The man kept his hands in his pockets.
The brim of his baseball cap shadowed his eyes, darkness covering half his face and making his features impossible to see clearly.
Without stopping, he casually walked past the two of them and left.
Shen Nanyue didn’t think much of it.
She simply assumed the auntie from earlier had misunderstood the situation.
“It’s getting late. We should head back too.”
There was still that steep slope waiting for them to climb.
Zhou Yushen nodded, glancing sideways at the man in the baseball cap.
Then he turned and followed after Shen Nanyue.
After the two of them left, the man in the cap turned to look at their retreating figures.
He pulled out his phone, snapped a photo of their backs, and sent a text message:
“They’ve gone back.”
…
A month later, Fengcheng would be hosting a fashion show.
Unlike the small campus venue from before, this fashion show was jointly organized by the Fengcheng government and the International Fashion Design Association.
Shen Nanyue had worked hard to secure an invitation to the event, intending to use the show to establish her studio’s reputation.
Meng Zhishuo stood outside a two-story western-style house near Fengcheng University.
Looking at the brightly polished glass doors and the cute yet stylish signboard above them, he nodded approvingly.
“Nan’an Studio. Nice name.”
He pushed open the glass door and walked inside.
The lobby had a minimalist yet tasteful design.
Directly ahead stood a curved pale-green reception desk.
To the right were several guest tables and chairs arranged neatly.
To the left, clothing racks displayed all kinds of garments.
The designs flowed smoothly and elegantly—some modern Chinese styles, others fully Western.
Though the styles varied, the number of displayed garments clearly showed that the studio’s main focus was new Chinese-style fashion.
Meng Zhishuo walked straight to the reception desk and tapped the countertop with his fingers.
“I’m here to see your boss. I’ve got a big business deal to discuss.”
The receptionist led him upstairs.
The second floor was the studio’s workspace.
Designing, pattern-making, and tailoring areas were all neatly separated.
Employees were busy with their respective tasks, working enthusiastically.
The receptionist knocked on the office door.
After getting Shen Nanyue’s permission, she let Meng Zhishuo inside.
Seeing who had arrived, Shen Nanyue paused briefly while pouring water before quickly returning to her normal expression.
“Sit. Tell me what you need.”
Meng Zhishuo quickly walked over and sat on the sofa beside her, smiling as he accepted the cup she handed him.
“Without relying on your family, you managed to open a studio like this. You can race cars, and you can design clothes too. Master, you’re seriously amazing!”
Shen Nanyue: “…”
Ever since she defeated Meng Zhishuo at the racetrack, he seemed to have developed some sort of PTSD-like condition.
Not only had he completely forgotten the humiliation of calling her “Dad” that day, but now he constantly called her “Master.”
She said nothing, merely staring at him silently.
Only then did Meng Zhishuo prop his chin on one hand and finally explain why he came.
“So here’s the thing, Master. My grandfather’s eightieth birthday is in two months, and I want to custom-make a Tang suit for him. Something grand and imposing-looking. I’m counting on you.”
Shen Nanyue raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips curving upward though the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Your grandfather’s birthday celebration, and you’re only ordering a single Tang suit from my little studio? Doesn’t that make you seem rather stingy?”
“How could it? Gifts for elders aren’t about expense—they’re about sincerity!”
Meng Zhishuo spoke with complete righteousness.
Sitting upright, he looked at Shen Nanyue seriously.
“A while ago, my cousin and I visited your grandfather. The Tang suit he was wearing that day had incredibly impressive design and tailoring—dignified and commanding. Your grandfather said you designed it, so I thought when my own grandfather celebrates his birthday, I’d ask you to design one for him too.”
Shen Nanyue frowned.
“You and Meng Yan visited my grandfather? When?”
“About two days ago, I think. You weren’t home at the time.”
Why hadn’t Grandpa mentioned that Meng Yan had gone to see him?
“What did Meng Yan say to my grandfather?”
“No idea. My cousin and your grandfather talked privately in the study for a while, then we left. I only remember that after coming out of the study, my cousin looked pretty upset.”
Shen Nanyue fell silent.
Grandpa was probably against the marriage alliance with the Meng family too.
Could it be that day Grandpa had rejected Meng Yan on her behalf?
“Master, are you taking the order or not?”
Meng Zhishuo leaned toward her with a grin, his eyes bright and eager, completely different from the spoiled rich brat she’d first met.
Shen Nanyue glanced at him, then stood up and walked over to her desk, pulling a contract out of the drawer.
“Only an idiot refuses to make money. Sign the contract and pay the deposit. I’ll communicate with you during the design phase, and you can give suggestions anytime.”
“Alright, alright!”
Meng Zhishuo happily signed the contract.
After exchanging contact information with Shen Nanyue, he carefully saved her name as “Master” in his phone—and even added an “A” in front so it would stay pinned at the top.
“Master, how about reconsidering the racing team thing?”
Shen Nanyue shot him a glance and replied flatly, “If you’re done here, then get lost.”
Not the slightest bit polite.
She clearly had no intention of treating customers like gods.
Meng Zhishuo shamelessly persisted.
“Come on. Once you marry my cousin, we’ll be family. And if you join my racing team too, we’ll practically be double family. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”
Shen Nanyue’s expression changed instantly.
She stared coldly at his mouth as if she were about to pounce forward and tear it apart the next second.
That single glance made goosebumps erupt all over Meng Zhishuo’s body.
He quickly covered his mouth.
“She won’t be marrying Meng Yan, so Second Young Master Meng should stop trying to claim relatives.”
The office door opened as the voice sounded.
Zhou Yushen’s tall, elegant figure appeared in the doorway.
Today he wore a simple white T-shirt and black pants.
His upright posture, as straight and proud as bamboo, carried an air of nobility that almost seemed otherworldly.
He held a food container in his hand and acted as though he had been there countless times before.
Naturally and familiarly, he sat down beside Shen Nanyue and opened the container.
“I had lunch at a restaurant today that looked fairly upscale. The food was pretty good, so I brought some back for you.”
His face was as gentle and refined as jade.
Sitting sideways with his back partially toward Meng Zhishuo, all Meng Zhishuo could see was Zhou Yushen’s superior side profile—the jade-like skin, the beautifully sculpted nose bridge, and those gentle eyes filled with warm affection.
Alarm bells instantly went off in his head!
Meanwhile, Shen Nanyue gave a light snort and crossed her arms, looking somewhat arrogantly at the fragrant dishes.
“I don’t eat leftovers.”
“It’s not leftovers. I thought the dishes tasted good, so I ordered them again.”
He handed a pair of sterilized chopsticks to Shen Nanyue, his face showing not the slightest trace of impatience.
Pressing her lips together, Shen Nanyue accepted the chopsticks and quietly began eating.
During this period of time, Zhou Yushen had truly shown a determination to win her over.
Not only did he come to see her every single day regardless of rain or shine, he now also brought her all sorts of food.
Sometimes he even brought roses.
No matter how picky or difficult she acted, he never backed down.
If this continued, she was afraid that one day she might no longer be able to resist him.
Watching the intimate way the two interacted, Meng Zhishuo’s expression changed again and again.
Was his future cousin-in-law about to have her heart stolen away?
He secretly sent a message to his cousin before finally turning to face Zhou Yushen seriously.
“I’d like to ask—what exactly is the relationship between you two?”
It was as if Zhou Yushen had only just noticed that he was still there.
The gentle warmth on his face faded away, replaced once more by the cold aura that kept strangers at a distance.
“Can’t you tell?” he replied calmly.
“We’re a couple.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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