Second Young Master Yan had originally planned to seriously punish the instigator who had unilaterally added a scandal to his romantic history, but as he watched her barely suppress a smile, his raging fury felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, reluctantly returning to calm.
That night at the club, he had already experienced this woman’s distinct, serene temperament.
If it hadn’t been for Li Beicheng demanding him to be rough and wild, he would have actually preferred to pretend to be a gentleman in front of her, even if his ultimate goal was still to achieve that certain deed, starting slowly with a date.
“You can’t just slander my integrity like that!” Abiding by the principle of arguing even if unreasonably, Second Young Master Yan harshly retorted, “Also, what exactly is your relationship with Beicheng?”
As far as he knew, Li Beicheng wasn’t very demanding about women, always having a charming and seductive secretary by his side who took care of his daily needs during the day and his comfort at night.
Yan Xiaye’s breathing hitched, the thin layer of sorrow in her eyes impossible to ignore.
A moment later, she said with mocking lightness, “…He didn’t tell you?”
“Nonsense, otherwise why would I come asking you!”
Both parties involved were very secretive about this supposed relationship, which greatly piqued Second Young Master Yan’s interest.
Seeing that Yan Xiaye had no intention of answering, he recklessly speculated, “Oh!
Could it be that Beicheng got tired of the glamorous type and wanted to try a different flavor with you?
But if that were true, why would he send you to deal with me?”
Yan Xiaye remained silent, the smile on her lips not reaching her eyes.
Her expression was too cold, too painful, that just watching her from the side, Second Young Master Yan felt an indescribable heartache.
The excited, gossipy tone gradually faded, and Second Young Master Yan awkwardly clamped his mouth shut, deciding to generously let this woman off the hook: “If you don’t want to talk, fine, I won’t take your rumor-mongering to heart either, but there’s one condition…”
Finally shifting the topic from Li Beicheng, Yan Xiaye looked up at him, her eyes showing a bit more vitality, “I have no money.”
“Tch, who cares about your money,” Second Young Master Yan scoffed dismissively, getting straight to the point, “Since you are not Beicheng’s woman, hanging out with me wouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Yan Xiaye truly hadn’t expected that this playboy was actually interested in her.
After a few seconds of contemplation, she silently raised her hand and poked a finger towards a certain spot on Second Young Master Yan’s chest.
“Ah!
You wretched woman!”
A rib that had been previously broken was injured again, causing Second Young Master Yan to gasp for air and hop around on the spot.
After enduring the initial wave of pain, any odd sympathy he had felt for Yan Xiaye also vanished, and he eagerly clenched his fists, large as casserole pots: “When I don’t show my power, you think I’m a sick cat!
You come here…”
Before he could finish, footsteps stopped right outside the door in the corridor.
Yan Xiaye didn’t seem to care, but Second Young Master Yan’s expression instantly tensed.
Ignoring his aching ribs, he grabbed Yan Xiaye and ran into the inner tearoom, then tiptoed to close the door quietly and covered her mouth, eavesdropping at the crack of the door.
The sound of the door opening and footsteps both came at once, sounding like at least two people.
Yan Xiaye silently gave Second Young Master Yan a look and shook her head to show she would cooperate, signaling him to quickly remove his unwelcome hand.
Second Young Master Yan looked at her uneasily, his hand firmly in place.
Just as the two were wrestling with each other through their gazes, the outer room finally had voices speaking, “Beicheng, you’ve been not answering my calls, are you really mad at me?”
“I’ve just been very busy, don’t overthink it.”
After the question and answer, Yan Er glanced with a bit of gloom at the woman beside him, who had stiffened completely, and felt deep inside that it was an unlucky year.
God is my witness, he really didn’t mean to eavesdrop on his brother’s intimate moment, and he even brought this damn woman along…
“I know I didn’t handle the Xiaye matter well, after all, she is your wife in name.
I did apologize to her in person afterward, but she doesn’t want to see me at all.”
Yan Shuirou, with tears brimming in her lashes, sighed and leaned against Li Beicheng as if boneless, her fingers fiddling with his tie, “If even you don’t want to see me, I might as well have died five years ago…
mmm.”
The ominous end of her sentence was swallowed by his kiss, a passionate kiss accompanied by the rustling of clothes, making it clear what was about to happen outside.
In the pantry, Yan Xiaye was as calm as a corpse, her heart so heavy it could barely beat, her breathing almost imperceptible.
Only the constant flickering of her gaze proved that she was not as untroubled as she appeared on the surface.
She knew about the relationship between Yan Shuirou and Li Beicheng, and also knew that they must have done countless shameful things behind her back.
But she had never imagined that one day she would hear all the details firsthand behind a door.
If not for this chance, she would never have known that Li Beicheng was extremely gentle with Yan Shuirou, considering her needs with every touch, his indulgence and pampering evident.
Being so cherished by Li Beicheng, no wonder Yan Shuirou had the grounds to flaunt herself in front of her, the nominal wife.
“Your…
complexion looks very poor.” Taking advantage of the fervent atmosphere outside, Yan Er carefully whispered into Yan Xiaye’s ear, “Do you really love Li Beicheng that much?”
Her long eyelashes trembled, and Yan Xiaye’s lips, pale and tightly pressed, showed an expression that, after the initial shock and disgust, was left with profound exhaustion.
This exhaustion was unrelated to love or hate, it was more like an indescribable despair and melancholy.
Yan Er, catching a glimpse of her expression, felt increasingly troubled and could only advise in a lowered voice, “Don’t dream anymore, I’ve known Beicheng for many years, and there’s always been only Secretary Yan by his side.
Even if he wanted to change his tastes, it wouldn’t last long with you.”
Hearing his advice, Yan Xiaye gave a bitter smile and slightly curled her lips, accepting his sentiment.
Seeing an opportunity, Yan Er also couldn’t bear to let this rotten woman focus on the erotic scene outside any longer.
Making full use of his eloquence, he chattered incessantly by her ear, “So you see, I’m not much worse than Li Beicheng.
You might consider me, to have a fleeting affair with.”
Yan Xiaye’s lips twitched, and under his repeated interruptions, her mood gradually calmed down.
After an unknowable amount of time, the rustling noises outside resumed, mixed with Li Beicheng’s few caring words and Yan Shuirou’s coquettish idiocy.
Soon, the storm passed.
The two lovebirds straightened their clothes and left together.
Stepping away from the door, Yan Xiaye took a deep breath and solemnly rejected Yan Er’s invitation, “I’m sorry, but I’m actually married, so I can’t engage in a fleeting affair with you.”
“Then…
at least tell me, what’s your name?”
Yan Xiaye opened the door, holding her breath to avoid the sweet, rank smell of the aftermath, and before leaving, she gave a faint smile and said, “My name is Yan Xiaye.”