The Fake Heiress: My Brother's Gaze Is a Bit Off - Chapter 7

At 8:40 AM, Shen Zhaoran arrived at the airport on time.

Shen Junhuai gave a few more instructions, and only after receiving a series of assurances from Shen Zhaoran did he entrust her and her luggage to Tong Jiu.

Ruan Yan, Qi Meng, and two other colleagues had arrived early. As soon as Ruan Yan saw Shen Zhaoran, she began to tease her. “You live the closest, yet you are the last to arrive.”

Shen Zhaoran took out her phone to check the time. “There is still over an hour left. It is plenty of time.”

One of the female colleagues, Liu Linyi, jokingly asked, “Who was the person who dropped off President Shen just now?”

Shi Jiashu, who was traveling with them, looked at Shen Zhaoran but said nothing.

Ruan Yan replied, “That is your President Shen’s biological brother. The real President Shen.”

Liu Linyi: “Oh, I see. I thought President Shen had started dating someone.”

Ruan Yan waved her hand. “We Shen family members are not exactly quick to catch on to those things.”

Shen Zhaoran was speechless. “You just said I was late, yet now you are not in a rush to leave?”

Ruan Yan: “Let us go, let us go.”

The Gulfstream G700 was a birthday gift Shen Junhuai had given Shen Zhaoran when she turned eighteen. However, she did not use it often, usually leaving the management to Xuan Zuo and letting him handle the arrangements whenever she needed it.

Including the flight attendants, their group consisted of only about a dozen people, which was more than enough space.

Liu Linyi and Shi Jiashu were both flying on a private jet for the first time, and they were completely stunned.

Liu Linyi could not stop exclaiming, “President Shen, with this kind of wealth, why do you even bother running a studio?”

Ruan Yan explained on her behalf. “If she does not find some work for herself, she would have to go home and inherit hundreds of millions in assets just like her brother, then work from dawn till dusk at the company without a single day off all year round.”

By now, Shen Zhaoran was already sprawled out on the sofa, motionless. Seeing her lazy appearance, Liu Linyi suddenly understood.

After all, she rarely saw Shen Zhaoran at the studio for days at a time, but her social media was constantly updated with check-ins from all over the world.

Tong Jiu was busy rushing around, helping Shen Zhaoran change into a new coat and neatly stowing away the scarf and coat she had just taken off.

Qi Meng, meanwhile, was off to the side organizing the work process.

Shen Zhaoran let Tong Jiu fuss over her and added, “Do not just look at me. Your designer Ruan, President Ruan, is also extremely wealthy. Her family lives in a castle.”

Liu Linyi: “Wow.”

Ruan Yan: “…”

Shi Jiashu did not join the conversation, but he kept his eyes on Shen Zhaoran with a faint smile.

The six-and-a-half-hour flight ended quickly. Upon stepping off the plane, Shen Zhaoran immediately took a photo of the terminal to post on social media and then lowered her head to type.

Ruan Yan was already used to this and led the others outside.

There was only a two-and-a-half-hour time difference between Colombo and home. After checking into the hotel and getting settled, everyone held a brief meeting.

Shen Zhaoran was multitasking, even managing to find time to send a message to Shen Junhuai.

[Shen Zhaoran]: Arrived at the hotel.

[Shen Junhuai]: Seen it.

[Shen Zhaoran]: You are not working properly. I am going to report you!

[Shen Junhuai]: It is off-work hours.

Shen Zhaoran checked the time.

[Shen Zhaoran]: You are not working overtime today? You got off work so early.

[Shen Junhuai]: I have an appointment.

Shen Junhuai put down his phone, stepped out of the car, and walked straight into the second floor of the club.

The private room on the second floor was already occupied by several people. They were somewhat surprised to see him arrive. Those with quick reflexes immediately began to stir up trouble, demanding he be punished with a drink.

Ji Yunchen was so amused by their timid behavior that he laughed. “One drink? Why do you not ask for half a drink instead?”

As he said this, he stepped in and filled Shen Junhuai’s glass himself.

Shen Junhuai did not say anything and drank it all.

Only then did Ji Yunchen say with a smile, “Rare. President Shen has finally decided to spare some time to join our gathering.” He then pulled over a beautiful girl beside him and said, “Let me introduce you. My girlfriend, Su Qinghan.”

Shen Junhuai nodded at her to acknowledge the greeting.

After all, Ji Yunchen’s girlfriends were usually monthly affairs. Every time he saw someone beside Ji Yunchen, it was someone different. Anyone who could reach the point of being familiar enough to be introduced to him was considered relatively long-term.

Jiang Qian clinked his glass against Shen Junhuai’s. “Seriously, are you never tired? Just last month, someone saw you on a business trip in New York, and as soon as you returned, you took on that big project for Yunsheng.”

Shen Junhuai: “It is fine.”

Ji Yunchen patted Su Qinghan’s waist, letting her go play on her own, and then leaned toward Shen Junhuai. “It is not that I am criticizing you. Jiang Qian may have been single for the past two years, but he has dated people before. What about you? Are you really preparing to become a monk? You are almost thirty, and there is not a single person by your side.”

The three of them had grown up together and knew each other’s romantic lives very well. Now, Shen Junhuai felt that being too familiar was not necessarily a good thing.

Jiang Qian glanced at Shen Junhuai’s expression and said to Ji Yunchen, “Why are you so concerned with other people’s business? He is not like you. People do not die just because they are not dating.”

Ji Yunchen: “I am just worried for Old Shen.”

Jiang Qian: “Have you ever heard that old saying?”

Ji Yunchen: “…Alright, you can shut up now.”

Shen Junhuai swirled his glass, remaining silent about his own romantic life.

Ji Yunchen soon moved on to other topics. When he left to go to the restroom, Jiang Qian asked, “How is Zhaoran?”

Shen Junhuai: “On a business trip. Her flight was this morning.”

Jiang Qian probed, “Are you still…”

Shen Junhuai just drank and said nothing.

Jiang Qian understood.

The two drank in silence for a while until someone else entered the room.

Jiang Qian was stunned. He stood up and walked over. “Why are you here?”

“I saw you were here on social media, so I came over,” Jiang Yu said, glancing behind him.

Jiang Qian was speechless, thinking that Jiang Yu had likely only come over immediately because she saw Shen Junhuai was here.

Jiang Yu pushed him aside. “Do not block the way.”

She walked to Shen Junhuai’s side and called out, “Brother Junhuai.”

Shen Junhuai: “Here to see Jiang Qian?”

Jiang Yu casually sat in a chair opposite him. “I just got off work and decided to drop by to see everyone.”

Jiang Qian sat back down with a headache.

After a while, Ji Yunchen returned. “Oh, little Jiang Yu is here.”

Jiang Yu greeted him with a smile. “Brother Chen.”

Ji Yunchen: “I heard from your brother that you are working at the branch office now?”

Jiang Yu: “Yes, I will return to the head office after the Lunar New Year.”

Ji Yunchen: “Tsk tsk tsk. If it were not for your brother insisting on studying medicine and putting all the burden of the company on your shoulders, you would be able to relax and have more fun. Look at Zhaoran, she ran off to play again today.”

Jiang Qian: “She went on a business trip. Wait, how do you know that?”

Ji Yunchen: “She posted it on social media herself, a photo with Ruan Yan.”

Most of Jiang Yu’s attention was focused on Shen Junhuai. Seeing him looking at his phone with his head lowered, she joked, “Brother Junhuai, did you go to check Zhaoran’s social media too?”

Ji Yunchen leaned over to look. “Your Brother Junhuai is different. Zhaoran reports her one-on-one to him.”

He then added, somewhat speechless. “You cannot be serious. She is how old now? You even have to manage what she eats for three meals a day.”

Jiang Qian chimed in to defend him. “Zhaoran has poor health, so she needs to be looked after carefully.”

After finishing his reply, Shen Junhuai downed the rest of his drink, grabbed his coat, and said, “I am leaving.”

Ji Yunchen: “Wait, no, hey! How long have you even been here? Where are you going!”

Shen Junhuai: “Back to the company to work overtime.”

Ji Yunchen rolled his eyes dramatically. “I really admire him. Do his uncle and aunt not have any control over him?”

“Forget it. He is gone. Let us continue.”

Jiang Yu’s eyes grew somewhat lonely as she watched Shen Junhuai leave, and she began to drink by herself.

Jiang Qian watched his brother, trapped in a forbidden love and numbing himself with work. Then, he turned to see his own stubborn younger sister, along with another brother who only knew how to eat and play without understanding anything yet insisted on dancing around trouble. He truly wanted to pick up a scalpel and perform surgery on himself.