I am not just a tycoon

"Nana, if something happened between me and Liew Menglu, would you mind?"

Shen Yuan said on the phone.

He couldn't keep this a secret forever; it was better to come clean proactively than for Chen Na to hear about it through Hou Qianqian or Liew Menglu.

Of course, no woman would be indifferent to such a matter, but Shen Yuan wanted to hear her true thoughts.

On the other end of the phone, Chen Na was momentarily dazed. Although she had mentally prepared herself, hearing it from Shen Yuan still made her heart feel heavy.

It was quite a while before she said in a muffled voice, "Do you want to hear the truth?"

"Of course."

Shen Yuan replied.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Na tried to calm herself, but she couldn't help feeling heartache. Who would want their loved one to have someone else, especially when that other woman was her close friend?

"I mind, but I know I don't have the right to mind. Give me some time, and I'll try to accept it and slowly adjust my mindset."

Chen Na's voice was choked up, and her words made Shen Yuan feel a twinge of heartache.

"Nana, your place in my heart is irreplaceable; no one can take your spot."

Shen Yuan said earnestly.

"Really?"

Though skeptical, Chen Na still wanted to ask.

"Of course."

"Shen Yuan, you've only ever said this to me, right?"

Chen Na needed to reconfirm.

"Certainly, only you, I've never said it to anyone else."

Shen Yuan replied with certainty,

"Alright then, I'll trust you once more."

With that, Chen Na felt a little better, gently wiping the tears from the corner of her eye, and continued:

"Shen Yuan, I don't ask for much. Just take a day or two each week to have a cup of coffee I've made at the cafe or come by for a meal at home when you have time. That's all I need."

"I'm grateful you told me all this. You could have chosen not to, and I know you did it because you care about me."

As she spoke, her voice began to falter again.

Even though she couldn't have him all to herself, she could at least have a part of him.

This was how Chen Na consoled herself before she said, "Next time something like this happens, you don't have to tell me. I'm afraid it will make me sad again."

Shen Yuan also felt moved. He had anticipated Chen Na's reaction, but it was more intense than he had imagined.

"I'll come over tonight to keep you company, as a way to make amends, okay?"

Shen Yuan said tenderly.

"Is tonight's compensation for real?"

Chen Na caught her breath, wiping away the tears from her eyes.

"Definitely, you know what kind of person I am."

Shen Yuan swore he hadn't had any ulterior motives just now.

Chen Na recalled Shen Yuan's cheesy "lies" and couldn't help but laugh angrily, "Your character... do you even have character?"

"Of course, I do!"

"Alright, you'll see tonight~"

Shen Yuan exchanged a few more endearments with Chen Na, helping her gradually calm down, before instructing her to take time to look at cars and then hanging up the phone.

However, facing Chen Na's heartfelt emotions, Shen Yuan felt a tinge of guilt.

"Damn it, being a scumbag is tough!"

Shen Yuan sighed to himself, wondering how other men who juggle multiple relationships manage to do it.

Before long, Shen Yuan arrived at the bottom of the apartment building. There were two cardboard boxes on the first floor, which seemed to be from Lih Xiao and her group.

So Shen Yuan climbed up to the sixth floor in one breath, the door was open, and Lih Xiao and Lih Meng were preparing to carry a cardboard box downstairs.

The sisters were moving today, so they were dressed in loose casual wear. But even so, it was hard to hide their good figures.

It was hot today, and they had many heavy items to carry, so Lih Xiao's forehead was dotted with fine sweat beads, and her white T-shirt was also damp with sweat, clinging tight to her body and accentuating her full chest and slim waist.

"Shen Yuan, you're here."

Lih Xiao, busy at work, managed a smile upon seeing Shen Yuan.

And Lih Meng, knowing Shen Yuan was there to help with the move, was more pleasant than her usual aloofness, though she did not greet him.

Shen Yuan didn't exchange many pleasantries either, as he was there to help the counselor move. Without further ado, he carried the cardboard boxes downstairs.

Besides boxes, there were also two or three old snakeskin bags.

After several trips, Shen Yuan was also sweating profusely.

And Lih Xiao and Lih Meng weren't idle either. Unable to move the large boxes, they carried things like washbasins, buckets, or some backpacks and small cases, which were relatively easy for them.

A woman's luggage is never light, let alone that of two women. Shen Yuan had to fold down the back seats just to fit all their stuff.

But as a result, only one person could ride in Shen Yuan's car now.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Lih Xiao said to Lih Meng, "Since the landlady's coming over later anyway, you wait to check the house with her. After you give her the keys, just take a cab over."

"Okay."

Lih Meng nodded without any objections, then took a few glances at the large vehicle. She had some understanding of car brands and recognized from the emblem that it was a Land Rover.

Even though she didn't know the specific model, she knew it mustn't be cheap.

Before Shen Yuan arrived, her sister had mentioned that this student's family had become quite well-off, and he was also trading stocks and doing business. So, it seemed that her sister's designer bag was likely genuine.

Considering Shen Yuan's eagerness today, it was a sure bet he was interested in her sister.

Though men are no good, she had no right to stop her sister from chasing her happiness.

But, a teacher-student romance...

Lih Meng shook her head inwardly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the idea.

Shen Yuan sat in the driver's seat, waiting for Lih Xiao to fasten her seatbelt before pressing the gas pedal and heading towards their destination.

The sisters' new rented apartment was in Dongsheng Neighborhood, closer to the International campus. Though an old complex, it required security clearance to enter and had gardens and elevators—the environment and facilities were much nicer than here.

"Don't take it personally, Shen Yuan. My sister is just like that," Lih Xiao explained.

"It's no big deal. I think she's been much friendlier to me than the last couple of times," Shen Yuan replied.

"That's because you helped us move today. She wouldn't dare to show attitude," Lih Xiao said with a laugh, and then continued, "Actually, she wasn't like this at first. She had a boyfriend in college. I've seen his photos; he was quite handsome, looked scholarly with glasses."

"They were deeply in love, and since it was a long-distance relationship, they once argued and didn't meet for Christmas. After mulling it over, Lih Meng went to his campus to apologize, only to see him holding hands with another girl."

"Lih Meng was heartbroken. She wanted to confront them but didn't dare, so she followed them around. From the campus, they went straight to a hotel to book a room—and in the midst of that, the guy still had the audacity to send Lih Meng a festive greeting message."

"After returning, Lih Meng cried in her dorm for days. When I went to see her, her eyes were swollen from crying. That experience pretty much turned her off men completely."

The incident was long past, and Lih Xiao recounted the story calmly.

Although Shen Yuan felt it was like looking in a mirror, he still indignantly said, "What a scumbag. That kind of man is a scourge on society!"

Lih Xiao couldn't help but laugh and lift her beautiful eyes, "You're not like that, are you? I remember how Zhou Wanting dumped you at the school gate."

"Of course not. I should be the most romantic type of man," Shen Yuan said earnestly, then turned his head to ask, "How about you, Lih Xiao? What's your attitude towards men?"

Lih Xiao was slightly startled, unaccustomed to this address since Shen Yuan always called her "Advisor" or "Teacher Lih Xiao," never using her first name by itself.

Lih Xiao unconsciously smoothed her black hair and replied, "Well, I guess I'm neutral. I haven't had the kind of experience my sister had, so I don't have an aversion to men."

"What do you think of me, then?"

At this moment, caught at a red light, Shen Yuan turned to look straight at Lih Xiao.

Huh?

Lih Xiao was taken aback, her heart rate increasing as she tried to process this sudden question, unsure of how to answer.

She admitted to herself that of all the male students she taught, she enjoyed interacting with Shen Yuan the most.

But she wasn't sure if this was the affection of a teacher for her student, or something more between a man and a woman.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Shen Yuan joked with a teasing smile, "Come on, it was just a joke. Why so nervous?"

Lih Xiao let out a relieved sigh. While Shen Yuan was driving, she stole a few glances at him—his distinct profile softened with a faint smile, exuding a certain charm.

Did she like him?

Lih Xiao wasn't sure, but she felt the thought was inappropriate. She was Shen Yuan's teacher, after all!

Yet she felt a twinge of disappointment because Shen Yuan had said it was just a joke...

She was also unsure if Shen Yuan was joking or if he was serious. If it was the latter, she didn't know how to reject him. Just thinking about it tangled her emotions into knots.

Lih Xiao shook her head lightly, breaking away from her inner turmoil to steer the conversation back to the official business:

"Shen Yuan, at the last project group meeting, it was decided that Fu Yingzi from the Youth League's news center will help you screen and evaluate the students applying for investment. She will compile and summarize all the applications received by the Youth League, then hand them over to you."

"Furthermore, an activity classroom has been allocated to you. You can use it as your office in the future. Yingzi has the key and will show you around. I'll send you her WeChat contact later."

"Okay."

Shen Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

He knew Fu Yingzi, the head of the broadcast station at the news center, in the same grade and faculty as him, but not the same major.

In the evenings, he could always hear her voice delivering the news.

The girl's voice could vary tremendously. Rumor had it she also worked part-time as a voice actor, becoming a voice talent.

Such a girl was like a blessing for those who loved voices—Old Cao's ideal type. Every time he heard Fu Yingzi's voice, he would howl in excitement.

.....