"Hey, Shen Mo."
"Xuyu, is it really you?" the voice on the other end of the line exclaimed in disbelief. "Are you okay? Where are you right now? Did those people from the Wen Family do anything to you?"
A barrage of questions came her way, leaving Wen Xuyu with a mild headache, yet warming her heart at the same time.
Shen Mo was a friend she had met while working part-time in college.
Before she was found and taken back by the Wen Family, she frequently used her free time outside of class to take on odd jobs like tutoring, handing out flyers, and working as a coffee shop barista.
One day, after finishing a tutoring session and hurrying back to school, she passed through a small alley and inadvertently spotted a few thugs beating someone on the ground.
Without a second thought, Wen Xuyu dropped her backpack and rushed over, beating the thugs away in just a few moves.
It was right then that she met Shen Mo, a chuni, fiercely loyal teenage boy in the same year and school as her.
She heard he was an only child who had moved out of his house because he was dissatisfied with his family trying to control him.
Because he was rather slender, he had been targeted by thugs and was constantly being extorted for money.
Ever since Wen Xuyu saved him, he had transformed into her devoted little fanboy and was always badgering her to teach him martial arts.
Their friendship had lasted ever since.
*
"I'm fine. What about you? The Wen Family found out—did they give you a hard time?" Wen Xuyu asked with concern.
"They just locked me up for two days and then let me go. The food was a bit rough, but other than that, no big deal," Shen Mo said nonchalantly, his tone breezy.
"That's good."
"Anyway, you suddenly calling me—it can't just be about that, right?"
Hearing Shen Mo say this, Wen Xuyu didn't beat around the bush and stated her purpose directly.
"I want you to help me check on the recent whereabouts of the Lu Family's third young master."
"The Lu Family's third young master?" Shen Mo rubbed his chin, pondering. "I heard he rarely goes out and his whereabouts are extremely mysterious, but leave it to me! As the top reporter at the Kyoto newspaper office, I'll definitely fulfill your request to perfection!"
Shen Mo knew Wen Xuyu's background was somewhat complicated, so he didn't ask too many questions; he only knew that she always did what was right.
"Thank you, Shen Mo!" Wen Xuyu thanked him sincerely.
If not for him, she really wouldn't have known who to turn to for help.
"Don't be so polite!" Shen Mo chuckled good-naturedly. "I'll go investigate then. I'll send you a message once I have news."
The two of them hung up.
Wen Xuyu opened her contacts, her slender fingers hesitating for a moment in mid-air before finally pressing down.
"I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service..."
Listening to the official automated voice, Wen Xuyu sat up straight.
The Wen Family had actually changed her mother's phone number. It seemed they wanted to completely cut off all contact between her and them.
How utterly despicable!
Wen Xuyu slammed her fist hard into the sofa cushion.
Should she mention this to Bian Xunzhou, though?
Just a second later, she dismissed the thought.
Forget it—if she dragged Bian Xunzhou into this, these muddy waters would probably become even harder to navigate!
The Wen Family wouldn't let go of such a "golden turtle son-in-law," so she had better resolve this in secret.
………
At 7:00 PM, Xiaoyun called Wen Xuyu downstairs for dinner. When she went down, Bian Xunzhou was already seated at the dining table.
The man wasn't using his chopsticks, as if he were deliberately waiting for her.
On the long red sandalwood table, blue-and-white porcelain plates were laid out in an orderly fashion.
Steamed East Star garoupa rested on a bed of shredded scallions and ginger, crystal shrimp meat was translucent and glossy, and the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in a gold-traced stewing crock had a vibrant color, with abalone, sea cucumber, and fish maw looming faintly in the rich broth. As the lid was lifted, the surging aroma of freshness mixed with the scent of aged wine instantly filled the air.
Wen Xuyu hadn't eaten well that morning either, and seeing so much delicious food now, her stomach immediately rumbled with hunger.
She slowly took her seat opposite Bian Xunzhou, and smelling the delicious aroma, felt she could eat an entire cow right now.
"Let's eat," Bian Xunzhou said, raising his eyes to look at her, his dark eyes deep and full of implication. "Don't starve yourself!"
Wen Xuyu raised her head awkwardly. Was he implying she was "abusing" herself again?
Since he put it that way, she wouldn't stand on ceremony!
Wen Xuyu picked up her bowl and chopsticks and began to eat.
It truly lived up to the standard of a five-star chef; it was not only pleasing to the eye, but also delicious.
Bian Xunzhou sat at the dining table with a straight spine, his every movement while dining exuding an innate, aristocratic elegance.
He made almost no sound while eating, occasionally lifting his red wine glass and lightly tapping his fingertips against the glass, making his hands look all the more slender and clean.
Every now and then, Bian Xunzhou would look up and see Wen Xuyu squinting her eyes, looking thoroughly satisfied with her meal.
He couldn't help lowering his gaze to look at the dishes on the table. Were they really that good?
Twenty minutes later, Wen Xuyu finished the last mouthful of soup in her bowl.
She suddenly raised her eyes, locking gazes with the man opposite her.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go upstairs first..."
"Sit down!" he said in a cold voice.
Just as Wen Xuyu took a step, she abruptly retreated to her original spot.
She sat ramrod straight, like a student facing the headmaster, feeling extremely cautious.
Bian Xunzhou's deep, dark eyes swept over her before he spoke leisurely.
"Is there nothing you have to tell me?"
Hearing this, alarm bells rang wildly in Wen Xuyu's head, though her expression remained calm.
"No..."
Bian Xunzhou stared at her, his thin lips parting to speak word by word, "You're nervous."
Wen Xuyu: Damn it, she still couldn't accept the fact of their synesthesia. How was this any different from streaking down the main street?!
She let out an internal breath, trying her best to look sincere and pitiful. "The Wen Family called me today and talked about that one billion."
Bian Xunzhou still hadn't looked away, his deep dark eyes seeming as though they could see right through her. "Anything else?"
Wen Xuyu nodded, her hands intertwined beneath the table, twisting continuously.
"I happen to detest deception the most. If I find out about any, you should know the consequences!"
The palpable threat made Wen Xuyu even more firm in her decision. "Mm."
Only after Bian Xunzhou completely vanished from her sight did Wen Xuyu finally relax. She rubbed her lower belly and decided to go out for a stroll to help digest her meal.
………
Dusk was gathering, and the evening breeze carrying a hint of moisture gently brushed against her cheeks.
Wen Xuyu walked slowly along the cobblestone path.
The night was quiet, and the lake surface reflected the faint light of the street lamps, rippling like scattered gold.
She turned around, taking in everything within her field of vision.
The gray-white architecture had clean lines, and warm yellow light leaked from the floor-to-ceiling windows not far away. Occasionally, servants could be seen moving about in the courtyard. Everything here exuded luxury and strict rules.
As she strolled along, Wen Xuyu gradually walked toward the main gate.
The black iron railing emitted a "cold and unapproachable" sheen, blocking the path back to her home.
"Sigh," Wen Xuyu could not hide the sorrow on her face. "Why did such a baffling thing have to happen?"
She had just fallen into a swimming pool, so how on earth did she end up with synesthesia with a complete stranger?
*
Suddenly, a glaring beam of light shone over from not far away. Wen Xuyu squinted her eyes and stepped back to the side.
"So late, and someone is still coming?" she muttered to herself.
The guard performed his routine duty, checking the identity of the newcomer.
Shang Rongyuan stepped out of the car. The middle-aged man's face was tight, barely concealing his anger as he walked forward without a word.
"President Shang, it's so late, why are you here?"
"Get lost! Do I need to report to you when I'm looking for my son?" Shang Rongyuan was furious, striding straight inside.
He caught sight of Wen Xuyu standing not far away, didn't even spare her a glance, and walked straight ahead.
Behind him, Chen Lirong trotted in as well. When she saw Wen Xuyu, she flashed a gentle smile and immediately followed after him.
"Why is everyone in this family so strange..."
Without even needing to think, Wen Xuyu knew tonight would definitely be another storm of blood and wind. Thinking of this, she decided to head back to her room to hide first.
To her surprise, the moment she reached her bedroom door, Xiaoxin blocked her path.
"Madam, the master asks you to come to his study."
Wen Xuyu: .........
Hiding here and hiding there, she still couldn't escape.