Chapter 363: Chapter 363 Crying Like a Fool_1
 

“Shen Yishu?”

What’s going on today, bumping into acquaintances everywhere in the park.

“Get in the car!”

“Uh… I’d like to walk around outside a bit more!”

I don’t feel like going home right now, nor do I want to go anywhere else.

“Get in, I need your help with something!”

“Help?”

“Yeah… get in!”

“Oh, okay!”

I opened the passenger door and got in.

While I was buckling up, Shen Yishu turned his head to look at me,

“I heard that Ding Yinuo got back from treatment?”

“Mhm!”

I responded indifferently.

He nodded,

“So, the favor I’m going to ask, should I inform Ding Yinuo about it first?”

“What help do you need?”

“It’s just… sigh, those relatives back home, including my parents, they keep trying to set me up on blind dates. They say that back in our hometown, at my age, people are already married with kids. So they have been pressuring me, I’ve refused many times, but they don’t give up, they keep bringing those girls to me over and over again.”

Seeing the troubled expression on Shen Yishu’s face, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter,

“Then why don’t you just listen to your parents and find a partner?”

Shen Yishu shook his head,

“No one else knows, but you’re aware. My career is on the rise right now. I don’t have the time or energy to date, let alone manage a family. Moreover, marrying someone I don’t love would definitely not make me happy.”

I casually asked a few more questions,

“How’s your work going?”

“It’s on the rise. After this period of development, the market is getting bigger. I’m planning to expand to the national market. The company is growing, we’ve been recruiting these past few days.”

Shen Yishu spoke with ease, and I listened attentively, later giving him some constructive suggestions.

“So, how exactly do you want me to help you?”

“Just pretend to be my girlfriend later on, and help me fend off my parents and those relatives.”

“Me? Are we a good match?”

“What’s not a good match?”

“It’s just that I’m much older, maybe you should ask Jia Yuyan for help?”

“That’s not great, I’m not very familiar with Miss Jia, and it’s also too late to bother her now. Since you happen to be free, it’s just a small favor, not like we’re having a real relationship.”

“Alright, then fine… please take me back to Xishan Residence first; I’ll change my clothes!”

“Sure!”

I noticed that Shen Yishu was getting more adept at driving, his car quietly weaving through the city lights.

I glanced out at the crowd through the car window. Could one of those fleeting figures be Gu Yuanzhou?

Oh, there couldn’t be!

He’s dead!

I gripped the folder in my hand tighter but lacked the courage to open it.

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of Xishan Residence.

After getting out, I went inside to change clothes.

The living room was tidy and clean, with fresh flowers arranged on the table, awaiting Ding Yinuo.

I changed into a dress, applied some light makeup, trying to make myself look more vibrant.

Shen Yishu was on the phone in the living room.

When I came out, he ended the call and looked at me deeply.

“Uh, what’s the matter? Is there a problem? Is my makeup too thick?”

Shen Yishu, just getting off the phone, scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly,

“Xiaoyun, you really are beautiful!”

“Stop it right there, don’t let your mind wander to some not-so-pure thoughts. Come on, get ready to go.”

“Of course, of course, shall we go? Do you need me to carry your bag?”

“No need!”

After leaving the house, Shen Yishu asked me,

“If I’m not mistaken, Ding Yinuo is back, right?”

I settled into the car and responded indifferently, “Yeah!”

Shen Yishu started the car, his hands on the steering wheel, and asked me,

“Then why isn’t he staying at Xishan Residence?”

Anyone with eyes could tell that only I lived in Xishan Residence, without Ding Yinuo in sight.

“Uh, he’s staying with his parents first!”

I tried to downplay it as much as possible.

Shen Yishu seemed to sense something, but he didn’t pry further and instead started telling me jokes.

Shen Yishu had truly matured a lot from the somewhat naive and silly young guy into a mature man.

He even knew how to cheer me up now—truly rare.

Throughout the ride, we laughed and chatted, and he managed to distract me, significantly lifting my spirits.

Lately, Shen Yishu had indeed made some money and bought a spacious flat in a nearby upscale neighborhood.

The house came with interior decoration, a cozy three-bedroom…

As soon as I entered, I was met with stares from everyone.

There were many guests, including Shen Yishu’s parents and some relatives from his hometown.

Shen Yishu introduced me to his parents with ease, “Mom, Dad, this is Xiaoyun, my girlfriend.”

“Ah, what a beautiful girl! So elegant and delicate… much prettier than that Mengyan from before.”

The relatives encircled me, showering me with compliments, making me feel quite embarrassed.

“Young lady, come, come, sit here. Where do you work? What’s your job? What do your parents do? Are they retired? Do you have any siblings?”

These were standard questions from the matchmaking market, which I answered according to the standard responses.

After all, my visit today was just to fulfill a role…

Shen Yishu was busy serving tea and water, his face always sporting a radiant smile.

Shen’s mother held my hand and looked me over,

“Ah, a bit skinny!”

Shen Yishu laughed and said,

“She’s on a diet! Mom, nowadays girls all value being slim as beautiful, the thinner, the better.”

Shen’s mother pursed her lips,

“Too skinny isn’t good, it makes childbearing difficult!”

“That’s not a problem at all, isn’t it easy to gain weight? She can just eat more in the future.”

Shen Yishu smoothly deflected for me.

“By the way, when do you two plan to get married, and how much dowry do you need?”

Shen’s mother was very direct, seemingly eager to have a grandchild.

“Uh, about that question, I think it’s better for you to ask Yishu. I can’t answer it.”

This old lady was quite something, with endless questions, and I was struggling to cope, so I directly passed them on to Shen Yishu to avoid any mistakes.

Shen Yishu pulled his mother to the side,

“Mom, go make some ginger tea in the kitchen… Xiaoyun and I have just started dating; asking too much will scare her away.”

“Oh, alright then!”

Finally, Shen’s mother left, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

After the initial excitement, everyone began to settle down.

Shen Yishu brought lots of snacks and cut fruit from his room…

During a trip to the restroom, when I returned, I overheard a relative mention Ye Mengyan, “Speaking of that Ye girl, wasn’t she Yishu’s childhood sweetheart? Why did they break up?”

These few people hadn’t seen me, so their conversation was quite heated…

“They broke up a long time ago! Apparently, she ran off with a wealthy man named Gu.”

“Really? That girl seemed so innocent. I’ve seen her a few times. I know her parents from our village.”

“That girl is really foolish, not marrying into the Shen family but instead running off with a wealthy man. As if someone with money would take her seriously.”

“She’s not the least bit foolish. I heard it from her mother; there was a time when this man was being pursued, got seriously injured, and it was her mother who saved his life. That man owes the Ye family a life, so naturally, he would treat their daughter well.”