After returning the document to Meng Xia, Yu Xi prepared to head back.

“Yu Xi,” someone called out behind her as she was walking downstairs.

She turned in surprise and saw Xiao Lin, whom she hadn’t seen in a few days.

He still wore his usual cold expression, looking unapproachable. Yu Xi had been intimidated by him in the past, but since that incident, the fear was gone, though the dislike remained, perhaps even stronger than before.

She instinctively wanted to walk around him, but there was only one path, and turning around now would be too obvious.

It would be too obvious that she didn’t want to be here.

Yu Xi had no choice but to stop and wait for him to pass.

Xiao Lin walked up to her and said, “I need to talk to you.”

Yu Xi looked up at him in surprise.

She didn’t understand what they could possibly need to discuss.

However, since her superior had spoken, she couldn’t refuse and nodded.

Behind the office building was an abandoned experimental garden. In the narrow alley, dandelion fluff floated in the air, probably blown from some nearby yard.

Yu Xi brushed it aside and looked at Xiao Lin ahead of her.

With one hand in his pocket, his broad, tall figure exuded a cold and stern aura. His sharp features made him appear intimidating when silent.

Yu Xi wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk about, but after walking such a long distance, her patience was wearing thin, and her mood grew more irritable.

Fortunately, at this moment, Xiao Lin finally stopped under a locust tree and turned back to look at her. “I know my words aren’t pleasant, but Yu Xi, I still want to sincerely advice that you and Shen Shu have no future together.”

Yu Xi was stunned, and it took her a while to realize that he still thought of her relationship with Shen Shu in that way.

But it made sense. To someone like him, a wealthy young master, she probably wasn’t the type of girl worth taking seriously.

It felt like swallowing a fly.

She didn’t want to explain herself to him. They weren’t close at all. Just then, she received a text from Shen Shu.

Yu Xi quickly pulled out her phone and checked it.

Shen Shu: [I’m here, where are you?]

He had said he would go to the company first, but she didn’t expect him to come all the way here to pick her up.

Yu Xi felt a wave of warmth in her heart. Her previously dark expression brightened, and her eyes were filled with joy.

She quickly typed a reply: [I’m downstairs buying something. Wait for me, I’ll be right there.]

Shen Shu: [Alright, under the same tree as before. I’ll wait for you, don’t worry.]

Yu Xi: [Mm.]

Xiao Lin saw everything and found it extremely irritating.

“Is that a message from Shen Shu?” He didn’t want to ask, feeling like it sounded accusatory, laced with uncomfortable jealousy.

But before he realized it, the words had already escaped his lips.

He understood, though, how much of this was for Yu Xi’s sake and how much was out of pride. The frustration of not being able to win over the girl he liked, especially when someone else beat him to it, was tough to bear.

What made it worse was that the other man was someone he couldn’t compete with—superior in every way.

Yu Xi found Xiao Lin perplexing. As she put her phone away, her expression fell.

But when her gaze landed on Xiao Lin’s face, her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a little frightened.

The look in Xiao Lin’s eyes was unsettling.

He was still blocking her way.

Yu Xi thought it might be better to just speak with him. She wasn’t good at confrontations, so she gestured: [This is my personal matter, Mr. Xiao. I have something else to do. I’ll talk to you later.]

Even her parting words felt dismissive.

Xiao Lin felt as if something had lodged in his chest, making him feel suffocated, unable to move forward or back.

Yu Xi saw that he wasn’t saying anything, let out a sigh of relief, and turned to leave.

Just as she was about to pass him, Xiao Lin suddenly reached out and blocked her path.

Yu Xi jumped in surprise, staring at him in disbelief.

Xiao Lin furrowed his brows, his expression cold, as if he was struggling with something. After a moment, his resolve seemed to harden. He said, “A man like Shen Shu will never take you seriously. You’d be better off with me. At least I truly like you, I—”

A soft cough interrupted his words.

Yu Xi turned around and saw Shen Shu standing quietly at the alley’s entrance. Instinctively, she took a step back, distancing herself from Xiao Lin.

“Am I interrupting, Mr. Xiao?” Shen Shu smiled calmly, his expression composed, giving no sign of the anger that might have been brewing behind the scene.

As for Xiao Lin, he felt a wave of shame wash over him. His face alternated between green and white, and he could no longer find the words to speak.

Shen Shu’s gaze remained calm, but there was a sharpness to it as he locked eyes with Xiao Lin: “But Mr. Xiao, I must remind you that badmouthing me in front of my wife isn’t very ethical.”

His tone was flat, yet the meaning hit Xiao Lin hard, leaving him wide-eyed in disbelief.

It was like being hit with a bombshell.

Although Shen Shu’s demeanor was indifferent, his presence firmly overshadowed Xiao Lin, not just because of his experience and commanding aura, but also because he held the moral high ground at that moment.

He stepped closer to Xiao Lin and said, “If you keep harassing my wife, I’ll have to talk to your older brother. I don’t think you want that, do you? You’re an adult, after all.”

The last sentence was like a slap in the face.

Xiao Lin had never felt so humiliated, and yet he had no way to rebut it. His palms clenched and unclenched, his face shifting with various emotions.

Shen Shu, however, was no longer interested in wasting any more time on him. He took Yu Xi’s hand. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go and leave him some dignity.”

Yu Xi obediently followed him.

“In the future, if someone like this pursues you, you should tell them you’re married, alright? So they don’t get embarrassed.” Shen Shu’s gentle tone floated from ahead, long and calm, but it felt like a series of slaps to Xiao Lin’s face.

The cold wind seemed to cut through him, as if it was a knife scraping his heart, cold and painful.

Once they exited the alley, Yu Xi hesitated before looking at Shen Shu, tilting her head as if curious about how he had found this place.

Shen Shu explained, “You turned on the location. Did you forget?”

Yu Xi made a gesture: [You were following me?]

Shen Shu raised an eyebrow: “Don’t say it like that. I asked for your permission, remember? Plus, I turned it on for you too, so you can always know where I am.”

Yu Xi thought for a moment and remembered that it was indeed true.

But she has a bad memory and has forgotten it.

“I didn’t expect Xiao Lin to have feelings for you.” Shen Shu lifted the corner of his mouth, seemingly amused.

Yu Xi couldn’t understand what was so funny, nudging him playfully with a disapproving look.

Shen Shu laughed and said, “That guy is rebellious. His temper is strange, and no woman can get close to him. I never expected him to fall for you.”

Yu Xi looked at him seriously: [You’re not jealous at all?]

She had been meaning to ask this for a while.

Why was he always so calm? Shouldn’t he be jealous when someone else is pursuing his wife?

Did he really not care?

“Stop overthinking.” He reached out and flicked her forehead with his finger. “What’s there to be jealous of? A young guy like him. I know you don’t like him, and he’s no threat to me.”

Yu Xi pouted and gestured: [You’re so confident, Mr. Shen.]

Shen Shu particularly liked the way she pouted. She looked so cute, and he couldn’t help but pinch her cheek.

Soft, white, and tender, like freshly steamed buns.

Seeing him laugh like that, Yu Xi felt that something bad was going to happen: [What are you laughing at?]

Shen Shu smiled but didn’t answer. He took her hand and led her forward.

They went to a Hong Kong-style cafe that Shen Shu often visited. When Yu Xi arrived, she realized that she wasn’t the only one there.

“Sister-in-law.” Shen Yuan greeted her sweetly.

Yu Xi smiled at her, feeling a little embarrassed.

Shen Shu lightly pressed on her shoulder for a moment and gently guided her to a seat.

“Behave yourself. Don’t scare her,” Shen Shu said, glancing at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan pouted, huffed, and took a big sip of soda. “Brother, do you think I’m some kind of monster? I’m so cute!”

Shen Shu replied, “Stop talking nonsense and get to the point.”

“Why are you so harsh with me?” The young girl said with a pitiful look, naturally linking her arm with Yu Xi’s. “Sister-in-law, help me out!”

Yu Xi was taken aback by Shen Yuan’s familiarity.

Shen Shu noticed her awkwardness and took a sip of tea. “If you don’t want me to cut off your allowance next month, take your hands off her.”

Shen Yuan rolled her eyes in response.

After a moment, she reluctantly withdrew her hand.

Only then did Shen Shu look at Yu Xi, his tone noticeably softer. “What kind of wedding banquet do you want? Shen Yuan knows about this. If you have any ideas, feel free to discuss them with her. She can even draw up plans for you. Don’t worry about the costs. Just tell her the effect you want.”

Shen Yuan: “…”

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, silently questioning his sudden change of attitude. She had been summoned all the way here to do the hard work, hadn’t she?