“What… what?” Wen Yuan seriously doubted she was hallucinating.
Wait, what was going on? Shouldn’t Huo Shengye be angry? Yet, this was his reaction?
Wen Yuan pinched herself to confirm she wasn’t dreaming—this was reality.
However, the situation had unfolded so differently from what she had expected that she suspected it was an illusion.
“Well, then, call me… call me Yuan’er,” Wen Yuan said.
Wen Yuan had a bit of a selfish motive. Not many people called her “Yuan’er.” Usually, her parents and older brother mostly called her “Yuan Yuan,” and only when she was very young did they call her “Yuan’er.”
Apart from that, Qiu Lening occasionally called her that when something significant happened.
But overall, very few people used this nickname.
So, if something unpleasant happened later, or if she and Huo Shengye divorced and separated, she wouldn’t be constantly reminded of it and wouldn’t feel so sad.
“Yuan’er,” Huo Shengye called Wen Yuan.
Wen Yuan snapped out of her thoughts, hearing the address and pausing for a moment before smiling sweetly and obediently, “Yes, I’m here.”
“Good, let’s have dinner. Afterward, we’ll watch a movie together.”
“Huh?” Wen Yuan was slightly surprised. A movie too? Was Huo Shengye really this romantic?
Huo Shengye glanced over, and Wen Yuan quickly replied, “Oh, understood.”
It seemed skipping her afternoon nap really wasn’t a good idea, Wen Yuan thought. Look at how she kept spacing out. Fortunately, Huo Shengye didn’t seem as intimidating as the internet made him out to be.
The movie was chosen by Huo Shengye—a business war film that made Wen Yuan doze off.
At the same time, she decided to retract her earlier thought about Huo Shengye being romantic.
After all, what kind of man watches a business war film on a date? Even a spy thriller would have been better, but a business war film…
Wen Yuan’s verdict: hard to judge.
The movie was shown in the villa’s living room on a large projection screen. They watched from the sofa, with high-end equipment and a very comfortable couch. The only problem was that Wen Yuan had absolutely no interest in the film.
Huo Shengye sat beside her. She hugged a pillow, struggling several times not to slump over. Remembering she was still in Huo Shengye’s house, she forced herself to sit up straight and focus on the screen.
But business war films were simply too hypnotic for Wen Yuan. Within minutes, she was nodding off again. She even wondered if something had been added to the dinner they’d just eaten.
However, Huo Shengye had eaten the same food. Wen Yuan rubbed her eyes and glanced at him—the man was watching with great interest.
As the movie reached a critical moment, the screen flickered between light and dark, the lighting creating a tense and mysterious atmosphere.
Wen Yuan leaned back against the sofa, hugging her pillow, her head tilting to the side as she fell completely asleep.
Huo Shengye, who had been intently watching the screen, immediately paused the movie and turned his gaze to Wen Yuan.
“Yuan’er?” he called softly.
Wen Yuan didn’t respond.
Huo Shengye leaned closer, lowering his voice to whisper in her ear, “Wife?”
Wen Yuan’s breathing remained even, still unresponsive—she was truly asleep.
Huo Shengye’s eyes darkened slightly. He bent down and pressed a kiss to Wen Yuan’s cheek. But after just one kiss, it felt insufficient.
Far too insufficient.
He gently stroked Wen Yuan’s hair, then moved down to clasp her slender, smooth back. One hand slipped behind her knees, and he lifted her onto his lap, his movements tender and careful.
Wen Yuan was awakened by a strange sensation, a persistent ticklish feeling at her neck.
Warm, moist, and soft—she couldn’t tell what it was.
Occasionally, she could even hear faint, chirping sounds, but she thought it must be a dream, because when she woke up, she was alone in the room.
The room was spacious, elegantly and warmly decorated, with the bedside lamp glowing softly, casting a comfortable light that soothed her eyes.
Even so, the unfamiliar surroundings left Wen Yuan feeling uneasy and flustered. She… she had been watching a movie with Huo Shengye. Had he carried her into this room?
Wen Yuan sat up and checked her clothes, then glanced under the bed.
Her outfit was still the same, with no signs of disarray, and her shoes were placed neatly by the bed.
Nothing seemed amiss.
Wen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed she had overthought things—Huo Shengye wasn’t the type to take advantage of someone.
Then again, online discussions only talked about Huo Shengye’s prowess in business; no one had ever mentioned him having a chaotic private life, nor had any strange gossip ever surfaced about him.
Wen Yuan sat up and turned on the main light. Her small handbag was placed on the bedside table, and a blanket was draped over her.
Very thoughtful.
But having recently had her trust betrayed and her heart shattered, Wen Yuan quickly suppressed the flicker of goodwill rising from deep within.
People from wealthy families were never innocent. Since Huo Shengye’s mother, Madam Xie, had chosen her, and Huo Shengye had married her so quickly, there must be a reason.
What that reason was, Wen Yuan didn’t yet know, but it certainly existed.
So, she couldn’t let herself develop real feelings now. One lesson was enough—someone who had endured two years of trials could still turn into such a disgusting person. What could a few days possibly prove?
Wen Yuan didn’t dare trust again, at least not now.
“Yuan’er wants to go back now?”
In the living room, upon learning that Wen Yuan intended to return to the Wen family villa immediately, Huo Shengye paused what he was doing and looked at her.
The young woman had clearly freshened up, appearing neat and proper, her eyes clear and alert. Her bag was slung over her shoulder, and her shoes were on.
Wen Yuan nodded at him. “Yes, my parents…”
But before she could finish, Huo Shengye stood up and walked toward her.
“That’s fine,” he said, lowering his gaze to meet her eyes. “But if Yuan’er stays here overnight, the Wen family might receive some good news tomorrow.”
Was this… a reward system?
Wen Yuan’s eyes widened slightly. “And if I don’t stay… Mr. Huo, you…”
He was clearly giving her a choice, teasing her.
Staying overnight alone with a man, even if nothing happened, would let her parents and brother know she had spent the night with him.
Wen Yuan’s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment—Huo Shengye was so cunning. Either way, he wouldn’t lose out.
But this arranged marriage was for the sake of the family, and she had chosen this path herself.
If she dared to choose, she had to dare to act. Steeling her heart, Wen Yuan took off her bag and called Song Huiyue to say she wouldn’t be returning home that night.
A few minutes later, the call ended. Wen Yuan placed her phone and bag aside and walked toward Huo Shengye.