Chapter 22: So When Do I Become Official?

Tang Shu’s fingers danced across the screen as she replied while chewing her food.

Shu Shu Has Candy:
“I’m home!”

“I’m eating hotpot with my parents right now. It smells amazing!”

She casually snapped a photo of the bubbling red broth and the table overflowing with meat and vegetables, then sent it over.

A playful message followed.

Shu Shu Has Candy:
“Too bad Gege is across the ocean and can’t eat any. All you can do is be jealous of me~”

After sending it, she placed her phone face-down on the table and happily returned to eating.

She was extremely satisfied.

It smelled incredible.

And tasted even better.

United States, Klas Apartments

Leaning against the headboard, Shi Zhiyu looked at the hotpot photos Tang Shu had sent.

The spicy red broth rolled and bubbled on the screen.

The entire table looked rich, fragrant, and irresistible.

The little girl really did love spicy food.

His fingers unconsciously zoomed in on the picture.

Carefully.

Slowly.

His gaze swept across every corner of the image.

Then suddenly—

His eyes stopped.

At the edge of the photograph, part of a clean white shirt sleeve was visible.

And a small portion of a young man’s shoulder and back.

Slim.

Straight.

Definitely not Tang Shu’s father.

Shi Zhiyu’s eyes darkened slightly.

Exiting the image, he lowered his gaze and typed.

God of Wealth:
“Besides your parents, is there someone else there?”

The reply came almost instantly.

Shu Shu Has Candy:
“My cousin!”

“He accompanied me back to Yun City and specifically came to visit my parents~”

The moment he read that, everything clicked into place.

So that was why she had rejected his call at the train station.

Because this cousin had been beside her.

Shi Zhiyu suddenly felt extremely unhappy.

He never imagined that one day he would become someone’s secret lover.

His brows furrowed.

An uncomfortable heaviness settled in his chest.

Throwing aside the blanket, he got out of bed.

Barefoot, he walked across the cool floor toward the bathroom.

Cold water splashed against his face, calming some of the irritation inside him.

The bathroom lights were bright and soft.

The mirror clearly reflected the young man’s handsome, cold features.

His face was exquisitely sculpted.

Sharp.

Refined.

Naturally carrying an air of nobility and distance.

Shi Zhiyu stared at his reflection.

Could it be because he rarely sent photos of himself?

Because he seldom showed her what he looked like?

Was that why she didn’t feel anything toward him?

His gaze drifted downward.

Broad shoulders.

A narrow waist.

A tall, well-proportioned frame.

Years of discipline had given him a nearly flawless physique.

There wasn’t a single weakness to be found.

Lifting his phone, he found the perfect angle under the lighting.

Click.

Without hesitation, he sent the photo to Tang Shu.

Yun City — Private Room at Song Qing Shu Hotpot

Tang Shu was in the middle of eating freshly cooked duck intestines.

She was thoroughly enjoying herself when her phone suddenly lit up.

She opened the chat.

One glance.

And she froze.

Caught completely off guard, she choked.

The duck intestine she had just swallowed lodged awkwardly in her throat.

A violent coughing fit immediately followed.

Panicking, she slammed the phone face-down onto the table.

Leaning over, she coughed continuously while clutching her chest.

Her face instantly turned bright red.

Beside her, Tao Qingrou quickly put down her chopsticks.

She gently patted Tang Shu’s back and handed her a glass of warm milk.

“Slow down.”

“No one’s going to steal your food.”

“There’s plenty left in the pot.”

“Don’t rush and choke yourself.”

“Cough… thank you, Mom.”

Tang Shu grabbed the milk and drank several large gulps.

The warmth eased the burning sensation in her throat.

Only after quite a while did she finally recover.

Forcing a smile, she explained quietly,

“I was just eating too fast.”

“I accidentally choked.”

Her cheeks remained completely red.

Even her ears were burning.

She couldn’t tell whether it was from coughing…

Or from that photo.

The photo that had made her heartbeat completely lose control.

Tao Qingrou simply assumed her daughter had gotten too excited about food.

She didn’t think much of it.

Soon she resumed chatting with Tao Hongyi.

Tang Shu lowered her eyes.

The phone remained face-down on the table.

Her heart was still pounding wildly.

She didn’t even dare touch the screen.

Didn’t dare look carefully at the photo again.

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she picked up her chopsticks.

Eating was more important.

Definitely more important.

After everything was finished that evening—

Tang Shu showered, changed into soft pajamas, and returned to her long-missed bedroom.

Curling up on her bed, she casually grabbed the phone beside her pillow.

The screen lit up.

A flood of unread messages immediately appeared.

Every single one was from Shi Zhiyu.

God of Wealth:
“Showing Baby the results of my recent morning workouts.”

“Why isn’t Shushu replying to me?”

“Doesn’t it meet your standards?”

“Today’s breakfast.”

“After seeing what you ate, my breakfast feels completely tasteless.”

“Sigh. My Shushu is afraid I’ll embarrass her again, so she’s ignoring me.”

The final message was accompanied by a crying kitten sticker.

A pitiful little kitten with drooping ears and watery eyes.

Tang Shu didn’t reply immediately.

Instead, she unconsciously scrolled upward.

Directly back to the photo that had nearly caused her social death earlier.

The lighting in the photo was clean and cool.

The bathroom’s warm light gave everything a soft texture.

Shi Zhiyu’s face was flawless.

Cold.

Restrained.

His nose was high and elegant.

His lips were perfectly shaped.

He naturally carried an aloof and noble aura.

Yet there was also a hint of lazy tiredness hidden in his eyes.

It softened his sharpness.

Making him somehow both pure and dangerously attractive at the same time.

His upper body was completely visible.

Broad shoulders.

A narrow waist.

Perfect proportions.

Firm, defined muscles.

Clearly visible abs.

Every line of his body looked balanced and beautiful.

As though each inch had been carefully sculpted.

Tang Shu stared at the photo.

Unconsciously swallowing.

She sighed inwardly.

What a face capable of toppling nations.

What a ridiculously perfect body.

This was exactly her type.

Completely.

Every aspect matched her aesthetic preferences.

Without anyone noticing, she saved the photo to her gallery.

She was merely appreciating human anatomy.

For artistic reference.

For drawing purposes.

That was all.

Absolutely.

After all, it was the finest and most attractive male physique she had ever seen.

Perfect as a reference model.

She looked at the picture over and over again.

Only after a long while did she finally suppress the fluttering feelings in her heart.

Pulling herself together, she began typing.

Shu Shu Has Candy:
“I just finished showering and got into bed~”

“I wasn’t ignoring you.”

“I was talking with my parents and cousin.”

“It’s rude to keep looking at my phone while talking to elders.”

“I’m a very obedient good girl~”

“When Gege comes back to China someday, I’ll personally bring you to my house for hotpot.”

“I’ll make sure you eat until you’re stuffed.”

“Your body is way too good, by the way.”

“It looks like it would feel amazing to touch. I really want to poke it~”

The reply arrived instantly.

God of Wealth:
“So you’ve finally decided to pay attention to me?”

“Do you like it?”

Shu Shu Has Candy:
“Hahaha, Gege, I’ve been here the whole time!”

“I like it a lot.”

“I really, really like Gege!”

God of Wealth: “Then when do I become official?”

Tang Shu stared at the sudden question.

Momentarily stunned.

Shu Shu Has Candy: “Huh?”