Chapter 110: A Plain and Unremarkable Seven Times in One Night

Morning light filtered through the carved window lattices, casting fine, fragmented light spots on the blue-brick floor.

When Gu Yan woke up, the space beside her was already empty.

She turned over and touched the residual warmth on the bedsheet; it was still warm.

There were low voices speaking in the outer room.

Shen Yanhui stood before the window with his phone pressed to his ear, the morning light tracing a pale golden edge along his profile.

"What is it?" he asked indifferently.

On the other end, Zhou Wei's voice sounded helpless: "My second uncle called me first thing this morning, anxious as can be. He said several projects at the company are having issues all at once, the partners suddenly withdrew their capital, and the bank loans have been blocked. He had someone look into it and was told someone behind the scenes is moving against them."

Shen Yanhui did not speak.

Zhou Wei paused: "Was it you?"

"Yes."

Crisp and decisive.

Zhou Wei was silent for a few seconds: "Why? What did Zhou Shuyao do?"

"She added my wife on WeChat last night," Shen Yanhui said in a calm tone. "She sent photos, implying I have another woman outside."

Zhou Wei was silent again.

This time, the silence lasted a bit longer.

"... Just that?" His voice carried disbelief. "Just because of this, you cut off her family's entire commercial line?"

Shen Yanhui did not answer.

Zhou Wei took a deep breath: "Shen Yanhui, that's a business worth hundreds of millions, her father's life work of several decades..."

"It has nothing to do with you."

Zhou Wei choked.

"Her family company's affairs have nothing to do with you," Shen Yanhui's voice remained very faint. "Don't get involved."

Zhou Wei sighed: "Fine. I won't interfere in your business. But as for Zhou Shuyao, I will have a word with her and tell her to stay away from you and your wife."

"No need."

"Hm?"

"Let her learn a lesson," Shen Yanhui said. "Otherwise, next time, it won't be as simple as just cutting off projects."

Zhou Wei did not speak again.

He understood Shen Yanhui's temperament all too well; once he had made up his mind to do something, there was no point in saying more.

He could only blame his cousin for having too deep an obsession, not taking his warnings to heart at all, and in the end, making the whole family take the fall for her.

Shen Yanhui hung up the phone, stood by the window for two seconds, and then turned to return to the inner room.

The person on the bed had her eyes closed, but her eyelashes were trembling lightly.

He sat down at the edge of the bed, his warm fingertips brushing her cheek: "Awake?"

Her eyelashes trembled even more violently, but she still did not open her eyes.

He let out a low laugh, not calling her out.

He got up to pour her some water.

Only when the sound of footsteps had faded did Gu Yan quietly open a slit in her eyes.

He was standing at the table with his back to her, pouring water. The morning light shone in from behind, gilding his entire figure with a soft edge.

She stared at that back for a few seconds, then closed her eyes again, the fragments of what she had just heard still turning in her mind.

Zhou Shuyao's father... projects having issues... a business worth hundreds of millions...

She suddenly remembered the photo Zhou Shuyao had sent last night and curled the corners of her lips.

Serves her right.

The mattress sank again, and a warm hand touched her cheek: "Still pretending?"

Gu Yan opened her eyes and met those smiling eyes.

"Who's pretending." She sat up and took the cup, "Just woke up."

He looked at her, not calling her out.

Gu Yan took a sip of water and asked as if unintentionally: "Who was that just now?"

"Zhou Wei."

"Oh." She nodded and didn't ask again.

He took the empty cup, placed it on the nightstand, and asked her: "What's the plan for today?"

"The exhibition hall." Gu Yan counted on her fingers, "The positions for the last few paintings need to be finalized, the lighting needs fine-tuning, and Lin Wei said the exhibition organizers are coming over in the afternoon..."

As she spoke, she noticed he was smiling.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Smiling at... how capable my little rose is."

Gu Yan lifted her chin, her eyes sparkling: "That goes without saying... hurry up and move, I need to get up!"

——

Shen Yanhui had several meetings today, but he still personally dropped her off at the exhibition hall.

Gu Yan stood before *Floating Light Leaping Gold*, looking at the water surface that resembled shattered gold, when the sound of high heels came from behind, *da-da-da*, stepping very hurriedly.

"Yo, Mrs. Shen is in good spirits today." Lin Wei's voice drifted over from behind, carrying obvious teasing.

Gu Yan turned her head.

Lin Wei had already walked to her side, looking her up and down, her gaze stopping at her neck.

"Tsk, a hickey."

Gu Yan subconsciously raised her hand to cover it.

Lin Wei laughed out loud: "What are you covering, I already saw it. Mr. Shen was quite energetic last night, wasn't he?"

Gu Yan's ears burned for a moment, but she quickly lowered her hand.

She looked at Lin Wei and suddenly curled the corners of her lips: "It was alright, just a plain and unremarkable seven times a night."

Lin Wei: "?"

She opened her mouth, and after a long time, she managed to squeeze out: "... You've changed."

Gu Yan curled the corners of her lips and turned to continue walking forward.

Lin Wei caught up and stared at her face for a few seconds: "Tell me, is someone as abstinent-looking as Mr. Shen actually super intense in bed?"

Gu Yan stopped in front of a painting and tilted her head to look at her.

"How detailed do you want to hear?"

Lin Wei's eyes lit up: "The more detailed, the better, of course."

Gu Yan played with a strand of her hair, speaking nonchalantly.

"Not many words, but good technique."

Lin Wei gasped.

"His waist is exceptionally good."

Lin Wei covered her chest.

"Enduring."

Lin Wei covered her face.

"And," Gu Yan paused, "his stamina is very good."

Lin Wei lowered her hand, looking serious: "Is it really seven times a night?"

Gu Yan curled the corners of her lips: "Then you tell me first, how many times a night does your athlete younger brother manage?"

Lin Wei's smile froze on her face: "... Aren't we talking about you?"

"Courtesy demands reciprocity."

"..." Lin Wei fell silent.

Gu Yan continued walking forward.

Lin Wei followed behind, holding it in for a long time, and finally squeezed out: "... Twice."

Gu Yan looked back at her: "Just twice?"

"He has training the next day!"

"Oh."

"What kind of tone is that!"

Gu Yan curled the corners of her lips and didn't speak.

Lin Wei gritted her teeth: "Mrs. Shen is pretty impressive now, aren't you?"

"It's alright."

The two walked to the set of small-scale watercolors, and Gu Yan stopped.

"Move this one five centimeters to the left."

As Lin Wei bent down to move the frame, she muttered: "It's different when you have someone backing you up; even your tone has gotten tougher."

Gu Yan ignored her.

After moving the frame, Lin Wei straightened her back and leaned in again.

"Seriously, besides having good technique, a good waist, and being enduring, what other merits does your Mr. Shen have?"

"He scrubs my back when I'm taking a bath, feeds me when I'm too lazy to move, carries me on his back when I'm tired of walking, calls a doctor when I have a stomachache in the middle of the night, and then holds me and rubs my stomach all night long..."

Lin Wei took a deep breath.

"Alright, alright, stop talking, I'm jealous."

Gu Yan continued walking forward and stopped at the corner: "This one, make the lighting a bit dimmer."

Lin Wei adjusted it.

"Alright, that's it." Gu Yan nodded.

By the time the two finished confirming all the paintings, it was already nearly three in the afternoon.

Lin Wei suddenly leaned in again: "By the way, your Mr. Shen has such good stamina, can you handle it?"

Gu Yan glanced at her: "Guess."

"Guess what, just tell me."

Gu Yan curled the corners of her lips: "Of course I can handle it. But what about that athlete younger brother of yours, can you handle him?"

Lin Wei choked.

She shoved the tablet into Gu Yan's arms and stiffly changed the subject: "What handle it or not... By the way, your mysterious buyer has increased the price again. Same old rules: full payment upfront, no questions asked."

Gu Yan: "Oh."

Lin Wei: "However, the pickup method has changed this time."

Gu Yan raised her eyes.

"They said they will come to pick it up in person."