The Patriarch

Moments later, Luo Shiyi felt she was being overly nervous. There was a considerable distance between them, separated by two windows. Could Shen Xiuyi's hearing really be so superhuman that he could hear what she was saying on the phone?

With this thought, Luo Shiyi relaxed considerably. Pretending not to notice Shen Xiuyi across the way, she continued to play her puzzle game on her phone.

As Shen Xiuwen had said, the next day Shen Xiuyi was indeed taking her to the hospital to meet the Shen family patriarch.

Luo Shiyi had already reviewed his profile and knew he wouldn't be an easy person to deal with. On the way, she pondered strategies, greeting Shen Xiuyi before getting into the car.

Shen Xiuyi gave a slight nod and sat in the car reading documents.

If Luo Shiyi had been a bit more observant, she might have noticed Shen Xiuyi's odd demeanor. But she was too absorbed in her own thoughts and didn't pick up on his coldness.

When they arrived at the hospital, Shen Xiuyi got out of the car first, with Luo Shiyi quickly following.

Just as they were about to enter the hospital, a loud honk drew their attention. Looking back, they saw a flashy red sports car speeding towards them and screeching to a halt. The window rolled down, revealing Shen Xiuwen's charming face.

His peach blossom eyes surveyed Luo Shiyi from head to toe, a flirtatious smile on his lips. "Young niece, how inconsiderate of you to go see Grandpa without waiting for me."

Luo Shiyi calmly looked at him. "Didn't you already come on your own?"

"Oh, listen to you."

Shen Xiuwen spoke to Luo Shiyi while comforting a voluptuous woman beside him, kissing her cheek and whispering in her ear.

The golden-haired beauty gave him a coquettish look and reluctantly agreed.

Shen Xiuwen got out of the car and blew a kiss to the woman. "Bye, sweetheart. See you tonight."

"You're so annoying~" Her voice faded as her figure disappeared from view.

Shen Xiuwen finally tore his gaze away and strolled over to them, hands in his pockets. "Let's go see Grandpa."

Luo Shiyi was speechless at his playboy antics, glancing at Shen Xiuyi and wondering how the two brothers could be so different.

As Shen Xiuwen approached Luo Shiyi, he reached out to put his arm around her shoulders. But before he could make contact, Shen Xiuyi grabbed his wrist. The two men locked eyes.

For a moment, sparks flew. Luo Shiyi, standing between them, felt the pressure mount.

Soon after, Shen Xiuwen chuckled, his tone casual yet laced with coldness. "Young niece, you're quite the charmer. In just a few days, you've become your Fourth Uncle's treasure. Now Third Uncle can't even touch you."

Shen Xiuyi released Shen Xiuwen's wrist and pulled Luo Shiyi closer to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Since you know, don't touch her carelessly."

Pulled into Shen Xiuyi's chest, Luo Shiyi felt the firmness of his body and inadvertently recalled the sight she had seen before.

*His physique is pretty good too.*

*Wait, what am I thinking?!*

Luo Shiyi quickly shook off those inappropriate thoughts. Being caught between these two, she was likely to become collateral damage.

Indeed, Shen Xiuwen's gaze deepened, his smile growing more enigmatic. "It's the first time I've seen you so protective of a young girl."

"Young niece, you've really impressed Third Uncle."

Hearing Shen Xiuwen's suggestive words, Luo Shiyi remained unruffled. She wagered that Shen Xiuwen wouldn't dare expose her identity, especially now that they were about to meet the patriarch.

So she opted to play dumb, blinking innocently and looking genuinely troubled. "Third Uncle, don't you like me?" She added a hurt expression, which only made Shen Xiuwen clench his fists.

"Fourth Master, it's time to go in."

Someone came to inform them, breaking the tense atmosphere. Shen Xiuwen clicked his tongue. "It hasn't been long, and Grandpa's already impatient."

"Young niece, it seems Grandpa really likes you. You'll have to put on a good show later."

Luo Shiyi knew what he meant but chose to act clueless. "I'm also eager to see Grandpa."

"Grandpa will be very happy to know you're so well-behaved and obedient."

After saying this, Shen Xiuwen walked into the hospital ahead of Shen Xiuyi and Luo Shiyi.

Luo Shiyi and Shen Xiuyi followed at a leisurely pace.

The group stopped outside a VIP ward. Someone knocked on the door, and after a moment, a deep, elderly voice came from inside.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Luo Shiyi followed Shen Xiuyi and Shen Xiuwen into the room.

The VIP ward was spacious and well-equipped. The patriarch, dressed in a hospital gown, lay in bed. He turned to look at them, his gaze pausing when it fell on Luo Shiyi's face. "Jiayi."

Luo Shiyi met the patriarch's gaze, initially unsure how to convince him she was Shen Jiayi. But the patriarch seemed to have accepted her as Jiayi from the moment he saw her.

"Grandpa?"

So, under everyone's watchful eyes, Luo Shiyi tentatively spoke.

The moment she did, the elderly man's eyes welled up, and he reached out to her, gesturing for her to come closer.

Luo Shiyi approached the patriarch. "Grandpa."

Luo Shiyi felt a strange yet familiar warmth toward the patriarch. Having left her parents at a young age and grown up among rough companions, she rarely experienced the affection of being doted on as a grandchild. But with the patriarch, she felt that long-missing emotion.

Unconsciously, she felt a genuine connection with the patriarch.

"Good child, you've suffered so much outside."

The patriarch held Luo Shiyi's hand, his loving gaze examining her as if trying to imprint her face in his memory.

"Indeed, I was heartbroken when I found your niece," Shen Xiuwen chimed in, striking a pose of someone seeking credit.

"We owe you this time."

The patriarch's gaze softened as he nodded at Shen Xiuwen.

"Dad, it's my duty," Shen Xiuwen said, shedding his playboy demeanor in front of the patriarch.

His well-behaved and charming act made Luo Shiyi glance at him repeatedly. *No wonder Shen Xiuwen is so popular with women—he's got a silver tongue.*

Shen Xiuwen continued to speak, making the patriarch laugh heartily. Meanwhile, Shen Xiuyi, who had been silent since entering, stood to the side, completely ignored by the patriarch.

Luo Shiyi sighed inwardly, thinking that Shen Xiuyi was truly out of favor with the patriarch.

If Shen Xiuwen was this smooth-talking and adept at flattery, what if the patriarch really left all the inheritance to him?