Xia Qiaoxi’s eyes were tinged with a faint red at the corners, glistening with moisture as a hazy mist gathered within them.
Through the mist, Xia Qiaoxi blinked, her long lashes lightly brushing against his fingers.
Tang Yushen leaned closer, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Little Xi…”
She looked so beautiful when she cried—he wanted to tease her.
So badly.
It was driving him mad.
“There’s no one in my heart right now,” Xia Qiaoxi replied softly.
“Little Xi, from now on, you have no ties to the He family. The habits you were forced to develop before don’t need to be ingrained in you anymore.” Tang Yushen wasn’t in a rush to make her heart belong to him immediately.
That was impossible.
But she couldn’t have anyone else.
“Mhm.” Xia Qiaoxi nodded slightly in agreement.
After the meal, Xia Qiaoxi followed him upstairs.
Tang Yushen opened the bedroom door and entered, while Xia Qiaoxi lingered at the doorway.
Huh?
Surely they wouldn’t be sharing a room?
Tang Yushen took her wrist. “This is your room.”
The south-facing window overlooked a curved swimming pool, a beautiful garden, a wooden octagonal pavilion, and even the estate walls draped in climbing roses.
The view outside was picturesque, and the room itself was tidy and bright. A large light-blue bed stood against the wall, with white sheer curtains cascading down. At the foot of the bed was an off-white sofa, and beyond the hallway lay a spacious walk-in closet.
The bathroom even had a white Jacuzzi tub large enough for two. On such a sweltering day, she felt like sinking into it right away.
Tang Yushen showed her around, asking if she liked it.
She couldn’t quite describe the feeling—it was as if they had just met last night, yet they already felt like old friends.
Tang Yushen understood her preferences all too well.
“What will Little Xi wear to sleep later?” Tang Yushen picked out two sets of pajamas. “Little Xi…”
Could she just sleep in her clothes?
Weren’t the pajamas he selected a bit too provocative?
Spaghetti straps!
And lace trim.
Of course, men liked this kind of black lace.
What a peculiar taste!
“Did you prepare this ‘golden house’ to hide a beauty early on? You’ve stocked up on so many women’s clothes…” Xia Qiaoxi eyed the sizes of the garments.
Clothing sizes were fairly standard—perhaps other girls had similar figures.
But if even the lingerie matched… then Tang Yushen was a pervert!
A total creep!
He had prepared countless outfits, always dreaming of the day he would reunite with her.
“The one I’m hiding is you…” Seeing her displeasure, Tang Yushen hung the nightgown back up. “Little Xi, you are my delicate darling…”
She wasn’t!
She was just a stand-in for his white moonlight.
As a qualified substitute, her job was to keep Tang Yushen happy.
The emotions might be fake, but…
He had helped cancel her wedding and freed her from the Xia family—that much was real.
“I’m so tired. Let’s end the tour here, Tang… Ah Yu.” Xia Qiaoxi nearly blurted out “Mr. Tang.” “You should get some rest too.”
“My room is across from yours.” Tang Yushen would have preferred to sleep with her.
In their past life, after they married, Xia Qiaoxi also had her own room.
Sometimes, she would complain about the smell of alcohol or cigarettes on him after he’d been out.
She wouldn’t let him share the bed.
In her previous life, the delicate young lady had been spoiled rotten—getting whatever she wanted, doted on by her parents and brother.
Now, in the Xia family, she was living a life of hardship.
Xia Qiaoxi moved behind him and took down a champagne-colored silk nightgown. “I want to take a bath before sleeping.”
“Mm.” Tang Yushen responded gloomily.
So?
Why wasn’t he leaving yet?
Tang Yushen just stood there, his overwhelming presence pressing down on her, making her afraid to move.
Ugh!
Being a substitute is tough!
She didn’t even understand the white moonlight—how was she supposed to make Tang Yushen happy?
A kiss?
No. Tang Yushen said it was his first kiss, so that white moonlight must have been his first love, probably from his teenage years when they were young and naive, and they hadn’t done anything!
Wasn’t she getting a bargain then?
Xia Qiaoxi’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she clutched the nightgown tightly, slowly inching her way out.
If she left, Tang Yushen would probably go too.
Ignoring Tang Yushen, she entered the bathroom, closed the door, and locked it.
In her own private space, Xia Qiaoxi relaxed, soaking comfortably in the bath. The faint fragrance, floating white bubbles, and the dried rose petals on the water’s surface gradually regaining their vitality were subtly visible.
Ah…
So comfortable.
So incredibly comfortable!
Xia Qiaoxi soaked for half an hour before stepping out.
Tang Yushen was nowhere to be seen in the bedroom, so she lay down on the bed and fell asleep with peace of mind.
Downstairs in the manor’s main hall, Tang Yushen held a coffee cup, his expression deep and contemplative.
“Son, tell me, what exactly are you doing? Can’t you find a wife?”
“Our Tang family’s eldest young master, the CEO and chairman of Tang Song Group—is it necessary for you to snatch someone else’s wife?”
“Where does this leave the He family’s dignity? Where does it leave our Tang family’s dignity!”
“Getting married today, and last night you took an innocent girl to your room to sleep! Tang Yushen, you, you, you…”
Mother Tang pointed a trembling finger at him. The more unresponsive he was, the angrier she grew inside.
Fortunately, this matter was handled discreetly. Outsiders only knew that the wedding was canceled because He Luyi was unwell.
But in reality, it was her own wretched son who had stolen someone else’s wife!
“The He family has always had a good relationship with us. The third young master has been sickly and in poor health for years. For a healthy person like you to snatch his wife—if this gets out, you’ll be seen as a bully. I wonder if you’ll even care about your reputation then!” Mother Tang fumed.
She had never understood this son since he was young.
Even as a child, he acted mature beyond his years. During school, whether he attended classes or skipped them, he still topped every subject.
He had been searching for something since he was a few years old, and now at twenty-seven, he was still at it.
Almost twenty-eight.
He had always been well-behaved and proper, but now he actually went and stole someone else’s wife.
“Are you finished?” Tang Yushen set down his coffee cup.
“Did you even listen to what I said? What difference does it make whether I’m finished or not?” Mother Tang said with a stern face. “Because of the mess you caused, He Luyi was hospitalized. Your grandmother and I have to go apologize to the He family! Your grandmother is so old… How can you have the nerve!”
“Mom.” Tang Yushen smiled. “You often say I’m unstable, running around everywhere, not staying in Jing City to keep you company. Now that I have her, I won’t run off anymore. Unless it’s for work, I won’t leave Jing City from now on.”
Unless Xiao Xi’er wants to go somewhere else to play.
Then they would definitely go.
He wanted to take Xiao Xi’er to many, many places, to go on their honeymoon, to enjoy their time alone together. In their previous life, he never had the chance to accompany her, but in this life, he would make up for everything.
Mother Tang stared at him in confusion.
What’s going on?
She picked up the fruit tea in front of her, continuously glancing at Tang Yushen’s expression from the corner of her eye. He seemed to be smiling and happy, but his eyes… “I’m telling you, can’t you just get a proper good night’s sleep? You didn’t bully that girl all night last night, did you?”
“Tang Yushen, be a decent human being!”
Tang Yushen: “…”
He wished he could.
Little Xi’er was feeling down last night, crying and sobbing, as fragile as a willow in the wind, and she didn’t even recognize him. If he had truly taken advantage of her…
How would he be any different from those scoundrels out there?
He didn’t want Little Xi’er to fear or dread him.
“Mom, am I that kind of person?”
“Aren’t you?” Mother Tang retorted. “Since you were little, you’ve always gotten whatever you wanted. Even as a child, you acted like you’d lived a hundred years, which is why your grandfather doted on you the most—he thought you were just like him.”
At just 23 years old, Tang Yushen had been handed the family business.
They’d even given him the chairman’s position.
That was fine, but at his age, he’d never shown interest in romance before, and now he’d gone straight to… on their first meeting, he just…
Mother Tang held her forehead. “Forget the embarrassment. I’ll go apologize to the He family myself. Just don’t make things difficult for that girl. I heard the Xia family protects their daughter extremely well—she’s delicate and has never been through any hardship. If you can’t treat her properly, return her now.”
“I can’t return her…” Tang Yushen smiled faintly. “I want her.”
“Once this media storm passes and you’ve developed some feelings, propose properly. Your father and I will visit the Xia family to arrange the marriage. But bringing her home to live with you right away, cohabi…” Mother Tang suddenly covered her mouth.
She glanced toward the upstairs.
Did she hear?
The first impression of her future daughter-in-law shouldn’t be her scolding her own son—she’d think her mother-in-law was difficult to get along with.
“Is she… sleeping?” Mother Tang whispered. “She definitely didn’t rest well last night.”
Tang Yushen leaned back lazily. “I didn’t rest well either, so I’m going to hold her and sleep now. You should head back first, Mom. He Luyi will handle the He family situation.”
If he couldn’t even manage a 1.7 billion land deal, then this friendship wasn’t worth keeping.
“You’re going to hold… hold…” Mother Tang stared as he stood up. “Tang Yushen, you—you—be a gentleman! Is that how I raised you? Don’t pull any of that forced conquest nonsense! Our Tang family can’t afford that shame!”
“Ask for the girl’s opinion, don’t just act recklessly, understand?”
“She’s asleep, can’t ask.” Tang Yushen went straight upstairs.
Mother Tang: “…”
She’s asleep, and he’s going to hold her? Isn’t that just sneaky behavior?
This… this…
Mother Tang turned pale, gulped down her tea, grabbed her purse and left immediately.
She shouldn’t have come in the first place.
Tang Yushen had always been decisive since childhood and wouldn’t listen anyway.
Though they educated and supported him, the final decisions were always his own.
As Mother Tang reached the entrance, the blazing sunlight poured down, scorching hot, making it unbearable to step outside.
In weather like this, she really didn’t want to be running around!
She could only hope Tang Yushen would finally be happy this time. He’d been frowning and unhappy since he was young. If that girl could truly be good for him, her lifelong worry would finally be put to rest.
With all the affairs in the Tang family, Tang Yushen was the only one she couldn’t stop worrying about.
The driver pulled up to the entrance, and only then did Mother Tang step out.
Away from the Xia family, free from constant surveillance, discipline, and the oppressive environment, Xia Qiaoxi slept unusually deeply.
Unknowingly, she had been sound asleep for several hours.
It’s so hot…
She remembered setting the air conditioning very low before sleeping!
Xia Qiaoxi forced her eyelids open and woke up.
An arm was draped across her waist—Tang Yushen was behind her, holding her from the side. She could even feel his breath falling on the nape of her neck.
This was the price of freedom!
Xia Qiaoxi wanted to move but didn’t dare.
She closed her eyes but could no longer fall asleep.
She could even clearly sense Tang Yushen’s every inhale and exhale.
He was sleeping deeply.
It seemed he hadn’t slept at all last night.
Xia Qiaoxi held his wrist, gently and cautiously lifting it upward.
Don’t wake up!
Please don’t wake up…