Married to the Protagonist – Chapter 36

“Tsk tsk tsk, as expected from someone who owns a bar,” Chen Jinyao remarked. The bedroom light was on, and she had just finished her shower. Wearing Yan Cheng’s old white shirt, she was drying her wet hair with a small towel. After looking around Yan Cheng’s bedroom, she raised her eyebrows with interest and drew her conclusion.

They had finally given in to Yan’s mother’s enthusiasm and stayed over. Though she had invaded Yan Cheng’s bedroom before, she never paid much attention to a place she only occasionally stayed at. Even if she had thoughts at first glance, she never had the interest to ask about this and that. But today she was in a particularly good mood and wanted to chat with Yan Cheng. Perhaps it was because of his mother’s words “he really likes you” that had this effect.

Chen Jinyao stood on her tiptoes, trying to reach a bottle of wine on the wooden cabinet. When she finally got it, she placed it on the bar counter and turned slightly, squinting at Yan Cheng who was sitting cross-legged on the bed playing with his phone. “Look at how much good wine you’ve hidden.”

Half of the bedroom space was used to display these wines.

Hearing this, Yan Cheng finally looked up from his phone screen. His breath caught as his gaze traveled downward, taking in her long, slender legs – enough to be the death of him. But before dying, he pulled one last move, whistling and curving his lips into a roguish smile. “This is called living the good life.”

“…” You’re just a fancy pretty boy.

Chen Jinyao rolled her eyes without restraint, then picked up the wine bottle she had just taken down. She lowered her head slightly, puffed her cheeks, and finding that wasn’t enough, licked her lips. Tilting her head, she said in a coquettish manner, “I want to drink.”

The mesh window was open, letting in the cool night breeze that gently lifted the curtains.

The mesh window was open, letting in the cool night breeze that gently lifted the curtains.

To be honest, based on past experience, Yan Cheng was genuinely frightened by Chen Jinyao’s sudden request. So startled that he lost interest in discussing investment matters with Chai Yue, hastily replying “we’ll talk tomorrow” before jumping off the bed without even putting on slippers. “No,” he refused very seriously and honestly explained his reason: “Once you touch alcohol, I’m afraid for my virtue.”

“Do you have any shame?” Chen Jinyao laughed, raising her hand to pat his chest.

The man remained unmoved, his voice deepening with a muffled laugh: “Don’t forget you have a record.”

As for what that record was, it was easy to guess.

Chen Jinyao turned her face away: “You took advantage of the situation, don’t try to shift the blame.”

“So you should learn from that lesson and protect yourself,” Yan Cheng said matter-of-factly.

Chen Jinyao choked on her words, ultimately using silence to refute his twisted logic.

Yan Cheng snatched the wine bottle from Chen Jinyao’s hand, put it back in its place, and ignoring her angry glare, led her to the bed. He tapped her forehead, telling her to sit still, then turned to get a hair dryer from the bathroom.

The hot air blew past her ears, accompanied by annoying noise, as the man’s distinct knuckles gently ran through her hair. Chen Jinyao curved her lips and looked up at him slightly, seeing his serious expression.

“Don’t move,” Yan Cheng pushed her head back down.

Chen Jinyao pursed her lips: “I still want to drink.”

Yan Cheng: “Since when did you become such a drunk?”

Unexpectedly, she directly hugged his waist, wheedling persistently.

Often, it’s a sudden craving – when you want to eat or drink something, time alone won’t dispel these thoughts.

Yan Cheng felt he shouldn’t compromise and should use this opportunity to establish his authority as head of the household. When only the ends of her hair were still slightly damp, he turned off the hair dryer and placed it on the bedside table. “No.”

If she drank alcohol in situations where he wasn’t around, that would be unacceptable.

“Give me a reason,” Chen Jinyao gathered her thoughts.

A typical attitude of ‘if the soft approach doesn’t work, I’ll try the hard approach.’

After a pause, she had a sudden realization: “Don’t worry, I’ll only drink at home.”

“…” His resolve crumbled. Yan Cheng narrowed his eyes, and after a long while, nodded.

Though the light was bright, it somehow gave off a gentle feeling.

Mission accomplished, Chen Jinyao stood up directly from the bed, and with the absolute advantage of “height,” wrapped her arms around Yan Cheng’s neck, her legs climbing around his waist. She swayed slightly, “Come on, carry me over there.”

Yan Cheng instinctively supported her bottom, one hand firmly around her waist. He clearly felt that tonight’s Chen Jinyao was very different.

Chen Jinyao suddenly bit his earlobe, causing a tingling sensation, followed by her low laugh, “If I wanted to ruin your virtue, I wouldn’t need alcohol.”

Yan Cheng: “…”

Almost laughing from exasperation, wondering where this fearless courage came from, he carried her to the bar counter, not forgetting to pat her mischievous self a few times along the way. “Be careful, don’t mess around.”

Chen Jinyao said softly: “Alcohol helps set the mood.”

“…”

The counter was a bit cold, and when first placed on it, the cool touch made Chen Jinyao shiver. After she adjusted, she tilted her head, looked down, and asked him: “Don’t you want to?”

After several seconds of silence, she had her conclusion, “You do.”

Yan Cheng lowered his eyes watching all this, and after a long while, asked in a hoarse voice: “What did mom tell you later when you went to cut fruit in the kitchen?”

Chen Jinyao raised her head to nuzzle his nose, shaking her head, “Not telling you.”

Her voice was lazy, with hints of laughter.

At this moment, she was wearing his shirt, the first few buttons weren’t even buttoned, and she wore nothing underneath. From his downward angle, some views were particularly clear. He hadn’t gotten her any wine, and she hadn’t mentioned drinking again, just staring at him with bright eyes.

Chen Jinyao was right – even without drinking anything, just being her normal self was enough to easily kill him.

He raised his eyebrows, giving her the title of “Seductress.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as Yan Cheng held back, “There’s no protection here.”

“Oh,” Chen Jinyao smiled sweetly, lazily, “That’s okay.”

“…” The string of “reason” that had been taut finally snapped.

“You’re asking for it,” he gritted his teeth, his voice getting deeper, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

His cigarette addiction wasn’t even fully kicked, and yet…

“I know, actually we don’t need to be so careful,” she answered.

Before she finished speaking, Yan Cheng bent down to kiss her, hot breath spraying on her nose tip, lips and tongues intertwined. Not long after, Chen Jinyao felt the world spinning, and before she could react, they had fallen onto the bed together.

He pressed against her, kissing her from her eyebrows to her collarbone, inch by inch, making no attempt to hide his desire to devour her completely.

Chen Jinyao blinked hazily, pointing to the bar counter, “Wine.”

“Not drinking anymore,” Yan Cheng took a moment to answer her, “Drink me instead.”

“…” Chen Jinyao’s cheeks turned crimson as she mumbled: “Rogue.”

Yan Cheng chuckled lowly: “You brought this on yourself.”

“…” Indeed, she had brought this on herself.

No wonder middle school textbooks had a special after-class unit teaching “Be careful when playing with fire, lest you get burned.”

The more reckless she had been at the start, the more regretful she became later.

Yan Cheng’s desire for revenge was too strong.

Still lingering at the entrance unhurriedly, when Chen Jinyao impatiently twisted her waist slightly, she was pressed down by him. During their intense intimate contact, she was suddenly attacked, causing her to cry out. The sound had barely left her throat before he swallowed it completely. The man was particularly sexy in bed, dripping with sweat, his dark eyes filled with desire only for her. His voice was hoarse with restraint, “Shh, be quieter, the soundproofing isn’t good here.”

After a pause, he emphasized: “I’m not lying, it’s really not good.”

After everything ended, Chen Jinyao nestled in Yan Cheng’s arms. A small lamp was lit in the room. She began to regret taking the initiative to seduce him because of his mother’s information. She sighed deeply, looking up slightly to glimpse Yan Cheng’s jawline. Tilting her head slightly, she moved her gaze away. In the lamplight, the row of teeth marks on Yan Cheng’s shoulder was particularly obvious – she had bitten quite hard.

“…” But he deserved it!

Their fingers intertwined as they lay quietly for a while. Just holding each other peacefully, yet without any sleepiness.

After a long while, Yan Cheng hesitantly asked: “That college classmate who called you, was it a male or female?”

Chen Jinyao raised her eyebrows: “Guess?”

Her fingers were restless, scratching his Adam’s apple as if she’d found a new toy.

Yan Cheng closed his eyes: “I won’t guess, but honestly, I’m not happy.”

A typical after-the-fact settling of accounts mode, though with some changes.

Chen Jinyao narrowed her eyes, holding back her laughter, and stated seriously: “Our class monitor, a tall, handsome, and polite boy.”

“Oh.” This “oh” was a bit cold. Yan Cheng lazily opened his eyes, the scattered starlight in his eyes disappearing instantly. He shamelessly put on a “I’m just jealous” expression and said properly: “Your taste is quite questionable, except for when you chose me, everything else is abnormal.”

Chen Jinyao almost laughed out loud, pushing him: “Do you have any shame?”

“Not anymore,” he nuzzled against her, murmuring.

Yan Cheng: “So what did he want?”

“Class reunion.” She wrinkled her nose, “A class reunion in mid-June.”

At these words, Yan Cheng also frowned.

Class reunion – besides meeting old classmates, it wasn’t a good term. Wasn’t there a saying that class reunions break up couples one by one?

Yan Cheng’s arm around Chen Jinyao’s waist suddenly tightened. He looked down, examining her carefully and thoroughly. The Chen Jinyao before him still had flushed cheeks, her eyes full of charm. His heart trembled, and then he spoke very frankly, asking: “Did anyone have a crush on you during school?”

“How would I know that?” She responded reflexively.

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard him muttering to himself: “There must have been some, my wife is so beautiful.”

Chen Jinyao: “…”

“You’re such a sweet talker.”

Women actually love hearing such compliments.

Yan Cheng didn’t even look up: “Speaking from the heart.”

“…” Enough, enough, it’s embarrassing.

The bedside clock ticked regularly.

It was already past one in the morning, and Chen Jinyao finally started feeling drowsy. She yawned, “I said to bring family members, so you’ll come with me, right?”

Yan Cheng nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, yes.”

“Classmate Chen Jinyao, I like your awareness.”

Chen Jinyao dryly: “Thanks.”

“No need to be polite.” He wasn’t polite at all, then paused, “By the way, where did you go to university?”

Chen Jinyao: “Shanghai.”

Yan Cheng was startled: “That far?”

Chen Jinyao: “Mm.”

After a moment of silence, Yan Cheng shifted his position, lying on his side, looking at the sleepy Chen Jinyao, and asked the last question of the night: “So, will the class reunion also be held in Shanghai?”

Chen Jinyao thought for a few seconds, recalling the group message: “Seems so.”

At this point, they fell into a silence that lasted four or five minutes.

During these four or five minutes, Chen Jinyao nearly fell asleep in the first three minutes, but suddenly woke up in the last minute. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked up to ask him: “What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“No,” he patted her gently, like comforting a child to sleep.

Yet in the next second…

“I was thinking, since we’re going to the south, we could stay a few extra days.”

Yan Cheng: “Mount Putuo isn’t far from Shanghai, right?”

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