Chapter 6: ShuShu Has Candy

Shi Zhiyu pursed his lips.

Come to think of it, he had never actually asked.

Picking up his phone, he sent a message.

[Yu: Which university do you attend?]

[ShuShu Has Candy: Jiang University.]

Shi Zhiyu put down his phone.

“Her name is Tang Shu.”

“She studies at Jiang University.”

When they were little, his mother used to chatter in his ear every single day.

“ShuShu is so adorable. I want a daughter too.”

“What a pity I only have a son. I wish I had a daughter as cute as ShuShu.”

It was always ShuShu this, ShuShu that.

Her name had long since been etched into his memory.

Shi Zhiyu looked at the nickname on his screen:

ShuShu Has Candy.

Back then, little Tang Shu had toddled over to him and pulled out an Alps lollipop.

“Big Brother, do you want candy?”

“ShuShu has candy.”

“If you eat it, you’ll be happy all day, so don’t be sad.”

The first time he saw that nickname, he had paused for several seconds.

Thinking it had to be another one of his mother’s schemes.

Then the WeChat request sat there for half a month.

Eventually, seeing how persistent she was, he accepted it.

After reading her messages, he realized it really was his mother’s doing.

And later…

Tang Shu personally admitted that she was the little girl from back then.

He even called his mother to confirm.

She had replied,

“Yep, it’s definitely ShuShu.”

“That little girl has grown into an absolute beauty.”

“Oh right, I gave her your WeChat.”

“Did you add her yet?”

Only then had he fully confirmed it.

She was the person he had been searching for.

Song Yan looked surprised.

“Jiang University?”

“Isn’t Chengze and Wenbin’s university Jiang University too?”

“Doesn’t that make them schoolmates?”

“Should we ask them to investigate a little?”

“Find out what Tang Shu looks like.”

“And what kind of person she is.”

He genuinely worried that Shi Zhiyu was being scammed.

Shi Zhiyu’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

He wasn’t interested in having them investigate Tang Shu’s character.

He simply wanted to know what she looked like now that she had grown up.

He truly wanted to see her.

Very badly.

“No need.”

“Don’t tell them about this for now.”

“And don’t interfere with her life.”

He wanted her to send him a photo herself.

He would see her eventually.

He was certain of it.

Song Yan’s hand froze just as he was about to send a message in their group chat.

“You really aren’t afraid she’ll trick you?”

Shi Zhiyu answered without hesitation.

“Even if she does, she’ll only trick me.”

Song Yan was speechless.

“Zhiyu.”

“You’re this handsome.”

“So how did you end up with such a hopeless love-struck brain?”

Jiang University.

Girls’ Dormitory.

Tang Shu was already lying in bed.

Just as she was about to open her phone and continue building her relationship with her mission target, her phone vibrated first.

The caller ID read:

Mom

She immediately answered.

“Mom?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why are you calling this late?”

“Did something happen at home?”

On the other end of the line, Tao Qingrou heard her daughter’s soft and sweet voice.

Without realizing it, her own tone softened as well.

“Nothing happened.”

“I just miss you.”

“You didn’t come home during Qingming Festival.”

Tang Shu explained,

“It was raining, Mom.”

“You know how I am.”

“When it rains, I don’t want to move at all.”

Besides…

Going home meant buying train tickets.

And train tickets cost money.

She needed to save.

Tao Qingrou snorted lightly.

“As if I don’t know you.”

“Don’t be so reluctant to spend money.”

“Your father and I can earn money now.”

“We’ll pay off those debts ourselves.”

“Mm, Mom, I know.”

“I eat really well every day.”

“It’s not like I’m the type to mistreat myself.”

Hearing that, Tao Qingrou had to admit it was true.

When it came to food, her daughter never cut corners.

Tang Shu had been raised like a princess.

Even when their family owed millions, they still tried to give her the very best.

Fortunately, Tang Shu was sensible.

She knew how hard her parents worked and never asked for much.

Instead, she used her hobbies and talents to earn money herself.

“Good.”

“Eat more.”

“The next time I see you, you’d better not be any thinner.”

“Yes, my dearest mother.”

“I know~”

Tao Qingrou finally remembered the real reason she had called.

“Oh right.”

“Your Aunt Qiao wants to invite you over this weekend.”

“And I haven’t seen her in ages.”

“Could you visit them on my behalf?”

Tang Shu hesitated.

“Wouldn’t it be a little awkward if I went alone?”

“Your Aunt Qiao said our last meeting was too rushed.”

“She feels like there are still many things she wants to talk to you about.”

“When you were little, she absolutely adored you.”

“She used to say every day that she wished you were her daughter.”

“She even tried to steal you from me.”

Thinking back on those days, a gentle smile appeared on Tao Qingrou’s face.

She hadn’t seen Qiao Yaxin in over a decade.

After their family ran into trouble, they changed all their contact information.

As a result, they completely lost touch.

Tang Shu could hear the longing in her mother’s voice.

If circumstances allowed it, her parents would probably come to Jiang City with her.

After all, she was their only child.

Wherever she went, they wanted to be.

That was something they had always said.

But there were still debts to repay.

They couldn’t leave yet.

Which was exactly why Tang Shu had accepted Aunt Qiao’s mission.

One million yuan.

Plus whatever she could earn herself.

After graduation, her parents could sell their shop back home.

Then move to Jiang City and open a new one.

Life would become much better afterward.

“Okay, Mom.”

“Don’t worry.”

“I’ll definitely pass along your greetings to Aunt Qiao.”

Mother and daughter chatted for a little longer before ending the call.

After hanging up, Tang Shu lay back on her bed.

She glanced at the time.

Ten o’clock already.

Opening her chat with Shi Zhiyu, she sent a message.

[ShuShu Has Candy: Brother, what are you doing?]

[Yu: In class.]

[ShuShu Has Candy: So Brother skips around during class too?]

(The phrase 摸鱼 literally means “slacking off” or “goofing off at work/class.”)

[Yu: Learned it quickly.]

[ShuShu Has Candy: Brother is amazing.]

[How can there be such an incredible Brother~]

[Yu: Mm.]

The moment she saw another “Mm,” Tang Shu felt like Shi Zhiyu was getting annoyed with her.

Why was he so hard to read?

Meanwhile, inside a classroom in America, the smile never left Shi Zhiyu’s face.

[ShuShu Has Candy: Brother, I think you’re really special~]

[Yu: ?]

[ShuShu Has Candy: Especially suitable for me~]

A cat-licking-its-paw sticker accompanied the message.

The pen spinning between Shi Zhiyu’s fingers dropped onto the desk.

Another day.

Another day of being flirted with by his wife.

And he loved every second of it.

Just as he thought.

ShuShu definitely liked him.

[Yu: Mm.]

[Very suitable for you.]

From the side, Song Yan saw the smile on Shi Zhiyu’s face.

He instantly knew his little online sweetheart had sent something outrageous again.

Noticing Song Yan staring at him like he was an idiot, Shi Zhiyu simply sent him a message.

[Yu: Single dogs can only watch.]

Attached was a screenshot of his conversation with Tang Shu, including her flirtatious lines.

Song Yan pulled out his phone.

The moment he saw the message, he nearly jumped out of his seat.

What the hell?!

This man was sick.

He was literally showing off his relationship right in front of him.

After reading the chat history, goosebumps covered his entire body.

He became even more convinced.

Tang Shu had to be a scammer.

What normal person constantly called someone “Brother” this and “Brother” that?

This was textbook green-tea behavior.

He desperately wanted Wei Chengze and Shen Wenbin to investigate her.

But he didn’t dare.

Because Shi Zhiyu would absolutely murder him.

Fine.

He’d endure it.

Once Shi Zhiyu got scammed, he’d laugh at him for the rest of his life.

Tang Shu stared at Shi Zhiyu’s replies.

Sometimes he was cold.

Sometimes he was warm.

Was this guy suffering from split personalities or something?

[ShuShu Has Candy: Today’s sweetness quota has already been met.]

[All thanks to the sweetness Brother gave me.]

[Yu: Do you like cake?]

[ShuShu Has Candy: I like eating Brother~]

The moment she sent the message, Tang Shu froze.

Why had she replied so naturally?

It wasn’t as though she had ever used that line on anyone before.

After all, she had been single for twenty years straight.

The real reason was all the novels she had read.

And all the romance comics she had created.

She had mastered the atmosphere between couples perfectly.

Tang Shu waited.

And waited.

And waited.

But Shi Zhiyu never replied.

Surely…

She hadn’t scared him away, right?

They had only confirmed their relationship this morning.

Could it really be over by tonight?