Chapter 64: You Haven

Mmm…

Huang Shengyi rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up; the blanket slid off her shoulders, revealing smooth, pale, silken skin.

Where is he?

Huang Shengyi looked around her empty bedroom—Yu Yanli and his clothes were gone—her eyes flickered with confusion.

Just then, she faintly heard voices outside; she quickly pulled on two garments and got out of bed.

When she opened the door, her heart eased slightly—Yu Yanli was sitting on the sofa watching the news.

“…The historical martial arts film Hero, directed by Zhang Yimou, has premiered domestically, with daily box office earnings exceeding ten million for several consecutive days… poised to break the domestic film record of 130 million set by Life and Death Decision…”

Hearing movement from the bedroom, Yu Yanli muted the TV with the remote and apologized to Huang Shengyi: “Did I wake you up?”

Huang Shengyi walked over and hugged him affectionately, whispering softly: “I thought you’d run off.”

Seeing how thinly she was dressed, Yu Yanli pulled her into his arms and slipped his hand inside her clothes to warm her.

This is my place—where would I run to?

Huang Shengyi found his hands cold and squirmed to make him pull them out; after he pinched her twice, she relented, sinking limply against him and glaring at him.

You always bully me.

Yu Yanli kissed her ear: “Aren’t you the one who enjoys it?”

Recalling last night’s wild, absurd intensity, Huang Shengyi’s face flushed crimson—but she had to admit, she truly… reveled in it.

The two lingered affectionately; as Yu Yanli’s actions grew increasingly bold, Huang Shengyi blushed and whispered a plea.

I have class today.

Take a day off.

No—I didn’t even go home last night; if I take another day off, they’ll laugh me to death.

Who cares what they think? They’re just jealous.

Huang Shengyi opened her mouth to protest, but Yu Yanli silenced her with a kiss, one arm circling her back, the other sliding under her thighs, lifting her bodily into the bedroom.

…

By day, clothes are laid bare; the Yellow River flows into the sea.

To see a thousand miles further, climb one more level!

Afterward, Yu Yanli leaned against the headboard smoking; Huang Shengyi nestled in his arms, unwilling to breathe the smoke, asking him to put it out.

Yu Yanli said nothing, glanced at her, then suddenly asked: “Your ex-boyfriend doesn’t smoke?”

Why bring him up? We broke up.

Huang Shengyi’s expression grew uneasy; Yu Yanli exhaled smoke, wrapped an arm around her waist, and gently urged:

I think that guy’s decent—honest and steady. You should think carefully before letting him go.

Huang Shengyi finally caught on, sat up straight, and frowned at Yu Yanli: “What are you implying?”

You haven’t even pulled up your pants, and you’re already pretending not to know me?!

Calm down, why the rush?

Yu Yanli looked innocent, his fingers tracing her slender waist: “Just chatting, that’s all—I’m curious. He treated you well, so why did you break up?”

Huang Shengyi’s face turned cold: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Then don’t.

Yu Yanli was easygoing—he shifted topics immediately, bringing up the news he’d just watched, and lit another cigarette.

“…If Hero truly breaks 200 million in box office, it won’t just prove that mainland China can produce commercial blockbusters—it will also confirm the immense potential of the mainland film market… Companies and film professionals from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and all across Asia will come here to seek their fortune.”

Since acquiring the intelligence system, Yu Yanli made time to scan the news—politics, finance, entertainment, society—he consumed it all.

Doing so triggered intelligence updates and, through system feedback, expanded his insight and sharpened his analytical judgment.

For Yu Yanli, the intelligence system gave him more than information—it indirectly trained and elevated him across multiple dimensions.

Compared to the Yu Yanli of half a year ago, before he received the system, he was utterly transformed.

More importantly, he was still growing at a rapid pace.

Watching Yu Yanli speak with such fluency, Huang Shengyi’s eyes flickered with admiration.

Though she had her own private thoughts, she truly found his current demeanor—commanding, decisive, directing the course of affairs—strikingly handsome.

Confident yet mature, well-read and sharp-witted.

Even his bare-chested smoking carried, upon closer reflection, a certain rugged, carefree charm.

By contrast, her ex-boyfriend Jia Nailiang…

He fixated on trivial matters—asking if she was cold or hungry, which restaurant was good, which game was fun, whether she’d fail her final exams—pathetically immature.

He doted on her, always yielding, appearing weak and indecisive, lacking any trace of masculine spirit.

Yu Yanli had been speaking enthusiastically, but when he noticed Huang Shengyi’s gaze growing tender and affectionate, he paused mid-sentence.

Are you hungry? I’ll make you something to eat.

Yu Yanli dressed and left the bedroom; hearing sounds from the kitchen, Huang Shengyi’s heart swelled with sweetness.

Earlier he worried about her being cold, now he’s worried she’s hungry—Senior Brother may seem careless on the surface, but inwardly he’s thoughtful and attentive…

————

This apartment in Zhiqiang Nan Yuan wasn’t rented long by Yu Yanli—he’d barely stayed here a few times—appliances and bedding were still intact, but there was little food.

Too lazy to go far, he went downstairs to the neighborhood convenience store, bought eggs and ham, and boiled a few packs of instant noodles.

Huang Shengyi didn’t complain; she ate heartily, praising Yu Yanli’s cooking.

After eating, Yu Yanli took out his bag and pulled out a stack of cash.

Lately, Yu Yanli had been busy with social obligations, making card payments inconvenient, so he always kept a few thousand yuan in cash on hand.

With a light tap of his fingers, he counted out twenty hundred-yuan bills, glanced at Huang Shengyi—her face like a hibiscus, posture elegant—then added ten more in swift motion.

Totaling 3,000 yuan, he placed the money before her; her expression turned livid, and she demanded angrily:

What do you think I am?!

Huang Shengyi’s father was a university professor, a graduate of Tsinghua University, from the Jiangxia Huang lineage; her mother was a newspaper editor—though not wealthy, their family was scholarly and refined.

If Yu Yanli saw her as a woman who could be paid off after sex, he was insulting her deeply.

What are you thinking?

Yu Yanli ruffled her hair, soothing her: “I didn’t mean anything by it—I just want to give you some pocket money, for clothes, meals, things like that. I’m busy most of the time and can’t look after you well; having cash on hand will make things easier for you.”

He didn’t intend to take responsibility, but he wasn’t the type to take what he wanted and then pretend nothing happened.

His career had just begun; he had no great talents, but giving her occasional pocket money or small gifts made her happy—and left him with a clear conscience.

Whatever the outcome, it was a connection—he genuinely hoped they could part on good terms.

Hearing this, Huang Shengyi’s expression softened slightly, but she still shook her head: “I won’t take it.”

Listen to me!

Yu Yanli’s tone turned stern; Huang Shengyi, oddly, responded to this—she reluctantly, shyly took the money.

That’s better. Spend it first—if you need more, ask me.

Yu Yanli kissed Huang Shengyi; she felt both delighted and melancholy, then suddenly blurted out:

Are you keeping me?

Yu Yanli laughed: “You’re overestimating me—I can’t afford to keep you.”

Not even as a steady mistress!

Huang Shengyi caught his implication, bit her lip: “If you get any roles later, can you help me get one?”

Of course.

Yu Yanli agreed readily—if the right opportunity arose, with this connection, he’d gladly recommend her.

But whether she landed it depended entirely on her own ability.

He wouldn’t go through the same exhausting effort he had for Dong Xuan on Snow Goddess Dragon.

Dong Xuan was Yu Yanli’s ex-girlfriend; they’d started dating in freshman year, spent over a year in intense campus romance—their bond far exceeded ordinary relationships.

Seeing Yu Yanli agree so readily, Huang Shengyi felt a little better.

He gives me money, he promises to help—Senior Brother still cares for me…

(End of Chapter)