Volume 1 Chapter 25: Taking Shen He to Dinner with Little Uncle
"Shen He…"
Mu Tingyun was somewhat surprised.
He had anticipated that Shen He would be upset, but he hadn't expected his broken promise to make her cry so much.
The more a woman loves a man, the more her emotions are amplified by his every action.
Through this incident, Mu Tingyun saw the overwhelming love Shen He had for him.
He felt a strange sense of satisfaction in his heart.
Shen He slowly looked up, her eyes red from crying. "Mu Tingyun…"
Shen He said pitifully, "I didn't get home until nine o'clock last night. As soon as I arrived, I had to deal with my selfish father."
"After sending Shen Guanghui away, I didn't even have time to feel sad before rushing to the kitchen to make you a birthday cake."
At this point, Shen He pulled up the sleeve of her dress, revealing her scalded and peeling arm. Her voice choked with grievance: "I even got burned, and you didn't even call me once."
Staring at the obvious burn scar on Shen He's fair arm, Mu Tingyun's heart suddenly twinged.
He could have returned last night, but Qin Yinong suddenly had an arrhythmia. Worried that something might happen to her, he stayed at the hospital with her all night.
Only when Qin Yinong's condition stabilized at dawn did he hurriedly return to Qingshi.
Thinking about how Shen He had also waited for him all night, Mu Tingyun felt an odd discomfort in his heart.
For the first time, he felt a sense of guilt toward Shen He.
"Shen He, I'm sorry. I didn't finish until eleven o'clock yesterday. Considering how busy you've been with work lately, I was worried I might disturb your rest, so I didn't call."
"I'm sorry, I was wrong about this." Mu Tingyun walked around the desk, pretending to hug Shen He.
But Shen He pushed him away forcefully, tearfully accusing him: "Mu Tingyun, are you keeping a mistress outside? If you have someone new, just say so. I definitely won't cling to you anymore."
Mu Tingyun's heart tightened, sensing danger.
He asked Shen He, "Why do you think I have someone else?"
Worried that Shen He might suspect him, Mu Tingyun's heart clenched, warning himself not to visit Qin Yinong in H Shi again anytime soon.
He shouldn't even call her anymore.
If Shen He discovered the true relationship between Qin Yinong and him and became suspicious, his plans would fall apart.
Shen He said stubbornly, "I guessed!"
Hearing this, Mu Tingyun breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Shen He, you're my only lover, I swear." Mu Tingyun raised his right hand and vowed, "If I have a mistress outside, then I…"
Mu Tingyun suddenly fell silent.
Shen He asked him, "Then what?"
Mu Tingyun smiled arrogantly and said, "Then I will be abandoned by everyone and die a miserable death!"
Shen He immediately stopped crying and smiled, muttering in a coquettish tone, "Then you'd better be careful."
Because I will definitely make you abandoned by everyone and die a miserable death!
"Not angry anymore?" Mu Tingyun asked while observing Shen He's expression.
Shen He pouted, got up, and went to the pantry. When she returned, she was holding a small cake.
The cake didn't look particularly appealing—only a thin layer of cream on the sponge, decorated with a few blueberries.
Placing the cake on the table, Shen He said, "I made three in total, and only this one is barely presentable."
She inserted a candle for his 28th birthday, lit it, and sang "Happy Birthday" for Mu Tingyun.
"Brother Mu, happy birthday. Blow out the candles."
When Shen He called him "brother," her tone was somewhat stiff, which only made her seem more youthful and innocent. It was completely different from the tender, affectionate way Qin Yinong called him.
That "Brother Mu" made Mu Tingyun's lower abdomen tighten.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he looked at Shen He, his gaze suddenly turning deep and intense.
"Say it again," Mu Tingyun's voice grew hoarse.
Shen He shook her head, her tone proud and coquettish. "No! You stood me up last night. Don't push your luck."
Mu Tingyun smiled, though somewhat disappointed. But that one "Brother Mu" from her earlier was enough for him to savor for days.
Only then did Mu Tingyun lower his head to blow out the candles and eat the cake.
To be honest, the cake tasted rather ordinary, but Mu Tingyun actually ate a large piece.
When he realized he had eaten such a big slice, even he found it unbelievable.
"By the way, are you free tonight?"
Shen He thought Mu Tingyun wanted to ask her out on a date. She was just about to make up an excuse when she heard him say, "My birthday is also the anniversary of my mother's passing. Every year on my birthday, I accompany my uncle to visit my mother's grave and then have a meal together."
"Yesterday, work delayed me, and I couldn't make it back to Qingshi, so I moved the dinner to tonight."
Mu Tingyun was closest to Song Jingcheng.
He said, "You know, my uncle has taken great care of me and has high hopes for me. He's my life mentor and my career idol."
"My uncle isn't in the best health, Shen He. I want you to come with me to have dinner with him, so he can see what an outstanding niece-in-law I've found for him."
Mu Tingyun's words were filled with respect for Song Jingcheng. It was clear he truly admired his uncle.
Shen He's initial refusal did a complete one-eighty. "Of course I'm free!"
"Then I'll pick you up tonight."
"Okay."
After Mu Tingyun left, Shen He took a photo of the cake, then snapped pictures of her scalded arm and the Stitch plush toy.
Shen He updated her Weibo status with the caption: 【First time making a cake. Even though I ruined several batches and burned my hand, at least someone was kind enough to eat a big slice.】
Qin Yinong had set Shen He as a special follow.
When she saw this Weibo update, her pretty face instantly turned frosty.
Yesterday morning, she had also made a cake for Mu Tingyun, but he had only taken a few symbolic bites before leaving it untouched!
Yet Shen He's cake was so ugly and hard, and he had eaten a third of it…
Qin Yinong felt a sense of crisis rising within her once again.
After four o'clock, Shen He left work early and went home. By the time she finished getting ready, it was already five-thirty.
Dinner with Song Jingcheng was considered a family gathering—she couldn't dress too formally, but she also couldn't be too casual.
Shen He chose a delicate pink suit, tied up her long hair, and applied a subtle smoky eye makeup.
When Su Jin saw Shen He dressed so beautifully and elegantly, she asked in surprise, "You look so pretty. Are you going on a date? Or to the Mu family?"
"Mu Tingyun is taking me to have dinner with his uncle," Shen He replied. Remembering something, she asked her grandmother, "Grandma, did you finish making the calming incense I asked you to prepare for me last time?"
"It's been ready for a while. I just kept forgetting to give it to you." Su Jin went back to her room and brought out a small cloth pouch.
She handed the cloth bag to Shen He and told her, "This is the incense I prepared according to Mr. Song's condition. Let him try it for a few days. If it works, have him follow the method on the herbal prescription to prepare it himself."
Su Jin muttered, "These herbs aren't cheap."
Shen He opened the herbal prescription, scanning it quickly, and smiled, "Good!"