Сhарtеr 4: Fighting for the Cоntrаct Wife 4
Still frightеned, Shen Jiаоjiао kерt her еуеs tightly shut аs she wаs pulled intо аn embrаcе.
Хiе Yanqing соuld clеаrlу sее hеr dаmp еyеlаshes and the rednеss at thе tip оf hеr nоsе—she had сlearlу bееn сrying fоr a whilе.
With her eуеs сlоsеd, Xiе Yanqing could nоw ореnlу and carеfullу оbservе her fаce.
Реrhарs becаusе she had bеen crуing, hеr bеаutiful faсе appeared somеwhat рitiful аnd dеliсаte.
Whу hadn’t he notiсed hоw lovеly shе looked before?
Xie Yanqing’s gaze unconsciously deepened. The two were pressed close together, and the skin where they touched seemed to burn.
Shen Jiaojiao was still wearing that spaghetti-strap nightgown. Due to her recent fall, one of the straps had slipped from her fair shoulder, revealing the delicate curve of her collarbone.
Xie Yanqing felt his heartbeat grow erratic again. Perhaps it was beating too fast, for Shen Jiaojiao, pressed against his chest, finally reacted and abruptly opened her eyes.
Hmm, those misty almond-shaped eyes were also tinged with red.
Paired with her somewhat dazed and startled expression, she looked like a little rabbit.
Quite adorable…
Xie Yanqing’s eyes flickered, maintaining his slightly bent posture as he waited for Shen Jiaojiao to fully regain her senses.
He didn’t know what had come over him. Usually, he avoided all women without exception.
But now, with this soft, fragrant warmth in his arms, he could finally identify the scent that had troubled him all night.
The pleasant fragrance entered his lungs, soothing his body, which had been weary from a long day.
Perhaps that was why he was reluctant to let go.
“Ah…” Shen Jiaojiao finally came to her senses and realized she was completely enveloped in Xie Yanqing’s embrace.
His tall frame and her petite figure seemed to fit together perfectly…
A blush instantly spread across Shen Jiaojiao’s gentle and delicate face, standing out vividly against her fair skin.
Her eyelashes fluttered lightly, and she lifted her gaze to steal a glance at Xie Yanqing.
Only to find him looking back at her, his eyes deep and intense.
Shen Jiaojiao quickly lowered her gaze, steadied herself, and took two steps back.
“Th-thank you, Yanqing.”
Seeing her like this, Xie Yanqing felt inexplicably displeased.
Was it necessary to avoid him as if he were a threat?
Xie Yanqing raised an eyebrow, a faint smile appearing on his refined and reserved face. “Why are you calling my name?”
Shen Jiaojiao looked up at him in surprise, her expression clearly conveying her disbelief that he was joking at a time like this.
The corners of Xie Yanqing’s lips lifted slightly. He had never realized before that his contract wife could be so amusing.
He hadn’t known he had such a mischievous side.
Shen Jiaojiao’s pretty face flushed even redder, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness. “I meant to say thank you…”
Xie Yanqing’s lips curved into a smile. He turned around, poured two glasses of water, and handed one to Shen Jiaojiao.
Only after they sat down did he realize this was the first time since they had met that they were sitting together on the same sofa.
Xie Yanqing took a sip of water, the restlessness in his heart finally easing somewhat.
He asked casually, “Why were you crying?”
Xie Yanqing had already guessed. The Shen family was facing difficulties, and they likely wanted to use Shen Jiaojiao to gain something from him.
Like what he had just overheard—a child.
Shen Jiaojiao pursed her lips, her slender neck bowed as she stared blankly at the glass of water in her hands.
Xie Yanqing wasn’t in a hurry. He simply waited quietly for her response.
After a while, Shen Jiaojiao finally shook her head gently. “It’s nothing.”Xie Yanqing’s upturned lips pressed back down. Indeed, given their relationship, they hadn’t reached the level of heart-to-heart talks yet.
He should have left, but Xie Yanqing stood up and picked up the phone from the floor.
He checked it—it was already shattered, and the screen wouldn’t light up.
“I’ll have Assistant Li bring a new phone over tomorrow.”
Xie Yanqing handed the phone to Shen Jiaojiao. His towering posture made him seem overwhelmingly imposing, accentuating Shen Jiaojiao’s delicate figure even more.
Shen Jiaojiao reached out to take it, their fingers brushing unintentionally.
Xie Yanqing lowered his arm, his fingers unconsciously rubbing together twice.
Shen Jiaojiao adjusted her expression, returning to her usual polite yet distant demeanor.
She shook her head. “No need, I can buy one myself.”
Xie Yanqing’s tone was steady but left no room for doubt. “Assistant Li will deliver it tomorrow morning.”
Shen Jiaojiao lightly bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then finally replied, “Then… thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Xie Yanqing’s expression remained indifferent. “Rest early. I’ll head back to my room first.”
“…Okay.”
Xie Yanqing took one last look at Shen Jiaojiao, downed the cold water in the cup on the table in one gulp, then turned and returned to his room without looking back.
Shen Jiaojiao watched his robust back, still visible even through his bathrobe, and thought of the chest muscles she had just pressed against. Her eyes flickered twice.
………
The next day, when Shen Jiaojiao woke up, Xie Yanqing had already left.
Just after Shen Jiaojiao finished breakfast, Aunt Zhang brought Assistant Li over.
“Miss Shen, this is the phone Mr. Xie asked me to give you.”
Assistant Li handed the phone to Shen Jiaojiao and quickly lowered his head, hiding his look of astonishment.
In truth, the people at Xie Corporation were no strangers to Shen Jiaojiao. After all, every time Xie Yanqing stayed at Yushui Bay, she would bring a lovingly prepared lunch to the company to see him the next day.
But… why did Miss Shen seem even more vibrant now?
Recalling the expression on Xie Yanqing’s face when he handed him the phone this morning, Assistant Li straightened up a bit.
This wasn’t a phone Xie Yanqing had asked them to buy. Instead, it was one he had procured from somewhere—the same model he used himself.
It wasn’t even available on the market.
“Alright, thank you for making the trip, Assistant Li.”
“Not at all, not at all.”
Assistant Li didn’t leave but stood to the side, almost like a bodyguard.
Shen Jiaojiao found it a bit strange. “Doesn’t Assistant Li need to return to the company?”
Why was he still here?
Only then did Assistant Li straighten up and say, “Mr. Xie asked me to drive you to the company.”
Shen Jiaojiao was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
Since it was already past ten, she asked Aunt Zhang to prepare lunch.
Shen Jiaojiao returned to her bedroom to change clothes. She chose a simple pink dress, her hair loosely tied at the back, with stray strands casually falling on either side of her forehead.
She wore no makeup, but her minimalist attire and clean, natural face stunned the employees at Xie Corporation.
In the internal slacking-off group chat:
[Why does it feel like the CEO’s wife has become even more beautiful after not seeing her for over half a month?]
[I envy the CEO for having such a beautiful wife. Wuwuwu, I want one too.]
[The person above has been removed from the group chat.]
Meanwhile, in a clean, bright office, a woman wearing a white professional suit was looking at her phone with a complicated expression.
Her features were delicate and graceful, and her temperament somewhat resembled Shen Jiaojiao’s—both gentle and refined.
He Chuya pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and finally stood up. She picked up the documents on her desk and headed toward the elevator.When she first returned to the country and started working at Xie Corporation, she harbored hidden intentions, only to learn that Xie Yanqing was already married.
Now, she wanted to see Xie Yanqing’s wife.