Chapter 14

Shen Chutang had been afraid of thunder and rain since she was little.  Whenever it rained, she would become listless and timid, feeling particularly insecure.

The meeting lasted for over an hour.  Shen Chutang slept soundly in his arms.  After it ended, she didn’t want to let go.

Shen Sichen had just finished his meeting and came to find Shi Chengyu.  He knocked on the door and entered.  “Chengyu, what about the East City project?”

“Why is Tangtang here?”

Before he could stop her, the person in his arms had already woken up.  She glanced at the door, then hid under the blanket.

“It’s raining.  Tangtang is a little scared.” Shi Chengyu explained briefly.

Shen Sichen nodded, remembering that this was indeed the case.  He looked at Shen Chutang, who was quieter than usual, and felt a little heartache.  She was a little girl.  It was better for her to be lively.

Shi Chengyu patted her back and let her down.  “Good girl, let Auntie take you to wash up first.  I’ll accompany you to eat later.”

Shen Chutang walked out, wrapped in a blanket, wearing slippers.  She walked slowly.  She called out “Second Brother” as she passed Shen Sichen, then continued walking out.

Shi Chengyu watched Shen Chutang leave, rubbing his arms.  “Second Brother, the East City project, the Shen family won’t get involved either.”

Shen Sichen was stunned for a moment, then reacted and smiled.  “You’re setting a trap?”

“But if neither of our families participate, won’t it be too obvious?”

Shi Chengyu chuckled and signed the document.  “Even if it’s obvious, someone will still want to get in.”

“Alright, then I’ll just watch the show.” Shen Sichen looked at him, thinking that this man was like a black-hearted fox.  How could someone so cute as a child grow up to be like this?

The rain continued on and off for the whole day.  Shen Chutang wouldn’t even leave her room.  She hid under the covers and read a book.  When the rain stopped in the afternoon, she went to the kitchen downstairs and baked a batch of cookies.

It took about an hour to get from Beijing to Wuhua Mountain.  If they had to go back and forth every day, it would be too much trouble.  Shen Chutang thought he was going back today and baked a batch of cookies for him to take.  Who knew that Shi Chengyu would eat them all right there.

Shen Chutang stared at him in a daze.  Shi Chengyu told her that he wasn’t leaving and that he was staying here to keep her company.

Shen Chutang stayed at Wuhua Mountain for half a month, and Shi Chengyu stayed with her for half a month.

August arrived.  Shi Chengyu still remembered his promise to take Shen Chutang to the beach.  He got up early and played a few rounds of chess with Shen Boyu as an apology.

Shi Chengyu had been staying here for almost half a month.  Shen Boyu had heard all sorts of things about him in the past.  Now, looking at him, he couldn’t help but feel a fondness for him.  No matter what the outside world said, business was business.  But he couldn’t find any fault with him when it came to Tangtang.

Shen Chutang reluctantly said goodbye to Shen Boyu.  She got into the car.  The car drove down the mountain, but it didn’t go in the direction of Lanjiang Court.  It went directly to the airport.  The private plane they had arranged for was waiting there.

Before she could react, she was already on the plane.  She stared at Shi Chengyu in a daze and asked, “Where are we going?  Aren’t we going home?”

Shi Chengyu chuckled and rubbed her head.  “Didn’t you promise to go to the beach?”

Shen Chutang’s eyes lit up instantly.  “So suddenly?  Where are we going?”

“Wishing Star Island.”

Wishing Star Island.  Shen Chutang had named it.  It was a small island.  Shi Chengyu had given it to her as a birthday present when she was ten years old.  She had only been there once before.

Shen Chutang asked, “Why did you suddenly want to go there?”

“I had someone renovate the island.  I’ll take you to see it.”

The flight took about five hours.  Shi Chengyu draped a blanket over her legs.  “Do you want to go to the rest room to sleep?”

She had gotten up earlier than usual and had been on the road, so it was time for her afternoon nap.

Shen Chutang shook her head.  “No, I’ll sleep here.”  She took off her shoes, got on the sofa, and took a pillow as a headrest.

“Okay, then I’ll have someone bring a blanket.” Shi Chengyu watched her obediently and pinched her cheeks.

The five-hour flight was neither long nor short.  Shen Chutang slept for a while.  When she woke up, she found herself in bed.

She pulled open the curtains.  Outside was a white sandy beach and endless blue waters, connecting with the deep blue night sky in the distance.  The sky and sea were one color, the waves were white, the stars in the sky were bright, reflecting each other.  The waves crashed against the beach, emitting a blue glow.

Even without opening the window, she could already smell the salty sea breeze.

“Miss, are you awake?” A maid knocked on the door.

Shen Chutang put on her shoes and opened the door.  It was a woman with golden hair.  “Where’s Brother Chengyu?”

“Mr. Shi is in a meeting.  He said to take you there when you wake up.”

Shen Chutang nodded and followed her downstairs to the study.  She tiptoed inside.  As soon as his meeting ended, she rushed over.  “Brother Chengyu.”

Shi Chengyu quickly caught her, afraid that she would fall.  “Are you happy?”

“Yes!”

“There are blue tears!” Shen Chutang looked at him excitedly, her eyes sparkling.

Shi Chengyu thought her eyes were much prettier than the stars.  “Hmm, I’m glad you like it.”

Logically, it wasn’t the season for blue tears.  No one knew how Shi Chengyu had done it, turning this stretch of water into a blue fluorescent sea.

Life on the island was even more peaceful than at the villa.  No one bothered them.  Shi Chengyu was in meetings, and Shen Chutang was reading or playing on her tablet.  When Shen Chutang was picking up seashells on the beach, Shi Chengyu would follow behind her with a small bucket.

Two weeks passed.  It was time to go back because Shen Chutang’s birthday was coming up.

They got back on the first night and adjusted to the time difference.  The next day, Xie Tong came knocking.

“You little rascal, you disappeared as soon as the holidays started!” Xie Tong angrily rubbed her face.  “You replied to my messages so slowly.  Why don’t you come back once every six months!”

Shen Chutang begged for mercy repeatedly.  “I was wrong, I was wrong, my dear.  I brought you a gift.”

Hearing about the gift, Xie Tong let go of her hand and complained.  “I’m bored to death at home.  You have no idea.  My dad is so annoying.”

Shen Chutang went to get the things she had prepared in advance.  She introduced them one by one.  “These apricot preserves, I made them at Grandpa’s.  I kept a jar for you.  And these fish jerky, they were roasted by the chef on the island.  They’re all delicious.”

Xie Tong gave her a big hug.  “Ah, Tangtang, I knew you were the best.”

“Someone just called me bad.” Shen Chutang rubbed her face.  Her tender cheeks were slightly flushed.

“Fake, it’s an illusion.  You heard wrong.” Xie Tong leaned back on the sofa, eating a box of apricot preserves, smiling brightly.  “Tangtang, you have no idea.  I’m almost moldy at home.  If you don’t come back, I’m going to turn into a mold.”

Shen Chutang was amused.  She patted her head reassuringly.  “It’s okay.  I’m back now.  And school is starting soon.  You won’t be bored anymore.”

“You’re the best.” Xie Tong hugged her neck.  “Tangtang, let’s go shopping.  Your birthday is coming up.  I’ll pick you out a birthday present!”