Chapter 232
Shen Shuyu adjusted his mood and walked over, smiling as he asked, “What are you guys chatting about?”
“We’re talking about Xi Li. He just sent me a message saying he finally got a signal. He reported that he’s safe and told us not to worry about him,” Mother Shen said, gesturing for Shen Shuyu to take a seat.
The table was already filled with quite a few dishes.
Mother Shen said, “Since everyone is here, let’s eat and talk.”
Yue Cheng was sitting right beside her. Mother Shen placed a piece of fish into his bowl. “Hurry and try this. Auntie knows you like fish, so I specifically had them buy it early this morning. It’s very fresh.”
“Thank you, Auntie.” Yue Cheng smiled. Watching Shen Yisi pour wine, he softly requested, “I want to drink a little too.”
Ever since he got injured, there were so many things he wasn’t allowed to eat. Shen Yisi had been bending over backward to make all sorts of bland dishes for him, or boiling various nourishing soups.
They tasted good, but his mouth was truly deprived of flavor—especially when it came to alcohol. He felt like he hadn’t had a drop to drink in centuries.
Shen Yisi chided, “Look at you.”
Despite the reprimand, he still poured him about a sip or two’s worth of wine.
Yue Cheng couldn’t help but complain, “With this much, even if you were raising fish in it, the fish would die.”
Shen Yisi raised an eyebrow slightly. “If you don’t want it, forget it.”
Saying that, he reached out to take the wine glass away. Yue Cheng took a deep breath and snatched the glass up even faster. “I’ll drink it.”
The little interaction between the two naturally couldn’t be hidden from the rest of the table. Mother Shen laughed, “Little Yue, when your body is fully recovered, Auntie will take you to your uncle’s wine cellar to pick out some wine. Your uncle’s collection is full of good stuff.”
Father Shen chimed in, “Sure, go ahead and pick. Take as much as you want to drink.”
Shen Shuyu couldn’t help but smile too. In his eyes, Shen Yisi had always been steady and reliable. Even when he disciplined him, Shen Yisi’s approach was mostly guiding and advising.
It was rare to see him this lively and animated.
He chewed on the seasonal vegetables in his mouth, thinking that this was really quite nice.
Shen Shuyu recalled the dream he had before. When he was carried by Shen Yisi rushing to Yue Cheng’s house, the two of them probably never imagined they would have such a deep connection when they grew up.
Noticing his distraction, Shen Yisi placed some food into his bowl. “What are you thinking about?”
Shen Shuyu snapped back to reality and said, “I was just thinking about that time I was bullied, and you ended up carrying me over to fight with Yue Cheng-ge.”
Shen Yisi placed another piece of food in his bowl. “Just eat in peace. There’s no need to bring that old history up again.”
Digging up old history like this… that was one of Shen Yisi’s few hot-blooded, impulsive moments. Hearing it now as an adult, it felt a bit awkward.
Mother Shen asked in confusion, “What? The two of them fought before?”
Shen Shuyu glanced at Shen Yisi and Yue Cheng, hesitating whether to explain or not.
Yue Cheng held back a laugh and said, “Xiao Yu was still young back then. He was chased and bullied for money by a few upperclassmen. I happened to bump into it, so I helped him out. But when Xiao Yu went back, he couldn’t explain it clearly with his baby talk, and his brother ended up thinking I was the one who bullied him.”
Shen Yisi served him a bowl of soup and followed up, “Yeah, later the misunderstanding was cleared up, and we even had a meal at your house.”
Shen Shuyu said, “But I guess you could say ‘from an exchange of blows, friendship grows’?”
Yue Cheng hummed in agreement. “Usually, the most I heard at school was what your brother did or what award he won. That was the first time I saw him act so irrationally.”
Speaking of this, both Mother Shen and Father Shen let out a sigh. The three boys looked at them.
Mother Shen said, “Back then, your uncle and I were both busy with the company. Xiao Yu was still small. Although we hired many nannies to look after him, we weren’t home often. Yisi ended up doing a lot of things for us. Taking care of his little brother, attending parent-teacher meetings… not only did he have to work hard on his own studies, but he also had to keep an eye on his brother’s. It was truly hard on him.”
Shen Yisi looked at Shen Shuyu, then withdrew his gaze and raised the wine glass at hand. He said, “It’s all in the past. As long as our family, including Xi Li, lives our lives well, that’s more important than anything else.”
Shen Shuyu also raised his glass. “Ge, thank you.”
The two glasses clinked lightly, making a crisp sound.
The family happily finished their dinner together.
The next day.
New Year’s Eve arrived. When Shen Shuyu woke up, the second-floor hallway had already been decorated. Yawning, he walked downstairs. On the ground floor, Mother Shen was handing out red envelopes to the household staff. Once the red envelopes were distributed, they would be off for the holidays too.
This was a long-standing arrangement in the Shen family. From New Year’s Eve until the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, only the family members would be in the house. They would cook and clean together to foster their bond.
Mother Shen quickly finished handing out the red envelopes, and the staff left one by one with their luggage to go home for the New Year.
Shen Shuyu came downstairs and rested his chin on Mother Shen’s shoulder. He asked, “My dear mommy, will I still get a red envelope this year?”
Mother Shen poked his forehead with her finger. “When have I ever left you out?”
Shen Shuyu straightened up, and Mother Shen said, “There are mini tangyuan in the kitchen. Go serve yourself a bowl.”
Shen Shuyu agreed and went into the kitchen to scoop up some mini tangyuan.
He came out holding the bowl, eating as he asked, “Where are my brother and Yue Cheng-ge?”
“They went out grocery shopping. Unlike you—the sun is already baking your bottom, yet you just roll over, scoot further in, and keep sleeping.”
Was I really that bad?
Shen Shuyu pouted, sat on the sofa, and asked again, “Where’s Dad?”
“Your dad’s classmate invited him out for tea. He’ll be back by noon.”
Shen Shuyu said, “So it’s just the two of us at home this morning?”
Mother Shen wagged her finger. “Nope. Your beautiful mommy has made plans with some aunties. I’m heading out now for a spa treatment and then to get my New Year’s nails done.”
Mother Shen patted Shen Shuyu’s cheek twice. “Baby Xiao Yu is home alone. Make sure to watch the house. Don’t open the door for strangers, understand?”
“…Mom,” Shen Shuyu called out helplessly.
Mother Shen smiled. “I’m leaving. If you go out, make sure to take the keys, because no one will be here to open the door for you today.”
Mother Shen picked up her car keys from the table, grabbed her handbag, and hummed a tune as she left.
Shen Shuyu finished his tangyuan, went back to the kitchen, and tossed the bowl into the dishwasher.
He stretched lazily. In this massive house, he was truly the only one left.
With nothing else to do, he prepared to head upstairs to snooze a bit longer. Just then, the Luck System popped up again:
[You can ask Chi Yanxun out and build up some affection.]
Shen Shuyu replied: [He’s probably busy right now. It’s the Lunar New Year, what am I looking for him for?]
[If you ask him out, he’ll come. If you don’t take the initiative, how will the story progress?] The Luck System urged: [Hurry up, it’s almost nine o’clock.]
Shen Shuyu exhaled, took out his terminal, and sent a message to Chi Yanxun.
He had only meant to pacify the Luck System and didn’t expect Chi Yanxun to reply instantly.
Chi Yanxun: [Alright, should I come pick you up?]
Shen Shuyu replied: [No need, let’s just meet at the cafe.]
Chi Yanxun replied with an “okay.”
Putting his terminal back into his pocket, Shen Shuyu continued walking upstairs.
The Luck System boasted: [See, wasn’t I right? If you ask him out, he will agree. It just shows he’s already been conquered by your charm.]
Conquered by his charm?
Shen Shuyu didn’t believe that for a second.
Watching him head upstairs, the Luck System asked: [Why are you going back upstairs?]
[To put on some clothes. If I go out in this, I’ll freeze to death before I even reach the meeting spot.]
The Luck System fell silent. Its indicator light flashed twice, silently venting its dissatisfaction.
Translator’s Note:
- From an exchange of blows, friendship grows (不打不相识): A famous Chinese proverb meaning that true friendships or mutual understanding often begin after a conflict or fight.
- Tangyuan (汤圆): Glutinous rice balls usually filled with sweet pastes like black sesame or peanut. They are a traditional food eaten around the Lunar New Year to symbolize family unity and togetherness.
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