Chapter Forty-Nine: Menstruating Every Day

Mai Xijun forced herself to remain calm, swallowing down the volcano of anger threatening to erupt from her chest. "You look like a decent human being, but why is your mind full of filth?" Did they really take her for a fool? She wasn’t bored, thank you very much! If it weren’t for that rare opportunity, she wouldn’t have agreed to have dinner with Shen Yanlie. Just thinking about it was enough to ruin her appetite for days!

Yuwen Si’s face darkened visibly. “If you’re treating us to dinner, then stop nagging. Why are you being so fussy, like an old woman?” His tone was impatient and unpleasant, his eyes fixed on Mai Xijun with a scowl.

But Shen Yanlie, knowing Yuwen Si’s temperament well, interjected, “You should know what’s appropriate and what isn’t.” As he spoke, his eyes locked onto Yuwen Si, and at the same time, he pulled Mai Xijun by the arm. Caught off guard, she stumbled into his embrace.

His tone was calm, neither angry nor forceful, but carried a quiet authority that could not be ignored. With that, Shen Yanlie led Mai Xijun inside.

“Tch.”

After a long moment, Yuwen Si stood there like a sullen child who’d been caught but refused to admit fault. Hands jammed into his pockets, he lingered with an air of resignation, then, as if nothing had happened, caught up to the pair.

At the dinner.

Shen Yanlie exuded an effortless elegance with every gesture, moving at a leisurely pace that suggested he was savoring the quiet, romantic atmosphere. The room was lavishly decorated, with Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” playing softly, the sound system flooding the space with music.

Yet the more refined and tasteful the setting, the more uncomfortable Mai Xijun felt—so much so that she thought, in her own words, she was more disgusted than if she’d swallowed a fly.

These two were picking only the most expensive dishes, eating away at her peace of mind and stoking her frustration. What a rotten fate! Two black-hearted scoundrels, that’s what they were!

“So, about that spot for further studies in France, is there any chance—”

“No work talk at the table. If you two want to discuss it, take it to the bedroom—don’t spoil my appetite!” Yuwen Si’s sharp tongue left Mai Xijun momentarily speechless.

Had this guy taken the wrong medicine before leaving the house? Why did every other sentence involve the bedroom? Was he overdosing on aphrodisiacs? Was his mind running wild? Just as she’d said before—his head was full of dirty thoughts, as if not talking business in bed was a waste.

Mai Xijun ignored Yuwen Si, casting a sidelong glance at Shen Yanlie, whose face remained cold and devilishly handsome. His lips, tinged with a faint blush, parted slightly to take in food, then chewed slowly. As he swallowed, his Adam’s apple moved up and down in a way that was unbearably alluring. In that instant, her world seemed to tilt, and she couldn’t look away, swallowing nervously.

At that moment, she was like a starving beast staring at prey she’d long coveted. But now that her quarry was right before her, all she could do was wait and yearn, unable to make a move…

“We’ll talk when I’m in the mood.” Shen Yanlie replied at leisure, his deep, cold eyes resting on her.

“Oh…”

But what did that mean? Was he in a bad mood now?

Ugh! She couldn’t be bothered to figure out what he was thinking—so moody!

Mai Xijun turned her head, only to meet Yuwen Si’s scrutinizing gaze.

A mocking smile played at Yuwen Si’s lips. “Sis, you were just staring so hard…” He raised his right hand, pointing two fingers at his own eyes—was he threatening to poke them out?

Mai Xijun, thoroughly annoyed, stabbed a piece of beef with her fork and shoved it into her mouth, chewing with a vengeance. The challenge in her eyes sparked the competitive spirit in Yuwen Si, who raised his brows as if to say, “I know exactly what you were just thinking!”

Mai Xijun shot him a glare, but Yuwen Si, unfazed and with a wicked air, took a sip of red wine and continued to study her. “I’m telling you, Sis, that look in your eyes says you like our Yanlie. Why not admit it?”

Pfft—cough, cough—

Mai Xijun choked, her face flushing as she struggled for breath.

Shen Yanlie frowned, handed her a glass of water, and stood to gently pat her back, silent and cold as ever—a demeanor as chilling as that night in Venice.

Mai Xijun thumped her chest a few times, her eyes brimming with tears. The ache lingered for days.

“If you like him, just admit it. Yanlie’s been single all this time—you could consider being his bed partner. Make him happy, and not only will you get that spot for France, even if you want a whole city, he’ll give it to you! Come, I wish you success in one fell swoop!”

At these words, a dark, ominous glint flashed in Shen Yanlie’s eyes.

Yuwen Si raised his glass to Mai Xijun and downed it in one gulp.

It was only then that Mai Xijun realized Yuwen Si truly was Shen Yanlie’s friend. Shen Yanlie had once said similar things to her, and now Yuwen Si echoed them. Did that mean Shen Yanlie was the kind of man who would give up a kingdom for love?

But why did the man she saw always seem to contradict what she’d come to know of him?

Mai Xijun tilted her lips in a sly smile. “Well then, here’s to you discovering a bug in your food halfway through dinner, running out of water halfway through a shower, and always finding only the seasoning packet and no noodles in your instant ramen!”

She raised her glass and, with a careless flourish, drained it.

Shen Yanlie watched her, his fingertips brushing past his nose as he settled back into his seat, his smile full of amusement.

Though Yuwen Si looked like a carefree slacker and wasn’t as powerful as Shen Yanlie, Yu Wen Media was a legend in the business world, and his friendship with Shen Yanlie made him nearly untouchable. It was probably the first time anyone had dared curse him to his face the way Mai Xijun just had.

Yuwen Si’s face turned nearly black as coal, but Shen Yanlie’s warning was still fresh in his mind—this was Shen Yanlie’s woman, so he’d better rein himself in.

“Then I hope you get your period every day!” Yuwen Si said with a beaming smile. In an instant, the three of them seemed to forget about the lavish meal altogether, turning the evening into a battle of wits and words.

Mai Xijun responded with a radiant, poised smile. “And I wish you to feel like you’re on your period every single day!”

Shen Yanlie: “…”

Yuwen Si: “…”

Mai Xijun raised her brow.

Yuwen Si retorted, “You know, for someone with an angel’s face, how is your heart so wicked—like the devil’s own?”