Chapter 28: Fed Full

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

The lights were brilliant.

On the smooth and enormous glass window, two mottled shadows were reflected.

The shoulder strap of Lu Sheng's white long dress slid gently from her shoulder down to her forearm.

Following that was her waist, and finally, it retreated to her ankles.

Shen Huai grabbed the white dress and tossed it aside at will, then his whole body leaned down.

Liquor splashed about, the offensive was clear.

Lu Sheng's hair brushed lightly against Shen Huai's cheek, and the liquor stains on her hair inadvertently drilled into Shen Huai's nasal cavity.

Shen Huai almost turned red-eyed.

"Shen Huai, can our grudges be considered settled now?" Lu Sheng gripped the back of Shen Huai's head tightly.

Shen Huai's movements stalled, his tone somewhat dark.

"I, Shen Huai, never blame heaven or others."

……

……

On the huge plush carpet, a pile of children's ascension bags were scattered, each and every one of them returning fully loaded.

Shen Huai looked back at the glimmer of light below Lu Sheng's waist and faintly curled his lips.

He raised his hand to pull out a few tissues and handed them to her.

Lu Sheng listlessly pushed away the hand Shen Huai used to offer the tissues and slowly straightened her body.

"Quite an improvement."

Shen Huai raised an eyebrow, his tone playful: "You're not bad either."

Lu Sheng and Shen Huai exchanged a glance, then she turned her head away slightly and curled her lips into a smile.

She then stood up and walked barefoot toward the shower room.

Watching the vaguely swaying figure in the bathroom and hearing the pattering sound of water, Shen Huai felt his entire body completely relax.

Fed her until she was full.

Yet he himself was hungry.

Shen Huai's gaze fell onto the coffee table.

The spicy beef and braised dishes placed on it remained completely untouched.

Too lazy to get chopsticks, Shen Huai picked up a piece of beef with his hand and threw it into his mouth to chew.

Must say, it was quite delicious.

Unknowingly.

A plate of beef was actually eaten clean by Shen Huai.

That plate of braised dishes was also mostly finished.

When Lu Sheng walked out wrapped in a bath towel, radiating heat, what she saw was the snack food that had been almost completely devoured.

"So hungry? Do you want to eat some more?" Lu Sheng smiled and hugged him lightly.

Shen Huai dodged, avoiding Lu Sheng's embrace.

"No need, I'm full."

Shen Huai raised his eyes to look at Lu Sheng.

Her crimson cheeks were flushed, whether from the steam or from the alcohol.

Lu Sheng squatted down, picked up a can of alcohol, and prepared to open it again.

But the next second, Shen Huai snatched the alcohol away and placed it far away.

"With your alcohol tolerance, you'd better not drink," Shen Huai said indifferently.

It was the same last time with Japanese food; she collapsed after two bottles of plum wine.

This time, after only half a can of beer, she started wanting to eat people.

Her tolerance is so poor, yet she loves to drink.

A classic case of being bad at it but having a big addiction.

Forbidden from drinking, Lu Sheng pouted unhappily.

She usually pushed herself very hard when out in public.

Career first, future first.

But beneath the disguise of a strong woman, she occasionally still longed to shed all burdens and reveal her softer side.

"How does the first day of work feel?" Lu Sheng asked slowly.

"Stimulating," Shen Huai said, picking up the beer he had just snatched from Lu Sheng and taking a light sip.

"Oh, how so?"

"Received special attention from my direct supervisor, was singled out for favor by the Artist Management Department, became the center of gossip for the whole company because of a photo, and my work content is to make my ex-girlfriend who just dumped me famous."

"Finally got off work and came home, only to be entangled by the department head for a soul-to-soul exchange; would you say that's stimulating or not?" After finishing, Shen Huai looked at Lu Sheng with a playful gaze.

To his surprise.

Upon hearing this, Lu Sheng laughed.

"A good summary, but not quite accurate."

Lu Sheng turned to face Shen Huai: "It wasn't being entangled by the department head, but by an ex-girlfriend who is also a neighbor."

"I already said, after work, I am no longer the director."

She paused.

Lu Sheng continued, "Regarding that matter Li Xinran mentioned, what are your thoughts?"

"Tong Yue is a disciple I personally trained; her temperament is very similar to mine, and her work ability is beyond reproach, but she is also straightforward and cannot tolerate any sand in her eyes."

"If she finds out that someone under her has such a past with an artist signed by Lin Yeman, I'm afraid she won't let you off."

Hearing this, Shen Huai smiled helplessly.

It wouldn't just be not letting him off; he feared she would tear him apart herself when the time came.

"So what do you plan to do? Have you thought of a response strategy?"

"Are you concerned for me, or are you interrogating me?" Shen Huai looked at Lu Sheng indifferently.

"Both, perhaps." Lu Sheng brushed aside a strand of semi-damp hair that had fallen onto her shoulder. "After all, it concerns the press conference; both professionally and personally, I am concerned."

Lu Sheng spoke very sincerely, and there was indeed no need to lie about this matter.

Shen Huai silently withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice, "To be honest, I haven't thought it through."

"I originally thought I was just handling the handover of work behind the scenes and synchronizing progress, but I didn't expect this fire to involve me."

Shen Huai frowned and fell silent.

He really did not want his name to trend on social media alongside the Shen Family.

But if Li Xinran were truly pushed to the forefront of the storm, then his relationship with the Shen Family would definitely be impossible to hide.

Seeing Shen Huai pursing his lips and remaining silent.

Lu Sheng wiped her hair nonchalantly and said, "Actually, do you know?"

"That video of so-called workplace bullying wasn't an accidental capture, but something Lin Yeman specifically designed."

"Even if it wasn't Yang Shuhua, it would have been another heavyweight artist."

"Every step was within Lin Yeman's calculations, except for you."

Lu Sheng paused, her beautiful eyes suddenly falling on Shen Huai: "The standard for signing people at Star Shine, appearance is important, but it is not the only thing."

"In this world, there are many, many people with good-looking skin."

"Lin Yeman is like a moving datura flower—beautiful and enchanting, yet her heart is full of devious tricks; those she takes a fancy to are likewise not simple."

"So I think you don't need to worry; she knows more about whitewashing an artist's past than you do."

"Really?" Shen Huai's eyes lit up.

"Naturally, it's true," Lu Sheng snorted coldly. "Do you really think any artist's past is clean? Who doesn't have some dark history?"

"Although I don't like Lin Yeman, I have to say, she really has a knack for handling these things."

"The only thing you need to do is confess to her in advance that you and Li Xinran once dated, and leave the rest to her."

"Should I trust you?" Shen Huai's gaze swept over Lu Sheng's face deeply.

"What benefit would lying to you have for the press conference?" Lu Sheng rolled her eyes at Shen Huai.

"Fine, I'll trust you once."

Shen Huai let out a deep breath and tilted his head back, finishing the beer in his hand in one gulp.

"Then, what about our current relationship?"

Lu Sheng blinked, a faint expectation emerging in her eyes.

"Between neighbors, looking out for each other is normal, right?" Shen Huai raised an eyebrow, deliberately avoiding looking at her.

"..."

Lu Sheng's eyes darkened for a moment, and she stood up abruptly. "Looking out for each other, right? Fine, then please, neighbor, look out for me one more time."

The next day.

When Shen Huai woke up, the sun was already shining brightly outside the window.

He shook his slightly dizzy head, feeling as if his body had been hollowed out.

He walked out of the bedroom and found the room empty.

On the dining table sat a plate of perfectly toasted sandwiches, with a steaming cup of goji berry flower tea beside it.

Underneath the plate was a small note.

【Neighbor, I'm leaving first. Thanks for looking out for me.】

(End of chapter)