Chapter 33: Temptation

Ren Yue really liked watching the little fish in streams. She often sent Su Mi photos of them.

But she didn’t keep any herself. Su Mi guessed that she probably wanted to, but her mother didn’t allow it, so she had no choice.

Su Mi leaned in curiously. “Even such a small stream has fish?”

Ren Yue nodded and pointed them out, her voice soft and light as she praised, “Even in such a tiny stream, they can swim so fast. Pretty amazing.”

Su Mi said, “It really is!”

Xu Nanqiao also leaned in to take a look.

Back on the day Su Mi was taken away by Shen Han, Xu Nanqiao had been called over to the stream by Li Zhao.

Although Ren Yue hadn’t been hurt when she was pulled into the stream by Su Mi, she’d ended up on the bottom and was completely soaked, her white dress drenched through.

Just as Shen Han had said, Li Zhao—a lone Alpha—didn’t feel it was appropriate to handle things alone. After driving off the students present, she’d urgently called Xu Nanqiao over.

Xu Nanqiao accompanied Ren Yue back to the campsite and helped her change into a dry set of clothes.

She’d even invited Ren Yue to move her tent over to their spot so they could hang out together.

But Ren Yue, probably still rattled, had looked dazed and distracted. After hesitating for a bit, she declined the offer.

Later, when Su Mi chatted with her and asked about what happened that day, Ren Yue’s tone was totally normal, like she didn’t mind it at all.

Now, the three of them crouched side by side by the stream, watching the little fish dart through the water.

A familiar voice called from behind them, Li Zhao’s tone teasing: “Well, well, three little radishes.”

The three girls turned around.

Li Zhao was wearing a minimalist black strapless dress, cut into a deep V neckline. A simple diamond necklace rested on her collarbone—luxurious, yet still matching her own bold style.

Seeing the girls stand up, Li Zhao asked with interest, “What were you looking at?”

Xu Nanqiao answered graciously, explaining that they were watching the little fish in the stream with Ren Yue.

Li Zhao chuckled. “Interesting. Looks like Miss Ren has an eye for natural beauty.”

Ren Yue didn’t say anything but subtly edged closer to Su Mi.

Li Zhao didn’t mind. She pointed in a direction and said, “On the way here, I think I saw Mrs. Zhang looking for you. Shouldn’t you go?”

Ren Yue flinched slightly, like a rabbit caught with its tail stepped on.

She gave Su Mi and Xu Nanqiao an apologetic smile and said, “My mom’s looking for me—I’ll head over now.”

With that, she lifted the hem of her dress and hurried off in the direction Li Zhao had pointed.

Along the way, she nearly bumped into a server carrying a tray.

Su Mi watched her rush off, disappearing into the shadows of the bamboo grove, and asked curiously, “Dr. Li, you know her mom too?”

“Her mom?” Su Mi asked.

Li Zhao blinked and replied, “Of course—she’s a well-known figure. Have you met her?”

Su Mi said, “I saw her at the last parent-teacher meeting.”

Li Zhao looked intrigued. “She came looking for you specifically?”

Su Mi hesitated for a second before replying, “Not exactly. My sister was also there at that meeting.”

Li Zhao leaned in, eyes wide. “Shen Han attended the parent-teacher conference for you?”

Even Xu Nanqiao looked surprised. “I thought Shen Zong came that day because of something to do with the school.”

Su Mi: “…”

She knew this would happen if she brought it up.

Feeling a little awkward, she scratched the side of her face and said, “Maybe she did have school business too… Anyway, we just happened to cross paths. That was also the first day I met Ren Yue. That Mrs. Zhang even asked Shen Han for her contact information…”

Li Zhao clicked her tongue knowingly. “Knew it. That Mrs. Zhang went all the way to Capital City—she was definitely up to something.”

Su Mi grew curious. “Does she have some sort of background?”

Li Zhao smiled. “What kind of background could she have? Just someone in Guan City who’s especially good at keeping Shen Han’s grandmother ¹ happy… Oh, look over there—they’ve come out.”

Su Mi followed her gaze.

At the entrance of a pavilion, beneath a centuries-old osmanthus tree, a few people were walking out.

At the front was an older woman wearing an elegant dark green silk top and a black mamian skirt. Her silver hair was neatly coiled up and adorned with luxurious hairpins. She looked dignified and kind.

Beside her, Shen Han—for once—was wearing a fitted qipao, white with delicate ink-brush style patterns. It hugged her figure, highlighting her stunning silhouette.

Her long hair was pinned up with a wooden hairpin, and she wore a few jade accessories. She stood off to the side, looking cool and distant.

As soon as they appeared, even from a distance, Su Mi and the others could clearly see the wealthy guests scattered across the garden beginning to move toward that direction.

Someone had already reached the pavilion and was greeting the old lady with a warm smile, striking up a conversation.

Amidst the crowd, a familiar figure appeared—Ren Yue followed behind a middle-aged couple. The woman in front was presumably Mrs. Zhang, and the older man beside her must be Ren Yue’s father.

Li Zhao leaned down beside Su Mi, speaking with a grin: “Look, there they go. Is this your first time seeing Old Madam Shen²?”

Her warm breath tickled Su Mi’s ear, and Su Mi instinctively shifted closer to Xu Nanqiao.

But she still wanted to hear some Shen family gossip, so she pressed her lips together and said, “I’m watching.”

Their vantage point was pretty good—upstream from the creek, slightly elevated—so they had a clear view of the scene in front of the pavilion.

They saw the Ren family approach, and as soon as Shen Han’s grandmother spotted Mrs. Zhang, her face lit up with a smile and she beckoned them over.

The people nearby made way, and the Ren family stepped up. They exchanged polite and cheerful conversation for a while. The old lady even took Ren Yue’s hand and patted it, looking quite pleased.

Then she turned and said something to Shen Han.

Ren Yue, now the center of attention, looked a little shy. After the old lady spoke a few words, Ren Yue reached out her hand, seemingly to shake Shen Han’s.

Li Zhao let out a quiet snicker.

She pointed from afar. “Look at Shen Han’s face.”

Xu Nanqiao was also curious: “Is this what a matchmaking meeting looks like?”

If it had only been Li Zhao talking, Su Mi could’ve brushed it off. But Xu Nanqiao couldn’t be allowed to misunderstand.

Su Mi immediately clarified: “My sister’s not interested in her. Last time Mrs. Zhang asked them to exchange contact info, my sister refused.”

Xu Nanqiao didn’t respond right away, but Li Zhao laughed again.

She teased, “But what about her sister? Didn’t she add her contact info?”

Su Mi: “……”

Can you not talk?

She scooted a little closer to Xu Nanqiao, trying to put more distance between herself and the ever-chatty Li Zhao.

At that moment, they saw that Ren Yue had been holding out her hand for a while, but Shen Han hadn’t moved at all.

Her expression was as cold as ice. She glanced at her lightbrain, said something briefly to Old Madam Shen, and then turned and walked away.

Her figure disappeared behind the thick osmanthus branches.

The group fell silent: “……”

Su Mi felt a little weird.

She knew that Shen Han’s status meant she didn’t need to be polite to anyone—but was it really necessary to be this cold to Ren Yue?

She thought of how Ren Yue had once called her “Little Crane Sister,” and said they used to play together when they were young.

Paired with Shen Han’s utterly indifferent behavior, that description now felt… off.

Maybe she was just annoyed with Mrs. Zhang trying to turn this into a matchmaking setup.

Su Mi instinctively reached up to scratch her cheek but remembered she had makeup on, so she lowered her hand again.

With the show over, they walked toward a nearby round table with drinks.

Li Zhao picked up a glass of champagne and smacked her lips. “She really doesn’t hold back. Impressive.”

As they chatted, Su Mi’s lightbrain suddenly vibrated.

She glanced down—Shen Han had sent her a message.

Shen Han: Where are you? If you’re free, come to Shuxue Pavilion.

Shuxue Pavilion?

Su Mi looked around and didn’t spot it, so she asked Li Zhao, “Where’s Shuxue Pavilion?”

Li Zhao took a sip of wine and pointed. “That one over there.”

It was the pavilion where Shen Han and Old Madam Shen had just been standing.

By now, the old lady was no longer outside.

Su Mi was confused but told the others that Shen Han had asked to see her, then made her way over.

The doors to Shuxue Pavilion were half-closed. Su Mi looked around—no other guests were nearby.

She gathered her courage and pushed the door open. A rustic scent of aged wood greeted her.

Inside, the floor was carpeted thickly. A hand-embroidered landscape screen stood just ahead. Walking around it, she entered a quiet room on the first floor.

A woman in a qipao stood inside. When she saw Su Mi, she didn’t seem surprised. Bowing respectfully, she said, “Miss Su, Miss Shen is waiting for you in the private room.”

Miss Shen.

Su Mi silently mulled over the title. Somehow, it made Shen Han feel… like her equal.

The qipao-clad attendant guided her to a nearby private room.

Beyond the second screen, a long dark green sofa lined one wall.

Shen Han was seated leisurely on one end of it, legs together beneath her white qipao, holding a teacup with her eyes half-lowered.

Elegant and poised, framed by velvet green and soft lamplight—Shen Han looked serene and distant, like a brush-painted beauty come to life.

The Shen family’s matriarch, whom Su Mi had seen earlier, was seated in the main chair in the center, holding a string of prayer beads in her hand, eyes closed in repose. A few other women in qipao stood respectfully beside her.

Shen Han led Su Mi up to her and bowed slightly. “Grandmother, this is Su Mi.”

Old Madam Shen opened her eyes and looked Su Mi over kindly. “Such a pretty girl… Are you the daughter of that Su Ciyu girl?”

Su Mi bowed slightly and replied politely, “Yes, Su Ciyu is my mother.”

The matriarch nodded with a warm smile. “I’m not often in the capital. It’s nice to have someone to keep you company. Come closer, Su Mi, let me have a look.”

Su Mi took a few small steps forward and was pulled down into a seat beside her.

The matriarch held her hand. Unlike her smooth, barely wrinkled face that didn’t show her age aside from the white hair, her hands were dry and rough—almost scratchy.

She rubbed Su Mi’s hand and gently patted it as she spoke. “You must go to Nan Yuan often? Your mother used to visit all the time back in the day. She loved the swing in the back, and that fountain on the east side of the garden—every time I looked down from upstairs, I’d see her reading there. She studied so hard… How are your studies?”

Su Mi hadn’t heard these stories about her mother before—probably from the time when her mom was close friends with Shen Han’s mother.

But notably, Old Madam Shen only mentioned Su Ciyu in her recollections.

Su Mi blanked for a second, then answered, “They’re okay.”

Shen Han, sitting beside her, added, “She just finished her university entrance exams—she’ll likely attend Capital University.”

Old Madam Shen raised an eyebrow. “Why not St. Cross Academy? All Shen family members study there. We don’t know much about Capital University. What if your little sister gets bullied?”

Shen Han replied calmly, “The first donation has already been made. The board appointment and follow-on agreements should be finalized next month.”

Only then did the matriarch look satisfied. She smiled at Su Mi. “That’s better. Since you’re Xiao He’s god-sister, that makes you one of us Shen family. It’s her fault for not telling me about you earlier. I wasn’t prepared for a gift this time since I returned to the capital in such a rush.”

She released Su Mi’s hand, removed a jade bangle from her wrist, compared it to Su Mi’s hand, and put it on her without hesitation.

“This will do for now. I don’t know what young people like these days—next time I’ll prepare something better.”

The jade bracelet on her wrist was translucent and clearly very expensive.

Su Mi instinctively wanted to decline. But when she looked up, she saw Shen Han giving her a slight nod.

So she pressed her lips together and obediently said thank you.

The matriarch seemed tired again. After a few more comments about her memories of Su Ciyu, she pressed her temples and gave a quiet sigh, then signaled to the attendants to see them out.

Su Mi held the handrail as she followed Shen Han down the stairs.

Of course, she didn’t attribute Shen Han’s connection to Capital University to herself. After all, she only planned to attend the university so she could look after Xu Nanqiao on Shen Han’s behalf.

Even though in the original plot, the original Su Mi never managed to protect the heroine—once she entered university, the heroine gradually broke free of the antagonist’s influence, just as expected.

Still, the bracelet…

Su Mi felt a bit undeserving of it.

When they reached the first floor and were nearly out of the pavilion, Su Mi caught up to Shen Han.

She raised her wrist and gave the bracelet a little shake. “Am I really allowed to accept this?”

Shen Han glanced over and said, “Looks good on you.”

Su Mi: …

She stared blankly for a moment, then snapped back to reality. “…I meant, am I allowed to keep it?”

Shen Han clearly didn’t care much about the bracelet. She raised an eyebrow. “Want to go upstairs and return it, then?”

Su Mi: “…Okay, fine.”

As they stepped outside, a breeze swept through. The osmanthus tree by the door shed a few pale-yellow petals. Su Mi squinted against the wind and ran a couple of steps to avoid them.

Her dress today was cute and short, but the antique, luxurious jade bangle on her wrist didn’t match the style at all.

She held up her arm, looking at it with a conflicted expression. It felt like “flashy wealth” in a bad way.

Shen Han followed behind her and asked, “Going to find Xu Nanqiao?”

Su Mi hummed in response. “Sister, are you coming too?”

Shen Han gave a small smile. “Not right now. I still have a few things to deal with. If you need anything, just come find me.”

She turned to leave, then paused, stepping in front of Su Mi again.

Su Mi looked up in confusion—just in time to see Shen Han reach out and gently tap her on the top of the head.

In the moment Shen Han stepped closer, all the scents of sandalwood and osmanthus seemed to fade.

Only Shen Han’s unique cool scent brushed across Su Mi’s face and then withdrew.

Su Mi’s thoughts stalled at that touch.

When she looked closely, she realized Shen Han had brushed off two fallen osmanthus petals from her hair.

The cross-shaped pale-yellow osmanthus petals were pinched between Shen Han’s fingers. She lowered her eyes, glanced at them, then released them into the wind.

“You go on. I’ll come find you a bit later,” Shen Han said.

Su Mi blinked and nodded blankly.

She figured that the “later” Shen Han mentioned was referring to the time they would use to make up for Xu Nanqiao’s birthday celebration.

When she returned to where Li Zhao and Xu Nanqiao had been, the two of them were no longer there.

So Su Mi wandered around the garden on her own.

She sent a message to Xu Nanqiao, who replied saying that there was a more diverse buffet spread in one of the side courtyards, and that she and Li Zhao were there having some food.

Su Mi was about to head over when she was intercepted by Su Ciyu.

Seeing Su Mi wandering around the garden, Su Ciyu assumed she had nothing to do and pulled her along to meet some of her business acquaintances—uncles and aunties she worked with.

—

Su Mi obediently followed Su Ciyu through rounds of introductions. She had smiled so much her face was starting to cramp before she was finally released.

On the side, she casually asked why Su Ciyu hadn’t gone to greet Old Madam Shen.

Su Ciyu was stunned for a second, then said, “I think I’ll pass.”

She probably just saw the Shen family banquet as another business reception. She patted Su Mi’s cheek and added, “Go hang out with your friends. If we’re going home together later, send me a message in advance.”

Su Mi felt like she’d been dragged along on a whim, used for a task, and now casually discarded—like a tool that had served its purpose.

Watching Su Zhiyu walk off with her business smile in place, Su Mi sighed helplessly and headed toward the place Xu Nanqiao had mentioned earlier.

After wandering through several areas, the sky had darkened.

It was probably around eight or nine in the evening. Under the crisscrossing shadows of the trees in the garden, the low garden lamps still glowed brightly. Su Mi walked through the bamboo shadows toward a side gate.

Beyond the round arched gate, the view suddenly opened up—an artificial lake stretched out before her, with a large manmade rock formation in the center. It looked like there was some sort of hidden restaurant inside.

There were many tables and chairs set up along the lakeside. She looked around but didn’t see Xu Nanqiao or the others.

Su Mi lowered her head and sent a message using her light-brain: Where are you guys?

Xu Nanqiao didn’t reply immediately. Just as Su Mi lowered her wrist, a female attendant approached her.

She wore the same qipao uniform as the others in the garden, but she was noticeably more attractive than those Su Mi had seen earlier. Her demeanor was soft and sweet, and she smiled at Su Mi as she asked, “Are you here to dine, guest?”

The attendant was a little shorter than Su Mi, and when Su Mi glanced down, she clearly noticed the woman’s curvy figure.

Was it just her, or were the uniforms tighter now?

Su Mi, always polite to other girls, replied, “I’m not hungry—just looking for a friend.”

The attendant smiled. “We don’t only serve food here. Our beverages are the finest in Shoucheng. Perhaps your friend is enjoying a drink inside. Would you like to go in and take a look?”

Su Mi glanced toward the fake mountain as the woman pointed. Considering Li Zhao’s personality, it did seem possible that she’d taken Xu Nanqiao inside.

She nodded and followed the attendant across a wooden bridge and into the restaurant built within the rock formation.

Inside, she found a spacious two-story venue bustling with patrons. Waitstaff moved about carrying trays of wine and cold appetizers.

The attendant led her upstairs for a look around and then brought her back to the first floor. With a soft, elegant smile, she turned and asked, “Did you see your friend?”

Su Mi shook her head. “No.”

The attendant beamed. “You’re welcome to sit and enjoy a drink. These are specially prepared for today’s Shen family banquet—you won’t find them outside. Shall I find you a seat?”

She was so courteous and attentive that Su Mi, who had a hard time saying no to people, hesitated.

Given that there weren’t any empty seats outside and that her feet were tired after following Su Zhiyu around for so long, she figured she might as well sit and wait.

She agreed, and the attendant led her to a cozy seat near the entrance.

The woman brought over a menu, opened it, and leaned in to introduce the drinks—explaining which were the day’s specials, which were non-alcoholic, and which were sweet.

Perhaps because the attendant was leaning in a bit too close, Su Mi could faintly smell a floral fragrance on her.

Instinctively, she asked, “You smell so nice.”

The attendant paused, slightly surprised by the question. Her fair, pretty face flushed a little as she answered softly, “Guest, that’s because… my perfume and my… my natural scent are the same.”

Su Mi: …?

What?

She stared, confused for a moment, before realizing—

The woman meant her pheromone scent.

The attendant gently tapped a finger on one of the drinks on the menu and shyly said, “If you like this scent, you could try this drink too. It’s sweet and floral.”

Su Mi: …

What is going on??

She inhaled slowly, having originally been stuck in indecision over the menu. But now, suddenly, she had no trouble picking.

She quickly pointed to a citrus-flavored drink far away from that section. “I’ll have this one.”

The attendant smiled and bowed. “I’ll prepare it right away.”

Su Mi watched as she walked back to the bar and returned shortly after, pushing a small cart loaded with various bottles and drink-mixing tools.

Right in front of her, the attendant began making the drink. Though it wasn’t a cocktail, her technique and flair resembled bartending, complete with some bottle-spinning tricks.

During the process, she would occasionally glance up at Su Mi with shy, flirtatious eyes.

Su Mi sat there silently, feeling like there’d been a huge misunderstanding.

She decided she would drink this beverage and immediately leave.

After a while, the attendant finally finished. But instead of just placing the drink in front of her, she lifted the glass gracefully, stood up, and walked over to sit beside Su Mi.

She unfastened one of the frog buttons on her qipao, revealing a smooth, pale collarbone. Her body leaned softly toward Su Mi, as if she was about to feed her the drink.

“Guest… here, please enjoy…”

The woman’s breath was warm and fragrant as she leaned in.

Su Mi’s hair practically stood on end.

What is happening!!

She scooted back in a panic, quickly putting some distance between herself and the attendant.

With both hands up in front of her chest defensively, Su Mi said solemnly, “I think you might have misunderstood…”

She snatched the wine glass from the attendant. “I—I’m a Beta… I can drink it myself, thank you.”

The attendant didn’t look offended at all. She simply smiled and said, “Guest, it’s all right. Please, enjoy.”

She stood quietly next to the table and didn’t move any further.

Only then did Su Mi finally breathe a sigh of relief. Holding the glass, she didn’t drink it right away. Instead, she lowered her head and quickly sent a message to Xu Nanqiao.

Su Mi: Urgent! Where are you? I can’t stay here any longer QAQ!

Su Mi: If you don’t reply, I’m calling you!

This time, Xu Nanqiao replied quickly.

Xu Nanqiao: What’s wrong, Su Su? Dr. Li and I are in the garage grabbing something.

Xu Nanqiao: We’ll be right back—where are you?

Su Mi let out a long breath, feeling a bit calmer.

Before she could send her location, a shadow suddenly fell over the backrest of her booth seat.

Su Mi turned around—and to her shock, it was Shen Han.

Her arms were folded as she leaned over the back of Su Mi’s seat, eyes lowered. Her pale irises held a cool, distant expression.

As she bent forward, the slender jade earrings hanging from her earlobes swayed slightly—glinting right in front of Su Mi’s eyes.

Su Mi’s first reaction was to look toward the female attendant beside her.

——At some point, she had disappeared.

Shen Han raised her hand. Her slender fingers touched the delicate frog buttons on her qipao, as if she was about to loosen them.

Su Mi immediately recalled the earlier movements of the female attendant. But even though it was a similar gesture, when the attendant did it, it was laced with obvious implication. When Shen Han did it, however, it came off as distant and detached—carrying only a hint of weary indifference.

Shen Han merely loosened the frog buttons slightly without undoing them. Brow faintly furrowed, she said, “You’re pretty hard to find. What are you doing here?”

Then she looked up and caught sight of the wine glass in Su Mi’s hand. She raised a brow. “A kid trying to drink now?”

The fruity drink in the wine glass really could be mistaken for alcohol at first glance. Su Mi remembered everything that had just happened while it was being made, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly defended herself: “It’s not alcohol.”

Unfortunately, all of Su Mi’s emotions were written plainly across her face.

Shen Han let out a quiet scoff. “Guilty conscience?”

She straightened up and walked around to Su Mi’s side. With a swift, effortless motion, she took the glass from her hand.

“Confiscated,” she said flatly.

---

T/N:
^{1 2} Old Madam Shen/Shen Han’s grandmother – 沈老太太 [Shen lao taitai].  沈 [Shen] – Shen Han’s family name. 老太太 [lao taitai] – A respectful and traditional way to refer to an elderly lady, especially one of high status. It can mean “Madam,” “Matriarch,” or literally “Old Lady,” but in this context, it’s an honorific used within upper-class families to refer to a grandmother or the female elder of the house.