Yu Xi was not injured. Shen Shu carefully examined her, even using the flashlight on his phone to check, despite her resistance. “It’s probably all in your mind,” he said.

Yu Xi hid her face under the blanket, not wanting to talk to him.

She just wanted to dig a hole and bury herself in it.

She couldn’t believe he’d seen that part of her. She was mortified.

Shen Shu screwed the cap back on. “Wait for me a moment, I’ll go wash my hands.”

His footsteps faded away.

Yu Xi then lifted the blanket, peeking out with just her little head visible. She happened to catch sight of Shen Shu disappearing into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water came from inside.

Her face turned red again, uncontrollably.

This was even more embarrassing than the first time. She hadn’t even touched that place herself.

After washing his hands, Shen Shu came back, and Yu Xi quickly pulled herself back under the blanket.

It was too late, though. He patted her shoulder from behind. “Are you asleep? Don’t pretend, I saw you peek out just now.”

She trembled slightly.

Shen Shu gently stroked her hair, wrapping a strand around his finger as he casually said, “Do you know what the consequences of lying to me are?”

Yu Xi’s heart trembled again. She was afraid of him, so she turned around. But her face was still half-covered by the blanket, with only her big eyes visible.

Shen Shu reached under the blanket from one side, gently grabbed her little hand hiding beneath, and smiled. “Gotcha.”

Yu Xi struggled a little but didn’t dare to resist too much. She let him hold her hand, though she gave him a defiant glance.

Unexpectedly, that glance didn’t go unnoticed. Shen Shu smirked and leaned in close. “You dare to glare at me?”

Yu Xi hated when he looked at her like that. Feeling guilty, she shrank back into the blanket.

Her phone, which was on the nightstand, vibrated, and the screen lit up.

Shen Shu glanced at it. It was already 10 PM.

He turned off the other lights in the room, leaving only a small nightlight dimmed to its lowest setting.

The soft yellowish light made the room feel warm and cozy. Yu Xi couldn’t help but glance at the wall, where their shadows were cast.

He was tall, leaning over her, his hand on the bed, while she lay in the blanket with only her little head visible. The contrast was striking.

This made her remember how safe she felt when he held her, though she was a bit afraid of him.

Thinking back, it wasn’t just because she had seen him scold others harshly. There was an inexplicable feeling, like the fear students had for their strict headmasters.

It was a deep-rooted fear, much like the fear she had for her father, Yu Chen.

In her subconscious, she saw him as someone of her father’s generation—deep-minded and difficult to understand.

How could she ever be on equal footing with him?

“What’s wrong? Are you daydreaming again?” Shen Shu took off his glasses and lay down next to her in the blanket. He grabbed her hand, which was hiding under the blanket again.

His palm was warm and a bit rough as he gently squeezed her fragile little hand. It seemed to amuse him, and he traced the lines of her palm.

Yu Xi felt ticklish and pulled her hand back.

“It’s still early. Let’s talk some more,” Shen Shu said, leaning against the headboard and turning to face her.

Yu Xi wasn’t good at communicating. People often found it hard to talk to her. However, Shen Shu was very skilled in communication. Once he decided to talk, he would patiently explain everything.

Yu Xi thought for a moment, then grabbed her phone to type and show him: [What should we talk about?]

Shen Shu smiled, then pulled her into his arms. He lowered his head to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

He seemed to enjoy holding her like this, so close to her… Yu Xi felt a bit ticklish and uneasy, so she typed again: [You talk.]

Her serious yet naive look was truly adorable.

Shen Shu silently laughed to himself. Not in a hurry to speak, he placed his hand on her waist. Yu Xi tensed up again, feeling all her attention drawn to the sensitive spot. A deep, irresistible itch seemed to spread from her body.

He knew exactly how to find her weak spots, effortlessly exploring her.

She was forced to press her whole body against his chest. She wanted to push him away but didn’t dare to. Her heartbeat was as chaotic as the beat of an impatient drum.

What happened to their “talking”?

She felt the situation was veering off course.

Shen Shu stopped teasing her and said seriously, “If you have any questions, just ask.”

Yu Xi froze for a moment, not understanding why the conversation had shifted to her asking questions.

Shen Shu continued, “I’m quite satisfied with you, but you keep avoiding me. So, I’m giving you the opportunity to ask. Tell me, what do you dislike about me? I’ll change.”

She just stared at him, stunned.

Shen Shu chuckled at her confused expression and shook her hand gently. “No questions?”

Yu Xi felt like sometimes he treated her like a toy. She had her dignity too, and she was a little irritated, pulling her hand back.

She typed on her phone: [Do you like me, Shen Shu?]

This was a question she had always wanted to ask.

Shen Shu thought for a moment before answering, though he hesitated slightly. “Yes, I liked you the first time I met you.”

Yu Xi looked at him suspiciously.

“You don’t believe me when I tell the truth?” Shen Shu said helplessly. “Really, I was attracted to you the first time I saw you, when I came to meet your father by Shichahai.”

Her appearance, her demeanor, everything was just to his taste.

At first, it was out of consideration for marriage alliance. On top of that, he had reached the age for marriage, and his options were either her or Yu Qing. Yu Qing, the spoiled young lady, was completely unsuitable for him, so he chose her.

Yu Xi typed again: [What kind of liking?]

She wasn’t so narcissistic to think that just because of her looks, people would be drawn to her.

Her experiences since childhood had made it clear that she wasn’t that attractive or exceptional. How could someone as outstanding as Shen Shu fall for her at first sight? That was pure fantasy.

Shen Shu’s feelings were definitely not love at first sight.

However, when they first met, his fondness for her was undeniable.

Without a doubt, that brief glance had struck a chord in his heart.

He thought that if he were ten years younger, he might have pursued her right away, just like a young man would.

But at his age, love was simply a part of life.

In fact, it wasn’t even love. It was more like a good impression.

In his business dealings, he was decisive and meticulous, with a flawless reputation. Most of his energy was spent on maintaining and growing his career. When it came to love, he was naturally indifferent, even less attached to family bonds.

In his view of life, career and family had always been the top priorities.

And his wife was, of course, part of his family.

He always thought things through carefully. The moment he decided to marry her, he had already seen her as his partner for the rest of his life, one of his most important family members.

However, as time passed and their relationship deepened, it seemed that many things were changing.

Shen Shu couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed, but his mindset was definitely different from when they first met.

Thinking about this, he said to her seriously, “Yu Xi, I’ve met countless people, probably more than the men and women you’ve met in your life. I know what I need and what kind of person I want to spend my life with. You don’t need to doubt this.”

Yu Xi felt a shock in her heart once again.

She hadn’t expected Shen Shu to be so straightforward with her.

His choice of her, though a decision made after weighing the pros and cons, was by no means a reluctant one.

He had many choices. If he had to choose a marriage partner, the Yu family was just one of many options. After all, compared to the Shen family, the Yu family’s background and influence were slightly inferior.

But the spark he felt in that moment was certainly not fake.

Seeing her silent, he smiled and squeezed her hand. “You have to have faith in me. I’m not at an age where I can still act recklessly. I know what kind of life I want to live, what I’m doing, and what I should be doing.”

Yu Xi felt her palm grow warm, and her heart was even warmer.

He had never said such things to her before.

Although she didn’t understand much of what he said, there was one thing she understood—he was determined to stay with her for the long run.

He was right. She should have more faith in their marriage.

She wasn’t sure how long it took, but she finally nodded solemnly.

Shen Shu smiled, gently pressing her head against his chest, and kissed her forehead. “It’s getting late. Sleep now, or you won’t be able to get up tomorrow.”

She nodded.

After they became more intimate, they no longer slept at opposite ends of the bed like before. She usually curled up quietly, but Shen Shu pulled her into his arms, holding her with one hand. “Sleep now. I’ll hold you. Aren’t you afraid of being alone?”

Her thin back pressed against his solid, warm chest. She felt a little uncomfortable, yet strangely liked the sensation of being tightly embraced.

There was a sense of being cherished, of being loved.

At least in the past, no one had ever hugged her like this—not even her parents.

He didn’t mind that she couldn’t speak, and he didn’t mind that she couldn’t reply to him. Instead, he patiently continued the topic.

Moreover, Shen Shu was highly emotionally intelligent. Sometimes, without needing her to reply, he could already guess what she was thinking.

In fact, spending her life with someone like him wouldn’t be so bad.

Apart from his busy work, they seemed to be quite compatible in other aspects. At least, he wouldn’t be like Yu Chen, scolding her or giving her cold looks.

Although Yang Jilan loved her dearly, her temper wasn’t great. When she was younger, her mother often hit her.

Whether it was the Zhou family or the Yu family, she never felt completely at ease there. In contrast, she preferred being with Shen Shu. She liked the calm, steady aura around him, like a safe harbor that made her feel at peace.

That night, Yu Xi slept soundly.

However, in her dream, she wasn’t quite at ease. She knew Shen Shu had secretly kissed her again.