Shen Xichuan took two cans of cola from the refrigerator, holding one in his hand as he hooked the ring pull with his index finger to open it, then handed it to Xu Jialan.
“You like cola too?”
Xu Jialan accepted it, the condensation from the can gradually dampening her fingertips.
Listening to the fizzing bubbles inside the can, she softly hummed in agreement, “Yes.”
She took a sip, the sweetness combined with the slight tingle of carbonation stimulating her taste buds in a unique way.
Shen Xichuan’s slender fingers held his can as he took a large gulp before setting it on the kitchen island.
“I’m going to pack. Make yourself at home.”
Then, as if remembering something, he added, “This is your home too, no need to be formal, alright?”
For some reason, the Xu Jialan he saw today seemed consistently dazed, a bit clumsy, yet oddly endearing.
Completely different from the aloof, unapproachable woman he’d seen before.
Xu Jialan pressed her lips together and nodded, “Okay.”
After his reminder, Shen Xichuan entered the bedroom and pulled out his suitcase.
He didn’t pack much.
Just his everyday clothes and essential toiletries.
Since they were married now, naturally they needed to prepare a marital home.
Though the marriage had been somewhat rushed, leaving some things unprepared.
But this period would be good for them to properly get to know each other before making thorough preparations.
Whatever other wives had, his Mrs. Shen shouldn’t lack for anything.
In the living room.
Xu Jialan remained standing where she was for a while.
Holding the cola, she glanced around the sparsely furnished living room that showed almost no signs of daily life.
Even the kitchen was spotlessly clean.
Xu Jialan bit her lip, hesitating for a long moment before slowly walking toward the bedroom.
Shen Xichuan was packing when he turned and noticed Xu Jialan standing at the doorway.
He raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong? Bored?”
Xu Jialan shook her head, her gaze curiously examining the bedroom.
It contained many traces of his presence.
Noticing her attention, Shen Xichuan called softly, “Xu Jialan.”
Xu Jialan turned to look at him.
“Come in,” he said.
The man held several finance books in his hands, his eyes fixed on her.
Xu Jialan paused for a few seconds before finally stepping into the bedroom.
As she entered, she caught the faint scent of agarwood fragrance that belonged to him.
Shen Xichuan placed the books in his suitcase and casually asked, “Do you have a study at home?”
Xu Jialan took a sip of cola and quickly nodded, “Yes.”
Noticing the books in his suitcase, she added, “There’s also quite a large bookshelf.”
All these books of his would fit easily, with plenty of room to spare.
“Quite large?”
Shen Xichuan looked up at her, his eyes tinged with faint amusement, “How large?”
Xu Jialan unexpectedly met his gaze, her mind going blank for a moment.
She instinctively licked her lips and gave the measurements.
About the size of an entire wall.
A flicker of surprise crossed Shen Xichuan’s eyes, “Do you read a lot normally?”
People who don’t read much usually don’t install such large bookshelves at home.
Xu Jialan nodded, “Yes, because of work, I need to read many different types of books, so I specially had a bookshelf custom-made.”
“Like what?” Shen Xichuan asked curiously.
Xu Jialan hummed in response, “Mostly medical-related ones, with some chemistry and physics mixed in. My reading tastes are quite eclectic.”
At this point, as if remembering something, she glanced at Shen Xichuan and pressed her lips together. “I remember you were really good at chemistry and physics in high school.”
Every time, she could only manage to come in second.
Mentioning this, Shen Xichuan was momentarily stunned before a scene surfaced in his mind.
The corners of his lips curved into a handsome smile. “Yeah, but suddenly I feel like I shouldn’t have studied so hard back then.”
Xu Jialan blinked in confusion. “Why?”
Shen Xichuan looked at her and chuckled softly. “I was too immature back then. I made my future wife cry, so now I regret it.”
Xu Jialan’s ears grew warm.
She knew exactly which incident he was referring to.
It was during the midterm exams of their first semester in senior year. She had studied hard for a long time, thinking she would make a breakthrough.
Or perhaps, surpass someone in at least one subject for once.
But when she saw the results, she couldn’t help but feel upset.
Especially when she saw that someone was still topping every subject.
There was only one semester left before the college entrance exams.
She knew with his grades, he would definitely be admitted to the best university in Beicheng, possibly even get early admission.
Even though their rankings were always next to each other.
But everyone has to take responsibility for their own life path.
She knew what choices she had to make.
So the paths she and Shen Xichuan would choose were bound to be completely different.
The thought that after the college entrance exams they would go their separate ways, possibly never seeing him again…
At that possibility, the young Xu Jialan had been so upset that she ran to hide on the rooftop and cried secretly.
She never expected Shen Xichuan to see her at that moment.
The saddest thing in the world is being seen by the person you like when you’re at your most vulnerable.
That was also why, when Shen Xichuan tried to say something, Xu Jialan’s tears fell even harder.
She clenched her teeth, not daring to cry aloud, trying hard not to appear so pathetic.
But in Shen Xichuan’s eyes at that time, she didn’t look pathetic at all.
Instead, she appeared more delicate and vulnerable.
Shen Xichuan didn’t realize that the slight tremor he felt when he saw Xu Jialan crying was actually his heart stirring.
If he had known that years later, the girl hiding in the corner secretly crying would become his wife…
Perhaps he wouldn’t have listened to her and left her alone on the rooftop like that.
Xu Jialan suddenly felt her heartbeat quicken and averted her gaze from him.
“Well, because of you, the first place I always maintained since childhood became second place.”
Hearing her unusually soft voice, Shen Xichuan couldn’t help but laugh. “So Mrs. Shen was this impressive all along.”
“… Just average.”
Compared to him.
Shen Xichuan stepped forward and walked over to her.
Xu Jialan was startled by the man who suddenly appeared beside her.
Shen Xichuan ruffled her hair and said lazily, “Well, now the person who gets first place belongs to you.”
His voice was almost too pleasant to hear, with an indescribable magnetism.
Xu Jialan felt her ears tingling.
This was totally unfair.