Chapter 26: She Is a Little Rich Woman Now

The view by the floor-to-ceiling window was excellent, with the city lights flowing beneath her feet.

Shen Yanhui pulled out a chair for Gu Yan.

Gu Yan sat down, resting her chin in her hand as she watched him, her eyes sparkling.

"How did you happen to show up just then?" she asked, with a hint of smugness, "Did you secretly watch me wipe the floor with them?"

Shen Yanhui sat down opposite her, and a waiter stepped forward to pour the wine.

He picked up his wine glass and swirled it gently.

"Mm," he admitted candidly, his gaze landing on her face, "It was very impressive."

The corners of Gu Yan's mouth curled even higher.

"Of course," she said, lifting her chin proudly, "This young lady isn't someone to be trifled with."

Shen Yanhui watched her spirited expression, a faint trace of a smile spreading deep within his eyes.

"I know," he said, bringing the wine glass to her lips, "A reward."

Gu Yan took a small sip from his hand, revealing a hint of disdain, "It doesn't taste good."

"It doesn't taste good?" he asked.

"Mm," Gu Yan nodded, her tone of disdain perfectly justified, "It's bitter."

"Apricot Blossom Brew is not bitter," Shen Yanhui said, placing the glass back on the table and tapping the rim with his fingertip, "You drank it too quickly."

"I don't like it anyway," Gu Yan pouted, though she didn't take her hand away from her chin, her eyes still watching him with a sparkle.

"Your sister... that Shen Qingluo, is she always like this? Bossing others around just because she carries the name Shen?"

Shen Yanhui's expression dimmed slightly.

"It's not important," he said.

"How is it not important?" Gu Yan blinked, saying deliberately, "She is your sister, after all. What if in the future..."

"There are no 'what ifs'. Matters of the Shen Family are decided by me," Shen Yanhui interrupted her.

Hmm, how domineering.

She just loved it when he was this domineering.

The waiter brought the dishes one after another, and Gu Yan's eyes brightened with every bite she tasted.

Not only that, she insisted on feeding Shen Yanhui a bite as well, "Shen Yanhui, this is delicious... that is delicious too..."

Seeing him not move his chopsticks, she kept urging him, "Hurry and taste it, I went to the trouble of picking it out for you."

Shen Yanhui raised an eyebrow; picking up a piece of food was "trouble," what a delicate little thing she was.

He tasted one bite, then set his chopsticks down.

His gaze swept over her slender neck, which was bare, and he asked, "Why aren't you wearing the necklace?"

Gu Yan was stunned for a moment, subconsciously raising her hand to touch her empty neck before realizing he was referring to that Thorn Rose pendant.

"Oh, that," she traced a circle on her neck with her fingertip, her tone a bit regretful, "I didn't have the right clothes to match it. Something that beautiful shouldn't just be worn with any random dress."

"Lin Wei told me there's a small auction at Huanyu this weekend, and there are some nice fabrics for cheongsams. I plan to go take a look. If the price is right, I'll buy them and find Tailor Li to make a few pieces; they'll be perfect to match it."

As she spoke, she picked up the wine cup in front of her and took an unconscious sip, still frowning, as if she were only using it to moisten her throat.

"Huanyu?" Shen Yanhui repeated.

"Yes," Gu Yan nodded, taking another small sip, her mind seemingly already drifted to those gorgeous fabrics, "Their private collection this time seems quite exquisite..."

"Gu Yan."

"Hm?" Gu Yan looked up.

"Huanyu is under your name."

Gu Yan's hand holding the wine cup froze in mid-air.

She blinked, and blinked again.

Her long, curled eyelashes fluttered a few times.

Huanyu... under her name?

In a flash of lightning, some memory fragments she had almost cast to the back of her mind surged up.

It seemed like that had happened...

A certain man had said it over the phone, in that low, calm voice...

"... That auction house from last night belongs to you now."

"The paperwork is already done. It's under your name."

"When you're bored, you can go play there."

"You can even take it apart for fun."

She had been so distracted at the time, she just took it as an exaggerated joke. She hadn't thought much of it afterward, and hadn't even gone to confirm it.

So... it was true?

Such a large auction house was now under her name.

She suddenly widened her eyes—wait, wait, wait, didn't that make her a little rich woman now?

Her cheeks began to burn for no reason, and even the tips of her ears grew hot. She picked up the wine cup and downed the remaining half-sip in one go.

"Doesn't that mean I can just have them send the fabrics directly to me?"

"Mm," Shen Yanhui nodded lazily, watching the flush on her face deepen, "Whatever you take a liking to, you can have them send it directly."

Gu Yan was struck by the massive wealth, feeling her vision begin to sway.

"Shen Yanhui, am I dreaming? Why is everything starting to spin..."

She put down the empty wine cup, propped her elbows on the table, and rested her increasingly hot and heavy cheeks in her palms. Her eyes were hazy, misted with moisture, as she gazed at him.

Shen Yanhui watched her rapidly reddening cheeks and her gradually unfocused gaze, his eyes darkening.

So this is what being drunk is like.

"You are drunk."

"Drunk?"

Gu Yan shook her head; instead of sobering up, she felt even dizzier.

"Dizzy..." she muttered softly, reaching out a hand and grasping unconsciously at the air, as if trying to find support.

Shen Yanhui had already risen and come to her side, taking her hand while his other hand gently cradled her cheek as it tilted to the side.

Her skin was scorching to the touch, as delicate as the finest soft jade.

Under the lamplight, her cheeks were flushed a deep, dripping red, her long lashes hung down damply, and her hazy eyes were veiled in a layer of moisture.

Shen Yanhui's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.

Her alcohol tolerance was this poor.

In the future, she must absolutely not be allowed to touch alcohol when out.

Gu Yan felt her face was very hot and subconsciously pressed it against his palm; upon touching the coolness, she smiled with pure delight, "So cool, so comfortable..."

Shen Yanhui lowered his eyes.

Perhaps... drinking a little occasionally would be fine.

But only under his watchful eye.

Like now, every bit of her drunken state, every wisp of her charming naivety, belonged only to him.

Shen Yanhui hesitated no longer; he bent down, slipped his arms under her knees and behind her back, and steadily lifted her up.

Gu Yan let out a low "mm," instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling her head against his chest to find a comfortable spot before going still.

The lobby downstairs.

Shen Qingluo had not left.

She had touched up her makeup and adopted a more appropriate, gentle expression while waiting there, calculating that no matter what, she had to explain a few more things to Shen Yanhui; she could not let him develop a grudge against her because of Gu Yan.

In their Third Branch, her brother was still kneeling in the Ancestral Hall, and she could not cause any more trouble.

Seeing the elevator doors open, she immediately adjusted her smile and stepped forward to greet him.

"Fourth Brother—"

The words came to an abrupt halt.

She saw Gu Yan being carefully held in Shen Yanhui's arms.

The woman was frowning and muttering something, while her Fourth Brother, the Shen Family head who was never one to joke and possessed iron-blooded methods, was whispering to soothe her.

In his eyes was a gentleness she had never seen before.

The smile on Shen Qingluo's face froze completely, and her heart sank abruptly, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

She opened her mouth, but the rehearsed excuses were all stuck in her throat.

Shen Yanhui acted as if he hadn't seen her at all, carrying Gu Yan straight past her toward the car outside the main entrance.

"Fourth Brother!" Shen Qingluo finally found her voice, bit the bullet, and chased after them for two steps, her voice tight, "I... I apologize for what happened just now; I shouldn't have spoken out of turn, I..."

Shen Yanhui did not stop his pace.

He didn't even give her a glance.

Chang Su had blocked Shen Qingluo's path before she knew it.

He had no expression on his face, and his tone was respectful yet cold: "Fifth Miss, enough is enough."

Shen Qingluo wanted to say something more, but Chang Su had already turned slightly, signaling to the attendants at the door.

Two attendants immediately stepped forward and, politely but firmly, "invited" her to clear the main path.

Shen Qingluo watched as Shen Yanhui carefully helped Gu Yan into the car, shielding her head with his hand, before sitting in himself.

The night wind blew, carrying a chill.

She shivered, feeling that the cold had burrowed all the way into her heart.