Invitation

The sound of teasing laughter carried a mischievous charm.

Shu Yunyi wasn’t checking up on him—she just wanted to see Shen Yi.

From their reunion to an empty bed, the sudden separation felt oddly unfamiliar.

Shen Yi retorted with a huff,

"My hair isn’t even dry yet. What ‘handsome guy’ are you talking about?"

"That’s exactly why you look good. A little messy hair suits you."

"Xiao Yi, you should go to a salon and get a perm. A new hairstyle might make you even hotter~"

On the other end, Shu Yunyi seemed to have just finished showering as well, lounging lazily on her bed in black silk pajamas.

She lay relaxed, gazing at the camera with a carefree demeanor.

The loose neckline revealed smooth, fair skin, the curves beneath sparking imagination.

Shen Yi scoffed, refusing to take the bait.

"Why bother? Aren’t I already charming enough for you?"

"Giggle…"

Shu Yunyi laughed heartily, her upper body shaking with mirth.

"Who complains about being too handsome?"

"I’m serious. I think you’ve actually gotten better-looking, Xiao Yi."

Shen Yi’s heart skipped a beat—likely due to the charm stat adjustment. With it now at 80 points, he’d surpassed the average person’s limit.

No wonder Shu Yunyi noticed the difference. He played it off casually,

"It’s just the beauty filter. Phones these days auto-enhance everything."

"Look at you—you’re practically glowing white."

Shu Yunyi paused, then scoffed.

"Pfft!"

"My skin’s always been fair. If anything, I’ve gotten a bit tanner from running lately. Otherwise, I’d be even paler."

Her playful deflection worked, and Shu Yunyi didn’t press further.

Shen Yi sat down with his phone, grinning.

"Is the obsession with fair skin hardwired into women or something?"

"Back at the apartment, you were practically hibernating. That kind of paleness isn’t healthy. Exercise does you good."

Shu Yunyi shot him a sidelong glance.

"Got it. I even worked out a bit tonight."

"If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I’m definitely going for another run."

Shen Yi nodded.

"You didn’t drink at dinner, right?"

"Of course not."

She shook her head like a rattle drum, adamant.

"I told you, no need to remind me. I’m staying at my mom’s place tonight—no way I’d drink."

Shen Yi took a sip from his water glass.

"Good."

"Hey, hey, wait—"

Her sudden interruption caught him off guard.

"What’s up?"

On the screen, Shu Yunyi smirked mischievously, waving for him to lower the camera.

"Down, lower… keep going… there, stop!"

Shen Yi froze at the display, his expression darkening as he quickly flipped the camera to cut off her shameless antics.

Shu Yunyi barely got a glimpse before the view vanished, and she immediately protested.

"What’s the big idea? I wasn’t done looking!"

Shen Yi rolled his eyes.

"It’s not like you haven’t seen it before…"

Never one to back down from banter, Shu Yunyi argued,

"So what? Seen it once, can’t see it again?"

"Besides, last night was pitch black—sneaking around like thieves. I didn’t even get to enjoy it properly…"

Shen Yi stared at her through the screen.

"Oh? Then who was the one begging for mercy?"

"First time doesn’t count!"

Alone in her room, Shu Yunyi threw all restraint to the wind, stubbornly insisting,

"Hmph!"

"A bad first try is understandable. Just wait till I recover…"

"Give me eight days—no, ten! Ten rounds, and I’ll have you surrendering!"

Shen Yi nearly burst out laughing. She’d always known about his stamina.

But how could Shu Yunyi, with her average physique, ever hope to match him? No matter how many attempts, victory was impossible for her.

Waving a hand, Shen Yi turned serious.

"Remember what you said this morning? No bedroom activities for a while, got it?"

At her age, Shu Yunyi was insatiable—once Pandora’s box was opened, there was no closing it.

Regret always followed her morning-after complaints.

By his past life’s timeline, they still had a long way to go.

But her words were just a covert way of acting spoiled—not a real demand.

"I know. I was just testing your self-control…"

Shu Yunyi pouted, feigning indifference.

Shen Yi chuckled.

"Alright, enough jokes. No drinking, keep exercising—don’t slack off, understand?"

She didn’t need the reminder; she’d stick to it regardless. Her full lips pursed in complaint.

"Ugh, you’re so naggy~ Turn your face back to me."

"I’m your teacher. Since when do you get to lecture me?"

Shen Yi flipped the camera, grinning as he teased,

"And since when have you cared about ‘teacherly conduct’?"

"You—!"

Shu Yunyi pointed at the screen, pretending to glare.

"Rebellious brat. Just you wait, Shen Yi—I’ve got plenty of ways to deal with you."

Seeing her act, Shen Yi immediately softened his tone.

"Alright, alright, my bad. I’ve got a big mouth, okay?"

A little coaxing was all it took for her expression to ease. She waved him off impatiently.

"Go away, hang up already."

"I’ve got an early morning tomorrow. Goodnight."

Shen Yi waved.

"Goodnight."

Just as he was about to end the call—

"Wait."

On screen, Shu Yunyi tilted her head, her cheeks flushed and dewy.

"You forgot something?"

Shen Yi paused, then leaned in with a smile, pressing a kiss to the camera.

"Mwah. Goodnight~"

"That’s more like it…"

Finally satisfied, Shu Yunyi blew him a kiss before disconnecting.

His phone had grown warm from the long call. Shaking his head in amusement, Shen Yi headed to bed.

Stretching out, he closed his eyes, mulling over the day’s events.

Going back to a regular job was out of the question—otherwise, he wouldn’t have quit Tiancheng in the first place.

But where to start with entrepreneurship? It didn’t have to be wildly profitable, but he needed a direction.

What kind of work offered flexibility while still being respectable?

After much deliberation, nothing concrete came to mind. Should he introduce himself as a novelist in the future?

"Nope. Writing fiction is a dead end."

He dismissed the idea with a shake of his head. Besides, what if someone asked for his published works?

Ding.

Just as he was about to ponder further, his phone lit up again.

Shen Yi checked—it was Fu Nanzhi replying.

The message read:

"Sorry, hubby~ Was just chatting with Mom."

Of course he wouldn’t blame her. He quickly typed back:

"No worries. Time with Mom comes first—we can talk anytime."

"Mhm!"

"Just finished. I’m in bed now."

[Sleeping pig bundled in blankets.jpg]

Shen Yi replied in kind.

"Perfect timing—I’m lying down too."

"Hehe…"

"So, rounding up, we’re basically sleeping together~"

Fu Nanzhi’s words radiated happiness.

"Oh yeah, hubby—I made plans to eat with my cousin the day after tomorrow. You’re coming too, okay?"

"Huh?"

"What ‘huh’? Zhu Yun, remember? You two had a meal together last time."

"I’ll send you the address. Dress sharp!"

Reading the text, one word flashed through Shen Yi’s mind.

‘Doomed.’