The familiar voice reminded Shuyu of Si Yiheng.
Iron Egg didn't notice anything wrong at all.
Iron Egg: [What's wrong? Baby, you're just overthinking it. It can't be Si Yiheng; Si Yiheng isn't such a show-off.]
Shuyu wasn't comforted and raised her own doubts.
Shuyu: "Iron Egg, you said Si Yiheng is a closet show-off!"
Iron Egg was full of confidence, [Yeah, he's a closet show-off, so it's impossible for him to show off while on a video call with his sister.]
[Baby Yu, don't overthink it. Maybe Ye Ning's brother just got home and hasn't had time to change his clothes.]
Shuyu thought Iron Egg's words made some sense.
But Shuyu's doubts weren't completely dispelled. She decided to cross-check some information.
Shuyu leaned close to Ye Ning's ear and whispered, "Ningning, your brother is dressed so formally. Is he always like this?"
With Shuyu's sudden proximity, Ye Ning only felt a tickle on her ear, as if she had been ambushed by a fluffy kitten.
Si Yiheng also heard the rustling sounds from the other end.
The corners of Si Yiheng's lips curled up into a slight smile.
The timid kitten was starting to test the waters.
Ye Ning subconsciously lowered her voice to speak to Shuyu, "My brother is usually very formal. He probably just got home from a meeting."
Ye Ning: "When I went home yesterday, my brother was also very busy, sitting in front of the computer in a full suit having a meeting. He's such a poser, speaking German so fast and ruthlessly you'd think he'd disown his own family."
It was just that Si Yiheng wasn't wearing red-soled leather shoes yesterday; he was wearing slippers.
Ye Ning didn't say this last part out loud.
Shuyu felt a little more relieved. It should be fine. He has frequent meetings and is usually very busy.
Then Ye Ning's brother must already be working. He seemed like the domineering CEO type from novels.
In the novel, Si Yiheng's label was the campus male god.
Ye Ning's brother and Si Yiheng had different labels, so they should be two different people.
Shuyu felt slightly more at ease.
She continued to stare at Little Orange without blinking, calling out, "Little Orange."
"Meow!" Hearing Shuyu's voice, Little Orange instantly pounced on the phone. An enlarged kitten face appeared on the screen. Its round eyes were a hazy blue, and its nose was pink. With its soft and cute kitten charm, it was an absolute visual critical hit.
Shuyu and Ye Ning were instantly dizzy with cuteness and couldn't help but exclaim, "Baby!"
Si Yiheng: "..."
Little Orange was the baby, and he was just an insignificant person.
Shuyu and Ye Ning hugged each other, discussing together, "So cute."
Ye Ning: "Awww, I'm really going to die from Little Orange's cuteness."
Shuyu was originally a bit reserved facing a stranger, but now she was completely melted by Little Orange, even forgetting there was a man on the other side of the screen.
Shuyu hugged Ye Ning back, "Little Orange, baby, why are you so cute? Did you miss me?"
Shuyu's voice was extremely light and soft, like a little feather brushing back and forth against someone's heart.
The knuckles of Si Yiheng's hand holding the cat teaser tightened slightly.
The cute one wasn't Little Orange.
Little Orange meowed again, showing off its absolutely stunning side profile to the camera, making the two girls wish they could reach through the screen and pet Little Orange vigorously.
"Little Orange, do you want to be petted to death by auntie?"
Shuyu quickly said, "Little Orange, that's a malicious comment, don't listen!"
Si Yiheng let out a soft chuckle.
That soft chuckle instantly pulled Shuyu's rationality back. The tips of her ears turned slightly red, and she immediately shut her mouth.
Ye Ning looked at Shuyu, only thinking that Shuyu's shy appearance was also incredibly cute.
Ye Ning put her hands on her hips, "Brother, why did you make a sound? You scared my baby!"
Si Yiheng: "..."
Shuyu was only afraid of him and no one else.
Si Yiheng spoke very politely, his voice lingering and tender, "Sorry."
Shuyu quickly waved her hands, "It's okay, you don't need to apologize."
To be honest, she should be thanking Ye Ning's brother. He was helping her take care of her cat and even set up a video call for her and Little Orange.
Shuyu's impression of Ye Ning's brother changed a bit. She felt he was someone who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and very polite.
That was true, Ye Ning was such a good person, how could her brother be a bad guy?
Shuyu said softly, "I should be the one thanking you."
Si Yiheng's voice was gentle and slow, "No need to thank me. It's what I should do."
Shuyu didn't find anything wrong with this statement, only thinking that Ye Ning's brother was being polite.
Ye Ning and Shuyu watched Little Orange for a while longer. Shuyu felt it wasn't good to delay Ye Ning's brother's work any further, so she took the initiative to hang up the video call.
It was getting late, so Ye Ning went home.
Shuyu was left alone in the hospital room again.
Shuyu pondered over giving Ye Ning's brother something as a token of appreciation.
When someone helps you, expressing gratitude is basic courtesy.
Iron Egg: [Baby Yu, you are just such a polite baby.]
Shuyu felt like she had been coaxed so much during her sick days that she was regressing into an embryo, being coaxed by Ye Ning and Iron Egg.
Shuyu rested her chin on her hands: "Egg, what do you think I should give Ye Ning's brother?"
Iron Egg: [Wait a minute, let me go search for some experience posts.]
Iron Egg quickly returned.
Iron Egg: [The seniors from before gifted ties the most. Accessories like ties are commonly used, and it's easy for the other party to feel your sincerity.]
Every time he ties the tie, he'll think of the person who gave it to him.
Iron Egg was reading in a rush and completely missed the warning posts below.
Warning Post 1: Don't give this. Don't be cheap and choose a gift like a tie; it's easy for the male lead to use it to tie your hands.
Warning Post 2: Don't buy +1. Blindfold play really makes one feel insecure! PS: Damn gold-digger department! We agreed on digging for money. I really only want money, not love.
Iron Egg continued speaking to Shuyu: [Spend a little money to achieve great things. The people gold-diggers come into contact with are all CEOs. Gifts can't be low-end, but if they are too high-end, they are too expensive and not cost-effective.]
[A tie is the ceiling for a gold-digger's gift. Baby Yu, just give him this. It'll be fine.]
Shuyu was quickly fooled by Iron Egg and immediately ordered a tie of a certain brand on the platform, chosen according to her own aesthetic.
It was a black printed tie.
It looked quite mature and low-key.
The next day, Ye Ning came to see Shuyu. Shuyu asked Ye Ning to help bring it to Si Yiheng and express her gratitude.
Ye Ning couldn't help but sigh, "My brother is so lucky that you're actually giving him a gift."
Ye Ning rolled her eyes playfully, "Baby, do you want my brother? A man like him is suitable for marriage."
Shuyu: (ⓛωⓛ*)
How did it get to the topic of marriage again?
Shuyu waved her hand dramatically, "No way, I have a boyfriend."
Ye Ning: "You can let my brother be your side piece. First come, first served. If he isn't the side piece, who is?"
Don't think she didn't notice; Si Yiheng had never been so patient with anyone, nor had he ever helped anyone raise a cat, nor had he been so proactive in cooking for her to bring over.
Si Yiheng really kept his feelings hidden deep. Who knows when he started having designs on Shuyu.
Hearing Ye Ning's suggestion to let her brother be her side piece, Shuyu was absolutely shocked.
This isn't right!
Shuyu tactfully refused, "That's not good, right? It's not very moral."
Iron Egg and Ye Ning spoke up at the same time, except one spoke in Shu Yu's mind, and the other spoke right by her ear.
Iron Egg: [What is wrong with it? Baby Yu, you need to have a higher sense of self-worth.]
Ye Ning: "What is wrong with it? Baby Yu, why is your sense of self-worth a bit low?"
Shu Yu's long eyelashes fluttered slightly. This was not a matter of having a high sense of self-worth or not.
This was a matter of having any morals.
Ye Ning: "Really, my brother is incredibly rich. Baby Yu, let me tell you: the handsome ones become lovers, the reliable ones become confidants, the good earners become husbands, and the ones with high IQs become the fathers of your children."
Shu Yu immediately clamped her hand over Ye Ning's mouth. Ye Ning's eyes widened as she let out muffled whimpering sounds.
Shu Yu's earlobes turned slightly red. "Ningning, you cannot just say nonsense like that."
"I cannot do something like that."
She had social anxiety; there was absolutely no way she could handle four men.
Handling Si Yiheng alone was already hard enough.
Looking at Shu Yu's reddened ears, Ye Ning instantly understood something. It was not that she did not like the idea or did not want it; she was just shy.
Understood, understood.
As her best friend, she would help Shu Yu handle everything.
Upon returning home, Ye Ning went straight to Si Yiheng's study. Si Yiheng's sharp gaze swept over her, but Ye Ning was not intimidated in the slightest. She placed the gift Shu Yu had prepared for Si Yiheng right onto his desk.
Ye Ning cleared her throat lightly and said, "Brother, would you consider being my baby's sidepiece?"
