Chapter 318: I Want a Phone Case

From Licheng to Jingdu City, Zhu Yuan barely slept during the several-hour car ride, underwent another check-up at the hospital, and after eating something upon returning to the Hot Spring Villa, she was so sleepy that she drifted off.

She was so tired that she didn't even know when Sheng Yu returned to the room.

Sheng Yu adjusted the room's temperature and humidity to be just right; it was very comfortable.

In the middle of the night, she was sleeping in a daze when she felt the arms wrapped around her from behind tighten, and the man behind her seemed to have something he wanted to say but was holding back.

What time is it, and he's still not asleep?

She yawned without even opening her eyes, rubbed the back of her head against his chest, and said, "If you don't speak, I'm going back to sleep."

No sooner had the words left her lips than Sheng Yu rolled over on top of her, bracing his hands on either side of her head.

Only then did Zhu Yuan realize that the matter he was holding back was quite serious; she slowly opened her eyes and was caught off guard by those deep, dark pupils.

In that gaze, there was an inexplicable sense of grievance and jealousy.

Zhu Yuan was momentarily confused; how could he be jealous for no reason? She hadn't even said anything.

"Did you act like a spoiled child to Pei Ling?"

"Hmm?" Zhu Yuan opened her sleepy eyes and touched his Adam's apple.

Sheng Yu's throat tightened from her touch. "Did you call him 'brother'?"

Zhu Yuan's hand paused. "It's..."

Before she could finish, Sheng Yu lowered his head to block her mouth, his tongue prying open her teeth and giving her no chance to speak, a sticky and passionate kiss that left Zhu Yuan dizzy.

"I called him 'Brother Pei', it's not like you haven't heard me call him 'Brother Pei' before." Zhu Yuan pushed him, but no sooner had she pushed him than his even more fervent kiss descended, kissing her until she had no temper left.

Sheng Yu panted heavily, staring at her lips, which had been kissed bright red, his gaze moving up to her eyes. "Brother Pei?"

"Are you sure you called him 'Brother Pei' and not 'brother'?"

"What's the difference?" Zhu Yuan really couldn't understand him.

The difference is huge!

Sheng Yu confirmed again and again, "You didn't call him 'brother'?"

Zhu Yuan wrapped her arms around his neck, lifted her face, and rubbed her nose against his. "How big of a deal is this that it keeps you from sleeping?"

Sheng Yu grabbed one of her hands and kissed it a few times. "This is a matter of the utmost importance."

"You can only call me 'brother'; Zhu Jingyao can't, and Pei Ling certainly can't. Except for me, no one else can."

Zhu Yuan laughed out loud, looking at him with a smile. "Fine, I'll only call you 'brother'. Brother Sheng Yu, Yu Ge, can we sleep now?"

"I want a phone case."

After so many days, Sheng Yu finally said it, and in such a way that took advantage of her vulnerability.

Before, she had thought that Sheng Yu had really changed a lot after they separated and was no longer so prone to jealousy; it turned out he had just hidden it too well.

He had probably been obsessing over Pei Ling's phone case for a long time.

Zhu Yuan suppressed a laugh and said, "I'll buy it."

"I want a charm."

Zhu Yuan said, "I'll buy it."

Zhu Yuan wrapped her arms around his neck again and kissed his lips several times in a row. "I'll go buy them at daybreak. I'll give you whatever you want. I'll spoil you, spoil you, I'll just spoil you!"

Her wealthy and overbearing demeanor amused Sheng Yu.

In fact, when they were in Licheng, Zhu Yuan had only called Pei Ling 'Brother Pei' once.

Pei Ling hadn't asked anything, nor had he listened to what she said; he had simply ordered someone to prepare the car.

There was no need for her to act spoiled at all.

When Zhu Yuan woke up the next day, Sheng Yu was already awake, one arm around her while the other hand scrolled through his phone.

"What are you looking at?"

Zhu Yuan pressed against his chest.

Sheng Yu held the phone screen out in front of her.

She took one look and froze.

It turned out that Sheng Hongwei had been arrested for suspected illegal manipulation of the securities market; the next step was to face criminal prosecution, and jail time was unavoidable.

"This was a trap set for him by Yu Weixiong, and it's what he deserves." Sheng Yu rubbed her hand, his tone that of a detached bystander.

Zhu Yuan suddenly realized, "So you knew; no wonder you weren't in a hurry to deal with your second uncle."

Sheng Yu would never let Zhu Yuan know the dangers involved; a single misstep in these power plays could have cost the entire Sheng Family.

He didn't care about the Sheng Family, but Zhu Yuan was a major shareholder of the Sheng Group; his woman's money could not be squandered for nothing.

Zhu Yuan stretched and lay back on the pillow. "I want to sleep a little longer."

Sheng Yu turned on his side and lightly flicked the tip of her nose with his finger. "Alright, do you want to eat soybean paste noodles?"

Zhu Yuan nodded repeatedly; she hadn't had the flavor of soybean paste noodles she missed the most in months. "I want the original recipe."

"You've already returned to my side, what else was I supposed to pretend?"

Zhu Yuan lay on her side, her long, waterfall-like hair spread across the dark blue pillow. She asked in confusion, "How did you even think to secretly make soybean paste noodles for me back then? Weren't you afraid that if I found out, I'd get angry and go even further away?"

Sheng Yu leaned over, stroked her long hair, and said without any pretense, "Of course I was afraid, but I missed you too much."

He missed her so much that every time he couldn't help but want to appear before her, he would use self-harm to force himself to calm down.

Because compared to the longing, he was even more afraid of never seeing her again.

Although he didn't say these words explicitly, Zhu Yuan saw the surging, restrained emotions in his eyes. Her heart suddenly softened, and she sat up and hugged him.

"Do you feel aggrieved?"

Sheng Yu felt the soft sensation in his arms and was physically and mentally delighted; how could he feel even a shred of grievance? But he didn't say it, only silently stroking her hair, making Zhu Yuan unable to stop her heart from aching for him.

"Why are you so endearing?"

Her voice was soft, and the corners of Sheng Yu's mouth lifted slightly.

During breakfast, Enzo came in to report work to Sheng Yu; because Situ was injured, he had taken on the role of temporary assistant. He hadn't thought much of it before, as Situ always arranged everything perfectly, but ever since Enzo took over the job, he realized how difficult it was for Tu Ge.

He was still better suited for doing things involving fighting and killing.

"Don't worry about Sheng Hongwei's affairs."

He had been arrested by the police and had confessed everything about his secret collusion with Yu Weixiong.

What Enzo was worried about was another matter, "As for the old lady..."

Sheng Yu served Zhu Yuan a small bowl of porridge and said meaningfully, "She will not appear before me again."

With one son dead and the other arrested, if the old lady still hadn't realized by now that she had failed to raise her sons properly, she would have lived all those years in vain.

Anyone with a shred of dignity would not appear before him.

Sheng Yu pushed aside all of his scheduled plans for the day.

After Zhu Yuan had eaten her fill, she watched him look as if he had something to say but was pretending not to care.

She suppressed a laugh, "Do you want to accompany me to a place?"

"Hm?" Sheng Yu held her hand.

"Still pretending!"

Zhu Yuan held his hand back and said, "I'll take you to buy a phone case and a charm; is it okay if we get a couple's set like the one Pei Ling bought?"

Sheng Yu narrowed his eyes, "Yuanyuan!"

Arriving at the mall, Zhu Yuan took a fancy to a vinegar bottle charm; she picked it up and held it against Sheng Yu's phone, "This is good, it matches your temperament."

Sheng Yu laughed in spite of his anger.

The cold wind whistled, and the snow fell even more heavily.