“Who has such a big reputation that they’d make our Queen Ying wait outside their door for half a month?”
Meng Zhiqing chuckled, phone in hand.
Shen Xiying rubbed her forehead before smiling and saying, “Pei Chunrun.”
Meng Zhiqing paused, then said, “Pei Chunrun, huh. He really is hard to get a hold of. A few months back, the Han family tried to invite him too—they waited a whole month and never even got to see his face.”
The Han family was also in the jewelry business, but unlike Fuying, everything they sold was high-end luxury.
Listening to Meng Zhiqing’s words, Shen Xiying let out a sigh. “I’ll think of another way.”
“Why do you need to think of anything?” Meng Zhiqing pursed her lips. “You’ve got a ready-made resource right beside you, and you don’t even know how to use it?”
“Who?” Shen Xiying blinked, looking at Meng Zhiqing.
“Your husband.”
Shen Xiying: “…”
Shen Xiying wrestled with it for an entire day.
When Shang Ruzhou came home and went into the study, Shen Xiying headed to the tea room to grind the powder and prepare tea for him.
Sister-in-law Tian stood to the side, watching Shen Xiying’s movements.
After a long moment, she said, “Ma’am, the tea Mr. Shang drinks usually has a bit of sleeping pills added to it.”
“Hm?” Shen Xiying looked at Sister-in-law Tian with slight confusion. “There haven’t been any sleeping pills in the tea lately.”
Sister-in-law Tian pointed at the small white bottle on the table. “Ma’am, it’s this one.”
“I know.” Shen Xiying said. “I’ve replaced everything inside with vitamin C.”
Then she added, “He’s been sleeping very well every night. Don’t add sleeping pills anymore from now on.”
Every medicine has its side effects.
Hearing Shen Xiying’s words, Sister-in-law Tian suppressed the shock churning in her heart and nodded.
She had been with Shang Ruzhou since he was a child, practically watching him grow up.
Except for the three years he spent abroad, she had always been by his side.
After Shang Ruzhou returned to the country, she had been at Zhongyu Palace, in charge of his meals and daily care.
The tea brewed every night had to contain sleeping pills—this was something Shang Ruzhou had emphasized many times.
This habit had continued for a long time.
It probably started when Shang Ruzhou was fourteen or fifteen; Sister-in-law Tian couldn’t pinpoint the exact time.
She only remembered that over the past ten years, without the sleeping pills, Shang Ruzhou simply couldn’t fall asleep.
And during this period, without them, Shang Ruzhou hadn’t said anything.
It seemed he really had been sleeping well.
Even though Sister-in-law Tian was extremely shocked inside, her face remained calm and unruffled.
She nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be careful from now on.”
After brewing the tea, Shen Xiying carried it upstairs.
She walked to the study door and knocked. Shang Ruzhou said to come in, and Shen Xiying brought the tea inside.
Seeing it was her, Shang Ruzhou’s expression was calm—he had grown somewhat accustomed to it.
Occasionally, when she was in a good mood, she would brew tea for him.
Shen Xiying set the tea on the table.
Shang Ruzhou signed the document, tidied it up, and set it aside.
Then he picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Shen Xiying watched him, pressing her lips together, trying to figure out how to broach the subject.
Watching him nearly finish the entire cup of tea, she pinched the fabric of her clothes, gritted her teeth, and steeled herself.
She spoke up directly: “Husband—”
Shang Ruzhou’s hand holding the teacup stiffened instantly.
As if he’d been caught off guard.
He paused for two seconds before turning his head to look at her.
A faint smile lingered on Shen Xiying’s face, her eyes bright.
Her lips were pressed together, the corners turned up in a small curve.
Her ears and neck were flushed completely red.
“What’s wrong?” Shang Ruzhou withdrew his gaze and asked.
“I, um…” Shen Xiying’s speech inexplicably stumbled.
Her heart was beating a little fast, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on her palms.
“There’s something I want to ask you to help me with.”
She said it all in one breath, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
“What is it?” Shang Ruzhou set down the teacup and looked at her.
His gaze was faint, falling on her like a layer of mist on a snowy day.
Shen Xiying rarely looked into his eyes.
Because his gaze was too indifferent and distant—every time, it was like a needle, lightly pricking her heart.
It didn’t hurt, but it always left a faint, astringent feeling.
“I want to get in touch with Teacher Pei Chunrun. Can you reach him?” Shen Xiying said.
Shang Ruzhou seemed to think for a moment before saying, “Is it about Fuying?”
Shen Xiying nodded.
“I can get you in contact with him, but I can’t guarantee he’ll agree to what you’re asking.”
Shang Ruzhou said flatly.
“That’s fine. I just need to see him. I’ll handle everything else myself.”
Shang Ruzhou nodded. “I’ll call him tomorrow.”
Shen Xiying hummed in acknowledgment, not saying anything more, just looking at him.
After she’d stared at him for a while, the hand holding his pen paused.
A hint of amusement crept into his brow. “Shen Xiying, are you that eager?”
“…What?” Shen Xiying’s mind went blank for a moment.
“Do you need me to make the call right in front of you?” Shang Ruzhou asked.
“I didn’t mean—” that.
I just wanted to stay by your side a little longer.
Before Shen Xiying could finish her sentence.
Shang Ruzhou opened his contacts right in front of her, found Pei Chunrun’s number, and called.
The phone rang for a while before it was picked up.
A gruff male voice came through the phone: “Who’s this, calling so late? Don’t you know your grandpa here is trying to sleep…”
“Pei Chunrun.” Shang Ruzhou spoke.
The phone went silent instantly.
After a long moment, Pei Chunrun’s voice came through with a fawning laugh: “So it’s President Shang! Coming to me this late must mean it’s something important.”
“President Shang, what is it? Just say the word—anything I can do, I’ll do it for you.”
Pei Chunrun said with a smile, as if the irritable man from moments ago had never existed.
“My wife wants to see you.” Shang Ruzhou held the phone, speaking in a calm tone. “What time are you free tomorrow to meet with her?”
“Meeting her is no problem at all—I’m free any time tomorrow—”
His voice cut off abruptly. “Holy shit!! See who?? Your wife?? You got married?!”
“Pei Chunrun, you’re very loud.”
Shang Ruzhou said, “Besides, isn’t getting married a perfectly ordinary thing?”
Pei Chunrun: “No, this is… forget it, forget it. I’m free any time tomorrow. Just send me the address when you’re ready…”
Before he could finish, Shang Ruzhou interrupted: “I’ll send her your contact.”
“Oh, oh, sure.” Pei Chunrun nodded in agreement.
After the call ended, Shang Ruzhou forwarded Pei Chunrun’s contact and all his information to Shen Xiying.
With the contact information in hand, Shen Xiying had no reason to stay in the study any longer.
She pressed her lips together, said “I’ll head out first,” and left the room.
Thanks to Shang Ruzhou’s introduction, she quickly arranged a meeting time with Pei Chunrun for the next day.
Once the time was set, the anxious wrinkles in Shen Xiying’s heart finally smoothed out.
As long as they could talk face to face, she could avoid a lot of trouble.
She lay in bed, quietly staring at the ceiling.
This should have been something to be happy about.
And yet she still felt a faint trace of disappointment.