ENCROACHMENT 89-90

Chapter 89: Accompanying in Sleep

After having a meal together, Shen Shuman, in her efforts to maintain her figure, has recently adopted a much lighter diet.

Wei Shi noticed her meticulous and slow eating habits, consuming little, and couldn’t help but add more dishes for her. With a tone as fussy as a mother’s, he nagged, “Eat more, look at how thin you’ve become… It’s not ‘My sash gradually widens but I regret it not, for I waste away for my beloved.’ Have you lost so much weight because you’ve been missing me too much?”

Shameless. She picked up a large piece of sweet and sour ribs from her bowl and stuffed it into her mouth, her lips shining with grease, “You’re overthinking it, my appetite has been really good lately!”

“Is that so~ It seems that the one smitten by love here is only me, a true fool for love…” He sighed deeply.

Shen Shuman lifted her eyes to look at him sitting across from her, noting the slight curl of his lips and the deep affection in his eyes, reflecting her figure, truly resembling a man deeply in love.

Her heart skipped a beat, feeling as if all the romance and beauty in the world paled in comparison to him.

“When you’re not by my side, there are many things I can do alone. But once you appear, there’s only one thing I want to do…” She awkwardly mimicked his cheesy lines, shyly and subtly, “And that’s to be with you.”

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“Ebyv es usw xlyd cu ‘cl okvb xl’?” Elk Fbk vlyple bla ytykd.

Tl rknjle y pvyzj sq casnnszk qsa bla csoz, “Gnnsxrydu xl kd lyvkdt?”

Mbld bl rswale bla byzq y tzypp sq zlxsd oyvla, “Xa kd eakdjkdt?”

Wkdyzzu, bl vswnble bla vldela obkvl byde alpvkdt sd vbl ekdkdt vyczl, zsolakdt bkp hsknl, “Xa, rlabyrp, kd pzllrkdt?”

Gp pssd yp bl qkdkpble prlyjkdt, Fbld Fbwxyd pzyrrle vbl cynj sq bkp byde, nsuzu alcwjkdt, “Vlahlav!” Gzoyup wr vs ds tsse!

Fbl zssjle yaswde lxcyaaypplezu, alzklhle vbyv ds sdl ryke yvvldvksd vs vblka vyczl. Fbl calyvble swv pzsozu.

Mbydjqwzzu, ds sdl blyae, svblaokpl, kv nswze lypkzu zlye vs xkpwdelapvydekdtp.

Gqvla ekddla, vblu pvaszzle ykxzlppzu.

Passing by a lavish jewelry store, he directly pulled her in.

The sales associates, initially lethargic, perked up at their arrival, smiling and their eyes shining brightly.

Shen Shuman immediately felt uncomfortable, a quirk of hers—

When shopping, overly enthusiastic sales associates made her anxious, leading her to hastily make purchases and leave.

If the sales associates were more indifferent, she would take her time, carefully choosing until she found something she liked.

Therefore, she preferred online shopping to offline.

Wei Shi, sensing her unease, firmly held her sweaty, retreating hand, “Let’s buy a pair of wedding rings to prove you’re mine.”

To prove he was hers? Shen Shuman pondered over his words, her cheeks warming with a light blush.

“The surgery you perform often requires hand washing and disinfection, which isn’t good for rings… And usually, you can’t wear rings into the surgery room, right?” she murmured quietly.

“Whether or not rings can be worn is another matter,” he pinched her warming cheeks, “but this ring, I must have.”

Shen Shuman smiled, willingly wrapping her arm around his, presenting a picture of docility.

Unbeknownst to her, her bosom pressed against his arm, deforming slightly under the pressure.

Wei Shi, feeling the softness against his arm, coughed awkwardly and whispered in her ear, “Your chest is so soft, I really want to touch it, what should I do?”

“Hmm?” She paused in confusion for a second, then, realizing what he said, shook off his hand and punched his arm lightly, muttering darkly, “No, touching!”

“If not the chest, then I will just…” he trailed off, his voice bubbling with mischief, and, taking advantage of her unpreparedness, he boldly grabbed her buttocks, startling her into a shriek that attracted everyone’s attention.

Instantly, her face and ears turned red, the blush spreading down to her neck.

Even though he had withdrawn his hand, she could still feel the peculiar sensation of his grasp on her buttocks—slightly painful, warm, and faintly tingling with an ambiguous numbness.

Wei Shi watched her with a mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling like a child who had successfully played a prank.

***************

Chapter 90: Liberation 

“Let me know which style you like…” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist, guiding her to a counter that was level with their waists.

A sales associate approached them enthusiastically, showering them with pleasantries and a beaming smile.

Shen Shuman felt as if someone was pouring syrup into her ears, leaving her head spinning.

She shook her head, trying to ignore the noise and focused on the wedding bands displayed in the showcase.

Both Shen Shuman and Wei Shi had slender fingers, unsuitable for thick and cumbersome designs. Moreover, they both preferred simple and understated patterns. Thus, she specifically looked for rings that appeared more delicate and refined.

She looked so intently that her world seemed to turn into a vast sea of stars, reflected by the shine of the rings.

“How about this one?” a man’s voice said.

The voice sounded familiar to Shen Shuman. Curious, she tilted her head, looking past Wei Shi’s shoulder, and saw a familiar face.

Their eyes met in the air and then deliberately avoided each other.

Shen Shuman raised her right hand, pretending to smooth her hair, using it to cover the right side of her face, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

Huaen City wasn’t particularly large or small, but she hadn’t expected to run into Xiao Ran so soon.

And it seemed he had noticed her too, hadn’t he?

Since he was at a jewelry store choosing rings, the long-haired woman beside him must be his girlfriend.

Because Wei Shi had told her about Xiao Ran’s past actions of causing trouble, and considering his confession to her five years ago, Shen Shuman harbored some resentment towards him.

Even though they were once good friends, she couldn’t untie this knot.

Wei Shi, perceptive of her discomfort, glanced suspiciously and recognized Xiao Ran. He understood.

“Since he’s a friend, should we say hello?” he whispered to her, their closeness evident to onlookers as they whispered to each other.

The sales associate wisely shut her mouth. Since their arrival, her eyes had scarcely moved from Wei Shi’s strikingly handsome face.

Shen Shuman sneakily glanced at Xiao Ran again. He was now facing away from her, apparently not intending to greet her.

She thought it made sense. He was there with his girlfriend choosing rings. If she, a woman he had once confessed to, started talking to him, wouldn’t his girlfriend overthink it?

Shen Shuman’s thoughts twisted and turned, and she shook her head.

Wei Shi glanced at the display case again, asking, “Did you see any rings you liked?”

She shook her head again, “They seem a bit ordinary.”

“Hmm, then let’s look elsewhere.” After politely and distantly thanking the sales associate, Wei Shi led her away.

As they turned to leave, Wei Shi gave Xiao Ran a meaningful look.

Xiao Ran didn’t look back, but the delicate, tall girl beside him met Wei Shi’s gaze.

Wei Shi smiled slightly, withdrawing his gaze and tightening his embrace around Shen Shuman’s waist.

Regarding Xiao Ran, he hadn’t lied to her, but he had indeed kept some things from her.

Five years ago, Xiao Ran had somehow gotten his phone number.

In the dead of night, he suddenly called him.

At that time, seeing it was an unknown number, he initially didn’t plan to answer.

But the incessant ringing of the phone annoyed him, so he picked it up.

Xiao Ran immediately revealed his identity, speaking incoherently, and by the sound of it, seemed heavily intoxicated.

Wei Shi waited for him to finish, sorted through his words, and extracted this piece of information—

He had never been in a relationship with Shen Shuman. He was just jealous seeing her affection for him and lied to him about it.

He mentioned that he confessed to her that day but was rejected.

He was feeling sad yet somehow relieved…

“Nothing is more bitter than unrequited love; I’m finally freed,” he said.

He also mentioned that Shen Shuman and her friends were planning to celebrate their graduate studies’ completion at a bar in a few days. If he still had feelings for her, it might be a good opportunity to clear things up.

Even after hanging up, Wei Shi was still a bit dazed.

Once he snapped out of it, his heart was overflowing with an indescribable elation.

Although Xiao Ran indirectly contributed to their union, Wei Shi genuinely had no intention of sharing this past incident with Shen Shuman.

After all, as someone as petty, selfish, and vindictive as him, how could he possibly want to clear the image of his rival in the heart of his beloved?