Gu Shuning smiled faintly. “Long time no see, Yichen.”

“Shuning… why are you back?” Shang Yichen, still in shock, asked with a tone of surprise.

Half-joking, half-serious, Gu Shuning replied, “Did I disturb you? Are you not happy to see me?”

Realizing his tone was off, Shang Yichen quickly clarified, “No, that’s not what I meant. I just… Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I could have picked you up. And why didn’t you go to the old house?”

“I asked Rongze before coming,” Gu Shuning said with a smile. “He told me you don’t go back there often, that you live here now. And as for not notifying you in advance, I wanted to surprise you.”

Shang Yichen forced a smile, mentally cursing Meng Rongze, who had probably told Gu Shuning about the apartment on purpose just to stir things up.

“Is there someone else hiding in the house that I shouldn’t see?” Gu Shuning asked, noticing Shang Yichen’s discomfort.

Shang Yichen felt guilty, thinking of Zhou Yi still in the kitchen. He tried to deflect, saying, “No… I just…”

Before he could finish, Zhou Yi’s voice came from the other room. “Mr. Shang, I’ve prepared the dishes. We can eat now.”

Shang Yichen’s face instantly darkened, a rare sense of panic sweeping over him. He glanced at Gu Shuning awkwardly and fell silent.

As Zhou Yi walked out with the dishes, he noticed the unfamiliar face standing next to Shang Yichen. The man, dragging a suitcase, appeared tired from travel.

Zhou Yi froze for a moment, recognizing him instantly from the photos in Shang Yichen’s phone. The identity of the man was clear.

The person in front of him was Shang Yichen’s beloved, the one he could never have—his “Bai Yueguang” who haunted his dreams.

The man’s face was soft, his features gentle, with a well-mannered aura. His fashionable clothes were another reason Shang Yichen admired him.

Gu Shuning, noticing Zhou Yi’s reaction, smiled and asked, “Who is this?”

“I’m Mr. Shang’s nanny,” Zhou Yi answered tactfully before Shang Yichen could speak.

Zhou Yi, seeing Shang Yichen’s nervous expression, immediately understood the situation. He knew Shang Yichen was worried Gu Shuning might discover their arrangement, so he played along.

Since Zhou Yi was being paid handsomely, he had no problem maintaining the act. He might even earn a little more if he played his role well.

Gu Shuning eyed him for a long moment, seeming to consider something. Her gaze was searching, but she smiled again, “So, you’re the nanny Mr. Shang hired?”

Zhou Yi nodded, keeping his tone casual. “Yes, I’ll help with the luggage.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Gu Shuning said, accepting the offer.

She turned to Shang Yichen, who still appeared a bit flustered. “Why don’t you invite me in for dinner?”

Shang Yichen, still processing Zhou Yi’s response, felt a growing unease. Zhou Yi’s calm demeanor made him feel strange—he had expected some sort of reaction, maybe jealousy or discomfort, but Zhou Yi seemed unfazed. He had covered up their arrangement effortlessly, leaving Shang Yichen feeling strangely unsettled.

Shang Yichen snapped out of his thoughts and forced a smile. “Of course, come in.”

After ushering Gu Shuning inside, Shang Yichen led him to the dining room and then turned to Zhou Yi, who was busy with the luggage. “Put the suitcase by the cabinet, then go to the kitchen and bring the dishes and chopsticks.”

Zhou Yi acknowledged the instructions, placed the suitcase as directed, and swiftly made his way to the kitchen. He returned with the dishes and set them down in front of them. “Please enjoy your meal.”

Zhou Yi turned to leave, but Gu Shuning called after him. “Sit down and eat with us.”

Zhou Yi shook his head. “Our company has a policy—we’re not allowed to eat with our employers. You two enjoy your meal, I won’t disturb you.”

Gu Shuning, seeing his polite refusal, smiled in understanding and turned back to Shang Yichen. “I understand. Please, enjoy your meal.”

Zhou Yi, feeling relieved, left the dining area and went into the kitchen. He pretended to busy himself, cleaning up, but in reality, he was eavesdropping on their conversation.

At the dinner table, Shang Yichen asked, “Aren’t you busy with your studies? How did you find time to return to China?”

Gu Shuning put down his chopsticks and smiled, “My studies are winding down, and it gets a bit lonely abroad. I thought it would be nice to come back and reconnect with old friends. More importantly, I’ve been thinking about whether I should continue studying here or return home. The school has some exchange programs, and I could apply to return to China before the end of next month.”

Shang Yichen paused, “Have you… decided to return?”

“I’m still thinking about it, but I’m leaning towards returning. After all, it would be easier to see you. If I stay abroad, meeting requires flights. But if I return to China, we can meet anytime,” Gu Shuning added with a smile. “What do you think, Yichen?”

“I think… that sounds great… I’m glad you’re coming back,” Shang Yichen said, but his words felt empty to him. He couldn’t shake the unease growing in his chest.

Gu Shuning’s return, something Shang Yichen had always looked forward to, now left him feeling confused. Why wasn’t he thrilled? Instead, he was haunted by the thought of Zhou Yi, the person he had been avoiding acknowledging.

Shang Yichen clenched his chopsticks, his mind racing, but the meal lost its appeal. The dishes Zhou Yi had prepared for him lay untouched.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yi, in the kitchen, realized the truth: with Gu Shuning’s return, his role as a stand-in was nearing its end. The thought brought a sense of regret—he had not yet made enough money. This arrangement, though tiring, had offered him comfort and a substantial income.

He sighed quietly and, with a wry smile, took out his phone to text Liang Xianzhang. [I think I’m going to be unemployed (T^T)]

Not receiving an immediate response, Zhou Yi put the phone away. His mind wandered to another thought—would Shang Yichen offer him a “breakup fee”? Maybe even a car, house, and money?

The thought sent a surge of excitement through him. Even if he had to leave immediately, he would be fine with it.

As the meal ended, Gu Shuning casually mentioned, “Yichen, I didn’t have time to book a hotel. Could I stay here tonight?”

Shang Yichen hesitated. His apartment had only two rooms—one being his bedroom and the other the guest room, which Zhou Yi used. Gu Shuning’s request left him in a dilemma. If he let Gu Shuning stay in the guest room, Zhou Yi would have no place to sleep.

Seeing Shang Yichen’s hesitation, Gu Shuning softened, “Am I causing trouble? I always stayed in the guest room when I visited. I thought it would be okay this time, but if it’s a problem, I can go find a hotel.”

Shang Yichen felt guilty at her kind tone. It seemed so much like the Gu Shuning he had known as a child, always considerate and accommodating. What was wrong with him? Of course, Gu Shuning should stay—Zhou Yi was just a substitute, after all.

Shang Yichen realized his mistake and, feeling his guilt build, called to Zhou Yi, who was holding a coffee cup. “Zhou Yi, clean up the guest room for Shuning. Get rid of any unwanted things.”

Zhou Yi didn’t object. He understood his place in this situation. After all, everything now revolved around Gu Shuning.