Sheng Yunshu said this lightly, as if she truly did not know what such behavior implied.
Ji Jingxing stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled softly. “It is my overthinking. How is your injury? Aunt Qingshan has never allowed anyone to visit, and I have been stopped at the elevator entrance several times.”
Seeing her change the topic, Sheng Yunshu felt relieved, and her posture relaxed a bit. “It is already healed. There was nothing wrong to begin with; she is just making a fuss.”
“Is that so?” Ji Jingxing responded noncommittally. She picked up the coffee in front of her and took a sip, her gaze remaining on Sheng Yunshu’s face. “But I feel that Aunt Qingshan is indeed a bit different toward you.”
“Oh?” Sheng Yunshu’s old habit flared up again. “How is it different?”
“She is very concerned, and sometimes even overly protective.” Knowing what the other wanted to hear, Ji Jingxing unconsciously rubbed the rim of her cup with her fingertips. “And you, you like and rely on her very much.”
Hearing this, Sheng Yunshu leaned back on the sofa, her red lips curving. “That is right. I do like her very much, and I cannot live without her. You have known this for a long time, have you not?”
Their eyes met. The two of them were playing dumb, with neither willing to pierce through that layer of paper.
Ji Jingxing still wanted to persist, but Chu Jingyun and Lu Ling had returned from their stroll.
Seeing Sheng Yunshu’s smile, Lu Ling guiltily looked away and pushed Chu Jingyun forward as a shield.
Chu Jingyun felt the atmosphere between the two and looked at her older sister in confusion: “What is going on? I left the time and place for you, and there is no progress at all, my good sister?”
Ji Jingxing did not want to bother with her, turning instead to ask Sheng Yunshu how the movie filming was going.
“I have not been to the set much lately. My sister does not let me work, saying that excessive thinking will affect the healing of my wound.” Whenever this topic was brought up, Sheng Yunshu would go on and on. Only when she became thirsty did she remember something important.
“I plan to ask Wu Ze to sing an interlude for me, but when I asked her last time, she said that Tengfei and Guangyuan have released quite a few new products this year, and she has no time to earn extra money. Jingyun, could you go back and ask your aunt and the others to see if they can give her a few days off?”
Chu Jingyun pushed the flower tower toward Lu Ling. “No problem! But Sister Xuan is also acting in it, right? Even if the aunt and the others are willing to release her, Teacher Wu Ze might not be happy to go.”
All four people present had participated in that variety show, and they had seen the grievances and entanglements between Wu Ze and Lin Xuan, though no one knew what the situation was between them.
Since they were gathered together today, Chu Jingyun could not help but gossip.
Sheng Yunshu raised her eyebrows, picked up her teacup, and took a slow sip, looking like someone who knew the inside story but refused to share it.
Lu Ling lowered her head and poked at the cake in front of her, remaining silent.
Ji Jingxing’s attention was not on this topic. Her peripheral vision remained on Sheng Yunshu, watching the way her chin tilted slightly when she drank tea, and how her fingertips tapped lightly on the cup when she set it down. She was far too familiar with these small habits.
Chu Jingyun was the type who would not give up until she reached her goal. Seeing them all playing dumb, she started acting shamelessly, declaring that she had to know today, otherwise she would not let them leave.
Under her pestering, Sheng Yunshu slowly revealed the entanglements of that year.
“Why does Sister Xuan not just tell Wu Ze directly?” Chu Jingyun scooped a spoonful of ice cream, her brow furrowing. “They are already together, so they should discuss things. Making a decision on such a big matter by herself. It is no wonder Wu Ze wants to have nothing to do with her.”
Lu Ling nudged her. “Say less. Some things are only known to the parties involved.”
“Oh, okay, I will stop talking.”
“You, stop standing so close to me.”
“Hehe.”
Watching the goofy young couple, a trace of envy flashed in Sheng Yunshu’s eyes. At the same time, she felt that hot gaze from beside her.
This afternoon tea made her feel restless, so as soon as Sheng Qingshan’s message arrived, she stood up and left.
Once she was gone, Chu Jingyun moved over to Ji Jingxing and nudged her with her elbow. “Sister, did you confess to Aunt Yunshu? She does not have anyone she likes right now; you should ask her if you can pursue her.”
Ji Jingxing set down her teacup, stood up, greeted Lu Ling, and then ruffled Chu Jingyun’s hair.
“Take care of your own business first. You do not need to worry about mine. Lingling, I am leaving.”
“Okay, drive carefully.”
“Do not touch my head! You ruined my hairstyle.”
On her way home, Sheng Yunshu was suddenly enticed by a fragrant smell. Following the scent, she discovered a newly opened barbecue stall at the street corner.
Behind the transparent glass display, the chef was skillfully flipping the iron skewers. The charcoal fire crackled, and the flames that shot up when the grease dripped licked the edges of the meat, the charred aroma mixed with the smell of cumin exploding in the air, making one’s mouth water.
Sheng Yunshu, wearing a mask, stared straight at the skewers, unable to walk away.
Two voices were fighting in her mind.
One said: “She said you cannot eat greasy or spicy food.”
The other said: “It is just one skewer; eating one will not kill you.”
She swallowed her saliva, her gaze lingering on that row of sizzling, oily skewers.
She had not eaten meat for nearly a week.
“Beauty, how many do you want?” the owner greeted her enthusiastically.
Sheng Yunshu bit her lip, hesitated for a second, and then decisively spoke: “Ten lamb skewers, ten beef skewers, five chicken wings, and an order of grilled eggplant.”
Halfway through the sentence, her smart device vibrated.
Sheng Qingshan: “Where are you?”
Sheng Yunshu guiltily glanced at the meat in the display case and typed: “On the road, will be there soon.”
After sending the message, she looked back at the owner. “Actually, make it less. Five lamb, five beef, no wings, no eggplant. Never mind, do not give me any of it.”
The owner stopped his movements.
Sheng Yunshu took a deep breath and turned to leave.
After a few steps, she turned back: “Everything I said before, plus one grilled squid. I will eat here, please be quick.”
The owner was silent.
Before entering the house, Sheng Yunshu sniffed herself to make sure there was no smell. After confirming that everything looked normal, she pushed the door open.
“I am back! When are we eating? I am so hungry.”
Sheng Qingshan was sitting on the sofa in the living room, messaging someone else. She did not look up when she heard her voice. “Go wash your hands. 01 has already made dinner.”
“It is those green vegetables again. I want to eat meat!” Sheng Yunshu complained as usual. Seeing that Sheng Qingshan did not notice anything unusual, she quickly went upstairs to change into casual home clothes.
She thought she could pull it off and planned to sneak out for another meal tomorrow, but to her surprise, halfway through the meal, Sheng Qingshan suddenly asked if she had been eating junk food outside.
“No,” Sheng Yunshu paused, her gaze starting to drift. “How could I eat junk food? You told me to watch my diet, and I would definitely listen to you.”
“Then why have you not finished the egg dumplings?”
Sheng Qingshan glanced at the two remaining egg dumplings in front of her, easily exposing her lie.
Sheng Yunshu did not understand delayed gratification. Every meal, she would first finish the meat dish before complaining while stuffing rice into her mouth.
Looking at the delicious egg dumplings in front of her, regret flashed in Sheng Yunshu’s eyes.
A single mistake ruined the whole strategy.
But she truly could not eat any more. The skewers were heavy on oil and salt, and after such a long time on a restricted diet, she had eaten so much at once that managing to leave only two dumplings was already quite a feat.
“What did you eat?” Sheng Qingshan asked.
“Barbecue.”
“How much?”
“Ten lamb, ten beef, five chicken wings, a grilled eggplant, and a grilled squid.” The more Sheng Yunshu spoke, the quieter her voice became, and she dared not look up.
Sheng Qingshan did not say anything after hearing this. She simply told 01 to go get the medicine and handed her a cup of warm water.
“Take the medicine. If you cannot finish the meal, do not force yourself.”
“What medicine?”
“For digestion. Your wound is not healed yet. Eating so much grease will make you uncomfortable tonight.”
Sheng Yunshu was stunned for a moment, then obediently took the medicine. Her voice was muffled: “You are not scolding me?”
Sheng Qingshan sat back down, picked up her bowl, and continued eating. “Is scolding you useful?”
“No,” Sheng Yunshu answered honestly.
“Then I will not say anything.” Afraid that she would misunderstand, Sheng Qingshan added: “Just tell 01 what you want to eat. From now on, you do not need to restrict your diet.”
“Really?” Sheng Yunshu’s eyes lit up. She pushed her chair back, ran behind Sheng Qingshan, and hugged her. “I told you I was fine! Thank you, Sister. 01! I want to eat lemon shrimp, tomato beef brisket, pan-fried lamb chops, and honey-glazed barbecue pork.”
“Anything else?”
“Let me think…”
Watching Sheng Yunshu excitedly discuss the menu for tomorrow with 01, Sheng Qingshan felt that the food had lost its taste.
Because Sheng Yunshu’s organs were failing day by day, she originally wanted her to reduce her protein intake to ease the burden on her body.
But after hearing this, Ye Lingyun told her to let nature take its course.
“This dissociation is irreversible. Since she does not have symptoms yet, let her eat whatever she wants. It is better than reaching a point where she wants to eat but cannot.”
Sheng Qingshan set down her chopsticks, having lost her appetite.
Sheng Yunshu, who was still immersed in the freedom of eating meat, did not notice her anomaly and was busy counting on her fingers, discussing with 01 whether to eat seafood or mountain delicacies.
Sheng World.
Sheng Yanzhou had just finished an overseas meeting and was about to open the surveillance to see what Shi Yun was doing when her secretary knocked and entered, saying that a lady wanted to see her.
“Does she have an appointment?” Sheng Yanzhou looked at Shi Yun, who was still sleeping in bed on the screen. Her eyes were filled with a hint of a smile, and her tone was gentler.
“No.” Before being sent away, the secretary rushed to say: “The other party said she is an old acquaintance of yours, and you will definitely see her.”
Sheng Yanzhou still did not look up. “Who?”
“She did not tell me her real name, only that she is called G39.”
Her fingertips paused. Sheng Yanzhou raised her eyes and looked at the secretary, who was trembling with fear. “Where is she?”
“In the lounge, I am about to bring her in.”
Half a minute later, the office door was pushed open again. A woman wearing an outdoor jacket, her shoulder-length hair tied back casually, walked in. She was composed, as if she were in her own home. She did not greet Sheng Yanzhou, but instead picked up the gold Pixiu on the desk and weighed it.
“My, you are doing well. It is true what they say about biological kin. You have only been back for a few months, and they have already given you such a large company. It would have been better if we had acknowledged our kinship earlier, right, K10?”
Sheng Yanzhou looked her over carefully and subconsciously touched her earring. “G39? What are you doing here? I am a legal citizen now. Are you here to deal with tax issues?”
“I do not have that much authority.” Su Sheng shrugged and put the Pixiu back on the table. “I came to ask you today… what is that smell?”
Su Sheng rubbed her nose, looked around, and her gaze finally landed on the open ink bottle on the desk.
“What is wrong?” Sheng Yanzhou looked at her, her eyes remaining vigilant.
Su Sheng walked up, covered the ink bottle, and smiled at her. “Sorry, my wife hates this smell the most. Please understand.”
Wife?
Sheng Yanzhou’s eyes narrowed. A massive amount of data flashed through her mind, finally stopping on one name: Ying Qinghe.
However…
“Is she not dead?” Sheng Yanzhou asked, not out of malice, but simply expressing her doubt.
“Mmhmm,” Su Sheng was still smiling as she walked up to her. “You could be, too.”