11 – He’s allergic to pineapple; he doesn’t eat shiitake mushrooms. Didn’t you know?
After the ceremony, some guests stayed for a few extra days. It wasn’t until everyone had returned home that the festivities truly came to an end. Now that the wedding was over, according to tradition, Shen Yu and Yan Jin were supposed to move into their new home.
Although the couple had no plans for a honeymoon, everyone knew they were married, so they still took a few days off to rest and handle the necessary arrangements.
After the house was registered under both their names, the interior was redesigned according to their preferences. Since the original décor was already quite nice, the changes weren’t major, and they could move in with just their luggage. Their belongings had been delivered bit by bit beforehand, so on the day they officially moved in, they only brought a light suitcase each.
Even though they hadn’t planned to meet, they ran into each other at the entrance. Seeing that neither had brought anyone else along, they both raised an eyebrow—it seemed they’d been thinking the same thing.
Shen Yu: “Have you met the housekeeper your uncle hired?”
Yan Jin: “I haven’t. What about you?”
Shen Yu: “I came by once before. He was coordinating with the cleaning staff, so I suppose I’ve met him.”
Yan Jin nodded. Someone was waiting at the entrance—he must be the person Yan Li had hired. He knew exactly why the man was here: to act as Yan Li’s informant. The man kept his head down and his eyes lowered, acting exceptionally cautious. But since these two intended to get rid of him, no amount of caution would help.
The second floor held the bedrooms and a study. The two chose rooms on opposite ends—one to the south, one to the north—separated by a hallway and several rooms, ensuring they wouldn’t disturb each other.
The first day passed uneventfully. The man Yan Li had brought in had braced himself for a rough welcome, but nothing happened. The two didn’t pick on him at all, which only made him uneasy. He had expected some kind of performance to prove his loyalty, but he wasn’t given the chance.
He had assumed he’d be able to stay for a while and assist Yan Li with certain tasks. Unexpectedly, on the very next day, the seemingly easygoing hosts lost their tempers—and when they did, it turned into full-blown drama.
Lunch was served. Before Yan Jin had even sat down, he swept his gaze over the dishes on the table. His expression darkened instantly as he called the man over.
The man’s heart skipped a beat. “Mr. Yan?”
Yan Jin pointed to a dish of pineapple sweet-and-sour pork. “Pineapple? Don’t you know Shen Yu is allergic to pineapple?”
To cater to the hosts’ dietary needs, one naturally had to know their food restrictions and preferences. This was the trap Shen Yu and Yan Jin had set. Shen Yu had only mentioned what he didn’t like to eat, without specifying any allergies, while Yan Jin had only mentioned his own restrictions, without stating his dislikes.
Shen Yu was indeed allergic to pineapple. As a child, eating it would make his mouth and tongue go numb and cause him to vomit, so he stopped touching it altogether. As an adult, he once accidentally ate a small amount; it caused slight numbness but no serious symptoms.
Shen Yu looked at the chicken with shiitake mushrooms. “He doesn’t like shiitake mushrooms. Didn’t you know that?”
Cold sweat broke out on the man’s forehead. Serving something someone disliked could be excused—but serving an allergen was a serious mistake. He could easily be fired. And if they dismissed him on legitimate grounds, Yan Li would have no reason to object. Yan Li hadn’t expected the man to last long anyway—but this was only the second day. It was far too soon.
“I—I…” What could he say? That they hadn’t told him? That excuse would be useless. They had clearly done this on purpose; any explanation would sound flimsy.
“You dared to serve allergens? Will you take responsibility if he gets sick?” Yan Jin said coldly. “Pack your things. Don’t bother coming back.”
The man made one last desperate attempt. “Mr. Yan, I’m—your uncle’s—”
“I’ll speak to my uncle myself,” Yan Jin cut him off, unyielding. “Aren’t you leaving yet?”
As reluctant as he was, the man could only respond, “Yes.” He quickly gathered his belongings and left, dejected.
Shen Yu sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and began eating. He took a bite of the mushroom chicken and nodded. “His cooking is actually quite good.”
Yan Jin couldn’t stand the smell of mushrooms. He reached for the pineapple sweet-and-sour pork instead. “Since Yan Li brought him, we couldn’t be too dismissive. Otherwise, how could he have lasted under pressure from both of us? Hmm… it’s passable. Uncle Wang from my family cooks even better. I’ll call him over later to live with us. What about your people?”
“I don’t have a long-term caregiver; I’m always switching,” Shen Yu said. “I won’t bring anyone.”
Usually, once people chose a caregiver, they didn’t switch frequently. Trust took time to build. Some caregivers stayed with families for decades and were treated like relatives.
But Shen Yu was different, he changed them often.
Yan Jin still remembered what had triggered Shen Mo’s near-suicide attempt: the caregiver who had served the family for years had taken money from Old Master Shen. She not only reported to him but also had her son spy on Shen Yu at school and report back on his behavior.
She had been with them since Shen Mo’s wife was alive. Shen Mo had even paid for her son to attend the same school as Shen Yu—yet she betrayed his trust for money. When the truth came out, Shen Mo—already fragile from multiple setbacks—was pushed even closer to collapse.
The rift between Shen Yu and Old Master Shen had begun with that incident.
Afterward, Shen Mo resisted hiring help, but due to his condition, he eventually relented. Shen Yu carefully selected a suitable housekeeper for him.
But what about Shen Yu himself? Did he bear no scars?
If not, why did he keep changing caregivers so frequently?
Yan Jin fell silent.
After a few bites, Shen Yu asked, “How did you know I’m allergic to pineapple?”
A vivid memory flashed through Yan Jin’s mind, but he kept his composure. “…You told me.”
Shen Yu frowned slightly. “Did I?”
“You did,” Yan Jin said smoothly. “You must have forgotten.”
Shen Yu had indeed said it—but not to Yan Jin. Relying on the fact that Shen Yu couldn’t possibly remember every conversation, Yan Jin spoke with confidence and even countered, “You know I don’t like mushrooms, don’t you?”
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
Shen Yu seized the opportunity immediately. “Mr. Yan, half the department knows you hate mushrooms.”
…Yan Jin had no rebuttal.
That was a dark chapter in his past.
Back then, several teams had been working overtime on a project. Someone brought snacks for everyone. Exhausted and starving, Yan Jin grabbed a cup of instant noodles without checking the flavor. His eyes were still fixed on the screen as he took a bite—
—and the smell made him throw up.
It was chicken and mushroom flavor. Even the tiny dried mushrooms in the packet were enough to trigger it. Though Yan Jin later insisted it was due to his physical and mental exhaustion, by the next morning, the story had spread across the entire department.
Something that amusing was guaranteed to remain gossip for days.
Yan Jin counterattacked, “Pineapple tastes great. It’s a pity you can’t eat it.”
Shen Yu replied calmly, “I can still eat a little. Mushrooms are delicious—it’s a pity even a small amount makes you throw up.”
Peace lasted less than three seconds.
Moments ago, they had been perfectly in sync. Thinking about it now—how had Yan Li’s man fallen into their trap so quickly and precisely?
Yan Jin picked up a slice of pineapple. “You had someone bring pineapple here the day before we moved in, didn’t you?”
Shen Yu ladled himself a bowl of soup. “Weren’t the mushrooms your doing?”
That’s right—both of them had simply placed the ingredients there, waiting.
If he hadn’t fallen for it today, it would only have been a matter of time.
“You’re ruthless,” Yan Jin said.
“So are you,” Shen Yu replied.
Birds of a feather flock together… or perhaps they had both been ink-stained from the start. They exchanged a smile that didn’t reach their eyes.
Uncle Wang arrived that afternoon, efficient as ever. After entering, he first met Shen Yu and carefully noted his habits and preferences. His questions were detailed, yet his tone remained patient.
He was in his forties, warm and approachable. Shen Yu treated him politely.
“Before cleaning my study or bedroom, inform me first. Do not enter without permission.”
“Understood,” Uncle Wang replied.
Yan Jin overheard from the side. That’s meant for me too, isn’t it? Still, he had no intention of entering without permission…
Wait.
Shen Yu knew his personality, he wouldn’t do that. Then why emphasize it?
Was he hiding something?
His curiosity was piqued.
Shen Yu, meanwhile, had no idea what was going through Yan Jin’s mind.
This was the problem, no matter how well two people understood each other, speculation alone could never replace honest communication. They could predict each other’s behavior, but not each other’s thoughts.
If they wanted to grow closer, sharp retorts wouldn’t be enough, they needed sincerity.
Over the next few days, although neither had to go to the office, neither stayed idle. If they remained home, they’d constantly run into each other, so both went out during the day. They never told each other where they were going, but if they wouldn’t be home for dinner, they would inform the other.
Somehow, this became a habit.
“I have something to do tonight, so I won’t be back for dinner.”
When Shen Yu received Yan Jin’s message, an unfamiliar feeling stirred within him. He stared at the text for several minutes. It was nothing special, just a few simple words yet it felt strangely comforting.
Only after Yan Jin sent another message, “Did you get it?”
Shen Yu replied. “Yeah, got it.”
If he hadn’t replied, Yan Jin would likely have called.
Shen Yu wouldn’t admit it, but he admired that persistence. Beneath Yan Jin’s composed exterior was something fierce, a wolf with sharp claws and fangs. Shen Yu, who had followed Shen Li, the lion, had not become one himself.
In truth… he envied Yan Jin.
That night, for the first time, Shen Yu didn’t stay in his room or study. Instead, he worked on his laptop in the living room.
When Yan Jin returned home, he had expected an empty space. Instead, he saw someone sitting on the sofa in pajamas.
He froze.
Shen Yu gave a slight nod, picked up his laptop, and went upstairs without a word, leaving Yan Jin unsure whether it had been coincidence—or intention.
Yan Jin stood there for a moment before lowering his head with a small smile. Then he called out toward the empty upstairs:
“I’m home.”
T/N: Thank you so much for reading this novel! English is my second language, so the translation might not always be perfect. I try my best to stay true to the original story and not change the author’s meaning. If you spot any mistakes or awkward lines, feel free to let me know — I’m always happy to learn and improve 😁❤️
