Chapter 35: Not Deliberately Trampling on Her Feelings

Shen Zhou flicked the ash from his cigarette and leaned back.

The woman took the cue, settling into his lap and unbuttoning her shirt one by one.

Tonight, however, Shen Zhou felt little interest. While he was never gentle with women in bed and possessed a high libido—nor was he stingy with his lovers—tonight, for some inexplicable reason, he just wasn't in the mood.

He stood up, grabbed his suit jacket from the side, and said, "Let's talk about it another time." His tone was indifferent.

The woman had made two advances, both of which were rejected. Her expression shifted instantly, then she let out a soft laugh.

Forget it. He was a wanderer playing at life; it was unlikely he would ever truly lose his heart to any lover. She really wanted to see what he would look like if he ever went mad over a woman.

Shen Zhou draped his jacket over his elbow. Entering the elevator, he ran into Shen Tingshui.

Shen Tingshui was wearing a jade "nothing-plate" pendant around her neck. He raised an eyebrow. "Aunt, since when did you start liking jade?"

Tang Yuan had given it to her, and Shen Tingshui quite liked it. It wasn't until she wore it tonight that she realized the thing was worth millions. She didn't know much about jade and hadn't expected the gift from that child, Yuan, to be so expensive.

"Yuan gave it to me. She’s much more sensible than you are."

Shen Zhou chuckled and pressed the elevator button. "If she wants to curry favor with you all, she’d be better off trying to curry favor with me."

Shen Tingshui knew her nephew was used to his own superiority, always holding a high-and-mighty attitude in everything he did. She couldn't help but nudge him with her elbow. "Oh my, saying things like that—did you hit a wall? That’s rare. Has the girl Yuan finally started to grow a backbone?"

"Just a tactic to get my attention. You wouldn't understand, Aunt—that’s the way lovers play their games."

Shen Tingshui felt a wave of irritation, but she couldn't help but advise him: "If you really like her, break it off with those women outside as soon as possible. Don't push her further and further away until the day comes when you regret it."

The elevator doors opened at that moment, and Shen Zhou stepped out first. "Aunt, you worry too much. Yuan can't leave me."

How could he not know that she had loved him for fifteen years? Every time she looked at him, her eyes seemed to shimmer with stars. Yet, he had always been aware of the Tang family’s intentions in adopting her, which was why he was never particularly warm toward her. He didn't deliberately trample on her feelings; he simply disdained them.

***

After leaving the hotel, Tang Yuan didn't go to find Chen Meng immediately. Instead, she first checked how much money was on the card.

Twenty million. Shen Zhou was certainly generous. However, the apartment he had previously given to Song Qianqian was worth more than this.

On one hand, she had to urge the renovation progress at her studio; on the other, she had to find a way to get Fu Yansheng back. But the coffee brand notified her that the shooting schedule had been delayed by half a month. She had originally thought she wouldn't see Fu Yansheng for another two weeks.

Yet, a week later, he suddenly sent a text message.

[I got hurt on the wire rig.]

Beyond that, he said nothing more.

Tang Yuan immediately called Director Chen, who ended up venting a bit more.

"It’s the lead actor from Old Zhang’s side. I don’t know why, but he’s been constantly picking on your artist lately. That fall wasn't light; his entire back is bruised. Fu Yansheng is a tough nut to crack, though—he didn't say a word, just insisted on finishing the shoot before going back to his room."

Tang Yuan’s expression darkened, and she took a deep breath.

Wasn't that lead actor the one who tried to drug her that night?

Chen Sen sighed on the other end. "The lead actor, Duan Wei, has a patron who is the president of the Baisheng Group. Isn't Baisheng currently collaborating with your husband? I’ve seen the news. Maybe you should go and have a word? If your artist keeps getting treated like this, a few lives won't be enough to pay the price."

Wire work was dangerous; if something really went wrong, it could be fatal. Fu Yansheng was used to swallowing his grievances and didn't want to cause her trouble, which was why he had endured for over a week before sending a single text, without even a word of complaint.

After hanging up, Tang Yuan first called to ask where Shen Zhou was.

Shen Zhou had been living a clean life at home for the past week, and Tang Yuan had been busy with renovations from dawn till dusk, so the two hadn't argued again.

He sat in his office chair, setting aside the documents in his hand.

"It’s work hours; naturally, I’m at the office. Do you want to come see me?" The last few words were heavily laced with ambiguity.

Tang Yuan’s eyes flickered, and they turned red instantly, a hint of tears in her voice. "Someone just texted me, saying you have a thing with the president of the Baisheng Group. Is it true?"

The smile in Shen Zhou’s eyes faded. He had only slept with that woman once. Who was being so meddlesome, sending a text to Tang Yuan?

***

Tang Yuan looked at the scenery outside the window and spoke, "I believe you, but I need to go ask the person who sent me the message myself. It seems to be a male celebrity, something like 'Duan'—he just happens to be filming with an artist from my studio. I’m not coming back tonight."

With that, she hung up.

In Shen Zhou’s eyes, Tang Yuan’s persona was that of a simple, naive fool. If she were really sent such a text, she would naturally be jealous and upset.

He rubbed his temples. Sometimes he found her temper tantrums cute, but when it truly involved his lovers, he found Tang Yuan somewhat annoying. Couldn't she just stay as silly as she used to be? Did she have to get to the bottom of everything?

Inexplicably, he felt annoyed with the woman he’d had the one-night stand with. She couldn't even keep such a small matter quiet—he wouldn't be seeing her again.

He made a call. The female executive thought he was suddenly in the mood for her, only to hear him say, "Keep your male celebrity in line."

The woman’s expression darkened; just as she was about to ask what was wrong, he hung up.

Shen Zhou had two entirely different attitudes when he was dressed versus when he was undressed. If you really angered him, no one’s face mattered. The female executive gritted her teeth, feeling a tightness in her chest—she had thought that after sleeping together once, she might be different in his heart.

At this moment, Tang Yuan was at a pharmacy, buying a large amount of medicine—two full bags. After putting them in the trunk, she drove directly toward the county.

It took nearly five hours; by five o'clock in the afternoon, she finally drove into the mountains where the film crew was stationed.

The mountain roads were muddy, and all four of her tires were caked in sludge. Fortunately, the car Tang Shangxu had given her had a high chassis, otherwise, she never would have made it up.

Wearing a hat and a mask, she spotted someone from the crew and hurried over to ask, "Excuse me, where is Fu Yansheng’s room?"

The houses in the mountains were makeshift structures to be demolished once they left, so they were quite crude.

A staff member couldn't help but say, "Are you Fu Yansheng’s assistant? How could you leave him here all by himself? Everyone else has people bringing them tea and water, but he’s the only one with no one around, and he gets bullied every day. It’s a pity—such a beautiful face, he was almost disfigured a few days ago."

The more Tang Yuan heard, the angrier and more shaken she became.

When she reached the door of Fu Yansheng’s room, she knocked. A hoarse voice came from inside: "I’m not eating."

"Yansheng, it’s me."

Footsteps followed quickly, and the door was opened from the inside.