Volume One, Chapter 14: The Daughter is the Second Lead in a CEO Romance Novel

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With a final period written, Shen Tingyu completed the last subject of his exam. He carefully reviewed the test paper and answer sheet twice to ensure there were no mistakes. When the announcement over the broadcast informed that half an hour remained for early submission, Shen Tingyu raised his hand to signal the proctor. After receiving the nod, he stood and left the exam room.

He hurried eagerly toward the exit.

“Why don’t you just come by yourself? Why do I have to follow you? It’s not like it’s your college entrance exam. I’m busy, you know. If I were out negotiating deals right now, I wouldn’t even know how much money I’d be making,” Shi Yan said with a tone tinged with impatience and disdain.

“Dad, then why did you just remind me to buy sunflowers?” Jiang Ruoxue mercilessly exposed her stubborn father’s true feelings.

Mr. Shen and Mrs. Shen stood quietly to the side, smiling. Over the years, they had grown accustomed to it. After all, Shi Yan’s coldness toward their son was nothing new.

“Well, at least we’ve been neighbors for so long, and the college entrance exam is a major milestone in life; it’s only right to pay a little attention.”

“This is a gift I prepared for that kid. Could you help me give it to him?” Shi Yan awkwardly pulled a pen from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Ruoxue.

“Dad, you should give it yourself,” Jiang Ruoxue firmly refused.

“Then you give it to him,” Shi Yan said, passing the pen to Mr. Shen.

He absolutely would not hand it over himself; otherwise, the boy would surely take it as an affront.

Shen Tingyu was among the first to leave the exam hall. However, the reporters waiting outside No. 1 High School had been instructed by their editor not to take photos, as the editor’s identity was complicated and forbade any shots.

Though everyone knew that Shen Tingyu’s face would surely attract considerable attention, no one dared to photograph him casually. The same restrictions applied to those candidates related to Mo Ruian—strict orders forbade their photography as well.

“Here,” Jiang Ruoxue handed the flowers to Shen Tingyu.

“Thank you, Ruoxue. These flowers are beautiful,” Shen Tingyu’s ears turned red. He scratched his head awkwardly, unsure of what to say, and tightly embraced the flowers Jiang Ruoxue gave him.

“Son, this is a gift from Uncle Jiang. He’s too shy to give it to you in person, so he asked me to pass it along,” Mr. Shen said, handing the pen to Shen Tingyu.

Shen Tingyu stared at the pen for several moments. “Thank you, Uncle Jiang.”

He gave Shi Yan a bear hug.

“Stay away from me,” Shi Yan said disdainfully, pushing Shen Tingyu’s head away.

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Both families had already booked a restaurant to celebrate Shen Tingyu. They weren’t celebrating anything else—just this crucial step in Shen Tingyu’s life.

When Chen Rui came out, all she could see were the backs of Jiang Ruoxue and Shen Tingyu walking away.

*

“654 points! It’s solid! It’s solid!” Shen Tingyu sat before his computer, nervously refreshing his score. The moment the results appeared, he leapt up in excitement.

Overjoyed, Shen Tingyu hugged Jiang Ruoxue, who was standing beside him.

“Let go! You’re excited, fine, but why hug my daughter?” Shi Yan pried Shen Tingyu’s hands apart.

“All right, his score is stable now. Ruoxue, you don’t have to worry anymore. He did well—it’s a good thing. Dinner’s on me tonight,” Shi Yan said as he walked out.

“Uncle Jiang, I knew you were the best to me!” Shen Tingyu said, rushing up behind Shi Yan and slinging his arm over his shoulder, acting like close brothers.

He was discussing dinner plans with Shi Yan.

At some point, the little sprout who once wasn’t even as tall as Shi Yan had grown to be about the same height, perhaps even a bit taller.

While on a graduation trip with Jiang Ruoxue, Shen Tingyu confessed his feelings to her.

The confession took place in Ireland, a country where divorce was not allowed. Under the witness of both families, Shen Tingyu poured out his heart to Jiang Ruoxue.

“Ruoxue, will you be with me?” He knelt on one knee, holding flowers in his hand.

Shi Yan turned his head away, not even wanting to glance.

He had said he didn’t want to join their trip. Shi Yan had anticipated this—after all, when Shen Tingyu auctioned the diamond, he had sought Shi Yan’s advice.

“Dad?” Jiang Ruoxue looked toward Shi Yan.

Shi Yan waved dismissively, still stubborn. “You do as your heart wishes.”

“After all, this is just a confession. Dating isn’t marriage, and even marriage can be undone.”

Right now, it wasn’t very relevant to the story. Shen Tingyu treated Jiang Ruoxue well, but who could say what the future held?

If Shen Tingyu changed later, Shi Yan believed Jiang Ruoxue would have the courage to leave him. Over the years, the two phrases Shi Yan said most to Jiang Ruoxue were: “I will always be your backing,” and “You must learn to love yourself first; only then can you love others.”

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“Sigh, Old Jiang, I’m not saying this to upset you, but how can you say such gloomy things on an occasion like this?” Mr. Shen wished he could cover Shi Yan’s mouth.

“Old Jiang, I know you’re reluctant to part with Ruoxue. How about this—afterward, let Tingyu marry into your family,” Mrs. Shen suggested.

As long as her future daughter-in-law stayed put, everything could be worked out. After all, the two families were neighbors, just a two-minute walk apart.

“Who wants your son to marry into our family?” Shi Yan rolled his eyes dramatically.

“Old Jiang, that’s not how you say it.”

Shi Yan and Mr. Shen quickly got into a heated argument, but it was just a few words back and forth—old, grown-up grievances.

While Shi Yan and Mr. Shen quarreled fiercely, Jiang Ruoxue took the flowers from Shen Tingyu’s hands and accepted his confession. “I do.”

Twenty-four days after becoming Shen Tingyu’s girlfriend, Jiang Ruoxue flew to an Atlantic coastal country to repay a favor.

Shen Tingyu wanted to see her off, but his school was about to start. As the freshman representative for the Broadcasting and Hosting program, Shen Tingyu had many responsibilities to attend to.

At the airport, the young couple parted ways, each boarding flights to their respective schools.

After a two-hour flight, Shen Tingyu arrived quickly at the capital.

Jiang Ruoxue still had about ten hours of flying ahead.

During their first semester of university, the couple participated in many activities. Whenever Shen Tingyu had free time, he would fly to the UK to visit Jiang Ruoxue.

Though their time together was limited, their feelings grew stronger. Jiang Ruoxue’s branch office also secured a major contract.

“How much longer until you return?” Shen Tingyu was already counting down the days until Jiang Ruoxue’s return.

“If I’d known long-distance love was this painful, I would have gone abroad with you,” Shen Tingyu complained. He hadn’t been able to visit her even once this month.

“Isn’t Hua Guo Media University your dream? We’re both striving for a bright future, aren’t we? I’ll be back soon.”

“Mm, baby, I love you.”