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.
