Shen Liang scooped her up sideways, tossed her onto the bed, and leaned over her, burying his face in the crook of her neck as he murmured, “Yaoyao…”
Fang Youyao pushed him away with all her strength. Her brows knitted together, and her voice sounded tired. “Shen Liang, I’m exhausted. I just want to rest…”
Shen Liang braced himself up and studied her face. Seeing how tired she looked, he rolled off her.
“Then go to sleep.”
“Mm.”
Shen Liang turned over, his back to her.
Fang Youyao turned over too, facing away from him.
Eyes open, she stared at the dark chandelier, lost in thought.
Whenever she and Shen Liang had sex, he only cared about his own pleasure. He never considered how she felt.
Honestly,
they had done it many times, but she had never felt any pleasure from it.
It was more like completing a task, something she did entirely for him.
Whenever she tried to kiss him, he would pull away.
He was always very careful about protection. He put on a condom before they started every time, never giving her even the slightest chance of getting pregnant.
She used to think that was responsible of him.
Unlike some men who made women bear the risk just so they could enjoy themselves.
Now she knew the truth: Shen Liang was simply afraid she would get pregnant.
It was a good thing they didn’t have a child together. Otherwise, there would be another tie between them.
Fang Youyao was a little afraid of sex and inclined to avoid it. She suspected she might be frigid.
The bedside lamp on Shen Liang’s side stayed on for a long time. Sitting up against the bed, he seemed to be messaging someone.
Fang Youyao kept her eyes closed, but she couldn’t fall asleep.
Suddenly, she turned to look.
His gaze held a rare tenderness.
The moment Shen Liang noticed her watching, he put his phone away, turned off the light, and went to sleep.
He had a secret.
She waited until Shen Liang had fallen asleep and his breathing had grown even.
Then Fang Youyao got up, tiptoed around to his side, and picked up his phone. She unlocked it with his fingerprint.
Fang Youyao had never checked his phone before, so Shen Liang had never been on guard. He hadn’t deleted their chat history.
The girl’s profile picture was a purple kitten.
Shen Liang had saved her as “Yaoyao.”
They had added each other two months ago.
Fang Youyao quickly scrolled through their conversation from beginning to end.
At first, their chat had been perfectly ordinary, and Shen Liang’s replies were brief.
Later, they gradually grew closer, and their messages became increasingly flirtatious.
(Two months ago)
Yaoyao: Hello, President Shen. Professor Cheng referred me to you. I’m Cheng Yao, a third-year Visual Communication student. Our group is working on a project for the university game design competition, and we have a small question. Could I take a few minutes of your time to ask you about it?
Shen Liang: Mm.
Yaoyao: The colors in this part, where the dream and reality intertwine, look really muddy. I’m not sure what to do.
Shen Liang: It’s probably the color tones. Try lowering the saturation first.
Yaoyao: Wow, that really was it. Thank you, President Shen. You’re amazing!
(One and a half months ago)
Yaoyao: President Shen, President Shen! Our project made it to the semifinals. Thank you for helping us. [Screenshot of the advancement notice]
Shen Liang: Congratulations.
Yaoyao: I have to treat you to dinner to thank you.
Shen Liang: No need. Focus on preparing for the competition.
(One month ago)
Yaoyao: I was sketching in the park today and saw a little cat sunbathing. Sharing it with you~ [Photo of a lazy cat in the sunshine] [Photo of Cheng Yao holding the cat]
(In the photo, the girl wore a pale yellow dress. Her eyes were bright, and she looked sweet and innocent.)
Fang Youyao enlarged the picture. The girl’s eyes looked a lot like hers.
Shen Liang was always staring into Fang Youyao’s eyes, lost in thought, as if he were looking through her at someone else.
She used to think she was imagining things.
Now she understood. Perhaps Shen Liang really had been looking at someone else.
The girl in the photo couldn’t be Shen Liang’s white moonlight. She was too young.
It seemed this girl was a substitute too—a fresh one.
Fang Youyao shrank the photo and continued reading the messages.
Shen Liang: Mm.
Yaoyao: President Shen, can you only say “mm”? [Kitten tilting its head and staring]
Shen Liang: …I just finished a meeting.
Cheng Yao: Was it tiring? Here’s today’s blue sky, just for you.
Shen Liang: Pretty.
(Three weeks ago)
Cheng Yao: I had such bad luck today. I fell, and my sketchbook landed in a puddle and was completely ruined… [Crying]
Shen Liang: Did you hurt yourself?
Yaoyao: I bumped my knee, but I’m fine.
Shen Liang: Send me your address. I’ll order some medicine for you.
Yaoyao: Huh? No, no, that’s not necessary.
Shen Liang: It’ll be there in half an hour.
Yaoyao: …Thank you, Uncle Shen.
(Two weeks ago)
Yaoyao: Uncle Shen, we won silver in the finals. We couldn’t have done it without all your help.
Shen Liang: You earned it through your own hard work.
Yaoyao: I still want to thank you, Uncle Shen. Let me treat you to dinner. Please don’t turn me down again, okay? [Looking up at him pitifully]
Shen Liang: All right.
(The past week)
Yaoyao: Uncle Shen, thank you for carrying me back to school. [Sending flowers]
Shen Liang: Is your foot feeling better?
Yaoyao: Mm-hmm, much better, though it’s still a little swollen.
Shen Liang: Don’t call me Uncle.
Yaoyao: Then what should I call you?
Shen Liang: Call me Big Brother.
Yaoyao: But you’re six or seven years older than me. [Starry-eyed]
Shen Liang: Exactly. So you should call me Big Brother.
Yaoyao: [Sent a voice message.] (Big Brother~)
Shen Liang: Good girl.
(Yesterday)
Yaoyao: I saw a perfume while shopping today. It came in a purple bottle and smelled so nice~
Shen Liang: You like it?
Yaoyao: Mm.
Shen Liang: I’ll take you to buy it tomorrow.
Yaoyao: Really?!!
Shen Liang: Mm.
Yaoyao: See you tomorrow. [Nodding vigorously]
(One hour ago)
Yaoyao: Big Brother, are you asleep?
Shen Liang: Not yet.
Yaoyao: Me neither. I can’t sleep.
Shen Liang: Why not?
Yaoyao: Won’t you soothe me?
Shen Liang: A hug. Now be a good girl and go to sleep.
Yaoyao: Heehee, good night, Big Brother. [Over the moon]
Shen Liang: Good night.
Fang Youyao numbly turned off the phone and put it back where it had been.
Was this the girl she’d seen at the mall during the day?
So while Fang Youyao had been working herself to the bone overseas, negotiating deals, Shen Liang had been flirting with a girl back home.
Watching Shen Liang’s peaceful sleeping figure,
Fang Youyao tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
The next morning.
After waking, she did her best to pull herself together and went to work in an ivory Chanel-style suit.
Global Technology Building, twenty-third floor.
Shen Liang had leased the entire floor for the company’s offices. The company logo—Yuxun Technology—was printed on the glass doors.
The company now had around 170 employees, including the Technology Department, Game Design Department, Art Design Center, Operations and Marketing Department, and Platform and Publishing Department.
Shen Liang was the company’s legal representative and CEO, responsible for overseeing the whole operation and making decisions.
Fang Youyao was a co-founder, the director of the Technology Department, and the company’s vice president.
More than sixty people in the Technology Department reported directly to her. They were all her trusted team.
Over the past few years, they had worked hard together and created two phenomenal hits:
The cinematic-quality Chinese-style mobile game, The Wandering Heroes of Mountains and Seas.
The uniquely soothing competitive casual game, Starry Sky Café.
On the strength of those successes, three months ago the company completed its Series A funding round, led by top-tier venture capital firm Qiming Venture Partners, and its valuation soared to two billion.
Fang Youyao legally held 20 percent of the company’s shares. In last year’s year-end dividend payout, she received five million after tax.
After the Series A funding, her stake was diluted to 13 percent.
As soon as she stepped into the office, He Xixue hurried over. “Sister Fang, you’re finally back.”
From her tone alone, Fang Youyao could tell something had happened while she was away.
“What is it?”
He Xixue glanced around, then led Fang Youyao to the break room.
“What happened?”
He Xixue darted furtive looks to either side, then leaned close to whisper in Fang Youyao’s ear.
“Sister Fang, I’ve got some gossip for you. The day after you left on your business trip, the Art Department hired a new intern. President Shen personally brought her in.”
Fang Youyao’s expression remained calm.
He Xixue fumed. “I’ve seen that intern go to President Shen’s office for lunch with him several times lately. They leave work together in the evenings, too. I bet the new girl is trying to steal him from you.”
He Xixue had joined the Technology Department two years ago. Fang Youyao had personally hired her and helped her rise through the ranks, and the two were very close.
Fang Youyao wasn’t just her boss; she was also her guide in the industry. In her personal life, she cared for He Xixue like a confidante and older sister.
So when He Xixue saw Shen Liang acting intimately with someone else, she was furious.
Fang Youyao said calmly, “Mm. I know.”
He Xixue stared at her. “Sister Fang, why aren’t you angry?”
“There’s nothing to be angry about.”
She had already decided she didn’t want Shen Liang anymore. What was there to be angry about?
Fang Youyao took the contract she had signed on her business trip and went to see Shen Liang.
His office door was wide open.
Before she reached the doorway, she heard a girl’s bright, playful laughter from inside.
Shen Liang sat behind his broad desk.
Cheng Yao wore denim overalls, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She was crouched beside his leg, laughing and flirting with him.
A smile played at the corner of Shen Liang’s lips. He reached out and pinched her cheek, his voice indulgent. “Stop fooling around.”
He looked up and met Fang Youyao’s gaze. His smile instantly faded, and he reflexively let go of Cheng Yao’s cheek.