Chapter 57 - 57: Unable to Accommodate So Much Special
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The man’s brow furrowed upon hearing her words. “You clearly know this is impossible. How about a more realistic request, like what you want to buy or where you want to go?”
“Dad has already given me the money, and I’m perfectly capable of moving around on my own.” Her implication was clear: she could handle buying things and deciding where to go without the worry of Young Master Shen.
Shen Qian’s gaze darkened slightly, and he raised his hand to rub his temples, a habitual gesture when he felt agitated. It was evident that Shen Wan’s request was putting him in a difficult spot.
“Why do you want to go?”
Shen Wan countered, “Why can’t I go?”
The man gave her a deep look. “Are you sure you want to know the reason? Even though it’s not pleasant to hear.”
The young girl tightly pursed her lips, her eyes revealing a stubborn determination. “Yes, I’m sure.”
A lump formed in Shen Qian’s throat. Faced with Shen Wan’s relentless insistence, he felt an unprecedented anger rising within him. He hadn’t even had time to understand the source of this unusual emotion when hurtful words slipped from his lips.
“On the day of the birthday celebration, your status as a secret child not only embarrasses Mom but also tarnishes the reputation of the entire Yang family. Grandfather’s seventieth birthday should be a joyous occasion without any intentional trouble. Are you satisfied with this reason?”
As the man spoke, his gaze remained firmly fixed on Shen Wan, devoid of any trace of pity or compassion, only marked by a stark coldness and indifference. Shen Qian admitted that he treated Shen Wan differently, but this distinction wasn’t enough to make him break his principles.
Some truths could have been conveyed to her more delicately, but Shen Qian chose the crudest way. “For certain requests, if you already know they are unreasonable, you shouldn’t voice them, to spare both others from difficulty and yourself from embarrassment.”
Each word carried a sting, hiding needles within them.
The young girl’s already pale face drained of the last remnants of color at a visible speed. The hope and stubbornness in her eyes turned into self-mockery and sadness, and then she grew calm, descending into a profound silence.
Some words were different when kept inside one’s heart as opposed to being spoken by someone else. The former could still be self-deception, but the latter was like tearing open a scab, exposing everything unreservedly to the harsh light of day.
Shen Wan lowered her gaze, her slender neck curving gracefully, no longer assertive, but returning to the image of the gentle and demure young lady in a white dress, just as Shen Qian had first seen her.
“Thank you for the profound lesson. I will keep it in my heart.”
With that, she gently closed the door.
Shen Qian stood in place for a long while before finally turning away.
A person accustomed to being in a position of authority couldn’t tolerate too much “special treatment” and “defiance”. When he was in a good mood, he could indulge her, but the condition was that she had to recognize her place and sever those “improper desires”.
Shen Qian was confident that he hadn’t made any mistakes. Disregarding the slight discomfort he felt in his heart, his admonishment and scolding had been nearly flawless.
As Shen Wan closed the door, the wounded expression on her face was replaced by a resolute one. Ultimately, she had been too overconfident and underestimated the situation. If Shen Qian were so easily swayed, why did she lose so disastrously in her past life, to the point of losing everything, even her life?
In the end, there was still some disappointment. Shen Qian was a difficult person to please and control. The reason she had made that request that put him in a difficult position was twofold. Firstly, she wanted to test her efforts during this period. Although her hopes were slim, she had to try to know for sure.
Secondly, she wanted to test where Shen Qian’s bottom line lay.
As it turned out, she had overestimated herself and underestimated Shen Qian. It seemed this path was blocked, and she would need to make some strategic adjustments…
The next day, it was the old master Yang’s birthday celebration, with a grand gathering of guests.
“All Qian?”
“Dad.”
“What’s going on? Just now, Mr. Wei took the initiative to toast you, and you seemed absent-minded.”
“Sorry, I suddenly remembered something.”
Shen Chunjiang was quite confident in his son and gave him a couple of reminders before letting it go.
At the same time, Shen Wan was lounging at Zhou Chi’s place, having takeaway.
“You seem to have a lot of free time today?”
“Indeed, I’m pretty free.”
Zhou Chi raised an eyebrow. “How about playing a couple of rounds later?”
“Sure.”
The two sat in front of the computer, and time flew by. When night fell, Shen Wan pushed away the keyboard and mouse, stood up, and stretched lazily. “I’m hungry.”
Zhou Chi exited the game interface and rubbed his stomach. Yeah, he was hungry too.
“Let’s go, I’ll treat you to a late-night snack.”
Zhou Chi stared at her with a puzzled expression. “Um, don’t you need to go home?”
Shen Wan had never stayed at his place for this long. Usually, she would come in the morning and leave by three or four in the afternoon, at the latest by five. When asked why, she half-jokingly mentioned that her home had strict curfew.
But now it was already a quarter past seven. “Aren’t you going home?”
“What’s wrong?” The young girl raised a playful eyebrow. “Do you want me to leave?”
Zhou Chi pursed his lips. “If I want you to leave, will you?”
“Of course not.”
“Let’s go, I’ll treat you to a feast.”
Under the cover of the night, Qingtong Street shed its daytime plainness. The melodious sounds from Night Paris, the colorful neon lights that shimmered around, and the scents of food and alcohol in the air all added a mysterious and decadent charm to this street.
After some discussion, Shen Wan’s intention was to truly go for a lavish dinner, but Zhou Chi chose a roadside stall instead.
“Heh! Is this all you’ve got?” The young girl’s exquisite appearance, coupled with the undisguised smirk at the corner of her mouth, made her seem elegant and aloof.
Zhou Chi chuckled and put his arm around her shoulder. “Aren’t I saving you money? Come on, sit down…”
In the end, the two of them devoured ten pounds of crayfish, along with various side dishes, and a dozen cans of chilled beer.
By the time they finished, Shen Wan was feeling a bit tipsy, and Zhou Chi wasn’t much better off, but both of them still had their wits about them and knew the way home.
“Hey, that’s the way to Qingtong Street!” Zhou Chi tugged her back.
Shen Wan looked up and gave him a coy smile. “Exactly, I want to go back to Qingtong Street.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go, young man!”