Not a single ripple crossed Shen Xiaozhou’s light brown eyes. Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, carrying a trace of quiet mockery.
As a guy himself, Shen Xiaozhou understood the male mindset all too well. It was obvious that the haughty, arrogant young master before him was already consumed with jealousy—losing his composure and hurling petty insults out of sheer frustration.
Xu Shiyan put on a decent show, assuming the generous, dignified stance of the rightful fiancé on the surface, but underneath, he was dying of anxiety.
So what if he is?
Shen Xiaozhou was the one living under the same roof as Huai Yin right now—a secret she hadn’t bothered to reveal to Xu Shiyan.
Kept entirely in the dark, the young master was still reveling in his self-righteous delusion, convinced he was the victor.
Yet, strictly speaking, Xu Shiyan wasn’t entirely wrong. He really was a shameful, despicable intruder.
A lowly scholarship student who had nothing to his name except good grades, yet dared to covet the high-and-mighty young heiress.
Driven by dark, unspeakable desires, he longed to leave his mark on her, harboring the wild ambition to claim her entirely for himself.
Still, he felt Xu Shiyan had no right to lecture him.
Shen Xiaozhou’s tone remained exceptionally cold. “Young Master Xu, in what capacity are you questioning me?”
Xu Shiyan let out a sharp scoff, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. Grinding his back teeth, he deliberately emphasized every single word: “I am Huai Yin’s fiancé. Who the hell are you?”
Right.
Xu Shiyan was Huai Yin’s fiancé.
The home-wrecker had been caught red-handed by the rightful partner, yet Shen Xiaozhou felt no urge to back down. If anything, he wanted to provoke him right to his face.
Shen Xiaozhou looked down his nose at him, his demeanor cool and detached, like a pile of pristine white snow—exquisite, striking, yet radiating a bone-chilling coldness that warned others to keep their distance.
Alarm bells blared in Xu Shiyan’s mind.
Even having grown up surrounded by handsome men and beautiful women, Xu Shiyan had to admit that Shen Xiaozhou was undeniably good-looking.
It wouldn’t even surprise him if Huai Yin ended up falling for a face like that.
No—that’s impossible.
Xu Shiyan hastily shoved the thought out of his mind, fiercely reminding himself that Huai Yin was only allowed to like him and him alone.
Shen Xiaozhou was just a penniless, powerless pretty boy. A momentary distraction, perhaps, but there was zero chance he could ever stay by her side until the end, let alone marry her or have children with her.
I am the only one who truly suits Huai Yin.
Relief settled over Xu Shiyan. Shen Xiaozhou was nothing to fear. With that realization, his confidence returned.
“If I remember correctly,” Shen Xiaozhou began casually.
His skin was so pale it was almost translucent, and as he spoke, the faint blue veins along his neck stood out clearly. He was tall, yet lean and slim. Though his delicate facial features gave off a refined, gentle aura, there was a sharp, dangerous undertone to his presence.
He was like a venomous needle—unassuming at first glance, but capable of taking a life in an instant.
A subtle, cruel smile crept onto his handsome face. “You’re currently dating Su Yi, aren’t you?”
“Did you forget what century we’re in, Young Master? Hoping to live like an ancient lord with a harem of wives and concubines?”
Xu Shiyan froze for a moment. Once he registered the implication, his brow furrowed, and he barked back with raw malice, “Bullshit. I’m not dating her.”
“How strange,” Shen Xiaozhou said with a half-smile. “That certainly wasn’t your attitude this morning.”
He deliberately dragged out his words, his gaze turning searching and analytical. “Did something happen between you and Huai Yin later on that made you throw Su Yi to the back of your mind?”
As he spoke, Shen Xiaozhou tightened his grip on the shirt in his hand.
Huai Yin had taken off his shirt. Without a doubt, she must have changed into Xu Shiyan’s clothes.
As for why she had to change, it was almost certainly because Xu Shiyan got jealous and forced her into his attire.
Did she change right in front of him, or did he help her?
Did they do anything else besides that? Like kissing or—
Yet, observing Xu Shiyan’s current state, Shen Xiaozhou grew fairly certain that nothing substantial had actually happened between them.
Otherwise, the guy would be rubbing it in his face right now instead of acting like a jealous, resentful husband.
Xu Shiyan’s handsome face remained tense, the corner of his mouth twitching twice. “Does that have anything to do with you? Who do you think you are?”
The young master had been thoroughly incensed.
Shen Xiaozhou offered a faint smile, a trace of amusement glinting in his eyes. “Of course not. It has nothing to do with me.”
“So, will Young Master Xu let me pass now?”
Xu Shiyan exhaled a heavy, impatient breath. “Shen Xiaozhou, I’m warning you—stop pestering Huai Yin.”
Shen Xiaozhou raised an eyebrow. “Pestering? What makes you say that?”
Always talking so formally—it’s infuriating just listening to him, Xu Shiyan cursed inwardly.
Everything about this rival rubbed him the wrong way. He wished the guy would simply vanish from the face of the earth so he could enjoy his romance with Huai Yin in peace.
But then he immediately shot down the idea.
He’s not a rival. Shen Xiaozhou doesn’t even deserve to be called my rival. He’s just an arrogant stalker.
Xu Shiyan cast a look of utter revulsion at him. “I’m saying you shouldn’t be here in the first place.”
“Is it really just a coincidence? Or did you sniff out where Huai Yin lives just to stage a ‘random’ encounter?”
What a pathetic tactic. Xu Shiyan viewed Shen Xiaozhou entirely as a scheming, manipulative green-tea manipulator. He had seen plenty of people like him before—men and women alike who would resort to any trick just to climb the social ladder. In his eyes, Shen Xiaozhou was no different from the rest.
Shen Xiaozhou remained unfazed. “Is that what Huai Yin told you?”
“What?” Xu Shiyan asked sharply.
Shen Xiaozhou lowered his eyes, completely composed. “Calling me a home-wrecker, I mean. Or do you actually have any proof?”
Xu Shiyan couldn’t hold back a harsh curse.
This scholarship student was intentionally pushing his buttons.
With a heavy clang, Xu Shiyan threw the car door open, intending to settle the score then and there, but his driver instantly rushed out to stop him.
“Young Master, we need to head back!”
The driver placed himself between the two tall teenagers. Both Xu Shiyan and Shen Xiaozhou possessed impressive height and build; if a physical fight broke out, the driver alone might not be able to hold them back.
Xu Shiyan clenched his fists tightly, his jawline locked in a rigid angle.
I should just beat this little intruder’s face to a pulp and see if he can still seduce Huai Yin after that.
“Want to fight?”
Shen Xiaozhou stared straight at him without a shred of fear, his tone carrying an implicit edge of provocation.
The driver had a pounding headache. He couldn’t fathom where a scholarship student got such audacity. Turning around, he urged, “Stop talking and leave quickly! I’ll hold the Young Master back!”
“You think you’re getting away?” Xu Shiyan took a step forward, fist raised.
Shen Xiaozhou spread his hands calmly. “I have no intention of running.” Saying so, he casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing a pale, lean forearm.
The driver grabbed Xu Shiyan’s shoulder, trying to pull him back. “Young Master, please don’t cause trouble! If Miss Huai Yin finds out, she’ll definitely be furious!”
Xu Shiyan’s brows knitted together tightly, his chest heaving up and down. His sharp facial features and deep-set eyes made him look remarkably like a vicious hound when he was truly enraged.
“Furious over what? You think Huai Yin would actually fall for a pretty boy like him? Does he even deserve her?”
Shen Xiaozhou let out a soft chuckle. “Then what are you so afraid of?”
The youth tilted his chin slightly, sizing up the person before him with cold indifference. “Or does Young Master Xu simply lack confidence in himself? Do you actually think you’ll lose to me?”
“Lose to a scholarship student?” He placed deliberate emphasis on the final words.
“Like hell I will!”
Xu Shiyan panted heavily, his eyes bloodshot. But as he took in Shen Xiaozhou’s remarkably calm composure, it suddenly dawned on him: the guy had been trying to provoke him into striking first all along.
Xu Shiyan forced himself to cool down quickly.
He couldn’t fall into Shen Xiaozhou’s trap.
Shen Xiaozhou was probably just waiting for him to throw the first punch. Not only could he claim self-defense afterward, but he could also play the victim in front of Huai Yin.
If that happened, all the blame would fall on Xu Shiyan.
Most people fell for the innocent victim act, and Huai Yin—with her soft, gentle heart—would be no exception.
He had almost made a terrible mistake.
This damn home-wrecker is terrifyingly calculating. One wrong step and you fall right into his trap.
“Shen Xiaozhou, I really underestimated you.”
Xu Shiyan straightened his posture, shoving his hands into his pockets, the disgust on his face blatant and unhidden.
“Your methods really are clever,” Xu Shiyan said, raising an eyebrow. “But Huai Yin is my fiancée, and that is a fact you can never change.”
“In the end, the only person who will end up by her side is me.”
Without giving Shen Xiaozhou a single chance to reply, Xu Shiyan turned on his heel and got back into the car. Moments later, the black Maybach sped away, vanishing from Shen Xiaozhou’s line of sight.
Shen Xiaozhou closed his eyes as his frame swayed ever so slightly. Taking a long, deep breath, he barely managed to steady his turbulent emotions.
The vein at his temple throbbed violently. His handsome face was now dark and overcast, completely stripped of the serene composure he had maintained just moments ago.
Ding.
The chime of an incoming text message pulled his thoughts back to reality.
Shen Xiaozhou retrieved his phone from his pocket. It was a message from Huai Yin:
【I want strawberry cake. Remember to buy one for me on your way back.】
Her tone was utterly unreasonable, accompanied by a sticker of an angry little cat baring its fangs.
Yet, almost magically, his restless and suffocating mood vanished into thin air.
Shen Xiaozhou wondered if he was simply born with the fate of being a servant to this young heiress.
Bit by bit, the void in his heart was filled. He even felt a faint trace of sweetness blooming inside him.
When the young heiress wanted cake, he was the very first person she thought of to buy it—not Xu Shiyan.
Just being needed by her brought him an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
【Why are you asking me to buy it?】 Shen Xiaozhou typed back.
【You’re so talkative just for running an errand! If you can’t buy the cake, don’t even bother coming back.】
【My dad gives you food and shelter—what’s so wrong with asking you to buy me a cake? And you pay for it! I heard you just got your scholarship money.】
Shen Xiaozhou could easily picture her arrogant expression as she said those words.
He felt an urge to laugh. How could a girl like her even exist?
She had thrown a whole fierce tantrum, all because she wanted to eat some cake.
A foolish, gluttonous, and aggressive little cat.
A faint smile glinted in the depths of his eyes.
Seeing that he hadn’t replied for a while, Huai Yin sent another message:
【What? Are you unwilling? Fine, then don’t come back! I don’t want to see you!】
If he didn’t agree soon, the young heiress was truly going to throw a fit. Whenever Huai Yin lost her temper, everyone around her suffered.
His long, slender fingers moved swiftly across the screen as he typed his response:
【Not at all. I would be more than happy to be at your service, My Lady.】