Chapter 119: Aunt Shen's Words Don't Match Her Heart

Shen Qingru mechanically nodded, unable to say a word.

Xu Yuexin wrapped his arm around her and walked forward slowly, his calm gaze sweeping over the several hulking men.

Perhaps his tall, sturdy build and the aura it exuded provided the deterrence.

The hulking men turned their heads away one after another, continuing to eat, drink, and chat.

Shen Qingru, however, remained fearful, especially when passing by those men; she even flinched toward Xu Yuexin's embrace.

Only after they had walked dozens of meters did Shen Qingru let out a sigh of relief.

Aunt Shen's figure really is…

…so perfect there's nothing to say.

Calling her a beauty wouldn't even be an exaggeration.

Xu Yuexin, holding Shen Qingru in his arms, felt his chest bearing a huge pressure.

"This… must be the kind that can suffocate someone?" Shen Qingru's face also flushed.

Until this moment, she realized she had been in Xu Yuexin's embrace for a long time.

"The hotel is just ahead."

Xu Yuexin released Shen Qingru, pointing forward.

"Alright, let's sleep early tonight; we have a flight early tomorrow morning."

Shen Qingru, suppressing the heat spreading across her face, said.

Their booked room was on a high floor, its balcony overlooking the whole Xiangjiang.

The two rooms were adjacent; after returning to the floor, they each said goodbye and entered their own rooms.

Shen Qingru didn't go to sleep immediately; instead she walked to the balcony to gaze at the outside scenery.

At night, Xiangjiang remained brilliantly illuminated.

The bright lights painted Central in gold, sparkling under the night sky.

Looking ahead, one could see Kowloon, Xinjie, and the construction site opposite in Shenzhen.

The Shenzhen construction site was lit up, still working by lantern light through the night.

"I heard the government gave Shenzhen policies to vigorously develop that area?"

Shen Qingru thought, her mind gradually drifting apart.

Moving abroad to settle was the unanimous opinion of the Shen family; her parents and uncles had all relocated.

As for Shen Qingru herself, she had no particular longing to go abroad; she had previously lived quite comfortably in Jingcheng.

On the contrary, she was actually quite willing to stay and witness the country's future development.

"Now the policies favorable to economic development keep coming one after another; someone like Xiao Xu should see his career accelerate, right?" Shen Qingru mused.

Thinking of Xu Yuexin, the scene from the alley earlier flashed in her mind, making her face warm again.

"Never mind, I shouldn't overthink."

Shen Qingru admonished herself, returned to the room, drew the curtains, changed into pajamas, and prepared to sleep.

Yet at that moment, a thudding "dong dong dong" of renovation came from upstairs, keeping her from falling asleep.

"What kind of hotel is this? Renovating late at night?"

Shen Qingru felt speechless and called the front desk to report it.

"Ma'am, hello, are you referring to a renovation issue? Sorry, that's not under our jurisdiction; the restaurant upstairs isn't part of us."

The front‑desk attendant gave an extremely polite yet useless reply.

Shen Qingru had no choice but to hang up the phone in frustration, lying alone on the bed stewing.

At that moment, a door‑opening sound came from the next room.

"Knock knock."

"Aunt Shen, are you awake?"

Soon, Xu Yuexin's voice came from outside the door.

Shen Qingru, irritated by the noise, forgot she hadn't changed out of her pajamas and went forward to open the door.

"What's up, Xiao Xu?"

Shen Qingru asked, puzzled.

Xu Yuexin looked at Shen Qingru, almost unable to hold back.

His towering, sturdy build, his long straight porcelain‑white legs, paired with a black lace nightgown…

"Who could stand that?"

"The upstairs is noisy; I plan to get you, and we'll go talk to the front desk together."

Xu Yuexin forced his gaze to stay entirely on Shen Qingru's face, not to stare at her body.

"The front desk said it's not their responsibility up there."

"Whatever they say, it's late at night; they must lower the noise," Xu Yuexin declared firmly.

"Alright, you wait a moment."

Shen Qingru said that and hurriedly shut the door, realizing she was still in her pajamas.

"If you're going to blame anyone, blame the renovation upstairs; it rattled her mind so much that she opened the door still in pajamas."

After a short while, Shen Qingru put on her daytime chiffon dress and stepped out of the room.

"Let's go."

Xu Yuexin said to Shen Qingru.

The two went downstairs, where Xu Yuexin found the front‑desk attendant and reported the noise issue again.

Shen Qingru also added that they were indeed greatly troubled.

The reception still gave the same excuse.

"Sorry, gentlemen and ladies, the restaurant upstairs belongs to another owner and has nothing to do with our hotel."

"I'll ask you just one question: are we guests of the hotel?"

Xu Yuexin's expression was calm, and he asked in a resonant, forceful tone.

"Of course, as long as you stay here, you are our distinguished guests."

"Fine. Since we paid, we are entitled to proper accommodation services. If it rains outside, your hotel should clean for us; if troublemakers cause trouble, you are responsible for expelling them. Likewise, if there is noise upstairs, you are obligated to eliminate it."

"Moreover, they are renovating at midnight, which itself violates noise regulations."

Xu Yuexin argued with reason and evidence, offering logic, analogies, and citing laws, leaving the reception speechless.

"Apologies, sir, madam, for disturbing your rest. I'll contact someone right away to inquire."

"You may return to your room and wait a moment."

The reception staff laughed awkwardly and immediately picked up the phone to contact hotel security.

Xu Yuexin and Shen Qingru returned to her room, and after a while the noise upstairs indeed ceased.

Shen Qingru's mood finally settled.

"You spoke very well just now."

She recalled Xu Yuexin's earlier performance and, without holding back, praised, "Those who pass the buck are scared of someone like you."

"That's exactly it; they are obligated to ensure we can sleep peacefully."

Xu Yuexin used his hand as a pillow, lay down on Shen Qingru's bed, and said.

"Hmm, after being tossed around like that, I can't fall asleep now."

Shen Qingru sat beside Xu Yuexin, looked at his face, and asked, "After we go back, do you have any plans?"

"During the summer vacation, what plans could there be?"

"Oh, you're still in university?"

"Yes, at Yanda."

"Impressive, what's your major?"

"Chinese Department."

"Oh? So you're a talented scholar."

"I don't deserve the compliment. When you asked about my plans just now, were you looking for something from me?"

"…Nothing much."

Shen Qingru originally wanted to say she hoped to see and talk with Xu Yuexin more after returning, but she kept it to herself in the end.

"Doesn't seem like it."

Xu Yuexin rose, looked at Shen Qingru's face, smiled slightly, and said, "You're lying."

Shen Qingru smiled apologetically.

"I originally hoped that after returning to Jingcheng I'd have a chance to talk with you more."

"But when I think of you still being busy moving, I'll drop it."

"I don't want to cause you any trouble."

Shen Qingru shook her head, lowered her head slightly, and avoided Xu Yuexin's gaze.

Because Shen Qingru found Xu Yuexin's gaze captivating, giving off a very charismatic impression.

Combined with his handsome face, Shen Qingru feared that looking at him for too long would make her heart flutter.

"Saying one thing while thinking another."

Xu Yuexin grasped Shen Qingru's delicate hand and said, "You clearly want to say something else."

(End of chapter)