Chapter 17

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Everyone at this meal had hidden intentions.

Xu Zhaomu’s were the most simple ones. Her stance was very pure. She merely wanted to always stand on the same side as Shen Chi.

She had no choice. It wasn’t her fault that Shen Chi was so handsome.

However, that chap Shen Shihan also appeared quite good-looking. However, he was still inferior to Shen Chi.

Shen Yanrou was the first to finish her meal. She only ate a few mouthfuls before putting her chopsticks down and returning to her room.

Not long later, Shen Cexian also took his leave. The moment Shen Cexian left, Liu Rumei lost her appetite and stood up to go after him.

Only three people remained at the dining table: Shen Chi, Xu Zhaomu, and Shen Shihan.

Xu Zhaomu became more unbridled. She pushed a plate of blueberry jam to Shen Chi. “Big brother Shen Chi, this one is very delicious.”

Shen Chi didn’t want it. He simply responded nonchalantly, “In the future, call me Fourth Brother.”

“Then do I have to call him Third Brother?” Xu Zhaomu pointed at Shen Shihan.

“Mmm.”

Shen Shihan didn’t have much of an opinion. He passed them two cups of fruit juice that he had been mixing.

“Have a taste.”

Xu Zhaomu stared at Shen Shihan cautiously. Shen Chi received it without any hesitation. “Thank you.”

The relationship between Shen Chi and Shen Shihan was very subtle, and the ten-year-old Xu Zhaomu couldn’t see through it. There seemed to be some tension between them, almost as though they were irreconcilable adversaries.

This was very different from cat fights between women. On the battleground between men, every move was fatal, although no blood would be shed.

After finishing her dinner, Xu Zhaomu went to visit Big White.

Big White had been raised by Shen Chi. Although this Tibetan mastiff was still quite young, it had quite a large domain to live in.

Most important, Shen Chi treated Big White many times better than he treated her.

Sigh… In Shen Chi’s words, she was a puppy who was inferior to Big White.

However, one day, she would dominate Shen Chi. Hmph, hmph.

Xu Zhaomu was squatting in front of the cage as she fed Big White when Liu Rumei and her daughter walked in.

Liu Rumei pretended not to see her. She grinned at Shen Yanrou, “Look, there are two dogs over there.”

Shen Yanrou agreed. “Exactly, we should leave quickly. If we get bitten by a dog, we’ll need to get a vaccination.”

Xu Zhaomu gnashed her teeth angrily. Since when could anybody bully her on a whim?

She suddenly got an idea. She ran over to the kitchen and came back with a watermelon to feed Big White.

“Big White, Big White, once you finish eating this watermelon, let’s teach them a lesson.”

Big White gnawed the watermelon enthusiastically, polishing it all down. Xu Zhaomu stroked his head. “Big White, good boy…”

Taking advantage of the cover of night, she creeped stealthily over to the west wing of the Shen family villa with the watermelon peels in hand.

One piece, two pieces, three pieces…

Xu Zhaomu left the watermelon peels on the floors of the common corridors upstairs. Then, she clapped her hands in satisfaction.

Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou were on their way back upstairs to rest after taking a stroll. They walked one in front of the other.

Xu Zhaomu hid in a secluded corner and watched them silently.

Just as she’d expected, a plop sounded. Liu Rumei and Shen Yanrou had each stepped onto a watermelon peel.

“Ai! Who left out these watermelon peels? Are they blind? Why have such things been casually tossed on the ground? Whoever tossed them, come out right now.”

Liu Rumei was sprawled on the ground. She no longer cared about her image as she swore and screamed.

On the contrary, Shen Yanrou was more composed. After slipping, she stood back up.

“It must have been that kid, Xu Zhaomu.” Shen Yanrou limped around the staircase as she searched for her.

Finished, she was finished…

Xu Zhaomu hurriedly prepared to slip away.

Unexpectedly, someone grabbed her by the collar. Before she could let out a scream, that someone covered her mouth.

Shen Chi took Xu Zhaomu back to his room. Xu Zhaomu thumped her chest with her hand.

“You gave me a fright. I thought it was someone else.”

“You were acting so suspiciously, you must have done something naughty again.” Shen Chi rolled his eyes at her.

“You saw it too? This can’t be considered an act of evil. What do you call it? Oh, implementing justice!” Xu Zhaomu had learned another new phrase.

“Your performance today wasn’t bad. I’m going to give this to you.” Shen Chi casually took out a small box.

“What is it, what is it?” Xu Zhaomu’s eyes were shining brilliantly.

After opening it, she realized that it was a little wooden figurine.

The wooden figurine had been painted in an array of colors. It was adorable and resembled her a bit. However, it wasn’t as cute as her.

Shen Chi sat on the sofa and leisurely picked up a book to read.

Xu Zhaomu fiddled with the little wooden figurine carefully. She truly did not expect Shen Chi to give her a present.

She walked up to Shen Chi. “I really like it. But…if you gave me something else, it would be even better.”

“Give you an inch and you ask for a mile.” Shen Chi didn’t even look up. He ignored her completely.

Xu Zhaomu threw herself forward and locked her arms around his neck. “Spending money to buy presents is not friendly to the wallet. Just let me give you a kiss.”

“Get lost!”

Shen Chi’s eyes were icy, and he had an imposing demeanor.

However, Xu Zhaomu didn’t relent. She hooked her little arms around his neck and rubbed him all over.

“A kiss doesn’t even cost any money. Eh, Shen Chi, you’re wasting your good looks.”

Shen Chi got very angry. He shoved her away roughly and threw her onto the sofa.

Many years later, a certain person pushed Xu Zhaomu onto the bed. With a smirk, he repeated the words she had said back then, “Don’t let your fertile waters flow into someone else’s field. If you don’t let me kiss you, won’t you be wasting your good looks?”

Shen Chi picked up his book. After straightening his collar, he took his leave.

“How petty you are. It’s not like I’m going to eat you up,” Xu Zhaomu responded.

She sat on the sofa and suddenly caught sight of a slip of paper underneath the teacup.

She curiously walked over and took a look. She saw that it was a plane ticket from C City to Frankfurt.

Frankfurt? This name sounded quite strange.

Xu Zhaomu didn’t know what it was. However, she could see the timing: 5 a.m. the next morning!

And this plane ticket belonged to Shen Chi…

He was actually planning to leave her on her own. How could he have no conscience?

Xu Zhaomu felt as though there was a rabbit scratching her heart.

She was extremely upset. Her hand was trembling as she held the plane ticket.

In her anger, she ripped the plane ticket apart. She almost tossed it into the dustbin, but, in the end, she shoved it into her pocket.

No way, she had to destroy all traces of evidence.

If Shen Chi discovered it, he would definitely beat her up.

The longer she pondered the situation, the more upset she became. Why did he want to leave? How could he leave her alone in the Shen family?

No wonder he gave her a present today. It turned out that he was leaving. He had had evil intentions.

Xu Zhaomu flung the cushion onto the ground angrily. She pretended that it was Shen Chi. She needed to stomp on it a few times to relieve her anger.

She decided to see if she could find out anything so she overturned his belongings and searched through them for any clues.

The heavens did not disappoint those with resolutions. She successfully found a letter of notification in his bedside drawer.

Frankfurt, five years, degree in business…

She focused on the few words that she could recognize. After piecing everything together, she came to a realization. Shen Chi was going to this strange place called Frankfurt to study for five years.

“Where is your conscience? How could you abandon me?” Xu Zhaomu’s nose started to feel sore. Teardrops the size of beans started to trickle down her face.

She had lent him a hand so many times that day and, yet, he was going to leave without saying a word. And his absence was going to last for five years.

If she had not discovered this just now, he would have disappeared by the time she opened her eyes the next morning…