The next day, before dawn, Shanghai was taken over by a light drizzle that soon turned into heavy rain. Outside, dark clouds gathered, thunder rolled, accompanied by several flashes of lightning.
Having completely separated from the main group and no longer needing to adjust their schedule to accommodate others, all their actions were now free. The first and biggest benefit Yan Cheng and Chen Jinyao enjoyed was being able to sleep until they naturally woke up.
The compressed cloud layer made the sky outside low and gray.
Even after opening the blackout curtains, the light coming through the window was weak. The bedroom remained dim, and the raised bedding was perfect for sleeping nestled together.
…
Last night at the KTV, the server’s words came like a sudden change.
Some were surprised, some were confused, and some secretly glanced at Yan Cheng.
Whispered discussions gradually grew louder.
Even though everyone was drunk and swaying, they still used their remaining rationality to analyze: “Isn’t the class representative’s husband the one who left the room once? I think this is all staged, he’s just pretending!”
The voice wasn’t loud, but it was just enough for those nearby to hear.
Chen Jinyao frowned slightly, turning her face to cast a subtle glance at that person. The person shrank their neck but straightened up again the next second.
The girl next to her looked incredulous: “That can’t be, right?”
“What do you mean it can’t be? Just to make myself look decent, everything I’m wearing cost nearly two months of my salary.”
“…”
This topic didn’t continue for long.
It gradually died down because they discovered that late at night, it was very difficult to get a car through the ride-hailing app.
The class monitor had a complex expression as he turned to ask the server: “Is it hard to get a taxi around here?”
“Yes,” the server smiled and nodded, not wanting to directly say that people who came here usually drove their own cars. “If you walk out from here, it’s about a ten-minute walk to Nanjing Road, it’s easier to get a taxi there.”
At this hour, even the subway wasn’t running anymore.
Meanwhile, Yan Cheng glanced down at Chen Jinyao and said, “Yan Xiang should see this through to the end.”
Before he finished speaking, he took out his phone and called Yan Xiang.
Chen Jinyao pressed her lips together, guessing that he had taken the earlier gossip to heart. She rolled her eyes helplessly and poked his waist with her finger, “Childish.” After thinking for a moment, feeling that one word wasn’t enough to describe it accurately, she narrowed her eyes and added: “Petty.”
Yan Cheng pulled Chen Jinyao’s shoulders with one arm, drawing her closer to himself, raising his eyebrows flamboyantly, showing an indifferent attitude toward her labels.
The phone call lasted less than a minute before being ruthlessly hung up.
Yan Cheng’s flamboyance disappeared, leaving his face expressionless.
Two seconds later, Yan Xiang’s WeChat message came through.
Yan Xiang: [No need to thank me.]
Chen Jinyao secretly glanced at it, and after seeing the content, she choked just like Yan Cheng had. However, according to her original thoughts, she felt they should thank him – family is family, what needs to be said should be said.
She was just amazed at how discourteous he was.
Following the crowd out of the KTV, the bright moon hung in the sky, its silvery light pouring down, instantly softening the handsome profile of the man beside her. Chen Jinyao noticed his tightened jaw and unconsciously reached out to touch it. Then, when Yan Cheng slightly lowered his eyes to look at her, their eyes met, and she could see and understand the meaning in his eyes: Hmph, who the hell wants to thank you?
“…”
Chen Jinyao was very calm now.
Calm enough to have sufficient energy to think.
Thinking about issues she hadn’t paid much attention to before.
She concluded that her husband might be at the bottom of the food chain in the Yan family.
Regardless of how the outside world talked about Sixth Young Master Yan’s position in the family and in Beijing, in places others couldn’t see, although his brothers and sisters protected him, they didn’t hold back when it came to “teasing” him…
And sure enough, Yan Cheng bristled at it.
Thinking of this, Chen Jinyao’s gaze toward him involuntarily revealed sympathy, and she muttered: “A spoiled ‘little princess’?”
“Who?” Yan Cheng casually responded to her words.
Chen Jinyao licked her lips, with complete sincerity: “You.”
Then, Yan Cheng dangerously narrowed his eyes “…………”
Yan Xiang’s second message that followed was: [You’ve been drinking, I won’t drive.]
It was as if he could read Yan Cheng’s mind.
Chen Jinyao bit her lip, surprised again.
Even so, when they turned out of the building, they were stopped by Yan Xiang’s driver, who slightly turned and said: “Fifth Young Master has been waiting in the car for a long time.”
The person who had earlier accused Yan Cheng of staging things had already fallen silent, whether from the effects of alcohol or not, their face was burning hot.
Someone even elbowed her, trying to get her to make an exit.
Regardless, the person in question hadn’t paid much attention to her nonsense, and at this moment, she was sufficiently mortified.
Of course, these emotions of hers went unnoticed by others.
Yan Cheng nodded with particular restraint.
Sighing: “Invisible showing off is the most lethal.”
“…”
Chen Jinyao said goodbye to her classmates with a normal expression.
Yan Xiang and Yan Cheng looked very similar in appearance.
But their auras were quite different.
If Yan Cheng was roguish and down-to-earth, then Yan Xiang exuded the air of a successful businessman, clean-cut, worthy of being a man who could establish himself in Shanghai.
Even after drinking, he still gave off an impeccable image.
When he turned his head from the passenger seat, wearing a white shirt that caught the eye, his long narrow eyes curved upward, his gold-rimmed glasses carrying an inherent ascetic aura…
He was completely different from how he was when messaging Yan Cheng.
Chen Jinyao discreetly withdrew her gaze, and when she looked at Yan Cheng again, her heart was suddenly filled with mixed emotions. She narrowed her eyes, seriously staring at him, like staring at a pure and harmless little lamb.
Yan Cheng patted the driver’s seat backrest: “Take us back to the hotel, by the Bund.”
Yan Xiang didn’t say anything about this.
After a moment of silence.
“Saturday after tomorrow, bring my sister-in-law to my house for a meal?”
“I should fulfill my duties as host.”
…
After being awakened by the rolling thunder, Yan Cheng’s mind blanked for a few seconds. The arm that Chen Jinyao was using as a pillow belatedly started to ache. He frowned slightly, turned his head a bit, and saw Chen Jinyao sleeping sweetly right next to him.
The dim environment outlined her soft side.
He curved his lips, turned over, hovering above her, observed for a while, his attention completely drawn to her eyelashes that were like little brushes. After a few minutes, like a thief, he bent down to kiss her tightly closed eyes, his fingertips gently smoothing over her silky hair, caressing the ends.
Mornings tend to bring abundant energy,
Things that could be revived were like bamboo shoots breaking through the soil.
Yan Cheng lowered his eyes and remained silent with an unreadable expression for a while.
He got up to take a shower in the bathroom.
Outside, the torrential rain showed no signs of stopping.
When he finished his shower and came out, Chen Jinyao was already awake.
She sat disheveled on the bed, eyes vacant, hugging her knees with the fluffy blanket, rubbing against it, impossibly gentle and well-behaved.
Yan Cheng was stunned for a moment, “You’re awake?”
Chen Jinyao leaned back, wrapped in the blanket, her cheeks rubbing against it as if it wasn’t enough, “Mm…” The drawn-out end of her voice was soft and lazy, still somewhat sleepy.
“…”
Silence spread throughout the not-so-small space.
Five seconds later, Yan Cheng walked over, ready to make full use of the time.
Bending down, he kissed between her eyebrows, then moved down, prying open her teeth, tangling with her tongue for a moment, until breathing became heavy and both became carried away.
Half an hour later, Chen Jinyao wrapped her legs around Yan Cheng’s waist, her gaze hazy.
“The rain is so heavy outside.” Her voice broke as she listened to the rain.
The heat in their bodies didn’t decrease, she could clearly feel his strength, always feeling that not talking at times like this was best.
Yan Cheng continued his movements without stopping, his heavy breathing hitting her ear, his voice hoarse and sexy: “Mm, not good for going out to play today.”
“So, staying indoors is good?” Chen Jinyao moved slightly toward the headboard.
The next second, she was pulled back down, covered in fine, dense kisses, the man vaguely responding: “That’s not impossible.”
Chen Jinyao took a sharp breath, struggling to kick him.
But the more she struggled, the more he had her at his mercy.
Her face red, eyes filled with autumn water, she finally couldn’t help but curse: “Practice some restraint, you bastard!”
The bastard Yan Cheng stopped moving, his body tense, forehead covered in fine sweat. He thought for a moment, not intending to heed Chen Jinyao’s suggestion, laughing softly with great pleasure, his hair fragments scratching and tickling her neck. He said: “Before, it was drought to death, ahem, now, I don’t mind dying from flood.”
Implying: What goes around comes around.
Think back to when they first got married, how did Chen Jinyao unknowingly tease him while following the principle of maintaining respectful distance? Now, it all had to be paid back!
“…” Chen Jinyao choked, then bit his shoulder.
A morning exercise session comparable to going to the gym.
After energy was consumed, they wanted to eat.
One limp fish kicked another turned-over limp fish, using a voice that could squeeze water out: “Husband, I’m hungry.”
The turned-over limp fish, head occupied with excitement, was refreshed and energetic.
Then, successfully displaying what could be called getting carried away to the fullest extent, he curved his lips, saying “Oh” with exaggerated intonation, like an Oscar-worthy actor, raising his eyebrows in feigned surprise: “Weren’t you satisfied just now?”
“…”
Silence fell instantly.
Three seconds later, Yan Cheng, only able to grab a pillow, was kicked off the bed.
Naked, mortified, plus pitiful.
Chen Jinyao with a cold face: “Temporary cold war for twenty minutes.”
Twenty minutes later, breakfast was delivered.
Cold war ended, the two reconciled at light speed.
The promised meal at Yan Xiang’s house ultimately didn’t happen.
Yan Xiang’s hands-on project suddenly started ahead of schedule, it was too last-minute, and he had to go abroad for it, there was no way around it, so he couldn’t fulfill his duties as host.
They had to politely postpone it until their next visit to Shanghai.
He was very clear that Yan Cheng didn’t care about whether or not they had this meal.
So he said all these things to Chen Jinyao, and when occasionally calling Mother Yan to chat about family matters, Mother Yan said: “Little Six is afraid of his wife hahahaha.”
Yan Cheng didn’t know yet that he had been sold out by his mother who doted on him the most since childhood. Seeing Yan Xiang directing his attention to Chen Jinyao, he agreed without thinking, “Alright, alright, alright, we’ll definitely find you when we come. You should also come home more often.”
Barely home a few days out of the year.
Thinking about it, he nagged again: “Should find us a sister-in-law.”
Yan Xiang: “…”
Chen Jinyao wisely didn’t say anything, observing everything around her.
But she couldn’t help wanting to laugh.
After Yan Xiang left, she couldn’t control it anymore, letting out a “pfft” laugh. Under Yan Cheng’s bewildered gaze, she curved her eyes and said: “Yan Cheng, I have a job to recommend to you when we get back to Beijing.”
Yan Cheng didn’t suspect anything: “What?”
Chen Jinyao: “Neighborhood committee director downstairs.”
Yan Cheng: “????”
Afterward, the couple stayed in Shanghai for another three or four days, and Chen Jinyao truly did as she said, taking Yan Cheng to tour, eat, and play all over Shanghai.
Big cities are all similar, if you really want to tour, there’s not much special to see.
Thinking about it, it was probably just for the atmosphere of a second honeymoon.
Along the way, they went to Disneyland.
Chen Jinyao was a bit better, preferring to keep her bits of life private, but Yan Cheng was different, playing freely and showing off freely.
His Moments feed was full of photos taken during their play.
Chai Yue and others initially liked and commented a few times, but later simply blocked him directly, regarding happiness overflowing from the screen, it was better not to see it.
The Shanghai trip ended quickly.
Then, they took the high-speed rail to Hangzhou, played for three days in the “Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below” Hangzhou, before preparing to head to Yan Cheng’s most anticipated crucial stop, Mount Putuo with its South Sea Guanyin.
“I need to pray for a daughter, preferably like you,” he said.
Since they stopped using contraception, this thought had been lingering in his mind, impossible to dispel.
Now, finally about to get his wish, to exaggerate a bit, he felt he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight before going.
Chen Jinyao gave him a side-eye, not bothering to respond to his mumblings.
She thought, a married man hoping to have children, this behavior and thought were quite heartwarming.
At least, his heart completely belonged to the family.
However, the Mount Putuo plans ultimately fell through.
The night before departure.
Around the latter half of the night, in the room, the darkness and silence were suddenly broken by a ringing phone.
It was Yan Cheng’s phone, ringing persistently without stopping.
The caller seemed to truly have an urgent matter.
Yan Cheng frowned, his displeasure at being woken up all showing on his face. Even though he had this impulse to throw the phone on the ground, he still first comforted Chen Jinyao who had buried her head in the blanket.
Then, expressionlessly reached out to get the phone from the bedside table.
Squinting his eyes, a cold light flashed.
And the caller ID on the screen was A-Tai, who had always followed the principle of ‘never visiting the temple without a cause’.
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