Volume 1, Chapter 10: Are You Afraid?

When Shen Zhi'en woke up the next morning, she had already rolled to the left side of the bed. Li Shen was nowhere to be seen.

Checking the time, it was 8:20 AM. Remembering she had to join the grandfather for breakfast, she sprang out of bed. After a lightning-fast wash, she stepped out of the room.

The door to the room next to hers was open, and Xiao Tao was inside, bustling about with hurried steps. Shen Zhi'en walked over.

It was a bedroom slightly smaller than the master suite, featuring the same minimalist Nordic style. It was filled with many of Shen Zhi'en's personal belongings, which looked somewhat out of place with the room’s aesthetic.

"Young Mistress, you’re up," Xiao Tao said, greeting her upon seeing her. "Young Master Shen asked me to prepare a separate room for you."

Shen Zhi'en had only mentioned it in passing the night before; she hadn't expected Li Shen to actually follow through. He truly was a man of action. She nodded silently, though a thought surfaced: did he not want to stay in the same room as her?

That made sense, she supposed. Anyone would feel uncomfortable having a stranger suddenly appear in their bedroom.

After a brief moment of disappointment came a wave of long-lasting happiness. She now had a room of her own at the Dongshan Mansion. Even with only a three-year lease, it was well worth it.

"Xiao Tao, thank you for the cake last night. It was both cute and delicious; I really liked it."

Xiao Tao, who was in the middle of making the bed, looked up in confusion. "Young Mistress, what cake are you talking about?"

"The cupcakes. Li Shen said you prepared them because you were worried I’d be hungry."

"I didn't."

"Then who did?"

Shen Zhi'en was puzzled. Li Shen? He didn't seem like the type to buy such cute cakes.

"Are you talking about the cupcakes from Yunni Bakery? The ones shaped like little cats?" Xiao Tao asked.

"Yes, the four with different designs."

"Then Young Master Shen must have bought them. Those are his favorite."

It was really Li Shen? And he had claimed he didn't want any last night! He had even insisted on pinning it on Xiao Tao.

"I can't believe Li Shen likes such cute things," Shen Zhi'en muttered to herself.

"What are you saying about me?"

Li Shen’s voice suddenly came from behind, giving her a start. She turned to see him in a sports tank top and shorts. His short hair was damp with sweat, strands sticking to his forehead. Sweat droplets traced down his cheeks, giving him a touch of mortal warmth that contrasted with his usual cold, aloof demeanor. He clearly had just finished exercising; the muscle definition in his arms and legs was prominent. He wasn't overly bulky, but he possessed a sense of power that was just right. Shen Zhi'en thought, *I suppose this is what they mean by the legendary 'lean and handsome' type.*

"Sorry, Mr. Li, I finished the cakes last night."

"It's fine. Leave me the Abyssinian one next time," Li Shen said nonchalantly, walking slowly toward his room.

"Abyssinian?" Shen Zhi'en didn't understand his jargon.

"An Abyssinian cat," Xiao Tao whispered.

Shen Zhi'en had heard of British Shorthairs, American Shorthairs, Siamese, and Ragdolls, but she had never heard of an "Abyssinian" cat. She picked up her phone to look it up, but she couldn't quite remember the name.

"What was it called? Indonesian cat?" she mumbled.

"Ab. Ys. Sin. I. An. Cat," Li Shen said, turning his head to repeat it syllable by syllable.

Shen Zhi'en caught his gaze and saw the look of "concern for the simple-minded."

She looked down, typed the name into the search bar, and saw what the cat looked like.

Noble, aloof, lean, with eyes that held a look of disdain for everything. Wasn't this just Li Shen in cat form?

After changing, Li Shen stood at the top of the stairs and called out to her, "Let's go down to eat."

Downstairs, the grandfather and her parents-in-law were already seated at the dining table. When they saw Shen Zhi'en, the old man’s weathered face lit up with a smile.

"Little En is here. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Her sleeping posture is terrible; she crushed me," Li Shen interjected.

Shen Zhi'en, not expecting this, flushed bright red immediately.

"You brat, you get such a beautiful wife and you still have such a sharp tongue. I’m punishing you to serve her some food."

"As you wish, Grandfather." Li Shen pulled out a chair for her, and they sat down, appearing like a devoted, loving couple.

They ate in peace for a while before Li Zhenting spoke. "Ah Shen, how is the M Group acquisition going?"

"Ran into some minor issues two weeks ago, but they've been resolved." Li Shen’s cold eyes swept over Li Qitai.

Li Qitai handed a glass of milk to Li Zhenting. "Dad, I ran into Old Mr. Long Mianzhou at the wedding yesterday and had a chat. He’s looking for investors lately, and I was thinking..."

Li Zhenting frowned.

"Longma Group is a leader in outdoor parks and cultural museum industries, and Mr. Long is a well-known cultural figure. He has always had a good relationship with the Li family..."

"What, is the old con man trying to run away?" Li Shen said lazily.

Li Qitai turned and glared at him. "Mr. Long is your elder, at the very least. How can you speak like that?"

"Buying fake antiques from him in the past was one thing, but now that he’s about to collapse, you’re rushing to bail him out. You know full well the competitive relationship between Longma Group and M Group. Do you know why I kicked Li Zeming out of the project team two weeks ago?"

"You..." Li Qitai’s face turned red with anger at Li Shen’s relentless barrage.

"Ah Tai, don't trust Long Mianzhou easily. He’s not a simple man. He shouts about preserving traditional culture all day, yet his wife and children are all foreign nationals. The day he falls, running away will just be a matter of a single plane ticket. And that godson—or is it his youngest son?—of his is not clean. Once that bubble bursts, Longma Group will be worthless," Li Zhenting analyzed for Li Qitai.

"His youngest son might be a bit of a playboy, but he’s talented."

"Talented at what? Serving an old man? Or at fooling the senile 'national treasure' collectors?" Li Shen’s expression was mocking and sarcastic.

"Li Shen!" Li Qitai slammed the table and stood up.

Li Shen also rose, grabbed Shen Zhi'en, and started to leave.

"Ah Shen..." Xu Huaying tried to intervene, but Li Qitai cut her off sharply.

"It’s all because you spoil him! Look at him—he has no respect for decorum!"

Li Qitai’s hysterical voice echoed through the house. By the time Shen Zhi'en processed what happened, she had already been led to the third floor by Li Shen.

"Are you scared?" Li Shen had calmed down, and seeing Shen Zhi'en’s flustered face, he found it somewhat amusing.

"Yes." Shen Zhi'en was already intimidated by Li Qitai; now she had even less idea how to face him.

"Then you’ll have to get used to it. We’re like this every day."

"Every day? Do you... argue during all three meals?"

"No, we can eat on our own. There’s a living room and dining area on the third floor. Besides, everyone is busy with work, so we don't usually eat at home. It’s only on important days, or when Grandfather organizes a gathering, that we force ourselves to sit at the same table," Li Shen said as he entered his bedroom.

*Very forced, indeed,* Shen Zhi'en thought. She missed the days of eating with her parents and sister—ordinary, simple, and lovely. It seemed that life in a wealthy family was complicated in more ways than one.

Li Shen emerged while adjusting his sleeves, heading to the office. Unsurprisingly, he was in another white suit.

Shen Zhi'en grumbled internally, though she had to admit he looked fantastic in it. He was tall, well-proportioned, lean-muscled, with a small head and sharp, sculpted facial features. If he ever hit rock bottom, he could at least make it as a male model.

[Li Shen: Male Model Physique, Heir to a Fortune]

Shen Zhi'en returned to her own room, lay on the bed, and scrolled through her phone. Seeing this trending topic, she clicked on it as if possessed. It was filled with photos of Li Shen, whether candid or from events. He truly was perfect from every angle; the colder his expression, the more handsome he looked—a god of the "cold face" aesthetic!

She suddenly thought of the moment Li Shen had leaned over her the previous night. *If only the lights had been on,* she thought.

[The Li Couple is adorable]

Seeing this trending topic, Shen Zhi'en curled her lip and replied with her burner account: *What a trashy trend. I advise you not to ship everything you see.*