Chapter 23 – You and Su Rong Are Close?

Ye Shuyi stared at her student’s sketchpad. She had to admit—Su Rong really did have talent in painting. The brushstrokes were delicate and meticulous, the lines smooth and lively, the expressions vivid and lifelike. Even after three years of not picking up a brush, Su Rong’s figures looked almost as though they could step off the page.

Su Rong turned her head toward Ye Shuyi and smiled with admiration in her eyes, hoping for a bit of guidance. But the moment she met Ye Shuyi’s cold gaze, her heart trembled. She quickly looked away and silently continued her drawing.

After a moment, Ye Shuyi walked elsewhere to guide the other students, her tone and expression gentle. Even Su Xue’er received a few patient corrections and advice.

Su Rong, however, was puzzled. She hadn’t offended Ye Shuyi, so why was the teacher so cold only to her? Or was it that her work had no issues at all, so there was nothing to critique?

When class ended, Ye Shuyi gathered up the students’ paintings to review. Su Rong, who was the last to finish, had her work placed right on top.

Carrying the stack of drawings out of the classroom, Ye Shuyi’s eyes lit up when she saw someone.
“Qiye, what brings you here?”

“Just had a meeting with someone here,” Sheng Qiye greeted politely. “It finished, so I thought I’d stop by. Auntie Ye, class just ended?”

“Just wrapped up.” Ye Shuyi smiled. “By the way, are you free for lunch—”

She didn’t finish her words. Sheng Qiye’s gaze had already fallen onto the painting in her hands.
“This is well done,” he said, picking up the top sketch. “Almost looks like a black-and-white photograph.”

Noticing the signature, he raised a brow—it was Su Rong’s work.
“So the rumors were true. The capital’s former number one talented young lady… seems they weren’t exaggerated.”

Ye Shuyi’s eyes darkened, but as a seasoned painter, she couldn’t deny what was true. “Su Rong does have some talent. Hopefully she makes something of it.”

Sheng Qiye returned the drawing, and Ye Shuyi neatly stacked it away.
“Qiye, Li Jia will be back soon. She’s always talking about you. You’ve been apart so long—when she returns, you should spend more time together.”

At the mention of Xie Lijia, Sheng Qiye felt a headache coming. Their engagement had been arranged by their grandfathers. Since being hurt when he was young, he had developed a near-allergic aversion to women—especially physical contact, which made his skin crawl. That was why Leng Xiao had been shocked that he hadn’t rejected Su Rong’s touch earlier.

Still, the two old men were stubborn and insisted on the marriage. Thankfully, Xie Lijia spent most of her time overseas, so their contact was limited to the occasional meal when she returned. To him, she never truly felt like a fiancée, yet he couldn’t refuse her either.

“I understand, Auntie Ye. You go ahead—I’ll take a look around.” Sheng Qiye, feeling restless, excused himself.

As he walked out, a few girls exiting the studio politely greeted him.
“President Sheng.”

After all, they were debutantes from a prestigious class—they had to maintain grace and elegance at all times, even when faced with someone as dazzling as Sheng Qiye.

He gave a small nod in return and kept moving. Passing by another studio, he glanced inside and spotted only Su Rong and Liu Xu left behind.

Liu Xu, noticing him, whispered, “What’s he doing here?”

Su Rong’s thoughts went instead to how he had convinced the miracle doctor Hua to treat her, and how the black market gem he had bought for her had covered her medical fees. She felt deeply indebted.

So, she ran out of the studio to catch up with him.
“President Sheng.”

Having just seen her artwork, Sheng Qiye slowed his steps. “Haven’t you gone for treatment yet?”

“This afternoon,” Su Rong replied, then drew a steadying breath. “President Sheng, thank you for asking Dr. Hua to treat me. How about I treat you to a meal as thanks?”

“You already treated me once, didn’t you?”

“That was for saving me at the black market,” she explained quickly. “This time is to thank you for finding Dr. Hua. If it’s inconvenient for you to eat with me, I can thank you another way—maybe I’ll find some good gems at the black market?”

“Whether you go there or not is your business,” he said flatly. “Don’t drag me into it. I can’t save you every time. …But since I’m free now, let’s eat.”

Su Rong’s face lit up. “Thank you, President Sheng!”

Wanting to show her sincerity, she booked a small private room at Yu Palace, ordering their newly launched South Sea grouper banquet. The dishes came one after another—red-oil pork kidneys, spiced sea intestines, clam salad, ginger-baked fish, truffle crab, pan-seared abalone, steamed grouper belly with pepper, boiling grouper hotpot, even a congee simmered with grouper. The fragrance of white truffle filled the room. She even paired it with a bottle of red wine.

Liu Xu ate happily. “This is the most delicious grouper feast I’ve ever had. Yu Palace never disappoints!” In a way, she was also praising Sheng Qiye, since the Yu Palace belonged to his family.

Su Rong expressed her gratitude again, raising her glass.
“President Sheng, thank you. Let me toast you.”

“I drove here,” he declined. “No wine for me.”

Since he wouldn’t drink, Su Rong put down the wine and switched to juice. “Then I’ll use juice instead.”

After a polite sip, Sheng Qiye asked, “How’s the injury? What did Dr. Hua say?”

“Dr. Hua said my meridians are injured. I’ll need several acupuncture sessions—it’ll take some time to recover.”

“Traditional medicine treats the root. You’ll need patience.”

“I have plenty of patience,” Su Rong said lightly, filling the silence. “If not for you, I’d never have convinced Dr. Hua to treat me.”

“Just focus on your treatment.”

When the meal ended, Sheng Qiye didn’t linger. At first, he wanted the bill added to his name, but then thought better of it—otherwise Su Rong might feel even more indebted. Better to keep things clear.

As they stepped out of the private room, Ye Shuyi happened to emerge from the room opposite.
“Qiye, you’re here too?” Her gaze immediately fell on Su Rong and Liu Xu inside the room. Her expression darkened. “You and Su Rong… are that close?”

Earlier, she hadn’t even finished inviting him to lunch before he had brushed her off. Yet now, he was dining with Su Rong instead.

“Not close,” Sheng Qiye answered truthfully. “We’ve just met a few times.”

But Ye Shuyi knew his temperament well. He almost never spent time alone with women, not even business partners—he would always bring Leng Xiao along.

So why Su Rong? A girl who had just been released from prison… what about her could possibly interest Sheng Qiye?