Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Fu Huaifei was not an expert in the art of subtlety; these lines were all taught to him by Sangyan, word for word.

As a result, he went a bit overboard and almost ended up calling out "giegie" in a falsetto voice.

Even Shen Tingzhou, who was usually oblivious, noticed something strange and wondered if Fu Huaifei had caught a cold. His voice sounded so...

indescribable.

Yet, Fu Huaifei himself didn't realize it and remained immersed in his exaggerated performance. He said to Xu Xun, "Xiao Xun, why aren't you talking? No way, no way, you can't be angry, right?"

He wasn't good at acting subtle, but he was quite adept at feigning weakness.

Fu Huaifei first showed his perfect profile, then frowned like Daiyu and coughed softly, looking at Shen Tingzhou with a pitiful and helpless gaze.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I made g... Xiao Xun unhappy."

Shen Tingzhou: ...

Was it his imagination, or did he hear someone call "giegie"?

Xu Xun calmly wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Uncle, I'm younger than you. Don't call me giegie."

Feeling guilty, Fu Huaifei thought, Ah, did I say it out loud just now?

Sangyan desperately signaled to Fu Huaifei: You didn't say it out loud. He's trying to mess with you. Argue back!

Despite Sangyan's reassurance, Fu Huaifei still lacked confidence. "I didn't..."

Xu Xun put down the napkin, and at that moment, their roles seemed to switch. He looked at Fu Huaifei with a mysterious air, as if he were the elder.

Xu Xun chuckled. "If Uncle wants to take Doctor Shen to see the cats, go ahead."

Shen Tingzhou thought Xu Xun was being sarcastic and didn't dare to speak up.

Xu Xun smiled at Shen Tingzhou. "Go see the belly-dancing cats. It sounds interesting. I'll take care of the three cats at home."

His attitude made Shen Tingzhou feel even more embarrassed. "Maybe... we should forget it."

Xu Xun encouraged him. "Go. We're on vacation to have fun. Take lots of videos for me to watch, as if I were there too."

Sangyan looked wary, suspecting Xu Xun might have a bigger trick up his sleeve.

But Xu Xun didn't. He acted gentle and magnanimous, even personally escorting Shen Tingzhou to Fu Huaifei's car.

This move left Sangyan puzzled, but at least Doctor Shen got into the car.

Men are fickle. They may look uneasy now, but once they see the cats, they'll forget everything else, and guilt won't exist.

Sure enough, on the way, Shen Tingzhou felt conflicted and regretful.

He should have stayed home to take care of the cats. Ugh, he should have stayed home with Xu Xun to take care of the three cats.

But when they arrived and saw Cat Million and the dancing cats, Shen Tingzhou's eyes lit up instantly.

It was Cat Million! The cat he had been following online for years, watching its videos before bed every night.

After having Shen Shen and Xu Xu, Xu Xun started posting cat videos on social media.

Shen Tingzhou stopped following Cat Million and focused on the silver tabby and the orange cat.

Now, seeing Cat Million in person, with its beautiful heterochromia, smooth fur, white paws, and adorable belly, Shen Tingzhou's soul trembled.

Besides Cat Million, there were many other internet-famous cats he often watched.

Shen Tingzhou was so happy he felt dizzy, sending dozens of messages to Qin Si to show off.

Qin Si responded indifferently, sending pictures of his own cats, each one adorable and heartwarming.

After a brief exchange of cat photos, Shen Tingzhou happily dove into cat heaven, petting the cats.

Seeing Shen Tingzhou so happy, Fu Huaifei also felt happy, following him from cat to cat.

These cats were all hired by Sangyan because they didn't know Shen Tingzhou's specific preferences, so they brought a variety.

The main idea was a mix of different breeds, allowing Shen Tingzhou to choose freely.

Shen Tingzhou naturally loved them all, wanting to jump around to pet them.

At first, Fu Huaifei smiled and followed Shen Tingzhou, but soon he couldn't keep smiling.

Because Shen Tingzhou only pet the cats, ignoring Fu Huaifei completely, or if he did, it was half-heartedly.

Fu Huaifei shyly asked, "Tingzhou, are you satisfied with today's date arrangements?"

Shen Tingzhou nodded vigorously. "Satisfied, very satisfied."

"What breed of cat do you like best?"

"All of them, all of them."

"Since you love cats so much, how about..." Fu Huaifei drew circles on the ground with his foot, "we raise a cat together?"

"Like, like."

Fu Huaifei was delighted. "Really?"

"All of them, all of them."

Fu Huaifei sensed something was amiss and looked up. "Tingzhou?"

Shen Tingzhou's eyes were no longer seeing people; they only reflected the beautiful cats. His cheeks were flushed, and his fingers moved rapidly, almost creating afterimages, as if possessed by Lady Shijī.

Fu Huaifei stood there, stunned.

At this moment, he felt so far away from Shen Tingzhou.

-

He had spent the entire day with Shen Tingzhou but hadn't managed to exchange many words with him.

His eyes were only for the cats, not for me.

Fu Huaifei gazed at the sun visor, feeling that his life was filled with regret.

Despite his extraordinary looks, unparalleled talent, inexhaustible wealth, and high social status, what did it matter?

He was still the pitiful one in the game of love.

Fu Huaifei hugged himself, allowing loneliness to engulf him—this world would ultimately hurt him.

Upon returning to the villa, Sangyan had just parked the car when Xu Xun approached.

He bent down and tapped on the rear window. Shen Tingzhou pushed the door open and stepped out.

Xu Xun said, "Let's go."

Shen Tingzhou looked puzzled. "Where?"

Xu Xun ignored him and turned to Fu Huaifei in the car. "Uncle, I'm taking Doctor Shen out. We won't be back for dinner."

Watching them leave, Sangyan gripped the steering wheel tightly, deeply unhappy about Xu Xun's sudden intervention.

Sangyan glanced at the back seat and said angrily, "Sir, how can he do this? He is your junior!"

How could he compete with his uncle for his aunt? It was outrageous!

Fu Huaifei's long hair had somehow come loose, softening his facial features. His eyes were melancholic, and his voice weak.

"Never mind. Loneliness might be my fate. Let Tingzhou go; why should I burden him?"

Sangyan urged, "Sir, you can't give up like this."

Fu Huaifei turned his head aside, despondent. "Xiao Xun probably likes Tingzhou too, right?"

Sangyan: "But Doctor Shen is your true love. You can't give him up for family ties. After all... he didn't give up either!"

Fu Huaifei: "But how can I compete with him? He has always been more favored than me since childhood."

Fu Huaifei will never forget that when he was eight years old, he built a large castle with Lego blocks, yet the whole family was captivated by a bubble blown by infant Xu Xun.

It was just a bubble, while he had built a grand castle!

At nine, he overcame many older children to win the piano competition in the children's section.

But so what? Everyone praised the newly walking Xu Xun for being smart.

At eleven...

Fu Huaifei and Xu Xun were a tragic tale of "If only one of us didn't exist." As long as Xu Xun was around, he would always be the one overlooked.

"Xiao Sang, you don't understand. My life has been a journey through darkness."

Hearing Fu Huaifei's despair, Sangyan quickly held his hand.

"How could that be? When I first met you at fourteen, I was utterly amazed. I vowed then to be a good steward like my father, always taking care of you. You are such an outstanding person; no one could dislike you. I believe Doctor Shen will fall in love with you."

Feeling a spark of hope from Sangyan's encouragement, Fu Huaifei still hesitated, "But Xiao Xun is also very likable."

Sangyan immediately countered, "How could he compare to you?"

Fu Huaifei whispered, "My parents have always favored him. They even said..."

Sangyan's heart ached for Fu Huaifei. "What did they say?"

"They called me... a drama queen." These words were hard for Fu Huaifei to utter, and he lamented, "They said they wouldn't indulge me because I indulge myself."

Sangyan covered his mouth. "Oh my God, how could they..."

He couldn't imagine what Fu Huaifei had endured as a child.

Moved by Sangyan's sympathy, Fu Huaifei shared more, "They also said I was troublesome."

Sangyan couldn't believe his ears. "How could Mr. Fu and Mrs. Fu treat you like that?"

Fu Huaifei sniffled, "They did. They even called me a kitchen maid and told me to tie my hair back."

Sangyan paused. "Why a kitchen maid?"

Fu Huaifei's gaze was full of resentment. "They said I had a fiery temper and a small heart."

Sangyan: ...

Sangyan: "That's simply outrageous!"

How could they call someone a kitchen maid? And where was Mr. Fu's small heart?

Mr. Fu was so frail; Sangyan wished he had a fiery temper!

If it weren't for Fu Huaifei's parents being nice to him, Sangyan would have gone to confront them by now.

-

Xu Xun drove out of the villa, passing through the birch forest when Shen Tingzhou couldn't help but look outside. "Where are we going?"

Xu Xun didn't answer but instead asked, "Did you have fun today?"

Feeling this was a dangerous question, Shen Tingzhou cautiously replied, "It was okay."

Xu Xun's face remained calm, his tone equally so. "Did you take any videos?"

Shen Tingzhou nodded. "I took a few."

Xu Xun: "So that cat really can do belly dancing?"

Shen Tingzhou: "Theoretically no, but in practice... with human control, it can dance."

That belly-dancing cat was very cute, especially in its costume, making him want to make one for Shenshen too.

Xu Xun sighed. "Looks like it's time for Shenshen to learn some skills too."

Shen Tingzhou: "...No way." Cats should be carefree; they shouldn't be pushed too hard.

Xu Xun glanced at Shen Tingzhou. "Don't you like it?"

Shen Tingzhou's guilt resurfaced as he tried to stay composed. "It's just okay."

Xu Xun didn't continue on this topic and said, "This morning, I gave them a bath and trimmed their nails."

Surprised by how much work he did, Shen Tingzhou asked, "Was it tiring?"

Xu Xun hummed in agreement. "Tiring."

Shen Tingzhou choked. "Then... you should rest early tonight."

Xu Xun posed a soul-searching question. "If the cat was this tired today, would it only receive such light concern?"

Shen Tingzhou: ...

He felt that Xiao Xu seemed particularly resentful today, not like the usual Zhenzi.

Shen Tingzhou stammered, "I think... I could give you a massage tonight?"

Xu Xun smiled gently. "But Dr. Shen must be tired too, after being out all day and petting so many cats."

Shen Tingzhou thought that this gentle smile was a terrifying one, akin to a squinting smile.

Fortunately, Xu Xun didn't continue his resentment and drove Shen Tingzhou up the mountain.

As night fell, the winding mountain road was silent.

The tall birches on both sides of the road quickly receded from Shen Tingzhou's view.

When they reached the top, Xu Xun parked the car, and the roof slowly slid back, opening up the view to reveal a sky full of stars.

In the city, surrounded by skyscrapers, one wouldn't see so many stars.

Looking up at the stars, Shen Tingzhou felt inexplicably relaxed. At that moment, Xu Xun draped a blanket over him.

Xu Xun had prepared everything well, including a warm blanket, hot soup, and snacks.

Seeing Xu Xun roast marshmallows with a lighter, Shen Tingzhou laughed. "So thorough?"

Xu Xun removed the skewer and handed the first roasted marshmallow to Shen Tingzhou. "Be careful, it's hot."

Shen Tingzhou took it. "Thanks."

Eating the roasted marshmallow, drinking hot soup, and looking up at the stars, he felt comfortable and relaxed, even the cool breeze felt pleasant.

Xu Xun took out a tablet. "Want to watch a movie?"

Shen Tingzhou nodded. "Sure."

Xu Xun found a heartwarming movie, adjusted the car seat to a comfortable angle, and watched the film with Shen Tingzhou on the mountaintop for over an hour.

After the movie ended, Shen Tingzhou still felt a bit unsatisfied. He turned to see Xu Xun with his eyes closed, unsure if he was resting or sleeping.

Worried he might catch a cold from the mountain breeze, Shen Tingzhou leaned over to find the button to close the roof.

A hand reached out and stopped him. Looking up, Shen Tingzhou saw Xu Xun open his eyes and staring at him.

Shen Tingzhou was slightly taken aback. "You're awake?"

Xu Xun seemed not fully awake, still staring at Shen Tingzhou.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, Shen Tingzhou wondered if there was something on his face when Xu Xun sat up.

Xu Xun said, "Let's go back."

Shen Tingzhou fastened his seatbelt. "Okay."

-

By the time they returned, it was already past ten o'clock. As they went upstairs to their room, they happened to see Sangyan coming out of Fu Huaifei's room.

Shen Tingzhou didn't think much of it; Sangyan was Fu Huaifei's steward, and it was normal for him to enter and leave his bedroom, even late at night.

But Xu Xun suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him into a corner.

Confused, Shen Tingzhou looked at him: ?

Xu Xun whispered, "His clothes are a bit disheveled."

Sangyan was always meticulous about his appearance, with clothes that were always perfectly neat without a single wrinkle. But today, his tie was askew, his hair hung over his forehead, his clothes were damp, and his steps weren't as composed as usual.

He hurried toward his room.

"Is it possible—" Shen Tingzhou wondered, "that something happened to Mr. Fu?"

Xu Xun's eyes were deep, "Don't you think Sangyan seems overly concerned about my uncle..."

He left the rest unsaid, leaving much to imagination.

Shen Tingzhou followed his line of thought, "Are you suggesting... that Xiao Sang, the Steward, has feelings for Mr. Fu?"

Xu Xun gave Shen Tingzhou a look that said, "Isn't it obvious?"

Shen Tingzhou had never considered this before, but now that Xu Xun mentioned it—Xiao Sang, the Steward, did seem particularly indulgent towards Mr. Fu.

Xu Xun: "I heard that even when my uncle bathes, he asks Sangyan to scrub his back."

Shen Tingzhou: Good grief!

As someone who had never been to a public bathhouse, Xiao Shen found the idea of back-scrubbing quite shocking.

Xu Xun narrowed his eyes, "Think about it, if my uncle is naked, can Sangyan be fully clothed?"

Shen Tingzhou: !!!

The image became increasingly hard to imagine—the unclothed Fu Huaifei and the unclothed Sangyan in the bathroom...

No, no, it felt like countless soap bars were dropping everywhere.

-

Because of Xu Xun's words, Shen Tingzhou could no longer look at Sangyan and Fu Huaifei normally.

In the morning, Shen Tingzhou and Xu Xun went downstairs together. Fu Huaifei stared at them with an indescribable sadness, though it was unclear whether he was looking at his beloved Shen Tingzhou or the ever-favored Xu Xun.

So engrossed was he that he accidentally pricked himself on a rose thorn.

Sangyan, who was arranging flowers, heard Fu Huaifei's small cry of pain and immediately dropped the flowers to hold Fu Huaifei's hand.

When Shen Tingzhou approached, Sangyan was gently wiping the blood from Fu Huaifei's finger with soft silk, occasionally blowing on the wound, his face full of concern.

"It's all my fault for placing the flowers near Mr. Fu; otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Xu Xun gave Shen Tingzhou a knowing look.

Shen Tingzhou: This... is indeed quite intimate.

During breakfast, Sangyan cut all the food into pieces and peeled grapes before serving them, ensuring his delicate Mr. Fu didn't lift a finger.

When Shen Tingzhou threw out the trash, he saw the bin filled with thorns from the roses.

Shen Tingzhou: ...

In the afternoon, Shen Tingzhou came out of his room and ran into Sangyan, who was frowning deeply, in the hallway.

As they passed each other, Shen Tingzhou heard Sangyan, holding his diary, muttering to himself, "Why did I lose more hair than yesterday? I should add some vegetables."

Sure enough, Fu Huaifei's dinner included a dish beneficial for hair growth.

Seeing Fu Huaifei eat the vegetables, Sangyan smiled in relief, then took out his notebook and jotted something down.

In the evening, Shen Tingzhou saw Sangyan holding one of Fu Huaifei's shirts, frowning at the staff around him.

"I've told you many times, Mr. Fu's things are my responsibility. How can he wear clothes ironed like this?"

Does anyone really love their job that much?

Shen Tingzhou pulled his head back, unable to help doubting the Steward's feelings for Fu Huaifei.

Such possessiveness, such deep care—could it be that he truly...

If so, wow, the Steward must be deeply in love.

Later that night, the door to Shen Tingzhou's room was knocked on by the deeply devoted Sangyan.

"Doctor Shen, may I speak with you?" Sangyan looked serious, as if he had made a decision before coming.

Shen Tingzhou was startled by his solemn tone and stepped aside to let him in.

"Doctor Shen, I'll be straightforward. Please tell me, what are your feelings towards Mr. Fu?"

Shen Tingzhou was taken aback and quickly clarified, "Rest assured, I have no romantic intentions towards Mr. Fu."

Sangyan's emotions stirred slightly, "That's precisely why I'm not at ease."

Shen Tingzhou: ... Ah?

Sangyan said sorrowfully, "Mr. Fu is losing weight because of you, barely eating or sleeping, and even his beautiful hair is falling out. How can you not see his sincerity?"

Fu Huaifei has feelings for him?

Shen Tingzhou widened his eyes, stammering, "Me, him, you... are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"How could I mistake the person Mr. Fu likes?" Sangyan earnestly looked at Shen Tingzhou, "Mr. Fu is a wonderful person, Doctor Shen. I really hope you can cherish him."

Shen Tingzhou still found it hard to digest but was more shocked by Sangyan.

Sangyan actually came to plead for Fu Huaifei—could he love him that much, Xiao Sang, the Steward!

Shen Tingzhou felt touched and tried to persuade him, "While love is about fulfillment, you shouldn't sacrifice your own feelings just to fulfill others, don't you agree?"

Sangyan couldn't understand what Shen Tingzhou was saying, but that didn't stop him from having his own interpretation.

"You're right. Sacrificed feelings aren't real feelings. True feelings are mutual. I believe that once you understand Mr. Fu's character, you will surely have mutual feelings with him."

Oh my God, oh my God.

Xiao Sang the Steward was brainwashing himself. His sacrificial feelings for Mr. Fu weren't love; he must ensure Mr. Fu's happiness.

Shen Tingzhou cried his heart out; it was genuine.

Shen Tingzhou held Sangyan's hand and told him the correct view of love, "You can't say that. Your feelings are important too! You should prioritize your own feelings!"

What does this have to do with me?

Sangyan didn't understand, "Uh, you're right, but if Mr. Fu is happy, I'm happy."

Shen Tingzhou sighed, "Do you love Mr. Fu that much?"

Without hesitation, Sangyan said, "Of course. Mr. Fu is one of the most important people in my life. I love Mr. Fu more than..."

Wait a minute!

Love?

Realizing what Shen Tingzhou meant, Sangyan stepped back two or three paces in horror.

"I respect Mr. Fu, not in a romantic way! Dr. Shen, how could you make such absurd assumptions?"

Shen Tingzhou was stunned, "Just respect?"

Noticing a hint of doubt in his words, Sangyan wished he could disembowel himself to prove his innocence.

Could it be that Dr. Shen didn't like Mr. Fu but mistakenly thought they were in that kind of relationship?

Oh no, no!

A thunderbolt like in "Thunderstorm" struck Sangyan's mind, and his body swayed as if about to faint.

Sangyan fled Shen Tingzhou's room, covered his head with a blanket, and screamed silently inside.

He was actually a major obstacle on Mr. Fu's path to love. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!

The next day, Sangyan kept a distance of eight meters from Fu Huaifei, avoiding eye contact and speaking as little as possible.

When Fu Huaifei wanted coffee, Sangyan always had someone else bring it.

Fu Huaifei: ?

Fu Huaifei called him, "Xiao Sang."

Sangyan bowed his head, listening to Fu Huaifei's instructions without responding.

Fu Huaifei called him again, "Xiao Sang?"

Sangyan had no choice but to answer, "Yes, sir."

Even the word "Mr." was omitted.

Fu Huaifei was even more puzzled, "What's wrong with you?"

Sangyan shook his head, "Nothing."

Fu Huaifei: "Why aren't you looking at me?"

Sangyan glanced quickly.

Xu Xun, watching from the side, said, "Uncle is going to have a hard time winning her back."

Shen Tingzhou: "...It might also be because Xiao Sang the Steward is acting strange, and he noticed, so he's concerned."

If Sangyan hadn't come to his room yesterday, Shen Tingzhou might have believed it was a typical "yesterday you ignored me, today you can't have me" drama.

Seeing them "quarreling" over him, Shen Tingzhou felt sorry for them.

Shen Tingzhou privately found Sangyan, "You don't need to do this. I believe you."

Sangyan's tense body relaxed, "Dr. Shen, there really is nothing between me and Mr. Fu."

At that moment, the passing Steward stopped and looked up at the sky, exclaiming.

"The night before last, I think I heard someone taking a bath, and someone went in with them."

Sangyan immediately protested, "Don't talk nonsense. That was just giving Mr. Fu a scrub!"

Shen Tingzhou's eyes widened: Scrubbing was actually true!

Sangyan explained to Shen Tingzhou, "I was fully clothed, and Mr. Fu had a towel around him. Besides, Mr. Fu has low blood sugar and can easily faint in the bathroom. Isn't it normal for me to watch outside?"

The last time Fu Huaifei "jumped into the river" was due to low blood sugar.

While Sangyan was getting sugar from the car, Fu Huaifei was already swept away by the water and was mistakenly rescued by a passerby.

The Steward put his chin in his hand and hissed, "Yesterday afternoon, didn't I see two people kissing?"

Sangyan glared at him, "That was because Mr. Fu had an eyelash in his eye, and I was blowing it out!"

The Steward suddenly exclaimed, "Then..."

Before he could finish, Sangyan's temples throbbed, and he angrily shouted, "Old man, stop spreading rumors!"

The steward immediately turned around. "You called me an old man."

Sangyan, who never spoke ill of anyone in public, covered his mouth and fled the scene in despair.

The steward left gracefully, his back view exuding an air of immortality.

Shen Tingzhou: ... Is it really okay to bully kids like this?

-

Even though he felt that the steward was not up to the mark, Sangyan had never imagined that he would one day call him an old man.

He had never even thought of using that term, so how did it slip out?

Sangyan's profession and demeanor did not allow him to openly express his true feelings in front of others.

He ran frantically to his room as if trying to escape, only to see Fu Huaifei at the door.

"Sir?" Sangyan stopped. "What are you doing here?"

Fu Huaifei hesitated and asked, "What's wrong with you today? Are you feeling unwell?"

Sangyan looked somewhat embarrassed. "No, it's just..."

Fu Huaifei waited for his "just," but Sangyan found it hard to speak and finally said after a while, "Doctor Shen thinks I admire you. He must have believed that old man..."

Help!

How did he call him an old man again?!

Sangyan quickly corrected himself. "No, no, I mean the steward, the steward. This must be their master-servant conspiracy. They are using vicious rumors to tarnish my and your good names! It's outrageous, intolerable!"

He tried to cover up his slip by using emphatic exclamations.

Fu Huaifei was indeed distracted and didn't notice Sangyan's mistake.

Fu Huaifei's expression was strange. "You mean they are spreading rumors about us?"

"Yes, he is spreading rumors that I like you."

"That's a bit far-fetched."

Sangyan hurriedly said, "But I've already explained to Doctor Shen, and he eventually believed me. Don't worry."

Mentioning Shen Tingzhou, Fu Huaifei's eyes turned melancholic, and he tilted his head at a forty-five-degree angle, showcasing his perfect profile, then began to recite.

"My life has been full of hardships and wanderings. Love might be a luxury for me. Well, well."

"Sir, you mustn't lose heart. If you give up now, you'll play right into the enemy's hands. You should confess to Doctor Shen. I believe he will be moved."

Hearing about confessing directly, Fu Huaifei recoiled slightly.

"Isn't it too soon? What if it scares Tingzhou..."

"Things like this require decisive action; the longer you wait, the worse it gets."

Under Sangyan's enthusiastic encouragement, Fu Huaifei regained hope and arranged to meet Shen Tingzhou to confess.

Fu Huaifei's method of invitation was quite old-fashioned; he sent a letter sealed with wax through Sangyan.

The envelope bore the words "For Tingzhou" in elegant handwriting.

The letter was sprinkled with gold and perfumed, giving it a very refined touch, which made Shen Tingzhou feel a bit uneasy.

Shen Tingzhou opened the letter and found that Fu Huaifei had written two thousand words, all leading to one sentence—meet at nine o'clock tonight under the flower vines in the backyard.

After struggling to extract this sentence from the letter, Shen Tingzhou thought, what was coming would come.

At the appointed time, Shen Tingzhou put on a windbreaker and went out.

Fu Huaifei had already been waiting under the flower vines, dressed impeccably, every hair in place.

Standing under the moonlight, he was more radiant than the camellias beside him.

Seeing Shen Tingzhou arrive, Fu Huaifei immediately showed the expression of a lovestruck youth, his cheeks tinged with a blush as he timidly called out, "Tingzhou."

Ting~zhou~

Shen Tingzhou faintly heard someone speaking in a pinched tone, and scanning the surroundings, he saw a shadow lurking in the depths of the courtyard.

Fu Huaifei shyly approached Shen Tingzhou and asked, "What are you looking at?"

Shen Tingzhou withdrew his gaze and shook his head. "Nothing."

"Tingzhou." Fu Huaifei moved closer. "I want to tell you—"

A voice interrupted, "Uncle."

Shen Tingzhou and Fu Huaifei turned toward the source of the voice, and a tall figure emerged from the darkness.

Fu Huaifei's face changed. "What are you doing here?"

Xu Xun, holding a silver tabby cat, said, "Walking the cat."

Shen Tingzhou: ... First time hearing about walking a cat.

Xu Xun stroked the soft fur of the kitten and asked, "What are you guys doing?"

Fu Huaifei couldn't answer, and neither could Shen Tingzhou.

The fourth person in the darkness gnashed their teeth in frustration. How could Xu Xun always show up everywhere!

Sangyan strode out, "Sir!"

Fu Huaifei looked over, and Sangyan encouraged him with his eyes: Go for it, confess now, seize the moment and win Dr. Shen!

Fu Huaifei steeled himself, turned, and took the hand in front of him, "Tingzhou—"

Xu Xun's clear eyes reflected Fu Huaifei, "I'm your nephew."

Fu Huaifei was shocked and shook off his hand, not understanding how the person standing here had changed from Shen Tingzhou to Xu Xun, almost causing a major ethical mistake.

Fu Huaifei looked at Sangyan again, who continued to give him a determined look.

Fu Huaifei steeled himself once more and confessed passionately, "Tingzhou, since I met you three years ago, I've considered you my confidant; only you could understand the true meaning of that painting."

Shen Tingzhou, pulled behind by Xu Xun, was puzzled, "What painting?"

Fu Huaifei: "The one in the gallery that you kept looking at—it's my work."

Xu Xun: "Uncle, you don't mean that blank portrait, do you? Dr. Shen didn't even notice it; he just found a place to memorize his speech."

A bolt from the blue!

Fu Huaifei was struck by the harsh truth, his body swaying as he looked at Shen Tingzhou with a heartbroken expression, "How could it be..."

He reached out toward Shen Tingzhou, "Tingzhou, is this true?"

Just as Shen Tingzhou was about to say something, Fu Huaifei covered his face with one hand, creating an elegant curve along his neck, and said sadly, "I knew it. How could anyone in this world understand me, someone like me..."

Xu Xun saw his posture and tone and knew a dramatic performance was coming.

Xu Xun pulled Shen Tingzhou back slightly, calmly making room for Fu Huaifei's stage.

Fu Huaifei seemed to be crying and laughing, "Someone like me, how could I hope for another person to understand and know me? What kind of painting is it? Just a blank sheet of paper."

Sangyan rushed over, "Sir."

This title was filled with sympathy and reluctance.

Xu Xun knew Sangyan would definitely be part of this scene.

Shen Tingzhou was still confused: Wait, what...

Sangyan held Fu Huaifei's trembling hand with both hands, tears glistening in his eyes, "I know how much effort you put into this work."

Xu Xun whispered to Shen Tingzhou, "It's just a piece of white paper."

Shen Tingzhou: !

No wonder there was a glass frame there; he thought the art museum had canceled some artist's work temporarily.

Sangyan said, "It's not just a blank sheet of paper; it's a pure world!"

Shen Tingzhou thought this was a perfect interpretation.

Sangyan: "You used orange light on the white paper, giving this world color and warmth. Every time I see this work, I think of my mother bustling around in the warm kitchen when I was little, and of you sitting in the room, the corner lamp casting ivory light on your face, bringing genuine peace to my heart."

Shen Tingzhou: Wow, what a perfect essay!

Fu Huaifei gave a bitter smile, "Xiao Sang, you don't need to comfort me. I know my fate is like Van Gogh's; only death can bring color to my works."

Sangyan: "How can you say that? Van Gogh doesn't compare to you."

Shen Tingzhou: ...

Taste is a very personal thing. In Xiao Sang's eyes, Fu Huaifei surpassed everything, which wasn't wrong.

Sangyan sincerely praised, "You are excellent, handsome, and talented. I've never met anyone more perfect than you."

With his perfect flattery, Sangyan lavished all-around praise on Fu Huaifei.

The words were so grandiose and the text so embarrassing that Shen Tingzhou couldn't bear to hear it a second time; the ground was littered with his goosebumps.

With his powerful language, Sangyan successfully calmed the beautiful yet fragile master and led him back to his room.

A gust of wind blew, and Shen Tingzhou shivered.

In contrast, Xu Xun remained eerily calm, and Shen Tingzhou couldn't help but ask, "You..."

Xu Xun replied indifferently, "I'm used to it."

These three words carried a story, and Shen Tingzhou genuinely admired him.

-

As the farce came to an end, Shen Tingzhou, who had been innocently involved, felt a bit embarrassed.

The next day, he sought out Sangyan alone and asked about Fu Huaifei's condition.

Sangyan looked exhausted, seemingly not having slept well, but in front of Shen Tingzhou, he remained the impeccable butler, "Sir is fine, thank you for your concern."

Just as Sangyan was about to leave, Shen Tingzhou called him back.

Sangyan turned, seeming puzzled.

Shen Tingzhou hesitated for a moment, cleared his throat, and asked Sangyan, "Does Butler Xiao Sang like cats?"

Sangyan cautiously answered, "Not bad."

Shen Tingzhou clumsily mimicked the butler, "Recently, a friend of mine saved a cat. Since then, the cat has been bringing things every few days. Later, my friend beat it up."

Sangyan: ...

Shen Tingzhou: "Because it brought a mouse."

Sangyan: ...

Shen Tingzhou: "When the cat brought the first mouse, my friend petted it and even gave it a cat treat. This might have given it the wrong signal..."

Sangyan listened to the entire story but still didn't understand what Shen Tingzhou was trying to say.

In the end, Shen Tingzhou spoke in a profound manner, "Sometimes being too gentle isn't a good thing, especially when giving positive feedback for the wrong actions. Don't you agree, Xiao Sang Steward?"

Sangyan didn't understand, but his profession made him accustomed to agreeing with others, "You're right."

Shen Tingzhou looked at the departing Sangyan in a profound manner.

Even though he himself didn't know what profound thing he was implying, he insisted on maintaining that air of profundity.

Last night, while praising Fu Huaifei's looks, Sangyan used terms like ivory white, sculpted plaster, Oedipus, and so on to describe Fu Huaifei.

Shen Tingzhou suspected that Sangyan had inadvertently encouraged Fu Huaifei's distorted aesthetic—pale, thin, and sickly.

Fu Huaifei didn't leave his room all day, lying quietly in his silk sheets, radiating a melancholic beauty.

-

When Sangyan entered with a tray, Fu Huaifei's expression changed slightly, and he said gloomily, "I don't want to eat."

Sangyan looked worried, "You haven't eaten almost all day. How can your body handle that?"

Fu Huaifei coughed weakly, "I have no appetite."

Sangyan could only fret, "The moonlight is beautiful tonight. I'll open the window so you can get some fresh air. Maybe it will improve your mood."

Fu Huaifei nodded and continued lying on his side, still melancholic.

Sangyan drew back the heavy velvet curtains and opened the window. The cool moonlight spread across the bed, making Fu Huaifei's face appear even paler, with veins faintly showing through in a purplish hue.

Normally, at this time, Sangyan would go outside to pick some flowers.

His master was a refined individual, aloof and poetic, his life filled with poetry and distant dreams, untouched by worldly things.

But Sangyan inexplicably remembered Shen Tingzhou's words from earlier that morning—

Sometimes being too gentle isn't a good thing, especially when giving positive feedback for the wrong actions.

Sangyan looked at the frail yet beautiful figure bathed in moonlight, with long hair spread out beside the pillow, and a face as pale and smooth as fine snow.

Sangyan swallowed, "Master, you... you've become too thin."

Fu Huaifei's expression froze, and he looked at Sangyan in shock, "What?"

Gathering his courage, Sangyan repeated, "You've become too thin, not not not looking good."

He had never said such words to Fu Huaifei before, let alone thought them.

What!

I've become too thin, and I don't look good?

Fu Huaifei sat up abruptly, his voice trembling, "Bring me food!"

Author's note:

Doctor Shen: Steward, forever a god!

Xiao Sang Steward: Doctor Shen, my god!