Chapter 37

Shi Chengyu led her towards the hotel. Shen Chutang was wearing a thick white down jacket, a light pink scarf, and a beret. She walked slowly, taking small steps, like a penguin.

Shi Chengyu followed her pace, holding her hand tightly. When they reached the door of the room, Shi Chengyu stopped and didn’t let go. Shen Chutang was pulled to a stop.

“Tangtang, I’m staying next door.”

Whenever they went out to play together, they always stayed in a suite together, like they were at home. Shi’s family had a room reserved for Shi Chengyu in almost every hotel across the country.

This time, Shen Chutang was with Xie Tong. Shi Chengyu hadn’t planned to come, so the room had already been cleaned and prepared for them.

Thinking of Xie Tong, Shen Chutang suddenly realized that she had left Xie Tong behind. She pulled Shi Chengyu and was about to go out.

Shi Chengyu pulled her back, chuckling. “What’s wrong? Where are you going?”

“Xie Tong! I left Xie Tong behind!” Shen Chutang said urgently, already imagining Xie Tong angrily wanting to beat her up.

Shi Chengyu pulled her back, smiling softly, “Shulang already sent her back.”

“Really?” Shen Chutang was still a little confused, her eyes full of bewilderment.

Shi Chengyu rubbed her head, “Hmm, she’s been back for a while.”

“It’s my fault for not telling you.”

Shen Chutang calmed down. She looked up at him, her face deliberately concealing the fatigue that was still easily noticeable. “Brother Chengyu, have you been working hard lately?”

“It’s okay.”

It’s just that without her, it was a little tough.

“Brother Chengyu, you have to rest well.” Shen Chutang took off the scarf around her neck, stood on tiptoe, but still couldn’t reach him. Shi Chengyu lowered his head in time.

Shen Chutang wrapped the scarf around his neck. “Brother Chengyu, I want you to be happy.”

Shi Chengyu chuckled, the faint scent of the scarf drifted into his nose. He choked up a little. “Tangtang, I’m very happy.”

When they were watching the aurora borealis outside, Tangtang said she was so happy that she cried. But when he saw Shen Chutang, he was even happier and more blissful.

“Brother Chengyu.” Shen Chutang smiled at him. She wanted to say something, but it was late tonight, and he looked tired. She just said sweetly, “Brother Chengyu, good night, sleep well.”

She stepped forward and hugged him lightly, quickly separating, then turned and went into her room.

Shi Chengyu stood there for a while, the corners of his lips curled up. After a long time, he returned to the room next door.

“Xie Tong!”

“Why didn’t you say anything when you came back?”

After Shen Chutang entered, she saw Xie Tong sitting on the sofa in the living room, eating potato chips and watching TV, relaxed and carefree.

“I didn’t want to disturb you.” Xie Tong said between bites. “How are you? Feeling better?”

Xie Tong had already noticed that she had been absent-minded these past few days. She was only energetic on the first day they went out to play. The rest of the time, she was physically present, but her mind was elsewhere.

Shen Chutang sat down next to her and sighed. “A little better.”

“But Xie Tong, I want to make things clear with him.”

Xie Tong asked, “Make things clear about what?”

“Everything I want to say, I want to say it.” Shen Chutang looked ahead calmly. The sound of the TV was playing in her ears, becoming the background music for her thoughts.

She had figured it out. She didn’t want to be like her Third Brother, harboring a secret crush for years before making the person she liked realize her feelings. She also didn’t want to be like her Second Brother, switching to a different person when someone didn’t like her back.

But things weren’t that simple. She liked Shi Chengyu, and she hadn’t tried, she was just going to give up. That was something she couldn’t accept.

She didn’t want to be a coward.

The next morning at nine o’clock, Shen Chutang got up early. She met Lin Shulang at the door of Shi Chengyu’s room.

Lin Shulang saw her and swiped her room card. “Miss Shen, wait a moment, I’ll go call Mr. Shi.”

“Hey, don’t.” The room wasn’t lit yet. Shen Chutang lowered her voice and walked lightly towards the sofa.

“Mr. Shi said to wake him up at nine o’clock.” Lin Shulang added.

Shen Chutang waved to him. “He’s still sleeping, just let him sleep a little longer.”

Lin Shulang glanced at the bedroom. He remembered Shi Chengyu’s recent sleep schedule and nodded with a smile. “Okay, then I’ll have someone send some snacks up.”

Shen Chutang waited in the living room for over two hours before the bedroom door opened. Shi Chengyu rushed out, his steps hurried, as if he was in a hurry to do something.

“Brother Chengyu.”

As soon as Shi Chengyu opened his eyes, he realized it was already eleven o’clock. He was afraid that Shen Chutang had already left. He grabbed his jacket and was about to go out, but he heard a familiar voice that haunted his dreams.

Shi Chengyu stopped. “Tangtang.”

He went to the sofa and waited. He put down the jacket he was halfway through putting on and hugged her.

It was good, it wasn’t a dream.

“Tangtang, I had a very long dream last night.”

Shen Chutang was tightly held by him. He still had the warmth of the bed on him, enveloping her.

“Brother Chengyu, did you sleep well?” Shen Chutang asked with a smile.

Shi Chengyu rubbed her head. “Very well, because Tangtang was there.”

“Why didn’t you wake me when I came?”

Shen Chutang said, “Because Brother Chengyu was sleeping soundly.”

Shi Chengyu laughed for a while, then slowly opened his eyes. The sunlight outside the window was just right. He held her, enjoying the beauty of this moment.

“Tangtang, when are you going back?”

“Guess.”

Shi Chengyu didn’t want to guess. He buried his head in Shen Chutang’s shoulder and neck, as if he was acting like a child.

Although Shen Chutang was about to start school, if she didn’t want to go, no one would say anything. It’s just that he couldn’t wait any longer.

Shen Chutang was tickled by his head on her neck. She pushed his head away with a smile. “It’s itchy, Brother Chengyu, stop it.”

Shi Chengyu reluctantly moved away, but said, “Daidai misses you.”

“Is Daidai okay?” Shen Chutang asked.

Shi Chengyu shook his head. “No, he hasn’t eaten since you left. He can’t even finish his food.”

Shen Chutang was half-believing. “Is that so? Then I’ll think about it.”

“Okay.” Shi Chengyu laughed, looking at the half-eaten snacks on the table. “Did Tangtang eat breakfast?”

“I did. Assistant Lin had someone send snacks when I was waiting for you.”

“Okay, I’ll give him a raise.” Shi Chengyu rubbed her head, then stood up from the sofa. “Then Tangtang wait here for me, I’m going to wash up.”

Shen Chutang waited on the sofa. Soon, the hotel sent up breakfast. Shi Chengyu had Shen Chutang eat a little with him.

After breakfast, Shen Chutang had the butler send up a mousse cake. She placed it on the coffee table in the living room.

“Brother Chengyu, I haven’t let you eat my birthday cake this year.”

Shen Chutang said, lighting the candles and lighting them with a match. She said again, “Brother Chengyu, you always gave me the birthday wish.”

“This time, my birthday wish is for you.”