Chapter 2

Senior: 【Took the kitty for a check-up. The vet said it’s very healthy. Also did deworming and vaccinations. It’s now back at its newly set-up home.】

【Image.jpg】

【Say, what do you think would be a good name for it? Do you have any good suggestions?】

Cheng Yan slept for a long time this time. When she woke up, the orange-red sunset glow had already covered half the sky. Her eyes, not yet adjusted to the light, narrowed against the glare.

Using her hand to shield her vision for a moment to adjust, the blurry whiteness finally cleared from her eyes.

She opened her phone, skipped the muted group messages, and immediately saw the two unread messages Chen Shuhua had sent ten minutes ago.

【Senior, this is your cat now.】

Her hair, slightly messy from sleeping, was smoothed out under her fingers. Cheng Yan casually brushed aside the strands that had fallen over her eyes, revealing a pair of pupils tinged with amber—clear and softly bright. The orange light of the sunset reflected in her eyes, projecting a gentle glow for a split second.

The enlarged photo of the orange cat on the screen looked like a melted cat-pancake, sprawled limply on a soft cushion, seeming particularly blissful.

Chen Shuhua’s message arrived a second later: 【But you really like it too.】

Seeing this sentence, Cheng Yan felt a moment of listlessness.

Her cleanly trimmed finger hovered over the back button. Just as she was about to press it, a short video, about ten seconds long, was sent over.

Seeing the ungrateful bad cat’s contented look, Cheng Yan changed her mind.

【I’m terrible at coming up with names.】

Chen Shuhua was a little happy: 【We can discuss it together.】

Cheng Yan, holding her phone and reading this sentence, let her thoughts stray for a second. Shouldn’t one just say ‘I trust you’ at times like this?

Forget it, that phrase is so cheesy, she thought with a blank face.

The orange-red sunset had not yet fully faded from the sky when the deep blue of the vast sea on the horizon’s edge began its gradual encroachment.

She typed on her keyboard: 【Let’s just call it Sunset Glow.】

…

An invitation was handed to Chen Shuhua. She took it subconsciously, looking at this black invitation card—an elegant design, with gold lines tracing the black edge, silently exuding an air of luxury and nobility.

She asked, puzzled, “What is this?”

When she opened the invitation and saw the content clearly, her surprise grew even more.

“The Jun Family…” Chen Shuhua asked, “Why would they invite us?”

It was a birthday invitation, its content requesting the presence of Chairman Chen of Rongxiang Enterprise and his family for the birthday banquet of the Jun Family Head.

The Jun Family Head.

Jun Jianqing.

The name was well-known to many, but what this person actually looked like remained unknown to most.

The Chen family was quite well-off, but facing the rapidly changing market in recent years, their annual profits had shown a slight downward trend. Father Chen had been seeking reforms to reverse this situation.

Yet, even during the peak years of the Chen family’s prosperity, they could barely reach the fringes of Jiang City’s true high society, never quite stepping inside, let alone now.

And what kind of existence was the Jun Family in Jiang City?

If you randomly stopped someone on the street and asked this question, they would likely answer without hesitation, “They are the most top-tier, powerful family in Jiang City.”

This was the general perception among outsiders.

Those within the circle with decent information knew that the Jun Family had risen to prominence early on through grey-area dealings, their methods ruthless and bloodthirsty. For a period, they were genuinely terrifying. Through such domineering means, the Jun Family rapidly amassed vast capital, then rebranded and entered the real economy market. Later, when national policies shifted, the Family Head at the time, possessing exceptional foresight, decisively carried out internal reforms, step-by-step executing a plan to clean up their image, gradually shedding those dark pasts.

Later, those who rose alongside the Jun Family were mercilessly eliminated by the changing times. Only the Jun Family stood unshakeable in Jiang City, an existence akin to a towering tree.

And Jun Jianqing, the current Jun Family Head, having won the bloodless power struggle of the previous generation with a sickly body to become the successor, was clearly not to be underestimated.

After taking power, she completely sanitized the Jun Family, transforming it overnight into a nationally renowned, benevolent large-scale charitable enterprise group. Not only did the Jun Family’s business empire not shrink, but it was led to unprecedented heights.

Such a character, so far out of reach in Chen Shuhua’s eyes, had actually sent a birthday banquet invitation to the Chen family one day. It gave her a sense of unreality.

Mother Chen was just pulling herself out of her memories. Hearing her daughter’s confusion, she returned to the present and said, “This President Jun and I were university classmates.”

Chen Shuhua was astonished, “Mom, this is the first time I’ve heard you mention this.”

Mother Chen replied, “What’s there to say? It’s nothing worth mentioning.”

One was an unknown underachiever, the other a dazzling sun. Saying it out loud would just be embarrassing if no one knew who you were.

“But your ages shouldn’t match up,” Chen Shuhua realized.

Even without knowing the current Jun Family Head’s exact age, Chen Shuhua vaguely remembered that the other wasn’t from her parents’ generation.

“I started school late, and I took a few years off during my studies. President Jun had skipped grades, so we were only classmates for one year.”

It was a very rare connection.

But even so, it shouldn’t warrant sending an invitation that the current Chen family couldn’t possibly obtain.

She had originally thought a person of her own status wouldn’t be remembered by the now-famous President Jun.

Unable to figure out the reason, Mother Chen stopped dwelling and instead turned to her daughter. “You’re supposed to start training at the company this summer. Are you prepared?”

Mentioning serious matters, hesitation appeared in Chen Shuhua’s eyes, but it quickly faded. She nodded, “Mm.”

Mother Chen sighed.

Shuhua’s temperament wasn’t inherently suited for this.

But she was their only child. The family business would eventually have to be handed over to her.

They would see how things went.

…

That day, Shiyu Hotel.

The Jun Family Head’s twenty-ninth birthday banquet was held here.

The banquet hall was magnificent and resplendent. Notable figures from various circles mingled, clinking glasses. The elegant and refined atmosphere of high society was palpable.

Yet no matter how proper and gentle the smiles on everyone’s faces were, in Chen Shuhua’s eyes, they all exuded a naked, icy air of transactional nature.

No matter how many times she attended such occasions, she ultimately couldn’t adapt to them from the bottom of her heart.

Seeing the main character of the event being pushed out in a wheelchair, surprise flashed in Chen Shuhua’s eyes.

She had only heard the Jun Family Head wasn’t in good health. Did it refer to this?

Her gaze showed admiration when it landed on her face, then discreetly lingered on the other’s legs. A reasonable guess—unable to walk?

“Shuhua, you’re being rude,” Mother Chen quietly reminded her from the side.

Chen Shuhua retracted her gaze. A flush of embarrassment crossed her fair-skinned face. “Sorry, Mom.”

Mother Chen patted her gently. “You stay here. Your father and I are going to greet some business partners.”

After her parents gradually walked away, Chen Shuhua steadied her nerves and found a quiet spot to sit. She opened her phone and the chat window pinned to the top.

【I had someone take Sunset Glow for a bath today. It was very lively.】

【Video】

Junior must be free right now, as a reply came quickly.

【Lively? You mean hated it.】

Faced with her comment, Chen Shuhua thought of Sunset Glow struggling in the video and couldn’t help but smile.

She agreed: 【Seems like it.】

Junior: 【Isn’t it almost time to take Sunset Glow for neutering?】

Chen Shuhua paused, thinking of the relevant information she’d found online: 【In a week, I’ve already made the appointment.】

Because Sunset Glow was previously a stray on campus, it was already of age for neutering. But when she first took it home, the vaccinations weren’t complete yet, so the surgery had to wait. She waited a while longer, and after confirming with the vet that the surgery could proceed, she made the appointment.

Remembering Junior’s fondness for Sunset Glow, she invited: 【Want to come along?】

Junior: 【I’ll politely decline. Neutered cats hold grudges.】

Chen Shuhua couldn’t help but laugh. And she still denied liking Sunset Glow so much.

If she didn’t like it, why would she be worried about it holding a grudge?

Unlike that day’s doubts and unease, Chen Shuhua suddenly felt now that adopting Sunset Glow had been an incredibly correct decision.

“Chatting with your lover?”

An unfamiliar voice sounded by her ear. Startled, Chen Shuhua subconsciously looked back.

Jun Jianqing sat in her wheelchair, her face pale. Even the supposedly joyous birthday banquet did nothing to dispel the sickly aura around her.

Yet her expression was very faint. Even with a stunningly beautiful face, it discouraged any covetous thoughts.

Even though the other looked utterly powerless, as if nothing like a decisive and ruthless power-holder, only Chen Shuhua, facing her directly, knew the overpowering, stifling sense of suffocation she felt when meeting those dark eyes was impossible to ignore.

She was momentarily speechless, overwhelmed by that silent presence.

It seemed the person opposite inadvertently reined in her aura, allowing Chen Shuhua to catch her breath.

She gathered her wits and answered with the characteristic shy reserve of a young person: “Not… yet.”

Jun Jianqing’s gaze swept over her phone. Understanding dawned. “Someone you like, pursuing them?”

Chen Shuhua’s face reddened slightly, but she still nodded firmly: “Yes.”

Jun Jianqing seemed to be in a leisurely mood tonight. Looking at her, she asked, “A schoolmate?”

Chen Shuhua’s face grew even redder: “Yes, my junior.”

Jun Jianqing made no particular reaction to her answer, instead asking another question: “I heard you attend Mingjiang University. How do you find it?”

Mentioning her alma mater, the heat in Chen Shuhua’s face subsided a bit. She always felt an indescribable pressure facing Jun Jianqing, preventing her from acting out of line. She merely said discreetly, “Mingjiang University is a very beautiful school.”

A faint smile hung on Jun Jianqing’s face: “Indeed it is.”

She looked at Chen Shuhua with the expression characteristic of a highly-placed elder. Her faint gaze passed over her phone and her flushed face. Her tone was unhurried: “Wishing you success soon.”

Chen Shuhua felt rather shy: “President Jun, thank you for your well wishes.”

The well wishes of the birthday star should be a very good hope, right?

Chen Shuhua thought of Cheng Yan, her eyes unconsciously revealing a tenderness she wasn’t aware of.

“President Jun, what brings you here?” Mother Chen, returning to find Chen Shuhua, was surprised to see someone who shouldn’t be here. But she still greeted her properly.

Seeing Mother Chen, Jun Jianqing nodded in greeting: “Senior.”

Then, as if remembering something, she looked at Chen Shuhua and said flatly, “Just call me Aunt Jun.”

Chen Shuhua was startled. Under Mother Chen’s somewhat puzzled gaze, she hesitantly spoke: “Aunt Jun.”

“Mm.”