《Please Confess to Me》


 Chapter 1 - Rebirth

    Rebirth


    ***


    After raining for half a month, today finally ushered in some good weather. Shen Xi looked up towards the sky and saw a clear blue, as if it had been thoroughly washed clean. The wind was refreshing, and the sun beautiful; it looks like any word that described good weather could be used today.


    It was a fine day, totally different from when they got married. She remembered that when she had married Su Hang, a great thunderstorm had been raging outside. The thunderous lightning was loud and booming, and it made her feel like the apocalypse was close at hand. It was her most profound memory of the day.


    "Sister-inw, I really think you should be the one to put it in." Li QingYuan, Su Hang''s best friend, pushed the funerary casket towards her.


    (T/N funerary casket as in like an urn of ashes. Not the caskets that contain the entire body. The caskets used here are like ornamental boxes.)


    Shen Xi looked at the ''casket'' Li QingYuan held. It was supposed to be her former husband''s casket, Su Hang''s casket. But Shen Xi knew that the ashes it contained weren''t Su Hang''s because he died in a ne crash. His ne exploded while flying through the Pacific Ocean, and its pieces crashed down into the water''s depths. Three months have already passed, but a single piece of wreckage had yet to be recovered.


    "That¡­what''s inside it?" Shen Xi''s voice was raspy and small.


    "It has the things Su Hang treasured the most. Did you want to see?" Li QingYuan ruefully smiled then ced the box in her hands, "Maybe you''ll find a few of them familiar."


    Shen Xi didn''t understand what Li QingYuan was trying to imply. She raised her head to look at him in puzzlement, but Li QingYuan had already turned and left. In the end, Shen Xi had to bring the box to the back of the tombstone herself. Behind the tombstone was a small square hole for the ashes to be buried. On each side of the small opening were staff members in charge of the burial, their faces cold, as if they would immediately fill in the hole as soon as Shen Xi put the box down.


    Shen Xi crouched down, her palm stroking the dark grey casket. It was a simple design, with no extra ornamentation. It was just like the man called Su Hang. Just like their five-year marriage.


    Before marrying Su Hang, Shen Xi didn''t have much of an image of him. She knew that Su Hand was a child the Su family brought in from the outside. Some people spected that he was the illegitimate son of Su Bai, and was brought in only due to the fact that there were no male sons to inherit the family business. It was also said that Su Bai was deeply in love with a girl during his college days. They married and had Su Hang, but were eventually forced by Su Father the to split up.


    For Shen Xi, these rumors were nothing but idle gossip, so she never considered them seriously. Other than that, the only interaction she had with Su Hang before their marriage was an asional polite nod when they happened to cross each other in a reception or a party.


    Shen Xi was the only daughter of the Shen family. Because of her delicate and weakened body, Mrs. Shen could no longer get pregnant after she had given birth to Shen Xi. But the Shen husband and wife pair had always been quite loving. Even when they could no longer have a son, their feelings towards each other never diminished. They would also never make their sole daughter unhappy. Shen Xi never liked to do business, so anyone in S City who knew anything, knew that marrying Shen Xi would equal to essentially getting the entire Shen Group.


    The Shen couple had always joked that they would have to sift through millions of willing bachelors when the time came for Shen Xi to marry, but they never could have imagined that one day, they would have no choice but to marry off Shen Xi to Su Hang.


    Almost six years ago, Shen Father invested in Country M''s investment project. But due to a sudden change in M Country''s policies that restricted foreign trade and investment, Father Shen''s investment immediately lost value with billions of funds going down the drain. The Shen Group''s stock sharply dropped, thepany''s capital chain broke, and the bank continuously pressured them for their rising debts. Just when Father Shen was about to dere bankruptcy, Su Hang suddenly came to their home.


    Yes, Su Hang didn''t visit the Shen Group building, and he didn''t bring a team or even a secretary. He came to the Shen family home, and he came alone.


    On that day, Shen Xi happened to be home. Worried about her family''s situation, she eavesdropped from the second floor.


    "President Shen, I loan you as much as you need." Su Hang said.


    "President Su, are you aware just how much money is needed to fill this hole we''re stuck in?" Father Shen asked.


    "I had an assessment report made before I came here." The sound of pages flipping could be heard. "The Shen Group needs 30 billion to get back up on its feet."


    "30 Billion will only help the Shen Group resume operations."


    "Excluding this investment, the Shen Group had always been a very profitablepany. I believe that as long as it''s given another chance, Shen Group will certainly make aeback."


    "You''re only lending us money? You''re not trying to buy stock?" Father Shen''s voice was full of doubt.


    "Yes. I have no intention of buying, just loans." Su Hang confirmed.


    "Why are you doing this? I don''t think it''s just for my ability to do business." Father Shen asked, "30 billion is no small number. If I don''t follow through, your newly established bank will copse, and even the Su family will end up affected. We have no deep ties between us. Why help us?"


    "I do have one request." The living room became quiet for a while. Shen Xi fidgeted in anxiousness.


    "Say it." Father Shen said.


    "I need a wife."


    Even after all those years, Shen Xi could still clearly remember her reaction when she heard this. Her brain turned nk, and her body turned as stiff as the pir she had been hiding in. She couldn''t hear anything for a long while as a dull roar overpowered her ears. It was only her father''s shouts that woke her up.


    "You get out, get out of here! I, Shen Chuan, can be the poorest of the poor, a penniless good-for-nothing, but I will never sell my daughter!" Father Shen yelled, throwing a teacup at Su Hang''s feet.


    "President Shen, you should think about it a little more." Su Hang''s voice was calm, without a hint of emotion.


    "I don''t need to think about it! Get out, just get out!"


    "President Shen, if the Shen Group goes under, tens of thousands of people will be unemployed."


    "Get out."


    "President Shen, Madam Zun''s medical costs alone would cost a few hundred thousand a year."


    "You¡­.what the hell are you trying to do?" Every single member of the Shen family knew that Mother Shen was Father Shen''s Achilles'' heel, "I really grateful that you offered a hand. Any other condition, hell, even if you wanted to buy the Shen Group I would acquiesce, no problem. But why do you want to marry Shen Xi?"


    "I need a wife." Su Hang repeated his earlier sentence, his voice without a single tremor.


    "In our entire S City, who doesn''t know the fact that you already have someone in your heart? If you needed a wife, why not ask that person?" Father Shen asked.


    "She¡­doesn''t like me."


    "So instead of begging to her, you''vee to take my daughter away and make her a substitute?" Father Shen raged.


    "I will be good to Miss Shen." As Su Hang assured Father Shen, a change in his voice could finally be heard.


    "I¡­."


    "I agree." Shen Xi stood on the steps of the second floor, standing tall andforted by the surprised expression on Su Hang''s face. Her voice was remarkably calm as she said: "I''ll marry you."


    "Little Xi¡­" Father Shen was very anxious.


    (T/N: Little or Xiao is something a lot of parents/rtives etc. say as sort of a nickname? to younger/cute people.)


    "The Shen Group won''tst long. If President Su doesn''t mind it, please prepare the wedding to happen as soon as possible." Shen Xi couldn''t quite remember his expression at the time, just that his voice when he replied was calm.


    "Good." Su Hang faintly nodded, politely said his goodbyes to the older Shen couple, then stepped past the broken pieces of porcin and left.


    Shen Xi vividly remembered that the sun was shining brightly that day, it''s light filtering past the windows and the open door. Su Hang''s pace when he departed was smooth and brisk. Confident.


    But the Shen Xi of that day knew that this man she was about to marry was a man who longed for a girl who didn''t love him.


    This was Shen Xi''s initial image of Su Hang: A smart, calm and sessful businessman who, although didn''t marry her for love, promised to be good to her.


    As these thoughts faded, Shen Xi''s fingertips were slightly pale. Finally, she opened the box she had been carefully holding. She could admit to herself that she was somewhat curious. These things that Su Hang considered precious, would there be one that belonged to her?


    ka-cha.


    Shen Xi''s eyes widened the moment the casket''s lid was lifted. She picked up the topmost photo and stared at it for a very long time.


    "It''s your wedding photo. Su Hang mentioned that they took so many photos that day, each one with you pretending to be happy, but that''s the only photo that showed you genuinelyughing." Li QingYuan said.


    Because they rushed the wedding preparations, the wedding photos could only be taken in the suburbs of S City. At the time Shen Xi and Su Hang hadn''t been familiar with each other yet, so when taking the photos, they were both just forcing their smiles and pretending to be happy.


    She remembered the moment the photo in her hands was shot. A pine cone fell from the camphor tree beside her. A cute little squirrel slipped down from the tree and crawled towards the pine cone, holding it in its arms like a treasure. This lovely appearance was amusing to her.


    Putting down the photo, Shen Xi looked at the familiar gift box inside. She didn''t need to open the gift box to know its contents. "That''s the wedding gifts you sent back to him. He didn''t want to part with any of them." Li QingYuan couldn''t help but scold, "The fool."


    Didn''t want to part with any of it? She had always thought that he didn''t like any of it.


    Shen Xi picked up thest item in the box. It was an old rabbit soft-toy, washed clean and obviously cared for, despite its aged appearance. She didn''t know why, but Shen Xi felt an inexplicable familiarity.


    "Does it look familiar?" Li QingYuan asked.


    Shen Xi blinked, then looked up towards him: "This is?"


    "It was given to Su Hang by the person he liked. He carried it with him for 20 years, right until he married her." Li QingYuan bitterly smiled, "So I figured he would want to carry it with him as he moves on."


    "Married her?" Shen Xi failed to react.


    "He never told you, but he had always loved you." Li QingYuan said, "Otherwise, why would he bear the pressure from all the shareholders and lend 30 billion to your father?"


    "I¡­I don''t know." Shen Xi clutched the rabbit doll tightly, her knuckles turning white.


    "Sister-inw, I didn''t mean to imply anything. It''s just that this guy liked you for so long. Now that he''s gone, I just wanted to tell you for him. You probably wouldn''t feel more grief with this knowledge anyway."


    "Then why didn''t he tell me?"


    "Yeah, I wonder the same thing."


    The reproach that colored Li QingYuan''s tone startled Shen Xi. It had only been half a year since she divorced Su Hang, three months since his death, and a fraction of a second since she found that the person Su Hang had always like was her.


    pa-ta.


    A drop of water fell onto the casket. Shen Xi raised her head and looked at the clear sky, wondering: "It''s raining?"


    Boom!


    Great thunder suddenly rumbled, followed by a serpentine lightning bolt shing through the sky, its dazzling light streaking the blue sky.


    "Shen Xi it''s raining outside, don''t stand so close to the window."


    Suddenly, the familiar voice made Shen Xi turn around. Not far from her was Su Hang, wearing his wedding suit, and looking at her with his brows furrowed.


    "Su Hang?" Shen Xi asked with uncertainty.


    Su Hang walked towards her, raised his hand, and closed the floor-to-ceiling window that led to the balcony. He then closed the curtains, blocking the rain and thunder.


    "The weather''s turned cold, and you''re still wearing your dress. With such strong winds, it''s easy to catch a cold." Su Hang turned and admonished.


    Shen Xi looked down and saw that she was wearing a pale pink low-cut evening gown. It was a dress DF''s Gao Ding tailored himself in just ten days for her wedding.


    "Today is our wedding day?" Shen Xi was still in disbelief.


    "Shen Xi, we''re already married. Even if you don''t want to believe it, you''re not allowed to regret it." Su Hang muttered to himself for a moment, then answered Shen Xi''s seemingly indifferent question.


    Yes, the heavy rain and loud thunder, this familiar setting, how could she forget?


    It''s just that a few moments ago, I was definitely still in the middle of attending your funeral.


    ***


    I want to cry.


    I also didn''t want to leave you all hanging, so I''m posting a double release just for today. The usual schedule for this is every Friday.

 Chapter 2 - The Adorable Chu Wu

    The Adorable Chu Wu


    ***


    Su Hang looked at Shen Xi''s shocked expression and felt a touch of loss.


    Yes, they just got married, but when an unfamiliar man suddenly appeared in your room at night, consternation and shock were normal reactions.


    "It''s been a long day, so you should go to bed early. I¡­.I''ll sleep in the guest room tonight." After saying this, Su Hang nodded to Shen Xi then turned away, leaving the bedroom. It seems that he had forgotten that this bedroom was rightly his'' too, along with this new house.


    It wasn''t long after Su Hang left that Shen Xi finally seemed to have snapped out of her astonishment.


    Boom!!


    Shen Xi heard another thunderbolt, with its light passing through the heavy curtain a few moments after. The room''s light-bulb couldn''t help but flicker for a moment, the intense weather outside affecting it.


    Shen Xi turned back to windows and peeked past the curtains, looking out at the dark clouds, blurred by the rain sttering against the window.


    After a while, a determination shed in Shen Xi''s eyes. She pulled the floor-to-ceiling windows open, and rain immediately fell on her. Her first thought was that it was cold. Then she thought about it: Since she felt the cold, did it mean that she wasn''t in a dream?


    Shen Xi couldn''t help but move forward a little more. She walked right up to the edge of the balcony and carefully stretched out her hand past the balcony roof, her palm up. The rain tonight was particrly heavy, as if the sky was leaking. The raindrops were caught by the strong wind and drenched her whole body.


    "It''s wet. My clothes are wet, and my hair is wet." Such a palpable sensation confused Shen Xi even more. Now she wondered, was it the wedding that was the dream, or was it the funeral?


    Su Hang left his new bedroom and headed downstairs to the guest room. He had long considered this scenario before their wedding. Su Hang had already moved most of his personal belongings into the guest room, while the master bedroom only contained a small number of his things. He didn''t want to make Shen Xi ufortable by his sudden intrusion, but he also wanted to let Shen Xi ept his presence little by little. Hence the small number of personal belongings in the master bedroom.


    Su Hang took a shower in the adjoining bathroom, then changed into a set of pajamas from the wardrobe. Somewhat ufortable, he pressed his aching temples. Although the wedding was done in a hurry, it was a marriage between the Su and Shen families after all, so many guests still attended. Coupled with the fact that he was genuinely happy that he was marrying Shen Xi, he drank a few more drinks than necessary during the wedding banquet.


    Enduring his dull headache, Su Hang went to the kitchen to find some water to drink.


    Their new house was a two-person house bought by Su Hang a year ago. It wasn''t very big and was a modest, two-story building. It had one living room and only six rooms in total. Four upstairs, two downstairs, and a small yard. There was a dog currently living in the yard. It was picked up from the roadside by Su Hang a long time ago, and he had been keeping this dog for several years already. Su Hang liked it a lot, but it was going to be sent away tomorrow. This was because¡­..Shen Xi was afraid of dogs.


    Su Hang had just left the kitchen when he saw Shen Xiing down the stairs. She had changed into a cream-colored casual dress, her long hair wet.


    Su Hang quietly choked on his saliva as he looked at the approaching Shen Xi. Afterposing himself, with an expressionless face, he asked: "Did¡­did youe down for some water?"


    "Yeah." After that initial shock, the now calm Shen Xi became much more rxed when facing Su Hang, Whether the five years she had experienced was a dream or not, this current Shen Xi had experienced all those memories. Although the two married for their own separate interests, after five years of marriage, the feelings of embarrassment and awkwardness that colored their wedding night was a thing of the past for this Shen Xi.


    "Oh." Su Hang shuffled to the side and gave way so that Shen Xi could enter the kitchen.


    Shen Xi entered the kitchen and saw the familiar dining table in the middle of the spacious room, as well as the electric kettle on the table. Shen Xi approached the table and found the filled kettle to be devoid of any steam. She touched its body with the back of her hand, and sure enough, it was cold.


    Shen Xi skillfully picked up the kettle, then went towards the microwave to plug the kettle next to it. She pressed the switch at the base to start heating water. It took a few minutes for the water to boil. She then habitually turned back towards the table and noticed a covered white porcin soup bowl. She walked over and opened the lid to see that it was a bowl of hangover soup.


    Shen Xi remembered that during their wedding banquet, she had only drunk one or two cups of alcohol. The rest were all blocked by Su Hang. She didn''t need this hangover soup at all, so it was obvious who this was for.


    Shen Xi looked at the bowl of cold hangover soup. With a small sigh, she found a small clean pot, poured the soup in, then started the stove to heat it.


    When the soup was hot enough, Shen Xi poured the hangover soup back into its original bowl then ced the lid back. She then took a cup and poured herself a ss of water and left the kitchen.


    When Shen Xi left the kitchen, Su Hang had already returned to his room. Shen Xi looked towards the guest room. She hesitated for a moment, before finally walking over.


    Su Hang, who had been sitting under amp, reading, suddenly heard a knock at the door. His heart thumped uncontrobly. Ever since he bought the house, the only person that came over was nanny Zhang Wei, who would clean the house. But Zhang Wei usually left after cooking dinner. So the person who would be knocking at this time could only be Shen Xi.


    What was Shen Xi trying to do, knocking on his door on their wedding night?


    Su Hang was somewhat shy, but was also a little expectant. He put down his book and went to open the door.


    "What''s the matter?" Su Hang strived to make himself look extremely natural.


    "I just saw the hangover soup that Zhang Wei prepared for you. You seem to have forgotten it." Shen Xi said softly.


    "Oh." Su Hang said, stunned. "I didn''t drink much anyway."


    "Nevertheless, you should drink it just in case."


    "Ah." Su Hang was overwhelmed by Shen Xi''s sudden smile.


    "And¡­" Shen Xi continued, holding her warm cup of water: "Don''t drink cold water if your stomach isn''t feeling well."


    After saying these words, Shen Xi didn''t wait for a reply and turned back to the bedroom on the second floor.


    Su Hang stayed by the door for a while, trying to digest Shen Xi''s words. Shen Xi knew that he had a bad stomach? Does that mean that she''d been paying attention to him? She saw that he was drinking cold water, so she came to remind me?


    So she cares about me.


    After some wonderful spection, Su Hang went to the kitchen in a pleasant mood. When he lifted the lid for the white porcin soup bowl, white steam wafted up, causing Su Hang''s expression to slightly cken again. He looked at the bowl with disbelieving eyes, before bing ecstatic.


    It was already past nine o''clock. Zhang Hao left here at around eight o''clock. How could this hangover soup still be hot?


    Su Hang carefully reached out, his palm touching the warm bowl. The warmth seemed to slowly spread to the depths of his heart.


    Shen Xi did this for me, she heated the soup for me. Su Hang silently repeated this over and over again, a silly grin on his face as he clutched the bowl.


    The next morning.


    The first thing Shen Xi did when she woke up that morning was to check the date on her phone. November 6, 2017¨C it was still more than five years in the past. Shen Xi put down her phone and walked to the window to open the heavy curtains. Today''s weather was lovely, with the air smelling earthy afterst night''s heavy rain, making one feelfortable.


    Before going to sleepst night, Shen Xi had made a decision. If she woke up on the next day still in 2017, she would ept this as reality. Whether she experienced a rebirth or some sort of foresight, she would start things over with Su Hang. At the very least¡­


    From the second floor, Shen Xi looked at the cheerful Su Hang ying with an adultbrador in the yard below. She softly whispered: "At the very least, I have to find out. Find out whether these memories in my head are true or not. If the person you like¡­is me."


    Su Hang was currently in the yard, wearing light blue sportswear and throwing a toy ball. The sillybrador immediately ran to the ball cheerfully. He bit the toy ball and happily ran back to Su Hang, his tail wagging nonstop. Shen Xi saw that Su Heng seemed to be in a good mood as he praised the dog''s efforts and rubbed his head vigorously.


    Shen Xi and Su Hang had been married for five years. But during that time, nothing ever seemed to make him smile. Even when he treated her gently, at most, he only showed a slight smile, never like the smile he wore now.


    It seemed that he liked this dog very much! Shen Xi was certain of this. But had there ever been such a dog in this house? Shen Xi tried hard to remember, but couldn''t find a single memory that featured this dog. Was those five years really nothing more than a dream?


    Su Hang hugged thebrador into his arms, his fingersbing the soft and fluffy fur as he said: "Chu Wu, tomorrow Dad will give you to someone else. When you go there, you have to be good, ah. Your new owner will take good care of you, and Dad will go see you often."


    (T/N: Chu Wu (³õÎå) means is first/junior five. I thought it''d sound better as the original)


    Thebrador Chu Wu seemed to sense that he was about to be abandoned, so he was eager to lick Su Hang''s face with his tongue.


    "I know you hate the thought of parting, but there''s no other way, Mom is afraid of you." Su Hang said. Holding Chu Wu''s head, he continued: "Between Mom and you, Dad can only choose Mom."


    Chu Wu seemed to knew that he hadn''t seeded in acting spoiled. He whined in a sad tone, sounding very pitiful.


    ding dong


    The doorbell interrupted the conversation between father and son. Su Hang said to Chu Wu: "That should be breakfast."


    Chu Wu followed behind as his Dad walked to the entrance. Su Hang opened the small door on the big iron gate.


    "Boss, your breakfast."


    "You''ve worked hard." Su Hang epted the bag his secretary passed over. His secretary had gone to the ''Hundred Tastes Restaurant'' early in the morning to buy some nutritious porridge and some of their famous snacks.


    "Yes." His secretary was a shrewd and capable man, around 27 years old and wore a pair of frame sses that made him look cultured. But at this moment, he looked a little hesitant as he said: "Boss¡­are you sure you want to go on a business trip to HK tomorrow?"


    "We''ll continue as nned." Su Hang replied.


    "Yes." The secretary didn''t ask again. He waited for his boss to close the door before turning around to go to thepany and work. As the boss was going to travel tomorrow, he still had a lot of information to sort out.


    With breakfast in hand, Su Hang went back to the yard and tied Chu Wu to his spacious kennel. Squatting down, he apologized: "Sorry, but Mom''s here. I''m worried that you''ll frighten her, so I can''t let you in."


    Chu Wu shouted a sad cry, it''s big dark eyes wet.


    "Hey, I''lle back and feed you in a little while." Su Hang rubbed the dog''s head again, before walking back to the living room with breakfast.


    ***


    Guys, it looks like this is a case of an Extremely Shy and Pure Man?


    Anyway, new story because I found the beginning really interesting and potential fluff material.

 Chapter 3 - Memories Of Breakfast

    Memories of Breakfast


    ***


    Su Hang brought their breakfast to the kitchen and ced the food in delicate tes. After finishing his arrangements, he brought the tes to the dining table. Su Huang then hesitated, wondering if he should go upstairs and call Shen Xi toe down and eat. But just then, Shen Xi slowly came down the stairs, wearing a beige,ce embroidered dress.


    "Morning." Shen Xi saw Su Hang by the table and habitually smiled, nodding.


    "Morning." After a moment of shock, Su Hang turned and pointed to the food on the table: "I''ve prepared some breakfast."


    Shen Xi walked towards the table. She looked at the exquisite breakfast and replied: "It looks delicious."


    "It''s good that you like it." Su Hang handed her some chopsticks from across the table.


    "Thank you." Shen Xi took the chopsticks and politely thanked him.


    "You''re wee." Su Hang also replied politely.


    Wait, there''s something wrong here! Shen Xi sat down and thought about the situation as she began to eat. She had been married to Su Hang for five years. When Su Hang handed her a pair of chopsticks she was habitually polite as she said her thanks, and simr to the man she was married to for five years, the person in front of her replied in a polite manner.


    Day after day, in those five years, their conversations were like this, and Shen Xi had never thought anything of it. Just now she suddenly realized that today, on the first day of their marriage, such polite and formalnguage was understandable. However, even after five years of being together, their way of speaking had stayed the same: courteous, as if speaking to a guest. How strange.


    As Shen Xi pondered this, she eyes unconsciously fell on the man eating breakfast across her.


    Su Hang had long noticed Shen Xi''s gaze. At first, he pretended not to know and continued to eat, but after a while, Shen Xi''s eyes still remained on him and he started to feel ufortable. But being a well-established businessman, Su Hang naturally wouldn''t call Shen Xi out on it and make her ufortable. So as he put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin he asked: "Was there something you wanted to tell me?"


    "Ah?" Shen Xi blinked. She had been lost in thought and had unknowingly stared at Su Hang. His sudden question gave her pause, but then Shen Xi smiled, and replied in a natural manner: "This morning, I looked out the balcony and saw a dog out on the yard."


    "You saw." Su Hang was stunned.


    "Nn." Shen Xi nodded.


    "That''s Li QingYuan''s dog. He went out on a business trip, so he asked me to take care of his dog for a few days. He''lle byter this afternoon and take him away." Su Hang exined, his expression unchanging as he lied.


    "Li QingYuan?" Shen Xi was puzzled, but she had never been familiar with Li QingYuan, so she didn''t know if he ever had a dog.


    "Yes." Su Hang nodded.


    "Oh¡­" Shen Xi no longer thought about it and smiled, "He''s pretty cute."


    "Cute?" Su Hang paused, surprise visible in his eyes. "Don''t you dislike dogs?"


    "How do you know I dislike dogs?" Shen Xi paused in the middle of sipping porridge and looked at him strangely.


    "Well¡­" Su Hang tried to act normal as he exined: "I heard that you were bitten by a dog before, so I just figured that you would be afraid of dogs."


    "So you know about that." Shen Xi smiled, then said: "I was very small at the time, I think around five years old when I got bit."


    Su Hang had wanted to say that he knew. He knew that she had been wearing a furry rabbit coat and her hair had been braided into looking like two sheep horns. That when she had been bitten, she had shrunk into his arms and cried for a long time. At the thought of this memory, Su Hang''s face softened.


    "In fact, I don''t hate dogs. After I got bit I was afraid for a while, but I''m fine now. I know domestic dogs don''t bite people and aren''t afraid of their family."


    After Shen Xi exined, Su Hang nodded thoughtfully, then picked up his chopsticks and continued to eat.


    The two didn''t talk again, instead quietly finishing their breakfast. In fact, in the five years worth of memories Shen Xi had, breakfast with Su Hang had usually been quiet. Unless there was anything special going on, the two basically didn''t talk when they ate. Respecting each other''s boundaries, not interfering with each other; Getting along in a very polite manner.


    Shen Xi had never put much thought in their breakfast time together, until one day she got upte, only getting up past 9:00. When she arrived downstairs she saw someone who should have long been at hispany doing work. He was sitting on the sofa in the living room, with his secretary at his side, looking at her as if he saw his savior.


    "Madam, you''re up. Hurry and have breakfast." Secretary Fang Yu looked excited.


    Shen Xi didn''t really feel hungry but seeing Secretary Fang Yu look so eager, she didn''t have the heart to refuse. Coupled with the fact that food was already ted and ready on the table, she agreed and sat at the table.


    As she sat, Su Hang put hisputer down and sat across from her.


    "You haven''t eaten yet?" Shen Xi was a little surprised.


    "Boss had been waiting for the Madam to eat together." Su Hang didn''t speak, so the secretary hastily exined.


    Shen Xi was dismayed and told Su Hang: "You don''t have to wait for me. The next time I wake upte, go ahead and eat first."


    "Un." Su Hang faintly nodded, gulped down a few mouthfuls of porridge in his bowl, then rose, telling her: "I''ll be going to work."


    Shen Xi remembered that the moment Su Hang said he was going to work, Fang Yu immediately became excited and pulled out his phone. She didn''t know who he was talking to, but she could hear him say as he walked away: "We''re going out, the Boss is going to be there soon. Just hold on a little bit longer."


    Shen Xi had wondered why they didn''t just go if they were in such a hurry.


    Not long after that, a simr situation happened. Shen Xi soon realized that as long as Su Hang was home, he had to eat breakfast with her before leaving for work. At the time, Shen Xi thought that Su Hang was being a bit strange, but ever since that first moment, no matter howte she slept, as long as Su Hang was home, Shen Xi would wake up on time to eat breakfast with him.


    "You don''t need to clean up, Mrs. Zhang will be in soon and can do it." Su Hang said this when he saw that Shen Xi had finished eating and was about to take her te to the sink.


    Only then did Shen Xi realize that she had habitually begun to clean up while wrapped up in her memories.


    "I''ll just put them in the sink so it''ll be more convenient for Mrs. Zhang. It also makes the ce look a little morefortable." Shen Xi said casually.


    "Then I''ll help you." Instead of stopping her, Su Hang stood up and picked up the two remaining dishes on the table and went into the kitchen and Shen Xi.


    Su Hang looked at the tableware crowding the sink and suddenly felt a sense of peace. Shen Xi was really here and a part of his life now. Eating in the same table, washing their dishes in the same sink. Two pairs of bowls and chopsticks were going to be washed together and in the end, after washing, it''ll be unclear who used who.


    "Do you have any ns for today?" Shen Xi suddenly asked.


    "Ah¡­I have a few documents to deal with." Su Hang reflexively answered.


    "I see." Shen Xi''s tone when she replied was somewhat subdued.


    Hearing this, Su Hang couldn''t help but add: "But they aren''t that important, all I need to do is sign them."


    "Then do you have time this afternoon? I want to visit my mother." Shen Xi remembered that on the day after her marriage, her mother became hospitalized. At the time, Su Hang also went with her to visit, but her mother hadn''t been very amodating as she had always felt that Su Hang used his money to force her to get married.


    What Su Hang''s expression was on that day, she couldn''t remember. At that time, her inner heart was probably simr to her mother''s. Although Shen Xi personally epted Su Hang''s proposal, their marriage wasn''t done out of love. Back then she had needed more time to adjust her thoughts.


    "What happened to Mrs. Shen?" Su Hang asked nervously.


    "Oh, she''s alright, just some old trouble. She just went to the hospital to recuperate a bit, and I wanted to see her." Shen Xi replied.


    "Then I''ll go prepare some presents." Su Hang said, immediately picking up his phone to make a call.


    "No need." Shen Xi stopped him. "We can just stop by a flower shop and buy a bouquet. My mother likes flowers."


    "Alright." Su Hang hesitated, then agreed to Shen Xi''s proposal.


    "Then go on and finish your files. I''ll go get ready." Shen Xi said.


    With a nod, the two left the kitchen together. Su Hang went to his study, and Shen Xi walked up the stairs to the second floor. Halfway up, Shen Xi suddenly stopped and called out to Su Hang.


    Su Hang, who was about to step into the study, turned around.


    "I just forgot to tell you: You shouldn''t call my mom Mrs. Shen. Call her mom, or she won''t be happy." Shen Xi suggested with a chuckle.


    "OK." Su Hang nodded.


    Satisfied, Shen Xi continued up the stairs.


    Su Hang stood at the doorway for a while. His heart was in full bloom and full of enthusiasm. No matter the reason, Shen Xi had called out his name.


    Su Hang''s happy mood continued as he dealt with his documents, with Shen Xi''s smile was in his thoughts. On this first day as a married couple, they got along better than Su Hang could ever have hoped. Does this mean that Shen Xi wasn''t really as opposed to marrying him as he had imagined?


    Because of his ted state, Su Hang had almost forgotten to feed Chu Wu. Finally remembering, he took some dog food to the yard and brought the hungry Chu Wu out of his kennel. Seeing Su Hang, Chu Wu barked excitedly.


    "You must be hungry. Go on and eat more." Su Hang poured dog food on Chu Wan''s bowl, then squatted, ruffling Chu Wan''s head. "Did you know, both mom and dad think you''re really cute."


    With a few mouthfuls of dog food, Chu Wan looked back up at Su Hang, making him smile wider.


    ring ring


    Su Hang took out his mobile phone and saw that it was Li QingYuan. With a frown, he asked: "What is it?"


    "Hey hey, did you forget? Weren''t you gonna call me when I coulde over and take Chu Wan?" Li QingYuan asked.


    Su Hang looked at the happily eating Chu Wan. Chu Wan seemed to notice his owner watching him so he immediately swallowed the food in his mouth and spit out his tongue. Su Hang smiled and petting the dogs head, said: "You don''t have toe."


    "What are you talking about, I''m already almost at your house."


    "I won''t give you Chu Wan." Su Hang said.


    "What do you mean you''re not giving, I already bought the kennel and some dog food. Heck, I even have some toys here." Li QingYuan said, "Everything has already been prepared, the only thing missing is Chu Wan."


    "Shen Xi isn''t afraid of dogs, she even said that Chu Wan was cute." As Su Hang said this, his mouth involuntarily lifted to a smile.


    "¡­." Li QingYuan was silent for a moment, before spitting out: "Yes, yes, you''re not giving it so you''re not. I just bought a bag of dog food you know, you don''t need to feed me some specifically."


    Su Hang hung up his phone, gathered Chu Wan into his arms, and swayed with joy.


    The author has something to say:


    Su Hang: Shen Xi liked Chu Wan so I''m not sending him to you.


    Li QingYuan: So I should just eat the dog food I already bought myself?


    Crab: I''m an obedient and well-behaved child.


    ***


    I imagined a depressed Li QingYuan literally sitting in a corner, hugging a sack of dog food.

 Chapter 4 - SheS My Wife

    She''s My Wife


    ***


    Sometime before lunch, Shen Xi shrugged on a khaki trench-coat and stepped into a pair of exquisite high-heels, then went downstairs.


    Shen Xi''s figure looked graceful and seductive. Su Hang had been sitting in the living room and looked up when he heard her walk down. His eyes subconsciously followed her long slender legs as she descended and he found that he couldn''t look away.


    "Can we go?" Shen Xi asked softly, holding onto the railing with one hand and an elegant bag on the other.


    "Of course." Since Shen Xi didn''t let him prepare anything in advance, other than feeding Chu Wan, he didn''t have anything else going on. He had simply needed to dress, then that was it.


    "Then let''s go." Shen Xi said.


    "Wait for me by the door, I''ll bring the car out." Su Hang finally managed to tear his eyes away from Shen Xi and headed for the garage.


    Shen Xi walked to the front door and waited quietly, the wind asionally blowing her clothes. Shen Xi brushed away strands of hair from her face and smiled towards the autumn sun.


    At this time, Su Hang had left the garage and saw Shen Xi. Even when she''s just standing still, Shen Xi still exudes a noble and elegant temperament. This was what a noble birth and good education can do.


    Unlike him; even when he was given the best and most expensive disguise, his bones still had the wear and tear that only the lower ss could have.


    Su Hang stopped the car beside Shen Xi then got off and opened the back door for her.


    Shen Xi was shocked. She looked at Su Hang, her feet not moving.


    "What''s wrong?" Su Hang was puzzled. "Did you forget something?"


    "No." Shen Xi shook her head. At Su Hang''s confused gaze, she moved to the other side of the car and opened the passenger door.


    "I''ll sit here." Shen Xi smiled, then went in the car.


    Su Hang was amazed. She really had such a good education carved into her bones, staying so polite even during car rides.


    Shen Xi had already buckled her seatbelt when Su Hang entered. Seeing him getting ready to go, she suggested with a smile: "Let''s go find a ce near the hospital to have lunch first, then see my mother."


    "OK." Su Hang started the car, eyes straight ahead, then slowly drove the car out to the road.


    "Su Hang?" As the car passed the gates of their neighborhood, Shen Xi suddenly called out to him.


    "What''s wrong?" Su Hang looked back at her.


    "You forgot to wear your seatbelt." Shen Xi pointed towards his chest.


    "Oh¡­" His ears ringing from Shen Xi saying his name, Su Hang tried to order his thoughts and move


    Probably due to Shen Xi''s perfume or just overall presence, Su Hang had long be some-what distracted. With his right hand he tried to fasten his seatbelt but just couldn''t manage it.


    Shen Xi noticed that the car was already on the main road and the number of cars on the street was slowly increasing. Suddenly, Shen Xi leaned over and took the seatbelt from Su Hang''s hand. Under his dismayed gaze, she said: "Concentrate on driving, I''ll help you fasten it."


    "No." Su Hang refused.


    "We''re already on the road, it''s not safe, let me do it for you." Shen Xi focused her beautiful pair of eyes straight at Su Hang.


    Su Hang immediately turned stiff and turned his head to watch the road, hands grasping the steering wheel tightly. Eventually, he managed to choke out a thank you.


    Shen Xi smiled and reached out for the seat belt. But it seems that there was something wrong with the way it was pulled and the seatbelt ended up stuck. She leaned towards Su Hang and pulled at the belt twice, eventually managing to get the seat belt out. She inserted thetch into the socket with a click.


    Satisfied, Shen Xi leaned back to her seat, while Su Hang desperately tried to concentrate on his driving. His hands were gripping the steering wheel too tightly, causing his knuckles to turn white.


    When Shen Xi leaned towards him, his heartbeat skyrocketed. Including their wedding day, when they had their one-touch kiss next to a witness, this was the first time Shen Xi had ever taken the initiative to get close to him.


    It took a long time for Su Hang to calm down.


    He was still a mess when they arrived at a mall near the hospital. Su Hang stopped the car to let Shen Xi our first, so she could go and order while he parked the car. When Su Hang arrived at the restaurant, half of the dishes had already been served.


    "Sorry for the wait, I had to circle around a few times to find a parking space." Su Hang apologized.


    "Parking must be hard due to the mall being so close to the hospital." Shen Xi said thoughtfully, "I ordered a few dishes. Check if you want to add some more."


    Su Hang wasn''t a very picky eater, but ncing at their table that was full of light dishes, he raised his hand and called a waiter over to add a spicy dish.


    When the waiter left, Shen Xi hesitated, then asked: "Do you like spicy dished?"


    "Oh¡­uh, yes." Su Hang assented.


    Shen Xi nodded and said nothing more. After a while, the waiter brought the rest of the dishes. The two people ordered a total of five dishes, with the red boiled beef in the middle looking particrly eye-catching.


    Su Hang naturally remembered that he admitted to liking spicy food to Shen Xi just a moment ago, so he hardened his scalp and ced a few pieces into his te. After eating the beef, Su Hang''s stomach hurt a little, but he ignored the pain and lifted his hand to grab a few more pieces of spicy meat.


    "Eat a little less." Shen Xi suddenly spoke up, "You have a delicate stomach. Even if you like eating it, just have a taste, don''t eat do much."


    "¡­alright." Su Hang obediently moved his chopsticks form the spicy beef to the fried vegetables.


    "Drink some soup too." Shen Xi put some soup in a bowl and passed it to Su Hang.


    "Thank you." After taking the bowl, Su Hang held if carefully, as if reluctant to drink.


    Shen Xi served another bowl for herself. After a moment''s thought, she asked: "Have you always liked spicy food?"


    "Nn." Su Hang nodded.


    "I used to like it too." Shen Xi replied.


    "Used to?" Su Hang remembered that Shen Xi had always liked eating spicy food. Howe this suddenly changed?


    "Yeah." Shen Xi nodded but didn''t exin.


    Truth be told, she changed her preferences five yearster for him.


    In theirst life, during their marriage, they never actuallymunicated all that much. She didn''t know any of his preferences so when Mrs. Zhang had asked her what food she liked Shen Xi honestly answered and said she liked to eat spicy food. She figured that Mrs. Zhen would have a better understanding of Su Hang''s tastes and would take this into ount when she cooked for them.


    Since then, the dishes in their home had all been Hunan or Sichuan cuisine. Su Hang never had any objections during meal times and always seemed to enjoy it. So this kind of spicy cuisine was present in their meals for more than half a year. Until one day, Su Hang had a stomach perforation in the middle of the night and ended up hospitalized. Once there, she found out that he actually had a serious stomach ailment and couldn''t eat any spicy food at all.


    When she heard this, she looked at the unconscious and sweaty Su Hang, obviously still in pain. For the first time, he felt doubt in her heart. Was it because he liked spicy food so he didn''t control himself? or was it all just to amodate her? The thought only shed through her mind for a second before she denied it. She knew that Su Hang had another girl in his heart, one that he loved deeply. In this marriage of theirs, love wasn''t in the picture from the very beginning.


    After this event, Shen Xi came home and asked Mrs. Zheng to cook a spicy and non-spicy dish from now on. But who knew that Su Hang''s chopsticks would still end up on the spicy dishes. Shen Xi couldn''t stop him. After a few times of Su Hang stubbornly keeping to his ways, Shen Xi had to ask Mrs. Zheng to just stop putting any sort of chili in their meals. After a few years of eating like this, Shen Xi slowly stopped eating spicy food.


    "What do you like eating now?" Su Hang couldn''t help but ask.


    Shen Xi looked up, a little surprised.


    "I¡­I was just casually asking." Feeling like he''d been seen through, Su Hang''s gaze awkwardly drifted down.


    "I like eating lighter dishes nowadays. Before we left I asked Mrs. Zheng to make lighter dishes in the future." Shen Xi then hesitated, "I''m sorry I made the decision without asking for your opinion. If you aren''t used to such dishes I can talk to Mrs. Zheng again."


    "It''s fine, I''m not a picky eater." As Su Hang said this, he immediately felt that he had just contradicted his previous assertion that he liked spicy food. He promptly tried to salvage the situation: "But my stomach is a little sensitive, the doctors said that I should eat less spicy food."


    Shen Xi smiled and didn''t reply. The two then bowed their heads and resumed their meal. However, as she ate, she suddenly found a strange phenomenon. Any food she liked seemed to be liked by Su Hang too. As long as her chopsticks lingered in a particr dish, Su Hang would also take a few more bites of it. Shen Xi bit her lip, wondering if Su Hang was a little too sensitive.


    After eating, the two went to a flower shop on the first floor. Su Hang stood at the sidelines and let Shen Xi pick the flowers. Shen Xi eventually picked a 30 yuan potted aloe vera.


    "This one." Shen Xi said.


    "Just this?" Su Hang was stunned. This was the first time he''ll be seeing his mother-inw after getting married. Wouldn''t it be too insincere to give her a worn out 30 yuan potted nt?


    "Yeah." Shen Xi smiled. "Mother will definitely love it."


    "Well, if Miss Shen¡­if Mom likes it." Su Hang took out a hundred yuan bill from his wallet and went to the counter to pay for the pot. As he waited for the clerk to count his change, he noticed the beautiful roses nearby.


    "Did you want to buy some roses too, Sir?" The clerk took the opportunity to rmend, "These flowers arrived just this morning. They''re very fresh, and for only 10 yuan, you can buy a nice gift for your girlfriend."


    "She''s my wife." Su Hang corrected.


    "Oh, you two really look like a perfect match. Why not buy one for your wife?" The female clerk continued her pitch.


    "No need." Su Hang hesitated, but ultimately decided against it. He figured that if he suddenly bought a rose that represented love and gave it to Shen Xi she would be very surprised.


    Now that they were getting along far better than he had ever expected, Su Hang didn''t want to do anything that might change this.


    "Alright, your change is 70 yuan, have a nice day." The clerk handed Su Hang his change.


    Su Hang nodded, then turned around and left the store with Shen Xi.


    Right after, a younger salesgirl who saw the situation approached her colleague and said: "That man looked really handsome and rich, but he wasn''t even willing to part with 10 yuan to buy his wife a rose."


    "Is this the difference in attitude between couples before and after marriage life?"


    ***


    I had to google seatbelt parts for this. Also, Shen Xi is pretty clueless. So many clues in her previous life that alluded to him liking her, or just him actually caring about her wants. But I guess she was too focused on the ''he loves someone else'' part, that she essentially built walls around herself. And lol, they didn''t get together in the best of terms either.

 Chapter 5 - My Mother-In-Law DoesnT Like Me

    My Mother-in-Law Doesn''t Like Me


    ***


    The hospital Mrs. Shen was recuperating in was a very famous private hospital in S City. The cost for a single room was more than the cost in a five-star hotel.


    When Shen Xi was a child, she had followed her mother as she took part in some charity works. As she grew older, she began to follow along when they went to the countryside or to mountainous areas. She had always understood how good her life was, so she continued participating in as much charity works as she could. But she never thought that one day, she would feel that her mother''s hospitalization fees were expensive and that they would struggle to pay them. If it wasn''t for Su Hang¡­


    "What''s the matter?" Su Hang looked puzzled as they stood before the hospital doors.


    "It''s nothing." Shen Xi came back to herself and looked at Su Hang sincerely. "Thank you."


    "Ah? You''re wee." Su Hang automatically responded, but he didn''t understand why Shen Xi suddenly decided to thank him.


    "This is for you," Shen Xi handed him the pot of aloe vera.


    Su Hang epted it.


    "When we get in there, you give it to my mother and say I chose it for you." Shen Xi said.


    "Thank you¡­" Su Hang wasn''t an idiot. He understood the meaning of Shen Xi''s words. She was helping him win over Mrs. Shen. But why would she do this? Did she hope that he could get along with her family? Thinking of this, Su Hang''s heart became a little nervous and excited.


    "You''re wee." Shen Xi''s eyes curved, and she looked very beautiful smiling like this.


    Su Hang felt himself losing control of his expression. He hurriedly looked down to the potted nt in his arms, his back bing stiff.


    Shen Xi blinked with dismay, wondering why the fine atmosphere they just had suddenly turned awkward.


    She smiled, embarrassed, and finally said: "Let''s go up."


    "Alright." Su Hang''s expression remained t as he followed Shen Xi, but in his heart, he was scolding himself to death.


    Su Hang you blockhead, acting so obviously, are you deliberately showing your unsightly side to Shen Xi? She smiled at you and you dare not look at it? Didn''t you marry her in the hopes that she would stay with you?


    "Here we are." As Su Hang berated himself, they quickly arrived at Mrs. Shen''s door. Shen Xi reminded Su Hang again, before raising her hand and knocking on the door.


    When Father Shen opened the door and saw that it was his daughter and Su Hang, his expression changed from joy to a somewhatplex face. "Howe you''re here?"


    "Coming to see my mother." Shen Xi replied.


    "It''s just your mum''s old illness acting up, she''s fine." Father Shen said.


    "I know Dad, I just wanted to see her." Shen Xi smiled at her father, then went inside, leaving the two awkward men outside the room.


    "Cough¡­well, go on." Father Shen coughed and broke the silence first.


    "Thank you¡­.Dad." Su Hang remembered Shen Xi''s advice and was also preparing himself mentally during the entire drive. So when he saw his father-inw, he hadn''t been too embarrassed.


    Father Shen was somewhat surprised. He looked at Su Heng with a serious expression, then finally nodded in response.


    The two men went inside the room one after the other, only to hear the mother-daughter pair engaged in a friendly conversation.


    "Xi Yan, Su Hang came by too." Father Shen reminded Mother Shen.


    When Mother Shen heard her husband''s voice, she looked up with the sameplex look Father Shen had been wearing when he looked at Su Hang moments before. She felt resentful towards the person that snatched their daughter away and hated her body that dragged her husband and daughter down, allowing Su Hang to take advantage of them. She knew that Su Hang didn''t really do anything wrong, but she just couldn''t like him.


    Mother Shen had a clear idea for her future son-inw. She hoped that the other party wouldn''t be too wealthy, was cultured and elegant. She hoped he would share the same beliefs as Shen Xi, and could finish each other''s sentences, could love each other¡­


    But Su Hang was someone who only managed to get an elementary education by 18 years old, who grew up in an orphanage, who made a living by picking up garbage. Although he was very sessful now, he grew up in a very different environment and was doomed to be different from Shen Xi in every way.


    "Shen Xi helped me pick this out, she said¡­." Su Hang nced at Shen Xi then continued, "She said that you liked nts, Mom."


    Mother Shen looked at her daughter strangely. When she saw Shen Xi nodding and smiling, she turned her head and coldly replied: "Thank you foring to see me."


    When Su Hang came in the room he immediately noticed the many nts piled by the windowsill. So he said: "Then I''ll put this on the windowsill."


    "Mm." Mother Shen nodded lightly.


    Su Hang awkwardly walked towards the window. In fact, he was really just an outsider. He knew that Shen Xi''s parents didn''t like him. Of course that was to be expected, after all, he forced Shen Xi to marry him. It was very despicable and her parents'' hate was appropriate.


    Shen Xi looked at Su Hang''s back, then her mother''s cold face. She knew that trying to change her mother''s attitude towards Su Hang with a potted nt was her bring a little too optimistic. She saw the fruit basket on the table. She didn''t know who sent it, but asked Su Hang anyway: "Su Hang, could you help me wash some fruit?"


    "Alright." Su Hang took the basket and left the room.


    It wasn''t until she heard the door close that Mother Shen turned to her daughter and unhappily asked: "Why did hee?"


    "Mom, he''s my husband now. You''re sick, why wouldn''t hee?" Shen Xi replied.


    "But he forced you to marry him. You don''t like him at all, do you know how worried I wasst night?" Mother Shen was so incensed that none of the three people in the room heard the sound of the door opening. Su Hang hade back as he forgot to take some tes.


    Mother Shen''s room was a suite. When Su Hang came back, he only just closed the outer door. Even with the inner door closed, he could hear Mother Shen''s words clearly.


    "Mom, I''m fine. You don''t need to worry." Shen Xi advised.


    "How can I not worry?" Mother Shen was agitated, "Why does he want you to marry him? He can make any condition in this situation. We would even sell off our shares. Why does he want to marry you?"


    "Xi Yan, you shouldn''t get so excited." Father Shen tried to cate his wife.


    "And you! How could you agree to marry off our little Xi? Are you that reluctant to part with your precious Shen Group?" Because of this matter, Mother Shen hadn''t been giving Father Shen face these days.


    "Don''t be so excited Mom." Shen Xi also tried to advise her mother.


    "Actually I know." Mother Shen vented towards them, but in her heart, she knew. "You all did this for me, because of my illness. I was the one that forced the both of you to do this."


    "Xi Yan¡­" Father Shen wrapped an arm around Mother Shen, trying to reassure her.


    "Mom, don''t say that. Don''t you know how important you are to me and Dad?" Shen Xi took her mother''s hand and said, "In fact, I''m very grateful towards Su Hang. It if wasn''t for him, we still wouldn''t know what to do. Now that you and Dad are alright, I''m very happy."


    "But you¡­." The one thing any parent refused to do, was to make their children suffer.


    "Su Hang is very good to me." Shen Xi looked at her mother earnestly and said, "We''re married. So Mom, can you please try to ept him?"


    "Little Xi, your parent''s are very sorry." Mother Shen''s voice sounded like she was at the verge of crying, making Su Hang feel like he could no longer listen for another second. He went towards the nurses'' station to ask for a fruit tray, still in aplex mood. Feeling numb, he washed the fruit in a nearby water depot.


    Ten minutester, Su Hang came back with the washed fruit and Mother Shen''s attitude towards him was much better.


    Later, as they left, Father Shen pulled Su Hang aside and said with great emphasis: "Su Hang, little Xi is the pride of my life. I hope you''ll treat her well."


    "I will." Su Hang guaranteed.


    "I know there''s another woman in your heart. You may not love little Xi, but¡­.don''t use my family''s Xi as a substitute. She wouldn''t be able to endure."


    "I don''t." Su Hang passionately denied.


    When they left the hospital, Shen Xi asked him, curious: "What did my Dad say to you just now?"


    "We just chatted casually." Su Hang answered.


    "Oh¡­My parents have always been a little too overprotective, so maybe they''re a bit strict with you¡­I hope you don''t mind." Shen Xi tried to exin.


    "I understand." He knew that no matter how hard he tried, despite standing next to her, they would always be from two different worlds.


    But even so, even if they were worlds apart, if there was even the slightest chance, he wanted her. He wanted to marry her and bring her home, even if to the eyes of others, he was a robber.


    Shen Xi wanted to say something, but Su Hang''s expression was so solemn that in the end, she couldn''t say anything.


    When the car returned to the vi, Chu Wu was ying out in the yard. At the sound of the familiar engine, Chu Wu excitedly rushed towards the direction of the car, barking at the driver''s seat incessantly.


    Su Hang got out of the car, his expression helpless as Chu Wu rubbed all over him.


    "Sir, Madam, you''re back." Mrs. Zhang rushed to pull Chu Wu back to her side, Su Hang having told her that the Madam was afraid of dogs.


    "Li QingYuan hadn''te to pick up his dog yet?" Shen Xi casually asked.


    "¡­." Su Hang imperceptibly turned stiff for a moment, then with apletely straight face, said: "He doesn''t want it anymore."


    "No way. Owning a pet is a serious thing. How can he just not want it anymore? That''s too irresponsible." Shen Xi frowned, angry.


    "That''s right." Su Hang nodded his head and agreed.


    The silly Chu Wu didn''t understand, simply continuing to wag its tail, but Mrs. Zhang was confused. When did this dog be Mr. Li''s?


    "Mrs. Zhang, you can let go of Chu Wu and go prepare lunch." Su Hang looked at Mrs. Zhang.


    "Alright." Mrs. Zhang tacitly went back to the kitchen. Anyway, no matter what, she was just the maid and shouldn''t be involving herself in such matters.


    "What''s its name?" Since they would support it from now on, Shen Xi felt it necessary to get to know it.


    "Chu Wu." Su Hang introduced.


    "Chu Wu? How cute." Shen Xi carefully touched the dog''s head. Chu Wu''s round eyes looked up at his father, then at his mother. Finally, he couldn''t resist and licked the back of Shen Xi''s hand.


    "Ah!" Shen Xi eximed.


    "What''s wrong?" Su Hang nervously grasped her hand and checked.


    "It''s alright, I was just surprised." Shen Xi looked down at their sped hands.


    Su Hang''s eyes darkened, the hand holding hers loosening. His voice low he said: "Sorry."


    "It''s nothing. Chu Wu seems to like me a lot." Shen Xi tried to hide her embarrassment.


    "Yeah." Su Hang could only nod, his eyes mncholic.


    ***


    When Su Hang berated himself and called himself a blockhead, the MTL said ''Su Hang you stupid fork'' and Iughed for a solid minute.


    But also, poor sweet nice boy Su Hang. I want to hug him and protect him from everyone and everything. HE DIED SAD AND ALONE. HE DIDN''T EVEN GET TO KEEP HIS DOGGO WHY.

 Chapter 6

    ***


    It was 8:00 a.m. in the morning, and they sat on the table, eating breakfast. When they finished, Su Hang suddenly said to Shen Xi: "I''m going on a business trip today."


    "Business trip?" Shen Xi was visibly surprised.


    "I''m traveling to HK on business." Su Hang rified.


    "So fast. Have you already booked the tickets?" Shen Xi asked.


    "Nn." Su Hang nodded.


    Shen Xi couldn''t remember thest time Su Hang talked to her about such trips, but she remembers being relived whenever such trips happened. After all, being with Su Hang was often an awkward affair.


    But now, Shen Xi felt that it was a little strange. He left his new wife to go on a business trip only a day after their wedding? She can''t help but doubt if Su Hang actually did like her. However, her upbringing and modesty as a woman made it impossible for Shen Xi to directly ask him. It was also entirely possible that due to their hasty preparations for their wedding, Su Hang could''ve arranged this meeting long before they actually agreed to get married. So in the end, Shen Xi could only ask: "How many days will you be gone?"


    "One week." Su Hang answered.


    "Is everything prepared and ready?" Shen Xi asked again.


    "I''ve packed." Su Hang nodded.


    "¡­." Shen Xi felt like there was nothing else to say, so she dryly said: "I wish you all the best."


    "Thank you." Disappointment shed in Su Hang''s eyes. Sure enough, Shen Xi didn''t feel any reluctance from his departure, not even just a tiny sense of dissatisfaction.


    The car picking up Su Hang had already been waiting for a while outside. When Su Hang walked towards the front door with his suitcase in tow, Shen Xi followed, wanting to walk him to the car. But Su Hang held her back, saying: "It''s cold outside, so you don''t need to go out."


    November''s weather had always been temperamental, and when Su Hang got out of bed today, he saw frost on thewn outside.


    Shen Xi''s feet stopped at his words. She felt embarrassed. She couldn''t tell if Su Hang''s words meant polite rejection or considerate concern. Shen Xi had always been an introverted and gentle girl. She had never been the type to take the initiative, especially towards things like feelings.


    What''s more, their marriage was based on mutual benefit. She was afraid that bing too eager will make Su Hang think that she was the kind of woman who wanted to nitpick on things and take control of his life. Her pride would never allow her to do so.


    (T/N: the Chinese used here means to lose money instead of being paid [i.e. should pay me, but is actually taking my money] so like, Shen Xi is afraid of acting like Su Hang owes her something when in the first ce, this marriage was for her family''s benefit.)


    The reborn Shen Xi began to doubt the authenticity of Li QingYiuan''s words once more. Did Su Hang actually like her? If that really was the case¡­.why does he always keep his distance and treat her politely, like one would a stranger?


    "Ah, sir forgot his scarf." Mrs. Zhang, who had been cleaning, suddenly came out with a ck cashmere scarf, hurrying to the front door.


    "Mrs. Zhang," Shen Xi hesitated for a moment, but then continued: "Give me the scarf, I''ll give it to him."


    "Ah, the Missus delivering a scarf to the Mister? What a good feeling, yes, here you go." Mrs. Zheng happily handed the scarf to Shen Xi then returned to her cleaning.


    Shen Xi quickly walked out of the front door with the scarf and saw Su Hang already in the car. Shen Xi was afraid that the car would start to drive away, so she shouted out: "Su Hang!"


    Su Hang, who was about to close the car door, turned his head to see Shen Xi running towards him, wearing nothing but thin clothes. He hurriedly opened the door to meet her.


    "What happened?" Su Hang''s mind raced, thinking that something had happened.


    "Your scarf, Mrs. Zhang said you forgot to take it." Shen Xi smiled and raised her hand, showing him the ck scarf.


    "¡­.." Su Hang looked at the scarf that Shen Xi held, aplicated expression on his face.


    When Shen Xi saw that Su Hang remained silent, she bit her lip, then went on her tiptoes to wrap the scarf around Su Hang''s neck. Under Su Hang''s surprised (who was actually scared silly) gaze, Shen Xi smiled and said: "Have a pleasant journey. Ande back soon, alright?"


    "Nn." The astounded Su Hang nodded.


    "Then go on, you might miss your ne." Shen Xi said.


    Su Hang went back into the car, and Shen Xi continued to wait outside, rubbing her cold hands, right until the car drove past the vi gate.


    Inside the car, Su Hang stupidly clutched at the scarf around his neck,pletely motionless.


    "President Su, President Su¡­." The driver had been calling out to him for a while now, and had no choice but to raise his volume.


    "Hm?!" Su Hang jolted and seemed toe back to himself.


    "President Su, we''re here." The driver already took out his luggage from the trunk and had opened his door.


    Su Hang looked down at his watch and found that they only had half an hour left before his ne started boarding. He quickly got off and with his luggage, went to the waiting room with his secretary, Fang Yu, and his legal adviser, Li QingYuan.


    A few minutester, the ne began boarding. After boarding, Li QingYuan removed his scarf, took off his coat, and leaned back on his chair in the first-ss cabin. Sighingfortably, he turned his head and found that his good pal had taken off his suit jacket, but was still wearing his scarf. Dumbfounded, he asked: "Why are you still wearing a scarf when it''s so hot in here?"


    "Don''t you dare." Su Hang pped away Li QingYuan''s hand that was stretched out towards his scarf.


    "Such a strong reaction, did your little lover give it to you?" Li QingYuan joked.


    Su Hang gave Li QingYuan a frosty re, immediately causing him to surrender, saying: "I was wrong, I was wrong, I know you only have Shen Xi in your heart."


    Satisfied, Su Hang turned his head and closed his eyes.


    "It won''t be my fault if people think you have a little sweetheart on the side, I mean, how can you go on a business trip right after your wedding?" Li QingYuan said, before exaggerating: "Shen Xi is probably at home right now, her face covered in tears."


    "No way." Su Hang replied with great certainty.


    "Well, even if she won''t be crying, she''ll still be miserable." Li QingYuan analyzed. "Which woman on this earth would be okay with the fact that her husband left on a trip so early in their marriage?"


    "She doesn''t-"


    "I know Shen Xi doesn''t like you, but as long as it''s a woman, they would definitely be unhappy." Li QingYuan retorted.


    Su Hang didn''t know whether Li QingYuan''s analysis was bullshit or not. This morning, Shen Xi''s face didn''t show even a trace of unhappiness. If that hadn''t been the case, he wouldn''t be on this ne.


    "I think she needs more time and space." Su Hang said.


    "Boss, you''re already married, what time? What space? Ah, ah, you''re already doomed to die together, just let whatever happens, happen¡­." the excited Li QingYuan started to persuade him, but he soon sensed a cold re piercing the side of his head. Seeing such a terrorizing look pointed at him, he immediately backtracked: "I won''t say anymore, I won''t say anymore."


    Li QingYuan sighed, then sulkily muttered: "You''re no fun."


    After lunch, Shen Xi, who had been reading in the living room, received a call from her best friend Yun Shu, asking her toe to a get-together in ''Cirrus Cloud.'' Seeing that she had nothing else to do, Shen Xi packed up and drove to Yun Shu''s clubhouse.


    When Shen Xi arrived, Yun Shu had already been waiting for quite a while. When she saw Shen Xi, she rushed towards her and wrapped her arms around her friend. Excited, she shouted: "Xiao Xi, It''s been so long, I was about to die!"


    (T/N: I opted for Xiao Xi instead of Little Xi as it sounds better. Also, Xiao Xi tranted as ''small brook'' or ''streamlet.'' cute.)


    Helpless, Shen Xi replied: "We saw each other just the other day."


    Yun Shu was Shen Xi''s bridesmaid. Calcting the time, it had only been one day since theyst saw each other.


    "That was different. That was the day you changed from Miss Shen and became Mrs. Su." Yun Shu quipped.


    "Whatever you say." Shen Xi replied. "It''s cold outside, let''s go in first."


    "Alright." Yun Shu led Shen Xi inside, then up to the third floor to a VIP box. This clubhouse was opened by Yun Shu, and it didn''t take long for it to be one of the top clubhouses in S City. The third floor, which housed the VIP area, had no more than one million membership cards.


    (T/N: Clubhouse as in those high-end ones. I think of those mansions with golf and horse-riding and boating and fancy shit. But in the city, so there''s probably no horses.)


    Probably because it was still in the middle of the day, the third floor was quiet. When they entered, Shen Xi looked around and saw a table with wine and fruit, but no other person. Surprised, Shen Xi asked: "Just the two of us today?"


    "Yep, so we can get super drunk and make a night of it!" Yun Shu poured her a ss of red wine. Shen Xi took a ss, and smiled, asking: "How''d you know I suddenly had the urge to drink?"


    "Drink up first." Yun Shu raised her ss and drank the wine like a shot, while Shen Xi looked down at her ss and took a small sip.


    "Why''d you take such a small sip? Come on, drink it all." Discontent, Yun Shuined.


    "You know I don''t like to drink a lot." Shen Xi said helplessly.


    "Why are you so unreasonable, arrghhhh¡­.." Despite being brought up as a properdy, Yun Shu had a tendency to be ruthless at times.


    "Do you have anything to say to me?" Shen Xi wasn''t angry. She put down her ss and looked at her unusual friend.


    Yun Shu poured herself another ss of wine, the looked at Shen Xi to ask: "I heard Su Hang went to HK?"


    Shen Xi nodded. "Yes, he left this morning. How did you know?"


    "Su Hang, that scum man!" Yun Shu suddenly started shouting.


    "Yun Shu!" Shen Xi gave her friend a disapproving look.


    "You''re still protecting him? He went on a business trip just a day after his wedding. What are you doing? What did he do to you?" Yun Shu mmed a hand on the table.


    "It''s not what you think." Shen Xi started to exin: "You know that to inject funds into the Shen Group as soon as possible, the wedding preparations were done in haste. This business trip was nned long before any of that happened, so Su Hang couldn''t put it off."


    "That''s no excuse!" Yun Shu retorted. "What''s going to happen now that he left like this? Do you know what people are saying about you? The moment Su Hang stepped on that ne, countless rumors started circting, saying that¡­that¡­."


    "I know." Shen Xi had heard a few in herst life.


    "And you''re still smiling?" When Yun Shu first heard the rumors, she almost exploded in anger.


    "Because they''re not true. Su Hang is really good to me. And this business trip really was nned a long time ago." Shen Xi exined to her friend. "He discussed it with me before he left."


    "He''s kind to you?" Yun Shu questioned.


    "Very kind." Shen Xi confirmed.


    "Well¡­then¡­do you¡­." Yun Shu hesitantly started.


    "What?" Shen Xi tilted her head as she listened to her friend''s vague words.


    "Howisheinbed?" Yun Shu asked in one breath.


    Suddenly Shen Xi, who caught very much off guard, turned bright red.


    "What are you shy about, ah? I''m asking you." Yun Shu shuffled closer to Shen Xi.


    "Still¡­not yet.." Not in this life anyway, and herst life shouldn''t count.


    "No?" Then how can you say he''s good to you?" Yun Shu was in disbelief.


    "This in that are two different things." Shen Xi was very embarrassed.


    "How are they different, you''re married to him. Such a beautiful girl lives with him, and he doesn''t even touch you. How is that not a problem?" Yun Shu started to specte.


    "He''s fine." Shen Xi quickly defended Su Hang.


    "How do you know?" Yun Shu squinted at her best friend.


    "I just do." Shen Xi blushed harder, Yun Shu''s words reminding her of her past life. Su Hang, who had always been the silent type, would change into a different person in bed. His broad and powerful body would be relentless, and they would do it all night. The shy Shen Xi could only hang on, and would often end up biting Su Hang''s shoulders, leaving marks.


    "Then why doesn''t he touch you?" Yun Shu asked.


    "Its¡­He''s trying to give me some time to adapt and get used to things." This was the only reasonable answer the reborn Shen Xi could think of.


    "So, in your opinion, he''s a gentleman." Yun Shu couldn''t believe it.


    But well, it was true. Apart from being a bit overbearing in bed, he had been a gentleman in the past five years of their marriage.


    ***


    Wow, Su Hang.

 Chapter 7

    Shen Xi and Yun Shu continued to chat all afternoon. Because of this, Shen Xi''s memories of five years ago became a little clearer. For example, she was currently interested in opening a contemporary coffee shop in S City as there were only eight chain stores right now. For example, Yun Shu''s future husband has yet to return from abroad, so she was still single.


    "Come on, let''s go to my restaurant for dinner." Yun Shu looked at the time, then stood up. "I just changed one of my cooks some time ago. I''ll take you to try their dishes."


    "Alright." The delicacies in Cirrus Cloud were one of its brightest highlights. Their western meals were better than most Michelin restaurants.


    When they left the room, they saw several waiters carrying wine and fruit tes past the corridor. It was obvious that other guests have arrived.


    "Your membership fees for the third floor are so high. Do you have members that can rent out several rooms at once?" Shen Xi asked, curious.


    "One or two." Yun Shu replied.


    "And it''s fine for us to use one of the rooms anyway?"


    "It''s my ce." Yun Shu shrugged indifferently.


    Shen Xi smiled and no longer spoke. They continued to walk towards the elevator. Just when they were almost halfway past the corridor, Shen Xi suddenly heard someone say her name.


    Shen Xi stopped and looked around. She was standing right in front of a door and found that someone was saying her name from inside.


    "Su MingLi, I heard that your brother doesn''t like Shen Xi?" A young girl''s voice sounded out.


    "Who are you calling my brother? My mother gave birth to me, but she didn''t give birth to any son." A 20-year-old girl dressed in luxury brands impatiently replied. She was the eldest daughter of the Su family, Miss Su MingLi, Su Hang''s half-sister.


    "You still refuse to acknowledge him, even after your father gave him the entire Su Group?" A yellow-haired boy answered.


    "If I acknowledged him, I don''t know what that illegitimate bastard would do." Su MingLi''s expression was full of disgust. "Do you know, when my father first found him, he was picking up garbage in the slums, dressed in dirty clothes and pushing a broken tricycle that was covered in water bottles and cardboard boxes from the trash. So disgusting."


    "Ew¡­" Several voices shouted their disgust.


    "What''s even funnier was that when father said he wanted to take him away, that stinky person insisted on selling his crap. Guess how much money he got." Su MingLi asked.


    "How much?" Someone asked.


    "$14.80. The garbage man said he didn''t have five cents change so he was five cents short, hahaha¡­I justughed to death."


    Another person wasughing along with her in the room.


    "But now it''s different. Now even my father can''t stop praising Su Hang." Some people in the room disagreed.


    "No matter how big he is now, he''ll never be able to change the fact that he used to be a filthy beggar." Su MingLi smirked. "Why do you think he married Shen Xi? She''s a well-known youngdy in our circles. Being a lowborn, he wanted a woman of good birth and humble background to bury his past. He''s probably thinking that he can escape being a frog if he married a princess. Unfortunately, Shen Xi is now nothing but a fallen phoenix.


    "ording to you, Su Hang doesn''t like Shen Xi at all?" The yellow-haired boy asked.


    "No wonder Su Hang went on a business trip."


    "It''s only been a couple of days since they got married, be he turns around and goes on a business trip?"


    "Sister Shen Xi is really pitiful."


    "Think you can still tolerate the rumours?" Yun Shu asked incredulously.


    "If you''re not barging in there, I will." Shen Xi stopped the rampaging Yun Shu, pushed the door open and walked straight up to Su MingLi''s face.


    The elite circle in S City wasn''t big so they were all familiar with each other from the various parties they attended. Besides, the Shen family was one of the top five richest before their fall so no one in the room didn''t know what Shen Xi looked like. When she suddenly entered the room, several people shrank inwardly and didn''t dare say anymore. The previously rowdy room instantly quieted down.


    "Shen¡­.you¡­.what are you nning on doing?" Su MingLi had never expected to meed Shen Xi here. She knew that what she had just said was probably heard by her and felt a little guilty.


    "While you open your mouth andugh at Su Hang in front of outsiders, have you forgotten that what you eat, wear, and use is money made by Su Hang?" Shen Xi asked.


    "That''s mypany, when have I spent Su Hang''s money?" Su MingLi angrily refuted.


    "If I remember correctly, Su Hang owns 51% of Su Group shares while you only have 8%." Shen Xi quipped. "Every penny you own is a dividend from Su Hang. If you really hate Su Hang why don''t you sell your shares and leave altogether?"


    "Why do I have to sell them? The Su Group has always been mine." Su MingLi stubbornly said.


    "The Su Group is yours?" Shen Xiughed. "Your friends are all here, go on and ask them if Su Group is really yours."


    Silence reigned in the room, with no one speaking.


    "You¡­why do you care about this?" Su MingLi furiously asked. "If you''re nitpicking about me getting dividends, then how about you? You sold yourself for some capital. What princess, all I see is a prostitute. Do you actually think that Su Hang likes you?"


    Wow¡­


    Shen Xi picked up a ss on the table then threw its contents at Su MingLi''s face. There were shocked cries and even Yun Shu was stunned.


    "You dare ssh me?" Su MingLipletely lost it. She jumped up and reached out towards Shen Xi''s face. Shen Xi calmly raised her hand and grasped Su MingLi''s outstretched hand. She then pulled and threw her directly to the ground.


    "Whether Su Hang likes me or not isn''t important. But don''t you dare insult my husband in front of me." Shen Xi looked down at Su MingLi. "Understand?"


    "You¡­" Su MingLi was about to stand back up when Shen Xi lifted another ss full of wine. Su MingLi was instantly scared silly.


    "Understand?" Shen Xi looked down at her with a terribly cold expression.


    Su MingLi didn''t answer, but her face was full of panic.


    "It looks like you''ve understood." Shen Xi put down the ss. "As long as the Shen family continues, I will stay as the eldestdy of the Shen family. But the moment Su Hang took charge of the Su Group, you ceased to be Miss Su of the Su family. So pay attention to what you say in the future."


    (T/N: I think what she means is that since she''s the only Shen heir, no matter what, she''ll inherit the Shen Group business. But with Su MingLi, the heir is Su Hang. So the business will go to his future children. So no matter what, Su MingLi is no longer the ''firstdy'' of Su Group [That''s Shen Xi for marrying Su Hang].)


    After saying this, Shen Xi turned around and elegantly left the room.


    This was the first time Yun Shu had ever seen her girlfriend be so badass. She was frozen for a few seconds before she managed to rush out. She caught up to her friend and excitedly said: "You were so cool just now! I never expected the gentle you would be so frightening when mad."


    "Really?"


    "Yeah, Su MingLi was scared silly!" Yun Shu looked at Shen Xi''s still cold expression and said: "You were really angry. That was the first time I''ve ever seen you so mad."


    "I know that people didn''t think that my rtionship with Su Hang wasn''t very good, but I didn''t expect Su MingLi to say those things to outsiders." Being so ckened by his own sister, Shen Xi felt a chill down her spine just thinking about it.


    "So what you''re angry about is Su MingLi insulting Su Hang? Then what''s your opinion on Su MingLi''s analysis on why Su Hang married you?" Yun Shu was very curious.


    "I myself didn''t marry Su Hang for love, so it doesn''t really matter why Su Hang married me." Shen Xi replied.


    Yun Shu knew this to be the truth, but when she hears it directly from Shen Xi''s mouth, she felt an indescribable sadness for her friend.


    "But his reasons for marrying me is certainly not what Su MingLi thinks." Shen Xi affirmed. "Su Hang is an excellent man all on his own. He doesn''t need anyone else to be recognized."


    Yun Shu widened her eyes in surprise, feeling that Shen Xi''s words were somewhat interesting. It seems that Shen Xi acknowledges Su Hang?


    At the entrance of a five-star hotel in HK.


    Su Hang and his group just finished a business dinner and returned to their hotel. Li QingYuan pulled at his tie andined to Su Hang: "That Chief is always so difficult. We hardly made any progress today."


    "Bothpanies are just feeling out the other." Su Hang replied.


    Fang Yu sent the driver on his way and said: "Boss, I ordered some snacks from the hotel restaurant."


    "Great! Even after all that food, after all that posturing, my stomach is empty." Li QingYuan took the lead and walked towards the restaurant.


    After eating a midnight snack, Su Hang stared out to the window, towards the eye-catching electronic billboard across the road.


    Li QingYuan noticed this and said: "Isn''t that a famous actress in HK? Monica? Took a fancy to her?"


    Su Hang turned and looked at him coldly.


    "Don''t look at me like that. You''ve been staring at that screen for more than ten minutes. If you''re not looking at the actress, don''t tell me you''ve been looking at the jewellery she''s advertising?"


    Fang Yu nced up towards his Boss and Lawyer Li. He couldn''t help but admire the courageouswyer for daring to talk to the Boss like this.


    "If you miss Shen Xi that much, then just do buy it already." Li QingYuan moaned.


    "¡­.Boss, Mr. Li, I''ll be returning to my room. Please enjoy the rest of your meals." Fang Yu, the wonderfully tactful and sensible man that he was, took his leave.


    Su Hang was silent for a long while before saying: "I don''t know how to give it to her."


    "Just give it to her directly, howplicated does it have to be?" Li QingYuan wondered.


    "It would be weird," Su Hang exined, "She''ll probably ask me why I gave it to her¡­."


    "It''s so simple: just say that when you saw the jewellery, you thought it was as beautiful as her. So you bought it especially for her." Li QingYuan put forward his first script.


    "disgusting!" Su Hangmented.


    "How is it disgusting, ah?" Li QingYuan fervently exined. "Women like to hear those types of things, the sappier the better."


    "Something else." Su Hang remained ungrateful.


    "Then why don''t you say¡­." Li QingYuan then put forward script number two: "It''s an apology gift since you suddenly went out on a business trip."


    "Doesn''t that sound too deliberate?'' Su Hang frowned.


    "Brother, of course it''s deliberate. Sigh, why don''t you just send it to her under someone else''s name? Pretend that this person found out that she got married recently and decided to send her a wedding gift."


    "That''s good." Su Hang was finally satisfied and left the restaurant.


    Li QingYuan looked at Su Hang''s retreating figure, his three views destroyed.


    "I was kidding! don''t take it seriously!" Li QingYuan stabbed a piece of bread with a fork and couldn''t help but bemoan: "So stupid, he''s just trying to give his wife a gift, why does he need to think of so many excuses, acting like some secret admirer."


    ****


    Omg Shen Xi you goddess.

 Chapter 8

    ***


    Bark! Bark! Bark!


    Shen Xi woke up from a deep sleep when she heard the barking of a dog. She turned her head and looked at her bedside. As expected, she saw Chu Wu sitting close by.


    "Arf!" The first thing Shen Xi sees when she woke up was Chu Wu wagging his tail at her.


    "Chu Wu, how''d you get in?" Shen Xi sat up in a daze. She felt a little off, and her head seemed heavy. Shen Xi took her phone from the bedside table to check the time and found that it was already 10:00 a.m. in the morning.


    Jolting, she suddenly said out loud: "Howe I''ve slept so long?"


    Shen Xi rubbed her forehead and walked to the bathroom to wash her face. Afterward, she wore a big shawl and went downstairs with Chu Wu.


    Mrs. Zhang, who had been cleaning the living room, saw the happy Chu Wu running downstairs, followed by Shen Xi. Nervous, she apologized: "Madam, did Chu Wu wake you up? I''m sorry I didn''t keep an eye on him and identally let him run in."


    "It''s alright. I needed to get up anyway." Shen Xi replied with a smile.


    "Madam, are you feeling unwell?" Noticing Shen Xi''s lethargic behavior, Mrs. Zhang asked Shen Xi about her health.


    "Maybe I drank too much and exposed myself to the cold wind yesterday. It''s probably just a small cold." Shen Xi went to sit on the sofa, with Chu Wu running towards her and sitting next to her feet. With a smile, Shen Xi reached out and touched Chu Wu''s head.


    "Do you want to go to the hospital to check?" Mrs. Zhang asked.


    "No, No, there''s no need to go to that much trouble. Do we have any cold medicine? I''ll just take a tablet and sleep some more." Shen Xi replied.


    "Oh, yes, there''s some powdered medicine. I''ll go get it now." Mrs. Zhang went out of the living room and came back with a medicine box. Taking out the box of cold medicine, she put it in some water and then gave the cup to Shen Xi.


    "Thank you." Shen Xi took a sip.


    "Madam, I''ll go cook you some porridge." Mrs. Zhang said, "People with colds usually don''t have appetites, but you have to eat."


    "Sorry for the trouble, Mrs. Zhang." Shen Xi thanked her with a smile.


    "It''s no trouble, no trouble. It''s what I should be doing." ttered, Mrs. Zhang waved herments away and went into the kitchen to cook some porridge.


    Because of her cold, Shen Xi had no strength. But she didn''t want to sleep again, so Shen Xi simply nested on the sofa, drinking her medicine as she patted Chu Wu and watched the news together.


    Meanwhile, Mrs. Zhang ced a pot on the stove and after the water boiled, she lowered the me. While she waited for the porridge to cook, Mrs. Zhang was afraid that Shen Xi was getting hungry, so she brought out a few snacks for Shen Xi to eat.


    "Mrs. Zhang, you''re very considerate." Shen Xi couldn''t help but say.


    "Madam, you''re being too kind. Isn''t this what I should be doing?" Mrs. Zhang smiled.


    "When did you start working here Mrs. Zhang?" Truthfully, Shen Xi knew that Mrs. Zhang came to work here a year ago. However, they haven''t spent a lot of time together yet, so she pretended to not know.


    "I''ve been here for about a year." As she answered Shen Xi''s questions, Mrs. Zhang wiped the table with a rag.


    "Do you like working here?"


    "I''m used to it, and I like it. Mr. Su is nice and I get well-paid. I start at 9:00 a.m. and I can be home by dinner. I don''t have long work hours and I can go home and tuck my children to bed at night." Mrs. Zhang''s huge smile showed that she clearly liked her job.


    "9:00 a.m.? But you''ve beening in earlier than that these past two days." Shen Xi noted.


    "That''s because you''re here Madam. Before getting married, Mr. Su usually just bought his breakfast outside, so I didn''t need to make breakfast. But when you arrived, things became different. Sir stayed at home and had breakfast with you instead. So now, I usually make breakfast."


    "Doesn''t that increase your workload?" Shen Xi worriedly asked.


    "Well, I should be on call 24 hours a day with the sry your husband usually gives me. Making breakfast isn''t a hard thing to do, and Mr. Su even recently increased my sry by 1000 yuan."


    "But don''t you need to get up very early every day?" Shen Xi asked.


    "My house isn''t that far from here, just half an hour by car." Mrs. Zhang answered with a smile. "I can also buy my breakfast on the way."


    "Is that the neighborhood next to GuangMing Road?" Shen Xi thought about the surrounding area and if there were any cheap houses nearby for rent.


    "Why yes, you seem to know the area well, Madam." Mrs. Zhangmented, somewhat surprised.


    "I''ve passed by once or twice." Shen Xi said with a smile.


    "Madam, let me tell you, I''ve worked as a nanny and maid for a lot of people and met many rich bosses, but this is the first time I''ve encountered people like you and your husband." Mrs. Zhang found that Shen Xi wasn''t arrogant and was willing to chat, so she couldn''t help but warm up to her.


    "What do you mean?" Shen Xi asked, curious.


    "I mean good people." Mrs. Zhang boasted. "You see, all the people I worked for are rich people. These people are used to having people at their beck and call and have quite a temper. If I''m too chatty or a little bit slow, they immediately go to mypany andin about me. But look at you, you''ve been very kind and how many times have you said ''thank you'' just this morning!"


    Shen Xi smiled but didn''t reply.


    "And Mr. Su, although he doesn''t speak much, he''s very considerate and doesn''t hesitate to help other people, especially when in danger." Mrs. Zhang said. "It''s rare nowadays to find such a good man."


    "Why do you say that?" Shen Xi wondered.


    "You can tell by how this house is decorated." Mrs. Zhang said. "I''ve been working here for a year, and I can count in one hand the times I''ve seen your husband. He''s always so busy, and every time I cook dinner, I often see it on the table untouched the next day. But when he redecorated the house for your arrival, your husband came home every afternoon for a week to look at the progress himself."


    "This house¡­." Shen Xi was stunned.


    "Yes, this house was redecorated half a month ago. The furniture and curtains have been changed from top to bottom." Mrs. Zhang said. "In fact, the previous decorations were still quite new and still looked fine, but Madam¡­.Mr. Su said that you preferred warmer tones so he changed everything."


    "And I say, while expensive, the end result looks really good. In our old house, there was a formaldehyde smell that lingered for the longest time whenever we finished repainting a room. But see here, you can''t smell a thing." After all this, Mrs. Zhang suddenly realized that Shen Xi had stopped talking. Nervous that she might''ve talked too much, she said: "Oh, I''m sorry Madam, I nag a lot more now that I''m old. I''ve said too much."


    "It''s alright." Shen quickly said. "I have to thank you, I never knew that this happened."


    "Sir didn''t tell you! What a real gentleman. He says too little, but he''s such a good man, definitely someone you can rely on." Mrs. Zhang spoke highly of Mr. Su.


    Shen Xi smiled but didn''t speak.


    "Ah, it''s been a while, I''ll go ahead and check if the porridge is ready." Mrs. Zhang went to the kitchen and brought out a bowl of cooked porridge.


    In herst life, Shen Xi had been too busy trying to adapt to married life. She hadn''t been in the best of moods and didn''tmunicate with Mrs. Zhang all that much. Although she gradually became familiar with her, Mrs. Zhang had never talked to her like this before.


    The redecoration of the house, even after two lives Shen Xi never knew a thing. Now that she thinks about it, Shen Xi did feel that the style of the house was familiar. It felt sofortable that she never even noticed it.


    Perhaps in herst life, the person who was trying to adapt all that time was Su Hang.


    By noon, Shen Xi had only eaten a few handfuls of rice. In the end, she drank another cup of cold medicine and went upstairs to take a nap.


    After deliberating things, Mrs. Zhang couldn''t help but call Su Hang.


    Meanwhile, Su Hang was in the middle of a conference, negotiating with the otherpany, when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He took out his phone and found the caller to be his home phone. Su Hang''s eyes suddenly lit up and with an apology, he quickly left the room to answer the call.


    Seeing Su Hang suddenly leave, Li QingYuan quickly took over the conversation with the other party''s boss and continued the negotiations.


    Su Hang walked into the hallway and answered: "Hello."


    "Sir, this is Mrs. Zhang."


    "Mrs. Zhang? What''s the matter?" At this, the light in Su Hang''s eyes dimmed.


    "Before you went on your business trip, you said that if anything happened to Madam to tell you. So I''m just reporting that she''s sick." Mrs. Zhang said.


    "Sick? Is it serious?" Su Hang immediately tensed.


    "No, It''s not serious, just a small cold." Mrs. Zhang replied.


    "Has she seen a doctor yet?" Su Hang asked.


    "Madam said it wasn''t anything serious and that she didn''t need to see a doctor. She''s now sleeping upstairs after taking some cold medicine." Mrs. Zhang continued, "She didn''t have much of an appetite and only ate a few spoonfuls of rice at noon."


    Su Hang frowned. "Alright, thank you, Mrs. Zhang."


    Mrs. Zhang hung up, shocked. This was the first time Mr. Su had ever thanked her so solemnly.


    Su Hang looked down at his watch and saw that it was 2:00 p.m. He went back into the conference room and talked for a few more minutes before making the excuse of fixing a few more details to their ns and ended the meeting.


    When they walked out of the building, Li QingYuan couldn''t help but ask: "The meeting was going great and the ns we wrote were well within the other party''s epted range. Why do we need to fix it again?"


    "No need to fix it." Su Hang said.


    "What? Then why''d you say we were going to fix it just now?" Li QingYuan didn''t understand.


    "I just wanted to finish the meeting ahead of time."


    "Why?" Li QingYuan became even more puzzled.


    "I want to go back to S City." Su Hang said, "Tomorrow will still go ahead as nned, just talk with Fang Yu."


    "You''re putting me in charge?" Li QingYuan was shocked.


    Su Hang ignored his question and turned towards Fang Yu. "I''m going to head to the airport now, help me book the earliest flight you can get."


    "Yes, Boss." Fang Yu immediately nodded.


    "Ah¡­" Li QingYuan wanted to ask him why he suddenly wanted to go back. But before he could even blink, Su Hang was already in a taxi and was speeding away. He could only turn to Fang Yu in amazement. "Do you know why he''s such in a hurry to go back?"


    Fang Yu shrugged, indicating his confusion.


    ==


    By 7:00 p.m., Shen Xi had started to cough. Mrs. Zhang looked anxious as she said: "Madam, why don''t I stay the night and take care of you."


    "No, I''m fine." Shen Xi shook her head.


    "¡­You must remember to eat dinner." Mrs. Zheng still looked conflicted.


    "Nn." Shen Xi smiled as she nodded.


    In the end, Mrs. Zheng could only leave in distress.


    Looking at the hot dishes on the table, Shen Xi reluctantly ate half a bowl of rice. Afterward, she put down her chopsticks and left the table to go back to the sofa.


    "Arf!" Seeing Shen Xi, Chu Wu gave a gentle cry.


    "Are you worried about me?" Shen Xi rubbed Chu Wu''s head with a smile. "I''m OK."


    "Arf!" Chu Wu gave another soft bark.


    "Why don''t we see a movie together." Shen Xi took the iPad from the tea table and started a movie to watch together.


    Maybe the cold medicine finally worked, or maybe she was just tired. Halfway through the movie, Shen Xi slowly fell asleep. Chu Wuy by Shen Xi''s feet, silently guarding her.


    About ten minutester, a taxi that had been speeding from the airport stopped outside the vi.

 Chapter 9

    When he flew back from HK, Su Hang didn''t bring anything with him except for the clothes on his back and the items in his suitcase. He came back in a great hurry. Su Hang just wanted to go home and see Shen Xi. But now that he was standing in front of their familiar gate, looking at the lighting out from the windows, he suddenly felt a little timid.


    The lights were still on. Was Shen Xi still up? She would probably be surprised to see him. Or will she ask him why he came back all of a sudden? How should he answer?


    But no matter how anxious and uneasy he felt, his need to see Shen Xi right this instant surpassed all his misgivings. Su Hang took out his keys and opened the front door.


    In the warm living room, Shen Xi was soundly asleep on the sofa. But Chu Wu, who had been lying next to her, suddenly pricked up his ears.


    Click.


    Hearing the sound of the door opening, Chu Wu leaped up from the sofa and walked a few steps towards the door, his eyes alert. With his hind legs bent, Chu Wu growled low. But when the front door finally opened, Chu Wu smelled the familiar scent of Su Hang, and his eyes became peaceful. He began to pant softly, and his tail started to sway back and forth.


    As Su Hang closed the front door, he saw Chu Wu wagging his tail happily. Following the sound of the unfinished movie, they both slowly walked towards the sofa. There, Su Hang saw Shen Xi wrapped in a beige nket, sleeping soundly.


    Shen Xi seemed to be sleeping very well. His cheeks were tinged with a faint red, and her soft hair was hanging down her face. It rose and fell every time Shen Xi took a breath. Su Hang squatted down and reached out to help lift her hair off her face. It was just that his fingers were too cold. Just as they touched Shen Xi''s cheek, she murmured out ufortably.


    Su Hang quickly pulled back his hand, thinking that Shen Xi was waking up. He looked at her, nervous, but after waiting a while, Shen Xi didn''t wake and continued to sleep quietly. The tense Su Hang gradually rxed, then thought about the heat he felt when he had briefly touched Shen Xi. He became worried.


    Did she have a fever? Su Hang wanted to reach out again and try to feel Shen Xi''s forehead, but he was afraid that he might wake her. Su Hang got up in a hurry and went to fetch the medicine box. He opened it and took out an infrared thermometer. He tested Shen Xi and saw that her temperature was normal. Su Hang sighed in relief.


    He put down the thermometer, then bent down. After securing the nket wrapped around Shen Xi, Su Hang picked her up and slowly walked up the stairs.


    "Woo??" Seeing Father suddenly take Mother away, Chu Wu made a confused sound. But in the end, he obedientlyid back down on the carpet.


    Su Hang gently ced Shen Xi on the master bed. He pulled the quilt up to cover her properly, then sat on the bed, dazedly staring at Shen Xi''s sleeping figure like a fool.


    He didn''t know how long he sat there in the dim light, but Su Hang startled when Shen Xi''s body turned towards him, causing one of her hands to emerge from the quilt.


    Su Hang was afraid that she might get cold, so he reached for Shen Xi''s exposed hand, wanting to put it back under the quilt again. But just as Su Hang was about to touch her, he hesitated. His gaze fell to Shen Xi''s slender fingers. Therey the wedding ring he put on her himself.


    As if possessed, Su Hang raised his left hand and gently ced it beside Shin Xi''s.


    It was a picture he''s seen before. It looked exactly like a poster he had happened to pass- two hands, a pair of wedding rings. Beautiful and harmonious.


    Su Hang''s fingers moved until they touched Shen Xi''s. Carefully at first, before bing bolder. Greedy, Su Hang moved his hand until it rested below Shen Xi''s open hand. Then, he lowered his head, giving the back of Shen Xi''s hand a soft kiss.


    When Su Hang came back downstairs, the warmth of Shen Xi''s hand still lingered on his lips.


    When Chu Wu saw his fathere back down, he stood up again, his tail wagging.


    Su Hang bent down and gently rubbed Chu Wu''s head. With a big smile, he said: "Chu Wu, did you apany Mother the whole day?"


    Chu Wu didn''t understand his father''s words, but he knew he was being praised, so his tail wagging cheerfully sped up.


    "Good Boy!" Su Hang eximed.


    Chu Wu merrily wagged his tail.


    Su Hang patted Chu Wu for a few more minutes before finally going to his room to rest.


    After a good night''s sleep, Shen Xi woke up and habitually looked around for her phone. But after searching her bed, she couldn''t find it. Puzzled, Shen Xi eventually gave up and left the room.


    "Madam, you''re awake." Mrs. Zhang saw Shen Xi walk downstairs and concerned, asked her: "Is your cold better yet?"


    "I''m feeling much better." When Shen Xi woke up this morning, she felt normal. It seems that yesterday''s medicine worked.


    "I still hear a little hoarseness in your voice. Why''d you wear so little? Quickly put this on." Mrs. Zhang picked up the shawl Shen Xi had left on the sofast night, and helped her put it on.


    "Thank you." Shen Xi said.


    "Take a seat first, Madam. I''ll go and heat up some breakfast for you." Mrs. Zhang nodded, then went to the kitchen.


    Shen Xi sat on the sofa, her gaze casually sweeping across the coffee table. Noticing her iPad,st night''s memories started toe back to her. Shen Xi vaguely remembered watching a movie with Chu Wust night, drinking some more medicine, then getting sleepy.


    So howe she woke up in her bedroom?


    "Madam,e and eat breakfast." Finished, Mrs. Zhang shouted out.


    Shen Xi put her doubts aside and walked to the dining table. Looking at the sumptuous breakfast spread on the table, Shen Xi said: "Mrs. Zhang, you don''t need to prepare so much next time, I don''t think I can finish this."


    "Oh, how can two people not finish that?" As she spoke, Mrs. Zhang took out two clean dishes and ced them on both sides of the table.


    "Su Hang is back?" Shen Xi asked as she looked at the two bowls and two pairs of chopsticks on the table.


    "Yes. It seems that he came backst night." Mrs. Zhang replied with a smile.


    "Where is he then?" Shen Xi looked around the room.


    "ying outside with Chu Wu." Mrs. Zhang answered. "Sir said he would wait for you to get up first, then eat breakfast together. I''ll go get him now."


    Shen Xi watched Mrs. Zhang leave towards the backyard. She had just been wondering how she had gotten to bed, and now it seems she had her answer.


    "Woof, woof, woof!"


    Chu Wu ran in the kitchen, past the table and chairs, to circle around Shen Xi. As he went round and round, Shen Xi couldn''t help butugh, finding the dog to be extremely cute.


    "Morning." Su Hang, dressed in sportswear, pulled out the chair opposite Shen Xi and sat down.


    "Morning." Shen Xi greeted him back and sat down.


    After saying their greetings, Su Hang looked down and busied himself in his food. Shen Xi ate two mouthfuls of porridge, poked at the bottom of the bowl with her spoon, then broke the silence. "When did youe back?"


    "Last night." Su Hang replied.


    "Thank you."


    Shen Xi suddenly thanked Su Hang. He was surprised at her sudden thanks and looked up, puzzled.


    "You carried me upst night. Thank you." Shen Xi thanked him again.


    Shen Xi''s mouth curved, and her beautiful eyes twinkled, causing Su Hang''s heart to itch.


    "In the future¡­don''t sleep in the living room." Su Hang bowed his head, his words of concern bing a little blunt due to his bewilderment. Realizing his tone wasn''t very good, Su Hang couldn''t help but panic.


    "Uh¡­" Shen Xi blinked, a little stunned. It took a while for her to reply. "Alright."


    "I didn''t mean it like that." Su Hang quickly tried to rify.


    "I know. You''re just concerned about me." Shen Xi looked at the obviously panicked Su Hang trying to exin. For some reason, Shen Xi found it funny and couldn''t help chuckling.


    Su Hang was stunned, then lowered his head. He awkwardly continued to eat.


    "By the way, why are you back so soon?" Shen Xi asked.


    Ah, she asked.


    "Things were going better than expected, so I came home ahead of time." This was the answer Su Hang hade up with just this morning.


    "Oh." It seems that she just couldn''t find a good topic to talk about. Shen Xi bit her lip, a little discouraged, and went back to eating.


    And so breakfast still ended in silence as usual. After breakfast, Shen Xi and Chu Wu sat in the living room to y, while Su Hang went into his study to work. This continued until 10 o''clock, when Mrs. Zhang gave Shen Xi a ss of water and some cold medicine.


    Shen Xi epted the cold medicine and realized that colds were contagious. She said: "Mrs. Zhang, please give my husband a cup of indigowoad root.


    (T/N: one of those healthy, nourishing nts)


    "Madam, are you afraid you might pass your cold on to Sir?" Mrs. Zhang asked with a smile.


    Shen Xi awkwardly smiled back and replied: "Please make yourself a cup too, so you don''t catch it."


    Mrs. Zhangughed merrily and left to make the drink. Soon, Mrs. Zhang came back to Shen Xi with a cup and at her confused stare, replied: "I''m not allowed in Sir''s study."


    Not even waiting for Shen Xi to reply, Mrs. Zhang put down the cup and went back into the kitchen to clean up.


    Shen Xi opened her mouth, then looked down at the steaming cup on the coffee table. In the end, she helplessly sighed and epted her fate.


    Knock knock.


    Su Hang, who had been talking to Li QingYuan via video call, signaled Li QingYuan to stop for a bit. He looked towards the door, and expectant, said: "Pleasee in."


    The door was quietly pushed open, revealing Shen Xi, who was wearing a casual white sweater. Su Hang especially liked what Shen Xi was wearing today. It looked very warm andfortable.


    "I hope I didn''t disturb you." Shen Xi whispered.


    "No." Su Hang stood up and asked: "What can I do for you?"


    "Well¡­" Shen Xi walked up to Su Hang and put down a cup on his desk. Under Su Hang''s surprised eyes, she exined: "It''s indigowoad tea. It can prevent colds. Just remember to drink some, I won''t bother you anymore."


    After saying this, Shen Xi turned, intending to leave the study.


    Watching Shen Xi''s figure disappearing behind the door, Su Hang''s expression became gentle. He took the cup and stared at it for a long time.


    "If you don''t drink that soon, it''s going to get cold." Suddenly, Li QingYuan''s unpleasant voice rang out from hisptop.


    Su Hang returned to his senses and sat back down on his chair.


    "That saw Shen Xi just now? She sounded like she had a cold. So you frantically rushed back home because she had a cold." Li QingYuan guessed. "And she gave you some indigowoad tea. I guess she''s afraid she might infect you?"


    "Back to the contract details." Su Hang ignored Li QingYuan''s teasing tone.


    "Didn''t I just tell you? The CEO wanted to talk to you directly." Li QingYuan replied.


    "Talk to him one more time. If he doesn''t agree, then just abandon the co-operation ns." Su Hang said directly. Then, without waiting for Li QingYuan''s reply, he promptly closed hisptop.


    Su Hang focused on the steaming cup in front of him, a smile slowly forming on his face.

 Chapter 10

    ***


    Su Hang had been back from HK for two or three days already, but he stayed holed up in his study the entire time, barring mealtimes. This made Shen Xi very confused. If he was going to be so busy anyway, why doesn''t he go to work in thepany?


    So after breakfast that day, seeing Su Hang head for his study again, Shen Xi couldn''t help but ask: "Is your work particrly busy right now?"


    "It''s not that bad." After a brief pause, Su Hang replied.


    "I feel like you''ve been in your study all day for the past few days. Wouldn''t it be better if you go to thepany if things are this busy?"


    "It''s tolerable." Su Hang sounded like he had been wronged.


    "Er¡­"


    "There''s no need to go to thepany." Su Hang stubbornly said.


    Shen Xi was startled as she looked at Su Hang. She wasn''t sure if she had hallucinated it, but she swore that Su Hang''s eyes looked just like Chu Wu for a second there.


    "Alright." For some reason, an unprovoked sense of guilt rose from Shen Xi''s heart. She felt like she had just bullied someone just now.


    Su Hang pursed his lips as he awkwardly stood there. He had intended to go to his study, but after Shen Xi''s words, he didn''t want to go anymore. He looked at Shen Xi, who looked more than a little confused, and suddenly felt fed up with himself. Why is it that he couldn''t speak properly when it came to Shen Xi?


    Fortunately, today''s Shen Xi was a Shen Xi who had been reborn. She was someone who had lived with Su Hang for five years already. This extremely awkward conversation wasn''t anything new to her. In the past, Shen Xi would silently walk away whenever she encountered this kind of situation, but now, Shen Xi wanted to change get along with Su Hang. So she raised her head and asked him: "Are you free this afternoon?"


    "Huh?" Su Hang looked at Shen Xi in confusion.


    "Are you free this afternoon?" Shen Xi repeated with a smile.


    "Yes." Su Hang nodded his head with certainty. That is, even if he wasn''t, he''d make it so that he was free. This was something Su Hang conveniently left out.


    "Mrs. Zhang reminded me this morning that all the gifts we received on our wedding are still piled up and unopened in the upstairs guest room." Shen Xi said. "If you have some timeter, let''s go have a look so Mrs. Zhang can clean up."


    "Alright." Su Hang nodded.


    "We can do it after lunch." Shen Xi suggested.


    "Nn." When Su Hang turned around to leave, there was a faint smile on his lips.


    When Mrs. Zhang came out of the kitchen with a rag in her hand, she happened to see Su Hang, who was heading to his study. She was about to say hello, but Su Hang nodded to her first. A surprised Mrs. Zhang walked to the dining table and started tidying up. While she did so, she couldn''t help but chat with Shen Xi. "Sir looks very happy today."


    "Oh?" Shen Xi casuallymented as her gaze drifted towards the direction of the study.


    "Yes, I just saw him smiling. I''ve been here for more than a year, but I''ve only ever seen him smile twice." Mrs. Zhang replied.


    "When was the other time?" Shen Xi asked.


    "It was on your wedding day. That morning, Sir had a smile on, the entire time." Mrs. Zhang answered.


    Shen Xi looked down at the ring on her hand, her expression thoughtful.


    Meanwhile, a certain someone who imed he was busy with work was currently leaning on his chair with a silly expression, hisputer not even turned on. After a while, his smile twisted, and with a wrinkled brow and annoyed expression, he dropped his head and hit his desk with a m.


    "Su Hang, what are you going to do? You need to get a hold of yourself." The angel and demon sitting on Su Hang''s shoulders began to fight.


    "You''re married now, she''s your wife. Such thoughts are normal." The devil seduced.


    "But didn''t you marry her to help her? You shouldn''t take advantage of the situation." The angel warned.


    "Then why didn''t you make it clear that this is nothing but a fake marriage? That you''d just wait for the Shen Group to recover, then divorce her?" The devil replied. "You didn''t exin because you selfishly desire more."


    "But Shen Xi doesn''t like you. Didn''t you know this from the start?" The angel argued. "Are you really capable of forcing Shen Xi?"


    "She agreed to marry you even when she didn''t need to. She agreed to ept you. And isn''t she being kind to you? Maybe she likes you too?" The devil said.


    "Oh, well, if Shen Xi likes you, then there''s no issue." Surprisingly, the angel and demon hade to an agreement.


    Su Hang hit the desk with his head again. He knew that the longer he stayed with Shen Xi, the more his selfishness would grow. He would eventually lose control.


    These past few days they spent living together, Shen Xi kept bombarding him with her kindness. She smiled at him, talked to him, and cared for him. All this made Su Hang delusional. He couldn''t help thinking that maybe Shen Xi liked him.


    How can he have such a ridiculous thought? He knew that Shen Xi was like this because of her upbringing. She was a kind and polite person ever since she was a child. How can he not be aware of this?


    He had been brought back into the Su Family when he turned 18. In this so-called upper-ss environment, none of his peers thought much of Su Hang, so he never had any friends. Because no matter how hard one worked, or how great they became, these so-called ''real'' noble families would still look down on a person just because of the circumstances of their birth.


    Su Hang still remembered the first time he saw Shen Xi after studying abroad. Shen Xi had been wearing a pink dress, and was sitting on a sofa as she chatted with a Miss from the Yun family. Countless young men would approach Shen Xi and invite her to dance. And every time, she would politely refuse them, one by one.


    Su BoNian had noticed him staring. Even today, Su Hang still remembered what Su BoNian had said to him in perfect rity. Su BoNian had said: "That''s Shen Xi, part of the Shen family. Most of the most famous families in City S are gathered here tonight, so your future wife is likely one of these little girls."


    Su Hang turned his head to look at Su BoNian.


    "But don''t even think about Shen Xi. Shen HeChuan would never let his baby girl marry an illegitimate son who grew up in an orphanage." Su BoNian said.


    Su Hang knew he wasn''t an illegitimate child. It was just because the marriage between his mother and Su BoNian hadn''t been recognized by these so-called elites that he wasbeled so. It was ridiculous.


    But when Su Hang took control of Su Group and pressured thepany shareholders to rescue the failing Shen Group, Su BoNianughed. "You look just like me when I went against my grandfather. But this won''t end well. You know this."


    "Do you think that if you marry Shen Xi, you''ll get what you want?" Su BoNian said. "Girls like Shen Xi are proud, down to their very bones. If you marry her this way, she won''t appreciate you, much less like you. She''ll just think you''re some toad trying to eat swan meat. She''ll think you forced her to do this, and will probably hate you."


    "You should''ve waited for her to fall even lower, and let reality crush her pride." Su BoNian suggested. "When that happens, she''ll willingly attach herself to you."


    "I''m not like you." Su Hang coldly answered his father. "Your cowardice made my mother''s life miserable, but I would never hurt Shen Xi."


    Su BoNian no longer spoke. Instead, he smiled meaningfully, as if he knew that tragedy was inevitable.


    Deep down, Su Hang knew that while his father''s words were cruel, they were justified. Shen Xi would despise him. Su Hang understood this. Although Shen Xi agreed to marry him for the sake of her family, emotionally, she would be 10,000% unwilling and would be unhappy.


    From the very start, Su Hang had been very reluctant to hurt Shen Xi this way. Although he would have the right to do so, he didn''t want to pressure Shen Xi into anything. So even before they got married, Su Hang had already nned to refrain from being a real couple with Shen Xi, and would instead focus on helping Shen Group recover. But in the end, he never told Shen Xi of his intentions. When Shen Xi walked towards him under a white veil, when they kissed by the altar, greed and delusion grew in his heart.


    What if, he thought. What if Shen Xi could graduallye to like him?


    Su Hang decided to keep his ns to himself. He wouldn''t force Shen Xi, nor would he tell her. He''ll give her time. Maybe one day, she would ept him.


    But now Su Hang was a little scared. The longer he got along with Shen Xi, the more he felt his control slipping. Every time Shen Xi smiled at him, Su Hang wanted to run over and kiss her. He was afraid that if things go on like this, he would snap, run into Shen Xi''s room one night and force himself onto her. After all, they were husband and wife, weren''t they?


    He let Mrs. Zhang go home every night, leaving them alone. Wasn''t this because he had such terrible intentions?


    The more he thought about it, the more fidgety Su Hang became. He felt like someone possessed. In the end, he continued to bang his head against the desk until he calmed down.


    At lunch, Shen Xi was shocked when she saw Su Hang at the table. She pointed towards his swollen forehead and anxiously asked: "Are you alright? Did you hit a wall?"


    "Ah?" Su Hang covered his forehead and replied: "I just wasn''t paying attention, it doesn''t matter¡­"


    "But why is it so swollen?"


    "It''s nothing, I¡­" As he said this, Shen Xi suddenly walked towards him, causing Su Hang to freeze.


    "Mrs. Zhang, please help me get the medicine box." Shen Xi suddenly reached out and touched Su Hang''s forehead checking it carefully.


    Shen Xi took out a can of medicine spray from the box. She gingerly stroked the red skin while she sprayed some of the medicine. Still worried, Shen Xi said: "It''s so swollen¡­let''s see if the anti-inmmatory spray works. If it''s still looking bad in a few hours, we can try a hotpress."


    Su Hang''s eyes narrowed as he felt Shen Xi''s soft fingers on his skin. He could hear the concern in her voice, and her fragrance lingered at his nose.


    The woman that he loved was standing so close to him. She was worried about him and talked so tenderly. As her fingers quivered against his forehead, his delusions forcefully came back to the front of his mind. Like a hungry beast, it frantically pulled at the shackles that held it down as it growled at him:


    ''What are you waiting for? Aren''t you married already? You have the right to take what''s yours. Don''t shut me up and let me out.''

 Chapter 11

    ****


    In the guest room on the second floor.


    Shen Xi stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by presents. She was surprised at the number of gifts around her and said, "We received so many gifts."


    Su Hang leaned against the door frame and looked at all the gift boxes in the room. He became surprised when he saw Shen Xi''s smiling face, and tentatively asked: "Do you like them?"


    "Of course I like them. Anyone would be happy to receive a gift." Shen Xi said with a chuckle.


    Hearing this, Su Hang''s rigid face gradually softened.


    These wedding gifts have been piled in this room for nearly a week. Su Hang had very few friends, so most of the presents were from Shen Xi''s family and friends. But ever since they got married, Shen Xi hadn''t asked about them once. He had figured that it was because Shen Xi felt bitter against their marriage, so these presents were also seen in an unfavorable light. Now that Shen Xi suddenly said that she liked these gifts, Su Hang had a thought that maybe she wasn''t that bitter about their marriage.


    "There aren''t a lot of presents with cards. I guess we''ll only find out who the sender is after opening them." Shen Xi picked up a few boxes and looked over them.


    "Un." This time, Su Hang walked over and picked up a gift too.


    "It looks like this is going to take a while." Shen Xi looked around and saw that even the desk and chairs were full of presents, and there was no ce to sit. So, in the end, she sat on the carpet and leaned on the foot of the bed. She picked up a pink gift box and unwrapped it.


    Shen Xi ripped the packaging, revealing a ck jewelry box inside. She opened the box and took out the card inside. "It''s a pair of diamond earrings from Amy. It''s gorgeous."


    Shen Xi turned the box, intending to show the newly received diamond earrings to Su Hang as she spoke. When she lifted her head, she found Su Hang squatting in front of her with a pillow in his hand, and was leaning towards her.


    "It''s beautiful." Su Hang noticed Shen Xi''s body slightly retreat because of his close proximity, and his eyes darkened. He handed the pillow to Shen Xi and said: "The ground is cold."


    "Ah? Oh." Shen Xi was surprised and took a while to react. She then put down the diamond earrings she was holding and epted the pillow from Su Hang.


    After Shen Xi took the pillow, Su Hang took a step back. He then sat on the ground like Shen Xi and helped her open the gifts.


    Shen Xi put the pillow beneath her and thought that it was a lot morefortable than sitting on the carpet. She looked at Su Hang, who was looking through a gift. Blushing, Shen Xi happily said: "Thank you."


    "This is a jade bracelet from Song Zong of HaoYuan Technology." Su Hang didn''t say anything else, and just handed the gift he had opened to Shen Xi.


    "Oh, that can be put up in a charity sale someday." Shen Xi took the gift box.


    "Un." Su Hang nodded, his mindset being ''I don''t have an opinion, whatever you decide is good.'' He then picked up another gift to open.


    Shen Xi secretly nced at Su Hang and saw that he seemingly didn''t react to what she had just said. Feeling somewhat disappointed, she bowed her head and concentrated on opening another gift.


    Su Hang didn''t care about the actual gifts but instead wanted to look at the cards. Honestly, the words written in the cards were pretty much the same. They were all blessings along the lines of ''may you live a long and happy life together,'' or ''wishing you to have a child soon'' and so on. But Su Hang liked these standard greetings very much. He patiently read every single one, each card touching his heart.


    Every time he opened a gift, there would be a card that would say: ''I wish Su Hang and Shen Xi a wonderful wedding, may you live a long and happy life, may you give birth to a child soon.'' And his mood would lift, as if the more these words were said, the more they coulde true.


    "Huh¡­this one''s a notebook? And there''s a password lock." Shen Xi looked at the item doubtfully.


    "What''s the matter?" Su Hang raised his head at her voice.


    "Li QingYuan sent us a notebook with abination lock on it." Shen Xi lifted the notebook.


    "Let me see."


    Su Hang epted the notebook, the words Li QingYuan had said during the weddinging back to him. ''I originally wanted to give you a guidebook that details all the sweet words and endearments you could say to her, but I thought that might not be enough, so I spent a whole week picking out the best words that my brother had tested himself and wrote them all down. My gift is handmade and full of sincerity, so remember to read it, ah. The code is your anniversary.''


    "Do you know the password?" Shen Xi asked Su Hang, curious.


    "I don''t know. I''ll ask him next time." Su Hang replied without blinking an eye.


    "Oh." Shen Xi didn''t pursue it any further, and simply grabbed another gift to open. Soon, most of the smaller gifts around Shen Xi were opened, and only therger ones were left. Shen Xi opened a few of them and found that they were small and valuable antiques. Shen Xi wasn''t really an antique lover, and neither was Su Hang, so she nned to give them to any future charity sales she woulde across.


    "This one''s Miss Yun''s gift." Su Hang unwrapped another gift and found it to be from Yun Shu. He knew that Yun Shu was Shen Xi''s best friend, so he didn''t open the box and handed it to Shen Xi directly.


    Shen Xi became curious when she heard it was from Yun Shu. She hadn''t been in the best of moods when she got married in herst life, so she had never opened any of the gifts. Later on, she gradually forgot that they even existed. It seems that Su Hang eventually dealt with them, but as to how exactly he did it, Shen Xi didn''t much care, so naturally, she didn''t know.


    Shen Xi epted the box and opened it, only to find two white t-shirts, with an over-the-top viinous-looking chibi printed on the shirts.


    (T/N: the original text trantes to a ''FaceQ'' which is simr to a Mii creator for Nintendo, or those simple icon/character/face creator apps)


    This cartoon character vaguely looked like her, and at a nce, Shen Xi could tell that it was personally drawn by Yun Shu. After all, this style was exactly the same as Yun Shu''s drawing style during high-school. Shen Xi happily picked up a shirt and showed it to Su Hang: "Look, look, Yun Shu drew me. Does it resemble me?"


    Su Hang lifted his head and made eye-contact with the character on the shirt. His eyes narrowed, and his face looked somewhat unnatural.


    "What''s wrong?" Shen Xi saw that his expression looked weird, so she turned the shirt towards her. When she saw the entire shirt, her face turned red with embarrassment. It turns out that while the t-shirt was folded in the box, the entire graphic on the shirt wasn''t visible. There was a line of words underneath the chibi Shen Xi that said:


    [Su Hang, if you dare treat me badly, you''re dead!]


    "T-this, this must be some prank Yun Shu is trying to pull¡­ignore all this, ah." Shen Xi hurriedly put the t-shirt back in its box.


    As Shen Xi tried to close the box, Su Hang reached out and took out the other t-shirt in the box. The one Shen Xi showed him was a women''s shirt, so the other one must be his. He unfurled the shirt and saw a cartoon character that looked like him, with hearts in his eyes. Underneath the chibi were the words:


    [Shen Xi, I will always love you.]


    "Er¡­" Shen Xi looked at the calm Su Hang, who was still looking at this silly shirt and felt cold sweat on her back. She quickly tried to exin: "Don''t mind all this, Yun Shu just likes to joke around."


    "Oh." Su Hang nodded his head to show that he understood. Then he folded the shirt and hid it behind him.


    "¡­" Shen Xi blinked, then blinked again, wondering whether she should exin to him that hiding something so tantly was pretty embarrassing.


    Su Hang''s expression went taut, and after being stared at by Shen Xi for ten seconds, he finally lowered his head and said in a muffled voice: "It was for me."


    "What?" Shen Xi didn''t understand.


    "It was for men." Su Hang''s voice sounded obstinate, as if he was a brave man facing the most torturous of interrogations.


    "I see." Shen Xi took back her gaze and lowered her head to close the box that contained the women''s shirt. She then absently began to open another gift. The image of Su Hang hiding the shirt behind him and then pretending like nothing had happened kept repeating in her mind. As she thought about it, She Xi couldn''t resist the smile the blossomed on her face.


    If she had opened presents with Su Hang like this in herst life, would she have found out what Su Hang was actually like?


    Su Hang kept his head lowered, and didn''t dare look at Shen Xi. His ears were already quite red, and he was quite worried. Was Shen Xi angry because of what he just did? He hadn''t been thinking, and grabbed the shirt in reflex.


    Su Hang continued to open the gifts around him, and soon unwrapped a pair of matching watches, one for men and one for women. Su Hang handed the women''s watch to Shen Xi and said in a matter-of-fact tone: "One of the gifts was a pair of matching watches. Here''s the women''s watch."


    Shen Xi looked at Su Hang very seriously and epted the watching, thanking him as she did so.


    Su Hang immediately regretted his actions after letting the watch go. He felt like he was being stupid. Wasn''t the fact that he was trying to cover things up made it all the more conspicuous? Su Hang felt that he couldn''t stay any longer. With his left hand holding his watch, and his right hand clutching the white shirt, Su Hang hurriedly said: "I-I just remembered a few more things I needed to deal with today. I''ll be going first I need to get back to my study."


    "Oh, alright."


    As Shen Xi nodded, Su Hang had already rushed out of the guest room and was running downstairs.


    Shen Xi heard his hurried footsteps as he fled down the stairs. She couldn''t hold it in anymore and burst outughing.


    Su Hang ran all the way back to his study. He went through the door, m it closed, then leaned against the door. After a full five minutes of self-loathing, he excitedly unfolded the somewhat wrinkled shirt that he had practically stolen.


    Without much thought, he took off his coat and put the silly white shirt on. He then stared at his reflection on a nearby mirror for a long while.


    Su Hang felt that if he wore this shirt, the cartoon version of him would be given some sort of life.


    That the sentence ''Shen Xi, I will always love you'' would somehowe to life.


    Because it was something Su Hang had always thought, and something he always wanted to say, but never dared to.

 Chapter 12

    ***


    S Municipal Airport


    Li QingYuan and Fang Yu were dragging suitcases behind them as they walked.


    "Mr. Li, you really aren''t going to go to thepany?" Fang Yu couldn''t help but ask again.


    "No, I''m going home. I need to sleep." After the kind of business trip he just had, Li QingYuan just wanted to go home and rest.


    "But President Su said he was going to hold a meetingter this afternoon to follow-up on the contract." Fang Yu said.


    "That''s your business. I''m just the legal consultant. Once a contract has been settled, my part is pretty much finished." Li QingYuan replied, uncaring.


    "But you heavily participated in the negotiations. I think thepany would very much like to hear your suggestions." Fang Yu continued.


    "Heck, why are you going to the meeting? You didn''t participate in any of the negotiations. You should want to go home just as much as I do." Li QingYuanined. "Man, you''ve been following Su Hang for so many years, I''m amazed that you''re still as bright-eyed as before. With business trips every week, and even more meetings straight after, simply disgraceful, ah."


    "That''s just the job. I rememberst time, the Boss had to go to Country M. A thirteen-hour flight, two nights with no sleep, then the moment wend we had to go to thepany to continue working." Fang Yumented.


    "He even went on a business trip right after getting married, can you believe that guy?" Li QingYuan ridiculed.


    "Er..haha." Fang Yu could only smile awkwardly


    The two soon left the airport and stood around the entrance, waiting for thepany car to arrive.


    Li QingYuan looked down at the Q&H gift bags Fang Yu was carrying. "And you even had to buy a ne for your boss."


    "Yeah." Fang Yu had to concede to that.


    "Give it to me." Li QingYuan casually took the bag from him.


    "Ha?" Fang Yu puzzled.


    "Are you going to pass by his house before heading to thepany?" Li QingYuan asked.


    "Ah?"


    "You should know what he bought it for." Li QingYuan continued.


    Fang Yu silently nodded. After so many years with the Boss, the only way he wouldn''t know was if he was blind.


    "So if you wanna pass it to me, I can directly give it to the Madam¡­."


    Li QingYuan hadn''t even finished his sentence when Fang Yu pushed the bag towards him. Looking very sincere, Fang Yu said: "Mr. Li, I''ll be troubling you."


    "It seems that you also know that your boss is a moron." Li QingYuan said, giving Fang Yu a meaningful nce.


    (T/N: If confused, my take on this is that if they give it to Su Hang, he''s going to take ages/pass it off as someone else''s gift for the wifey. Hence, moron. So before that happens, Li QingYuan ns to give it to Shen Xi and straight up say its from Su Hang.)


    "Mr. Li, the car''s here, I''ll be going first." As the chuckling Fang Yu said this, he quickly ced his suitcase in the trunk, ran and jumped in the car, and rapidly escaped.


    "Hey¡­look at that thief." Li QingYuan looked at the speedily retreating car. He couldn''t help but scoff. In the end, Li QingYuan stopped a taxi and left.


    ==


    After a week of resting, Shen Xi''s cold had finally passed, and Su Hang went back to work at thepany instead of working home.


    After eating lunch, Shen Xi nned to visit one of the coffee shops she managed. Speaking of coffee shops, it would be more urate to say that these stores were Shen Xi''s hobby, rather than her businesses.


    Shen Xi liked to read a lot, but she also felt that reading alone at home was too lonely, while reading in the library was too dull. She liked reading in coffee shops the most. The soft music, the bitter fragrance of coffee, the light chatter of the people around her; it was a very warm andfortable atmosphere.


    So she opened a coffee shop of her own. She decorated her stores based on her tastes and filled it with all her favorite books, sharing them with other people. She didn''t care how much profit the stores made and instead concentrated on keeping the atmosphere quiet and peaceful. There was even a decibel meter on each table, strictly limiting the volume of every guest. It wasn''t really a coffee shop anymore, but more of a personal study.


    After changing clothes, Shen Xi walked downstairs, only to see Mrs. Zhang open the front door. With a smile, Mrs. Zhang turned around and told her: "Madam, Mr. Li is here."


    "Mr. Li? Li QingYuan?" Shen Xi asked.


    "Yes." Mrs. Zhang nodded.


    "I see." Shen Xi looked towards the door, put down her bag, and said, "Please make us some tea."


    As Mrs. Zhang walked towards the kitchen, Li QingYuan entered the house. When he saw Shen Xi standing at the living room nearby, he immediately smiled and enthusiastically shouted: "Sister-inw!"


    Li QingYuan was Su Hang''s best friend and was the only one, out of all his other friends, who had ever called her ''sister-inw.'' During their five years of marriage, Shen Xi had met some of Su Hang''s friends. At first, they would call her sister-inw, but Shen Xi couldn''t get used to it, so Su Hang started telling everyone to just call her by name. They all acquiesced, and in the end, only Li QingYuan persisted in calling her sister-inw.


    "Have a seat." Shen Xi greeted Li QingYuan and offered him to sit down. As he sat down, Mrs. Zhang ced some bubble tea on the coffee table.


    "Are you looking for Su Hang?" Shen Xi asked.


    "Yes, is he home?" Perhaps it was because he had been awyer for a long time now, but Li QingYuan''s lies were typically wless.


    "He went to thepany to work." Shen Xi replied.


    "He went to thepany? I thought he was apanying you at home, ah." Li QingYuan said, pretending to be surprised.


    Shen Xi didn''t say anything, awkwardly smiling instead.


    "I thought he''d be home because he practically ran back from HK. He said that sister-inw was sick, how can he work at a time like this?" Li QingYuan acted overly concerned and asked: "Sister-inw, how''s your body holding up?"


    "He came back because of me?" Shen Xi was surprised.


    "Of course! Su Hang heard you had a cold and hurried back. He even forgot some of his things, so I came here to drop them off." Li QingYuan pushed the Q&H gift bag towards Shen Xi and said: "He bought sister-inw a gift, but because he was in such a hurry, he dropped it at the hotel."


    Shen Xi clumsily epted the gift. She felt the bag looked a little familiar, but she didn''t open in and instead smiled at Li QingYuan. "Thank you foring all this way."


    "It was no trouble, no trouble." Li QingYuan had achieved his goal, so he stood up to leave. "Since I''ve given it back, I''ll be going now."


    "Already? Why not stay for a little longer?"


    "No, my taxi is still waiting for me outside." Li QingYuan replied.


    Hearing that he couldn''t stay, Shen Xi stood up and walked him to the door. Chu Wu, who had been ying in the front yard, saw Li QingYuan and started barking, his tail wagging happily. Li QingYuan gave him a firm rub before entering his taxi.


    As the taxi drove away, the first thing Li QingYuan did was pull out his phone and send Su Hang a message: [Brother, no need to thank me.]


    In his office, the busy Su Hang read the text and sent a perfunctory reply: [Go die!]


    "Hey!" Li QingYuan felt like he just did something charitable, but this Su Hang scolded him instead. Feeling bitter, heined to the taxi driver: "Sir, what would you do if you generously helped a friend, only to be told to go die?"


    "I''d reflect on things."


    "Reflect?"


    "On whether I''m being too nosy." The driver''s answer was very deep.


    "¡­."


    Shen Xi walked back to the living room and looked at the gift bag on the coffee table. She tried to remember where she had seen it before. Back in herst life, Su Hang had also gone on this business trip. Only, he didn''te back early, nor did hee home with this gift. So why this sense of familiarity?


    Shen Xi couldn''t hold back her curiosity and opened the bag. Inside was a blue velvet box, and when she opened it, she saw the sparkling diamond ne inside. Shen Xi finally remembered where she had seen the bag before.


    She did receive this gift in her past life. But she recalled that it wasn''t Su Hang that gave it to her, but an associate of the Su family. Back then, Shen Xi had thought the ne to be too exaggerated and luxurious to wear often, so she auctioned it out in a charity sale soon after.


    So why did she receive this ne from Su Hang this time around? Or was it that during both times it was actually Su Hang that gifted it to her?


    "What a beautiful ne! Mr. Hang gave it to you, right?" Mrs. Zhang''s exmation interrupted Shen Xi''s thoughts.


    "Mrs. Zhang, please help me put the ne away. I''m going out. Shen Xi said.


    "Oh, yes." Mrs. Zhang closed the lid of the gift box, then asked: "Will you be having dinner at home this evening?"


    "Yes, I''ll be back by then."


    Shen Xi''s thoughts were still a little chaotic. She thought back to her past life, to the ne that was probably given to her by Su Hang. She had never worn it even once, and even gave it up for auction. Shen Xi wondered what Su Hang must have felt when he saw her give the ne away.


    Suddenly, Shen Xi had an impulse to see Su Hang and ask him about this face to face. She even managed to drive all the way to the business district. But once she arrived, she calmed down again. How could she just casually go up to Su Hang''s office and ask him things about her past life?


    With a sigh, Shen Xi turned back around and went to her coffee shop that was situated in the same district.


    It was a cat cafe, with 18 cute cats in it. Shen Xi had asked people to pick them up from parks. After giving them baths and the necessary shots, the cats were only brought to the cafe once they had been determined to be safe. White-cor employees that worked in nearby buildings liked visiting and woulde and sit down whenever they had the time. Because of this, business was booming. Even during working hours, there would be customersing in to drink tea, or workersing in to do business.


    "Sister Shen Xi." A shop attendant greeted Shen Xi when she came in.


    "Sister Shen Xi, howe you''re here?" Mi Na, the store manager, walked up to her.


    "I just wanted to check up on the store." Shen Xi replied.


    "Did you want to check up on the store, or your husband?" Mi Na joked, causing the waiter nearby to chuckle.


    They knew that their beautiful boss had recently married the president of the Su Group. And now to be the first of her coffee shops to get inspected, people can''t help but think such things, ah. The Su Grouppany building was nearby after all.


    "Is that how you talk to your boss?" Shen Xi snappily asked.


    "Boss, we just wanted to remind you."


    "Remind me of what?" Shen Xi tilted her head.


    "You got married, but we still hadn''t received any wedding candy." Mi Na eximed. The barista nearby even nodded in agreement.

 Chapter 13

    ***


    Shen Xi, who was holding a very fat cat in her arms, gave Liu Fang a polite smile.


    They sat down on a nearby table.


    "It''s already been a week since your wedding to Su Hang." Liu Fangmented.


    "Ah, yes, about a week." Shen Xi nodded.


    "Really, that child! He finally got married but didn''t even take you out to a honeymoon. He really wronged you." Liu Fang apologetically said.


    "I know he''s busy." Shen Xi replied with a smile.


    "I knew you were a very kind and considerate girl." Liu Fang grabbed Shen Xi''s right hand and held it on top of the table. She then continued: "Thepany really has been busy. After all, we recently took arge sum of money out of it."


    Shen Xi''s expression froze, and her eyes shed towards Liu Fang.


    "Auntie Liu has no other meaning with those words, Little Xi don''t mind me." Liu Fang''s expression turned worried. "I just wanted to exin why Su Hang traveled to HK right after marrying you. The coboration nned with thepany in HK is really important, and there can be no room for error. When Su Hang put forward the idea of helping Shen Group in the shareholders meeting, he was meet with great pressure, you know. You have to try and be understanding."


    "I know. I will treat Su Hang well. Thank you for your concern." Shen Xi pulled her hand out of Liu Fang''s grip and moved it under the table to scratch the chin of the orange cat on herp.


    "Then Auntie Liu is relieved." Liu Fang then asked: "Are you here to see Su Hang today?"


    "No." Shen Xi shook her head. "I opened this coffee shop and just passed by to have a look."


    "Oh?" Liu Fang looked surprised. "I didn''t know Shen family''s daughter knew how to do business. Your coffee shop is quite well-known in the area."


    "I just opened the store for fun. I''m nowhere near as amazing as Aunt Liu." Shen Xi replied.


    "What amazing? I only manage a small part of thepany''s business. It can''t bepared to you. In the future, won''t you be managing the entire Shen Group?" Liu Fang tentatively asked.


    "Ah." Shen Xi shook her head. "I don''t like doing business. Owning this coffee shop isn''t asplicated as it sounds. And my father already told me that if I didn''t want to manage Shen Group, I could ask a professional to do it on my behalf."


    "Hire a director?" Liu Fang was bbergasted.


    "Yes." Shen Xi affirmed. "But I don''t think we''ll do that anymore. In the future, Su Hang will probably help me take care of it instead."


    "You want Su Hang to help you manage Shen Group?"|Liu Fang''s fake smile was starting to crack.


    "Un." Shen Xi gave her a gentle and pure smile.


    Liu Fang looked at Shen Xi''s innocent expression and felt jealousy blooming in her heart. Why are there people in this world that didn''t need to do anything, yet have countless people loving them? They livefortably and happily, all without lifting a finger; they''re so blessed it''s disgusting.


    "Ah, at the shareholder''s meeting, Su Hang did say that the Shen family and Su family were going to be one family in the future. As a matter of fact¡­" Then, as if realizing her mistake, Liu Fang stiffly coughed and changed the subject. "Anyway, you haven''t visited the Su family home for so long. When are you nning oning by? Su Hang''s father hasn''t said anything, but it''s obvious that he''s upset."


    "¡­I''ll ask Su Hang about it tonight." Shen Xi hesitated and didn''t agree to anything.


    "Alright. Then we''ll wait for you two at home." Liu Fang looked down at her watch and said: "It''s getting prettyte, I have to go back to work."


    Shen Xi immediately stood up and carried the fat cat in her arms as she walked Liu Fang to the door.


    Liu Fang had a kind smile as she waved goodbye. But the moment she turned away, her face immediately sank. As she walked back to the Supany building, she was deep in thought. Shen Xi, that silly naive girl, would never actually like that illegitimate bastard Su Hang, right? If Shen Group really did fall into Su Hang''s hands, then there would be no hope for her ns to overthrow him.


    "Chief Liu, President Su wants to convene a meeting to discuss the coboration ns with HK Industrial." Liu Fang''s secretary immediately informed her of the meeting as soon as she entered the building.


    "I see." Liu Fang took the folder her secretary offered her and walked towards the meeting room.


    As she approached the conference doors, she saw Su Hang. Liu Fang gave him a friendly smile and sounding like a concerned elder, asked: "Su Hang, why didn''t you tell me that Little Xi came!"


    Su Hang, who had been about to step inside the conference room, stopped and turned towards Liu Fang.


    "Why didn''t she have lunch with you? I went to a nearby coffee shop for lunch and happened to see Shen Xi there. You should have told me! She was there all alone; people might misunderstand." Liu Fang deliberately said.


    Su Hang looked at Liu Fang coldly. He didn''t say a word, seemingly wanting to hear what it was she could possibly say.


    Liu Fang had been working in the business world for so many years that she naturally wouldn''t feel stage fright when talking to Su Hang. Instead, her solo-performance became even more energetic: "I talked to her for a bit and mentioned visiting the Su family house, but she seemed hesitant. I guess that''s understandable. After all, Little Xi came from a famous family, while your identity is somewhat embarrassing¡­but I''m sure she''ll figure things out soon. After all, you''re so outstanding."


    "Manager Liu." Su Hang turned away and coldly said: "While in thepany, please call my President."


    Liu Fang''s smile turned stiff, and her face turned red with embarrassment.


    "Also, we''re not going back to the Su family house." Su Hang said. "Like you''ve said before, Shen Xi married me, not a Su family member."


    Liu Fang''s expression twisted at his words. But Su Hang ignored her and went inside the meeting room. Fang Yu, who had been listening nearby, was also very angry. He turned towards Liu Fang and rudely said: "Manager Liu, please move, you''re blocking the way."


    Fang Yu knew that as the chairman''s wife, the domineering Manager Liu could never stand to be looked down on by a small secretary.


    And sure enough, Liu Fang was so angry she threw the folder she was holding onto the floor. But nobody was concerned. Everybody knew that Su Hang hadplete control of thepany. Su BoNian might be the chairman, but that was only Su Hang giving him face. Su BoNian had no real power.


    But in the end, Liu Fang''s words still had an effect. Su Hang''s expression was foul during the entire meeting.


    Su Hang knew that Shen Xi owned a cat cafe nearby. When he first started working for thepany, he had encountered many different difficulties and all kinds of harassment. So whenever he was in a bad mood, he would go to Shen Xi''s cafe. He would drink a cup of coffee and imagine that his coffee was made by Shen Xi herself. Sometimes he would take a book from the shelves and read through them, daydreaming that maybe one or two of the books had been read by Shen Xi too. As long as he thought like this, his irritable mood would always disappear.


    In all honesty, Su Hang didn''t really have low self-esteem. It''s just that for some reason, every time he sees Shen Xi, he would always cover himself with mud. He would turn back into that child covered in rags, secretly looking up at the little princess.


    ==


    Meanwhile, Shen Xi was casually looking through the invoices Manager Mi Na had printed out for her. A little surprised, Shen Xi asked: "How can we be selling cat food? And so much of them?"


    Mi Na smiled. "You don''t get it. These white-cor workers are always so stressed, ah. With the pressure of their work mounting more and more, they enjoy are cute cats more and more. They can''t help but want to stuff them silly."


    "So they buy cat food from us?"


    "In the beginning? Of course not. They used to bring in canned food, dried fish, or feed the cats whatever food they ordered from the menu." Mi Na replied. "But cats can get sick from that, so weter restricted people from feeding them. Now, if they want to feed them, they can only buy the cat food in our shop."


    "We sold so much cat food, no wonder our cats have grown fatter." Shen Xiughed.


    "Yep. I also want to buy another batch of cat toys." Mi Na excitedly replied. "It''ll definitely sell."


    "You can decide on such things in your own discretion." Shen Xi returned the invoices to her. Then she suddenly had a thought. "Do any employees from Sue here often?"


    "Oh, yeah." Mi Na suddenly smiled wide. "Even brother-inw used toe here. A lot."


    Shen Xi was surprised. Then blushing, she asked: "A lot?"


    "He used toe here a lot. Nowadays he doesn''t visit as often, but his secretary stilles in to buy coffee. At least twice a day." Mi Na answered.


    "What does he order?" Shen Xi was curious.


    "The overtime standard: ck coffee, no sugar." Mi Na replied.


    Shen Xi frowned, thinking about Su Hang''s weak stomach. She was quiet for a moment, then said to her: "From now on, whenever he orders ck coffee, change it to milk tea.


    "Milk tea?" Mi Na was befuddled. "But we don''t have milk tea here."


    Shen Xi thought for a bit, then stood up and walked over to the bar. When the barista saw here over, they immediately made way. Shen Xi looked around and asked: "Do we have any milk and marshmallows?"


    "Yes." The barista immediately took out the milk and marshmallows.


    Shen Xi took an empty shaker, and poured half a cup of ck tea in it. She then mixed in half a cup of fresh milk, a few drops of coffee and closed the shaker. She shook it well, then poured the drink into a coffee cup. After putting in two or three pieces of marshmallows, Shen Xi put the lid on. One order of delicious milk tea, finished. Shen Xi put the finished product in front of Mi Na and said: "Give it to himter."


    "Sure, no problem. Little Lei,e and deliver the takeout!" Mi Na''s eyes were bright and she immediately yelled for their college student part-timer.


    "Manager?" Little Lei ran over and asked: "Where am I delivering it to?"


    "Su Company, the president''s office. The Boss made it herself." Mi Na nced at Shen Xi as she passed the cup over to their part-timer.


    "I''ll go now!" Little Lei immediately understood. He took off his apron, then walked away with the cup in his hands.


    Shen Xi had no time to react to what was happening in front of her. After a while, she managed to shout out: "You¡­wait a minute!"


    ==


    At the end of the meeting, Su Hang calmly walked out of the conference room and returned to his office. When he approached his desk, he saw a familiar coffee cup with an unfamiliar note attached to it.


    [I visited my coffee shop today. I''ll wait for you, so after you finish work let''s go back together. ¡ª Shen Xi]


    Su Hang''s dark pupils shed, and with trembling fingers, he picked up the cup.


    Meanwhile, Fang Yu entered the secretarial office, smelled the aroma of coffee, and saw the familiar cup on the table. He couldn''t help but praise the person nearby. "Perfect timing with the coffee. The Boss is in such a bad mood right now. He''s experiencing a great kitty coffee deficiency."


    "We didn''t buy it. It''s from the Boss''s wife." Secretary Lilith answered with a smile.


    "The Madame?" Fang Yu jaw dropped, surprised.


    Fang Yu hadn''t even closed his mouth yet when the door to the President''s office suddenly opened. Su Hang walked out, all dressed up. He turned to Fang Yu and said: "I''m leaving first, there''s something I have to do."


    Su Hang quickly left without waiting for Fang Yu to answer. It took his entire self-restraint to not start running. He walked out of the building, crossed the road, and eventually stood in front of a coffee shop. Su Hang looked through the ss window, at Shen Xi''s beautiful profile. He didn''t dare step inside.


    Shen Xi turned and saw him. Leaving her store, she gave him a small smile. "You''re off-duty?"


    "Un." Su Hang replied with a wooden expression.


    "Then¡­let''s go home."

 Chapter 14

    ***


    As the car slowly stopped in front of the vi door, the sound was heard all the way from the living room by Chu Wu. Excited, Chu Wu ran outside and pawed at the ss window of the passenger door.


    Shen Xi had no choice but to knock on the window, before gently opening the car door a crack to show Chu Wu that she was going to get out of the car. She was afraid of knocking onto Chu Wu if she opened the door all the way.


    Chu Wu was very clever. As soon as the passenger door opened, Chu Wu moved back, his tail still wagging. When Shen Xi got out of the car, he jumped towards her. She Xi rubbed Chu Wu all over before turning towards Su Hang, who had walked towards her side. "He seems to like me."


    Su Hang looked at Chu Wu, who was drilling his head into Shen Xi''s arms. His mouth subconsciously pursed. Su Hang bent down and pulled at Chu Wu''s cor to drag him out of Shen Xi''s arms.


    "Take it easy." Shen Xi couldn''t help but say when she saw Su Hang drag Chu Wu a little roughly.


    "¡­" Su Hang looked down at the silly dog happily panting with his tongue out. Suddenly, Su Hang felt a little regretful that he hadn''t sent Chu Wu away. The two entered the house and walked to the living room.


    Hearing noises outside, Mrs. Zhang came out of the kitchen. She was very pleased to see Shen Xi and Su Hange back home together. It turns out that the wife went out to pick up the husband. This morning someone gave the Madam a gift from Sir, andter the Madam ran over to pick up Sir from work. How kind. It seems that Sir will move out of the guest room soon. Mrs. Zhang smiled. "Madam and Sir came back early today, so I''ll go prepare dinner early." After saying this, she hurried back to the kitchen.


    After Mrs. Zhang left, Shen Xi said: "Continue to y with Chu Wu, I''m just going to change my clothes."


    Su Hang nodded. As Shen Xi walked upstairs, Su Hang immediately locked Chu Wu in his kennel.


    "Arf, arf, arf¡­" Chu Wu looked at his father, hurt. Howe his father immediately locked his baby up when he came back?


    "Silly dog!" Su Hang coldly turned away and left.


    Chu Wu walked twops around the kennel and found that his father wasn''t going to y with him today. After grumbling a bit, hey down on the ground.


    During the spring and autumn months, Shen Xi liked to wear loose andfortable sweaters, especially at home. Casual pants and light-colored sweaters were almost always her preferred choice. After Shen Xi changed her clothes, she noticed the Q&H jewelry box on the dresser. After thinking for a moment, she reached for the box and walked downstairs.


    Su Hang changed his clothes and had juste out of the guest room when he saw Shen Xiing back down. He saw what Shen Xi was wearing and lifted a hand to touch his own sweater. It was the same color as hers. His heart started to thump happily.


    Shen Xi didn''t respond to her and Su Hang''s idental ''matching clothes''. Clutching the jewelry box, she went to the sofa and sat down. "Li QingYuan came looking for you this morning."


    Su Hang frowned. This morning? Li QingYuan should''ve known that he would be in thepany. Why would hee to the vi?


    "Did he say anything?" Su Hang carefully asked.


    Shen Xi looked at the calm Su Hang and gently put the jewelry box on the coffee table, pushing it towards Su Hang''s direction.


    "¡­" Su Hang looked at the familiar logo printed on the box and his jaw copsed.


    "He said that when you came back from HK, you left this in the hotel. Li QingYuan came by to give it back." Shen Xi pointed at the jewelry box.


    "I forgot." Su Hang said.


    "So¡­you bought it?" Shen Xi deliberately asked. She wanted to find out whether the Q&H jewelry was bought by Su Hang as Li QingYuan said, or if it was sent by a colleague like in her past life. She needed Su Hang to rify this for her.


    Su Hang thought back to Li QingYuan''s words that noon. He guessed Li QingYuan that idiot took things to his own hands and told Shen Xi about the gift. Su Hang''s heart dropped, but he still nodded at her question.


    Seeing Su Hang admit to things, Shen Xi slowly opened the jewelry box. The exquisite and gorgeous diamond ne sparkled under the lights and she couldn''t help but squint. Shen Xi looked away and looked up at Su Hang.


    Su Hang tensed.


    Shen Xi slowly smiled and said. "Thank you. The ne is very beautiful, but don''t buy such a luxurious one next time."


    Su Hang''s eyes suddenly turned dim. Do you really not like it?


    "Next time you want to buy something for me, buy a simpler style. I don''t usually go to ces where I can wear such luxurious things. It''ll just be a waste." Shen Xi continued.


    "Next time?" Su Hang blinked. He didn''t think he heard that right.


    "You''re only going to give me a gift this one time?" Shen Xi couldn''t help but crack a joke when she saw Su Hang hesitating.


    "Of course not." Su Hang hurriedly shook his head.


    "Pfft¡­" Shen Xi couldn''t help butugh at Su Hang''s rare expression of panic. When Su Hang saw Shen Xi smile so happily, his mood couldn''t help but rise too. Then Shen Xi suddenly looked up at him and asked: "Why did you suddenly think of giving me a ne?"


    You still need to ask?


    Su Hang thought back to the winter of 15 years ago. It was snowing heavily and Su Hang had found Shen Xi standing alone by the school gate. He didn''t know if her driver was dyed or something, only that he wasn''t there. Being only nine years old, Shen Xi was freezing as she stood outside. Su Hang was very distressed when he saw her and couldn''t help but feel the money pocket that he had saved from collecting garbage. He ended up buying a pair of gloves (a truly ''luxurious'' item for him) in a nearby boutique and gave them to Shen Xi.


    "Why are you giving me gloves?" Shen Xi looked at the strange older brother in front of her with caution.


    "Do you have to have a reason for giving someone a gift?" The 14-year-old Su Hang with his awkward limbs and changing voice asked.


    "Yes, or I won''t be able to ept it." The little girl replied very seriously.


    The 9-year-old Shen Xi slowly ovepped with the Shen Xi now. Su Hang couldn''t help but utter the same question he had said 15 years ago:"Do you have to have a reason for giving someone a gift?"


    "Huh?" The Shen Xi now looked at him, stunned. Shen Xi blinked, then smiled. "If it''s you giving the gift, then I don''t need a reason."


    Su Hang looked at Shen Xi''s gentle smile and had a sudden glimmer of enlightenment. Compared to 15 years ago, had he had finally changed from a stranger giving her a gift, to someone she greeted every day?


    Was he being too optimistic?


    "Sir, Madam, dinner''s ready." Mrs. Zhang called out as she set the table.


    "Let''s go eat." Shen Xi closed the jewelry box and walked towards the table.


    Su Hang also stood up, shaking off his past memories. As Mrs. Zhang ced the dishes on the table, he said to her: "Mrs. Zhang, the wind looks a little strong today. You should go home earlier."


    "Yes, there''s no need for you to clean the dishes tonight. We can just leave them for tomorrow." Shen Xi said with a smile.


    "Thank you, I''ll go home after feeding Chu Wu then." Mrs. Zhang happily untied her apron, then went out to feed Chu Wu.


    The two quietly had their dinner. The soup for today was white gourd and pork rib soup, and it was very delicious. Shen Xi couldn''t help but drink a little more. She nced at Su Hang, who was also drinking the soup. She suddenly remembered the milk tea she made for him this afternoon. She couldn''t help but ask: "Did you like the milk tea this afternoon?"


    Su Hang blinked, stupefied. He thought back to the milk tea with three marshmallows floating on top. He couldn''t help but ask: "Did you make it?"


    "Un." Shen Xi admitted, embarrassed.


    "It was good." Su Hang decided that he really liked the milk tea he drank that afternoon.


    "I heard that you always drink ck coffee. You have a delicate stomach, so you shouldn''t drink a lot." Shen Xi scratched her red cheek, still embarrassed, and continued. "I told the people in my shop to give you milk tea whenever you order ck coffee."


    "You¡­" Anyone who wasn''t an idiot would be able to hear the concern in Shen Xi''s words. Su Hang, who realized this fact, couldn''t help but tremble.


    But reason soon prevailed his fantasies. Shen Xi has always been a kind and gentle girl. She cares about anyone. He shouldn''t think that he was someone special to Shen Xi.


    "By the way¡­" Shen Xi felt that her words just now sounded like she was expressing her love for Su Hang. She was more than a little flustered and hurried to change the subject. "I also met Auntie Liu in my store."


    "Liu Fang?" Su Hang''s expression immediately cooled down.


    "Un. She told me she wanted us to visit the Su family home." Shen Xi continued.


    That afternoon, Liu Fang told Su Hang that Shen Xi didn''t want to go to the Su family home. Liu Fang also mentioned to he would have to face up to his embarrassing identity. Su Hang couldn''t stand his disgusting rtives, why would he even consider taking Shen Xi there?


    "Are we going to visit?" Shen Xi was surprised by the horrible expression in Su Hang''s face and had to rify.


    "No." Su Hang shook his head.


    Shen Xi looked at Su Hang carefully, and said: "Auntie Liu said that your father doesn''t seem to be very happy that we hadn''t visited."


    Su Hang couldn''t react for a long while. Shen Xi had once heard her father call Su Hang''s father ''Su BoNian.'' Now that she thinks about it, Su Hang himself doesn''t often call his father ''father''. She had never felt a sense of intimacy between the two of them. Does that mean¡­


    "Do you want to go?" Su Hang finally asked.


    "Ah¡­I want to do what you want to do." Shen Xi smiled.


    "If we go to the Su family home¡­." as if he had made his mind, Su Hang looked at Shen Xi and began to exin: "You should know that I haven''t been in the Su family home since I was 18."


    "I know." Shen Xi nodded.


    "Do¡­do you want to know my true origin?" Su Hang asked.


    The author has something to say:


    Su Hang: Shen Xi said that I don''t need to have a reason to give her a gift.


    Li QingYuan: So?


    Su Hang: Every day¡­


    The first thing Shen Xi should do after waking up in the morning is opening an express delivery package¡­

 Chapter 15

    ***


    "Do you want to know my true origins?"


    Origins? Shen Xi had never thought to ask Su Hang this. First, because there were a lot of rumors circting regarding this subject already. From his return to the Su family at 18 years old, to bing the head of the Su family, Su Hang had always been a popr topic of gossip. And the second reason was that due to Su MingLi''s huge mouth, everybody knew that the Su family had first found Su Hang while he was pushing a broken tricycle filled with stic bottles and cardboard boxes.


    But since Su Hang had asked her this sentence, Shen Xi figured that he wanted her to know. So she nodded. "Un."


    "I know there are a lot of rumors about my childhood. And everyone knows that I''m Su BoNian''s illegitimate son." When Su Hang said the words ''illegitimate son'', he almost gnashed his teeth. His hand that was gripping a porcin spoon tightened, turning his knuckles white.


    Shen Xi looked at Su Hang''s clenched fist and couldn''t help but reach out to put a hand over it. Shen Xi then tried to pull out the porcin spoon Su Hang was still holding.


    When Su Hang felt a soft touch at the back of his hand, his expression eased in an instant.


    "Be careful, you might hurt your hand." Su Hang''s grip was too tight for Shen Xi to be able to release the spoon. In the end, she could only gently remind him.


    The giddy Su Hang finally opened his fist, but the fragile porcin spoon had already broken into two. With furrowed brows, Shen Xi spread Su Hang''s palm and found a red mark.


    "It''s fine. I''m not hurt." Just as Shen Xi was carefully examining the mark, Su Hang''s hand suddenly turned over and seized Shen Xi''s hand.


    Surprised, Shen Xi raised her eyes to look at the man opposite her.


    Su Hang didn''t know why he did it. But the feel of Shen Xi''s finger still lingered in his palms. He couldn''t help but want to keep holding her hand.


    "Do you mind?" Su Hang asked, looking straight at Shen Xi.


    "What?" Shen Xi was slow to react.


    "That I''m an illegitimate child."


    Shen Xi had already thought about that issue in her previous life. Truthfully, when she had married Su Hang, thebels attached to him had also attached to her. The number of people whoughed at Su Hang for being illegitimate was the same as the number of people whoughed at her for marrying an illegitimate son. The rumors didn''t stop even after their divorce. They would sneer and say ''Ah, look, Shen Xi finally couldn''t stand to be married to him. She finally divorced that illegitimate child.''


    But how many people knew back then that it was Su Hang who had offered to divorce her.


    It was true that at first, Shen Xi had no choice but to marry Su Hang for the sake of Shen Group. But in the five years she had lived with Su Hang, Shen Xi had learned to appreciate her husband. He was calm and strong, erudite and wise, elegant, and a gentleman. If she hadn''t known that Su Hang had another woman in his heart, Shen Xi would''ve let herself love the man.


    "Do you remember your business trip to HK?" Shen Xi suddenly said. "You went on the second day of our marriage."


    Su Hang blinked, confused.


    "That day, I went to Yun Shu''s club and bumped into Su MingLi."


    At the mention of Su MingLi, Su Hang''s eyebrows furrowed.


    "I heard her talking about you."


    Su Hang could already imagine the words that came out of Su MingLi''s mouth.


    "I was outside their room, so they didn''t know I was listening. Then¡­I went in." Shen Xi said.


    Su Hang grew nervous, and his hold on Shen Xi''s hand tightened a little.


    Shen Xi looked at Su Hang in the eye and said: "I poured a ss of wine over Su MingLi''s head and warned her that no one can insult my¡­husband in front of me."


    Bang.


    The bowl in front of Su Hang had toppled over from the sudden jerk of his body, causing the soup to spill onto him.


    Shen Xi quickly stood up, wanting to see if Su Hang had been burned, but she was dragged back to her chair by Su Hang. Shen Xi turned her head, intending to ask Su Hang what he was doing, but was startled instead. Su Hang''s eyes were scarily bright, his facial muscles faintly twitching, and the hand that was still holding hers was slowly bing a little painful.


    The two looked at each other for a long time until Su Hang finally managed to calm down. He stood up and still holding Shen Xi''s hand, led her to the sofa in the living room.


    As they walked, Shen Xi saw the big wet stain in front of Su Hang''s sweater. She hastily grabbed a few paper towels with her free hand, and when they arrived at the sofa, she helped him clean the stain.


    Su Hang was sitting quietly. When he looked down and saw Shen Xi busily dabbing at his sweater, he abruptly let out a short giggle.


    "You''d better change your clothes. You might catch a cold." Shen Xi had tried to dry the stain, but in the end, she figured that it would be better for Su Hang to change his clothes.


    "Shen Xi." Su Hang said out loud.


    "Yes?" Shen Xi subconsciously looked up.


    "I''m not an illegitimate child." Su Hang looked at Shen Xi and slowly told his story. "My mother and Su BoNian were college friends. My mother was very beautiful when she was young; she was the campus belle. Apparently, a lot of people pursued her. Of course, that included Su BaiNian.


    (T/N: Campus belle is the school flower/the prettiest girl in the school)


    "My mother came from a remote mountain vige and relied on schrships to study at university. It was her first time in a big city, so naturally, she hadn''t exposed to much of the world. Su BoNian, with his gentlemanly style and smooth-talking skills¡­well, she practically had no resistance to that sort of person.


    The story of a rich son and a poor girl. It was almost like a fairy tale.


    "But my mother was very conservative. Her affair with Su BoNian had used up all her courage. So when Su BoNian wanted more, my mother proposed getting married first." Su Hang thenughed self-deprecatingly. "I think Su BoNian actually liked my mother at the time. They actually did get married."


    "Then they had me soon after. But after they graduated, the rich and powerful Su family started creating drama." Su Hang''s tone began to turn cold. "The Su family couldn''t ept my mother, and therefore, couldn''t ept me. My mother didn''t even get to talk to anyone. Su BoNian just handled the divorce procedures himself in the Civil Affairs Bureau and then sent the divorce certificate to my mother. Six monthster, he got engaged to Liu Fang and the two went abroad."


    When she heard this, Shen Xi''s opinion of Su BoNian had hit rock bottom. Anyone can make mistakes, but one should admit to them and take responsibility.


    "We couldn''t stay in the city. My mother had to take me away to live in H City instead." Su Hang continued. "Honestly, when we went to H City, I had a good life. My mother didn''t think about Su BoNian. Instead, she tried to live her own life and even started dating someone when I was 6."


    "I guess she was just unlucky. Just when she was finally starting a new chapter in her life, a car ident took everything." It had been more than 20 years ago since hest talked about this incident. When Su Hang started telling Shen Xi all this, he found that he no longer felt the heart-wrenching grief he used to have whenever he talked about his mother''s death. Instead, it was Shen Xi who was feeling distressed.


    "Then¡­did you go to the orphanage?" Shen Xi asked.


    "No." Su Hang shook his head. "My mother left a letter exining my origin. The police sent me to the Su family."


    "But you weren''t 18¡­" Shen Xi was surprised.


    "When I arrived at the Su family house, Li Fang was pregnant with Su MingLi. She didn''t seem to know of my existence and when she found out about me, she reacted so badly she almost miscarried." Su Hang said. "How can an abandoned childpare with the child in Liu Fang''s stomach? I naturally couldn''t stay with the Su family. So they decided to send me away."


    "Su BoNian wanted to find a family to adopt me, but Liu Fang, under the pretext of protecting the Su family from getting too involved, offered to find a family for me instead." As he said this, Su Hang couldn''t help but sneer.


    "Then how did you end up in an orphanage?" Shen Xi wondered.


    "Eventually, a middle-aged couple arrived and took me. They brought me to their car and told me that their ce was very far, so I should sleep for a while. And I did fall asleep. But when I woke up, I found myself alone in a deste and uninhabited meadow."


    "What?!" Shen Xi shouted in disbelief.


    "But I was lucky enough to encounter a kind camper who took me back to the city and brought me to a police station." Su Hang recalled. "The police tried asking me about my family, but I didn''t say anything. The police tried to find my family for a long time, but in the end, they didn''t find anything, so they took me to the nearest orphanage."


    "Su Hang¡­" Shen Xi''s nose was bing sore, and her eyes were turning red.


    "I''m fine." Seeing that Shen Xi looked like she was about to cry, Su Hang was at a loss.


    Drip.


    Shen Xi couldn''t keep the tears in her eyes from flowing out. A small drop fell on their hands that were linked together. Su Hang panicked. "Don''t cry."


    But Shen Xi couldn''t stop. Feeling immensely distressed, more and more tears started flowing.


    "I didn''t mean to make you cry, I just wanted to exin to you my past." Su Hang didn''t know how to properly express himself, and eventually, his words descended into incoherent nonsense.


    "I''m sorry!" Shen Xi stood up, then jumped into Su Hang''s arms.


    As Su Hang embraced Shen Xi, he couldn''t help the swell of joy and bitterness that bloomed in his heart. He didn''t know how much of Shen Xi''s grief was because of him, and how much was just sympathy.


    I''m sorry Shen Xi thought, over and over. During the 5 years of their marriage, she had thought herself clever. She believed that Su Hang had a strong self-esteem and that he never cared about other people''s opinions. She thought he didn''t care if she knew his past or not. Even when he asionally mentioned his past, Shen Xi had deliberately avoided the conversation.


    But today, Shen Xi finally understood that it just looked like he didn''t care about the opinions of the people around him. She finally understood that his supposed self-confidence was just a way for him to protect his heart.


    Back then, Su Hang must''ve thought I was really bothered by his past.


    "Let''s go see your mother this weekend." Shen Xi suddenly said.


    "Un." Su Hang nodded.


    In the end, it didn''t matter whether it was sympathy or not. I don''t care, as long as you''re willing to stay close to me.

 Chapter 16

    ***


    In the CEO''s office of Su Company.


    Li QingYuan passed a newly modified contract towards Su Hang. "This contract is probably the most humiliating thing you''ve ever singed."


    "Don''t be so dramatic. We''re just not making money off of it." Su Hang started reading through the contract, checking several important details.


    "As a businessman, how can you sign a contract that won''t make you money." Li QingYuan replied.


    After reading. Su Hang put it on the table and indifferently said: "Someday you''ll see."


    "??" Li QingYuan tilted his head. "What do you mean?"


    "The Boss of QinHai Technology is the son of the president of China Bank."


    "Part of the loan you made for Shen Group was borrowed from China Bank." Li QingYuan immediately reacted when he heard Su Hang''s words.


    "Un." Su Hang didn''t hide it. Although hispany had a small city bank, it wasn''t enough for such a big loan.


    "Was this part of the terms of your loan?" Li QingYuan asked.


    "Yes." Su Hang finished signing the contract and put it aside. "As long as it has something to do with QinHai Technology, let it go through."


    Li QingYuan was surprised. "How much do you have to pay? The Su shareholders probably won''t agree to this."


    "Don''t worry about the opinions of the Su shareholders." Su Hang tried to cate him. "I set up a separate, externalpany."


    "I think it''s better to pay back the debt as soon as possible instead." Li QingYuan advised. "Sigh. Even after mortgaging some of your Su shares, you still need to help somebody''s son. And all this just because you wanted to help Shen Xi. You''ve be a typical case of ''man losing his head over a beauty''. So differentpared to when I first met you, ah."


    When Li QingYuan mentioned Shen Xi, Su Hang couldn''t help but think back to when Shen Xi cried in his armsst night. And this morning, when she stood by the doorway and waved goodbye at him.


    "Hey!" Li QingYuan waved a hand over Su Hang''s face. "I''m talking to you. What''s with that giggle just now."


    "Cough¡­nothing." Su Hang awkwardly coughed.


    "You were thinking of Miss Shen Xi, right?" As soon as Li QingYuan saw his expression, he knew. "Anyway, I helped you court Shen Xi yesterday. How was it? Good, right?"


    "I''ve signed the contract, you can go back now." Su Hang immediately became businesslike.


    "Hey! I did you such a big favor. Where''s my ''thank you''?" Li QingYuan said in disbelief.


    "Didn''t you say you ''no need to thank me''?" Su Hang looked up at him.


    Li QingYuan couldn''t help but admire his shamelessness. Just as he was about to say something, somebody knocked on the office doors.


    "Come in." Usually, the only person knocking on his door at this time of day was Secretary Fang Yu.


    Sure enough, when the door opened, Fang Yu came in with two cups of coffee. He handed one cup to Su Hang, and another to Li QingYuan.


    As soon as Li QingYuan saw the logo on the paper cup, he knew that it came from a certain cafe nearby. Pouting, Li QingYuanined: "Fang Yu, if your Boss wants to drink this, it''s his prerogative. But how can you give me this drink too, ah, doesn''t your break room have better coffee beans that this cafe?"


    Fang Yu snuck a peek at the Boss, then carefully asked: "Lawyer Li, we ended up getting too much."


    "What? Why?" Li QingYuan asked, surprised.


    Fang Yu took another look at his Boss before exining: "When Lilith went out to buy coffee with the money I gave her, the clerk said that as any Su employee gets 20% off their purchases. So she ended up having an extra cup of coffee."


    "20% off." Li QingYuan looked at a certain man and said, cynical: "This couple really likes showing-off their love, ah."


    Su Hang had been in a daze when he took the lid off his cup and saw the three-heart shaped marshmallows floating on the surface. But when he heard Fang Yu''s words, he looked up in surprise. Then, when he heard his friend''s scornful words, he couldn''t help butugh.


    "Ugh, I can''t stay here anymore, I''m going to go." Unable to stand the pink atmosphere, Li QingYuan picked up his briefcase, and with the coffee still in hand, angrily left Su Hang''s office.


    Fang Yu was also smiling as he followed Li QingYuan out. Thinking of the Boss'' happy expression, when Fang Yu arrived at the secretary breakroom he announced: "We should be able to leave work on time today."


    "Wow~" Hearing Fang Yu''s words, the entire room suddenly became jubnt. Being the secretary for a workaholic boss usually meant that they worked overtime all the time.


    Fang Yu also felt that if eating dog food meant that they could receive such benefits, he would dly eat it every day.


    ==


    ''Colors of Spring'' was the first cafe Shen Xi had ever opened. It was located near a university town and was full of greenery, making it look more like a greenhouse rather than a coffee shop. It was also Shen Xi''s favorite out of all her stores and she frequently visited it.


    It was already getting dark when Yun Shu suddenly visited. She walked over and copsed on the sofa opposite Shen Xi. In a weak voice, she said: "Ahh, this ce really is the mostfortable."


    As Shen Xi poured her a cup of tea she said: "How can my humble shoppare to Madam''s club?"


    "You can''tpare the two." Yun Shu took off her coat, then took the cup of tea. "I made the club mega luxurious. It''s showier and for people who just want to have fun. But you made your cafe a little more bourgeoisie. Although you don''t earn as much, it''s a much morefortable atmosphere. It''s like the two of us: You''re more noble and elegant, while I''m covered in the stench of worldly desires."


    "Are you poking fun an me, or are you poking fun at yourself?" Shen Xi raised a brow.


    "Also, how can we, with our vastly different personalities, be such good friends?" Yun Shu couldn''t help but ask.


    "I should be asking you, ah, I seem to remember you hating me at first. You kept saying that I was fake." Shen Xi said.


    "Of course, you were the daughter of a legendary family. It wasn''t just me, very few women in our circle liked you."


    "Then they should be celebrating right about now." Shen Xi pointed out.


    "What gossip did you hear?" Yun Shu frowned.


    "I didn''t hear anything, but I can imagine." While she didn''t hear it in this life, she certainly heard plenty in herst life.


    "Don''t pay attention to any of them. They''re all a bunch of snakes that can''t see past what''s in front of them." Yun Shu replied.


    "I don''t mind. Anyway, none of them would dare say it to my face." Shen Xi shrugged, indifferent.


    Seeing that Shen Xi really doesn''t seem to mind, Yun Shu calmed down.


    "Anyway, forget about all that. I heard from Sister Li that you donated 5 million to our foundation?" Shen Xi suddenly asked.


    "Ah, yeah." Yun Shu picked up an orange slice and said: "I just had the sudden urge to do something good."


    "Since you''re in the mood to be nice, why don''t you go donate a bit more." Shen Xi said with a smile.


    "Cough¡­" Yun Chu choked.


    "As you know, the Shen Group has no extra money to donate," Shen Xi said. "So if the foundation is short on money, we can only rely on you to donate more."


    "You''re really rude, ah."


    "That depends on one''s perspective on things." Shen Xiughed.


    The foundation the two were talking about was a charity funded under Shen Group and was previously managed by Shen Xi''s mother. When Shen Xi came of age though, it was handed over to her. The foundation was mainly for helping orphanages and street children. Shen Xi had originally nned to donate a batch of winter clothes and quilts to orphanages all over the country, but because of Shen Group''s sudden difficulties, the foundation was nowcking money. So Yun Shu''s timely donation was certainly wee.


    "I remember your family''s foundation focuses on helping orphanages, right?" Yun Shu asked.


    "Yeah." Shen Xi nodded.


    "Do you guys build schools too?"


    "Why do you ask?"


    "It''s just that building schools would be more tangible, wouldn''t it? You would actually see where your money went. But if you subsidize orphanages, after all the money is spent, there''s nothing for you to look at. It doesn''t sound very cost-effective." Yun Shu felt that if it were up to her, she would repair and build schools instead.


    "Ah, well, it mostly has to do with something that happened in my childhood." Shen Xi chuckled.


    "Oh??" Yun Shu looked at her curiously.


    "I got lost once when I was a kid. Wandered off." Shen Xi exined.


    Yun Shu slowly nodded. She knew this.


    "At the time, I was only three and a half years old. My mother suddenly fell ill aftering back from abroad. The driver took us to the nearest public hospital. My father had been so nervous about mom that he forgot about me. It was only when my mother woke up the next night that he had realized his mistake." Shen Xi said.


    "That¡­what happened during that time?" Yun Shu asked,


    "There was a very good-looking big brother who stayed with me until my dad found me. He disappeared right after." Shen Xi recalled.


    "Big brother?" Yun Shu was surprised.


    "He was just a kid. And my parents tried to look for him after, but they never did." Shen Xi said. "The only thing I remembered about him was that he told me he was an orphan. Coincidentally, my mom just happened to be interested in setting up a charitable fund, so she decided to support various orphanages. She hoped that maybe one of the orphanages she funded would be the orphanage that big brother stayed at."


    "So that''s how it is." Yun Shu eximed as she nodded.


    Shen Xi was about to continue when her phone suddenly vibrated on the table. Shen Xi took the phone and answered: "Hello?"


    "Madam, this is Mrs. Zhang."


    "Yes?" Shen Xi replied.


    "Madam, I just wanted to ask if you''ll be eating dinner at home?" Mrs. Zhang asked.


    Shen Xi looked down at the watch on her wrist and realized it was almost 6:00 p.m. She hesitated, wondering if she should eat with Yun Shu, or eat at home. Mrs. Zhang then continued: "I bought a lot of vegetables today, but Sir said that if you weren''t going to eat at home, he could just live off of noodles instead."


    "Su Hang''s already back home?" Shen Xi asked.


    "Yes, he''s been home for a while now." Mrs. Zhang replied.


    "I''ll have dinner at home. I''ll be back in around half an hour." Shen Xi said.


    After that, Shen Xi ended the call and shook her head at the somewhatughable situation.


    "What''s the matter?" Yun Shu asked, looking at her strangely.


    "Auntie just called to ask if I was going to eat dinner at home."


    "So?"


    "So, I''m going back for dinner." Shen Xi answered, then stood up to wear her coat.


    "¡­." Yun Shu can''t believe it. "It''s just dinner. You''re going to leave me just so you can eat dinner at home?"


    Shen Xi helplessly shrugged. What can she do? She couldn''t let a certain someone live off noodles.

 Chapter 17

    ***


    When Shen Xi entered the house, she immediately noticed Su Hang crouched over and ying with Chu Wu in the living room. Although one was a man and the other a dog, the expressions in their eyes were surprisingly simr.


    "There was a bit of traffic, so I ended up being a littlete." Shen Xi had said that she would be home in 30 minutes, but because it was rush hour, she ended up getting home 20 minutester than expected.


    "Oh." Su Hang''s reply sounded casual, but his hands were firmly gripping on the cor of the excitable Chu Wu who had wanted to pounce on Shen Xi.


    Shen Xi waspletely clueless about the secret rivalry between man and dog. She simply walked towards the pair, patted the cute Chu Wu. In a good mood, Shen Xi said: "I''m going to go change clothes; you can tell Mrs. Zhang to set the food out now."


    "Un." Su Hang nodded.


    After Shen Xi went upstairs. Su Hang furrowed his brows and glowered at Chu Wu. "Why is it that the first thing she touches aftering home is you?"


    "Bark!" Chu Wu barked as if to say: You think it''d still be possible for you to get petted if she hadn''t pet the incredibly cute me?


    "Don''t go pouncing on her in the future." Su Hang ordered.


    "Bark!" Chu Wu looked wronged. Just because you don''t dare pounce on her, I can''t either?


    In the end, Su Hang ''scolded'' Chu Wu again, then put him in his kennel. £¨Chu Wu£º(£þ¡÷£þ£»)£©


    Shen Xi changed into her home clothes, then went straight downstairs. When Shen Xi arrived, she saw Su Hang putting rice in her bowl. She couldn''t help but ask: "Where''s Mrs. Zhang?"


    "Her family has something going on so I let her go home." Su Hang ced her bowl in front of her.


    Back in a certain house, Mrs. Zhang sneezed for no reason. She couldn''t help but wonder why she sneezed every time Sir asked her to go home early.


    "Thank you." Shen Xi then looked around and noticed that Chu Wu was gone. She asked: "Where did Chu Wu go?"


    Su Hang''s hands turned stiff, but he calmly replied: "It seems that he got sleepy. I put him back in his kennel."


    "Sleepy?" Shen Xi has never had a dog before, so she didn''t know if dogs could even get sleepy.


    "Yes." Su Hang said.


    "Oh." Shen Xi didn''t think about it any further. She just picked up her chopsticks and concentrated on her food.


    Su Hang was relieved and tried to change the subject. "How is Mrs. Shen¡­.cough¡­.Mom? She''s been in hospital for a while."


    "She''s good. She''ll be getting discharged tomorrow. Can youe visit her with me?" Shen Xi asked with a smile.


    "Ah, tomorrow morning or afternoon? I''ll have to see if I have time¡­" Su Hang replied.


    "You don''t have to force yourself if you can''t. I can go alone." Shen Xi interrupted Su Hang.


    "Oh." In all honesty, Su Hang had asked Fang Yu to call the hospital every day and inquire about Mrs. Shen''s health. So Su Hang actually knew that Mrs. Shen will be getting discharged, and even knew what time it would be. He had already asked Fang Yu to clear his schedule.


    "My dad doesn''t have time either." Shen Xi was afraid that Su Hang was feeling bad, so she hurriedly added. "He''s been pretty busy recently."


    "The Shen Group just resumed operations so he probably has a lot of things to do." Su Hang nodded.


    "Then you should be busy too, right?" Shen Xi suddenly asked.


    "Ah?" Su Hang''s heart jumped. Lately, he had been deliberately leaving work early then continuing to work in his study through the night. Had he been discovered by Shen Xi?


    "You¡­" Shen Xi hesitated, then continued: "You''ve moved such arge amount of money from yourpany to Shen Group. You must be experiencing a great deal of pressure."


    In theirst life, Su Hang went on a business trip to HK soon after their marriage too. Not only that, during the next six months after that trip, his feet barely touched the ground. If Su Hang hadn''t insisted on eating breakfast with Shen Xi every morning, Shen Xi doubted that she would have seen him at all during that time.


    (T/N: feet barely touching the ground is an idiom for being super busy.)


    But in this life, things were different. What should''ve been a week-long business trip turned into Su Hanging back the very next day. He even took a week''s holiday afterward. Then, even if he went to thepany to work, he woulde back home every night to have dinner with her. With Su Hang''s consistent nine to five schedule, Shen Xi found the vastly different circumstance strange.


    What was different in this life? Shen Xi had thought about it for the past few days, and could only think of one reason. In her past life, after Su Hang had left for HK, she went to visit her mother and had ended up staying indoors the entire time. Therefore, in herst life, she had never caught a cold. So Su Hang never had a reason toe back halfway through his business trip.


    And the most important thing¡­.was that Shen Xi hadn''t taken the initiative to care about and understand Su Hang in herst life.


    "You know, I own a small bank." Su Hang says.


    "My dad says a small bank wouldn''t have that much money on site. You must have raised thatrge amount of money from somewhere else." Shen Xi replied.


    Su Hang turned stiff again. There was even a bit of panic in his eyes, as if a long-nned conspiracy of his was about to be brought to light.


    "I don''t know if I''ve told you already," Shen Xi earnestly said. "But thank you for helping Shen Group through his trying time."


    Shen Xi''s sincere thanks caused a bitter feeling to spread in his heart. Sure enough, these past few days were just Su Hang deluding himself. His feelings hadn''t been reciprocated. Shen Xi being good to him was really just to thank him for saving Shen Group. How could he be so foolish? How can he think that Shen Xi could evene to like him in such a short period of time.


    "I''m done. I''m going to go back to my study." Su Hang put down his chopsticks, politely said his goodbyes, then coldly left the table.


    Shen Xi looked at the suddenly changed man. She was a little confused? What happened? Did she say something wrong?


    Su Hang''s cold temperament continued to the next morning. He still had a dark expression in his face during breakfast and even Chu Wu, who was under the dinner table, knew that his father was in a bad mood. He was careful not to make any sudden movements.


    Shen Xi was a bit upset by his cold attitude. When Su Hang left for work, Shen Xi''s heart couldn''t help but feel wronged.


    "Are you quarreling with the Sir, Madam?" Mrs. Zhang carefully asked.


    "No." Shen Xi replied. Then, she said: "I''m going to pick my mother up from the hospital today. I won''t being back for dinner. As for Sir, you can just cook noodles for him."


    "Oh¡­yes!" Mrs. Zhang replied, not knowing what to do.


    Shen Xi finished her breakfast, then went back to her room to change. Resolved to stop thinking about Su Hang, she drove to the hospital to pick up her mother.


    After helping her mother, they left the hospital and Shen Xi drove her back to the Shen family home. Shen Xi handed her mother''s luggage to the maid and slowly led her mother to the living room.


    "The weather''s nice today, why don''t we sit out in the garden?" Mother Shen suggested.


    "Alright." Shen Xi led her mother to a rocking chair in their garden, then shouted: "Sister Li, please help me get a nket."


    (T/N: Sister Li is a maid I''m guessing, but in the Chinese raw, Shen Xi really does call her ''Older sister Li.'' Just so we''re all clear.)


    After Mother Shen sat on the rocking chair, Shen Xi epted the offered nket and carefully covered her mother. Mother Shen looked at her daughter''s face, then with a sharp voice, said: "You look like you''re in a bad mood today."


    "No." Shen Xi denied.


    "You''re my daughter, you can''t hide such things from me." Mother Shen hesitated for a bit, then asked: "Did Su Hang bully you?"


    "No, I''m just trying to figure something out." Shen Xi was afraid her mother would continue to ask, so she tried changing the subject. "By the way, Su Hang wanted to pick you up, but I was afraid you would get upset, so I didn''t let hime."


    "Is that right? Maybe he''s just trying to get on your good side." Mother Shen tilted her head.


    "He often asks me about your health." Shen Xi continued.


    "It doesn''t matter whether he cares about me or not, what''s important is that he treats you well."


    "Mom, I''ve already told you. He''s very good to me." Shen Xi helplessly said.


    "Liu Fang visited me in the hospital once." Mother Shen slowly said. "She said that Su Hang never took you back to visit the Su family home."


    Ever since she learned about Su Hang''s past, Shen Xi felt nothing but dislike towards the Su family. When she heard her mother''s words, her expression immediately fell. "Su Hang doesn''t have a very good rtionship with the Su family."


    "I know that, but one has to visit the parents after marrying." Mother Shen replied.


    "We''re going to visit his birth mother this weekend." Shen Xi said.


    Mother Shen looked at her daughter. Shen Xi looked so solemn and serious that in the end, Mother Shen stopped asking. After all, her daughter was now married to Su Hang. In the end, she can only ept both the good and the bad in him.


    "Mom, Su Hang isn''t an illegitimate child. His mother was Su BoNian''s first wife." Shen Xi seemed to know what her mother was thinking, so she couldn''t help but exin.


    "What?" Mother Shen was very surprised, but her expression eased at Shen Xi''s words.


    Shen Xi stayed in her parent''s home for a long while. After having dinner together and talking for a bit, Shen Xi eventually drove back to the vi. When she arrived home, Shen Xi went to the kitchen to drink a ss of water. As she passed by the dinner table, she saw a bowl of half-eaten tomato and egg noodle soup.


    Shen Xi''s brain couldn''t help but imagine a scene where a man, all alone, ate this bowl of noodles. She found it kind of funny. "He really ate nothing but noodles, ah."


    tap tap tap¡­


    Hearing a familiar trot, Shen Xi turned around and saw Chu Wu running out of the study with a white A4 piece of paper in his mouth. Filled with wonder, Shen Xi took the piece of paper and saw some words written on it.


    [The noodles were unptable.]


    "Pfft¡­" Shen Xi''s mouth curved into a smile. She looked towards the study door. She folded the piece of paper, stroked Chu Wu''s head, then said: "Chu Wu, let''s go upstairs and y."


    Waiting until Shen Xi and Chu Wu were on the second floor, the study door finally opened. A man with an ominous aura stood by the stairs and looked up towards the second floor.


    With his lips pressed together into a thin line, he looked pitiful and lonely.


    The author has something to say:


    Su Hang: I knew I shouldn''t have used you to send it.


    Chu Wu: Bark, bark!


    Su Hang: Didn''t you say that acting cute would be effective?


    Li QingYuan: So bewildering¡­

 Chapter 18

    ***


    It was the weekend, and they had ns to H City to visit Su Hang''s mother.


    H City was just the next city over. Although it wasn''t too far, it was still a three-hour drive from S City to H City. Shen Xi and Su Hang hadn''t nned on spending the night in H City, so they had to get up bright any early.


    "Mrs. Zhang, where are the things I asked you to prepare yesterday?" Shen Xi asked Mrs. Zhang as she packed.


    "It''s in the kitchen, let me bring it over." It was quite early in the morning, so Mrs. Zhang was still not quite ready.


    Shen Xi epted the ck antique food container from Mrs. Zhang and carefully carried it out of the house. While she did this, she said: "Mrs. Zhang, we might not necessarilye back home today, so please just feed Chu Wu before leaving. You don''t need to cook dinner."


    "Alright." Mrs. Zheng nodded as she sent Shen Xi to the door.


    Su Hang, who had been waiting near the front door for quite a while now, saw Shen Xi and asked: "Everything alright?"


    "Yes, we can go now." Shen Xi replied.


    "What''s this?" Su Hang took the food box from Shen Xi and tilted his head.


    "An offering." Shen Xi replied.


    Su Hang was stunned. He didn''t expect Shen Xi to be so serious about this. His heart was very moved, but of course, none of this showed on his face. He turned around and opened the passenger door of the car for Shen Xi. After she had gotten on, Su Hang opened the trunk and ced the antique food box inside.


    The dark Mercedes Benz drove out of the gate, with a barking Chu Wu to see them off.


    The drive was somewhat boring as Su Hang said little. Coupled with the fact that they woke up earlier than usual, Shen Xi couldn''t help but yawn.


    "Why don''t you go back to sleep?" Su Hang, who always paid close attention to his wife, asked.


    "No, I''m fine. Maybe some wind will help." Shen Xi rolled down the window a little. Suddenly a cold gust blew in the car, causing Shen Xi to shiver and sneeze twice.


    Su Hang immediately pressed the button to close the window. Unfortunately, the car window was slow to close.


    "Well, I''mpletely awake now." Shen Xi couldn''t helpughing.


    Shen Xi''s long hair had turned a little messy due to the unexpected gust. The two sneezes had also caused her nose to get red, and tears to gather in her eyes. She looked awkward and very cute, causing Su Hang to raise the corner of his lips.


    "Don''t open the window, it''s easy to catch a cold." Su Hang couldn''t help but advise.


    "Un, I''ll listen to you."


    Those four words were said by Shen Xi so casually, but when Su Hang heard this, his heart beat faster. He could almost believe that the distance between them had shortened.


    "When was thest time you went to H City?" Shen Xi asked as she smoothed down her hair.


    "Three years ago. On the day I took over the Supany." Su Hang replied.


    "Oh¡­" Shen Xi froze. The atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward. On the day he took over Supany. It was obvious to Shen Xi that Su Hang had visited his mother to say something specific.


    Of course, Su Hang also noticed the change in the atmosphere. He was a little annoyed that his cold personality caused such a change, but also he hadn''t wanted to lie to Shen Xi. So he could only try to change the subject. Su Hang pretended that nothing had happened and casually asked: "Have you ever been to H City?"


    "Yes, I once visited with some ssmates in high-school." Shen Xi replied. "There''s a beautifulke in H City. I went with my ssmates to y."


    H City was best known for its beautiful, scenicke. Many couples liked to visit the city for this. Su Hang tightened his grip on the steering wheel and nervously asked: "Well¡­after we visit the cemetery we can go take a walk along theke."


    "Great." Shen Xi found the tension in the man''s voice somewhat funny.


    The crisp autumn weather, Su Hang''s suddenly elevated mood, and the unimpeded drive through the highway, all culminated into a pleasant journey.


    After three hours of long-distance drive, the two finally arrived in the urban area of H City at 10:30 a.m. Looking at the shops along the road, Shen Xi didn''t forget to tell Su Hang: "Look, there''s a flower shop. We don''t have a bouquet for your mother yet."


    "Un." Su Hang turned the car to the left and slowed down.


    "Over there." Shen Xi soon found the flower shop entrance and asked Su Hang to pull over and stop. "I''ll go down and buy some."


    Shen Xi opened the passenger door and quickly walked inside the store. Su Hang stayed sitting in the car, watching Shen Xi''s every move through the store windows. He saw her carefully select a bouquet, tenderness in her eyes.


    When Shen Xi walked back with a bouquet of daisies in her arms, Su Hang had already turned his head away and was looking straight ahead.


    "Alright, wea go." Shen Xi said, closing the passenger door.


    "Un." With a gentle hum, Su Hang started the car again and drove towards the cemetery in H City.


    H City wasn''t very big. It only took 20 minutes for them to get to the cemetery near the suburbs. Shen Xi and Su Hang walked through the nearby parking lot and up a small hill with the bouquet and the antique food box.


    In herst life, Su Hang had never taken her to visit his mother''s grave. So this would be the Shen Xi''s very first time.


    She quietly followed behind Su Hang, step by step, until the man stopped in front of an old tombstone. Shen Xi looked at the photo in front of the tombstone. It was a photo of a lovely woman. She had a pair of phoenix eyes that were exactly the same as Su Hang, and a pair of faint dimples.


    (T/N: For those not in the know, the Chinese regard phoenix eyes as one of the most beautiful eye shapes one can have.)


    "This is my mother." Su Hang introduced.


    "She''s beautiful." Shen Xi sincerely said. She had a gentle ssical sort of look, very charming.


    Su Hang smiled, then crouched down. He opened the antique food box and began to ce the offerings on the stone. Shen Xi crouched next to him to help. After everything was put in ce, she solemnly ced the flowers in front of the tombstone.


    "I''ve never brought offerings here before." Su Hang looked at the ground full of offerings and couldn''t help but say.


    "It''s pretty popr nowadays to just sweep around the tomb and ce some flowers." Shen Xi exined. "But since we were going to visit an important elder, I wanted to prepare so offerings too."


    "Thank you." Su Hang sincerely said.


    Shen Xi didn''t reply and simply smiled at him.


    After a while, the two stood up and solemnly bowed three times in front of the tombstone. Then just when Shen Xi thought things were done, Su Hang suddenly said: "You can go to the car first. I just want to stay here for a little longer."


    "Oh, sure." Although Shen Xi was somewhat puzzled, she still epted the car keys from Su Hang and walked down the hill. Shen Xi took a few steps down, but suddenly felt like something was amiss. She turned around and looked back, only to see Su Hang''s tall figure slowly lowering.


    Shen Xi became distressed, her hand that was holding the car keys going stiff. Biting her lip, Shen Xi eventually resolved to walk back.


    As Su Hang knelt in front of his mother''s tombstone, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he was stunned to see Shen Xi returning.


    Shen Xi said nothing as she walked and kneeled next to Su Hang.


    "You¡­" Seeing Shen Xi''s actions, Su Hang''s expression changed from surprise to something a little moreplex.


    "I forgot to do something." Shen Xi shyly said. "I forgot to introduce myself."


    After saying this, Shen Xi didn''t wait for the other party to reply. Under Su Hang''splicated gaze, Shen Xi began to introduce herself to Su Hang''s mother. "Hello mom, my name is Shen Xi. I''m Su Hang''s wife. I''ll being back to visit you often with Su Hang in the future."


    Wife, often, with him? Each word was like a flower blooming in his heart, making Su Hang extremely ted.


    "Su Hang, lets kowtow to mom." Shen Xi turned to Su Hang.


    "Alright."


    Together, the two respectfully kowtowed three times towards the tombstone. It was simr to a couple kneeling in the ancestral hall.


    The smile of the woman in the photo was quiet and gentle, and her eyes were full of joy.


    "I''ll wait for you in the car." After kowtowing, Shen Xi didn''t continue to intrude. She stood up and turned around to walk down the mountain, letting the mother and son talk.


    Su Hang looked at Shen Xi''s retreating figure. He watched her until she was no longer in sight. He then turned back towards the tombstone, unable to hide the happiness and joy in his eyes. Softly, Su Hang said to his mother: "Mom, I just wanted to let you know that I''m married now. And not just to any girl, but to the girl I like the most. Do you like her?"


    After saying this, Su Hang couldn''t say anything else, so he stood up and walked down the hill, trying to catch up to Shen Xi.


    "You''re finished?" Shen Xi looked at Su Hang, who caught up to her.


    "Un." Su Hang took the car keys from Shen Xi and said: "Let''s go."


    The two people went back to the car and drove around till they found ake-facing restaurant for lunch. After eating, the two strolled along theke embankment.


    Theke was a very famous scenic spot. There were always tourists around all year round. The greenery around theke was very good too. The willow trees next to theke had leaves billowing above the sparkling water, making for a very beautiful picture. It made people feel like it was a thousand years in the past.


    After walking for a while, Shen Xi had grown a little tired. They found a bench nearby and sat down to watch theke and rest a bit.


    Shen Xi suddenly noticed a pair of high-school sweethearts not far from where they were sitting. They were wearing their school uniforms and holding sticks of cotton candy. Shen Xi couldn''t help but smile. "Oh, they''re selling cotton candy."


    "Do you want some?" Su Hang asked.


    "Ah." Shen Xi nodded, a little embarrassed.


    "Wait a little." Su Hang stood up and walked to a nearby stall.


    Shen Xi chuckled. She continued to enjoy the scenery as she waited for Su Hang toe back.


    The young couple across Shen Xi had noticed seemed to think that the photos they had just taken weren''t very good, so the girl started looking around. She finally noticed Shen Xi sitting on the bench and approached her with her phone.


    "Sister, can you take a picture for us?" The girl asked with a smile.


    "Sure." Shen Xi epted the phone with a smile and walked back with the girl to her boyfriend. Shen Xi then asked: "How do you want me to take it?"


    The young girl seems to have a lot of experience in photography. She pointed to the front and said: "Our position has a natural backlight, so can you please take a photo of our silhouettes after we pose?"


    "With this camera mode." The young girl then helped Shen Xi adjust the camera mode.


    "Alright." Shen Xi raised the phone ording to the girl''s instructions and took a dozen or so photos while the couple changes poses.


    After all this, Shen Xi returned the phone to its owner. Shen she turned around, she saw Su Hang standing by the bench, waiting for her.


    With a gentle smile, Shen Xi briskly walked towards Su Hang. Su Hang gave her the cotton candy.


    "Thank you." They sat back on the bench, and Shen Xi began to happily look over the candy in her hand. Honestly, she hadn''t actually wanted to eat some cotton candy. She just thought that it would be fun to ask Su Hang to buy cotton candy for her.


    "Don''t high school students have sses on weekends now?" Shen Xi jokinglymented. "They actually skipped school to go on a date."


    "I don''t know." Su Hang never went to high school.


    "Ah, but I guess that age is the best time to experience a fantastic sort of love. You daydream about your ideal partner, swoon about an imaginary boyfriend." Shen Xi added.


    Fantasy? From the very beginning of his understanding of love, Su Hang''s heart had no one but Shen Xi. When she was just three years old and crying for her father and afterward, when she smiled at him as they left. Su Hang''s heart had only seen his other half to be lovely and bright. But what about Shen Xi? Before she married him, what kind of love had she experienced? What did the guy she fantasized about look like?


    "How about you?" Maybe it was because the atmosphere was so good. But this time, Su Hang didn''t suppress his curiosity and asked Shen Xi directly.


    "What?" Shen Xi, who had been looking at the sun through the cotton candy, looked at him in surprise.


    "When you were in high school, what kind of guy did you daydream about?" Su Hang asked.


    "Me?" Shen Xi thought back. After a while, sheughed. "I imagined him taller than me. I would go on my tiptoes to kiss him, and he would bend down to kiss me."


    Shen Xi had barely finished her sentence when a shadow suddenly covered her. A soft touch on her lips left Shen Xi stunned. Her eyes rounded in surprise, and she looked at the handsome face inches from her. It happened in the span to two seconds. Eventually, the surprise in Shen Xi''s eyes slowly receded, and she slowly closed her eyes, her quivering fingers holding the cotton candy tightly.


    When Su Hang noticed that his eyes were closed, he immediately opened them. He saw Shen Xi''s soft expression, and the fist he had been clenching hard, slowly loosened.


    Shen Xi didn''t pull away. She didn''t hate him. She was even putting effort into epting him, both his personality and his past.


    Su Hang finally realized this when she kowtowed with him in front of his mother''s grave. And this kiss was his first step in verifying this conjecture.


    He had guessed right!


    Su Hang closed his eyes again. As they kissed by the sparkling water, time seemed to have stopped for the two.


    After a long while, Shen Xi quivered, then turned away. Shen Xi became embarrassed and hid from Su Hang''s gaze. "I¡­my neck is stiff."


    The two were kissing for so long that Shen Xi''s neck had be a little sore.


    "Oh¡­cough¡­." The usually calm Su Hang was also red.


    "Ah, the cotton candy is melting." Shen Xi tried to change the subject to cover her embarrassment.


    "Then you don''t need to eat it." Su Hang reached out and took the cotton candy from Shen Xi, then firmly took Shen Xi''s other hand with his free hand. "What we walk for a bit more or go home?"


    "Let''s go home." Feeling him tightly grasping her hand, Shen Xi''s heart couldn''t help but beat faster. It was really strange; this wasn''t the first time she had held someone''s hand like this.


    "Un." With one hand holding Shen Xi, and the other holding cotton candy, Su Hang slowly started walking by thekeside.


    After a while, a hurried voice started shouting from behind them. Shen Xi felt that the voice sounded familiar, so she stopped and looked back. She saw the young couple she had helped moments before running towards her.


    "Ah, it''s good that we managed to catch up to you!" The girl, who had been dragging her boyfriend with her, stopped in front of them.


    "What can I do for you?" Shen Xi asked.


    "I have something for you." The young girl took a photo from her boyfriend''s hand and passed it to Shen Xi.


    It was a proid. Shen Xi and Su Hang looked at the photo and saw the scene to be unusually familiar. It was a scene of two people kissing. One figure was a tall man, bending down as he kissed a woman sitting on a bench. Because of the position of the sunlight, the facial features of the figures were covered, but the beautiful outline and theposition of the scene made the photo look like a painting.


    Shen Xi''s cheeks turned red, while Su Hang''s eyes became bright.


    "It looks really good, right? I always say its best to take silhouette photos against the light."


    "Should we shoot one with the same pose?" Her handsome boyfriend suggested.


    "No way, I won''t let you take advantage of me before we even get to college." The girl raised a brow, bing fierce.


    "Eh¡­" The handsome boy replied with a bitter expression.


    "Thank you." Although she was embarrassed to be seen kissing by two minors, Shen Xi did like the photo.


    "No need to thank me. I took it at the heat of the moment. It was just a little hard chasing after you." The young girl said, her expression lovely even as sheined. "I thought you would still walk around theke some more, so I quickly got the photo printed in a nearby store. But suddenly, you guys had disappeared, and I had to run after you two."


    Shen Xi was so embarrassed she couldn''t speak. Do high school students talk so openly these days?


    "Can I have the electronic version too?" Su Hang asked. He felt that one photo print wasn''t enough.


    "Sure, add me on WeChat." The young girl took out her phone.


    Su Hang quickly took out his phone and added the young girl. The girl then immediately sent the photo to Su Hang, then proudly said: "My phone has a gship camera, with 50 million pixels! When you get home, you can erge that photo and make a couple of posters. I''m sure it''ll look amazing in your home."


    "Thank you." Su Hang was more than satisfied.


    "Alright, we won''t disturb you anymore. We''re going to y some more, 88!" The young girl was quite a pleasant and straightforward sort of person. She happily skipped away while holding her boyfriend''s hand, having no idea she just added a CEO of a well-listedpany to her WeChat.


    (T/N: 88 is used in online chats to say bye-bye in shorthand.)


    Shen Xi looked at the photo in her hand, then at Su Hang''s phone. As she did this, she managed to lock eyes with Su Hang.


    "Let''s go home." Still holding her hand, Su Hang started to walk again, only a little more briskly this time.


    On the way back to S City, Shen Xi grew a little tired. She ended up falling asleep at the passenger seat. With the soothing musicing from the radio and the already dark sky, it was easy for one to fall tired. But Su Hang was so keyed up he could barely rein in his excitement.


    Peeking at Shen Xi from time to time, Su Hang drove all the way home with a smile on his face.


    It was 9:00 p.m. when they got back home. The living room lights were left on by Mrs. Zhang for them. Chu Wu was in the living room when he heard a car approaching the house.


    After Su Hang stopped the car, he unbuckled his seat belt and turned to wake Shen Xi up. But seeing Shen Xi''s rxed face, Su Hang''s eyes turned deep. He couldn''t help but look at Shen Xi like a big gray wolf would stare at a small white rabbit.


    The kiss and Shen Xi''s soft lips still reverberated in his mind. It was addictive, and it made one want another taste.


    Meanwhile, Chu Wu was bing restless. He barked a few twice. He clearly heard the car. Why hadn''t his parentse in yet? Chu Wu walked around in circles. Chu Wu jumped up and opened the door lock with his front paws. Seeing a familiar car outside, Chu Wu immediately ran.


    The distance between Su Hang and Shen Xi was bing shorter and shorter. Just a little bit, just a little bit¡­


    "Bark, bark, bark!!!" All of a sudden, Chu Wu popped up from the front passenger window, his paws tapping on the ss.


    "Hm??" Shen Xi jolted awake. She then noticed the man inches from her, obvious dismay in his expression. "Are¡­are we home?"


    Su Hang tilted his head and looked at the silly dog who was still howling excitedly. In the end, he pretended that he had just been trying to help Shen Xi unbuckle her seatbelt.


    As Su Hang moved back to his seat, Shen Xi breathed out a sigh of relief.


    "Bark, bark, bark!!!" Chu Wu saw that his parents still hadn''t gotten out of the car and was bing anxious.


    Finally free, she smiled at Su Hang and said: "I''ll be going first."


    "Un." Su Hang was still feeling a little guilty for his thoughts just now.


    Shen Xi pushed her door open, embraced Chu Wu, then happily said: "Chu Wu is such a good boy. Did you miss me?"


    Shen Xi teased Chu Wu for a bit, then led him to the house.


    Su Hang stayed there until he couldn''t hear Shen Xi''sughter anymore. Then, he put his hand over his eyes. He then started warning himself: Su Hang, be patient, you should be more patient. We already made such tremendous progress today. You shouldn''t be too eager, or you might scare her away.


    Su Hang admonished himself again and again until he finally calmed down. He parked the car and walked towards the house. When Su Hang entered the house, he¡­saw no one on the first floor. Not his wife, or his dog.


    That guy ran to his wife''s bedroom again!


    Su Hang was very annoyed. He wished he could just go upstairs and throw Chu Wu out of her room. Ahh, he had be too softhearted and forgot to be on guard.


    In the second-floor bedroom.


    Shen Xi was kneeling on the soft, fluffy carpet, and was ying with a happy Chu Wu. Shen Xi said with a smile: "Chu Wu, I''m very happy today."


    "Bark!" Chu Wu saw that his mother was talking to him and was delighted.


    "We went on a date by theke today." Shen Xi gushed.


    "Bark!"


    "Look, this picture was taken today." Shen Xi didn''t really care that Chu Wu couldn''t understand her.


    "Bark! Bark!"


    "(*^__^*) hehe¡­" Shen Xi was in such a good mood she ended up rolling around the carpet with a pillow in her arms.


    Chu Wu saw his mother giggling on the floor. After waiting for a while, Chu Wu saw that his mother didn''t want to y with him anymore and was instead busy rolling on the floor. After wagging his tail for a bit, Chu Wu ran to his father''s bedroom on the first floor. He hadn''t licked his father yet.


    "Bark, bark!" Chu Wu opened the guest bedroom door and barked at his father, who was changing clothes.


    "You finally came down?" Su Hang coldly nced at the cheerfully wagging dog.


    "Bark, bark!" I''m here to y with Dad!


    Su Hang smiled, hugged Chu Wu, then lifted him up. He left his room, walked past the living room, and directly locked Chu Wu in his kennel.


    "Bark???" Poor Chu Wu was locked up again.


    ==


    Probably because they were out the entire day, Shen Xi woke up the next day a littleter than usual. She stretched as she walked down the stairs, not noticing Su Hang sitting in the living room. He had been watching the news on the iPad for the past half hour.


    "Morning."


    A clear male voice called out her, causing Shen Xi to forcibly tamp down the yawn she was about to make. With an awkward smile, she greeted: "Morning!"


    So cute! Su Hang secretly regrets not installing cameras inside the home. He had wanted to save a screenshot of Shen Xi yawning.


    Maybe it was because of yesterday, but now, the two had formed some sort of tacit understanding. The atmosphere during breakfast was much more harmonious than before, and Su Hang spoke much more than before.


    "Cough¡­Do you have any ns for today?" Su Hang asked.


    "Yun Shu asked me to go shopping with her." Shen Xi replied.


    Inside the house, there''s Chu Wu, while outside, there''s Yun Shu!


    (T/N: This is Su Hangmenting the fact that Chu Wu takes away his wife''s attention at home, while Yun Shu takes her attention away outside.)


    Noticing that Su Hang was at a loss, Shen Xi asked: "What''s the matter?"


    "Nothing, buy anything you want." Su Hang hurriedly replied.


    Hearing such a cliche line, Shen Xi couldn''t help but joke: "Should I wave around my card, or your card?"


    (T/N: I would use swipe here instead of wave, but the Chinese character used here was ''to brush.'' And I''m like ???? but then I figured Shen Xi was talking about like pay wave? )


    Su Hang was stunned. Then he abruptly stood up and went to his room.


    "??" A puzzled Shen Xi looked at Su Hang as he walked away.


    Soon, Su Hang came back. He handed a ck credit card to Shen Xi and with a serious expression, said: "Wave mine!"


    "Pfft¡­alright." Shen Xi epted the card with a chuckle.


    Su Hang sat back down, embarrassed by Shen Xi''sugh. He didn''t know what he did that caused her tough. Was it because he acted like a nouveau riche?


    Then, Mrs. Zhang came over with an envelope in her hands. She handed it to Shen Xi then said: "Madam, this was delivered yesterday."


    Shen Xi put down her spoon and epted the envelope. When she opened it she saw that it was an invitation. Opening the invitation, Shen Xi slightly frowned. "Star River Charity Banquet."


    The Star River Charity Banquet was China''s top charity ball. The conditions for one to get invited to the event were very strict. So strict in fact, that one had to donate money if they wanted to attend. Every guest attending the banquet had to have donated more than 100 million yuan for consecutive years. And even if you met the above condition, you still needed someone to introduce you and be your guarantor. Only then would you get an invitation.


    And for someone like Su Hang, it was practically impossible for him to be invited to such a ball.


    "Hm, I guess it is almost time for the Star River Charity Banquet." Shen Ximented as she handed the invitation to Su Hang.


    Su Hang took the invitation and looked at the names written on it with a frown. (Ms. Shen Xi and Mr. Su Hang)


    "Are you going?" Shen Xi suddenly asked.


    "Ah?" Su Hang was taken aback. "This invitation is for you, why are you asking me?"


    "Your name is also on that, ah." Shen Xi replied.


    "If it wasn''t for you, how can I be qualified to attend such a banquet." Su Hang said, self-aware.


    "Well, if it wasn''t for you, I doubt they would''ve sent me an invitation this year." Shen Xi answered with a self-deprecating smile.


    Su Hang suddenly regretted his words. Why did he have to remind her of their ''ss'' difference?


    Shen Xi gave Su Hang the opportunity to enter her ''high-society'' circle, and Su Hang had given Shen Xi money so that she could maintain her right to be in this circle. It sounded like some kind of aristocratic drama set during medieval times. A nouveau riche, using their money to be included in noble society. Su Hang knew that practically everyone thought this was why he had married Shen Xi. Su Hang had long mentally prepared himself and honestly didn''t care what they thought. But after yesterday''s wonderful events, Su Hang became a little fidgety. He didn''t want such noisy people suddenly intruding on their newly established harmony.


    "Let''s go." Shen Xi said after some thought.


    Su Hang looked at Shen Xi, his expression full of hesitation and tangled emotions.


    Shen Xi remembered that in herst life, she had also asked Su Hang to go together. But at that time, Su Hang had made it clear that he didn''t want to go, so in the end, Shen Xi didn''t insist. In the end, Shen Xi had gone alone. Then after the event, rumors that their marriage was strained wildly spread. People sneered at Shen Xi behind her back, saying that she had only married Su Hang for money and that she hated Su Hang''s origins. They gossiped that Shen Xi was too ashamed of her husband to even take him to a charity g. Poor Su Hang had spent billions of yuan but still hadn''t been able to attend the Star River Charity Banquet.


    But what if neither of them goes? Then others would say that Shen Xi married an upstart illegitimate son who didn''t have the courage to mingle with high society. Shen Xi figured that if they would be badmouthed either way, why not just go? At least that way, she could show Su Hang that she had never once looked down on him in her heart.


    "I¡­" Su Hang was still hesitant.


    "There will be gossip, no matter if we attend or not." Shen Xi said. "But if we go, even if we hear some something, at least there wouldn''t be any sort of misunderstanding between us."


    "Alright." Su Hang immediately nodded, with any sort of hesitation instantly gone.


    "We''ve never danced together before. Are you good at dancing?" Shen Xi asked, suddenly turning the conversation.


    "I''m not bad." Su Hang answered with a guilty conscience.


    "Oh, and there''s also a charity auction during the banquet. We''ll have to prepare something for the auction." Shen Xi said, a little embarrassed.


    "Didn''t you get a lot of antiques as wedding gifts?" Su Hang remembered Shen Xi saying that some of the gifts could be auctionedter.


    "We just received them. It wouldn''t be good to auction them so soon." Shen Xi shook her head.


    "Then¡­" Su Hang suddenly remembered. "We can auction the Q&H ne that I boughtst time. You said it was too luxurious and impractical for you to wear."


    "No way." Shen Xi immediately refused. "That''s the first ever gift you gave me. Even if I''m not able to use it often, it can never be auctioned off."


    Su Hang was a little surprised, but seeing Shen Xi''s serious expression, his mouth subconsciously curved.


    "I guess we can slowly think about it. We still have plenty of time." Shen Xi said.


    "Alright!" Su Hang thought that even if Shen Xi directly sold him off in the future, he would help her count the money himself.


    ==


    When Yun Shu looked at the ''Su Hang'' Shen Xi had just signed on the electronic pad, she couldn''t help but spit out: "Didn''t you once tell me that when you got married, you would never spend your husband''s money?"


    (T/N: When you pay by credit card, sometimes you have to sign the receipt. That''s mostly done before 2000 I think. I don''t know if China still does this.)


    "Yep." Shen Xi put down the tablet pen and smiled. "But when you get married, you''ll find that spending your husband''s money will help you feel immensely better."


    "It''s vulgar." Yun Shu wrinkled her nose.


    Shen Xi didn''t bother replying. She simply put away Su Hang''s card with a smile.


    "Have you received an invitation to the Star River party yet?" Yun Shu suddenly asked.


    "I got it." Shen Xi replied.


    "You''re going?" Yun Shu asked.


    "Going."


    "With Su Hang?"


    "Un." Shen Xi nodded.


    "I guess this year is going to be particrly noisy." Yun Shun eximed, schadenfreude coloring her tone.


    (T/N: schadenfreude is when you delight in another person''s misfortune)


    "So what?" Shen Xi replied. "In the end, there are some things that just can''t be avoided. Since we''re destined to be the center of attention whatever we do, it''s better for us to show our faces. Maybe if we''re lucky, it''ll raise the stocks of Shen Group and Supany."


    "Aren''t you scared that Su Hang won''t be able to take it once he loses face?" Yun Shu asked her friend, concerned.


    "Yun Shu." Shen Xi suddenly looked at her friend with a serious expression. "Do you honestly believe that Su Hang married me for my link to high society?"


    "¡­" For a moment, Yun Shu didn''t know what to say. After all, it was a recognized fact in their circle that Su Hang married her for this.


    "I won''t go around exining our situation to other people. But you''re my best friend, so I''m telling you. I don''t want you to look at Su Hang in this way."


    "Alright." As she said this, Yun Shu immediately thought of another matter. "Oh yeah, I heard that our ss leader from business school will also being back to China to attend the banquet."


    Our ss leader will be attending? Shen Xi was a bit surprised.


    "Oh man, you and ss leader were once recognized as the golden couple, ah." Yun Shu said, evillyughing.


    Meanwhile, a certain someone was currently calling his secretary to ask him to find a ballroom teacher for himself. After all, before the age of 18, Su Hang never had the opportunity to dance. And after the age of 18, Su Hang had never been in the mood to dance. It wasn''t easy for him to get this opportunity to dance with his wife, so Su Hang was going to learn how to dance before this banquet, or die trying.


    ***


    Omg Su Hang, go you! Full of fluff~~


    An especially long chapter. Triple the length!


    Also, with this ss leader character, we don''t have much information on him yet. In the raws he''s called ''chief'' (³¤), but that doesn''t really sound right, so I renamed him as ss leader (If he and Shen Xi were the golden couple, no way is he like the tutor or teacher right?). I''m just pointing it out in case we get new information that leads me to change this chapter. A small thing, but I wanted to be clear.

 Chapter 19

    ***


    During lunchtime, the Supany received a courier delivery at its front desk, to be sent to the President''s office.


    "It''s for Secretary Fang." A woman at the front desk read the receipt.


    "Then send it up quickly." Any express deliveries sent to the President''s office must be delivered upstairs as soon as it arrives. This was the very first rule any front desk assistant in Su Group must remember.


    "Un." The woman''s co-worker took the delivery and took the elevator to the President''s office on the top floor.


    "Express delivery for Secretary Fang." The young woman was soon knocking at the door to the secretary''s office room.


    Inside, Secretary Fang was drinking his coffee leisurely. It was a rare workday where the Boss wasn''t in the building, nor did he need to follow the Boss somewhere. But he was soon interrupted by the knock on the door. Secretary Fang puts down his coffee, opens the door, and epts the delivery. With a smile, he thanks the woman. "Sorry for the inconvenience, Xiao Mei."


    (T/N: Xiao Mei is literally little beauty, not really a name. But that''s what was written in the raws, so¡­)


    "Secretary Fang knows my name?" Being one of thepany''s top leaders, it was a little exciting to know that he could remember the name of such a low-level receptionist like her.


    "Of course I remember. You also helped mest time with another delivery." Secretary Fang smiled as he nced at the employee card on Xiao Mei''s chest.


    "Ah, that''s just my job." Xiao Mei''s excited face was beginning to turn red. "That¡­I won''t continue to bother you, I''ll say my goodbyes now Secretary Fang."


    "Goodbye." Secretary Fang watched the blushing young woman run away. Then he walked back into the office with the package. As soon as he turned around, he saw the teasing looks of the two other secretaries under him.


    "Chief, you''re teasing young girls again." Lilith, a.k.a Assitant One,mented with a smile.


    "Nonsense." Fang Yu put the box on the table and epted the box cutter Zhu Lin, a.k.a Assistant Two had offered him. After two or three cuts, the box was opened.


    Unwrapping the bubble wrap inside, Fang Yu found a beautiful picture frame inside.


    "Eh?" Zhu Lin looked at the photo inside the frame and couldn''t help but wonder: "¡­This silhouette looks a little like the Boss?"


    "Where, where?" Lilith heard Zhu Lin''s words and excitedly looked over. Confirming Zhu Lin''s guess, she said: "That''s the Boss alright."


    "You two have good eyes." It should be said that when Fang Yu saw the picture, he had to look at it for a long time before he realized that the silhouette was the Boss.


    "Then, the other silhouette is our Boss'' wife?" Zhe Lin added.


    "So beautiful and romantic." Lilith was starry-eyed. The silhouettes of the two people kissing, the breeze lifting the willow leaves, the setting sun¡­it makes anyone seeing the photo drunk.


    "What kind of thoughts are you having? The Boss is already married." Fang Yu teased Lilith.


    "What are nonsense are you spouting! I''ve been worked to the bone with all the overtime the Boss is giving me. Any thoughts of love I''ve had for the Boss had long turned into fear." Lilith said with a sour face. "Fear of doing another overtime."


    "Yes!" Zhu Lin, having experienced the same thing, wholeheartedly agreed with Lilith. "I think the first time I ever saw the Boss was in a financial magazine. I had a massive crush on him from then on, so I tried my best tond a job as the Boss'' secretary or assistant. After five passes, six defeats, and countless battles, I finally lost to the neverending overtime thrust upon me."


    "Your love is so superficial." Fang Yu couldn''t help but roll his eyes. He took out the picture frame, wiped the dust off the ss with a tissue, and after making sure that everything was perfect, walked off to put the frame in the president''s office.


    Meanwhile, Zhu Lin picked up the curious box, wanting to throw it away, but suddenly noticed that there was another, identical picture frame inside. Curious, she took the frame and went to Fang Yu. "Chief, there''s another one?"


    "That one''s a spare." Fang Yu took the picture frame from her. "It''s my secret weapon for when the Boss gets into a bad mood while traveling."


    "Smart!" Lilith and Zhu Lin couldn''t help but praise their superior, giving him two thumbs up.


    "By the way¡­the Boss is always going out during lunchtime these days. What is he doing?" Zhu Lin asked. Their Boss had always been a workaholic. He would even hold meetings during his lunch break. The three of them would usually have to follow, eating in shifts and running around non-stop. So today''s quiet and peaceful lunch was like a dream, a very wonderful dream.


    "The Boss¡­" Fang Yu didn''t know what to say. He valiantly tried to tamp down theugh that was trying to burst out of him. "He''s preparing for the Star River Charity Banquet that''s happening next week."


    While the three chatted, in a building about ten minutes away from the Su Group, President Su was busy struggling to move along with the music.


    "Ah!"


    At this shrill cry, Su Hang stiffly stopped moving. "Sorry."


    "No¡­it''s alright." As the dance studio assistant, Selena had secretly been d when she found out she was going to be Mr. Su''s practice partner. After all, who didn''t like having a handsome dance partner. It was just that¡­her foot was stepped on for more than 30 times already. She was afraid she was going to need to rest her swollen foot for an entire week after this session.


    Dance teacher Peter looked down at the feet of all his assistants sadly. His studio had five assistants, and each one of them had tried being partners with Mr. Su. And after taking a ss with Mr. Su, each one of them had to rest at home for three whole days. At this rate, he won''t be able to afford his assistants, ah!


    "Mr. Su, you slipped again." Peter''s voice was full of frustration.


    Su Hang naturally knew that he made another blunder. Different people had different shorings, and for Su Hang, it looks like it''s not being able to remember the damn beat.


    "In fact, this kind of ballroom dancing¡­" Peter suddenly stopped. He didn''t dare continue in fear of hurting Mr. Su''s self-esteem. "Mr. Su, if you really can''t hold the beat, why don''t you just count it yourself? Count in your head, ''1, 2, 3, 4''."


    Peter has been teaching dance for more than a decade already, and today was definitely the stain of his career.


    "Selena, Mr. Su, begin again." Peter looked at Selena, who was secretly twisting her foot.


    "Ah?" Selena''s face turned pale, but she squared her shouldered and stepped forward.


    The music started again. Su Hang moved with the steps taught to him, and silently counted the beats in his head: 1, 2, 3¡­


    "Ouch!" After another scream, Selena finally couldn''t stand it. Her voice was trembling as she pleaded: "Mr. Su¡­how about we take off our shoes before we try again?"


    "¡­." Su Hang pursed his lips, his face dark.


    For the past week, Su Hang had been spending an hour of his lunch break to learn how to dance. (As to why he did it during his lunch break, of course it was because he had to go home and have dinner with his wife every night.) But even after a week of constant practice, apart from learning the steps, Su Hang didn''t make a single amount of progress.


    Prior to his attempts at learning how to dance, Su Hang had always felt that he was a quick learner. After all, Su Hang had no formal schooling past primary school, and the rest of his knowledge came from self-study. And yet he sessfully passed the entrance exams for M University''s Department of Financial Management at the age of eighteen. Su Hang thought he had a high IQ and learning ability. But he can''t even learn how to dance; this was just too¡­


    At the end of today''s lesson, no progress had been made. But Su Hang still had to return to thepany and work. Re-tying his tie, he put on his suit jacket and quietly waited for the elevator to descend to his floor.


    Ding!


    As the elevator doors opened, Su Hang was about to walk in, but stopped in his tracks when he saw the man standing inside.


    It was Shang HeXu, heir to an airline business, the owner of the world''srgest supermarket chain, and Shen Xi''s childhood friend.


    "Noting in?" Shang HeXu politely asked.


    Su Hang returned to his senses. He pursed his lips and stepped into the elevator. The tense Su Hang stood at the other end of the elevator, away from Shang HeXu and didn''t say a word.


    "Mr. Su is here to dance?" Shang HeXu''s gentle voice suddenly sounded in the narrow space.


    Su Hang blinked in surprise, then looked at the man on the other end of the elevator.


    "When the doors opened, I noticed the sign for a dance studio." Shang He Xu exined with a smile.


    "Mr. Shang, you know who I am?" Su Hang asked.


    "Mr. Su is a very talked-about topic recently." Shang HeXu calmly and gracefully raised his right hand and extended it towards Su Hang. "I''ve heard much about you, but this is the first time we''ve met."


    Su Hang looked at Shang HeXu''s outstretched hand. His gaze wasplicated, but Su Hang willingly reached out and shook it. "Nice to meet you."


    Both of the men looked at their sped hands. Su Hang was afraid he wouldn''t be able to contain his hostility if he kept looking at the man, but Shang HeXu was too busy looking towards Su Hang''s cuffs. Su Hang''s movements had exposed a scar on his wrist.


    Shang HeXu''s eyes shed, and he suddenly said aloud: "I don''t know if Mr. Su is free, but how about having lunch together?"


    "Alright." Su Hang didn''t know why Shang HeXu suddenly invited him for lunch, but he knew that he couldn''t shy away from any sort of provocation from this man.


    Shang HeXu chuckled and raised his hand to press the elevator button for the top floor.


    The top floor housed a western 3-Star Michelin restaurant that had a quiet and elegant atmosphere. It was obvious that Shang HeXu was a regr here. After they ordered two simple meals, Shang HeXu asked the waiter to bring a bottle of red wine that he had reserved previously.


    As Su Hang silently watched the red wine trickle into his ss, his right unconsciously fiddled with his knife and fork.


    "Mr. Su, the scar on your wrist¡­" Shang HeXu suddenly started, being entirely presumptuous. "I saw it while we shook hands and was a little curious about it."


    "An injury from a long time ago." Su Hang replied off-handedly.


    "It looks like a knife wound." Shang HeXumented. It caused Su Hang to look at Shang HeXu with puzzled eyes, but Shang HeXu was genially sipping his wine, looking quite carefree. Shang HeXu then continued: "Twelve years ago, in an alley next to QingCheng Middle School."


    Su Hang''s eyebrows furrowed, and he looked at Shang HeXu eyes with some vignce.


    "Now that I think about it, this isn''t really the first time we''ve met." Shang HeXu''s voice became tinged with nostalgia. "Twelve years ago, I skipped ss and secretly smuggled Shen Xi out of school to help her buy a birthday present for her aunt. Unfortunately, I met a few hooligans in an alley beside the school. Shen Xi was with me at the time, so I couldn''t run away, but I wasn''t strong enough to beat the guys either. I didn''t know what to do. But then, a young man with a stick came from the other end of the alley and helped us stop the hooligans."


    "That was you." Shang HeXu stated. "A month after that incident, I happened to see the boy near the school with that scar on his wrist."


    Hearing Shang HeXu''s words, Su Hang unconsciously looked down at his right hand, which housed a scar and a memory of Shen Xi.


    "It was me." Su Hang looked at Shang HeXu and simply admitted to it.


    "So it really was you!" Shang HeXu chuckled, his gazeplicated. "You know, I brought along 3 billion yuan today."


    3 billion? Su Hang, with his eyes fixed on Shang HeXu, suddenly became hostile and tense.


    "I wanted to make an opportunity for the two of us to meet. I wanted to try and re-negotiate Shen Xi''s agreement with you." Shang HeXu exined. "After all, 3 billion yuan is no small amount of money. It probably wasn''t easy for you to raise that sort of money."


    "It''s none of your business!" Su Hang warned.


    "This was rted to Shen Xi." Then, Shang HeXu gave Su Hang a wry smile. "But now, I know. You''re never going to re-negotiate with me. Because that so-called girl you''ve been in love with for a long time¡­is actually Shen Xi."


    "I waste by only a month, ah." Shang HeXu muttered in a self-deprecating way.


    "Even if you were only a minutete, it won''t change the fact that she''s my wife." So please go away!


    The two men''s gazes met and shed, an unseen sh of lightning crackling between them.


    The author has something to say:


    Su Hang: Fang Yu, what is this document? Did you forget your brain at home when you came to work today?


    Fang Yu calmly hands Su Hang the spare picture frame.


    Su Hang: Forget it. Just pay more attention next time.

 Chapter 20

    ***


    On the top floor of the Su Group building, Fang Yu was hesitating to open the thick folder he had just received. Usually, documents sent to the president''s office, as long as they weren''t specially marked, needed to be checked by Fang Yu first. Only after he has read through and understood the content will he be able to take them to the Boss for review. This was to improve the efficiency of their Boss.


    But the folder in his hands was sent by the Shenpany. Fang Yu hadn''t received any instructions from Su Hang on how to handle things like this, so he didn''t dare open it.


    While Fang Yu was hesitating, Su Hang happened to walk in. Although Su Hang''s expression was calm, there was a dense cloud of irritability all over his body. Seeing this, Fang Yu became even more uncertain.


    "Boss!" Zhu Lin and Lilith stood up and bowed down towards Su Hang in a respectful greeting. Usually, Su Hang would at least nod in their direction, but today, he walked straight past them without a single nce.


    "What''s the matter with the Boss? It''s like he ate something disgusting, or was forced to drink bitter medicine." Seeing the President''s office door close, Zhu Lin couldn''t help but whisper this question towards Fang Yu.


    "How would I know? I was with you all afternoon." Fang Yu looked at the folder he was still holding and silently prayed in his heart. "I hope the Boss will be in a better mood once he sees the picture frame in his office."


    When Su Hang went into his office, he went straight to his desk and slumped onto his chair. The words Shang HeXu had said to him were still echoing in his mind.


    Brought along 3 billion? Only a monthte? During Shen Xi''s childhood, she and Shang HeXu were considered the golden couple. He was the default son-inw before the Shen Family''s sudden ident. Shang HeXu''s words made him sound like some sort of bandit who had robbed him half-way through his journey.


    Ah¡­..


    Su Hang grimlyughed out loud. He didn''t know whether he wasughing at himself or at Shang HeXu. What he did know, was that no matter what, he was with Shen Xi. As long as they were together, no one could separate them.


    After a long silence, Su Hang gradually calmed down and started his afternoon work. He extended his right hand to get the documents needed to be approved, but then inadvertently noticed the picture frame on his desk. A picture frame that wasn''t on his desk when he went out at noon. His right hand involuntarily moved from the documents and shifted towards the beautiful photo that he couldn''t take his eyes off of.


    The moment frozen in the picture was the happiest moment Su Hang had ever experienced in his life. As he looked at the photo, Su Hang could remember the sparklingke and the colorful flowers in crystal-clear rity.


    "No one can separate us, as long as you''re willing to stay with me." As if finally appeased, Su Hang''s expression gradually softened.


    In the meantime, Fang Yu was still standing outside. He had waited half an hour to make sure that his Boss would see the photo on his desk. Finally, he took the documents sent by the Shen Group and carefully knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    This cool tone that Su Hang had just used was his usual tone of voice. It seems that the picture had sessfully done its job. With a sigh of relief, Fang Yu walked into the office.


    "Boss, some documents the Shen Group just sent." Fang Yu handed the folder to Su Hang.


    "The Shen Family?" Su Hang''s expression was visibly confused. He looked at Fang Yu and waited for an exnation.


    "I didn''t open it." Fang Yu replied.


    "¡­" After some thought, Su Hang understood why Fang Yu didn''t read the documents. "Go ahead and put it down."


    "Yes." Fang Yu carefully put to the folder on his Boss'' desk, then delicately withdrew.


    Su Hang didn''t immediately open the folder but instead went back to dealing with the document he had been holding. It wasn''t until he had finished reviewing this that he finally opened the folder.


    Su Hang opened the folder, pulled out the thick documents inside. His gaze lingered on the title cover in front of him.


    Shen Group''s financial statements and analysis from September to November 2017.


    Su Hang stayed stiff and upright for a long while, then finally moved. He pursed his lips and mechanically flipped through the contents of the document. The statements printed on the paper were unambiguous and straightforward. It illustrated the problem in figures and graphs. The Shen Group''s losses were the most prominent during the beginning of October, and during November, they gained back their profitability. The Shen Group shares also began to rise back up. As of this morning, it had risen up to 13 yuan. ording to this current increase, Su Hang can predict that in less than half a year, Shen Group''s stock would return to its previous market value.


    When Su Hang injected capital into Shen Group, it was to purely to save the Shen family. But now, even when he hadn''t asked for it, the Shen Group took the initiative to send this report to him. What was the purpose of this? Was it to reassure themselves that they were fine now? Were they trying to say that they had the ability to repay the 3 billion yuan they had borrowed from him? Su Hang couldn''t help but have his thoughts go off into a tangent¡­


    Almost instinctively, Su Hang looked back to the picture frame on the side of his desk. He knew. He knew from the very beginning that Shen Xi''s parents despised him. If not for Mrs. Shen''s physical condition, Shen father would never have agreed to his proposal. And what''s more, Shang HeXu had juste back with 3 billion yuan. They all feel that he had used despicable means to marry Shen Xi, and what were they now doing? One by one they were telling him, they all now had the ability to break him and Shen Xi up.


    Shang HeXu, the Shen family¡­but what about you? Su Hang gently touched Shen Xi''s silhouette in the photo on his desk. Do you also want to leave me? If you really want to leave, then I¡­


    "Get out!"


    With Su Hang''s angry roar, the marketing director immediately ''escaped'' from the office, tail between his legs. The director gave Secretary Fang a betrayed expression as he left, wiping the sweat off his forehead.


    This was already the fifth consecutive time the Boss had yelled at any staff member that entered his office. His anger hadn''t subsided one bit, causing Fang Yu to feel like he had to do something. Otherwise, nobody would be able to do anything today.


    "Secretary Fang?" The sales manager looked at Fang Yu, his face clearly asking for help.


    "Manager Jing, you go on ahead, I''ll think of a way." Fang Yu tried his best to reassure the man.


    "Well¡­you''re the only one we can depend on." Manager Jing wiped the sweat off his forehead and went into Su Hang''s office like a man being led to the gallows.


    Fang Yu huffed, then took out his phone. He dialed the Boss'' home phone.


    "Hello, this is the Su residence." Mrs. Zhang answered the phone.


    "Mrs. Zhang, it''s me, Fang Yu."


    "Secretary Fang, ah, what do you need?" Mrs. Zhang asked.


    "Is the Madam home?" Fang Yu asked.


    "She''s here." Mrs. Zhang replied. "She just came back home."


    "Then, can you please call the Boss and tell him that the Madame came back home and asked when he''ll be back?" Fang Yu requested.


    "You got scolded again?" Mrs. Zhang immediately knew what he was trying to do.


    "Please help, Mrs. Zhang." Fang Yu said miserably.


    "Alright, I''ll go call him in a bit." Mrs. Zhang couldn''t help the chuckle that escaped her.


    "No, no, please call immediately after I hang up. Please." After Fang Yu hung up the phone, he pricked up his ears and began listening in for any sounds in the President''s office.


    Sure enough, after a moment of silence, Manager Jing came out of the office with an expression of liberation. He deeply bowed towards Fang Yu and said: "I owe you a drink."


    Then he ran out of the room like his ass was on fire.


    Zhu Lin and Lilith couldn''t help but smile when they saw this funny scene.


    Then with a ''creak,'' the office door was opened again. Su Hang walked out of his office and looked at Fang Yu. "If you find any unfinished documents, just send it hometer."


    "Yes." Of course, Fang Yu intended to do it after 8:00 p.m. If he went early and disturbed the Boss and the Madam''s dinner, he will die a miserable death.


    Su Hang nodded with satisfaction, turned around, and went home.


    Soon, Su Hang''s car drove through the gates of his home. An excited Chu Wu was already waiting outside the door. Su Hang got out of the car and rubbed Chu Wu''s head. Then the man opened the front door, and the two entered the living room.


    "Sir, you''re back." Mrs. Zhang came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of washed grapes and set it on the living room coffee table.


    "Where''s the Madam?" Su Hang looked around and didn''t see Shen Xi.


    "Madam is in the yard." Mrs. Zhang exined. "She''s making an insted shed."


    "Insted shed?" Su Hang didn''t understand.


    "I''m not sure about the name, it''s the shed that protects nts from the winter weather." Mrs. Zhang replied.


    "Ah, yes." Su Hang ced his car keys on the coffee table, then went straight to the backyard.


    Chu Wu ran past him but was stopped by Mrs. Zhang''s shout. "Chu Wu,e here, I''ll give you some meat stew."


    "Bark!" As soon as Chu Wu heard the word ''meat,'' he immediately backtracked and followed Mrs. Zhang into the kitchen with his tail wagging fast.


    When Su Hang walked out into the backyard, he saw a red-clothed figure crouching not far away. As he approached her, Su Hang saw that Shen Xi wasboriously assembling something with a thin metal tube.


    "What are you doing?" Su Hang crouched down next to Shen Xi and asked.


    Shen Xi looked up, surprised. But when she saw that it was Su Hang, she smiled. "You''re back?"


    "Yeah." Seeing Shen Xi smile at him, Su Hang''s uneasy heart calmed down in an instant.


    "I was just building this small stic greenhouse, so the nts don''t freeze to death." Shen Xi exined. "The weather forecast said it was going to be cooling down in a few days."


    "I''ll do it." Su Hang took the greenhouse frame from her inexperienced hands. He then took a few steps sideways, afraid that he might identally hit Shen Xi while he was building the small greenhouse.


    Su Hang started building the simple greenhouse, with Shen Xi handing him tools at his side.


    "Wow, you don''t even have the instruction manual, yet you''ve built it so quickly." Shen Ximented in surprise.


    "¡­" Feeling Shen Xi''s worshipful eyes on him, Su Hang felt his ears go red. He bowed his head and concentrated on finishing the greenhouse quickly. He epted the steel bars Shen Xi handed to him, and soon, the skeleton of a small shed was formed.


    "Then, we just need to cover it with the stic film." Shen Xi held up the film and then handed Su Hang the other end of the film. Su Hang silently took it, and the two worked together to cover the skeletal shed.


    Su Hang quickly finished affixing the film on his side of the shed. Looking over towards Shen Xi, he saw that she was still struggling, so he crouched beside Shen Xi to help.


    "It''s done!" After Su Hang finished tying thest knot, Shen Xi couldn''t help but p her hands happily.


    Seeing Shen Xi''s delighted expression, Su Hang couldn''t stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.


    "Oh, by the way, I''ve found something for the auction." Shen Xi suddenly said to him. "I have an antique vase I bought five years ago at a foreign auction. We can reauction it at the Star River Charity Banquet."


    Shang HeXu would definitely attend the Star River Charity Banquet. As this thought crossed Su Hang''s mind, the smile on his lips gradually disappeared.


    "Is that alright?" Shen Xi asked again when Su Hang didn''t reply.


    "We''ll do what you decide." Su Hang replied.


    "Good." Shen Xi replied with a smile.


    "Shen Xi¡­" Su Hang started to say.


    "Hm?" Shen Xi nonchntly replied as she started putting pots in the small stic greenhouse.


    "If¡­if you had better options¡­" Would you leave me? Su Hang hesitated for a while, but ultimately decided not to say thetter half of his question.


    "Better options?" What options? Shen Xi was puzzled.


    "It''s justpared to how things are now." Su Hang stiffly said.


    "A better option implies that one can have a better oue or future." Shen Xi thought for a moment.


    The crouched Su Hang started pulling off tufts of yellow weeds from thewn.


    "But things are good right now. There''s no need to think of such vague, far-off things." Shen Xi finished.


    "You think things are good right now?" Su Hang asked, somewhat incredulous.


    "Yes, it''s good." Shen Xi replied briskly and casually.


    Enough¡­that''s enough for me. As long as you feel content with what you have right now, I won''t give you the opportunity to choose those so-called better options. As long as you''re content with us, I can have the courage to be selfish about you just this once.


    "Do you know what these nts are? I don''t even know what flowers I''ll see bloom next year." Shen Xi looked at the nts inside the greenhouse and smiled. "I just found out that while our yard isrge, there aren''t any ornamental nts. So next spring, why don''t we nt some flowers?"


    "Un." Whatever you want.


    "What flowers do you like?" Shen Xi asked.


    "Roses." Su Hang replied.


    "Roses? You like roses?" Shen Xi was somewhat surprised.


    "I want to nt roses in the yard." Su Hang''s tone was gentle as he looked at Shen Xi. "So you can see them."


    Shen Xi couldn''t stop her face from turning red.


    The distance between the two was actually quite small right now. Su Hang only needed to lean down a little to be able to kiss Shen Xi. So he did.


    Shen Xi felt Su Hang lean towards her, and while she nervously clutched at the grass by her feet, she didn''t evade his approach.


    The two got closer and closer, until there was only a hair''s width of distance between them. Then all of a sudden, a dog slotted itself between the two, effectively destroying the beautiful atmosphere.


    "Woof, woof, woof!" Chu Wu stood between his mom and dad, wagging his tail and asking for attention.


    "Pfft¡­" Shen Xiughed as she straightened and stood up. "I''ll go back first."


    Alone with the dog, Su Hang could only vigorously rub Chu Wu''s head to vent. Chu Wu, who thought that his dad was ying with him, happily barked even more.


    The author has something to say:


    One day, the roses in their yard started to bloom.


    So every morning, when Shen Xi opened her eyes, the first thing she would see was a beautiful rose, dewdrops still on its petals.


    And every morning, Su Hang would see a smile more beautiful than any rose.


    ***


    Goddam, that author''s notes made me swoon.

 Chapter 21

    ***


    In the Su Company Building.


    Aftering back from the marketing department with some files, Zhu Lin happened to hear voicesing from inside the President''s office. Zhu Lin turned towards Lilith and whispered."He hasn''t left yet?"


    "No." Lilith shook her head.


    "Wonder why." Zhu Lin started to specte: "It''s been more than two hours. Thest time Chief Fang and the Boss had a talk that went on for this long, it ended with Su Company acquiring Yu Heng Enterprises. Is there going to be another huge business deal?"


    "I don''t think so. The Chief didn''t bring any documents with him inside." Lilith recalled.


    Inside the President''s office Fang Yu rubbed his feet, looked at his watch, and said: "Boss, it''s time to pick up Madam."


    Su Hang raised his hand and looked at his own watch. "There''s still half an hour left. Let''s practice it again."


    No, no¡­" Fang Yu hurriedly replied. "Boss, I''m going to need to drive youter. I can''t have my feet stepped on anymore."


    "¡­." Su Hang nced at Fang Yu''s swollen instep and sighed.


    "Truthfully¡­" Fang Yu saw that his Boss was looking a little depressed, so he triedforting him, saying: "Truthfully, you made great progress today. You only stepped on me twice."


    "That''s because you''ve been helping me count my beats." Su Hang was very self-aware of his dancing skills. "Besides, stepping on you twice is fine, but I can''t step on my wife even once."


    "¡­" Fang Yu had never thought that learning how to dance all those years ago meant that he would one day be dancing the female part. With his boss.


    "Let''s go." Su Hang straightened his shirt and put on his coat. "I have to go back and change my clothes."


    "Yes." Fang Yu quickly put on his shoes and limped out of the office behind Su Hang.


    As the two men left, Zhu Lin and Lilith looked at each other in horror.


    "Why is Secretary Fang limping?" Zhu Lin asked in surprise.


    "Don''t tell me¡­" Lilith couldn''t help but imagine all sorts of things.


    As the ck Mercedes Benz stopped in front of the vi, an excited Chu Wu ran towards the vehicle, barking. Su Hang opened the door of the back seat and patted the dog''s head as he stepped out.


    When he entered the house, Mrs. Zhang was walking down the stairs. She had heard the car outside and had gone downstairs to greet Su Hang. "Sir, you''re back."


    "Un." Su Hang then asked: "Where''s the Madam?"


    "Madam is upstairs putting on some makeup. She''s almost done." Mrs. Zhang replied.


    Hearing that Shen Xi was almost ready, Su Hang nodded and went to his own room to change.


    Mrs. Zhang saw Fang Yu standing around in the middle of the living room. She smiled and said: "Secretary Fang, why don''t you y with Chu Wu for a while? I''m just going to see if Madam needs help with anything else."


    "Of course. Mrs. Zhang, please don''t worry about me." Fang Yu replied.


    Fang Yu yed with Chu Wu in the living room for about ten minutes when Su Hang finally came back out. He had changed into a high-end suit.


    "How is it?" Honestly, Su Hang had never really cared about clothes. But today was different. He was going to apany Shen Xi on the red carpet tonight.


    Fang Yu raised two thumbs up and said: "Very handsome!"


    After another five minutes, there was some movement from the second floor. Su Hang unconsciously turned and looked towards the stairs.


    "Tap, tap."


    With the sound of high-heeled shoes hitting the floor, Shen Xi''s figure finally appeared at the top of the stairs. Shen Xi''s graceful figure was wrapped in a silvery-gray, floor-length dress. Numerous pearls were sewn on the fabric, so every time her gown fluttered, the pearls sparkled like dewdrops. It made Shen Xi looked both elegant and noble.


    Su Hang''s eyes were full of amazement, and his face had turned ck as he looked up at her.


    "Madam, you look beautiful today." Fang Yu eximed.


    Su Hang, who had wanted to praise his wife first, red at his secretary.


    "¡­" Seeing his Boss''s murderous gaze, Fang Yu''s smile immediately turned stiff.


    "Thank you." Shen Xi replied to Fang Yu and slowly walked down the stairs. Because her gown was long, Shen Xi was especially careful as she stepped down. Su Hang saw her actions and had to help her. He quickly walked halfway up the stairs and held Shen Xi''s hand.


    Shen Xi smiled at Su Hang and with his help, safely traveled down the stairs.


    Both Mrs. Zhang and Fang Yu saw this scene and were immensely pleased. One thought that soon, she would only need to clean one bedroom, and the other thought that he would get scolded at work less in the future.


    When they reached the foot of the stairs, Su Hang let go of Shen Xi''s hand. He thought about Shen Xi''s cautious movements just moments ago. He looked down at her long gown and with a frown, said: "This dress is too long."


    "Yes, it won''t be easy walking in this." Shen Xi said with a smile. "If I was attending alone, I wouldn''t have worn this gown."


    Shen Xi really liked long dresses, and most of the dresses in her wardrobe were quite long. But this morning, she actually hesitated when picking out a dress to wear. In herst life, she had gone to the Star River Charity Banquet alone. She wore a simrly long dress back then, and when she walked on the red carpet, she almost fell when she stepped on her gown. If it wasn''t for the kind businessman behind her, she would have face-nted.


    So today, if not for Su Hang apanying her, Shen Xi wouldn''t have chosen such a long dress to wear.


    Su Hang was surprised by her answer. But as he looked at her skirt, his wrinkled brow smoothed out, and his lips curved into an irrepressible smile.


    Meanwhile, Fang Yu was witnessing his Boss act stupid again as he failed to react in this once-in-a-lifetime flirting moment. He immediately shuffled around and superstitiously coughed, but he failed to attract any attention. In the end, he took out his cell phone and sent his Boss a message.


    Feeling his phone vibrate, Su Hang took the device out of his pocket. When he turned the screen on, he saw that Fang Yu had texted him. Su Hang couldn''t help but turn his gaze towards his secretary.


    Fang Yu pretended not to notice.


    Puzzled, Su Hang opened the text and saw: [Boss, you should take your wife''s hand, hold it tightly, and say ''Honey, don''t you worry. I''ll firmly hold your hand when we walk through the red carpet. I won''t let you fall!'' Come on Boss, say it quick!]


    Su Hang gave Fang Yu another murderous look.


    But Fang Yu insisted on it. Behind Shen Xi, Fang Yu signaled his Boss to move quickly.


    Su Hang looked at his phone, then at Fang Yu''s gestures. He did understand that this would be an excellent time to nurture some good feelings. But seeing Fang Yu remind him like this made Su Hang embarrassed and ufortable.


    "Quick!" Fang Yu mouthed.


    Su Hang took a deep breath and took Shen Xi''s left hand.


    "What''s the matter?" Feeling Su Hang suddenly grasp her hand, a surprised Shen Xi blinked.


    "You¡­why are your hands so cold?" Su Hang asked.


    Fang Yu covered his face with his hands. He desperately wanted to knock some sense into his Boss''s head.


    "I don''t feel cold." With Su Hang''s hand wrapped around hers, Shen Xi felt quite warm, actually.


    "No, your hand is definitely cold. The weather is going to be quite cool today, too. The dress you''re wearing is too thin." Su Hang seriously exined. He turned to Mrs. Zhang and said: "Mrs. Zhang, can you please go upstairs and help Madam get a coat."


    "Of course." Mrs. Zhang hurried to the master bedroom.


    Soon, the borately gorgeous dress was covered up by a think windbreaker. Shen Xi was speechless. "I have to go walk through a red carpetter?"


    "You can still walk through the red carpet like this." Su Hang didn''t care.


    "But it wouldn''t look good, ah." Shen Xi replied.


    "It doesn''t matter, I already saw your beauty." Su Hang whispered. As he said this, the tip of his ears couldn''t help but turn red again.


    It''s enough that I saw it. Other people don''t need to see you. This was a thought that had long been carefully hidden in the depths of Su Hang''s heart.


    "Oh." Shen Xi seemed to have understood. Her cheeks were flushed, but she didn''t insist on taking off her windbreaker anymore.


    Fang Yu, who had been heavily criticizing his Boss in his head, immediately changed his stance when he saw this scene. What a fantastic line, ah. Not only did the Boss praise the Madam, but he also showed a little bit of jealousy. It not only expressed love, but it also expressed some intensity. The best love lines are ones that were both sincere and domineering, ah! Fang Yu felt that his Boss hit the nail on the head.


    "Let''s go." Su Hang nced at the dazed Fang Yu.


    "Oh." At his words, Fang Yu immediately sprang into action and opened the front door for the couple.


    The sky gradually darkened as they traveled to the venue. The neon lights outside traveled past the car window and lit up Shen Xi''s delicate face. Her ethereal beauty and hazy outline made Su Hang feel like he was dreaming.


    "Boss, we''ve arrived." Fang Yu''s voice suddenly cut through the quiet atmosphere in the car.


    Looking out the window, Su Hang found that it was almost their turn to leave the car. Su Hang couldn''t help give Shen Xi another look. Shen Xi returned his gaze with a smile. The feeling that everything was just one long dream became even more intense for Su Hang.


    After a while, the car stopped in front of the red carpet. Someone approached the vehicle and open Shen Xi''s door, but Shen Xi didn''t step out. She didn''t move until Su Hang took her hand and led her out.


    Suddenly, countless shing lights filled their view. Shen Xi took Su Hang by the arm and became the only woman on the entire red carpet who was wrapped up in a coat. Of course, she was also the only woman on the red carpet without goosebumps on her arms.


    "Yun Shu is in front." Shen Xi held onto Su Hang and quickly walked forward to catch up to her friend.


    "Yun Shu, Uncle Yun." Shen Xi greeted politely.


    Father Yun greeted Shen Xi and gave Su Hang a polite, but alienated nod. The four then slowly walked forward.


    "Why are you dressed like that?" Yun Shu looked at Shen Xi and asked.


    "A certain someone was afraid that I might get cold." Shen Xi whispered.


    "So it''s no longer just your parents that fuss over you; Now you have a husband that does it to." Yun Shu couldn''t help but look at Su Hang, who was on Shen Xi''s other side.


    Su Hang awkwardly coughed but didn''t speak otherwise.


    "But it is pretty cold today. Urgh, why is this red carpet so long?" Yun Shu saw that the end of the red carpet was still a ways away. Rubbing the goosebumps on her arms, she turned to Father Yun and urged him: "Dad, let''s walk faster."


    With a helpless smile on his face, Father Yu held his daughter and sped up his pace.


    Meanwhile, Shen Xi and Su Hang continued to walk unhurriedly. One because it wasn''t convenient to walk fast in a floor-length dress, and two because Shen Xi had a coat on so she didn''t need to hurry.


    Soon, they arrived at the signature tform. As they did, soft voices came from behind them.


    "Is that Shen Xi in front of us?" A woman asked.


    "It looks like it." Another female voice answered.


    "Howe she''s dressed like that on the red carpet?"


    "Maybe since her husband used to pick up trash, she wanted to look like trash, hehe¡­"


    "You''re so mean, haha¡­"


    Su Hang''s steps slowed, and he released his hold on Shen Xi. He was going to turn around and confront the two bitches, but Shen Xi quickly pulled him back.


    "Don''t we''re still on the red carpet." Shen Xi shook her head.


    "¡­." Su Hang pursed his lips, his eyes full of thunder.


    "Let''s go in first." Shen Xi continued.


    Su Hang had never once been able to resist Shen Xi when she demanded something from him. In the end, he followed her and moved on. Looking at all the women wearing exquisite dresses and posing with huge smiles on their faces, Su Hang finally said: "It''s my fault."


    "Hm?" Shen Xi looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face.


    "Take off your coat." Su Hang said.


    "It was nothing." Shen Xi soon understood what Su Hang meant. "I don''t care what other people say about me. Remember what you said to me before?"


    "But it wouldn''t look good, ah."


    "It doesn''t matter, I already saw your beauty."


    Looking at Shen Xi''s carefree smile, Su Hang''s rage was reced by a sudden surge of tenderness.


    The couple signed their names on the signing tform, then continued on to the venue. Just before they entered, Su Hang looked back at the two women who had been gossiping about Shen Xi.


    He thought back to the names the host said when he was introducing the women to the public. Su Hang wrote a text message and sent it to Fang Yu, who was off-site.


    [Check out these two people.]


    No one was allowed to bully Shen Xi, not while he was breathing.


    The author has something to say:


    In her past life, Su Hang had sat in front of the TV and watched the red carpet of Star River Charity Banquet live.


    When he saw Shen Xi fall into the arms of a businessman, Su Hang''s eyes turned red, and he wanted to rush into the TV and kill the man.


    So a few days after the banquet, when Shang HeXu approached Su Hang to talk about the Shen Group, Su Hang rushed to have a fight with Shang HeXu.

 Chapter 22

    ***


    When they entered the venue, the couple felt the temperature rise due to the air conditioning. Su Hang released Shen Xi''s arm, walked behind her, then reached out to help her remove her coat. Afterward, Su Hang gave the coat to a nearby waiting waiter.


    Shen Xi looked around at the familiar but also unfamiliar surroundings. She smiled at Su Hang and said: "Let''s go."


    "Un." Su Hang nodded and gently ced Shen Xi''s hand on the crook of his arm.


    After a few steps forward, Shen Xi saw Father Shen and Mother Shen standing at the edges of the crowd. "Let''s head over there."


    Naturally, Su Hang followed Shen Xi''s lead. As they approached the older couple, they noticed Shen Xi and Su Hang too. Shen Xi and Su Hang subconsciously quickened their pace.


    "Dad, Mom." Shen Xi loosened her grip on Su Hang''s arm and stepped forward to hug her parents with a sweet smile on her face.


    "Acting like a child." Father Shen looked at his daughter with an extremely doting expression on his face.


    "Xiao Xi, you look stunning today." Mother Shen gushed.


    Su Hang stood to the side, letting the three greet each other warmly. After a while, he shuffled closer and greeted the older couple: "Dad, Mom."


    "Un." Father Shen briefly looked at Su Hang and gave him a small nod.


    Mother Shen nced his way. Thinking of Su Hang''s previous thoughtful actions and the fact that her daughter didn''t seem to be faking when she smiled at him just now, Mother Shen gave Su Hang a mild smile. "You''re here."


    Seeing his mother-inw actually smile at him, Su Hang became somewhat overwhelmed by her sudden apparent favor.


    At this time, several people passed by, raising their sses towards Father Shen. Father Shen also raised his ss towards them. He then looked at Su Hang, who was quietly standing behind Shen Xi. "Come with me; I''ll introduce you to some people."


    A bewildered Su Hang reflexively looked at Shen Xi. Seeing his expression, Shen Xi smartly turned around and took a ss of red wine from a passing waiter. She gave the ss to Su Hang and told him: "Go ahead, just don''t drink too much."


    Su Hang could only nod and mechanically follow Father Shen from behind.


    Mother Shen gave her daughter a teasing look and said: "You seem to be very concerned about him."


    "Mom~~" Shen Xi gently shook her mother''s arm coquettishly.


    The doting Mother Shen shook her head with a smile and stopped teasing her.


    Shen Xi knew that her mother had a weak constitution, and she was afraid that Mother Shen might get tired standing here for a long time. Shen Xi led her mother to an empty sofa and sat next to her. Then she casually asked: "Didn''t you say you weren''t going to attend? Howe you suddenly changed your mind?"


    Shen Mother and Shen Father hadn''t been nning on attending the Star River Charity Banquet. In fact, in herst life, her parents didn''t attend the banquet.


    "I wasn''t nning to, but when I heard that you were going to bring Su Hang with you, your father changed his mind." Mother Shen replied.


    "Mom, thank you." Shen Xi understood what her parents were trying to do, and she couldn''t help but thank them.


    Su Hang was hesitant to attend this banquet, and honestly, they were both ready to be ridiculed tonight. But with Shen Father''s sudden appearance, things would definitely be different. Although the Shen Family had been declining for the past few months, Father Shen''s contacts and connections were still there. At least half of the people in this hall would still give him some face. If Father Shen was seen with Su Hang, it would also show that the Shen Family recognized Su Hang as part of the family. Even if some people looked down on Su Hang''s origins, they wouldn''t dare show it so tantly in front of Father Shen. With his support, even if Su Hang couldn''t fully integrate himself into their circle tonight, he would still be able to leave a good impression in people''s hearts.


    "Is that thank you on behalf of Su Hang?" Mother Shen asked.


    "Un." Shen Xi nodded.


    "Xiao Xi." Mother Shen took her daughter''s hand and seriously asked her: "Do you like him?"


    Shen Xi turned and looked into her mother''s eyes. Without any hesitation, she nodded. "I like him."


    Even if she had an inkling, when Mother Shen heard her daughter''s affirmative reply, she couldn''t help but look surprised. Finally, she sighed. "That''s also good. Any mother''s fear is that her daughter might be forcing herself."


    Ever since Shen Xi was forced to marry Su Hang, a distraught Mother Shen had to be hospitalized twice. She was afraid that her daughter was being forced to smile in front of a man she didn''t like every day. Compared to her daughter''s feelings, Su Hang''s origins were worthless information to Mother Shen. As long as Xiao Xi liked him, as long as Su Hang can treat her daughter well, then Mother Shen will start treating Su Hang like a real son-inw.


    "Auntie, Xiao Xi." Wearing a wine red dress, Yun Shu quickly approached the mother-daughter pair with the mild-mannered Shang HeXu in tow.


    "Yun Shu, HeXu." Mother Shen smiled at the two.


    "Auntie, I heard that you were hospitalized recently. How are you?" Sheng HeXu politely greeted Mother Shen.


    "I''m fine now." Mother Shen nodded.


    "That''s a relief." After greeting Mother Shen, Shang HeXu turned towards Shen Xi. "Xiao Xi, long time no see."


    "Mr. Shang, when did you return to China?" Shen Xi asked with a smile.


    "A week ago." Shang HeXu answered with a smile.


    "That long? I haven''t heard anything." Shen Xi was a little surprised.


    "I didn''t hear anything about your marriage either." Shang HeXu looked at Shen Xi with a warm butplicated gaze.


    "Oh¡­well, it was done quite hurriedly, so a lot of people hadn''t gotten wind of it." Shen Xi smiled awkwardly. Then, as if remembering something, Shen Xi said: "Speaking of, my husband also came today. I''ll introduce you to himter."


    Before, to inject funds into the Shen Group as soon as possible, the wedding preparations were done very quickly. And back then, Shen Xi hadn''t been in the mood to inform all her ssmates and friends about her uing nuptials. So most of the attendees at her wedding were business partners of the two families.


    "Alright." Shang HeXu''s smile turned somewhat bitter.


    Look that the two of them interact, Mother Shen''s eyes shed with a trace of pity. Mother Shen had always thought that Shang HeXu would eventually be her son-inw. But now, while Shang HeXu seems to like Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi seems¡­.but, well, this was also good. If Shen Xi actually liked Shang HeXu, then her daughter would truly be trapped in a bitter life.


    Meanwhile, Yun Shu had been standing off on the side, quietly watching the two talk. She had aplicated expression on her face as she looked at Shang HeXi''s bitter smile.


    "They''re back." Mother Shen suddenly said, pointing towards the front.


    Everyone followed Mother Shen''s finger and saw Father Shen and Su Hang approaching. Su Hang''s eyes grew sharp when his gaze fell on Shang HeXu''s figure. If it wasn''t for Father Shen walking in front of him, he would''ve already run back to Shen Xi.


    "Uncle Shen." Shang HeXu and Yun She greeted Father Shen together.


    "Un." Father Shen looked at Shang HeXu with a smile on his face. "I heard you were back."


    "I should have called earlier." Shang HeXu reproached himself.


    "It''s nothing. You''re in charge of the overseas market all on your own. You must be very busy." Father Shen replied. "I met your father just now. When I mentioned you, he looked very proud."


    Su Hang listened to Father Shen''s undisguised appreciation and praise towards Shang HeXu. Su Hang clearly didn''t measure up to Shang HeXu. If Father Shen found out that Shang HeXu bought back 3 billion yuan back with him, would he¡­..


    Just as Su Hang got wrapped up in his daydreaming, Shen Xi suddenly came to his side. She grabbed Su Hang''s arm and smiled at her two friends. "This is Su Hang, my husband. Yun Shu, you''ve met Su Hang before, but I''ll introduce him to you again."


    Shen Xi looked up at the stunned Su Hang and said: "What''s with that frozen expression? I want to introduce you to my friend."


    "Hello." Yun Shu waved a hand and yfully said hello.


    "Hello. I love the present you gave us." Su Hang sincerely replied.


    Thinking of her gift, Yun Shu couldn''t help but raise a brow.


    Shen Xi then introduced Shang HeXu to Su Hang. "This is a university upperssman. Since I was a young kid, he''s been taking care of me like an older brother."


    Brother, Older brother¡­The two men who had been eyeing each other looked at Shen Xi in shock. Shang HeXu was dismayed, while Su Hang was ecstatic. Seizing this opportunity, Su Hang extended a hand and very politely greeted: "Hello. Thank you for taking care of Xiao Xi."


    "I only did what I was supposed to do." Shang HeXu''s eye twitched as he shook hands with Su Hang.


    Whether it was something you were supposed to do or not, that was then, and this was now. Shen Xi has me now, so appearing all of a sudden just makes you look like a nosy busybody. Su Hang conveyed all this with his silent gaze.


    Shang HeXu replied with a cold gaze of his own. Neither man was backing down.


    As if aware of the awkward atmosphere, the music ying suddenly changed into a waltz song. Father Shen took the opportunity to hold Mother Shen''s hand. "Shall we dance, sweetling?"


    With a smile, the couple slowly walked towards the dance floor.


    Yun Shu also seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere. She smiled and pulled at Shang HeXu''s sleeve, asking: "Mr. Shang, do you want to invite me to dance, ah?''


    "Of course, it''ll be my pleasure." Shang HeXu knew that Yun Shu was trying to help him out, so he stretched out a hand and led Yun Shu to the dance floor like a gentleman.


    Now, there was only Su Hang and Shen Xi left. Just moments ago, Su Hang had an extraordinary momentum when he was confronting Shang HeXu. But now, he was so tense his palms began to sweat.


    Shen Xi patiently waited for Su Hang to invite her to dance, but after a long time, he still remained silent. In the end, she turned to look at Su Hang strangely. "Why aren''t you asking me to dance?"


    "I¡­." Su Hang looked at Shen Xi''s confused eyes and became even more nervous.


    Shen Xi didn''t know what happened to Su Hang, but she could sense the man''s tension. Although she found it strange, Shen Xi didn''t ask and instead sat back down on the sofa. With a smile, she asked: "I''m a little hungry. Can you help me get something to eat?"


    "You don''t want to dance?" Su Hang asked stupidly.


    "It doesn''t matter. If you don''t want to, then we don''t have to." Shen Xi replied.


    Su Hang looked back to the dance floor, then towards Shen Xi. How many times had he attended a party where he could only hide in the dark and watch as Shen Xi danced with another man? Now that he could finally invite this beloved girl to dance with him, why was he still acting all timid?


    Su Hang exhaled as if he had just made a big decision. Finally, he extended his hand towards Shen Xi.


    Surprised, Shen Xi looked up at the man who suddenly changed his mind.


    "¡­I can''t dance very well." Su Hang said, a little embarrassed.


    So it turned out to be like that. Shen Xi couldn''t help butugh. She ced her hand into Su Hang''s palm and felt the man''s firm grip as she gracefully stood up.


    "It''s not apetition. Even if you end up being the best dancer in the entire venue, you won''t get a prize or anything." Shen Xi teased.


    No, you are my greatest prize. I want to learn how to dance so I can dance with you.


    The two stepped onto the dance floor as they talked. Shen Xi raised her left hand and ced it on Su Hang''s shoulder as his right hand gently pressed on Shen Xi''s waist. Su Hang didn''t have a single charming thought at this time; all his attention was on the music and the position of his feet. Su Hang stared down at his feet as he moved, afraid that he would identally step on Shen Xi if he rxed his attention for even a second.


    "Ha!" Shen Xi couldn''t help but groan.


    "How are you?" The moment Su Hang''s foot touched Shen Xi''s instep, he immediately stepped away. But in the end, he still stepped on her. Scared, Su Hang released his hold on Shen Xi and checked her foot.


    "No, don''t stop, you''ll hit someone else." Shen Xi took Su Hang''s hand and ced it back on her waist. She pulled Su Hang and continued to move through the dance floor. "I''m alright."


    Su Hang''s expression remained calm, but his body had turned tense, which his movements became even more chaotic.


    "Look at me." Shen Xi suddenly said. "Don''t look at my feet, look at me."


    Su Hang obediently raised his head and was met with Shen Xi''s gentle smile.


    "Just listen to my instructions." Shen Xi moved closer to Su Hang. Her voice floated into Su Hang''s ears while the music continued: "Left foot, right foot, back, forward, turn around, left foot, three steps forward¡­."


    Su Hang stared at Shen Xi''s moving lips. His brain automatically blocked all the noise around him, and his ears only heard Shen Xi''s voice. Following her instructions, his robotic body moved. Like a devout believer listening to God''s gospel, he concentrated solely on her.


    "Left¡­"


    Shen Xi hadn''t even finished when almost instinctively, Su Hang turned and pulled her into a perfect half-circle.


    A surprised Shen Xi raised a brow. Didn''t he say he wasn''t very good? Sure enough, he was the type to learn anything quickly. (The five trampled dancing assistants roared: No way!!!)


    As the couple danced, a lonely pair of eyes watched from the fringes of the hall.


    "They seem to get along well." Yun She sneakily nced at the man beside her.


    "Xiao Xi had always been like this. She knows her position and her duty." Shang HeXu replied, his eyes still trained on the dance floor.


    Still not giving up? Yun Shu took a sip of red wine and looked on as the two people finished a song and walked out of the venue. Yun Shu turned to Shang HeXu and said: "I''ll help you ask."


    Shang HeXu looked at Yun Shu, puzzled.


    "Don''t you want to know what she really thinks about all this?" Yun Shu raised a brow.


    Shang HeXu pondered for a moment but ultimately didn''t refuse her suggestion.

 Chapter 23

    ***


    When the song ended, Su Hang half-hugged Shen Xi and supported her out of the dance floor. He carefully set Shen Xi down on the sofa and crouched down. Full of guilt, Su Hang asked: "Are your feet alright?"


    "It''s fine." Shen Xi felt like Su Hang was making a big fuss over a minor issue. "Your foot barely touched mine."


    Shen Xi had initially thought that Su Hang had almost mastered the dance and stopped giving him hints during thetter half of the song. In the beginning, Su Hang had been immersed in the quiet bubble Shen Xi had created. But when the music wasing to an end, and Shen Xi stopped giving him instructions, he suddenly woke up from his daze. Without Shen Xi''s prompts that got him out of his head, his heart started to panic, and his steps became messy. In the end, Su Hang managed to step on Shen Xi again.


    Su Hang was a man who stepped on five dancing assistants. He knows just how heavy his feet were. Frustrated, Su Hang pursed his lips and stared down at the skirt of Shen Xi''s long dress. He wanted to lift it up and have a look at her feet, but Su Hang feared that Shen Xi would get mad.


    "My feet are fine. Really. Here, take a look." As if she knew what Su Hang was thinking, Shen Xi slightly raised her dress, revealing a pair of silver high heels.


    "It''s red." Looking at the red mark on her instep, Su Hang couldn''t help his hand from reaching out. But before he could touch her, Shen Xi dropped her dress back down, blocking him.


    Startled, Su Hang raised his head and saw Shen Xi blushing as she stammered. "You¡­Don''t you¡­."


    There are so many people here, how can he just¡­Shen Xi was so embarrassed that she didn''t dare look around. There were definitely people looking at them. After all, they were supposed to be the joke of the night.


    Su Hang was at a loss.


    "What are you doing?" Yun Shu, who had been nearby, sensed the strange atmosphere around the couple.


    "No¡­it''s nothing." A panicked Shen Xi quickly replied. She then asked: "What''s up?''


    Yun Shu thought about her objective and nced at the still crouching Su Hang. Yun Shu smiled at him and asked: "Mr. Su, can you please lend me your wife for ten minutes?"


    Su Hang''s ears immediately turned red. He stood up and said to Shen Xi: "You two talk, I''ll go get something for you to eat."


    Su Hang then turned away and quickly walked towards the buffet table. He picked up a ss of champagne and downed it, covering his irrepressible smile. He looked towards Shen Xi and saw her chatting with Yun Shu, their heads close together. His image of Yun Shu was much better. Yes, Shen Xi was his wife. Look, even her best friend recognizes this.


    "What do you need?" After Su Hang was sent away, a confused Shen Xi looked at Yun Shu.


    Yun Shu didn''t answer Shen Xi and instead gave her an enigmatic smile.


    "What are you smiling at, ah?" Shen Xi found her smile weird.


    "I''ve been watching you, ah." Yun Shu said. "From the moment you stepped on the red carpet."


    "So? What are you trying to say?" Shen Xi couldn''t stand all this cryptic talk.


    "I found that¡­you get along with Mr. Su more deeply than I thought." Yun Shu replied.


    "How did you think we''d act?" Shen Xi curiously asked.


    "I thought you''d treat each other courteously at best. I never thought you two would be so lovey-dovey." Yun Shu replied.


    "What? When did we act lovey-dovey?" Shen Xi asked.


    "Don''t think I didn''t see. He wanted to touch your feet just now." Yun Shu teased.


    "You¡­" Shen Xi was immediately red. "you saw."


    Yun Shu looked at the shy expression on Shen Xi''s face and thought that she looked exactly like a girl in spring. There wasn''t a trace of embarrassment or evasion in Shen Xi''s eyes. Instead, she looked happy. Yun Shu was almost sure that¡­ "Shen Xi, do you like Su Hang?"


    This was the second time Shen Xi was asked this question tonight. But this time, Shen Xi didn''t give Yun Shu the definite answer she had given Mother Shen. Shen Xi thought about it for a moment, then replied: "I don''t know if I like him or not."


    "You don''t know?" Yun Shu was surprised.


    "I''ve actually been thinking about this recently. It''s probably a little toote now though, we''re already married after all. I couldn''t help wondering if I was going to spend the rest of my life with him." Shen Xi nced towards the buffet table. "And then I realized that I wanted to."


    In her previous life, Shen Xi had also thought about this issue. In the first six months of her marriage, Shen Xi had felt ufortable and oppressed whenever she thought about her future. She honestly hadn''t been willing to spend the rest of her life with Su Hang. But her morals and her upbringing forced her to stay. Marrying Su Hang meant that Shen Xi had vowed to stay with him, no matter what. Unless Su Hang divorced her, Shen Xi couldn''t renege on this vow. So even under pain and depression, Shen Xi made herself endure.


    In the second year of her marriage to Su Hang, they were already having sex. At the time, Shen Xi was reluctant to have children, so her bedside table contained contraceptive pills all year round.


    By the time her marriage reached its third year, Shen Xi wasn''t that upset anymore whenever she thought about her future. Perhaps she simply got into the habit. She felt that it wouldn''t be so bad living with a ''guest.'' They respected each other, and honestly, this was more than what most marriages in her circle had.


    (T/N: I don''t know how to word it other than a ''guest.'' More than a stranger, less than an acquaintance. Someone you treat courteously, but who you wouldn''t be totallyfortable with.)


    It wasn''t until the fifth year of their marriage that Su Hang handed her divorce papers and said that he was setting her free. At the time, Shen Xi didn''t know what freedom was. Her mind was full of doubts as she looked at him. Shen Xi didn''t understand why this man who had pressed her down justst night, was suddenly giving her these divorce papers so early in the morning. So for the first time ever, Shen Xi had asked him why.


    "I haven''t seen you smile for a long time¡­."


    Back then, Shen Xi didn''t understand his answer. But now, in this second life, Shen Xi thought she understood.


    "So what you''re saying is, you''re not going to look for ways to divorce Su Hang in the future." Yun Shu asked.


    Shen Xi shook her head. Shen Xi hadn''t wanted such a thing in herst life, how can she even think of such a thing now that she''s much happier?


    ''Until death do us part'' was a promise greater than any vow of love. Yun Shu forced herself to smile. She didn''t even know if her own feelings for Shang HeXu were as deep as that.


    "You know," Yun Shu started. "I always thought you like Shang HeXu."


    "Why would you think that?" Shen Xi was surprised.


    "That''s what everyone says. You two were always together." Yun Shu replied.


    "Even if other people said so, you''re my best friend. How can you not know who I like and who I don''t like, ah." Shen Xi said.


    "I always thought it was a given, and when the time was right, the two of you would just naturally get together." Yun Shu exined. "After all, neither of you had dated anyone all these years, ah."


    Shen Xi raised a brow. "Aren''t you the same?"


    But then she saw Yun Shu''s embarrassed expression and suddenly, Shen Xi realized something. She slowly asked: "Or¡­.do you have someone you like?"


    "Since you''ve said that you don''t like Shang HeXu, I won''t hide it from you." Yun Shu wasn''t the type to keep her friends in the dark. "I like Shang HeXu."


    Shen Xi was so startled she forgot to close her mouth. "You¡­you like Shang HeXu?"


    "Is it that much of a surprise?" Yun Shu asked with a wry smile.


    "Un!" Shen Xi nodded. How can she not be surprised? The man Yun Shu married in herst life wasn''t Shang HeXu, ah. "I always thought that you liked Jing Fei."


    "Jing Fei? That guy who sat behind me in school?" Yun Shu scrunched her nose. "How is that possible?"


    But you married him, Shen Xi wanted to say. But in the end, she closed her mouth and didn''t say anything.


    "By the way, your husband has looked our way for more than a dozen times already. It reminded me that I should probably return you to him." Yun Shu joked.


    "Nonsense." Shen Xi scowled at her friend.


    "I really should go." Yun Shu looked at her friend and sincerely said: "Anyway, I''m truly happy for you. I mean, when you think about it, you have a very handsome man as your husband."


    Shen Xi understood what her friend was trying to say and nodded at her gratefully.


    Yun Shu stood up and waved at Su Hang. She then turned around and walked towards Shang HeXu.


    As Shen Xi watched Yun Shu leave, her heart couldn''t help but feel sad. It turns out that Yun Shu had always liked Shang HeXu, but because of her, she had suppressed her feelings. But why didn''t they end up together in herst life?


    "Done talking?" Su Hang hade back with a te of food.


    "It''s done." Shen Xi returned to her senses.


    "Eat something." Su Hang handed the te over to Shen Xi.


    As Yun Shu neared, she saw two women chatting to Shang HeXu. She didn''t know what they were talking about, but Yun Shu frowned, lifted up her dress, and quickened her pace.


    "Brother HeXu, why don''t we dance?"


    "Oh, Brother HeXu, me too, me too."


    "Sorry." Shang HeXu had a genial smile on his face as he refused. "I''m waiting for someone."


    "But you''ve been standing here for a long time already, and you didn''te with apanion tonight."


    "Yeah, yeah."


    Just as Shang HeXu was thinking of making an excuse and leave, Yun Shu marched over and grabbed Shang HeXu''s arm. Yun Shu turned towards the two girls and asked: "Why are you trying to snatch my dance partner?"


    Everyone was familiar with everyone in this circle, so the two girls knew the notoriously powerful Yun Shu. In the end, the two girls had no choice but to leave.


    "Thanks." Shang HeXu smiled at Yun Shu.


    "No need to thank me, I was just telling the truth." Yun Shu replied.


    Shang HeXu chuckled. When he looked towards Shen Xi though, the smile on his face slowly disappeared.


    Yun Shu followed his gaze and saw Shen Xi epting the piece of cake Su Hang had offered her. Shen Xi took the fork and started eating. They both had a look of satisfaction- Shen Xi from the delicious cake, and Su Hang from Shen Xi''s expression. The scene was full of pink bubbles.


    "Do you want to hear the answer?" Yun Shu suddenly asked.


    "What did she say?" Shang HeXu asked back.


    "She likes Su Hang." Yun Shu thought about her conversation with Shen Xi and added, "She likes him more than we thought."


    "Really?" Shang HeXu''s smile turned bitter. So Shen Xi really didn''t like him. Shang HeXu had always thought that he just needed to wait until Shen Xi was older. If she didn''t have anyone she liked by then, Shang HeXu simply figured that they would marry when he returned.


    "And I told her I liked you." Yun Shu suddenly dropped a bomb.


    Shang HeXu was stunned. He failed to react for quite some time. Finally, he smiled and shook his head. "You don''t have to do this."


    "You think I helped you probe Shen Xi just because? I''m serious." Yun Shu seriously said.


    Shang HeXu felt like he had been hit in the head. Tonight, the girl he had always liked said she saw him as a brother, and the girl he always thought of as a sister confessed to him.


    "You look so scared." Yun Shuughed. "Don''t worry, I never said I was going to pursue you."


    So it was a joke after all? Shang HeXu quietly breathes a sigh of relief.


    The auction portion of the night was scheduled after the dance. Since this was a charity auction, the attendees will naturally try to buy at least one item. Even if a person brought something unattractive for the auction, they would still go the extra mile and secretly find a friend to bid for it, just to avoid any embarrassment.


    The antique vase Shen Xi brought to the auction had a rtively good collection value, and it ended up being auctioned for millions of yuan. Su Hang also made an effort and sessfully bid on some antique calligraphy and paintings. Finally, the organizers took a big group photo, and this year''s Star River Charity Banquet sessfully concluded.


    Su Hang apanied Shen Xi to say her goodbyes to Father Shen and Mother Shen, then they returned home.


    It was 11:00 p.m. when the couple got home. It seems that Chu Wu had gotten sleepy waiting for them. When they entered the house, Chu Wu just wagged his tail and didn''t rush towards them excitedly.


    Shen Xi took off her coat and walked towards Chu Wu and crouched in front of the dog. Shen Xi feels that his sleepy Chu Wu was adorable. She couldn''t help but pat his furry head.


    "Let me see."


    "Hm?" Shen Xi looked up and saw that Su Hang was still wearing his coat as he approached her with a medicine box. He was looking at her with a grave expression in his face.


    "Your feet." Su Hang had been thinking about Shen Xi''s hurt feet the entire night.


    "It doesn''t hurt anymore." Shen Xi assured.


    But that meant it hurt before. Su Hang stubbornly raised the medicine box towards her. He was obviously the one looking down at her, but why did Shen Xi feel like Su Hang was the one who got wronged.


    Shen Xi finallypromised and sat on the sofa. Just as she was about to bend down and remove her high-heels, Su Hang quickly crouched down and did it for her. He lifted the hem of Shen Xi''s dress, raised Shen Xi''s right foot, and gently removed her silver heel.


    As Su Hang grasped the sole of her foot, Shen Xi couldn''t help but pull back slightly.


    Su Hang thought she was in pain and quickly poured some medicine onto the palm of his hand and rubbed it on her instep. His warm palm was carefully rubbing the medicine against her skin as he told her: "The pain will be gone soon."


    Shen Xi''s foot felt hot and numb. The heat traveled from the bottom of her foot right up to her head, making Shen Xi bite her lower lip.


    "What''s the matter?" Su Hang saw Shen Xi''s restrained expression.


    "It tickles!" Shen Xi''s replied.


    Her soft voice tickled Su Hang''s own heart. He suddenly felt his own hand grow hot, and his ears turn red. His blood began rushing towards his lower abdomen, and in a panic, Su Hang released the foot he was holding.


    "Alright¡­have a good rest." Su Hang hurriedly packed up the medicine box and ran back into his room.


    The somewhat startled Shen Xi blinked and felt that her previously warm foot now suddenly felt cold.


    "Bark!"


    Meanwhile, Chu Wu suddenly barked, as if reminding everyone that he didn''t make any trouble this time.


    The author has something to say:


    The night before his divorce with Shen Xi, Su Hang had brought the divorce papers into his study and looked at it for a long time.


    All the way until he heard Shen Xie home. He opened the door of his study, carried the startled Shen Xi up the stairs, and excessively made love to her the entire night.


    .


    .


    .


    "Why¡­." are you divorcing me?


    "I haven''t seen you smile for a long time."


    ***


    We got to know more about Shen Xi''s frame of mind during her marriage with Su Hang in herst life. It was rough, but I truly admire her for being strong. She made an effort to work on her own feelings and live in a more positive mindset, rather than hurt other people just because she found the situation unfair.


    I mean, what happened to her wasn''t necessarily fair, but she didn''t be vindictive to someone who didn''t deserve it.


    Also, I really just want them to be happy and have babies and live their best lives, please.

 Chapter 24

    ***


    Su Hang mmed his bedroom door closed. He took off his suit jacket and tossed it to the ground as he walked. He rushed into the connecting bathroom, turned on the shower, and gave himself an ice-cold shower in this early winter season.


    As the cold water washed over his body, it extinguished his sudden desire and finally let Su Hang breathe a sigh of relief. Putting his back against the bathroom wall, Su Hang closed his eyes and began to reflect.


    J-just now¡­just now he almost¡­almost¡­to Shen Xi¡­


    Su Hang opened his red-tinged eyes and once again warned himself: You and Shen Xi have been married for only two months! Don''t be too anxious, being too anxious would scare her.


    But damn it, just the thought of her blushing face, her teary expression, the way she bit her lips¡­Su Hang returned under the cold spray of the shower.


    Meanwhile, in the living room, Shen Xi sat on the sofa as the door mmed behind her. Shen Xi looked at the tightly closed door and felt that she had just experienced the saying ''don''t even try to understand the mind of a man.''


    After a silent sigh, Shen Xi took off her other high-heel, baring her two white-jade feet. She stood up, intending to go upstairs and felt the long hem of her dress graze her medicine-covered right foot. Shen Xi thought of the way Su Hang meticulously coated her foot with medicine and couldn''t bear to waste all his hard work. Shen Xi bent down and held up her long skirt, revealing her smooth legs. She continued to walk up the stairs.


    Back in her room, Shen Xi opened her closet door to find some pajamas. When she finally attempted to remove her dress, Shen Xi realized that her dress was tied up with a ribbon on her back. For the sake of beauty, the ribbon was winded in a veryplicated pattern and was very troublesome to untangle.


    Shen Xi tried to undo the ribbon herself several times, but she couldn''t find the correct knot. A little annoyed, she looked at herself in the floor-length mirror in a huff. Finally, Shen Xi carefully went downstairs with the skirt of her dress still in her arms. She walked towards Su Hang''s room, and after a moment''s hesitation, she knocked on his door.


    Su Hang, who had just put on a bathrobe, heard a knock on his door. Surprised, he hastened to tie the belt of his robe and quickly opened the door.


    "Hi!" Shen Xi awkwardly smiled.


    "What''s the matter?" Su Hang looked at Shen Xi, who was still wearing her gown.


    "That¡­Mrs. Zhang is already off-duty." Shen Xi was too embarrassed to directly ask a man to untie her clothes. She always thought such actions were like an innuendo or a hint.


    "Ah??" Isn''t Mrs. Zhang off-duty every night? Su Hang was puzzled. He asked: "Are you hungry?"


    "No." Shen Xi hurriedly shook her head. Gnashing her teeth, she finally said: "My¡­my dress¡­Mrs. Zhang helped me put it on. The ties are at the back, and I-I can''t untie them."


    Shen Xi was so embarrassed she lowered her head. Although everything that was supposed to happen already happened in theirst life, Shen Xi still felt her words were too provocative just now.


    Su Hang trained his gaze at the top of Shen Xi''s head and desperately tried to control his overactive imagination. Then, with a hoarse voice, he said: "Then¡­I''ll untie it for you."


    "Thank you!" Shen Xi happily raised her head, her shining eyes inadvertently electrifying Su Hang. She then cheerfully turned around.


    The bodice of her dress fits her quite well. At a nce, Su Hang could see Shen Xi''s beautiful neck, followed by a pair of butterfly bones covered in shimmering tulle. Su Hang could feel the heat he had just managed to tamp down rise again.


    "Is it tooplicated?" After waiting for a long time, Su Hang still hadn''t moved, so Shen Xi couldn''t help but ask.


    "No." Su Hang jolted into action. He hurriedly reached out and untied the delicate ribbon on her dress. But when the ribbon was released, the graceful curve of Shen Xi''s back was unfolded right before Su Hang''s eyes. Su Hang had to remove his gaze immediately, and his voice ended up sounding impatient as he replied: "I''ve untied it."


    "Thank you." Truthfully, Shen Xi was just as embarrassed as he was. When she heard that the ribbon was untied, Shen Xi couldn''t wait to leave. She took a step forward, and in her haste, Shen Xi ended up stumbling over her skirt. Shen Xi bent down to lift the hem of her dress, but she felt the top part of her dress copse, and she immediately froze.


    Seeing Shen Xi''s back and legs exposed was too much for Su Hang. He finally sumbed to his body''s impulses and took a step forward, pulled Shen Xi towards him, and lifted her up into a princess carry.


    "Ah!" Shen Xi couldn''t help but cry out.


    "I''ll take you upstairs." Su Hang didn''t dare look down at Shen Xi. He marched up the second floor with his eyes firmly trained forward.


    Shen Xi instinctively raised a hand to hold onto the man''s chest, but the neck of Su Hang''s robe was wide open, and she ended up touching his muscled skin. Thinking of her previous life, Shen Xi''s face immediately turned into the color of cooked shrimp.


    Su Hang carried Shen Xi into the master bedroom and carefully ced her down on the carpet.


    "Thank you." Shen Xi ced her feet firmly on the ground, a hand still ced on Su Hang''s shoulder to support herself.


    "Then¡­I''ll go back down." Su Hang withdrew the arm he had wrapped around her back and waist. It was just that¡­his actions also loosened the ribbon on her back even more. When he was carrying Shen Xi up the stairs, he had identally wrapped the ribbon around his finger. So when Su Hang removed his hand, the ribbon was pulled, and this caused the already loosened dress to directly slip straight down in an instant.


    "Ah!" Shen Xi screamed and pulled the half-slipped dress back up. But it was already toote. The brief sh of white skin had already ignited the mes in Su Hang''s eyes.


    "Shen Xi." Su Hang''s reason was being eaten up by his desire.


    "Hn?" A flustered Shen Xi raised her head, but before she could even see the expression in Su Hang''s face, a slightly rough palm pushed her against the wall. Then a tall and solid figure hovered over her, and any breath she would''ve exhaled was instantly plundered.


    Shen Xi wanted to breathe, but he only moved closer and closer. It was as if her lips and tongue weren''t her own. There was also a hint of the banquet''s red wine in his mouth that made her feel dizzy.


    The beast that Su Hang ced in the deepest depths of his heart came rushing out. He plundered the delicious feast in front of him. He slid a hand inside Shen Xi''s dress and stroked her back¡­


    Shen Xi knew what was going to happen next. She hadn''t refused him in herst life, and she wasn''t going to refuse him in this life. But before that, there was onest thing Su Hang had to admit.


    Shen Xi tried to make an opportunity and turned her head to the side. She didn''t stop the hand that slipped deeper into her dress. She simply panted against Su Hang''s chest and asked: "Su Hang, do you remember the girl you''re secretly in love with?"


    Is it me? You tell me! Shen Xi kept her eyes on Su Hang. As long as he gave an affirmative answer, tonight will be the night they make up for all their past regrets.


    Shen Xi''s words were like a bucket of cold water pouring down on him. Su Hang looked down at the seemingly aggrieved expression on Shen Xi''s face (which was only due to his almost-too-long kiss) and released his desperate hold on her.


    "I''m sorry." After throwing these words up into the air, he escaped in a panic.


    Shen Xi looked at his retreating figure incredulously. His warmth was still lingering on her lips and body, and what does the man do? He runs away!


    "Su Hang, you humongous wimp!" Shen Xi almost wanted to cry. She slid to the ground and covered her face with both her hands. She slowly tried to calm down.


    Su Hang''s reaction just now had given Shen Xi a tremendous blow. She began to remember what Li QingYuan had told her at Su Hang''s funeral in herst life. She tried to remember that particr moment several times. After making absolutely sure that she hadn''t heard him wrong, she put down her hands and opened her now calm eyes. She said aloud: "Li QingYuan, if you dare cheat me and make me misunderstand the situation, I''m going to get you good."


    "In the end, should I say ''do you like me'' first, or ''I like you'' first, ah!"Shen Xi''s helpless voice sounded in the empty bedroom.


    On the other side, Su Hang was rushing down the stairs. He ran into his bathroom, turned on the shower, and doused himself in cold water again. As he took a cold shower, Su Hang beat the tiled wall with his hands and scolded himself for being so shameless.


    "You know. You fucking know it''s only been a few months since you married her."


    "Didn''t you keep telling yourself to wait, wait, wait, and give her time? What the hell are you doing?"


    "Besides, you haven''t even told her you like her. You haven''t told her that the girl you''ve always been in love with is her."


    "What are you going to do now? She must feel disgusted, thinking that there''s another woman in your heart while you do those things to her¡­"


    "Su Hang, you pervert, your brain must be filled with nothing but sperm. You''re nothing but a sex-crazed wolf."


    When Shen Xi had asked him, Su Hang had naturally wanted to just tell her that the person he liked had always been her, that the person he had been secretly in love with was her, that there was no one else in his mind except her. But if he professed his love for her in that kind of situation, Su Hang was afraid that Shen Xi wouldn''t believe him.


    Su Hang had always felt that if he wanted to tell Shen Xi he loved her, he had to do it in a situation where everyone was sober and the atmosphere pleasant. He had to make it very clear to Shen Xi and make her believe his love for her without any doubt or reservation in her heart.


    The farce this evening prevented the two from sleeping well. The two were wide awake until the next morning, and after hearing some sounds outside their door, they both got up. So when Mrs. Zhang saw them both arrive in the living room at the same time, she was quite surprised. "Sir, Madam. You''re both early."


    "Good Morning." Su Hang didn''t dare look at Shen Xi.


    "Mrs. Zhang, good morning¡­achoo! achoo!" Shen Xi sneezed several times in a row.


    "Oh dear, I hope you don''t catch another cold." Mrs. Zhang was worried,


    Su Hang was also quite concerned.


    "I''m alright¡­" Shen Xi''s voice seemed to have a slightly nasal tone to it. She was a little surprised.


    "You''re not alright. I can hear that your voice is wrong. It''s already so cold, why did you still wear such a thin gown tost night''s banquet. If it wasn''t for Sir putting a coat on you, it would definitely be a lot worse today."


    "Mrs. Zhang, I''m fine. It''s probably because I just woke up, so my voice sounds a little different." Shen Xi exined with a smile.


    "Madam, you have to be careful. You''ve only been here for two months, but you''ve already had several colds."


    "I¡­" Shen Xi wanted to keep arguing, but she couldn''t beat Mrs. Zheng''s air-tight logic.


    "Madam, your body is a little weak. You should pay more attention and exercise more. I mean, look at me." Mrs. Zhang continued. "I don''t even sneeze all year round. And that''s mostly because I keep busy and constantly move. You have to find something that will make you move around."


    "Okay¡­I understand. I''ll go get a gym cardter." Shen Xi knew that Mrs. Zheng was saying all this because she was concerned about her, so she agreed.


    "That''s just a waste of money." Mrs. Zhang nced at Su Hang, who was dressed in sportswear. "Don''t you go running every morning, Sir? There we go, ah. You can run with a partner."


    Su Hang was stunned at first, but then his eyes lit up, and he looked towards Shen Xi.


    But Shen Xi was still angry aboutst night''s incident. She didn''t want to deal with Su Hang right now, so she smiled at Mrs. Zhang and said: "No, I can''t wake up that early."


    Su Hang''s eyes dimmed.


    "So? Just ask your husband to wake you up every morning. You youngsters like to sleep in sote. Don''t you know, you''ll be more energetic if you wake up early."


    "Woof, woof, woof!" Chu Wu had been waiting by the door to apany his dad for their morning run. But after a long while, his dad still hasn''te out, so Chu Wu ran into the living room himself.


    "Running in the morning also means you''ll be able to run with Chu Wu." Mrs. Zhang added another sentence when she saw the dog run towards them.


    This was the first time he saw his mother this early in the morning. He usually ran with his dad, but after seeing his mother, Chu Wu wanted to run with mom. Chu Wu made an effort to run around Shen Xi''s feet, calling out non-stop.


    "Let''s run together." Su Hang finally stopped ying dead and spoke up. He said: "There''s a ginkgo trail to the east, the scenery there is gorgeous."


    "Bark, bark!" Chu Wu cheerfully barked.


    "Madam, I saw that you have sneakers in your shoe cab."


    Shen Xi finally acquiesced. Fortunately, Chu Wu was running around, so she wasn''t too embarrassed about her previous deliberate actions of ignoring Su Hang.


    Su Hang silently followed Shen Xi, watching her y with Chu Wu so intimately and ignoring him sopletely. Su Hang understood that she was still very mad with him. But didn''t he deserve it? Su Hang secretly sighed but didn''t darein. So, in the end, he could only quietly follow them.


    After running for 20 minutes, they arrived at the ginkgo trail Su Hang had described. The golden leaves on the ground seemed to have been deliberately forgotten by the cleaners, and they created a lovely pattern on the ground.


    Shen Xi fell in love with the ce as soon as she saw it. She happily hugged Chu Wu and told him: "It''s so beautiful here. Too bad I didn''t bring my phone, or I would''ve taken a bunch of photos for you."


    "Bark, bark!" Chu Wu happily barked in reply.


    "I''ve bought mine." Su Hang, who had finally found a use for himself, hurriedly took out his cellphone from his pocket and offered it to the person and dog in front of him.


    "Hn!" Shen Xi hummed and continued forward with Chu Wu, totally ignoring the man.


    Su Hang bit his lip and quietly put back his phone. He watched Shen Xi, and Chu Wu happily y a short distance from him. After a while, Su Hang saw that breakfast time was approaching and carefully reminded them: "We should go back now."


    Shen Xi also knew that it was time to go back, but she was still stuck on this man who didn''t even have an exnation for her this morning. Shen Xi was simply depressed to death. Now she had to seriously wonder if the girl Su Hang secretly loved really was her.


    "Mrs. Zhang probably finished with breakfast already. If we don''t go back soon, it''ll turn cold." Seeing that Shen Xi was still ignoring him, Su Hang had to use Mrs. Zhang as an excuse.


    "Woof, woof, woof!" Chu Wu thought his father was too pitiful and resolved to help him a bit.


    "You go back." Shen Xi wanted to continue to ignore Su Hang, but there were only two people here. If she continued to ignore him so obviously, she would look too petty.


    "What about you?"


    "My feet hurt. Breakfast is going to be cold whether I hurry back or not, so I''m just going to walk slowly." Shen Xi said in a fit of pique


    Her feet hurt! Damn it, how could he forget that he stepped on her foot yesterday? Everything but this one point flew from his mind, and Su Hang anxiously approached her. "How''s your foot?"


    Truthfully, Shen Xi was just talking nonsense. Last night, Su Hang had rubbed medicine on her foot and already good as new. She didn''t even see a red mark this morning. But she was still angry with him, so Shen Xi didn''t answer and turned away.


    "I''ll carry you back." Su Hang turned and crouched directly in front of Shen Xi.


    "Don''t worry about me!" Shen Xi continued to pout.


    Su Hang didn''t say anything and simply stayed crouched in front of her, waiting.


    Shen Xi bit her lip and walked around Su Hang. After walking for about five or six meters, Shen Xi turned back around and saw Su Hang still crouching, as if saying that if Shen Xi wasn''t on his back, he would stay crouching like a fossil.


    Seeing this, Shen Xi''s heart finally softened, and she slowly walked back. She put her entire weight on Su Hang and heavily pressed on his back.


    Su Hang carefully stood up and carried Shen Xi home.


    "I''m sorry!" Halfway out of the ginkgo trail, Su Hang suddenly said this.


    Shen Xi''s answer was to bite Su Hang''s shoulder, hard. Seeing the bite mark on his thin sportswear shirt, Shen Xi smugly smiled.


    Fine, if you don''t want to say it, then don''t say it. If you don''t have the ability, then don''t say it for the rest of your life. If you don''t tell me whether you like me or not¡­see if I let you touch me again.


    Shen Xi secretly swore this in her heart!


    The author has something to say:


    Li QingYuan in thest life: Boss, you fool.


    Su Hang in this life: *stupefied face*


    Shen Xi, in this life: Li QingYuan, you better not be lying to me!!


    Li QingYuan in this life: Sister-inw, why are you suddenly shouting at me?


    Su Hang in this life: You bullied my wife????


    Li QingYuan in this life: Help!!!

 Chapter 25

    ***


    Su Company Building.


    At 10:00 a.m., the workaholic Su Hang heard a knock on the door.


    "Come in." Su Hang casually responded.


    Fang Yu pushed the door and entered the room. He approached Su Hang''s desk and quietly waited until Su Hang finished signing the document in front of him.


    "Boss, I''ve found the person you asked me to checkst night." Fang Yu handed him the investigation report. "One of these two people is Zhang TingTing, the youngest daughter of S City''s Vice-Mayor. The other is Wang Xin, daughter of the Wood Stone Properties owner.


    "Wood Stone Properties?" Su Hang frowned. "What''s Wood Stone?"


    "Wood Stone Properties is apany established int he past two years. It was only a construction team before. Wang Xin wasn''t really qualified to attend the Star River Charity Banquet, but she was good at ttering, and she happened to be a college ssmate of Zhang TingTing. She must have heard that Zhang TingTing was going to attend and asked Zhang TingTing to take her along." Fang Yu exined.


    Su Hang knocked his desk with his fingers, his eyes on the report in front of him. He looked at the two girls'' pictures back and forth, then asked: "How is Wood Stone Properties doing?"


    "Thepany was just established, so their operations and management aren''t quite there yet." Fang Yu said. "The Boss of Wood Stone Properties was a contractor before. He caught up with the real estate boom that happened in recent years and suddenly shot up in wealth. He made a lot of money, but he often deducted the wages of his migrant workers, so his reputation isn''t very good."


    Su Hang frowned, and a trace of disgust shed in his eyes. "What''s their current project?"


    "They bought a piece ofnd by getting a bank loan a year ago. They''re nning to develop it intomercial housing."


    "Let''s talk with the relevant departments. Make sure they carefully monitor this Wood Stone Properties project." Su Hang said.


    "Understood." Fang Yu nodded his head and smiled. "I''ll be sure to tell them to carefully check if Wood Stone Properties is fully conforming to regtion. If they intend to deforest one square meter of greenery, we must make sure they cut down 1.1 meters."


    If thismercial housing project really was following the standards set by the state, then several house suites will be lost as a certain percent of greenery had to preserved in thend. A loss of a single suite would cost millions ording to the current house prices in S City, let alone several suites. The building materials also needed to be carefully inspected to make sure no corners were being cut.


    Due to this strict review, the construction time was bound to get extended. That''s money spent every day. Moreover, Wood Stone Properties was a small and newly establishedpany. They would definitely cry over their bank loan interest alone. If the construction time was lengthened and the houses ended up not selling well, then Wood Stone Properties'' chain of funds would be broken in minutes. Fang Yu felt that his Boss was a bit too ruthless.


    Wang Xin, this little girl, probably would''ve never have imagined that after one casual remark about Shen Xi, she would end up making her entire family suffer such a great loss.


    "The Vice-Mayor''s daughter¡­." Su Hang pondered for a moment, then said: "Is the Vice-Mayor looking at S City''s change of term next year?"


    "Yes, Vice-Mayor Zhang is a popr candidate for the next mayor." Fang Yu replied.


    "Does Zhang TingTing like wearing fur?" Su Hang remembered Zhang TingTing wearing fur in the banquetst night.


    "Yes, but it''s all said to be artificial fur." Fang Yu replied.


    "Find some evidence and send it to the Animal Protection Association." After saying this, Su Hang closed the investigation report and put it aside.


    "Understood." The Animal Protection Association was a group of hot-blooded youngsters. If they found out that the daughter of a prospective mayor was wearing fur, he''d be crucified. The Animal Protection Association wouldn''t hesitate to protest at the steps of the government building. Cutting down the future of a mayor candidate, the Boss really is terrible, ah. Fang Yu tutted in his heart as he turned away and left the office.


    ==


    Meanwhile, in the Shen Charity Foundation office.


    Shen Xi had received a call from Li Ye, the manager of the foundation, telling her to attend the foundation''s year-end summary meeting.


    "The list of donated goods fromst year have been confirmed, so let''s talk about our ns for next year. I went to the Shen Grouppany building a few days ago, and I don''t think the amount thepany can allocate to us next year will be optimistic." Li Ye nced at Shen Xi.


    "Then, we can only target screen our funding recipients and try to give priority to those who are more in need." One staff member said.


    "Which orphanage isn''t in need? Something like that won''t be easy to define." Another staff member said.


    "Then let''s visit them a few more times. We can post an announcement on our website and exin things to the orphanages too." Shen Xi spoke up. "Shen Group experienced great turmoil this year. We all know this. The reduction of donations from them is certain. I''ll put the revenues of my cafes to the foundation, and try to raise money some other way."


    "The foundation can also organize more fund-raising activities to try and raise money from outside sources. But¡­." Li Ye started. "Our charitable donations won''t be in the same standards as the Star River Charity. We''re not on the list."


    Star River Charity, thergest charity organization in China, had an open list of registered charities. Charities in this list werergely acknowledged by the state and the public. This not only makes operations of the charities much easier and more convenient, but it also gives the charity an excellent reputation for being attached to such a well-known foundation.


    "That doesn''t matter." Shen Xi doesn''t care. "When the Shen Family founded this charity, it was merely to do some good deeds. It wasn''t to get into some list. So don''t worry about such things and let''s just do our own thing.


    "Besides, I''ve always thought that this charity is a matter of doing what I can. I''m not the type to p my face until swollen." Shen Xi added with a smile.


    (T/N p one''s face until swollen is a saying that basically means ''do whatever it takes just to keep up appearances /look imposing/ save face'' )


    As soon as Shen Xi said this, the atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly became much lighter.


    "That''s right. When we go out and raise money, it''s not like we absolutely need to reach a certain target. It''s a donation! it''s all goodwill anyway." A staff memberughed.


    "Yes."


    "That''s right!"


    With all of them agreeing with each other, and the topic of reduced funding for next year was downyed. They continued to talk about other things, and soon, the meeting was over.


    "Oh, I almost forgot." As he walked out of the meeting room, Li Ye suddenly remembered something. He took out an envelope from the folder he was holding and gave it to Shen Xi. "I have an invitation letter for you."


    "Me?" Shen Xi was somewhat surprised to be receiving an invitation from Li Ye. The envelope was slightly thick. Curious, Shen Xi opened the envelope and discovered that inside was a letter filled with colorful patterns. On the top of the page was the words "Wee Sister Shen Xi to Qing''an" written in a child''s scrawl.


    "This is?" Shen Xi asked.


    "This Qing''an orphanage is one of the poorest orphanages we''ve funded. It''s been established for many years, and its address is in the old city area." Li Ye recalled. "That area used to be a little dangerous. In the past, we used to send people to deliver goods, but our volunteers rarely visited this orphanage."


    "Security has improved in the past two years though, so I was going to send someone to check out the children''s living environment."


    "But why did they invite me by name?" Shen Xi still didn''t understand.


    "Aren''t you the president of the foundation? You give them food and clothes every year. It isn''t surprising that they remember your name, ah." Li Ye chuckled.


    "Old city area? That''s not too far." Shen Xi looked down at the invitation letter filled with innocent and childish scrawls.


    "We were going to deliver a batch of bedding and winter clothes in two days. Did you want toe with?" Li Ye asked.


    "Yes." Shen Xi had nothing going on for the next few days, so she nodded.


    "Then, I''ll tell the orphanage dean to expect you." Li Ye answered.


    Shen Xi nodded. Afterward, she was busy for a while, sorting out things for the foundation. It wasn''t until 4:00 p.m. that she managed to return home.


    ==


    At 4:30 p.m. Su Hang''s private cell phone suddenly rang. He looked at the screen and found that it was the Dean of the orphanage, so he immediately answered.


    "Dean." Su Hang''s voice was noticeably less cold than usual.


    "Little Hang, ah, did I disturb your work?" At the other end of the line was a middle-aged woman with a kind and amiable voice.


    "Not at all." Su Hang put down his pen as he spoke.


    "That''s good. Well, I just wanted to ask, are you free in two days?" The Dean asked.


    "Two days? Is there something going on?" Su Hang asked, puzzled.


    "Oh, nothing big. It''s just that we haven''t seen you for a long time. The children miss their Brother Hang." The Dean replied with a smile.


    "Dean, I''ve been busy recently. I may not have the time to visit." Su Hang said. "Tell those little guys that I''ll visit when I''m done."


    "Ah, it seems that the children can only y with Brother Hang''s wife for now." The Dean sighed with regret.


    "Ah? What do you mean?" Su Hang asked.


    "Interested?" The Dean asked with a smile. "In two days, The Shen family''s charitable foundation will being to deliver winter clothes for the children. Apparently, Shen Xi is alsoing?"


    "Shen Xi''sing?" When he heard that his wife was going, Su Hang''s body straightened.


    "Yes, the foundation just called me." The Deanughed.


    "Why would Shen Xi suddenly decide to visit?" Su Hang knew that Shen Xi was responsible for a charity dedicated to helping children in orphanages. But such a small orphanage like Qing''an shouldn''t have attracted her attention.


    "I asked the children to write a letter of invitation." The Dean exined. "You know, if it wasn''t for this foundation set up by Shen Xi''s family, our orphanage would''ve closed a long time ago. I always wanted to thank the Shen family in person. So I thought I''d take the opportunity the get the children to invite her.


    "Dean¡­"


    "I thought you would be the one to take Shen Xi back here for a visit first, but you have no time. How about you take advantage of this ande together with Shen Xi?" The Dean asked. "Thest time we saw each other was at your wedding, and we never had the chance to have a good talk."


    When Su Hang heard that Shen Xi was going, he really wanted to go with her. But his original intention was to wait until their hearts had connected, and then go to the orphanage together.


    But now wasn''t the time, and he really was busy these days.


    "Next time, Dean." Su Hang had no choice but to refuse.


    "Well, you must be busy. I won''t continue to bother you." The Dean hung up.


    As Su Hang put down his cell phone, he began to think of Shen Xi, which led him to rememberst night. His rash actions, Shen Xi''s anger the next morning¡­the bite mark on his shoulder still ached. Su Hang thought that he had enough patience. After all, he had waited for so many years, he didn''t care if he needed to wait a little more. But these past two months, he had the faint feeling that Shen Xi might actually like him a bit. Maybe¡­he could try.


    As he thought this, Su Hang pressed the internal line on his desk. "Fang Yu,e in for a while."


    Fang Yu quickly entered the office and asked: "Boss?"


    "Can I spare a few days of vacation?" Su Hang asked.


    "Boss, your itinerary has already been arranged for the next six months. I can''t spare you any more time¡­but New Year ising in just over a month. You can¡­" Fang Yu had been looking down at the itinerary in his hands. When he lifted his head, he saw Su Hang staring at him, and Fang Yu couldn''t help but change his tone: "How many days off do you want?"


    "Three days. It''s best to have it on the weekend." Whether his attempt to talk with Shen Xi seeded or not, Su Hang would need time to calm down.


    "Three days!!!" And on the weekend???


    "Yes?" Su Hang gave him a look.


    "I¡­.I''ll try to shuffle some things around. I''ll see if I can spare you for three days." Fang Yu sumbed to the despotic power of his Boss.


    "Go." Su Hang waved his hand in satisfaction.


    Su Hang looked at the picture frame on his desk and couldn''t help but reach out a hand to brush his fingers across the silhouette. He thought aboutst night, the tumult feelings and confusion he and Shen Xi had both felt. Su Hang gently smiled.


    "Shen Xi, I have something to tell you."

 Chapter 26

    ***


    In a bright and early morning, two people and a dog were running through a street covered in gingko leaves.


    "Here." Seeing the crystalline sweat beads on Shen Xi''s ruddy skin, Su Hang offered her a sweat towel.


    "Thank you." Shen Xi epted the towel and wiped away her sweat. Afterward, she handed it back to the man.


    Su Hang retied the towel on his wrist, a lightugh escaping the corners of his mouth. Ever since Shen Xi started running with him, he had made a habit of bringing a towel during their morning runs.


    "What are youughing at?" Shen Xi doubtfully asked.


    "Ah?" Su Hang blinked. "What?"


    "I asked you what you wereughing at." Shen Xi repeated.


    "Me?" Su Hang seemed a little in disbelief. "Did Iugh?"


    "Silly!" Shen Xi found his stupefied expression funny. But after a quick nce, she turned her back on Su Hang and continued her run.


    "Woof!" Chu Wu saw his Mom start to run back home. Thinking of all the delicious meat and bones waiting for him, Chu Wu excitedly followed, barking non-stop as he did so.


    After seeing such a scene, the corners of Su Hang''s mouth once again rose uncontrobly.


    Was this happiness? To have a smile on your face without even realizing it.


    After breakfast, Shen Xi and Su Hang went out of the front door together.


    Su Hang was going to work as usual, while Shen Xi was going to the orphanage to deliver supplies.


    Shen Xi doesn''t usually wear extravagant clothes on regr days, but today, her clothes were much simpler. Maybe it was because she was going to an orphanage, but instead of wearing her usual coat, Shen Xi was wearing a ck down jacket. Instead of a designer bag, she had a gray shoulder bag slung across her shoulder, containing a bunch of snacks she had asked Mrs. Zhang to buy for her in the supermarket yesterday.


    "Going to the orphanage today?" Su Hang asked.


    "Un." Shen Xi opened her car door and put her bag on the passenger seat.


    "Have fun." Su Hang said.


    "Will do!" Thinking of the invitation the children had sent her, Shen Xi couldn''t help but smile.


    Su Hang nodded and got in his car. He looked at Shen Xi in his rearview mirror and thought: This time, I''ll let you go first. But I''ll definitely take you next time.


    Shen Xi watched Su Hang drive away, and turned to set off. She said her goodbyes to Mrs. Zhang, rubbed Chu Wu in the head, then entered her car and drove off. Shen Xi nned to drive the car to the foundation first, and then go to the orphanage together with the volunteers. Otherwise, her million-dor luxury car parked next to the orphanage will be on the headlines tomorrow.


    "You''ve arrived?" Li Ye saw Shen Xie in and greeted her.


    "I hope I''m notte." She had been stuck in traffic partway through her drive to the foundation, and Shen Xi was worried that she had dyed the departure time.


    "No, we''ve just finished loading the supplies." Because the Qing''an orphanage wasn''t thatrge, there weren''t as many supplies needed to be sent. They only needed to rent a van for the volunteers and a small truck for the supplies. "You''ll sit together with the other volunteers in the van."


    "Alright." Shen Xi confirmed where the van would be and nodded her head. She raised her hand to reposition her shoulder bag, and as she did so, her diamond ring shed against the sun, creating a dazzling light.


    As Li Ye''s eyes narrowed at the bright light and he suddenly remembered something. He recalled that Su Hang, Shen Xi''s husband, stayed at an orphanage at some point. Curious, he asked: "Didn''t Mr. Su grow up in an orphanage?"


    "Yeah." Shen Xi didn''t know why Li Ye suddenly asked this question, but she still nodded back.


    "Was it the city orphanage? I wonder if we funded his orphanage before." Li Ye smiled. "If we ever did, isn''t it sort of like fate?"


    "I¡­I didn''t ask." Shen Xi had always thought that it might''ve been a bad experience for Su Hang, and plus, they were married. If she had deliberately mentioned it, Shen Xi was afraid that Su Hang might think into her questions too deeply.


    "Let''s go!" The driver''s hurried voice suddenly shouted out.


    "Oh, we''re leaving." Shen Xi waved at Li Ye in goodbye, then ran towards the van. The van turned and drove towards the direction of the older parts of the city.


    About an hourter, the van arrived at Qing''an orphanage. Its rusty gates were already filled with smiling children, their clothes old and faded, but very clean.


    The van stopped directly onto the yard, with the dean of the orphanage immediately stepping up to wee the volunteers. The people on both sides exchanged warm greetings, and then the volunteers began to help the children move the supplies out of the truck.


    Shen Xi was helping to distribute the winter clothes to the children. Every child who received the clothes would sweetly call out ''Thank you, big sister,'' making Shen Xi smile happily.


    When everything was delivered, the dean got the staff members and some of the older children to bring tea to the volunteers.


    "Oh, to be honest, we''ve seen each other before." Dean Yao suddenly started.


    "Really? I''m sorry, but I don''t seem to recall." Shen Xi tried to remember their meeting, but she had no memory of it.


    "I don''t me you. I me that guy Su Hang for not give us a good introduction." Dean Yaoined.


    Su Hang? Shen Xi was stunned. She looked at Dean Yao, her expression slowly changing. Was it¡­


    "When you and Su Hang got married, I attended the wedding party for the toast. I don''t know how that lucky fool managed to marry you, ah, but he did it." The more Dean Yao thought about it, the more amazed he was. She felt like luck wasn''t enough to describe Su Hang''s incredible fortune.


    "That kid said he was going to bring you here for a visit, but in the end, he never managed to. He''s always saying he''s too busy, too busy¡­I need to have a good talk with him the next time hees by." Dean Yao seemed to be dissatisfied with Su Hang and wasining non-stop.


    "Su Hang really has been busytely." Shen Xi couldn''t help but exin.


    "I only said two sentences, and you''re already distressed?" Dean Yao gave her an ambiguous smile.


    "It''s not¡­no." Shen Xi was so embarrassed she didn''t know what to say.


    "Dean mother, Aunt Liu said it''s time for dinner." A seven-year-old boy came running and interrupted their conversation.


    "Alright, Little Tao. You can call your other brothers and sisters for dinner." Dean Yao patted the little boy''s head kindly. The little boy seemed very happy and nodded his head before running towards the other volunteers to invite them to dinner.


    "Let''s have dinner first. Afterward, the children will do a performance for you. When they found out you wereing, they practiced hard, you know." With that, Dean Yao brought Shen Xi to dinner.


    The orphanage had a simple dining area, with only a few tables and chairs in an open room. The orphanage prepared a special table for the volunteers, but they apparently preferred sitting with the children, so all the tables had both adults and kids.


    Shen Xi sat beside Dean Yao and listened to her talk about Su Hang when he was living in the orphanage.


    "Truthfully, I wanted to see you not only because of Su Hang, but because I''ve always wanted to personally thank you." Dean Yao said. "You may not know this, but our orphanage only survived to this day thanks to your Shen Foundation."


    "What? Did something happen?" Shen Xi asked.


    "We''re only a small orphanage, so the government doesn''t treat as seriously. Sometimes we get subsidies, sometimes we don''t. Either way, the money was never enough for the rate of our spending. I had the children pick up some trash to recycle, and we''ve also done many local fundraisings. It was only thanks to some good samaritans that we could barely fill the children''s'' stomachs." Dean Yao sighed. "But we couldn''t bear anyone getting sick."


    "About ten years ago, the flu swept our orphanage during winter. Our orphanage wasn''t in the best condition in the first ce, and everyone lived in the same room. If one person got the flu, then it would pass on to everybody. In the end, several children contracted high fevers, and I couldn''t take care of them all." Dean Yao thought about that horrible time. "The children were delirious with fever, and I brought them to the hospital, but the orphanage had no money."


    "Did Su Hang also get ill?" Shen Xi was concerned. "What happened?"


    "Su Hang stayed in rtively good health. After coughing for a few days, he was well enough to stay at the orphanage." Dean Yao answered. "The poor kid was only ten years old, but he had to take care of seven of his brothers and sisters at home alone. Back then, there was only the cook and me to take care of the children. We had to bring all of the seriously ill children to the hospital, so it was Su Hang who stayed in the orphanage and took care of the rest of the kids. They had to find something to eat, but the orphanage had nothing, and neither the cook or I was there."


    "Later, I learned that every night, when all his younger brothers and sister were asleep, he would lock the gate and ride his bike to the bakery to ask for some leftover bread. That was how he fed the children." As Dean Yao said this, she couldn''t help but feel sad. "Su Hang had been strong ever since he was young. He was different from the other children. Other children would sell meng to get food, but Su Hang didn''t want to do that. When he wanted something, he would make money to buy it. When he was seven years old, he would go out and find mineral water bottles to exchange for money. I remember him telling me before that beggars were the ones who asked people for things, and that he wouldn''t be a beggar."


    (T/N: Meng = cute. The children would act cute to get food.)


    "That¡­." As she listened, Shen Xi''s heart was filled with pain.


    "The government hadn''t sent us our subsidy, and the hospital was chasing us for money, but there was no way for us to pay. I thought about sending the children to other orphanages so they would at least be taken care of, but all the other orphanages were also having a difficult time. No one was willing to ept the children." Dean Yao continued. "But just as I was about to sink into despair, I saw the public service advertisement of the Shen Foundation in the hospital."


    "I thought that since I was giving medicine to a dead horse, I might as well try to call. But I never expected your family to send someone over the very next day." Dean Yao said excitedly. "I still remember when that manager named Wang came to the hospital to pay for all the medical expenses. Two volunteers helped take care of the children in the hospital, and food and clothing were sent. From then on, supplies would be sent to the orphanage every year without fail. If it wasn''t for you, my orphanage would''ve been long gone. Those children might''ve¡­"


    (T/N: to give medicine to a dead horse (idiom) / fig. to keep trying everything in a desperate situation)


    "So Shen Xi, I really wanted to thank you for saving the children back then." Dean Yao said.


    "Don''t say that, Dean."


    "No, no, I want to. You don''t know¡­" Dean Yao became even more excited.


    "Dean, you''ve looked after Su Hang for so long, you''re considered my elder. If you thank me again, I''ll be very stressed." Shen Xi tried to stop her.


    "Su Hang is Su Hang, you''re you. If it weren''t for you¡­."


    "Dean, Su Hang and I are a family now. I should by the one thanking you. Otherwise, he''ll be the one tell me offter." Shen Xi tried to use Su Hang as a shield to stop the Dean''s excessive thanks.


    "He dares! If he dares tell you off, don''t think I won''t go and scold him!" Dean Yao mmed a hand on the table.


    "So, don''t thank me anymore, ah?" Shen Xi changed the subject. "Why don''t you tell me more about Su Hang''s past?"


    "Alright. Or why don''t I show you Su Hang''s old room?" Dean Yao proposed.


    Shen Xi naturally agreed, and soon after, the two left the dining room.


    Dean Yao took Shen Xi to visit the orphanage rooms, pointing towards the wooden upper bunks and lower bunks. "Su Hang had been sleeping here before he was twelve-years-old. There used to be rusty iron frames here, but with the help of your foundation, we reced them the year beforest."


    "And after?" Shen Xi looked around the room. There were eight bunk beds in this less-than-thirty square meter room.


    "When Su Hang grew a bit bigger, he moved into the warehouse. We put a small bed there." Dean Yao replied.


    "May I have a look?" Shen Xi asked.


    "Sure. The small bed is still there. When Su Hang visits sometimes, he stays there." Dean Yao said.


    "He stays over?" Shen Xi asked in surprise.


    "Yes, he used toe to visit us a few years ago. He hasn''t stayed over in thest few years, though. Thest time he visited was just before your marriage. We then met again at your wedding party." They soon reached the door of the warehouse.


    Dean Yao took out a key from her pocket and unlocked the door. Shen Xi peered inside and finds the warehouse to only be a dozen square meters big. There was a small window on one wall, with cardboard boxes all over the floor. Just underneath the window was an old single bed.


    "Su Hang sleeps here." Dean Yao pointed towards the bed.


    Because no one had lived in the warehouse for a long time, there was a lightyer of dust on the bed. Right next to the bed was a simple wooden table with several books and a pen holder on top of it. Curious, Shen Xi asked: "Are those Su Hang''s?"


    "Yes, those were the books he used to read." Dean Yao took out a ck cover diary from the pile and handed it to Shen Xi. "This was his diary."


    "Diary?" Shen Xi looked at the book handed to her and asked: "How can such a private thing be left here?"


    "I call it his diary, but there''s nothing written in it." Dean Yaoughed. "Su Hang had been boring ever since he was a child. He kept his thoughts firmly hidden in his heart. I was afraid he''d be bored, so I bought this diary for him. I originally hoped that he could vent out his thoughts into paper. Who knew that he wouldn''t write anything but dates. But I think those particr dates mean a lot to him."


    "I see!"


    A sudden knock on the warehouse door interrupted the Dean''s next words.


    "Dean, the children are going to perform soon." A volunteer from the orphanage called out.


    "Oh, yes, I''ll be right out." Dean Yao turned back to Shen Xi. "I''m about to get very busy."


    "Go ahead, Dean. I''ll just stay here for a little while longer." Shen Xi considerately replied.


    "Alright. Take your time and meet us when you''re ready." Dean Yao didn''t insist and, with onest smile towards Shen Xi, ran off.


    Alone, Shen Xi looked down at the diary she was holding. Unable to contain her curiosity, she finally gave in and opened the cover.


    June 8, 1995, sunny. There was a smiley face next to it.


    Shen Xi didn''t know what happened that year, but seeing the smiling face, Shen Xi could guess.


    December 11, 1995, snowy. There was a frowny face next to it.


    Shen Xi thought that Su Hang had experienced trouble that day.


    August 20, 1997. Next to it was a drawing of a little girl with two pigtails, crying.


    August 21, 1997. Next to it was the same little girl, but this time she wasughing.


    These two days¡­wasn''t this Su Hang''s first love? Shen Xi gloomily thought.


    Shen Xi turned page after page, and as she did so, the childish scrawl began to mature. Finally, she reached a particr page.


    September 28, 2017, sunny. This was followed by a smiley face and a sad face.


    Was he happy or worried? Shen Xi remembered that this was the day Su Hang had gone to the Shen family home to propose marriage. This was the day she had promised to marry Su Hang.


    Shen Xi flipped to the next page.


    November 1, 2017, sunny. It was followed by a girl with a sad face and another face with a smile.


    November 1st. This was the day they got their marriage certificate. Was the sad girl her? The smiley face was Su Hang?


    After looking at the picture for a while, Shen Xi suddenly poked the smiling face with a finger. Halfining, she said: "So you were thrilled that day, and you also knew that I was in a bad mood. You knew I wasn''t happy, yet you still smile so happily. I''ll remember this, ah. Wait for me to settle ounts."


    As Shen Xi thought this, she couldn''t helpughing. She turned to thest page.


    The weather forecast on November 5, 2017, says there''s going to be a rainstorm.


    Weather forecast? So this page was written in advance. There wasn''t any drawing next to it¡­was it because you didn''t know what mood we''d have?


    November 5, the day of our wedding. As she looked at the missing half of this particr entry, Shen Xi couldn''t help but turn back to the previous page of the diary. She looked at the girl with the bitter face next to the smiley face. Shen Xi took out a pen from the pen holder, ced the diary down on the wooden table, and filled in the gap of the half-finished entry about their wedding.


    Shen Xi finished her drawing and looked down at it with satisfaction. She then closed the diary and put it back in its original ce. As for what she had drawn? Well, wait until its masteres back and sees it.


    After peeping on the small secret in Su Hang''s heart, Shen Xi left the room with a smile. She followed the children''s singing to the lobby of the orphanage.


    The children were performing dances and songs for the volunteers by the gate. Their performances were rough, but everyone was delighted.


    The atmosphere was warm, and the volunteers were up on the stage ying with the children. Eventually, Shen Xi was pulled up on stage with the children.


    Because there was no hurry, Shen Xi even yed on the old piano and sang ''pleasant goat'' with the children.


    Dean Yao took the opportunity to secretly record a video on her phone and sent it to certain someone.


    And this certain someone watched the video six straight times with an idiotic expression. And then afterward, he called Fang Yu with a ck expression on his face.


    "Has my schedule been adjusted? When can I get my time off?" Su Hang asked.


    "Boss, I meticulously looked through your schedule for two days, and I can squeeze out one day for you at the most. Next Friday." Fang Yu carefully replied.


    "I want three days." Su Hang was dissatisfied.


    "With the weekend, that''s three days." Fang Yu weakly stretched out three fingers.


    "Fang Yu!" Su Hang angrily shouted.


    "Boss, even if you kill me, I won''t be able to squeeze out any more time." Fang Yu stiffly replied.


    "Get out!" Su Hang had no words.


    "Alright!" Fang Yu happily hightailed it out of there.

 Chapter 27

    ***


    When Shen Xi returned home, it was already dark. The smell of dinner was floating from the brightly lit vi. Mrs. Zhang was in the kitchen, cleaning up.


    "Madam, you''re back." Mrs. Zhang saw her enter and greeted Shen Xi with a smile.


    "Nn." Shen Xi looked around. "Su Hang isn''t back yet?"


    "He''ll be home soon." Mrs. Zhang replied. "He called in a half-hour ago and asked if the Madam hade back. I said that you were on your way, and Sir said that he would being back too."


    "Oh." Shen Xi nodded.


    "Was the Madam busy today?" Mrs. Zhang suddenly asked.


    "I went to the orphanage and yed with some children." Shen Xi replied.


    "Ah, it seems that the Sir didn''t want to disturb Madam." Mrs. Zhangmented.


    "Why do you say that?" Shen Xi didn''t understand.


    "If Sir hadn''t been afraid of disturbing Madam, then why didn''t he just call you directly to ask when you''d be home? He didn''t need to ask me." Mrs. Zhang replied. In her heart, she secretlymended herself for saying such a reasonable sentence that didn''t sound too deliberate. Sigh, Sir really is outwardly cold but deep and passionate inside.


    Shen Xi''s expression turned strange. She didn''t ponder whether or not Mrs. Zhang''s words were deliberate. Instead, she felt guilty for some reason. She and Su Hang were a couple who acted like they were secretly in love with each other but hadn''t dared to take that final step. Shen Xi hadn''t thought much of it, but it seems that their situation was obvious to the people around them.


    "Madam, I''ve already fed Chu Wu, so if you don''t have anything else for me to do, I''ll be leaving." Mrs. Zhang went on to say.


    "Ah, of course." Shen Xi awkwardly responded.


    After Mrs. Zhang left, Shen Xi took off her ck coat and threw it on the sofa. She untied her ponytail and shook her head to loosen her hair.


    This was the scene Su Hang first saw when he entered his home. A brightly lit house filled with delicious food, and a beautiful woman letting her hair down.


    "Wee back." Because Mrs. Zhang had told her that Su Hang would be home soon, Shen Xi wasn''t surprised to see Su Hang standing by the door.


    "Un." Su Hang rubbed Chu Wu on his head for a while, then asked. "You just came back?"


    Shen Xi suddenly felt that this man in front of her really was the epitome of ''outwardly cold but deep and passionate inside.'' He obviously knew she would be home because of Mrs. Zhang, yet he still asks her. It really makes a person want to expose him, ah. "Didn''t you know already?"


    "Uh, what?" Su Hang couldn''t properly respond for a while.


    "Didn''t you ask Mrs. Zhang when I''d be back? Just now, Mrs. Zhang joked that maybe you didn''t have my cell phone number, and that''s why you ask her every time about me." Shen Xi deliberately changed Mrs. Zhang''s words around. She wasn''t afraid of being caught out, because she knew that Su Hang certainly wouldn''t talk to Mrs. Zhang about this.


    "I¡­." Having been exposed so straightforwardly, Su Hang couldn''t help but feel embarrassed. After a few seconds, he suddenly asked. "Then, next time, I won''t call Mrs. Zhang and just call you directly?"


    "Whatever you prefer." Shen Xi, like a tsundere, turned around and walked into the dining room.


    (T/N: The word used here is literally exined in the dictionary as presenting as unfriendly and blunt, but warm and tender inside (loanword from Japanese "tsundere") )


    Does this mean that he could call Shen Xi every day? With this thought, Su Hang happily gave Chu Wu another round of vigorous rubbing. While Chu Wu whined, Su Hang secretly decided to increase Mrs. Zhang''s sry.


    "Let''s eat!" Shen Xi, who had been waiting for a certain someone toe to the dinner table, couldn''t help but shout when she heard Chu Wu''s whines.


    "Ah, we''reing." Hearing her calling, Su Hang immediately let go of Chu Wu. As soon as Chu Wu was liberated, he immediately ran away. Now in a very good mood, Su Hang put away his briefcase, loosened his tie, and quickly walked to the dining room.


    Su Hang sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and was just about to pick up some food when Shen Xi suddenly asked: "Have you washed your hands?"


    Su Hang''s chopsticks abruptly stopped. He had been so focused on Shen Xi that he had forgotten to wash them. But wouldn''t he look so stupid if he goes and washes them now?


    "Pfft¡­" Shen Xi was very amused at the foolish expression on Su Hang''s face. "Forget it, I won''t hold it against you just this once."


    Won''t hold it against you, won''t hold it against you, won''t hold it against you¡­


    After these words circled his brain, Su Hang hunched down, extended his chopsticks, and picked up some vegetables to cover up the smile on his face.


    (T/N: the word used in the raw that means ''won''t hold it against you'' can also mean ''I won''t dislike you.'' Su Hang is happy because it''s like Shen Xi is telling him she won''t dislike him.)


    Shen Xi saw that he was anxious to eat, so she poured him a bowl of soup and ced it near Su Hang''s hand. "Eat slowly."


    Su Hang tilted his head and nced at the bowl that Shen Xi had ced near his te. There were a few pieces of scallions, squash and pork chops floating on the soup. He then looked at the empty bowl on the other side of his te. Su Hang put down his chopsticks, picked up the empty soup bowl, and carefully filled it with soup. As if he had OCD, Su Hang carefully filled the bowl up to two thirds and made sure that the soup only contained scallions. Then, he pretended to nonchntly ce the bowl near Shen Xi''s hand.


    (T/N: Obsessivepulsive disorder)


    "Thank you." Shen Xi smiled at Su Hang, then took a sip of the soup from the bowl he had just put down.


    Su Hang looked at Shen Xi''s beautiful smile, her red lips shimmering with soup, and his heart pounded.


    After dinner, Shen Xi yed with Chu Wu in the living room, while Su Hang lingered in the living room instead of going into his study as usual. Naturally, Shen Xi noticed the change, but she didn''t point it out, nor did she go back upstairs into her bedroom. She wanted to see how long Su Hang would dawdle around before finally telling her what he wanted to say.


    After finding out what Su Hang went through as a child, Shen Xi felt even more distressed for him. But at the same time, she had never wanted to learn about his story from others, because in this way, she hadn''t been able tofort him afterward.


    "You¡­" Su Hang finally gathered his courage, and with a gulp, asked: "How was your trip to the orphanage today?"


    "It was good. The kids were cute." Shen Xi replied.


    "Oh." Su Hang scrutinized her expression for a long time, but in the end, he really couldn''t tell if Shen Xi found out about his past with Qing''an orphanage. Did the Dean not tell her? But that isn''t in line with the Dean''s gossipy personality, ah.


    "Was there anything that left a deep impression on you?" Su Hang tried probing her again.


    "There was!" Shen Xi replied.


    Su Hang perked up, an expectant look on his face.


    "The children sang for us."


    "Oh." Su Hang was a little disappointed. But, well, it didn''t matter if she doesn''t know. Next time, he''ll take her there himself.


    Shen Xi nced at Su Hang from the corner of her eyes. She was getting infuriated at this man''s ''outwardly cold, passionate inside'' personality, ah. Is he incapable of simply asking her directly? Then she sighed. Well, he''s the type of person who only writes the date and weather in his diary after all. Su Hang trying to subtly ask her like this, can already be considered pretty good.


    Then, a soft piano melody rang. It was Shen Xi''s phone.


    Shen Xi took out her phone and saw that it was Yun Shu. With a smile, she answered the call. "Yun Shu."


    "Darling, have you eaten?" Yun Shu had specifically timed her call to catch Shen Xi after she had eaten.


    "Just finished." Shen Xi lifted her legs onto the sofa, then wrapped an arm around a sofa pillow.


    Su Hang stared at the pillow that was being hugged by Shen Xi and suddenly came up with the idea of printing their photos on all the pillow covers in their home.


    "Are you free tomorrow? Let''s go buy YingYing a birthday gift." Yun Shu said.


    Yun Shu told Shen Xi: "YingYing''s birthday ising. It''s on the 24th of this month, ah."


    24th?!


    "If YingYing found out that you had forgotten her birthday, she''d be devastated, ah." Yun Shu continued.


    "Didn''t forget, didn''t forget, how could I? It''s on Christmas Eve, after all. Once I see a Christmas tree, I remember it straight away." Shen Xiughed.


    "Then, do you remember that we promised to apany her on her birthday this year?" Yun Shu asked again.


    "Ah?" Shen Xi tried to recall this conversation, but for the reborn Shen Xi, this happened to her five years ago. She really couldn''t remember.


    "Have you forgotten? At the beginning of the year, we went to see YingYing, and we promised to apany her on her birthday." Yun Shu reminded her. "I know a lot of things happened to you this year, so I''m not surprised you''ve forgotten."


    "Wait, I do remember." Having been prompted by Yun Shu, Shen Xi finally recalled. At the beginning of the year, she, Yun Shu, and Shang HeXu went to see YingYing, who lived in another city. She remembered YingYing''s crestfallen expression when they left. In the end, the three of them agreed to spend YingYing''s birthday with her.


    "But can you go?" Yun Shu asked.


    "Why can''t I?" Shen Xi was puzzled.


    "We''d need to spend at least two days, ah. It''s Christmas, will it ok for you to spend it away from your family?" Yun Shu teased.


    Shen Xi gave Su Hang a guilty nce but saw that he was busy ying with Chu Wu. It seems that he wasn''t paying her the least bit of attention, ah. Feeling frustrated, Shen Xi said: "I''ll go. Since I promised, I''ll go."


    "Alright, it''s settled. I''ll talk to YingYing and Shang HeXu." Yun Shu said her goodbyes, then hung up.


    Shen Xi ended the call, then opened the notepad app on her phone. As expected, she found a memo reminding her to apany YingYing on her birthday this year.


    "Who''s YingYing?" After listening in on Shen Xi''s conversation, Su Hang couldn''t help but ask.


    "Shang HeXu''s younger sister." Shen Xi replied. "Also, my and Yun Shu''s most favorite little sister."


    (T/N: as in favorite younger girl, not favorite sister out of all of Shang HeXu''s non-existent sisters. Shang HeXu has one younger sister.)


    "Shang HeXu''s younger sister?" Su Hang echoed, his voice sounding a little higher than usual.


    "What''s wrong?" Shen Xi gave him a confused nce.


    "Nothing." Su Hang immediately straightened. After a moment''s thought, he asked: "You''re going to her birthday party on the 24th?"


    "It''s not really a birthday party. It''s mostly just me, Yun Shu, and Shang HeXu apanying her on her birthday." Shen Xi said. "By the way, I might be gone for two or three days."


    "Two or three days?" And just you guys? I can endure it if it''s just Yun Shu, but why is Shang HeXu there too? Su Hang''s voice once again went a little high.


    "YingYing was a premature baby, so she had been poor in health since childhood. Uncle Shang and Auntie Shang brought her up in a small town in the south to take care of her properly. It takes some time to get there, so it may take a day or two." Shen Xi exined.


    "¡­¡­." Su Hang was somewhat unhappy, and he pursed his lips.


    "You don''t want me to go?" Shen Xi asked.


    "No. If you want to go, you should go." Su Hang stood up and said: "I''ll be going back to my study first; I still have some things I need to finish."


    His entire atmosphere had changed. Even Chu Wu could tell that Su Hang''s wasn''t happy. And yet, he still didn''t say anything, ah. Shen Xi silently scolded Su Hang as she red at the closed study door.


    Su Hang sat on his chair and stared at the small calendar on his desk. December 24 was next Saturday. To make it in time, Shen Xi would have to leave next Friday. How can he arrange things so they could somehow coincidentally bump into each other?


    Su Hang picked up his phone, and soon, Li QingYuan''s warm voice could be heard. "Su Hang, this time, you''ll have to thank your wonderful brother! I found the perfect ce, it''s the capital of Country W. I sent a picture on your email, take a look."


    Su Hang turned on hisputer, opened his email, and looked at the photos Li QingYuan had sent. Meanwhile, Li QingYuan continued to sell the ce: "Next Friday is the 23rd, and then it''ll be Christmas Eve. There''s this special thing happening then on the central square of the capital of Country W. They set up thergest Christmas tree in the world; it''s gonna be gorgeous. A lot of people visit it, and there''s even a legend that men and women who propose under that Christmas tree will live happily ever after. I don''t believe it, but women love things like that."


    "I''ve already arranged the itinerary for you. The international flightsts five hours. How about I book you a room in the hotel closest to the central square?" The more Li QingYuan talked, the more he admired himself. If his brother was to hold his beauty as soon as possible, a presidential suite was probably too big. He''ll do him a favor and book a standard room with a big bed instead.


    "Shen Xi is going to celebrate the birthday of Shang HeXu''s younger sister next Friday." Looking at the photo of the beautiful Christmas tree, Su Hang felt increasingly lonely.


    "Fuck!" Li QingYuan cursed. "Go and snatch her back!"


    "I can''t rob a sick little girl." Su Hang replied.


    "It''s just a birthday party. It''s no big deal." Li QingYuan let out another curse. "Brother, ten years. You''ve been in love with her for more than ten years. I''m not going to wait any longer for you to muster up your courage and confess to her. For fuck''s sake, you''re already married to each other, and yet you still have to dy things?"


    "I''m going too." Su Hang suddenly spoke out.


    "What?"


    "I''m going with Shen Xi." He was determined to not let Shang HeXu get even the smallest opportunity. Su Hang was going to spend Christmas with Shen Xi.

 Chapter 28

    ***


    December 23, Friday.


    A car was steadily driving on the highway towards the airport. Inside, Shen Xi asked the person next to her uncertainly: "Do you really want to go?"


    "Un." This was the third time Shen Xi had asked him. Su Hang, as always, nodded in reply.


    "Why did you suddenly decide toe?" This was also a question Shen Xi had asked before, but Su Hang, this outwardly cold but deep and passionate man, refused to answer her.


    "I just had some free time." Su Hang ambiguously replied.


    "That''s not the point." Shen Xi nced at the man''s hands on the steering wheel. His knuckles were visibly tense and white, but his face was expressionless as usual.


    "¡­." Su Hang didn''t know how to answer her, so he yed dead.


    The more Su Hang thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. The car exited the highway into the airport, then stopped for a red light. Su Hang stepped on the brake, steadily stopping the vehicle, then asked: "Am I not allowed to go?"


    His voice seemed no different from his usual tone, but Shen Xi could hear the grief in it. It made her feel like she was bullying an honest person. Ahhh, whatever!


    "Forget it. If you want to go, then you can go." Shen Xi said, defeated.


    Su Hang secretly nced at Shen Xi, a smile in the corner of his mouth. The traffic lights turned green, and Su Hang pressed on the throttle to enter the airport parking lot.


    When Su Hang went into the trunk and took out only a backpack after Shen Xi''s luggage, she couldn''t help but raise a brow. "That''s all you have?"


    Su Hang''s hand paused, but quickly resumed its movements. He calmly locked the car and started dragging Shen Xi''s luggage past her. He intended to use his ultimate skill: act dumb.


    So childish!


    "Have you bought your ticket?" Shen Xi asked the ridiculous man.


    "Yes." Su Hang replied.


    He already bought his ne ticket, and he also sent his luggage ahead.


    "Are you on the same flight as me?" After some thought, Shen Xi asked.


    "Hm." Buying a ticket beforehand means that this is premeditated, premeditated, ah. He must''ve felt so guilty when he confirmed his purchase.


    "Pfft¡­" Shen Xi finally couldn''t contain herughter. She didn''t continue to question Su Hang again, and instead, she stepped forward and said: "Come on, Yun Shu and Shang HeXu must be here already."


    With a sigh of relief, Su Hang quickened his steps and caught up to Shen Xi. The two went up the esctor side by side.


    At the airport gate.


    Yun Shu looked at her cell phone and said: "Xiao Xi messaged me, saying that she''s arrived. She should be here soon."


    "Un." A casually dressed Shang HeXu nodded and looked towards the esctors.


    "Xiao Xi also said that Su Hang wasing with her." Yun Shu carefully observed Shang HeXu''s expression as she said this.


    "Oh, really?" Shang HeXu was obviously stunned, but quickly tried to act casual/


    "Probably because its Christmas." Yun Shu exined. "After all, this is their first holiday after their marriage. Su Hang will want to be with Xiao Xi."


    "I know." Shang HeXu''s face reverted back into a much more natural expression.


    Yun Shu raised a brow, but ultimately didn''t say anything, instead choosing to quietly wait for the newlywed couple.


    "Yun Shu." Ten meters away from the gate, Shen Xi spotted Yun Shu.


    "Xiao Xi." Yun Shu waved at her.


    All their luggage was with Su Hang, so Shen Xi was free to hurry towards Yun Shu. But when she took a step forward, her left hand was suddenly pulled.


    A puzzled Shen Xi looked back, wondering why her hand was suddenly gripped.


    Su Hang tightly held onto Shen Xi as he looked towards Shang HeXu with fierce provocation in his eyes. He also felt a little guilty, knowing that Shen Xi must find his actions strange.


    But no. He had to stand firm.


    Shen Xi found his actions confusing, but she didn''t throw off the man''s hand. She simply raised a brow and matched Su Hang''s pace as they walked towards the gate.


    Looking at the couple walking towards them with their fingers intertwined (Yes, the sullen Su Hang changed it into a ten-finger sp halfway), Yun Shu couldn''t help but give Shen Xi an enigmatic smile. Meanwhile, after seeing Su Hang''s hostile gaze, Shang HeXu''s mouth straightened into a tense line, and he looked away.


    A win! Su Hang proudly smirked.


    "A bit two-faced." Yun Shu idlymented as she watched this particr scene.


    "What?" Shang HeXu didn''t hear her.


    "Nothing." Yun Shu felt that Shang HeXu get enough stimulus for today, and decided not to add onto it.


    When they were close enough, Shen Xi asked her friends with a smile: "Have you checked in?"


    "Not yet. We wanted to wait for you." Yun Shu replied.


    "Hello." Shang HeXu politely extended his hand towards Su Hang.


    Both of Su Hang''s hands were upied. He was holding Shen Xi''s hand with his right and her luggage with his left. It would be hard to shake Shang HeXu''s hand with his left, but Su Hang refused to let go of what his right hand was holding. So, in the end, he simply gave Shang HeXu a sharp nod.


    "¡­.." The always elegant Shang HeXu suddenly wanted to shout out a curse.


    Shen Xi, who wanted to take out her passport from her bag, didn''t notice they turbulent situation between the two men. It wasn''t convenient for her to rummage through her purse with only one hand, so she wanted to release Su Hang''s hand. But after two attempts, she found that she couldn''t let go.


    Shen Xi then noticed Yun Shu''s enigmatic smile. With a fierce blush, Shen Xi yanked at the man, saying: "Let go."


    He didn''t understand why his wife suddenly wanted to make trouble, but after seeing her expression, Su Hang obediently let go.


    Shen Xi shoved her hand into her bag and pulled out her ID card. She gave it to Su Hang and, with a stormy look, said: "Go check-in."


    "Oh." Having been red at, Su Hang felt a little wronged as he left to do the check-in procedures.


    "Then, I''ll be troubling you, Shen HeXu." Yun Shu also pulled out her ID and handed it to Shang HeXu with a smile.


    Shang HeXu epted Yun Shu''s ID with an amiable smile and turned away.


    After the two men left, Yun Shu began to tease Shen Xi: "You newlyweds are really showing off your affections, ah."


    "What nonsense are you spouting." Shen Xi was so embarrassed.


    "You couldn''t even shake his hand off." Yun Shu looked at Shen Xi''s left hand. "Let me see. Hm, it''s not red."


    "Stop it!" Shen Xiughed as she avoided Yun Shu''s teasing.


    Yun Shuughed along with her. She was happy for her friend. "After seeing him act so nervous, I feel much more relieved."


    "He''s just the ''outwardly cold but passionate inside'' type." Shen Xi had no scruples when talking with her best friend.


    "How so?" Yun Shu asked, curious.


    "This morning, Su Hang said he would take me to the airport, but halfway through the journey, he told me that he would being along to our trip. I asked him why he wanted to go all of a sudden, but he didn''t tell me. Instead, he acted like a dead fish." Shen Xi exined.


    "You still needed to ask? Isn''t it obvious? He wanted to apany you, ah." Yun Shu saw the truth at just one nce. "How can he let you and Shang HeXu go somece he can''t see for three days and two nights?"


    "What do you mean, Shang HeXu and me? Aren''t you here?" Shen Xi retorted. "Besides, what''s there between Shang HeXu and me?"


    "You two are a recognized couple in our circle. It may not be true, but I''m afraid no one believes that except for me." Yun Shu reminded her.


    "And he has a first love he can''t forget." Shen Xi couldn''t help butin.


    "Oh, right. It''s said that Su Hang has a sweetheart he had been secretly in love with for over ten years." Yun Shu realized. "How could I have forgotten? Is it true?"


    "Maybe." Shen Xi sullenly replied.


    "And you tolerate it?" Yun Shu was indignant on behalf of her friend.


    "I don''t." As they talked about this, Shen Xi thought of that embarrassing night again. Her expression turned vicious as she said: "He sleeps in the guest room until he makes it clear to me."


    "So you¡­" Something dawned on Yun Shu as she looked at Shen Xi.


    "Don''t say it." Shen Xi was embarrassed at her slip.


    "Truly worthy of being my good friend." Yun Shu smiled and gave her a thumbs up.


    On the other side, there was no such harmony in the conversation between the two men who were queuing for check-in.


    "Thank you for attending my sister''s birthday." Shang HeXu thought that no matter what Su Hang''s actual intentions were, at least on the surface, he wasing with Shen Xi to celebrate YingYing''s birthday. Shang HeXu had to thank him for that.


    "I''m going to apany Shen Xi." Su Hang replied in an honest and upright manner.


    Shang HeXu: "¡­.." Can''t you be a little more polite? Are you reallying after this master?


    Su Hang: "¡­.." I already consider this to be a significant restraint on my part to meet my rival without pulling out a knife.


    At the same time, a staff member had already been waiting for half a minute. Impatient, she shouted: "Hello? This is the line for check-ins. If you aren''ting, please step aside. There are others behind you."


    "Sorry." Shang HeXu took the lead by turning away from Su Hang.


    Su Hang handed two ID''s to the staff and said: "Please arrange our seats to be together."


    The staff member quickly arranged things. Su Hang epted the boarding passes and left without looking back.


    The corners of Shang HeXu''s mouth ticked upwards as he gave the staff member the ID cards he was holding.


    "Do you want to be seated together too?" The staff member asked.


    "We aren''t together? But we bought the tickets together." Shang HeXu asked.


    "You were originally all together, but that passenger before changed the seats, and you''re now one aisle away from them." The staff member exined. "Do you also want to be transferred?"


    "¡­.."


    Su Hang returned to the boarding gate and handed Shen Xi her boarding pass and ID. He also took over and grasped the handle of her luggage.


    "Why are you alone? Where''s Shang HeXu?" Seeing that Su Hang hade back alone, Shen Xi was a bit confused.


    Su Hang: "¡­." Why ask him.


    "I''m back." Just as Su Hang was hesitating to answer, Shang HeXu also arrived back.


    "Let''s go in." Shang HeXu gave Yun Shu her boarding pass and ID, then the four people moved to check-in.


    It takes three and a half hours to fly from S City to Y Province. After getting off the ne, their prearranged car and driver was already waiting for them outside. But because they didn''t know that Su Hang would being with them, they arranged just one car. Although everyone would probably fit, it seemed a little crowded.


    Shang HeXu looked at the vignt Su Hang and spontaneously sat on the passenger seat.


    The remaining three squeezed themselves in the back seat.


    Y Province had a well-developed tourism industry, with many white-cor city workersing to experience a peaceful and romantic atmosphere. The ce YingYing was settled in was at the edge of a prosperous tourist town surrounded by mountains and rivers. Because it wasn''t too developed, there weren''t a lot of people, and the environment was particrly good.


    Because it was a tourist attraction, the airport was very close to the town. After fifty minutes, the four people finally reached BaGua town, the ce Shang YingYing lived.


    Most of the buildings in this particr town had blue roof tiles and white walls. When it turns dark, rednterns will light up in rows along the road. All this made one feel like they were transported back to a thousand years ago.


    "Brother!" When Shang HeXu got out of the car, a white figure jumped into his arms.


    "YingYing." Shang HeXu hugged his sister. The twelve-year-old girl had a bright and energetic smile on her face.


    (T/N: Note, in the raws YingYing is described to be Ê®¶þÈý years old, which is twelve-three. This is very most likely a typo, but I''m unsure if she''s actually supposed to be 12 or 23. I''m tentatively saying that YingYing is twelve because of her actions, but who knows. In Chinese novels, some women certainly act like children. But I''m pretty sure this is me being overly cautious. She''s probably twelve.)


    "Hello, YingYing." Yun Shu and Shen Xi also made their greetings.


    "Hello, Sister Yun Shu, Sister Shen Xi." Shang YingYing held her brother''s hand and turned around to say her hellos, but was stunned to see Su Hang. The sweet young girl asked: "Who''s this handsome brother?"


    Su Hang looked down at the little girl and instantly softened.


    "This is your Sister Shen Xi''s husband." Yun Shu introduced.


    Shang YingYing looked at Shen Xi in disbelief, while Shen Xi nodded with a smile.


    Shang YingYing looked back at her brother. When she turned back towards Su Hang, her expression had soured. "I don''t like you."


    "¡­.."


    Shang YingYing''s words had embarrassed three out of the four adults around her. It was only Su Hang''s expression that remained neutral, although he did raise a brow.


    "YingYing, apologize." Shang HeXu gave his sister a solemn look.


    "I don''t want to!" Shang YingYing ran back into the house.


    "¡­.." Shang HeXu had no choice but to apologize on behalf of his sister. "Mr. Su, I''m sorry about this. My sister has been spoiled."


    "It''s nothing." It honestly didn''t matter to Su Hang. Apart from Shen Xi, why would he care whether other people liked him or not?


    Apart from Su Hang, the other people had visited this ce before, so they didn''t need the guidance of the housekeeper. They were all familiar with each other and found their own rooms with no problem. But Su Hang couldn''t do this, so he could only follow his wife silently. When Shen Xi opened the door, and Su Hang saw the one bed in the room, his heart couldn''t help but jump.


    We''re going to be staying in the same room?? (*^__^*)


    The author has something to say:


    Shen Xi: Is this thief having fun?


    Su Hang: No *shakes his head crazily*


    Su Hang''s inner thoughts: Ah, ah, ah, we should visit other people''s houses in the future. Since we''re husband and wife, we''ll definitely be arranged in a single room. Shen Xi has a thin face and certainly wouldn''t refuse. I''ll be able to live together without needing an excuse! So happy.

 Chapter 29

    ***


    The room''s heating was already on. Shen Xi took off her coat and turned around, only to see Su Hang standing at the door, staring at the double bed. Shen Xi didn''t need to think much to figure out what was going on in the man''s brain.


    "You sleep here. After we have dinner, I''ll go to Yun Shu''s room and sleep with her there." Shen Xi said out loud. She took her luggage from Su Hang and opened it to take out a thick shawl. She ced it on her shoulders, intending to wear it for dinner.


    Su Hang was stunned and failed to answer. It was only when Shen Xi was about to walk out of the room that he acted.


    "No!" Su Hang managed to let out, grabbing Shen Xi''s hand.


    "What ''no''?" Shen Xi was confused.


    "Don''t¡­.don''t go to Yun Shu''s room to sleep." If you do this, Shang HeXu will find out that¡­Su Hang couldn''t help but hold Shen Xi a little tighter.


    "Then¡­what do you propose we do?" Shen Xi turned towards Su Hang and waited. It seems that ever since this morning, Su Hang had suddenly decided to be more proactive.


    Truthfully, Su Hang could be quite eloquent when he wanted to. After all, when Su Hang graduated university as the representative, he was able to make a speech in front of everyone. At hispany''s various shareholder meetings, Su Hang was able to persuade the shareholders with his words. It was just that whenever he was talking to Shen Xi¡­he would somehow lose the ability to form words.


    "We''re husband and wife. Shouldn''t we stay together?" This was the answer Su Hang managed to choke out after a long silence.


    So we''re required to share a room? If this was something Su Hang had said before that night of the charity ball, Shen Xi would''ve agreed. But now, Shen Xi, who was still sulking, wanted Su Hang to personally admit that the girl he had been secretly in love with was her.


    "We can''t?" Seeing that Shen Xi hadn''t spoken, Su Hang thought that she was unwilling. His eyes gradually dimmed, and his heart shriveled. Sure enough, it seems that the tenderness he had felt with Shen Xi recently was just his own delusions?


    Seeing the man''s grief-stricken expression, Shen Xi angrily shook off the Su Hang''s hand and stamped her feet. "You infuriate me!"


    Su Hang''s heart jumped.


    "You''re sleeping on the sofa." Shen Xi said this, then stomped off. She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she wouldn''t be able to stop herself from knocking Su Hang on the head.


    Sleeping on the sofa? Is that a yes? For some reason, Su Hang found this scene familiar. After thinking about it, he took out his cell phone and found the message Li QingYuan had sent him this morning. He carefully read through it again:


    (Brother, let me tell you: As long as sister-inw doesn''t cry or say no, 80% of the time, she means yes. If she doesn''t speak up, it''s because she''s too shy. She''s probably waiting for you to take the initiative, ah. You must not withdraw!)


    Su Hang raised his head, an incredulous smile on his face. "So Shen Xi was quiet, not because she was unhappy, but because she was shy?"


    What an incredibly cute shy expression she has! (Maybe I was just a bit too tactless? Maybe I don''t need to sleep on the sofa?)


    Dinner was a simple affair. Everyone was also tired and jetgged, so after dinner, they all headed back into their rooms. Shang HeXu looked at Shen Xi and Su Hang as they left together. Although he had already known the oue, seeing them go into the same room still made him feel sad.


    "Feel bad?" Yun Shu, who was watching all this, asked aloud.


    "No." Shang HeXu restrained his expression.


    "It''s normal to feel bad. I understand." Yun Shu patted Shang HeXu''s shoulder.


    Shang HeXu didn''t know if he shouldugh or cry. "Then, are you suffering?"


    "Why do you think I''m suffering?" Yun Shu was puzzled.


    "Didn''t you say that you love me? Seeing me feel sad towards another woman; shouldn''t you be angry?" Shang HeXu asked.


    "Oh, you''re actually thinking about me?" Yun Shu said, a trace of expectation in her voice.


    Shang HeXu had only been joking, but after seeing Yun Shu''s solemn gaze, Shang HeXu couldn''t say anything. With a cough, he said: "I''m sure everyone''s tired after the flight and drive. Let''s all go to bed early."


    Then he scurried into his room.


    Yun Shu watched as Shang HeXu fled. She let out a mockingugh, unsure if it was for him or for her.


    On the second day, early morning.


    Becausest night rained a bit, the surroundings were wet and cool, and the air fresh and pleasant. There was a white mist in the distance, and one or two cows could be faintly seen in the fields.


    Shen Xi and Su Hang were in the middle of their morning run when Shen Xi suddenly stopped him. "Don''t go towards the town."


    "What''s the matter?" Su Hang stopped and asked.


    "It''s easy to get lost in here." Shen Xi panted.


    "Lost?" Su Hang didn''t understand.


    "This town is called BaGua town, with a history said to go back 1200 years." Shen Xi took the sweat towel from Su Hang and wiped her forehead. After taking a breath, she continued: "Legend has it, a mighty man built the town ording to the shape of the eight trigrams, and that''s why they named the town BaGua."


    (T/N: BaGua directly tranted to the eight divinatory trigrams of the Book of Changes. Search up BaGua in google images if interested.)


    "The roads here are small and winding. They also all look the same, so it''s easy to get lost." Shen Xi said. "Yun Shu and I lost our way the first time we visited. We didn''t get out until sundown, and we only managed to leave because we found a kind uncle to lead us."


    "The uncle said that even the locals need to rely on some special signs to guide them. So it''s challenging for us outsiders." Shen Xi exined. "If you walk without thought, you''ll end up being lost."


    Su Hang nodded. The two ran around the field outside the town one more time, then went back into the Shang home.


    "Oh, you went out for a run?" Yun Shu, who was eating breakfast in the yard, couldn''t help but exim when she saw the two.


    "Morning." Shen Xi smiled and greeted everyone.


    "Morning." Shang HeXu nodded. "Feel free to change first, and thene out for breakfast."


    "Alright." Shen Xi smiled, then crossed the courtyard to go into her room.


    Su Hang silently red at the genial Shang HeXu. He didn''t need to talk so intimately like that. ''change your clothes, thene out for breakfast''? So annoying.


    "Why are you ring at my brother?" Shang YingYing, who had been eating a steamed bun, noticed that the annoying big brother was staring at her own brother and became unhappy.


    The little girl''s question made Su Hang jolt. Yun Shu burst outughing, and Shang HeXu tried to appease his sister with a smile. "YingYing, you''re mistaken. He wasn''t ring at me."


    "No, I saw. He was looking at you like this." Shang YingYing furrowed her brows.


    "Pfft¡­." Aughing Yun Shu hurriedly put down the porridge bowl she was holding, afraid that she might topple it over.


    Su Hang didn''t expect to get caught by the observant girl and ran away in embarrassment. Behind him, he could still hear the little girl''s incessant questions and Yun Shu''s wildughter.


    When Shen Xi came back, she saw the tears in Yun Shu''s eyes and asked: "What are youughing at?"


    "Oh, we were just talking about BaGua town and how they intend to develop their tourism next year." Shang HeXu hurriedly changed the topic.


    "BaGua town will start receiving tourists?" Shen Xia asked.


    "Yeah." Yun Shu stoppedughing and said: "Just now, YingYing told us that the new mayor of BaGua is very talented. He even made up a gimmick for their town."


    "Sister Yun Shu, it''s not a gimmick." Shang YingYing disagreed. "My ssmates all say that it''s a very special and romantic thing, just like the wishing tree in YueLao temple and the TieSuo bridge in SuoZuli. In the future, BaGua town will be the holynd of all lovers."


    "Yes, yes, yes, whatever you say." Yun Shu perfunctorily nodded.


    "Romance?" Shen Xi asked while drinking some soy milk.


    "Didn''t BaGua town want to develop their tourism for a long time now, but couldn''t?"Yun Shu exined. "The roads in BaGua areplicated, and people get lost easily. Also, the government doesn''t allow the construction of road signs because it might destroy the town''s unique characteristics. But this new mayor finally came up with a good reason for people toe visit and willingly get lost."


    "What way?" Shen Xi asked, curious.


    "They made up a legend." Yun Shu said. "A man and woman enter the town, go through different roads, and if they can find each other, it means that they''re predestined lovers."


    "What if they can''t find each other?" Shen Xi had seen the power of this town maze. One wouldn''t be able to get out easily, let alone find a specific person.


    "They must''ve taken that into ount." Shang HeXumented. "If I was the mayor, I would''ve definitely arranged it so that no matter who the couple asked, the people would point towards the same ce. Eventually, the couple will meet."


    "It''s a gimmick that''s made to make money." Yun Shu concluded.


    "Don''t say that. There''s always going to be people who can find each other without directions." Shang YingYing argued. As a young girl full of romanticism, she didn''t want this beautiful idea sullied by an adult''s realism.


    At this time, Su Hang finished changing his clothes and left the house. For some reason, Shang YingYing''s eyes lit up when she saw Su Hang, and she excitedly suggested: "Let''s y!"


    "What?" Everyone was confused as to why she was suddenly so excited.


    "Let''s see who are the ones truly predestined for each other." Shang YingYing proudly eximed.


    The four adults looked at each other.


    But in the end, no one was able to ovee today''s birthday girl, so they all obediently handed their cell phones over.


    Shang YingYing collected all the phones and handed them to the housekeeper. Then she said to the four: "Remember, you''re not allowed to ask for directions in the town. You have to go through the streets on your own. If you can''t find your way after dark, then you can ask."


    "Why''d you have to take our phones thought?" Yun Shu asked.


    "That''s to prevent you from contacting each other." Shang YingYing seriously exined. "No cheating."


    "YingYing, it''s only 10:00 a.m. why don''t we y for just a few hours, then have lunch?" Shang HeXu suggested.


    "Brother, be more serious." Shang YingYing pouted. "There are food vendors in town. You can buy something to eat if you get hungry."


    "Well, since YingYing wants to y, then we''ll y." Shen Xi said in good-naturedly.


    "Sister Shen Xi is the best!" Shang YingYing then turned towards Su Hang. "How about you?"


    "Alright." Su Hang simply nodded. Of course I''m going with my wife! Do you think I''ll let your brother go with her alone?


    At half-past ten in the morning.


    Five people were standing at the entrance to the town. They all looked at the new sign next to the gate with varying expressions.


    " ''A thousand-year-old legend,'' huh. I wasn''t aware the legend was that old." Yun Shu said with augh.


    "But it''s very well written. If I never visited before, I would''ve believed it." Shen Xi said.


    When they first discussed the gimmick this morning, Su Hang wasn''t present. So Su Hang only vaguely understood the situation from their conversations. But when he read the sign, Su Hang finally realized what was going on.


    [Men and women who find each other ande out of this small town are the world''s fated match]


    Su Hang knew that this was only some gimmick conjured up by the mayor, but as long as Shen Xi believed it, he will too.


    "Brother." Shang YingYing carefully pulled at her brother''s sleeve and whispered: "I''m familiar with the roads. I''ll help you find Sister Shen Xi."


    Shang HeXu stared at his younger sister. As he patted her head, he didn''t know if he should cry orugh. "Isn''t that cheating?"


    Shang YingYing only gave him a sly wink.


    They entered the gate and stood before the intersection. Su Hang went to Shen Xi and took off the scarf he was wearing.


    "The temperature will drop when it gets darkter." Su Hang carefully wrapped the scarf around Shen Xi, then promised: "I''ll find you."


    Shen Xi''s eyes widened.


    If finding you will prove that we''re destined to be together, then I''ll find you.


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