At 5 PM, Yu Xi and Shen Shu headed to the Zhou family’s home. Before leaving, Yu Xi sent a message to Yang Jilan.

Two minutes later, Yang Jilan replied: [Is your husband coming too? Be careful on the road. I’ll ask your dad to buy a couple more dishes.]

Yu Xi obediently responded with, “Okay.”

When Yang Jilan was younger, she wasn’t particularly fond of Yu Xi because she resembled Yu Chen too much.

As for her and Yu Chen… Yu Xi didn’t fully understand their relationship.

On the surface, they seemed to dislike each other. Yet, whenever Yang Jilan sought his help, Yu Chen would always oblige. However, after helping, the two would act as if they wanted nothing to do with each other.

It was as though they both detested each other, unable to tolerate the traits they saw in the other.

Perhaps it was because they had encountered their best selves in each other during their prime, making their current selves all the more intolerable.

The place where Zhou Hai and Yang Jilan now lived was an old neighborhood with poor landscaping. Most of the grass on the lawn had either been trampled down by people or eroded over time. The property management clearly had no intention of fixing it.

The quality of services always corresponds to the fees paid. It was a classic case of “you get what you pay for.”

As they walked through the narrow, dimly lit staircase of the building, Yu Xi felt truly embarrassed. She instinctively glanced back at Shen Shu.

Shen Shu, in his tailored suit, exuded elegance and nobility. Even the leather shoes on his feet gleamed immaculately.

He looked completely out of place in this shabby and dirty old apartment building.

Her face turned red with embarrassment as they climbed to the fourth floor. Yu Xi raised her hand and knocked on the door.

Yang Jilan quickly opened it. Upon seeing Shen Shu, she greeted him with a polite smile, though her expression carried a hint of unease. “Come in, please.”

Zhou Hai and Zhou Hao were already home, and the family gathered around the dining table.

The living room was small to begin with and now felt even more cramped. A tiny square table barely fit five people. Since there were only four chairs, an extra one had to be added for Shen Shu next to Yu Xi, making the space feel even more confined.

Zhou Hai welcomed them warmly, and Shen Shu nodded politely in return. Yet, his innate aura of refinement and aloofness clashed with the surroundings.

Zhou Hai’s hearty laughter became increasingly awkward and eventually faded away.

Yu Xi regretted bringing Shen Shu here.

Although Shen Shu was approachable and made an effort to initiate conversation, the stark differences in education, life experience, and social background between the two parties only made the atmosphere more uncomfortable.

Even Zhou Hao, who was usually talkative, remained silent, focusing on his meal with an unusual seriousness.

The dinner ended up being an awkward affair.

To make matters worse, the door was suddenly knocked on during the meal.

Zhou Hai grumbled as he went to open it, only to find Yu Shijing standing outside.

Clearing his throat, Yu Shijing glanced inside before saying, “Madam, the Sir is here to see you.”

Yang Jilan put down her chopsticks.

Zhou Hai’s face darkened, his expression resembling that of a pig’s liver.

…

Yu Xi and Shen Shu didn’t wait for Yang Jilan to return before taking their leave. As they left, Yu Xi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She stared down at the curb as they walked, silently counting her steps.

Shen Shu removed the scarf from around his neck and gently wrapped it around hers.

Startled, Yu Xi turned to look at him and gestured: [Aren’t you cold?]

Shen Shu shook his head.

Seeing him smile, Yu Xi felt even more guilty. [I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you here. It was so awkward.]

Shen Shu replied, “What does this have to do with you?”

Yu Xi gestured again: [I won’t bring you here again. My family situation is quite complicated.]

The disparity in their social classes was too obvious, and forcing them together only led to discomfort.

Shen Shu had likely never eaten in such a cramped dining room before.

Seeing her still dwelling on it, Shen Shu chuckled and gently ruffled her hair. “I already told you, it’s not your fault. What are you blaming yourself for? Let’s not talk about it anymore. Have you ever been on a carousel? I’ll take you.”

Yu Xi’s eyes lit up, revealing her interest, but she soon hesitated. Looking at him sheepishly, she gestured: [Isn’t that for kids? Wouldn’t it be weird if I went?]

“Why would it be? Don’t overthink it. Let’s go,” Shen Shu said, taking her hand. “There’s a park nearby. I used to take my sister there when we were kids.”

[You took your sister to ride the carousel?] Yu Xi was intrigued, feeling she had learned something new about him.

Shen Shu must be a very gentle person.

“My sister was quite mischievous, as you’ve already seen. She wasn’t an easy child. When I supervised her homework, she would refuse to do it, and I had to coax and trick her into cooperating.” Shen Shu laughed as if recalling some amusing memory, shaking his head in resignation.

As they exited the apartment building, they bumped into a girl wearing a white cashmere dress. She was looking down at her phone with a somewhat impatient expression. As they passed each other, she suddenly stopped and looked up.

“…Yu Xi?”

Her gaze fell on Shen Shu, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Yu Xi guessed that Zhou Li wanted to greet Shen Shu, but since he was holding her hand at the moment, it wasn’t convenient for her to say anything.

Yu Xi nodded slightly to Zhou Li. Their relationship was merely cordial at best, perhaps not even that. Adding to the tension, Zhou Li’s mother had a poor relationship with Yang Jilan.

“Do you know her?” Shen Shu asked, glancing at Yu Xi.

Yu Xi nodded and gestured to him: [My stepfather and his ex-wife’s daughter.]

Understanding dawned on Shen Shu’s face. He nodded but offered no comment, merely acknowledging Zhou Li with a faint nod.

Zhou Li, who couldn’t understand sign language, looked visibly unsettled. She recalled how Shen Shu had recently rejected her confession without hesitation, even declaring, “I’m married.” Her face darkened at the memory. At the time, she thought he was joking…

….

Late at night, the old alley was dimly lit, with only one lamp every few meters. The faint yellow light painted his profile with a soft orange hue, creating a warm and gentle aura.

When he turned to look at her, his gaze was fixed solely on her, and the smile on his lips was meant for her alone. That warmth made her heart cling to him.

Perhaps it was the stillness of the surroundings or the courage inspired by the dim night; she unconsciously slowed her pace, her steps growing slower and slower.

Noticing she wasn’t keeping up, Shen Shu stopped and waited at the corner ahead for her to catch up. A teasing smile played on his lips as he said, “Yu Xi, why do you still walk so slowly? If I didn’t keep stopping to check on you, I’d be worried you’d get lost.”

She pressed her lips together without a smile, simply looking at him. Shen Shu’s smile faded, and he gazed at her in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

He thought something might have happened. In truth, it was just her heart racing uncontrollably, slowing her movements. When she reached him, her big, beautiful eyes stayed locked on him, unblinking. Then, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on his lips.

However, in her nervousness, she stumbled slightly and only managed to kiss his chin.

Shen Shu froze for a moment, instinctively steadying her with his hands.

Yu Xi, who had missed her mark, felt like crying but had no tears. Seeing the growing amusement in his eyes and the helpless smile tugging at his lips, her frustration deepened. Her attempt to do something bold had utterly failed.

She thought to herself, I’m just not cut out for being mischievous. I should stick to being the honest person I am.

As she lowered her head in regret, Shen Shu placed a hand on her slender shoulder. She looked up in surprise, and he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss on her cheek before slowly moving to her lips.

Yu Xi instinctively held her breath, matching his rhythm. When his kiss grew more passionate, she pressed a hand against his shoulder, her cheeks flushing red.

Shen Shu chuckled softly, brushing a strand of her hair over her shoulder. “Relax. I won’t do anything more, not out here.”

His reassurance left her at a loss for words. Though he meant to ease her worries, hearing such words from him still made her blush.

Later, Shen Shu took her to a small park at the end of the street. The carousel was still turning, though the ticket vendor appeared half-asleep with his head resting on his hand. The place was completely empty.

Yu Xi let out a small breath of relief, knowing the carousel was mostly for children.

Shen Shu approached the vendor, said something with a smile, and returned with two tickets in hand.

Without thinking, Yu Xi took the ticket he handed her.

“Let’s go.” His broad hand held her smaller one, guiding her to the entrance. The vendor had paused the machine for them.

Shen Shu climbed up first. The steps weren’t high, and with his long legs, it was effortless. Still, he turned back and bent down, extending his hand to her.

Yu Xi placed her small hand in his, and with a firm but gentle grip, he helped her up with ease. She stumbled slightly, but he steadied her by holding her waist.

“How are you this clumsy?” he teased, glancing at her playfully, his hand still resting lightly on her waist.

Feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze, Yu Xi squirmed slightly, sensing he was teasing her for being careless.

She wriggled free, and Shen Shu let her go with a laugh, allowing her to climb onto one of the wooden horses on her own.

He didn’t climb onto the carousel. Instead, he stood beside her, placing one hand on her waist to adjust her position. “Careful now,” he said.

[You’re being ridiculous. This isn’t a real horse. How could I fall off?] she gestured angrily.

Shen Shu smiled leisurely. “Want to ride a real horse? I’ll take you someday.”

[I don’t know how.]

“I’ll teach you,” he replied. Then, leaning closer with a furrowed brow, he asked in mock confusion, “But how will you thank me? I’ve taught you so much already. What are you going to give me in return?”

His gaze was so mischievous, his intentions were as clear as day.

Yu Xi knew he was deliberately teasing her. Even though they were already familiar with each other, his words still made her blush. She turned away silently, hugging the wooden horse’s head and ignoring him.

Amused, Shen Shu leaned in closer, his deep voice tinged with humor. “You are such a heartless little thing.I was just joking. I didn’t really expect you to repay me, but look how quickly you showed your true feelings.”

Yu Xi felt that he was taking advantage of her slowness and inability to speak, enjoying teasing her far too much.

Seeing that she wasn’t responding, he stopped, knowing when to quit. Despite her gentle temperament, if she truly got angry, she would be hard to console.

The carousel began to move, the wooden horse beneath her bobbing up and down as the platform rotated. The lights and scenery blurred in a whirl around her.

As a child, Shen Shu always thought carousels resembled music boxes, with people and horses as the decorations inside. While outsiders found it novel, those inside, like them, were equally curious about the outside world.

This moment was perfect. He got to relive a bit of childhood with her by his side.

Shen Shu raised an eyebrow slightly. A casual glance caught the vendor’s odd expression, and he could guess the man was inwardly mocking him. Despite his refined, elite appearance, here he was doing something so childish just to woo a girl.

He could only smile bitterly and shake his head secretly.

Who made her like it?

Forget it, as long as he doesn’t feel ashamed, no one can feel ashamed of him.