BAB 2

Sheng Siyu sat on the sofa and remained silent.

Bai Zhou blinked. Even though everything was blurry for him now, he could still see the tall nose, fair skin, and deep and cold red phoenix eyes of the man opposite him.

Bai Zhou murmured in a low voice, “Did he go abroad to do business or get plastic surgery?”

In fact, Sheng Siyu’s facial features have not changed, it’s just that his overall demeanor has become more stable compared to two years ago.

So Lin Xi recognized him just by that face. The wealthy second generation in the capital circle had been familiar with each other since childhood; they all knew each other.

Sheng Siyu had always had a face that attracted attention wherever he went. Once, a socialite even tried to “bribe” Lin Xi with a Porsche to get Sheng Siyu’s WeChat.

Lin Xi cleared his throat and poked Bai Zhou in the back, saying that he had refused a Porsche for the sake of your marriage!

What’s going on with you?

How did you end up like this with Sheng Siyu?

Lin Xi wanted to say something to ease the awkward atmosphere, but when he saw Sheng Siyu’s cold eyes staring at him, he sobered up instantly.

Even though Lin Xi usually joked around with Bai Zhou about Sheng Siyu, he got cold feet when he saw the real person.

The second son of the Sheng family was not the first successor of the Shengshi Group, but he climbed to the position of vice president in just two years. In order to fight with his brother two years ago, he willingly came forward to marry into the Bai family without any complaints.

This man was indeed terrifying.

This man, who was feared and respected by all the senior executives of Shengshi Group, including his own brother, stood in front of him, Lin Xi couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

Moreover, Sheng Siyu’s cold gaze seemed to be questioning Lin Xi, “It’s late at night, why aren’t you going back to your own home to sleep? Why did you come to my house?”

Lin Xi swallowed nervously. Could it be that Sheng Siyu would regard him as the third party?

“Uh, it’s late, and I need to go home and sleep.”

After Lin Xi finished speaking, he directly took the driver guy away.

Bai Zhou stood there for a while and was ignored by Sheng Siyu. He was almost sober and asked, “Why are you back?”

There was no expression on Sheng Siyu’s face, and he stared at Bai Zhou for a long time with his oppressive red phoenix eyes.

Finally, he withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “Handling company affairs.”

“…Oh”

Thinking about how he didn’t recognize Sheng Siyu just now, Bai Zhou forcibly swallowed back the words “stay for a few days” that were on the tip of his tongue.

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, and Bai Zhou coughed lightly.

Wasn’t it just a hidden marriage partner returning from abroad after two years? He had almost mistaken his husband for a burglar who had broken into their home, hadn’t he?

For fake husbands like them, it should be nothing, right?

Suddenly, Sheng Siyu let out an exasperated laugh.

“Bai Zhou, we haven’t seen each other for two years and you don’t even recognize me anymore?”

Bai Zhou: “…”

Sheng Siyu’s tone was slightly mocking and indifferent, as if he was asking an insignificant question to a stranger.

His indifferent attitude was probably more enthusiastic than when speaking to the security guard at the entrance.

Intentional! He was definitely doing it on purpose!

Bai Zhou looked up at Sheng Siyu.

The man sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, placed his slender fingers on his knees, and tapped them.

Casual, yet it seemed like he was waiting for an explanation.

Bai Zhou: “…I was drunk, so I didn’t recognize him.”

Sheng Siyu raised his eyebrows: “Aren’t you someone who doesn’t get drunk after a thousand cups?”

Bai Zhou: “…”

What? Did he have to tear through this layer of plastic wrap?

Bai Zhou took a deep breath, “I didn’t recognize you because you’ve become ugly.”

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the stairs.

After a while, there was a slamming of the door closing upstairs.

Sheng Siyu chuckled. Two years had passed, and this young master from the Bai family hadn’t changed his stubborn and unapologetic attitude.

“We haven’t seen each other for two years. Isn’t it normal that we don’t recognize him? Is he so sensitive?”

On the fourth day after Sheng Siyu returned to China, Beicheng welcomed the first snow of winter.

A bit later than usual.

Bai Zhou was lying comfortably in the natural open-air hot spring pool. Lin Xi beside him thought to himself, what was normal about this? He recognized him even when he was drunk.

But Bai Zhou’s tone sounded aggrieved, as if he was the one who hadn’t been recognized.

Lin Xi could only follow him, “This shows… that he still cares about you.”

Care?

Sheng Siyu didn’t tell him in advance when he returned to China this time, and started working directly after returning.

These days, there was not even a shadow of him to be seen.

“In this world, besides work, is there anything that can make Sheng Siyu care?”

Bai Zhou had a clear understanding, realizing that Sheng Siyu’s meager feelings for him were barely maintaining the status quo and nothing more.

If Sheng Siyu didn’t have a lot of money, he might even set a spending limit for him.

Changshan Tianchi Hot Spring was a members-only comprehensive health spa center. In addition to leisure and entertainment facilities indoors, there were also several sets of luxurious spa therapy rooms that were not open to the public.

Lin Xi was willing to spend money on his skin care, and in the therapy room, he went through various treatments for an hour, whereas Bai Zhou kept it much simpler, just putting on a face mask and sitting boredly playing with his phone.

Who asked him to have naturally good skin and not need such complicated care?

He opened Weibo and saw a trending topic:

#Sheng Siyu successfully acquired Huaren Film and Television Company for a price of one billion US dollars#

Bai Zhou: “…?”

Indeed, he was a born workaholic; he made such a big move right after returning to China.

Bai Zhou expressionlessly clicked into the post, and the comment section was full of influential figures guiding the discussion.

[Just completed the acquisition and immediately announced a new drama, only revealing the first look of Su Yan… Could the backer behind Su Yan be Mr Sheng?]

[To be honest, I find this ambiguous feeling a bit annoying. If the two are in a relationship, why not make it public? Boss Sheng spending a fortune to purchase a film and television company for his lover would be such a great topic!]

Bai Zhou: “?”

Soon after, #Su Yan’s new drama first look# and #Su Yan is suspected to have an ambiguous relationship with Shengsi Group’s Vice President# became hot search topics.

The two hot searches sandwiched the one about Sheng Siyu’s acquisition of China Resources.

Huh, his husband and his arch-nemesis involved in rumors?

What kind of melodramatic plot is this?

However, compared to the rumors, Bai Zhou was more concerned about what big production Su Yan had taken on again.

He clicked Su Yan’s eighteen new drama promotional photos expressionlessly.

From the makeup, it was easy to see that it portrayed an adorable artistic youth character.

However, apart from his dedicated fans praising him in the comments, there were a few mocking ones.

[Another hot search with very few comments… Is buying hot searches this easy nowadays? Or did they run out of money to buy online water armies?]

[He looks okay, it’s just that it’s really embarrassing to buy this hot search]

At this moment, Bai Zhou’s agent sent several WeChat messages in a row.

Shen Yue: Zhouzhou, if you don’t have any grudge against your face, just take a selfie and post it on Weibo to keep the momentum going! [Hold fist]

Shen Yue: [Screenshot] The number of fans has dropped to almost double digits! Can you say something to the fans?

Shen Yue: I’m only 27 this year, yet I’ve already begun to go bald. Do you know why?

Bai Zhou: It’s because of a family inheritance?

Shen Yue:…

The relationship between Bai Zhou and Shen Yue seemed more like friends who teased each other than mere work partners.

Initially, Shen Yue had an inexplicable confidence in Bai Zhou. Regardless of anything else, Bai Zhou’s face alone would guarantee popularity.

However, Bai Zhou seemed to have some special aura. Whenever he took on a substantial role, it would be preempted by someone else.

Bai Zhou didn’t give up on himself because of this, but it was Shen Yue who began to doubt his own business abilities. Lately, he even started to wonder if his fate was incompatible with Bai Zhou.

In order to save Shen Yue’s few hair, Bai Zhou posted three photos on Weibo.

In the photos, he wore a high-end Dior autumn-winter custom-made sweater, sitting in the driver’s seat of a sports car, basking in the sunlight through the car window, looking comfortably lazy.

Soon, Bai Zhou’s fans flocked to the post, creating a cascade of likes, comments, and shares.

[Zhouzhou! You finally remembered that you still have a Weibo account!]

[Wow! So handsome, so handsome! Sisters, it’s a Chinese New Year!]

[With this dress and this car, I can’t afford to marry him right now!]

Seeing these compliments, Bai Zhou was in a good mood and liked these comments one by one.

[Should I say it or not, he looks a lot like Su Yan. ]

Suddenly, a comment from a small account appeared, followed by a building of more comments.

[Can you stop riding on our brother’s popularity?]

[A pure bystander, who is this show-off internet celebrity?]

[Show-off? With that appearance, where did the money come from? Could he be kept by someone?]

[Can you even mistake identities? Hilarious. Su Yan works so hard, and this 18-line muddle of a coffee shop owner dares to claim he looks like Su Yan?]

Bai Zhou stared at the screen, chuckling. Hard work? Grabbing resources and buying hot searches, is that what they call hard work?

No wonder everything felt off these days. It turned out that bumping into Su Yan at the mall that day had brought this ominous aura.

[Sorry, the car is mine, and I have money, so I don’t need to “work hard.”]

After Bai Zhou replied expressionlessly, he reported all the accounts that were jumping up and down and blocked them all.

Just before Bai Zhou calmed down, Sheng Siyu called at an inappropriate time.

Bai Zhou answered the phone angrily, “What’s up?”

Sheng Siyu remained silent for a moment and then said, “…”

“There’s a family banquet tonight at my grandfather’s place,” Sheng Siyu’s voice was deep and magnetic, devoid of any emotion, purely businesslike in explanation.

What does he mean? There’s a family banquet tonight, so he calls at five in the afternoon to inform him?

How was he going to attend? With a fiery temper and a face covered in a mask?

Moreover, was it necessary for him, as the prospective son-in-law, to attend such a family banquet?

“Sorry, I’m busy and not available tonight.”

Bai Zhou finished speaking in a business-like tone and hung up the phone directly.

Two hours later, Bai Zhou and Lin Xi came down from upstairs talking and laughing.

Wearing luxurious bathrobes, the two walked side by side to the VIP lounge on the first floor. Suddenly, they saw Sheng Siyu in a suit, sitting casually with his legs crossed on the sofa, looking bored while flipping through a magazine.

The laugh on Bai Zhou and Lin Xi’s faces stopped at the same time.

Especially Lin Xi, although Sheng Siyu’s eyes were clearly fixed on the magazine, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of coldness in those eyes.

It would be better for him not to meet Bai Zhou these days.

Sheng Siyu seemed to notice the strange movement at the door, slowly put down the magazine, and looked at Bai Zhou meaningfully.

His gaze was affectionate and playful, as if asking Bai Zhou – Is this what you meant by being busy?

Bai Zhou: “…”

Who said “busy” had to refer to work?

It’s a crucial part of his life to soak in hot springs and have spa treatments.

Moreover…

“How did he know I’m here?” Bai Zhou muttered quietly.

Lin Xi pursed his lips, “Maybe because… two hours ago, I posted a Moments with location?”

Bai Zhou: “…?”

Since when did Sheng Siyu start playing detective?

And considering Lin Xi’s frequency of posting Moments, Sheng Siyu probably blocked Lin Xi long ago, right?

Before Bai Zhou could think further, Sheng Siyu had already walked up to him.

“Bai Zhou, do you have time now?”

Bai Zhou: “…”