Although Yao Qin didnât really know how to treat Shi Sheng at first after learning that the latter was the current CEO of Sheng Shi Group, she soon got used to it.
âCEO Sheng, how about taking me(cq) out shopping later?â
âOh? Has anything caught your fancy, my dear?â Shi Sheng raised a brow.
Yao Qin acted bashful. âMy chest has grown again, so I need new bras.â
Shi Shengâs gaze lowered to Yao Qinâs chest.
âWhatâre you looking at?â Yao Qin covered herself up with both hands.
Shi Sheng shook her head. âYep, you need to read more alright.â
Only once Shi Sheng and Yao Qin had left the coffeeshop did she realise what books Shi Sheng was referring to.
The feeling of having an experienced old hand by her sideâŠ
Yao Qin really was going to buy bras. Yet she actually liked the pink, lacey types that younger girls would normally wear.
Shi Sheng wanted to facepalm. âYouâre already in university, not primary school, okay?â
âI want those few from before.â Yao Qin went to the counter to pay.
The attendant packed everything nicely into a bag and handed it to Yao Qin before speaking in a warm, polite manner, âThat young lady has already helped you pay.â
Yao Qin followed the attendantâs gaze and rushed over with a bright smile. âCEO Sheng, are you lacking a bedwarmer?â
âNo.â Shi Sheng set down the magazine she was reading. âIf youâre done, letâs go.â
Yao Qin naturally linked her arm with Shi Shengâs. âYour lil hobby-horse sure is lucky to have claimed you early. Ah, if only I was a boy.â
Shi Sheng swept her arm a gaze. But instead of jerking it free, she continued to walk out in a natural manner.
âYouâd have no chance, even if you were one. Your looks wouldnât meet my standards.â
âReally? My looks make me very popular at school, okay?â Yao Qin patted her face and shamelessly retorted.
âAre your schoolmates blind?â
âYeah, I guess they are.â Yao Qin appeared to have thought of something, for she suddenly agreed.
Yao Qin practically dragged Shi Sheng along while shopping for clothes. Yao Qin looked great in anything, but she had a preference for girly clothes, which caused Shi Sheng to feel very speechless.
âBecause this makes me look young.â Yao Qin explained to Shi Sheng.
âYou donât look small[1] to me.â Shi Shengâs gaze landed on Yao Qinâs chest, laughing slyly.
Yao Qinâs face turned black. âSheng Xia, does your little hobby-horse know youâre this filthy?â
Shi Sheng hummed, âMost probably.â
ââŠFine, you win.â
Since theyâd been strolling for a long time, the two planned to go have a meal. Shi Sheng called the house phone to tell Yu Jiu to come join them. Since the restaurant was rather far from her house, Shi Sheng and Yao Qin entered first.
âSheng Xia, Sheng Xia!â Yao Qin suddenly pulled Shi Sheng to the side and pointed mysteriously in a direction. âIsnât that Uncle Gu and Uncle Yu?â
Shi Sheng followed her finger and indeed found the two seated near the window of the restaurant, having a meal together quietly.
She questioned Yao Qin with her eyes.
Yao Qin gave Shi Sheng an exasperated glare. âDonât you find that the two of them are acting strange?â
âHow so?â âTheyâve always been closeâwhatâs so weird about having a meal together?â
But just as Shi Sheng thought that, she saw Yu Xingyun suddenly reach out to wipe the corner of Gu Yanâs mouth, the latter lifting his head to smile back in response.
Shi Sheng, ââŠâ
âDid you see that? Did you? I always felt like something was different between them!â Yao Qin excitedly clutched Shi Shengâs arm. âAah, Uncle Gu and Uncle Yu are both handsome uncles; theyâre perfect together!â
Shi Sheng did her best to recall her memories of them. It really did seem like their interactions were a bit more than platonic. PlusâŠ
It had been a long time since Gu Yan actually stayed at home. Every time he returned, heâd always leave after sitting for a while, or after making Yu Jiu and her a meal.
Once this idea had popped into her head, she suddenly found that every memory of Gu Yan and Yu Xingyun together had turned ambiguous ah!
âWhatâre you two standing here for?â Yu Jiu reached out to snatch Shi Sheng from Yao Qin.
Yao Qin puffed up her cheeks. âMr Yu, why are you always snatching her from me?â
âWhoâs the one snatching from whom, hm?â âI havenât even settled the score yet for stealing my wifey away from home, and she has the gall to accuse me first?â
Yao Qin harrumphed.
âIsnât that my dad?â Having caught sight of Yu Xingyun, Yu Jiu pulled Shi Sheng along with him and walked over.
Since Gu Yan was facing them, he was naturally able to see them coming. His expression stiffened before he greeted them with a smile. âXiaoxia, Xiaojiu, Yao Qin, youâre eating here too?â
âUncle Gu. Uncle Yu.â Yao Qin obediently addressed them, though her gaze was quite probing.
Yu Xingyun turned just in time to catch his son and future daughter-in-law walking in hand-in-hand, causing his expression to also turn a bit unnatural for a moment before he quickly found his footing again. âDamn brat, why havenât you made sure that Xiaoxiaâs already eaten at this hour? What if she gets hungry? Come on, sit, letâs eat together.â
Gu Yan called the waiter over again. Since he often shared meals with the trio, he knew what their preferences were.
Yu Xingyun scooted inwards, planning on getting Yu Jiu to sit beside him, but his plans were disrupted by his future daughter-in-lawâs voice which seemed to contain a hint of laughter. âUncle Yu, why donât you sit with Uncle Gu? The three of us can sit on one side.â
The seats were wide enough to accommodate four people, so Yu Xingyun couldnât help but feel like Shi Shengâs words had a hidden meaning. Not daring to let his thoughts linger on this, he moved over to Gu Yanâs side.
Shi Sheng and Yao Qin secretly exchanged glances.
âThese two sure are great together. Theyâre both really handsome.â
Yu Jiu felt like the atmosphere was a bit weird. His wifey was exchanging weird looks with Yao Qin, while his dad and Uncle Gu appeared rather uncomfortable.
âJust what is going on?â
âXiaoxia, howâre you doing with Sheng Shi Group? Do you really not need our help?â Yu Xingyun broke the silence.
âEn. Youâve already helped me a ton, Uncle Yu. Those people you loaned me are really useful. I doubled their salaries.â
Yu Xingyun was stumped. âI reckon theyâll probably be unwilling to return nowâŠâ
âTheir ability is worth the money.â
âI suppose thatâs the case.â Yu Xingyun nodded before suddenly changing the topic, âWhatâs the situation on that end?â
âProbably wonât be able to hold out for too much longer. Just have to wait a bit more.â
Yang Huaili had been very well-behaved recently; Yang Huairen had definitely told him to do so.
Yao Qin didnât understand what they were talking about, so she kept her head down and ate, though sheâd sneak a peep at the two handsome uncles every once in a while.
By the time they finished eating, theyâd also exchanged all the necessary information.
âYou youngsters can go off and play. Your Uncle Gu and I will be leaving first.â Yu Xingyun paid the bill before instructing Yu Jiu, âDamn brat, youâd best take good care of the girls.â
âGot it.â
âTake care, Uncle Yu, Uncle Gu.â
âBye, Uncle Yu. Bye, Uncle Gu.â
Yu Xingyun and Gu Yan waved them goodbye before leaving together.
âCEO Sheng, donât you find them perfect for each other?â Once they left, Yao Qin hugged Shi Shengâs arm and shook it.
âWhatâre you talking about?â Yu Jiu was befuddled.
âAll I did was come a bit late, what the hell were these two up to? Pei! What the hell did Yao Qin get my wifey to do?!â
âNothing.â Shi Sheng patted Yao Qin, wordlessly telling her to calm down. She might be able to accept it, but Yu Jiu might not, so it was best to keep this from him for now.
[1] The word used is âć°â. Itâs that prefix for an endearing way to refer to someone, âXiao-â. It usually means small, but Yao Qin was using it to refer to her age, while Shi Sheng⊠Well, you can read Iâm sure.