Chapter 52: Love at First Sight

When the sun had completely set, a Bentley pulled up to the entrance of Zhou Wei's villa.

Other guests arriving for the banquet turned their heads, as if sensing something.

The head of the Shen Family, rumored to have iron-fisted methods, stepped out of the car, his expression indifferent as he straightened his suit lapels.

He did not go straight inside, but instead turned and reached out his hand.

Following this, a slender, elegant hand reached out and rested in his.

The crowd held their breath, curious as to which family's daughter could make Shen Yanhui personally offer his hand.

Some guessed it was the daughter of the Zhou Family, who were on good terms with the Shen Family, while others guessed it might be his cousin.

Yet, they did not expect a delicate, beautiful woman to emerge.

She wore a moon-white cheongsam that accentuated her graceful curves. Her face was even more bright and stunning, making the surrounding scenery lose its luster.

Shen Yanhui did not care in the slightest about the surrounding gazes; he took the young girl's hand and entered through the main gate.

Inside the banquet hall, the air was already filled with the rustle of fine clothing and the scent of perfume.

Zhou Wei and Fang Qinru were speaking with an elder of a prominent family; hearing the commotion, they walked over to greet them.

"Yanhui, Miss Gu, you've arrived."

Shen Yanhui nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Fang Qinru smiled and complimented Gu Yan: "You look very beautiful today; the cheongsam suits you well."

Gu Yan's eyes curved into crescents from the praise, and she handed over a gift box. "Happy birthday, Sister Fang. It's just a small token, please don't mind it."

Fang Qinru opened it to find an orchid brooch, exquisite and elegant.

"Thank you, I love it."

Sheng Ze wandered over from the crowd, holding a glass of champagne with a brilliant smile. "Yo, Boss Shen, you finally decided to bring your wife out today?"

Shen Yanhui glanced at him sideways: "Too much talk."

Sheng Ze was long used to his coldness and didn't mind at all, turning instead to look at Gu Yan. "Sister-in-law is dressed so beautifully today, are you planning to outshine everyone here?"

Gu Yan's eyes crinkled: "No matter how beautiful I am, I can't outshine the birthday girl today." As she spoke, she affectionately linked her arm with Fang Qinru's.

Fang Qinru laughed in spite of herself and patted the back of her hand.

After chatting for a while, Zhou Wei and Fang Qinru excused themselves to go greet other guests.

Shen Yanhui held Gu Yan as they walked into the hall; when familiar faces came up to greet him, he responded indifferently. Seeing his lack of interest, they all tactfully walked away.

Gu Yan leaned against him, wanting to whisper something, but found the man was simply too tall.

A trace of a smile flashed in Shen Yanhui's eyes as he lowered his head to listen.

Gu Yan whispered: "You are so cold."

"I'm cold to you?"

Gu Yan glared at him: "I meant you're cold to others."

She paused and continued: "If you had spoken to me like that when we were at the auction house, I definitely wouldn't have paid any attention to you."

At the end, she even gave a disdainful huff.

Shen Yanhui stroked her waist: "It's different."

"How is it different?" The young girl tilted her head to look at him. "Don't tell me it was love at first sight?"

Shen Yanhui leaned down and kissed her lips: "Guess."

"I won't guess!"

The two were intimate as if no one else were around, which fell into the eyes of two people not far away.

"Shuyao." Shen Yunning looked at Zhou Shuyao's clenched hands and spoke with some concern.

Zhou Shuyao pressed her lips together and withdrew her gaze: "Sister Yunning, I'm fine."

"Look at it more realistically. Yanhui is now... even the old man can't do anything about him. He is a ruthless person; he may not be a good match."

Zhou Shuyao lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Shen Yunning sighed softly.

As a daughter of the Shen Family and a daughter-in-law of the Zhou Family, she naturally hoped the two families could become even closer.

But thinking of the phone call she received a few days ago, she felt a chill.

Shen Yanhui's warning still rang in her ears; she thought that if she continued to act as a lobbyist, the affection from their childhood would likely be worn away completely.

When the banquet was halfway through, Shen Yanhui was called away by Zhou Wei to discuss business. Before leaving, he squeezed Gu Yan's hand: "Don't wander off, I'll be back soon."

"Got it!" Gu Yan waved her hand.

Shen Yanhui glanced at Chang Su.

Chang Su understood and silently followed behind Gu Yan.

Although he felt that, given Miss Gu's personality, the possibility of her being bullied was almost non-existent.

But he understood the Boss's worry; concern leads to anxiety, after all.

Gu Yan felt a bit stifled, so she walked to the balcony to get some air. The night was beautiful, and the mountain shadows in the distance were hazy.

"Miss Gu." A gentle female voice came from behind her.

Gu Yan turned around.

Shen Yunning walked over holding a wine glass, her smile proper: "Am I disturbing you?"

"No." Gu Yan smiled with detachment.

"Miss Gu and Yanhui are a very good match. When you have time, have him bring you to the old mansion for a meal; everyone in the family wants to meet you."

Gu Yan's tone was indifferent: "You'll have to ask Shen Yanhui about that; it's no use telling me."

Shen Yunning was choked by this, and the atmosphere suddenly turned silent.

It was quiet for a moment.

She spoke softly: "Actually, I specifically wanted to chat with you today."

Gu Yan finally looked her in the eye.

"What I said at the teahouse earlier was a slip of the tongue; please don't take it to heart, Miss Gu. The engagement was just a wishful thought of the elders; Shen Yanhui never once agreed to it."

Gu Yan was somewhat surprised, "Miss Shen, there is no need to specifically explain."

"There is," Shen Yunning looked at her, "because Shen Yanhui cares about you very much."

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow, becoming a bit interested in what she would say next.

"You might not know this, but he wasn't always this cold and indifferent, this detached from others."

"The situation in the Shen Family is complicated; his father... disliked him and never gave him a kind look. Everyone else in the family also judged people by their status, fawning over the powerful and trampling on the weak."

Gu Yan's fingers tightened slightly.

"He didn't like to talk and would always stay in the study alone. When the children from other branches bullied him, he wouldn't tell on them; he would just fight back himself."

Gu Yan could imagine the little Shen Yanhui with his lips pressed together and a stubborn look in his eyes.

"Later, when he was thirteen, his father sent him to study abroad in England. Such a young child, leaving his home and family all alone, with no one to turn to."

"But he endured it all. When he returned, he was like a different person—ruthless in his methods, deep in his schemes, going head-to-head with his father without losing the upper hand at all."

Shen Yunning's gaze drifted vaguely toward the distant mountains, as if she had fallen into memories.

She said: "Shen Yanhui's father had a car accident during the year their relationship was at its most tense; he was just nineteen at the time."

"Everyone said that he was the one who tampered with the car."

Gu Yan looked up in astonishment, "Why would they place such an unreasonable accusation upon him?"

Shen Yunning shook her head but did not answer.

"I say these things because I feel that although he holds great power now, he hasn't actually experienced much warmth. If possible, I hope Miss Gu can treat him well."

Gu Yan frowned, feeling that these words sounded very wrong.

She raised her hand to pull up her slipping shawl, but a slender hand had already reached over to wrap it back around her.

"What are you chatting about?" he asked, his gaze landing on Shen Yunning's face with scrutiny.

"Just chatting," Shen Yunning smiled, "I won't disturb you two anymore."

She nodded at Gu Yan and turned to leave.

Only the two of them remained on the terrace.

Gu Yan was lost in thought, "I think she is trying to curry favor with me."

Shen Yanhui: "Mm."

"You Shen Family members are truly calculating; knowing that fawning over you is useless, they've set their sights on me instead."

"No need to pay them any mind."

Gu Yan toyed with his tie, "Dealing with you alone is already exhausting enough; I don't have the energy to deal with anyone else."

Shen Yanhui caught her mischievous hand.

"But... you used to fight when you were little?"

"Mm, I fought quite fiercely," he admitted.

"Did you win?"

"Of course."

Gu Yan smiled, turned to face him, and cupped his face in her hands: "Shen Yanhui."

"Hm?"

"From now on, I'll look after you. Whoever bullies you, I'll help you fight them back."