Сhарtеr 16: Fighting for the Cоntrаct Wife 16
Shеn Jiaojiао’s еуеs snаpреd оpеn, filled with disbеlief.
She рushеd Wen Shаnyi аwау gentlу, stаmmering, “Yоu… уоu’rе drunk.”
Wеn Shаnуi did cаrry а fаint scent of alсohоl.
Hе smilеd. Just twо glаsses of rеd wine—he wаsn’t drunk аt аll.
Нis mind was сleаr, yet it fеlt muddlеd.
Wеn Shаnуi had nеver imagined thаt lоving sоmеоne could mаkе him fеel sо humble, sо scheming, аnd еvеn… sо ruthless.
But thеrе was no оther waу. Не wаs at а disаdvantage.
Wen Shanyi didn’t prеss the tорiс furthеr.
Нe knеw when to stoр; pushing tоo hаrd would оnly make her ignore him.
Changing the subject, he frowned pitifully. “Jiaojiao, my hand hurts.”
But he still held onto the rose in his hand.
Shen Jiaojiao let out a sigh and said with annoyance, “Serves you right. With such long thorns, who else would it hurt but you?”
She took the rose and set it aside, then carefully lifted Wen Shanyi’s hand, lowering her head to gently remove the rose thorns.
The girl’s warm breath brushed against his palm.
Wen Shanyi could feel how light and tender Shen Jiaojiao’s movements were.
He lowered his gaze, watching her silky hair cascading over his arm, and gently raised his other hand to stroke it.
This intimate closeness deepened Wen Shanyi’s greedy desires.
This was Shen Jiaojiao’s first time bandaging a wound. Not only was she slow, but the bandage was crooked and messy.
She used up an entire roll of gauze, nearly wrapping Wen Shanyi’s hand into a dumpling.
Tying it off with a bow, she said earnestly, “Don’t hurt yourself again.”
Wen Shanyi’s smile widened. “Jiaojiao would feel sorry for me, wouldn’t she?”
Shen Jiaojiao shot him a reproachful look. “I wouldn’t.”
She stood up. “I’m going back to rest. Mr. Shen, make yourself at home.”
With that, Shen Jiaojiao hurried away, her retreating figure almost fleeing in panic.
Only when Shen Jiaojiao was out of sight did Wen Shanyi look away.
He picked up the rose left on the chair, took a light sniff, and chuckled softly.
Wen Shanyi waited until the banquet ended, the guests dispersed, and the entire Shen family villa fell silent before leaving the garden.
When he ran into Shen Zhenghao, he pretended to be tipsy, successfully prompting Shen Zhenghao to ask:
“Shanyi, are you drunk? It’s late now. Why not stay the night? Or I can arrange a driver for you.”
Wen Shanyi smiled. “Wouldn’t staying over trouble you too much, Uncle Shen?”
Shen Zhenghao didn’t overthink it. How could he have imagined that Wen Shanyi’s stay had anything to do with Shen Jiaojiao?
He cheerfully instructed the butler, “Go prepare a guest room for Mr. Shen, and be quick about it.”
After giving the order, Shen Zhenghao turned back to Wen Shanyi. “Shanyi, wait a moment. Shall we chat over there?”
Wen Shanyi nodded. It was still necessary to build a closer relationship with his future father-in-law.
One humble, the other straightforward, the two chatted happily.
Wen Shanyi spoke of how Shen Zhenghao had been his childhood idol and how much he had admired him back then.
He even claimed that his achievements today were thanks to Shen Zhenghao as his spiritual mentor.
This flattered Shen Zhenghao so much that he beamed with joy, unable to close his mouth.
No wonder the unfamiliar Wen Shanyi had agreed to invest. So that was the reason.
The more they talked, the more satisfied Shen Zhenghao became with Wen Shanyi.
What a pity. If it had been two years earlier, he would have married Jiaojiao off to Wen Shanyi.
When Xie Yanqing came downstairs, he happened to see the two chatting happily. He pursed his lips, paused, and then turned back upstairs.As he turned, a flash of white in the corner of his eye sparked something in his mind.
But the thought was too fleeting, vanishing in an instant.
While passing by Shen Jiaojiao’s door, Xie Yanqing heard voices inside. After a moment’s thought, he knocked.
Shen Jiaojiao opened the door quickly, holding her phone as she video-called her mother.
Seeing it was Xie Yanqing, she tilted the phone closer to him so both appeared on the screen.
Xie Yanqing nodded politely. “Good evening, Mom.”
Shen Jiaojiao’s mother was a gentle woman with striking looks, and Shen Jiaojiao took after her.
“Good evening, Yanqing. It’s been a while.”
Xie Yanqing smiled slightly. “Once things settle down, I’ll take Jiaojiao to visit you abroad.”
“That would be lovely. Jiaojiao mentioned coming to see me just the other day. You should both come together.”
Mrs. Shen smiled warmly, noticing their closeness, and teased, “Alright, Jiaojiao, you and Yanqing should rest now. I’ll hang up.”
“Okay, okay. Goodbye, Mom.”
Shen Jiaojiao ended the call and looked up at Xie Yanqing. “Why aren’t you resting yet?”
Xie Yanqing pulled her into his arms, leaning down to gently inhale the scent of her hair.
Her fragrance could ease his tense nerves.
But with that breath, besides Shen Jiaojiao’s unique sweet scent,
Xie Yanqing also caught a somewhat familiar aroma, as if he had just smelled it recently.
Sandalwood.
Xie Yanqing’s deep eyes grew obscure, dark shadows swirling within them.
He released Shen Jiaojiao without a change in expression, his tone calm. “I’m about to rest. Goodnight, Jiaojiao.”
Shen Jiaojiao nodded. After exchanging a goodnight kiss, Xie Yanqing left her room.
When he returned to the room the Shen family had prepared for him, Xie Yanqing didn’t turn on the light.
In the darkness, he seemed to merge with the shadows.
After a long while, he opened his phone and typed a message: 【Check where that phone has appeared recently.】
A reply came quickly: 【Aside from the usual beauty salon and shopping malls—Huating, Deep Color Bar, and Yushui Bay. Nothing unusual.】
Xie Yanqing tossed his phone aside and sprawled uncharacteristically across the bed like a starfish.
Troubled thoughts gave him a headache.
As someone with an intense need for control, he had given Shen Jiaojiao the phone only to prevent any unexpected incidents, so he could find her immediately if needed.
Xie Yanqing covered his face. Love truly had a way of changing people beyond recognition.