Chapter 37: Afraid I

A full day had passed.

The press conference that Yang Shuhua had originally thought was a sure win had become the Waterloo of her acting career.

Everything she said at this press conference became a topic of relish for netizens.

On the internet.

There even appeared countless videos of people following the trend to mock and imitate her.

The reason was that her husband's image, which had collapsed into ruins, was simply a clown compared to Young Master Shen.

She, this clown of a spokesperson, naturally also became a target for attack.

"Don't you dare divorce your man; you two crouching tigers and hidden dragons must stay together for life. Letting you loose on the market would be your fault!"

"To earn money to pay off a gambler's debts, you've really lost all sense of shame, haven't you? You actually spread rumors about a newcomer!"

"Before seeing the photos, I thought the netizens were being a bit extreme. After seeing the photos, I just want to say, even if I had to choose a beggar, I wouldn't choose your husband."

"Leaving a billionaire family aside to choose your second-hand goods—you dare to make this up, and we're too embarrassed to even listen!"

"..."

Yang Shuhua's reputation.

Had completely transformed from that of a veteran artist of both virtue and art into a laughingstock mocked by everyone.

The impact of that press conference had also been crushed into dust by a single kissing photo.

Ten o'clock at night.

Shen Huai was finally able to get off work.

He hurried out the main gate and saw from afar a white BMW convertible coupe waiting by the side of the road.

Shen Huai paused for a moment and walked toward the coupe.

"Sorry to have kept Team Leader Lin waiting."

Team Leader Lin sat in the driver's seat, raised her eyes slightly to look at Shen Huai, and smiled lightly: "It's fine, I'm used to it."

Used to it? Shen Huai didn't quite understand what these three words meant.

But he didn't want to ask too much; he opened the car door, sat in, and fastened his seatbelt.

"Did you change cars?" Shen Huai asked casually.

"That's right, because I'm on a date with you, I only wanted to drive a two-seater."

Lin Yeman dropped a bombshell the moment she spoke.

Shen Huai bit the bullet and pretended to be calm as he held up his phone: "I've already sent you the address."

"At this hour, this is the only place still open," Shen Huai said, raising his phone.

"Great, let's go there."

Lin Yeman only took one look before stepping on the gas.

In an instant.

Shen Huai only felt a violent force pushing him back into his seat, making his scalp tingle with excitement.

This woman, her driving style was too wild!

Ten minutes later.

In the night, a coupe pulled up in front of a Western restaurant that was still lit up on the side of the street.

"Hello, are there two of you?"

As soon as Shen Huai and Lin Yeman entered the door, a waiter greeted them enthusiastically.

"Yes," Shen Huai showed his phone screen and pointed to the group-buying deal on it, "May I ask if this set meal is still available?"

The waiter took a look and shook his head: "Sorry, we don't have this set meal at this hour."

"It's gone?" Shen Huai felt a bit awkward.

Seeing Shen Huai's embarrassed expression, the waiter immediately added: "However, we have couple's set meals available for the two of you to choose from."

"Couple's set meal?"

Shen Huai looked at Lin Yeman with some awkwardness.

But he saw that when she heard the name of the set, the corners of her mouth lifted a little higher.

"We'll take the couple's set meal, one of each for the A and B sets," Lin Yeman took over the conversation and said to the waiter.

Upon hearing this, the waiter looked toward the door with some confusion: "Are you expecting friends to join you later?"

"No, you misunderstood."

Lin Yeman smiled beautifully: "He has a bigger appetite, I have to let him eat his fill first."

After saying this, she cast a meaningful glance at Shen Huai.

"..."

Shen Huai's mouth twitched.

Why did this sentence sound so unsettling?

Very quickly.

Two couple's set meals were brought up.

They covered the small round table completely.

Lin Yeman didn't stand on ceremony; she picked up her knife and fork and started eating.

Shen Huai looked at the table full of food in front of him and silently picked up the tea beside him to take a sip. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked: "Lin Yeman, are you really not afraid that the Shen Family will issue a clarification?"

"Of course I'm not afraid," Lin Yeman replied directly without even raising her head.

"Why? Could it be that you actually know this only son of the Shen Family?"

Shen Huai stared intently at Lin Yeman, wanting to find some trace of a clue in her micro-expressions.

"You could say I know them, or you could say I don't."

Shen Huai: "... What is that supposed to mean? Knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing; why be so ambiguous?"

Hearing this.

Lin Yeman elegantly swallowed a bite of steak, tilted her head to sip some non-alcoholic mojito, and only then let her gaze fall upon Shen Huai.

"I didn't realize it, but you're quite the gossip too."

"Are you really that curious?"

Shen Huai nodded quickly: "Of course, after all, it also relates to how I carry out my work later."

Lin Yeman stared into Shen Huai's eyes for a moment, then finally smiled: "Fine, I can reveal a little bit to you, but just a little."

She cleared her throat, leaned her upper body slightly toward Shen Huai, and lowered her voice: "As for me, I truly don't know them."

"But the coincidence is, I have a friend who does."

"She doesn't just know them; she also has an extraordinary relationship with this Young Master Shen."

"These photos were also obtained for me by her through certain means, and it is also because of her existence that I can guarantee the Shen Family will absolutely not take any action."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huai's brow immediately knitted into a 'chuan' shape.

"Is she that powerful, that she can actually keep the Shen Family in check?"

Lin Yeman blinked her long black eyelashes and shook her head, explaining: "Using the word 'check' isn't actually accurate, and I'm not at liberty to say any more."

"Anyway, there definitely won't be any accidents regarding this matter, that's all."

Hearing this, Shen Huai's heart tightened a few degrees more.

A woman who could influence the Shen Family's decisions and also had an extraordinary relationship with him? Shen Huai mentally paraded every woman he had ever dated in his past.

After finishing his recollection, his expression was clearly even gloomier.

None.

There was no such woman.

As long as it was a woman he had dated, it was impossible for Shen Huai not to remember.

But judging from Lin Yeman's description, he had indeed never dated a woman of such status.

Who could it be? To be able to get photos from his mother.

It seems he will have to call his mother, Yang Shuqin, and ask her personally.

Seeing that the food in front of Shen Huai remained untouched.

Lin Yeman noticed that Shen Huai had something on his mind and sighed softly as she put down her knife and fork: "What's wrong? Is the food not to your taste?"

"... No, it's just that I worked overtime and I'm a bit tired."

Shen Huai made up an excuse on the fly.

At this moment, he just wanted to finish the meal immediately.

And then return home to give his mother a call to get to the bottom of it.

Hearing this from Shen Huai.

Lin Yeman's clear, water-like eyes looked deeply at Shen Huai for a few moments, as if she were pondering something.

The next moment.

She raised her hand high and snapped her fingers in the air—

"Waiter, check please."

Walking out of the restaurant.

Shen Huai pointed to a shared bicycle on the side toward Lin Yeman: "Team Leader Lin, I'll just ride this back; you should go back and rest early too."

After speaking, Shen Huai turned on his heel, intending to slip away.

Unexpectedly, before he could even take a step, he was dragged back by Lin Yeman.

"What's the rush?"

Lin Yeman tilted her chin slightly toward her sports car: "How could a shared bicycle be faster than my car?"

"Where do you live? I'll take you."

"I really don't need it," Shen Huai hurriedly waved his hand to refuse.

"I am a person who doesn't like to say things twice, and I like it even less when others keep refusing me."

Lin Yeman pulled Shen Huai over and pressed him into the passenger seat with a lively grace.

She leaned close to Shen Huai's cheek, her gaze almost sticking to him.

"You're in such a hurry to leave."

"Is it really because you're tired, or are you afraid I have ulterior motives toward you?"

(End of chapter)