Chapter 55

The two enjoyed their meal with the same sweetness as usual.

After leaving the restaurant, Ye Xing, wearing a baseball cap, walked low-key with her fingers locked tightly with Shen Yushu’s.

Actually, Ye Xing didn’t need to rack her brain; Shen Yushu had already helped her settle on a gift a few days ago—the complete set of new games that Shen Xiaoqian had been eyeing recently.

Shen Yushu sent a message to Cai Yiqiu mid-way, stating she wouldn’t be returning to the office this afternoon. Putting her phone away and watching the person walking ahead of her holding her hand, a surge of warmth rose in her heart.

Withdrawing her gaze, she asked gently, “Xing-xing, let’s go upstairs and look around. We need to buy a few more things.”

“Huh? More?” Ye Xing shook the various shopping bags in her hand, indicating they had already bought enough.

However, there was one thing she didn’t know: Shen Xiaoqian’s birthday party was being held at the Shen Residence today, which meant she was about to meet Shen Yushu’s parents.

Fearing Ye Xing would have zero mental preparation, Shen Yushu pulled her to a stop, her “peach blossom” eyes fixed on the small face before her. “It’s Xiaoqian’s birthday tonight. I’m planning to take you back to the Shen Residence.”

Faced with this sudden news, Ye Xing was a bit stunned. “Wait… I haven’t prepared anything.”

Shen Yushu put her arm around the girl’s soft waist, her lips curving up. “Alright, you don’t need to prepare anything. Half the people in that house are already your fans. Are you still afraid you can’t handle them?”

It was true. Besides Shen Xiaoqian, after her mother returned from Jiangting last time, she had become a “visual fan” of Ye Xing, constantly asking Shen Yushu to bring her back for a visit. This was perhaps the perfect opportunity.

After finishing their shopping, the two went straight to Jiayu to pick up the birthday girl from school.

Nothing makes for a better mood than a birthday on a Friday. As soon as she got in the car, Shen Xiaoqian saw Ye Xing in the passenger seat. Her eyebrows shot up. “Little Xing-xing, are you nervous about going home with my Auntie?”

Ye Xing smiled faintly and feigned anger. “You’re asking the obvious. Stop teasing me.”

Shen Yushu watched the two of them laughing together. The clarity and purity in Ye Xing’s eyes were things that couldn’t be faked. She shook her head and decided to cast aside her messy thoughts for the time being. She trusted her own heart.

Knowing that Ye Xing was coming over for dinner, Zhou Yaqing had the servants clean the already tidy house from top to bottom once more. This was the first time Shen Yushu had brought a woman home for dinner; they absolutely could not lack in etiquette.

“Aiya, Mom, it’s just Shen Yushu bringing a woman back for a meal. Is all this commotion necessary? You’re acting like they’re getting married.”

Shen Yuzhi was sitting on the sofa watching a medical program. Her mother had changed into three different qipaos throughout the afternoon to ask her which looked best. She finally couldn’t help but complain.

Zhou Yaqing shot her a glare. “What do you know? If you’re so capable, why don’t you start dating and bring someone back for me to see? Of course, that woman who treated you like trash last time doesn’t count. You need to find someone well-behaved and cute like Ye Xing.”

“Madam Zhou, you haven’t even met her and you’re calling her well-behaved and cute. Isn’t your fan filter a bit too strong?”

“How have I not met her? Ever since I found out your sister was dating Ye Xing, I’ve watched every single one of her variety shows and interviews. I have to say, your sister’s taste is much better than yours. Both are in the entertainment industry, but the difference is just too vast.”

Shen Yuzhi wanted to argue as her mother brought up her “dead” ex again, but she was suppressed by Shen Zhengnan’s words.

“Alright, Yuzhi. Your mom is right. Find someone reliable instead of staying at the hospital every day. It’s a good thing you’re a Beta; otherwise, I suspect your pheromone scent would turn into the smell of disinfectant.”

Two against one—Yuzhi knew she couldn’t win, so she shut her mouth to avoid the crossfire. Shifting into a more comfortable position, she still couldn’t help but mutter, “I’m not considering dating lately. The risks are too high. Haven’t you seen what Shen stolen content Yushu has turned into lately with work plus romance? An Alpha visiting my hospital twice in half a month… that body isn’t holding up.”

“What’s wrong with your sister?” Zhou Yaqing pressed for more, but Shen Yuzhi ran too fast and had already disappeared upstairs. Just as Zhou Yaqing was about to follow her, a sound came from the door.

“Master, Madam, the Young Mistress and the Little Miss have arrived,” the butler called out with a smile.

Zhou Yaqing immediately stood up and smoothed her qipao, her face blooming with a gentle and dignified smile.

It was impossible for Ye Xing not to be nervous. From the moment she stepped inside, her limbs felt a bit stiff. Fortunately, Shen Yushu held her hand, easing her restraint.

Perhaps due to her identity as a performer, Ye Xing soon became familiar with Zhou Yaqing. She was beautiful, sweet-tongued, and knew how to please people; it was hard for her not to be liked wherever she went.

After chatting for a while, the dishes were all served. Sitting around the table made Ye Xing feel very warm. Zhou Yaqing truly liked Ye Xing from the bottom of her heart. After a couple of drinks, she couldn’t help but open the conversation.

“So, Xing-xing, when are you and Yushu getting married? If you’re okay with it this year, I’ll find someone to help pick a date for you.”

Shen Yushu heard her mother ask this right out of the gate and wanted to smooth things over, but a sweet voice spoke up beside her.

“Auntie Zhou, I don’t have plans to marry Sister Shen just yet.”

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere at the table, while still present, wasn’t quite as lively as before. Ye Xing’s eyes curved as she hurried to explain: “We are living together now and we are very happy. It’s just that her work is quite busy, and I am currently in a transition period. For a wedding, we both need to be free first.”

To the listeners, this sounded sensible and considerate. After all, Shen Yushu was managing such a massive family business; being busy was a very concrete reality. Combined with Ye Xing’s status as an artist, they truly needed to coordinate their schedules. A wedding for the Shen family involved many corporate relationships.

Hearing this, Zhou Yaqing felt she had been a bit too forward. She quickly [bailiantales.com]laughed and apologized to Ye Xing, saying she was just too anxious and wouldn’t pressure them.

Shen Yuzhi and Shen Xiaoqian sat nearby, watching the show since the “marriage pressure” didn’t involve them.

Shen Xiaoqian was young; after dinner, she had an appointment with her classmates for her formal birthday party. Staying with family was too boring for her, so she vanished shortly after. Shen Yushu was called to the study by Shen Zhengnan, and Zhou Yaqing went to the kitchen to have the maid prepare Ye Xing’s favorite fruits. Consequently, Ye Xing was temporarily left alone.

Beside her, Shen Yuzhi appeared out of nowhere, leaning against the sofa with half an apple in her hand. Her long eyes fell on Ye Xing. “I can see my parents like you a lot.”

Shen Yuzhi dealt with many people and was quite approachable; after one meal, the two had become quite familiar. Ye Xing turned and gave her a slight smile. “Mm. I also really like the warm atmosphere of everyone being together.”

“That’s because you’re here. Before this, I didn’t find dinner in this house very warm. Shen Yushu and Dad only know how to talk about work, and Mom and I barely say a few words to each other. It seems you’re our family’s lucky star.”

Ye Xing was amused by Shen Yuzhi’s words, a hint of bashfulness appearing on her face.

“By the way,” Shen Yuzhi continued with a teasing tone, “I saw the news about your secondary differentiation. Have you and Shen Yushu been overindulging lately? You just differentiated, and she’s visited my hospital twice in a row. Don’t tell me this secondary differentiation thing is contagious?”

“I’m joking,” she added, seeing Ye Xing’s reaction. “But I am a doctor. Shen Yushu’s report clearly shows signs of overindulgence. I’m not lying to you.”

“…” Ye Xing’s face turned even redder, but she quickly caught the key information. Suppressing her embarrassment, she asked with a frown, “She went to your hospital? Is she unwell?”

“I don’t know. The test results show no issues. I suspect she’s just exhausted from work and… the nights.” Shen Yuzhi nudged Ye Xing with her shoulder and laughed softly. “How about you keep her in check tonight?”

“…”

Ye Xing wanted to keep her [read the original at bailiantales.com]in check, but a certain someone tossed and turned every night before letting her sleep. She had been worried herself, but Shen Yushu always seemed to have boundless energy, making her marvel at the power of an Alpha.

Returning to the topic, she pressed: “Where was she feeling unwell?”

Shen Yuzhi took a bite of her crisp apple and told the truth. “She said her chest was tight and painful. She came to see me this morning for medicine, and she was fine after taking it. Most likely just exhaustion.”

Just as the words landed, Shen Yushu’s voice came from the second-floor balcony: “Exhaustion from what?”

Ye Xing looked up and immediately stepped forward to take her arm, her face full of worry. “Sister, Yuzhi said you haven’t been feeling well lately. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Shen Yushu shot Shen Yuzhi a look that said ‘You talk too much,’ then gently patted the back of Ye Xing’s hand. “It’s nothing. Once this busy period is over, let’s find a place to rest and take a vacation.”

Seeing this, the apple in Shen Yuzhi’s hand suddenly tasted sour. She set it aside and wiped her hands. “Pardon me, I’ll take my leave.” She walked out to the yard, and the roar of her motorcycle vanished into the night sky.

Ye Xing and Shen Yushu were the last to leave the Shen Residence. Inside the car, Ye Xing kept stealing glances at her.

“Am I that good-looking? Why do you keep staring at me?” At a red light, Ye Xing’s hand and gaze were captured.

“Mm, you are beautiful. I can’t help but want to look more,” Ye Xing replied sweetly.

A light chuckle escaped Shen Yushu’s nose, her eyes deep and tender. “Then why didn’t you want to get married and lock me by your side to look at for a lifetime?”

Ye Xing felt she was never as perceptive as Shen Yushu. Only now did she realize the other was upset by what she said during dinner. She immediately began to coax her. She took Shen Yushu’s fair, smooth hand and rubbed it against her own face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t say I didn’t want to marry you. I just felt the timing isn’t right. You read the original at bailiantales.comare so good; you are the protagonist of this world. And I…” Ye Xing’s lips curved, her clear eyes staring into Shen Yushu’s. “I also want to become better, so that I am worthy of you.”

Actually, Shen Yushu wasn’t truly angry; she had just mentioned it casually. She hadn’t expected the girl to be so nervous. Her heart softened.

She laughed. “Alright, what ‘protagonist of the world’? Have you been reading too many scripts lately?” Her warm fingertips stroked Ye Xing’s cheek, her voice soft and pleasant. “You are the most important protagonist in my world.”

Ye Xing suddenly sat up straight and pulled her hand back. She felt she was about to drown in Shen Yushu’s tenderness; this woman possessed a bewitching magic.

The light turned green. Shen Yushu’s lips curved upward, and she stepped hard on the gas.

Ye Xing cautioned, “Drive slower, there’s no rush.”

The other woman kept her eyes on the road, her red lips moving slowly.

“There is a rush. If I wait any longer, I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist marking you in the car…”