Chapter 168: All Gathered Together |
“Great Yin Emperor of the Underworld?”
Shen Guoguo muttered it over, thought for a moment, then showed a look of sudden realization:
“Oh, you mean you like that dark, ancient-style outfit?”
Dark style? Close enough.
Jiang Linyuan nodded, about to answer, when the back of his head got whacked.
Who the hell touched my back door?!
He spun around, only to see Shen Wanyu staring coldly at him:
“Rein it in.”
Getting my mind read sneakily again, ugh. Is the Yin Emperor really that lewd of a word?
Another smack on the head.
“Department Head! Why do you keep putting your hands all over me?!”
Jiang Linyuan glared at her.
This department head is way out of line!
A gentleman judges by deeds, not thoughts! I haven’t done anything! And you’re sexually harassing me every day!
“Don’t go letting your mind wander off to those things.”
Shen Wanyu said.
“Heh, what, do you even get to control what he thinks?”
Su Muzhi smiled as she looked at her.
Shen Wanyu stared at Su Muzhi, expressionless:
“I hope you can keep smiling like that.”
“What, am I supposed to be like some cold-faced woman instead?”
Su Muzhi chuckled lightly:
“Oh, wait, actually, cold-faced women do smile—just not right now, hehe.”
“Still better than someone who used to force a fake smile in front of their own mother as a child.”
“Some people should just drown in the past.”
“I’m just reminiscing, but someone out there still hasn’t moved on.”
Shen Wanyu said airily, taking a leisurely sip of tea.
Su Muzhi looked at her, her smile fading:
“An arrogant woman, always jumping to conclusions about others.”
“Is that so.”
Shen Wanyu smiled, then glanced at Jiang Linyuan sitting nearby:
“But I’m right, aren’t I?”
If you’d truly changed, why would you take the initiative to bring him to Yanjing to see me?
Because you want to control him, Su Muzhi.
But you’ve realized you can’t control him, so now you’re just pretending that you do.
He wanted to come to Yanjing, and you couldn’t stop him, so you delude yourself into thinking it was because you let him come that he’s here.
From emotions to daily life, to the future—you crave to control him bit by bit, like slowly turning him into your toy.
That side of you has never changed, and you know it. This isn’t love—or even if there’s love mixed in, you can’t tell the difference.
Su Muzhi stared at Shen Wanyu for a moment, then looked away, turning her head without a word.
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense.
“We’re all good friends here, it’s totally normal to know each other inside out.”
Jiang Linyuan said with a grin, taking Su Muzhi’s hand.
“What are you doing?”
Su Muzhi asked.
“Why sit so far away? You’re coming to the Lantern Festival too, right? Guoguo and I have been talking about it.”
Jiang Linyuan pulled Su Muzhi’s hand, guiding her over to sit beside Shen Wanyu, slowly lowering himself down:
“Let’s discuss it together. What should we all wear?”
“Heh, I have no intention of going to the Lantern Festival with her.”
Su Muzhi shot a sidelong glance at Shen Wanyu.
“Since you’re here anyway, why bother? Having fun is what matters most, isn’t it?”
Jiang Linyuan patted Su Muzhi’s hand, then leaned close to her ear and whispered:
“Make the Department Head wear something like a princess or imperial consort outfit, and you wear something like an empress’s phoenix robe. One-up her—wouldn’t that be fun?”
“Are you saying I look older than her?”
Su Muzhi pinched Jiang Linyuan with a smile.
“I’d have to see the clothes on you both to know.”
Jiang Linyuan said.
“No whispering, you two! Didn’t we say we’d discuss it together? Why’s it just the two of you talking!”
Shen Guoguo ran over, wedged herself between them, and noisily interrupted.
“I’ll listen to Guoguo. Department Head, what do you think?”
Jiang Linyuan picked up Shen Guoguo and set her down beside him.
“Then let’s go with that.”
Shen Wanyu glanced at Jiang Linyuan and said flatly.
They chatted for a while, finalizing plans for the next evening’s Lantern Festival.
That night, Jiang Linyuan used all his charm and persistence to convince Su Muzhi to stay over at Shen Wanyu’s place.
Why leave? A house is meant to be lived in! Besides, there are plenty of rooms!
During dinner, someone knocked on the door.
“I’ll get it!”
Shen Guoguo, being the energetic little kid she was, ran off the second she heard the knock.
“Ah, it’s Guoguo! Good evening.”
The door swung open to reveal a girl with a gentle, composed aura, holding a lunchbox in her hand.
“Oh, Sister Qiulu, good evening! We’re having dinner! And guess what? Brother Jiang cooked today—it’s super delicious!”
Shen Guoguo excitedly tugged Zhao Qiulu inside.
Zhao Qiulu stepped into the house and, seeing the three gathered at the table, looked a bit surprised. She greeted them with a soft smile:
“Good evening, Wanyu. It’s the second day of the new year, so my family had the auntie make you some extra dishes. I thought I’d bring them over for you to try.”
As she spoke, she glanced at the food on the table and let out another light laugh:
“Though it looks like there’s no need now.”
Shen Wanyu shot her a glance:
“He sent you, didn’t he.”
“Yes.”
Zhao Qiulu nodded, then looked at Su Muzhi and said with a hint of emotion:
“I really didn’t expect Miss Su to get along so well with you, Wanyu.”
Su Muzhi didn’t even lift her head.
“Sister Qiulu, you haven’t eaten either, right? Sit down and join us.”
Shen Guoguo tugged at Zhao Qiulu’s sleeve, saying.
Sister Wanyu is way too passive! She doesn’t dare go toe-to-toe with that bad woman herself, so I need to bring in reinforcements!
“No, no, I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Zhao Qiulu smiled faintly, set down the lunchbox, and turned toward the door.
“You’re not intruding.”
Shen Wanyu spoke.
Zhao Qiulu’s steps stopped.
Su Muzhi lifted her head.
“Heh, boring. I’m full.”
With that, she looked at Jiang Linyuan beside her, leaned against him, and smiled sweetly:
“Come back to the room with me?”
“Xiao Su, I haven’t finished eating yet.”
“That’s fine, I’ll head to the room first.”
Then she lowered her voice, leaning close to Jiang Linyuan’s ear, her breath warm and soft:
“Come to my room tonight. I want to see if you’re really full. If you don’t come, I’ll come to yours.”
With that, she shot one last glance at Shen Wanyu and turned to walk into the room.
Gah! What’s up with Xiao Su?!
We’ve only shared one night, and she’s already this clingy!
Is she trying to skirt the line again?
“Looks like I upset her.”
Zhao Qiulu watched Su Muzhi walk away, letting out a low chuckle.
“It’s fine. Go grab yourself some chopsticks.”
Shen Wanyu said indifferently.
Jiang Linyuan found it strange. Didn’t the Department Head say she and this Zhao Qiulu weren’t close?
Why call her over now?
“You’ve made me a bit unhappy today, so I’m going to punish you.”
Shen Wanyu picked up a piece of meat, chewed it slowly, then shook her head:
“To be precise, you didn’t meet the level of happiness I expected.”
This Department Head! You won’t even tell me what I did wrong! Just say it straight!
“If you’d come alone, even if you’d made a hundred mistakes, I’d have been perfectly satisfied.”
Shen Wanyu set down her chopsticks, fixed her eyes on Jiang Linyuan, and said:
“Too bad you didn’t.”
“I was trying to get you and Xiao Su to make up, you know. It’s no good for you two to be at odds like this—you’re both good friends.”
Jiang Linyuan reminded her.
Shen Wanyu ignored him and went back to eating.
Jeez, mind reading is so annoying!
But what’s this punishment the Department Head mentioned? Is it this Zhao Qiulu?
Jiang Linyuan looked at the girl sitting across from him, who gave off a fragile, delicate vibe.
A white lotus? Doesn’t seem like it.
Whatever you are, bring it on!
Who knows, I might just get another card out of this.