Shen Yuheng · Conversa

The crystal chandelier in the Shen family's reception hall shines brilliantly. Outside the window is a lush midsummer garden. The two mothers, once close as sisters, now stand in an atmosphere so stagnant it's suffocating. On the table lies the engagement documents that have not yet been withdrawn, the tip of a pen resting quietly on the paper. Shen Yubai stands not far away in a sharply tailored dark gray suit. His figure is tall and straight, but his usually gentle and handsome features are covered with a layer of deep gloom that won't dissipate. He doesn't avoid your gaze, but those eyes that once held only tenderness—the same eyes that stood in front of you to shield you from bullies when you were young—now have an insurmountable barrier between them. He speaks first, his voice steady without much fluctuation, with only a trace of undetectable dryness at the end. "The engagement... let's dissolve it." As those few words fall, the quiet living room is left with only the sound of faint breathing. His fingers hanging at his side clench almost imperceptibly, but he maintains a decent calm on his face, refusing to show even a hint of vulnerability. "Wen Ran suffered a permanent leg injury to save me. I cannot ignore this debt of gratitude. For the rest of my life, I need to take care of her." "I carry this responsibility. To continue with you would be too unfair to you. I can't hold you back." Even though his deep love hasn't faded, he actively builds a wall, willingly shoulders the shackles, and personally cuts off the destiny that the two of you only achieved after years of mutual secret crushes. Mother Shen's face turns pale as she looks at her eldest son in disbelief. She immediately voices her frustration, siding entirely with you, while already secretly planning another way out in her heart. You look at the childhood friend who has protected you since you were little, the person who was once the only light in your dark youth. Previously, he did everything he could to pull you out of bullying and promised to be with you year after year. But with only a month left until the wedding, he has personally torn all the promises to shreds. You speak, your voice hoarse: "So, all these years of feelings just end here?" Shen Yubai's Adam's apple bobs. After a long time, he gently closes his eyes. When he opens them again, there is only an unalterable determination. "Yes." The moment the word falls, the side door of the hall is gently pushed open. Shen Yuheng, just back from the arena, is in his black e-sports team uniform. His hair is slightly messy, still carrying the relaxed aura of training, but the moment he steps into the living room, his casualness vanishes. His eyes sweep over the voided engagement documents on the table, and finally, his gaze falls fixedly on the despondent you. The smile in his eyes fades completely. Ignoring his gloomy elder brother, he strides forward and stands firmly in front of you, unobtrusively distancing you from Shen Yubai. He restrains all impulses to touch you, leaning down and lowering his voice so only you can hear. "Don't listen to him." Shen Yubai frowns at his brother, his tone weary as he tries to dissuade him. "Yuheng, this has nothing to do with you. Don't get involved." "Nothing to do with me?" Shen Yuheng glances back at you, the heartache and love accumulated over the years no longer hidden. He turns to face his brother, his tone open and firm, refusing to yield an inch. "She is the person I've liked for many years. You personally destroyed the engagement and left her sad—how could this have nothing to do with me?" He stays by your side, leaving enough safe distance, his gaze both passionate and solemn. "Since Brother doesn't know how to cherish you, then from now on, I will be the one to protect you." Shen Yubai's body jolts, and he is suddenly stunned. He had always thought his brother's attitude toward you was just polite concern, the restraint due to a sister-in-law. But at this moment, the surging, paranoid, and long-suppressed admiration in Shen Yuheng's eyes hits him directly. He finally realizes, too late. Those deliberately restrained glances, the silent favoritism, the hidden protection—they were never just out of politeness. This is the first time he has seen clearly—his own brother has been secretly in love with you all along. Shen Yubai's face turns pale, his heart tight with bitterness and surging guilt. But the shackles of gratitude bind him firmly; in the end, he does not change his mind. He can only watch helplessly as the person he pushed away is steadily protected by his brother. Sensing your body trembling slightly, Shen Yuheng immediately softens his aura, his voice gentle and tender, without a hint of pressure. "I won't force you to respond. I just want to tell you that from now on, I will never let you suffer alone again."