“The old lady wants to see you. Around three tomorrow afternoon, we’ll go together.”
“Okay.” Yu Yan agreed.
Visiting Grandmother could wait for another day, but an audience with the He family matriarch was not something she could decline.
It was an obligation she had to fulfill as Mrs. He.
“Don’t be nervous.” He Chiyan noticed her spine straighten instantly and spoke in a low voice. “It’s just a simple meeting. She won’t make things difficult for you.”
“Mm, I know.” Yu Yan nodded, but the knot of tension in her chest didn’t quite loosen.
She had never met a true high-society matron, and she had no idea how to get along with He Chiyan’s mother.
He Chiyan finished his meal and went upstairs to the study.
Yu Yan sat alone in the dining room for a while before getting up and returning to her room.
Meeting the parents…
That phrase made her belatedly realize two strange things.
First, He Chiyan had never once asked about her family.
Not a single time.
That was highly unusual.
In a normal marriage, how could the other person’s family never come up at all? Even if it were just a marriage of convenience, they should at least go through the motions—learn about each other’s backgrounds, maybe even have both sets of parents meet for appearances’ sake.
Unless He Chiyan had already investigated her.
He knew her family background inside and out, and knew that bringing up those sordid matters would only embarrass her.
So he didn’t touch on it, avoiding unnecessary trouble while preserving her dignity.
This speculation made Yu Yan feel slightly better—at least it made sense.
Someone like He Chiyan would never skip a background check before marriage. His silence on the matter was simply his way of avoiding needless entanglement.
The second thing: why had He Chiyan contacted her and proposed marriage on the very night she broke up with her boyfriend?
It was as if he had been keeping tabs on her romantic life, waiting for her to become single before making his move.
The thought flashed through her mind, and Yu Yan immediately suppressed it.
What was she thinking? Could it be that He Chiyan had been scheming after her all along?
The only connection they’d ever had was that she was the girlfriend of his son.
That was absurd.
She shook her head, casting aside those far-fetched speculations. She reminded herself: do what a Mrs. He should do, and don’t overthink.
At eleven o’clock that night, a knock came at Yu Yan’s door.
She got out of bed to answer it and found He Chiyan standing at the threshold.
“Mr. He, it’s so late. Is something the matter?”
He Chiyan’s gaze settled on her face. “Yes. Are we doing it tonight?”
“Doing what?” Yu Yan didn’t catch on.
He Chiyan uttered two words expressionlessly: “Having sex.”
Yu Yan’s face flushed crimson in an instant. How could he say it so directly!
Was this something you could just say with a straight face, with zero buildup?
As expected of the man in charge of the He family—he could say or do anything without batting an eye.
But Yu Yan was no such person in power. Her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
On their wedding night, she’d had alcohol in her system, plus the reckless impulse of someone who had nothing left to lose, which was why she hadn’t been so shy.
But in reality, she was somewhat embarrassed about these things. She wished He Chiyan would give her advance notice so she could mentally prepare, rather than springing it on her like this.
But this fell within her scope of duties. The client had made a reasonable request, and she had no grounds to refuse.
“I… okay.” Yu Yan’s voice came out a bit dry, and she lowered her gaze, not daring to look at him. “Your room, or here?”
In truth, she regretted the question the moment she asked it. Their wedding night had been in He Chiyan’s room, and for the past few days, just catching sight of his bedroom door reminded her of what had happened that night.
If it happened in her room, then wouldn’t she think of it every time she slept alone in this bed afterward…
“Let’s do it here.” He Chiyan was already leading Yu Yan by the hand to the bedside, looking down at her suddenly flushed face and trembling lashes.
“There’s no… condom here.” Yu Yan said, blushing. They were both in the prime of their youth—she had no intention of creating an accident.
“I brought some.” He Chiyan pulled an entire box out of his pajama pocket.
Yu Yan stared at the full box of consumables, thinking: a whole box… was she even going to get any sleep tonight…
He Chiyan could see her embarrassment. A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes, and his tone softened. “Want a drink?”
Yu Yan latched onto it like a lifeline, nodding eagerly. “Yes!”
He Chiyan took a bottle of red wine from the liquor cabinet, poured two glasses, and handed one to Yu Yan.
She accepted it and sipped slowly. The cool liquid slid down her throat, easing her tension somewhat.
He Chiyan sat down beside her, unhurriedly drinking his own glass.
When her glass was empty, Yu Yan’s cheeks grew even hotter at the thought of what was about to happen.
Seeing her empty glass, He Chiyan took it from her hand and set it on the nightstand along with his own.
His hands were already beginning to move, and Yu Yan whispered, “Mr. He, next time… could you give me a heads-up in advance?”
He Chiyan paused slightly, his fingertips gently rubbing her burning earlobe. “Give you a heads-up about having sex?”
Yu Yan felt that He Chiyan’s hands were like a lighter—everywhere he touched seemed to burn. “Mm, if it’s a sudden attack, I haven’t mentally prepared myself, so I get very nervous. Of course, drinking can ease it a bit, but I’m still nervous.”
The corners of He Chiyan’s lips curved upward. How could she be so adorable?
He let out a soft sigh, leaned close to Yu Yan’s ear, and murmured, “Not a bad suggestion, but I think giving you a heads-up might make you nervous all day long.”
Hearing this, Yu Yan had to admit he made some sense, but she still insisted, “Let’s try it first. Next time, you must give me a heads-up.”
The next second, as He Chiyan kept closing in, Yu Yan became dizzy and disoriented.
“Can you help me take off my glasses?” He Chiyan asked in a hoarse voice.
Yu Yan’s fingers trembled unavoidably from nervousness as she removed He Chiyan’s glasses.
In the midst of her intoxication, she vaguely thought—whether it was a heads-up or a sudden attack, in the future… every time she fulfilled her obligations, having a bit more to drink to bolster her courage was the most practical approach.
Soon, as He Chiyan’s lips moved to her neck, she no longer had the energy to think about such trivial matters.
She only cared about not leaving marks, since she had to meet He Chiyan’s mother tomorrow.
“Mr. He… don’t leave marks around my neck.”
He Chiyan narrowed his eyes. Yu Yan’s skin was too fair and too delicate—even a slight force would leave noticeable marks.
He regretfully shifted his attention elsewhere.
Yu Yan’s hands clung to his arm, trying to find a foothold.
But she couldn’t find one, like a fallen leaf wrapped in the wind, swaying wherever the breeze carried her.
…
The next morning, He Chiyan had already gone to the office before Yu Yan woke up.
Yu Yan silently prayed that every time after they were intimate, He Chiyan wouldn’t be around—otherwise, she truly felt she couldn’t face the proper, serious He Chiyan in broad daylight.
Just, a beast in sheep’s clothing.
In the afternoon, He Chiyan returned to pick up Yu Yan and took her to the He family’s old residence.
An elegant Chinese-style courtyard, with white walls and dark tiles, deep and secluded.
After getting out of the car, He Chiyan extended his hand to Yu Yan and led her inside.
Passing through the screen wall, winding around the corridor, the courtyard scenery was serene and tranquil.
In the main hall, an elderly woman with graying hair sat upright in a rosewood armchair.
She wore reading glasses and held an open photo album in her hands. Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
Old Mrs. He’s gaze toward Yu Yan was not kind—it was even somewhat sharp.