Author: plum

The long night continued, and the dawn’s light broke in silently. 

The next day, Ye An woke up quite late as usual. However, she woke up slightly when Xie Shuo got out of bed. She asked hoarsely, half awake, “Are you going to the office?”

Xie Shuo kissed her on the forehead while holding her in his arms, saying, “It’s Saturday today, so I don’t need to go to the office. Go back to sleep for a while.”

Hearing this, Ye An closed her eyes again and returned to sleep. 

When she opened her eyes again, it was already past ten, and the sunlight outside was a bit dazzling.

Taking a moment to laze, she massaged her sore back and dragged her legs to the bathroom to wash up.

After freshening up, she changed into a loose cotton dress and dragged her feet out of the bedroom. She noticed that the study door was open, seeming as if someone was inside. 

Having little inclination to go downstairs for breakfast, she headed straight for the study.

As expected, Xie Shuo was inside. 

The sunlight illuminated the room. He stood by the desk, his figure tall and lean. Holding a stack of paper, his shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing a defined wrist. His side profile was even more distinct due to the shadows and light.

His composed appearance was a stark contrast from yesterday night.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around. “Awake?”

Ye An walked over, leaning in to see what he was holding. “What are you looking at?”

Xie Shuo, however, moved the papers away, not letting her see.

Ye An, with keen eyes, still caught a glimpse of the big, bold words “Divorce Agreement” on top of the paper.

It was the document she had drafted with her lawyer, signed by her only.

When she moved out previously, she also brought the divorce papers with her. After moving back, Xie Shuo had handled her belongings, so it wasn’t surprising that the divorce papers were now in his possession. 

A thought came to mind, and Ye An decided to tease him. She reached out to grab it. 

Xie Shuo seemed to have anticipated her move, swiftly evading and walking toward the shredder, intending to shred the papers. 

Seeing this, Ye An hurried over, wrapping her arms around his waist and trying to snatch the papers. “Don’t shred them yet. I didn’t even agree!”

Glancing at her, Xie Shuo held her hand and decisively fed the papers into the shredder. 

“What’s the use of keeping unnecessary things?”

“…….”

Ye An was a little angry and said intentionally, “It’s useless to shred them. I still have a copy!” 

Xie Shuo clearly didn’t believe her words. He wrapped his arm around her, leading her to sit on the sofa.

He wore a white button-up, with the top buttons casually undone, the hem slightly loose and not as meticulously arranged as when he usually went out. Wrinkles formed around his waist. 

Ye An liked seeing him in a button-up as he appeared noble and easy on the eyes. 

She glanced at him, charmed by his looks, and felt her irritation easing a bit. 

They had established their agreement and set the terms for their divorce right in this study, too. 

Back then, he was much colder and more distant than he was now, often wearing a sour expression, radiating an icy aura. Every expression he wore showed a disdain for her. 

Thinking back to those times, she couldn’t resist jabbing his chest with her finger. “Now you’re tearing up the agreement? Do you want me to remind you of how you used to despise me back then? And how you readily agreed to divorce as soon as you regained your vision?” 

Xie Shuo remained silent as if what she said had nothing to do with him. 

Ye An nestled against him, scratching lightly at his jaw and smiling. “Does your face hurt, President Xie?”

Looking down, Xie Shuo caught her finger and leaned down to kiss her. 

Ye An pressed against his chest and turned her face away before saying haughtily, “Don’t use this trick; it doesn’t work!”

She shifted to sit on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, staring at him. “Don’t forget, you still owe me sweet nothings. I asked you to say it that day, and you never did.”

Xie Shuo looked at her, remaining silent. 

Ye An raised her chin. “Is it that hard to coax me?”

Ye An didn’t really need to hear sweet nothings from him. She just couldn’t resist teasing him when he always appeared aloof and serious.

With her gorgeous face so close, Xie Shuo suddenly recalled many things—her tender voice amid the darkness and his first sight of her when he regained his vision. 

Bathed in the warm winter sun, her eyes sparkled. 

After a while, he held her hand and looked into her eyes before saying, “I can’t see anyone else, only you.”

The man’s voice was deep, carrying a hint of rare tenderness and lovingness. 

Ye An was briefly taken aback before bursting into laughter.

Hearing such sweet words from him felt so out of character!

Although it was so uncharacteristic, Ye An’s ears turned slightly red, and her heart skipped a beat.

She raised her chin in a haughty manner, unable to conceal the smile at the corner of her lips. “Barely passable.”

Xie Shuo smiled amusedly, leaning forward to kiss her on the lips before holding her waist. “Shall we go downstairs for lunch?”

Ye An stood up, letting him lead her outside.

As they stepped out, the wind brushed past, causing the curtains to ripple like water.

It was already 11 a.m. Ye An had skipped breakfast and directly had lunch.

After lunch, they returned to the study. Xie Shuo leaned against the sofa, going through documents, while Ye An grabbed a book and leaned against his shoulder to accompany him.

The bright sunlight shone in, creating a serene atmosphere. 

“Do you want to go horseback riding?” Xie Shuo suddenly asked, glancing at his phone.

Ye An looked up, her eyes sparkling. “Today?”

“Tomorrow.”

Xie Shuo glanced meaningfully at her waist and legs. “You rest today.”

Meeting his gaze, Ye An almost immediately understood his meaning. A faint blush appeared on her face, and she couldn’t help but glare at him.

Xie Shuo smiled.

Noticing his smile, Ye An playfully kicked him. “Stop smiling!”

Xie Shuo seized her delicate ankle, and his slender fingers moved upward. He leaned down to kiss her.

Ye An purposefully dodged, determined not to let him do as he pleased. In no time, the two of them tangled up together.

……

6 p.m.

After dinner, Xie Shuo suddenly asked Ye An to change clothes and accompany him outside.

Once in the car, Ye An questioned, “Where are we going?”

Xie Shuo rubbed her hand and smiled, “You’ll know when we get there.”

As the car drove through the night, lights shimmered along the way.

It wasn’t until they got out of the car that Ye An realized that he brought her to an auction.

The venue was brightly lit, and they took seats in the front row. Ye An vaguely recognized two or three familiar faces, people she had seen at previous banquets, including a certain heiress who had tried to Xie Shuo before.

When she spotted her and Xie Shuo, her expression soured. 

Xie Shuo turned around, leaning close to Ye An’s ear. “If you see something you like, tell me.”

Meeting the gleam in his eyes, Ye An’s heart skipped a beat. She raised an eyebrow deliberately. “Why the sudden urge to buy me a gift?”

Xie Shuo smiled, whispering, “To coax you.”

Sweet nothings were nothing compared to tangible gifts. Ye An’s cheeks flushed, thinking to herself that this man seemed to have had a recent surge in thoughtfulness. 

Soon, the auction began, with the rhythmic sounds of bidding echoing through the venue.

In the end, Ye An successfully bid for a pair of earrings and a bracelet. During the bidding for the bracelet, Xie Shuo even engaged in a playful competition with someone else.

When they returned home, it was 10:30 p.m.

Considering they were going to go horseback riding the next day, Xie Shuo was unusually merciful and didn’t torment her too much, simply embracing her and going to bed early.

Ye An, however, found herself unable to fall asleep. Turning around, she gazed at the blurry silhouette in the darkness. It took her a long time to finally drift off to sleep, lulled by his steady and prolonged breaths.

……

The next day, with clear skies and crisp air, the couple headed to a horse ranch in the suburbs. 

Upon arrival, Ye An spotted several familiar faces—Xie Yuran, Xin Li, Jiang Shiyan… and Xin Li’s brother, Xin Yu.

Indeed, as Xin Li had described, her brother was refined and gentle, appearing to have a good temper.

After exchanging greetings, everyone went to change clothes and pick out their horses.

Ye An and Xin Li walked together. In the dressing room, Xin Li chatted with her for a while but didn’t bring up matchmaking her with her brother, unlike the last time. It wasn’t clear if it was because Xie Shuo was around.

A short while later, Xin Li finished changing and left after informing Ye An.

It was Ye An’s first time horseback riding, and she spent quite some time in front of the mirror getting ready before heading outside. 

Under the brilliant spring sun and a gentle breeze, the emerald green meadow stretched toward the horizon like a flowing tide.

Xie Shuo had already chosen a horse and was waiting for her outside.

He wore a black riding outfit, standing tall with a stern expression. Ye An couldn’t help but feel her heart skip a beat again at the sight of him. The sunlight shone on her face, turning it slightly red.

In the azure sky, wisps of clouds floated by. Xie Shuo stood in the sunlight, gazing at her from a distance.

Ye An had tied her hair up, revealing her smooth forehead. With her striking features, combined with her riding attire, she looked heroic. 

Approaching him, she glanced at the horse he was holding by the reins and somewhat timidly admitted, “I don’t know how to ride.” 

“I’ll teach you,” Xie Shuo said, reaching out to support her waist and helping her onto the saddle.

Getting on the horse wasn’t too difficult, but once she was up there, she wasn’t quite used to it, so her body swayed a bit.

As she adjusted and settled into the saddle, Xie Shuo took hold of the reins and slowly led the horse forward, instructing her along the way.

Jiang Shiyan just so happened to emerge with a horse and witnessed the scene, making a playful remark.

Xie Shuo paid him no mind, but Ye An felt a bit uneasy.

Xie Shuo had become more high-profile lately, taking her everywhere. She wasn’t sure if it was simply due to the honeymoon phase or an effort to dispel the rumors of their divorce.

After circling for two or three laps, fearing that he might be bored, Ye An suggested, “Why don’t you also go pick a horse for yourself? Don’t worry about me; I can ride on my own for a bit.”

Instead of leaving, Xie Shuo let go of the reins and mounted the horse, sitting behind her and wrapping his arms around her.

Then, he took the reins and urged the horse to pick up the pace.

As the wind rushed past, Ye An felt a bit uncomfortable, tensing up to avoid falling.

Xie Shuo held her tighter, his lips near her ear as he reassured her, “Don’t be afraid.”

Ye An leaned against his chest, gradually calming down.

The vast sky stretched above, and the sunlight scattered before her eyes.

After riding for a while, Ye An insisted on trying it on her own. Reluctantly, Xie Shuo dismounted and instructed her on a few matters before letting her ride two laps by herself.

Fortunately, Ye An picked up on things quite fast, and since she exercised regularly, there were no mishaps. However, when she dismounted, her legs were too sore. With a turn, she ended up falling directly into Xie Shuo’s arms.

Jiang Shiyan happened to pass by again, glancing at them teasingly. This time, following Xie Shuo’s example, Ye An ignored him.

Approaching noon, under the high sun, everyone began to head to the rest area for a break.

After downing half a bottle of water, Ye An went to the restroom. When she came out, she unexpectedly ran into Xin Li and Xie Yuran.

They were at the corner of the corridor, and it seemed like Xin Li had injured her leg. Xie Yuran reached out to support her, but she shrugged him off, and the two of them walked away in a huff.

They didn’t notice Ye An, and she pretended not to know anything, turning to walk in the opposite direction.

After not walking far, she unexpectedly bumped into Xin Yu. Ye An politely nodded in greeting and planned to leave when she was stopped.

“Miss Ye, have you seen my sister?”

Thinking of Xie Yuran, Ye An hesitated for a moment before pointing him in the right direction.

Xin Yu thanked her and hurriedly left.

Ye An returned to the nearby resting area, and Xie Shuo was leaning on the sofa, gazing at her. His expression was somewhat strange.

Ye An sat down beside him, and suddenly, Xie Shuo embraced her waist, lowering his head to kiss her.

This sudden move caught Ye An off guard, and she quickly turned away. “What are you doing?”

Xie Shuo’s lips brushed against her cheek. “What were you talking about with Xin Yu just now?”

Ye An: “……..”

They had only exchanged a few words, yet he was actually jealous. 

Amused by this, Ye An raised an eyebrow deliberately. “Curious? Beg me…”

Just as she finished her words, Xie Shuo caught her hand and kissed her without hesitation.

Ye An struggled a bit but couldn’t break free from his hold, so she could only let him do as he pleased.

When they finally parted, her face was flushed, and she glared at him with watery eyes. “Are you going to eat or not?”

Xie Shuo looked at her, silent. He traced her lips with a suggestive touch, his gaze full of desire.

Ye An had a feeling that he might say something shameless like “I’d rather eat you.” Without giving him a chance to speak, she got up and walked away.

Xie Shuo smirked and got up before grabbing her hand. 

……

Ye An had never gone horseback riding before. After a whole day, she was exhausted. When she got home in the evening, she discovered that her thighs were bright red with some chafes.

After taking a shower, she sat on the bed, lifted her nightgown, and examined her wounds.

Coming out of the bathroom, Xie Shuo walked over to the bed.

“Chafed?”

Xie Shuo sat down at the edge of the bed and reached out to touch the chafed area, his fingertips slightly cool. 

He rummaged through the medicine box and brought out ointment, grabbing her leg and gently applying it.

Ye An pulled her leg back a bit, wanting to do it herself, but Xie Shuo glanced at her.

She sensed the warning in his glance and immediately relented, no longer resisting.

After applying the ointment, Xie Shuo went to wash his hands before getting into bed.

Xie Shuo took Ye An’s hand out from under the covers, using his fingers to massage each one delicately before eventually holding onto her left ring finger.

The slender and fair finger seemed to lack something.

Ye An thought he was just doing a habitual action and casually glanced at it without giving much thought.

“An An…”

He suddenly called her.

“En?”

Ye An looked up puzzledly. He rarely called her by name like this, except… during certain moments in bed.

Holding onto her ring finger, Xie Shuo looked at her as if he had something to say.

Seeing him like this, Ye An thought he might not be satisfied and still wanted to do it, so she couldn’t help but blush.

Feeling a bit irked, she kicked him under the covers.

“Sleep!”

She pulled her hand back and turned around, her back facing him.

After a while, Xie Shuo also lay down, pulling her into his arms. However, he didn’t do anything else. 

……

The next day—Monday.

Xie Shuo got up before 8 a.m. while Ye An’s legs were still sore, lying in bed, unwilling to move like a bum.

He instructed her to rest well at home and went to work after changing his clothes.

Ye An lay on the pillow, watching him button his shirt, adjust the cuffs, and put on his watch.

Her man was truly pleasing to the eye.

After he was done getting ready, Xie Shuo turned around, and seeing her awake, he walked over and bent down to kiss her on the forehead.

Just as he was about to get up, Ye An mischievously grabbed his tie and kissed him on the lips.

“Morning.”

Before Xie Shuo could react, she quickly let go, laid back down, and wrapped herself in the blanket before blinking her long lashes.

Xie Shuo sat down by the bedside, propped himself up with one hand on the bed, and lowered his head, intending to continue kissing him, but she dodged away.

“Quickly go, or you’ll be late!”

Xie Shuo smiled and ruffled her hair. “Call me if you need anything.”

He got up and left the room, his back straight and sturdy like a pine tree.

Watching him leave, Ye An gradually closed her eyes again, the lingering scent of him still present in the air.

It wasn’t until the sun reached its zenith that Ye An finally got out of bed.

Ye An’s legs were sore, and she was too lazy to go out, so she spent the whole day at home. In the afternoon, Xiang Quan sent her a message, discussing the details of a new project.

Around 4:30 p.m., with the sun shining through the windows, Ye An changed into a beautiful maxi dress and did her makeup, deciding to go find Xie Shuo at the company and have dinner with him.

She didn’t send him a message, intending to give him a surprise.

Picking up her purse and preparing to leave, she remembered the bracelet she had bid the day before. She turned and walked to the glass display counter where valuable items were placed and took out the bracelet.

As she put on the bracelet and looked at her hand, she suddenly remembered Xie Shuo squeezing her finger from yesterday night.

At that time, he seemed to have emphasized her left ring finger?

Could it be that he wasn’t expressing that he wasn’t satisfied but rather trying to remind her to wear her wedding ring?

Before, the two of them were just a married couple on paper, so not wearing rings had become a habit. Now, it seemed like a good time for a change.

Ye An couldn’t help but find it amusing. If he wanted to remind her, why the need for such a roundabout way?

Turning around, she retrieved the wedding ring from the nightstand and had initially planned to put it on herself. However, after a moment’s thought, she placed the ring into the ring box and put it into her purse.

As the spring season neared its end, the fragrance of peach and plum blossoms had faded, and the flowers along the streets had also changed their appearance.

With the sun slanting toward the west, the evening glow was scattered, creating a colorful display on the floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

At Junming Group headquarters, inside the CEO’s office.

Xie Shuo wearily massaged his temples, leaning back in his genuine leather chair, and closed his eyes to rest.

“President Xie, the design for the wedding rings has been sent. Would you like to take a look?”

Xie Shuo opened his eyes and uttered a soft “en” in response.

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“Naturally, you should figure it out yourself. Else, what’s the point?”

Ye An got up from his embrace and went to the other side of the sofa, placing her legs on top and crossing them. 

Looking at her, Xie Shuo was about to respond when the sound of a phone vibrated.

Ye An retrieved her phone from the side of the sofa and checked the incoming call before answering it. 

It was from Xiang Quan, who said there was a slight issue with the dubbing for the movie she had worked on recently, and they needed her to come in for some last-minute retakes. 

In the end, Ye An didn’t get to hear Xie Shuo’s sweet talk. She hastily changed her clothes and rushed to the studio.

Fortunately, the issue was minor. After getting the situation sorted out, Ye An immersed herself in the recording booth and busied herself.

It was already 4:30 p.m. when the retakes were completed.

Ye An didn’t head home immediately. Instead, she hung out with Shi Shuangshuang at a nearby cafe.

Shi Shuangshuang had been incredibly busy recently due to a new script, and the two of them hadn’t had a chance to catch up in a long time.

After some hesitation, Shi Shuangshuang couldn’t suppress her curiosity about the rumor and asked, “Was the rumor about your divorce a while ago for real?”

Taking a sip of her coffee, Ye An threw a question back at her, “What do you think?”

Shi Shuangshuang: “I didn’t believe it at first, but there were just too many people circulating it as if it was real. Besides, have you noticed that you haven’t been showing any signs of PDA for a long time?”

Even when it was such chaos on Weibo, she didn’t show any signs of anything, which didn’t fit her image.

Ye An raised her eyes and glanced at Shi Shuangshuang.

She didn’t say anything and just picked up her phone before dialing a number.

“Hi Honey, where are you?”

Her tone was sweet and coyish, giving anyone listening goosebumps.

“So when are you coming to pick me up?”

“An hour? That’s too long…” She pouted and had a displeased expression. “No, I’ll only wait for you for 40 minutes. If you don’t arrive within 40 minutes, you’ll be sleeping in the study tonight.”

After ending the call, Ye An looked up and ran her fingers through her hair elegantly before smiling.

Their PDA was evident for all to see.

Shi Shuangshuang: “…….”

Sorry to have bothered you.

Shi Shuangshuang shut her mouth and never brought up their divorce again. Stirring her coffee, she changed the topic to discuss other gossip. 

Outside the cafe, people were coming and going, and the sunlight gradually imbued with a warm hue. 

About 40 minutes later, Xie Shuo arrived at the cafe in a rush.

The man walked through the glass door, tall and dashing, quickly attracting the attention of many.

Looking up, Ye An saw him at a glance, and her eyes involuntarily brightened.

“Your husband really has the looks of a stereotypical romance hero.”

Shi Shuangshuang followed her gaze, shaking her head ruefully, “I can’t imagine him being banished to the study by you. According to the usual plot, aren’t you supposed to be loving each other passionately and torturing each other to no end, with him taking you forcefully?”

In reality, Ye An wasn’t sure if she could accomplish the daunting and unusual task of sending Young Master Xie to sleep in the study. However, she was determined not to lose face. So, she said nothing and just raised her chin, giving off an untamed, willful, and spoiled indulgence.

Xie Shuo walked over to their seats.

“Done recording?”

His gaze swept over Shi Shuangshuang and then settled on Ye An, becoming gentle.

Ye An nodded and linked her arm through his naturally before turning to ask Shi Shuangshuang, “Wanna join us for dinner?”

Shi Shuangshuang had no desire to be the third wheel and quickly waved her hand. “No thanks. I have plans with Boss to discuss some matters tonight.”

The three of them left the cafe, with Shi Shuangshuang returning to the studio and Ye An and Xie Shuo heading toward their car parked by the road.

Xie Shuo didn’t use the chauffeur today. He drove by himself. After getting into the car, he leaned over to help her fasten her seatbelt. 

Looking at his lips, Ye An couldn’t resist leaning in and brushing her lips against his fleetingly.

Xie Shuo looked up, his gaze landing on her face as he maintained his position, leaning toward her.

Ye An blinked her long, slightly curled eyelashes, her innocent look mixed with a hint of flirting and smugness.

Xie Shuo paused for a moment before securing her seatbelt and sitting back in his seat.

He turned his gaze back to the road ahead, his long fingers resting on the steering wheel. In the golden glow of the setting sun, his side profile seemed as if it had been enhanced with a beauty filter.

Ye An suddenly recalled the first time she had seen him and couldn’t help but steal a few more glances.

Soon after, the car started, driving into the gorgeous sunset, with the horizon painted in hues of gold.

Xie Shuo had made a reservation at a high-rise French restaurant. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, they could overlook the city’s night skyline.

“Do you still need to go to the recording studio tomorrow?” Xie Shuo asked as he passed the place of perfectly sliced steak to her.

Ye An looked up and replied, “No.”

Xiang Quan didn’t know the real identity of “Mr. Wen,” so he didn’t assign any new projects to her. 

Now that her remuneration had risen significantly, she no longer needed to take on every project like before.

After dinner, it was still quite early.

It was a warm spring day. Ye An didn’t rush home and pulled Xie Shuo for a stroll. 

The night breeze was gentle and carried the scent of grill and charcoal. Hand in hand, they strolled with the smell of flowers wafting in the air.

There was a sense of joy in moments like this despite not doing much.

Surrounded by towering skyscrapers and colorful neon lights, a large LED screen high above was playing the latest movie trailers. 

As the light and shadows danced across their faces, Xie Shuo suddenly asked as he looked at the trailer on the screen, “Wanna go watch a movie?”

The two of them had hardly ever had a proper date before, so when she heard his suggestion, Ye An was a bit surprised.

Looking up at him, she playfully scratched his palm and said with a smile, “Sure.”

It was a typical romantic movie, though its plot was a bit melodramatic. As they watched, Ye An couldn’t help but lean in and quietly remarked to him. 

Holding her hand, Xie Shuo patiently listened to her, and his typically aloof expression softened. 

As the movie approached its end, the story finally reached a happy ending. On the giant screen, the male lead took out a ring and proposed to the female lead. 

The background was picturesque, and the music set a romantic mood. Ye An was nearly moved to tears, and she had forgotten any discontent from earlier. 

The dim light from the screen cast a soft glow on her face, enhancing her slightly curled eyelashes and creating a stunning side profile. 

Xie Shuo gazed at her focused side profile, lost in thought. His sight shifted slightly, landing on her left hand.

Between her fair and slender fingers, there was nothing.

After watching the movie, it was already pretty dark. They left the movie theater and didn’t engage in any other activities, driving straight back home.

During the day, while Ye An was away, Xie Shuo arranged for her things at the condo to be packed and moved back home. 

After staying up late yesterday and having a busy afternoon today, Ye An was exhausted. She didn’t have the energy to bicker with him and went straight to bed after taking a shower.

Xie Shuo held her in his arms and kissed her, intending to do something more, but seeing that she couldn’t even keep her eyes open, he decided to let her rest. 

Soon enough, Xie Baiyan found out about Ye An moving back, but he didn’t reprimand them. He simply chalked it up to youthful exuberance and recklessness, bickering and making up soon after. 

For the following few days, Xie Shuo returned to his typical busy routine while Ye An, bounded by her “contract,” accompanied him.

Xie Shuo was a stereotypical workaholic, working to no limits if no one watched him.

Worried that he might genuinely experience a mishap, Ye An stayed by his side just like she used to, reading documents for him and trying to minimize the strain on his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, it was already Friday. The studio had arranged a live-streaming event at 7:30 p.m. for Ye An, so after dinner, she abandoned Xie Shuo and returned to the study to start up her laptop.

As soon as she said “Good evening,” after entering the live-streaming room, the screen was immediately filled with a flurry of bullet comments: 

“Good evening, jiejie!”

“AHHHHHHHH, your beauty is off the charts!”

“Sis, are you barefaced? I envy your flawless skin…”

“Jiejie’s voice is so gentle tonight…”

“I unilaterally declare that this is my wifey!”

“CEO Xie with a poker face: Who dares to steal my wife? Come chat with me.”

……

After exchanging greetings, Ye An chatted with the audience for a while before moving on to the interactive segment. Fans would suggest characters or dialogue scenes, and Ye An would do live voiceovers for them.

The live-streaming room was bustling with activity, and the viewer count continued to rise.

Ye An switched between characters like she had split personalities, not even pausing to take a sip of water.

At a certain point toward the end of the livestream, a bold fan asked, “Jiejie, is CEO Xie there?”

Immediately, many others chimed in. 

Ye An was briefly taken aback and glanced toward the door of the study before responding, “He’s at home, but he’s not here with me.”

Once this topic was brought up, it couldn’t be contained, and soon another fan asked, “Jiejie, jiejie, how do you and CEO Xie usually get along?”

Just as Ye An was about to reply, the door of the study was suddenly pushed open, and a figure walked in.

Xie Shuo approached her from behind and placed a cup of tea beside her laptop.

The screen immediately exploded with comments:

“?”

“I think I just saw a man’s figure…”

“Is that CEO Xie?”

“AHHHHH, was CEO Xie concerned about jiejie being thirsty that he brought tea over?”

“So sweet!”

“The CP I shipped finally set sail! Waaah…”

From the camera angle, only Xie Shuo’s upper body and arms were visible; his face couldn’t be seen at all. However, this didn’t dampen the excitement of the fans. 

Just as Xie Shuo was about to turn around and leave after placing the cup down, Ye An glanced at the screen filled with comments and grabbed his arm, saying, “Honey, would you like to say hello to my fans?”

She adjusted the camera toward him, so now his jawline was partly visible.

Xie Shuo paused for a few seconds before nodding slightly toward the screen. “En.”

“En?”

“Just this?”

“AHAHAHAHA, he’s too aloof!”

“A true domineering CEO-style indifference.”

“CEO Xie: Don’t think I don’t know you all want to steal my wife!”

……

Ye An had a good laugh and didn’t pay any more attention to him. She continued to interact with her fans.

Suddenly, an observant fan spotted “Little Penguin,” Yin Yin placed in the corner and curiously asked, “Jiejie, is that a penguin in your room?”

Ye An turned to look and said, “It’s an AI robot.”

It was just upgraded and came back yesterday.

“So cute!”

Another fan asked, “Is this penguin bought by CEO Xie?”

Without another thought, Ye An replied frankly, “Yes, he gave it to me.”

“Seriously?”

“AHAHAHAHA, his lofty and aloof image crumbled in one second…”

“From now on, I will picture CEO Xie’s face as a penguin.”

“OP, are you the devil in disguise? I’ve already forgotten CEO Xie’s good looks.”

“OMG, this is too hilarious. AHAHAHAHA…”

“Gifting your wife a penguin… that’s too sweet! AHHH, I’m totally into this cold exterior and warm interior image!”

……

On the screen, besides the jokes and laughter, many CP fans were exclaiming. 

After the livestream ended, related topics quickly emerged on Weibo and forums, where netizens were discussing in fervor. 

Some netizens even created stickers of a domineering CEO penguin, all in good fun. 

After showering, Ye An was leaning against the headboard, scrolling through Weibo when she came across the stickers, and she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Xie Shuo, wearing a robe, also got into bed. Seeing her nestled in the blankets, laughing crazily, he leaned over and asked, “What’s so funny?”

Ye An suppressed her laughter and showed him one of the penguin images. “Doesn’t it look like you?”

Xie Shuo: “…….”

Looking at his indifferent handsome face, Ye An couldn’t resist poking him with her finger. “Not quite; you’re not cute at all.”

There was a sparkle in her eyes as her slightly curled and long eyelashes fluttered. Xie Shuo caught her finger and held it in his palm, his gaze fixated on her rosy lips. 

Before he could react, Ye An leaned in and kissed him on the lips. 

However, she always just provoked and didn’t take responsibility for what came after. After the kiss, she nonchalantly turned around and placed her phone on the nightstand, getting ready to lie down and sleep. 

In the next moment, her waist was embraced from behind, and she bumped into a strong and familiar embrace. His scent overwhelmed her as he held her tightly, without any room for escape. 

In the quiet of the night, as the wind rustled and the moonlight danced gently, they remained entwined, undisturbed for a long while. 

……

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The air hung heavily for a few seconds, and then a burst of anger surged to her head.

Ye An’s mind went blank, her ears buzzing. Instantly, she sobered up…

How could she have forgotten that he could see now?

After a brief moment of being stunned, she snatched the gown from his hand and covered her chest with it, glaring at him angrily. “Why aren’t you leaving!”

Under the dim light, her face turned as red as a tomato; her neck was also flushed.

Clutching onto the gown tightly, she took two steps back, but her unsteady footing nearly caused her to fall.

In the nick of time, Xie Shuo reached out and steadied her.

Meeting the desire in his eyes, Ye An’s heart skipped a beat and quickly pushed him away. “Let me take a shower first…”

Counting strictly, they had only been intimate that one time and it was under the influence of alcohol. Now, to do it again made her a bit nervous.

Xie Shuo smiled and gave a kiss on her temple. “En, go take a shower first.”

Ye An: “…….”

Why did his words make it sound like she was saying she wanted to take a shower and wait for him?

She didn’t mean it that way at all!

Xie Shuo obviously didn’t care whether she meant that or not. He let go of her and glanced at her with lingering desire before turning and leaving, closing the door behind him.

Ye An’s face grew even redder. She was completely flustered, sitting down by the edge of the bathtub.

Her cheeks remained flushed, and she covered her face in embarrassment. She can’t just so casually undress like that ever again!

After calming down, she got up and removed her makeup in front of the mirror before proceeding to take a shower.

The sound of running water filled the bathroom, and soon, steam began to fill the room. The hot water cascaded down from above, sliding down her neck to every inch of her body. 

As she showered, the steam in the bathroom made her mind gradually hazy again, and the effects of the alcohol surged back.

After showering, she threw on her nightgown and slipped into her slippers before walking out, forgetting to even blow dry her hair.

Returning to the bedroom, she found that Xie Shuo had already changed into a robe and was sitting against the headboard… He had taken a shower in the adjacent room.

Standing about two steps away from the bed, Ye An hesitated and felt somewhat nervous, her fingers gradually clenching by her side.

Although she was still a bit drunk, she could also guess that there were some things that she couldn’t avoid tonight, especially considering how she ended up coming home with him in her muddleheaded state. 

Looking up, Xie Shuo’s sight settled on her wet hair.

He didn’t rush into anything. Instead, he lifted the covers, got out of bed, and brought a hairdryer over. He guided her to sit at the edge of the bed and began to blow dry her hair.

The shadows in the room swayed gently as his fingers rustled her long locks gently.

The room was still, with only the distinct sound of the hairdryer.

The warm air blowing her scalp was lulling, making her drowsy. Sitting by the edge of the bed, Ye An’s eyelids were heavy, and her head gently bobbing.

Xie Shuo gathered her hair to one side, revealing her smooth nape and shoulder under the soft glow of the light, skin so fair to the point of almost glowing. 

After turning off the hairdryer, he couldn’t resist kissing her exposed nape. 

Ye An, however, was oblivious. Leaning against him, her eyes were half-closed, about to fall asleep at any point now. 

Seeing her like this, Xie Shuo couldn’t bring himself to proceed further. He carefully helped her lie down and get tucked in bed before returning the hairdryer to its place.

When he returned, Ye An had already wrapped herself in the blanket and fallen asleep. Her black hair cascaded on the pillow, revealing her exquisite side profile. Her cheek still bore a faint flush from the alcohol.

Xie Shuo walked to the other side of the bed and got in. After looking at her for a moment, he kissed her gently on the lips before turning off the light and lying down.

There are many days ahead of them, no need to rush.

……

The moonlight by the windowsill was bright, with the shadows of the trees swaying gently in the wind. Just as he closed his eyes and was about to drift off to sleep, there was a slight movement under the covers, and a soft body nestled into his embrace.

Ye An snuggled against him, familiarly placing her hand on his body.

Xie Shuo opened his eyes again, and the desire he had just suppressed rose once more.

As the night grew deeper, the moon outside the floor-to-ceiling window hid among the flower blossoms, casting a bright and clear light. 

The clouds dispersed, and the rain stopped; everything returned to tranquilness.

……

The night passed in a daze. When she woke up, it was already bright outside, and the morning spring sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling window.

Ye An opened her eyes and lay in bed. It took her a while to regain her senses.

After a night of drinking, she had a slight headache. She massaged her temples and attempted to sit up, but she fell back into bed.

Her entire body felt as though her bones had turned to jelly, and she was sore and weak. Her legs, in particular, felt utterly powerless. 

She lay there for a moment before turning to look beside her.

There was no one on the pillow next to hers, but there was a lingering warmth from his side of the bed. The room was empty and quiet. 

It felt like she was reliving that same cold and deserted experience of “pulling up his pants and his figure could not be seen”…

An obscure anger surged within her. She grabbed the pillow he had slept on and without thinking, angrily threw it.

She couldn’t grasp her strength well, and the pillow rebounded and landed on the floor, bouncing a couple of times.

Coincidentally, at that moment, the door was pushed open, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway.

Ye An: “……”

Xie Shuo: “……”

Xie Shuo walked in slowly, picked up the pillow from the floor, and looked at her puzzledly. “What’s wrong?”

He was wearing lounge clothes, looking sophisticated. Ye An was momentarily stunned and felt a bit embarrassed, so she turned away.

Xie Shuo sat down beside her on the bed, embraced her from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder before pressing his face close to hers.

Ye An looked up at him and asked curiously, “You don’t need to go to the office today?”

Holding her, Xie Shuo kissed her at the temple. “I’ll stay home with you today.”

Remembering last time, Ye An still felt a bit displeased. She pursed her lips for a moment before saying, “How come you didn’t think of staying with me last time then?”

For some matters, she preferred to discuss them clearly with him rather than keeping them bottled up so they wouldn’t resurface and hurt her.

Xie Shuo was taken aback. At the time, he had been in a hurry to leave as there was an urgent matter at the company, and he hadn’t given it much thought afterward. He didn’t expect her to bring this up after so long. 

“You disappeared right after, and there wasn’t even a word of concern afterward…” Ye An poked at his chest firmly. “Scumbag!” 

Xie Shuo grabbed her finger and looked at her for a while before softly saying, “I’m sorry.”

He wasn’t just apologizing for that particular matter but for everything that had happened in the past. 

Surprised to hear those words from him after all this time, Ye An felt a bit overwhelmed by favor. She lightly scratched his chin, smiling. “Well, since you’re showing such sincerity, I’ll reluctantly forgive you.”

Xie Shuo asked gently, “Would you like to go downstairs for breakfast, or should I bring it up for you?”

Ye An pulled back the covers and said, “Downstairs.”

After breakfast, Xie Shuo went to his study to work, and Ye An kept him company, leaning on his shoulder while playing on her phone.

The spring sunshine was lovely, and the warmth of the day seeped in through the window. Ye An casually glanced around and noticed something was missing.

“Where’s Yin Yin?” She asked, turning to Xie Shuo.

He looked up and replied, “She’s gone for an upgrade.”

“An upgrade?”

Hearing this, Ye An’s interest was piqued. “She can even be upgraded? Will she become smarter after the upgrade then?”

Xie Shuo placed his laptop on the nearby desk and said, “It depends on the final result.”

He turned to the side and embraced her before asking, “Shall I have someone move things back from the condo?”

Ye An was initially going to say “yes,” but upon seeing his cold and aloof expression, she swallowed the word.

Arching an eyebrow, she made things difficult for him and said, “It’s not a bad idea, but you should say something nice to sweet-talk me first.”

Looking at her spirited expression, Xie Shuo smiled. “What would you like to hear?”

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Faced with Xie Shuo’s request to want a mile when given an inch, Ye An grinned and leaned on his shoulder, moving closer to his ear and saying in a deliberate, alluring tone, “You want me to sleep here?” 

Xie Shuo looked up, his slender and long fingers resting on her waist.

In the next second, Ye An suddenly dropped her smile and said coldly, “Keep dreaming.”

With that, she mercilessly pushed him away, got up, and walked out of the room. Her departing figure was graceful and decisive, with a hint of contentment at getting back at him.

Thinking back to when they had just gotten married, she had tried every seductive trick in the book besides laying bare on top of him, but he had remained indifferent. It could be said that he had a heart of stone.

Now, the tables had turned. If she didn’t leave him hanging for a while, she would feel sorry for herself in the past, who had faced his indifference.

Besides, he had just suffered from a severe headache, so it was better for him to rest peacefully.

As Xie Shuo watched her leave, his smile remained. He sat for a while before getting up to take a shower.

In the quiet of the night, outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sound of the ocean tides surged, and moonlight spilled like scales.

The two of them spent their last night on the island and the following morning, boarded a private plane to return to China.

When they landed, it was just past 7 p.m., with dusk settling in and the city lights beginning to glow.

Ye An didn’t return to the Xie family estate with Xie Shuo, instead, she headed back to the condo… Even if she were to move back, she needed a couple of days to rest as her things were still all over the place.

Enduring the wear and tear of travel, when she returned to the condo, she quickly showered and went to bed, sleeping until noon the next day.

Around 2 p.m., Xie Shuo called. Ye An initially thought he couldn’t wait and was eager to remind her to return to the Xie family estate. To her surprise, he told her that Grandfather Xie wasn’t feeling well and asked if she wanted to go with him to visit.

All things considered, after she married into the Xie family, Grandfather Xie treated her quite well. Now that he was unwell, it was both reasonable and proper for her to pay him a visit.

Ye An quickly changed her clothes and accompanied Xie Shuo to the Xie family estate.

When they arrived, Grandfather Xie was sitting in the courtyard sunbathing while admiring the flowers. Seeing the two of them, he broke into a warm and kind smile, “An An is here too?”

The flowers in the courtyard bloomed like a brocade, and the sky was painted in hues of pink and lavender. Ye An walked beside Xie Shuo, holding his arm, just as she always had. She greeted in the same gentle and obedient manner, “Ye Ye*.”

ye ye – a term to address one’s paternal grandfather; wives follow their husbands in addressing their elders 

Grandfather Xie glanced at Xie Shuo and then at Ye An before sighing. “You’ve suffered.”

“?”

Ye An was a bit puzzled.

After being confused for a moment, she realized that he might be referring to their separation.

As expected, he continued, “A’Shuo was muddled momentarily, but he’s come to his senses now. Don’t be angry with him. Come back home soon…”

From his words, Ye An finally learned how Xie Shuo had explained their separation to his family.

It turned out that he had taken all the blame upon himself, telling Grandfather Xie and Xie Baiyan that it was his insistence on divorce that had led to their separation.

For this, he had received a scolding. After all, she married into the family when he was blind. Now, shortly after his recovery, he was pushing for a divorce. It inevitably left a negative impression for others to think that the Xie family was unfeeling and ungrateful.

Grandfather Xie had always valued the family’s reputation, and upon learning of this, he seriously scolded Xie Shuo.

In the lovely spring sunshine, butterflies fluttered by. Ye An couldn’t help but turn to glance at the man beside her.

Xie Shuo seemed to have the same mind as her and happened to look in her direction, too.

Their gazes met, and Ye An inexplicably felt her face warming up, so she quickly averted her eyes.

Springtime had a way of making one feel a bit restless.

Grandfather Xie held their hands together and exhorted them for half a day to reconcile, which made Ye An suspect his illness was exaggerated, and that he was acting as a mediator for Xie Shuo.

Eventually, he brought up another matter. “By the way, your Uncle Xin is hosting a banquet tomorrow. He’s sent an invitation. Since I can’t attend, both you and Yu Ran should go.”

Xie Shuo obliged.

That evening, they left the family estate after dinner, and Xie Shuo, as usual, drove Ye An back to the condo.

The street lights flickered along the way, casting a warm ambiance. Ye An was gazing outside the window when she suddenly heard Xie Shuo say, “Will you accompany me to the Xin family’s banquet tomorrow?”

Ye An turned around and asked, “What time?”

Xie Shuo replied, “7 p.m., I’ll come to pick you up in the afternoon.”

Ye An nodded and said, “Alright.”

Xie Shuo, however, continued to look at her, seemingly worried.

Ye An understood that he was afraid she might stand him up like she had last time. Holding back a smile, she leaned over and asked, “What if I have something come up at the last minute tomorrow?”

Xie Shuo held her hand and reminded her, “You signed a one-month contract.”

Ye An raised her chin and said, “That doesn’t count; you haven’t even paid me my salary.”

Her eyes glistened, and Xie Shuo’s gaze shifted slightly. He raised his hand and grabbed her chin. “When the month is up, I’ll pay you.”

Lately, he had developed a habit of making such intimate gestures, and Ye An felt a tickling sensation wherever his fingers touched. She straightened up and put some distance between them.

The next day at 3 p.m., Xie Shuo had a couture gown sent to the condo, along with a professional makeup artist.

The gown was black and made of lightweight fabric that accentuated her graceful figure. As she moved, the skirt flowed like gentle ripples.

To complement the dress, the makeup artist made Ye An’s makeup to be slightly more alluring and smokey.

After getting ready, Ye An walked up to Xie Shuo in high heels and blinked. “Pretty?”

Looking at her, Xie Shuo suddenly remembered the day of their wedding and smiled before reaching out his hand toward her. “Very pretty.”

At 7 p.m., the banquet venue was brightly lit.

As they entered the bustling hall, they immediately attracted the attention of many.

Although the rumors about their divorce had been suppressed online, their gossip still circulated within the affluent circle. After all, they were rarely seen in public together.

Seeing the couple walking hand in hand in such an intimate manner, onlookers couldn’t resist but be a little surprised and engage in hushed conversations with each other.

Ye An pretended not to notice and walked arm in arm with Xie Shuo, not glancing around as they headed inside.

Due to Xie Shuo’s status, many people came over to offer their toasts and engage in conversations. Ye An accompanied him for a while but began to feel a bit overwhelmed. She excused herself to the restroom.

When she returned to the hall, she had initially intended to ignore Xie Shuo and grab a bite to eat to fill her stomach. However, in the short time she was away, a young lady appeared by Xie Shuo’s side. She wore a fitted emerald green gown, slender and slim, and was holding a glass of wine while talking to him, with admiration written all over her face.

A surge of nameless anger suddenly rushed to her head. She was right here, and he dared to attract the attention of others. Did they really think she was just a decoration?

The crystal chandeliers on the ceiling shone brilliantly, casting an intense light.

Taking a deep breath, Ye An pushed her hair behind her shoulders, revealing her exquisite and fair collarbone. She walked over elegantly in her high heels.

Coming to Xie Shuo’s side, she reached out and linked her arm with his, affectionately calling out, “Honey.”

As she spoke, she discreetly pinched his forearm twice.

Xie Shuo turned around.

Ye An glanced at him and then at the woman in front of her.

Even after seeing Ye An, the women showed no intention of backing down. Instead, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes. Who didn’t know they were on the verge of divorce, so what was there to pretend about?

She waited for Xie Shuo to show annoyance and push her away. However, Xie Shuo looked down at Ye An tenderly. “What’s wrong?”

“I feel a little dizzy,” Ye An said in a soft, tender voice, suppressing her goosebumps.

“I’ll accompany you to sit over there for a bit?”

Xie Shuo gently held her slender fingers on his arm.

Ye An smiled. “Sure.”

Seeing the two of them leave so intimately, the smile on the woman’s face froze, and her complexion noticeably changed.

… Weren’t they rumored to have a cold relationship and be on the brink of divorce?

What’s going on?

Not only her but others who witnessed the scene were also surprised and began to discuss it quietly.

“Who said they were getting a divorce? It doesn’t look like it…”

…….

When they reached a less crowded lounge, Ye An finally let go of Xie Shuo. She turned to face him and smiled. “Did you have a good time chatting?”

It was a loaded question, and Xie Shuo replied with a strong desire to survive, “No, we didn’t chat.”

Ye An snorted lightly, clearly not believing him. 

Actually, she anticipated this kind of situation. Given his family background and conditions, once news of their divorce got out, there would be no shortage of heiresses trying to get close to him. 

Xie Shuo gripped her fingers tighter and wrapped his arm around her bare shoulder before whispering, “Take a rest here and grab a bite to eat.”

Ye An poked his chest, displeased. “Why do you always attract so much attention?”

Xie Shuo smiled and guided her toward the sofa.

Ye An just had quite a few drinks, and by now, she was feeling a bit tipsy. She didn’t care about the setting. Slightly tiptoeing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in close, whispering, “I’ll give you a chance to coax me.” 

Her rosy lips were just inches away, and Xie Shuo’s gaze became intense.

Ye An raised her chin and instructed him, “Close your eyes now for half a minute. Don’t open them.”

Xie Shuo thought she might be a little drunk and wanted to kiss him. He smiled and closed his eyes.

However, he felt no warmth on his lips even after waiting for half a day.

With one hand hooked around the nape of his neck, Ye An pressed her fingertips against her red lips and applied them to his shirt collar.

He was wearing a white button-up tonight, and the red lipstick stood out on it, eye-catching and meaningful.  

“Alright, go on with your business.”

After applying the lipstick, Ye An ruthlessly pushed him away and nudged him on the shoulder. She arched her slender eyebrow, and her expression was wanton.

Now that there was a mark, I dare anyone to covet my man.

Xie Shuo didn’t get the kiss he had wanted. He stared at her red lips for a moment before suddenly grabbing her waist and leaning down to kiss her on the lips, letting go just before she got angry. He then turned and walked away.

He walked into the crowd, holding a glass of wine, and continued to converse with others. At first, he didn’t notice, but as he observed the sidelong glances of people occasionally drifting toward his shirt collar, coupled with their meaningful expressions, he realized something was amiss. He looked down and saw the red mark.

Xie Shuo: “…….”

…….

Seeing there were no more pests around Xie Shuo, Ye An felt pleased. She touched her warm lips, took a dessert, and sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, enjoying her snack.

Not long after, a figure suddenly appeared next to her, with slender legs under a knee-length skirt. It was none other than Xin Li, the young lady from the Xin family.

Naturally, she wouldn’t be absent from the Xin family’s banquet.

She sat down beside Ye An, holding a half-empty glass of wine, before asking, “I heard you and your husband are getting a divorce. Is that true?”

Ye An looked up, but before she could even respond, Xin Li patted her on the shoulder and continued, “No need to be sad. A man as uninteresting as him, if you’re divorcing, then so be it. There’s nothing to be sad about. I’ll introduce someone new to you later.” 

She said smugly, and Ye An couldn’t help but smile.

“Let me tell you, men are all like this. The more you care about them, the less they value you…”

Xin Li seemed to be in a bit of a bad mood. As they chatted, she started pouring drinks for both of them. The lively spark in her eyes was now replaced by a tinge of melancholy.

In this kind of event, Ye An couldn’t easily refuse, so she ended up having two drinks with her.

“Isn’t it just a man? What’s the big deal? Buh-bye, then so be it. There are plenty of good-looking and sweet guys out there. Why put up with someone that doesn’t make you happy?”

Xin Li drank pretty fast, so she was drunk very quickly. A rosy blush appeared on her snow-white cheeks, and she spoke without any reservations.

Ye An held up slightly better than her, but she was gradually getting drunk. She slouched on the sofa, her long eyelashes drooping. 

Xin Li held the tall crystal glass, her eyes glistening. Blinking, she suddenly asked, “Are you really getting a divorce? If so, I’ll introduce my brother to you. He’s a pretty nice guy, considerate, and gentle with women…”

Just as Xie Shuo finished socializing, he walked through the crowd and overheard this conversation from behind them. Upon hearing this, his expression instantly turned soured.

“It’s true. I’ll go get him right now. You can meet him to see for yourself…”

Xin Li placed her glass down and looked up muddlely. She swayed as she tried to stand up to call someone, but then she met a soured, gloomy face.  

Xin: “……”

Upon seeing Xie Shuo, Ye An was stunned. She lay on the sofa, gazing at the figure in front of her with a bewildered expression.

Despite the bustling atmosphere in the venue, this corner felt like a brewing storm.

Xie Shuo walked up with a sour face and sat down beside Ye An before holding her waist and pulling her into his arms. “What were you guys chatting about?”

Ye Yan winced as her waist was tightly held by him. She tried to push his arm away, but he remained firm, so she snuggled in his arms and said vaguely, “Xin Li said she wants to introduce her brother to me and that her brother is much more interesting than you…”

Xie Shuo’s expression darkened even more, and he held her by the shoulder, helping her stand up before walking away with her, leaving Xin Li behind.

Ye An’s steps were unsteady, and she leaned while asking puzzledly, “Where are we going?”

“Home.”

Xie Shuo held her in his arms as they passed through the lively banquet hall, making their way outside under the various gazes of the guests.

In a corner, Xin Li sat back down, staring at the red alcoholic liquid in the crystal glass before downing it.

Leaning to the side, she lightly held the stem of the glass, lost in thought. Suddenly, she chuckled and got up from the sofa.

Her slim heels tapped lightly on the floor, and she took a step as she saw Xie Yuran standing not far away.

He appeared to have stood there for a long time. Through the layers of dim lights, his handsome features were somewhat indistinct, and his gaze was murky and unclear.

Xin Li paused in her steps and glanced at him before turning and walking in the opposite direction, stumbling through the crowd and disappearing from sight.

Xie Yuran stood still for a while before following her.

……

On the way back home, Ye An lay in Xie Shuo’s arms, occasionally pulling at his tie and playfully poking his Adam’s apple. Her eyes, like those of a curious child, shone brightly.

After fooling around for a bit, she grew a bit tired and rested against him, her fingers lightly tugging at his shirt.

Once she quieted down a bit, Xie Shuo held her hand and whispered into her ear, “Where are we going?”

Ye An looked up, a hint of bewilderment in them, not fully understanding his question. “Didn’t you say we’re going home?”

Xie Shuo smiled, his eyes slightly intoxicated. His voice seemed to resonate from his chest as he replied, “En, going home.”

When they arrived at the Xie family estate, it was almost 11 p.m.

The spring night breeze was gentle, and the fragrant flowers were enveloped in the moonlight. 

Although Ye An was muddle-headed, she hadn’t fallen asleep. She kept her eyes open, and even when the car door opened, she managed to bend down and exit the car.

However, as she stepped out of the car, she staggered and almost fell. Xie Shuo promptly caught her, his arm around her shoulder, his palm against her warm and delicate skin.

Ye An was puzzled for a moment before turning around to support him. “You can’t see, so you need to be careful…”

Xie Shuo: “…….”

She was obviously quite drunk. Seeing her stagger with each step, Xie Shuo decided to just princess-carry her, walking toward inside.

Amidst the silence, the sound of his footsteps echoed.

Being suspended in the air, Ye An wrapped her arms around his neck, staring at his eyes.

“You can’t see, so how can you still carry me?”

Xie Shuo acted as though he hadn’t heard her question. He set her down on the sofa in their bedroom before sitting down beside her, loosening his tie.

Looking around the familiar interior, Ye An subconsciously thought that she had returned to the past when he hadn’t regained his sight.

She nestled close to him, and noticing him loosening his tie, she tugged at his tie.

Xie Shuo looked down and caught hold of her fingers.

His tie was still hanging loosely around his neck, and the lipstick mark from earlier was still visible. Ye An recalled the scene at first and asked while touching the mark, “Be honest, how many women did you talk to tonight?”

Xie Shuo embraced her and said, “Just you.”

“Who are you trying to fool?”

Ye An didn’t believe his nonsense, so she tugged at his tie.

“I’m telling you, if you dare to mess around with other women outside, I’ll go find someone else…”

She looked up and saw his smooth jaw. Just like earlier, when she was drunk, she had a thought to kiss him.

Xie Shuo was already accustomed to this, and his hand supported her at her lower back, allowing her to continue.

After kissing him for a bit, Ye An released him and continued to rest against him dazedly.

Holding her shoulder, Xie Shuo’s gaze landed on her rosy lips. Just as he was about to lean down for a kiss, Ye An suddenly pushed herself up against his chest and stumbled to stand firm.

“Are you going to take a shower? I’ll go get your clothes for you…”

She thought it was just like before and swayed her way to the closet.

Worried that she might fall, Xie Shuo got up and followed her.

Inside the closet, Ye An familiarly pulled out a men’s robe. When she turned around, she almost bumped into his embrace.

Seeing her in a daze, Xie Shuo took the robe, tossed it aside, and casually picked out a nightgown before wrapping his arm around her shoulder and leading her outside the closet.

“Go take a shower first.”

After entering the bathroom, he let her go.

“What about you?”

To save time, Xie Shuo reassured her, “I’ve already showered.”

Ye An relaxed and then removed the hair clips in her hair before undressing herself in front of him just like she used to.

This wasn’t the first time she had done such a thing, and she didn’t find it inappropriate since he couldn’t see anyway.

Xie Shuo neatly placed the nightgown down for her before turning around to check up on her and was slightly taken aback.

This wasn’t the first time he had seen her change as if no one was around.

The long gown fell to the floor gently like water.

In the instant her skin was exposed to the slightly chilly air, Ye An suddenly came back to her senses and realized something before turning around to look at him.

The bathroom light was rather warm, outlining her alluring curves.

Xie Shuo’s gaze intensified as he picked up the gown that had fallen to the floor, with a smile in his eyes…

“Why aren’t you continuing?”

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Staring at her name on the contract, Ye An was stunned for a while, finding it hard to believe that Xie Shuo could do such a thing.

She turned around, intending to confront him, but her gaze met a pair of eyes filled with mirth, and her resolve weakened.

This man used to have a perpetually stern face and was impervious to humor. Now, he smiled as if it cost him nothing. 

Ye An struggled to regain her focus after being charmed by his looks and said, “You’re the one who grabbed my hand to sign my name. The signature isn’t right, so the contract doesn’t count.”

Xie Shuo didn’t release his hold and pulled her back into his embrace, leaning in close to her ear. “Written in black ink on white paper, how can it not count?”

As soon as he mentioned “written in black ink on white paper,” Ye An couldn’t help but remember the trick she had played on him before and the image of forcefully kissing him, making her confidence waver.

How could she have been so bold back then?

But this wasn’t the time to be timid. Ye An straightened her back, placed her hand on his chest, pushed him away slightly, and said with a playful smile, “If I say it doesn’t count, it doesn’t count. Besides, the name on the contract isn’t even yours.”

When she smiled, there seemed to be a twinkle in her eyes. Xie Shuo’s gaze subtly intensified as he tightened his grip around her waist.

Ye An had a feeling he was about to repeat his previous antics, getting close to teasing her, so she moved slightly away before he could make a move.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back.”

As she got up to leave, she was unsurprisingly pulled back into his embrace.

Just as she was about to free herself from his hold, he rested his chin on her shoulder and said, “I went to Professor Cen’s clinic a couple of days ago.”

Upon hearing this, Ye An was no longer in the mood for playful banter with him and quickly turned to ask, “What happened? Aren’t your eyes healed now? Is there another issue?”

Xie Shuo looked at her but remained silent.

Meeting his playful gaze, Ye An finally realized what was going on, and her cheeks flushed. She was genuinely annoyed and kicked his shins. “If you use this to trick me again, you can just be alone from now on!”

“I didn’t lie to you.”

Xie Shuo wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “Professor Cen said that I’ve been overworking my eyes lately and need more rest. Otherwise, there’s a risk of a relapse.”

Ye An was still somewhat irked and quipped, “You only have work on your mind. Are you really worried about a relapse?” 

Her originally fair earlobes turned slightly red. Xie Yan glanced at it and couldn’t help but turn to give it a kiss as he said hoarsely, “Stay and help me?”

Ye An was left in a daze after his kiss, her entire body tingling. She turned to push him away and said, “If you’re talking, just talk; stop trying to take advantage of me.”

Xie Shuo looked up, loosened his hold on her slightly, and his hand slid down her wrist to cover her soft hand. His gaze rested on the contract before him.

“If you stay and help me, I won’t be so exhausted.”

Ye An followed his gaze and thinking about the act he had just put on, suddenly felt like laughing. “Where did you learn all this? You’re so childish.”

“Even from Senior Wen…” Ye An turned to playfully poke at his shoulder. “Did you think I was that easy to fool? If I hadn’t come, let’s see how you would’ve managed.”

Xie Shuo didn’t respond; he already knew he couldn’t fool her. He was just having a try.

Fortunately, his try was a success.

He let go of her, leaned backed against the sofa, unbuttoned his collar, and a hint of weariness showed between his eyes.

Thinking about what he had just said about Cen Qingyan’s warning, Ye An couldn’t help but soften her heart. “Do you have a headache? I’ll give you a massage?”

Xie Shuo smiled and held her hand before saying, “Let’s have dinner first.”

Ye An had just flown over, and she was indeed a bit hungry, so she nodded.

“Shall we have dinner delivered or go downstairs to eat?”

“Let’s go downstairs.”

Xie Shuo got up, held her hand, and they left for the restaurant downstairs.

After dinner, the two of them wandered around the island, and Ye An didn’t bring up the topic of leaving again.

What she wanted was his genuine affection. When she had insisted on a divorce, it was because she felt he had no feelings for her. Now that he was openly showing his emotions and going to such lengths for her, she had no reason to harbor any grudges. 

Ye An had always been kind to herself and had no intention of deceiving herself. Love was love. There was no need to make decisions against one’s heart.

…….

The next day, Ye An accompanied Xie Shuo to meet a business partner, a middle-aged British-Chinese man named Mr. Fei.

Xie Shuo introduced her in English, saying, “This is my wife.”

Mr. Fei seemed surprised that he had brought his wife along, and he turned to compliment, “Your wife is truly beautiful.”

Ye An blushed slightly and smiled before sitting down with Xie Shuo, listening to them talk.

Her gaze gradually focused on Xie Shuo’s face. It had to be said that the way this man earnestly discussed business had a unique charm; even his eyelashes seemed to shimmer, making it hard to look away.

After the meeting, Ye An linked her arm with his and accompanied him back to the hotel. When they entered their room, she suddenly remembered something and turned to say, “Do you think I should go take a course?”

Xie Shuo squeezed her hand and asked, “For what?”

Ye An sat on the sofa with him and said, “It’s nothing, just thinking of learning a couple more languages to make dubbing easier.”

Xie Shuo replied, “No need to go through all that trouble. I can teach you.”

Ye An looked at him. “Besides English, do you know any other languages?”

“I also know French. If you want to learn, I can teach you.”

Without waiting for her response, Xie Shuo turned to her and said a phrase in French, “Jetaime.”

Ye An: “…….”

Did you think I couldn’t understand even such a simple phrase as “I love you”?

Xie Shuo reminded her, “Repeat after me.”

Ye An: Heh.

Ye An grabbed his tie, pulled him forward, and leaned in to whisper in his ear, “Your approach is so old-fashioned, it lacks any creativity.”

Moreover, it wasn’t romantic at all! I don’t want to hear a confession in this context!

As she pulled him forward, Xie Shuo took the opportunity to embrace her slender waist and press her down onto the sofa.

Ye An hadn’t expected the sudden shift to such an ambiguous position. After being stunned for a moment, she quickly let go of his tie.

Xie Shuo, however, showed no intention of getting up. He used one hand to support himself beside her, towering over her with deep, alluring eyes.

Ye An looked up while lying down with a view of his smooth jawline and sexy Adam’s apple; his collar buttoned all the way up. She felt oddly nervous and pushed against his shoulders to free herself, scooting to sit at the corner of the sofa.

“Don’t you have something to do later?”

Xie Yan glanced at her and didn’t insist further. He calmly redid his tie, his action refined yet filled with lust.

Ye An’s heart raced… She had once again shamefully succumbed to his charms. 

Soon, an assistant knocked on the door and came in to report something to Xie Shuo.

The first few days after arriving on the island, Xie Shuo was super busy, and Ye An stayed by his side, helping him read some documents and occasionally bickering with him as if they had returned to the past.

After completing most work matters, they didn’t rush back to China. Instead, they spent two more days on the island.

The weather was perfect, with a gentle breeze and sunny skies. The sea stretched endlessly toward the horizon, with waves rolling in and out one after the other.

On the beach by the seaside, parasols dotted the area like mushrooms as tourists came and went. 

Xie Shuo lay on a sunbed, wearing sunglasses, and relaxed with his eyes closed. 

Ye An, in a sundress, lay beside him with a beach towel draped over her back, exposing half of her fair shoulders.

Turning around slightly, her gaze traced the contours of the man’s chest and paused on his well-defined muscles. 

She extended a finger and playfully poked on his abs.

Xie Shuo opened his eyes, removed his sunglasses, and turned to look at her.

Ye An met his gaze for a moment before quickly withdrawing her hand with a mischievous smile. She pretended as if nothing had happened, wrapped her towel closer, and turned to gaze out at the sea.

A man wearing floral swim trunks stood in the sea, raising his arms in a super cool pose while asking his friends to help him take a photo. 

Just as the shutter clicked, a large wave suddenly crashed down and pounced on him…

His floral swim trunks were washed away…

“AHAHAHAHA….”

“Quick, look! That guy lost his trunks!”

Laughter echoed all around. Upon hearing the commotion, Ye An immediately sat up and looked toward the scene.

However, it was quite far away, so the scene was quite indistinct.

Curious, she craned her neck, trying to get a better view. But suddenly, her vision was blocked by a large, cool hand gently covering her eyes.

“What are you doing? Don’t block me!”

Ye An grabbed his wrist, attempting to pry his hand away, but she lacked the strength to overpower him.

During the struggle, his lips suddenly descended upon hers. 

After a long while, the warmth of his lips finally left, and his hand withdrew from her eyes. 

Her vision restored, and Ye An found herself leaning against him, her lips red and slightly swollen, glistening with a hint of moisture, making her look particularly seductive. 

Looking up, she met his eyes, and she couldn’t help but blush even more, the heat scorching to her ear lobes.

…… When this man got serious, she was no match for him at all!

“There are still people around!”

Ye An glared at him, scanned their surroundings, and upon realizing that nobody was watching, she relaxed. She got up from his arms and wrapped the towel even more tightly around herself. 

Xie Shuo’s gaze brushed over her lips, and he smiled before lying down once more.

After a while, Ye An lay down on her side and reached for her phone nearby before opening her camera to openly snap a side profile of him.

Perhaps due to excessive exposure to the sun, when they returned to the hotel that evening, Xie Shuo experienced an unusual headache and discomfort in his eyes.

Ye An helped massage his temples for a while. Seeing that he seemed to be feeling a bit better, she helped him up and prepared to return to her room.

But before she could stand up, he pulled her into his arms.

Ye An bumped into his chest and turned to glare at him. “You already have a headache like this; what do you still want to do?”

He always used this tactic, and she wondered if he ever planned to try something different.

Under the soft light, Xie Shuo held her waist, his forehead against hers, before saying, “After we go back… stop living in the condo?”

Ye An was taken aback, almost forgetting about this aspect.

Looking at his slightly pale face and remembering his recent efforts to please her, she pursed her lips and turned her head away before giving a vague response, “Let’s discuss it when we get back.”

Usually, when she said something like that, it was equivalent to giving her consent.

Xie Shuo smiled. As she prepared to get up, he pulled her back into his arms and held her hand.

Ye An gently brushed his hand aside and asked, “What’s with you now?”

Looking at her, Xie Shuo said softly, “Why don’t… you stay here tonight?”

Ye An: “…….”

Hmph, men.

Previous | Index | Next

“Hello, Mr. Wen.”

After Ye An’s words fell, there was no response from the other side of the screen for a while.

Puzzled, she leaned forward a bit, calling out again, “Mr. Wen?”

There was still no response.

“……”

Ye An was positive of her conjecture, so she slowly got up, intending to move around the screen to get a better look.

Perhaps sensing her movements, there was finally a response from the other side of the screen. “Hello, Miss. Ye.”

… It was a rather youthful voice, but it wasn’t Xie Shuo’s.

Ye An was taken aback: Did I guess wrong?

“Are you Mr. Wen?”

The youthful voice counter asked, “Miss Ye, you’ve already read the contract; are there any concerns you may still have?”

His refusal to answer the question reignited Ye An’s suspicions. After some pondering, she replied, “There are no issues with the contract terms, but I’d like to meet Mr. Wen in person first.”

The young man hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is that very important to you, Miss Ye?”

Looking at the partition, Ye An softened her tone and said, “Naturally. Mr. Wen, if you’d like me to be your personal assistant, it’s only proper that we meet first before I decide whether to accept the job. Otherwise, if we were to sign the contract and then find issues, it wouldn’t do any party good.”

The other side of the partition fell silent once more.

After a moment, the indistinct figure behind the partition moved, and the young man finally emerged from behind, dressed in a well-fitted suit. It was an unfamiliar face to Ye An, as she had never seen him before.

He walked over to Ye An and took a seat across from her, smiling. “Do you have any other requests, Miss Ye?”

Ye An couldn’t help but glance toward the partition, still harboring suspicions that there might be someone else hidden behind it. However, all she saw was a blur.

Looking back at him, she said, “Turns out that Mr. Wen really is this young.”

The young man didn’t confirm or deny but instead placed two copies of the contract on the coffee table, pushing them slightly in her direction. “If Miss Ye has no objections, you can consider signing the contract now.”

At the lower right corner of the contract, the name of Party A had already been signed with sharp strokes.

While Ye An had seen Xie Shuo’s signature before, it looked somewhat similar to this one, but without a direct comparison, she couldn’t be certain.

Seeing her staring at the contract, the young man softly reminded her, “Miss Ye?”

Being in such a hurry and also so secretive about it, there definitely was something fishy going on… Moreover, the young man across from her did not seem to exhibit any particular fondness for her voice; he behaved as if he was just here to do business in exchange for payment.

Ye An looked up and smirked. “If you are indeed Mr. Wen, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t sign this contract.”

The young man looked slightly puzzled. “Why not?”

Feigning regret, Ye An said, “You see, I’m already married, and my husband is quite strict. He doesn’t like me having too much contact with the opposite sex.”

The young man hadn’t expected this and was taken aback for a few seconds before carefully responding, “Rest assured, Miss Ye. During the contract period, you will only be responsible for reading documents, and there will be no need for intimate contact. Your concerns will definitely not happen.”

Ye An smiled. “Mr. Wen, you’re just joking. Since it’s a personal assistant position, some level of contract is unavoidable.”

She paused, picked up her purse from the side, and continued, “My apologies, but I can’t sign this contract. Thank you for the tea.”

Seeing her getting up to leave, the young man’s expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly stopped her. “Miss Ye, please wait a moment.”

Ye An paused and turned around.

The young man hesitated for a while before saying, “Actually, I’m Mr. Wen’s personal lawyer. Mr. Wen is currently unavailable to meet you in person, so he asked me to discuss this with you.”

Ye An smiled. “What if I insist on meeting him?”

The young man showed a troubled expression, still fearing she might leave, said, “Please wait for a moment. I will make a call and ask.”

With that, he got up and walked toward the partition while taking out his phone to make a call. 

Ye An sat back down, holding the exquisite white porcelain teacup with her fair as jade fingers.

Suddenly, she had a bright idea. Taking out her phone from her purse, she took advantage of the moment to call Xie Shuo.

Expecting it to be busy, she was surprised when the call actually went through.

Once more, she was taken aback and started to feel a bit unsure. She glanced behind the partition and said, “Hi, where are you right now?”

Xie Shuo answered succinctly, “What’s the matter?”

Ye An hesitated for a moment before asking tentatively, “I don’t have work this afternoon. Can I come see you?”

Just as she finished her sentence, she faintly heard Zhong Fu’s voice from the other end, “President Xie…”

Hearing that, Ye An suddenly realized that Xie Shuo could have instructed Zhong Fu to handle this matter, eliminating the need for him to take care of the matter himself.

“I’m in a meeting right now; it’s not convenient.” Xie Shuo said after a moment of pause.

He answered her call while he was in a meeting?

Ye An propped her chin on the table and said mischievously with a smile, “Is that so? Since you’re so busy, I won’t bother you in the future.”

Just as she was about to hang up, Xie Shuo interjected, “Where are you? I’ll have the chauffeur pick you up.”

Ye An’s smile deepened. “The opportunity has passed; I’m not going anymore.”

Before he could respond, she asked, “By the way, do you still remember that strange person I told you about yesterday? The one who offered a high salary for me to be his personal assistant to read to him. I’m meeting with him to discuss the contract today. Do you think I should sign it?”

Xie Shuo seemed to be contemplating how to respond. After a pause, he said insipidly, “If the conditions are suitable, you can sign it.”

This response deepened Ye An’s suspicions. Knowing his usual temper, he wouldn’t be willing to let her become someone’s personal assistant. 

She tapped her finger lightly on the table and said discontentedly, “You’re not even going to ask what kind of person he is?”

Xie Shuo was quick to follow along and asked, “What kind of person is he?”

Ye An said purposely, “I haven’t met him yet, but I guess he’s just an old guy with too much money and nothing better to do. Else, why would he be so bored?”

There was a weird silence from the other end of the line. 

Suddenly, Ye An’s tone turned exaggeratedly panicked, “He wouldn’t have any strange fetishes, would he?”

After a couple of seconds of silence, Xie Shuo finally said, “If you’re worried, I can have someone look into him for you.”

Ye An smiled. “No need, go and continue your meeting. I don’t want to disturb you any longer.”

After hanging up the call, she waited for a while before the young man returned from behind the partition.

“Mr. Wen is currently in the UK. If Miss Ye insists on meeting him, I can arrange for you to go there.”

The UK, the same place where Xie Shuo has to go on a business trip.

At this moment, Ye An could almost be certain that this “Mr. Wen” was indeed Xie Shuo.

She couldn’t believe that he would come up with such a childish and boring agenda.

She smiled and casually flipped through the contract, picked up the pen before setting it down again, and said aloofly, “The UK is so far away; I think I’ll pass.”

The young man hadn’t expected her to be this difficult to deal with, so in his desperation, he said, “Actually, Mr. Wen isn’t considered young for the opposite sex, so Miss Ye’s previous concerns are completely unnecessary.”

Not considered young for the opposite sex?

Ye An resisted laughing as she glanced at him and finally relented, “Then, let’s wait to sign the contract when I meet him in person.”

If it really was Xie Shuo, she would reluctantly play along with him. In any case, she had nothing to do.

But, in the worst-case scenario, if she guessed wrong, taking on this job wouldn’t hurt her.

With a daily salary of ten thousand, she had nothing to lose, no matter how you looked at it.

The young man glanced at her as if he wanted to persuade her to sign the contract first, but the words seemed to catch in his throat, and he decided against it.

That night, Xie Shuo didn’t come to pick her up for dinner because he had to leave for his business trip earlier than expected.

Ye An wasn’t upset. She went home, packed her luggage, and went to bed early, getting ready to meet that Mr. Wen the next day.

…….

The next day, “Mr. Wen” had someone specifically sent to pick her up to board a private plane.

…. Whether it was Xie Shuo or not remained uncertain, but one thing was for sure: he had money.

Having worked for such a long time, this was the first time Ye An had experienced such treatment, and couldn’t help but look forward to it.

When they arrived at an island in the UK, it just so happened to be dusk.

The setting sun over the sea melted into gold, with its rosy light following the waves in winding patterns, casting a golden hue over half of the island.

Mr. Wen was staying at the largest hotel on the island. After entering the hotel, his assistant directly escorted Ye An to his room, which was empty, with no one in sight.

“Mr. Wen has some matters to attend to. He will be coming back later. Miss Ye, please wait for a while.”

Ye An wasn’t sure if he truly had business to attend to or if he was intentionally delaying it. She glanced at her luggage and said with a smile, “I’ll go and book a room for myself then.”

The assistant had originally intended for her to stay in this room, but upon hearing what she had said, he quickly went to book the adjacent room for her.

After booking the room, Ye An placed her luggage in her room and returned to Mr. Wen’s room to wait for him.

Sitting alone on the balcony, she gazed at the distant sunset over the sea and took a few pictures before posting them onto her WeChat Moments.

In no time, she received a bunch of comments and likes, with people asking her where she went.

As the setting sun dipped halfway, the sound of the door opening behind her caught Ye An’s attention, and she turned around.

A familiar figure entered her field of vision: broad shoulders, slender waist, long legs—every inch of him was heart-stirring.

…. She had indeed guessed right.

Ye An got up, took a few steps forward, leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, crossed her arms, and looked at him with a smile.

“Hi there, Senior Wen.”

She added emphasis to “Senior.”

Xie Shuo showed no signs of being guilty at all. Glancing at her, he nonchalantly removed his coat and tossed it onto the sofa, revealing well-defined muscle contours beneath his white button-up.

Ye An walked in from the balcony, the remnants of the sunset casting a soft glow on her, and on the coffee table in front of the sofa were two copies of a contract, precisely the one she hadn’t signed yet.

“Since you’re not Senior Wen, there’s no need to sign the contract.”

Seeing him not responding, Ye An bent over to pick up the contract, appearing as if she was about to leave.

Suddenly, Xie Shuo reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her toward him.

Ye An almost ended up sitting on his lap. She squirmed a bit and looked up. “What are you doing?”

Xie Shuo wrapped his arm around her from behind, holding her securely in his embrace as he looked down and said, “Didn’t you say you’d sign the contract when you met the person?”

Their legs were closely pressed together, and the position they were in was somewhat dubious. Ye An could almost feel the texture of his muscles through his shirt. Her ears flushed, and she looked up at him with a glare. “I wanted to meet Senior Wen, not you.”

Xie Shuo didn’t loosen his grip and locked eyes with her in a deep, intense gaze.

Ye An smiled, deliberately teasing him. “What? Are you trying to admit that you’re a man in his fifties or sixties?”

Xie Shuo picked up the pen next to the contract and placed it in her hand, his large palm enveloping hers.

“You…”

As Ye An was about to utter something, her eyes were suddenly covered by his other hand. He held her tightly from behind, and his warm breath brushed her ear. “What?”

Just a simple word, but it held another meaning when spoken by him.

His deep voice reverberated in her eardrums, her vision obstructed. Ye An felt a tingling sensation on her neck, and she involuntarily became seduced.

It was just a moment of distraction, but she had already signed her name on the contract under his guidance.

His hand withdrew, and she could see the light of day again. 

Ye An stared at her name on the contract, utterly stunned.

What kind of trick was this?

Previous | Index | Next

Xie Shuo’s declaration of pursuing her was more than just a show; he didn’t immediately push her to return to the Xie family estate.

Ye An wasn’t sure how he had explained things to Xie Baiyan and Grandfather Xie when he returned home, but the Xie family had tacitly accepted her staying outside. No one had called to question her whereabouts.

However, rumors about their divorce were still circulating in private.

After resting for two days, Ye An readjusted herself, and under Xiang Quan’s urging, returned to the studio.

Just as she entered the studio, before her seat could even warm up, the receptionist knocked on her door, holding a large bouquet.

Ye An was a little surprised but stood up to accept the flowers. A curious colleague peeked into her office and asked, “An An, who sent you these flowers?”

Another voice chimed in, “Do you even need to ask? Who would be so imprudent as to encroach on CEO Xie’s territory?”

“Well, I haven’t seen flowers being sent here before…”

“Just because it hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it won’t now…”

“…….”

The hushed whispers from outside continued as Ye An remained silent. Looking down at the flowers in her arms, the delicate petals were still adorned with dew.

She absentmindedly fiddled with the bouquet but didn’t find a card attached. She smiled slightly.

There wasn’t much work to do in the morning, just organizing some files. In the afternoon, Xiang Quan came over wearily, having stayed up all night. He mentioned a promising animation movie that was looking for voice actors for the characters, asking if she was interested.

Ye An skimmed through the materials he handed her and asked, “Are negotiations done?”

Leaning against the desk, Xiang Quan said, “Almost, just depends on your schedule.”

Since the dubbing variety show, Ye An’s fame and market value have increased significantly. She no longer needed to actively vie for opportunities; contracts were lining up to work with her. There were even offers for her to transition to acting. 

“I’ll take it.”

Hearing her quick acceptance, Xiang Quan couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. He took a few steps away but then turned back, hesitating. “This extended leave you took, it’s not really because of a divorce, is it?”

He couldn’t be blamed for his suspicions because every time she took an extended leave, she seemed to come up with some unexpected “surprises.”

Ye An didn’t reply but gestured with her eyes to the flowers lying nearby.

Xiang Quan: “?”

Ye An smiled. “My husband sent them.”

Xiang Quan: “…….”

……

The afternoon passed quickly, and around 6 p.m., Ye An headed downstairs with others from the studio.

Just as they walked out of the building, she spotted a familiar car parked in front. The car window was rolled down halfway, revealing the stern side profile of a man.

Xie Shuo was sitting in the car, engrossed in reviewing documents, with his long eyelashes casting a slight shadow.

Ye An paused her steps. Since returning from Qianyue Mountain, he has resumed his hectic schedule. She thought he wouldn’t have the time to come and have dinner with her these days, but she was surprised to find that he didn’t mind working in the car and waiting for her.

The chauffeur in the front noticed Ye An coming out and informed Xie Shuo quietly.

Xie Shuo looked up, his serious expression turning gentle in an instant. Putting away his documents, he opened the car door and stepped out.

His tall and noble figure, exuding an air of grace, stood beside the car, becoming a unique sight.

“Who’s that? So handsome!”

Infatuated voices filled the air around Ye An, and someone nudged her. “An An jie, is that your husband?”

Although the rumor was clarified online, people were still gossiping about whether she had divorced or not in private, especially since they had never seen the couple being affectionate in public.

Witnessing it now left them somewhat incredulous. 

Ye An felt her face warm up, and she paused before walking up to him. Remembering that he was still courting her, she intentionally lifted her chin and said in a voice only he could hear, “If you came to ask me out for dinner, I’m afraid you’ve come late. I’ve already promised to eat with them.”

Hearing this, Xie Shuo glanced at her before shifting his gaze beyond her, his expression indifferent.

Without waiting for him to speak, the others immediately understood the situation and began pushing each other to leave, waving to Ye An. “An An, we’re heading off.”

Ye An: “…….”

A bunch of spineless people!

Xie Shuo smiled and turned his gaze back to her.

Ye An felt a bit irked, thinking she shouldn’t let him have his way so easily. She turned around to leave.

Xie Shuo grabbed her wrist and pulled her in front of him, saying, “I waited for you for a long time.”

A warm breath brushed against her ear, and the brilliant spring sunset painted the sky before them. Meeting his gaze, Ye An’s heart fluttered.

It was rush hour when everyone was getting off work, with people coming and going. They couldn’t continue standing there without drawing attention. It could even lead to them becoming headline news or a hot topic tomorrow. Ye An didn’t argue with him any further and allowed him to half-embrace her as they got into the car.

After getting in the car, Xie Shuo put away the documents he had been reviewing earlier. Seeing his action, Ye An couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not planning to look at those documents during dinner, are you?”

Xie Shuo looked up and thought about the past. “How about you read them to me?”

Ye An immediately glared at him. “Are you here to invite me to dinner or to make me work?”

With this level of awareness, he still thought he could win his wife back?

Heartsore on his end!

Xie Shuo smiled. He wasn’t actually so busy. It had just been a long time since he heard her voice, and he missed it.

His gaze moved downward and settled on her fair and delicate hand, instinctively reaching out to hold it.

Ye An looked down for a moment before suddenly withdrawing her hand, smiling innocently. “Until you’ve got me, even holding hands is considered overstepping.”

Throughout the entire dinner, Xie Shuo hadn’t touched her even once.

On the way back to the condo, Xie Shuo glanced her way frequently. Recalling his cool and disdainful demeanor from the past, Ye An pretended not to notice.

They arrived at the condo at 9 p.m.

The spring night breeze was gentle and soft. This time, Xie Shuo behaved as a true gentleman. He didn’t come up with excuses to stay the night but instead extended an invitation before leaving, “There’s a friend’s party tomorrow night. Will you accompany me?”

Considering his decent performance today, Ye An didn’t tease him and graciously accepted.

Xie Shuo turned to leave, and Ye An walked him to the door. Seeing his unsatisfied appearance, she gently patted his shoulder. 

Turning around, Xie Shuo felt her soft body pressing closer, with her familiar faint scent and a shallow breath like a breeze brushing past his ear.

“We can’t hold hands, but I can give you a quick hug.”

Ye An hugged him briefly, not giving him time to react. She withdrew swiftly and closed the door. 

Xie Shuo was momentarily stunned and looked at the tightly shut door. After a while, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Little did he know that this dragonfly’s touch of a hug would be the most intimate interaction between them for the following week.

…….

The next afternoon, Xie Shuo finished his meeting early and was just about to go pick up Ye An when he suddenly received a call from her, saying that there was a last-minute interview at the studio related to the variety show she did before the New Year. It was going to take a bit longer, and she was afraid she wouldn’t have time to accompany him to the party.

On the phone, Ye An sounded a bit guilty as she apologized and tried to pacify him. Then, someone called her, and she hastily hung up.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, the smile on Xie Shuo’s face faded visibly, but he couldn’t bring himself to get angry at her.

After standing there for a while, he finally just massaged his temples and went to the party alone.

At the party, wine cups clinked together, and gambling chips lay all over; both Jiang Shiyan and Yan Fei were also present.

Everyone was chatting and laughing. Seeing the seat next to Xie Shuo empty, Jiang Shiyan arched an eyebrow with a grin of rejoicing in his misfortune. “Why didn’t you bring your wife? Did she really run away?”

Xie Shuo shot him a cold glance and ignored him, simply picking up the glass of wine in front of him and taking a sip.

Jiang Shiyan patted him on the shoulder and said, “Do you want me to impart some wisdom to you?”

Perhaps finding him too annoying, Xie Shuo finally retorted, “Do you have much wisdom?”

Eternal Bachelor Jiang Shiyan: “……..”

That night, Ye An didn’t wait for Xie Shuo to pick her up and returned to the condo by herself.

Xie Shuo had a few drinks. Receiving her call informing him that she had already arrived home, he decided not to disturb her further. 

After completing the interview, Ye An immediately took on the voice acting project and the ending theme song for the animated film, as suggested by Xiang Quan.

With the film production in a rush, once the voice test was approved, she threw herself into work.

This busy schedule left very little time for her and Xie Shuo to meet during the day, except for him picking her up at night after work.

Xie Shuo had his own share of responsibilities at his company, which meant he couldn’t take care of her all the time. Their occasional dinners were also rather rushed.

Xie Shuo specifically went and searched for Ye An’s interview. In the video, her smile was bright and radiant, and her eyes sparkled as if they held the entire universe within them.

At this moment, he was starting to regret his roundabout route. If he had known, he would’ve just confessed already. Continuing like this, it might take ages to get her back.

In the past, she had so much energy and patience to be with him every day, mainly due to his blindness, accommodating him in every way. Now, as she left his side, she was still thriving. 

He even started to doubt whether she was truly repaying a kindness.

Ye An had no idea that Young Master Xie had been overthinking so much. She was busy in the recording studio every day, straining her voice.

Fortunately, dubbing for a movie didn’t take as long as working on a drama. After a week, she finally finished her work. 

After leaving work, she spent an entire afternoon relaxing. She decided to talk to Xiang Quan about not taking on such urgent jobs henceforth. If this keeps up, she would age prematurely, and no amount of skincare could salvage her; her voice would probably be ruined, too.

Who knew that as soon as she brought up the topic, Xiang Quan asked hesitantly, “There’s a new project that’s relatively easy, and it doesn’t require long hours or tight schedules. I’m not sure if you’d be interested, though.”

Seeing his perplexed expression, Ye An couldn’t help but wonder if this new project involved some explicit or risque content.

“What kind of script is it? Let me take a look.”

Xiang Quan: “It’s not some script. It’s a request from Director Yuan’s friend, who really likes your voice and wants you to accompany him…”

Ye An immediately took a step back. “I’m selling my craft, not myself.”

“…….”

Xiang Quan coughed. “I misspoke… He asked if you’d like to work as a personal assistant for a month. You’ll be reading documents and nothing else; food and lodging are all covered.” 

Ye An’s head was filled with question marks. There were actually people with such service needs!

Xiang Quan paused for a moment before adding, “Daily wage is ten thousand.”

Ye An: ….. Too much money to burn? 

Ye An speculated that this friend of Yuan He might be an elderly tycoon suffering from late-stage hearing problems with poor eyesight and just wanted to have someone to talk to due to loneliness. 

“Director Yuan said that his friend is absolutely trustworthy. If you’re not comfortable, he will personally come tomorrow to talk to you.” 

Ye An had already conjured up a mental image of an elderly gentleman with white hair and blurry vision. She wasn’t particularly worried about being deceived by Yuan He, as she was still his CEO’s wife in name. It’s just… there was something about this job that didn’t feel right.

“I’ll think about it and get back to you later.”

Out of giving face to Yuan He, she didn’t outright refuse.

“Sure, let me know when you’ve made your decision.”

Outside the office, the setting sun cast a warm glow and painted the sky in shades of orange. Ye An looked at the time, and it was approaching 6 p.m.

Taking out her phone, she scrolled to find Xie Shuo’s contact and finally pressed the call button after deliberating for half a day.

Although they had agreed that he would pursue her again, it only felt right for her to call him first, considering she had stood him up before.

The call connected quickly, but there was silence from the other end.

Ye An absentmindedly fiddled with a pen on her desk and asked, “I’ve finished work. Do you… want to have dinner together?”

Before she could even utter “I’ll treat you,” she heard his low and deep voice from the other end, saying, “I’ve just arrived downstairs at your studio.”

Ye An quickly responded, “I’ll be right down.”

Just as her words slipped out, she felt somewhat vexed that she couldn’t keep her cool.

After she gathered her belongings, she went to the restroom to touch up her makeup and tidied her hair before heading downstairs.

Xie Shuo’s familiar car was spotted parked by the road. He was sitting inside with the window rolled down, wearing a white button-down while basking in the glow of the sunset. His side profile looked like a finely painted portrait.

Ye An walked over to the car, and the chauffeur had already opened the door for her.

“Finished with the project?”

Seeing her get into the car, Xie Shuo turned around slightly and asked. 

Ye An nodded. “En, I can rest for a couple of days.”

After saying this, she glanced at him, waiting for him to suggest something like going on a trip. However, she waited for half a day without any response.

Ye An couldn’t help but feel peeved. She had just stood him up once; did he have to be angry for so long?

It wasn’t like she did it on purpose.

The scenery along the street passed by until they were seated in a private dining room at the restaurant. It was then that Xie Shuo said insipidly, “I’ll have to go on a business trip in two days.”

Ye An was taken aback.

She finally had some free time, but he was going away again.

However, she was already accustomed to such situations and didn’t show much surprise. She just asked where he would be going and then picked up her chopsticks.

Midway through their dinner, she suddenly remembered what Xiang Quan had told her earlier and couldn’t help but share it as an amusing anecdote. “Wanna hear something interesting? There’s someone who’s so weird to want to hire me as a personal assistant, specifically to read documents for him, and he’s offering a daily wage of ten thousand.”

Xie Shuo looked up and asked, “Really? Did you agree to it?”

Ye An picked up a slice of fish and placed it in her bowl. “Not yet. I’m not very interested.”

A hint of curiosity flashed past Xie Shuo’s eyes. “Why?”

Ye An explained, “Working as a personal assistant for an older person carries more risks. If something goes wrong or if the person is very difficult, it could be very troublesome.”

Xie Shuo’s hand holding his chopsticks paused, and his expression turned a little strange. “How do you know it’s an older person?”

Ye An looked up. “You don’t need to guess; it’s obvious. Why else would he be willing to pay such a high price for someone to read to him? He must be elderly, and his eyes aren’t good, which is why he’s looking for assistance.”

After a pause, she continued, “But it’s still a bit strange. He’s so wealthy, why not use AI instead?”

After a moment of silence, Xie Shuo said, “Maybe he thinks that you have a nice voice. If you have the time, you could give it a try.”

She was surprised that he was encouraging her to take on this job. Perplexed, Ye An glanced at him. Xie Shuo avoided her gaze and considerately served her a piece of spare ribs.

Ye An didn’t dwell on it and moved on.

Later that night, Ye An lay in bed, and just as she was about to drift off to sleep. As she closed her eyes, a thought crossed her mind, seemingly triggered by Xie Shuo’s unusual words during dinner. 

……

The next morning, Yuan He surprisingly came in person to discuss this matter with her, seemingly determined to seek her acceptance of the job.

“Just one month, you can make any requests.”

The feeling of something being off crept back into Ye An’s heart as she contemplated. Once again, the thought that occurred to her the previous night flashed through her mind.

After a moment, she turned to Yuan He and asked, “Can I know the person’s name first?”

“His surname is Wen.”

Seemingly anticipating her question, Yuan He didn’t beat around the bush. He handed her the contract that he had already drafted. “This is a rough draft of the contract.”

Taking the contract, Ye An scrutinized it. It only contained the other party’s surname with no mention of their age or occupation—super mysterious.

The surname was Wen.

…. If she remembered correctly, Xie Shuo’s mom, her mother-in-law, had the surname Wen.

A light flickered past Ye An’s eyes.

After reading the contract, she mumbled to herself for a moment before smiling at him and saying, “Sure, I can sign the contract, but I’d like to meet Mr. Wen in person first.”

Yuan He was momentarily taken aback.

Ye An placed the contract back down, resting her hand on the paper, smiling. “This request shouldn’t be too much, right?”

Yuan He seemed somewhat hesitant, pausing for a few seconds before saying, “It should be fine. I’ll go and ask.”

Shortly after, Yuan He got the answer that Mr. Wen agreed to meet. 

The meeting place was at a private club with a Tang Dynasty-style decor.

It was springtime, and the flowers and trees were lush. The palace lanterns hanging along the hallway were exquisite, and as the wooden doors were pushed open, Ye An followed the server inside. The room was filled with the fragrance of incense.

A massive folding screen partitioned the view, adorned with an exquisite landscape painting, making it impossible to see who was on the other side.

Ye An: …. It’s just a meeting, but they’re making it seem like an audience with an emperor.

Ye An sat down on her side of the screen, and a server approached to pour tea with graceful movements. The young tea leaves floated to the surface of the porcelain cup, emitting a delicate fragrance.

Waiting for the server to leave, she stared at the silhouette behind the partition for a moment before saying…

“Hello, Mr. Wen.”

Previous | Index | Next

For three days, Xie Shuo accompanied Ye An at Qianyue Mountain. During these three days, he did almost anything as if he was trying to make up for what he owed her during their honeymoon.

Three days later, Ye An packed her luggage and prepared to return. 

Xie Shuo waited for her outside in his car. This time, he came alone, in a hurry, without informing anyone, and even without a chauffeur.

He placed the luggage in the trunk, and just as he was about to turn around to walk to the driver’s seat, Ye An suddenly grabbed his arm. 

“I’ll drive.”

Xie Shuo halted and turned around.

Ye An gazed into his eyes. He had only regained his sight for less than half a year, and he was tormented by her for the past few days, driving a long distance again posed a risk that she didn’t want.

Although she had a temper, she understood that one’s health couldn’t be taken lightly.

Xie Shuo understood her intention and then smiled at her delicate, white fingers on his arm. “It’s alright.”

It was fine, sunny springtime weather today, with the spring sun casting a warm glow over them. Ye An was well aware of his temperament, and she knew, at times like this, he would never let her drive.

After a brief standoff, she had to compromise. “Let’s call a chauffeur then.”

Xie Shuo accepted this compromise. Soon, Ye An asked the lady boss to arrange for a chauffeur to come.

The car drove smoothly forward; Ye And Xie Shuo sat side by side in the rear, with only a hand’s width of space between them.

The warm spring day made it easy to feel drowsy. After a while, Ye An’s eyelids started to droop, her head tilting to the side. Eventually, she couldn’t hold on any longer and leaned against Xie Shuo’s shoulder.

In a daze, she smelled his familiar scent, much like when they shared a bed. Every night, she would fall asleep and end up snuggled in his arms.

Xie Shuo’s shoulder sank slightly, and he glanced at her before also closing his eyes.

When she woke up, they were already in the city.

She thought he might ask where she wanted to go or insist on taking her back to the Xie family estate. To her surprise, he instructed the driver to go to the condo as if he didn’t particularly want her to go back.

Outside the car window, the setting sun cast long shadows, and people hurried by. Ye An looked at his stern side profile and suddenly found it hard to decipher what he was really thinking.

Leaving behind a pile of work at the company and coming to see her, spending time with her, but not saying anything, not even a clear confession.

When they arrived at the condo, he handed her the suitcase with the handle up, looking like he had no intention of going upstairs. “You go up first; I’ll be there in a moment.”

Ye An was a bit tired and didn’t feel like guessing his thoughts anymore. Taking a deep breath, she dragged her suitcase and turned to walk into the condo.

Once inside, she quickly unpacked her things and pulled out a loose-fitting set of lounge clothes from the closet before heading to take a shower.

As she walked out of the bathroom after taking a shower, she suddenly heard some faint noises from the living room.

She was puzzled and followed the sound, only to find a tall figure standing in the kitchen.

It was Xie Shuo, wearing an apron and holding a bunch of green onions. He had turned on the tap, getting ready to wash them.

Ye An: …….?

Hearing her footsteps, Xie Shuo turned around and glanced at her from head to toe before saying, “Come over here and help me roll up my sleeves.”

Ye An walked over, looking at him skeptically: Do you really know how to cook?

Xie Shuo immediately saw through her thoughts with just a glance, but he didn’t explain himself. He simply extended his arm toward her.

Afraid of hurting his feelings, Ye An swallowed her question and helped him roll up his sleeve, revealing a muscular forearm.

Xie Shuo continued washing the vegetables in the sink, and Ye An watched his somewhat unskilled movements for a while. She couldn’t bear it and whispered, “Do you want some help?”

Xie Shuo glanced at her and said insipidly, “No need. You can go rest in the living room.”

Ye An glanced at him again before slowly walking back to the living room and sitting on the sofa.

She didn’t have the energy or inclination to do anything else. She rested her chin on her arm and watched the busy figure in the kitchen.

Not knowing how long it had passed, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Ye An found it strange. Who could be looking for her here?

She got up, slipped on her slippers, and walked to the door. When she opened it, she found a young man holding a bouquet of fresh roses standing outside with a professional smile. “Are you Miss Ye? These flowers are for you.”

Ye An was once again taken aback.

Without asking, she could guess who had sent these flowers. 

She came back to her senses when she saw the young man’s puzzled expression, smiling as she thanked him and accepted the flowers.

The red petals were stunning and fragrant. Ye An cradled the bouquet as she headed back to the living room. She gazed toward the figure busy in the kitchen.

Xie Shuo happened to turn around and saw the roses in her arms. He didn’t offer any explanations and continued with his work, clitter-clattering. 

Ye An was in a daze as she sat down with the bouquet in her arms.

Outside the window, night slowly descended, and lights illuminated the surroundings. 

Around 7 p.m., dinner was served. It was a simple meal with three dishes and a soup—not very aesthetic in looks, but also not as terrible as Ye An had expected.

After cleaning his hands, Xie Shuo wiped them with a towel and then went to the nearby wine cabinet to fetch a bottle of red wine and two glasses. He placed them on the dining table and looked up, inquiring, “Want some wine?”

Meeting his gaze, Ye An felt her heart flutter for some reason. It seemed like this was a mood for a confession.

Withdrawing her gaze, she replied softly with an “en.”

The two of them took their seats, and Xie Shuo began by serving her a bowl of soup, placing it in front of her.

Ye An picked up a spoon and took two sips. It was slightly bland, but not too bad.

Shen then picked up her chopsticks and tasted one of the dishes, finding it quite passable. She was surprised to discover that Young Master Xie had some culinary talent. 

“How is it?”

His voice sounded from across the table.

Looking up, Ye An saw him looking at her. It suddenly reminded her of the first time she had cooked for him and asked the same question.

She pursed her lips. “Not bad.”

Xie Shuo, seemingly unconvinced, picked up his chopsticks to taste all three dishes in front of him before frowning slightly, clearly not entirely satisfied.

“…….”

Little did she expect that the Young Master was not only critical of others but also demanding of himself. Ye An was afraid he might dislike the food and consider remaking it or getting takeout, so she quickly shifted his attention and said, “Didn’t you want to have some wine? Why haven’t you even opened the bottle?”

Xie Shuo relaxed his frown slightly, and he took the wine bottle, opened it, and poured two glasses slowly.

The red wine swirled inside the crystal-clear glass, creating a shimmering luster along the surface.

Ye An picked up one of the glasses, pressed her red lips to the rim, and took a sip.

During meals, Xie Shuo was not fond of talking. After nearly a year of spending time with him, Ye An was influenced and had become quieter as well… Naturally, another reason was not wanting to disrupt the atmosphere either.

As half a glass of wine found its way into her stomach, her eyes appeared slightly intoxicated. Putting down her chopsticks, she propped her chin up with her hand and gazed at him with a hint of rarely seen innocence.

Noticing her gaze, Xie Shuo looked up and asked, “Full?”

Ye An nodded, her gaze still fixated on him, appearing to be quite tipsy.

Putting down his wine glass, Xie Shuo got up and cleared the dining table, putting the dishes and utensils in the sink for now.

Ye An stood up by propping against the table and walked to the living room. She flopped onto the sofa, gazing at the roses on the coffee table, and couldn’t help but smile.

Shortly afterward, the sofa beside her sank as Xie Shuo sat down as well.

Turning around, Ye An looked at him. His stern profile was blurred by the light, revealing a touch of tenderness. 

It was reminiscent of the moment back on that spring night in the cold rain when she was walking alone, and he looked at her through the lowered car window.

There was a faint sense of anticipation in her heart, waiting for him to say something. However, after waiting for a while, he remained silent. 

Ye An had a habit of being talkative when she drank too much. Now that the alcohol had started to affect her, she couldn’t contain herself. She reached out and poked his chest. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Seeing the hint of desire in her eyes, Xie Shuo hesitated for a moment before leaning slightly toward her, lowering his voice, “What would you like to hear me say?”

He had also drunk, and as he got closer, the scent of alcohol brushed past her ear.

Ye An’s cheeks flushed, whether from the alcohol or his proximity; she couldn’t tell.

Looking up to meet his calm and composed eyes, she suddenly felt a little exasperated. “If you have nothing to say, then why did you send me flowers?”

“You don’t like them?”

Xie Shuo smiled as he countered, still not uttering the words she longed to hear.

He reached out to hold her hand, gently squeezing them.

Ye An couldn’t pry the words out of him, so she decided to give up on asking and turned away. If you won’t say it, then so be it!

Looking down, Xie Shuo gazed at her tightly pursed lips and her unhappy expression, smiling.

He suddenly reached out and encircled her waist, embracing her from behind, his warm breath grazing her ear.

Ye An stiffened for a moment and tried to break free, but she couldn’t resist his strength. She gradually softened, finding herself leaning into his shoulder. 

In their view, the roses bloomed unabashedly, full and passionate.

She listened to the faint heartbeat beneath his chest, her expression somewhat dazed.

From carrying her down the mountain to cooking for her and that first bouquet of flowers she had begged for during their first initial shopping trip, he seemed to be making up for all those moments.

And those things she thought he had long forgotten, he actually had remembered them all.

Her eyes slightly welled up, and her vision blurred. The various emotions that had been bottled up inside her over these days seemed to have found a release, surging all at once.

Suddenly, she turned around and embraced him, burying her face in his shoulder and inhaling his scent.

Ever since she was little, she had stopped acting spoiled because she knew that no one would indulge her. Yet, with this man in front of her, she couldn’t help but reveal her most genuine emotions.

After a moment, she said in a muffled tone with a hint of grievance…

“I’ll give you a chance. If you confess to me right now, I might soften my resolve and forgive your past faults, and accept you…”

Xie Shuo gently patted her shoulder as if consoling her.

He lightly kissed her ear, saying, “Just wait a little longer.” 

Ye An: ?

Ye An looked up from his embrace, her eyes widening in disbelief.

She had already backed down, yet he was still not seizing the opportunity?

Wait a little longer?

Until the dishes turn cold?

Holding her hand, Xie Shuo gazed into her eyes with a smile, “I want you to enjoy the feeling of being pursued a little more.”

One by one, I’ll make up for what I owed you in the past.

Ye An was taken aback.

The lighting shone from above, casting a soft glow between the two of them, almost as if they were in a dream.

After a while, Ye An smiled, arched her brow, and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of missing this opportunity and not being able to have me later?”

Xie Shuo also smiled, unbuttoning a button of his collar, revealing a hint of his collarbone, and one arm resting behind the sofa where she sat as if he had enveloped her in his embrace.

He looked at her with a slightly tipsy, confident expression… reminiscent of how she had met him that year, full of youthful vigor.

“Let’s see then.”

Meeting his gaze, Ye An’s heart skipped a beat.

She forced herself to suppress the pounding in her heart, smiling brightly as if she were reborn, her eyes fervent. “Sure, let’s see.” 

She leaned in suddenly, her delicate hand resting on his shoulder as her red lips neared his ear…

“In the past, I was the belle of my major, and there were plenty of guys chasing after me. The heavens reward the diligent. So, President Xie, give it your best shot.”

Previous | Index | Next

“To see you.”

His melodic voice, laced with a smile, drifted through the evening breeze and into her ears. For a moment, Ye An just stared at him in stunned silence.

Feeling ignored, the little cat at her feet let out an indignant “meow” and silently walked away.

Xie Shuo strode over and extended his clean, slender hand toward her, looking down at her from a higher vantage point. 

Ye An’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t take his hand. Instead, she supported herself up.

He wore a white shirt with an undone top button; his face carried a hint of weariness as if he had hurriedly come from somewhere. 

“Why did you come here? Isn’t there a lot of work at the company?”

Withdrawing his hand in the air and returning it to his pocket, Xie Shuo looked at her bright eyes and repeated his words from earlier. This time, he said hoarsely near her ear, “To see you.”

Ye An’s ears tingled, flushing inexplicably. 

“Why did you want to see me?”

She muttered as she tucked her hair behind her ear, avoiding his gaze and pretending to look at the peach blossoms in the courtyard. 

Suddenly, the voice of the innkeeper’s lady boss sounded from behind her, “Your husband is here?”

For the past two days, Ye An had been staying at the inn, and the lady boss’ younger brother happened to be her fan, so the two of them had become familiar. 

When Xie Shuo had come the last time, his eyes were still not recovered. A man so handsome yet blind had left a deep impression on the lady boss’ wife, so she recognized him at a glance.

“Dinner is ready, would you like an extra serving?”

The lady boss asked Ye An, curiously glancing at Xie Shuo’s eyes.

Turning around, Ye An just so happened to meet Xie Shuo’s gaze. Somehow, she suddenly felt like being a little willful and said purposely, “No need, we’re not together.” 

She smiled playfully and turned around, walking through the long corridor toward the stairs. She wore a red dress that flowed gracefully around her, emphasizing her slender waist.

“Are there any rooms available next to hers?” 

Xie Shuo asked the lady boss, watching her graceful figure as she walked away.

The lady boss showed a troubled expression. “I’m sorry, sir, but the room next door has already been booked by another guest.”

Ye An arrived at the door of her room, swiped her card to enter, and was just about to close the door when she suddenly saw Xie Shuo following her. 

“I didn’t book a room.”

His hand resting on the doorframe, looking somewhat pitiful.

Ye An suppressed the urge to give in to her soft-heartedness and said with a smile, “It’s not too late to book one now.”

Xie Shuo locked eyes with her, and she met his gaze.

The two of them stood at the doorway, locked in a gaze for over a dozen seconds. In the end, Xie Shuo conceded and withdrew his hand. 

Ye An glanced at him one last time before closing the door. 

After closing the door, Ye An waited for a while but didn’t hear any knocking. She began to worry. 

He was a wealthy CEO, worth billions, and a grown adult. With his eyes healed, he should be able to find a place to stay, right?

Not long after, the lady boss sent up her dinner. Ye An placed the meal on the balcony and sat at the table, dining alone.

The setting sun bathed everything in a golden light as it slowly descended.

This radiant glow extended until nightfall when the bright moon appeared on the horizon, but Xie Shuo never came to find her again.

As Ye An finished her dinner, the more she thought about it, the more worried she became. She pretended to go for a walk outside, descending the wooden staircase. 

Beneath the moonlight, the peach blossoms were still in full bloom, and a few tourists strolled around. However, there was no sign of him anywhere.

Could it be that he was so upset by my rejection that he had left in anger? 

Wasn’t that too petty?

The lady boss wasn’t around, and Ye An didn’t inquire further. She went back upstairs to her room.

The night breeze gently rustled the curtains with antique-style palace lanterns adorning the balcony. She held her phone in her hand and leaned against the railing. 

Her long hair danced in the wind. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with two WeChat messages. 

Xie Shuo: “Turn to your left.”

Ye An instinctively turned her head. Under the moonlight, a familiar figure came into view — slim waist, long legs, and a noble demeanor.

The balconies of the rooms in the inn were only a short distance away from each other. They had decorative railings with climbing vines and various potted plants, emitting a subtle fragrance. 

Ye An: ?

She distinctly remembered that the room next door had already been booked by someone else.

“Isn’t this room someone else’s?”

Ye An glared. 

“I offered double the price.”

Xie Shuo smiled, his eyes clearly conveying the message — with money, you can do whatever you want.

Ye An: “…….”

How could the person next door lack such a backbone?

To actually cancel their reservation just for money!

“Why did you decide to come here for a vacation?” asked Xie Shuo suddenly.

With the Thousand Moon Lake glistening in the distance, with the moonlight casting a shimmering light on the water, Ye An gazed into the distance and said casually, “It’s not crowded here, and the scenery is nice, so I came.”

Xie Shuo arched an eyebrow. “You didn’t have enough fun last time?”

Ye An thought to herself: Last time, I was too busy taking care of you. How could I have fun?

She propped her chin up and said, “Different season, different scenery.”

Xie Shuo paused for two seconds before saying, “I thought you wanted to do the honeymoon again.”

Ye An: “…….”

Knowing he was doing this on purpose, Ye An still couldn’t help but feel a little flustered. She instinctively retorted, “What nonsense are you making up? Who would I go on a honeymoon with alone?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she wished she could shut her own mouth.

As expected, Xie Shuo looked at her with a half-smile, as if saying, “Aren’t I here?”

“…….”

Ye An pursed her lips and turned away, ignoring him.

Standing by the railing, Xie Shuo gazed into the distance at the moonlit lake. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, “Is the moonlight tonight better, or was it better that night?”

Ye An was slightly taken aback, catching a glimpse of his side profile bathed in moonlight.

She had mentioned “River On a Spring Night” yesterday, thinking that he had probably forgotten it by now. But to her surprise, he remembered.

The phrase “The moonlight tonight is so beautiful,” was also a line to profess one’s love. This time, Ye An didn’t fall for it again as she turned around and said, “It was better that night.”

Looking at her, Xie Shuo wanted to say something, but his phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

He took it out, glanced at it, and frowned slightly. He answered the call and turned to the side.

The night breeze was cool. His voice sounded in her ears, seemingly discussing a company project. After listening for a while, Ye An felt a bit sleepy so she decided to go inside.

After tidying up her clothes and taking a shower, she sat down on the bed. She reached for her phone and saw a new message.

Xie Shuo: “Asleep?”

Leaning against the headboard, Ye An looked at the message on her phone before replying: “Not yet.”

Xie Shuo: “Any plans for tomorrow?”

Ye An: “Going hiking.”

Xie Shuo: “Okay, get some rest. Goodnight.”

Ye An replied with a “Goodnight” and put down her phone, sitting there with her knees pulled up, lost in thought.

These past two days, she had come out alone to clear her mind and carefully reconsidered everything between her and Xie Shuo.

Since she couldn’t completely sever her feelings, they might as well start afresh. She had been overthinking things for the past few months, and it had left her physically and mentally exhausted. It was better to just relax and enjoy herself.

She pulled the blanket, ready to lie down, but then remembered that she hadn’t done her skincare, so she got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and applied her skincare before climbing back into bed to sleep.

The next morning, as the sky was just starting to brighten, Ye An was awakened by her alarm. Still a bit groggy, she hurriedly got out of bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

She didn’t send a message to Xie Shuo specifically. After getting dressed, she left her room. 

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see a familiar figure standing in the hallway as if he had been waiting for a while.

Today, Xie Shuo wasn’t wearing his usual shirt and trousers. Instead, he had changed into athleisure, giving him a more approachable and down-to-earth appearance, neat and handsome as always.

Ye An rarely saw him dressed like this and couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times.

Xie Shuo was also looking at her. She, too, wore athleisure today, with her long hair tied up and a black sun hat on. Her red lips were vibrant, exuding youthfulness. 

Xie Shuo greeted her with a “morning” and took her backpack from her hands. Together, they descended the stairs.

The spring scenery in the mountains was beautiful, with fresh greenery and wildflowers swaying in the breeze.

The last time they came here, Ye An had been concerned about Xie Shuo’s eyes, so they only climbed to a small pavilion halfway up the mountain. This time, her goal was the mountaintop.

However, halfway up, she was panting heavily and struggling to continue. Leaning against a large rock by the side of the path, she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Xie Shuo stopped in his tracks and extended his hand.

His fingers were long and slender. Ye An glanced at him and hesitated before eventually placing her hand in his palm. 

Xie Shuo grasped her delicate and fair hand, holding her up the rest of the way.

The morning sun shone through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows. The fragrance of flowers and plants wafted in the breeze. With Xie Shuo’s assistance, Ye An finally made it to the mountaintop.

The mountains stretched into the distance, and the sunlight bathed the lush greenery. They were finally able to enjoy the scenery that they missed last time. 

After resting and having a snack at the mountaintop, they decided to make their way back down while they still had the energy.

As they passed by the pavilion halfway down the mountain, Xie Shuo suddenly asked, “Did we climb up to here last time?”

Ye An felt blisters forming on her feet but endured it as she nodded. “En, we had bumped into Zhuang Yinian, and I even asked her to take a photo of us.”

Hearing this, Xie Yan asked, “Where’s the photo?”

Ye An walked into the pavilion and sat down. She took out her phone from her bag and started scrolling through her photos. However, the first photo she came across was the candid “kiss photo” she had taken later on.

In the photo, she was leaning close to his cheek, and he happened to turn around at that moment.

It was an incredibly intimate pose.

Ye An froze; Xie Shuo suddenly leaned over.

Fumbling, she hastily placed her phone on her chest, feeling somewhat guilty, and her ears slightly red.

Noticing her anxious reaction, Xie Shuo remembered the “awkward hair photo” he had seen on her phone before and thought she must’ve scrolled to that photo. He smiled and asked teasingly, “I can’t see it?”

Locking eyes with him, Ye An turned her back to him and quickly found the normal photo taken by Zhuang Yinian of the two of them. She held it up for him to see for a moment before immediately withdrawing. 

“Okay, you saw it. Let’s go.”

After saying that, she didn’t give him another chance to look and quickly got up, walking out of the pavilion like a jumping rabbit. Xie Shuo chuckled and followed behind her.

Not long after, Ye An’s feet were in unbearable pain. Gritting her teeth, she walked ahead with a slight limp.

Suddenly, Xie Shuo grabbed her wrist and crouched slightly in front of her. “Hop on.”

Ye An was taken aback and remembered when she saw Yan Fei carrying Zhuang Yinian on his back the last time, she purposely expressed how envious she was to him.

After being stunned for a few seconds, she bent down and climbed onto his broad back.

Xie Shuo’s hands wrapped around her knees, and he carried her down slowly, his steps steady.

Beside them, a young couple walked past. The girl glanced enviously at Ye An and then nudged her boyfriend’s arm, saying, “Look at that girl’s boyfriend, and then look at you! Not only is he good-looking, but he’s also considerate.”

“His girlfriend is skinny, easier to carry…”

“What do you mean? Are you saying I’m fat? If you want to break up, just say it!”

“I was wrong, I was wrong…”

The young couple continued to bicker as they walked away.

Ye An rested against the nape of Xie Shuo’s neck, chuckling softly.

The spring sun illuminated the path, and as Xie Shuo listened to her laughter in his ears, a slight smile formed on his lips.

As it was a hiking trail after all, Ye An didn’t dare to make him carry her for too long. Before reaching the foot of the mountain, she broke free from his carry.

Upon descending the mountain, the two of them took a ride back to the inn.

Ye An was exhausted. After entering her room, she collapsed on the sofa. When she took off her shoes, she noticed that her feet were indeed covered in blisters.

Lying on her arm as a makeshift pillow for a while, she was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. She reluctantly got up, limping her way to answer it.

Xie Shuo had somehow found a jar of ointment. After entering the room, he knelt down, his long fingers grasping her fair foot, intending to apply the ointment for her.

Ye An was taken aback and quickly withdrew her foot, saying, “I can do it myself.”

After a morning of hiking, her feet were covered in sweat; the smell was unpleasant for sure.

Xie Shuo looked up at her as if he understood what she was thinking. He sat down beside her and reached out again. “Didn’t you say you have no strength left?”

With determination, Ye An moved away from his touch and firmly said, “I still have the strength left to apply the ointment myself.”

As she spoke, she reached out to snatch the jar of ointment from his hand. However, she lost balance and fell forward, landing directly on top of him.

Xie Shuo quickly supported himself with one hand on the edge of the sofa and used the other to encircle her waist.

“……”

Her lips accidentally brushed against his shoulder. Upon smelling his familiar scent, Ye An froze for a moment, feeling her ears heat up. She quickly pulled away, flustered, and sat back down.

Turning her back to him, she picked up a Q-tip and started applying the ointment. A faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks.

Xie Shuo didn’t insist any further and sat silently beside her, watching her.

His gaze was too piercing, making Ye An somewhat uneasy. She glared at him. “I know I’m pretty, but you don’t have to keep staring, do you? There’s a fee for extended viewing!”

Xie Shuo smiled and went along with it. “How much are you charging?”

Blinking her long eyelashes, Ye An’s eyes wandered. “One look costs one million, no discounts.”

Xie Shuo chuckled. Compared to the cordial atmosphere they had maintained for the past while, he much preferred her current careful and playful demeanor.

Just as he was about to say something, his phone in his pocket suddenly rang again.

Taking it out and checking the call, his smile faded away and was replaced by his usual cold and serious expression. He got up and walked to the balcony to answer the call.

Ye An vaguely heard some words from the convo, seemingly related to matters at the company.

This man truly was a workaholic, not a spare moment of idleness.

The phone call took quite a while, about half an hour, before Xie Shuo returned from the balcony and stood in front of her, asking, “How about going to the hot springs in the afternoon?” 

Was he trying to relive the things they had done during their honeymoon?

Ye An was feeling a bit sleepy. Remembering the series of awkward events that had happened during their previous hot spring experience, she shook her head. “No, I want to take a nap.”

In the past, when he couldn’t see, going to the hot springs wasn’t a big deal. But now, going together might be a bit too much.

She looked up and saw that he was still standing there, not moving. She said lazily, “If you have things to do, go ahead. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Glancing at her, Xie Shuo made sure that she wasn’t angry before saying, “Alright, rest well.” He then turned and left the room, returning to his own.

The afternoon sun was cozy, and Ye An slept for the entire afternoon.

Xie Shuo, on the other hand, had a much busier afternoon. He had two meetings and dealt with work matters throughout the afternoon. It wasn’t until after 5 p.m. that he finally took a short nap on the sofa.

Close to 6 p.m., he checked his phone again and still hadn’t received any messages from Ye An. He began to worry and got up from the sofa.

The door next door was slightly ajar, and as Xie Yan approached it, he heard voices of laughter inside… Ye An’s voice and that of a young man.

Frowning, Xie Shuo pushed the door open and saw Ye An sitting on the sofa with a cushion in her arms, looking up at the young man in front of her, smiling radiantly.

The young man was tall and skinny, appearing to be around 18 or 19, saying “jiejie” this or that, his eyes filled with admiration.

Frowning slightly, Xie Shuo knocked on the door.

Ye An glanced toward the door, and the young man turned to look as well.

Xie Shuo pushed the door open, gave the young man a brief glance, and then walked over to Ye An. His tone was gentle as he asked, “Shall we go for dinner?”

Ye An gestured toward several takeout boxes on the coffee table with her eyes. “Dinner has already been delivered.”

Following this, she looked up and introduced the young man in front of her. “This is the lady boss’ younger brother. Dinner was sent up by him, and he even added some snacks.”

The youngster looked at Xie Shuo and smiled shyly. “Hi.” 

Xie Shuo nodded slightly in acknowledgment. 

The youngster didn’t linger and said, “Alright, I’ll take my leave now, jiejie.”

Ye An smiled radiantly. “Okay.”

After the young man left, the room fell silent, and Xie Shuo’s expression finally eased a bit.

Seeing him, Ye An remembered the last time she had to coax him for quite a while before he agreed to eat the food she bought. This time, she deliberately ignored him and set the meal out on the balcony, seating herself alone.

After a moment of standing in the room, Xie Shuo walked over and sat down beside her, directly picking up a pair of chopsticks.

Ye An looked up and said, “I don’t recall inviting you to join me though?”

Xie Shuo seemed to have not heard her words at all and began to eat as if he didn’t consider himself an outsider.

Seeing him like this, Ye An couldn’t help but smile and also picked up her chopsticks.

After finishing dinner, it was still quite early, so Xie Shuo asked, “Would you like to go for a walk?”

As night began to fall, the twilight cast a shadow on his face, making his features appear indistinct. In the past, it was always her who went to great lengths to coax him out, but today, he had taken the initiative.

Ye An’s heart softened a bit and she said, “My legs still hurt, so I don’t want to walk too far. Let’s just go downstairs.”

The two of them went downstairs, and in the courtyard, the scent of peach blossoms filled the air. There were quite a few people out for a stroll, and it was easy to bump into one or two of them if you weren’t careful.

Xie Shuo gently pulled her into his arms to avoid bumping into others.

The little black cat that belonged to the lady boss came over, purring and rubbing against Ye An’s feet.

Ye An crouched down, happily petting it.

Xie Shuo stood behind her, watching, and suddenly remembered the little penguin back at home.

The little black cat purred a couple more times before scampering away.

Ye An got up, but because she had been crouching for too long, and with her legs already sore, she stumbled backward and ended up falling right into Xie Shuo’s arms.

Xie Shuo held her waist and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.

His familiar and cool aura wafted over her, and Ye An looked up, meeting his eyes, which were deep and intense.

To think she would throw herself into his arms twice in one day…

The moonlight shone dimly, and the peach blossoms around them were in full bloom, setting a romantic atmosphere.

Xie Shuo held her and whispered, “Yin Yin misses you a lot.”

Yin Yin?

Ye An was momentarily puzzled, then realized it was the name they gave to Little Penguin at home. She arched an eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure… it’s just Yin Yin who misses me?”

Xie Shuo looked down, and before he could speak, Ye An pushed him away, smiling. “Well, in that case, you can just have someone send it to me.”

Pausing for a moment, she emphasized, “Just the penguin, though.”

After saying that, she turned around and walked briskly back the way they came.

Xie Shuo watched her retreating figure, smiling.

….…

The next day, the soreness in Ye An’s legs intensified, so she could only choose to wander around the vicinity.

As they strolled, the two of them passed by the temple where they had made wishes the last time. Ye An stopped outside the temple, recalling something, and suggested, “Since your eyes are healed now, how about going in to make an offering?”

This time, Xie Shuo didn’t show clear reluctance and accompanied her to light license and make offerings.

After leaving the temple, they once again passed by the fortune-telling booth they had visited before.

Ye An was in high spirits and suddenly asked, “How about trying our luck with another fortune stick?”

Xie Shuo arched an eyebrow, initially going to decline, but seeing her so enthusiastic, he didn’t want to dampen her spirits, so she agreed.

His eyes had already healed, so there was no need to make another wish. Looking at him, Ye An pondered for a moment and then had a clever idea, smiling mischievously. “Let’s seek a marriage fortune this time.”

Xie Shuo glanced at her and drew a fortune stick from the container.

Ye An took a look at it, and on the stick were four characters written in bold… Heaven rewards the diligent.

Ye An: “…….”

Xie Shuo: “…….”

After a brief silence, Ye An suddenly burst into laughter while Xie Shuo’s handsome face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

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When the plane landed, it was 4 p.m. 

As Ye An exited the airport and turned on her phone, she received a call from Ye Yuan Nian..

“Hi, An An, what’s going on between you and Xie Shuo?”

His voice sounded anxious over the phone. 

Ye An held her phone and sneered. He’s calling to ask now? A bit too late.

“What do you mean ‘what’s going on’?”

She said indifferently. 

Hearing her tone, Ye Yuan Nian grew even more anxious. “I’m talking about the divorce rumors between you two.”

Ye An gripped her suitcase handle and pursed her lips in silence. She suddenly felt the urge to just tell him that they were already divorced. 

But then, to make him mad by lying didn’t seem worth it.

“An An, listen to Daddy. Our families’ union isn’t a joke. Don’t act petulant. Now that A’Shuo regained his sight, you should work on your relationship with him. It’s best to have a child as soon as possible…”

Ye An: ……. Where does he get the face to urge me to have a baby?

After rambling on for a while and seeing that she wasn’t responding, Ye Yuan Nian, afraid that she might be irked, changed the subject, “Do you want to come home for a few days?”

Ye An looked up at the bright sky outside the airport. She was going home, but not to the Ye family.

“No, I don’t have time.”

Her tone was insipid. 

In the past year, Ye Yuan Nian had noticed her distant attitude, but he had been trying to maintain a facade of harmony. However, he couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “An An, are you… still harboring resentment toward Daddy?”

Ye An left the airport, and the bright spring sunlight was somewhat glaring. Gazing at the green leaves on the trees by the roadside, she suddenly didn’t feel like continuing to feign civility with him. 

After a while, she said unhurriedly, “I don’t resent you, but I also don’t want to return to the Ye family. The money you gave back then was repaid when I married into the Xie family. Regardless of whether I’m with Xie Shuo or not in the future, it doesn’t have anything to do with the Ye family.”

Blood ties couldn’t be severed, but grievances could be settled. 

Not expecting her to suddenly say such things, Ye Yuan Nian’s expression changed. “An An, are you still unwilling to forgive Dad?”

Ye An didn’t know how much of his eagerness to repair their father-daughter relationship was driven by self-interest and how much was genuine, and she didn’t want to delve into it. She replied calmly, “There’s nothing to forgive or not forgive. Over these years, I didn’t have a dad, and I’ve managed just fine. I’m not a child anymore, and I don’t need these things.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, “That’s it for now. I have something to attend to, bye.”

She hung up the call, gripping her phone tightly, her fingertips turning white. After calming her emotions for a moment, she straightened her back and continued forward.

…….

The warm spring day brought forth colorful blooms along the streets, lifting people’s spirits. 

By the time she arrived at her home’s doorsteps, it was already dusk, and the aroma of dinner wafted through the hallway. Her stomach growled in hunger as she pressed the doorbell.

Soon, someone came to open the door, and when Xia Jin saw her, she looked surprised. “An An? Why did you suddenly come back?”

Ye An smiled. “I took a long break and came back to rest for a while.”

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

A hint of nervousness flashed across Xia Jin’s face as she hesitated for a moment before letting her in.

Ye An dragged her suitcase into the house, and the sound of cooking came from the kitchen. She had hired a nanny for Xia Jin to take care of her daily life. 

Hearing the noise, she assumed it was the nanny. As she glanced toward the kitchen, she was surprised to see a middle-aged man wearing glasses. He was wearing a gray sweater and light-colored pants, looking refined and scholarly.  

Ye An was taken aback. 

The man turned around and also froze in surprise when he saw her. 

Xia Jin followed behind and felt a bit embarrassed as she introduced. “This is Xu laoshi, my art teacher.”

After a brief moment of surprise, Ye An immediately understood the situation. Her mom seemed to be starting a new chapter in her life. 

No wonder every time she mentioned coming back home, her mom appeared a bit nervous and emphasized that she should inform her beforehand.

She politely smiled and greeted, “Hello, Xu laoshi.”

Xu Jitong smiled amiably. “You must be An An, right?”

He then turned to Xia Jin. “Should we add two more dishes? I’ll go down to buy them.”

He started to untie his apron as he spoke, but Ye An quickly said, “No need to trouble yourself. I’m not very hungry.”

Seeing this, Xia Jin also said, “No need, there are some things in the fridge.”

“Alright.”

Xu Jitong nodded before turning to get some dishes from the fridge.

Ye An withdrew her gaze and said nothing before carrying her suitcase into her bedroom to unpack.

In the living room, Xia Jin glanced at Xu Jitong and then in the direction of Ye An’s bedroom, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Before long, dinner was served. Xia Jin went to Ye An’s door and knocked.

The three of them sat at the same table, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward. None of them spoke much.

After dinner, Xu Jitong left. He lived in the same neighborhood, just two buildings away.

The living room now only had them mother and daughter left, and an eerie silence hung in the air.

Xia Jin had always been strong-willed, but at this moment, she showed an unusual and stiff expression. It took her a while to speak up, “An An, Xu laoshi just occasionally helps out; there’s nothing more…”

Looking at her, Ye An said calmly, “Mom, if you think he’s suitable, I have no objections.”

In fact, she had wanted to urge her for a long time. Life was long, and there was no need to be stuck in the past. It was time to let bygones be bygones. 

Xia Jin was taken aback. “You’re not mad at Mom?”

Ye An smiled. “I’m not home often and having someone to take care of you is a good thing.”

This way, she wouldn’t have to worry so much in the future.

After finally speaking openly about it, Xia Jin breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment’s hesitation, she brought up another topic, “I heard that Xie Shuo’s eyes have recovered?”

Upon hearing that name, Ye An’s mind started wandering before she replied, “Yes, he has recovered.”

“That’s great to hear…” Although Xia Jin wasn’t pleased with how hastily she had married into the Xie family, she still felt happy about this news. “Then, why didn’t he come with you?”

Ye An hesitated for a moment but decided not to mention the divorce. “He just returned to work at the company, so he’s been quite busy lately. He’s currently on a business trip abroad.”

After a few more questions from Xia Jin, she didn’t press any further and went into Ye An’s bedroom to prepare the bed for her before telling her to rest early.

…….

The next day, Xu Jitong came over to teach Xia Jin painting as usual and even brought two paintings as gifts for Ye An.

Looking at the two of them chatting and painting in the art room, Ye An suddenly felt a bit out of place. After staying home for three days, she packed her bags, preparing to leave.

Xia Jin was puzzled. “Weren’t you planning to rest at home for a while?”

Ye An: “Staying at home all the time is boring. I want to go out and travel to relax, and this season is just right.”

Xia Jin looked at her, wanting to say something but hesitating. 

Ye An dragged her suitcase and smiled at her. “Really, it’s fine. I just want to go on a trip.”

Although Xia Jin was a bit upset, she could only say, “Remember to take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything.”

Ye An nodded and waved her hand before leaving with her suitcase. 

After coming down, she breathed a sigh of relief, silently telling herself that being alone wasn’t a bad thing as a smile formed on her lips. 

Along the way, the weather was sunny, with a gentle breeze and clear skies. The willow branches swayed gracefully, and colorful flowers were in full bloom. It was truly a season of renewal and new beginnings. 

…….

When Xie Shuo returned to the country, it was on the second day of Ye An’s trip.

Upon leaving the airport, he instructed the chauffeur to head directly to the condo where Ye An was staying.

He didn’t call Ye An in advance, intending to give her a surprise.

The spring scenery outside the car window was beautiful, and Xie Shuo couldn’t help but smile, a hint of mirth in his eyes. 

The car passed through the gated community and stopped in front of the condo building. Xie Shuo got out of the car, took the elevator upstairs, and rang the doorbell. However, there was no response for quite some time.

He had asked in advance, and she had been on vacation these few days, so she shouldn’t be at the studio.

Thinking about how she was still recovering from a cold, Xie Shuo became a bit worried. Instead of ringing the doorbell again, he took out his key and opened the door.

Upon entering the condo, a sense of desolation hit him. It was eerily quiet inside, and the flowers on the table had withered halfway.

He searched around but couldn’t find anyone. He decided to call Ye An, but her phone went straight to voicemail with the cold message: “The user you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please try again later.”

Standing in the room, Xie Shuo became restless. No matter how upset she had been in the past, it had never reached a point where she disappeared without a word, leaving him unable to find her.

She had clearly promised to wait for him to come back before he left.

With the condo empty and her phone unreachable, Xie Shuo decided to make a visit back to the Xie family estate. 

Seeing him, Xie Baiyan asked about the divorce rumors from a couple of days ago, “What’s going on between you and An An?”

Xie Shuo frowned and remained silent. 

Looking at him, Xie Baiyan sighed. “I know that you were unwilling about this marriage. But no matter what, An An is a good girl. This past year, she has taken care of you and spent a lot of time and effort. If it was someone else, it’s uncertain if they could do as well as she had. Even if you truly want a divorce, remember her good. Don’t rush it too much and make it hard on her.”

Suddenly, Xie Shuo said, “We won’t get divorced.”

Xie Baiyan was taken aback.

Xie Shuo paused briefly and emphasized, “I won’t divorce her.”

This came as a genuine surprise to Xie Baiyan. So, all this commotion was because his daughter-in-law wanted a divorce?

After saying this, Xie Shuo turned around and went upstairs.

Xie Baiyan watched his son’s retreating figure, feeling a bit worried. This son of his had always been outstanding since childhood, good at everything, but his personality…

Back in his bedroom, Xie Shuo took off his coat and sat down on the sofa, wearily rubbing his temples.

The room was empty, quiet, and cold. Since she moved out, it seemed like all the vitality had left this place; even the plants on the balcony looked listless.

He could almost hear her voice again, lively and willful. When she was around, she always found ways to engage him in conversations and laughter. 

The setting sun slowly sank, casting a blood-red glow across the horizon and painting the sky in fiery colors. 

After sitting for a while, Xie Shuo picked up his phone and went online. He checked and found that the divorce rumors from a few days ago had disappeared without a trace, long forgotten by netizens.

He searched for Ye An’s profile on Weibo and clicked on it. Her latest post was from over half a month ago, promoting a variety show. 

For this post, she had even recorded a voice message.

He played the voice message. It was a line from a script, delivered with a tone that sounded sweeter and less casual than her usual way of speaking.

After listening, he continued scrolling through her posts. There were very few personal posts, mostly promotional content for her voice-acting projects. As he scrolled, he abruptly paused at a certain post.

A photo suddenly caught his eye. 

In the photo, two hands were clasped, with wedding rings on their ring fingers. There was also a red rose placed next to the hands. The image was beautifully romantic, enhanced with a filter.

The caption read: “The person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold. I’m doing well, and so is my husband.”

Xie Shuo was momentarily stunned, and he was flooded with memories of dark scenes where there was only sound but no visuals.

At that time, how did she handle all this? 

Looking up, he gazed out at the fiery sunset outside, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he had a realization. 

This marriage had started as a transaction, followed by over half a year of emotional abuse from him. For her, there were no beautiful memories to cherish. It was no wonder she couldn’t get over that hurdle and remained unwilling to believe him.

After being lost in thought for a while, Xie Shuo picked up his phone again, found her number, and dialed it.

This time, it was finally not the cold and empty ringing tone. 

The phone rang for quite a while, so long that Xie Shuo almost thought she wouldn’t pick up. Finally, he heard her familiar voice on the other end.

“Hello?” 

Xie Shuo said softly, “I’m back.”

There was a short “oh” from the other end.

In the past, he might’ve found her talkative, but now he felt she was saying too little. 

Xie Shuo: “I just went to the condo, but you weren’t there.”

Ye An: “I went home. Didn’t I tell you last time? I’m going to take a break and stay at my mom’s place for a while.”

Her tone was similar to her usual one, seemingly not upset.

Xie Shuo asked again, “What’s your home address?”

Hearing this question, Ye An became wary instinctively. “Why are you asking for this?”

Xie Shuo said straightforwardly, “I’ll go find you.”

Ye An hurriedly said, “No need, I’m not at home right now; I’m on a trip.”

Xie Shuo then asked, “Where are you going?”

Ye An was sitting on the veranda and watching the peach blossom trees in the courtyard. Perhaps because the peach blossoms were so vibrant, her mood was great as well. She was in a playful mood and decided to tease him a bit, saying, “Guess?”

Xie Shuo: “……. Can you give me a hint?”

Ye An lightly tapped her chin with a finger, pondering for a moment before mentioning the title of a poem, “River On a Spring Night.”

Xie Shuo furrowed his brows in contemplation.

“The hint is already so obvious. If you can’t guess it, then forget it.”

After saying that, Ye An hung up the phone. 

She had no expectations that he would guess right. There were some things he had probably long forgotten; even if he could guess it, he definitely wouldn’t have the time to come find her, given how busy he was.

In his heart, she had always been the last priority.

Thinking about this, she couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholic. Sigh, why did she fall for a man who had no emotions?

Meanwhile, as Xie Shuo looked at his darkened phone screen, he smiled as he thought of something.

He put his phone away and headed out of the study. When he passed by a corner where “Little Penguin” was placed, he paused for a moment.

Little Penguin immediately flapped its wings and said pitifully in a cute voice, “Master, I miss you so much…”

He reached out and imitated her previous actions, gently patting Little Penguin’s head.

……

The next day at sunset, Xie Shuo stepped into the inn next to the Thousand Moon Lake, where they had once stayed during their honeymoon. He found Ye An in the courtyard, playing with a small black cat.

The afterglow painted the sky in shades of gold and red. Peach blossoms were in full bloom, with the occasional petals adrift in the breeze.

Amused by the adorable antics of the little cat, she laughed and mimicked its meow with uncanny accuracy.

“Meow……”

“Me….ow….”

With a cat as a companion, reveling in simple joy.

Not knowing how long had passed, she finally noticed something and looked up.

At that moment, Xie Shuo was reminded of the first time he saw her after regaining his sight. The sunlight was warm, and she turned around with a smile, her eyes shining bright. 

Ye An’s hands froze in the midst of her playful antics with the cat, staring in disbelief at the familiar figure before her. She almost thought she was hallucinating.

Shouldn’t he be busy at work?

“Why are you here?”

The man, tall and slender, with one hand in his pocket, stood under the spring sun with a faint smile on his typically stern face. 

“To see you.”

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