Old Master Si had heard before that Si Yiheng was in a relationship.
Although he hadn’t been in the country recently, he could guess Si Yiheng’s purpose in dating.
It was simply to keep his clueless parents from meddling in his romantic affairs.
So he found a girlfriend to deal with everyone.
That way, even if Si Yiheng was outstanding, no heiress from high society qualified to be set up with him would set her sights on him—why should someone with such conditions force themselves into Si Yiheng’s love life?
As for those heiresses not worthy of an alliance with the Si family, Si Yiheng’s foolish parents wouldn’t look their way either.
This could save Si Yiheng most of the trouble, and he would be willing to give his girlfriend money and property, treating it like an employment arrangement—offering good benefits to a worker to keep them willing to work.
He asked Si Yiheng to find out where Si Yiheng stood with this girlfriend now.
Shu Yu had been playing a game, but when he suddenly heard the voice on the phone and the question, he couldn’t focus on the game anymore.
The moment Shu Yu got distracted, Si Yiheng quickly took over Shu Yu’s game, saving his progress with a calm reminder, “Little treasure, don’t space out. You’re about to die.”
Si Yiheng’s voice was low and pleasant. Shu Yu snapped back to attention and hurriedly said, “You keep talking. I’ll play by myself.”
Shu Yu said that, but his ears were perked up, secretly listening to Si Yiheng talk to his grandfather.
Si Yiheng was once again charmed by Shu Yu’s cuteness.
Why was his eavesdropping so obvious?
On the other end of the phone, Old Master Si also had his ears strained with the same sneaky intention.
Little treasure?
What was up with this grandson’s tone in a relationship?
Alright, this probably wasn’t a boss-and-employee relationship anymore—it must be real now.
Old Master Si found it quite novel. He had thought Si Yiheng, that “mm-hmm” robot, would only ever say “mm-hmm” for life.
So even the “mm-hmm” robot knew how to sweet-talk someone.
Little treasure~
Wait, if she was younger than Si Yiheng, was he dating a minor?
Minors were against the law!
Was this grandson, twisted by how his parents treated him as a child, really that messed up?
What a disaster.
Old Master Si’s tone turned stern. “Si Yiheng, how old is your girlfriend? Be honest—dating a minor is illegal.”
Si Yiheng: “…”
Shu Yu’s hand on the mouse trembled.
Si Yiheng held Shu Yu’s hand over the mouse and said coolly, “Xiao Yu is already an adult. He’s nineteen, just a bit younger than me.”
Old Master Si grew quiet. “Oh, I misunderstood you, then.”
But still, that was a bit young.
Si Yiheng was really out here coaxing a young kid into dating.
Though nineteen was about the right age for dating.
If they dated for two or three years, they could get married when the time was right—a young couple in love, holding hands for life, that would be a wonderful relationship.
Old Master Si quickly asked, “When it’s my birthday, will Xiao Yu come? It’s Xiao Yu, right?”
Si Yiheng: “I’ll ask Xiao Yu first and reply to you tomorrow.”
Old Master Si wanted to say that the young man was right beside Si Yiheng, so why couldn’t he ask now?
But Old Master Si held back. Si Yiheng had been steady since childhood; he must have his reasons.
Si Yiheng hung up the phone, and Shu Yu stared back at the computer, pretending to be busy gaming by moving the mouse.
Si Yiheng: “…”
Si Yiheng pinched Shu Yu’s earlobe. “Baby, you’re already dead.”
Shu Yu: “…”
Shu Yu gave an awkward laugh. “Oh, I’m dead. That was so sudden.”
Si Yiheng pressed his lips together. “Mm, it was sudden.”
Si Yiheng asked gently, “Yu Bao, would you like to go with me to celebrate Grandpa’s birthday?”
A birthday party would definitely have a lot of people. In her original world, her sister and brother’s birthdays always drew crowds, let alone Si Yiheng’s grandfather. The guest list for his birthday banquet was bound to be even larger.
Plus, the family dynamics of the Si family were complicated just from hearing about them.
Shu Yu shook her head like a rattle-drum. “I’m not going. I’ll wait for you at home.”
As soon as Shu Yu finished speaking, Tiedan’s voice rang out.
Tiedan: [Yu Bao, you have to go. There’s a small plot point here—you need to show off your gold-digging side at the Si residence.]
Shu Yu: “…”
Shu Yu felt half-dead with reluctance.
Shu Yu looked at Si Yiheng, her moist eyes carrying a hint of resolve to face death. “Brother, I’ve changed my mind. I think I should go. I’m afraid your family might bully you.”
Si Yiheng hadn’t wanted to force Shu Yu to go with him. Birthday parties were nothing special anyway—just a banquet where everyone would tear off their hypocritical masks, start arguing over their dissatisfaction with the spoils, and eventually point fingers at him in helpless fury. He didn’t want Shu Yu to see the chaos of his family or the cracks in their love. He didn’t want Shu Yu to lose faith in their future because of his swamp of a family.
But now Shu Yu looked at him like that—clearly scared and unwilling, yet still worried he’d be mistreated.
Because of her words, Si Yiheng’s heart beat with even more strength.
Si Yiheng leaned down, pulling Shu Yu closer, almost pressing her into his embrace. His tall nose brushed against her soft, thin cheek. “Good baby.”
Shu Yu could sense that Si Yiheng’s mood wasn’t great, that he even seemed to need her at that moment. Originally, she had only been doing it for the task, but now she felt she should accompany him.
If Si Yiheng faced those awful family members alone, how heartbroken would he be?
Disappointment in one’s family doesn’t numb with a single blow—every encounter cuts anew.
It’s an endless rainy season, where every recall of being treated differently or unloved still stings with bone-chilling cold.
Shu Yu held Si Yiheng’s hand and pressed her cheek against his palm. “Brother, I’m with you.”
Si Yiheng’s heart softened even more. He looked down at Shu Yu, who was looking up at him, her pretty face bright with eyes shimmering like freshly washed dew, moist and glistening.
Si Yiheng stroked Shu Yu’s cheek with his hand, rubbing his nose against hers. “Alright, we’ll go together.”
Shu Yu noticed that Si Yiheng loved to nuzzle people with his nose—that was his way of showing affection.
Shu Yu looped her arms around Si Yiheng’s neck and nuzzled him back.
They were like two cats rubbing faces against each other: Si Yiheng, a giant, clingy Maine Coon, wrapping around Shu Yu, who was like a fluffy calico, nuzzling endlessly.
With their noses, they confirmed each other’s presence, exchanging breath and warmth.
“Brother.”
Si Yiheng: “Mm.”
“Good baby,” Si Yiheng’s voice was low and husky. He really had gotten lucky, having met a warm, tender, and soft-hearted Shu Yu.
On the chair, the two of them went from rubbing noses, to tentative kisses, until finally Si Yiheng lifted Shu Yu up, sweeping the folders off the desk. His dark, deep eyes fixed on Shu Yu, not missing a single expression on her face.
Seeing Shu Yu’s eyelashes trembling as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks, he coaxed her again, “It’s okay, just one more kiss.”
Shu Yu wanted to push Si Yiheng away, but he had said just one more kiss, called her good.
She couldn’t help but want to let him kiss her again.
Shu Yu gently closed her eyes, tilting her fair face upward ever so slightly.
The kiss spiraled completely out of control—from her wet, reddened lips, to her delicate chin, to Shu Yu’s collarbone, moving lower. Just as his fingers brushed against Shu Yu’s blouse, Si Yiheng held back.
He kissed back up from her collarbone to her lips.
Shu Yu was feeling lightheaded from the intensity of the kisses, and her tears fell even more. Her slender waist trembled incessantly within Si Yiheng’s broad palms from the overwhelming kisses.
“Si Yiheng, no more kissing,” Shu Yu’s soft voice quivered.
“Okay, no more kissing.”
Si Yiheng stared at Shu Yu’s tear-streaked face, feeling like something was wrong with him. Even though Shu Yu was crying, he still couldn’t help wanting to kiss her again.
Every single reaction of Shu Yu’s held an irresistible pull for him.
Si Yiheng gently kissed away the tears on Shu Yu’s cheeks.
“Good girl, don’t cry.”
