Chapter 123: “Yunshu’s Younger Sister?”

Xie Yunshu and Lin Cuiping looked over at the same time and saw Shen Subai standing there against the light, wearing a black padded jacket and matching black pants.

Lin Cuiping was completely stunned by this tall figure—he was about 1.85 meters—and pointed angrily at Xie Yunshu’s nose, nearly furious: “Alright, alright! You dare secretly see a man behind my back!”

Xie Yunshu’s face flushed red. She quickly covered Lin Cuiping’s mouth, almost wanting to take off her shoe and stuff it in: “Shut up! If you can’t keep quiet, go back and sew your mouth shut. We’re just ordinary friends, just colleagues!”

Lin Cuiping wasn’t convinced and muttered a vague objection from her clenched hands: “Then why did he say he’s 1.85 meters tall?”

Xie Yunshu’s palm was all wet with saliva, which disgusted Lin Cuiping. She quickly lowered her hand and whispered a warning: “Say one more word and I swear, after work today, I’ll trap you in the alley across the street and beat you up!”

Lin Cuiping’s eyes darted between Shen Subai and Xie Yunshu, then she compared them secretly to her own blind date and defiantly raised her chin: “I won’t say a word. Besides, my date is a section chief!”

After that, she took off like a flash on her bike, leaving Xie Yunshu with a big awkward silence.

“Captain Shen…” Xie Yunshu gave a dry little laugh, then pursed her lips: “She’s like that, all talk, no filter, loves to spread nonsense! Don’t take her words seriously…”

Xie Yunshu’s second marriage reputation wasn’t great, but Shen Subai was still single and came from a high-ranking family. If rumors like that got out, it wouldn’t be good for him. Thinking of this, Xie Yunshu felt even more irritated—Lin Cuiping was a troublemaker; she barely stopped beating her up a few days ago, and now she’s causing trouble!

But why did Captain Shen randomly say he was 1.85 meters tall? Xie Yunshu was too embarrassed to ask and just smiled dryly, “You came so early today, have you eaten?”

Shen Subai seemed not to care much about that comment. He took gloves out of his pocket and put them on: “Already ate. One more day of practice tomorrow and it should be enough. There were too many people on the road this morning, I’ll lead you across first.”

Xie Yunshu quickly jumped up, putting on her scarf and hat, only her big eyes visible, her tone lively: “Then let’s go! Lunch is on me!”

Fortunately, Captain Shen was a decent guy who didn’t listen to Lin Cuiping’s nonsense, or else Xie Yunshu wouldn’t even know how to interact with him. She already owed him so many favors, adding suspicion of chasing him would be shameful.

Captain Shen kept up his gentlemanly demeanor all morning, and Xie Yunshu practiced seriously. By noon, she could already skillfully drive the motorized tricycle.

Stopping suddenly, Xie Yunshu parked the tricycle in front of Shen Subai, her cheeks flushed with excitement: “Captain Shen, get in! I’ll take you to eat!”

Shen Subai swung his long legs over and calmly said, “Isn’t that a bit inappropriate? After all, we’re just ordinary friends and colleagues. What if someone with bad intentions sees us eating together?”

Xie Yunshu was caught off guard. Was it really that serious? According to him, wouldn’t men and women not even be able to talk?

She pursed her lips: “Then…”

Shen Subai sat on the tricycle, bending his knees: “Let’s go somewhere with fewer people. No one will see us there.”

Xie Yunshu: “…”

The way he said it made their perfectly innocent relationship sound like a secret affair.

The restaurant was chosen by Xie Yunshu. Since she wanted to thank Captain Shen by treating him, she didn’t pick a cheap small diner but reluctantly went to a newly opened restaurant called Eight Treasures Duck.

Well, the location was indeed a bit out of the way…

Still, despite the pain in her wallet, Xie Yunshu was generous in ordering. She got one Eight Treasures Duck, one portion of Shanghai greens, two baskets of pan-fried buns, and one pork rib rice cake soup. The prices were quite high—about ten yuan for a meal.

The dishes were fairly mild in flavor. Xie Yunshu poured some flower tea and said, “Captain Shen, I remember you don’t like spicy food. These should suit your taste?”

Shen Subai nodded, took a ceramic spoon and bowl, and said, “Drink some hot soup first to warm yourself up.”

They sat in a quiet spot inside the restaurant. Xie Yunshu thought maybe this way they wouldn’t run into anyone they knew.

“Shen Ge? Xie Yunshu?”

No sooner had she thought this than they actually ran into someone they knew…

Behind Tian Hao were two young men, all wearing down jackets, looking over here. Especially Tian Hao, his eyes wide: “Shen Ge, it really is you! What are you doing here? Wait, you guys…”

Xie Yunshu quickly explained: “Manager Tian, Captain Shen helped me get a used motorcycle, so in a couple of days it’ll be easier to deliver food to the project site. This is my way of thanking Captain Shen by treating him to a meal!”

She explained clearly but didn’t dare say Shen Subai had taught her to ride the motorcycle all day…

Tian Hao glanced at Captain Shen suspiciously, then at Xie Yunshu, and said, “Oh, I see!”

Captain Shen was indeed serious about his work, but he had never been this enthusiastic before. Was this new project really that important, that even the food delivery had to be so carefully managed?

Xie Yunshu knew Tian Hao was the logistics manager, and that she could deliver food to the project because of his approval, so she politely said, “Manager Tian, since we met, why not join us?”

They all knew each other. Tian Hao hadn’t seen Shen Subai for a few days and without overthinking, immediately pulled up a chair: “Then let’s share a table. I’ll introduce—these two are my friends, responsible for architectural design at the project.”

Hearing “architectural design,” Xie Yunshu’s eyes lit up. She warmly greeted them: “Hello, I’m Xie Yunshu, currently responsible for delivering lunch to the project.”

She was pretty and smiled brightly. The young architect sitting across blushed: “Hello, Comrade Xie. I’m Chen Qiangsheng. So you’re the one who makes lunch; it’s really delicious.”

The other one was more outgoing and extended a hand: “Hi, I’m Zhou Yue, currently drawing the plans at the project. We eat your food every noon, so we’re friends now. Can I just call you Yunshu?”

Xie Yunshu felt flattered and quickly shook his hand: “Of course!”

Tian Hao, being lively, laughed: “We’re all young people. No need for formalities. From now on, I’ll call you Yunshu too! You’re only 22, younger than me by a few years. I can call you ‘little sister Yunshu’!”

After saying that, he unconsciously shrugged his shoulders, feeling a bit cold.

Shen Subai raised his eyes and coolly looked at him: “Calling her ‘little sister’ without any family ties, Manager Tian, you’re quite enthusiastic.”

Tian Hao knew Shen Subai was naturally a cold and serious type and chuckled: “Shen Ge, stop calling Xie Comrade. You sound like an old leader.”

Shen Subai looked back at Xie Yunshu and asked, “Then what should I call you? Yunshu, little sister?”