Chapter 197
Shen Shuyu went down to the hotel lobby and walked up to the front desk. “Excuse me, could you please help me extend the stay for the guest in room 1308 for another week?”
He was about to take out his card when the receptionist said, “Certainly, sir. However, another gentleman just extended the stay for the guest in 1308 until the end of the month. Are you sure you still want to extend it?”
Another gentleman?
Shen Shuyu thought for a moment. “Then thereās no need.”
He used the pen and paper on the counter to write down a string of numbers. “Please help me keep an eye on this guest. If any strange people come looking for her, please give me a call first.”
Though puzzled, the receptionist dutifully replied, “Understood, sir. May I ask what your relationship is to this guest?”
Shen Shuyu replied without batting an eye, “I’m her nephew.”
The receptionist nodded. “Alright, I’ve registered it for you.”
Shen Shuyu put away his card and thanked her. Just as he was about to leave, he turned around and saw a man walking into the hotel carrying some bagsāit looked like food.
The receptionist glanced over and said, “It was this gentleman who paid for the extension.”
Shen Shuyu looked at the man. It was the same person who had been standing next to Wen Yue earlier. He looked quite young; Shen Shuyu couldn’t tell his exact age, but according to Wen Yue, this man was Wen Jiafeiās uncle. That meant he was a member of the Ning family?!
He didn’t have a good impression of the Ning family right now. He turned back to the receptionist and said, “I don’t know this man. If he tries to go up, please stop him.”
The receptionist became even more confused, but soon, Ning Shan walked up to Shen Shuyu.
Shen Shuyu hadn’t lowered his voice at all just now, so the man had naturally heard him clearly.
Ning Shan looked at Shen Shuyu and said gently, “Young Master Shen, rest assured, I won’t go up. Do you have a moment to step aside and talk?”
Shen Shuyu was actually quite surprised that Ning Shan knew who he was. But on second thought, Ning Shan had probably already dug up his entire background by now.
Shen Shuyu had nothing to chat about with the Ning family, but then he thought that he might be able to use Ning Shan to find Wen Jiafei.
He nodded. “Fine, let’s talk.”
As Shen Shuyu prepared to walk out, Ning Shan called out to him, asking, “Is she asleep?”
The “she,” of course, referred to Wen Yue.
Shen Shuyu replied, “She’s already asleep.”
Ning Shan nodded. “Then let’s go.”
Carrying the bags, he turned around and led Shen Shuyu to a cafe next to the hotel. Since it was late, he ordered a cup of hot milk for Shen Shuyu and a lemon water for himself.
Shen Shuyu felt this man was rather strangeāan indescribable kind of oddity.
Ning Shan said, “Young Master Shen should know who I am by now, right?”
Shen Shuyu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Hmm? Are you someone important? Why should I know you?”
Ning Shan didn’t get angry at the rebuff; he merely gave a refined smile. “True. Then allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am Ning Shan, Wen Jiafeiās uncle.”
“Oh.” Shen Shuyu showed no enthusiasm.
Since there were no other customers in the shop, the waiter quickly brought the milk and lemon water. Ning Shan made a gesture of invitation.
Shen Shuyu said, “Well then, Mr. Ning, I won’t beat around the bush. I want to see Wen Jiafei. Can you take me in to see him?”
Ning Shan replied, “The young master isn’t someone you can see just because you want to right now. To be honest, even I can’t see him.”
Young master?
As an uncle, did he really need to refer to his nephew with such respect?
Shen Shuyu took a sip of the milk. “Then you must at least know where Wen Jiafei is, right? Tell me, and I’ll go myself.”
Ning Shan said, “The young master is naturally at the Ning family’s ancestral manor. Young Master Shen, if you search on your terminal, you’ll find the location.”
“So, what exactly do you want to talk about?” Shen Shuyu asked. “You aren’t willing to tell me what I want to know, and you won’t say what you want to talk about either. Is there any point in us sitting here?”
Ning Shan said, “What I want to discuss is simple. I hope Young Master Shen can help me persuade Miss Wen to return to Amour. Siro is not a suitable place for her to stay.”
“You want me to persuade her to leave, yet you extended her hotel stay until the end of the month? Mr. Ning, aren’t you being a bit contradictory?” Shen Shuyu said. “If you’re just trying to fish for information from me, I can only say that I know nothing.”
He made a move to stand up, but Ning Shan spoke again. “You’ve misunderstood.”
Ning Shan remained smiling. “Actually, if you want to see Wen Jiafei, I can help you. But only to the extent of telling you his location or helping you buy some time. As for how specifically you get close to him, you’ll have to figure that out yourself. However, the prerequisite is that Miss Wen must leave Siro. This place is not fit for her.”
Shen Shuyu looked down at Ning Shan. The man continued, “I will never hurt Miss Wen or Wen Jiafei. Young Master, Miss Wen has probably told you most of the story. You can think for yourselfāis Miss Wen’s current state suitable for staying here?”
The image of Wen Yue’s exhausted face flashed through Shen Shuyu’s mind. Ning Shan, sitting on the sofa, pulled a business card from his pocket, leaned forward slightly, and pushed it across the table toward Shen Shuyu. “You can consider it first. Once you’ve decided, you can call me. I’ll be waiting at any time.”
Shen Shuyu stared at the gold-embossed business card and said nothing, but when he left, he picked it up and put it in his pocket.
Ning Shan slowly finished his cup of lemon water before standing up and leaving the cafe.
Planet Siro’s night life was bustling. Carrying the things he had bought, he walked up to a beggar on the street, bowed slightly, and gently set the items down. After receiving repeated thanks, he looked up at the 13th floor of the hotel. The colored lights of the hotel logo cast their glow onto his face, making his expression difficult to discern.
Ning Shan withdrew his gaze and walked lonely into the bustling crowd, disappearing.
By the time Shen Shuyu returned to the hotel, Father and Mother Shen were about to head to bed. After Mother Shen asked him a few questions, he returned to his own room.
He took a quick shower. After coming out, he twirled Ning Shan’s business card between his fingers, looking at it repeatedly, unable to make up his mind.
What Ning Shan said did make sense; Wen Yue’s state was indeed not very good. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell her to leave. After all, he wasn’t completely certain he could rescue Wen Jiafei.
Shen Shuyu put the card away and tucked himself into bed. This matter was truly difficult to handle.
Shen Shuyu tossed and turned in bed countless times, finally falling asleep at some unknown hour.
The next day, he was awakened by the doorbell. With his hair in a messy nest, he walked over to the door. Father and Mother Shen were already fully dressed. Mother Shen said, “Your father and I are going to have dinner with friends. Are you coming?”
Seeing Shen Shuyu’s bleary-eyed appearance, she asked unhappily, “Baby, what time did you sleep last night? You stayed up late again, didn’t you?”
Shen Shuyu just gave a smile and said, “I’m not going. I’ll wander around the area on my own. I’m not interested in what you adults talk about; I want to go exploring by myself.”
“I told you he wouldn’t go,” Father Shen said. “You didn’t believe me.”
Mother Shen swatted him irritably. “Fine then. Be good. We’re going to the hot springs tonight, so make sure to come back early.”
“Okay.” Shen Shuyu asked for the specific time of the hot spring visit. After watching his parents leave, he closed the door and went back to his room.
He pulled back the heavy curtains. The sunlight from outside streamed in, making him squint. He checked the time; he had agreed to have lunch with Wen Yue today, and it was almost time.
Shen Shuyu quickly washed up and headed out. His hotel wasn’t very far from Wen Yue’s. On his way down, he gave Wen Yue a call to tell her he was coming over.
As he neared the destination, he saw Wen Yue waiting at the entrance from a distance.
Shen Shuyu ran over. “Auntie, have you been waiting long?”
Wen Yue smiled. “I just came down myself.”
Shen Shuyu said, “Let’s go. We can talk while we eat.”
It was almost lunchtime. Shen Shuyu and Wen Yue found a random restaurant and ordered some dishes. Shen Shuyu asked, “Did you rest well yesterday?”
Wen Yue nodded. “Thanks to seeing you, I had a good night’s sleep.”
Perhaps it was because she had voiced her fears and anxieties yesterday, or perhaps because she had met a familiar face in this place that was both familiar and strange to her, she had slept exceptionally soundly.
Looking at Wen Yueās complexion, Shen Shuyu noticed she indeed looked much better.
Wen Yue said, “I want to…”
But Shen Shuyu made a “stop” gesture. “Auntie, let’s talk after we finish eating, okay?”
He had been thinking all last night and this morning about whether to tell Wen Yue about Ning Shan. He had been torn even on the way here, but the moment he saw Wen Yue, he stopped hesitating.
Wen Yue should have her own choice, rather than them making the decision for her to stay or leave.
Translator’s Note:
Hope you’re enjoying the chapters. Catch you in the next one!
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