Chapter 89: Mr. Shen, You've Made a Huge Profit

Jingzhou, Zhou Family residence.

Zhou Shuyao came down the stairs carrying her bag; she was going to the Jingzhou Art Museum today.

If she could get to know Yan, or even buy that award-winning "Thorn Rose," it would be the perfect birthday gift for Shen Yanhui.

These days, she went to the Shen Family Old Residence every weekend to keep the old master of the Shen Family company and curry his favor.

For a prestigious family like the Shen Family that had been passed down for a hundred years, the head of the family's marriage was always treated with the utmost caution. Even if he liked that girl from the Gu Family, without the old master's nod, it wouldn't be considered legitimate.

It was precisely because she understood this point that she skipped over Shen Yanhui and went directly to befriend the old master.

However, in reality, only she herself knew that she couldn't get close to Shen Yanhui at all. Her only connection, her cousin Zhou Wei, did not approve of her setting her heart on Shen Yanhui either.

But she just didn't want to admit defeat.

In this Jingcheng, there was no man more outstanding than Shen Yanhui. And she, Zhou Shuyao, had always wanted only the best and deserved only the best.

When she walked to the living room downstairs, she saw Shen Yunning sitting on the sofa arranging flowers.

"Sister-in-law." Zhou Shuyao greeted her with a smile.

Shen Yunning raised her eyes and smiled gently: "Going out?"

"To the Jingzhou Art Museum, there's an Impressionist art sharing session." She paused, "I happen to have two tickets, would you like to go together, sister-in-law?"

Shen Yunning thought for a moment and put down the flower branch in her hand: "That's fine, I haven't been out for many days, I've been stifled."

When the two arrived at the museum, the sharing session had not yet begun. The venue was elegantly decorated, and the front row seats were almost full.

Zhou Shuyao sat down in the first row, her gaze scanning the entire venue, looking for the possible figure of Yan.

However, until the host took the stage, she hadn't found anyone who matched her imagination.

"Dear guests, I am very sorry." The host's tone was regretful, "Due to a temporary schedule adjustment, Teacher Yan is unable to come to the scene. Today's sharing session will be changed to an online connection format."

A slight commotion broke out in the audience.

Zhou Shuyao pursed her lips, and displeasure flashed in her eyes.

Shen Yunning patted the back of her hand lightly: "Online is the same, it's good to be able to hear the sharing."

Zhou Shuyao smiled reluctantly.

She wanted to befriend Yan privately; the other party not appearing completely disrupted her subsequent plans.

——

On the other side, Gu Yan hugged her laptop, knocked on the door of Shen Yanhui's study, and poked in a fluffy head.

"Shen Yanhui, can I use your study? The internet in my room is a bit unstable."

Shen Yanhui looked up from his documents: "Come over."

Gu Yan's eyes lit up, and she trotted in. She was wearing a loose white knitted dress today, barefoot, her ankles slender and fair.

Wrapped around them was a thin platinum anklet, the pendant a tiny little pearl, swaying gently with her steps.

Shen Yanhui stood up to make room, signaling for her to sit behind the desk.

"I can just sit over there." Gu Yan pointed to the sofa, "You go about your business."

"Finished." Shen Yanhui moved the documents on the table aside and took her computer to place it on the desktop.

His gaze swept over her swaying feet and finally stopped on the thin chain on her ankle; his eyes darkened. He had put the chain on her himself.

He remembered at night, when she arched her neck and gasped, her ankles would tense slightly, and the chain would wrap around just like that...

"Not wearing shoes again?" His voice was lower.

Gu Yan stuck out her tongue and deliberately stepped on his slippers: "See, aren't I wearing them now?"

The thin chain on her ankle brushed against the edge of his slippers, making a faint sound. Shen Yanhui lowered his eyes to look, then suddenly bent down.

One hand rested on the edge of the desk, while the other held her ankle.

His palm was warm, his fingertips pressed against her skin, right on the chain. The pearl pendant was gently flicked by his thumb, sliding over her ankle bone.

Gu Yan's breath hitched.

"Shen Yanhui..." Her earlobes turned red, and her voice softened.

Shen Yanhui's fingers slid slowly along the chain, from her ankle to the top of her foot.

He remembered that she was like this in bed too, the top of her foot arched, the chain trembling with his movements. At that time, her eyes were covered with mist, and she whispered his name...

"If you don't wear shoes next time, I'll have to punish you." His voice was hoarser, his fingertips gently rubbing the top of her foot.

Upon hearing "punish," Gu Yan felt her legs go weak.

Her face heated up, and she wanted to pull her foot back, but it was held even tighter by him.

"Stop messing around..." Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness, "I have serious business to do in a while!"

Only then did Shen Yanhui let go and straighten up. But his gaze lingered on her ankle for a moment before turning to the computer screen.

On it was the first page of the PPT, a simple white background with an artistic "Yan" character in the center.

His eyes flickered, but he said nothing.

Gu Yan didn't notice his reaction; instead, she raised her chin, a little proud: "Didn't expect it, right? Yan is me, and I am Yan."

Shen Yanhui's lips curled up, and he ruffled her hair: "Mm."

"Mr. Shen, you've made a huge profit." Gu Yan blinked, "Your wife is a very famous painter, you know."

"Mm." Shen Yanhui leaned over and whispered in her ear, "That's why I want to hide you away even more, to be seen only by me."

His breath sprayed on her earlobe, Gu Yan shrank her neck, and the chain on her ankle swayed gently again.

"Go away." She pushed him away with a flushed face, "I'm going to start working!"

The sharing session started on time.

Gu Yan put on a mask, adjusted the camera angle, and entered her work state. She didn't speak academically; it was more from the perspective of her creative feelings.

Shen Yanhui leaned against the desk and listened quietly, his gaze occasionally falling on the pair of bare feet on the carpet.

Halfway through, Gu Yan felt a bit thirsty and subconsciously licked her lips. Shen Yanhui turned to pour a glass of warm water and placed it gently by her hand.

His hand entered the frame.

Slender fingers, a Patek Philippe watch on a wrist with distinct joints. There was an inconspicuous light scar on the web of his right hand, about two centimeters long, slightly paler than the surrounding skin.

Shen Yunning stared at the screen and suddenly let out an "Oh?"

"What is it, sister-in-law?" Zhou Shuyao tilted her head.

Shen Yunning hesitated for a moment: "That hand... the scar on the web of the hand, it looks like Shen Yanhui's."

Zhou Shuyao's heart gave a violent jolt.

Shen Yunning said indifferently: "It seems Shen Yanhui and this Teacher Yan... have an unusual relationship. But at his age, it's normal for him to have a few women around."

Zhou Shuyao's face turned pale bit by bit, but she quickly regained her composure.

Yes, it's normal.

For a man like Shen Yanhui, what woman couldn't he have? The little princess of the Gu Family is one, the painter Yan is another.

This is too common in their circle, just a few confidantes.

"Shuyao?" Shen Yunning looked at her with concern, "You don't look well, do you want to—"

"I'm fine." Zhou Shuyao interrupted her, her voice somewhat stiff, "Just a bit surprised."

She stared at Yan, who was talking eloquently on the screen; a mask covered most of her face, revealing only a pair of bright, smiling eyes.

Those eyes would curve unconsciously when mentioning "light."

And at the edge of the frame, one could occasionally see a hand gently brushing past her hair; it was Shen Yanhui's hand.

So gentle, so natural.

Zhou Shuyao gripped her clutch tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

The little princess of the Gu Family can.

Yan can.

Why can't she?