Chapter 11: Am I Really That Unpresentable?

Cheng Yu quietly took two steps back. Although they were uncle and niece by blood, Shen An had been seriously ill as a child. At eight years old, he was sent abroad for medical treatment by his family and rarely returned home. Even when he did come back, their interactions were brief. Especially since she was a girl, as she grew older, she naturally became somewhat distant from this uncle.

But she didn’t dislike his habit of tugging her braid—it was a mischievous quirk he’d had since childhood. Because they were close in age, Cheng Yu used to call him by his name when they were kids. In response, Shen An would always playfully pull her braid, forcing her to call him “Uncle.”

Once, he said, “If you don’t call me ‘Uncle’ now, what if I die someday? You’ll never get the chance again.”  

From then on, Cheng Yu started calling him “Uncle.” And because he liked tugging her ponytail, she never changed her hairstyle even as she grew up.  

There were many nights when Cheng Yu secretly thought about the uncle she’d grown up with, terrified that one day her mother would say to her, “Yuyu, Uncle isn’t coming back.”  

What Cheng Yu didn’t know was that beneath his cold and indifferent exterior, Shen An also cherished the niece he’d grown up with—and was deeply grateful to her.  

During all those years when he couldn’t be by Wen Li’s side, it was Cheng Yu who stayed with her. The two most important women in his life had grown up together, keeping each other company, and that gave him peace of mind.  

On their way back to the private room, Wen Li reminded Cheng Yu, “If you see Song Xingzhou at the hospital in the future, don’t complain about anything or pick fights with him.”  

Shen An felt that suffocating frustration rising in his chest again, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.  

“You still care about him?” Cheng Yu exploded. Could it be that Wen Li still hadn’t gotten over Song Xingzhou? What would happen to her uncle then? The sickly man had finally managed to get himself a wife!  

Wen Li rubbed her temples. “What kind of logic is that? The more you stand up for me, the more he’ll think I’m still hung up on him. He’ll believe that his leaving broke my heart and that you’re just venting my anger for me.”  

“Oh! Got it! I’ll just ignore him from now on!” Cheng Yu finally understood and couldn’t help but scoff. “How full of himself is Song Xingzhou? Who’d choose him over my uncle and still be pining for him?!”  

Aside from being a sickly person, her uncle was practically perfect—looks, family background, social status, every aspect was top-tier.  

Only then did Shen An secretly let out a sigh of relief, his anxious heart finally settling.  

When the three of them returned to the private room, Ye Shen teased, “Took you long enough?”  

He’d known that when Shen An said he was stepping out for air, he was really following Wen Li—worried about her drinking.  

Shen An ignored him and said to the director of the Second Hospital, “For any follow-up matters regarding the equipment, you can negotiate directly with Director Ye.”  

Kanghe Hospital was a private institution Shen An had co-founded with Ye Shen, who held the second-largest share. Since Shen An didn’t have time to manage it, he’d handed over administrative control to Ye Shen.  

Realizing the deal was secured, the director wanted to toast again in gratitude, but Shen An declined. “I think we’ve all had enough for tonight. Let’s call it a day.”  

As the dinner party wrapped up, Cheng Yu made excuses to leave with Wen Li, dragging her feet until they were the last ones left.  

“Li Li, you should take me home. I’ve had too much to drink—it’s dangerous for me to take a cab alone,” Cheng Yu clung to Wen Li, refusing to leave.  

Ye Shen, ever the perceptive wingman, grabbed the back of Cheng Yu’s collar and said, “Learn some tact, will you? I’ll take you home.”

Cheng Yu, noticing Shen An’s displeased expression, immediately let go of Wen Li’s hand. “Alright, I won’t be a third wheel then. Bye, Li Li! Bye, Uncle! See you tomorrow, Li Li!”

As Shen An watched Ye Shen pull Cheng Yu away, he called out to her, “Send me those photos.”

Wen Li was curious—what photos?

But Cheng Yu understood perfectly, giving an OK sign. She had known her uncle was aware when she secretly took those pictures.

On the way back, Cheng Yu asked Ye Shen, “Brother Shen, my uncle will treat our Li Li well, right?”

Cheng Yu only knew that Wen Li had married her uncle for the Luck-bringing marriage and nothing beyond that. She worried Wen Li might be let down—her friend had already endured enough gossip over the past year.

While focusing on driving, Ye Shen glanced at the concerned Cheng Yu and assured her, “Don’t worry. No one could treat Wen Li better than your uncle.”

Shen An would give his life for Wen Li. He would even fight death itself to stay alive for her. How could such a man ever let her down?

Worried about being seen leaving with Shen An, Wen Li quickly slipped into the car as soon as they exited the hotel.

Shen An sat beside her and asked in a low voice, “Am I really that embarrassing to be seen with?”

“You’re the exact opposite—too impressive,” Wen Li explained, afraid he might misunderstand. “If my hospital colleagues found out I’m married to the Young Master of the Shen Family, my peaceful days would be over.”

Envy and jealousy would be everywhere.

“Work relationships are like that—people envy what you have and mock what you lack. You get what I mean, right?” Wen Li asked.

“So you plan to hide me forever?” Shen An disagreed with her reasoning.

The word “forever” made the slightly tipsy Wen Li pause. It felt foreign—who could guarantee spending a lifetime with anyone? Even loving couples divorce. What hope did their marriage, built without emotional foundation, have of lasting till old age?

“Mrs. Shen.” Shen An leaned closer, whispering into her ear, “You need to get used to your identity as Mrs. Shen soon.”

His warm breath against her ear made Wen Li’s cheeks flush, leaving her breathless.

“Got it,” she replied softly, shrinking back.

Shen An watched her every move and asked pointedly, “If you run into Song Xingzhou at the hospital, will you acknowledge him?”

“We might cross paths during patient consultations or medical exchanges—it’s unavoidable. But privately, no.” Wen Li answered matter-of-factly.

“Better keep your word.” Otherwise, he wasn’t sure he could control himself.

A sudden phone call interrupted them. Seeing it was her grandmother, Wen Li quickly answered, “Grandma, you’re still up this late?”

“I took a nap and woke up to call you. You’re not home, are you?” The elderly woman’s hearing was sharp.

“Wow! You could tell?” Wen Li couldn’t suppress her smile.

“I heard car noises.” Her grandmother began chiding her for being out so late.

“With the Dragon Boat Festival coming up, are you coming home?” Grandma asked.

“If you miss me, I’ll come. If not, I’ll wait till New Year.” In truth, she had already arranged her shifts with colleagues.

“Isn’t your husband back from abroad? Is he coming with you?” Grandma, with her cheerful demeanor and love for short videos, didn’t speak like a traditional old lady.

Wen Li was stumped by the question. Should she invite Shen An?

Shen An was close to her, and her phone volume was loud enough that he caught most of the conversation. He reached out for the phone.