Zhan Yan Chen closed the apartment door and helped Yan Qing remove her wristwatch. “Wife, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.” Yan Qing lowered her gaze, avoiding Zhan Yan Chen’s eyes, as her heartbeat gradually returned to normal.
It wasn’t love—it was her superficiality, her greed for his beauty.
“Wife, the way you were looking at me just now wasn’t innocent.” Zhan Yan Chen slowly leaned closer to her, the corners of his lips curling upward. “Did you want to kiss me?”
Yan Qing’s heart trembled. He looked so pure yet so alluring, but his gaze held an aggressive intensity.
She argued defensively, “No, don’t accuse me.”
“Wife, don’t be shy. We’re husband and wife. It’s perfectly reasonable and legal for you to kiss me.”
Right, they were already married. Greedily admiring her husband’s beauty was perfectly reasonable and legal.
Yan Qing swallowed hard and declared boldly, “Kiss me!”
Zhan Yan Chen immediately lowered his head and captured her crimson lips, cradling her head as he pressed her against the wall behind her.
Their breaths intertwined, tender and captivating. Zhan Yan Chen deepened the kiss inch by inch, his intensity making Yan Qing’s legs feel weak.
Unconsciously, Yan Qing wrapped her arms around his neck.
Before losing control, Zhan Yan Chen slowly released Yan Qing. He loved her deeply but knew how to restrain himself.
Yan Qing pulled away from his embrace, panting heavily. “Are you trying to kiss me to death?”
Zhan Yan Chen took her small fist and gently kissed it. “With someone you like, the kiss should be deep.”
“Yours was so deep I almost suffocated.”
“Sister, I’ll be gentler this time.”
Yan Qing hurriedly raised her hand to stop him. “Let’s eat first.”
By the time they sat down in the dining room, both had returned to their usual composure.
The dinner Zhan Yan Chen prepared consisted of home-style dishes that Yan Qing loved.
As she enjoyed the delicious, light dishes, Yan Qing asked curiously, “Little brother, why have you never lived on campus?”
Zhan Yan Chen served her some rib soup. “Because I’m married and need to come home to take care of my wife.”
Yan Qing choked on her words—an impeccable answer.
Zhan Yan Chen gazed intently at Yan Qing. “Wife, do you like it when I kiss you?”
Yan Qing’s face flushed, but she didn’t shy away. She nodded honestly.
Zhan Yan Chen smiled. “Liking my kisses means you like me.”
“I don’t know what it feels like to like someone.” Yan Qing forced a dry laugh. “Other girls with similar experiences have already turned in their papers, but I haven’t even started writing.”
Zhan Yan Chen narrowed his eyes subtly. “You didn’t choose an answer randomly just because others had already turned in their papers.”
She had chosen once before, just to escape the pressure to marry.
“Not long before we got married, I went to the civil affairs bureau with a blind date, but that person ran away at the door.” Yan Qing looked up, her gaze fixed directly on Zhan Yan Chen.
Thankfully, that person had run away. Otherwise, she might never have met this treasure of a little brother, this husband who brought her luck.
Zhan Yan Chen guessed her thoughts, his eyes filled with deep amusement. “Qing Qing, what kind of relationship do you want?”
“A mutual understanding in the simplicity of everyday life.” Yan Qing asked him, “What about you?”
Zhan Yan Chen revealed a gentle, innocent smile. “During the day, sister takes care of me; at night, I take care of sister.”
Yan Qing: “…”
After dinner, Yan Qing took a shower and went to the study to prepare the contract for a new collaboration.
After his shower, Zhan Yan Chen went to the study to find her and saw her asleep on the desk. Heart aching, he carried her back to the bedroom and laid her in the center of the large bed.
He then sat by the bed, watching her. Now that she was asleep, he didn’t have to pretend, but he still smiled softly. He reached out, stroking her cheek over and over, his amber eyes brimming with boundless affection.
“Goodnight, my little princess.”
Zhan Yan Chen tucked her in, then quietly stepped out to prepare the contract for her.
The next day.
After signing the brand sponsorship contract, Yan Qing returned to the company with Zhan Yunduan.
“Qing-jie, this time we managed to secure the collaboration smoothly, and this contract of yours played a huge part,” Zhan Yunduan excitedly wrapped an arm around Yan Qing’s shoulder. “If Qing-jie were a man, I’d definitely marry you!”
“If love between two lasts long, does it matter whether they are man or woman?” Yan Qing lowered her gaze to the contract in her hand. Last night, she had been too tired and had fallen asleep after writing only a little of it. When she woke up, she found this flawless contract placed by her bedside.
“This contract wasn’t written by me.”
Zhan Yunduan understood instantly. “Your husband wrote it!”
“Who else?”
“Otherwise, he’d be jungling at TTG,” Zhan Yunduan said sweetly. “Qing-jie, your husband is so good to you!”
Yan Qing smiled radiantly, alluring and captivating. He could cook, had sharp business insight, and was considerate enough to help share her workload. Such a perfect husband—she felt she was almost falling for him.
Two hours later, after finishing her work at the company, Yan Qing went to Zhan Yunduan’s office.
“Duanduan, I’m heading to the factory. You’ll be in charge of the designer interviews this afternoon.”
Zhan Yunduan took the resumes from Yan Qing. “Don’t worry, leave it to me.”
Five days later, at the airport in the capital.
Fu Zhan Yu was traveling to Shenzhen on a business trip.
Just as he settled into his first-class seat, he saw Rong Yan walking over in a black professional suit.
Fu Zhan Yu was slightly taken aback. He gave a slight nod to Rong Yan, his voice gentle and warm. “Attorney Rong, what a coincidence.”
Another chance encounter.
Rong Yan nodded and took the seat to his right, separated by an aisle.
“What a coincidence, are you also heading to Shenzhen for business?”
“Yes, attending the opening ceremony of a branch company.” Considering He Lin’s reminder, Fu Zhan Yu asked, “Attorney Rong, what brings you on this trip?”
Rong Yan was genuinely on a business trip this time. “Investigating and gathering evidence.”
Fu Zhan Yu wasn’t entirely at ease with her going alone. “If you need any help, just let me know.”
“Thank you.”
After their brief exchange, Fu Zhan Yu took a work-related call, while Rong Yan pondered her case.
After the plane took off, Rong Yan glanced over and saw Fu Zhan Yu with his eyes closed, resting. She could no longer focus on the case and secretly watched him instead.
Even when he was asleep, doing nothing and saying nothing, he still soothed the unhappiness in her heart.
Suddenly, two excited voices sounded nearby.
Passenger 1: “He’s so handsome—steady, sexy, yet distant, with the demeanor of someone in power.”
Passenger 2: “How much dowry would it take to marry him?”
Rong Yan slowly turned her head and saw that the two girls were indeed staring at Fu Zhan Yu. Her starry eyes seemed to frost over, sending a chill down their spines.
The two girls awkwardly closed their mouths, not daring to say another word.
Beautiful and elegant, but unfortunately, she was an ice-cold beauty.
Nine o’clock in the evening, at the CK Hotel in Shenzhen.
The branch company assistant helped Fu Zhan Yu, who was unsteady on his feet, back to the hotel.
As they stepped out of the elevator, Fu Zhan Yu suddenly said, “Hold onto me.”
The assistant quickly supported him and followed his gaze. There, leaning against a room door, was the aloof lawyer the Fu Zhan Yu had mentioned. The assistant smiled suggestively.
Seeing Fu Zhan Yu being helped back, Rong Yan straightened up with a frown.
“Is he drunk?”
“Yes! Attorney Rong, the boss was forced to drink by the company folks and is completely out of it. I have something urgent to attend to, so could you please help take care of him?” The assistant finished speaking, swiped open the boss’s room door, and dashed off.
Rong Yan quickly steadied Fu Zhan Yu, who was about to collapse, and helped him back to his room.
A few minutes later, after helping Fu Zhan Yu wipe his face, Rong Yan sat by the bedside, making sure he was sound asleep before daring to gaze at him freely.
Six years had passed, and her once rebellious youth had grown up, becoming stronger and more outstanding than before.
Unconsciously, scenes of mutual redemption, growth, embraces, passionate kisses, and eventual rupture with Fu Zhan Yu surfaced before Rong Yan’s eyes.
Scenes of her breaking Fu Zhan Yu’s pride, locking him on the bed, imprisoning him in a cage, and Fu Zhan Yu preferring death over staying with her…
Rong Yan suppressed the dormant little demon stirring restlessly within her, reached out, and let her fingertips touch Fu Zhan Yu’s face.
The moment she made contact, she quickly withdrew her hand as if afraid of being discovered, rising to leave when her wrist was abruptly seized.
“Fu…” Rong Yan had barely spoken when she felt the world spin around her. By the time she regained her senses, she was already pulled into Fu Zhan Yu’s embrace.