The next day was Saturday, a rare day off.

Naturally, she didn’t plan to do much. After being exhausted the night before, with the curtains drawn tightly, the room was pitch-black, as if it wasn’t even morning. Yu Xi slept deeply.

Until a strong hand pulled her out of bed, and she was instantly enveloped in a firm embrace.

“Still not up? Little lazy cat,” Shen Shu’s voice rumbled by her ear, filled with an inexplicable teasing affection.

Yu Xi’s ears flushed, and she reluctantly opened her sleepy eyes.

Shen Shu lifted her effortlessly. He was tall and muscular from years of fitness, and carrying her, who weighed only ninety pounds, felt as easy as lifting a doll.

Yu Xi froze, her body swaying slightly with his movements. Before she knew it, he had carried her to the window and pulled open the curtains with one hand.

With a loud swoosh, the bright sunlight suddenly streamed in.

Yu Xi squinted her eyes, instinctively burying her head deeper into his chest.

No one would be in a good mood after being woken up like this. She gave him a rare glare, feeling a bit annoyed.

Shen Shu wasn’t angry. Instead, he seemed delighted, raising an eyebrow as if he had discovered something new. “You look beautiful when you’re angry.”

He teased her with such casual charm, his gaze so meaningful it made her blush.

Yu Xi couldn’t handle it, lightly biting her lip and weakly pushing him, signaling for him to put her down.

But Shen Shu simply carried her into the bathroom. Before she could react, he gently placed her on the sink.

He leaned over slightly, his broad hands pressed against the sides of the sink. His towering figure loomed like an immovable mountain, pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.

In front of her was his chest, behind her the cold, narrow sink. She felt suspended in the air, her heart racing with tension.

She couldn’t speak, only glared at him with eyes that lacked the power to intimidate.

He, however, seemed to enjoy the view, carefully studying the mix of panic and anger on her face. He thought it made her even more vivid, even cuter.

He was completely captivated by her.

He lowered his head and was about to kiss her earlobe, but she was startled and quickly pulled away. He kissed air, and when he looked up, he saw her face flushed with embarrassment.

He smiled and said, “Just one kiss, I won’t do anything else. We still have to go out soon.”

Her heart was pricked by his words, making her feel even more awkward. Her face was so red it almost felt like it was burning.

He cupped her chin and gently kissed her lips. As she leaned back, her body unconsciously fell toward the sink, and she instinctively clung to him.

The kiss grew more passionate, and his hand reached her collar, where a delicate strap slid down her shoulder, cascading down her smooth, white arm. She snapped back to reality, pushed him away, and quickly jumped off the sink.

She was like a panicked little animal, rushing to escape the situation and headed to the bathroom outside to freshen up.

Though the door was barely ajar, she could still hear Shen Shu’s deep laughter.

Breakfast that day was exactly to her liking: crab roe soup dumplings, thin skin, juicy filling, especially fresh. She couldn’t resist eating a few more.

By the time she had eaten the eighth one, she hesitated, instinctively rubbing her now rounded belly.

Shen Shu seemed to catch onto her thoughts and smiled, “If you want to eat, then eat. One extra meal won’t make you fat. Besides, a little extra weight is cute.”

Yu Xi wasn’t fooled by his words.

Before a woman gains weight, men always encourage her to eat more, but once she does, they quickly lose interest.

By then, he’d probably be repulsed by her.

She shook her head to signal that she was full, but her lips couldn’t help but lick the edge.

Shen Shu found it amusing and gently pushed the plate of soup dumplings toward her, his tone coaxing, “If you don’t eat, they’ll all end up in my stomach.”

She looked conflicted, clearly torn.

Shen Shu pretended to reach for the plate, and she quickly grabbed one, popping it into her mouth.

“Slow down,” he said, his tone slightly reproachful.

But she didn’t seem afraid and quickly devoured several more dumplings.

Shen Shu couldn’t understand the strange modesty and hesitation girls displayed. Just moments ago, she had hesitated, but now she was eating without a care.

But, of course, he couldn’t say this in front of her.

“Let’s change clothes. We’re going out.”

He didn’t say where they were going, so Yu Xi went to change her clothes without knowing what was going on.

She opened the closet door and froze. Inside, there was a wide variety of women’s dresses, all in her size. She had no idea when he had arranged them for her.

Although it was just a matter of one sentence from him, she was still a little touched.

She picked out a pale moon-white cheongsam with intertwined begonia flowers. She was wondering about accessories when she found a silver clasp in a storage box at the bottom.

“Do I look good?” she asked, stepping out after changing.

Shen Shu was tying his tie when he saw her. He paused for a moment, then looked away. “You look great.”

Yu Xi eyed him suspiciously. If she looked so great, why had he looked away after just one glance?

Seeing her probing gaze, Shen Shu smiled, “You look so good, I’m afraid to look at you too much.”

Her cheeks flushed again, and she couldn’t help but look at him.

Shen Shu hadn’t put on his suit yet, and his white shirt was tucked into his black belt, emphasizing his narrow waist. His long legs, wrapped in his trousers, looked even more powerful.

Yu Xi quickly averted her gaze, pretending to search for her bag.

The familiar warmth closed in behind her, and she felt an alarm go off in her mind. Before she knew it, he had pulled her into his arms, his kisses falling in soft, scattered waves on her hair and neck.

The style of the cheongsam wasn’t particularly new, but the fabric was exquisite, made of expensive Xiangyun gauze. It was light and thin, almost weightless. When his strong hands ran along the buttons, the heat from his touch seemed to cover her entire body.

He picked her up and placed her on the table. The curtains in the room were drawn, giving the space a dim, dreamy atmosphere.

This environment only made the tension grow. Yu Xi trembled slightly as he kissed her neck, his movements hurried and rough, losing the usual calmness. She couldn’t stand it, her pale arms clutching his shoulder as if trying to remind him.

“It’s okay, I’ve scheduled a 2 p.m. appointment. We can still go out for a meal afterward.”

He finally got his way.

“Ding ding ding—” The phone on the coffee table vibrated.

Shen Shu buttoned his shirt and leaned forward to pick up the phone, then adjusted his pants and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window. Yu Xi touched her neck, feeling the warm, sticky sweat on her palm. It was uncomfortable, like having just finished a sauna.

She felt awkward and frustrated. She glared at Shen Shu, but all she could see was his broad back.

He was chatting with someone on the phone, probably a business partner. He was neatly dressed and looked impeccable, while she felt like a mess.

She regretted letting him have his way, but as usual, she seemed powerless against him. All she could do was angrily head to the bathroom.

She turned on the faucet, and cold water rushed out.

She cupped her hands and splashed her face, looking up at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was still flushed, and she couldn’t help but feel a little shocked.

She had been so carefree, so unreserved. She felt embarrassed, especially since he had acted so skillfully, so in control. That only made her more frustrated, and she found herself nervously fiddling with her delicate, white fingers. She wasn’t sure—

Was she challenging him, or challenging herself?

Afterward, Shen Shu took her to lunch. Halfway through the meal, he got a call and rushed back to the company. This time, he took her with him, instead of leaving her alone at the restaurant.

Although Yu Xi didn’t want to go to his company, it felt a little more comfortable.

It was better than being left alone at the company.

Thus, the originally scheduled 2 p.m. date was postponed to the evening. He was clearly an important figure in his organization, and when he said it was delayed, no one objected.

Shen Shu’s office was spacious, and Yu Xi had been there once before. This time, she was placed in a guest room within the office suite.

There was a louvered door separating her from the outside, and the sounds from the room drifted in. She sat on the sofa, slightly turned, and could see the figures of people passing by, all wearing suits. Shen Shu was sitting behind his desk, listening to a report… This serious business atmosphere made her feel out of place and awkward as an uninvited guest.

It was like… the little demon hidden in a golden house from a book.

This thought made Yu Xi even more hesitant to breathe loudly, fearing someone might discover there was someone in the inner reception room.

She couldn’t understand the professional reports and found them boring, so she gradually leaned back on the sofa and fell asleep. As she slept, she slouched, and in the process, her phone on the coffee table fell with a loud “thud.”

The sound of something heavy hitting the floor instantly silenced the office.

Manager Huang, who had been reporting, froze for a moment. He looked suspiciously at the closed Venetian blinds and instinctively glanced at Shen Shu.

Shen Shu didn’t even raise an eyebrow. He only smiled faintly at the corner of his lips and continued to flip through the documents in his hands at a leisurely pace. “I’ve raised a kitten. Didn’t expect it to be so naughty. Don’t mind it, continue.”

Manager Huang was stunned. The thought “Mr. Shen has a cat?” quickly flashed in his mind. He quickly composed himself and resumed the report.

Shen Shu’s voice wasn’t loud, but the room was so quiet that everyone naturally adopted a listening posture when he spoke, so Yu Xi clearly heard his words.

What is this? Even if you’re making up an excuse, this is a bit much.

He couldn’t resist teasing her with just a casual remark.

How did she ever think he was serious and reliable?

Yes, she had thought that before. Although he made her feel uneasy at times, there was also a sense of trustworthiness about him.

When the meeting finally ended, Shen Shu closed the office door and walked over to open it.

“Let’s go, we’re having dinner. The person I invited has arrived.”

Only then did Yu Xi get up and follow him out.

Along the way, she obediently stayed close to him, but Shen Shu still noticed she seemed distracted. He asked, “You’ve been waiting for a long time, are you unhappy?”

Yu Xi shook her head. After being a corporate worker for so long, she was used to being ordered around, so how could she be upset over waiting?

There was a place to lean and snacks to eat.

Her overly obedient expression made Shen Shu feel a little uncomfortable. Just as Wei Ling came striding down the hallway, he reached out to take the white fox fur vest from him and carefully draped it over her shoulders.

“Don’t catch a cold.”

He squeezed her slim shoulder, and Yu Xi froze for a moment before looking up at him.

Shen Shu’s expression was serious, with a hint of sternness. “Did you hear that? Don’t go out dressed like this again.”

Her cheeks turned slightly red, and her heart stirred with a strange warmth spreading through her body.

She pulled out her phone and typed a small rebuttal: [I’m wearing thermal pants.]

She could feel Shen Shu’s concern for her, like his always direct and passionate gaze, never leaving her for even a second.

Although it put great pressure on her, it also gave her an inexplicable sense of security.

What was supposed to be a date actually turned out to be just Shen Shu taking her to meet someone.

A man.

When they arrived, the man was sitting by the window, drinking tea. He wore a navy blue suit, looking distinguished, with his neatly combed hair tucked behind his ears, exposing a broad forehead and a handsome, energetic face. Even sitting down, his tall, slender figure was noticeable.

When they approached, he didn’t stand to greet them but instead smiled and waved them over. His gaze briefly swept over Yu Xi, but it was polite and soon returned.

Yu Xi guessed that he and Shen Shu had a good relationship.

Sure enough, Shen Shu shot him a look and casually asked, “How long have you been waiting? Tell me.”

He pulled the chair for Yu Xi, gently pressing her shoulder to guide her into the seat before sitting down himself.

Fu Silang just smiled and then turned to Yu Xi, his eyes narrowing playfully. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

This man had a dignified and elegant appearance, and even when joking, his teasing didn’t come across as inappropriate or uncomfortable.

Yu Xi glanced at him quietly, and to her surprise, he was also looking at her with a warm smile, confident and composed.

Yu Xi blushed deeply, feeling a bit awkward, and turned to look at Shen Shu for reassurance.

“Fu Silang, my friend, he’s in business,” Shen Shu introduced briefly without going into details. He added, “Yu Xi, my wife. You’ve met her before.”

Yu Xi was taken aback, feeling slightly confused by the weight of his words.

When did she ever meet this Boss Fu?

Fu Silang only smiled faintly and then began talking to Shen Shu about work.

Yu Xi couldn’t understand and didn’t want to ask, so she quietly stood aside, eating the food on her plate.

The restaurant Shen Shu chose was a classic Japanese place, with very fresh ingredients, supposedly airlifted from Hokkaido that morning. The chefs were locals, and the prices were extremely high. Reservations were required two weeks in advance.

But with Shen Shu’s status, it seemed he didn’t need to worry about such things.

The sushi tasted really good, but after two pieces, she felt a little full and her gaze drifted across the table to the Sukiyaki in the corner.

Yu Xi hesitated. It was too far from her, near Fu Silang.

She quietly raised her head.

Fu Silang was still talking to Shen Shu. “Do you think they can handle this? Aren’t they afraid of overreaching?” He chuckled and poured tea for Shen Shu. “I’ve decided to pull out. Let’s see if Youko can still go on without me as their strong competitor. When they fail, I’ll enjoy watching them make a fool of themselves.”

He reached for a cigarette, but Shen Shu stopped him. “Don’t smoke. My wife doesn’t like the smell.”

His tone was serious, and Fu Silang froze for a moment, seemingly in disbelief. He turned back to look at Yu Xi, surprised. “You, the heavy smoker, actually stopped smoking? Amazing, even heroes can’t resist the charms of women. In the past, your mother urged you to go on blind dates, and you wanted to hide in the office 24 hours a day. What, now you know the benefits of having a woman?”

Yu Xi’s face turned bright red upon hearing his words, especially with Shen Shu still standing beside her, making her even more embarrassed.

Shen Shu glanced at him and frowned. “Stop speaking so crudely.”

Fu Silang chuckled and glanced at Yu Xi, understanding something, and gave her an apologetic look.

Shen Shu just smiled and carefully picked up some Sukiyaki for Yu Xi, the very dish she had been eyeing earlier.

Yu Xi paused for a moment, and then a faint blush spread across her face. She had only looked at the dish a few times, but it seemed that he had noticed.