Chapter 5: A Kiss Demanded
By the time he emerged in fresh clothes, Shen Chutang finally spoke. “Do you want some breakfast? I set the porridge to cook last night—it’s ready now.”
Lu Beiqin didn’t refuse. “Alright.”
The simple meal of porridge and side dishes turned out to be delicious. Watching Lu Beiqin finish every last bite, Shen Chutang thought to herself that the life of a working man must be hard indeed—he probably hadn’t been eating well at all. She wondered when she’d be able to fatten him up a bit.
After breakfast, her phone rang again. As expected, it was her Master calling.
“Master,” Shen Chutang greeted sweetly. Her Master looked as eccentric as ever, dressed like some wandering sage, calm and composed. “Where’s your husband?” he asked.
Shen Chutang had anticipated this, and immediately turned the camera toward Lu Beiqin, smiling as she said, “Master, isn’t my husband handsome?”
At her words, Lu Beiqin’s expression softened ever so slightly, but he quickly returned to his usual composure and joined in, “Master.”
In the video, her Master studied Lu Beiqin intently. “Well… I suppose, I suppose.”
Shen Chutang refused to let it go. “What do you mean by that, Master? Do you think my husband isn’t good enough? Hmph, I’m not talking to you anymore—my husband has to get to work.”
Lu Beiqin took the cue to stand up. Shen Chutang tilted her chin at him.
Lu Beiqin frowned slightly. Shen Chutang signaled with her eyes.
He leaned down and kissed her. “I’m off,” he said.
Shen Chutang stared at him in surprise. “Why did you kiss me?”
“You were asking for one, weren’t you?” Lu Beiqin replied.
Shen Chutang bristled. “I wanted you to say goodbye to my Master before you left!”
On the other end, her Master had already hung up.
Lu Beiqin cleared his throat awkwardly. “Sorry.”
Shen Chutang was at a loss for words. “Forget it, go on to work.”
…
In the VIP restaurant on the top floor of the Wansheng Hotel, a young woman in a pale blue dress sat idly. Her long hair fell carelessly down her back, and her face was so exquisite—like a porcelain doll—that even passing waiters couldn’t help but glance her way more than once.
But the private rooms here were notoriously difficult to reserve; typically, guests needed to book three months in advance. Yet this young woman had simply given her name and was let in immediately. She had to be someone important, though the waiters dared not speculate.
Soon, a man in a suit hurried over, mopping sweat from his brow. “Junior Sister, next time you call me, can’t you wait until evening? I’m roasting alive after just a few steps!”
Shen Chutang handed him an iced lemon tea. “That’s what you get for dressing like that—cool down a bit.”
Ling You took a long drink before recovering. “Junior Sister, I am a CEO, you know. A hardworking CEO busy earning money so you can eat well. Do you think it’d be appropriate for me to show up in a singlet and old shorts?”
Shen Chutang considered this. “What’s wrong with that? That’s how Master dresses.”
Ling You was speechless, but couldn’t bring himself to scold her—after all, Shen Chutang was the most cherished little sister in their whole sect.
He handed over a stack of documents. “These are the Shen family’s business projects over the past few years, as well as all the properties under their name.”
Shen Chutang skimmed through the pages, her expression growing colder with each line. The Shen family’s ventures had been declining, but Shen Xuejun still owned quite a few properties. However, aside from those listed under Shen Xuejun himself, almost everything else was in Shen Tingting’s name.
How amusing—they guarded her like she was a thief over these mere scraps.
Shen Chutang couldn’t help but question her own place in the family.
Ling You studied her expression. “Junior Sister, do you want me to…”
Shen Chutang handed him a piece of paper. “No need. I’m busy making money these days—I don’t have time to deal with them.”
Ling You was taken aback. “Making money? Junior Sister, you need to make money?”
She nodded. “Of course. I just got married recently—I’m broke.”