Chapter 88: She Misses Shi Yu

Chapter 88: She Misses Shi Yu

Lin Yao held the phone for a moment, hesitating. If she went to the Shi family's house... would it mean that Shi Yu was there too?

Song Li: "What's wrong, Youyou? Are you busy?"

Lin Yao: "Oh, no... I'm free."

Song Li: "Great. I'll send a car to pick you up tomorrow afternoon. See you then."

Lin Yao: "Okay, Aunt Song. Goodbye."

After hanging up, her roommate overheard part of Lin Yao's conversation and asked if she was going to see Shi Yu tomorrow.

Lin Yao shook her head, her fingers unconsciously clenching and rubbing together inside her sleeves. "No, just that Shi Nian is back. Qi Yanye prepared a surprise for her. Aunt Song invited me over."

"Oh... so you're not going to see Shi Yu."

Lin Yao looked down. "No."

She wasn't going because she hadn't seen Shi Yu in a long time.

She didn't want to see him at all... not one bit.

*

The next afternoon, the Shi family's car arrived on time to pick up Lin Yao.

As the car drove along the familiar road into the estate, Lin Yao saw Song Li and Shi Nian waiting for her on the villa's steps.

Today, Song Li wore a fairy-like white dress, but it had a touch of coolness. Beside her, Shi Nian had a similar aura, wearing an intricately embroidered beige fringed dress. The mother-daughter pair looked like sisters standing together.

"Youyou..."

"I've been waiting for you..."

"Aunt Song, Shi Nian..."

Lin Yao got out of the car and was immediately hugged by Shi Nian, who ruffled her hair. She noticed that Shi Nian's right hand had healed.

Lin Yao was pleasantly surprised and hugged Shi Nian tightly.

Seeing someone familiar, the unease and sadness in her heart found an outlet.

Especially when she smelled the familiar scent of lily of the valley mixed with citrus from Shi Nian, it made her feel both reassured and comfortable.

"Your hand is better?" Lin Yao asked with concern.

Shi Nian: "Yes. I got it treated while abroad. Youyou, how have you been..."

"Cough." A light cough suddenly came from behind.

Lin Yao turned her head and saw Qi Yanye, who was wearing a rare, well-tailored formal black suit today. He looked handsome and rebellious, but his gaze towards her was somewhat fierce.

Lin Yao: ...

She quietly released her grip on Shi Nian's waist, knowing that Qi Yanye, like Shi Yu, was quite jealous.

Qi Yanye walked up and put his arm around Shi Nian's waist, claiming his territory.

Lin Yao glared at Qi Yanye.

So childish... just like Shi Yu.

When Song Li asked them to go inside, Lin Yao realized that in those few seconds, she had subconsciously thought of Shi Yu twice.

Seeing the decorations set up in the living room,

Lin Yao: "Will many people be coming tonight?"

"Yes, there's a party tonight," Shi Nian said, her face slightly red. "Qi Yanye arranged it as a surprise to celebrate my return. I don't know what he's planning."

Lin Yao: "...Who else will be here?"

As she asked this question, Lin Yao realized what she had subconsciously wanted to know.

She wasn't really asking about the guests.

In that moment, a voice in her heart was wondering if Shi Yu would show up.

Shi Nian: "I'm not sure, maybe some guests. However, my grandfather and Shi Yu won't be here tonight. They have something important at the company, a crucial international meeting."

Lin Yao nodded, biting her lip.

So... Shi Yu won't be here tonight.

She couldn't tell whether she felt relieved or experienced a heavy sense of disappointment.

He really did a good job.

Saying he wouldn't disturb her, he didn't.

The party was still some time away, and Shi Nian had already been taken somewhere by Qi Yanye.

Song Li led Lin Yao to taste the freshly baked desserts she had made herself.

Noticing that Lin Yao seemed tired, she suggested that Lin Yao rest in her room and change clothes before the evening's event began.

Upstairs, next to Shi Yu and Shi Nian's rooms, was Lin Yao's room.

She pushed the door open and entered, finding the familiar layout before her eyes.

Not long ago, it was in this very room that Shi Yu held her as they slept through the night.

Strangely, today, the name "Shi Yu" had been appearing unusually frequently in her mind.

But then, Lin Yao felt a sense of relief.

After all, she was at the Shi family's residence today; it was natural to think of Shi Yu.

There was no need for her to be too nervous or feel too strange about it.

It was all perfectly normal.

However, when Lin Yao stepped into the spacious walk-in closet of her room and saw the rows of dresses hanging there, she froze.

Among so many new dresses of various colors and styles, not a single red dress could be found. Lin Yao remembered that previously, the dresses were organized by color, with a whole row of red dresses hanging prominently. Now, they were nowhere to be seen.

She recalled that day, right in this bedroom.

She sat on the edge of the bed, being held by Shi Yu as he dried her hair, while she playfully scolded him... saying that she hated red and would never wear a red dress again.

Suddenly, Lin Yao's eyes welled up with tears.

They had broken up, and she no longer lived here, yet he still remembered to organize the closet according to her preferences.

But then, Lin Yao noticed the lower right corner of the closet.

Wait... there were red dresses after all.

In the inconspicuous corner at the far right.

Among all those dresses, two red ones were hidden away.

Lin Yao took out the dresses, her ears turning red, her eyes shimmering with unspoken thoughts.

These were the only two red dresses in the closet, both worn by her before.

One was the little dress she wore during a performance, which got dirty when Shi Yu carried her into the bathroom and messed around with her.

Later, she watched him clean it herself, worried that Aunt Song might notice something the next day.

As for the other red off-the-shoulder long dress,

it was the one she wore while accompanying Aunt Song shopping, in the lounge where...

Lin Yao couldn't help but recall many past moments with Shi Yu.

He gently kissed her, holding her chin, always wrapping his hand around her waist.

He loved to carry her and kiss her, making her cling to him helplessly.

When he was angry and jealous, despite his frustration, he would still speak to her in a soft, soothing voice.

And when he truly scared her, his cold and distant eyes asked if they could avoid breaking up.

All these memories... even the most difficult winter they spent together, flashed through her mind.

During their strained relationship, every cold encounter at school, and the moments they passed each other.

And... when she was most heartbroken as a child, he was always the first to hold her hand.

He was her most loyal guardian during her transformation and the closest witness to her growth.

At this moment, Lin Yao covered her mouth, sobbing silently.

What should she do...

She admitted...

She missed him.

*

She missed Shi Yu...

The party officially began.

Lin Yao appeared in a red off-the-shoulder wavy long dress, drawing numerous admiring glances from the crowd.

Her skin was fair and translucent, her long black hair casually tied back, and although she was wearing unfamiliar high heels, this innocence only made her more captivating.

Especially when Song Li and Shi Nian led her downstairs, it sparked much speculation among the guests about her identity.

But Lin Yao felt uneasy.

Ever since she put on this red dress, she sensed a pair of eyes watching her from behind.

Her first instinct was to think of Shi Yu.

Several times at school, she had the same feeling, knowing that Shi Yu was secretly watching her.

But... Lin Yao glanced around the banquet hall.

Amidst the bustling crowd, she did not see the familiar figure.

Moreover, unlike at school, when she looked back, the gaze did not disappear; instead, it grew stronger.

Besides, she had just asked Song Li and learned that Shi Yu was still in a meeting with Mr. Shi Kaiji at the company.

He hadn't returned yet.

After the initial pleasantries, several handsome and distinguished young men approached Lin Yao to strike up conversations.

However, apart from her interest in the buffet table, Lin Yao was indifferent to everything else around her.

Moreover, tonight, she had no desire to dance at all.

Lin Yao politely declined their invitations and sat alone in a corner, lost in thought.

The gentlemen were courteous and respectful; seeing the girl's clear rejection, they did not disturb her further.

The men surrounding Lin Yao dispersed.

At this moment, Lin Yao distinctly felt that the intense gaze that had been following her like a shadow seemed to weaken slightly.

She turned back, puzzled.

Behind her was only a wall, with a pillar beside it—nothing else.

Where did this feeling of being watched come from?

Could she be hallucinating because she was thinking too much about Shi Yu?

Just then, a young man with an obvious mixed-race appearance approached her with a glass of champagne.

The mixed-race man did not immediately step forward but stood at a distance, tilting his head to look at her for a few moments before tentatively calling out, "Are you... Lin... Lin Yao?"

Lin Yao raised her eyes, "What?"

The mixed-race man smiled and moved closer, "Yes, you're Lin Yao... You are Lin Yao."

Lin Yao was momentarily stunned before realizing what he had said.

This foreigner had mispronounced her name.

She corrected him helplessly, "I'm Lin Yao, not Lin Yao... Who are you? Do you know me?"

"Haha, I knew I didn't get it wrong; you really are Lin Yao!" The mixed-race man laughed heartily, as if he couldn't remember her correction, "I'm Frank, Shen's college classmate. I've seen your picture in his photos."

Lin Yao: "Shen?"

Frank: "Shen, Chao, Wen."

When Frank pronounced "Shen Chaowen," it was clear and correct.

But when those three words left his mouth, the intense gaze that had just weakened behind Lin Yao suddenly intensified again.

She could even feel that the person behind that gaze experienced a strong emotional fluctuation.

The gaze became more intense and concentrated, even carrying a sense of suppressed anger and jealousy.

This feeling was so clear that Lin Yao was certain it wasn't her imagination this time.

While talking to Frank, she kept observing her surroundings, especially the area behind her.

Frank: "Shen is my college roommate. That guy is incredibly beautiful; I've never seen such a beautiful Easterner. Later, he showed me a photo. Everyone in the photo was beautiful. Shen told me that everyone in your country looks like this, all good-looking."

Lin Yao finally understood after listening for a while.

The photo Shen Chaowen showed this foreigner must have been taken when he was hospitalized, after reconciling with Qi Yanye, where they took a group photo by his hospital bed.

Lin Yao deliberately said, "How is Shen Chaowen doing abroad? Is he better now? When will he come back? I miss him."

As soon as the girl deliberately said "miss him," the intense gaze behind her almost pierced through her.

In that instant, she discovered something.

On the wall behind her, at the very top, there was a tiny pinhole camera lens.

It must be... a pinhole camera?

She had no doubt that this camera also had audio recording capabilities.

Frank continued talking about Shen Chaowen, mentioning how Shen Chaowen, pointing at Lin Yao in the photo, would clench his teeth and say that this girl once knocked him out.

Because of this, Frank remembered Lin Yao more vividly than the other people in the photo, including Shi Nian and Shi Yu.

According to Frank, what surprised him most was that such a delicate and soft-spoken girl could knock out someone like Shen Chaowen.

His surprise was no less than hearing that Qi Yanye had punched out Shen Chaowen's wisdom tooth.

Frank continued talking, but Lin Yao was no longer paying attention.

Her entire focus was on the pinhole camera behind her.

Logically, she should not be able to sense the person watching her through the camera. Yet every time Frank mentioned Shen Chaowen, she could almost imagine the cold gaze behind the camera.

Shi Yu was actually at home.

He was in this mansion.

Yet he deliberately avoided meeting her.

Not knowing how she felt, Lin Yao acted as if she was deliberately pouting.

As soon as Frank left, she lifted her dress and headed towards the garden behind the villa.

By now, it was already dark outside. The garden behind the Shi family's villa was adorned with various beautiful landscape lights, and the twinkling lights wrapped around the tree branches looked like stars fallen from the sky.

And the feeling of being watched also disappeared.

Sure enough, there were no surveillance cameras in the garden.

The girl couldn't help but wonder if she stayed in the garden without going out, would he eventually come looking for her because he hadn't seen her for so long?

Or... would he only send someone to check if she was safe.

Not knowing if her choice was correct, Lin Yao felt like she was taking a huge gamble, holding her dress as she walked deeper into the garden.

She didn't believe that Shi Yu, who cared so much about her, could resist coming to find her once he noticed she had been gone for a while.

She didn't believe that he, being so possessive and jealous, would let others be alone with her.

She... was gambling.

But before the gamble even began, an unexpected incident happened to her as the gambler.

The heel of her high heels slipped, and the red figure of the girl fell clumsily onto the pebble path in the garden.

"Ouch..." Lin Yao winced in pain, supporting herself on the ground with both hands, feeling intense pain in her palms and ankle simultaneously.

Especially her ankle; after a brief sharp pain, it started to swell noticeably.

She tried to get up but fell back down as soon as she stood.

She hissed in pain.

Her ankle hurt even more.

Instantly, she dared not move.

How unlucky.

Lin Yao looked back at the long pebble path she had walked, realizing she had unknowingly reached the deepest part of the garden.

Everything around her was pitch black.

Those beautiful starry lights adorning the front yard's vegetation naturally did not extend to the depths of the garden.

So there wasn't even a single light here.

The girl instinctively reached for her phone, then remembered that she had left it in the room because carrying it with her evening gown was inconvenient.

She panicked instantly.

The villa nearby was hosting a party, yet the surroundings were eerily quiet, with no sound from the villa audible.

How far was this distance?

If she couldn't hear the music from the villa, it was even less likely that they could hear her cries for help.

What if Shi Yu never came out to look for her?

Would she have to spend the entire night alone in the garden tonight if no one found her?

Just then, a cold wind blew by, sending a chill through Lin Yao's arms.

"Shi Yu..."

In a panic, she called out his name instinctively.

"Shi Yu... where are you?"

Even though she knew he might not hear her, in moments of fear and helplessness, the person she instinctively wanted to see was still him.

"Shi Yu..."

"Come out..."

"I know you're here, come out, please..."

"Come out..."

She whimpered, and the tears she had been holding back finally fell uncontrollably.

She missed Shi Yu so much.

Never before had she wanted to see him as much as she did now.

But there was nothing.

No response from the surroundings.

Apart from the even colder night breeze in the depths of the garden, there was nothing else.

The girl's sobs gradually turned from hysterical weeping to low, muffled crying.

Only her slender shoulders continued to tremble slightly, her soft lips moving silently, whispering that name, "Shi Yu..."

"Next time you want to see me, call my name louder."

A sudden, deep voice spoke from behind her.

Lin Yao froze for a moment, then slowly turned around.

He stood at the end of the uneven pebble path where she had tripped.

Dressed in simple black pants, his dark, deep eyes were fixed on her tear-stained face. Those eyes seemed to emit a faint glow, capable of seeing through Lin Yao entirely.

"Shi Yu..."

She choked back a sob and reached out her hands toward him.

Unaware that the moment he saw her unharmed, the man had breathed a sigh of relief. And when he first appeared, his breathing was noticeably uneven.

Shi Yu's brows furrowed slightly as he stepped forward to embrace her.

"Husband is here."

A low, gentle sigh.

She clung to him, crying even harder.

No one knew how terrified Shi Yu had been when Lin Yao disappeared from the banquet, gone for a long time, and couldn't be found on any surveillance footage. In that instant, countless rumors about such high-society gatherings flooded his mind—stories of strange, terrifying, scandalous, or mysterious events.

The number of incidents that had occurred in the garden alone, both tragic and salacious, was unknown.

None of them were something his little green tea could handle.

In that moment, Shi Yu suddenly felt an overwhelming regret for playing this game of change with her these past few days.

He should have stayed by her side every step of the way.

Even if it meant confining her and making her hate him, it would have been better than this.

Fortunately, in one of the surveillance videos, they finally saw her walking towards the back garden...

After a while, he finally managed to calm her down.

Shi Yu tried to help her up but found that the girl had become very clingy, snuggling into his arms like a child, her hands hanging around his neck, unwilling to let go.

"My ankle hurts..." she sniffled, her eyes red and looking pitifully vulnerable.

Shi Yu paused for a second before kissing her gently. "Let me take a look."

He held her tenderly, like a precious treasure.

His slender fingers lightly brushed over her delicate ankle. As soon as he touched it, she winced in pain, and he felt a noticeable swelling under his fingertips.

"It looks like a sprain. I'll carry you out." He lifted her up to leave.

"No, no," Lin Yao suddenly remembered something and clutched his neck anxiously. "You can't just carry me out like this."

Shi Yu stopped and frowned. "Why not?"

His expression turned slightly cold. "Is it because you don't want our relationship exposed to others?"

He thought after this incident, she could accept him openly.

"It's not that..." Lin Yao bit her lip, sensing Shi Yu's slight anger, yet feeling equally aggrieved.

She swallowed her growing sadness, tears clinging to her lashes, and gently rested her head against his tense jaw, remaining silent.

Shi Yu softened his tone, lifting her lowered face and kissing away the tears on her lashes. "Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't carry you out. I'll take you to the garden entrance and have a servant accompany you out."

He couldn't bear to see her distressed.

"It's not that..." Lin Yao's voice grew softer as she buried her face deeper into his neck, holding onto him tightly. "It's not because of that."

"Shi Yu... I'm afraid people will see us together and cause you trouble. What if Miss Zhou hears about it..."

"Miss Zhou?" Shi Yu's reaction was unexpected. "Which Miss Zhou?"

Lin Yao: "Ah?"

Confused, she looked up at him.

How could Shi Yu not know?

But his expression remained calm and natural, his gaze focused and caring, showing no hint of concealment or guilt.

Lin Yao forced out a weak voice from her throat: "Just... just Miss Zhou, Zhou Yanan from the Zhou family. Auntie said you two are going to get engaged."

"Engaged? My mother said so."

Shi Yu's eyes turned cold, suddenly understanding something. He lifted her guilt-ridden face from his chest.

"Baby, is this why you suddenly wanted to break up with me?"

"..." She saw the barely contained irritation in his eyes and dared not answer.

Shi Yu's face darkened, his grip tightening as he lifted her. "I'll take you to my mother right now and ask her."

"No, no... It wasn't Aunt Song's arrangement, it was your grandfather..." The words slipped out before Lin Yao realized what she had said.

Oh no, was she born to be a green tea side character, even more so than green tea itself?

One sentence and she had implicated Shi Yu's grandfather.

"Old man?" Hearing it wasn't his own mother, Shi Yu's face darkened further.

Without stopping, he carried the girl in her red dress and strode towards the brightly lit villa ahead.

Lin Yao was startled, whimpering softly and burying her face in his chest.

...

...

In the villa's front hall.

"Holy crap, who's that... He's so handsome."

"That one... I think that's the eldest grandson of the Shi family. I saw him at a dinner party last time."

"So that's the eldest grandson of the Shi family? He's just as cold as his sister. Who's the girl in his arms? Too bad we can't see her face..."

Shi Yu carried Lin Yao out of the villa, his entire body exuding icy anger.

The little girl nestled in his arms, her hands tightly gripping his neck, afraid of being seen by acquaintances.

Fortunately, there were many guests at the banquet. By the time Song Li and Shi Nian heard the news and rushed to the front hall, Shi Yu had already left with Lin Yao.

Song Li turned to ask Shi Nian, "They said Shi Yu carried a girl away. Did you see who it was?"

Shi Nian shook her head, confused.

Weren't they supposed to surprise Shi Yu next week, telling him that Grandpa had found his white moonlight and arranged an engagement?

Could it be that Zhou Yanan came tonight as well?

Behind them, Qi Yanye, who overheard the mother-daughter conversation, sympathetically rubbed his nose for Shi Yu.

Fortunately, although Shi Nian is slow in matters of the heart,

at least he is proactive enough.

...

...

The Rolls-Royce left the estate and headed straight for the city center.

Lin Yao sat in the car, leaning against the back seat, watching the estate gradually fade into the distance amidst the lights.

"Where are we going?" she asked, puzzled.

But Shi Yu did not answer.

Beside him was a first-aid kit.

His slender fingers held Lin Yao's swollen ankle, carefully applying medicine and providing basic treatment.

Lin Yao: "Shi Yu, say something?"

He still did not respond, only raising an eyebrow to indicate that she should spread out her hands.

Lin Yao pursed her lips and opened her palms.

Fortunately, the wounds on her palms were not deep; they were just superficial scrapes with two or three tiny grains of sand embedded.

Shi Yu's jet-black eyelashes lowered as he carefully cleaned her wounds with a clean cotton swab dipped in water, then applied iodine.

He performed these actions gently and meticulously.

Initially, Lin Yao was upset that Shi Yu had carried her away without saying anything and put her in the car.

But now, seeing how focused and careful he was while treating her wounds,

her heart felt a pang of tenderness, even the slight flutter of his dark eyelashes under the car lights seemed to touch her soft heart.

Shi Yu placed a waterproof bandage on her wound: "There, don't get it wet tonight."

Lin Yao obediently nodded and softly responded with an "Mm" from her nose.

She suddenly felt an intense longing for him, saying nothing, she snuggled into his arms.

Shi Yu smiled and lifted her onto his lap: "So you miss me that much?"

Lin Yao nodded in his embrace: "Mm."

"You miss me, yet you wanted to give me away to someone else." His fingertips gently caressed the back of her neck, causing the fine hairs there to stand up.

Ugh... Shi Yu is so scary.

"Not giving you away," she whispered, hugging him tightly, "never again."

Regardless of whether Zhou Yanan was there or if there was an engagement... no matter what happens after a year.

She would never let go of Shi Yu again.

The little girl clung to him like a treasure, finally bringing some comfort to Shi Yu's gloomy and angry mood.

He lifted her up and fiercely kissed her trembling lips, grinding them together.

"Baby, remember what you just said."

"Mmm..."

"Be good, open your mouth."

"..."

*

When the car stopped at the headquarters of the Shi family's group in the city center, Lin Yao had been thoroughly tasted by Shi Yu from inside out.

Probably because of her guilty conscience, she was very well-behaved tonight. Even when he bit her hard, she only whimpered like a little kitten. For now, he decided not to hold it against her.

But when she saw the building outside the car and realized where they were and whom he intended to meet, Lin Yao lost her nerve.

"Don't... You can go up by yourself. Why do you have to bring me along!"

He was going to see his grandfather. Why did he need to bring her?

Lin Yao struggled to open the car door, but with her injured hand, she couldn't manage it and was easily picked up by Shi Yu and carried away from the car.

"I believe you, I believe you, okay..." Lin Yao was almost in tears, "I won't ask about Zhou Yanan anymore. Just let me wait in the car..."

"No."

"This matter requires your presence."

Without giving Lin Yao any chance to refuse, Shi Yu carried her into the elevator and went straight to the top floor.

...

In the chairman's office on the top floor, Shi Kaiji had already been informed that his grandson was coming up.

Ever since he reunited with his long-lost son's family, his mood had improved significantly. Miraculously, some black strands had even appeared among his previously all-white hair.

He looked vibrant and at least ten years younger.

Recently, Shi Kaiji was on cloud nine. His business was thriving, and the long-desired family affection had finally come his way.

However, his grandson Shi Yu remained the coldest towards him compared to his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

But no matter. As long as he could show Shi Yu the white moonlight he had found for him next week, their relationship would surely improve...

"Bang—"

Shi Yu didn't knock; he just pushed open the office door.

Before Shi Kaiji could figure out what was happening, he saw Shi Yu carrying a blushing young girl who was struggling in his arms as he brought her into the office.

"Shi Yu, let me go..."

"Put me down..."

"You're mean, let go..."

The young girl continued to struggle in Shi Yu's arms, completely unaware that someone else had entered the room.

"Shi Yu, you... What is this..."

The sudden voice startled her.

Only then did Lin Yao realize they were already in Shi Kaiji's office.

She turned around and saw the astonished old man, Shi Kaiji, and immediately felt mortified.

Lin Yao mumbled softly and hid herself in Shi Yu's embrace.

The old man was a bit confused: "You are... the little girl from the Lin family?"

Shi Kaiji remembered seeing Lin Yao when he went to Jincheng to pick up Shi Yu years ago.

But what was going on here?

If Shi Yu was holding Lin Yao, then who was Zhou Yanan, whom he had specially brought back from abroad for Shi Yu...

Lin Yao's face turned bright red, but she couldn't ignore the elder's question.

So she stayed nestled in Shi Yu's arms and softly said, "Hello, Grandfather Shi."

Shi Kaiji: "..."

Indeed, it was her.

Shi Kaiji: "Shi Yu, what is going on?!"

Shi Yu had just placed Lin Yao on the sofa and turned around with a cold expression. "I should be asking you what's going on, old man."

Shi Kaiji: Hiss...

Shi Yu had only recently started calling him grandfather. Why was he reverting to calling him old man now!

"Zhou Yanan, engagement, what game are you playing?" Shi Yu leaned on the large desk with both hands, his brows furrowed deeply, his gaze icy.

Shi Kaiji suddenly had a bad feeling.

But after years in the business world, he wouldn't show weakness.

Shi Kaiji: "What game? What game could your grandfather play? I arranged an engagement for you according to your preferences..."

He raised an eyebrow: "My preferences?"

Shi Yu smiled, but it was a cold smile.

Shi Yu: "When did I ever tell you my preference was someone surnamed Zhou."

Shi Kaiji: "This..."

Indeed, he hadn't. It was based on the report from his investigators.

But Shi Kaiji was an elder, and it was absolutely unacceptable to admit defeat so easily.

Shi Kaiji: "Grandpa's investigation is based on solid evidence. Think about it—have you ever mentioned this to anyone? Otherwise, why would my people have found out this information when they went to Jincheng..."

The old man couldn't continue, seeing how grim Shi Yu's expression had become.

"Ahem." Shi Kaiji cleared his throat. "Of course, it's also possible that the private investigators these days aren't skilled enough..."

Shi Yu didn't look at him. Instead, he picked up the photo frame on the desk and turned it toward Shi Kaiji.

Shi Yu: "Look at Grandma's photo and say it again. Did I ever mention it?"

Shi Kaiji's expression wavered. "..."

In the photo was the greatest regret of his life and the person he loved most.

Even if he wanted to maintain his dignity as an elder, facing his late wife's photo and looking at the young man who resembled her, even someone as strong-willed as Shi Kaiji could no longer hold his ground.

"Grandpa... was wrong." Shi Kaiji's voice faltered, and he covered his mouth with his hand, coughing lightly. "You never said anything. Grandpa just wanted to surprise you secretly and made these arrangements out of self-assumption."

What white moonlight, what first love.

It was all just Shi Kaiji trying to please his grandson by investigating and spreading rumors he thought were true.

The private investigator went to their old courtyard and heard someone mention that his grandson seemed to have liked a girl from the Zhou family in the past.

The only clue was that Shi Yu had once said he liked blue.

And the girl from the Zhou family was known for wearing a blue dress when she was young.

To impress, he didn't verify further, thinking he'd bring the girl back first and replace her if Shi Yu didn't like her. So he directly approached the Zhou family with subtle inquiries.

Now, reflecting on it, after years of business acumen, he realized he had grown old and foolish to make such an obvious mistake.

When Shi Kaiji asked if their daughter was his grandson's white moonlight and first love, anyone would be confused.

Seeing Shi Yu carrying the Lin family's little girl in, both of them seemingly upset over this matter, Shi Kaiji knew he had done something wrong.

...

Lin Yao watched, somewhat stunned.

Though the story was convoluted, she understood the general situation.

So... everything was Shi Kaiji's one-sided arrangement.

In fact, before today, Shi Yu had never even met the Zhou family. Shi Kaiji had deliberately kept it a secret to surprise him, and he had no idea about it.

But...

"Did you hear that, baby? You accused me wrongly." Shi Yu walked over, half-knelt in front of her, and held her, pinching her cheek gently.

Lin Yao: "But... but you did say you liked blue. It wasn't entirely wrong... Back then, Zhou Yanan always wore blue dresses in the courtyard, and those boys liked blue because of her..."

"Still don't believe me?"

Shi Yu sighed, caressing her chin with one hand and pulling her into his embrace. "Think about it. In Jincheng, what color clothes did your mom buy you last?"

Lin Yao looked puzzled.

"..." She looked up at him. "Blue... blue?"

Only then did she remember.

Her closet was filled with blue dresses, and even her pajamas and bedding were blue.

Shi Yu kissed her and revealed the truth.

"Actually, back then, there was no particular color I liked. When someone asked, I thought of you and said it that way."

Later, he didn't even know about the rumors of liking Zhou Yanan.

Because he simply didn't care about that woman named Zhou.

If not for Lin Yao mentioning it today, he wouldn't have remembered her name at all.

After all, from childhood, she was the only one in his eyes, his little green tea.

Shi Yu: "If you still don't believe me, you can call Lin Jingtao and Zhou Yuwei. They can confirm that I don't know those people."

"No, no need." Lin Yao stopped him from reaching for his phone. "If I keep calling around, I'll become a laughingstock."

She couldn't bear the embarrassment of asking Lin Jingtao.

"Who dares to say my baby is a laughingstock."

Shi Yu kissed her lips, his voice suddenly becoming low and coaxing.

"Youyou, should you apologize for misunderstanding me?"

That moment felt so familiar.

It was like reliving the time outside the school convenience store when he held her, tears streaming down her face, and asked softly, "Youyou, do you need to apologize for saying the wrong thing?"

A wave of warmth surged through her heart.

Misunderstanding him for so long must have been hard on him.

The little girl responded with a nasal hum and obediently nodded, about to apologize, "I want to apologize to you..."

"Not like that." Shi Yu squatted down in front of her, lifting his eyes, his deep, dark gaze fixed on her. "I put something here; help me take it out."

Lin Yao lowered her eyes, following the direction of his gaze.

She was puzzled, her fingers tentatively reaching in.

First, she touched something made of leather, seemingly a thin, rectangular booklet.

Then she felt a small leather box.

At that moment, Lin Yao had a premonition.

But she couldn't guess what the thin, rectangular booklet was.

"Take it out," she heard Shi Yu's voice, low and deep.

As if bewitched, she retrieved two items from his coat pocket.

A small, dark red, genuine leather box.

And... a passport?

Why did he need his passport?

"What is this...?"

Shi Yu took the box from her hand and opened it in front of her.

Two simple yet elegant matching rings lay quietly inside.

"This is the wedding ring I prepared," Shi Yu said, looking up at her. "Shi Yu wants to ask Lin Yao if she is willing to marry him."

His deep, dark eyes were now intensely warm.

Like a dragon revering its most precious treasure.

"Willing... willing..."

At that moment, her heart nearly melted.

She would agree to anything.

Shi Yu was very satisfied, carefully slipping the ring onto her finger, a perfect fit. Then he had her put one on him, gently lifting her lips for a kiss.

But...

"Wait, marriage..." Lin Yao covered her lips, unable to hold back the tears welling up. "But... but we haven't reached the legal age for marriage..."

"Hmm." Shi Yu nodded calmly. "So, initially, I planned to take you to France to get married. There, you can marry at 18."

Lin Yao: What? 18?

He planned so early?!

Shi Yu opened the passport and handed it to her. Lin Yao realized it was actually her name on the passport.

Lin Yao: "How do you have my passport..."

Shi Yu: "That day when I went back to Jincheng, it was to get the passports. But someone wanted to break up, so I hurriedly got your passport and came back without having time to trick your parents into giving me theirs too."

It was supposed to be arranged for her parents to attend the ceremony.

Too bad.

Lin Yao was stunned, tears still clinging to her eyelashes: "Trick?"

Shi Yu: "I told your parents that during the National Day holiday, I would take you to MIT for a study tour to broaden your horizons. They immediately gave me your passport."

Lin Yao: "..."

Shi Yu kissed her stunned face: "But now it's not necessary. I reconsidered; getting married abroad doesn't give us a red book to show off, which isn't good. We can get engaged first and then register when we reach the legal age."

All the overwhelming emotions, all the promises to agree to anything he said.

Lin Yao's earlier feelings of warmth were now replaced by anger at his straightforward confession.

"I don't want to, I don't want to get engaged... Shi Yu, you're a liar!" She bit him, trying to remove the ring. "I won't agree to reconcile with you."

Why did he always set traps for her?

She hadn't even prepared how to tell her parents, Aunt Song, or Shi Nian. He hadn't arranged anything and still tried to deceive her parents!

That wasn't a surprise; it was a shock.

But Shi Yu wouldn't let go of the little green tea he had managed to win over so easily.

Not only did he refuse to let her remove the ring, but he also picked her up and placed her on the table, ready to kiss her.

"Cough..." Behind them, there was a loud cough from Shi Kaiji.

After witnessing such a display of affection, Shi Kaiji was both moved and impressed.

How could his grandson's personality be exactly like his wife's back then? He, too, had been tricked by his wife.

Shi Kaiji couldn't bear to watch anymore: "Shi Yu, let go!"

Hearing the old man's voice, Lin Yao was relieved.

Shi Kaiji: "Let go of the girl first. She's just a young lady..."

Lin Yao: Granddaughter-in-law?

The young girl bit Shi Yu and glared at him with tears in her eyes. See, even your grandfather knows it now, calling me that.

"I haven't properly explained things to my parents yet."

"You acted first and will explain later. You lied to them; my mother will definitely deal with you when we get back."

She sobbed and refused to let him hold her.

Shi Yu laughed and pulled her back into his arms, coaxing her: "Alright, it’s the husband who was wrong. The husband will just hold you for a moment, and then I won’t hold you anymore."

Lin Yao hated him so much.

He was definitely lying to her.

How could he just hold her for a moment?

Sure enough, Shi Yu, while holding her, tried to lift her up to kiss her.

Suddenly remembering there was an audience behind them.

"Grandfather," he turned around, not calling him old man this time.

Shi Kaiji was delighted: "What? It’s fine, it’s fine. You two continue, don’t mind Grandfather."

Shi Yu coldly said: "You should go off work now."

Shi Kaiji: "..."

The old man had no choice and knew it would be impolite to keep watching, so he left with his pipe.

"Oh right, Grandfather, remember to keep it a secret..." Before Shi Kaiji could close the door for them, he heard Shi Yu’s voice, "or else my wife might run away, and I’ll have to chase after her."

Shi Kaiji: "Ahem, I didn’t see anything."

Inside the room, Shi Yu lifted the girl, who was already trembling from his kisses, completely into his arms.

"Baby, you’re so good..."

"When you’re ready, we’ll meet your parents, and the public announcement will be according to what you want. From now on, everything in our family will be decided by you, alright..."

Lin Yao nodded absentmindedly.

While kissing her, he carried her to his office.

"But before that, you need to feed the husband first..."

Lin Yao sobbed and nodded, entwining her neck with his as he held her.

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