6 – The ring didn’t suit Shen Yu’s taste; he didn’t like it.
The staff were startled by Yan Jin’s sudden move and couldn’t help but gasp. But the photographer reacted quickly; his surprise didn’t slow his fingers as they flew over the shutter, clicking incessantly.
Soon they realized it was just the illusion of a kiss. Because of the positioning and angles, it only looked as though they were kissing.
So that was it… Why did it feel a little disappointing?
Yan Jin had acted too quickly. Not only the staff, but even Shen Yu himself hadn’t processed it at first. When Yan Jin leaned in, his pupils contracted—but he didn’t pull away.
After Shen Yu understood Yan Jin’s intention, he obediently closed his eyes. Though their lips never touched, their faces drew dangerously close, their breaths mingling in a warm, tangled dance. When Yan Jin finally pulled back, Shen Yu slowly opened his eyes, a faint, sweet, and contented smile playing on his lips.
The director, frozen in place, clapped softly. Professional. Absolutely professional.
Just then, a passerby who had seen them earlier walked past again. Witnessing their “kiss,” they thought to themselves: They really are a couple!
Yan Jin pulled back slightly, but his arm was still wrapped around Shen Yu’s waist.
Shen Yu’s smile remained. “Haven’t had enough? Let go.”
He tried to pry Yan Jin’s hand off, but the camera was still rolling—this was still business—so he couldn’t.
Even after Shen Yu told him to let go, Yan Jin refused. “After all this posing, I deserve a little something for myself.”
Shen Yu understood immediately. He no longer protested the wandering hand on his waist. Instead, he raised his own hand and brushed the back of his fingers against Yan Jin’s cheek, slowly caressing down along his jawline.
Yan Jin remained impassive under his touch. Shen Yu’s hand was slightly cool, his skin smooth and soft against Yan Jin’s cheek. The caress was suggestive, and the corners of Shen Yu’s almond-shaped eyes were alluring—though his words were a mood killer.
“You’re getting your perks, so I shouldn’t be left out,” Shen Yu said. “Your face might be the only decent part of you.”
Yan Jin tilted his head slightly, pressing his face closer to Shen Yu as his gaze sharpened. “Only my face?”
Shen Yu gave his cheek a lazy pat before withdrawing his hand, looking bored. “Only your face.”
“I think your waist is pretty nice too,” Yan Jin said, releasing his arms from around Shen Yu’s waist. “As for me, I didn’t grow tall for nothing, and my gym time wasn’t wasted. It’d be a shame to focus only on my face.”
Yan Jin was tall—nearly 190 cm, almost 193 cm. At 180 cm, Shen Yu was indeed shorter. Yan Jin’s broad shoulders and well-proportioned waist made his physique impressive even through his clothes; he was a natural clothes hanger.
Shen Yu pretended to glance him over, his gaze far from admiring—more like he was appraising how much Yan Jin might weigh on a scale. Yan Jin feigned ignorance of the look.
“Can’t tell with clothes on?”
Was the next line supposed to be, “Want me to take them off for you?”
Shen Yu withdrew his gaze. “There’s nothing to see and I’m not interested either.”
Yan Jin shrugged off his attitude. “That’s a shame.”
The amusement park’s scenery was lovely, and the rides were decent. It was just a shame that everyone seemed forced to be here, whether it’s the stars of the day or the staff… Well, some staff were genuinely having fun. Shen Yu and Yan Jin acted so convincingly that some of them occasionally forgot their real relationship. Watching two handsome men interact still brought them genuine delight.
At least the nighttime fireworks display was truly spectacular.
After filming wrapped, everyone exchanged thanks for each other’s hard work.
Although the gathering hadn’t fully dispersed yet, Shen Yu and Yan Jin had already parted ways.
Before leaving, Shen Yu sought out the director.
“I’d like a copy of all the videos and photos shot today.”
The director, always eager to accommodate the client, nodded enthusiastically. “Of course, of course! Oh, and Mr. Yan just asked for them too! We captured both of you looking great, rest assured.”
Shen Yu showed no reaction upon hearing that Yan Jin had made the same request, merely replying politely, “Thank you for your hard work today.”
Shen Yu usually drove himself, but today he’d brought a driver. Shooting for a full day is more exhausting than a week’s worth of work, it’s mentally draining. Once in the car, he twirled the ring on his finger before slipping it off.
This so-called engagement ring on his hand was merely one of today’s props. There had been no proposal between them, so where would an engagement ring come from? It was added later because it was needed for the shoot, it’s expensive, but meaningless. He didn’t even know which crew member had gone to buy it, for the person who bought it, it was just another task assigned to them, completed for namesake.
The ring didn’t suit Shen Yu’s taste; he didn’t like it.
The wedding rings, however, had his input. They hired a dedicated designer who presented drafts, open to revisions if they didn’t like them. Shen Yu studied them carefully, offered his ideas, and the final designs incorporated not only the designer’s vision and his own suggestions but also Yan Jin’s input.
Those two rings were quite beautiful, perfectly to his liking.
After getting out of the car at home, Shen Yu handed the prop ring to the driver. He occasionally gave the driver red envelopes or gifts like watches or tea. He was a generous boss, so giving things out wasn’t unusual. But the driver still panicked upon receiving the ring: “Mr. Shen, wait a moment! This… this can’t be your. . .”
“It’ll just sit in my drawer after today’s shoot. It’s worth a decent price, don’t let it go to waste with me,” Shen Yu smiled. “Take and exchange it for a piece of jewelry for your wife. Pick something that she’ll like.”
Shen Yu rarely used a driver. Today, after chatting with the driver in the car about trivial matters, the driver spoke of his wife with a cheerful tone, his joy impossible to hide. The middle-aged driver spoke of his wife and children with nothing but happiness. This was likely how ordinary, loving couples lived. Keeping the ring at home would only gather dust. It’s better to give it to the driver as an extra income. If exchanged for jewellery, he could surprise his wife after returning home.
Shen Yu was married too, but despite having a home he lives alone .
The housekeeper had already retired for the day as there’s no need for dinner tonight, so there was no one to greet him when he returned. Shen Yu stood in the entryway, exhaling softly before shaking his head with a self-deprecating chuckle. Did he really look forward to living with Yan Jin? To days filled with bickering and squabbling?
…No way.
When Yan Jin opened the door, Yan Anan was sprawled on the sofa in her pajamas, playing with her phone and humming an unrecognizable tune, probably something she made up herself, just a few syllables reflecting her good mood.
“Brother, you’re back!”
Yan Anan waved her hand. Yan Jin took off his coat. “Yeah, I’m back.”
After their parents passed away, he and Yan Anan had lived together ever since. The siblings relied on each other for support. As the eldest brother, he took on a fatherly role. Though she never said it aloud, Yan Anan had always looked up to her brother with admiration and concern. No matter how precocious and sensible she was as a child, there was only so much she could shoulder. She tried her best not to trouble her brother. She’d attempted to learn the family business, but it clearly wasn’t her calling. Back then, Yan Jin would ruffle her hair and say, “It’s okay. As long as you’re happy, I haven’t failed as an older brother.”
Thus, Yan Anan was always smiling, appearing like a carefree young woman, affectionate and petulant at times, yet her mind was sharp and perceptive.
“Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“Cut it out. You clearly just wanted to play.”
Yan Jin could stay up for work or social engagements, but he truly didn’t understand the joy of staying up scrolling through his phone. He heated a cup of milk for Yan Anan: “Drink up and go to bed. Isn’t getting some sleep better than any face mask?”
Yan Anan cheerfully rolled over, holding the warm milk, its temperature just right.
Even before freshening up, Yan Jin opened his laptop to check for any emails requiring attention.
Yan Anan sat beside him, scrolling through her phone and sipping her milk quietly. The room was peaceful.
There weren’t many new emails. Yan Jin skimmed through them quickly. Only one stood out. He snorted. “Looks like we’re not getting through again.”
Yan Anan looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“Our dear Uncle,” Yan Jin said, “The company is now his one-man show. They’re all his loyal minions and voting is just a formality.”
Yan Jin shut down his computer, leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples. “They have no foresight at all. The moment anything slightly new comes up, it’s like you’re threatening their livelihood.
Yan Jin’s uncle, Yan Li, was currently the largest shareholder of the Yan Group. He was shrewd but not particularly insightful, channeling all his cleverness into scheming and underhanded tactics. He was a master at manipulating people, which was precisely why he’d managed to transform the company into his personal turf so swiftly after Old Master Yan’s death. His business acumen was mediocre, inferior to Yan Jin’s, and he possessed a narrow-minded, utterly self-serving nature. Yan Jin constantly worried that Yan Li would gradually drag the company down.
It was precisely because he was inferior to Yan Jin that Yan Li was guarded against his own nephew. When Old Master Shen arranged Shen Yu’s marriage to Yan Jin, it effectively granted Yan Jin the backing of the Shen family. Yan Li didn’t dare refuse Old Master Shen, but inwardly he harbored resentment. He secretly wondered why Shen Li didn’t simply have Shen Yu marry his son instead, that would have been perfect, a win-win for all. What did Shen Li mean by choosing Yan Jin? Did he intend to support Yan Jin in seizing control of the Yan Group?
Don’t even think about it!
Yan Li was thoroughly displeased with Yan Jin’s marriage. Creating obstacles for him was exactly what Yan Jin had expected, so it came as no surprise. But when such incidents piled up, anyone would feel exhausted and troubled.
“My brother is so capable, he’ll break free from his control sooner or later,” Yan An’an chimed in supportively. “Anyway, I’m on your side. I’ll support you no matter what.”
When the old patriarch passed, he remembered these siblings. Both Yan Jin and Yan Anan were included in the will. Yan Anan was now a shareholder in the company, though she held no position there, she simply waited for her dividends. Of the three grandsons, Yan Liang was notably absent from the will. Yan Li resented the old man. If he was mentioning the grandchildren, why exclude his son? He didn’t stop to consider how much the old man had already left him. Greed truly knows no bounds.
Yan Jin watched her finish her milk. “I’ll be moving out soon. Take good care of yourself.”
Yan Jin and Shen Yu’s new home was ready, awaiting the newlyweds after the wedding ceremony.
“I’m an adult now. You should worry about yourself,” Yan An’an said. “If you ever can’t stand the arguments and want to leave, you’re always welcome back home.”
A vague chuckle rolled from Yan Jin’s throat, but he didn’t respond.
Yan An’an considered his situation: “Bring Uncle Wang with you. It’ll be easier for you to adjust. “
Two people looked after the siblings’ daily needs, Uncle Wang being one of them.
Yan Jin considered his situation: “Alright.”
He couldn’t bring Uncle Wang over right after moving in. Yan Li would be furious just seeing him there and would surely arrange for someone else to stay. He’d have to send that person away first before Uncle Wang could come. He didn’t need to explain this to Yan Anan, it was enough that he understood. Shen Yu surely understood too.
