Xiao Zhenliang stopped in his tracks and looked up in disbelief: "You were following me?"
"Stop dreaming. You think you can still be together if you go to him now?" Xie Xiaoling sneered, completely tearing off her gentle mask. "I told you long ago, there's no possibility between you two. I got depression and cancer because of you. If you abandon me now, you'll be condemned by public opinion!"
Xiao Zhenliang gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "Your depression and cancer are fake."
"So what if it's fake? The key is what netizens think." Xie Xiaoling said calmly. "Do you think they care about the truth? No, they just want to take this opportunity to vent their frustrations in life. Open my Weibo now and see, even though the hospital was reported, so many netizens still believe that I am really sick and, under my guidance, they are cursing Yan Shenyu."
"At a time like this, if I said you abandoned me, how do you think the public would view you? With the heir embroiled in scandal, do you think your family company can still raise funds?"
Xiao Zhenliang fell into a long silence. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally raised his head, his eyes bloodshot: "What do you want to do?"
“It’s very simple,” Xie Xiaoling announced, raising her chin. “Marry me, and my family can help you.”
"Marry you..." Xiao Zhenliang sneered, too lazy to pretend to be affectionate anymore, "When everyone knows that I ran away from the wedding to be with you, I will really be unable to hold my head up."
“Don’t worry,” Xie Xiaoling looked up and gave a sweet smile. “If that’s what you’re worried about, I can handle it.”
...
When Yan Shenyu got up, the unfamiliar car downstairs had disappeared, leaving only extinguished cigarette butts scattered on the ground, a testament to Xiao Zhenliang's loneliness and helplessness throughout the night.
Yan Shenyu stared at the pile of cigarette butts in silence for a long time. He really couldn't understand why Xiao Zhenliang was so rude as to throw a pile of garbage in front of his house!
Smoking is fine, but will carrying an ashtray kill you? Or do you think it's inappropriate to be acting all lovey-dovey while carrying an ashtray? If that's your case, then don't smoke!
"Who is this person? So rude!" The nanny couldn't help but curse when she saw a pile of cigarette butts at the door while she was out buying groceries.
Yan Shenyu, dressed in sportswear, walked past the aunt, leaving only a graceful silhouette.
He has recently gotten into the habit of running in the morning, and after he finishes exercising, he does stretching in the garden before his family members gradually get up.
When Yan Zhengang came downstairs, he happened to run into Yan Shenyu after he finished exercising.
He instinctively wanted to reprimand someone, but after glancing at Yan Shenyu, he couldn't find a reason to do so.
In the past, what he disliked most was Yan Shenyu's long hair. Yan Zhengang had scolded him a lot because of his long hair, thinking that he was disheveled and neither male nor female.
But today Yan Shenyu had her hair tied in a high ponytail and was wearing a white headband. She looked young and energetic, so if he were to lecture her, it would seem rather unreasonable.
Yan Zhengang paused for a moment, then finally found a way to break the deadlock: "Your mom said you want to start your own business?"
Yan Shenyu: ?
Starting a business? Is this how Ms. Xu persuaded him through her pillow talk? But when did he ever say he wanted to start his own business?
Starting a business is troublesome and tiring. He has everything he needs now, so why doesn't he just relax and pursue his dreams? He doesn't want to do something so strenuous.
“My mom might have misunderstood something,” Yan Shenyu cleared his throat and tried to put it more tactfully. “I don’t want to start a business; I want to be a freelancer.”
"Freelancer?" Yan Zhengang's face darkened. "Don't tell me you still want to be some kind of minor internet celebrity. I'd be ashamed to even say it. Look at the photos you've taken before, stop right now!"
Yan Shenyu objected: "Internet celebrities earn a living through their own abilities, how is that shameful?"
Yan Zhengang: "What kind of grown man is it to sell his body all day long?"
Yan Shenyu: "You men want to marry beautiful wives, isn't it because you like their looks?"
"You—" Yan Zhengang was speechless, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Anyway, you're not allowed to be a freelancer. This isn't a proper job!"
“I don’t have to do that,” Yan Shenyu said lazily. “Then I’ll just stay home, sponge off my parents, be a spendthrift, ask you for money every day, and cause a bunch of messes for you to clean up.”
"You...you just want to drive me crazy, don't you?" Yan Zhengang didn't expect him to be so stubborn. He coldly threw down a sentence, "Then you come to work at the company tomorrow."
Yan Shenyu: "I don't go to work."
Yan Zhengang: "Then go and start your own business!"
Yan Shenyu: "I have no money."
Yan Zhengang: "I'll give you the money, okay?!"
Outside the door, Yan Yu, who had just returned from his run, paused, somewhat surprised to hear these words from his father.
He underestimated Yan Shenyu, thinking that his younger brother was just a lazy good-for-nothing. He never expected that Yan Shenyu would learn to retreat in order to advance. Knowing that Yan Shenyu's influence had infiltrated the company, Yan Shenyu opened up a completely new entrepreneurial path and started anew, trying to compete with Yan Shenyu.
Yan Yu's gaze shifted to Yan Shenyu's face, who took off her headband and twirled it in her hand, complaining with a reluctant expression: "But starting a business is so troublesome."
Hearing this, Yan Yu's pupils shrank slightly. He hadn't expected Yan Shenyu to still be refusing. Did he really not want to start a business? No, no, no, it must be that the terms hadn't been agreed upon. He was definitely playing the long game, using his resistance to try and get more benefits.
Thinking of this, Yan Yu's pupils suddenly contracted, and he frowned deeply. So his younger brother was actually so cunning.
Yan Zhengang may seem aloof, but he has completely fallen into Yan Shenyu's rhythm.
Sure enough, the next moment Yan Zhengang angrily said, "What in this world isn't troublesome? Eating and sleeping are troublesome too. If you think everything is troublesome, then you might as well just die!"
Yan Shenyu said blankly, "But I don't find eating and sleeping troublesome. They're clearly enjoyable. What I find troublesome is starting a business."
"So you're going to go against me?" Yan Zhengang blurted out angrily, "Then get out of here! This house doesn't welcome freeloaders!"
Upon hearing this, the huge villa fell silent instantly.
Yan Zhengang was panting heavily, feeling only disappointment and frustration.
Yan Yu stood to the side, his feelings complicated, without saying a word.
Yan Shenyu's eyes widened, her expression one of disbelief: "Really?"
Now you know what fear is, right?
These brats are all incredibly rebellious and disobedient, but once their parents control their finances, they have no choice but to submit and follow their instructions.
“Yes,” Yan Zhengang said smugly, “If you don’t go to work or start a business, you’re out to live on your own.”
Unexpectedly, the next moment, Yan Shenyu happily said, "Thank you, Dad! I'll move out right now!"
He was just worried about not finding an excuse to live alone, but unexpectedly Yan Zhengang agreed today, which made him so happy that he immediately went upstairs to pack his luggage.
"Huh??" Yan Zhengang was furious. "Get back here! Did I mean that?"
"Huh?" Yan Shenyu was taken aback, and after a couple of seconds, her expression turned shy. "Are you still going to give me money? If you insist on giving it to me, I can accept it."
"Uh..." Yan Zhengang was almost furious. If he had a heart condition, he would probably be waiting for an ambulance by now.
He finally understood that he couldn't reason with this rebellious son; he would take advantage of any slight.
"You're not allowed to move out!" Yan Zhengang was too lazy to argue with Yan Shenyu and issued an ultimatum: "If you move out, I'll cut off your credit card!"
Yan Shenyu was conflicted. On the one hand, he really didn't have much money left. All his money was invested in the ski resort, and he hadn't had any extra income recently. If his card was really suspended, he would probably be struggling to make ends meet for several months.
On the other hand, he really didn't want to live at home and be scolded by his controlling father every day.
Since Yan Zhengang won't give him money, why doesn't he go to Xu Jingshu?
"You want me to give you money to move out?" Xu Jingshu was putting on makeup in her room when she heard this and said indifferently, "No way."
Yan Shenyu took a step back and compromised, saying, "Can I consider it a loan from you? I'll pay you back after I make money."
Xu Jingshu put on the earrings, looked at him quietly for a long time, and then said, "Don't you understand? The problem isn't whether or not you get money, but that you can't move out."
"Why?" Yan Shenyu frowned. "I've always found it strange. It's one thing for Weiwei to live at home while she's studying, but my older brother and I are already adults, so why do we still have to live together as a whole family?"
"Because your father disagrees."
"Why?"
Xu Jingshu stared at him for a long time, then said quietly, "He lost a child once."
Oh? I see?
Yan Shenyu then remembered that Yan Sheng had gone missing. Although the Yan family had been looking for him, they had not received any news.
Is this why Yan Zhengang has been unwilling to let his child move out?
“He’s just afraid of losing you all again,” Xu Jingshu said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Yan Shenyu's feelings became somewhat complicated.
In the novel, the protagonist casually mentions getting lost, seemingly just a plot device for easy comeback. However, once he actually finds himself in this world, he realizes the immense psychological trauma that the loss of a child can inflict on a family.
“But if you really want to move out,” Xu Jingshu said quietly, picking up a bottle of perfume and spraying it on her neck, “I can give you my apartment in the CBD.”
Yan Shenyu did not answer.
His gaze fell on the white magnolias in the garden, which were shining in the sun, and he suddenly said, "It's so hot today."
Xu Jingshu glanced at the smart display screen and said, "37 degrees."
"Then let's forget about it," Yan Shenyu said lazily, turning her gaze away. "Moving in the summer is such a hassle, it's unbearably hot."
Xu Jingshu paused in her act of spraying perfume, then couldn't help but laugh.
Perhaps even Yan Zhengang didn't realize that this seemingly most rebellious child was actually the most caring and kindest among his siblings.
Yan Shenyu was thinking that once he got Yan Sheng back, Yan Zhengang would have no reason not to let him move out, right?
But by then, probably no one will care whether he's still here or not. After all, once Yan Sheng returns, the entire Yan family will become doting parents, and the protagonist's irresistible charm will surround everyone, even his stepmother Xu Jingshu.
A note from the author:
Before Yan Sheng returned
Yan Shenyu: I can run away whenever I want!
After Yan Sheng returned
Yan Shenyu: You guys go and pamper him! What are you doing standing next to me!
——
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 16 is getting a bit annoying.
Yan Shenyu didn't go out today; she spent the whole day in her room drawing design drafts.
Judging from the inherited memories, the original owner was actually quite talented, but in the end, he became a cannon fodder who was humiliated, which is truly regrettable.
They worked until evening before the design was finally finalized. Yan Shenyu rubbed her rumbling stomach and prepared to order takeout to fill her stomach.
Just as I picked up my phone, Wu Yun called. I asked cautiously, "What are you doing?"
As evening fell, the setting sun cast golden rays on the gauze window. Yan Shenyu sat on a chair under the gauze window, her bangs disheveled and scattered on her forehead, fluttering in the air as the electric fan blew them.
As he tidied up the design drafts on the table, he replied, "I just finished the design and I'm about to order takeout."