The aroma of food had already filled the dining room on the first floor.
Mom Liu was placing a steaming basket of shrimp dumplings in the center of the dining table, the ivory-white bone china tableware both exquisite and spotless.
Seeing Shen Zhili and Shen Zhiyu come downstairs one after the other, her face immediately lit up with a smile.
“Miss, Young Master, you’re up so early.”
Shen Zhili responded casually, pulling out the chair that belonged to her and sitting down.
She glanced at Shen Zhiyu, who was still standing there dumbly.
“What are you standing around for? Sit.”
Only then did Shen Zhiyu snap out of his thoughts, pulling out the chair beside him and taking a seat.
Watching this scene, the smile lines at the corners of Mom Liu’s eyes deepened a little.
The young miss… had really changed a lot lately.
In the past, she wouldn’t even spare an extra glance for the young master. Let alone coming downstairs together, even if they ran into each other in the dining room, she would treat him as if he were air.
Now, she actually took the initiative to invite the young master to eat together.
After all, they were siblings by blood—some things could never truly be severed.
Breakfast was soon served one dish after another.
Perhaps because Shen Yinluo was home, today’s breakfast was especially light and nourishing.
There was steaming white porridge, several plates of delicate side dishes and pastries, and a basket of freshly steamed shrimp dumplings.
Shen Zhili picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of crystal cake, and ate it slowly and deliberately.
The way she ate at home was quiet and elegant, carrying a kind of refined grace that had been carefully cultivated since childhood—almost like a conditioned reflex.
But in front of Jiang Xianzhuo, she wouldn’t be like that.
She would eat heartily and give him the highest praise.
Shen Zhiyu sat across from her, sipping his porridge with a spoon in small, quiet mouthfuls, looking very well-behaved.
Just then, steady footsteps sounded from the direction of the stairs.
Shen Yinluo was coming downstairs.
He wore a suit without a single wrinkle, the platinum cufflinks at his sleeves reflecting the morning light.
Without even needing to speak, just by standing there, the intangible aura formed by years of being in a position of power was enough to make the air in the entire dining room feel thin.
Seeing the two children seated at the dining table, his footsteps paused ever so slightly.
A flicker of barely noticeable surprise passed through his deep eyes, as if he was unaccustomed to the harmonious scene before him.
In his memory… these two children had never once shared a breakfast at the same table.
Shen Yinluo silently walked to the head of the table, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Mom Liu immediately brought over a cup of freshly ground black coffee, its rich aroma filling the air.
“Mr. Shen, your coffee.”
Shen Yinluo took the coffee, took a sip, and swept his gaze back and forth between Shen Zhili and Shen Zhiyu.
The faint warmth that had just risen in the dining room was instantly crushed.
The atmosphere began to solidify.
Shen Zhiyu lowered his head, not even daring to breathe loudly, his fingers tightening around the spoon.
Shen Zhili, however, looked completely unfazed, continuing to eat her breakfast as if the powerful source of that aura beside her didn’t exist.
She even found the time to tease, “A fusion of East and West, Mr. Shen. Drinking porridge with coffee—you’ll live to ninety-nine.”
Beside her, Shen Zhiyu, upon hearing this, nearly spat out the mouthful of soup he had just sipped.
He choked and coughed violently, his entire face turning red.
Shen Zhiyu: “…”
Shen Yinluo set down his coffee cup.
He glanced at Shen Zhili, then turned his gaze toward his son sitting opposite, who was keeping his head down and desperately trying to minimize his presence, but he didn’t immediately lose his temper.
A few seconds later, he spoke again, his tone betraying no emotion.
“Don’t try anything funny about Saturday night.”
Shen Zhili seemed to ignore the warning in his words, continuing to leisurely sip the nearly finished bowl of porridge.
“Oh.”
A single word, light and dismissive to the extreme.
Shen Yinluo’s brow furrowed. Just as he was about to say something more, Shen Zhili set down her spoon first.
She pulled out a tissue and dabbed the corner of her mouth.
“I’m done. I’m going upstairs to change.”
Without waiting for Shen Yinluo’s approval, she stood up and dashed upstairs with light, quick steps.
Shen Zhiyu remained curled up in his chair the entire time, wishing he could turn himself into a piece of furniture in the dining room.
He stole a glance at Shen Yinluo’s expression, then quickly lowered his head and focused on drinking his porridge.
…
Back in her room, Shen Zhili opened her wardrobe and skimmed over rows of beautiful dresses from the latest season before finally pulling out a pale yellow dress.
The fabric was soft, the waistline design was just right, and the skirt flowed lightly.
She twirled in front of the full-length mirror and nodded in satisfaction.
A little yellow person should wear a little yellow dress.
Perfect.
After changing, she picked up her usual bag from the rack, pushed the door open, and stepped out.
Just as she reached the staircase, she saw Shen Zhiyu emerging from his room as well.
He had already changed into the high school uniform of Qinzhou Academy, with the buttons of his white shirt fastened all the way to the top and a small backpack slung over his shoulders.
Shen Zhili gave him a lazy glance.
“Let’s go.”
Shen Zhiyu was taken aback.
“Huh?”
“To school. Unless you’d rather stay home and admire his expression?”
Only then did Shen Zhiyu realize that the witch had once again taken pity on him and was offering to take him to school. He quickly followed her.
The two of them descended the stairs one after the other.
The dedicated driver was already waiting by the fountain at the entrance of the villa.
Upon seeing them emerge, he first nodded respectfully to both, then hurried forward to open the rear door of the black sedan.
“Miss, Young Master, please get in.”
In the dining room, Shen Yinluo stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window, watching the black sedan slowly drive away through the glass.
He frowned, then turned to look at Mom Liu, who was clearing the dining table.
“Liu Yu.”
“Yes, Mr. Shen.”
Mom Liu immediately set down the plates and walked over respectfully.
“Those two…”
Shen Yinluo raised a hand to point toward the window, where nothing remained.
“When did they start going to school together?”
Mom Liu was momentarily stunned, then a sincere smile spread across her face.
“Mr. Shen, you haven’t been home these past few days, so you might not be aware.”
“Since the day before yesterday, Miss has been taking Young Master to school with her.”
“And Miss specifically instructed the driver not to pick her up at noon, just to bring Young Master home first after school.”
Hearing this, Shen Yinluo narrowed his eyes.
“You mean, she hasn’t come back in the afternoons these past few days?”
“Yes, she only returns in the evenings.”
Shen Yinluo immediately turned back to look out the window at the now-empty driveway.
A feeling that things were slipping out of his control stirred an unfamiliar sense of irritation and confusion within him.