"You little brat. Don't let it happen again."
Since even Shen Yannian had spoken up for the little punk, he couldn't keep harping on it.
Only after Su Cimu saw his parents and eldest brother leave did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"That scared me to death. I almost thought I wouldn't escape the family discipline tonight." Su Cimu patted his chest, still a little shaken.
"My father-in-law dotes on you so much. Could he really bear to punish you?"
"Doting on me is one thing, and family discipline is another. That was eight hundred million, after all, not eight million."
Su Cimu pouted, feeling that Shen Yannian really didn't understand his father. When his father got angry, even a troublemaker like Young Master Su had to be wary.
Hearing that, Shen Yannian couldn't help smiling.
"Why did you give my father such expensive calligraphy and paintings? Anything would have done."
"How would that do? If I'd really given him just anything today, your eldest brother and sister-in-law would've mocked me. Luckily, I picked something priceless, or I would've lost all face."
Su Cimu gave Shen Yannian an indignant look as he spoke, feeling that Shen Yannian didn't understand these undercurrents at all.
"Don't worry. My eldest brother and sister-in-law are all talk and have little actual ability. You don't need to be wary of them. If they really dare do anything to you, I won't sit by and watch."
"Please. Even without your help, I could roast them until they had nowhere to hide, okay? I don't need your protection."
Su Cimu looked disdainful. He had raised hell all over the capital without ever causing any real trouble. Even if he did cause trouble, he and the Su Family could settle it themselves. There would be no need for Shen Yannian to step in.
Still, Shen Yannian's influence in the capital was not to be underestimated either. After their engagement, others would be more wary of Su Cimu on Shen Yannian's account.
"Yes, sweetheart, you're so capable you don't need my protection at all. Then could I ask you to protect me from now on?"
Shen Yannian chuckled softly and gently took Su Cimu's hand.
Shen Yannian's teasing tone left Su Cimu thoroughly embarrassed, but he still forced himself to remain composed.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm around, I won't let outsiders bully you!"
Shen Yannian didn't need anyone to protect him, but hearing Su Cimu say that made him very happy.
That night, Su Cimu naturally stayed at the Shen Residence.
The moment they entered the bedroom, Shen Yannian pinned Su Cimu down.
"You're trying to get handsy again!"
Su Cimu's eyes widened in accusation.
"Sweetheart, I stood up for you so much in front of my father-in-law tonight. Shouldn't you give me a little reward?"
"As my fiancé, isn't protecting me your duty? And you're asking me for a reward? Are you even a man?"
"Baby, you should know better than anyone whether I'm a man. But you're right. Protecting you is what I should do. Since you won't give me a reward, I'll give you one instead."
"What are you try-mmph-"
Ignoring whatever Su Cimu was trying to say, Shen Yannian sealed his mouth, solving the problem at its source.
Shen Yannian exercised an entire week's worth of rights in a single night, leaving Su Cimu complaining endlessly. Now all he hoped was that school would start soon. Once he moved into the dorm, Shen Yannian wouldn't be able to catch him and do this and that to him.
He might still be young, but even he couldn't withstand that old beast Shen Yannian having his way with him day and night!
The next day, Shen Yannian went downstairs for breakfast looking refreshed.
"Why didn't Xiao Ci come down with you?"
Seeing Shen Yannian come downstairs alone, Shen Chuannan asked.
"Xiao Ci is young and still growing, so he needs more sleep. Please be understanding."
Shen Yannian smiled dotingly. Seeing the soup dumplings Su Cimu liked among the breakfast dishes, he claimed the whole lot, preparing to take them upstairs for him.
"Xiao Ci is much younger than you. Since you're already engaged, treat him well. No one in our Shen Family has ever seduced someone only to abandon them. Do you understand?"
Shen Chuannan admonished him. Shen Yannian looked at Shen Chuannan with amusement and asked,
"Father, if I remember correctly, you didn't like Xiao Ci before. Did you change your opinion of him just because he gave you expensive calligraphy and paintings?"
"Hmph. Do you think an old man like me really cares that much about those two pieces? The Su Family conducted themselves with composure yesterday. They're reliable in-laws. Besides, Xiao Ci's temperament is a little like your mother's. Someone like your mother couldn't be too bad."
Shen Chuannan spoke irritably. As the head of the Shen Family's older generation, what calligraphy or painting couldn't he get? Though the two pieces the Su Family had given him were indeed rare, there were other, even better works waiting for him to collect. He didn't lack those two.
Hearing Shen Chuannan's words, Shen Yannian raised his eyebrows in understanding. "Got it."
With that, Shen Yannian carried the entire plate of soup dumplings upstairs, leaving none for them.
Su Cimu was already awake. He had spent ages struggling in bed with his eyes open without managing to get up, and he was full of resentment.
Only when he saw Shen Yannian bring breakfast in for him did his expression soften somewhat.
"What's for breakfast? I'm starving..."