The paparazzo was startled, nearly dropping his camera. He turned to see a girl wearing a mask and a baseball cap, also holding a camera.
"Colleague?" the paparazzo asked with a frown.
The girl grinned. "Yeah, buddy. Scoot over and make some room for me!"
Male paparazzi were common, but female ones? Rare. Most women in the scene were obsessive fans. But that wasn’t his concern. "No way. Find another spot," he snapped.
The girl frowned, studying him. "Wait, were you also called here by Li Huanyu?"
The paparazzo froze. "What? You’re here because of Li Huanyu? What’s her deal, hiring two paparazzi?"
The girl crouched down, her eyes gleaming. "You were the one who shot that mall footage yesterday, right? I regret leaving so early!"
The paparazzo was even more shocked. "You were there too? What is Li Huanyu even trying to pull?" If both of them had footage, the exclusivity—and the payout—would be ruined.
The girl’s eyes curved into crescents. "Eh, as long as we get paid. How much did she offer you today?"
Now irritated, the paparazzo spat out, "Thirty grand." That was just the upfront payment—the real money was in the traffic it would generate.
The girl’s eyes widened, then she simply said, "Oh."
Noticing her reaction, the paparazzo narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, ‘oh’? How much did Li Huanyu give you?"
She smirked. "Definitely more than you. You’re just not cutting it."
No man could stand being told he "wasn’t cutting it." Furious, he stood up. "Did Li Huanyu say that about me?"
The girl shrugged. "Well, I got a hundred grand."
Feeling utterly insulted, the paparazzo spotted Li Huanyu stepping out of her van. Without hesitation, he stormed toward her.
Mission accomplished, Lin Mo retreated and sent a WeChat message to Shen Yihan:
[Come to the entrance. There’s a surprise!]
This was a high-end Western restaurant, one of the hottest in town.
After getting out of the car, Li Huanyu glanced around. Only a few vehicles were parked near the entrance. A satisfied smile curled her lips—nothing beat the feeling of having the place reserved just for her.
Her high heels clicked against the pavement as she walked gracefully forward. The evening breeze lifted her long hair, and she tilted her chin just enough to capture her best angle.
The paparazzo had to be here already.
All her worries from last night had been for nothing—that woman was just Shen Yihan’s sister. Probably not a blood relative, since he’d never mentioned her before.
She’d always known Shen Yihan loved her deeply.
Suddenly, a figure darted toward her. Li Huanyu flinched.
"Who are you?"
The paparazzo was livid. He brandished his camera. "I’m one of the paparazzi you hired today! Why did you only give me thirty grand but pay another one a hundred?!"
Li Huanyu’s delicate brows knitted together. "What are you talking about? My assistant would never hire two paparazzi!"
The paparazzo scoffed. "Stop lying! I literally just met the other one—she was right over there… Huh? Where’d she go?!"
He turned to look, but the bushes were empty.
However, standing at the restaurant entrance was a tall, imposing figure radiating authority.
Li Huanyu saw him too, her heart skipping a beat. She shot the paparazzo a glare before hurrying toward Shen Yihan with small, delicate steps. "Yihan-gege, why did you come out?"
Shen Yihan stood motionless, his expression icy.
The moment she got close, Li Huanyu sensed the tension. Softly, she murmured, "Yihan-gege, that man was just asking for directions. I don’t know him."
Shen Yihan had come out after receiving Lin Mo’s message.
The first thing he saw was Li Huanyu talking to a man in a baseball cap, holding a camera. He recognized the look—paparazzi.
Though not in the entertainment industry himself, he’d recently been subjected to its antics, with paparazzi frequently tailing him.
He’d assumed they were following Li Huanyu. Turns out, she’d invited them herself.
Shen Yihan said nothing, his cold gaze fixed on Li Huanyu. The black Buddhist beads on his wrist reflected the entrance lights.
Li Huanyu felt an overwhelming pressure, her scalp prickling. "Yihan-gege, I—"
Had he overheard her conversation with the paparazzo? What terrible timing.
Her mind raced. Biting her lip, she looked up at Shen Yihan with teary, doe-like eyes. "Yihan-gege, I admit it. I did hire the paparazzi. But I just wanted some publicity—it’ll help me land better roles."
"I used you, Yihan-gege. I’m sorry."
She was just a girl with ambition, after all.
Some of the coldness in Shen Yihan’s demeanor faded.
Just as he was about to respond, his phone buzzed.
A message from his sister:
[She’s just trying to make Gu Jingchuan jealous!]
His sister was still nearby?
Shen Yihan scanned the area but saw no one—until he looked up.
Perched in the crooked tree by the entrance was a pale face peeking out.
His lips twitched. He typed back:
[Sis, that can’t be right, can it?]
From the tree, Lin Mo rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.
Admittedly, Li Huanyu was stunning.
Dressed in a white dress, her slender frame exuded fragility—the kind that made people want to protect her.
Shen Yihan sent another message:
[Why are you here?]
Lin Mo couldn’t admit she’d come on purpose. She replied:
[Just out for a walk. I’m leaving now. Bye!]
Curing a love-struck fool was harder than she’d thought. Lin Mo had learned her lesson.
Shen Yihan frowned.
[Leaving? Join us for dinner.]
Lin Mo:
[Do I look like a third wheel? I’ve got things to do.]
Shen Yihan:
[What things?]
Lin Mo:
[I’m checking out that villa. I found out who owns it—I’m going to ask if they’ll sell!]
Shen Yihan:
[I’ll go with you.]
Meanwhile, Li Huanyu’s tears were flowing like the Huangguoshu Waterfall—yet no one was paying attention.
Shen Yihan was glued to his phone, texting someone.
Who on earth was he talking to?
She peeked and saw the contact name: [Four Marriages Taught Me Life].
Li Huanyu nearly choked. Wiping her tears, she cooed, "Yihan-gege…"
Shen Yihan finally looked up. "I understand. Let’s call it a night. I have something to take care of."
Li Huanyu’s eyes bulged. Her voice lost its sweetness. "What? Again?!"
Shen Yihan’s brow furrowed.
Swallowing hard, she quickly corrected herself. "I-I just meant… Yihan-gege, you should eat dinner. Skipping meals is bad for your stomach."
Shen Yihan acknowledged her concern with a faint smile. "If you’re hungry, go ahead. I’m fine."
His sister’s sleep issues couldn’t wait.
Without another word, Shen Yihan turned and walked away—as if he’d made up his mind.
Li Huanyu stood frozen. Nearby, the paparazzo was equally stunned.
Since when had the "Buddha of Beijing’s Elite Circle" started practicing detachment?
