a peeled egg.
Her shimmering eyes reflected in his own, making the sudden pounding of his heart impossible to suppress.
His thumb lightly brushed across the smooth skin on the back of her hand.
Unconsciously, he swallowed and answered in a hoarse voice, “Nothing.”
He still hadn’t told Shen Nanyue his true identity.
Naturally, he couldn’t casually decide on something like a wedding ceremony either.
Hiding his identity had never been his intention, but things had developed to this point, and he couldn’t simply reveal the truth to her now.
Because Shen Nanyue—who didn’t yet love him deeply enough—might genuinely choose to divorce him immediately if she learned who he really was.
Shen Nanyue looked at him suspiciously for a moment but didn’t press further.
Zhou Yushen continued, “Xu Ping will arrive in Fengcheng tomorrow. Do you have time tomorrow?”
“When?” The moment the topic came up, Shen Nanyue became energized.
Xu Ping was one of the top lawyers in the country.
Every case he handled had ended in victory.
And the cases he took weren’t minor disputes either—most involved complicated conflicts or even murder cases.
So his undefeated record carried real weight.
“He lands tomorrow at two in the afternoon.”
“Then we can arrange dinner tomorrow night. I’ll make sure to properly host him.”
Shen Nanyue’s eyes sparkled brightly, her excitement impossible to hide.
That night, when Zhou Yushen had asked if she wanted to continue going after the Chen family, he had recommended Lawyer Xu Ping.
Shen Nanyue wasn’t familiar with people in that field.
Only after Xiao Qi investigated did she realize what a genius-level figure Xu Ping was.
With a lawyer like him involved, making everyone in the Chen family who had plotted against An’an receive the punishment they deserved should not be difficult.
“Alright, I’ll arrange it.”
Smiling, Shen Nanyue stood up and suddenly wrapped her arms around Zhou Yushen.
“Zhou Yushen, I’m only realizing now just how capable you are.”
Zhou Yushen raised an eyebrow and naturally wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into an embrace.
“Think about it—you can get famous doctors from both China and abroad, and even a lawyer as incredible as Xu Ping. I reflected on it and realized I really underestimated you before.”
Zhou Yushen merely smiled without speaking.
But then Shen Nanyue suddenly pulled away from his arms and looked at him mischievously.
“Don’t tell me this is all thanks to your Young Master Zhou again?”
Zhou Yushen’s brows twitched slightly.
Looking down into her fox-like, cunning eyes, a faintly amused smile curved his lips.
“What? If it’s Young Master Zhou’s doing, then I’m still that useless man again?”
Shen Nanyue was deliberately teasing him.
Pretending to hesitate, she frowned thoughtfully. “Well…”
Seeing Zhou Yushen’s expression dim slightly, she curled her lips into a smile.
Her soft, lingering voice carried unmistakable amusement.
“Of course not. Young Master Zhou may be capable, but his glory comes from the powerful Zhou family behind him. You’re different—you built yourself up with your own two hands. You’re way better than those rich second-generation heirs!”
She kept flattering Zhou Yushen.
But the more he listened, the worse he felt.
“Why do you think Young Master Zhou’s influence comes from his family?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” Shen Nanyue laughed lightly.
“I’m a rich second-generation heir too. I inherited my family’s business, and ever since I was young, all my connections and influence came from the Shen family. Your Young Master Zhou must be the same.”
Zhou Yushen pressed his lips together, a trace of inner conflict flashing through his eyes.
Noticing the change in his mood, Shen Nanyue worried that talking too much about this might make him feel burdened.
She immediately grabbed his hand and comforted him.
“Zhou Yushen, you’re already more impressive than all of us. Really.”
Her gaze was sincere, and a fleeting hint of guilt flashed through Zhou Yushen’s eyes.
“What if Young Master Zhou built his career entirely on his own, without relying on the Zhou family at all? Would you think he’s impressive then?”
“How is that possible?” Shen Nanyue chuckled softly, as if she found him adorable, and reached out to pinch his cheek.
“You’re too naïve. The Zhou family is the number one wealthy family in the capital. How could someone born into a family like that avoid using even a little of their family’s influence? Even if your Young Master Zhou had great ambitions, his family definitely would’ve helped him here and there when he started his business.”
Seeing Zhou Yushen remain silent with a dark expression, Shen Nanyue changed the subject.
“Alright, stop getting involved in rich family matters. Be careful or they’ll corrupt you too. Let’s sleep—it’s too late.”
As she spoke, Shen Nanyue pulled Zhou Yushen out of the studio.
For once, his face carried a rare trace of gloominess.
Before confessing his identity to Shen Nanyue, he decided he needed to restore Young Master Zhou’s reputation a little.
He wanted Shen Nanyue to understand that it wasn’t him relying on the Zhou family—
It was the Zhou family relying on him!
…
The next evening.
Shen Nanyue met up with Zhou Yushen early, and the two waited together at the restaurant for Xu Ping’s arrival.
Zhou Yushen sat to the side with a cold and aloof aura, his expression already showing signs of displeasure.
The reason was simple: they had already been waiting several minutes for Xu Ping.
What Zhou Yushen hated most was when people were late after agreeing on a time!
Shen Nanyue checked the time and asked doubtfully, “Could traffic be especially bad around this hour?”
Zhou Yushen didn’t have that much patience.
Taking out his phone, he sent Xu Ping a message.
“If you don’t want to die, show up within five minutes.”
The moment the message was sent, the private room door was pushed open.
Xu Ping hurried in, slightly out of breath, smiling apologetically as he greeted them.
“Sorry, traffic was terrible on the way. I’m late.”
Xu Ping’s appearance matched his profession as a lawyer perfectly—upright and proper-looking, with an innate sense of integrity.
At first glance, he gave people a reassuring feeling.
Shen Nanyue immediately stood up and smiled at him.
“It’s alright, we haven’t been here long either. Please sit down, Lawyer Xu.”
Zhou Yushen’s displeased gaze lightly swept across Xu Ping’s face.
He said nothing, yet somehow it felt like he had said a great deal.
Xu Ping sat across from them with a smile, glanced at Zhou Yushen’s expression, and awkwardly rubbed his nose.
He already knew this particular man hated waiting for people, which was why he had rushed over as fast as possible once the traffic cleared.
Yet he had still ended up a few minutes late.
Shen Nanyue didn’t notice the strange atmosphere.
After asking the waiter to take their orders, she got straight to the point.
“Lawyer Xu, regarding the Chen family illegally imprisoning my younger sister, what are your thoughts on the case?”
— The end of the Chapter–
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