Chapter 9: The Story Within the City (2)
Perhaps because Uncle Lin was in the car, or perhaps because they hadn’t seen each other in a while, there was a slight awkwardness between them. Shi Yi even felt too embarrassed to chat casually with Zhou Shengchen in front of a third person. The unspoken understanding of their daily three phone calls had completely vanished.
Even the slightest movement of his arm beside her felt magnified.
It wasn’t until Zhou Shengchen walked her to her doorstep, with no outsiders around, that Shi Yi tentatively asked, “Would you like to come in?”
“Isn’t it too late?”
“I want to make you some herbal tea to ward off the cold,” she said softly, her voice still clear in the empty stairwell. “It’ll take about twenty minutes, half an hour at most.”
Zhou Shengchen smiled. “I’m just not sure about the boundaries. I’ve never been alone in a girl’s home before.”
He was so frank—frank enough to make her laugh.
Shi Yi teased him lightly, “Didn’t you say you really liked Wu embroidery? How come you’re so—”
“So boring?” he finished knowingly.
“A little,” she admitted, thinking of his experimental theories. “I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“You said we’re one of your research directions,” she said, looking at him. “What if the direction is wrong?”
Zhou Shengchen’s smile deepened. “If I recall, you studied Chinese literature? A purely humanities discipline?”
She nodded, puzzled by his question.
“So, you’ve made a conceptual error.”
Shi Yi grew even more confused. “What conceptual error?”
“Research directions themselves aren’t categorized as right or wrong.”
She nodded, signaling for him to continue.
“Only the experimental methods can be wrong.”
“Then, what if the method is wrong?”
“If the method is wrong, we change it. But the research direction doesn’t change.”
It sounded convincing.
Yet this analogy was about them—their relationship.
The fact that they were together wouldn’t change. If anything went wrong, they would simply adjust their approach.
She understood what he meant.
Shi Yi had always believed that words held the greatest power to captivate the heart. But at this moment, she saw something even more moving in Zhou Shengchen’s smiling eyes. She chuckled softly. “Science and technology aren’t just the primary productive forces—they’re also the best language.”
She turned the key and finally opened the door.
Due to work commitments, she had moved out of her parents’ home three or four years ago and had been living alone. Aside from a few close friends, no outsiders had ever visited, let alone a man. The traces of a woman living alone were everywhere in the apartment. Zhou Shengchen sat on the sofa, trying his best not to look around.
Fatigued from his cold, he leaned back casually against the sofa, his arm resting on the side. His fingers brushed against a long, fluffy pillow. Hmm… the texture was… unique.
Shi Yi brewed him a packet of herbal medicine to dispel the cold and brought it over.
He took it and tested the temperature—still too hot.
“There’s an old saying: ‘Bundle up in spring, freeze in autumn,’” she said, pulling over an even fluffier, low stool-like seat and sitting in front of him. “Don’t rush to wear thin clothes in spring. The weather has been fluctuating wildly these past ten days—it’s easy to catch a cold.”
She spoke earnestly.
Zhou Shengchen really wasn’t dressed warmly—just a thin shirt and trousers.
On such a late night, his shirt sleeves were still rolled up to his elbows. He didn’t look like someone who was sick at all.He lowered his head and took a small sip of the medicinal soup. "It's just a cold. According to the rule, whether I take medicine or not, it'll be gone in seven days."
"This is a herbal remedy to drive out the cold," Shi Yi explained. "If it's a cold caused by chills, you'll feel better by tomorrow."
He raised an eyebrow. "That effective?"
"Of course."
Seeing his skepticism, Shi Yi couldn't help but laugh. "Are you thinking I made up an excuse just to let you in?"
"My words weren't a rejection," Zhou Shengchen's voice, slightly hoarse from the cold, became even more pleasant to the ear. "It was caution. The engagement proposal was too abrupt on my part, so I wanted us to take things slower."
She hadn't expected him to answer so seriously.
She was momentarily at a loss for words.
Unexpectedly, he chuckled. "Want to hear the truth?"
Curious, Shi Yi nodded.
"Actually, I really wanted to come in."
She was surprised, but he had already lowered his head to continue drinking the scalding hot medicinal soup.
When he finally left, it was indeed about half an hour later. Shi Yi realized that the more time she spent with him, the more punctual she became. Wearing slippers, she escorted him to the elevator. Zhou Shengchen had one hand in his pants pocket while the other pressed the elevator button. Just as the doors opened, he suddenly remembered something and held them back with the back of his hand, looking at her. "The reason I came back this time is because you were nominated for an award."
Shi Yi was taken aback, vaguely recalling Meilin mentioning something about it.
"So, you came to watch the awards ceremony?"
"More or less," he withdrew his left hand and adjusted the coat draped over her shoulders. "The rest of the time will be spent preparing for the engagement ceremony."
The sudden intimate gesture felt surprisingly natural.
She was still lost in thought over the impending "engagement" when his hand let go.
Then, gently, he patted her arm. "Go back inside."
By the time he left Shi Yi's home, it was already 12:45 AM.
He looked up at her apartment on the twelfth floor. From this angle, the warm yellow glow of the heating light suggested she was probably taking a shower in the bathroom. The bitter taste of the medicine still lingered on his tongue. When she brought it over earlier, he had wanted to say that after drinking so many traditional Chinese herbal concoctions in his teens, he had long developed an aversion to this flavor.
But it was hard to refuse, wasn't it?
Just like at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, when she ran after him barefoot, asking him to wait for her—it had been hard to refuse then too.
This girl's eyes were too clear, like someone who had stepped out of an ink painting.
He had once thought he was being deceived.
But after obtaining her two-hundred-page dossier, he couldn't find a single questionable detail.
Zhou Shengchen stood for a while longer, watching as the warm light in the bathroom went out.
Then, the bedroom light came on.
He glanced at his watch—25 minutes. Hmm, that's how long she takes to shower.
"Young Master," Uncle Lin approached, "it's about time."
Uncle Lin's car was parked quietly by the roadside, with four or five other vehicles waiting in the distance. Nodding, Zhou Shengchen turned and got into the car without looking back. The convoy followed at a distance at first, but soon picked up speed. The journey from Shanghai to the ancestral home in Zhenjiang took just over two hours. The old estate was ablaze with lights and bustling with activity, completely unlike the dead of night at 4 AM.
Getting out of the car, he felt a chill and pulled down his shirt cuffs, buttoning them.
Suddenly, he remembered Shi Yi's words.
Turning to Uncle Lin, he asked, "'Bundle up in spring, freeze in autumn'—have you heard that saying, Uncle Lin?"“Common words from ordinary households, spoken by Miss Shi Yi to the eldest young master?”
Zhou Shengchen neither confirmed nor denied it.
The journey from Zhenjiang to Shanghai wasn’t exactly long, but it still took some effort, especially since he was still recovering from a cold. Yet, there was no other way. Relying on the traditions of an old family, if he wanted to smoothly take over the affairs of the Zhou Sheng household, he had to follow the rules step by step. For instance, morning meals at six were a rule—they had to be in Zhenjiang.
However, due to his habit of waking early, it had been changed to 5:00.
He didn’t think much of it, but in the eyes of others, it was a century-old rule being forcibly altered. On the surface, it was just the timing of a meal, but what people whispered and thought about went far beyond something as simple as eating.
This man, who had entered the world of scientific research at fourteen and never concerned himself with family affairs, was silently asserting his position.
He took a gray-checkered handkerchief from his trouser pocket, pressed it lightly to his nose and mouth to avoid the pollen in the courtyard, and walked silently inward. People bowed continuously, addressing him as “Eldest Young Master.”
By the time he reached the main hall, most of the thirteen tables were already occupied.
He didn’t recognize everyone but nodded in greeting to each.
Sitting down at the head table, he found only Zhou Shengxing with his snow-white temples and the frequently dozing Xiao Ren beside him. His mother and the elder female relatives sat at nearby tables, their hair meticulously coiled and their eyes lined with slender phoenix-like strokes.
The morning meal passed in silence. By the time the bowls and chopsticks were cleared, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
He wanted to leave, but his mother insisted he stay. When only he, his uncle, Xiao Ren, and his mother remained, the atmosphere grew even colder than before.
Zhou Shengren had spoken little since the accidental death of his birth mother.
Yet, he was close to Zhou Shengchen, holding a book and leaning against a chair beside him, reading. When he encountered something he didn’t understand, he marked it with a pen and handed it over. Zhou Shengchen smiled, took it, and casually wrote a few derivation formulas.
“How did you sleep last night?” his uncle asked warmly.
He pushed the book back to Xiao Ren. “I was in Shanghai last night and haven’t had time to sleep yet.”
His uncle, still vigorous, began discussing the family’s affairs with him.
By Zhou Shengchen’s generation, the Zhou Sheng family had not only barred its members from politics but had even begun prohibiting direct descendants from entering the field. It was less about moderation and more about withdrawal from the world. Their ancestors, holding outdated views, believed merchants held low status, so few in the family engaged in commerce.
Yet, after more than two centuries of accumulation, their roots ran deep. Through periods of the nation’s opening and closing, they had consistently supported emerging industries, never interfering in operations but remaining as the original shareholders.
Gradually, they amassed their current wealth. Stability over change—this was the family motto.
Unfortunately, his return now was to bring about a disruptive transformation.
“Remember the Nan family?” his uncle said with a faint smile. “A few years ago, they partnered with your mother on a gambling ship and formed a joint venture with the local Iranian government to penetrate the automotive market there. Nan Huai was very generous, offering substantial returns. After discussing it with your mother, we’ve decided to gift it to your fiancée. Additionally, if possible, she should spend three years with your mother to learn how to manage the household.”
“Shi Yi?” He paused briefly. “She doesn’t need that.”
His mother glanced at him coolly. “Every bride must learn after marriage.”
“She isn’t suited for it,” he replied without hesitation."You're not suited for it either, yet you're taking it on," Mother said softly. "Since you've chosen her, she must be suitable. If you've already realized she isn't, there's still time to pick someone more obedient and docile."
"Wan Niang," Uncle shook his head, trying to mediate their argument. "I've seen that girl's portrait—she looks very gentle. Perhaps she's even better than those young ladies raised from childhood specifically to manage households."
Mother smiled coldly and distantly.
Zhou Shengchen remained silent.
Mother smiled again. "She's in a profession that thrives on sensationalism. Any reputation she has was built by others' flattery. I don't see anything commendable about it."
"She suits me well."
"That's a rather flimsy reason."
He stopped arguing.
Xiao Ren kept his head down, arranging the equations he'd been given, finally stumbling through to solve the problem. He called for a servant, demanding to change the pastries to Qifan cakes and the tea from 'Divine Spring Small Cake' to 'Enshi Jade Dew.' The young master was notorious for his eccentric temper—when in a good mood, anything went, but when displeased, he excelled at making things difficult for the servants.
When Xiao Ren insisted on the changes, the three adults naturally didn't argue with him.
Soon, servants arrived quietly to replace the tea and snacks beside each person.
With outsiders present, Zhou Shengchen's mother regained her composure.
Just as he was looking for an excuse to leave, Xiao Ren pushed another book toward him. Thinking it was another problem, Zhou Shengchen glanced at it and couldn't help but smile faintly, tapping the boy's forehead with a bent finger. Scrawled across the page in bold strokes were the words:
That Shi Yi of yours really likes you. This, at least, I can see.
For film festival award ceremonies, she always avoided them whenever possible. Not just the red carpet—she would decline even attending as a guest. In earlier years, Meilin had made some effort to elevate her profile. Unfortunately, she was the classic case of "the unraisable A Dou." So even the news of her nomination was only told to her at the last minute, certain she would refuse to participate.
This time, however, Meilin was taken by surprise—she actually agreed without hesitation.
For Shi Yi, the reason was simple: because of Zhou Shengchen's words.
She even began to look forward to that day, sitting side by side with him in some corner, watching the celebrations on stage, letting him sit in the audience to see her nominated—or even winning an award.
Among the engagement gowns Zhou Shengchen had sent, some weren't suitable for the engagement ceremony but were perfect for the film festival.
As she looked at the wardrobe, she even began to wonder—had he known about this all along? Was that why he'd sent these?
The thought alone lifted her spirits.
She deliberated over choices, hesitating endlessly, until finally, she simply sat down inside the wardrobe. Memories came flooding back, one after another. She remembered how she had dressed the first time she had an appointment with him—a pale blue wide-sleeved jacket with a goose-yellow shawl draped over her arms. And him? She couldn't recall. What could have made her forget something so important?
She leaned back, lying fully amidst the pile of gowns. Something hovered at the edge of her mind, just out of reach.
Shi Yi, you're worrying over nothing again.
She smiled, rubbing her cheek against the hem of a gown. How wonderful things were now.
Just being able to see him, to speak with him—that was already so good. Almost too good to be true.
She specifically instructed Meilin to reserve two empty seats for her.
But then Zhou Shengchen suddenly called to say he'd be late. She had to give him Meilin's number so that if he arrived while she couldn't answer her phone, someone could guide him inside.After making sure he remembered, she hung up the phone and leaned against her seat, watching the various people mingling—those exchanging pleasantries, flattering each other, shaking hands, or embracing. "What are you smiling about? It's rare to see you so happy."
Meilin, having arranged all the signed artists, finally remembered this 'free-range' beauty.
She smiled, pointing at the note on her seat: "Shi Yi."
Meilin nodded. "You didn’t sit wrong. This is your seat."
Her finger then pointed to the seat beside hers, which had no note: "Shi Yi’s someone."
Meilin couldn’t help but laugh, patting her face. "Look at you. Are you about to die of happiness?"
She pursed her lips in a smile, resting her cheek against the back of the seat in front of her, and gave a soft "Mm."
"A scientist, with that much charm?" Meilin was genuinely curious about that 'alien.' "What if you two argue one day? Would he, in a fit of anger, make you disappear from the world? Like with some concentrated sulfuric acid or something."
Shi Yi gave her an amused glance. "So uncultured. All you know is concentrated sulfuric acid."
"You know more than me."
"Just a little more."
"Like what?"
"H2SO4."
Meilin blinked. "What’s that? Bone-melting potion?"
"Concentrated sulfuric acid," she said smugly, looking at Meilin. "Put it another way, doesn’t it sound cultured?"
"Mm..." Meilin felt a bit defeated. "This seems like middle school stuff. How did I forget?" She mentally ran through some chemical formulas for a while before realizing she was being very unprofessional, chatting about chemistry with Shi Yi. And this beauty in front of her, wearing a retro-style moon-blue dress, was surprisingly engrossed.
"Alright, I won’t go to the celebration banquet tonight either. Just you, me, and your chemistry professor for a late-night snack," Meilin, tortured by curiosity, took the initiative to invite. "I must see what he looks like."
"Okay," Shi Yi said after a moment’s thought, adding, "If he can make it in time."
"Something this important, and he might not come?"
"Maybe," Shi Yi also felt uneasy. "He’s been very busy lately."
If Zhou Shengchen really didn’t come, she would definitely be disappointed—but would she be angry? Shi Yi imagined the scenario and realized she couldn’t bring herself to be angry with him. Still, she hadn’t expected this hypothetical situation to slowly become reality as the awards were announced one by one—he really didn’t come.
Shi Yi was distracted, even when her name was called and she rose from her seat to accept the award.
This was her first time receiving an award in person. She walked up from the back row, step by step, through the applauding crowd.
There were also the teasing and small talk from the hosts.
Voice actors rarely won awards. Many knew her name, but few had seen her face. Below the stage, many of the hottest actresses’ film and TV roles were dubbed by Shi Yi. When she walked onto the stage, most were surprised that this unfamiliar face belonged to such a familiar name.
She smiled modestly, wanting to take the award and leave quickly.
But as her gaze swept past the first row, it stopped in surprise.
The sea of well-dressed figures faded away.
Only a pair of dark eyes remained, watching her—slightly weary, but with a faint, elusive smile.The front row was occupied by industry veterans, the hottest actors, and major investors. Zhou Shengchen sat calmly at the far right, dressed in a low-key silver-gray suit and white trousers.
The seat was somewhat off-center, out of view of the live broadcast cameras.
To avoid being disturbed, he had deliberately left the seat beside him empty.
Unfortunately, he didn’t understand this place—it wasn’t like the international academic conferences he had attended before. Sitting in such a position, in this manner, was undeniably a conspicuous appearance. Those who shared the front row with him all night were left wondering: Who was this man? And who had he come for?
No one knew the answer.
Except for the woman on stage, who seemed too nervous to speak—as if overwhelmed by winning the award.
(End of Chapter)
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