Chapter 231
The news article didn’t display in full, but the first four words were enough to cause a shock.
Ning Bai has passed away?
He knew Ning Bai had been critically ill. Though he had never met the man, he had heard that he might hold on for a bit longer. He hadn’t expected him to pass so soon.
No wonder Wen Jiafei hadn’t replied to his messages; he must be swamped with handling all these affairs.
Shen Shuyu didn’t click on the article; he simply tucked the terminal back into his pocket. At this rate, Wen Jiafei should be able to return before long.
That was good.
Shen Shuyu took a deep breath. For some reason, he had really been missing him lately.
By the time he reached home, Shen Yisi and the others had already arrived. Yue Cheng was sitting on the sofa, chatting with Father and Mother Shen.
Shen Yisi wasn’t in the living room. Shen Shuyu walked over with the cookies and sat near Yue Cheng. “Yue Cheng-ge, are you feeling better?”
He placed the cookies on the table and glanced at Yue Chengās abdomen. He was wearing a white cashmere sweater today, which made him look exceptionally gentle.
“It wasn’t a big deal to begin with,” Yue Cheng replied. “I recovered long ago.”
“An injury like that isn’t a big deal?” Mother Shen chided. “One must stay safe and healthy above all else.”
Shen Shuyu echoed from the side, “That’s right. Staying safe is the most important thing.”
Yue Cheng pinched his cheek, and Shen Shuyu asked, “What were you all talking about?”
“We were discussing when your Auntie Yue and the others will be back,” Mother Shen said. “Once they return, our families will have a meal together to finalize the arrangements for Yisiās marriage.”
“They’re quite busy right now,” Yue Cheng noted.
Being an Interstellar Doctor was no easy task. When Yue Cheng had tried to tell them about himself and Shen Yisi, heād only managed a five-minute chat. Once they acknowledged the news, they had rushed back to work.
Mother Shen remarked, “Being busy just means everyone values their skills. It’s fine. We’ve known your parents for so many years; we’re familiar with each other and at ease.”
“Mom, we can decide our own affairs.” Shen Yisiās voice rang out from upstairs.
He shuffled down the stairs in his slippers and walked over to the sofa. Shen Shuyu perceptively moved aside to give him a seat.
Noticing his movement, Shen Yisi looked up and lightly flicked Shuyuās forehead. “What kind of little schemes are you up to?”
Shen Shuyu clutched his head and moved further away, rubbing his leg. “I’m not doing anything small. If Iām going to do something, itāll be a big scene.”
Shen Yisi ignored him.
Shen Shuyu sprawled on one end of the sofa and took a deep breath. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
The house servant went to open the door. It was an employee from a large florist chain delivering a bouquet.
Shen Shuyu let out a yawn. “Did you order more flowers?”
Flowers for the house were usually delivered by a specific person in the morning. It was already past three in the afternoon; why were more flowers arriving?
As he spoke, the servant walked over carrying the bouquet. She stopped beside Shen Shuyu and said, “Young Master Shuyu, these flowers are for you.”
Every gaze in the room immediately shifted to Shen Shuyu. He himself was a bit dazed. “For me?”
The servant handed him the bouquet. Shen Shuyu accepted it and curiously picked up the card attached to it.
[Card: Happy New Year ā C]
Fine. Itās Chi Yanxun again.
Mother Shen asked, “Xiao Yu, who sent them?”
Shen Shuyu casually tossed the card into the trash can. “Don’t know. Probably some admirer? Your son is quite a catch, after allātop-tier even among Omegas.”
Shen Shuyu stood up and handed the flowers back to the servant, telling her to find a vase for them.
When he turned back, everyone was still staring at him.
Shen Shuyu remained unfazed. “What are you all looking at me for?”
“If you have someone you like, bring them home to meet us,” Mother Shen said. “We can all spend the New Year together.”
He wanted to, but things were currently in chaos on Wen Jiafeiās end. Heād wait until Wen Jiafei returned to bring it up.
“We’ll see when the time comes,” Shen Shuyu replied.
Yue Cheng raised an eyebrow. It looked like there really was something going on.
Shen Shuyu said he was going upstairs to change his clothes and bolted faster than a rabbit.
The matter was brushed aside just like that.
Once in his room, Shen Shuyu changed and called out the Luck System.
[Shen Shuyu: Chi Yanxun sent me flowers. This suggests he probably likes me. If I just agree to be with him, would that count as completing the task?]
The Luck System almost laughed in exasperation.
[Luck System: You have no feelings for him. The world will not recognize that.]
Shen Shuyu sighed. [Shen Shuyu: What a pity. Itās such a hassle.]
[Luck System: Heās actually quite good. If you try to get to know him and don’t hold so much guard against him, you’ll realize he actually has many shining qualities.]
Shen Shuyu lay sprawled on the bed. “Did all your previous hosts date people in the novel worlds like this? You seem very knowledgeable.”
The Luck Systemās metaphorical tail puffed up. Shen Shuyu had clearly hit the mark.
[Luck System: Of course! I used to hold the title of ‘Romance Expert.’ None of the hosts I guided ever failed a mission. Youāll be fine as long as you listen to me.]
“Fine, Iāll put in some effort.” Shen Shuyu closed his eyes. “By the way, you mentioned youāll leave once the task is finished. Are you going to find another host?”
Luckās indicator light flickered twice. It didn’t answer immediately. Shen Shuyu let out a small “tsk.” “What? Afraid Iāll be angry if I know? Am I not your one and only host?”
[Luck System: Once it is over, I will go where I am meant to go.] Luck didn’t give a straight answer.
Shen Shuyu asked, “Will I ever see you again? After all, you’re the only one who knows where I came from.”
[Luck System: You will. You will see me, but when that time comes, I hope you can still recognize me.]
“Alright then. I’ll work hard, I’ll work hard at living, and you work hard at your job. We both have bright futures.” Shen Shuyu added, “Keep an eye on my door; I’m going to sleep for a bit.”
Luck was bewildered. [Luck System: Watch the door for what?]
Shen Shuyu didn’t answer; it looked like he really had fallen asleep.
Luck let out a silent, frustrated roar in his mind. Doesn’t he know that even a small task like watching the door consumes energy!
Despite its dissatisfaction, the Luck System obediently began monitoring the activity at his door.
Shen Shuyu slept straight through until dinner.
He shuffled downstairs in his slippers. Before he even reached the dining table, he heard them talking about Shen Xili.
“Xili said he won’t be able to make it back for the New Year. They’re very far from Amor right now. Even if they started heading back, with all the stops, it would take about a week.”
Mother Shen sighed. “I just saw the photo he sent. Heās thinned down so much, but he looks very spirited.”
“We can just gather when he gets back,” Shen Yisi said. “Itāll be the same.”
“Right. As long as our family is sitting together, any day can be New Year.” Father Shen comforted her. “Besides, if he wants to be a Great General, he has to endure these hardships.”
Shen Xili isn’t coming back?
Speaking of which, they hadn’t been in touch since theyād visited him.
Heād previously assumed Xili would be back for the holiday.
Shen Shuyu pursed his lips. The Luck System had gone offline the moment he woke up. He knew that watching the door also drained its energyāXiao 1 had complained about that when heād first transmigrated.
Hearing what Father and Mother Shen said made him even more certain that this world could not be allowed to follow the novel’s script.
After all, Shen Xili was born to be a Great General.
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