Chapter 122: A Reek of Filth

Mo Shaoxing parked the car and walked with a steady, measured gait through the dimly lit underground parking garage. When he reached the incline, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress trousers and jogged upward. Though he was a man who typically radiated sunshine, his thoughts were in turmoil as he watched Yu Wensi and Mai Xijun enter the company lobby together.

Yu Wensi seemed to have undergone an inexplicable change. According to everything Mo Shaoxing knew about him, the man before him was no longer his usual self. While he still maintained a pleasant, charming demeanor, his warmth toward Mai Xijun came from the very depths of his soul—a rare, genuine kindness he reserved for her alone. He was a Yu Wensi who had abandoned his usual schemes and manipulations.

Mo Shaoxing could hardly believe his eyes, nor could he trust his own intuition; the situation had spiraled beyond control. He had always assumed that Shen Yanlie loved Mai Xijun, but now, Yu Wensi’s affection for her seemed no less intense. Shen Yanlie was a man of brilliant, calculated tactics, but Yu Wensi was notoriously ruthless—he cared little for who his opponents were or whose protection they enjoyed. Yet, it seemed Shen Yanlie was the exception to his coldness.

In Yu Wensi’s world, Shen Yanlie was the man who had given him a new lease on life. The special treatment Mai Xijun received from Yu was initially due to Shen, but somewhere along the way, that privilege had transformed into her being a unique exception in his life.

Watching them walk away, Mo Shaoxing smiled, though the expression was painfully bitter. His little "pudding"—he no longer knew how to protect her. Even though he had exhausted his efforts to secure that remedial study spot for her in France, it was too late. The choice was no longer his to make.

Perhaps, from the moment Shen Yanlie appeared in her life, he had been powerless. But to turn back now? That was easier said than done. Everything had already gone too far.

***

Yu Media.

A wave of unprecedented fervor swept through the company. The staff worked with remarkable intensity, each department managed by top-tier elites carefully selected for their roles.

Mai Xijun followed closely behind Yu Wensi as he guided her through the company, giving her a glimpse of the facets of Yu Media that remained hidden from the outside world.

"This is the prop room. I’ve always liked this place," Yu Wensi said, treating Mai Xijun like a guest of honor. He led her through, eager to reveal the inner world he kept hidden deep within himself.

"How is this any different from a junk shop?" Mai Xijun asked as she stepped inside, unable to hide her skepticism. She flicked her hand in front of her nose; she didn't particularly care for the smell, either.

Yu Wensi’s face darkened for a brief second. "Actually, everything in here has deep meaning. They may not look like much, but each one is a prop that can be quite useful in specific situations."

Regardless of his inner thoughts, and no matter how much Mai Xijun teased him, he was simply grateful she was here—grateful that she had agreed to help him design the ring clasp. Without realizing it, he was filled with gratitude toward her.

"For example? ...What is this for?" Mai Xijun, like a naive child, was filled with curiosity about everything around her.

"I found this when I returned from Germany. Isn't it special? It's just that..." Yu Wensi trailed off.

"It's just what?" Mai Xijun asked naturally. She examined the object in her hand closely before shifting her gaze to Yu, waiting for his answer.

"It’s just that it’s mostly useless; I only picked it up because I happened to be passing by... This one, though... come, look at this." Yu Wensi acted as if he had discovered a new continent, presenting his most prized possession to her.

Mai Xijun took it and sniffed, then immediately began waving her hand frantically. "This is the smell! I smelled it as soon as I walked in. It’s so awful..."

Could it be any worse?

"Really?" Yu Wensi looked at her in disbelief, then lowered his head to take a careful sniff himself. "Damn it, why did it go bad? I was wondering why there was such a pungent, musky odor when we walked in..."

Hell, it was just a sachet! Just a sachet! He had simply brought back some natural lavender from Provence, mixed it with other flowers, and crafted a unique fragrance to keep his office smelling fresh and conducive to work. He hadn't intended for this to happen...

Yu Wensi had always been proud of it, but now it was a source of embarrassment. He glanced around at the items that had been knocked over by someone—he could guess what had happened—and, pinching his nose, he tossed the object aside. "Let’s go. Let’s head upstairs."

He didn't want to humiliate himself any further. Hadn't he embarrassed himself enough in front of her already?

On the surface, Yu Wensi seemed incredibly laid-back and easy to get along with, but his inner self was not like that at all. His office was decorated with silver-gray and black patterned wallpaper, which left Mai Xijun staring for a long time, unable to understand the reasoning behind such a decor or what it signified.

"I designed this room myself. Not bad, right?" Yu Wensi said, full of confidence, like a child boasting about something he found admirable.

Mai Xijun didn't disagree, nor did she criticize or praise him. She simply found the sofa and sat down; she was wearing a new pair of wedge heels that she hadn't broken in yet, and they were chafing her feet.

"What? Do you have an opinion on the decor?" Seeing her silence, Yu Wensi furrowed his brows.

"It’s either black or gray, and if not gray, then white. What kind of opinion could I have?" She was telling the truth.

"Uh..." Yu Wensi was speechless. "Don't you think it's unique?" he pressed.

Hearing him put it that way, Mai Xijun realized there must be a deeper meaning to the decor, so she was forced to re-examine the office.

"It is certainly unique. There isn't a third color besides gray, white, and black. How could it not be?" she said sharply. She had wanted to offer a compliment, but aside from what she had just said, she really couldn't see anything special about the room. She admitted that her aesthetic judgment had lowered significantly without her realizing it.

Yu Wensi was completely speechless, his brows knotted. "I designed this. From top to bottom, beginning to end, I did it all myself. How could it not be unique?" Deep down, he was fiercely despising Mai Xijun. At the very least, she could have offered a word of praise! Instead, she was beating around the bush to insult his design as completely unremarkable.

Mai Xijun looked at him in genuine surprise. She found it impossible to believe that the interior design of this room was his own work. Was he lying to her? Was he just trying to have a laugh at her expense?

Looking closer, she had to admit the style was sophisticated, orderly, and layered. If he hadn't pointed it out, she never would have studied the room so closely. Her initial impression could be summed up in one sentence: "The thinking of rich people is truly hard to understand."

"I really did design it. I’ve always decorated my own offices. I changed to this one just last year, and I quite like it. I think I’ll keep it for a few more years." Yu Wensi spoke as if contemplating a treasure that brought him immense satisfaction, his pleasant face lighting up with excitement.

It is a wonderful thing to share something you are proud of with someone you like.

"Don't tell me you designed Shen Yanlie’s office, too?" Mai Xijun widened her beautiful eyes, looking at him in disbelief. She had never realized he was so talented—to think he was an interior designer! As this thought crossed her mind, she realized that Shen Yanlie’s office and Yu Wensi’s office did indeed share similar design methods and techniques.

"Yes! You’re absolutely right. Lie’s office was crafted by me, and Mo Shaoxing’s room was also designed by my own hand. So? It’s not bad, is it?" Yu Wensi’s spirited appearance was quite captivating. Mai Xijun watched him for a long moment before coming back to her senses. "It really isn't bad. But why don't you try other colors? Is it just for the sake of looking solemn?"

After all, in the spectrum of colors, black was undoubtedly the most solemn choice for any occasion.

At this, Yu Wensi turned somewhat sentimental. He lowered his eyes slightly, then fixed his sharp, piercing gaze on Mai Xijun, a faint, elusive smile playing on his lips. "Black is a style, but white is a form of spiritual purity."

"And... gray?"

"Gray..." Yu Wensi sighed softly, turning his head to look into the distance. Gray... what about gray?

"Gray represents the trajectory and state of one’s life." A color that reflects a person’s mental state—gray.

Gray represented the trajectory and state of life.

Gray, dark, profound, understated; full of vitality yet tinged with gloom. Was this the state of his life? A sky shrouded in gray.

To think he was an interior designer... Mai Xijun had never imagined it. If one were to look closely at the interior of Yu Wensi’s space, they would be able to see his entire world.

So, this was the kind of man he was.