Chapter 37: Coaxing the Boyfriend

Shen Yanhui did not move.

He lowered his head to scan her ankles, his brows slightly furrowed.

Gu Yan was wearing thin-strapped sandals today, the tops of her feet blindingly white. However, there were red marks on her ankles.

"How did your ankle get red?"

Gu Yan looked down and checked: "Oh, I tripped on the terrace just now, I probably scraped it."

Shen Yanhui squatted down and took hold of her ankle; in his palm, it felt so slender it seemed as if it would snap with a single bend.

He first removed her sandal, his warm palm gripping her ankle, and carefully examined the patch of reddened skin. Afterward, he turned his head and asked a servant to bring over some ointment.

Gu Yan shook her foot, "Is it really necessary to apply medicine?"

Shen Yanhui did not speak; he took the ointment, unscrewed the cap, squeezed a little onto his fingertip, and gently applied it.

The ointment was slightly cool, but his fingertips were warm. His pressure was very light, rubbing it in slowly with circular motions.

Gu Yan's toes curled involuntarily.

"It itches..." she said in a low voice.

Shen Yanhui raised his eyes to glance at her, his hand not stopping its movement: "Be more careful next time."

Gu Yan: "Oh."

After applying the medicine, he took hold of her other foot to check it as well. Only after confirming it was fine did he put her sandal back on for her.

When tying the thin straps, his movements were very slow, his fingers brushing against the skin of her instep, triggering a subtle tremor.

Gu Yan watched his long, slender hands as he earnestly tied the straps, and her heartbeat inexplicably quickened by a few beats.

Once the laces were tied, he did not stand up immediately. Instead, he tilted his face up to look at her, the sunlight falling between his deep brows and eyes.

"Is there anywhere else that's uncomfortable?" he asked.

Gu Yan shook her head and said softly: "No more."

Only then did he stand up and sit back down beside her.

Gu Yan leaned against him, suddenly remembering that there was someone waiting in the side parlor.

"Aren't you going to see them?" she asked, tilting her face up.

Shen Yanhui's gaze landed on the lake outside the window, and he replied indifferently: "No rush."

Gu Yan blinked. She recalled the way everyone at the birthday banquet treated Shen Yanhui with both respect and fear, and she remembered the rumors about the internal strife within the Shen Family.

"You seem to..." she said, weighing her words, "not have a very good relationship with your family?"

Shen Yanhui turned his face to look at her.

"So concerned about me?" he asked, his voice devoid of detectable emotion.

"Of course," Gu Yan answered as if it were a matter of course, her fingers drawing circles on his chest, "you're my boyfriend, after all."

Shen Yanhui let out a low laugh and pinched her mischievous fingers: "You only know how to use sweet talk to coax me."

"It's not sweet talk," she leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling in the morning light, "I'm being serious."

He stared at her for a few seconds, the corners of his lips curling slightly.

"You'd better be," he said.

Then he released her and stood up.

"Wait for me here." He ruffled the top of her hair, "I'll be back soon."

Gu Yan nodded and watched him walk toward the side parlor.

In the side parlor, Shen Yunning stood before the window with a cup of tea in her hand. Hearing the door open, she turned around and set the teacup down gently.

She was four years older than Shen Yanhui, her brows and eyes three parts similar to his, though softer.

"Are you finished?" she asked, her tone gentle.

Shen Yanhui did not respond. He walked straight to the main sofa and sat down, crossing his legs and resting his arms casually on the armrests.

A posture of absolute dominance.

The smile on Shen Yunning's face stiffened, but she sat down as instructed, "Grandfather asked me to come see you, saying you haven't returned to the old residence in a long time."

Shen Yanhui did not take the bait, merely looking at her with a mocking smile on his lips.

Shen Yunning felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze; she took a sip of tea before continuing: "I heard you and that young lady from the Gu Family are getting along well. Grandfather is quite concerned and was thinking about when to meet her..."

"Not necessary." Shen Yanhui interrupted her, his voice cold, "My affairs are not for him to worry about."

Not many people knew about his and Gu Yan's business.

It seemed he needed to clean up the people around him.

"Yanhui," Shen Yunning set down her teacup, her tone becoming heavier, "The Shen Family is not your family alone. It is only right for Grandfather to inquire about your marriage."

Shen Yanhui let out a light laugh, "Right? Cousin, have you forgotten who is in charge of the Shen Family now?"

Shen Yunning's expression shifted slightly.

"The old man is getting on in years; he should just enjoy his retirement." Shen Yanhui tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest, "If you reach your hand out too far, it's easy to sprain it."

These words were already very harsh.

Shen Yunning clenched her fingers and took a deep breath to maintain her outward composure: "I am only delivering a message. The old man would like to invite Miss Gu to the old residence for a meal; there is no other meaning."

"Is it a meal? Or an appraisal?"

"You—"

Her words were interrupted once again.

"Go back and tell him: Gu Yan is my person, not a bargaining chip for the Shen Family. If he wants to see her, fine. When I decide to take her to see him, he will see her naturally."

Shen Yunning stared at him for a long while before saying in a low voice: "Yanhui, you are too protective of her. That may not be a good thing for her."

Shen Yanhui suddenly laughed.

The laughter was very soft, yet it sent a chill down Shen Yunning's spine.

He stood up and looked down at her, "No need to trouble yourself."

Shen Yunning also stood up, "I am merely reminding you. You know the methods of those in the Shen Family better than anyone. That girl is protected too well by the Gu Family; she might not be able to withstand..."

"Whether she can withstand it or not is my business. As for those people in the Shen Family..."

He paused, then continued, "Advise them to behave themselves, otherwise I wouldn't mind using some methods."

A deathly silence filled the side hall.

Shen Yunning looked at the dark emotions churning in the depths of his eyes and finally realized.

The person before her was no longer the youth from years ago who had to act according to the Shen Family's whims.

He was Shen Yanhui.

The true person in power of the Shen Family.

Anything more she said would be in vain.

"... I will pass the message to Grandfather," she said, pressing her lips together.

Shen Yanhui turned around and walked toward the door.

As he pulled the door open, Shen Yunning suddenly spoke up from behind: "Does she know about your past? Does she know what you did in order to seize power?"

The voice was very soft, yet every word was clear.

Shen Yanhui's footsteps faltered, "Walk slowly, I won't see you out."

Shen Yunning stood where she was, watching his back disappear outside the door.

After a long while, she finally let out a soft breath.

As she walked out of the side hall, she heard Gu Yan's laughter coming from the living room, crisp and pleasant to the ear.

Then came Shen Yanhui's low voice, carrying a tone of indulgence she had never heard before:

"What are you laughing at?"

"Laughing at you... the way you looked just now, it was like you were taking care of a little kid."

"You are a little kid, after all."

Shen Yunning paused in her steps, but ultimately quickened her pace and left.

In the living room, Gu Yan had one hand behind her back and was poking the man's shoulder with the other, "Were you unhappy just now in the side hall?"

Shen Yanhui took hold of her hand: "No."

She leaned in closer, staring into his eyes, "Liar, every time you're unhappy, your left eyebrow raises by a millimeter."

Shen Yanhui raised an eyebrow, "Does it?"

"It does!" Gu Yan nodded earnestly.

How could it possibly? Her eyes weren't a ruler.

But to coax someone, what was the harm in telling a little white lie?

She brought out the hand from behind her back and held the flower out to him, "Ta-da! This is for you!"

The pink and white gradient hydrangea was in full, vibrant bloom.

Shen Yanhui's gaze deepened, "For me?"

Gu Yan tilted her head and smiled, "I specifically picked the few that were blooming the best. How is it? Is your mood a little better?"

Shen Yanhui reached out, but instead of taking the flower, he wrapped his hand around hers that was holding it.

He said in a low voice: "Mm."