Chapter 14

Shen Xiao didn’t immediately respond to Bai Muqing’s invitation. Casually propping his long legs on the coffee table in front of the sofa, he waited until Shen Yu cut the last piece of tape before coolly stating, "No, I'm not interested."
Bai Muqing hadn't expected Shen Xiao to outright reject her invitation. A flicker of displeasure crossed her heart as her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly. She moved behind the sofa, leaning against its backrest with her head lowered, and said, "Situ Yi will be there too. After he left the entertainment industry to take over his family's company, he's become quite a rising star in the business world. He's also my senior by two years, and we have a good relationship. I can introduce you."
Shen Xiao seemed to ignore Bai Muqing's words entirely. Instead, he lifted his bandaged wrist, examined it carefully, and nodded in satisfaction. Turning to Shen Yu, he said, "You did a good job bandaging it. From now on, you'll be the one changing my dressings."
Shen Yu: “…”
As if changing his bandages was some kind of honor.
Bai Muqing, currently at the peak of her fame in the entertainment industry, was used to being treated like a queen wherever she went. It had been a long time since she'd felt so ignored. Unable to contain her frustration, she stamped her foot and coquettishly protested, "President Shen~"
Only then did Shen Xiao raise an eyebrow and glance back at her. "Who is Situ Yi? Why should I care to know him?" His arrogant tone was downright infuriating.
Bai Muqing: "..."
Shen Yu: “…”
As the male lead of the novel, Situ Yi possessed an invincible protagonist halo. He had once been a household name, a superstar actor, and even the original Shen Yu had been his fan, even enrolling in film school because of him. But Situ Yi had no attachment to the entertainment industry. Two years ago, at the peak of his acting career, he resolutely announced his retirement and returned to take over his family's business, becoming a legitimate businessman.
Even though he was no longer a celebrity, his fame remained widespread. As someone in the same business circle, it was impossible for Shen Xiao not to have heard of him. His question was clearly intentional, whether he was displeased with Bai Muqing's suggestion or with Situ Yi himself was unclear.
Shen Yu felt that this unexpected encounter with Bai Muqing wasn't entirely without gains. At the very least, it showed her that Shen Xiao's attitude toward Bai Muqing wasn't at the point of being completely infatuated yet. Sabotaging their relationship probably wouldn't be too difficult.
She stole a glance at Bai Muqing. In the short time since she'd entered the room, Bai Muqing had been treated as invisible by Shen Xiao and then bluntly rebuffed. Yet she still managed to maintain a calm smile. She was truly something, it seemed she was dead set on winning Shen Xiao over.
Still, seeing Bai Muqing forced to put on a brave face after being shut down gave Shen Yu a secret sense of satisfaction.
Seeing the conversation on the verge of dying out, Bai Muqing took a deep breath and awkwardly changed the subject. "Fine, he's just an unimportant person anyway. If you don't want to meet him, that's fine. It's almost noon, where should we go for lunch? How about French cuisine? We could also take a stroll around the area afterward."
"Aren't you afraid of being spotted by paparazzi?" Shen Yu asked, feigning innocent curiosity.
"No problem, I'll just disguise myself," Bai Muqing replied, flipping her hair with a charming smile.
Shen Xiao nodded indifferently. "Fine." Then he turned to Shen Yu beside him and said, "Little thing, you're coming too."
His tone wasn't a question but a command.
Both women froze simultaneously. Wasn't this supposed to be a date? What was the point of bringing his sister along?
Shen Yu was stunned for two seconds before her mind started racing. She had just been thinking about how to insert herself into their plans, and here Shen Xiao was, handing her the perfect opportunity without her even asking. He was being almost too cooperative!
She didn't immediately agree. Instead, she lowered her head with a flustered expression, and two seconds later, timidly raised it again, glancing at Bai Muqing and then at Shen Xiao before whispering, "N-no. that wouldn’t be good, would it? You and Sister Bai are going on a date, and I... I’ve never been to a French restaurant before."
Shen Xiao, who had been relatively calm just moments before, instantly changed his expression upon seeing her like this. He frowned and said disdainfully, "If I tell you to go, then you go! You coward!"
Shen Yu: “…”
Bai Muqing, watching the scene unfold, was utterly bewildered. "If your sister doesn’t want to go, why force her?"
Shen Xiao shot Bai Muqing a glance and said, "This has nothing to do with you. She’s going whether she wants to or not!"
Bai Muqing: "..."
Shen Yu’s face turned pale with nervousness, but inwardly, she couldn’t stop complaining: You lunatic! I knew you’d fall for this act, you really do enjoy bullying the weak!
Earlier, while helping Shen Xiao with his bandage, she had gotten a bit of the medicinal smell on her hands. Before heading out, Shen Yu went to the break room to say goodbye to Uncle Li and then made a stop at the restroom to wash her hands.
Although the restroom on the top floor wasn’t used frequently, its decor was just as luxurious as the rest of the building. Standing in front of the sink, Shen Yu looked at her reflection in the mirror and realized how out of place her appearance and clothing seemed in such an environment.
The crisp sound of high heels echoed from the doorway, and soon Bai Muqing pushed the restroom door open. Noticing Shen Yu watching her through the mirror, she offered a faint smile, opened her handbag, took out a lipstick, and began reapplying her makeup in front of the mirror.
Just as Shen Yu finished washing her hands and straightened up, Bai Muqing spoke, "Are you really my fan?"
Shen Yu looked up at her and replied candidly, "No."
Bai Muqing nodded with a smile and said, "I thought so. You didn’t seem the least bit excited to see me, nothing like a fan. Actually, that’s better. It’ll make our interactions more comfortable." After saying this, Bai Muqing put away her lipstick and walked over to Shen Yu. "I didn’t expect to run into you today, so I didn’t have time to prepare a gift. Do you like this? I just started wearing it today, it’s brand new. I’ll give it to you." With that, she deftly took off a diamond-studded watch from her wrist and handed it to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu glanced at the luxurious watch and thought to herself that Bai Muqing was quite generous, this watch probably cost over a hundred thousand yuan, and she was giving it away just like that. But she didn’t reach out to take it. Instead, she said, "Sister Bai, there’s no need to give me anything. I have plenty of these at home."
Though it wasn’t entirely true, Shen Yu’s allowance was indeed enough to buy many watches far more expensive than this one. Bai Muqing’s attempt to win her over with such a gift was completely misguided. If Bai Muqing knew that Shen Yu was actually trying to break her and Shen Xiao up, she’d probably be furious!
Bai Muqing stood there awkwardly, holding the watch, before finally forcing a smile and saying, "Alright then. Later, when we go shopping, just let me know if there’s anything you like, and I’ll get it for you."
Shen Yu raised an eyebrow and replied, "No need. I have my own allowance."
Bai Muqing: "..."
The greatest talent these siblings seemed to possess was their ability to kill a conversation!
"You're really hard to please, girl," Bai Muqing said jokingly.
Shen Yu blinked and replied, "You don't need to please me. If you have something to ask, just ask directly."
Shen Yu was quite familiar with Bai Muqing's tactics. In the past, there was a male celebrity who liked her and kept giving small gifts to her assistant, Han Xiaobing, trying to pry into her preferences through her. Han Xiaobing would accept the gifts but then immediately spill everything about the other person in front of Shen Yu.
Bai Muqing's behavior was clearly an attempt to fish for information from her.
Her straightforward response took Bai Muqing by surprise. She felt that this young girl seemed a bit different from the one she had seen in the office earlier. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what had changed, but it felt as though the way she looked at people was no longer timid but more open and resolute.
After a moment's thought, Bai Muqing asked, "I just want to know, what are your brother's usual interests?"
Shen Yu met her gaze directly and said, "I'm not entirely sure about his specific preferences, but I do know he likes gentle and obedient people and absolutely despises those who have ulterior motives toward him!"
Bai Muqing: ...