Chapter 106: The Century-Old Shen Residence

The man's lips moved, but no words came out.

Shen Yanhui did not ask again.

He raised his other hand and gently covered Gu Yan's eyes.

"Don't look."

Beneath his palm, her eyelashes fluttered, and she closed them obediently.

The next second, she heard a dull thud, like a shoe sole grinding into something with ruthless force.

Then came the man's scream.

"Sir..." the man's voice had changed pitch, "It was the old master who sent me! He just wanted to see Miss Gu, he didn't mean to hurt her! Really, he didn't!"

Shen Yanhui's hand was still covering the young girl's eyes.

He repeated: "See her?"

The man's voice trembled with pain: "Yes, yes... you haven't returned to the old residence in a long time..."

Old Master Shen didn't actually want to see Gu Yan; he was just using her to force Shen Yanhui to show himself, thinking he could still manipulate him just as he had once used Pei Wanjun to threaten him.

Shen Yanhui was silent for two seconds.

When he spoke, it was to Gu Yan, his voice lowered, as if he were a different person than before: "I'll have you sent back first."

Gu Yan did not speak.

She pulled his hand down and looked up at his face.

"Then what about you?"

"... I'm going back for a visit."

"Alone?"

"... Yes."

She stared into his eyes.

In the night, his silhouette was colder than usual, and there was a darkness in the depths of his eyes she had never seen before.

But she was still holding his hand.

"Then I want to go with you," she said.

Shen Yanhui looked at her.

The night wind blew, and the paulownia leaves rustled. The setting sun fell on her face, making those eyes shine very brightly.

He had seen too many people.

Those who fawned, those who feared, those with ulterior motives, those with their own hidden agendas.

Not one was like her.

Even though those people had just been targeting her, even though she had seen him use force with her own eyes, she should have been afraid.

Yet she only held his hand, looked up, and said, I want to go with you.

He remembered every time he had walked through that door alone over the years. The lights in Chengze Hall were always very bright, but they felt cold when they shone on him. The people in the grand chairs all had their own schemes and agendas. He was their opponent, their bargaining chip, a thorn in their side.

No one stood on his side.

Never.

He lowered his gaze, looking at her.

She was still waiting for his answer, her eyes bright, showing no fear, only a natural, matter-of-fact determination.

He suddenly felt a spot in his chest get gently bumped by something.

Very lightly.

Yet it made his throat feel parched.

He did not speak.

He only raised his hand, his fingertips brushing her cheek. Then he gripped her hand tightly and tucked it into his suit pocket.

"... Follow me."

Gu Yan curled the corners of her lips and took a step forward.

——

By the banks of Cuiwei Lake, the Shen Residence was hidden in the night.

The car passed through two security gates, drove along a long, tree-lined path, and finally stopped in front of a three-courtyard complex. With green bricks and gray tiles, flying eaves and bracket sets, old palace lanterns hung under the eaves, illuminating the two characters for "Shen Residence."

Chang Su opened the car door.

Shen Yanhui got out, turned around, and reached out his hand to Gu Yan.

She took it and followed him out.

The night wind blew from the lake, carrying moisture and the chill of early autumn. She looked up at the vermilion-lacquered gate; her first impression was that it was solemn and austere, but there was something else, too.

It was as if something was pressing down from those green bricks and gray tiles, heavy and silent, landing on her shoulders.

"Are you cold?" Shen Yanhui looked down at her.

Gu Yan nodded: "A little."

He did not speak.

He only raised his hand, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over her shoulders.

The jacket still held his body heat and that crisp, clean scent of cedar. The wide shoulder line hung down, wrapping her entire frame.

He lowered his head and pulled the collar together for her.

"Let's go."

He took her hand and stepped over the threshold.

They passed through the hanging flower gate and walked inward along the covered veranda.

Palace lanterns hung every few steps along the veranda, their light falling onto the bluestone tiles in deep and shallow patches. In the distance, the lights of the main hall were faintly visible, along with a few figures.

Zhou Shuyao stood at the end of the veranda.

She wore a dark green velvet qipao and jade earrings, her long hair pinned into a gentle bun. The light from the palace lanterns under the veranda fell upon her, soft as a filter.

Seeing the two approach, she smiled slightly: "Mr. Shen, Miss Gu."

Her gaze lingered for a moment on their clasped hands before moving away as if nothing had happened, looking at Shen Yanhui: "Grandfather is waiting for you in Chengze Hall."

Shen Yanhui couldn't even be bothered to respond.

Zhou Shuyao felt somewhat embarrassed; she looked at Gu Yan again: "Since it is Miss Gu's first time here, why don't I accompany you for a stroll in the garden? The night view of Cuiwei Lake is lovely, and it is just the right time for it."

Gu Yan did glance at her, but she had no desire to respond either.

Putting on this air of a hostess, deliberately showing it to her—she wouldn't get angry; getting angry would be exactly what the other party wanted.

Gu Yan leaned against Shen Yanhui on purpose; he looked down at her, a flash of amusement in his eyes, and pulled her even closer.

Yet, even with the two of them like this, the annoying fly insisted on following, buzzing away.

"Mr. Shen, Grandfather wants to discuss some family matters with you tonight. It might not be very convenient for Miss Gu to be present."

After speaking, she glanced at Gu Yan, the smile on her face still gentle.

She certainly played the part well enough.

She continued: "Chengze Hall is the main hall of the Shen Family, and throughout the generations, only the main family has been allowed to enter. It is against the rules for outsiders to be present."

She enunciated the words "outsider" lightly, yet clearly.

Gu Yan's footsteps finally faltered.

She tilted her face up to look at the man beside her.

"Shen Yanhui," she blinked, her tone as innocent as if she were truly asking, "am I an outsider?"

Shen Yanhui raised his hand, brushing a stray lock of hair blown by the night wind behind her ear.

"No, you are mine."

The corners of Gu Yan's mouth couldn't help but curl up; he knew how to talk.

"Miss Zhou, did you hear that? Shen Yanhui said he is mine, so I'm sorry, but I simply must go to this Chengze Hall."

The smile on Zhou Shuyao's face stiffened.

Shen Yanhui glanced at her, his expression already cold: "Since when is it your place to comment on the affairs of the Shen Family?"

Without waiting for her to speak, he added: "Chang Su, see the guest out."

Zhou Shuyao's expression shifted slightly: "I was invited by the old master—"

But before she could finish, Shen Yanhui had already left, arm around Gu Yan. Chang Su made a "please" gesture, looking polite yet very forceful.

Zhou Shuyao bit her lip and turned to leave.

——

Inside Chengze Hall, the lights were bright.

In the center sat two sandalwood armchairs, covered with apricot-yellow brocade cushions. At this moment, the Shen Family patriarch sat in the one on the left, an agarwood cane resting by his hand, his expression stern.

The one on the right was empty.

That was the seat of the current head of the family.

On the eight grand master chairs lining the sides sat several elders from collateral branches, along with some Shen Family confidants whose names she couldn't recall. Shen Zongheng sat in the first seat on the left, legs crossed, a look of anticipation on his face as if watching a show.

Footsteps came from the veranda.

Everyone looked toward the entrance at once.

Shen Yanhui walked in slowly, his arm around Gu Yan's waist.

The beauty of the Gu Family's daughter was famous throughout Jingcheng, and compared to the solemn atmosphere of the hall, she was like a splash of color that had wandered in.

Yet her posture was natural.

Held by him, following his pace, her gaze swept lazily across the hall.

"Quite a lot of people," she whispered.

"Mm."

"Are they all here to see me?"

Shen Yanhui turned his head to look at her, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.

"They are here to see me," he said, "and to see you in passing."

Gu Yan gave a soft "huff."

His arm around her waist tightened a little.

The threshold was somewhat high.

Shen Yanhui paused in his step, applying a little force to his hand, and brought her inside almost as if half-carrying her.

Gu Yan looked down and whispered: "This threshold, it's intentional, isn't it?"

"It's been three hundred years," he replied.

"How many people have tripped over it?"

"I don't know." He paused, his voice dropping lower, "But it has never tripped anyone from the Shen Family."

Gu Yan curled the corners of her mouth.

No one heard what they said.

They only saw that when he finished speaking and looked down at her, there was a faint smile in his eyes.

The whole room full of people just watched.

Shen Zongheng stopped crossing his legs.

Several collateral elders exchanged glances, then quickly looked away.

The old man did not speak, his hand gripping his cane merely tightening a fraction.