Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Let’s eat.”

Chen Yu’s voice cut in, breaking the awkward atmosphere between Ran Ning and me.

At the dinner table, Chen Yu chatted with her while piling food onto my plate.

I didn’t take a single bite.

Who wants to perform in a play without an audience?

Ran Ning seemed unable to watch any longer, pointing her chopsticks toward the study.

“Teacher Chen, are you sleeping in the study?”

Chen Yu responded to her in a gentle tone, “Our work is just too busy, so we sleep separately to get better rest.”

He spoke vaguely, likely leading her to believe that he and I had separated long ago.

I didn’t bother to expose his lie.

Sure enough, Ran Ning took it as truth and shot me a provocative smile.

Expressionless, I set down my chopsticks and stood up.

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

I turned and left.

Chen Yu instinctively glanced at me, only snapping back to attention when Ran Ning called his name to continue their business talk.

He needed a ten-million-yuan investment to expand his piano training center.

“I can do that. It just so happens that my… family wants me to try finding some projects to invest in on my own.”

Chen Yu, however, acted quite reserved. “Ningning, don’t be in such a hurry to agree. I’ll send you the project proposal, and you can give it a good look first.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.” She nodded.

I stopped at the corner, took out my phone, and sent a text to that man.

“Mr. Shen, Ran Ning is at my house. If a famous entrepreneur like you doesn’t know how to discipline his daughter, I’ll have to hit her for you.”

After waiting a minute, a reply came back.

“Go ahead and hit her. I can’t spare a hand right now.”

My eyes widened.

This man was truly bizarre.

A moment later, I sat back down.

Ran Ning seemed to be in an excellent mood. She glanced at me and said, “Teacher Chen, if I become your partner, wouldn’t that make me half a proprietress? Would Sister Xu Ting mind?”

Chen Yu paused and said seriously, “You would be half an owner.”

I had had enough provocation for one meal and had completely lost my appetite.

I scrutinized Ran Ning and spoke coldly, “But can Miss Ran really produce such a large sum of money on her own?”

She met my gaze fearlessly. “That’s nothing to me. As long as I want it, my family will support me.”

Chen Yu tugged at my arm. “Xu Ting?” He shot me a look.

“I’m just worried she’s overextending herself.” I gave a regretful smile and turned to look at Chen Yu. “I know you’ve been looking for investment lately. Why don’t you send me a copy of the proposal too? I happen to know a big boss who’s very interested in this.”

I reached into my pocket, felt the thin card, and pulled it out without hesitation, placing it on the table.

Chen Yu froze for a moment and read the name on it: “Shen Zhihan?”

Across from us, Ran Ning’s face changed instantly. She looked at me in disbelief, her previous aggressive aura vanishing without a trace.

I quietly enjoyed the change in her expression.

She really was terrified.

The next second, Ran Ning’s phone rang.

It was a special notification ringtone, sudden and sharp, giving us all a start.

Ran Ning gripped her phone and stood up abruptly, her expression exceptionally nervous. “Um, it’s a call from my father… I, I’ll go take this.”

She rushed into the guest bathroom and shut the door tight.

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. It seemed Shen Zhihan had finally spared a hand and knew enough to make a call.

Chen Yu asked me what I was laughing at.

“She’s in her twenties and still so afraid of her parents. Don’t you find it funny?”

“I don’t.” Chen Yu didn’t smile. He picked up the business card and stared at me. “How do you know Shen Zhihan?”

“How would I know him? I have a friend who knows his assistant.”

Just as I was about to take the card back, Chen Yu avoided my hand and tucked it into his pocket.

“Then give it to me.”

In less than a minute, Ran Ning came out.

Her face looked terrible. She hurriedly took her leave, saying she had to go home.

She even refused when Chen Yu offered to drive her.

Chen Yu closed the door and murmured in confusion, “What… happened to her?”

“A good girl, I suppose. Very strict upbringing.”

I lost interest as well and turned to head back to my room. I had only walked a few steps when I was suddenly embraced from behind.

Chen Yu rested his chin on my shoulder, his voice very, very soft.

“Wife.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, pushed his arms away, and turned around. “Didn’t you just say you were sleeping in the study?”

Chen Yu’s expression faltered slightly. “I…” His lips moved, but he said nothing.

“Then, goodnight.”

I walked into the bedroom alone.