The airport wasn’t a suitable place to talk. On the way back to Beijing, Ye Ran had already spoken with Father and Mother Shen, asking them to stay at the Ye residence.
Now that Shen Shi was added to the group, Ye Ran was still hesitating when Mother Shen first asked, “Little Shi, how long can you stay in Beijing this time?”
Shen Shi’s expression didn’t change. His voice was low as he replied, “Half a month.”
Ye Ran paused, quickly calculating.
…If it was half a month, then living at the Ye residence would work out just fine.
Although he was a little afraid of Shen Shi, he wasn’t an ungrateful person. Father and Mother Shen had helped him greatly, so his attitude toward Shen Shi wouldn’t be bad.
As expected, Mother Shen turned her head in surprise. “Half a month?”
She had wanted to ask whether Shen Shi wasn’t worried about the land situation in Haicheng, but upon seeing his calm, steady demeanor, she withdrew her question and nodded. “That’s fine. Have you found a place to stay? Your father and I will stay at Ranran’s house. Ranran’s home is close to the hospital, so it’s convenient to visit your Uncle Ye.”
Shen Shi lowered his eyes lightly, glanced at Ye Ran who was just one step away and leisurely adjusted the coat draped over his arm.
“I’ve found a place. I’ll stay in a hotel for these two weeks,” he said.
Hearing this, Ye Ran spoke up at the right moment, “Shen Shi… if you don’t mind, you can also stay at my house.”
“Hm?” The man walking beside him moved naturally. It seemed he thought for a moment before he answered unhurriedly, “I don’t mind.”
His leather shoes tapped firmly against the airport’s clean, polished floor.
Before Ye Ran could let out a full breath of relief, he heard Shen Shi ask, “Will I be disturbing you?”
“Of course not.”
Ye Ran relaxed again. For some reason, even though Shen Shi was silent and simply walking beside him, his presence was overwhelmingly strong like a leisurely yet commanding lion, a bit intimidating. Ye Ran smiled and explained, “My house is pretty big, and there are lots of empty rooms.”
His voice was warm and clear, his white shirt outlining a slim, tall frame. His hair, untrimmed for nearly a month, had grown a little longer, ink-black like thick dye, while his skin was jade-like and fair.
Compared to the cautious, unfamiliar, fearful look from earlier, he looked much more pleasant when he smiled.
Shen Shi naturally shifted his gaze away and responded with a quiet “Mm.”
Thus, the first encounter between the two youths ended on a surprisingly harmonious note.
Father and Mother Shen were relieved. They deliberately gave the two some space to talk. Now that the Shen family rested entirely in Shen Shi’s hands, even if Mother Shen wanted to ask for something on behalf of the Ye family, she had to consider whether Shen Shi was willing.
Rather than forcing things, it was better to let Ye Ran and Shen Shi spend more time together. Rejuvenating the Ye family would be effortless for Shen Shi, something he could accomplish with a single sentence, without even needing to strategize. And if Ye Ran truly caught Shen Shi’s eye, then everyone would be happy.
Three cars were parked outside the airport.
The assistants following Shen Shi boarded the last one first.
The remaining two were Bentleys.
Streetlights lit up one after another. Night had fully fallen. The pale-blue sky was layered with clouds, and evergreen trees on both sides of the airport road cast shifting shadows, illuminated by the lights.
The nighttime wind blew strong as the two cars pulled up.
Naturally following behind Father and Mother Shen, Ye Ran walked toward the front Bentley. Just as he was about to get into the passenger seat, he caught a glimpse by accident of the car carrying only Shen Shi slowly approaching, as if preparing to stop beside them.
Through the broad, spotless front window, he could vaguely make out the man sitting in the back seat, steady and indifferent. Even from just an outline, one could sense the natural, commanding aura he exuded.
Before today, Ye Ran had only heard of Shen Shi.
Young, handsome, powerful, that was how people described him. Rumors varied, including claims that he was ruthless. Ye Ran never cared much for such gossip, nor did he believe it; but it wasn’t until today, when he truly met Shen Shi, that he realized the rumors were true.
A man like that was not someone easy to provoke.
Originally, Mother Shen had persuaded him to try talking to Shen Shi about the Ye family’s current troubles. That thought was now completely extinguished. Ye Ran feared that something he did might offend Shen Shi and bring unnecessary trouble to the Ye family.
Thinking of this, he jolted, not daring to hesitate. He quickly looked away, opened the passenger door, sat down, and buckled his seatbelt, all in one smooth motion.
In the back seat, Mother Shen looked over in surprise. Reflexively, she said, “Ranran, why are you sitting up there…”
Before she could finish, Father Shen interjected, “I heard Shen Shi is meeting the branch office staff tonight to discuss work. He probably won’t be joining us for dinner, so don’t worry about him.”
Ye Ran glanced at the rearview mirror. The Bentley behind them still drove forward to the spot where he had originally been standing.
Pulling at his seatbelt, he felt fortunate for his quick reflexes. “Okay, then I’ll make some porridge tonight.”
Inside this car, the atmosphere was perfect.
In the other car, Old Li, driving Shen Shi, felt inexplicably cold.
The atmosphere inside was still silent. As the car in front merged onto the highway, Old Li hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously, “Sir, are we going to…?”
“Junting,” Shen Shi replied. In the back seat, he casually reviewed the Junting branch’s quarterly project reports under the car light, speaking calmly. “I’ll attend tonight’s banquet. Tell Xu Wen to finish preparing the documents and keep them ready.”
As soon as news spread that Shen Shi was coming to Beijing, the branch company, Junting, was alerted. When he was still the Shen family’s “crown prince,” Shen Shi would visit Beijing every few days, do nothing, sit in the chairman’s seat with a cold smile, and listen to their reports. It remained a nightmare for many managers.
Fortunately, after taking over the Shen Corporation, he became too busy to personally inspect branch offices, entrusting the task to several executive assistants. Though those assistants weren’t easy to deal with either, they were at least more approachable than Shen Shi.
Now the nightmare was returning. Managers and department heads swarmed to prepare a welcome banquet, not to discuss business, but to win favor first.
Somehow the news leaked, and the internal welcome dinner turned into a full-blown banquet. Beijing had deep waters, and many business veterans wanted to use this chance to gain Shen Shi’s attention and a foothold in the southern market.
After reviewing the quarterly reports, Shen Shi closed the file slowly. He leaned back slightly, tired, and closed his eyes to rest.
His long legs crossed. His fingers tapped lightly on his knee. His expression remained unchanged, but he was quietly going over the names of companies that had dealings with the Ye family.
Xu Wen, his highly capable executive assistant, did not understand why Shen Shi suddenly cared about a small clothing company. But after gathering all of Ye Corporation’s information, it was clear their recent misfortunes were orchestrated and deliberate.
Shen Shi opened his eyes and glanced out at the brightly lit nightscape of Beijing flashing by.
His gaze was deep and cold as night as he thought, calmly—
…Just whose path has the Ye family blocked, to be targeted so viciously?
The banquet was held at Huating Hotel.
As soon as he entered, he was greeted by a flurry of polite greetings.
Shen Shi wasn’t dressed too formally. His expensive, well-fitted shirt and vest outlined his tall, striking figure. He had casually undone two buttons at the collar. Under the lights, he wore a natural, easy smile as he held his wine glass and engaged in idle conversation with a few executives.
Tonight wasn’t the time for serious business. Before long, he had to drink a little to show goodwill.
He flushed lightly when he drank, his cheeks and the sides of his neck tinged red, but his eyes remained dark and cool. Even when asked inappropriate questions, he responded unhurriedly with vague, ambiguous answers. Watching the embarrassed expressions of those executives, he curled his lips, but his eyes held not a trace of amusement.
Midway through the banquet—
Laughter suddenly rang out from a corner.
Shen Shi looked over and saw several young men, obviously brought by their fathers, drinking and chatting together, lively and spirited.
Each one had a female companion. Among them, the blond young man was the most handsome, an arm around his date’s waist, smiling brightly though his actions were frivolous.
An executive standing near Shen Shi sighed. “That boy…”
A middle-aged man beside him laughed heartily. He seemed to be a close friend, patting his shoulder. “Jiaming is still young. Your Jialang is steady enough. With such a big brother ahead of him, you should let Jiaming relax a little.”
“Of course I know,” Father Cheng said helplessly. Then, noticing Shen Shi’s glance, he quickly added a compliment, “But the two boys can’t compare to President Shen when he was young. When I saw you at the summit back then, I wondered which outstanding young man you were, you had such a strong presence!”
Shen Shi smiled gently. “They’re young. I was just like that at their age.”
No one seemed to realize that Shen Shi was only five or six years older than those boys.
The executives continued chatting naturally: “Still not the same. When I was twenty-three or twenty-four, I already had four or five girlfriends. That’s how men should be… romantic.”
“Romantic, my foot. Looking back, I wasted so much time thinking about work. The more I think about it, the more I regret it.”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Shen Shi also gave a vague smile, though not a ripple of interest appeared in his eyes.
Twenty-three or twenty-four.
He swirled his glass and suddenly thought—
…That kid from the Ye family is also in his early twenties. Much more pleasing to the eye.
Cheng Jialang’s female companion tugged his sleeve. He lowered his head. She was very young, just barely an adult, with fair skin and delicate features. Her voice was soft and pleasant. “Mr. Cheng… I’d like to go to the restroom.”
Cheng Jialang softened his expression and asked, “Should I go with you?”
She blushed. “N-No need. I can go myself.”
She lifted her skirt slightly and left shyly.
Once she ran off, his friends immediately burst into laughter, all teasing him.
“Well, well, just a few days of heartbreak and you’ve already found a new love?”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Cheng Jialang replied with a bright grin. No matter how wild he partied in private, he had the face of a clean, sunny boy. “It’s just for show. My heart still belongs to our senior.”
Everyone knew he had someone he liked. Hearing this, they grew excited. “Still haven’t gotten him yet?”
“No,” Cheng Jialang said, face scrunched in frustration. “Senior is too hard to crack. Tough bones.”
“I told you before but you wouldn’t listen. Just crush his company. If you can’t bear to do it, I’ll help you. The Ye family only has a clothing company anyway. Just do what you did before, throw some dirt on them, stir up some marketing—” a young man said casually, swirling his wine glass.
Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Jialang shot him a warning glare. The smile on his face vanished, and he suddenly looked intimidating: “Ah Ming, don’t mess with my senior. What I’m doing right now is already shameful enough. I don’t want to keep making mistakes.”
“What do you mean?” The boy named Ah Ming sensed something was wrong and set down his glass. “Don’t tell me you actually caught feelings?”
Cheng Jialang sounded irritated: “I’ve always been sincere.”
From the very first moment he saw Ye Ran, he became obsessed, he only wanted Ye Ran to keep smiling at him like that.
He had never liked anyone this much. But Ye Ran wasn’t close to anyone; even when rejecting people, he was gentle and bright, with soft light shimmering in his eyes.
That only made Cheng Jialang even more unwilling to give up.
Ah Ming, seeing he got nothing out of him, propped his face on his hand and continued asking: “Then what about the girl just now?”
He knew very well that Cheng Jialang had never stopped changing partners since university, yet every girlfriend or boyfriend of his seemed devoted to him, none willing to reveal his behavior. And if anyone dared speak ill of him, they would defend him fiercely.
Ah Ming considered himself flirtatious enough, but compared to Cheng Jialang, he was nothing.
Hearing the question, Cheng Jialang curled his lips. His smile was still bright and dazzling, blond hair falling loosely around his face: “Just a counterfeit.”
“But you did remind me, senior has already returned from Germany, so it’s time for me to behave.”
He had worked so hard for so long; Cheng Jialang didn’t want to waste his sincerity.
He truly liked Ye Ran.
He was even willing to come out to his family for Ye Ran. But Ye Ran’s constant lukewarm attitude made him increasingly anxious.
His thoughts circled back, and he remembered what Ah Ming had suggested earlier.
Taking down the entire Ye Corporation… obviously impossible. He had some minor power, but if his older brother ever found out what he was doing, he would definitely lock him up.
But if not that, then what could he do?
Frowning in frustration, he happened to look up and caught sight of the man being surrounded and admired in the distance.
The man carried himself tall and steady, calm and imposing, like a full-grown lion strolling at ease. He was only a few years older than them, yet his entire presence radiated steadiness and someone who had weathered real storms.
Chairman of the Shen Shi Group.
A young but powerful figure in high office.
Shen Shi.
Cheng Jialang withdrew his complicated, envious gaze.
It was impossible for him to start from the bottom of the family company like Shen Shi did. Nor did he want to fight against his father for power like Shen Shi, stirring up storms. He simply wanted a stable life, win the heart of one person, then live quietly.
Senior…
Cheng Jialang sighed.
…What kind of person do you even like?
The banquet lasted until eleven-thirty.
By the time it ended, it was already late at night.
Shen Shi originally wanted to stay at Huating, but right before going upstairs, he seemed to think of something. He glanced at his reflection, faint smell of alcohol, a drunken look clouding his face.
After a pause, he told Old Li to take him back to the Ye residence.
Ye Ran had already given Old Li the address long ago. Following the navigation from Huating to the Ye home took about half an hour.
Aside from the flashing neon lights passing by, there was nothing else on the road.
Before entering the villa district, they had to register names and identity, and the gate guard needed to contact the homeowner.
Old Li was just about to get out to handle the procedure when the guard suddenly smiled, losing his earlier cold vigilance: “You’re… Mr. Shen Shi, correct?”
In the back seat, Shen Shi opened his eyes slightly. Old Li, confused, nodded.
The guard asked, “Your phone number is 133xxx, and your ID number is 411xxx, right?”
Old Li: “Yes, correct.”
“Then you may go right in.” The guard pressed a button, and the gate slid open automatically. “Mr. Ye Ran contacted us beforehand. He also said you might return very late, so I won’t delay you.”
Old Li thanked him and drove in.
Shen Shi closed his eyes again. The irritation in his heart dissipated quietly, like wind passing by.
The Ye house was in the east district.
Old Li didn’t stay at the Ye residence; he found a nearby hotel instead and would return in the morning to pick Shen Shi up.
Once Shen Shi stepped out of the car, the night breeze blew over him, and his tired mind slowly cleared.
Holding his suit jacket in one hand, he walked unhurriedly through the garden, following the cobblestone path to the entrance. He entered the passcode.
The door clicked open.
Warm light spilled from the entryway.
A pair of brown slippers sat at the door, the tags still on, they must have been prepared for him.
He lowered his eyes, changed into the slippers, and walked into the dark living room. The next moment, footsteps sounded, and—
Click.
The lights came on.
“Older Brother Shen Shi?”
Someone stood at the stairs.
Ye Ran had come down in a hurry. His black hair was tousled, and because he had just woken up, his complexion looked extra fresh. His lips were rosy, teeth white, skin like jade.
He wore loose striped pajamas, his gaze pure and clear, still damp with traces of sleep. The corners of his eyes tinted faint red. Holding the handrail, he asked in confusion, “Did you just get back?”
No one replied.
Suppressing the urge to yawn, Ye Ran walked toward him in his slippers. The low lighting cast a slanted glow across the man’s broad, strong shoulders.
Shen Shi didn’t move; his face was hidden in shadows, unreadable.
Ye Ran felt guilty. “I should’ve told you earlier which room you’re staying in…”
But since Shen Shi might come home late and have trouble finding it, Ye Ran had simply stayed awake waiting.
Shen Shi still didn’t speak. Ye Ran grew uneasy. He was afraid of Shen Shi, always had been. Since childhood, he seemed to have an instinct for avoiding harm and seeking benefit, like distancing himself from his grandmother’s side of the family, or naturally drawing close to Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen. He sensed very quickly what feelings people held toward him.
But with Shen Shi… he couldn’t tell at all whether this older brother liked him or disliked him.
And with people like that, by instinct, he didn’t dare form deep ties.
When Shen Shi still didn’t answer, Ye Ran slowly became embarrassed. He stopped walking, stood there stiffly, long soft eyes blinking as he desperately tried to recall if he’d said something wrong.
The living room fell into a strange silence.
Two silhouettes, one tall and broad, the other slender, stood apart, facing each other from a distance.
The breeze drifted in through the open window.
The scent of flowers from the backyard wafted faintly inside.
In his daze, Ye Ran smelled the alcohol on Shen Shi. He froze, then hesitated, asking quietly: “…There’s some porridge left in the kitchen. Do you want some?”
He expected no response just like before.
But the next second, the man in the shadows moved slightly. His Adam’s apple rolled. A low voice answered: “…Mm.”
…
The kitchen light came on.
The last bowl of seafood porridge was reheated. The shrimp wasn’t as bright as before, but still tasted sweet and fresh.
Ye Ran served the porridge. After sitting awkwardly with Shen Shi for a moment, he could no longer endure the strange atmosphere and hastily excused himself, saying he would wash the dishes tomorrow, then sped upstairs.
In the narrow kitchen island, Shen Shi lifted his spoon, eyes slowly following Ye Ran’s retreating figure before withdrawing his gaze.
A spoonful of hot porridge slid down his throat.
Warmth spread through his chest and limbs.
He continued eating slowly, posture calm and steady as always but his eyes were dark, unfathomably deep.
…
Back in the guest room, a familiar scent floated in the air.
Chamomile.
Shen Shi lifted his eyes, glancing at the soft, fluffy bedding on the bed.
He was a little distracted when Xu Wen’s message came through.
Shen Shi looked at his phone, skimmed the dense lines of text, paused quietly, then replied:
—Re-evaluate.
Xu Wen responded quickly:
Should I re-evaluate Ye Corporation’s total value, current losses, past profits, or something else?
Based on Shen Shi’s previous attitude, he probably wanted to assess how much longer Ye Corporation could last before going bankrupt. A little anxious, but not impossible to calculate—
Shen Shi sent another message.
Xu Wen: “……”
Xu Wen: “?”
Author’s note:
At this moment, Big Shen is still very confident in himself as a decent human being.
Yezi: No, I need to stay far away from him.
Tomorrow we should reach the part where Big Shen stops being a decent human being!
Excited!
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