Chapter 46: My Hero

Meng Weiyu had actually been in the café for a while already. However, he happened to be sitting in the corner, so neither Shen Buning nor Shen Zhoudu had noticed that he was in the same space as them.

He had originally planned to obediently stay in the café and wait until it was almost time to get off work before messaging Shen Zhoudu and asking him to eat together. In the end, he had just sat down, and before he even drank a sip of the lemon tea in his hand, he saw Shen Zhoudu come in through the entrance.

Although saying it like this was overly narcissistic, Meng Weiyu naturally felt that Shen Zhoudu had appeared here to find him.

After all, in a place where he existed, who else could Shen Zhoudu’s eyes possibly see?

As Meng Weiyu thought this, Shen Zhoudu walked into the café, looked straight ahead, and went directly toward someone.

Because there were not many people in the café right now, Meng Weiyu had of course long known there was another customer here. It was only now that he seriously sized that person up.

Never in a million years had he expected that the first time he caught Shen Zhoudu sneaking a bite outside, the target would actually be a middle-aged man. Moreover, that man looked serious and stiff.

Shen Zhoudu, your taste and aesthetic are jumping around too much.

Thinking this, Meng Weiyu silently took out his phone and looked at his own face.

It was fine. He won by a lot.

After admiring himself, he put down his phone. Shen Zhoudu had already sat down and was chatting with that person.

The seat Shen Zhoudu chose was across from that person, maintaining the greatest distance.

Neither of the two had a relaxed or happy expression, but they were clearly extremely familiar with each other. Their tense nerves could not hide the similarity carried in their blood. The invisible atmosphere could not deceive anyone.

At first, Shen Zhoudu’s expression was normal, but later, Meng Weiyu did not know what they talked about. Shen Zhoudu’s eyes carried a faint, hysterical madness.

Seeing this, Meng Weiyu pulled his chair back, shoved both hands into his trouser pockets, and walked over with light steps.

The two people over there were completely focused and did not notice at all that someone was approaching them.

Meng Weiyu kicked aside the chair blocking his way, making a piercing sound.

Both their expressions paused, and they turned their heads.

“Who are you? Why are you chirping nonstop at my man?” Meng Weiyu relied on his standing height to arrogantly look down at Shen Buning. Frowning, he stood in front of Shen Zhoudu.

“Long time no see.” Shen Buning maintained his bearing and upbringing as he greeted this Young Master Meng, whom he had only met a few times.

“Am I very familiar with you?” Meng Weiyu crossed both arms over his chest. He hated it when others tried to act familiar with him.

Behind Meng Weiyu, Shen Zhoudu was struck by a physiological headache.

Meng Weiyu indeed did not currently know his father.

“No,” Shen Buning answered honestly, and even felt regretful. “I mentioned to Zhoudu several times that I wanted to meet you and have a proper talk, but he refused.”

“What would I have to talk about with you?” Meng Weiyu could feel Shen Zhoudu behind him secretly tugging at the hem of his clothes. He immediately brushed his hand away without a trace. “First, I hate people who act overly familiar with me the most.”

“And second?” Shen Buning raised an eyebrow.

“People who clearly know someone has a partner, but still have no sense of boundaries.” Meng Weiyu narrowed his eyes at him. “Uncle, although I should respect the old and cherish the young, please know your own weight.”

“Xiao Yu.” Shen Zhoudu poked his head out, wanting to say something.

Meng Weiyu shifted his foot to the side and continued blocking Shen Zhoudu.

Shen Buning raised his head.

Meng Weiyu looked arrogant and rude, and he did not care about the scene at all. It was as if he were a reckless soldier directly charging over with lit explosives. But his eyes were unusually calm. He was not making trouble for no reason. He had a target.

“I heard you lost your memory,” Shen Buning said with a smile. “Looks like it’s true.”

“Uncle, your information is really good.” Since Xie Wenxuan could know about this matter, it was not strange that other people knew too.

“It’s hard not to know, because the hospital you stayed in before belongs to our family.” Shen Buning pushed up his glasses. “And I also heard that Zhoudu abandoned an important meeting in England and rushed back overnight to see you, only for you to loudly shout that you wanted a divorce. I heard that your relationship is bad now. Looks like it’s all true.”

Their family’s hospital, similar features and temperament, and the visible age difference.

Meng Weiyu narrowed his eyes. From his attacking instinct of protecting Shen Zhoudu, he looked back and guessed who the person in front of him was.

“I’m on your side,” Shen Buning told him to calm down. “Although you look calm, let me remind you again. Calm down.”

“So it’s Dad.” Meng Weiyu tilted his head and smiled.

Under the psychological effect of wanting to disgust others, Meng Weiyu ignored everything, disgusted himself first, then chose the most vicious words.

“…” Shen Buning fell silent for a moment.

“Sorry. Not only did I lose my memory, but because of the car accident, my personality has been a little strange lately. Just now, over there, I thought my husband was being hit on by a middle-aged uncle. Because my brain isn’t good, I rushed over without saying another word.” Although Meng Weiyu currently did not want to divorce Shen Zhoudu anymore, he had not completely accepted the reality of this marriage, so he did not care about what Shen Zhoudu’s family thought of him.

With this fearless mentality, plus the fact that his temperament was still in the proud and unreasonable university era, whenever he saw someone dare offend him, he would crash straight into them without distinction.

Even if it was Shen Zhoudu’s father, there was no immunity medal.

In the worst-case scenario, his grandparents and maternal grandparents would still clean up the mess for him. He did not believe the two families could not defeat a single Shen family.

“You know, men in their twenties are very unreliable.” Meng Weiyu bent down, leaned in front of Shen Buning, and smiled sweetly. “Your son, my husband, looks very capable. I believe Dad can understand my concern and forgive my momentary rudeness, right?”

“Your personality is truly bad.” Shen Buning did not bother pretending with him. “Even now, I still don’t understand why Zhoudu would like your type of person.”

“Dad, children who were suppressed too much when they were young will like whatever they weren’t given after growing up. This is called childhood compensation.” Meng Weiyu spread his hand open, placed it beside his mouth, and laughed smugly.

Shen Zhoudu, because he was too familiar with his own husband, almost instinctively translated this sentence into Meng Weiyu’s usual tone:

Every cause has an effect. Your retribution is me. Hahahahaha!

“I’m in the education industry. I understand these things better than you.” Shen Buning temporarily skipped over this topic. He did not want to talk to Meng Weiyu about Shen Zhoudu’s childhood education.

“So Dad, you’re in the education industry. That’s great. I like it. You look very cultured.” Meng Weiyu deliberately said something shallow and repeatedly called him Dad.

“That’s why I can tell.” Shen Buning paused. “You’re the type who was never disciplined as a child.”

“Dad.” Shen Zhoudu made a warning sound.

Meng Weiyu turned his head and looked at Shen Zhoudu.

Shen Zhoudu opened his mouth, wanting to speak.

“Not allowed to talk.” Meng Weiyu pointed at him.

Shen Zhoudu subconsciously closed his mouth.

“I’m chatting with Dad.” As Meng Weiyu spoke, he put his hand on Shen Buning’s shoulder.

Shen Buning was startled by his action and could not help repeatedly pushing up his glasses, even though his glasses were perfectly in place.

“Dad, how old are you this year?” Meng Weiyu started a new topic.

“Fifty-three,” Shen Buning answered.

“You’re still very young.” Meng Weiyu sighed.

“Weren’t you calling me a middle-aged man just now?” Shen Buning found it funny.

“That’s true. But according to age, I’ll also be a middle-aged man soon, so don’t care too much about that title.” Meng Weiyu spread his hands. “So Dad, did you suddenly come today to eat with us?”

Shen Buning looked at him and understood that the person he was negotiating with had changed, and was also the type he hated dealing with the most. He said, “No. I came to find Zhoudu because I learned about your divorce with him and specially came to persuade him to agree to it.”

“Ai.” Meng Weiyu felt regretful. If you had come ten days earlier, seventeen-year-old me would not have been so isolated and helpless. “Dad, you must have seen that screenshot, right? Let me explain first. It was all a misunderstanding.”

“Screenshot?” Had he not said earlier that he knew because Meng Weiyu had been shouting about wanting a divorce everywhere in the hospital? What did this have to do with a screenshot?

“The screenshot where I said I wanted a divorce.” Meng Weiyu had not expected him to actually not know.

“Heh.” Shen Buning laughed.

“That was a wrong message sent by our cat stepping on the phone.” Meng Weiyu insisted on dumping this blame on Xueci.

Shen Buning asked, “Then what about the rumors I heard at the hospital?”

“At that time, I was arguing with Zhoudu. When husbands argue, they say all kinds of outrageous things.” Meng Weiyu asked in return, “When you and Mom argue, don’t you say divorce?”

Hearing this, Shen Buning pushed up his glasses and told him with an unwavering attitude, “I like A-Ye. In this lifetime, I have never thought about divorcing her.”

“What a coincidence!” Meng Weiyu forcefully patted his back.

Shen Buning was shaken by his pat.

Meng Weiyu looked at his eyes, smiled brightly, and told him, “I also won’t divorce Shen Zhoudu.”

Shen Buning froze.

“Dad, we really resonate with each other. Why don’t we add each other’s contact information and eat together when we’re free?” Meng Weiyu suddenly suggested.

After being stunned, Shen Buning smiled and told him, “You have my contact information.”

“Really?” Meng Weiyu took out his phone and smiled as he asked him to wait. “Let me look.”

He first searched the keyword “Dad” in his own contacts, but there was no such person.

“Or you can search my phone number,” Shen Buning suggested.

Meng Weiyu searched according to the phone number Shen Buning read aloud. Very quickly, he successfully found someone matching the condition.

Meng Weiyu’s note for him was: Annoying Old Stubborn.

Meng Weiyu: “…”

He silently turned the phone screen away from Shen Buning to ensure he would not see it, then pressed the keyboard.

Shen Buning noticed the phone he had placed on the table vibrate. Curious, he picked it up.

Meng Weiyu had sent him a message. It was a kissing sticker.

Shen Buning fell silent.

“In short, the news of our divorce is a misunderstanding. You don’t need to worry too much.” Meng Weiyu defined his behavior for him while trying to chase him away.

“I’m not worried.” Shen Buning was not swayed by soft or hard methods. Although Meng Weiyu had messed with him until he felt dizzy, he still had not been led astray. “I don’t like Zhoudu marrying a man. I want him to divorce you.”

“Dad, aren’t you going to ask Zhoudu’s opinion?” Meng Weiyu glanced at him calmly.

“His thoughts aren’t important, because he’s too unintelligent—”

“Bang!”

Meng Weiyu’s foot kicked Shen Buning’s chair leg with a bit of force, shaking the middle-aged man past fifty until he nearly fell to the floor.

Shen Buning hurriedly sat steady, unable to believe that Meng Weiyu was so crude.

“Dad, I really… don’t quite like watching others point fingers at my people.” Meng Weiyu’s expression was very conflicted, as if he was reflecting on how improper his behavior was. But his foot was hooked against the chair leg. With a slight pull, Shen Buning would truly fall along with the chair. “Respect your son. He only likes men.”

Shen Buning immediately stood up, moving away from the hidden danger.

Meng Weiyu crossed his arms condescendingly, completely removing his disguise.

“Since that’s the case, let’s talk next time.” Shen Buning felt that staying here would only waste time. “Or perhaps next time, you’ll change your minds.”

“Come again two years later.” Meng Weiyu cheerfully suggested, “Because there’s a saying called the seven-year itch.”

“That makes sense.” Shen Buning accepted his suggestion, then picked up the phone placed to the side. After nodding to Shen Zhoudu, he walked out of the café.

“Old stubborn.” After he left, Meng Weiyu muttered at his back, finally knowing why his seventeen-year-old self had saved him with such a note.

“You were very fiery today.” Shen Zhoudu could finally speak.

“I almost thought I was going to lose to an old man.” Meng Weiyu turned his head toward Shen Zhoudu and revealed an innocent smile. “Sorry, attacking your dad like that in front of you.”

Shen Zhoudu sat in the chair. Unexpectedly, he did not reveal any worried or frightened expression. Instead, he placed his hand beside his mouth. He tried to cover it, but the effect completely failed. Anyone could see that he was smiling very happily.

Meng Weiyu looked at him with disgust. Weirdo.

“Hahahahaha, you’re even more amazing than before.” Shen Zhoudu lowered his head slightly, his smile unusually gentle.

“Hm?” Did he do something to Shen Buning before?

“After I proposed to you, we wanted to talk about it with both sets of parents.” Shen Zhoudu knew he did not remember, so he recounted what had once happened. “The two of us ate with my parents. Even though I explained beforehand that my parents weren’t easy to get along with, you still happily went to the appointment. In the end, at the meal, my parents seemed to make you unhappy, and you directly stepped your foot beside my father’s chair and overturned his rice bowl.”

“Cough, cough.” Hearing this overly fierce experience, Meng Weiyu was so impacted that his head grew dizzy. He involuntarily coughed and awkwardly turned his head to the side.

The terror of genes.

In the end, he had still inherited his grandfather and grandmother’s habit of flipping tables.

“When my parents questioned our feelings and were dissatisfied with you, you didn’t have much of a reaction.” Shen Zhoudu wanted to reassure him that Meng Weiyu was not the kind of person who lacked etiquette and was crude.

“Because I really am not very satisfying, and even now, I’m still somewhat questioning the feelings between us.” In that case, back then, he might have felt Shen Zhoudu’s parents were simply his confidants, thinking the same things as him.

“Then my parents said that me liking men was abnormal.” Shen Zhoudu omitted some even harsher words. “You smiled and walked over, then overturned the bowl.”

And firmly, calmly said: Shen Zhoudu is not abnormal.

He said it like an ordinary sentence, like wanting to eat breakfast later today, like the sun rising tomorrow.

Simple and undeniable.

Meng Weiyu paused.

Shen Zhoudu smiled and said, “At that time, Xiao Yu, in my eyes, you were my hero.”

Because he had laughed too exaggeratedly just now, a trace of tears seeped from the corner of Shen Zhoudu’s eyes.

At that time, he had widened his eyes and looked at Meng Weiyu, feeling that everything except him was blurry.

“Then if I tell you now.” Meng Weiyu rarely saw him look this undisguised. “The reason I walked over just now wasn’t because I was worried you were hooking up with another man, but because I felt you were being bullied—would you become even more obsessed with me?”

Shen Zhoudu laughed until his body shook. He nodded and told him, “I would.”

“Then understand it that way.” Meng Weiyu decided.

“Okay.”

Meng Weiyu looked at the time and told him, “Then are you eating with me today or not?”

Hearing this, Shen Zhoudu stood up from the chair and, before leaving, pushed the chair back to its original place.

“I already asked An Yang to help me book a restaurant. Assistants are so useful.” Meng Weiyu cheerfully led the way in front.

Shen Zhoudu followed behind him. When he passed the counter, he said to the employee inside, “Cover the expenses of everyone currently in the café. Also, apologize for me. The commotion just now frightened them.”

“President Shen, understood.” The employee and the few customers inside had actually enjoyed watching the drama very much.

Shen Zhoudu left the café a little helplessly, guessing that it would not be long before this matter spread everywhere.

How long exactly would he have to live this kind of life?

Meng Weiyu had booked a teahouse. After they arrived, the food was served immediately.

Shen Zhoudu habitually sat beside Meng Weiyu, watching him eat heartily and picking up shrimp dumplings for him.

“You don’t like eating at teahouses?” Meng Weiyu chewed on red date cake and finally realized that every time, he seemed to eat at restaurants he liked without asking Shen Zhoudu’s opinion.

“I like it,” Shen Zhoudu smiled.

“Then eat!” Meng Weiyu felt he was baffling.

“You eat too fast. I’m afraid the dishes on this table won’t be enough for you.” Shen Zhoudu teased him.

Meng Weiyu swallowed the red date cake in his mouth, drank a sip of tea, and comfortably said, “I know you want to laugh at me, but I didn’t eat breakfast today, so I’m very hungry.”

“Oh.” Shen Zhoudu picked up his chopsticks and stopped messing with him.

“Speaking of which.” Meng Weiyu licked his lips. His belated guilt was acting up. “Was it not very good for me to treat your dad like that today?”

“You struck heavily just now, and now you’re timid and weak. Are you trying to show off your battle record without leaving a trace?” Shen Zhoudu was shocked.

“Hey.” Don’t interpret things randomly.

“It’s fine.” Shen Zhoudu reassured him. “First, this isn’t your first time offending him. Second, my father is someone willing to accept the result of a bet. Since he couldn’t argue against you or defeat you, he won’t bring this matter up again. Most importantly…”

He deliberately paused.

Meng Weiyu had a feeling that if he did not cover his ears now, it would be too late.

“The person you married is me. It has nothing to do with them.” Shen Zhoudu satisfactorily put a shrimp dumpling into his mouth.

He looked very happy.

As long as you’re satisfied.

Seeing this, Meng Weiyu no longer wanted to care about the matter.

“You.” Shen Zhoudu had a question to ask him.

“Hm?” Meng Weiyu continued stuffing food into his mouth.

“Do you like me a little more than before?” Although he knew he should not ask, Shen Zhoudu always had this sort of expectation.

Meng Weiyu did not speak immediately. He slowly finished the food in his mouth and awkwardly said, “Just a little.”

“Is that so?” Shen Zhoudu did not know whether he should sigh or be a little happy.

Strange. It was clearly the same operation. Why was it that after he confessed and kissed Meng Weiyu before, Meng Weiyu later agreed to date him, but now the progress was so slow?

Was it because the Meng Weiyu of before only treated him as a friend and had never thought he would feel heartache, so the impact was greater? Whereas now, Meng Weiyu already knew he liked him, and no matter how much he did, in Meng Weiyu’s eyes, it was only an escalation in the level of sexual harassment?

“Why were you here today?” Shen Zhoudu remembered another question.

“I called Dr. Zheng and hoped he would go to your company to help examine your body. In the end, while chatting, I found out that he moved, and he lives very close to us now.” Meng Weiyu acted as soon as a thought appeared. “I thought that since he had to go to your company to find you anyway, he might as well pick me up and bring me over too.”

“Thank you, Young Master Meng, for worrying about me. I’m fine now.”

Shen Zhoudu’s parents, as well as Meng Weiyu himself, did not understand why Shen Zhoudu would fall for Meng Weiyu. Shen Zhoudu instead did not know why they had such doubts.

Meng Weiyu’s personality was firm. He was brave. And his thoughtfulness showed itself in places others could not imagine.

What exactly was strange about liking him?

“I still want shrimp dumplings. Eat one less.” Meng Weiyu shot Shen Zhoudu a sidelong glance. Quick-eyed and quick-handed, before Shen Zhoudu could agree, he picked up the last shrimp dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth.

Naturally taking over the delicious food that belonged to someone else, Meng Weiyu, who had succeeded in being tyrannical today, felt that the food in his mouth tasted even better.

Shen Zhoudu watched his thieving little appearance from the side and once again thought: too cute.

Ning Wu once sharply commented: This is called losing your mind.

“I won’t work overtime tonight,” Shen Zhoudu told him. “Can you come home early?”

“Hehe, are you lonely and want me to go home early to keep you company?” Meng Weiyu teased him.

“Yes.” Shen Zhoudu admitted expressionlessly. For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether he was joking or serious.

“Fine.” Meng Weiyu agreed.

“Mm.”

After eating, An Yang drove over to pick up Meng Weiyu.

After Meng Weiyu got into the car, Shen Zhoudu closed the door for him.

“Young Master Meng, have a safe trip.” Following the secretary role Meng Weiyu had given him before, he completed his work.

Meng Weiyu smiled and lay against the car window, looking at Shen Zhoudu.

“Leaving.” An Yang mercilessly stepped on the gas and drove away.

“Why are you driving so fast?” Meng Weiyu had not finished showing off in front of Shen Zhoudu yet.

“Hurrying to work,” An Yang said coldly and mercilessly. “Boss, you look very happy today.”

“Hehe.” Meng Weiyu just found it funny. “I almost kicked Shen Zhoudu’s dad off his chair, but Shen Zhoudu said I’m his hero.”

“That isn’t strange,” An Yang said. “The feeling President Shen gives me is that he has always treated you like a hero.”

An omnipotent, unstoppable hero who saved him from danger.

Meng Weiyu’s smile slightly faded.

Being admired by someone was a pleasant thing.

At dusk, after getting off work, Meng Weiyu stood at the entrance of the house. Before going in, he used his hand to support his forehead with great spirit, imagining how tall and majestic his figure was.

Just as he was being narcissistic, the door opened from inside.

“Why are you standing outside?” Shen Zhoudu appeared in front of him, showing a puzzled expression.

“How did you know I was outside?”

“There’s surveillance.” Don’t ask stupid questions.

Meng Weiyu entered the house and discovered that a lavish feast had already been placed on the table.

“Wah.” He let out a sigh.

“Eat. Eat until you’re full.” Shen Zhoudu looked at him indulgently.

Meng Weiyu treated this meal as Shen Zhoudu’s thanks to him for today, and ate without any psychological burden.

After eating and drinking his fill, Meng Weiyu sat on the sofa, preparing to start a game.

“Let’s play a game.” Shen Zhoudu came downstairs and made a suggestion.

“Sure.” Meng Weiyu turned his head, wanting to ask if Shen Zhoudu had any game he especially wanted to play.

“Bang, bang.” Shen Zhoudu held a rope in his hand, shook it, and placed it in front of Meng Weiyu. “Today, let’s play something simple first.”