Chapter 25: Suits My Fancy

"Hello?" When she received the call, Gu Yan was in the middle of picking out clothes.

The subtle sound of fabric rubbing reached Shen Yanhui's ears, a rustling that easily smoothed out his restlessness.

"Dinner together tonight?"

There was a second of silence on the other end of the line.

"Is Mr. Shen booking my schedule?" Gu Yan's voice carried a smile, delicate and intentionally coy.

"Mm." Shen Yanhui admitted it frankly. "Will you do me the honor, Miss Gu?"

"That depends..." Gu Yan drew out her tone, "on whether the restaurant is good."

"If it's not good, we'll change it, until you're satisfied." Shen Yanhui's tone was flat, yet it revealed indulgence.

Gu Yan gave a light laugh on the other end, like a feather brushing against the tip of her heart.

"Fine," she feigned reluctance, "considering Mr. Shen is so sincere, what time?"

"Seven o'clock. I'll have Chang Su pick you up."

"No need for a pickup, I'll go myself."

"Let Chang Su pick you up, be good," Shen Yanhui repeated.

"... Overbearing." Gu Yan muttered softly, but she didn't object further. "Got it. See you tonight."

"Mm."

Seven o'clock in the evening, Danyuetai.

Gu Yan arrived a little early. She was wearing a pearl-white mermaid gown today, with a cashmere cardigan in a matching shade draped loosely over it, her long, curled hair falling softly behind her shoulders.

As she walked, the hem of her skirt swayed like a blooming flower.

It caught the eyes of quite a few people along the way.

Just as she turned past a massive enamel screen, she ran into two people head-on.

One of them was her old rival, Chu Yilan. The other was wearing a Chanel suit, her face not very familiar.

The two were whispering about something, and upon seeing Gu Yan, they stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

Two gazes, faintly tinged with resentment, landed on her instantly.

Gu Yan frowned.

"Miss Gu, what a coincidence." Chu Yilan spoke first, a habitual sweet smile hanging on her face. "Here to eat alone?"

"I have an appointment." Gu Yan's tone was flat; she didn't want to talk further and nodded slightly, intending to bypass them.

"Wait a moment."

Gu Yan stopped her steps and looked at the woman blocking her path.

"And you are?" She wasn't sure she knew such a seemingly ostentatious woman.

That person seemed to be trying her hardest to show off, piling on whatever was expensive. If she might be blunt, she really looked like a nouveau riche.

"This is Shen Qingluo, Mr. Shen's younger sister."

"Oh." Gu Yan nodded with no expression.

Inside, however, she was thinking: Shen Yanhui is so handsome, how is his sister's taste so indescribably bad?

"Oh my, didn't Mr. Shen tell you?" Chu Yilan feigned surprise. "I thought since you and Mr. Shen are so close, you would have met his family long ago."

Gu Yan rolled her eyes silently; her intuition was right, these two women were here to pick a fight.

"Don't say that, perhaps Miss Gu is very busy? I heard you were on a blind date?" Shen Qingluo covered her mouth and laughed.

Gu Yan specifically didn't want to go along with their wishes, curling her lips into a smile that was bright and flamboyant.

"Miss Shen is quite concerned about my private affairs?"

Shen Qingluo: "After all, you are someone by my brother's side."

That remark sounded uncomfortable.

She, Gu Yan, had a name and a reputation; no one could diminish her into someone's accessory.

Not even Shen Yanhui's.

She corrected her lazily, "You're wrong."

Shen Qingluo was stunned. "What?"

"Didn't your brother tell you that it's he who is pestering me and insisting on staying by my side?"

Shen Qingluo's expression changed abruptly; it was only when Chu Yilan pulled her gently that she suppressed her anger. However, her tone was no longer as relaxed as before.

"Miss Gu, there are some things that, as a younger sister, I shouldn't be meddling in."

Gu Yan toyed with a strand of hair by her ear. "Then don't meddle."

"You!" Shen Qingluo said coldly, "Fourth Brother is the head of our Shen Family. His wife is not just his own business; it concerns the entire Shen Family."

"Grandfather takes his marriage very seriously. Our Shen Family's status—though the old ways aren't in vogue now—still has rules that must be followed, and the character and family background of the person chosen cannot be sloppy in the slightest."

She became more righteous as she spoke, deliberately biting off the words "status," "rules," and "character and family background" clearly.

Her gaze swept over Gu Yan with pointed meaning.

"Miss Gu is naturally very lovely, it's just... you are young after all, and might think of some things too simply."

Chu Yilan added softly at the right moment, her tone worried: "That's right, a family with the status of the Shen Family values rules and heritage above all else."

The two sang in harmony, one playing the bad cop and one the good cop, but the core meaning was clear.

Shen Yanhui might be interested in you, but the Shen Family is a high-ranking household; the hurdle of the old man is not easy to pass, and you, Gu Yan, may not be qualified.

The surrounding air seemed to go quiet.

A passing waiter lowered his head and quickened his pace.

Gu Yan listened quietly.

There was no anger on her face; in fact, after they finished speaking, she even nodded slightly to show she had taken it in.

Then, she raised her eyes and looked at Shen Qingluo.

Her gaze was clear and bright, carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Miss Shen," she said, her tone even bordering on polite, "judging by what you say, you understand the old Mr. Shen's thoughts very well?"

Shen Qingluo was slightly taken aback, then straightened her back, "I am a daughter of the Shen Family, of course I understand."

"Oh, did the old Mr. Shen whisper it into your ear?"

Shen Qingluo: "……?"

"You…… Gu Yan!"

Before she could finish, Gu Yan interrupted her: "Miss Shen, I appreciate your good intentions. However, you are right about one thing: I am indeed young."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the two of them.

"Therefore, I prefer to believe what I see with my own eyes, hear with my own ears, and hold firmly in my own hands."

"As for whether the Shen Family's status is high or their rules are strict," Gu Yan raised her eyes, her gaze clear as crystal, "that is a matter for Shen Yanhui to consider. And I—"

She smiled, carrying a touch of pride.

"Only need to consider whether he is to my liking."

The two were left speechless, unable to retort.

Not far away, beside another screen.

Sheng Ze watched this scene with great interest, nudging the expressionless Shen Yanhui beside him with his elbow.

"Tsk, looks like your little rose has run into a bit of trouble," he said in a teasing tone. "The two opposite her, one a copycat and the other a prickly girl, are working together quite well. Aren't you going to... play the hero saving the beauty?"

Shen Yanhui's gaze remained fixed on Gu Yan.

Her bright eyes were beautiful, a faint smile on her lips, as she used a few words to leave the others speechless.

Truly radiant.

His eyes were deep, his fingertips tapping lightly against the side of his wine glass.

"No need," he said, his voice flat, "she can handle it herself."

As expected.

Not long after his words fell, Chu Yilan and Shen Qingluo were seen with faces turning pale and green, frozen in place, while Gu Yan no longer looked at them, turning slightly to signal the attendant to continue leading the way.

Her posture was composed, a total victory.

Sheng Ze couldn't help but shake his head and sigh: "Sure enough, roses all have thorns. Beautiful, but a bit too fierce; the average person couldn't handle it..."

He hadn't finished his sentence.

Shen Yanhui had already stepped forward and walked straight over.

Gu Yan had just taken two steps.

A warm, strong arm suddenly fell around her waist.

Naturally, it pulled her closer.

A familiar, crisp scent enveloped her.

She was slightly startled and turned her head.

Shen Yanhui had arrived at her side at some point, his gaze sweeping coldly over the two still frozen in place.

Chu Yilan and Shen Qingluo's faces turned white instantly.

"Waited long?" Shen Yanhui lowered his head, his tone filled with faint indulgence, making no attempt to hide it.

"Not bad." Gu Yan blinked and leaned toward him naturally, "Just ran into Miss Chu, and... your sister, so we chatted for a bit."

"Cousin."

Shen Qingluo's body stiffened, a chill running down her back, "Fourth Brother..."

Hearing this form of address, Shen Yanhui frowned, raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze icy.

Shen Qingluo immediately changed her words, "Sir..."

"Let's go, the table is booked." Shen Yanhui stopped looking at them, put his arm around Gu Yan, and turned to leave.