Shen Nanyue ignored her and walked straight out of the hospital room.
Just after stepping out and taking a few steps, she ran into Chen Mu, who had come to visit Zhou Yu.
“Shen Nanyue, publicly ruining your own mother’s birthday banquet… impressive.”
Faced with his mockery, Shen Nanyue rolled her eyes and could not even be bothered to respond.
She moved to walk around him and leave.
But Chen Mu grabbed her arm and lowered his voice beside her ear.
“Why are you investigating my sister?”
There was a trace of ruthlessness in his tone.
Shen Nanyue’s heart skipped slightly as she turned to look at him.
Chen Mu stared at her coldly, the disgust in his expression completely undisguised.
She yanked her arm free and turned to face him directly.
The calm smile remained on her face.
“‘Investigating’ sounds a bit harsh, don’t you think? We were engaged after all. Isn’t it normal for me to show some concern for my future sister-in-law?”
As she spoke, she carefully observed his reaction.
Sure enough, his face darkened, anger surging from him.
“Shen Nanyue! If you dare touch my family, I’ll fight you to the death!”
Shen Nanyue frowned slightly.
Since when had she ever said she wanted to hurt his family?
It wasn’t like she was some kind of gangster.
Just as she was about to speak, a timid voice sounded from nearby.
“What… are you two doing?”
Lin Siwan stood at the doorway, one hand resting on the doorframe.
Her delicate figure looked fragile and pitiful as tears shimmered in her eyes while she looked toward them.
As though she were a wife catching her husband together with his mistress.
Chen Mu immediately walked over and gently stroked Lin Siwan’s face as he comforted her softly.
“It’s nothing. We just ran into each other and exchanged a few words. Go back inside.”
Holding back her tears, Lin Siwan nodded obediently.
Then she glanced toward Shen Nanyue and walked over to her.
“Sister, stay and talk with Mom for a while… Last night, you really hurt her feelings.”
She reached out as if to hold Shen Nanyue’s hand.
Shen Nanyue immediately dodged to the side and rolled her eyes at her before turning away as though avoiding some disgusting animal.
If she had to keep looking at that hypocritical act any longer, she genuinely might throw up.
Watching Shen Nanyue’s departing back, the weak and innocent expression on Lin Siwan’s face instantly disappeared.
Her features twisted as she stared ahead resentfully.
She would never allow Shen Nanyue to steal Brother Chen Mu away from her again!
…
News of Zhou Yu being humiliated at the birthday banquet quickly spread everywhere.
Whenever the wealthy socialites gathered for afternoon tea, the incident inevitably became a topic of discussion.
While sympathizing with Zhou Yu, they also cursed Shen Nanyue mercilessly.
Unfilial. Ill-mannered. Selfish.
Every negative label imaginable was attached to Shen Nanyue’s name over and over again.
Her already terrible reputation became even more notorious.
As for Zhou Yu, she felt too ashamed to show her face.
After returning from the hospital, she hid at the Lin residence and did not dare go out.
She planned to wait until the scandal died down before rejoining her circle of wealthy ladies.
Shen Nanyue, however, could not have cared less.
She busied herself recruiting new staff for her studio while also making time to accompany her grandfather.
Her days felt full and peaceful.
Then one day, an unexpected guest arrived at the studio.
When Shen Nanyue saw Zhou Yushen, she was momentarily dazed.
The Zhou Yushen who had been relentlessly flirting with her not long ago had seemingly vanished these past few days.
She had almost forgotten about him entirely.
Under the teasing gazes of her junior colleagues, Shen Nanyue led Zhou Yushen into her office and poured him a glass of water.
“Here for custom clothing?”
“Couldn’t it just be that I missed you and came to see you?”
Shen Nanyue said nothing, merely lifting her eyes to stare at him calmly.
Zhou Yushen chuckled softly and stopped teasing her.
Business came knocking, so naturally she welcomed it with a smile.
Shen Nanyue’s eyes curved into crescents as she accepted the information Zhou Yushen handed over.
After glancing through it, she asked, “Do you have any specific requirements for the team uniforms?”
“Nothing special. Something suitable for the investment banking department. Simple is fine.”
“Any deadline requirements?”
“Can it be finished within a week?”
“A week… that’s a bit tight.”
There were more than ten people in their department.
From designing to pattern-making to production, one week really was cutting it close.
“Our company retreat is next Saturday. To be exact, you have ten days.”
“Done! Leave it to me!”
A week was rushed, but ten days was just right.
After the deposit was paid, Shen Nanyue noticed Zhou Yushen still hadn’t left.
Raising a brow, she looked at him. “Mr. Zhou, not busy anymore?”
Zhou Yushen lounged lazily against the sofa, showing no intention of leaving.
“Are you upset that I haven’t come to see you these past few days?”
“You’re overthinking it.”
Shen Nanyue organized the order forms and shot him a casual glance.
Truthfully, she had thought about Zhou Yushen these past few days.
Back at the Shen residence, she had misunderstood him.
She had even considered apologizing.
But there had been too many things going on, and the matter was left unresolved.
Just as she was about to stand up, Zhou Yushen grabbed her hand first.
With a gentle tug, he pulled her down beside him.
That familiar cool scent filled her senses.
Shen Nanyue turned to look at him.
The man still carried that relaxed, unrestrained air, as though he were sitting in his own office.
Even after several days apart, he remained devastatingly handsome.
His sharp brows and open features were illuminated by the light, outlining him in brilliance.
Shen Nanyue sat so close to him that she could even see the tiny details on his face.
His skin is really good.
She sighed inwardly.
“I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. Consider it my apology.”
“What are you apologizing for?” Shen Nanyue asked in confusion.
“For being busy these past few days and failing to fulfill the duties expected of a simp. That’s my negligence.”
Shen Nanyue: “…”
She pressed her lips together and stared at Zhou Yushen for a long while.
Utterly speechless.
Such a handsome man, yet he treated being a simp like some kind of faith.
“Can you stop saying ‘simp’ already?”
“Then what should I say? Admirer? Pending fiancé candidate?”
“…Just stick with ‘simp.’ At least it sounds grounded.”
Shen Nanyue shook off his hand and walked out of the office.
She handed the documents in her hands to a junior schoolmate, gave a few instructions, and only then returned.
Picking up her bag, she raised a brow at Zhou Yushen. “Let’s go. Aren’t we having dinner?”
The smile on Zhou Yushen’s lips widened.
Two hours later.
On the upper floor of Yunting Hotel, at a table by the floor-to-ceiling window—
Shen Nanyue and Zhou Yushen sat facing each other.
Resting her head on one hand, Shen Nanyue gazed out through the window, taking in the night view of Fengcheng.
The lights stretched endlessly, colorful neon wrapping around the city’s skyscrapers.
At night, Fengcheng was at its most enchanting.
“What would you like to eat?”
Zhou Yushen handed the menu to Shen Nanyue.
She didn’t take it.
Glancing at him, she said lightly, “You order. I’ll have the same as you.”
She didn’t want to move, nor did she feel like thinking about what to choose.
Besides, she wasn’t picky with food.
Zhou Yushen said nothing and casually ordered two identical meals.
After the waiter left, Shen Nanyue spoke again. “Let me pay for dinner tonight. Consider it an apology.”
A trace of surprise crossed Zhou Yushen’s face.
Leaning back in his chair, he looked at her with a faint smile. “An apology?”
“The last time you came to my house to retrieve your lost USB drive, I misunderstood and thought you were disturbing my grandfather. I wasn’t very friendly to you back then.”
Once she voiced the apology she had been keeping inside, she felt much lighter.
She lowered her hand and looked up at Zhou Yushen sincerely.
— The end of the Chapter–
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