The Fake Heiress: My Brother's Gaze Is a Bit Off - Chapter 10

When Shen Zhaoran woke up the next day, it was already noon. She pushed the door open, still groggy, and saw Auntie Zhao, who had come to cook, walking out of the kitchen. “Miss is awake. Quickly tidy up so you can eat.”

“What time did my brother leave?”

“At eight. He left right after breakfast.”

Shen Zhaoran had fallen asleep early the night before and did not know what time Shen Junhuai had gone to bed, but even if he had slept, it certainly was not for very long.

She returned to her room to wash up while pondering the events of the previous night. By the time she came out again, the dishes were already laid out on the table.

Auntie Zhao served her a bowl of soup. “Young Master said you would definitely sleep in, so he told me to just prepare lunch.”

Shen Zhaoran: “…”

She had been read like an open book.

Shen Junhuai was still struggling with insomnia, yet she had been able to sleep as soundly as a pig.

While sipping the soup, Shen Zhaoran asked, “Did my brother look alright when he left this morning?”

Auntie Zhao recalled, “He looked the same as always.”

Shen Junhuai’s insomnia was clearly not a one-time occurrence. She had woken up twice in the middle of the night, and both times she had run into Shen Junhuai wide awake. The probability of that happening just by chance seemed way too high.

Auntie Zhao asked again, “Are you both staying here for the next few days?”

Shen Zhaoran nodded. “We should stay until the end of the year. This place is closer to the office, so it is more convenient for my brother to get to work.”

Since Shen Zhaoran had woken up late, she simply sent a message to Ruan Yan to let her know she would not be going to the studio.

Ruan Yan understood her perfectly well and was not the least bit surprised; she only told her to get ready early in the evening so she could pick her up for the party.

That afternoon, Shen Zhaoran called the family doctor to ask about treatments for insomnia. Her family doctor’s surname was Xu. When she was a child, Dr. Xu’s mother had been responsible for her care, and after her mother retired, Dr. Xu had taken over the role.

Dr. Xu thought this little ancestor of his was sick again and prepared to come over for a check-up immediately. Shen Zhaoran had to explain that it was for a friend. Dr. Xu could only share some information and suggest that her friend see a psychiatrist, noting that insomnia among modern youth is mostly caused by psychological issues.

After hanging up the phone, Shen Zhaoran let out a long sigh and slumped onto the sofa. Shen Junhuai did not seem like someone who would avoid seeing a doctor out of fear; it was more likely that he had already seen doctors and found no cure.

In the evening, Ruan Yan brought Shen Zhaoran to the entrance of the villa where Anna was hosting her birthday party. As soon as they got out of the car, they saw a row of handsome, mixed-race male models queuing up to jump into the pool.

When Anna saw them arrive, she hurried out to welcome them. “The two busybodies have finally arrived.”

Shen Zhaoran handed over her gift. “Happy birthday.”

Ruan Yan: “And here is mine.”

Anna accepted both gifts and winked at them. “Have a great time tonight.”

Shen Zhaoran: “…”

Ruan Yan, however, accepted the atmosphere just fine. She walked a circle around the pool and, despite not getting into the water, had a blast interacting with the mixed-race male models. Shen Zhaoran simply grabbed a glass of sparkling water and curled up on the sofa.

“Zhaoran? You are back from your business trip?”

Shen Zhaoran looked toward the source of the voice. From a distance, he looked like a rainbow-colored monster, but up close, it was her childhood friend, Zhou Hongyu, with his rainbow-dyed hair.

Shen Zhaoran: “Just got back.”

Zhou Hongyu sat across from her and clinked his glass against hers. “I am surprised you would actually come to this kind of place.”

Shen Zhaoran raised her chin, gesturing toward Ruan Yan, who was completely lost in the fun over by the pool. Zhou Hongyu understood immediately.

Ruan Yan, tired from playing, sat down and downed a glass of wine. After greeting Zhou Hongyu, she pointed behind her. “Zhaoran, at the bar diagonally behind us, someone has been watching you the whole time.”

Shen Zhaoran said with complete indifference, “Let him look.”

Zhou Hongyu squinted in that direction. “That looks like Wei Li from the urban construction firm. Last month, he used thunderous methods to reorganize his company, and quite a few veterans were taken down. My father mentioned this person, saying that even if I ran into him, I would not be able to handle two moves, and told me to stay as far away from him as possible.”

Ruan Yan patted Shen Zhaoran’s shoulder. “I guarantee you, he definitely has his eyes on you.”

Shen Zhaoran felt no interest whatsoever. “As long as he does not come over here.”

Less than a minute after she said that, a servant bringing juice delivered a jewelry box. The servant set the item down and said, “This is a gift from Mr. Wei over there.”

Ruan Yan helped her take a look. “A nice sapphire. Very high clarity, and the color is very pure.”

Shen Zhaoran took a look. It looked better than the one she had brought back from Sri Lanka. She felt like grinding her back teeth in frustration. “Damn it, it is prettier than the sapphire I bought!”

Ruan Yan: “?”

Zhou Hongyu: “?”

Ruan Yan held the box, pointing at the gem and then at her. “Is that your conclusion?”

Shen Zhaoran pondered for a moment. “Tell me, how much would I have to offer for him to be willing to sell this sapphire to me?”

Ruan Yan: “??”

Zhou Hongyu: “??”

Shen Zhaoran thought for only two seconds before taking the box from Ruan Yan’s hand and walking over.

Wei Li had come tonight specifically for Shen Zhaoran. Before he sent the gift, he had prepared for the possibility of it being returned, but he never expected that the other party would walk right over carrying the gem.

Wei Li had not even had a chance to greet her when Shen Zhaoran opened with, “Is this sapphire of yours for sale?”

Wei Li: “?”

Up on the second floor, Ji Yunchen, who had been observing the whole thing, was live-streaming the scene to Shen Junhuai. At first, he had only noticed Shen Zhaoran sitting opposite the pool full of half-naked male models. Thinking of the extremely overprotective Shen Junhuai, he sent a photo over, reveling in the potential chaos.

Shen Junhuai ignored him at first, so he started bombarding him with video calls until Wei Li began sending the gift. Only then did Shen Junhuai accept the call. When they saw Shen Zhaoran get up, everyone went silent for two seconds, and then Shen Junhuai hung up the video call.

Ji Yunchen raised an eyebrow and said to Jiang Qian, “Just wait. Old Shen will be here to drink with us in a moment.”

Jiang Qian felt a headache coming on, feeling that not a single one of them was easy to deal with. He tried to find some comfort in the situation, thinking that thankfully Jiang Yu was not there.

Shen Junhuai arrived quickly; in less than half an hour, he was seated.

Ji Yunchen had drinks served and said, “We did not drink enough last time, let us continue today.”

Jiang Qian was somewhat helpless and explained, “Zhaoran must have taken a fancy to the sapphire Wei Li gave her and wanted to haggle to buy it. However, Wei Li did not agree, so she returned the item to him.”

Shen Junhuai: “I know.”

Ji Yunchen did not know the details and added, “Zhaoran is not a child anymore. You cannot keep managing her like you used to. There is nothing wrong with her dating someone.”

Shen Junhuai explained, “Wei Li has too many hidden motives.”

Ji Yunchen: “How about I introduce Zhaoran to a few reliable guys? Since she is like a little sister to me, I will definitely help look out for her.”

Shen Junhuai gave him a light, flat glance, which left Ji Yunchen feeling a chill run down his back.

Jiang Qian: “…”

Sometimes, you really cannot stop your brothers from trying to get themselves killed.

Shen Junhuai glanced downstairs from time to time. Seeing that the time was about right, he sent a message to Shen Zhaoran, then stood up and walked outside.

Ji Yunchen: “Wait, why are you leaving?”

Shen Junhuai: “I am leaving.”

Ji Yunchen looked at Jiang Qian with a puzzled expression. “What is with his old man’s sleep schedule? Is it even ten o’clock yet?”

Jiang Qian: “…Do not ask. Just drink your wine.”