Chapter 64 Unfamiliar Shi Yu

Chapter 64 Unfamiliar Shi Yu

Song Shuyun enlarged the photo on his phone and handed it to the young aristocrat.

He Yan leaned back with one arm on the sofa, glancing at it casually.

The silhouette of the girl on the screen was slender, delicate, and graceful.

Her skin was fair and smooth, every inch of exposed flesh exuding a silent allure.

Especially her face, with thick, fine eyelashes fluttering slightly, revealing eyes that were clear, moist, and innocent—evidently untouched by the world's malice, radiating a purity born of naivety.

Seeing her made one want to corrupt her.

No wonder Song Shuyun, who had seen it all, would be intrigued by just a photo.

It was a pity, though, as he had seen many such photos enhanced by technology and later retouched with Photoshop.

Especially those posted on social media; who knew if they were deliberately staged, taken from specific angles, pretending to be casual but actually meticulously planned shots.

After all, in this age of developed social networks, countless influencers have risen to fame through seemingly innocent photos.

Their apparent innocence and naivety likely hid deep-seated scheming.

He Yan's gaze lingered on the girl's face for only a second before impatiently moving to the young man with sharp features in the photo.

Compared to the girl, he was clearly more interested in the identity of the young man.

He Yan: "Is this the nephew of the Pei family...?"

Song Shuyun's expression stiffened awkwardly. He had intended to show Mr. He a beautiful woman, yet Mr. He seemed more concerned about the man beside her.

Song Shuyun said sheepishly, "Yes, he's the nephew of the wife Pei Lao Er married recently. Her name is Shen Lan, from a small place. I hear Pei Lao Er dotes on her, doing whatever she wants. This woman, backed by the Pei family, has been ignoring us whenever we meet in the capital these past few years. I don't know where she gets her courage. She even started a company, becoming an influencer, making quite a fortune."

He Yan nodded slightly, acknowledging the information.

Those familiar with him could tell that Mr. He was already annoyed by Song Shuyun's foolishness and lack of self-awareness.

Even if Shen Lan was merely Pei Lao Er's second wife, being part of the Pei family meant that even if she ignored or slapped Song Shuyun, he would only offer his other cheek for another slap.

If not for the old ties between their families, He Yan would have wanted to gag Song Shuyun and throw him out of Ding Yan Lou.

He Yan pressed his right hand against his brow, "Alright, let's take our seats. The Shi family's eldest grandson will be here soon."

Finally interrupting Song Shuyun's chatter.

His friends, who usually accompanied him, sensed He Yan's disinterest. They guessed that if this dinner wasn't arranged for the Shi family's eldest grandson, He Yan would have already left in disgust.

After all, he was a man who cared little for others' opinions.

Seemingly gentle and easy-going, he was, in fact, colder than anyone, acting solely on his mood, refusing any face if provoked.

Unfortunately, Song Shuyun, being a fool, lacked the perceptiveness to notice.

Seeing everyone seated, Song Shuyun's mind remained fixated on the girl in the photo.

Such a soft and tender girl, based on his experience, must still be a virgin.

If he could get to her before the Pei family's nephew, it would be a double thrill both physically and mentally.

Song Shuyun grew increasingly excited, almost possessed, holding the photo close to He Yan again, "Mr. He, look at this girl again. I heard she's your junior at school. If you can arrange a meeting for me someday, hehe, I'll beat the Pei family's nephew to it..."

A glass of red wine splashed onto Song Shuyun's grinning face.

"He... Mr. He...!!"

Song Shuyun stood there, stunned, his face covered in wine.

He still held the enlarged photo of Lin Yao, staring in disbelief at the noble man at the head of the table.

He Yan's beautiful almond eyes lowered, concealing his impatience, tossing the empty wine glass onto the table.

The sound of glass hitting the table echoed, making everyone, including Song Shuyun, tense up.

Especially Song Shuyun, whose lustful thoughts suddenly cleared.

"Haha... I'm fine... I'm fine..."

Embarrassed, Song Shuyun laughed nervously, trying to save face.

"I'll... I'll go clean up, ha ha... ha ha... Mr. He, you guys eat first, eat first."

He Yan did not lose his temper outright; splashing wine on Song Shuyun's face was already giving the Song family face.

Otherwise, if he had truly lost patience and said something harsh, it would have been more than just a splash of wine.

After all, spilling wine could be attributed to clumsiness, allowing Song Shuyun to defend himself if anyone mentioned it later.

As long as he didn't feel embarrassed, it was others who would be.

With the clown-like figure finally gone, He Yan calmly instructed the manager to serve the dishes, dismissing the incident.

The manager came in with servers to clean the table and informed He Yan that Qiao Xin had arrived downstairs.

"She's coming up?" He Yan showed no emotion, as Qiao Xin had grown up with him, pampered by his uncle, leaving him helpless, "Fine, tell her the Shi family's eldest grandson is already downstairs. If she wants to see him, she should hurry."

Manager: "Yes."

...

...

Downstairs in the private room, the four girls had almost finished their meal.

Ding Yan Lou truly lived up to its reputation as a high-end restaurant in the capital, with dishes that were not only beautifully presented but also meticulously prepared.

For the first 18 years of her life, Lin Yao had mostly eaten healthy meals under Xia Tingnan's watchful eye.

This was her first proper meal in the capital after getting off the plane, and she was amazed by all the delicious food.

Honestly, at this moment, everything about Shi Yu, the official couple, future breakups, and storylines were all pushed aside.

She felt that Qiao Xin was her favorite person, oh no, Xu Dong'er who silently peeled shrimp for her after she ate, and Jiang Lingling who fed her desserts, were also her favorites.

At this moment, Qiao Xin happened to be in the restroom.

The waiter came in, cleared the plates, and served post-meal desserts and drinks.

"Lin Yao... you really won't have any? This osmanthus wine is so good... I've never tasted anything like it." Jiang Lingling took a sip of the osmanthus wine, her expression full of surprise.

She quickly grabbed another cup and offered it to Lin Yao.

The scent of fragrant osmanthus mixed with the wine filled the air.

The waiter mentioned earlier that this was one of Ding Yan Lou's specialties. Every August, they collected osmanthus flowers, and around this time, they would release the last batch of osmanthus-based desserts and wines before discontinuing them.

This bottle of osmanthus wine was one of those specialties.

"Jiang Lingling, stop tempting me; I can't handle alcohol." Lin Yao's eyes were almost watering with desire.

She loved drinking but couldn't handle it well.

Smelling the fragrant osmanthus, she was almost in tears from craving it.

But Lin Yao knew that even a little bit of alcohol would knock her out; someone who gets dizzy from rice wine and bumps into glass, could only watch longingly.

"Lin Yao, you should be able to drink this. I don't drink either, but after two cups, I feel nothing," Xu Dong'er said, sipping her cup slowly and drawing a conclusion.

Though it was osmanthus wine, the alcohol taste was very light, even lighter than rice wine, without any discomfort.

"Really?" Lin Yao's heart was already itching, and hearing Xu Dong'er say this made her even more tempted.

After all, Xu Dong'er had also said she couldn't drink, yet she had two cups without any issues.

Jiang Lingling: "Really, it's sweet and tastes just like osmanthus. It's like a beverage. Ding Yan Lou only sells this during this season, and you'd miss out if you didn't try it."

Indeed.

Lin Yao couldn't resist the temptation and picked up the cup, taking a small sip.

The rich aroma of osmanthus mixed with the sweet taste of the wine instantly filled her mouth, like honey, with layers of flavor from the tip of her tongue down to her throat.

So good.

Lin Yao couldn't help but take another sip.

One sip, then another, and soon, she had finished the small cup.

Jiang Lingling: "See? It doesn't get you drunk, right?"

Xu Dong'er: "How do you feel? Are you not drunk?"

Lin Yao sat there for a while, and apart from the fragrant osmanthus and wine flavors in her mouth, she felt no discomfort.

Even her face didn't turn red.

"It doesn't get you drunk, and I'm not drunk." She was so happy.

Ding Yan Lou truly lived up to its reputation; the wine here was excellent, and she drank a cup without feeling anything.

Lin Yao felt a surge of excitement and poured herself two more small cups.

Oh, how touching, it's so good.

Just then, Qiao Xin pushed the door open and saw the nearly empty bottle of osmanthus wine on the table and the three of them sipping from their cups.

Qiao Xin looked surprised: "How much did you drink?"

The osmanthus wine at Ding Yan Lou seemed mild and sweet, but it actually had a strong aftereffect.

It might not get you drunk immediately, but later on, it could be quite overwhelming.

"Don't worry, don't worry." Jiang Lingling thought Qiao Xin was worried they hadn't saved any for her, "We saved some specifically for you; these are all yours."

Qiao Xin: "..."

Forget it; since everyone had drunk so much, they might as well stay overnight in a room here.

They didn't want to go back to the dormitory anyway.

Qiao Xin called the manager to settle the bill and asked for a large suite.

She didn't want to scare the others, so she simply said they were too lazy to go back to school tonight and decided to stay here.

Ding Yan Lou had a dedicated floor for hosting VIP guests who wished to stay overnight.

Hearing that they could stay at Ding Yan Lou, Jiang Lingling was naturally the happiest.

Since it wasn't officially the start of school yet and no one was checking dorms, the girls decided to sleep in one room tonight to bond better.

Manager: "By the way, Miss Qiao, Mr. He just said that Shi Family's eldest grandson has arrived and if you want to see him, you should go now."

"Really? The elusive eldest grandson of the richest family is here already?" Qiao Xin's eyes lit up with interest.

"Bang—"

Lin Yao's wine glass fell onto the table, making a crisp sound.

Jiang Lingling quickly pulled her aside. "Oh, Lin Yao, are you okay?"

Xu Dong'er picked up a towel to wipe her hand. "Quick, let me clean this up..."

Qiao Xin turned around and noticed that Lin Yao's cup had cracked on the table, spilling osmanthus wine and filling the room with its fragrance.

She hurried over to check on Lin Yao worriedly.

Lin Yao: "I'm fine, I just dropped it..."

The girl's eyes seemed to redden instantly, looking dazed and lost.

Qiao Xin assumed she was worried. "Don't worry, it's just a broken wine glass. It's not a big deal, don't be scared."

Lin Yao bit her lip but didn't say anything.

Qiao Xin looked closely and, seeing that she was indeed fine, said, "Right, I'll have the manager take you to the rooms upstairs first. I need to meet a friend in another private room."

"Is it the eldest grandson of the richest family you mentioned earlier?"

Lin Yao blurted out.

She didn't know why she asked, even though she kept telling herself not to ask, maybe it was just a coincidence, maybe it wasn't Shi Yu. It couldn't be that coincidental for Shi Yu to be here too.

But those four words, "eldest grandson," were so jarring, like an invisible thorn piercing her heart.

The carefree moments of laughter and eating with her roommates, the pain she had managed to forget, all came rushing back.

Lin Yao thought she could be nonchalant about it.

Turns out, she couldn't.

"Ah? You know about the richest family's eldest grandson too?" Qiao Xin suddenly became cheerful. "Makes sense, it's been all over the internet, so mysterious. Let me tell you, my brother He Yan, you know him, right? He's a famous figure in our school's business school. He's hosting a dinner for the richest family's eldest grandson."

Qiao Xin: "I wonder what he looks like, being so secretive and unwilling to show his face. I bet he's really ugly, like a pig-headed pervert, or just very unattractive, which is why the Shi family keeps him hidden."

"He's not like that." Lin Yao's voice was barely audible.

"What?" Qiao Xin didn't hear clearly. "Anyway, who cares what he looks like. My brother told me to hurry up, or we might miss him. Do you want to come along? I can take you up there."

Jiang Lingling and Xu Dong'er were stunned by the mention of the richest family and He Yan.

Even Jiang Lingling, who loved gossip, knew what these names represented.

She liked gossip, but she wasn't thick-skinned enough to intrude on such high-profile figures.

Both shook their heads. "No, no, we'll go up first and wait in the suite."

"Okay." Qiao Xin sounded a bit disappointed, hoping to bring her friends along for the gossip.

But as soon as she sighed, she heard another soft voice say.

Lin Yao: "...I'll go."

Qiao Xin suddenly perked up. "Great! Come on, I'll take you!"

*

Outside the VIP room on the top floor, the manager respectfully led Qiao Xin and Lin Yao.

Manager: "The guest has arrived and is currently discussing matters with Mr. He. Please wait a moment, Miss Qiao."

Qiao Xin nodded. Even though she usually acted boldly in front of He Yan, she knew this meeting with the Shi Family's eldest grandson must be important.

It wouldn't be appropriate to barge in recklessly.

Behind her, Lin Yao's right hand tightly gripped her left palm.

Her wet eyes fixedly stared at the tightly closed door before her.

She probably already guessed what she would see once the door opened.

Even if she didn't want to believe it, she couldn't change the reality she was about to face.

If she really saw Shi Yu, what would she say?

Pretend she didn't know him, or pretend everything was normal and greet him, saying "Long time no see"?

Thinking about it, the girl's shoulders trembled again, and her legs felt weak.

Her eyes reddened even more.

"Knock knock—"

After two polite knocks, Lin Yao heard a familiar yet magnetic voice from inside the room.

"Please come in."

Fortunately, it wasn't Shi Yu's voice.

The next moment, the private room door slowly opened before her eyes.

The gap gradually widened.

Almost immediately, Lin Yao spotted a tall and straight figure among the diverse group of young men at the table.

It was Shi Yu.

It really was him.

But it didn't seem like him.

The first feeling Lin Yao had upon seeing him was unfamiliarity.

The familiar, youthful calmness seemed to have faded from his eyes and brows.

He wore a meticulously tailored black suit, his hair appeared shorter than she remembered, and his skin was even paler, indicating a life of luxury. His black hair was combed back, giving off an aura of unfamiliar coldness and detachment.

What made Lin Yao feel even more estranged was Shi Yu's gaze.

She had never seen such a look in his eyes before.

As if he were high above, viewing everyone as mere ants, he seemed like a god devoid of emotion or compassion, completely indifferent to the pleas of his followers.

Suddenly, Lin Yao realized that the Shi Yu she found so annoying in high school, who liked to act aloof and observe coldly, wasn't actually that bad.

She now missed that Shi Yu even more.

"Miss Qiao, the discussion inside is over; you can go in," the manager's voice interrupted Lin Yao's almost frozen thoughts.

Qiao Xin: "Come on, Lin Yao, let's go in."

"Wait." She grabbed Qiao Xin's hand.

"I..." Lin Yao's throat tightened, blood rushing to her head, making it hard to breathe. She struggled to steady her voice, "I... I suddenly don't want to go in. How about... I wait for you outside..."

"But..."

Seeing Lin Yao's red eyes, Qiao Xin assumed she was scared and didn't persuade her further.

"Alright, then wait here. I'll go in and check, and come out soon."

Lin Yao bit her lip and nodded.

Then she watched as the heavy door slowly closed before her eyes, once again separating her from Shi Yu.

...

...

Lin Yao didn't wait for Qiao Xin.

How could she?

What if Qiao Xin came out with Shi Yu? She wasn't prepared to face him.

She chickened out.

Lin Yao felt like crying out of frustration.

Why was she so cowardly?

She hadn't done anything wrong; it wasn't her who deliberately ignored him or broke promises.

Yet she ran away.

With red eyes, she left Ding Yan Lou, and a hot breeze hit her face. Only then did she realize something was off.

Her head felt heavy, and her steps were unsteady.

Lin Yao took out her phone to call a car.

"Sis..." Suddenly, a lecherous voice came from behind her, "Are you Lin Yao, sis?"