“You think you can bribe me with just a little cake?” Yin Shuyang held the cake. “You’re up to no good! Making me eat dessert in the middle of the night, trying to fatten me up so I can’t find a partner!”
Yin Shujun spoke earnestly, “Someone who truly likes you won’t abandon you just because you gain weight.”
“Hmm, Xie Guanlan wouldn’t.”
Is there any hope for this lovesick brain?
Yin Shujun was angry. Without another word, he closed the door and left.
He couldn’t bring himself to be harsh with his sister, but it was different with Xie Guanlan.
What kind of spell has Xie Guanlan cast on his precious sister?!
Yin Shuyang took the little cake back to her bedside, unwrapped it, took a photo, and posted it on her social media.
After posting, she stared at the chat interface with Xie Guanlan—still no reply.
She took a bite of the cake. It was sweet but not cloying, delicious.
The aloof, domineering CEO doesn’t like taking photos, huh? She had put Xie Guanlan in a difficult spot.
【Yin Shuyang: No need to send a photo, I already know what you look like! It’s just… I really miss you! Good night!】
Manman, I’ve failed your teachings!
I’m hopeless!
Wuwuwu…
【Xie Guanlan: Hmm.】
Hmm?
Hmm??
Hmm—
Yin Shuyang felt the cake didn’t taste good anymore. Sniffling, she thought, “Xie Guanlan, you’re so cold!!! It’s as if those days we spent together weren’t happy~”
Didn’t that hug stir even a little bit of emotion in him?
If it didn’t, why did he ruffle her hair? Why did his heartbeat quicken?
Secretly passionate man!
Pretending to be proper!
Yin Shuyang drifted off to sleep with her mind in a whirl, waking up the next day with bloodshot eyes.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Didn’t sleep well last night?” Mother Yin asked with concern.
“It’s all my brother’s fault, buying me cake in the middle of the night…” Yin Shuyang pretended to cry, wiping away nonexistent tears. “Wuwuwu…”
Yin Shujun continued eating breakfast expressionlessly. “I didn’t tell you to eat it at night.”
“You brought it to my room! Why didn’t you just put it in the fridge for me to eat this morning?”
“Yangyang is right. She’s a young girl—she shouldn’t eat too much sugar late at night!” Mother Yin scolded Yin Shujun again.
Yin Shujun nodded helplessly. “Yes, yes, yes, it’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have let her come pick me up in the first place!”
Before meeting Xie Guanlan, his precious sister was so well-behaved, calling him “Brother” all the time, always by his side.
And now?
Not just in her eyes—her whole mind is filled with Xie Guanlan.
And he’s become the bad guy who can’t do anything right.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got!!
“Well, that part wasn’t your fault…” Yin Shuyang whispered softly.
If she hadn’t gone to pick up her brother, how would she have met the elegant, noble Xie Guanlan?
“I thank you!”
“Hmph.” Yin Shujun snorted coldly. “I really wish there was a technology to remove the lovesick brain. I’d take you to get yours removed right away!”
Nyah nyah~
Just because she likes Xie Guanlan doesn’t mean her mind is completely filled with him.
Yin Shuyang smiled brightly. “You’re just jealous. I have someone I like, and you haven’t met anyone.”
Yin Shujun wiped his mouth and stopped eating.
He couldn’t eat anymore.
As soon as Yin Shujun left, it was Mother Yin’s turn to get curious. She insisted on asking which young master from which family had caught her eye, someone who could even make Yin Shujun unhappy.
“Mom, I have to go to the studio! I’m leaving too!”
Mother Yin watched her leave. “These two kids, the older they get, the more trouble they cause. Husband, when are you coming back? Come back and straighten them out!”
Before graduating, Yin Shuyang used the money her brother gave her to open an art studio. The studio had a manager in charge, and as the boss, she was quite casual about it, working only sporadically.
Perhaps because she had recently fallen for Xie Guanlan, giving her that heart-fluttering feeling and filling her mind with sweet romance, she now felt an intense urge to create passionately.
Previously, when her editor suggested she draw some sweet romance comics, she had absolutely no interest.
Now she did!
So much!
Yin Shuyang slipped into her office, closed the door, and began passionately creating, sketching the character design for the male lead.
After a busy day of revisions and adjustments, she finally achieved what she felt was the most perfect result!!
Ahhh!
It looked exactly like Xie Guanlan.
That man was even more handsome than the comic!
Yin Shuyang was very satisfied with her creation.
She glanced at the time—it was already 4 p.m.
Mother Yin called, and she immediately answered, “Ah, the charity gala, I forgot. Okay, I’ll head back right away.”
Yin Shuyang shut down her computer and walked out. “No overtime, everyone! Leave early. If you can finish your work at home, no need to come to the office.”
“Come to the office for free air conditioning!”
“The office also has drinks and desserts—way better than staying at home!”
“Haven’t seen you in a few days, Boss, you’ve gotten even prettier!”
“Take care, Boss!”
Her business philosophy was essentially: brother earns money, sister spends it.
As a Gen Z boss, she wanted holidays and freedom even more than her employees.
Yin Shuyang went home, changed into an elegant and ladylike gown, and rode with her mother to the hotel.
Back in middle school, when Yin Shuyang saw those calls for help and the children in impoverished mountainous areas, she learned to donate.
Later, she discovered that most of that money was embezzled.
By high school, when she donated money or supplies, she made sure to send them directly through trusted people, so she wasn’t particularly interested in charity galas like this.
The auction items were brought by the attendees, and the money bid was also theirs—the organizers essentially spent nothing and earned a good reputation for free.
But charity events were an opportunity for all businesspeople to gain a good reputation, so attendance was necessary.
As the eldest daughter of the Yin family, since her brother handled the money-making, she had to step up for these smaller occasions.
Yin Shuyang and her mother checked in and entered, greeting the other young ladies with gentle politeness before obediently taking their seats.
She hadn’t expected to run into Xie Guanlan at an event like this today, but to her surprise, he showed up and even sat right in front of her.
Yin Shuyang was thrilled, but from the moment he entered and sat down, his gaze never lingered on her.
“Mom~”
Mother Yin looked at her.
Yin Shuyang pointed at Xie Guanlan in front. “I like him.”
Mother Yin tilted her head, studying Xie Guanlan’s profile, then silently smiled, approving of her precious daughter’s taste.
Her daughter’s eye for men was indeed spot-on.
How could someone even have such a perfect back of the head!
Yin Shuyang stealthily reached out and poked Xie Guanlan’s shoulder. “Hey~”
Xie Guanlan turned around, his deep, cool gaze meeting her softly smiling face. A barely perceptible nod was his only greeting.
Even colder.
Did her sudden departure hurt Xie Guanlan’s feelings?
Manman, does your love pursuit strategy not work on Xie Guanlan at all?
Playing hard to get is completely useless!
Mother Yin watched, thinking, This one seems aloof and cold—not easy to chase!
My heart aches for my precious daughter for a second.
Yin Shuyang had no interest in participating in the auction, not even caring about the items she had donated being bid on.
After the auction ended, a cocktail party began, where people gathered to eat, drink, and chat.
While her mother chatted with her high-society friends, Yin Shuyang overheard someone asking if she had a boyfriend and immediately found an excuse to slip away.
She didn’t want anyone setting her up on blind dates—she already had someone in mind!
Holding a glass of champagne, Yin Shuyang weaved through the crowd, searching for Xie Guanlan.