Shen Qinghan was standing right behind Si Yiheng, so the moment the photo arrived, it appeared clearly in both their views.
Si Yiheng quickly pressed the screen to turn it off.
Even so, the image remained etched in Shen Qinghan’s mind: legs with smooth, well‑proportioned lines, small and delicate kneecaps, and ankles so slender they seemed like they could be encircled with just a light grip.
She was wearing plain white cotton socks—simple, beautiful, and utterly innocent‑looking.
Shen Qinghan’s ears flushed bright red instantly.
Once he registered exactly what he had just seen, he reacted defensively. “That’s an online photo! Shuyu is using pictures from the internet to trick you.”
Si Yiheng’s face remained impassive, showing no obvious reaction.
Shen Qinghan felt a vague sense of unease. He replayed in his head the soft tone of Shuyu’s voice from earlier messages, paired with that photo he had just glimpsed.
The Shuyu he remembered was nothing like this—someone with such a faint presence, willing to do anything for a little extra money. Dull, boring, and, according to Gu Yunjing’s descriptions, even somewhat annoying.
But now… Shuyu seemed surprisingly vivid and alive. The kind of bold and unapologetic alive that dared to ask for huge sums of money from Si Yiheng.
Staring at Si Yiheng, Shen Qinghan spoke with a hint of sarcasm. “You two really are close, aren’t you? Close enough to be showing each other your legs now.”
“I’m almost starting to ship you two.”
Si Yiheng still gave no visible reaction.
Seeing this, Shen Qinghan pressed on. “They look good, don’t they? Absolutely stunning, I bet.”
“Shuyu must be head over heels in love with you—otherwise why would she resort to fake photos from the internet?”
Only at those words did Si Yiheng finally lift his gaze to look at Shen Qinghan. “What did you just say?”
Now that Si Yiheng was responding, Shen Qinghan leaned lazily back against the sofa. “I said she’s using pictures from the internet to fool you.”
It was true that Shuyu was acting differently than before—but Shen Qinghan still refused to believe the photo was actually hers. There was no way; it had to be something she found online.
Si Yiheng’s tone turned cold. “I meant the sentence before that.”
Shen Qinghan blinked. “That she must be head over heels in love with you?”
Si Yiheng fell silent. He knew very little about love or affection. In his family, emotional bonds were always thin and fragile—whether romantic or familial.
His parents’ marriage had been nothing more than a business arrangement. Both had many affairs and kept separate lives outside the marriage. He had been raised mostly by his grandfather, who taught him from an early age that feelings were the least important thing in the world; only interests and power mattered.
If all relationships eventually faded anyway, it was better to choose someone from the start who would never develop deep feelings for you.
He couldn’t understand what made Shen Qinghan jump to the conclusion that Shuyu was madly in love with him.
So far, all he could see was that Shuyu needed money—and money was the only thing he could ever give her.
“Are you really so sure Shuyu is exactly the person you describe?” Si Yiheng asked calmly.
Shen Qinghan tried to recall what Shuyu actually looked like—but the more he tried, the more he realized he couldn’t quite picture her face.
He only remembered her as someone easy to overlook, standing beside Xie Mengying like a plain little duckling next to a graceful swan. Her personality was equally dull and unremarkable—no charm, no spark, nothing to catch anyone’s attention.
He tapped his fingers lightly against the table, speaking in a casual tone. “Yes, she’s just ordinary‑looking and plain. Exactly the kind of woman you said you wanted.”
Si Yiheng’s eyes grew colder. “Have you actually met her in person?”
Shen Qinghan frowned, feeling offended. “Of course I have! Do you think I’m the type to make things up?”
Si Yiheng said nothing, but his expression remained distant and skeptical.
“I’ll find a chance to meet Shuyu myself,” Si Yiheng said. “Now go home. I’m going to rest.”
Shen Qinghan glanced at the clock. “It’s only ten o’clock. Why are you going to bed so early? You live like a retired official.”
Si Yiheng didn’t bother being polite. “Leave.”
Shen Qinghan didn’t insist on staying. He turned and walked out.
After Si Yiheng finished his shower, his hair was still damp. Water droplets rolled from the ends of his hair onto the collar of his pajamas, leaving small dark patches where they soaked into the fabric. He toweled his hair roughly a few times, then sat on the edge of the bed and picked up his phone.
The screen lit up, and the photo Shuyu had sent was still displayed.
The girl’s legs were pale, straight, and beautifully shaped. White cotton socks wrapped around her slender ankles, the elastic band resting just above the narrowest part like a soft, fluffy cloud.
Her skin was so fair it looked almost translucent, revealing faint blue veins beneath the surface.
Si Yiheng did not close the image. Instead, he stared at it for a long time.
Just then, a voice message popped up from Shuyu. “Brother… are you ignoring me?”
Her voice was incredibly soft and gentle, trembling slightly as if she felt uneasy or even afraid.
Si Yiheng tapped the screen.
ATM: I was just taking a shower.
Shuyu and Tiedan both breathed a sigh of relief. After sending the photo, they had waited and waited with no reply—both had begun to fear Si Yiheng was about to break up with her.
Tiedan: Looks like we can’t send photos like that too often. Si Yiheng is the disciplined, self‑restrained type—he probably finds it too much.
Shuyu hugged her quilt and lay on her stomach across the bed, looking confused. “Didn’t you say he’s secretly passionate and just hiding it?”
Tiedan: That’s exactly what being disciplined means! He acts conservative on the outside, but once he lets loose, he’s usually the most intense one.
Shuyu’s expression turned serious. “Not necessarily. If he doesn’t have the stamina or ability, even the most passionate man can’t do much.”
Tiedan: Trust me, Yubao! It’s always like this in novels—the male lead is never lacking in that department.
Tiedan: He can lift you up and do it standing, from behind, from the front…
Shuyu blinked and quickly joined in. “Against the glass window, while carrying you up the stairs, or even while cooking in the kitchen…”
Hearing Shuyu’s responses, Tiedan felt like she had finally found a soulmate. One little innocent‑looking girl and one overly imaginative system quickly fell into a lively, unrestrained conversation—completely forgetting their original mission.
Tiedan: Yubao, where in all the worlds could I ever find another host like you?
A faint pink blush rose across Shuyu’s fair cheeks. “Ah… I’m just average, really.”
“It helps that I’ve drawn a lot of those scenes before.”
Shuyu was exceptionally skilled at figure drawing; at one point she had even drawn adult comics as a side job.
Strangely enough, when it came to such subjects, her social anxiety completely vanished. She spent every day immersed in improving her art techniques and creating those illustrated stories.
All she could say was: passion and desire are the greatest driving forces of creativity.
Tiedan: Yubao, if you and Si Yiheng really did all those things you mentioned… do you think I could handle watching it?
But the lively mood vanished instantly. Shuyu froze, then carefully raised both hands in surrender. “I can’t do that!”
“I barely know Si Yiheng. There’s no way I could do anything like that.”
While Shuyu and Tiedan were busy chatting away, Si Yiheng was left waiting on the other end.
After a long silence, he sent another red envelope.
ATM: Red envelope
Tiedan: Yubao! Si Yiheng sent you another red envelope—go get it quick!
Shuyu tapped it open immediately. Once again, the amount was only one dollar.
She covered her face with her hands. “Dan! Our ATM machine has really turned into a piggy bank now!”
Seeing how quickly Shuyu claimed the red envelope, Si Yiheng remained silent for a long time—and completely dismissed Shen Qinghan’s words.
He could clearly tell what Shuyu truly cared about: his money, not him.
Little Fish Swimming Along: Brother… are you running low on cash lately?
Si Yiheng: “……”
Tiedan: Oh no, Yubao! Did you drain his wallet dry already?
Shuyu: w(Д)w
Tiedan: Hurry up and tease him about it!
Little Fish Swimming Along: Brother… did I drain you completely?
A vein throbbed visibly at Si Yiheng’s temple.
ATM: Transfer: 100,000.
He chose to prove through action alone that his wallet was still full and more than capable.
Shuyu and Tiedan were already so used to large sums that 100,000 no longer felt like anything special—but they certainly wouldn’t turn down extra income.
After pocketing the money, Shuyu decided it was time to get Si Yiheng to support her artistic career.
Little Fish Swimming Along: You still haven’t shown me your legs yet, remember? 🐱 Kitten poking gently
Si Yiheng glanced down at his own pajamas—loose, wrinkled, and far too casual.
ATM: Give me a moment.
He walked to the closet, took out a full suit, and changed into it properly. Only then did he pose and take photos as Shuyu had requested.
Once finished, he sent the pictures over.