On the weekend, Shen Zhirou and Zhao Tongtong arrived at the restaurant early, waiting to celebrate Shen Yumian’s new job. When Shen Yumian spotted her sister, her eyes lit up and she smiled, saying, “Sis, you and Elder Sister Tong both came to keep me company? Oh right, where’s Lu Yao Jiejie?”
“She’s swamped with work, and I barely see her these days. Yesterday she packed her bags and mentioned a business trip. I hardly got a few words in before she rushed off. Next time there’s a chance, I’ll bring her over to meet you.” Shen Zhirou’s smile faded slightly as she recalled the expression on Lu Yao’s face.
“That’s okay. Work comes first anyway.” Noticing her sister didn’t want to linger on the topic of Lu Yao, Shen Yumian quickly changed the subject. “Let’s order some food then, Sis. Get whatever you want—I’m treating today. I’ll have my paycheck soon. The others who interviewed with me said Shengjin Group deposits salaries right into your bank card around the 8th of the month. I’ve got some savings too.”
“No way are we letting you pay. Save it for your first real treat once that salary hits.” Shen Zhirou smiled. Then, as if struck by a thought, she added, “Have you gotten clothes and shoes sorted? You need to look put-together around President Sheng. If not, we can hit the shops after we eat.”
“No need, Sis. I’ve got it all handled. You two head home and rest after dinner.” Shen Yumian had already moved her things to an apartment near the company that Saturday morning, just a fifteen-minute walk to work.
“Alright. You get some rest too, and knock ’em dead at work tomorrow.”
The three wrapped up around seven. Zhao Tongtong drove herself home, while Shen Zhirou first dropped Shen Yumian at her apartment.
Eyeing her sister’s expression, Shen Yumian bit her lip and asked, “Sis, you seem preoccupied. Did you two fight?”
Shen Zhirou pressed her lips together and shook her head faintly. She and Yaoyao hadn’t even had time for arguments—Yaoyao was too busy, and they exchanged barely a few words a day. “No, she’s just slammed with work lately. Plus, she doesn’t like me prying into her business. But it’s fine that way. We don’t meddle in each other’s private lives, and we both have plenty of free time after hours.”
“But Sis, if it stays like this, problems are bound to crop up. Isn’t she being kind of distant with you?”
Shen Zhirou paused. Distant? Yaoyao had been pretty distant lately, even in bed—no longer as passionate as when they’d first gotten together. But she didn’t want her sister fretting over it. “She’s like that with everyone. Don’t worry—I’ll handle my own stuff. Just pour your heart into that job.”
“Yeah, I’ll give it everything I’ve got!” Shen Yumian’s face beamed with irrepressible joy. At last, she could start repaying her sister.
After seeing Shen Yumian home, Shen Zhirou returned to her own place. With Lu Yao away on her trip, the house felt cold and empty. She didn’t even know where Lu Yao had gone and had gotten no reply to her WeChat message.
Shen Zhirou stared at the app, frowning slightly. After a moment, she took a deep breath and dialed Lu Yao’s number. She could ignore other calls, but a business trip deserved at least a heads-up.
Things between her and Lu Yao felt off lately, like Yaoyao was holding her at a deliberate distance—the string of a kite entirely in Lu Yao’s grasp.
As the busy signal droned on ring after ring, Shen Zhirou’s anxiety mounted. Thankfully, after nearly ten rings, Lu Yao finally answered, her voice cool and even.
“What’s wrong? Something come up?” After a couple of sentences, Lu Yao murmured to someone else, apparently directing her assistant on dinner plans.
“Nothing big. Just wondering where your trip took you, Yaoyao. I think we should talk properly when you get back this time. I get not wanting me to interfere too much, but you could at least tell me the destination. You didn’t reply to my WeChat either—I’m worried you might run into trouble out there.” Saying it aloud eased the knot in Shen Zhirou’s chest a little.
“Sorry, I had to leave in a rush, but I’m genuinely swamped right now. I’m in Jing City for this one; it’ll take eight or nine days to wrap up and head back. Take care of yourself—no need to fret over me. I’ve got a dinner meeting with some managers from other companies soon, so I can’t chat long. Get some rest.” Lu Yao wasn’t in the best mood but mustered patience for the explanation.
“Okay, go handle your stuff then.” Hearing that, Shen Zhirou felt marginally steadier.
Before Lu Yao’s patience could wear thin, she hung up the phone and hurried off to the restaurant with Jiang Chen.
Come Monday morning, Shen Yumian had reported early to Floor 16. However, she was still unfamiliar with the workings of Shengjin Group, so Sheng Yang’s other assistant, Li Hui, had been showing her the ropes—introducing the company’s key operations and the daily responsibilities of an assistant.
Shen Yumian’s mornings that week were spent poring over materials and learning the basics, while her afternoons involved shadowing Li Hui as they handled various company tasks, helping her get up to speed as quickly as possible.
Her mind had been completely occupied with work all week. Given the nature of an assistant’s role, which often included handling all sorts of personal errands, she had even rushed to sign up for driving lessons.
On Friday evening after returning home, Shen Zhirou received another call from Zhang Huichun.
The moment she saw the name on her phone screen, Shen Zhirou bolted upright in bed, clutching one hand tightly in her lap as she answered with the other.
“Hello, Auntie. Is something the matter?” Shen Zhirou asked, softening her tone, though a flicker of unease stirred in her heart.
“Can’t I call just to chat? You young people shouldn’t be thinking about work all the time. It’s Saturday tomorrow—why don’t you and Yaoyao come over early? We’ll have a simple family dinner together.” Zhang Huichun’s voice carried no particular warmth.
“Yaoyao’s away on a business trip to Jing City. She probably won’t be back until next week,” Shen Zhirou replied. She didn’t really want to go to Lu Yao’s family home alone, but a direct refusal would seem rude, so she hinted gently that Lu Yao wouldn’t be there.
“Another business trip? That girl can never sit still. She goes off for so long and doesn’t even call to check in with us.” Zhang Huichun sighed, then continued, “No matter. She’s away, but you’re still here. Come over early tomorrow, then. We’ll have dinner together.”
“Alright, Auntie. See you tomorrow.” With the invitation extended so directly, Shen Zhirou couldn’t very well refuse.
After hanging up, Shen Zhirou rolled around on the bed a couple of times, sinking into the soft mattress with a sigh. She had never been good at dealing with elders, and knowing that Yaoyao’s mother wasn’t entirely pleased with her made the upcoming weekend feel utterly joyless.
She considered giving Lu Yao a heads-up, but then thought better of it—Lu Yao was so busy with work, and this was hardly worth troubling her over. In the end, she decided against making the call.
That was her plan, but she still had to go. In no mood to even check her phone, Shen Zhirou turned off the lights early and went to bed.
The next morning, Shen Zhirou was up bright and early. She whipped up a quick bowl of noodles, then drove to the supermarket to pick up some fresh fruit and live shrimp before heading straight to Zhang Huichun’s place.
She arrived at Lu Yao’s parents’ home before ten o’clock. Taking a deep breath, Shen Zhirou knocked on the door. Zhang Huichun answered.
Seeing Shen Zhirou, Zhang Huichun gave her a once-over and said coolly, “Come in.”
From inside, Lu Jitong called out with a smile, “Zhirou, come on in! You didn’t need to bring anything.”
“It’s no trouble. I stopped by the supermarket on the way— the fruit and shrimp were all fresh this morning, so I grabbed some,” Shen Zhirou replied as she slipped off her shoes.
As she headed further in, she spotted Ye Qi emerging from the kitchen, and her steps faltered. What was he doing here again?
Noticing the shift in Shen Zhirou’s expression, Lu Jitong explained with a chuckle, “We’d originally planned for you and Yaoyao to come for dinner, so your auntie and I didn’t intend to invite Xiao Ye. But since Yaoyao’s away on her trip, it would be too quiet with just the three of us. So I went ahead and asked him over. You don’t mind, do you?”
Shen Zhirou could only shake her head. What difference did it make whether she minded or not? He was already here.
“Uncle, what are we having for lunch? Let me help out in the kitchen,” Shen Zhirou said with a smile.
“That works. I haven’t had a chance to try your cooking yet. Yaoyao’s rarely home for meals anyway—do you usually eat alone?” Lu Jitong asked, glancing at her.
“It’s fine. When Yaoyao’s not busy, she’ll come back for my cooking. I’m decent enough in the kitchen—you can judge for yourself later.” Shen Zhirou smiled back. She grabbed an apron from the kitchen, tied it on, and fetched a basin to start deveining the shrimp.
Zhang Huichun glanced at Shen Zhirou as she entered but didn’t object. Instead, she continued chatting idly with Ye Qi, their conversation drifting from neighborhood gossip to the new baby in apartment 201.
Shen Zhirou found herself seeing Ye Qi in a whole new light. Didn’t the guy have a day job? He had the gossip from Lu Yao’s parents’ neighborhood down pat—he could retire early and join the old folks’ gossip brigade.
Shen Zhirou had nothing to add to the conversation, so she quietly focused on deveining the shrimp by herself. Her impression of Ye Qi was downright poor. The last time she and Yaoyao had come over, he had acted like he was the master of the house, clearly trying to put her on the spot. And then there was that phone call he’d made to her about Lu Yao’s ex—Shen Zhirou was convinced he had ulterior motives. That was private business between her and Yaoyao; no matter the circumstances, Ye Qi had no business spilling it to her.
Seeing Shen Zhirou occupied on her own, Lu Yao’s mother recalled their earlier chat about Wen Jin. Her eyes lit up, and as she kept talking with Ye Qi, she said, “Xiao Ye, remember that Wen Jin we talked about last time? I thought she looked like her back then, and now with Zhirou here in person, it seems even more so—especially those eyes of hers.”
Shen Zhirou glanced over at Zhang Huichun, puzzled as to why she had suddenly brought up her eyes. But it was easy enough to guess: Zhang Huichun didn’t care much for her, and her only goal in saying that was the same as Ye Qi’s—to make her realize the futility of it all and bow out gracefully.
