Shine on Me

All the way, Lin Yusen kept laughing, which made me a bit annoyed.

I can even fly... Was that sentence really that funny?

Under my glare, he finally reined in his laughter. "Sorry, but I keep picturing the sun growing wings and flying away."

I tried to imagine it: "Are the Earth and other planets following behind?"

"Of course. The sun has a huge mass, so I'd definitely be chasing after it."

I was asking about the other planets!

Lin Yusen finally thought to ask me, "Why did you suddenly come to pick me up?"

"Took a walk after eating too much," I answered haughtily, deciding not to tell him yet about the apartment Mom had arranged for me. I’d surprise him once everything was settled.

Would it be a pleasant surprise?

"Where are we going this afternoon? Just lunch at your grandfather’s place, right?"

"Yeah, but I also need to move some things to my place in Pudong. We’ll have dinner at my teacher’s place in the evening."

There were still plans for the evening? His teacher—was that the elderly man we met at the wedding banquet?

"It’s not that I don’t want to go, but Lin Yusen, don’t you think I’ve met way too many of your relatives and friends these past couple of days?"

"I’m surprised too," he said with a pained expression. "These were all prearranged. Who knew you’d suddenly come to Shanghai? It wouldn’t be right to leave you out."

...What could I even say to that?

If I spoke another word to him on the way, I’d lose the bet!

I didn’t even last ten minutes...

But how could I resist when he suddenly stopped to buy me milk tea? I had to go over and specify my preferences, right?

"Make it the sweetest, with red beans and coconut jelly."

Lin Yusen paid casually while remarking, "I thought you weren’t talking to me?"

"No choice. You don’t know my taste, after all~ we’re not that close yet." I emphasized the last part deliberately.

"Is that so?" Lin Yusen nodded. After paying, he pulled me close with one arm.

"Hey!"

What was this? Was he forcing familiarity? Right in public, with the girls at the milk tea shop watching!

Just as I was about to break free, Lin Yusen wrapped me in his coat. "You didn’t wear a jacket when you got out of the car. Aren’t you cold?"

Huh, that excuse seemed plausible. I stood on tiptoe, peeking my head out to look around. Well, the street wasn’t crowded... Might as well stay wrapped up like this. It was warm and cozy, and I wasn’t in a hurry to leave.

But.

"Your coat seems a bit too big." It could fit another me inside.

"The size is right. Must be the design."

"Oh, doesn’t it feel drafty and cold for you?"

Lin Yusen: "...Nie Xiguang."

"Yeah?"

"You really know how to kill the mood."

I got the feeling Lin Yusen didn’t want to talk to me anymore after that.

Luckily, we soon arrived at the Sheng residence.

The Sheng family’s old mansion was pretty much what I’d imagined an old-style Shanghai luxury home would look like—tall black iron gates, neatly trimmed expansive lawns, somewhat Western-style architecture, exuding an air of history everywhere.

The car drove through the black iron gates and continued for a few more minutes. When we got out at the villa’s entrance, two young people were already waiting. Seeing us, they immediately approached. The girl urged Lin Yusen, "Second Brother, introduce us already."

"Sheng Xingle, Sheng Xingxiu—my second and third uncles’ kids. Xiguang, my girlfriend. You saw her at the birthday banquet, didn’t you?"The girl, presumably named Xingxiu, was clearly dissatisfied with Lin Yusen's introduction. "That was way too perfunctory," she complained.

Turning to me with enthusiasm, she said, "We only had a quick glance at each other that day and didn’t get to talk properly. Let’s sit together at dinner later!"

"Sure," I agreed, handing her the other cup of milk tea I was holding. "Are you Xingxiu? Yusen bought this for you."

Sheng Xingxiu’s eyes instantly lit up as she took the tea, immediately stabbing the straw in and taking a sip. "Second Brother, you do have a conscience after all."

Beside her, Sheng Xingle scrutinized me from head to toe before exclaiming in disbelief, "Seriously? Just one cup? Where’s mine?"

"Aren’t you working on your muscles? I figured you wouldn’t want any."

Lin Yusen held my hand with one of his while pushing Sheng Xingle forward with the other.

Sheng Xingle stumbled along, protesting, "What’s the harm in having one occasionally? Second Brother, you’re just stingy."

Lin Yusen replied, "You’re right. I am stingy."

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Just then, an elder emerged—likely Lin Yusen’s third uncle, Sheng Shukai, if I remembered correctly. The Sheng family’s names were easy to recall: Sheng Bokai, Sheng Zhongkai, Sheng Shukai. Sheng Shukai called out loudly, "What are you all doing at the door? Grandpa’s waiting!"

The Sheng family was indeed large. Fortunately, Lin Yusen had timed it well—by the time we reached the living room, a round of greetings was all it took before dinner began, sparing us endless awkward small talk.

At dinner, Sheng Xingxiu didn’t end up sitting next to me. Since it was my first visit, likely out of courtesy, Old Master Sheng had Lin Yusen and me seated to his left, while Sheng Bokai’s wife—whom I addressed as Auntie Qian—took the seat beside me to keep me company.

The dishes were already laid out, and as everyone ate, the conversation politely revolved around me. They asked when I’d graduate, whether I was adjusting to work, why I’d gone to Suzhou, and so on. Their casual tone put me at ease. My uncle’s warnings earlier had made me somewhat guarded upon arrival.

But just as I started to relax, Auntie Qian picked up a bite of food for me and said with a smile, "No wonder Yusen suddenly wanted to move to Suzhou last year when he was doing so well in Shanghai. Turns out it was all for Xiguang. What’s that saying? ‘Fair maiden, a gentleman’s desire.’"

Huh?

What did she mean? Was she implying Lin Yusen had gone to Suzhou with ulterior motives?

Maybe I was overthinking it—after all, I didn’t know her well. I glanced at Lin Yusen and noticed the smile on his face had noticeably cooled.

I caught on and deliberately feigned slight embarrassment. "Yusen did say he went to Suzhou for me."

Lin Yusen calmly backed me up. "It was indeed for Xiguang. Otherwise, why would I go to Suzhou? It’s unfamiliar territory, and the company there has little room for growth."

Auntie Qian was momentarily speechless before forcing a smile. "Yusen has always been ambitious. But you two hadn’t met before, right? How did Yusen know to follow Xiguang to Suzhou?"

"We had met," I volunteered helpfully. "At my godmother’s banquet—Grandpa Sheng brought Yusen along. We didn’t speak then, but he still went to Suzhou because of me. He only told me all this later.""Yusen has always been sharp. He recognized it at first sight without even exchanging words and chased straight to Suzhou." Aunt Qian, probably noticing my slow reaction, spoke even more bluntly, as if afraid I wouldn't understand. She turned to Sheng Xingjie, "You should learn more from Yusen. The business world has no kind souls—you need more foresight, understand? Also, it's time you seriously looked for a girlfriend. 'Well-matched in social status' is crucial, but if the girl is exceptional, our family isn't snobbish. We don't demand she be fabulously wealthy."

At this point, Sheng Zhongkai's wife interjected, "Sister-in-law, the way you're phrasing it makes it sound like Yusen is because..."

"Enough." Old Master Sheng set his chopsticks down heavily. "Xingjie isn't in a hurry yet. Why the rush? Let's eat!"

With Old Master Sheng's command, everyone immediately dropped the topic and turned their attention to the dishes.

Sheng Bokai rotated the lazy Susan, bringing a seemingly unremarkable dish of fish maw, abalone, and chicken before me. "Xiguang, you must try this. Our chef's specialty—you won't find this flavor elsewhere. Your father had it once and couldn't stop thinking about it afterward."

Though inwardly displeased, I couldn't very well refuse. I picked up a piece of chicken, ate it, and offered polite praise.

The atmosphere eased again.

Conversation drifted casually. Xing Le and Xing Xiu clearly had a closer relationship with Lin Yusen, chatting across the table about whether we wanted to grab drinks later, which Yusen declined, citing a prior engagement at his teacher's place. Sheng Xingjie, sitting near them, spoke little. Eventually, the topic shifted back to business—though with an outsider like me present, nothing substantial was discussed.

Old Master Sheng spoke sparingly, falling completely silent in the latter half of the meal as if deep in thought, with a maid serving him dishes behind him. The Sheng family seemed accustomed to this, carrying on their conversations without disturbing him.

As the meal neared its end, Old Master Sheng set down his chopsticks and suddenly spoke, addressing Sheng Bokai: "Is Shuangyuan a joint venture with Xiao Nie? Who holds the majority stake?"

Shuangyuan was precisely the company Lin Yusen and I worked for—Suzhou Shuangyuan Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd., a mid-sized player in the industry. This was likely just one of Sheng Yuan's many investments, so Old Master Sheng's lack of detail wasn't surprising. What puzzled me was why he'd bring it up now.

Sheng Bokai replied, "We hold 51%."

"Transfer all the shares to Yusen's name."

Everyone froze. I immediately looked at Lin Yusen, catching a fleeting look of surprise in his eyes—clearly, he'd had no prior knowledge of this.

But what followed was even more unexpected—why did everyone else seem so delighted?

Aunt Qian couldn't contain her joy: "Suzhou is a wonderful place. Life there is comfortable, unlike Shanghai—glamorous on the surface but exhausting at heart."

Sheng Bokai said, "Cheng Yuan's side would need to agree to this."

Sheng Shukai added, "Would he refuse such a generous gift for his future son-in-law?"

Old Master Sheng nodded. "I'll call Xiao Nie myself."

Lin Yusen had already regained his composure, offering a timely smile. "Thank you, Grandfather."Everything happened in the blink of an eye. A few words decided it all, with everyone at the table smiling and chatting in perfect harmony. Yet in this environment, it was as if my perception sharpened instantly—I suddenly understood the true meaning behind those sparse words.

Judging by the genuine smiles on the Sheng family's faces, this probably wasn't a gift but more like an "exile"?

Had Lin Yusen been completely cast aside?

I felt a pang of sadness—not because of the meager Shuangyuan shares, which paled in comparison to Sheng Yuan's holdings. I'd always believed that elders' assets were theirs to give as they pleased.

No, it was because of the subtle tension in this household.

Lin Yusen was treated as an outsider here—even an enemy—by most of the family.

But given the circumstances, this was their private affair. I couldn't intervene rashly. My gaze drifted to the dining table, where a plate of crispy fried ribbon fish looked delicious. Lin Yusen hadn't had any yet, so I decided to snag the last piece for him.

Just as I waited intently for the dish to rotate my way, Sheng Xingjie spoke up.

"Uncle Nie should be satisfied now. Didn't he mention wanting more Shuangyuan shares? With Yusen taking them over as part of the dowry—no, the bride price—he'll surely be delighted."

My attention snapped from the fish to Sheng Xingjie. His previously sullen face now brimmed with barely concealed triumph.

Sheng Bokai immediately scolded him, "Don't interrupt when Grandpa is speaking."

I'd resolved to speak sparingly before arriving. As long as nothing went awry, maintaining grace and smiling politely would suffice. But since Sheng Xingjie brought up my father, wouldn't ignoring him be impolite?

After a brief pause, I cheerfully replied, "My dad will definitely be happy—though not because of shares or anything. It's mainly because I've never been keen on managing companies. With Yusen handling things for me, Dad won't have to worry anymore. I just hope Yusen won't find it too overwhelming to manage alone."

I shot a glance at Sheng Xingjie. What's there to gloat about? Sure, you're Sheng Yuan's designated successor, but do you think the other Shengs won't get their share? That you won't face constraints in the future? Dream on!

Unlike my family!

"I truly envy big families like yours. As an only child, I've never had siblings to rely on. In the future, I'll have to depend entirely on Yusen."

Though I'd never given much thought to inheriting my father's company, right now, I had to be the future domineering CEO!

With practiced gratitude, I thanked Old Master Sheng, "Thank you for raising Yusen so well, Grandpa Sheng. My father will be thrilled to gain an heir so effortlessly."

Sheng Xingjie's triumphant expression faltered.

I loved getting under his skin.

Because he wore every emotion on his sleeve—unlike the others, whose smiles never wavered no matter their thoughts. Even Lin Yusen beside me revealed nothing.

Still, he played along nicely, even offering me the last piece of fish. "I'll do my best. Another piece?"

"Gladly." I beamed.

"If Xiguang likes it, we can have the kitchen prepare some to take home," Auntie Qian said warmly.

See? Without Sheng Xingjie, my acting would've gone unappreciated.

Irritating him was too much fun—I couldn't resist continuing.I turned to Aunt Qian, "Thank you, Auntie, but no need for takeout. Could you tell me how this hairtail fish is prepared? Any special seasonings? I'd like to learn so I can cook it for Yusen later."

Aunt Qian laughed, "Why would you need to cook? There are chefs for that."

"I don't like having outsiders at home. Besides, when he's at work later and I'm idle at home, cooking would be a nice way to pass the time."

I put on an act of someone who'd abandon all responsibilities to become a devoted homemaker.

Aunt Qian's expression stiffened, "Aren't you working in Suzhou now? Girls don't need to work too hard, but they shouldn't abandon their careers either."

Of course I'll keep working and maintain my career, but that doesn't mean I can't make you uncomfortable now.

"I don't want to work so hard. Yusen can handle everything. My mother had my fortune told—it said I'm destined to live comfortably from childhood to old age without needing to worry about anything."

I was just spouting nonsense.

Sheng Xingjie finally couldn't hold back, "Uncle Nie is still young, it's too early to talk about succession. Besides, didn't Uncle Nie get divorced? Maybe—"

"Xingjie!"

Old Master Sheng's loud shout cut off Sheng Xingjie's unfinished words.

I looked at Old Master Sheng, deliberately showing some sympathy—this is the successor you chose? Compared to Lin Yusen, it's not even a matter of being far behind—they're not worthy of comparison.

Old Master Sheng stood up wearily, "Yusen, come to my study."

[Bookmark inserted]

Author's Note:

The things Xiguang said at the Sheng family dinner were all meant to provoke Sheng Xingjie, not her real thoughts. This is made clear in the text, but I want to emphasize it again.

Brother Sen won't be taking over any of Melon Girl's family businesses in the future—Melon Girl is the future domineering CEO, though she's currently completely unaware of her destiny. She has a more laid-back personality and needs some motivation before she'll want to take initiative.

On the other hand, she's always been the type to endure things that happen to herself without telling anyone, but when people close to her—like her mother or Lin Yusen—are hurt, she'll come out swinging, whether they need it or not. Brother Sen first met her in such a scenario at her godmother's banquet. Now that he's the one being protected, he must be feeling quite pleased.

The Sheng family arc is pretty much over—it mainly served to establish the company management tasks. Later, only Old Master Sheng and Sheng Bokai will make brief appearances.

I've read all your comments—long reviews, letters, various short comments—and appreciate your lasting love for these characters. I'll continue shaping them with care. The "but" issue has already been corrected in my documents—thanks for catching it.

Three chapters per week—everyone suggested fixed update times. Would 6 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday work? Right after work? Or should I update all at once on Monday? Also, the publication definitely won't be as late as next year's 520!

Also, could you help me brainstorm other ways to do book giveaways besides repost-and-lottery? I want to give away more books to everyone.