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Woke up from a nap.
The gentle female voice from the broadcast announced: “Ladies and gentlemen, the plane is now descending. Please return to your seats...”
Shen Yihuan rubbed her eyes. Looking out the window, she could already see the hazy high-rise buildings faintly.
She dozed for a bit longer, and then the plane landed. Carrying her luggage, she walked out of the airport. The air wasn’t good, hazy and gloomy, and traffic was terrible.
Shen Yihuan hailed a taxi and returned to her studio first.
As she stepped out of the elevator, she ran into Zhou Yishu.
Zhou Yishu called out her name and rushed over to hug her enthusiastically: “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back today!”
“I bought the ticket last minute, forgot to mention it,” Shen Yihuan casually made up an excuse.
“How’s your leg?”
Shen Yihuan lifted the leg of her wide-leg pants: “It’s fine, the scar’s mostly gone too.”
“There’s still a scar!” Zhou Yishu bent down to look closely, “This business trip of yours... you should expense everything to me. I’ll give you a big red envelope for your year-end bonus this year!”
Shen Yihuan smiled. Just as she was about to speak, her colleagues swarmed out.
They offered greetings and关心, almost giving Shen Yihuan the “most tragic person of the year” award on the spot. She really disliked dealing with such social niceties. After a grueling ten minutes, everyone dispersed, and Shen Yihuan quickly hugged her camera and returned to her desk.
She had mentally erected an invisible shield around herself.
Although there were fewer people surrounding her, there were still many questions, as if they wanted to dig up every detail of her business trip, even though everyone had avoided the task when it was assigned, ultimately leaving it to a clueless newcomer.
Shen Yihuan patiently answered while importing all the photos she had taken onto her computer.
There were too many photos, so the import would take a while.
Lu Zhou sent her a message. Shen Yihuan had messaged him to let him know she landed safely.
Lu Zhou: Are you home?
Cherry: At the studio, rushing work. I’m submitting my final draft.
Lu Zhou: Then you be busy.
See, that straightforward and efficient style!
Shen Yihuan worked until 5 PM to process some of the photos, sent them to the editorial department’s email, and then called Qiu Ruru to have dinner together.
Qiu Ruru drove to the company building to pick up Shen Yihuan, and they went to eat Korean BBQ.
“I’ve been so annoyed these past few days. My niece is at my house. I’ve been picking her up and dropping her off for school the past few days. She’s so noisy; a few more days and she’ll surely drive me to a nervous breakdown.”
Qiu Ruru complained while picking up grilled meat.
“What about today then? Don’t you have to pick her up?”
“I called my mom to my house; she’s taking care of the child today,” Qiu Ruru sighed, “It’s so annoying. Why do I have no maternal instinct at all? I should just become a nun later.”
Shen Yihuan smiled: “Your mom would definitely beat you to death if she heard that.”
“Are you and Lu Zhou going to have children in the future?”
“...” Shen Yihuan rolled her eyes, “Don’t you think that’s a bit too early?”
“I don’t even have a boyfriend and I’m already thinking about having kids. What’s early about it?”
“Yes, we’ll have them,” Shen Yihuan said.
Qiu Ruru looked at her in surprise.
“With Lu Zhou’s genes, it would be such a waste not to.”
Qiu Ruru nodded seriously: “That’s true. He’s a chosen one.”
After eating a few pieces of meat, Qiu Ruru asked again, “Does your mom know about you and Lu Zhou?”
“Haven’t told her yet,” Shen Yihuan poked the meat with her chopsticks, resting her hand on her chin, “I don’t know how to tell her. She’ll just scold me again.”
“What’s there to say? Lu Zhou is a lieutenant colonel at such a young age, handsome, and a loyal dog. Your mom still isn’t satisfied?”
“Handsome and loyal dog mean nothing in my mom’s eyes; he needs to be rich,” Shen Yihuan shrugged.
“Lu Zhou’s family is rich too.”
Shen Yihuan didn’t know what to say. Her mother probably wholeheartedly hoped she would marry into a wealthy business family, perhaps even planning a marriage alliance for Shi Zhenping’s company with some other company.
She had mentioned it to her several times before.
Moreover, even if she agreed to her and Lu Zhou, Lu Youju (Lu Zhou’s father) might not approve of her.
Although Shen Yihuan had never met Lu Youju, she vaguely knew that Lu Youju had always had extremely high expectations for Lu Zhou, was a ruthless man, yet paradoxically didn’t care about Lu Zhou—it was quite ironic.
The weather in early December was dry and cold, and the chilly wind crept up her exposed ankles.
After Shen Yihuan and Qiu Ruru finished shopping, Qiu Ruru was urgently called back by a barrage of phone calls from her niece, and didn’t even have time to drive Shen Yihuan home.
As Shen Yihuan walked out of the mall, she received a call from Lu Zhou.
“Hello,” she answered, unable to suppress a smile.
“What are you doing?”
The sound of wind howled on the other end of the line.
“Just finished shopping with Ruru,” Shen Yihuan held the phone between her shoulder and ear, putting her wallet into her bag, “It’s very windy where you are.”
Lu Zhou was sitting in the car, his arm casually resting on the car window, a cigarette between his fingers: “Mm.”
“Where are you?”
“Pamir Plateau.”
Shen Yihuan paused: “Why are you there? Is it a mission?”
“Not exactly a mission, just investigating a situation.”
“Is it cold there?”
“It’s alright,” Lu Zhou said, “It’s getting late. Go home quickly.”
“Mm, I’m just walking out now.”
Lu Zhou took a drag from his cigarette, his cheeks slightly sunken: “In a few days, I might also be returning to Beijing for a trip.”
“Huh? Why?”
“We suspect someone we’re currently investigating is in Beijing, so I’m coming back to look into it,” Lu Zhou said.
Shen Yihuan held her phone, smiling as she walked out, when she suddenly heard a voice call out “Yihuan” behind her. At first, she thought she imagined it and continued walking forward, but then she heard it again.
It was her mother.
The woman carried a purse, dressed like a wealthy lady in an expensive fur coat, with exquisite makeup.
Shen Yihuan paused, gripped her phone, and quietly said to Lu Zhou, “I’ll call you back in a bit.”
“Mom,” Shen Yihuan walked forward.
“When did you get back?” The woman crossed her arms, her expression quite serious, her index finger with a diamond ring tapping lightly on her arm.
“Today.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Work was too busy,” Shen Yihuan said, then felt the excuse wasn’t entirely convincing, especially since she was currently standing at the entrance of a shopping mall.
Fortunately, her mother didn’t dwell on the issue: “Let’s have dinner together tomorrow.”
“Maybe in a few days. I just got back, and I’ll be busy with work for a while.”
“Then how about this Saturday?” her mother said.
“Okay.”
It was rare for her to be so agreeable.
________________________________________
However, when Saturday actually arrived, Shen Yihuan realized why her mother had been so agreeable.
It wasn’t a dinner at home with that annoying stepfather and stepsister at all.
The dinner was scheduled for 6 PM, but at 5:20 PM, Shen Yihuan received a text message from her mother, telling her to come downstairs immediately.
She was dressed quite simply in a sweater and coat, without any jewelry. Her hair was down, and she wore a pair of small boots that highlighted her excellent leg shape.
“Why did you come to pick me up?” Shen Yihuan asked as she got into the car.
“It’s on the way.”
She said nothing more, leaning back in the car seat, her head turned towards the window, watching the fleeting streetscape outside.
It wasn’t until the route clearly deviated from the direction of the Shi family’s home that Shen Yihuan asked, “Where are we going?”
“To eat out.”
“...Oh.”
Twenty minutes later.
Shen Yihuan sat in a lavish banquet hall. Her mother sat beside her. Across from them was another elegantly dressed woman, and next to her was an empty seat, still unoccupied.
The elegant woman smiled gracefully: “You must be Yihuan. Your mother often talks about you.”
“Auntie, hello,” Shen Yihuan smiled, but her heart slowly sank.
“I’m so sorry, my son is just too unpunctual. I heard him mention you before; he said you were very beautiful.”
Shen Yihuan was stunned: “Your son knows me?”
“He was in the same high school as you, but I think he was a year older. His name is Xu He. Do you know him?”
Xu He...
One of Shen Yihuan’s old “fair-weather friends.” When she was in her first year of high school, Xu He was in his third year, extremely popular, and changed girlfriends very quickly.
Their relationship was quite good back then.
Shen Yihuan struggled to force a smile: “Yes, I know him. He’s two years older than me.”
Her mother, beside her, laughed: “That’s perfect. The two kids knew each other before, it’s fate. They’ll definitely have plenty to talk about.”
After waiting for a while, Xu He still hadn’t arrived, so Xu He’s mother got up to make a call outside.
The banquet hall doors closed, leaving only Shen Yihuan and her mother inside.
Her mother said, “Xu He is the only son of the Xu family. He just returned from abroad not long ago, and the Xu family’s business will definitely be handed over entirely to him in the future. I’ve seen his photos; he’s a very talented and handsome young man. Since you two knew each other before, seize this opportunity.”
Shen Yihuan understood. She took a sip of water: “Mom.”
She turned her head to meet her mother’s eyes and smiled, “What exactly am I to you?”
“Am I not doing this for your own good?! Am I not doing this for your future? Where is this Xu He I found for you lacking? In terms of family background, age, and appearance, there’s nothing that isn’t worthy of you. Shen Yihuan, don’t be so arrogant and look down on everyone every day. Times are different now, do you understand? How long has your father been dead?!”
“I’m arrogant.”
Shen Yihuan’s voice was very low, suppressing her precarious irritation: “Mom, how much do you know about Xu He? Do you know what kind of person he is for you to say that? Are you doing this for me or for yourself?”
“I know this child is a playboy, and I’ve also looked into what others say about him, but does that matter? Yihuan, in a marriage, absolute loyalty is impossible, so you should grasp all the benefits it can bring you. Don’t idealize everything so much. Be realistic. When Xu He arrives later, don’t give him that look and make things difficult!”
Shen Yihuan didn’t speak.
She turned her head away, feeling her eyelids burning, but her eyes were dry.
She was overwhelmed by various feelings of grievance, shame, and humiliation.
After a long silence, she said, “I have a boyfriend.”
“What?” The raised female voice was sharp and exasperated. She glared at Shen Yihuan, demanding harshly, “Who is it?”
“Lu Zhou.”
“What does he do?”
Her mother had never cared about her before, so naturally, she didn’t know about Lu Zhou and her past.
“A soldier.”
Her mother frowned: “Local?”
“Mm, he’s in Xinjiang now.”
Her mother didn’t speak, her gaze grew cold, and finally, a strange scoff escaped her nostrils: “Shen Yihuan, you’re deliberately trying to defy me, aren’t you...”
She wanted to scold her further, but the hall door opened noisily.
Xu He walked in, dressed in a sharp suit. He hadn’t changed much from before, tall with long legs, still the same face from her memories, quite handsome, with a pair of charming, flirtatious eyes.
Her mother grabbed Shen Yihuan’s hand under the table, warning in a low voice: “Try messing up this dinner party.”
Xu He strode towards Shen Yihuan, opening his arms: “Cherry.”
Shen Yihuan closed her eyes, took a deep breath: “Senior.”
She only offered her hand. Xu He, still with his arms open, paused, then changed his embrace into a handshake.
“Look at these two kids. I thought they just knew of each other, but they’re old acquaintances,” Xu He’s mother said with a smile.
Throughout the dinner, Shen Yihuan didn’t say much, merely answering questions. In the end, she even earned a reputation for being quiet. Xu He, sitting across from her, just smiled. He was at ease, sometimes serving Shen Yihuan food, other times initiating conversation.
He managed to keep both mothers happy.
Towards the end of the meal, Xu He’s mother and Shen Yihuan’s mother found an excuse to leave, allowing the two of them to communicate privately.
Shen Yihuan originally wanted to leave too, but just as she stood up, her mother pushed her back down.
Once they left, the banquet hall grew quiet, with only Shen Yihuan and Xu He remaining.
The subtle clinking of knives and forks on the dinner plates was irritating.
Xu He smiled: “I was startled yesterday when my mom said you were having dinner with us today; I thought it was just someone with the same name.”
Shen Yihuan didn’t speak, not even bothering to smile.
Xu He put down his fork, clasped his hands on the table, and leaned forward: “It’s quite a coincidence, you know. I used to really like you, but you ignored me. Now here we are, at a blind date.”
Shen Yihuan looked up, her expression unchanging as she looked directly back.
“Xu He, clean up your mouth. I can smell the filth.”
Xu He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head with a curious expression: “Oh, your temper hasn’t changed, has it? Much more interesting than after your dad’s accident.”
Shen Yihuan’s expression turned cold.
Xu He stood up and walked to her side. Just as he took Shen Yihuan’s hand, she mercilessly shook him off.
He didn’t care, stuffing his hands into his pockets, leaning lazily against the table, bending down close to Shen Yihuan. Their eyes met, and Shen Yihuan’s eyes were icy cold.
“How about you come with me? I’ll treat you well, hmm?”
Shen Yihuan’s hand, gripping the wine glass, turned white from the force.
The door burst open with a “bang,” hitting the wall.
A hand with distinct knuckles reached in, grabbing Xu He by the collar and yanking him back forcefully.
The familiar scent made Shen Yihuan’s nose sting even before she saw who it was. Lu Zhou stood beside him, and she could feel the low pressure radiating from him.
All the pretense finally cracked at this moment.
When Lu Zhou wasn’t there, she had no support. She needed to silently don her armor, pretending to be invulnerable and strong, so that she wouldn’t be defeated by unpleasant words.
She was indeed inherently proud, unwilling to let anyone see her sad or hurt.
Except Lu Zhou.
Shen Yihuan stood up in a hurry, urgently grabbing Lu Zhou’s sleeve, her knuckles white, veins protruding. All those flustered, angry, helpless emotions could no longer be suppressed.
Lu Zhou’s voice was cold and hard, each word bitten off sharply: “What kind of thing are you, to be ‘good to her’?”
Xu He, who had been thrown to the ground, was also stunned to see Lu Zhou.
He had certainly seen Lu Zhou before. In the past, when Shen Yihuan and their group went to internet cafes, bars, or pool halls, he would occasionally see Lu Zhou standing beside her.
But he had also heard that the two had broken up long ago.
“Lu Zhou?” He sat on the floor, hands propped behind him, looking lazy and dissolute, “You still like her, huh? Do you know what she’s here for today? A blind date, understand?”
Xu He scoffed, curling his lips, “Are you her pet dog or something, protecting her like that?”
Shen Yihuan felt Lu Zhou’s hand, which was holding hers, instantly tighten, his eyes filled with hostility and ruthlessness.
She turned her head, speaking with a hint of panic: “I didn’t.”
Lu Zhou didn’t speak, nor did he look at her.
Shen Yihuan suddenly felt a little anxious.
Xu He smiled and added, “This meal, to put it nicely, is a blind date. To put it bluntly, isn’t your mom trying to sell you to me?”
Lu Zhou released Shen Yihuan’s hand.
Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up.
Lu Zhou strode forward, stopped in front of Xu He, bent down, grabbed him by the collar, yanked him up, then sharply bent his knee, hitting him hard in the lower abdomen.
The force was so strong that Shen Yihuan instinctively closed her eyes. Xu He was already groaning, clutching his abdomen, and crouching down.
Lu Zhou crouched in front of him, his expression ruthless.
“I’m her pet dog?”
Lu Zhou’s arm muscles tensed. He even smiled, speaking in a nonchalant tone, “Even if you hit a dog, you consider its owner. You hit the owner, and you expect the dog not to bite you?”
Xu He was in too much pain to speak, his breathing trembling.
Lu Zhou stood up and took Shen Yihuan’s hand again: “Let’s go.”
“Wait a minute.” Shen Yihuan paused.
She picked up a red wine glass and splashed it directly onto Xu He’s face.
“Xu He, this glass of wine is for what you said three years ago,” Shen Yihuan picked up another glass and splashed it, “This one is for what you said today.”
________________________________________
Three years ago, not long after Shen Fu’s accident.
The first lesson Shen Yihuan learned about how cruel the world was, Xu He taught her.
At that time, many of her fair-weather friends stopped contacting her, or only offered casual, half-hearted condolences. Only Xu He proactively sought out Shen Yihuan and said something to her that she would never forget in her life.
He handed her a card and said.
“Cherry, the money here can be for your emergency use, but you have to sleep with me once.”
Shen Yihuan felt that she must have been truly blind to have always considered Xu He a friend. She had even met half of Xu He’s frequently changing girlfriends.
She hadn’t even known before then that Xu He harbored such intentions towards her.
________________________________________
Lu Zhou gripped Shen Yihuan’s wrist and walked out of the building. The cold wind urgently swirled around them.
Shen Yihuan shivered.
She hesitantly tugged on Lu Zhou’s fingers, unsure how to explain the current situation: “Lu Zhou...”
Lu Zhou didn’t turn his head. He took off his jacket and draped it over Shen Yihuan, continuing to walk forward without slowing down, clearly angry.
His car was parked right at the entrance.
They got in.
Shen Yihuan sat in the passenger seat, fiddling with her fingers, her eyes reddening: “I really didn’t know this dinner would be with Xu He...”
Lu Zhou pulled her into his arms.
One hand cupped the back of her head, rubbing her hair.
His chest rose and fell as he desperately suppressed his anger, restraining himself until his jaw tightened and his lips were a straight line.
Shen Yihuan gently patted his back.
Like comforting a wild beast on the verge of losing control.
“Are you very angry right now?”
“Mm,” he affirmed.
After a moment of silence, Lu Zhou finally sighed softly.
“Give me some time. I’ll comfort you later.”
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