Сhарtеr 17: Fighting for the Cоntrаct Wife 17
Хie Yanqing hаd bееn unаblе tо sleер аll night, but his regulаr routinе still woke him uр аt six-thirtу.
Aftеr his usuаl mоrning run with Shen Jiаоjiaо, thе sеrvаnts hаd аlrеadу prерared a full tablе of brеakfаst.
Воth Сhinese аnd Western орtiоns wеre аvailаble.
Shen Zhеnghао invitеd thе two tо sit down. He sаt орроsite them, while Хiе Yаnqing and Shеn Jiaоjiao sаt sidе bу sidе.
As soоn аs they wеre seаtеd, thеу saw а tаll figure coming down the stairs and hеading tоwаrd thе dining tаblе.
Shen Jiаojiao сouldn’t hеlp but widеn her еyes when she saw who it was. Why was this person staying at her house for the night??
Shen Zhenghao enthusiastically waved him over. “Shanyi, come have breakfast. Sit here with me.”
Wen Shanyi smiled. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
After taking his seat, he placed his hands on the table, one of them still wrapped in a bandage.
Shen Zhenghao asked curiously, “Shanyi, what happened to your hand?”
Wen Shanyi replied casually, “Just a minor cut. It’s nothing serious, Uncle Shen, no need to worry.”
Xie Yanqing, sitting directly opposite him, felt his eyes turn cold in an instant. His mind was struck as if by a thunderbolt.
Suddenly, all his confusion became clear.
The blood on the floor, the sandalwood scent on Jiaojiao, Wen Shanyi’s familiarity with Shen Zhenghao.
Everything fell into place, and Xie Yanqing felt he had found the answer.
That answer chilled him to the bone.
Xie Yanqing felt a cold shiver run through his body. He clenched his chopsticks so tightly that his knuckles seemed about to protrude.
In the end, it was an irrational sense of hope that allowed Xie Yanqing to quickly calm down.
He shouldn’t be making such assumptions about Shen Jiaojiao.
Wen Shanyi gave Xie Yanqing a meaningful glance. Well, he’s quite composed.
If he hadn’t been closely watching his expression, he wouldn’t have noticed Xie Yanqing’s unusual reaction.
A serious look flashed in Wen Shanyi’s eyes. This is a formidable opponent.
The rest of breakfast only confirmed this for Wen Shanyi.
Although Xie Yanqing had temporarily set aside his suspicions, the instinct of a male defending his territory made him shower Shen Jiaojiao with attention throughout the entire meal.
It was so obvious that even a strand of hair seemed to declare that Jiaojiao was his wife.
“Jiaojiao, let me get you some rice noodle rolls? I didn’t expect the chef here to be even better than Aunt Zhang.”
“Jiaojiao, would you like some porridge? Let me serve you.”
“Jiaojiao, these shrimp dumplings are delicious. Have a couple more.”
“Jiaojiao…”
Across the table, Shen Zhenghao couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy seeing how close the two had become.
He laughed heartily. “Hahaha, you two should tone it down a bit. You’re showering us with affection, and we have a guest here.”
As soon as Shen Zhenghao finished speaking, he felt the air around him suddenly grow colder, and his arm inexplicably felt a chill.
He rubbed his arm and asked Wen Shanyi beside him in confusion, “Shanyi, are you cold? Why does it feel like the draft is blowing right at us?”
Wen Shanyi gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “Not cold.”
Shen Zhenghao didn’t understand but felt even colder.
Shen Jiaojiao shrank her neck, quietly trying to make herself less noticeable as she lowered her head to eat the food in her bowl, avoiding looking anywhere else.
Unfortunately, she was already too full to eat any more. Her stomach was stuffed. (╥﹏╥)
Only Xie Yanqing curled his lips into a cold smile before turning to pick up a napkin and gently wipe Shen Jiaojiao’s mouth.
Immediately, he felt a gaze as sharp as a knife land on his hand.
Xie Yanqing suddenly realized that his frustration from earlier and throughout the night had been nothing but unnecessary worry. It was just some shameless person coveting his treasure.
But he had the marriage certificate. He was Shen Jiaojiao’s rightful husband.Those men who can’t even make it onto the stage are nothing but rats in the gutter.
Thinking this, Xie Yanqing’s furrowed brows relaxed, his affectionate eyes overflowing with tenderness: “Jiaojiao, have another bowl of porridge?”
Shen Jiaojiao quickly shook her head, she was about to make her escape: “Yanqing, I’m full. Dad, Mr. Shen, please take your time. I’m going upstairs to do my makeup. Yanqing, don’t wait for me, it’ll take me two hours to get ready.”
Without waiting for a response from the three, Shen Jiaojiao dashed off in a flash.
Shen Zhenghao shook his head with a smile: “I’ve really spoiled Jiaojiao. She’s over twenty but still acts like a child. Yanqing, Shanyi, please continue eating.”
“No, Dad. I’m full too.”
“Uncle Shen, I’m done as well.”
Xie Yanqing and Wen Shanyi put down their chopsticks simultaneously, their gazes colliding—one cold, the other icy.
Only the clueless Shen Zhenghao rubbed the goosebumps on his arm in confusion, muttering softly: “Why is it so cold? Did I catch a cold?”
Assuming his constitution had weakened, he then asked Xie Yanqing with interest: “Yanqing, where are you going hiking today? The weather is nice. If I weren’t afraid of being a third wheel, I’d love to join. It’s been so long since I exercised, my bones feel stiff.”
Xie Yanqing wiped his lips and said: “I plan to take Jiaojiao to Pingleshan.”
Shen Zhenghao nodded: “Alright, then I won’t be a third wheel. You two go ahead.”
Wen Shanyi’s eyes flickered, and he spoke up: “How about you and I go together, Uncle Shen? It’s the weekend, and I’d just be alone at home. Might as well go hiking.”
Shen Zhenghao was delighted and agreed immediately: “Great, then let’s all go together. Is that okay, Yanqing?”
He genuinely liked Wen Shanyi—handsome and polite, not to mention he was now a major benefactor to their family.
Strengthening their relationship could only bring benefits, no downsides.
Moreover, in his view, Xie Yanqing and Wen Shanyi had no real conflict. They both seemed courteous, probably just some competition at work.
Xie Yanqing clenched his jaw. Since someone insisted on inviting trouble, he would oblige.
He smiled politely: “Of course. Then Mr. Wen and Dad can come with us.”
Shen Zhenghao happily stood up, saying he was going to change.
Only the two men sitting across from each other remained at the dining table—one composed and unruffled, the other aloof and detached. To outsiders, they were two exceptionally handsome men.
But now, these two exceptionally handsome men were engaged in a cold standoff, the silent sparks crackling as if about to shatter the plates on the table.
Xie Yanqing spoke with a sarcastic tone: “Mr. Wen really has a lot of free time.”
Wen Shanyi chuckled lightly: “So does Mr. Xie.”
“I’m spending time with my own wife, of course I have the time.” Xie Yanqing curled his lips, wearing a half-smile.
Wen Shanyi was furious, but he still had to force a smile at the person he despised.
“Oh.”
The atmosphere grew tense as the two stared at each other, their eyes stabbing at one another hundreds of times over.
Wen Shanyi adjusted his posture, relaxing even more: “I heard before that Mr. Xie and Jiaojiao had a marriage of convenience. Seeing you today, it doesn’t seem that way. Or is it just an act?”
Xie Yanqing was hit where it hurt. Although his relationship with Shen Jiaojiao wasn’t an act now, in the past… it really was exactly as Wen Shanyi said.His tone cooled slightly. “I never heard before that President Wen was the gossipy type. If your admirers found out you’re actually like this, they’d probably be quite disappointed.”
Tch, what a so-called unattainable flower.
The smile at Wen Shanyi’s lips turned colder. “Everyone gossips a little, doesn’t they? Surely President Xie must have some curiosity of his own?”
He paused, then added with a hint of malice, “For example—who tied this ribbon into a bow?”