The crybaby nanny was bullied and cried again by her yandere husband.

"As you can see."

The four simple words were as good as saying nothing at all, and Shen Youqing rolled his eyes.

"You might as well not say anything. What I mean is, even if you two are..."

He reached out, bent his two thumbs together, and gave a mocking look.

"So you're together?"

Just as Shang Yu was about to answer, a slight rustling sound suddenly came from the doorway.

Shen Youqing and Shang Yu exchanged a glance, and the former strode over and pulled the door open.

Then they saw the two little ones squatting in the corner, eavesdropping. Their eyes met, and the scene became a little awkward.

Shen Ci was not good at speaking, so remaining silent was fine, but Lin Zhao...

He looked up at the person standing in front of them with their arms crossed and said softly.

"If—and I mean if—I said we were just passing by, would you believe me?"

Shang Yu chuckled softly.

What do you think?

Lin Zhao gave an awkward laugh twice, then lowered her head again.

Shang Yu shook his head, walked over and pulled Lin Zhao away, patting the dust off his trouser leg with his fingertips.

"If you want to hear it, why don't you come in?"

Lin Zhao pursed her lips and remained silent.

Shen Youqing squatted down in front of Shen Ci, resting her chin on her hands and looking at him with his head down, seemingly trying to hide somewhere.

"Ci Bao, you've gone astray! You're eavesdropping on other people's conversations."

Shen Ci immediately became anxious and reached out to explain, but Shen Youqing reached out and pressed his hand down.

"Okay, okay, stop explaining, I understand, I understand everything."

Seeing his smug look, Shen Ci's face immediately darkened.

Before he could say anything, Shang Yu suddenly looked at them and spoke.

"Just letting you all know, Zhao Zhao and I are together now."

Lin Zhao was surprised by his bluntness, and her face immediately flushed.

Uncle Li had just called them to dinner, and they realized it had been a while, so they came to call him back. But as soon as they got to the door, they heard Shen Youqing's question.

Lin Zhao immediately stopped walking, his heart inexplicably racing. He knew that it was strange for men to fall in love.

If the gentleman had deliberately concealed it, he wouldn't have done anything, but I didn't expect him to just say it so openly.

He didn't dare to look Shen Ci in the eye. He had just asked himself what had happened, and he had lied, but now he had been exposed.

Somewhat helplessly, he poked his fingers.

Shen Ci wasn't too surprised. He had inadvertently caught a glimpse of the hickey on Lin Zhao's collarbone when Lin Zhao was squatting down.

It was so obvious; you could tell at a glance that she had been well-loved. You didn't even need to think to know what had happened between them, but I didn't expect the man to admit it so directly.

But this is good, at least it shows that the gentleman is sincere towards Lin Zhao at this moment.

The next moment, she was lifted up from the ground and a kiss landed on her cheek.

"Pshaw, so what if you're in a relationship? Ci Bao and I have been together for over a year, have I ever flaunted our love?"

Shen Ci was taken aback, glared at him fiercely, struggled to get up, and when she looked at Lin Zhao, she saw him looking at her with a shocked expression.

Shen Ci nodded, as if he had given up all hope.

He hadn't wanted to admit it before because, in his heart, he and Shen Ci weren't actually dating.

When no one is dating, they always disappear; when no one is dating, they still go on blind dates; when no one is dating, they always have many secrets.

But now, it doesn't matter anymore. Thinking about the money he's about to save, he feels a sense of relief.

Then everything will be over.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Shen Youqing and Shen Ci did not stay for dinner, saying they were going on a trip for a while and had asked Shang Yu for a few days off.

At the dinner table, with Uncle Li and Sister Chen absent and only the two of them present, Lin Zhao couldn't contain his curiosity and asked a question.

"Brother Ayu, did you already know?"

"What?"

Shang Yu picked up a piece of pork rib, removed the bone, and held it directly to his mouth.

Lin Zhao obediently took it in her mouth, her speech a little mumbled, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster, incredibly cute.

"It's Mr. Shen and Shen Ci."

Shang Yu found him adorable and unconsciously poked his cheek with her fingertip.

Lin Zhao frowned.

"Why won't you listen to me!"

ꐦ≖≖

"Um?"

Shang Yu then came to his senses.

"What did you say?"

Lin Zhao: ...

He quickly chewed and swallowed before speaking.

"I said, Xiao Ci and Mr. Shen have been dating all along? Then why did Xiao Ci say they're just friends?"

Shang Yu took out a tissue and wiped his mouth before speaking.

"Want to know?"

Lin Zhao nodded immediately.

"What are the benefits?"

"what?"

Lin Zhao was taken aback.

Shang Yu reached out and dragged the chair over, then leaned in close to it.

"Give me a kiss and I'll tell you."

Lin Zhao's face flushed red at a visible speed, and she pursed her lips and muttered to herself.

"We've kissed so many times today, my lips are sore..."

Shang Yu's eyes unconsciously drifted to his lips. How delicate! After only a short kiss, they were already a little red and swollen.

He leaned closer and pointed to his cheek.

"How about a kiss on the cheek?"

Lin Zhao looked at the person so close to her, whose profile was unbelievably handsome, with a high nose bridge and long eyelashes, quietly waiting for her.

Lin Zhao's heart was pounding so hard that she wondered if she was about to have a heart attack.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Zhao slowly raised her hand, placed it on the man's shoulder, and leaned in to gently kiss him.

The touch was fleeting, yet it was more embarrassing than any deep kiss, causing Lin Zhao to shrink back.

Shang Yu turned to look at Lin Zhao's bright red ears, feeling great. He pulled her into his arms and spoke softly.

"Shen Ci was sent here by Shen Youqing a year ago. She's not really a servant of the villa; she's just staying here temporarily."

"I don't really know the specifics. All I know is that when Shen Youqing brought him here a year ago, they were already together."

Lin Zhao raised her head upon hearing this.

"Why didn't Xiao Ci say anything? Did he find it strange?"

Shang Yu frowned.

Why do you think that?

"Because it's strange for men to be together; men and women should be together."

Lin Zhao spoke in a serious tone, but Shang Yu's face grew darker and darker as he listened. What kind of feudal and outdated ideas was this?

No, he really needs to straighten him out properly, otherwise he'll end up like Shen Youqing, without any official status.

Sorry, he can't do that.

He ruffled Lin Zhao's hair and asked in return.

"Do you think it's strange for me to be with you?"

"Of course not!"

Lin Zhao immediately spoke.

Why?

Hearing this, Lin Zhao fell silent, lowered his head, and twisted his fingers together.

When he was a child, because he always cried and looked like a girl, many naughty boys pointed at him and cursed him, saying he was effeminate, that he was gay, and that it was disgusting.

In fact, children of that age don't know what these words mean; they only know that they are insults, and they imitate them.

As a result, when Lin Zhao grew up and learned about homosexuality, she instinctively felt that it was a disgusting thing and that people who liked men were perverts.

Men and women should be together; that's the normal thing to do.

However, when the master asked him to date, Lin Zhao hadn't actually thought about that at all. He just felt anxious when he saw the master was sad.

They've all forgotten that men can't be together.

Thinking of this, Lin Zhao bit her lower lip, her voice barely audible.

"Brother Ayu, maybe we shouldn't date..."