Chapter 37
Shen Wu no longer said he was in a bad mood, so Meng Huaizhi didn’t give him back the cigarette.
“Where’s the trash can?” Meng Huaizhi asked.
“Just throw it in the snow,” Shen Wu turned his head away, unconcerned. This was the Shen family’s territory, and there was no need to maintain it.
But a Jinjiang male lead would never agree to throwing a cigarette butt on the ground. He showed with his actions that throwing it in the snow was also not an option.
Meng Huaizhi held the cigarette between two fingers and stood still. He didn’t smoke, so he naturally wouldn’t flick the cigarette every once in a while. The ash accumulated more and more. With a slight movement, he might be burned by the overflowing ash.
Shen Wu stared at the cigarette, inexplicably frightened, afraid that he would suddenly raise his hand.
However, Meng Huaizhi just stood there without moving.
He had an air of not moving until Shen Wu spoke.
The cigarette continued to burn. The excessive ash finally fell in scattered bits and disappeared into the snow. The unstained white cigarette grew shorter and shorter. The sparks were extremely greedy, burning and eroding the tobacco, and would sooner or later burn those cold, white fingertips.
Shen Wu had no choice but to speak, “…I don’t remember where the trash can in the courtyard is.”
Meng Huaizhi quickly replied, “I remember.”
Shen Wu said in surprise, “When was the last time you came to the Shen family?”
Meng Huaizhi led the way in front and said without turning his head, “The day before I went abroad.”
Shen Wu grumbled, “That was more than three years ago…” His memory is pretty good.
Meng Huaizhi threw away the cigarette that had only been smoked once but was already about to burn out, and turned around.
Shen Wu blinked his eyes for no reason and took half a step back.
He was a little scared, scared that he would ask him why he was smoking alone in the courtyard on New Year’s Eve.
But when Meng Huaizhi opened his mouth, he only asked, “Aren’t you cold?”
But his tone had no fluctuation, because he knew the answer was yes.
Shen Wu was wearing only a fleece-lined sweatshirt, standing in the zero-degree snow. The snow had fallen last night. The accumulated snow continued to absorb heat and reflect a pale, cold light. The temperature was probably even lower than at night.
Meng Huaizhi withdrew his gaze from his hands, which were exposed to the cold air, lowered his cold and quiet eyes, and slowly undid the buttons of his coat.
Then he took off the cream-white coat and put it on Shen Wu.
After doing all this lightly, he still had some regrets, regretting that he had worn a turtleneck sweater today and had not worn a scarf.
The residual body heat on the coat froze Shen Wu in place.
He stared at the person in front of him in a daze.
After a long while.
The biting wind brought Meng Huaizhi’s slightly magnetic voice, “Go back now?”
“Mm,” Shen Wu heard the word he had managed to squeeze out through his nose. He looked at the person standing in the snow in a single layer of clothing, and the little resistance he had towards the Shen family villa was swept away. “…Let’s hurry inside.”
However, Shen Wu had snuck out from the bedroom balcony, so now he was leading Meng Huaizhi back the same way.
In the past, when Meng Huaizhi had visited the Shen family, he had rarely entered Shen Wu’s room, at most glancing at it from the doorway. He had always been a person with a strong sense of boundaries.
But as an older and tolerant brother, if Shen Wu had trespassed into his territory, he would never have gotten angry.
It was the first time Meng Huaizhi had seen the strange structure of Shen Wu’s bedroom balcony, and he couldn’t help but say, “You must have snuck out from the balcony a lot as a child.”
Shen Wu grunted in agreement.
In the novel, it was also because of the frequent accidents in the F1 season that he had been put under house arrest by Shen Tianheng. It was Shen Ping who had let him out through the balcony and had even covered for him, creating the illusion that he was still at home.
Shen Wu was clearly in a bad mood, and it was most likely related to Shen Ping.
Before Meng Huaizhi could do anything, the balcony door had been pushed open. Shen Wu lifted the hem of his coat and squatted down, finding a pair of spare slippers. “You wear these.”
Meng Huaizhi looked at the head that had just passed by his eyes, the fluffy black hair, which matched the soft white coat very well.
He suddenly had a strong urge to reach out and pat that head.
But Shen Wu quickly stood up. His hand rose and then fell slightly, finally lightly stroking Shen Wu’s shoulder. “Going out?”
“…Mm,” Shen Wu was taken aback for a moment and nodded. “Then you can put your coat in my room?”
“Okay.”
The villa was fully heated, and both of them were only wearing their inner layers. They pushed open the bedroom door and went out.
Shen Wu had hidden in the courtyard for more than an hour to get away from Shen Ping. Surprisingly, Shen Ping was still at his door, waiting patiently.
As if he was a little tired, Shen Ping was leaning against the wall. When he heard the door open, he immediately looked up.
“Xiao Wu…”
The explanation he had rehearsed countless times in his mind dissipated between his teeth the moment he saw the person who had come.
“Meng Huaizhi?” Shen Ping stood up straight. “…When did you come?”
“Just now,” Meng Huaizhi said truthfully.
However, in the eyes of others, he had taken off his coat, changed into slippers, and was walking out of Shen Wu’s bedroom.
And this door, Shen Ping had been guarding for more than an hour, but it had never opened.
Shen Wu was a very easy child to coax. His temper came and went quickly. He never held a grudge overnight. He would not give the cold shoulder and go to bed with a stomach full of anger. That was why Shen Ping had been waiting for him at the door.
Shen Ping was sure that he would open the door sooner or later, but he had not expected that there would be a Meng Huaizhi behind him.
This sudden scene made Shen Ping’s mind go blank. The string of reason broke, and the mask of never showing his emotions shattered, leaving only strong negative emotions such as jealousy and anger.
“Ge?” Shen Wu called out.
Shen Ping came back to his senses and suddenly realized, “You went to the courtyard?” So he had brought Meng Huaizhi up from the courtyard.
Shen Wu: “Mm.”
Shen Ping smiled and said gently, “Xiao Wu, I have something to say to you. Can you come to the study with me?”
Shen Wu was unmoved. “You can say it here.”
Shen Ping didn’t mind either. “Then I’ll come and find you tonight.” Meng Huaizhi had at most come over for New Year’s Eve dinner. When it was time to sleep at night, he would definitely go back to his own home.
Shen Wu neither agreed nor refused and asked Meng Huaizhi beside him, “Have you greeted my parents?”
“Not yet,” Meng Huaizhi said. “The security guard knows me, so he let me in directly.”
“Then let’s go over now,” Shen Wu led the way, took a few steps, and then said, “Uncle security guard hasn’t seen you for three years, right? He just let you in like that?”
Even three years ago, Meng Huaizhi had not visited the Shen family often, far from being as close as the relatives who frequently came and went. The security guard did not know about the marriage between the two families, so Meng Huaizhi was just a guest with a different surname.
Even if he let a relative in, he should inform the master first, right? Let alone Meng Huaizhi?
“He probably doesn’t remember me anymore, but he said his daughter is my fan,” Meng Huaizhi said. “He even asked for my autograph.”
“…” Shen Wu was silent for a moment. “He let you in just because you’re a celebrity?”
Meng Huaizhi chuckled, “It seems so.”
So being a top-tier star has this kind of special pass. Shen Wu was both amused and helpless. He probably had to have Xu Qiongya strengthen the security guards’ training.
The two of them walked away, talking and laughing. Shen Ping remained where he was, guarding the closed bedroom door.
Ever since Xu Qiongya had married into the Shen family, she had spent every New Year with her husband, son, and the Shen family.
If the Xu family wanted to see her, they had to wait until after the first day of the New Year.
Unlike Shen Tianheng, who had started from scratch, the Xu family was a proper scholarly family, and Xu Qiongya was also a young lady born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Now that Shen Tianheng was successful in his career, he was more than a match for Xu Qiongya, but her family still doted on her. Therefore, every New Year’s Eve, the Xu family would come to the Shen family for New Year’s Eve dinner.
Wealthy families were all in the same circle, but the circle was also divided into different levels. If the Shen family was second-class, then the Meng family was the top-class.
The relatives who were gathered downstairs were originally chatting enthusiastically. Someone noticed the person coming down from upstairs and called out, “Young Master Meng?”
Everyone fell silent in unison and looked over, as if paying their respects.
Meng Huaizhi walked up to the woman who had just spoken, “Aunt, you can just call me Huaizhi.”
“Ah, you still remember that I’m Wuwu’s aunt,” the woman said in amazement. “Haha, I feel like I’m going to be so envied by your fans.”
Being called aunt by a popular top-tier star, the woman was somewhat flattered, and then she was overjoyed, her face full of smiles, and she did not think too deeply.
After the woman finished smiling, she asked again, “It’s the thirtieth today. Don’t you have to go home for New Year’s Eve dinner?”
“Mm, I’m spending the New Year here,” Meng Huaizhi said. “To accompany Shen Wu.”
Shen Wu’s peach blossom eyes suddenly widened.
The woman did not suspect him. “We all watched the Wonderful Adventure you filmed together. It was quite interesting.”
She added, “I also followed the Wuye Shuhuai Super Topic!”
Shen Wu: “…”
And Meng Huaizhi’s expression did not change. He clearly knew of the existence of this Super Topic and suddenly chuckled, “Is that so?”
It was rare for the woman to see Meng Huaizhi smile. She was taken aback for a moment and quickly said, “Ah, you guys come and sit here. Don’t just stand there.”
Xu Qiongya happened to come over to greet them, “Dinner is about to be served. Everyone, choose your own seats… eh, Huaizhi?”
Meng Huaizhi nodded, “Auntie.”
Shen Ping happened to be coming down from upstairs. When he saw Xu Qiongya in an apron, he quickly went up to her, “Auntie, let me help you with the dishes.”
Shen Wu also said, “Mom, I’ll help you.”
“Then…” Xu Qiongya was troubled for a few seconds. “Wuwu, you’re so old now, you should help out at home. Then Shen Ping, you go and rest. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Shen Wu turned his head to look at Meng Huaizhi.
Before he could say that Meng Huaizhi should also go and rest, the latter spoke first, “I’ll accompany you.”
The three of them were busy in the kitchen together, much more at ease, and it also saved them the awkwardness of dealing with enthusiastic relatives.
After dinner, the relatives left one after another, leaving the Shen family to do the final cleaning up.
Usually, there were maids at home. Shen Tianheng and Shen Ping did not do housework, nor did they have the awareness. The father and son went to the study to chat, leaving Xu Qiongya to face the mess on the table alone.
Shen Wu thought for a moment and walked over, “Mom, I’ll help you clean up.”
But Xu Qiongya refused, “It’s rare for Huaizhi to come to our house. You go and accompany him.”
Shen Wu: “…” Isn’t it because he saw that his mother was working hard?
And for some reason, he had been feeling that it had become awkward to be with Meng Huaizhi recently. He couldn’t say what was wrong, and helping with the housework was also to avoid being alone with Meng Huaizhi.
Meng Huaizhi looked at the kitchen, stood up from the sofa, and also went over, “Auntie, I’ll help you.”
Xu Qiongya smiled helplessly, “How can I let you clean up?”
Meng Huaizhi: “Auntie, you made dinner. You should rest now.”
Xu Qiongya: “Most of it was prepared by the maid yesterday. I just did a little work. It wasn’t tiring.”
“I haven’t done much in the three years I’ve been married to Shen Wu,” Meng Huaizhi said. “This is what I should do.”
Shen Wu was taken aback by his words and looked at him with a strange gaze.
Xu Qiongya was silent for a moment. If it weren’t for Meng Huaizhi’s reminder, she would have almost forgotten that the two children were married.
The mother and son’s personalities were somewhat similar. Xu Qiongya politely refused twice. Seeing that Meng Huaizhi insisted on helping, she no longer insisted on refusing and nodded, “Okay, then you clean up. There are gloves over there. Don’t get your hands dirty. Just take the bowls and dishes to the kitchen and wash them in the dishwasher.”
“Okay.”
Xu Qiongya left as she said. When Shen Wu saw her turn around, he didn’t know what to do for a moment. “Then I…”
Before he could finish, his feet had already taken a step towards Xu Qiongya.
Seeing this, Meng Huaizhi said from behind, “You go and rest too. It’s easy to make a mess with two people cleaning up.”
Having gotten permission to leave, Shen Wu hesitated instead.
Xu Qiongya pulled on Shen Wu, “Wuwu, Mom has something to say to you. Huaizhi, then we’ll come and help you together later.”
Meng Huaizhi watched the mother and son leave. The two of them did not stop and went straight upstairs.
They probably went to Shen Wu’s room.
To suddenly want to have a private talk at this time, and with a hint of avoiding him, those words were most likely about him, and most likely not something good.
Xu Qiongya pulled Shen Wu back to the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Shen Wu was completely puzzled, “Mom, what do you want to say to me? And so mysteriously?”
“Come and sit here,” Xu Qiongya called out. After the two of them sat down next to each other on the bed, she finally got to the point. “Do you remember that when you wanted to marry Huaizhi, your dad and I both disagreed?”
Shen Wu had been at odds with Shen Tianheng since he was a child. Although Xu Qiongya would not go against the authority in the family for him, Xu Qiongya had always trusted him and silently supported him.
Except for one thing, which was marrying Meng Huaizhi.
He had stolen the household registration book and had gone to find Meng Huaizhi, lying that he had already gotten his family’s consent. He had gotten the certificate first and had only told his parents about the done deal the next day.
“Your father disagreed because you were only twenty and he thought you were too young and too impulsive,” Xu Qiongya said in his ear. “And in our eyes, Huaizhi is just like Shen Ping, both your older brothers. We couldn’t imagine you two dating. You hadn’t even dated yet, so how could you suddenly get married? Of course he would disagree.”
The memory of three years ago was as vivid as if it were yesterday. At that time, the only person in the family who had agreed was Shen Ping.
Shen Wu remembered his usually gentle mother’s opposition and belatedly felt a sense of doubt. He immediately asked, “Then what about you? Why did you…”
At that time, he had been unyielding and had been determined to fight against Shen Tianheng to the end.
He remembered that Xu Qiongya had cried. But at that time, he had only thought that Xu Qiongya was weak, helpless because the father and son had turned against each other.
Xu Qiongya held his hand, “Huaizhi is a good older brother, but…”
Through her few words, Shen Wu seemed to have guessed what Xu Qiongya was going to say next, and his whole body went numb.
“His personality is too cold… to put it bluntly, I always feel that he will never fall in love with anyone in his life. As long as he has music, it’s enough,” Xu Qiongya said slowly. “You didn’t marry him because you liked him, did you?”
Shen Wu was silent.
After a long while, he heard himself squeeze out a muffled “mm” through his nose.
He explained again, “That was three years ago…”
“I was afraid you would get hurt, so I disagreed.”
His mother’s gentle voice lingered in his ear.
Shen Wu’s eyes inexplicably grew warm.
In the past, when he had a big fight with Shen Tianheng at home, he would often feel his eyes swell and hurt from anger, grievance, and the sadness of being helpless.
But not like now, warm and slightly sour.
“He wasn’t in the country for the first three years, so I didn’t say anything. Now that he’s back, what are you planning to do?” Xu Qiongya patted his head. “If you decide to get a divorce, Mom will definitely support you.”
Shen Wu sniffled, “Actually, in my heart, you’ve always been a… love-struck fool who only has my dad in your head.”
Xu Qiongya was both helpless and amused, “And now?”
Shen Wu removed the prefix from his words and also smiled, “A love-struck fool.”
Xu Qiongya smiled, “So that’s how Mom is in your eyes.”
In this restrictive Shen family, it was the first time the mother and son had truly opened their hearts to each other, opened the window, and saw each other’s truest selves.
“Actually, I’m also considering divorcing your dad,” Xu Qiongya suddenly said.
“What?” Shen Wu looked up in surprise.
He had always seen Xu Qiongya as Shen Tianheng’s most loyal supporter, but he unexpectedly saw a hint of determination in her eyes.
Shen Wu would not comment on her plans, nor would he be aggressive with his questions.
He only asked with concern, “Are you reluctant to leave Dad?”
“…I am,” Xu Qiongya lowered her equally beautiful peach blossom eyes. “But Mom gets tired too.”
Shen Wu was slightly taken aback.
“Mom is also reluctant to see you being wronged,” Xu Qiongya patted his head again.
Shen Wu forced a smile, “As the young master of the Shen family, what kind of grievances can I have?”
Xu Qiongya was noncommittal and deliberately avoided the things that would make her son unhappy, only holding his hand.
“You don’t have to be sad about divorcing Huaizhi. Mom will be with you,” Xu Qiongya said. “Then you won’t have to live in that small apartment at the racing team. You can live with Mom in a large flat.”
The dorm at the racing team that Shen Wu mentioned was a small one-bedroom apartment. Although it was small, it had everything. But for the dignified young master of the Shen family, it was still a bit of a grievance.
“Let’s not talk about me. What about you? Are you willing to divorce him?”
“Mm,” Shen Wu said. “Actually, I’ve already told him. We’ll get a divorce in a while.”
“Then does he agree?”
Shen Wu was taken aback for a moment, remembering that he had never asked for Meng Huaizhi’s opinion.
But he said to Xu Qiongya with full confidence, “He will agree.”
At this point, the two of them were relieved, and a faint smile appeared on their faces.
From the direction of the door, a firm and resolute voice suddenly came, “I don’t agree.”
The mother and son were both shocked and turned their heads to look.
Meng Huaizhi pushed the door open and entered. Under the gaze of the two of them, his reason returned, and he rephrased his words, “…I’m not considering divorcing Shen Wu now.”
He paused, his expression returning to his usual cold and stern look, and spoke again, “Auntie, if you want to separate from Uncle, you can move into my private residence. There are a few places with a good environment and convenient transportation. I don’t live there, so you don’t have to worry about being disturbed by my fans.”
Shen Wu: “…?”
