Shen Tingchen blurted out:
“Shengsheng!”
The other customers were startled by the shout and turned to look.
Gu Yunyan’s shy smile froze on her face. She followed his gaze but saw nothing:
“Tingchen, did you see… Sister Shengsheng?”
Shen Tingchen stared again. In the pale golden sunlight, people came and went — no trace of that graceful, slender figure.
Gu Yunyan said in surprise:
“But Sister Shengsheng is supposed to be at your big brother’s villa right now, isn’t she?”
Right. Shengsheng was already his older brother’s wife — how could she be here? Shen Tingchen’s breathing grew uneven. He slowly sat back down:
“I must have seen wrong.”
The two fell silent for a moment.
Gu Yunyan bit her lip and said sadly:
“You probably don’t like this kind of food, right? I’m sorry… I never had much pocket money growing up, so I could only afford street food like this. Unlike Sister Shengsheng — she’s always been everyone’s precious pearl, getting only the best…”
Normally, Shen Tingchen would have immediately felt sorry for the unfair treatment she endured in the Gu family. But right now he was distracted:
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Nothing… nothing.” Gu Yunyan lowered her head.
Shen Tingchen didn’t notice her disappointment.
The soup dumplings had cooled. Speckles of congealed grease floated on the vinegar. His appetite vanished completely. Shen Tingchen glanced at his watch and said:
“It’s getting late. I’ll drive you back to the set.”
Gu Yunyan couldn’t hide her sadness. They rode in silence. When she got out of the car, she said goodbye and looked back at Shen Tingchen.
He didn’t return the farewell. He stepped on the gas and sped away.
======
It was nearing dusk. The setting sun hung lazily over the sea horizon. Waves crashed against black reefs and slowly retreated, revealing golden sand.
Gu Shengsheng leaned against the car window, marveling at the beautiful scene. The black Lamborghini turned a corner on the mountain road — in a flash, the sea view was replaced by the grand gates of the villa.
Before the bodyguard could get out to open the door, Gu Shengsheng pushed it open herself, grabbed a bag, and ran inside.
She hadn’t even stepped through the door when Sister Li — who had clearly been waiting anxiously — called out:
“Madam! You’re finally back!”
“What’s wrong?” Gu Shengsheng pulled off her mask as she entered and took a deep breath of fresh air.
Sister Li stared at her red, swollen face for a second, then said with a bitter expression:
“Sir threw a huge tantrum. He refuses to eat and won’t take his medicine either.”
Gu Shengsheng said in surprise:
“Didn’t I leave food for him before I went out? I told you to heat it up and give it to him.”
Sister Li replied:
“I brought it up. Sir wouldn’t let me help him. He didn’t touch a single bite.”
Gu Shengsheng stomped her foot in frustration and hurried upstairs:
“So spoiled!”
Sister Li blinked in confusion: Spoiled? Is Madam talking about Sir?
The bedroom door was tightly closed. Gu Shengsheng knocked lightly and narrated her own sound effect:
“Knock knock knock~ Shen Wang, are you home? I brought something good for you!”
Silence.
She turned the handle and quietly pushed the door open. The room was pitch black, filled with a cold, heavy atmosphere.
She flicked on the light — click. The room brightened instantly. Shen Wang sat propped against the headboard, face icy.
“You’re not asleep?”
Shen Wang turned his head slightly, lips pressed into a cold line. He ignored her.
For some reason, Gu Shengsheng sensed something familiar in his demeanor. It was exactly the same attitude her spirit cat used to have back home: whenever she returned from a long trip, the cat would sit in the backyard looking like this.
As if saying: You finally remembered to come back?
It was almost identical — even the bad habit of smashing things to vent anger was the same. Gu Shengsheng looked at the shattered glass all over the floor, sighed helplessly, and fetched a broom to clean it up.
Then she sat on the edge of the bed:
“I heard you refused to eat? I made milk-scrambled eggs and millet congee for lunch — plus stir-fried snow peas with diced cured meat. Really tasty.”
Shen Wang’s throat moved faintly, but his face remained cold.
Gu Shengsheng lectured him in an old-lady tone:
“Do you even know how weak your body is right now? I already told Sister Li — she’ll help you eat. You can’t keep being this stubborn… ah!”
Before she finished, she was shoved hard:
“Who said you could sit on my bed?!”
“Hey! Why did you push me?!”
Gu Shengsheng stumbled several steps, nearly flying off. How was he still so strong when he hadn’t eaten all day?!
Shen Wang showed zero embarrassment. He simply raised his hand imperiously:
“Come here.”
Gu Shengsheng understood immediately: he needed the bathroom.
Fine, let him wet himself then!
Gu Shengsheng acted as his human crutch. She was pressed down so hard she shrank three inches shorter, muttering under her breath:
“You can’t push me next time. That bed is mine!”
Shen Wang lifted his chin arrogantly:
“Everything in this entire house belongs to me.”
Gu Shengsheng’s voice turned a little milky and small:
“Even me?”
Shen Wang nearly missed the toilet bowl:
“What nonsense are you thinking?!”
Gu Shengsheng blushed shyly and turned her head away, wriggling:
“Mm-hmm, I know. Don’t say it.”
Shen Wang’s temple vein throbbed. He took a deep breath and focused on emptying his bladder.
Gu Shengsheng sighed again:
“From the sound of it, you really held it in all day.”
Shen Wang’s hand slipped. He almost missed again.
…
After finishing his physiological needs, Shen Wang leaned back against the headboard in visible relaxation. His mood had clearly improved.
He asked:
“Where’s the thing you brought back?”
Gu Shengsheng blinked — only then remembering what she’d said when knocking. She clutched her pinched-red cheek, eyes watering:
“I’m not giving it to you anymore.”
Shen Wang scoffed lightly:
“Go make steak.”
Gu Shengsheng glared at him:
“Say ‘please’.”
“Go please make steak.”
“…”
Gu Shengsheng spun in place from anger, then grabbed a pillow and threw it at him before running away before he could react.
The soft pillow carried a faint rose scent. Shen Wang kneaded it a few times — it didn’t feel as good as the hand from earlier.
In the kitchen.
Gu Shengsheng took out the thawed steak, first purified it with spiritual energy to remove impurities, then tenderized it with a meat mallet.
Blue flames licked the black cast-iron skillet. A pat of butter quickly melted and spread. The moment the steak hit the pan — sizzle.
Gu Shengsheng flipped it, searing both sides until they changed color, then seared the edges as well. She tossed in two sprigs of fresh rosemary; their unique aroma bloomed.
She tilted the pan 30 degrees and spooned the juices over the steak repeatedly. The deep-red meat gradually released fat, darkening beautifully.
Gu Shengsheng flicked her wrist — sea salt scattered evenly across the surface.
She didn’t need a timer or thermometer; her control over heat and timing was masterful. At the exact moment the meat reached peak tenderness, she turned off the flame, set the skillet on a damp cloth to rest.
While the steak rested, Gu Shengsheng looked up at Sister Li:
“Sister Li, did you get it all recorded?”
“All done! Nothing missed!” Sister Li handed the phone back, rubbing her sore wrist. Madam’s movements were so fast and graceful — she hadn’t dared blink.
Gu Shengsheng prepared two more dishes and a soup. By the time she finished, the steak had rested perfectly.
With Sister Li’s help, she carried everything upstairs and pushed open the door:
“Steak’s here!”
She didn’t even need to announce it — the rich, unique aroma of seared beef already filled the room.
Gu Shengsheng set up the small bedside table with Sister Li’s help: two thick, sizzling steaks, a steaming bowl of taro soup, a plate of chilled celery and dried tofu salad, and a plate of bright red, glistening strawberries.
She looked extremely proud. Today she had specially asked Xi Xue’er for advice: steak should be paired with salad, thick soup, and dessert. Salad was just chilled vegetables with dressing. Taro soup was smooth and rich. For dessert — strawberries would do.
This time, she only had to ask once. Shen Wang sat up on his own.
Gu Shengsheng said:
“Eat some rice first to cushion your stomach. You haven’t eaten all day — suddenly eating meat will make you uncomfortable.”
Shen Wang kept his icy face on.
Gu Shengsheng scooped a spoonful of steaming white rice, blew on it:
“Open up — ahhh—”
“You…”
Shen Wang opened his mouth in anger — and got a spoonful of rice shoved in.
The rice was perfectly soft yet chewy, sweet and fragrant. After three months of nothing but watery slop, he had almost forgotten this texture.
After a few more bites warmed and filled his stomach, he finally remembered:
“Steak.”
“Okay, I’ll cut it for you.”
Gu Shengsheng set down the spoon, picked up the steak knife, and began slicing.
The steak was incredibly tender. The knife sliced through the thick cut with barely any pressure, releasing rich juices tinged with faint red.
Gu Shengsheng speared a piece with the fork and placed it in Shen Wang’s hand:
“Try it yourself.”
Shen Wang slowly brought the steak to his mouth. Gu Shengsheng watched his face intently, not missing the slightest change in expression.
The moment the steak touched his tongue, his face froze. His cheeks moved slightly as he chewed slowly, as though confirming something.
Then he swallowed and immediately reached the fork toward the plate again.
A hard-to-describe satisfaction bloomed in Gu Shengsheng’s heart. The cat likes it! No — Shen Wang likes it!
She quickly lifted the plate so his fork could accurately spear another piece. Worried, she said:
“Slow down — one bite of steak, one bite of rice.”
Shen Wang ignored her completely. Gu Shengsheng had no choice but to hold the rice bowl and sneak spoonfuls into his mouth whenever she could. Otherwise, at this rate, his stomach would definitely hurt tonight.
After devouring more than half the steak in one go, Shen Wang finally slowed down. He even accepted a few bites of the tender greens and soup.
The greens were fresh, crisp, and sweet. The taro soup was smooth and warming. Even though it was Chinese food, it perfectly balanced the rich, oily steak.
Shen Wang’s stomach gradually filled, but his appetite only grew stronger.
Finally Gu Shengsheng — afraid he’d overeat — took the bowl away:
“Save the rest for tomorrow.”
Shen Wang leaned back and quietly placed a hand on his stomach:
“Breakfast — Western style.”
Ordering dishes now?
Gu Shengsheng huffed softly and started eating her own portion. The steak had a thick layer of fat on the surface that sealed in the juices — even after cutting, it was still piping hot.
She ate happily while opening her phone to browse online.
She tapped into Swan Live. All kinds of lives and people were condensed into short videos.
“Headshot! Gotta add chili oil! If you think it’s spicy enough, smash that double-tap, bros!”
“From zero to hero — glory comes from your own hands! I can lift you to the top of the world… or drop you into the abyss! Hahahahahaha~”
“Little treasure, this is trapezoid love! I’m a full eighteen years older than you — eighteen years!”
“…”
Shen Wang endured the noise attack for a long time. His face slowly shifted from black to faintly green. Finally he spoke:
“What are you watching?”
Gu Shengsheng was deeply moved, tears in her eyes as she explained to Shen Wang:
“A rain man who eats celery… and a forbidden love that society can’t accept.”
Shen Wang took a deep breath:
“Turn it off! What trash are you watching?!”
“Hmph — today you ignore me, tomorrow you won’t be able to reach me!” Gu Shengsheng tossed her head dramatically and walked away with haughty elegance.
She pressed the bell to call Sister Li to clear the dishes. Still holding her phone, she ate strawberries while researching how to register as a Swan Live streamer. The process was too complicated. She asked Shen Wang once — he snapped back — so she had to figure it out herself.
Five minutes later, she was once again lost in videos — and had even learned the flower-hand shake.