“Zhiyuan, what are you thinking about?”
He Jiayu sat down beside her, taking her hand in his, his thumb gently stroking it.
“Who upset you?”
He actually knew perfectly well.
Ever since she learned they were going back to the Xu family today, Xu Zhiyuan’s mood hadn’t been very good.
Xu Zhiyuan suppressed her emotions. “You’re back,” she said. “It’s nothing, I just don’t go back often.”
She was an honest, good girl.
He Jiayu stroked her hair. “Then let’s not go back.”
Xu Zhiyuan looked at him in surprise. “How can we not? It’s already been agreed upon.”
“But you’re unhappy.”
Xu Zhiyuan suddenly smiled. This feeling of being valued was truly something to cherish.
“I’m fine. Like you said, sooner or later, I have to go back and see them.” Xu Zhiyuan said, “If we don’t go back this time, we’ll have to go back next time. It’s all the same, so we might as well go back sooner.” She had been worrying about this all day—she couldn’t have worried for nothing, could she?
“Alright. But once we’re at the Xu family, if you’re unhappy, you don’t have to force yourself.” He Jiayu squeezed her hand. “You are now my wife, He Jiayu’s wife. I give you confidence, I am your support. Even if it’s your parents causing you distress or making you uncomfortable, you can refuse. Remember that.”
He Jiayu’s gaze was serious as he looked into Xu Zhiyuan’s eyes. His deep eyes seemed as if they could drown a person, but it wasn’t dangerous—instead, it felt very warm.
Xu Zhiyuan’s heartbeat suddenly quickened. Looking into his eyes, she felt almost as if she were sinking into them.
A harsh ringtone abruptly shattered the atmosphere. Xu Zhiyuan was startled, realizing that at some point, the two of them had drawn close—the distance between her lips and He Jiayu’s was now almost just a sliver.
Xu Zhiyuan’s face flushed with embarrassment. Instinctively, she wanted to pull back, but a large hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her forward with a gentle yet somewhat domineering force. The next moment, a pair of soft lips pressed against hers.
He Jiayu tenderly and meticulously traced her lips. Seeing her dazed, he gently bit her lower lip. Xu Zhiyuan winced in slight pain and instinctively parted her lips, allowing He Jiayu’s tongue to slip inside.
The ringtone fell silent, then rang again. After it repeated twice like this, He Jiyu finally released Xu Zhiyuan, slowly pulling away from her lips.
By now, Xu Zhiyuan’s body had gone soft, leaning against He Jiayu’s chest as if she had lost all support. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing somewhat hurried and disordered. Her eyes, stirred with emotion, appeared somewhat hazy. Seeing Xu Zhiyuan like this, He Jiayu felt a slight tightness in his lower abdomen.
The ringtone rang again.
He Jiayu glanced at the phone on the coffee table. The caller ID read “Father.”
A flicker of impatience flashed in his eyes, but it vanished quickly.
Seeing that Xu Zhiyuan hadn’t yet regained her composure, his gaze darkened slightly. He brushed his thumb across her moist, rosy lips, then pressed her against his chest. With one hand, he gently patted her shoulder, soothing her, while with the other, he reached out and picked up the phone, pressing the answer button.
“Xu Zhiyuan, have you lost your mind? I’ve called you several times.”
Xu Tianhe’s voice, filled with anger and impatience, came through the phone.
A cold glint flashed in He Jiayu’s eyes. Xu Zhiyuan’s senses returned, and hearing the voice on the phone, she immediately felt displeased. She reached out to take the phone, but He Jiayu had already spoken.
“It seems Father-in-law isn’t welcoming us back.”
The voice on the other end of the call fell silent for a long moment.
“He, Jiayu, I’m not, how could I not welcome you? I’m just worried, you, are you and Zhiyuan alright? I’ve called her several times but she hasn’t answered.”
“Father-in-law’s concern is truly unique. I’ll have to get used to it properly. We won’t be coming back today; we’ll visit another day with Zhiyuan,” he said. “It’s a good chance for Father-in-law to also understand what genuine concern should look like.”
He Jiayu didn’t wait for Xu Tianhe’s response on the other end and directly hung up the phone.
By now, Xu Zhiyuan had already sat up from his embrace, her eyes sparkling brightly as she looked at him with emotion and admiration.
“As expected of you,” Xu Zhiyuan was truly moved. He Jiayu had just stood up for her.
And his words were incredibly domineering—truly befitting a CEO.
He Jiayu was no stranger to admiration; he had received many looks like Xu Zhiyuan’s before, but none had satisfied his vanity so greatly or made him feel so thoroughly pleased.
Pulling her back into his embrace, He Jiayu said with a hint of pride, “What else would you expect? I am your husband, after all.”
Husband!
For some reason, those two words inexplicably made Xu Zhiyuan feel a bit embarrassed.
Leaning against He Jiayu’s chest, breathing in the faint scent of cedar on him, Xu Zhiyuan deliberately ignored the term “husband” and hesitantly asked, “Is this really okay?”
“It’s fine. Perhaps your father will even be pleased.”
“Pleased? How could that be?”
Xu Zhiyuan thought he meant that Xu Tianhe would be happy because He Jiayu had stood up for her and their relationship seemed good.
He Jiayu didn’t explain further, nor did he feel the need to make his wife understand these matters too clearly—it would only spoil the mood.
“Right, it’s unlikely. Then let’s just be happy ourselves,” He Jiayu said.
Xu Zhiyuan was somewhat confused and looked up at him in puzzlement. The next moment, He Jiayu scooped her up in his arms.
Startled, Xu Zhiyuan wrapped her arms around his neck.
“What are you doing?”
“Of course, doing something that makes us happy,” He Jiayu hinted meaningfully before carrying her upstairs.
Xu Zhiyuan’s face flushed bright red, especially after Nanny Zhang appeared. She didn’t dare to look up and instinctively buried her face in He Jiayu’s chest.
Nanny Zhang smiled suggestively. “Young Master.”
“Nanny Zhang, have the kitchen prepare dinner. We won’t be going out tonight.”
“Yes, of course.”
Nanny Zhang didn’t ask too many questions. Whatever the master said, she would do.
After instructing Nanny Zhang, He Jiayu carried Xu Zhiyuan upstairs.
While things were full of warmth here, the atmosphere at the Xu household was also quite pleasant.
Just as He Jiayu had said, Xu Tianhe was pleased, though he had initially felt some anxiety and anger.
He was anxious that He Jiayu might be upset and angry at He Jiayu’s attitude toward him.
But afterward, he felt happy.
What did it mean that He Jiayu could answer the phone on Xu Zhiyuan’s behalf? It meant the two were together. And whether He Jiayu was angry because of Xu Zhiyuan or because of his own attitude didn’t matter—his purpose was to protect Xu Zhiyuan.
What did this indicate? It meant their relationship was likely quite good.
It would be best if Xu Zhiyuan could win He Jiayu over. Even if she couldn’t, they should at least treat each other with respect and courtesy, ensuring she firmly held the position of the young mistress of the He family. That would be most beneficial for the Xu family’s development.
Xu Zhixiao will soon meet her boyfriend’s parents and then hold a wedding. As long as Xu Zhiyuan also firmly holds the position of the young mistress of the He family, who would dare to bully the Xu family in the future? It would be more than enough if people didn’t rush to curry favor with the Xu family.
As for the He family, there’s no need to even mention it. Xu Zhixiao’s boyfriend comes from a noble family in England, and his father is an earl.