As the banquet drew to a close, Su Muzhi and Shen Wanyu ultimately didn’t say much more.
Conversation was the most pointless thing between the two of them.
Guests began bidding farewell to the host, and the venue hall gradually grew empty.
“Staying at my place tonight?”
Stepping out of the venue, Su Muzhi straightened Jiang Linyuan’s slightly disheveled bow tie, blinked, and asked playfully.
Jiang Linyuan glanced at Shen Wanyu, who stood motionless by the venue entrance, and said with so embarrassnt:
“I’m a good kid—there’s a curfew at ho. If I don’t go back, my family will worry.”
Su Muzhi just rolled her eyes.
There wasn’t a single word from this guy that could be trusted.
She casually glanced at Shen Pingyan’s family, already seated in the car, then leaned in close, her lips brushing Jiang Linyuan’s ear as she whispered:
“I’m very satisfied with tonight, so I’m confident enough to let you be alone with Shen Wanyu. Accompany her, and win her over.”
“But rember, before you fall for , you can’t fall for anyone else.”
The girl’s warning, gentle yet laced with severity, hit his earlobe like warm breath in spring air.
“Oh? What’s that supposed to be? A declaration from my future girlfriend?”
Jiang Linyuan leaned in too, smiling as he asked.
Su Muzhi shoved him away and covered her flushed neck and collarbone with her hand:
“Hehe, it’s a declaration from your future master.”
With that, she got into the car and drove off without a second glance.
Those damn Shanghai people—they sent here but didn’t pick up.
Jiang Linyuan sighed and walked over to Shen Wanyu.
Her face was clear and beautiful, her waist slender, her black hair swaying gently in the evening breeze—like a solitary white rose blooming alone.
“Xiao Su abandoned , Departnt Head. I’ve got nowhere to stay tonight.”
Shen Wanyu glanced at him and said:
“Oh? So Deputy Minister Jiang wants to experience life as a Shanghai holess guy, huh?”
“What holess guy? You’re not going to take in, Departnt Head?”
Jiang Linyuan asked, displeased.
She made a disgusted face:
“Deputy Minister Jiang, you’re more annoying than a cat and more hyper than a dog. As a pet, I really can’t see any value in adopting you.”
“But I’m easy to keep, Departnt Head! Just a little of your love, and I’ll live carefree and happy!”
Jiang Linyuan was shalessly unabashed.
“What does ‘carefree and happy’ even an? I can barely associate that word with a pet. Even a turtle would only…”
Shen Wanyu wanted to say sothing but ended up just covering her forehead and sighing helplessly:
“I’m heading back to Jinling. If you don’t plan to spend the night in Shanghai, buy your train ticket early.”
Jiang Linyuan was taken aback and asked:
“Did you co by bullet train, Departnt Head?”
“What else? I’m not so rich heiress like Su Muzhi.”
Shen Wanyu chuckled lightly, completely unbothered.
That Future Father-in-Law really dropped the ball—didn’t he send anyone to see his own daughter off to the banquet?
“He did send soone. I just refused.”
Shen Wanyu continued matter-of-factly:
“The kinder he is to , the worse the won around him treat Guoguo.”
Guoguo’s Mom is a real piece of work too—too chicken to fight Future Father-in-Law head-on, so she just bullies Guoguo.
Guoguo, you’re younger and stronger than your mom! Can you really stand by while she lords it over you?
Later, gift her a Frostmourne filial-sword to take down her own mother.
“Guoguo’s Mom seed easygoing, but I didn’t expect her to be such a bad egg either.”
Jiang Linyuan said as he pulled out his phone to book tickets:
“Oh, right, Departnt Head, which train are you taking?”
“G545xx, midnight.”
Shen Wanyu gave the train number, then added:
“Guoguo’s Mom has really high standards—calling her a celestial maiden wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Back in the room, her eyes were only on Guoguo and her husband.”
Celestial maiden? I didn’t see that. Celestial-freaking-Devimon, maybe.
Way less relatable than Auntie Shaqima.
Jiang Linyuan downgraded Auntie Celestial-Devimon’s impression rating to rock bottom—total fail!
They walked and talked, then hailed a cab to the station.
“Departnt Head, why did you co to this banquet?”
Jiang Linyuan looked at Shen Wanyu beside him and suddenly asked.
At the banquet, the Departnt Head had just eaten and not spoken to anyone, almost like she was just going through the motions.
“If I say it was for you, will that stop you from asking further?”
Shen Wanyu’s face showed exhaustion, but she still managed a smile at Jiang Linyuan.
“If you don’t want to say, Departnt Head, I won’t push you.”
Jiang Linyuan looked away and said.
“Departnt Head, you look really pale. Didn’t you eat much at the banquet?”
“For , a steaming bowl of plain white rice is way better than a fancy banquet feast.”
Shen Wanyu sighed:
“The cuisine here is way too delicate—it’s not even ant to fill your stomach.”
Jiang Linyuan glanced at Shen Wanyu’s stomach—couldn’t tell how hungry she was. A feel would probably reveal it.
Shen Wanyu glared at him.
“Departnt Head, you need to eat so at. I noticed you only had stuff like vegetable salads at the banquet. Are you a vegetarian?”
Jiang Linyuan looked straight ahead, answering openly and naturally.
I care about the Departnt Head—that’s just being upfront!
“Vegetarian? Not really.”
Shen Wanyu yawned, feeling drowsy:
“I just prefer lighter food.”
“Oh, good thing you’re not a vegetarian. Vegetarians are so pitiful—they can only eat greens, and when they like soone, they can only eat a veggie bun, never a at-stuffed one.”
Jiang Linyuan grinned, but got no reply.
Turning his head, he saw Shen Wanyu had closed her eyes, her head tilted and resting on his shoulder—asleep.
Whether she was actually asleep or just faking it to avoid him, he couldn’t tell.
Jiang Linyuan quietly stared at her face.
Steady breathing, long eyelashes, soft facial lines—none of that sharp pride or intensity. She was like an autumn leaf, a tangy apricot, or a cat curled up in soone’s arms.
Such a lovely woman. If only it could stay like this forever.
He turned to look out the window, pretending to admire the view.
Even late at night, Shanghai was still bright as day, bustling and glittering like blossoms in full bloom, radiant and splendid.
Through the glass, you could feel that pride and arrogance of its undying lights.
He turned back and looked at the girl beside him.
Eyes and brows like a painting, absolutely beautiful.
Nice.
…
The two of them didn’t get back to Jinling until the next day.
As soon as they stepped out of the station, the cold hit them, creeping straight into their collars.
“Departnt Head, what’s the plan now? Are we getting a hotel together, or are you coming back to my place?”
Jiang Linyuan took off his coat and draped it over Shen Wanyu.
No idea if this would keep her warm, but it was an indispensable part of winning her over!
Shen Wanyu grabbed the coat, thanked him, then said:
“I’m going ho.”
“Departnt Head, isn’t that a bit too fast? You haven’t even t my parents yet.”
“No one’s going to like a human suffering from narcissistic delusions.”
Shen Wanyu said, hailing another cab.
Oh, so the Departnt Head also has a place off campus.
“Departnt Head, it’s late. Let walk you there.”
“Mm, sure.”
“You actually didn’t refuse?”
“Why would I? Having a gorilla-like savage nearby does make one feel a lot safer.”
“Departnt Head, say that again, and I’ll knock you out first.”
“Really? Haven’t you wanted to do that for a while now?”
“…I hate mind reading.”
“I don’t hate it.”
Shen Wanyu smiled as she looked at Jiang Linyuan.
What exactly she didn’t hate remained unclear.
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