Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Sheng Jinyu shot him a cold glance. "Did Sheng Zonglan send you?"

His tone was icy, his face grim—he was clearly in a foul mood.

Su He shook his head, still frozen in place. Crouched by the table, he nervously twisted the fabric of his pant leg. "Didn't you call me because you needed me? Or—or maybe it was Mr. Yan. I ran into him at the entrance."

Sheng Jinyu turned his head, scoffing, "Who needs you?"

He probably guessed what was going on, cursing Yan Yichen internally for another one of his harebrained schemes.

The white tiger in his arms rolled over, nudging Sheng Jinyu’s chin with its large head. Sheng Jinyu continued to groom its fur with a special comb.

The man and the tiger seemed perfectly harmonious, as if the massive animal were truly just a docile, oversized cat.

"Still not coming down?" Sheng Jinyu said without looking up.

Su He realized his posture was indeed awkward and impolite. He quickly clambered down, grabbing a tissue to wipe away the dirt his shoes had left on the table.

Then he stood stiffly, like a punished child, his wary eyes fixed on the white tiger.

Sheng Jinyu glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Su He looked tense, his slender fingers tugging at the hem of his clothes as if terrified, his handsome face slightly contorted.

It seemed the slightest disturbance could make him jump, a sight that inexplicably made one want to tease him.

Sheng Jinyu’s lips subtly curved. He scratched the tiger’s soft chin, then stealthily patted its rump.

The white tiger rolled over, stood up, and ambled leisurely toward Su He.

!!!

Su He instantly tensed like a taut wire, even his breathing unconsciously slowing.

He watched, holding his breath, as the white tiger circled him twice, its pink nose sniffing at his dangling hand before snorting with impatience.

Is—is it angry?!

"S-Sheng Jinyu!" Su He couldn't help but clench his fists and call out Sheng Jinyu’s name. "Is it going to bite me? I’m a little scared~"

Sheng Jinyu could tell he was genuinely frightened; even his voice wavered at the end, like a sweet, tremulous moan, the tone winding and sticky, like a cat’s paw suddenly scratching at his heart.

He said, neither warm nor cold, "You’re blocking its toy."

Su He stiffly turned his head. Behind him lay a tattered toy—a one-eyed rabbit.

It had been chewed to bits, but its quality was surprisingly good; it hadn’t come apart or spilled its stuffing.

He quickly moved aside. The white tiger picked up the toy and ambled past him again, returning to Sheng Jinyu’s side, seemingly obedient, nothing like a wild beast ready to attack.

Sheng Jinyu stroked its head, but his words were directed at Su He: "Still not leaving?"

"My task isn’t finished yet," Su He stated bluntly, seeing no need to hide his purpose.

Sheng Jinyu was somewhat surprised. Of course, he knew why Su He had been thrown in here.

But after being scared witless, this guy still remembered some ridiculous task? He was truly determined.

He lowered his head and remained silent, resolved to ignore him. If Su He was so resistant to having his privacy probed, what gave him the right to think he could persuade Sheng Jinyu? It was baffling.

However, Su He didn't try to persuade him as expected. Instead, he shuffled closer to Sheng Jinyu, step by tiny step, curiously observing the white tiger.

He had never been this close to such an animal. Even as a child at the zoo, he had only seen them through thick glass.

The white tiger was black and white, likely young, with a pink nose and ears, and even gray-pink paw pads. It was constantly licking Sheng Jinyu’s palm, looking like a giant silver tabby.

He slowly crouched beside Sheng Jinyu, hugging his knees, and cautiously asked, "Can I touch it?"

Sheng Jinyu turned to examine him. The same person who had been terrified moments ago now had such immense curiosity?

"Don't worry, it doesn’t bite people."

That was good. Just as Su He relaxed, Sheng Jinyu leisurely added, "It usually just eats them whole."

Su He’s outstretched hand instantly recoiled, and he rubbed his fingers, looking shaken.

Sheng Jinyu let out an amused snort.

Su He knew he’d been played. After sitting for a while, he shuffled even closer to Sheng Jinyu, until only a fist’s width separated them.

"Does it have a name?" he asked curiously.

Sheng Jinyu uttered a word that sounded like "Basen"—neither English nor French, an untraceable phonetic transcription from some language. Su He tried to mimic it but couldn't quite get the accent.

"Sorry, I can’t learn it."

"What good would it do if you could?"

Su He looked down at Basen. The little white tiger had been playing with its toy, but now Sheng Jinyu was clipping its nails, making it squirm restlessly. However, Sheng Jinyu quickly subdued it.

"Grrr~"

Basen protested with a few low growls, its large head poking out from the gap between Sheng Jinyu’s arm and thigh, bringing its face directly in front of Su He’s.

The soft white fur on its chin bristled, looking incredibly inviting.

Su He couldn't resist taking advantage of the tiger’s predicament, slowly using his fingertips to gently scratch the soft flesh under its chin.

The little creature let out a few half-hearted growls, glaring fiercely at him, but being held captive by its owner, it couldn't resist and simply flopped onto its back, at his mercy.

Su He smiled, satisfied, and withdrew his hand.

He sat quietly beside them, occasionally teasing Basen. Even when Basen ignored him, he remained perfectly content, always knowing when to stop, enjoying himself immensely.

He seemed to have completely forgotten his "task," simply providing quiet company to Sheng Jinyu.

A long time passed—so long that even Sheng Jinyu began to wonder: What exactly was Su He here for?

Not saying a word, just sitting there, playing with his white tiger?

As the sun began to set in the distance, Sheng Jinyu brushed off the grass and stood up. Su He, noticing his movement, rose as well, sticking to him like a magnet.

Sheng Jinyu went to put away his tools, and Su He followed. Sheng Jinyu led Basen back to its enclosure for dinner, and Su He followed, waving goodbye to the little white tiger at the door.

Sheng Jinyu ignored him and walked into the changing room, only to spot the perfectly pressed tuxedo hanging on the rack, with a matching tie and gemstone brooch laid out in an open velvet box.

Quite thoroughly prepared…

He suddenly turned, slamming a hand against the doorframe, his tall figure blocking the entrance. Su He nearly crashed into him and looked up to find Sheng Jinyu looking down at him, his tone neither warm nor cold: "Are you coming in while I change?"

"You finally decided to show up? Great! I won't come in. Call me if you need anything!" Su He smiled brightly, waving cheerfully as he stepped back.

"..."

Thirty minutes later, Sheng Jinyu appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall.

Su He followed behind him, tugging at his ill-fitting suit and muttering, "Why do I have to come too?"

"You don’t have to. Honestly, I’d rather not be here myself." Sheng Jinyu turned as if to leave.

Su He panicked and quickly stopped him. "Alright, alright, let’s just go in!"

Though he didn’t understand the connection between Sheng Jinyu’s two statements, he had at least managed to bring this high-maintenance individual here—he couldn’t let all that effort go to waste at the door.

Sheng Jinyu’s lips curved slightly in satisfaction, and he turned to enter. Su He had no choice but to follow.

Standing to one side of the floral lounge, Yan Yichen crossed his arms and looked over, smiling confidently at the old butler beside him. "See? Just as I said, there’s no need to worry."

The old butler looked hesitant, his face filled with concern. "Young Master Yan, is that person… the young master’s… friend?"

"For now, yes," Yan Yichen replied with an ambiguous smile.

"For now!"

The poor old butler’s already anxious heart leaped into his throat. "For now"… did that mean their relationship would soon progress to something more intimate?!

Throughout the evening, Su He shadowed Sheng Jinyu, though not too closely. He simply made a habit of refilling Sheng Jinyu’s glass whenever he was engaged in conversation.

When the stemmed glass was handed to him, Sheng Jinyu took a sip and frowned slightly, casting a sidelong glance at Su He. Su He leaned in behind him and whispered, "You’re still on medication—you can’t drink."

The glass, bubbling to mimic champagne, was actually pineapple sparkling water.

This kind of ruse to avoid alcohol was usually scorned at banquets, but as long as it went unnoticed, it was the best strategy. Sheng Jinyu ignored him and continued his conversation.

Su He retreated to the side. Though he knew no one here, many recognized his face.

Occasionally, as he passed murmuring crowds, Su He caught snippets of his own name tangled in outlandish gossip.

Some claimed he’d been living like a dog after being cast out by the Su family, others whispered he’d latched onto some powerful figure and was prostituting himself. The variety was so rich it could fill a tabloid’s front page…

Some of these rumors originated from Lin Jing, the original host’s ex-boyfriend.

After the original host was expelled from the family, Lin Jing lost his leverage in high society. To regain the Su couple’s trust and reintegrate into the circle, he resorted to slandering the original host.

The more the rumors spread, the more people believed them. Those who once dined and drank with the original host now treated him like dirt.

In a way, it was for the best—fewer acquaintances meant fewer chances of giving himself away.

As the banquet entered its latter half, Su He stood in a corner, watching Sheng Jinyu speak confidently at the microphone. As the designated successor of the Sheng family, his presence was undeniably striking—under the spotlight, he seemed to outshine even the jeweled lapel pin on his chest.

Suddenly, his gaze met the speaker’s.

But it lasted only a second before breaking away, so fleeting it might have been an illusion.

Su He lowered his head and retreated into the shadows. His stomach ached with hunger, so he quietly slipped over to the food and drink area and grabbed some scones to fill his stomach, each topped with a large, sweet cherry.

The plump fruit filled his mouth with sweetness. He picked another, eating until his lips were red and he was beaming.

Just as he finished and wiped his hands, he ran into some not-so-familiar acquaintances.

The Su couple clearly hadn’t expected to see him here. Behind them stood a somewhat reserved black-haired young man—likely their biological son.

Out of courtesy, Su He nodded but had no intention of approaching. To his surprise, they came over first.

The poised middle-aged woman scrutinized him. "Ah He, what are you doing here?"

"Is there something you need?" Su He replied cautiously, giving nothing away about his connection to the Sheng family.

Sensing the distance in his tone, the woman awkwardly rubbed her hands and pressed on, "We saw you earlier; you seemed to be with the Sheng family’s third young master. Are you friends?"

"You’re giving him too much credit," the man behind her sneered, maintaining his haughty demeanor. "He’s nothing more than that young master’s lackey. Seems Xiao Lin was right—after leaving us, you’ve done quite well for yourself. Months have passed, and you haven’t once come back to visit. You truly are ungrateful."

Mr. Su’s hypocritical accusations were almost laughable. Arguing was pointless—Su He had no intention of engaging. They had no ties in the past, and there would be none in the future.

"I have things to attend to. Excuse me."

As he turned to leave, Mr. Su flared up. "Stop right there! Is this how you treat your elders? Were the twenty years we raised you for nothing?"