Сhарtеr 20: Вending Down to Рut Нer High Нeels Оn
Yuаn Неzhi sаt in thе small living rооm fоr hаlf an hour, thеn glanced at his рhоne. Нis mаgnеtiс, dеeр vоiсe soundеd: “Wifе, I might neеd to have аn onlinе meeting. Cоuld yоu helр mе find a slightly quiеter plaсе?”
Тhis sеemed tо bе thе first timе Yuan Hеzhi had сalled hеr “wife.”
Jiang Li wаs slow to rеact for а fеw sеcоnds, hеr fair and obеdient fасe loоking dazed, аs if markеd bу а demоn. Who madе his voicе sо full оf control, as if she were destinеd tо be his wife for all еtеrnity.
Jiang Li stoоd uр and led Yuan Hezhi upstairs.
“I don’t have a study at home, so why don’t you go to my room? It’s at the end of the hallway and very quiet.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Li’s room was very pink. When the tall, robust man walked in, his sweeping gaze made Jiang Li tremble all over, as if her privacy had been violated.
In reality, Yuan Hezhi was just looking for a place where he could sit.
“Can I sit on that sofa?” he asked, turning his head to look at her, his eyes calm and profound.
“Of course!” Jiang Li’s face flushed red. What was she even imagining!
Yuan Hezhi curled the corner of his lips slightly, put on his wireless earphones, and started the meeting.
He spoke entirely in English, his voice low and precise, full of authority.
Jiang Li sat by the bed, not daring to move around casually for fear of making noise and disturbing his meeting.
She swung her slender legs idly, the red-soled high heels tapping silently on the carpet. Yuan Hezhi’s Oxford shoes were so big. She had never paid close attention to men’s shoes before—were they all this large?
Jiang Li, with her lazy bones, had nothing to lean against behind her, so she slowly lay back on the bed. That felt much more comfortable.
Her slender, graceful figure sank into the bedding. The man looked up, a dark, possessive desire flashing briefly in his eyes.
Soon, Yuan Hezhi finished the remote meeting. He walked to the bedside, bent down to pick up the red-soled high heels she had kicked off, and carefully put them back on her soft, fair feet.
Jiang Li quickly sat up straight, looking at him in surprise. “…Thank you.”
Goodness, why would Yuan Hezhi bend down to put her shoes on? Did he think she was too lazy and couldn’t stand it anymore?
Jiang Li’s goal was to be an exemplary employee, so she couldn’t leave her boss with a negative impression of being lazy and indulgent.
“You might not know this, but I’m usually very disciplined. It’s just that I woke up too early today and wanted to catch a little more sleep.”
Yuan Hezhi raised his hand and gently smoothed her messy hair. “You have a weak constitution, so it’s normal to feel drowsy. Once you build up your health a bit more, you won’t get tired so easily.”
Once her body was better, many things could be done.
Jiang Li hadn’t expected Yuan Hezhi to be so understanding. She immediately crowned him the “World’s Second Best Boss.”
Why second? There had to be room for improvement, after all!
Yuan Hezhi slipped one hand into his pocket. His finely tailored suit was crisp and structured, accentuating his tall, broad-shouldered, and narrow-waisted figure. His low, magnetic voice spoke unhurriedly: “This is your private room. Would you mind showing me around?”
“Of course.” Jiang Li said, “My room isn’t big—you can see everything at a glance. I also have a small walk-in closet, though it might be a bit messy.”
Yuan Hezhi: “That’s fine. I don’t mind.”
What a pervert! Even wanting to see a girl’s walk-in closet? Then all my secrets would be exposed!
Before getting the marriage certificate, she should have tidied up the walk-in closet… right?
There probably wouldn’t be anything that challenged the limits of traditional authority.What was she afraid of? She hadn’t bought any questionable items either.
Jiang Li opened the 37 folding doors of the walk-in closet. Petite in stature, she could come and go with ease, but Yuan Hezhi, tall and solidly built, could barely squeeze through the doorway.
Jiang Li said, “It’s just clothes, nothing interesting to see.”
Her sleepwear was all strappy, yet she insisted on wearing long sleeves and pants in front of him—was she guarding against him?
This realization left him somewhat displeased.
Yuan Hezhi lowered his gaze with a faint smile, his dark eyes inscrutable. “Don’t be nervous, little rabbit. I just want to see where you’ve lived. Even if some indescribable little toys show up, I won’t get jealous. This closet is too small—it’s not even as big as the bathroom at home. When we go back, I’ll prepare a larger walk-in closet for you.”
His voice was gentle and calm, seemingly using a consultative tone, but his domineering attitude brooked no argument, exuding the commanding presence of someone in control.
Jiang Li’s lips parted slightly, unable to voice any rebuttal.
“You… don’t be so harsh. I never said I wouldn’t accept it.”
Though a little afraid, she wrapped her arms around Yuan Hezhi’s waist, her sweet, trembling voice dangerously tempting him.
“Husband, do you feel sorry for me? Do you think I’ve suffered a lot in the Jiang family? Then be nicer to me from now on. You’re the only dear husband I’ll have from now on, so don’t speak to me so coldly and harshly, okay? It hurts to hear, and I thought you didn’t want me anymore. I feel so insecure, wuwu…”
Yuan Hezhi’s large hand supported her slender waist, and he realized his earlier attitude had been too forceful. But years of privilege and domineering self-assurance made it difficult for him to bow his head and apologize to anyone.
Fortunately, she wasn’t the type to endure grievances. The slightest dissatisfaction had to be spoken, and she knew how to yield.
“I’m not abandoning you.” Yuan Hezhi planted a kiss on Jiang Li’s head, his palm unconsciously tightening with a terrifying force, as if wanting to press her into his very bones and blood.
“Ouch!” Jiang Li cried out in surprise.
“Sorry.”
Yuan Hezhi quickly released his grip. Just then, someone knocked on the door, announcing that the Ye family’s betrothal procession had arrived and requesting they come downstairs.
Jiang Li glanced at the time—exactly eleven o’clock.
As Ye Yuchen entered the Jiang family villa, he wore an apologetic expression, offering his apologies.
The Jiang couple felt somewhat displeased, but natural disasters and unforeseen misfortunes were unpredictable, and they couldn’t blame Ye Yuchen for anything.
Jiang Deming asked, “Are you injured?”
Ye Yuchen replied, “Thank you for your concern, Uncle Jiang. I’m fine. It was the girl who got hurt. I took her to the hospital, which delayed me.”
Jiang Song’er’s face darkened. She was angry but didn’t know who to blame, so she muttered under her breath, “Damn little bitch, ruining my auspicious day with such bad luck.”
Hearing the words “little bitch,” Ye Yuchen’s smile froze at the corners of his lips.
In his past life, Jiang Li had praised him for being understanding and not holding his tardiness against him. Jiang Song’er, who had received a better education than Jiang Li, should have been even more reasonable.
Jiang Song’er said irritably, “It’s almost twelve o’clock now. Who proposes at noon? There’s no sense of propriety at all. Today’s proposal doesn’t count. Brother Ye, come back tomorrow morning to propose. Remember, don’t be later than seven-thirty.”
Who had no sense of propriety?
Ye Yuchen’s expression instantly darkened, and he couldn’t help but say, “From start to finish, have any of you asked for my opinion?”
“Brother Ye, what are you saying? Don’t you want to marry me?” Struck by his words, Jiang Song’er teared up, leaning on Madam Jiang’s shoulder and wailing inconsolably.”Since you don’t want to marry me, why did you hypocritically agree to the marriage proposal? Since you agreed, why can’t you follow through? Mom and Dad, look—you’ve raised an ungrateful wretch. You need to discipline him! Now that he’s grown his wings, today he casually brushes me off, tomorrow he’ll dare to casually brush off Dad!”