NOVEL WEB
Chapter 145
The scene spiraled out of control, the company descended into chaos, and the quarterly meeting did not proceed as planned. Yu Shu was probably the most incompetent boss in history, driven to flee her own company in a panic by her own employees.
The Goldfish Queen came to her rescue, gripping the steering wheel and asking Yu Shu, "Now that you're out, why don't you grab a bite before heading back? The nanny has taken a leave of absence."
"Huh?" Yu Shu was somewhat surprised. "Didn't the nanny come in this morning? How is she taking leave? Is there an emergency?"
Shen Youlin looked at her with a helpless expression. "The nanny bought a lottery ticket and won five million. She's in a hurry to claim the prize."
"..."
"She even deliberately bowed to the dishes you ate from after you finished breakfast and left, before checking the lottery results."
Yu Shu covered her face. "Let's run away. This place is no longer suitable for us to stay. We can return once everyone returns to normal."
"I know a quiet, nice place!" Shen Youlin raised his eyebrows. "Shall we go to the airport right now?"
"Let's go back first and get my study materials for the postgraduate entrance exam."
"..."
Yu Shu's study materials filled up a large box. Shen Youlin was not idle either - the diligent man packed their luggage.
Yu Shu wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a big kiss. "My darling is so diligent."
Shen Youlin said with a hint of sourness, "Can I not be diligent? Don't you see how many people are begging you to keep them as your lover?"
Someone revealed Yu Shu's preference for abs, and the internet was flooded with a horde of random men showing off their abs and tagging Yu Shu, enraging Shen Youlin to the point where he nearly crushed his phone.
"Darling, don't be angry. Those vulgar commoners can't compare to you - I wouldn't even look at a single one of them."
"Hmph!" Shen Youlin turned away in a spoiled manner. "Even if you looked, it would be useless. I'd deal with each and every one of them!"
Yu Shu held back her laughter and agreed with him. "Yes, yes, yes! Show that 'As long as I live, you will forever be my concubines' imperial aura!"
"Concubines? Those people aren't even worthy of shining my shoes! They're all foot servants!"
"Ah, yes, yes, you're absolutely right, darling!"
After a flight, a car ride, and a cable car journey, Yu Shu and Shen Youlin arrived at the Small Taoist Temple on Luxia Mountain at dusk.
The sunset on the mountain was breathtakingly beautiful. Brilliant, fiery clouds filled the sky, and upon witnessing this magnificent, splendid scene, Yu Shu couldn't help but marvel that the place was aptly named - there could be no better name than "Luxia" (meaning "sunset glow").
Their attendants followed behind with the luggage. Shen Youlin switched from his innocent persona to his spoiled young master mode, put his arm around Yu Shu's waist, and kicked open the main gate of the Small Taoist Temple as if making a scene. "Is there anybody breathing in there? Hurry up and prepare the best room for me!"
Unexpectedly, the person sweeping the courtyard with a broom was not a young Taoist nun or an old Taoist priest, but Jiang Han dressed in casual attire.
Jiang Han dropped the broom, cracked his knuckles, and walked towards them, raising his handsome eyebrows. "You're here to make a scene?"
Shen Youlin hid behind Yu Shu, clutching her clothes and yelling at Jiang Han, "You're really too much! You've always been a bully since we were kids!"
Jiang Han ignored him and smiled at Yu Shu. "Long time no see."
"Long time no see. Thank you for the warning that day."
Jiang Han shrugged regretfully. "Unfortunately, it was still too late."
Yu Shu said sincerely, "Regardless, thank you."
Seeing Jiang Han's polite demeanor towards Yu Shu, Shen Youlin suddenly felt emboldened and became more arrogant. He lifted his chin and asked, "Why are you here?"
"I'm here on vacation. But you, what are you doing here?"
Shen Youlin put his arm around Yu Shu's shoulder with immense pride. "Unlike you, a single dog, I'm here on a honeymoon with my wife!"
Jiang Han made a meaningful "oh" sound and went inside to find the abbot.
The elderly Taoist nun arranged for them to stay in a two-story small building behind the temple, where members of the Shen family occasionally resided when visiting.
Shen Youlin waved his hand, and attendants swarmed in, starting to clean the rooms and replace the furniture and supplies - since Shen Youlin intended to stay for an extended period, he naturally wouldn't subject himself to discomfort, let alone Yu Shu.
Yu Shu liked sleeping on a soft bed with high pillows, and she also enjoyed spacious, comfortable sofas, as well as customized desks and chairs for studying and working. The shower needed to have a constant temperature, and the refrigerator had to be stocked with pre-cooked bird's nest soup at all times...
As the servants tidied up, Shen Youlin held Yu Shu's hand tightly and asked the elderly Taoist nun, "Where's my sister?"
The Taoist nun's expression was troubled as she carefully chose her words. "Shen Youfei has severed all worldly ties and does not wish to see old acquaintances."
"Bullshit! Stop beating around the bush. It's making my teeth fall out." Shen Youlin snorted coldly. "Tell her that I don't recognize any so-called 'enlightened' person. To me, she's Shen Youfei, my sister in this life!"
After saying that, he pulled Yu Shu away. "Let's go fishing in the back mountains."
"Don't get angry." Yu Shu stroked his back soothingly. "Your sister is..."
"I know, I'm not angry." Shen Youlin turned back and gave her a sly smile. "She doesn't want to see me because she's afraid I'll miss her. But we're going to stay here for a while, and I don't believe she can resist forever."
He truly didn't resent her anymore.
Though he didn't say it, Yu Shu knew the reason.
In that split second when she took the bullet for Shen Youfei, Shen Youlin experienced the same agony as his sister.
But fortunately, Yu Shu was still alive and well.
Shen Youlin dared not imagine the "what if" scenario - what if Yu Shu hadn't made it? He didn't even know what kind of madness he would have descended into.
When Shen Youlin was young, he had visited this place before. Shen Youfei and Yan Xingnan had brought him and Jiang Han here. That summer, Yan Xingnan led the two boys to hunt wild chickens in the mountains, catch fish and shrimp in the rivers. They always returned at sunset, their bamboo baskets brimming with their haul, proudly presenting their treasures to Shen Youfei.
At this time of year, the mountain streams were still quite cold and biting. Shen Youlin wouldn't let Yu Shu enter the water, so he rolled up his pants and went into the stream himself with a bamboo basket. After a few hours of fishing, he had only caught some tiny fish smaller than his little finger.
Yu Shu consoled him, "If we coat them in flour, it'll be enough to fry a plate."
Shen Youlin nodded. "Yeah, it's not the right fish."
"Exactly, exactly, it's the fish that are wrong. They're just not jumping into my darling's basket."
Inside Shen Youfei's room, she calmly copied the Scripture of the Supreme Responding, her eyes like ancient wells, calm and unruffled.
Jiang Han rested his chin in his hand and watched for a while before finally unable to resist asking, "You really won't see him? I can tell he's not angry with you anymore."
Shen Youfei shook her head gently. "I won't see him."
Before, she avoided seeing Shen Youlin to prevent him from harboring resentment. Now, she avoided seeing him to keep him from developing new attachments.
Jiang Han offered a well-intentioned reminder, "He's different from before. He's experienced a lot."
Just as he finished speaking, a young Taoist nun knocked on Shen Youfei's door. "Sister, that guest says he wants to eat fried small river fish. If we can't cook it well, he'll burn down our kitchen."
Shen Youlin's reason was quite valid: he absolutely had to eat small river fish today, but his chef wouldn't arrive until tomorrow.