Chapter 3: My Hypocritical Brother
Xie Mingqiu didn’t know what Shen Youwei was thinking, but she clearly didn’t believe her explanation—after all, the tension between the two of them was obvious.
She turned her head and asked Guan Shanyan again, “Really nothing going on between you two?”
Guan Shanyan replied, “We haven’t seen each other in three years—when would we have had the chance to argue?”
Xie Mingqiu said, “Online, maybe.”
Guan Shanyan let out a cold laugh inwardly. That was even less likely—after all, someone had blocked him on every possible platform.
Shen Youwei pretended not to hear their conversation and just kept staring at the elevator’s changing floor numbers.
Seeing that she couldn’t get a straight answer for now, Xie Mingqiu dropped the subject. When the elevator stopped, the three of them each dragged a suitcase and walked out.
“Is that Youwei?” Guan Su, who was in the kitchen preparing dinner, heard the sound of the door opening and peeked out halfway to look toward the entrance.
“It’s me, goddad!” Shen Youwei changed into indoor slippers, her nose twitching slightly. “Are you making old duck soup?”
“I am. I also made shrimp for you. Go get settled—we’re about to eat.”
“Yay!”
Xie Mingqiu, carrying one of the suitcases, led Shen Youwei inside. “This apartment has the same layout as your family’s—two master bedrooms. Your goddad and I use one, and the other is for you. It’s got its own bathroom and a big walk-in closet—perfect for all your clothes.”
“Thank you, godmom!” Shen Youwei responded cheerfully, dragging her suitcase alongside her.
“There’s also an extra room we can clear out for you to use for filming your videos.”
“No need, that’s too much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble. The room’s just sitting empty anyway.”
Guan Shanyan followed them in, carrying the last suitcase inside before turning back around to help his dad finish preparing dinner.
Shen Youwei only got halfway through unpacking before being called out for dinner. Knowing she was coming, Guan Su had cooked a full table of dishes.
“Mmm, is this the same pickled mustard greens you guys gave me last time?” Shen Youwei asked as she tasted the sour vegetables stewed with the duck. She looked up at Xie Mingqiu.
Xie Mingqiu nodded. “Yep, all homemade. Why?”
Shen Youwei gave a thumbs-up. “Goddad’s version tastes way better than mine. He’s got the magic touch.”
Xie Mingqiu laughed and moved the plate of shrimp in front of her. “Such a flatterer. Those shrimp were made especially for you—eat up.”
“Thank you, goddad and godmom!”
“You two always loved your goddad’s shrimp when you were kids. Tomorrow we’ll try a different recipe for you.”
Guan Shanyan, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly said in a flat tone, “She’s the one who likes shrimp.”
Xie Mingqiu turned her head to look at him. “But you like peeling shrimp.”
“….” Guan Shanyan’s hand, which was in the middle of peeling a shrimp, froze.
Damn it. Why was his hand peeling shrimp on its own? 🙂
Seeing that the shrimp was already completely peeled, Guan Shanyan simply went along with it and dropped the shrimp into his own bowl.
Noticing this, Xie Mingqiu spoke again, “Didn’t you say you don’t like shrimp? Then why’d you put it in your bowl?”
“….” Guan Shanyan kept a straight face. “People’s tastes can change.”
At that, as if something occurred to him, he glanced meaningfully at Shen Youwei.
Shen Youwei raised an eyebrow slightly. “What are you looking at me for?”
“Nothing.” Guan Shanyan picked up another shrimp at a leisurely pace. “Just surprised at how bad some people’s taste has become.”
“?” Shen Youwei narrowed her eyes. What’s with the passive-aggressive tone? Don’t tell me he’s still keeping up with the gossip about her?
She gave a snort inwardly and calmly put on gloves to start peeling shrimp herself. “Peeling shrimp isn’t exactly a skill—it just takes hands.”
Guan Shanyan said nothing. After that, the two didn’t speak again and silently finished the entire meal.
After dinner, Shen Youwei returned to her room to continue unpacking, while Guan Shanyan went to the study. In the kitchen, Xie Mingqiu spoke to Guan Su, finally voicing her suspicion: “Do you think Shanyan and Youwei had a fight?”
As he cleaned up, Guan Su replied, “It does seem a little strange… Maybe they just feel awkward after not seeing each other for so long?”
“No way. They grew up together—how awkward could it be?” Xie Mingqiu shook her head. She was convinced it wasn’t that simple. “You saw how close they were as kids—Shanyan was always calling her ‘little sister’ this and ‘little sister’ that. Now he won’t even peel shrimp for her.”
“Well, if you put it that way… But they’re adults now. Things are bound to be different.”
In Shen Youwei’s room, she had finished unpacking and went to take a shower with her pajamas in hand. After coming out, most of her fatigue had melted away. She dried her hair and sat down in front of her computer.
As soon as she logged onto Weibo, her mom called her via video.
Shen Youwei picked up the call and looked at the woman on the screen. “Mom? What made you want to call me at this hour?”
Shu Ge glanced at her surroundings through the screen and confirmed she had moved. “I heard you moved in with your godmom?”
Shen Youwei nodded. “Yeah. I was going to stay at a hotel, but godmom insisted I stay here.”
“Her place is definitely better than a hotel. But you know, back when you lived there before, we were the ones paying for your living expenses. Now that you’re someone who can get on the trending page whenever you want, shouldn’t you be paying for yourself?”
“…You’re overseas and still keeping up with my trending status?”
“Your dad’s basically your biggest Weibo fan.”
Shen Youwei: “……”
Terrifying.
She gave a dry cough before responding, “Even if I offered, godmom wouldn’t take my money.”
Shu Ge said, “Then you should buy more food and drinks for the house. It’s not right to just eat and live there for free without feeling any gratitude.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Also, be careful with your safety. People these days are so aggressive—fights and even worse can happen at any time.”
“I know.”
“You and Xu Kaicai…”
“Help! That’s just a rumor,” Shen Youwei interrupted before her mom could finish. “How could I possibly like a trash like Chen Qing!”
“…Alright, let’s leave it at that. Your dad and I are doing well with work here. We should be able to come back early by the end of the year.” Shu Ge ended the video call with Shen Youwei.
After hanging up, Shen Youwei put down her phone, scrolled through Weibo for a bit, then switched to her alternate account.
Over ten minutes ago, Guan Shanyan had actually sent her a private message.
Shen Youwei raised an eyebrow and clicked to read it.
【How do I restore the relationship with my sister?】
“Heh.” Shen Youwei snorted coldly. Just now, he had acted all aloof in front of everyone, but now he was here asking strangers for help?
Her brother was still just as fake as always.
People say that you can’t hide how you feel in your eyes. Shen Youwei had long noticed that Guan Shanyan’s gaze wasn’t that of a brother to a sister. But before he went abroad, she confessed to him first, and he said he had always seen her only as a sister.
Even passing dogs would want to roll their eyes at him.
Furious, she blocked all his contact methods and then registered this alternate account under the name He Zhou. Whenever she felt upset, she would come and annoy him… Unexpectedly, after three years of this, they ended up becoming close friends online.
Guan Shanyan usually didn’t talk much, most of the time, it was Shen Youwei on her alternate account who took the initiative to chat with him. Occasionally, he’d share some bits about his life with her. There had also been one or two times when he came to her for comfort when he had problems, like today.
Looking at the message on the screen, Shen Youwei smiled and typed back:
“Sincerity is the only ultimate weapon. :)”
Guan Shanyan: I never lied to her.
He Zhou: Lying to her is one thing, but don’t lie to yourself, brother.
Guan Shanyan didn’t reply. Shen Youwei thought for a moment, then sent another message:
“I remember you’re an only child, right? So where did the sister come from?”
Guan Shanyan: She’s my mom’s goddaughter.
He Zhou: Oh, then how did you two fall out?
Guan Shanyan was silent again.
Shen Youwei snorted coldly and didn’t reply anymore.
She hadn’t slept well last night and planned to sleep early today. Just as she climbed into bed, He Man sent her a photo—a screenshot from Xu Kaicai’s Moments (WeChat friend circle).
He Man: They’ve made up.
Shen Youwei opened the picture and saw a recent photo of Xu Kaicai and Chen Qing together.
Shen Youwei: …Great, and they even blocked me.
Shen Youwei: Isn’t she afraid she’ll have to help Chen Qing pay off his debts in the future???
He Man: Chen Qing is still part of the Chen family. The Chen family wouldn’t really abandon him—both she and Chen Qing think so.
Shen Youwei: That’s just as well.
He Man: Let it go. The more you try to persuade them, the more they’ll cling to each other. 【picks nose】
He Man: Have you arrived at your godmom’s place?
Shen Youwei: Yes, I’m here.
He Man: OK, now that Xu Kaicai has left, are you planning to hire another assistant?
Shen Youwei: Not for now. I’m at my godmom’s, and she can help me when she’s free.
He Man knew that although Shen Youwei said this, she actually wanted to keep the assistant position open for Xu Kaicai. The two had been friends since middle school. Xu Kaicai originally worked as a receptionist at a company, but as Shen Youwei became more popular, she brought Xu Kaicai in as her assistant, with much better pay than a receptionist.
He Man: Alright, I heard a new buffet just opened, and the food there is really good. When shall we go try it?
Shen Youwei: Sounds good. Let me know when you’re free.
After chatting with He Man, Shen Youwei finally lay down on the bed. Although it was her first night staying at the Guan family’s, she miraculously slept very well. When she woke up the next day, it was already bright outside.
Everyone in the house had gone to work. Shen Youwei dawdled a bit before going to the bathroom to freshen up. When she came out, she received a call from the police, saying the suspect from yesterday had been caught and asking her to come to the police station for identification.
“So soon they caught him?” Shen Youwei was a little surprised at how fast the police acted.
“Yeah,” the officer on the other end said, “Are you available to come now?”
“Yes, please send me the exact address.”
Shen Youwei quickly received the address sent by the police on her phone. Without putting on makeup, she wore a mask and drove out by herself.
After arriving at the police station, she was led inside by a female officer. Through the glass, she saw the suspect the police had caught.
“Take a look and see if this is the person you encountered in the elevator yesterday.”
Shen Youwei looked carefully. The person’s height and build were very similar to the delivery man she saw in the elevator the day before. After watching for a moment, she said to the nearby officer, “Could you have him come a bit closer?”
The officer nodded, and after a short while, the suspect inside walked a few steps closer to the glass.
Shen Youwei examined him even more closely this time. Soon, she frowned and said to the officer beside her, “It’s not him. The person in the elevator yesterday had pierced ears, but this man doesn’t.”
The officers in the room were all momentarily stunned, then exchanged glances. This man was quickly identified after reviewing surveillance footage along the route. After being arrested, he had also confessed to the crime. Calling Shen Youwei today was just a procedural step, but unexpectedly there was a problem.
“Are you sure?” asked a very experienced-looking officer.
Shen Youwei replied, “I’m sure. Since I’m a fashion blogger, maybe it’s a professional habit, but I pay extra attention to how people dress. Although the person yesterday wasn’t wearing earrings, he definitely had an ear piercing.”
The officer thought for a moment and asked, “Which ear? How many piercings?”
“The right ear, one piercing. I didn’t see the left ear, so I don’t know if there was one.”
The officers exchanged another glance, then asked Shen Youwei to sign a document: “The clue you provided is very important. We will re-verify it.”
When Shen Youwei left the police station, Guan Shanyan was attending an industry gathering. Gu Fei stood beside him holding a glass of wine, chatting with him, then suddenly tugged at him sharply.
Guan Shanyan almost spilled his drink and frowned unhappily, pulling his hand back. “What’s wrong?”
Gu Fei, with a gossiping look, nodded his chin forward: “See that person? That’s Chen Qing.”