Chapter 91: The Cash Player from the East

The next day, Gu Yan boarded a plane bound for Monza, Italy.

However, besides her and Shen Yanhui, there was also Sheng Ze.

He had no self-awareness at all about being a third wheel, appearing at the tarmac right on time with a brilliant smile: "What a coincidence, right? I'm also going to Milan for some business, so I'm hitching a ride."

Shen Yanhui was holding Gu Yan's hand as they walked up the airstairs; hearing this, he didn't stop, only turning his head to glance at him indifferently.

An assistant stepped forward half a pace and asked in a low voice: "Sir, do you need..."

"Let him come up." Shen Yanhui's voice was calm, with no detectable emotion, "Prepare an extra pair of noise-canceling headphones."

Gu Yan looked back and saw Sheng Ze had already nimbly followed them up, even winking at her.

Inside the cabin, Sheng Ze very consciously chose a seat further back, muttering to himself: "Don't worry, I guarantee I won't disturb your world for two..."

But after the plane reached the stratosphere, he still couldn't help himself and moved to the front cabin.

Across the aisle, he chatted with Gu Yan with great animation.

"You don't know, when he decided to buy the racing team, the faces of those old men on the board of directors almost collectively suffered heart attacks."

Gu Yan leaned on Shen Yanhui's shoulder, turning her head to listen intently.

"Why?"

"Why?" Sheng Ze laughed, "What kind of place is the paddock? It's a playground for old European aristocrats, a territory where white masters call the shots. Our Boss Shen, a Chinese face, directly threw down billions of US dollars to buy a mid-tier team and even said he would charge into the top three within three years."

He lowered his voice: "At the time, a saying circulated in the paddock: the cash player from the East wouldn't last two seasons."

Gu Yan frowned: "They looked down on people?"

"More than just looked down on." Sheng Ze shrugged, "At the first team manager meeting, those executives from Germany and Italy communicated in German and Italian the whole time, clearly not giving any face."

"And then?"

Sheng Ze glanced at the man beside them who remained silent, his eyes filled with admiration: "Your man didn't say a single word; he listened, then adjourned the meeting. The next day, all those executives were replaced. The people brought in included a technical director poached from Mercedes and a former strategist from Ferrari."

He paused, speaking with resonance: "All of them were of Chinese descent, or at least spoke Chinese."

Gu Yan listened, mesmerized. She thought, this is the real Shen Yanhui; the more difficult things were, the more he would meet the challenge head-on, making everyone bow down to him.

"In Monaco this year, that kid Zhou Ye won the championship, and the 'March of the Volunteers' played on the podium; you can't imagine how satisfying that was."

Gu Yan's eyes lit up, and she turned to look at Shen Yanhui.

He was slowly and methodically peeling a lychee. With a gentle twist of his slender fingers, the translucent white flesh came out perfectly, and he handed it to her lips.

"It's very sweet," he said, his voice very soft.

Gu Yan took a bite from his hand, the fruit plump and juicy. She nodded, her eyes still on him: "You are so amazing."

Shen Yanhui didn't speak, only reaching out to her lips: "The pit."

Gu Yan obediently spat the pit into his palm.

He took it, wiped his hands with a wet wipe, and peeled another one.

"How can my husband be good at everything?" Gu Yan leaned closer, her voice soft and carrying undisguised pride.

The corners of Shen Yanhui's lips curled up imperceptibly as he fed her the second lychee.

Opposite them, Sheng Ze rubbed his arms.

He suddenly regretted getting on this plane.

However, should he take a picture and let the brothers see what a tyrant looks like when he's washing his hands and making soup?

He gripped his phone, itching to do it, but Shen Yanhui seemed to have mind-reading powers and swept a cold glance toward him.

Sheng Ze suppressed the thought.

——

An hour and a half later, the plane landed at a private airport in Monza.

A car was already waiting on the tarmac.

Chang Su stood beside a black Maybach; seeing them emerge, he bowed slightly: "Sir, Madam."

Sheng Ze naturally moved to get into the car, but was blocked by Chang Su raising his hand.

"Young Master Sheng," Chang Su's tone was steady, "Your car is over there."

Sheng Ze turned his head and saw the low-key Audi behind, wailing: "You've got to be kidding, making me go alone again—"

The car door had already closed.

The Maybach drove out of the airport, leaving Sheng Ze's protest far behind.

The two returned to the hotel first.

The hotel suite was on the top floor, overlooking part of the outline of the Monza circuit.

As soon as Gu Yan entered the room, the phone in her bag rang.

She took it out and saw "Sister-in-law Su Jin" flashing on the screen.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She swiped to answer, and Su Jin's gentle, smiling voice came through: "Yanyan, I heard from Gu Lin that you've come to Italy too?"

Gu Yan cursed Gu Lin the traitor under her breath, but replied obediently: "Yes, Sister-in-law. Just got off the plane, I'm at the hotel."

"Are you tired? How long was the flight?" Su Jin's tone was concerned.

"It's okay, I slept for a while," Gu Yan said.

Su Jin's smile deepened: "Your brother and I are in Milan, shall we have dinner together tonight?"

Gu Yan paused.

"Okay."

There was silence on the other end for a second, then Su Jin's voice carried a clear sense of probing and amusement: "Then... should you bring that Mr. Shen of yours?"

Gu Yan's earlobes grew warm: "Sister-in-law..."

"What, are you still reluctant to bring him out for us to see?" Su Jin laughed out loud.

"I didn't..."

"Although your eldest brother didn't say it explicitly, I can tell that he is somewhat curious about this Mr. Shen; you really must satisfy his curiosity."

Gu Yan gave a soft "Mm."

"So, just treat tonight as a casual family meal," Su Jin said in a relaxed tone, "don't be nervous, it's just to get to know each other and let your brother see the person."

"I'm not nervous," Gu Yan insisted stubbornly.

Su Jin laughed: "Fine, you're not nervous. See you tonight then?"

"Okay."

The call ended.

Gu Yan held her phone, stood in place for two seconds, then walked quickly barefoot across the hallway and ran toward the living room.

Shen Yanhui was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to her, speaking in a low voice to Chang Su about something.

Chang Su bowed slightly: "... The restaurant has been booked, Mr. Gu and his fiancée will arrive at three in the afternoon and stay at the same hotel; security and the movement route have all been arranged properly."

Shen Yanhui gave an "Mm."

Chang Su continued: "The menu is as you instructed, avoiding the spices Miss Gu dislikes. The wine selected is from '95—"

Before he could finish his sentence.

Shen Yanhui suddenly turned around.

Gu Yan was standing at the entrance of the living room, still holding her phone, her eyes wide as she looked at him.

"You..." she blinked, "how did you know my eldest brother and sister-in-law were coming?"

Shen Yanhui raised a hand toward Chang Su.

Chang Su understood and retreated silently.

"I guessed," Shen Yanhui walked toward her, his voice carrying a smile, "Since Gu Chen has come to Italy, he wouldn't just be here to catch Gu Lin."

He stopped in front of her and lowered his eyes to look at her: "It's only reasonable to see his younger sister while he's at it."

Gu Yan looked up at him: "So you even booked the restaurant?"

"Mm."

"And set the menu?"

"Mm."

"And chose the wine?"

"Mm."

Gu Yan stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out to grab the front of his shirt and pulled him down.

"Shen Yanhui, you've been looking forward to meeting my eldest brother for a long time, haven't you?"

The man raised an eyebrow: "You only just realized?"

He put his arm around the young girl's slender waist and said in a low voice: "I'm looking forward even more to when you introduce me to your eldest brother as your husband."