Now it was her turn to shield him from the storm. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Shen You’an held his hand, sensing the gradual tremor beneath the teenager’s calm exterior.

She whispered gently, "Don’t be afraid, I’m here."

Thus, amid the impending tempest, his tension was easily soothed.

Madam Gu’s birthday banquet was bustling with cheer. She sat happily in the main seat, waiting for each of the younger generation to come forward and wish her well. Madam Gu loved young people the most, watching one stylish girl after another, grinning from ear to ear.

The eyes of these girls were not on her, the birthday star, but all turned toward the teenager standing beside her.

"Grandmother, this is my cousin, Lin Xiaoxiao. It’s the child’s first time experiencing such a grand event, she’s a bit nervous. Please forgive her."

Gu Suqiu pulled Lin Xiaoxiao forward.

Madam Gu said to Lin Xiaoxiao, "Raise your head."

Lin Xiaoxiao slowly lifted her face, delicate and charming, with a pair of large, clear black eyes, despite a hint of avoidance, as clean as an untouched mountain stream.

Madam Gu smiled and nodded, "A good child, teach her well."

Lin Xiaoxiao’s doe-like eyes secretly glanced at Gu Bichen, the teenager refined as jade, watching steadily ahead, she was momentarily transfixed.

She wasn’t dumb at all, aware of her cousin’s intentions.

If it were this teenager... Lin Xiaoxiao lowered her head, her cheeks turning rosy.

"Xiaoxiao will soon be transferring to De Ren Middle School, and when she becomes classmates with Bichen, I hope Bichen will take care of her."

Gu Bichen replied politely, "I will take care of Cousin Lin if the opportunity arises."

Cousin Lin, listen to how distant that address sounds.

And the subtlety in those words—only if there’s a chance to take care—what if there’s no chance?

Just an evasive excuse.

Chen Feng walked over with a smile, "Miss Shen is here, and she has brought a friend."

Madam Gu, previously calm, instantly brightened upon hearing Miss Shen’s name, surprise vividly on her face.

"An’an is here."

And even the normally stern-faced teenager visibly revealed a smile, an unhidden joy of seeing his beloved.

Gu Suqiu narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling an unease within.

Gu Yonghe quietly moved beside Gu Suqiu and whispered, "This Miss Shen... Could she be Shen You’an?"

Shen You’an entered gracefully in a pale blue traditional gown; ethereal, she moved with elegance.

Today, Shen You’an wore glasses, her overwhelming beauty from the award ceremony yesterday replaced by a cool scholarly air like a lotus after summer rains, evoking a freshness and natural beauty in every smile.

Such unadorned beauty was unmatched by the gaudy charms present.

A young man followed her, with a tall and graceful figure, striking in his handsomeness even from afar, far surpassing Gu Bichen.

The scene of the young pair walking side by side, each exuding an unattainable elegance, inevitably drawing admiration of how perfectly matched they were.

As the boy approached and his face became clear, the crowd erupted in exclamations.

It was Rong Xianning.

Rong Xianning, the top celebrity in the entertainment industry who lands on hot searches with every move!

Yesterday, he was together with Shen You’an receiving awards, their dominance on the hot searches still fresh in minds.

Are they now inseparable, taking each other around everywhere? Isn’t it a bit overboard? The old lady’s birthday celebration isn’t a PR stunt for these entertainment industry stars.

Some quickly took out phones to secretly record and photograph.

These two are so popular; every move posted online attracts massive followings. Not jumping on such enormous traffic would be foolish.

Gu Bichen, seeing Rong Xianning following Shen You’an, frowned unobtrusively, his cold gaze brushing across the boy’s face.

Gu Bichen curled his lips, "Ha, inviting humiliation."

Shen You’an stepped forward with a smile, "Grandmother, I’m here to wish you a long life, happiness, good health, and a harmonious family full of joy."

With those words, she presented the birthday gift with a smile.

Chen Feng took the gift, a small box made of purple sandalwood, very light in hand.

But Chen Feng knew this gift must be valuable.

Gu Suqiu smiled and asked, "What gift has Miss Shen brought? Let’s all have a look."

Madam Gu cast a faint glance at Gu Suqiu.

Shen You’an nodded slightly to Chen Feng with a smile.

Only then did Chen Feng open the wooden box; inside was a small, brown pill, the size of a fingernail.

Gu Suqiu scoffed, "I thought it was some elixir, a chocolate bean packed so exquisitely?"

The crowd began to murmur, thinking it indeed was somewhat inadequate for a birthday gift, considering all the good things Madam Gu had seen, after all from insignificant places.

Shen You’an raised her eyebrows.

"You ignorant fools," a sharp cold voice drowned the whispers, as a young girl stepped out from the crowd.

Leng Xingshuang’s cold gaze passed over everyone and finally landed on Gu Suqiu’s face, "This is the Nine Revitalizing Soul Pill, refined by my grandfather over forty-nine days, using the Leng family’s treasured collections over generations. Even taken in the Yama Hall, it could return someone from the Underworld. My grandfather refined only five, of immeasurable value, and this pill is one of them."

Gu Suqiu was pointed at and scolded by a young girl, her face indeed turned quite unpleasant.

The crowd gasped, "Is this really the legendary Nine Revitalizing Soul Pill? How much did Miss Shen pay to get it from the Leng family?"

Leng Xingshuang’s gaze swept over the speaker, finally falling on Shen You’an, "It isn’t for sale at any price, Miss Shen must have acquired it through Amos’ favor?"

Such a resemblance to Amos, Leng Xingshuang was momentarily bewildered.

Shen You’an’s silence seemed like acquiescence.

Rumors had it that Shen You’an is related to Amos, who is as wealthy as a nation; obtaining such a pill from the Leng family shouldn’t be difficult.

But Shen You’an was generous enough to present such a precious pill to Madam Gu as a birthday gift.

Madam Gu said in astonishment, "This is too precious, I can’t accept it."