Chapter 44: Gently Caressing Her Lower Back

The barbecue Sheng Ze mentioned was set up on a wooden platform by the stream behind the mountain.

The platform was suspended on three sides, with the murmuring stream below and a bamboo-woven sunshade covering the top.

Several servants in uniform were quietly arranging tableware and iced drinks, and the person in charge of the barbecue was a chef wearing a tall hat.

Gu Yan and Shen Yanhui arrived relatively late; Sheng Ze, Zhou Wei, and the others were already there.

As for why they were late?

It still had to be blamed on Shen Yanhui.

This dog of a man showed no restraint at all last night, leaving quite a few marks on her.

The ones on her body didn't matter; she could just not wear pretty little dresses and wear more clothes instead, but the ones on her neck could only be covered with concealer and foundation.

She struggled and fussed for a long time before she managed to cover most of them.

Especially when she saw that the culprit didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt, her spoiled temper flared up.

She pounced over and bit him hard on the neck.

Anyway, he had no shame.

Under the long table, Zhou Wei and Sheng Ze sat at each end. Hearing footsteps, both of them raised their eyes at the same time.

"Yanhui, Miss Gu." Zhou Wei nodded slightly.

Gu Yan nodded; this must be the Third Young Master of the Zhou Family. Although she wasn't familiar with him, she had heard of his "wedding of the century" with the daughter of the Fang Family.

The scale was immense, and the media scrambled to report on it for several days.

Like them, these proud children of heaven could basically never escape the fate of arranged marriages.

It would be fine if they treated each other with mutual respect, but if their personalities didn't match and they made a scene, yet couldn't divorce, that was what gave people a headache.

Sheng Ze put away his phone, his smile brightening: "Sister-in-law is here. The location chosen today is not bad, right? Facing the stream valley, the scenery is the best."

Gu Yan still remembered that bowl of soup from yesterday and gave a perfunctory response.

Shen Yanhui supported her waist as she sat down.

Sheng Ze lacked any tact: "Yo, what's wrong with sister-in-law's waist?"

Gu Yan: "..."

Still asking, he was still asking?

She couldn't give Sheng Ze a cold shoulder, so she fiercely pinched the waist of the man beside her.

It looked forceful, but in reality, it had zero lethality.

Shen Yanhui grasped her mischievous hand and played with it in his palm, but his gaze flicked toward Sheng Ze, carrying a subtle warning.

Sheng Ze was snubbed once again.

Fine, he had clearly done a good deed, but in the end, he didn't get a single word of thanks and instead received a glare.

This brother was really not a good friend.

At this moment, a young woman walked over from the other side of the platform, wearing a light gray cotton and linen dress, her long hair loosely pinned up.

She was holding a tray with several cups of freshly brewed cold-brew tea on it.

Zhou Wei immediately stood up to greet her and took the tray.

The two smiled at each other and walked toward them.

Gu Yan propped her chin up to watch; this arranged-marriage couple didn't seem like those couples who were only together on the surface; they looked like they had a very good relationship.

The two had already reached them, and Zhou Wei introduced: "This is my wife, Fang Qinru."

Fang Qinru smiled faintly at the side and nodded.

Gu Yan's first impression of her was that she was gentle; there was a special temperament about her, very faint, but it made people feel very comfortable.

When she was little, she had especially hoped to have a sister like this.

However, heaven did not grant her wish.

She only had a mature and steady older brother, and a second brother who was foolish beyond measure.

Shen Yanhui's introduction was even more concise, just two words: "Gu Yan."

Gu Yan raised a bright smile: "Miss Fang, hello."

When a beauty smiles, her appearance is exceptionally stunning, and it seems as if the surrounding scenery loses its color.

No wonder this person from the Shen Family would be so doting.

Fang Qinru picked up a cup of tea from the tray and placed it in front of Gu Yan: "Miss Gu, wild tea picked in the mountains, have a taste."

Gu Yan took it; the teacup was made of coarse pottery, warm and smooth to the touch.

"Just call me by my name."

Fang Qinru agreed, smiling gently: "How is it?"

Gu Yan: "The taste is mellow, the aftertaste is long, good tea."

Fang Qinru's smile deepened. She sat down beside Zhou Wei, her posture looking relaxed yet not casual, her whole being revealing the bearing of a well-bred family.

It was very different from Gu Yan's spoiled nature.

Very steady, but it also seemed a bit too quiet.

It was as if all her temper had been hidden beneath this perfect shell, and what was revealed was only what she wanted people to see.

Gu Yan shook her head, shaking off these wild thoughts.

Shen Yanhui lowered his head to look at her and pulled her closer to himself.

His fingertips lightly caressed her lower back, as if there or not, easing the soreness there.

Gu Yan felt comfortable from the rubbing and simply curled up into his arms.

Such an action, falling into the eyes of the others, was astonishing. Sheng Ze exchanged a look with Zhou Wei, the same surprise in their eyes.

"That cultural tourism project in the north, I heard your third uncle also wants to get a hand in it?" Sheng Ze suddenly looked at Shen Yanhui.

Shen Yanhui used a silver fork to place a piece of venison onto Gu Yan's plate, then replied indifferently, "Mm."

"Quite an appetite." Zhou Wei picked up his wine glass and swirled it lightly. "That area connects three mountain peaks; he wants to swallow them all, not afraid of choking."

"With the old man backing him from behind, naturally he dares to think of it." Sheng Ze sneered.

Shen Yanhui had no expression; the old man was increasingly dissatisfied with his recent actions and naturally wanted to support a puppet, which was, in reality, a warning to him.

Boring.

"Let him be."

Shen Yanhui fed Gu Yan another piece of venison.

This time, he didn't even let her do it herself, delivering it directly to her lips.

Gu Yan turned her head away, disgusted, "Don't want it, no appetite."

"Then eat some vegetables?"

Gu Yan still shook her head; she had absolutely no appetite.

Shen Yanhui frowned; she hadn't eaten anything since getting up this morning. If this continued, she would definitely have a stomachache again.

Can't spoil her.

He put down his fork, his tone deepening, "Must eat."

Gu Yan looked up at him, her lips slightly pursed, the small mole at the corner of her eye particularly striking in the sunlight.

She reached out and tugged lightly on his sleeve: "Shen Yanhui... I really can't eat it."

Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of a spoiled nasal tone.

Shen Yanhui's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Eat a few more bites." He conceded, but his tone remained forceful.

"One bite." She bargained.

As she spoke, she even shook his sleeve.

Shen Yanhui stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly reached out to pinch her chin, lowering his head to bite her lip.

It wasn't heavy, but it carried a punitive meaning.

"Three bites." He let her go, his tone brooking no argument, "No room for negotiation."

Gu Yan's earlobes turned red, and she glared at him: "You..."

Before she could finish, a piece of venison was already fed to her lips.

She had no choice but to open her mouth and chew slowly.

Sheng Ze and Zhou Wei exchanged a glance; this was too doting, was this still the iron-blooded and ruthless head of the Shen Family in that circle?

Shen Yanhui patiently fed her the three bites, then handed her a glass of warm water.

Gu Yan took it and drank in small sips, but her eyes darted around restlessly, clearly feeling bored.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"Down there." She pointed toward the stream, "I just saw a patch of wildflowers over there, I want to go see them."

Shen Yanhui looked up at Fang Qinru: "Miss Fang, is it convenient for you to accompany her for a walk?"

Zhou Wei was whispering something to Sheng Ze, and upon hearing this, he turned his head and said gently: "Qinru, why don't you accompany Miss Gu to the stream for a stroll? There are a few old plum trees over there, and they are bearing fruit this season."

Fang Qinru stood up, her smile gentle: "Alright."

Gu Yan also stood up.

Shen Yanhui held her hand and handed her a sun-protective jacket: "Put it on."

"Hot." She didn't want to wear it.

"The ultraviolet rays in the mountains are strong." He draped it over her without room for refusal and carefully fastened the buttons, "Don't get sunburned."

Gu Yan pouted, but still let him have his way.

Forget it, forget it; it's normal for someone older to be a bit naggy.