Fu Silang and Shen Shu had known each other for over ten years. At the time, Shen Shu was studying abroad. In his second year of university, he decided to invest in the carbon core industry. Fu Silang also had an interest in this field, and they met in Chinatown.

The difference was that Shen Shu came from a distinguished family. He had many connections locally and had considerable start-up funds. In contrast, Fu Silang had nothing, not even enough money to get by. He could be described as penniless. His girlfriend at the time even broke up with him because he was poor.

Their first meeting was a bit of a misunderstanding. Fu Silang and Shen Shu were sitting at the same table, having a meal when a group of troublemakers who had a past with Fu Silang mistook them for a gang. Despite Fu Silang explaining that they had no connection, no one believed him. Shen Shu, being a proud man, didn’t bother to explain further. When the troublemakers insulted his parents, he was completely enraged. Though usually calm, Shen Shu wasn’t someone to back down from a fight.

That was how they became acquainted, through a fight.

Shen Shu came from a wealthy family. He had access to the best resources and education. He was smart, well-mannered, and skilled at socializing. Fu Silang, on the other hand, came from a working-class family and had experienced hardship. He only completed high school before being tricked into going abroad. He worked as a dishwasher, a car mechanic, a shoe cleaner, and even served as a bodyguard for a female celebrity.

Despite their vastly different backgrounds, they hit it off and became good friends.

Shen Shu was the one who provided Fu Silang with his first investment. Shen Shu never boasted about it, but Fu Silang was grateful and kept it in his heart.

Their bond was unique. They understood each other without needing words.

That’s why no one knew Shen Shu’s feelings about relationships between men and women better than Fu Silang.

Shen Shu wasn’t the type to care much about love. He was reluctant to waste his precious time on fleeting emotions. As a person involved in finance, especially one like Shen Shu, who stood at the top of the pyramid, money flowed through his fingers in astronomical amounts, filled with power and desire. He watched the ever-changing world with indifference, numb to the ordinary women who couldn’t stir his emotions.

That’s why, despite the many women around him, including celebrities and socialites who constantly threw themselves at him, none of them caught his interest.

Fu Silang had seen enough women who thought they could charm him with their beauty. He simply found it amusing.

So when he saw Shen Shu’s wife, he was quite surprised, but after a moment, it felt almost logical.

Yu Xi was sweet and obedient. She had an excellent appearance and temperament, the kind of beauty that was gentle and soothing. To find someone who made others feel at ease, whose presence was calming, wasn’t easy. In today’s fast-paced, restless society, having such a woman by your side was indeed a good thing.

At the very least, she wouldn’t cause him any trouble and would provide positive emotional value.

Additionally, being the daughter of a family friend, her background was well-known, and she could help maintain a strong relationship with the Yu family. It was a perfect choice from every angle, both politically and economically.

Moreover, Shen Shu, as a man in a high position, appeared gentle on the surface, but he was actually tough at his core. Men like him didn’t like to be opposed, and Yu Xi, with her small, delicate nature, could easily evoke his protective instincts.

They spent almost an hour over dinner. During their conversation, Yu Xi learned that Fu Silang was actually the behind-the-scenes boss of Hai Rui, which made her feel a little nervous.

Although, she wasn’t necessarily very relaxed at first.

Shen Shu seemed to notice her discomfort and gently squeezed her palm under the table.

Yu Xi froze for a moment and looked at him.

Shen Shu’s eyes held a warm, encouraging smile, like a gentle summer rain, soothing without a word.

Yu Xi felt something stir in her heart, as if a flower had bloomed, something was on the verge of emerging.

She had no resistance to kind, strong men. Though she didn’t want to admit it, she had always known she lacked love, especially the love of a father.

She realized her psychological state wasn’t healthy since she was very young, but she couldn’t change it. By the time she understood, she had already grown into the person she was, with her personality and behavior already formed.

It felt like being trapped inside a circle drawn by Sun Wukong, unable to break free after a long time.

She knew it wasn’t healthy, but she couldn’t resist this warmth.

“Do you want some dessert? Their scones are quite good,” Shen Shu said, leaning close to her ear.

Yu Xi knew her face must have turned red again. His teasing always made her act so flustered.

She didn’t want to seem unstable, especially in public.

But it seemed like she couldn’t change it.

And Shen Shu, being the mischievous person he was, seemed to enjoy teasing her. Sometimes, she would get angry, but she couldn’t do anything about it.

Fu Silang quietly observed the exchange between the two and just smiled, taking a sip of his tea, not commenting.

The hotel had a hot spring, and after the meal, Fu Silang suggested they go and relax, but Shen Shu refused outright.

Fu Silang shrugged. “Then I’ll have to find someone else. See you tomorrow.”

With that, he left, not looking back, just waving goodbye to them.

He was quite carefree. Despite being the big boss, he had no airs about him. Yu Xi found him easy to get along with and couldn’t help but smile.

“What are you looking at?” Shen Shu suddenly asked her.

Yu Xi was taken aback. She blinked at him and, surprisingly, found herself in the mood for a little joke. She pulled out her phone and typed seriously for him to see: [Looking at handsome men.]

“Your husband is already such a big handsome man, do you need to look at others?” His tone was casual, but Yu Xi was left speechless.

At this moment, she began to suspect that Shen Shu’s greatest success was due to his thick skin.

In today’s world, people with thick skin often had the upper hand.

It seemed her expression was so cute that Shen Shu stopped teasing her. He gently patted her back. “Let’s go, it’s been a long day. Let’s go back and rest.”

Yu Xi obediently nodded.

They had booked the presidential suite, with an old American-style design. The room was dark, with heavy embroidered curtains hanging quietly. Yu Xi walked over and struggled to pull the curtains apart.

Seeing her struggle, Shen Shu smiled and walked over, taking the corner from her hand and pulling it easily aside.

She looked at his long arms and then at her own, realizing the difference.

It wasn’t exactly frustration, but there was a slight discomfort from being subtly compared.

Seeing that he was busy, she took the initiative to go to the bathroom for a shower. When she came out, Shen Shu was still handling some paperwork at his desk. Even when he left, he took these documents with him. Sometimes, it made Yu Xi wonder if he was some kind of finely tuned machine that never stopped working.

As the night deepened, he dimmed the lights. His fair skin and strong features, bathed in the soft yellow glow, appeared warmer, less distant than usual.

Shen Shu sat upright, but his posture was relaxed and natural. His suit had been removed, leaving only his shirt, which clung to his slim upper body, allowing one to feel the hidden strength beneath it without even touching him.

Shen Shu was undeniably charming, and his allure manifested in various ways. The most striking feature was the air of control and authority that surrounded him.

Yu Chen, who had always looked down on younger generations, couldn’t help but view Shen Shu in a different light. He had once praised him for his broad-mindedness, foresight, and a demeanor that could move mountains.

This was the highest compliment Yu Xi had ever heard her father give to anyone.

Though Yu Xi didn’t fully understand these qualities, after spending some time with Shen Shu, she had begun to grasp his character.

However, even when he was deeply moved, he maintained his rationality, always keeping a cold, distant demeanor and skillfully teasing her.

This made her feel somewhat discouraged in his presence.

As she drifted into these thoughts, Shen Shu lifted his gaze from his papers: “Finished?”

Yu Xi snapped back to attention, nodded, and was about to head for the sofa.

“Wait.” He stopped her, capped his pen, and stood up from his chair.

Yu Xi watched as he walked towards her. His tall figure soon loomed over her, and she was momentarily stunned.

Shen Shu wrapped his arm around her waist and gently guided her to sit on the sofa.

In no time, he returned from the bathroom, holding a hairdryer.

Yu Xi watched as he swiftly plugged it in, turned it on, and began drying her wet hair. Only then did she realize he was doing this for her.

Actually, she could’ve done it herself.

She took out her phone and typed to him: [No need. You go ahead and get back to work. I don’t want to take up your time.]

Shen Shu continued with his task, showing no sign of stopping: “I’m going to work. Can you dry your hair on your own?”

Yu Xi was momentarily taken aback.

While drying her hair, Shen Shu occasionally looked up at her with a neutral expression: You don’t blow dry your hair after washing it, what kind of bad habit is this? It’s easy to catch a cold this way. Don’t do that anymore, understand?”

His tone had grown somewhat stern by the end.

Yu Xi nodded instinctively.

Perhaps realizing his tone had been a bit too harsh, his expression softened: “If you keep drying your hair for a week, I’ll reward you.”

Yu Xi blinked, gazing at him. Her eyes seemed to ask, “What reward?”

Her curiosity was obvious, and she couldn’t hide it. Her expression was slightly silly but undeniably endearing.

In her presence, Shen Shu’s usual tension seemed to ease.

He didn’t answer her right away but instead teased, “I’ll tell you once you do it.”

Once her hair was dry, he unplugged the dryer and carefully coiled the cord: “It’s late. You should go to sleep. I’ll come over after finishing up here.”

He patted her shoulder in a reassuring manner.

Yu Xi detected the implication in his words and blushed.

What was that? His tone made it seem like she was the one who was overly needy.

It was always him who seemed to make things more complicated…

She glared at him in frustration, but only when his back was turned, and she didn’t dare hold the glare for too long.

After a moment, her gaze softened, and she quickly looked away, feeling a bit deflated.

…

Yu Xi initially decided to wait for Shen Shu, but she accidentally fell asleep.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but she groggily felt herself being lifted into a strong, warm embrace.

Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Shen Shu stiffened slightly.

He held her in his arms and looked down at her.

The girl in his arms was wearing a nude-colored satin slip dress with a large lace cutout on her back. The delicate butterfly bones of her back were barely visible.

Her figure was graceful, and the soft fabric of the dress clung to her body, emphasizing her slender waist.

Her face was pure, yet the slight hint of charm she unknowingly displayed made his body heat up.

Shen Shu took a deep breath, loosening his collar to let some of the heat dissipate, carefully holding back from touching her.

Yu Xi slept soundly, turning over in his arms without a care, unaware that she had just narrowly escaped from a dangerous situation.

She slept peacefully, while Shen Shu had trouble sleeping that night.

The next morning, Yu Xi noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes and, puzzled, typed: [Shen Shu, did you stay up late last night? Your dark circles are so heavy.]

[Money can’t be earned endlessly. You need to balance work and rest.]

Shen Shu took a deep breath and smiled, nodding in response.

The one who started all this was now giving him advice?

She had slept so soundly while he had been restless the whole night.

They had breakfast at the hotel restaurant, and the dishes were chosen by Shen Shu.

The main meal consisted of a boiled egg, a bowl of fried noodles, and a bowl of seaweed soup.

At first, Yu Xi thought the noodles looked ordinary, but she decided to try them after Shen Shu’s enthusiastic urging.

The taste was surprisingly good—not too salty, not too bland, with a strong aroma of scallion oil that seeped into every taste bud, filling her with an indescribable sense of happiness.

“Is it delicious?” he asked with a smile.

Yu Xi nodded.

“Do you still think I’m lying to you?” he said, pretending to be angry.

Yu Xi knew he was joking but still blushed and shook her head, looking like she had done something wrong.

Shen Shu was just teasing her, and he couldn’t help but laugh. He placed a peeled egg into a small porcelain bowl and pushed it toward her: “Eat up.”

He picked up the egg she hadn’t peeled yet.

Yu Xi was momentarily stunned, not realizing he was peeling it for her.

It was such a natural gesture, and a warm feeling passed through her heart. No one had ever cared for her like this, seamlessly blending care into every small, unnoticed action.

She lowered her head and slowly ate the noodles, her gaze falling on the pile of melon slices beside her. She felt as though her heart was soaking in melon juice, sweet and refreshing.

“I’ve scheduled the wedding photoshoot for the day after tomorrow. What do you think?” Shen Shu asked for her opinion.

It was a bit sudden, and Yu Xi paused for a moment.

Shen Shu awkwardly explained, “Originally, I had an important meeting the day after tomorrow, and I was supposed to go abroad. But there was a sudden change, and the meeting was canceled. I happen to be free these two days, and the photoshoot schedule has already been arranged, so I wanted to check with you. If you have other plans, we can cancel and stick to the original schedule.”

His tone was entirely casual, with no hint of pressure or coercion.

It seemed he was worried she’d overthink, so he explained further.

Yu Xi had no issues with it and nodded in agreement.

The schedule had been set long ago, just a few days earlier than expected.

After spending half a day at the hotel, they returned home. Shen Shu had to visit the office in the afternoon. Before he left, he reminded her to rest well.

Yu Xi nodded obediently. Before bed, she applied a face mask and gently patted her face in front of the mirror to ensure her skin would look good for tomorrow’s photoshoot.

In truth, she was worrying for nothing. Her skin was naturally hydrated, even without the mask.