Volume One, Chapter 9: Brother, Who Are You Participating in the Dating Show For?
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Wen Zhi was momentarily stunned as she read the message, her confusion deepening. Did liking someone really matter that much? Had she missed some hidden meaning in his words? Was he truly supporting her participation in a dating show and her romantic endeavors just like that? Had she said something inappropriate to him last night?
Unable to make sense of it, Wen Zhi replied again: “Why are you buying clothes for me?”
This time, Shen Nianchi didn’t respond immediately. About five minutes later, he called her.
Wen Zhi hesitated briefly before answering, “Hello?”
“Ahem... Shengsheng...” The man’s cool, detached voice came through, and Wen Zhi heard a faint cough.
“You’re...”
Before she could finish, he interrupted, “I haven’t bought you anything in four years. These all looked suitable, so I thought I’d get them for you.”
“...”
Was that all the explanation? Perhaps she had overthought it.
Wen Zhi paused for a second before regaining her composure, a slight headache creeping in. “Even so, don’t buy so many. It’s a waste of money...”
After a moment, she recalled something. “Last night in the bar restroom, did you run into anyone?”
Shen Nianchi was silent for a moment on the other end. “Did I? I don’t remember.”
“...”
Was he playing dumb with her?
Wen Zhi was taken aback, feeling inexplicably annoyed.
“Mm.”
She didn’t press further, simply replied, “What about the clothes? Can they be returned?”
Looking at the colorful little dresses, her feelings were mixed—joy and sadness entwined.
“They can’t be returned.”
Wen Zhi sighed helplessly. “Alright, I understand.”
Just as she was about to hang up, Shen Nianchi asked, “Do you have a headache?”
“Not really, it’s not too bad.”
“Mm.”
Wen Zhi thought for a moment, gathering her words carefully before tentatively asking, “Brother, are you doing the dating show for someone?”
“Yes...” Shen Nianchi’s answer was swift. Wen Zhi was surprised; she had thought he would hesitate.
For whom, then?
It seemed he truly had someone he liked.
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Curiosity stirred within her, but a sharp pang in her heart stopped her from asking more.
The words “for you” from Shen Nianchi caught in her throat, left unspoken. After a long pause, he finally said, “I’ll hang up now. Get some rest, and don’t drink anymore.”
“...Okay.”
As Wen Zhi was about to end the call, she added, “Brother, thank you. I really like the little dresses!”
“As long as you like them.”
Upon hearing this, a faint smile flickered across Shen Nianchi’s usually cold face.
He wanted to say more, but Wen Zhi had already hung up.
Shen Nianchi stared at his phone, sighing in resignation.
He rubbed his forehead hard. “In a few days, we’ll see Director Qin’s work.”
Qin Yi, sitting opposite him, nodded firmly.
After hanging up, Wen Zhi felt she might have asked too many questions.
She and Shen Nianchi were only half-siblings, sharing neither father nor mother. They weren’t truly related. She had insisted on drawing clear boundaries; why was she so eager to know so much?
Taking a deep breath, Wen Zhi tried to calm herself.
She sat on the sofa and picked up the business card Lin Daijiao had given her, reading the name ‘Anima Allure.’
Wen Zhi paused. Translated into Chinese, it meant “Soul Temptation.”
Anima Allure was a high-end custom luxury brand. The money Shen Nianchi spent on these clothes could support her for half a lifetime. Even the earnings from her manga “Hidden Heartbeats” probably wouldn’t buy anything like this.
Looking at the little dresses, her eyes grew moist.
This was the first time in four years that Shen Nianchi had given her anything.
Since it was from her brother, perhaps she should return the favor as a sister... But just now, he had been telling her not to overthink—they were nothing more than siblings.
Wiping her eyes, she put away the card and returned to her room to try on the dresses.
They all fit perfectly, the sizes exactly right.
In the end, she chose a simple, elegant white short dress that suited her age.
After changing, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, momentarily dazed.
The girl in the mirror was beautiful—fair-skinned and well-proportioned.
Blinking, Wen Zhi suddenly thought of Shen Nianchi.
What would he think if he saw her in this dress?
Pah! Wen Zhi, what are you imagining? He already liked someone else among the guests, and you were just his half-sister with no blood ties. You had no right to daydream like this.
Shaking her head, she took off the dress. After tidying up, she left the room.
Just as she reached the stairs, she heard a knock at the door.
Who could it be?
Wen Zhi was surprised. She hurried to the door and opened it, but no one was there.
On the doormat lay a letter.
She froze for a moment, then picked it up.
Opening it, she found photos of her and Shen Nianchi last night in the bar parking lot.
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She looked around; nobody was there.
Momentarily stunned, her grip on the letter tightened as if a firecracker had ignited inside her, exploding in a burst of emotions.
Was this paparazzo just waiting to catch them together?
Was this a demand for money?
She rubbed her temples, struggling to suppress her feelings, then turned and closed the door.
Back on the sofa, Wen Zhi sat down, her head aching.
Now it was settled—if they didn’t clarify things, their relationship would be assumed as a romance.
Fortunately, the photos didn’t clearly show her face.
She reached for her phone, hesitated, then put it down, her thoughts in turmoil.
How to handle this problem...
If she messaged Shen Nianchi and offered money, that would be admitting to a relationship.
But if she refused to pay, the public would remain suspicious.
No, she had to find a solution everyone could accept.
Wen Zhi stared at the photos inside the letter, feeling deeply troubled.
“Ding~”
At that moment, a WeChat verification message arrived.
Wen Zhi took her phone and saw it was from Lin Daijiao. Without much thought, she opened it.
The next second, a message came through.
“Miss Wen, have you tried on the clothes?”
I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.