Chapter 53: Truth or Dare

Returning to the banquet hall, Gu Yan walked straight toward the dessert table.

From the moment she entered, she had noticed the matcha mousse on top and had been craving it for a long time.

After finishing a piece of mousse, she sighed with satisfaction. She picked out a piece of Black Forest cake, and just as she was about to take a bite, she looked down at her lower abdomen.

"It's over, I'm going to get fat again," she muttered softly.

The guilt only lasted for three seconds before the silver spoon went down.

Shen Yanhui stood by her side, took the plate from her hand, scooped up a small spoonful, and held it to her lips: "Fat where?"

Gu Yan pointed at her waist, but still opened her mouth to take the spoon.

"Fat right here, I feel like I've gained quite a bit recently."

Shen Yanhui's gaze swept across her waist, his eyes deepening: "It's quite good."

"What do you mean it's good?"

"It's comfortable to hold."

He said it as a matter of course, then scooped another spoonful to feed her, "Eat more."

Gu Yan glared at him, but the corners of her mouth curled up: "Shen Yanhui, are you raising a pig?"

"I am raising a rose, my rose."

Gu Yan's face flushed red, "Who is your rose!"

Halfway through the banquet, the elders left one after another, and the atmosphere in the hall relaxed.

Sheng Ze walked over, swirling his wine glass, and suggested with a smile: "Want to play a game? Truth or Dare?"

Someone immediately jeered: "President Sheng, what era is this game from!"

Sheng Ze, however, was meaningful, "It's different."

"How is it different?"

"Won't you know once you play?"

Several young people became interested and started to clamor. Sheng Ze looked at Shen Yanhui, his expression crafty, "Boss Shen, would you do me the honor?"

Who didn't know that this gentleman never participated in such boring games.

However, he had to be dragged in today.

Otherwise, this game wouldn't be interesting.

Gu Yan was sipping juice in small mouthfuls, and upon hearing this, she also raised her eyes to look at Shen Yanhui.

Shen Yanhui didn't respond, only lowering his eyes to fiddle with the young girl's fingers, one by one, in a slow and leisurely manner.

"Do you want to play?" he asked her.

Gu Yan tilted her head, "Hmm, either is fine."

Sheng Ze immediately upped the stakes: "How about this, let's change the penalty; instead of drinking, we'll give every lady present a limited-edition bag, how about that?"

Gu Yan's eyes lit up; giving away bags—that wasn't impossible to play.

"Play," she agreed on Shen Yanhui's behalf.

However, she soon realized something was wrong.

The so-called "different" Truth or Dare was different in that it was an adult version!

The questions were one more explicit than the last.

"President Sheng, who was the object of your most recent wet dream?"

Roars of laughter erupted in the hall.

Sheng Ze didn't change his expression: "Last Tuesday, I dreamed of the class beauty I had a crush on in high school."

"Whoa—" the jeering grew louder.

Gu Yan shrank into Shen Yanhui's embrace, praying that it wouldn't turn to her.

But the more one fears something, the more it happens; the next round of the turntable pointed straight at her.

Gu Yan was apprehensive.

Fortunately, the person asking was a young girl, and she asked very civilly: "Miss Gu, when you first met Mr. Shen, what were you thinking?"

This was easy to answer.

Gu Yan said: "I was thinking... this person looks really good, but it's a pity his gaze is too fierce, like a gangster looking to collect protection money."

There was a second of silence.

Sheng Ze laughed so hard he almost rolled off the sofa, and even Fang Qinru couldn't help but chuckle.

Only Shen Yanhui remained expressionless, merely pinching her fingers: "And then?"

Gu Yan knew when to stop and coaxed him: "Then I thought, with a face this good-looking, being a bit fierce is fine too."

"Don't show off your affection like that!" Sheng Ze shouted.

Opposite them, Zhou Shuyao lowered her eyes, her hand gripping her glass tightening gradually.

Another round, and the turntable pointed at Zhou Shuyao.

She chose Truth.

The person asking was relatively polite: "Miss Zhou, what is your recent wish?"

"A wish?" Zhou Shuyao pondered for a moment, her gaze turning to Shen Yanhui, "I actually do have one; I want to buy a painting from Mr. Shen."

The hall was quiet for a moment.

Zhou Wei asked: "What painting?"

Shen Yanhui raised his head lazily, looking at this Miss Zhou nonchalantly, though his eyes were sharp.

He cut off what Zhou Shuyao wanted to elaborate on, "Whatever painting Miss Zhou wants, you can contact Chang Su; he will arrange it."

He kicked the ball directly to his assistant.

Zhou Shuyao pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Gu Yan leaned into Shen Yanhui's ear and whispered, "You collect paintings?"

"Mm." Shen Yanhui turned his head, his lips almost brushing her earlobe, "I'll show you when we get back."

The hot breath brushed against her earlobe, and Gu Yan shrank her neck, let out an "oh," and turned her attention back to the game.

The subsequent game became somewhat boring.

Gu Yan stifled a yawn, a bit of physiological moisture welling up at the corners of her eyes, which was wiped away by the warm fingertips of the man beside her.

Seeing this, Sheng Ze quietly used some tricks.

Sure enough, the pointer stopped in front of Shen Yanhui.

The whole room went quiet instantly.

No one had ever dared to tease this gentleman.

Shen Yanhui raised his eyes, his tone indifferent: "Truth."

Sheng Ze smiled maliciously: "Where was the most exciting time with your sister-in-law? In bed? In the car? Or in the bathroom?"

"Wow—"

"President Sheng, you have quite the nerve!"

The atmosphere exploded.

Gu Yan was instantly no longer sleepy; she opened her mouth to stop him, but saw that Shen Yanhui was already about to speak...

Almost instinctively, she lunged over and reached out to cover his mouth.

"You're not allowed to say it!" she said urgently, her whole body almost half-lying on him.

With his mouth covered by her, a smile flashed in the depths of Shen Yanhui's eyes.

He gently licked her palm with the tip of his tongue.

The wet, hot sensation made Gu Yan pull her hand back as if scalded, but he took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her to sit on his lap.

Gu Yan: "..."

What kind of social death scene is this!

She turned her head away, not wanting to see the gossiping expressions of the crowd.

The man's chest vibrated, and a low chuckle spilled from his throat.

She glared at him fiercely and said silently: "Don't talk nonsense!"

Shen Yanhui pulled her hand down and said calmly: "You all saw it, it's not that I didn't want to say it."

Sheng Ze let out a "tch."

Zhou Wei followed up: "Then Yanhui will have to pay up."

This finally let the matter pass, and Gu Yan felt relieved; she wanted to get off Shen Yanhui's lap, but was blocked.

The man lowered his head and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, said: "Let's try the car next time."

Gu Yan: "?"

"Shut up!"

This old man is truly shameless!

Fang Qinru smiled faintly, sitting on the side watching the show. Unexpectedly, in the next second, the turntable turned to her.

She said helplessly: "I'll choose a dare."

"Call your emergency contact and say 'I love you' out loud."

"What kind of dare is this? It must be Brother Zhou Wei."

"Call, call!"

"..."

The crowd clamored, but Fang Qinru's face turned pale for a moment, and she subconsciously looked at Zhou Wei.

Only to find that he was also looking at her.

There was no expression on his face, and his fingertips were tapping lightly on his knee. In his eyes was an emotion she couldn't fathom.

The atmosphere stiffened subtly.

Sheng Ze sensed something was wrong and quickly said: "Zhou Wei is right here, why make a phone call? Just say it to his face."

Gu Yan looked at Fang Qinru, then at Zhou Wei.

She suddenly said: "Is Sister Fang shy?"

The others thought so too and mercifully lowered the requirement: "Then just whisper it to Zhou Wei; we won't listen."

Fang Qinru whispered, "I love you."

The crowd cheered.

Zhou Wei, however, had a calm expression.

Sheng Ze smoothed things over: "Alright, alright, that's enough for today, let's disperse."

Gu Yan was led out by Shen Yanhui, and she looked back at Fang Qinru. She was still sitting on the sofa, head bowed, her silhouette looking thin.

In the car.

Gu Yan wanted to speak but stopped, then wanted to speak again.

In the end, curiosity won out, and she whispered: "Sister Fang and Zhou Wei... them?"

Shen Yanhui closed his eyes to rest, his voice a bit weary: "A marriage of convenience, what kind of real feelings could there be."

Gu Yan froze for a moment, her mood inexplicably sinking.

Shen Yanhui pulled her closer.

Yet in his mind, some long-forgotten, seemingly faded images couldn't help but flash by.

His gaze, forever cold and indifferent.

And her, forcing a smile in front of others, and weeping in forbearance when alone.