Shen Yuqing and Song Wangzhuo were in the same department, so naturally, their courses were identical.
It didn’t take long for Shen Yuqing to realize that Song Wangzhuo really hadn’t come today.
Did he really go to work at the bar?
Just how badly did he need money that he’d skip class for it?
Shen Yuqing felt even more troubled. If only Song Wangzhuo hadn’t gone to the bar, he might have been able to come up with some excuse to delay things.
But he also knew that while delaying once might work, he couldn’t keep doing it forever. He needed to find a proper solution.
Shen Yuqing absentmindedly scribbled in his notebook with his pen, but no good ideas came to mind.
The morning passed quickly, and by noon, Lin Sui came over to ask if he wanted to have lunch together.
Shen Yuqing replied, “The housekeeper already prepared food. I’m heading home to eat. Want to join?”
Lin Sui thought for a moment. “Just you?”
“No, Pei Yiyan’s there too,” Shen Yuqing answered honestly. “He moved in with me.”
“What?!” Lin Sui was shocked. “Your fiancé is so clingy? He follows you around even at noon? You never mentioned this before!”
Shen Yuqing explained, “No, we just moved into the house near the academy. You never asked.”
Lin Sui choked on his words and quickly waved his hand. “If Pei Yiyan’s there, I’ll pass.”
Shen Yuqing gave him a look. “What, are you scared of him or something?”
“Not exactly,” Lin Sui said. “My sister is friends with him.”
Mostly, he was afraid of witnessing Shen Yuqing making a move on Pei Yiyan—helping would be awkward, and not helping would be worse.
If he helped and Pei Yiyan mentioned it to his sister later, he’d be doomed.
If he didn’t help, Shen Yuqing would tear into him on the spot.
So while Lin Sui knew about their situation, he usually just listened and never dared to say a word.
“Fine.” Shen Yuqing had only asked casually and didn’t press further.
After they parted ways, Shen Yuqing headed home. When he arrived, Wu Yi had already left.
Pei Yiyan was sitting on the sofa, petting the cat while listening to the latest news.
The beta servant said, “Young Master, lunch will be ready shortly. Would you like some cake to tide you over?”
Shen Yuqing shook his head. “No need. Go ahead with your work.”
After changing his shoes, he walked over to the sofa and noticed a delicate slice of cake in front of Pei Yiyan. He had only taken a small bite before leaving the rest untouched.
Shen Yuqing sat down on the single-seater sofa, crossing his legs as he watched the financial news playing on TV. The report happened to mention the return of the young master of the Song family.
Since when did financial news cover things like this?
Shen Yuqing watched patiently for a while before realizing the report was actually about an arranged marriage.
Was Song Lejin getting engaged?
Shen Yuqing raised an eyebrow, but the news only mentioned the engagement without revealing who the partner was.
He pursed his lips, thoughts drifting back to Song Wangzhuo.
“You’re back.”
Pei Yiyan’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Shen Yuqing looked up, genuinely surprised that Pei Yiyan had initiated conversation.
“Yeah,” Shen Yuqing responded. “How was your rehab this morning?”
“Fine,” Pei Yiyan replied flatly.
The cat curled up in his lap, Haoyunlai, also lifted its head to glance at Shen Yuqing and meowed twice in greeting.
Shen Yuqing straightened up and stared at Haoyunlai. “Come here. Who’s your real owner, huh?”
Lucky lounged leisurely in Pei Yiyan’s arms, lazily swishing his tail as if to say: Pei Yiyan was his true master.
Shen Yuqing clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Fine then, you traitorous cat. You’re sleeping in your own bed tonight.”
Lucky seemed to understand his words perfectly. The hesitation on the cat’s face was unmistakable before it reluctantly shifted positions, leaping gracefully to settle beside Shen Yuqing instead. It then rubbed its head affectionately against his arm, purring loudly.
Oh, so you’ve got two faces now, huh?
Since he couldn’t lay a finger on the main characters, he had no qualms about taking it out on this little traitor.
If Pei Yiyan could see him now, he’d witness Shen Yuqing in an utterly ridiculous pose, shamelessly burying his face in the cat’s fur!
An Omega servant had just brewed tea for Shen Yuqing and happened to catch him mid-cat-snuggle. The servant froze momentarily, then looked puzzled.
This Shen Yuqing didn’t quite match the information he’d been given.
According to the reports, Shen Yuqing was temperamental—cross him, and he’d make you suffer in a hundred different ways. Ruthless to the core.
But this cat-cuddling spectacle…
Didn’t exactly scream “ruthless.” If anything, it made him look… not very bright.
Shen Yuqing inhaled the cat’s fluff a few more times, thoroughly satisfied. He felt recharged!
Cats were amazing! Absolutely amazing!
“Master Shen, your tea,” the Omega servant said, placing the cup before him.
Shen Yuqing glanced at it. Feeling a bit parched, he took a sip. The flavor was unexpectedly refined—just the right balance of warmth and bitterness, clearly brewed by practiced hands. His eyebrows lifted slightly in approval.
The Omega didn’t miss his reaction. With a saccharine tone, he asked, “Master Shen, do you like it? Should I brew another cup for you?”
What was up with this guy? That syrupy voice made Shen Yuqing’s skin crawl.
He set the cup down. “No need. It’s not that special.”
The Omega persisted. “Of course. If there’s anything you’d prefer, just let me know. I can do anything for you.”
“Don’t bother. Just focus on serving your master properly.” Shen Yuqing shot a glance at Pei Yiyan, who had remained completely indifferent throughout their exchange, quietly listening to the news instead.
Shen Yuqing scooped up the cat and plopped down beside him. Only then did Pei Yiyan react, tilting his head slightly as if waiting for him to speak.
After a moment’s hesitation, Shen Yuqing remarked, “The servants the Pei family sent are… interesting.”
There were Omegas at the academy too, but he’d never heard any of them talk like that. It gave him an idea—
Shen Yuqing’s eyes lit up!
He’d figured it out!
Song Wangzhuo’s corruption meter could be saved!
Pei Yiyan, however, only responded with a cold, “Oh?”
Distracted by his scheming, Shen Yuqing answered without thinking, “Eh, they’re alright. Not as interesting as you, though.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Cold sweat broke out down his back.
Sweet heavens above, he hadn’t meant it like that!
What kind of nonsense was he spouting?!
Panicked, he quickly pulled up Pei Yiyan’s data to check.
He exhaled in relief.
Good. Pei Yiyan hadn’t taken it to heart.
But the moment he relaxed, the data refreshed abruptly in his mind.
【Target: Pei Yiyan
Darkening Value: 69
Favorability: -58
Mission Progress: 10%
Current Status: Unawakened】
Damn, this update was actually delayed!
Even though the favorability dropped a few more points, his darkening value decreased by one!
The big shot is still a good person after all!
Shen Yuqing quickly cheered himself up.
Seizing the moment, he added, “By the way, since rehabilitation is working, have Wu Yi come daily to fix that sickly body of yours sooner. Our Shen family won’t tolerate useless people.”
With that, he summoned the beta servant and instructed, “From now on, when Wu Yi arrives, neither of you is to disturb their rehab sessions. In the afternoon, go purchase some rehab equipment for Pei Yiyan.”
【Favorability: -50】
Shen Yuqing took a deep breath, utterly thrilled inside.
