Chapter 71: I

On the way back to his room, Shen Huai's expression appeared somewhat weary.

Every time he spoke with Shen Zhiyuan, it would never take more than three sentences before it devolved into a state of mutual enmity.

When it comes down to it.

Their Daos are different, so they cannot plan together.

Even though he had clearly understood Shen Zhiyuan's character since early on.

He should have been numb to it long ago.

Yet every time he faced Shen Zhiyuan, he would still end up arguing until he was hoarse and red in the face.

Why?

Shen Huai heaved a deep sigh.

This sigh felt more like frustration with himself.

Blood is thicker than water.

In the end, he could not do as he boasted and truly sever his connection with Shen Zhiyuan from the bottom of his heart.

Shen Zhiyuan's words could always precisely strike the sensitive points of his nerves.

Making him instantly thunderous with rage.

The Shen Group?

This commercial empire that had swallowed countless enterprises and was built upon a mountain of corpses, with reach extending to the heavens.

How could he dare to take it over! Unknowingly.

Shen Huai had already returned to the doorway of his room.

Just as he stopped, the door was suddenly opened from the inside.

Yang Shuqin was right there, immediately catching sight of the listless Shen Huai.

She did not speak, her gaze quickly shifting downward.

When she saw the ink stains already dried on Shen Huai's clothes, she understood everything in an instant.

"Did you two argue again?"

Yang Shuqin's tone was calm, as indifferent as if she were asking, "Have you eaten?"

She had long since become accustomed to the habit of these two men arguing the moment they met.

"..."

Seeing his mother, the hostility in Shen Huai's heart instantly softened, "... I'm sorry, Mom."

"Don't get sentimental with me, come in first."

Yang Shuqin felt a warmth in her heart and quickly pulled Shen Huai to sit down on the sofa.

"Tell me, did your father tell you to resign immediately?"

"... Yeah."

"Then what are your own thoughts?" Yang Shuqin asked earnestly, "Regarding the future, what are your plans?"

"Your father has always wanted you to come back; you can't possibly hide from him forever," Yang Shuqin said, her tone deepening with a sigh.

Shen Huai was silent, unable to help but clench his teeth.

"I understand, Mom."

Shen Huai's eyes dimmed: "It's just that my ambitions don't lie there; what I want to do is fundamentally different from what Father wants to do."

"Then what is it you want to do?"

"I want to..."

Shen Huai's lips moved, and a flash of embarrassment crossed his face.

This thing he wanted to do, it seemed he had never told anyone about it before.

As for the reason.

It was purely because... he cared about his pride.

Seeing the rare look of awkwardness on Shen Huai's face, Yang Shuqin understood and gently patted his back, comforting him: "If you don't want to say it, then don't. Whenever you want to tell Mom in the future, just tell me."

"Thanks, Mom." Shen Huai felt a genuine sense of relief.

After a pause.

Shen Huai suddenly realized something seemed to be missing from the room.

"By the way, where is Yang Lan? Where is Lin Yeman?"

Shen Huai looked around, and only after discovering that all the people from the Yang Family were gone did he ask, realizing it belatedly.

Hearing this, Yang Shuqin gave Shen Huai a mysterious smile and pointed to the door at the back of the living room: "They are in there."

"Ah?"

Shen Huai's voice dropped abruptly.

This mother of his, hiding people in the room without even saying a word.

Shen Huai's room was similar to a complete suite, occupying a full half of the floor's area, about 200 square meters.

Besides the master bedroom where Shen Huai slept, the suite was also furnished with a nanny room and two guest bedrooms.

Shen Huai almost never came home.

Therefore, those two guest bedrooms were also left vacant year-round.

Although Yang Lan had been clamoring to stay in the same room as Shen Huai.

But after all, it involved a young girl's reputation.

Children might not understand these things, but they, as adults, could not lose their sense of propriety.

So Yang Shuqin had a flash of inspiration and arranged for Yang Lan to stay temporarily in one of the guest bedrooms.

As for Yang Huo and Lin Yeman, they logically moved into the other half of this floor.

"Alright, Mom is just teasing you."

"The auntie just finished cleaning this room, and she is currently in the room next door with Yeman," Yang Shuqin said with a smile.

Hearing this, Shen Huai let out a genuine sigh of relief.

As long as she hadn't heard his conversation with Yang Shuqin just now, it would be fine.

Otherwise, he feared he would be subjected to Lin Yeman's sarcasm for quite a while.

"Alright, hurry up and take off these dirty clothes, and take them to the servants to wash."

After saying this.

Yang Shuqin glanced at Shen Huai's clothes with disdain, then shook her head: "Forget it, just take them off and throw them away. Your clothes aren't worth much anyway, don't go dirtying the house's washing machine."

Are you kidding me?

Shen Huai's mouth twitched.

This maternal love was like a flash in the pan; it hadn't even warmed Shen Huai's heart before it splashed a basin of cold water on him.

Yang Shuqin pointed to the walk-in closet behind him: "I've already had a stylist pick out a new set for you; it's hanging in the wardrobe."

"It's fine to play the part of a poor boy when you're out, but don't actually make yourself look tacky."

"Remember to be more proactive after you put on the clothes. Lanlan is a girl after all, and since she has already taken such a big step forward, you cannot be a coward."

"Got it," Shen Huai nodded obediently.

"Alright, go change your clothes then; Mom has to go clean up your mess."

Yang Shuqin stood up, winked at Shen Huai, and then closed the bedroom door with a "Bang!"

In an instant.

The room was so quiet that only Shen Huai's own breathing could be heard.

He hesitated for a moment, sighed self-deprecatingly, got up, and walked slowly to the walk-in closet.

The door was slowly pushed open by Shen Huai.

A faint scent of leather mixed with sandalwood rushed to meet him.

Soft light spilled down from the recessed lighting, illuminating rows of exquisite and dazzling clothing.

Every single piece came from the hands of the world's top tailors.

They were truly one-of-a-kind.

Shen Huai's fingers slid lightly over the high-value suits.

Finally.

His gaze fell upon a glass display case.

Inside the case, a gradient blue suit set was being quietly displayed.

At just one glance.

Shen Huai was completely captivated by this garment.

Tom Ford.

One of the most famous high-end fashion brands in the world.

Even the cheapest clothes cost over a million.

And this deep, gradient midnight blue high-end suit before him used Tom Ford's most classic tailoring method.

The shoulder lines were sharp, and the waistline was fluid.

The hem covered the hips just right.

It perfectly displayed masculine power while losing none of its elegance and nobility.

"... Mom really knows how to spend a fortune."

Shen Huai touched the soft texture of the suit fabric and couldn't help but exclaim.

The next moment.

Shen Huai didn't hesitate to take off the cheap T-shirt he was wearing and threw it casually on the floor.

Through the full-length mirror in the walk-in closet.

Shen Huai admired his own upper body and nodded with satisfaction.

Smooth, tight back muscles and a lean, powerful waistline.

This physique was simply perfect.

After admiring it for a long time, Shen Huai finally took down the suit with satisfaction.

But before he could even undo the buttons of his shirt.

"Clatter!"

A crisp sound of ceramic shattering suddenly came from the doorway!

A few small shards splashed onto Shen Huai's feet, leaving a few tiny scratches on his lower leg.

"... S-sorry!"

Seeing the tiny beads of blood seeping from the scratches on Shen Huai's feet.

Yang Lan was instantly flustered.

Shen Huai looked over with a heavy gaze.

He saw a pile of steaming beef noodles lying on the floor at Yang Lan's feet.

And the bowl that held the noodles had already been smashed to pieces.

Yang Lan looked down at the noodles in embarrassment, then at the injury on Shen Huai's foot, and finally, her throat moved with a dry swallow as her gaze landed on Shen Huai's bare upper body.

"I didn't expect you to be changing clothes, so... I didn't see it on purpose, your leg..."

The more Yang Lan spoke, the redder her face became, yet her gaze never once wavered from Shen Huai.

"... I am fine."

Shen Huai feigned composure, his Adam's apple bobbing, and he turned his back to her: "This little injury is nothing but a scratch."

"You should head out first; I will have a servant come clean this up. Don't let the shards on the floor hurt you."

After Shen Huai finished speaking, he cautiously sensed the gaze fixed upon his back.

Unexpectedly.

After Shen Huai said these words.

He suddenly felt it become incomparably quiet behind him.

Shen Huai frowned in confusion and could not help but turn around to look—

This one glance.

Made Shen Huai's scalp tingle instantly!

He saw that Yang Lan had, at some unknown moment, quietly walked behind him.

She looked at Shen Huai with a serious expression.

One by one, she slowly unbuttoned all the buttons on her upper garment: "I accidentally saw yours, that is my fault."

"For the sake of fairness, I will let you see mine once too, how about that?"

(End of chapter)