Chapter 31: The Person in the Painting?
Shen Zhouyue did not speak; he simply looked at Wen Qiuning, handing the choice over to him.
Wen Qiuning hesitated for a long time. Finally, under the other man’s urging, he spoke about some inconsequential matters.
The man was clearly dissatisfied with this answer.
However, since Wen Qiuning and the others didn’t seem inclined to trust him or reveal the inside story, he felt a bit disappointed but had no other recourse.
Wen Qiuning went into the restroom and rinsed the area Qiu Xingqiu had just touched with water.
The man inadvertently noticed the wounds on Wen Qiuning’s body and immediately guessed something.
He returned to the courtyard in a huff and glared at his partner.
“Sure enough, men are no good!”
Su Yuhe, who was glared at, put on an innocent expression. “Baby, you can’t say that. I haven’t done anything. Who upset you?”
Su Mu was the adopted son of the Su family, and his delicate and spoiled temperament was entirely indulged by Su Yuhe.
Su Yuhe knew his lover’s personality very well. He knew Su Mu wouldn’t lose his temper without reason, so he couldn’t help but feel curious.
“You still have the face to speak? They say birds of a feather flock together. You have such a good relationship with Qiu Xingqiu; don’t tell me you’re a scumbag too!”
Su Yuhe covered Su Mu’s mouth and said somewhat helplessly, “My Little Ancestor, what if someone hears you?”
Su Mu glared with his beautiful eyes, wanting to say something, but with his mouth covered, he couldn’t say a word.
Su Yuhe wrapped his arm around Su Mu’s waist and led him toward a quiet corner.
“Weren’t you going to the restroom? Why are you so angry after coming back?”
Su Mu rolled his eyes at Su Yuhe. “I just saw bruises all over Wen Qiuning’s arms. He came with Qiu Xingqiu, so Qiu Xingqiu must have done it.”
“Keeping a lover and then beating him… You’d better stay away from people like that, or… or I’ll run away from home…”
Su Yuhe looked helpless, but he had no other way to deal with Su Mu, so he could only coax him.
Seeing Shen Zhouyue and Wen Qiuning return, Su Mu immediately abandoned Su Yuhe, ran quickly to Wen Qiuning’s side, and asked in a whisper, “Do you need help?”
Wen Qiuning was stunned. Looking at the enthusiastic Su Mu, he didn’t know what to say.
“Why do you say that?”
Shen Zhouyue calmly blocked Su Mu’s view of Wen Qiuning.
Su Mu didn’t notice Shen Zhouyue’s small action, his gaze stubbornly fixed on Wen Qiuning.
Wen Qiuning felt uncomfortable being stared at. He silently shifted his steps, wanting to hide behind Shen Zhouyue, but the gaze Qiu Xingqiu occasionally cast on his back made him truly uneasy.
“I… I’m fine… I don’t need help…”
Wen Qiuning lowered his head, speaking softly.
His appearance completely contradicted his words and couldn’t convince Su Mu at all.
Seeing Wen Qiuning like this, Su Mu felt frustrated by his lack of fight. Just as he was about to say something, he was grabbed by the waist by Su Yuhe, who had walked up behind him at some point, and taken away.
Feeling the gaze from behind becoming increasingly scorching, Wen Qiuning didn’t dare stay longer and walked quickly toward Qiu Xingqiu.
Helpless, Shen Zhouyue also returned to Yu Tingzhou’s side.
That night, after sending all the guests away, Shen Zhouyue felt exhausted.
Fortunately, he had given his contact information to Wen Qiuning, so it wouldn’t be so troublesome to meet him next time.
Shen Zhouyue sat on the sofa. Suddenly, his lap felt heavy; Tangyuan had run onto his legs.
Worried that the guests today might not like pets, Tangyuan had been locked in the room all day.
Just released, it meowed incessantly. Its voice was delicate, as if complaining that Shen Zhouyue had locked it up.
The little guy was very spoiled and seemed to feel wronged. Not only did it keep meowing, but it also extended its claws and scratched at Shen Zhouyue’s trousers.
Although the claws were out, the little guy didn’t hurt Shen Zhouyue; it just tore a few holes in his perfectly good trousers.
Shen Zhouyue hadn’t noticed at first. It wasn’t until Yu Tingzhou came downstairs and his gaze landed on Shen Zhouyue’s thigh that Shen Zhouyue realized something was wrong. Looking down, he saw his trousers had been scratched by Tangyuan.
He rubbed Tangyuan’s fleshy little face helplessly. “You, really!”
In the end, he couldn’t bear to blame Tangyuan, so he just carried the kitten back to the bedroom.
Shen Zhouyue had just finished washing up and changing into fresh clothes. His hair was still wet when he saw an uninvited guest in his bedroom.
“In a few days, it’s Dad’s birthday. There will be many people coming to the house. You’ll go with me then!”
Yu Tingzhou walked to Shen Zhouyue’s side, picked up a clean towel, and began drying his hair.
“Remember to dry your hair after washing next time, or you’ll get headaches easily.”
Shen Zhouyue looked at Yu Tingzhou in surprise, not understanding why he was doing this.
Yu Tingzhou felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze.
He explained, “If you get sick, no one will be there to help me deal with my mom.”
This explanation made sense, so Shen Zhouyue didn’t think much of it.
He took the towel from Yu Tingzhou’s hand and said somewhat awkwardly, “I can do it myself!”
Yu Tingzhou naturally handed the towel over. “There are a few aunts in the family who are quite gossipy and might say some unpleasant things. If you can’t tolerate it, you don’t have to.”
For Yu Tingzhou to say such a thing, those aunts must speak truly unpleasantly!
Shen Zhouyue nodded. He didn’t intend to let himself suffer grievances.
If those people really did something he couldn’t tolerate, he would definitely fight back.
Early the next morning, Shen Zhouyue got up, planning to go out for a stroll and find a suitable gift.
Yu Qingfeng was a university professor teaching history and liked items with some age to them.
Shen Zhouyue wasn’t short of money. He had Yu Tingzhou’s supplementary card, plus he had made some investments abroad. Combined with the shares given by his two fathers, although not as wealthy as Yu Tingzhou, he certainly wasn’t lacking.
This could be seen from the art supplies he used.
However, having not returned to the country for a long time, he didn’t know much about where to find antiques, so he planned to find someone who knew the local area well.
The fun-loving Xu Lingfeng became Shen Zhouyue’s first choice.
Xu Lingfeng didn’t have a serious job. He usually just made small investments with friends, not making a fortune but not losing money either.
Receiving Shen Zhouyue’s invitation, he guessed the reason after a little thought.
He agreed without hesitation.
The two agreed to meet in front of Emer Mall, the most famous mall in Shengjing.
As soon as Shen Zhouyue arrived at the mall, he saw Xu Lingfeng wearing a pink shirt and sunglasses.
Many women shopping nearby cast their gazes on him.
Seeing him like this, Shen Zhouyue actually didn’t want to go over.
This is too flashy… attracting bees and butterflies…
If I go over now, I’ll definitely attract attention…
Just thinking about it gave Shen Zhouyue a headache.
Just as he wanted to hide and change the meeting place with Xu Lingfeng, or ask Xu Lingfeng to change his clothes, Xu Lingfeng noticed him.
He pushed his sunglasses up into his hair, gave a wink to the beautiful women looking his way, and then strode toward Shen Zhouyue.
His actions successfully drew everyone else’s attention to Shen Zhouyue.
Seeing this, Shen Zhouyue could only lower his head in embarrassment. When Xu Lingfeng reached his side, he couldn’t help but lower his voice and complain, “You’re dressed too ostentatiously!”
“Ostentatious?”
Xu Lingfeng stuffed the sunglasses on his head into his pocket, looked at Shen Zhouyue, then at himself.
“Maybe a little, but that’s not important.”
Xu Lingfeng carelessly wrapped his arm around Shen Zhouyue’s shoulder and smiled. “You’re buying a birthday gift for Uncle Yu today, right?”
“You’re preparing a bit late, but luckily you have me. I know everything big and small around here…”
Xu Lingfeng was inexplicably excited today, like someone who had been locked up too long and was finally let out for fresh air.
Shen Zhouyue felt that Xu Lingfeng alone was as lively as a crowd!
“Alright, settle down for a moment!”
“Where is that shop you mentioned? Take me to see if there’s anything suitable quickly. There are only a few days left; if I don’t prepare anything, I’ll definitely be criticized.”
Shen Zhouyue felt a headache just thinking about it.
He hadn’t expected a contract marriage to bring him so much trouble.
Seeing Shen Zhouyue’s troubled look, Xu Lingfeng stopped chattering and led Shen Zhouyue to a shop he had visited before.
The location of this shop was very remote, situated in an alley.
If Xu Lingfeng didn’t wander the streets and alleys all day, he probably wouldn’t know of its existence.
Although the shop’s location was remote, the items inside were good.
If not for that, Xu Lingfeng wouldn’t have brought Shen Zhouyue here immediately.
Pushing open the door, an incense burner was lit inside.
Curling green smoke rose, and a faint scent of sandalwood filled the room.
The shop owner looked only twenty-something, wearing a white robe and holding a yellowed ancient book, seemingly in the middle of restoration. He had quite an antique charm.
Stepping into this shop, Shen Zhouyue had the illusion of having traveled through time.
But the next second, this mysterious feeling was broken.
“Mo Chen, I brought you a customer!”
The person at the desk looked up, straightened his back, and looked helpless. “Can’t you keep your voice down?”
“The ancient book I’m restoring has some age to it. If you startle me and my hand shakes, it’ll be ruined.”
The man was handsome, with picturesque brows and eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips. He really looked like a scholar who had walked out of an ancient painting.
Shen Zhouyue felt that such a person shouldn’t appear before his eyes, but rather in a painting.
“With your skill, this little thing won’t affect you at all.”
“What good stuff do you have on hand? Bring it out quickly. This friend of mine needs to give a gift to an elder who likes antiques in a few days. I thought of your place immediately.”
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