Shen Nanyue stared at Zhou Yushen in surprise.
She was just about to say something when, from the corner of her eye, she noticed Zhou Yu about to fall asleep again.
She immediately called out to her.
After gathering her thoughts, she frowned at Zhou Yushen.
“That’s my leftover food.”
After holding it in for a long while, that was all she managed to say.
Zhou Yushen did not seem to care at all.
Even while eating a simple bowl of porridge, his movements remained graceful and refined.
“Wasting food is shameful.”
Zhou Yushen calmly uttered those four words.
Shen Nanyue had nothing to say back and could only ignore him.
The two hours soon passed.
Zhou Yu finally slept for half an hour before waking up again.
When she saw that Shen Nanyue was the only one staying beside her bed, a trace of surprise flashed through Zhou Yu’s eyes, followed by disappointment.
But throughout the entire night, Zhou Yushen remained by Shen Nanyue’s side.
No matter what Shen Nanyue said, he never left the hospital room.
By the end of it, Shen Nanyue stopped urging him to leave.
The next morning—
Shen Nanyue woke up on the sofa with Zhou Yushen’s jacket draped over her.
Zhou Yushen was nowhere to be seen in the room, but there was a female caregiver helping Zhou Yu walk back in from outside the ward.
The doctor had already made morning rounds and instructed Zhou Yu to get out of bed and move around a little.
When Zhou Yu saw Shen Nanyue awake, a conflicted expression appeared on her face.
Only after a long pause did she finally say, “This caregiver was hired by Zhou Yushen for me. He went to buy breakfast.”
Just as Zhou Yu finished speaking, Zhou Yushen returned carrying breakfast.
Because Zhou Yu had undergone stomach surgery, the doctor had advised that she could not eat for twenty-four hours and would have to wait until the evening.
So Zhou Yushen had only brought breakfast for two people.
The caregiver helped Zhou Yu sit back onto the bed.
Zhou Yu watched as Zhou Yushen handed Shen Nanyue a disposable toothbrush and towel.
Only after washing up did Shen Nanyue come out to eat.
Everything between the two of them felt completely natural.
As though they were still husband and wife.
Zhou Yu pressed her lips together but did not ask the question lingering in her heart.
While eating breakfast, Shen Nanyue’s gaze would occasionally drift toward Zhou Yushen.
At one point, Zhou Yushen caught her looking.
“What is it?”
“You really can leave now.”
Shen Nanyue spoke.
Zhou Yushen frowned.
The next second, Shen Nanyue added, “I’ll be leaving soon too.”
Zhou Yushen simply responded with a calm “Mm,” and said nothing more.
The two quietly finished breakfast, and Zhou Yushen went to clean up.
Shen Nanyue walked over to the hospital bed.
“There’s still work waiting at the company, so I can’t stay here too long. The caregiver will look after you. If anything happens, call me.”
Her tone was calm and emotionless.
Zhou Yu nodded.
The way the two interacted had changed from open hostility to awkward restraint.
After Shen Nanyue and Zhou Yushen left— Zhou Yu called Lin Siwan.
“Mom, you’re awake!”
Lin Siwan’s voice sounded cheerful, and the heavy weight in Zhou Yu’s heart slowly eased.
“I’m awake. Can you—”
“Siwan, it’s your turn! If you don’t come over now, you’ll have to drink three glasses later!”
A lively female voice came from the other end of the phone, calling Lin Siwan over to drink.
Apparently afraid that Zhou Yu might hear too much, Lin Siwan hurriedly said, “Mom, I still have something to do. I’ll come see you later, okay?”
Then she hung up.
The heart Zhou Yu had just settled felt as though it sank straight to the bottom of a lake once more.
Ever since she entered the hospital room, neither Lin Siwan nor Lin Shu had appeared.
On the very first day after her surgery, the daughter she had once doted on so dearly was out happily drinking and having fun with friends.
A bitter smile slowly rose on Zhou Yu’s lips.
Was this her punishment?
The female caregiver stayed by her side, meticulous in everything she did, especially skilled at taking care of patients.
This was the person her biological daughter had arranged for her.
…..
Shen Nanyue looked utterly exhausted.
Sitting in the car, she was already nodding off from sleepiness.
Zhou Yushen glanced at her and decisively drove her back to the Shen residence.
“Didn’t we say we were going to the company? Weren’t you going to discuss the partnership with me?”
“We can talk in your study at home too. Besides, looking like this… are you really planning to go to the office?”
Shen Nanyue lowered her head to look at herself.
Her white blazer was wrinkled, her body carried the lingering smell of disinfectant, and through the car’s vanity mirror she could see the dark circles beneath her eyes.
In this condition, she really was not suited to appear at the company.
In the end, Shen Nanyue got out of the car and brought Zhou Yushen into the Shen residence.
The moment they entered the living room, Shen An’an came running over.
“Big Sis!”
After a brief moment of surprise, Shen Nanyue broke into a smile.
“An’an, why are you back already? Didn’t you say you’d return in a week? Why did you come back early?”
“I was worried about you, so I came back early.”
As she spoke, her gaze lightly swept over Zhou Yushen standing behind Shen Nanyue.
Then Shen An’an asked, “Big Sis, where did you go last night? I called you so many times, but you never answered.”
Only then did Shen Nanyue take her phone out of her bag, discovering that it had already powered off.
Helplessly rubbing her forehead, she said, “Mom got sick. I stayed at the hospital last night.”
Shen An’an frowned.
“What kind of illness? Is it serious?”
“A benign stomach tumor. She already had surgery. She’s fine now.”
Only then did Shen An’an let out a sigh of relief.
“Then I’ll go visit her later. Send me the room number.”
Shen Nanyue nodded.
The two sisters linked arms and walked into the living room together.
Zhou Yushen bent down, intending to take out his slippers from the shoe cabinet, only to discover that his slippers had long since disappeared.
All that remained were pairs of women’s slippers.
They had cleared out his shoes that quickly?
He frowned slightly, then casually took a pair of slippers Shen Nanyue had worn and slipped his feet into them.
His feet were larger than Shen Nanyue’s, so after putting them on, half of his heels stuck out from the back.
It did not affect his walking, though the fit was uncomfortable.
Yet Zhou Yushen’s expression did not change in the slightest as he walked inside just like that.
When Shen Nanyue saw this, she frowned.
“You’ve stretched out my slippers. Wasn’t there a pair of men’s slippers inside?”
“You threw them away.”
Shen Nanyue looked confused.
When had she thrown away any slippers?
She turned to look at Shen An’an.
Shen An’an smiled brightly at her, looking exactly like a sly little fox.
Shen Nanyue felt somewhat helpless.
This little girl had only just come home and was already standing up for her.
Zhou Yushen sat down on the sofa as naturally as if he still belonged there.
Seeing this, Shen An’an said coolly,
“Mr. Zhou, it seems you no longer have any special status that allows you to enter this house.”
Faced with Shen An’an’s sarcasm, Zhou Yushen remained calm.
“I’m currently a guest and also President Shen’s business partner. We agreed to discuss partnership details in the study at the Shen residence.”
Shen An’an turned to Shen Nanyue for confirmation.
Shen Nanyue nodded.
For some reason, when she met Shen An’an’s gaze, she actually felt a little guilty.
Shen An’an frowned and continued, “My sister doesn’t have time right now. Please leave.”
“President Shen just agreed to meet with me. She does have time.”
“I said she doesn’t.”
“And just because you say so, that makes it true?”
The two of them bickered like elementary school children.
Shen Nanyue straightened up and blocked their line of sight.
She glared coldly at Zhou Yushen, and he finally stopped talking.
Then she turned around and helplessly patted Shen An’an’s head.
“Alright. He and I are discussing serious business. An’an, sit for a while first. I’ll come see you later.”
With that, she led Zhou Yushen upstairs.
— The end of the Chapter–
TL note : Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 50 chapters of the release :
https://www.patreon.com/DeCakraWnloverz
