Chapter 7

Back when Shen Yu was an actress, she knew that hysterical crying scenes were physically demanding. They tested not only one's lung capacity but also one's endurance, because crying for too long would lead to exhaustion, and exhaustion would make one want to rest, inevitably compromising the performance.
At this moment, it felt like another test of her crying skills. Since she couldn't out-argue or out-crazy Shen Xiao, she resorted to using her cries to annoy him. Little did she expect that Shen Xiao would be as stubborn and unyielding as a rock in a cesspit, no matter how much she cried, he remained unmoved.
Shen Yu had started crying with no regard for her dignity, but after the car had traveled some distance, she felt compelled to keep it up just to save face, which only added to her frustration.
Just as she was hesitating whether to take a break, Shen Xiao finally made a move.
He first rubbed his ears, which were ringing from the noise, then untied his tie and smoothed it out with his fingers. Folding it in half, he began rolling it up slowly from the narrow end. His fingers were slender and well-defined, and the tie looked like a delicate piece of craftsmanship in his hands.
After rolling up the tie, he gave her a sarcastic smile and said, "If you keep crying, this tie will end up in your mouth. Believe it or not?"
Shen Yu: “…”
After spending this much time with him, Shen Yu was fully convinced that if he said it, he would do it. Without a moment's hesitation, she clamped her mouth shut and stared at him with teary eyes through her glasses.
Shen Xiao snorted lightly, handed her the tie, and coaxed her gently, "Be good, this tie is for you. If you feel like crying, just stuff it in your mouth yourself."
Shen Yu: “…”
So that's what a tie could be used for, she had truly learned something new! But what she really wanted was to wrap that tie around his neck, loop it twice, and pull it tight!
The car drove on smoothly, and under the "tie warning," the atmosphere inside was peaceful and harmonious. At one point, Shen Xiao asked the driver to pull over, leaned forward, and whispered something to the bodyguard in the passenger seat. The bodyguard nodded, got out of the car, and after a short while, jogged back and handed Shen Xiao a small, colorfully wrapped box.
Shen Yu was still sulking and didn't bother to look at him directly, but she caught a glimpse of the vibrant packaging out of the corner of her eye. She had no idea what it was.
Once the car was back on the road, Shen Xiao tossed the box to her with a look of disdain. Shen Yu was taken aback, but when she took it and looked, she froze. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was a box of candy for kids!
Was this for her? Was it because he had wrecked her room and made her cry that he bought her candy as compensation for the damage?
Was her painstakingly decorated room, which had taken her a whole week to set up, only worth a box of candy?
Shen Yu wanted to throw the candy back at him defiantly, who wanted his stupid candy?
But she only thought about it. Her right hand was still holding his tie, and she feared that if she threw it, that tie might really end up stuffed in her mouth.
The candy box was brightly colored, and inside were individually wrapped packets of soft, plump candies coated in powdered sugar. They looked quite delicious.
So she opened a small packet and ate one. The sweet and tangy flavor spread across her tongue, which should have been comforting, but the more she ate, the angrier she felt.
"Waaahhhhhh…"
This wasn’t just candy, it was the taste of her lost sanctuary!!
Shen Xiao’s temples throbbed again: …
Fortunately, the car had already pulled into the villa, or else Shen Xiao might have really strangled this cheap little sister of his.
As soon as he got out of the car, Shen Xiao said to Uncle Li, who was standing at the door, "Get her sorted out in two minutes. Her noise is giving me a headache."
Uncle Li looked at Shen Yu’s tear-streaked face with pity. "Miss, please don’t cry. Uncle Li will make you something delicious to eat."
Her earlier wailing had been deliberate, a form of resistance against Shen Xiao. But now, seeing Uncle Li, she felt genuinely upset and wronged. Her eyes reddened, but she stopped crying.
"Uncle Li…"
Uncle Li patted her shoulder, sad and guilty. "It’s all my fault." He shouldn’t have supported her moving out. He had always felt sorry for her, seeing how cautiously she lived her life, and thought things were finally changing. But in the end, they had just come full circle.
Since it was almost lunchtime, Uncle Li quickly prepared a table full of Shen Yu’s favorite dishes to comfort her.
Truthfully, Shen Yu didn’t have much of an appetite. She just took a few polite bites before heading upstairs to her room, emotionally drained.
Uncle Li watched her despondent retreating figure, then glanced at Shen Xiao, who was eating with relaxed ease. Thinking he seemed normal at the moment, Uncle Li said, "Young girls need to be coaxed patiently. They’re not like cats or dogs that you can just tease however you want."
Shen Xiao slammed his bowl and chopsticks on the table, raising his cold eyes to Uncle Li. "I haven’t settled the score with you for encouraging her to move out yet." He snorted irritably and added, "But you just reminded me, we should keep some cats or dogs at home. Little girls love them."
After saying this, he grinned with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Uncle Li: …
One moment he seemed normal, and the next, he was already plotting something wicked again!
"You go buy one this afternoon, get a Husky, a small one," Shen Xiao instructed him.
Uncle Li knew it couldn't be just about pleasing Shen Yu, so he tactfully suggested, "Shouldn't we ask the young lady if she wants a pet?"
Shen Xiao slammed the table and stood up. "What, now even you won't listen to me?"
Uncle Li realized he had overstepped and lowered his head. "I'll go buy one later."
Satisfied, Shen Xiao nodded. Before turning to leave, he added, "There's a wooden box on the study desk. Use it to coax her." Then he headed upstairs without looking back.
Uncle Li was accustomed to his unpredictable moods and sighed helplessly. After tidying the kitchen, he went out to buy the Husky.
Shen Yu returned to her familiar room. Though she had only been away for a week, her changed state of mind made the room feel increasingly unfamiliar.
She had just been lying on the bed spacing out, but soon fell into a deep sleep, likely exhausted from crying earlier.
She slept for two hours and woke to a faint, strange sound coming from her door. Curious, Shen Yu got up to open it and was startled by a small, adorable creature at her feet. "What is this?"
Uncle Li stood nearby, holding a wooden box about the size of a mooncake box.
"Uncle Li, why is there a puppy? Is this a Husky? It's so cute!" Shen Yu smiled and crouched down to look at the dog.
Uncle Li said, "The master asked me to buy it for you, and this too, he gave it as well." He handed her the box.
Shen Yu was puzzled. "Why did he suddenly think of buying a dog?"
Uncle Li shook his head. "I can't guess the master's thoughts."
Shen Yu agreed wholeheartedly, the thought processes of a lunatic were beyond ordinary people. She opened the wooden box and froze. Inside were various pieces of jewelry, seemingly many, piled haphazardly together like cheap trinkets from a street stall.
Uncle Li was also surprised. "These are the old madam's original jewels."
So they must be genuine. "Then why is he giving them to me? To compensate me?"
Uncle Li glanced at the Husky, then at the jewelry, and hesitantly nodded. "Perhaps... yes."
Shen Yu: “…”
Though life was a bit chaotic, Shen Yu wouldn't wallow in despair. Having experienced death, what storm could be more terrifying?
So she quickly pulled herself together and went back to class.
There were no classes that morning, but two in the afternoon. After lunch, Shen Yu hurried to school. It was still early when she arrived at the classroom, where a few people were scattered around. Shen Yu immediately spotted Bai Muyu among them.
That guy often took leave for filming, so it was rare to see him today.
Shen Yu averted her gaze and sat in her seat, sincerely hoping Bai Muyu would ignore her.
But Bai Muyu seemed to be her natural enemy. Every time he saw Shen Yu, he felt irritated and wanted to bully her.
After a few people whispered among themselves, Bai Muyu stood up and approached Shen Yu, saying arrogantly and angrily, "Hey, my Tiffany necklace is missing. Did you steal it?"
Shen Yu: “…”
Wasn't this excuse to bully her a bit too random? She had just walked in!