Chapter Three: An Awkward Kiss Upon His Lips

Jiang Yunzhu’s hand rested on his shoulder, her voice tinged with drunkenness: “You’re not allowed to mention him!”

Song Shuheng paused, gazing into her reddened eyes and unconsciously pressed his lips together.

“Alright, alright, I won’t mention him. Let me help you to the restroom.”

Worried that Jiang Yunzhu might not be steady on her feet, he instinctively placed a hand at the small of her back for support.

Both of them had drunk quite a bit, so neither noticed the stern figure upstairs in a black suit, whose gaze had been fixed on them from the moment they entered.

Nearby, a business partner glanced at Shen Ruizhang’s cold expression, speaking cautiously: “Director Shen, is something wrong? Is there an issue with the proposal?”

Shen Ruizhang returned to himself, his tone cool: “No, I just saw my niece.”

He casually pushed the folder back, his eyes flashing coldly: “I’m afraid I don’t have time to discuss cooperation with Director Li today. I need to go downstairs and discipline a wayward child.”

The business partner was momentarily stunned.

The Shen family didn’t seem to have any minor relatives…

With an air of authority, Shen Ruizhang strode downstairs and saw Song Shuheng supporting the drunken Jiang Yunzhu as they prepared to leave the bar.

He spoke coldly, “Jiang Yunzhu.”

Both Song Shuheng and Jiang Yunzhu turned around.

“Uncle Shen?”

Song Shuheng was the first to recover, offering a polite smile: “What brings you here?”

Jiang Yunzhu clenched her palm, her voice strained: “Uncle.”

Shen Ruizhang’s lips twitched, but the smile never reached his eyes. He stepped forward, grasping Jiang Yunzhu’s wrist and pulling her behind him: “Come home with me.”

His grip hurt her wrist, and she instinctively tried to break free, but his hold only tightened.

Song Shuheng frowned: “Uncle Shen…”

Shen Ruizhang’s voice was icy: “Go enjoy yourself where you belong. Don’t corrupt the children of my family.”

Song Shuheng’s fists tightened: “Yunzhu and I are friends. She wants to spend time with me. Uncle Shen, you shouldn’t interfere with the decisions of an adult.”

Shen Ruizhang stared at him, a cold smile curving his lips: “I am her uncle. It’s the elders’ duty to discipline the younger generation. It’s not for outsiders to comment on.”

Song Shuheng felt his scalp prickle under such a gaze, but he gathered his courage: “But Yunzhu doesn’t want to leave with you.”

The chill in Shen Ruizhang’s eyes deepened, his voice now laced with anger and threat: “Young Song, do you think you’re in a position to challenge me?”

He lifted his chin, arrogance undisguised in his gaze: “Or should I call your grandfather to come pick you up?”

Song Shuheng clenched his fists, about to speak, but Jiang Yunzhu said, “Shuheng, go home first. I’ll be fine.”

She had no idea what had provoked Shen Ruizhang.

But knowing his temperament, if Song Shuheng kept challenging him, it would not end well.

Song Shuheng hesitated for a moment, but finally pressed his lips tightly and said, “Alright, let me know when you get home.”

Only after Song Shuheng left did Shen Ruizhang turn to Jiang Yunzhu, his voice still frigid: “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

Staring at that cold, hard face, Jiang Yunzhu suddenly felt a surge of rebellion.

She yanked her hand free. “I’m not going.”

Shen Ruizhang halted, his gaze icy as it fell upon her.

“Getting bold, are you? How did I teach you before? Who allowed you to come to a filthy place like this at night? Is the curfew I set for you just a decoration?”

In the past, whenever Shen Ruizhang spoke to her in such a stern tone, she never dared to talk back.

But now, all she felt was resistance and dissatisfaction.

Other elders didn’t control her so strictly—why should he?

“Uncle, I am twenty-four. I have my own judgment. I don’t need you to manage me like this, nor interfere in my social life.”

She turned her face away.

“I won’t leave, and I don’t want you to control me.”

A dark light flickered in Shen Ruizhang’s eyes, his voice dropping even colder: “Are you sure?”

Jiang Yunzhu nodded without hesitation, stubbornly standing her ground in the corridor.

The man suddenly let out a cold laugh, bent down, and wrapped his arm firmly around her waist.

The next second, Jiang Yunzhu was hoisted up onto his shoulder.

“You’re a child I raised—what right do you have to defy me?”

Before she could react, Shen Ruizhang was already carrying her out of the bar.

She struggled, biting her lip: “Leave me alone! Grandma raised me, not you! What does it have to do with you?”

Shen Ruizhang ignored her, stuffing her into the car: “If you cause any more trouble, your uncle will have to teach you some proper manners.”

His eyes now glinted with anger, making Jiang Yunzhu’s heart skip a beat, followed by a flood of grievances.

Nobody wanted her anymore, so why meddle?

She wanted to retort, but didn’t know what to say. Tears fell uncontrollably: “I hate you! Shen Ruizhang! I hate you!”

If only he’d known she liked him from the start, he could have sent her back to M country, and she wouldn’t have lingered in impossible fantasies all these years, only to have them shattered, leaving her heart in ruins.

Shen Ruizhang pressed his lips tightly, feeling inexplicably restless.

Hate him?

He wanted to reprimand her with a cold voice, but when he met her tear-filled eyes, his heart inexplicably softened.

After a moment, he sighed, placing his hand gently on her head, taking a tissue and carefully wiping away her tears: “Be good, don’t cry. It was wrong of your uncle to scold you.”

That familiar warmth touched her face, carrying the crisp scent of cedar.

Jiang Yunzhu, still trembling with sobs, looked up into his deep eyes, feeling another wave of dizziness.

Shen Ruizhang wiped her tears with care, took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her, his movements gentle.

It had been so long since Jiang Yunzhu was this close to Shen Ruizhang—so close that it seemed as if what happened five years ago had never occurred, and he was still the uncle who doted on her.

Was she dreaming?

She tentatively pressed her face against his palm, nuzzling like a kitten.

Shen Ruizhang pursed his lips, but didn’t pull his hand away, letting her curl up in his arms.

It must be a dream…

He’d avoided her like the plague—how could he hold her like this now?

The car soon arrived at the old mansion. Shen Ruizhang carried her out, brought her into the room, wiped away the tears and makeup on her face, and went downstairs to cook her a sobering soup.

“Drink this, and then sleep.”

Jiang Yunzhu let him feed her spoonfuls of soup, staring intently at his face as she tentatively hooked his finger: “Uncle.”

Shen Ruizhang responded with a low hum, watching as the soup disappeared, and reached out to rub her hair: “Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?”

Jiang Yunzhu tilted her head, boldly inching closer and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Shen Ruizhang’s body stiffened, his voice sounding hoarse: “Don’t make trouble, let go!”

But Jiang Yunzhu sat in his lap, directly and awkwardly pressed her lips to his.

After all, it was only a dream, wasn’t it?

What harm could a moment of recklessness do?