Wen Zhaoning felt a dangerous stirring from someone.
Wasn't he just sitting there slowly drinking coffee? When did he react?
I'm just eating a potsticker, I'm not that sexy, am I?
It seems the fire that was suppressed last night is all waiting to burn this morning.
"I think... exercising right after eating isn't very good, is it?"
"Then let's chat for a while first."
"Chat about what?"
"Let's talk about what positions you like."
Wen Zhaoning couldn't hold back, her face instantly turned red, but seeing He Huaiqin's calm demeanor, she didn't intend to back down.
"Anything is fine, but I prefer to be on top."
"Like this?" He lifted his thigh, bouncing her up, and asked in a negotiating tone, "Why don't we start here in this position?"
In the restaurant? On the chair?
Wen Zhaoning hadn't done this in many years, but she couldn't handle such excitement.
"Um... I want to take a bath first."
"It's not good to take a bath right after eating." He Huaiqin's hands rubbed her waist back and forth, "Besides, I already washed you completely clean last night."
Speaking of last night, those scenes and sensations clearly popped back into her mind.
He Huaiqin could no longer hold back. He hooked Wen Zhaoning's chin and precisely covered her lips with his.
Wen Zhaoning sat askew in his arms, his scorching lips and tongue grinding against hers, their breaths becoming heavy and disordered.
This time it didn't feel like a test, this time it felt like he was serious.
Are we really going to do it on this chair?
Wen Zhaoning couldn't take it anymore: "How about we go to the room instead?"
"Scared?" He Huaiqin sneered, "Don't you like to be on top?"
"Different places for different activities. Doing it here will affect my appetite for eating later."
He Huaiqin hadn't intended to do it in the restaurant anyway. Hearing this, he swept her up into his arms and strode briskly towards the stairs.
As he walked, he continued to kiss her.
Wen Zhaoning nestled in He Huaiqin's arms. The bumpy feeling of the stairs made the kiss more stimulating and uncontrollable. She felt dizzy, her heartbeat becoming more chaotic with each step upwards.
Finally, He Huaiqin placed her on the bed.
"Miss Wen, now, I'm going to celebrate your divorce."
After a six-year gap, Wen Zhaoning was a bit unaccustomed to the first round.
He Huaiqin wasn't much better.
So, the overall feeling was that they were clumsy and messy.
After it was over, they lay side by side, adjusting their breathing.
He Huaiqin: "You're so rusty, it seems Miss Wen really hasn't had a husband and wife life in a long time."
Wen Zhaoning: "Lawyer He wasn't much better either, like a rookie soldier, only reckless, not as good as six years ago."
He Huaiqin flipped over and pinned her down: "It's okay, we have plenty of time to adjust."
"Again?"
"If I don't do it again, wouldn't taking a day off work be a waste?"
"..."
He Huaiqin took a day off work, and they spent a day and a night in bed.
Of course, they paused in between. They had lunch and supper, and even took a bath together, but these were just pauses. Every time Wen Zhaoning thought, "This must be the end," He Huaiqin would excitedly come onto her again.
Wen Zhaoning suspected he had installed a perpetual motion machine in himself.
She didn't want to admit it, but he was indeed stronger than six years ago.
How could someone grow younger in reverse? This isn't scientific, is it?
It was truly over by the early morning of the next day.
Wen Zhaoning lay on the bed, her whole body feeling like it had been taken apart and reassembled. Even moving her fingers felt strenuous.
The sound of water from the shower came from the bathroom.
He Huaiqin finished showering and went into the walk-in closet. After a while, he changed into a sharp, dark suit. While adjusting his watch, he walked to the bedside.
"I have an appointment with a client this morning, so I'm leaving. You sleep."
Wen Zhaoning looked up at him. His face had a post-shower freshness, and there wasn't the slightest hint of fatigue in his expression. Instead, he had a look of post-meal satisfaction and radiance.
"Are you human?" Wen Zhaoning couldn't help but ask.
"What do you think?"
"I think you're a beast."
"Thank you for the compliment." He Huaiqin reached out and tucked the quilt around Wen Zhaoning, "I hope this changes Miss Wen's ingrained impression of me being small, fast, and weak."
Wen Zhaoning finally understood. The reason he had gone all out last night was to prove himself.
Trouble really does come from speaking carelessly.
After He Huaiqin left, Wen Zhaoning fell back asleep.
She slept so soundly that when she opened her eyes again, the sky outside the window was already a deep ink blue.
He Huaiqin had returned at some point and was now sitting on the sofa replying to emails.
"When did you get back?"
"A while ago." He looked up, glanced at her, put down his laptop, and walked over to her, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
He Huaiqin handed her a tube of ointment: "If you feel uncomfortable, treat it yourself."
Wen Zhaoning glanced at it. It was a soothing and repairing anti-inflammatory ointment.
He actually went to buy this?
"You still know about the trouble you caused." She said irritably.
"Sorry, I didn't expect Miss Wen to be so weak now."
"Who's weak?" Wen Zhaoning's stubbornness flared up again. She threw the ointment back at He Huaiqin, "Who do you look down on? I don't need this thing!"
She put on her robe, threw back the quilt, and got out of bed decisively.
However, Wen Zhaoning had overestimated her body's endurance. As soon as she took a step, she felt a sour weakness and pulling pain from below.
"Hiss—"
She couldn't help but gasp, her knees buckled, and she fell forward uncontrollably.
He Huaiqin seemed to have anticipated this. The moment she got out of bed, he was ready. He stretched out a long arm and easily caught her in a full embrace.
Wen Zhaoning's face hit He Huaiqin's suit, and her pretense of toughness instantly vanished without a trace.
"Heh." He Huaiqin let out a mocking laugh, "Your mouth is the hardest part of your body."
He picked her up, put her back on the bed, and held up the ointment, asking, "Should I apply it for you, or will you do it yourself?"
Wen Zhaoning snatched the ointment: "I'll do it myself!"
"Deal with it and come down for dinner."
Wen Zhaoning changed her clothes upstairs and slowly walked down the stairs, holding onto the handrail.
Downstairs, the aroma of food filled the air, the steam of sweet and sour pork ribs mixed with rice.
She followed the scent and looked towards the open kitchen.
He Huaiqin was stir-frying. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms. He skillfully held the spatula, stir-frying the ingredients in the wok.
The range hood hummed softly, the wok sizzled, and the warm light enveloped him. This scene was so familiar.
When they lived together that year, the small kitchen in their rented apartment was like a steamer. The old electric fan whirred, and the wind it blew was hot. He Huaiqin couldn't bear to see her suffer from the heat, so he took on the cooking every day.
Every time Wen Zhaoning went over, she would see him standing by the stove in a vest, stir-frying, his back and chest soaked with sweat.
She would ignore his sweaty state, rush in, and hug his waist tightly from behind. He would tell her to stop fooling around, yet he couldn't stop the corners of his lips from curling up...
Wen Zhaoning never expected that after six years, He Huaiqin would still be willing to cook for her.
A ripple of an inappropriate emotion stirred in her heart again.
Just then, her phone suddenly rang.
It was her sister, Wen Wanti, calling.
Wen Zhaoning pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard to answer.
"Sis! I just got a call from the bank saying the loan debts have all been paid off!" Wen Wanti's voice wasn't very happy; instead, it carried a hint of worry. "There's no such thing as a free lunch. Why is the Lu family suddenly so cooperative? Are you okay?"
When she called last time and her sister Wen Zhaoning said she wanted a divorce to get back her dowry to pay off debts, Wen Wanti hadn't held out much hope. She knew the Lu family had the power and means to swallow her sister's dowry, but she hadn't expected things to be resolved so quickly.
Wen Wanti now suspected that her sister Wen Zhaoning had made some sacrifice to get that dowry money back.
"Don't overthink it, I'm fine."
"Really fine?"
"Really fine. Don't worry, all the family debts are settled, and you can focus on your studies from now on."
"Where are you and Qing Ning living now?"
"Qing Ning has been sent to Mom and Uncle's. I still have some things to sort out in Shanghai. Once everything here is handled, I'll return to Youshan to develop."
Wen Zhaoning planned to leave Shanghai completely after repaying He Huaiqin, and start anew with her daughter and mother, forgetting everything from the past.
"Okay, then take care of yourself. Call me if anything comes up."
"Yes, you too."
Wen Zhaoning hung up the phone and returned to the living room.
He Huaiqin had already served the meal.
"Come and eat," he said to Wen Zhaoning.
Wen Zhaoning glanced at the dishes on the table. They were all her favorites. Before, when she cooked at He Huaiqin's place, she made dishes he liked because she remembered his preferences. What about him? Was it a coincidence today, or did he also remember her preferences?
"It's so lavish," Wen Zhaoning praised.
"Just casual cooking," He Huaiqin said expressionlessly.
Wen Zhaoning nodded. It made sense. It had been six years. He would be busy remembering his girlfriend's preferences, so how could he still remember hers?
They sat facing each other and ate.
"Under normal circumstances, what time do you usually get off work?" Wen Zhaoning asked.
"Why are you asking?"
"I want to go out and work, and try to find a job that allows me to get home before you finish work."
"You don't need to look for a job. I'll give you my secondary card later. You can swipe it for whatever you want to buy."
"I don't want your money. My being with you now is to repay the kindness of you saving my daughter and helping me with the divorce. I'm in a transaction with you, not being kept. It's one year as agreed, and I don't want to get more involved."
Didn't want to get more involved.
He Huaiqin suddenly lost his appetite. He put down his chopsticks with a "clack," pushed his chair back, got up, grabbed a pack of cigarettes, and went into the courtyard.
"Hey, aren't you eating?" Wen Zhaoning called out to him.
"I'm full."
He was full from being angered by her.
He Huaiqin clearly didn't want Wen Zhaoning to go out and work, but Wen Zhaoning didn't care what he thought. She had set her goal: to earn more money during the year she stayed in Shanghai, save some money, and then return to Youshan to start a business.
This way, she could accompany her mother and daughter while also having her own career, a win-win situation.
Wen Zhaoning was a woman of action. The next day, she started looking for job postings online.
Su Yunxi knew she was looking for a job and immediately sent her a recruitment link.
"Ning Ning, Huo Yuzhou is hiring a personal trainer at the golf club in Qinghe. See if you're interested?"
Wen Zhaoning clicked on the link and carefully reviewed the job requirements. She felt that this job was simply perfect for her.
As a former wealthy young lady, golf was an essential social skill for their class. Wen Zhaoning had received professional training since childhood, and coupled with her own passion and diligent practice, her skill level was very high, more than enough to teach beginner students.
Furthermore, golf personal trainers had considerable income, and their courses could be flexibly scheduled according to appointments, offering more freedom and not conflicting with He Huaiqin's "transaction" time.
"Xixi, I want to give it a try!"
"Okay, then I'll talk to Huo Yuzhou."
"Do I need to talk to Huo Yuzhou?" Wen Zhaoning recalled the scene at the bar when Huo Yuzhou found out she had brought Su Yunxi to hire a male model; his expression was as if he wanted to devour her alive. Wouldn't her chances be better without this backdoor?
"It's okay, he just looks like he has a bad temper, but he's actually not that petty."
"Oh, this is the first time I've heard you speak up for Huo Yuzhou."
Su Yunxi denied it: "I'm not speaking up for him, I'm stating objective facts."
As the CEO of Huo Corporation, Huo Yuzhou owned many businesses. The recruitment of a personal trainer at the golf club was not something he would normally handle, but because Su Yunxi had asked, he arranged it casually.
After notifying the club's HR department, he sent a message to He Huaiqin.
"Huaiqin, Miss Wen went out to hire a male model a few days ago, and today she's out looking for a job again. Are you shortchanging her?"
He Huaiqin received Huo Yuzhou's message while in a meeting. He originally didn't plan to reply, until his peripheral vision caught the words "Miss Wen."
He opened the message and glanced at it. His expression didn't change much, but Chen Yi, sitting next to He Huaiqin, clearly felt the boss's aura drop significantly.
He Huaiqin: "To clarify, the one who hired a male model was your wife."
Huo Yuzhou: "???"
He Huaiqin: "I paid the bill that day. The record is on the bill. The lady who hired the male model is named Su."
Huo Yuzhou: "!!!"
He Huaiqin: "Hiring a male model in the first year of marriage, President Huo, you should seriously reflect on whether you're shortchanging your own wife."
Huo Yuzhou: "..."
After He Huaiqin completely broke Huo Yuzhou's composure, the meeting also ended.
"Chen Yi, change the meeting location with President Li of Hongji Group tomorrow to the Qiushan International Golf Club."
"Understood, Lawyer He."
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