Chapter 337: Substitutes

On the bustling Gourmet Street, the people coming and going were mostly students.

At this moment, Shen Yan was wearing a grey suit jacket and trousers, with all the buttons undone, revealing the white shirt underneath.

This attire drew longing glances from countless young female admirers.

Quite a few students who idolized Shen Yan couldn't help but come up to greet him, saying things like, "Brother Rice Noodle, you're so handsome!" "Brother Rice Noodle, why didn't you go up and dance at the Lantern Festival party?" "Brother Rice Noodle, can I add you on QQ?" "Brother Rice Noodle, I heard you're doing business outside; you're so amazing!"

Wu Yueer really disliked being treated like air, so she immediately handed a lamb skewer to Shen Yan's lips and said coquettishly, "Brother, this is delicious, have a taste."

Those girls had long since noticed Wu Yueer's presence, but they all turned a deaf ear, simply because the current Shen Yan was not only talented but also possessed significant wealth, and everyone wanted to get to know such an outstanding person.

If they happened to be chosen by him, wouldn't they fly up to the branches and become phoenixes?

At the very least, even if it were just a fleeting romance, that would be excellent too.

With Shen Yan's tall, sturdy, and strong appearance, he must be incredibly powerful in that regard.

Shen Yan took the opportunity to bite the lamb at his lips, and while chewing, he said to the few girls, "I still have things to do here, so I won't entertain you all."

Seeing the two acting so intimately, the girls couldn't help but look at each other.

If they remembered correctly, Shen Yan had a girlfriend; how could he still be so ambiguous with Wu Yueer?

However, in the current situation, staying any longer would only be annoying.

They had no choice but to leave reluctantly.

Wu Yueer giggled and exclaimed, "Hubby, the way you look in a suit is just stunning; no wonder these little green teas can't help but have their hearts stirred."

Shen Yan grinned and asked Wu Yueer why she ran out to eat skewers late at night when she was supposed to be watching her figure. Wu Yueer pouted and said pitifully, "You and Shanni aren't home, I was so bored by myself, couldn't eat well, couldn't sleep well, and I only came out to find something to eat because I was starving."

Shen Yan was unmoved upon hearing this: "I think you were playing games until you forgot to eat and sleep, and only came out because you were starving."

"Hehe! You really do understand me best."

Wu Yueer said with a grin, without the slightest bit of embarrassment.

She ate a few more bites of squid, downed half a glass of liquor, and after burping, she turned to ask Shen Yan if the house had been bought. Shen Yan nodded slightly: "It's a large villa; I'll take you to stay there for a couple of days later."

Wu Yueer's heart jolted, and she hurriedly pressed him for details about the villa.

Upon learning that it had a swimming pool, a garden, a courtyard, a master bedroom larger than the entire Chen house, and various other ingenious designs, Wu Yueer wished she could run to Shanghai immediately and sleep there for three days and three nights.

This villa satisfied all her fantasies about a home.

"Hubby, you're so amazing!"

Wu Yueer's peach-blossom eyes were overflowing with stars of admiration. Shen Yan pursed his lips and smiled; being admired and flattered like this by a charming beauty, even with his current temperament, he still couldn't avoid feeling satisfied.

Just then, Wu Yueer noticed Lin Yang driving his small electric scooter toward them from straight ahead.

Zheng Jiayue was sitting behind him.

Lin Yang seemed to sense something, turned his head to look, and happened to meet Wu Yueer's eyes. Lin Yang's expression changed slightly, but he had no choice but to stop and greet them: "Hi! Yue'er, what a coincidence."

"Old Shen, when did you get back?"

Hearing the address "Yue'er," the expression of Zheng Jiayue in the back seat was instantly shrouded in dark clouds. Recalling the bits and pieces of the past, she woke up as if from a dream.

No wonder friends all called her Jiayue, or Little Yue, but Lin Yang didn't like that address and insisted on calling her Yue'er, especially when they were in bed, where he would call it out even more joyfully.

So from beginning to end, she was just a substitute.

Moreover, Lin Yang never took her to see his friends; every time they went out, he was cautious, terrified of being discovered. He had never truly liked her at all.

Thinking of this, Zheng Jiayue felt as if her heart were being twisted by a knife, the pain unbearable.

She got off the scooter, looked deeply at Lin Yang, and then turned and left without a word.

This look, filled with despair and sorrow, was like a sharp knife stabbing fiercely into Lin Yang's heart. He scratched his head, completely unable to understand the situation.

Wu Yueer asked blankly, "Why did your girlfriend suddenly leave?"

As soon as these words were out, Lin Yang was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling. He hurriedly explained, "Don't misunderstand, she's not my girlfriend."

As he spoke, he glanced guiltily at Shen Yan, while Shen Yan appeared very calm.

He sat there quietly, without saying a word.

In truth, Shen Yan held this behavior of Lin Yang's in great contempt, but since he wasn't exactly a saint himself, what right did he have to judge others?

Wu Yueer didn't care at all whether Lin Yang had a girlfriend or not, only saying, "Aren't you going to chase after her and see? That girl seems a bit off."

"Aren't you girls all like this? One moment it's clear skies, the next it's overcast. Don't worry about her; she'll be fine after a sleep." Lin Yang waved his hand dismissively.

He looked at the pile of skewers on the table and asked with a grin, "My stomach is a bit hungry, you guys don't mind if I join you, right?"

Wu Yueer was, of course, a hundred, a thousand times unwilling. It was rare to have a chance to be alone with Shen Yan, and having such a large lightbulb added made her feel incredibly uncomfortable.

But since Shen Yan hadn't refused, she couldn't say much.

She could only let Lin Yang sit down.

Lin Yang was not polite at all; after sitting down, he picked up a squid skewer and stuffed it into his mouth, saying indistinctly while chewing, "You two are really not loyal; you ran out for skewers without even calling me."

Shen Yan's expression was full of hidden meaning: "An accidental meeting is better than an invitation; if I had interrupted your good time, the sin would be too great."

Lin Yang's face turned red, and not knowing how to respond, he turned to tell the boss to bring more food and ordered a few more bottles of beer. He said heroically, "Come, come, we haven't gathered together for a long time. Let's have a drink first; it's my treat today, eat as much as you want."

"Let's go!"

"Cheers!"

Regardless of what thoughts they harbored, the three of them clinked glasses.

After the alcohol hit his stomach, Lin Yang asked Shen Yan where he had been these days and why he hadn't seen him. Shen Yan said he had just returned from Shanghai. Lin Yang couldn't help but tease upon hearing this: "Old Shen, you run to Shanghai more often than I, a local, do."

Shen Yan laughed: "People from the countryside always yearn for big cities."

"Damn! Old Shen, it's no fun when you say that." Lin Yang complained with feigned dissatisfaction.

The two chatted and laughed there, just like when they first started school; everything seemed unchanged, yet it also seemed to have changed quite a bit.

Lin Yang boasted triumphantly about his own wit: "Old Shen, don't look at the fact that I failed two subjects in the final exams; so what? The make-up exams were so difficult, and I still took them down in one fell swoop."

Wu Yueer sneered twice: "If you're so awesome, why did you fail the final exams?"

Lin Yang's mouth twitched fiercely, and he laughed dryly: "That wasn't... I just felt the final exams were too simple, so I deliberately left them for the make-up exams to challenge myself! Hahahaha..."

However, his laughter sounded somewhat dry; clearly, even he himself did not quite believe this excuse.

Feeling a bit awkward, Lin Yang changed the subject: "Old Shen, since you're back, why aren't you spending time with your girlfriend? How do you have the time to be here eating skewers with Yue'er?"