Chapter 121

Chapter 121 - 121 115 Changling had a day off stayed overnight at Chapter 121: 115: Changling had a day off, stayed overnight at Xie Shang’s home (first watch of the night) Chapter 121: 115:

Changling had a day off, stayed overnight at Xie Shang’s home (first watch of the night) After Wen Changling ate her fill and drank plenty, she leaned lazily against the chair, wrapping herself in Xie Shang’s suit jacket and rubbed her belly.

“Do you want any more?”

“No more.”

Xie Shang took the plate and spoon from her hand and naturally finished off the half piece of cake she had left.

At the next table.

Dr. Zhang’s girlfriend looked on with great envy, dissatisfied, she nudged her boyfriend who was only paying attention to his own meal: “Look at how other boyfriends eat what their girlfriends leave behind.”

Dr. Zhang glanced at the steak on his girlfriend’s plate: “Then you should leave some for me too.”

She immediately hoarded her plate protectively: “I don’t have enough for myself.”

Dr. Zhang: “...”

After the dinner party ended, the formal proceedings of the anniversary celebration inside the venue started.

On stage, the general manager of Dihong Group was presenting awards to the top ten employees. Wen Changling was restless, her lower abdomen a little uncomfortable, her sensible period should be coming soon.

“Xie Shang,” she turned her head and whispered, “let’s go back.”

“Okay.”

They were already seated in an inconspicuous spot, and they left without a sound.

The hallway leading to the elevator was a bit long; Wen Changling was draped in Xie Shang’s jacket, led by him, walking in a leisurely, unhurried manner. Fu Ying and her bodyguard came from the opposite direction. Fu Ying’s bodyguard had a strong presence, causing Wen Changling to take a second glance.

The shadows on the floor overlapped, left and right, and Fu Ying suddenly stopped, her gaze landing on Wen Changling.

Wen Changling showed no fluctuations in her expression, no different from how she treated other strangers.

Xie Shang moved to shield her behind him.

Fu Ying smiled and greeted him first: “Boss Xie.”

Fu Ying kept silent about the pawn transaction they had before, which was the outcome Xie Shang wanted; he did not want Wen Changling to know, his initial purpose.

Wen Changling showed no unusual reaction towards Fu Ying.

Had the two never met before?

So far, Xie Shang had not been able to find out Fu Ying’s real background; the name Fu Ying was fake, as was the resume.

Xie Shang politely replied: “Madam Zhou.”

“Thank you for the information last time, it was very useful.”

“You’re welcome.”

Their exchange was neither cold nor warm, just like a typical business interaction.

Fu Ying said: “Take care, Boss Xie.”

Then she continued on her way with her bodyguard.

Once they were far enough away, Wen Changling casually asked: “Is she your client?”

“Yes.”

Wen Changling didn’t ask any more questions.

As they neared the elevator, she looked back. Just at that moment, Fu Ying also looked back.

Their gazes briefly met, both expressionless, and then they turned their heads away, each going in different directions.

After getting into the car, Wen Changling reclined the passenger seat a bit, laid back, and covered herself with Xie Shang’s jacket, “Are you very tired?”

“A little sleepy,” replied Wen Changling, her voice weak, “drive a bit faster.”

“Okay.”

Xie Shang adjusted the air conditioning vents. He drove faster than usual, but the car was very steady, almost at a constant speed.

At the fourth traffic light.

“Changling.”

She was asleep.

Xie Shang dialed Su Nanzhi’s number.

*****

After they arrived home, Wen Changling had still not woken up.

Xie Shang parked the car and woke her: “Changling.”

“Hmm?” she mumbled, opening her eyes, her gaze foggy.

Xie Shang unbuckled her seat belt: “We’re home.”

“Oh.”

Wen Changling, holding the suit, got out of the car, awaited Xie Shang to lock it, and then returned the clothes to him. As they were about to enter the house, Xie Shang called out to her.

“You ate a variety of things tonight, would you like to drink something?”

The tea Xie Shang made was delicious, he also made good milk tea and lotus seed dessert. It seemed there was nothing he couldn’t do.

Well, not exactly, he was clumsy with chopsticks.

“I’ll have some,” said Wen Changling, now fully awake, “I’ll go wash up, leave the door for me.”

Wen Changling returned to her own courtyard first.

Xie Shang left the door open but didn’t enter; instead, he went to the dried fruit shop on the corner.

The owner of the shop was watching TV, with the volume turned up high.

“Boss Zhao.”

Xie Shang was used to calling the shop’s boss Lady Boss Zhao.

Boss Zhao paused the TV: “What brings Boss Xie here so late?”

“I’ve come to buy some things.”

Wen Changling’s period did indeed arrive on schedule; after she finished showering, dried her hair, and was about to leave, her phone received two messages.

Surgical Oncologist Ho Ye:[Changling, why did you leave early?]

Surgical Oncologist Ho Ye:[I have to tell you, I won a scooter in the raffle!!]

Wen Changling replied:[Congratulations.]

She wasn’t very familiar with Ho Ye, but Ho Ye had taken the initiative to be friendly. To appear more amicable, she sent a flower emoji in response. After replying, she grabbed a cardigan, draped it over her arm, and closed the door to her room.

The room used as a watch shop still had its lights on; the bright bulb signaled that Granny Zhu was there, sewing clothes for Tongtong. She came out and asked Wen Changling, “Not going to sleep yet?”

“I’m going over to Xie Shang’s place for a drink.”

Youths like to stay up late; Granny Zhu understood, “Do you want me to leave the door unlocked for you?” It wouldn’t matter either way. Wen Changling often stayed over at Boss Xie’s place, and she felt reassured about it.

Wen Changling said, “Yes, leave it unlocked.”

She went to Xie Shang’s room.

The door wasn’t closed, the air conditioner was on inside, and there was a glass teapot on the ceramic stove, with Xie Shang cooking something.

She sat down and asked, “What are you cooking?”

Xie Shang handed her a blanket from next to him, “I don’t know what it’s called, but I put in red dates, longan, brown sugar, and a small amount of rose petals,” Xie Shang said, “It’s Madam Su’s recipe.”

On his way back, he’d specifically asked Madam Su for it.

Wen Changling took a whiff; the scent of dates was strong.

The water had been boiling for a while. Xie Shang turned off the power, placed the teapot on the tea tray, grabbed a cup, and poured a cup for Wen Changling.

“It’s a bit hot, blow on it before drinking.”

Xie Shang’s cups were very pretty, the porcelain as translucent and beautiful as jade. Wen Changling blew on it and took a sip, “It’s sweet.”

“Do you like it?”

She blew on it again and drank it all.

“This cup is so small, I want more.”

In Xie Shang’s eyes, be it from the steam of brewing tea or something else, his amber-colored irises were moist and clear, “I’ll get you a bigger cup.”

The cups were in the tea room.

Wen Changling looked at Xie Shang dressed in his white loungewear and suddenly remembered what he was like back in Lileitu — playing survival games, gambling at underground boxing rings, drinking, firing guns.

Back then, he was wild and dangerous, like the most graceful and noble lion among wild creatures. She had wondered what it would be like if a lion were tamed.

There was an exquisite wooden box on the table.

Wen Changling opened it to peek inside; it held the pearl she had casually given to Xie Shang.

The lion would sheathe its fangs and carefully treasure the pearl.

Xie Shang returned, gave her a wide-mouthed tea bowl — probably his largest cup — and also brought a spoon.

“You’re about to sleep, so don’t drink too much.”

“Mhm.”

Wen Changling used the spoon to scoop up and eat the longan, which were soft after being cooked. After drinking a lot of the brown sugar water, her lower belly felt warm; the cool air from the air conditioning was just right, very comfortable.

Xie Shang sat at the other end of the bench, “Feeling more comfortable now?”

Wen Changling realized why he had made the red date and brown sugar tea, “How did you know?”

“Last month, Granny Zhu made you black chicken soup. I overheard it then.”

Xie Shang had a good memory and remembered the date.

Wen Changling’s menstrual cycle was always very punctual.

He moved a little closer and placed his hand on her lower abdomen, gently kneading through the fabric of her clothing.

Wen Changling was frank, “What are you rubbing? It doesn’t hurt.”

Women’s physiological matters were a blind spot for Xie Shang, and his movements hesitated, “It doesn’t hurt?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

She would only feel pain before it started; she didn’t experience pain afterwards. But she would become very lazy, unwilling to move, and would want to hold onto something.

She pushed the tea bowl aside and clung to Xie Shang.

“Xingxing.”

“Hmm.”

She didn’t speak again, lacking the energy to exert any effort, leaning her whole weight on Xie Shang’s body. Her hands were the only things willing to move, toying with Xie Shang’s undried hair.

Xie Shang’s heart melted with her actions.

As she clung to him, her clothes rode up, leaving her wholly unguarded with her white belly exposed.

Xie Shang really wanted to kiss that spot, unsure where these random desires came from. He took the blanket, draping it over her.

“I’m so sleepy.”

“Shall we go back?”

Wen Changling shook her head, not wanting to move, and just nestled in Xie Shang’s embrace, like a leisurely, sprawled-out cat.

Xie Shang lowered himself slightly to make her more comfortable.

The red date and brown sugar tea on the table cooled down slowly, carrying a faint rose fragrance. Ms. Su Nanzhi said not to add too much rose, adjusting for the menstrual flow of the girl.

Xie Shang had been educated since childhood to be a gentleman, never encountering nor discussing anything like this before.

Indeed, girls are delicate creatures; even the steel-willed Miss Wen needs careful nurturing and a lot of love.

“Changling.”

She had fallen asleep.

Carefully, Xie Shang picked her up and laid her on the bed. He shook out the blanket and covered her with it.

She turned over, clutched his clothing, and muttered uneasily in her dream, “Ah Na....”

Is it Ah Na you think of during the day?

He shouldn’t be jealous, whether it was Ah Na or Yan Cong, but he couldn’t help being competitive. His greed was irrepressible.

He leaned down, whispering in her ear, “Call for Xie Shang.”

She didn’t wake up but followed his prompt, “Xie Shang.”

Such a good girl, Miss Wen.

Xie Shang stroked her head, smiling. He sat by the bedside for a while, doing nothing, just watching her curled up asleep.

He got up, opened the window a crack, lit a dish of calming incense on the table, and covered it with the lid of the incense burner, then turned off the room’s light, leaving only a dim table lamp over the table.

He returned to the bedside, crouched down, and kissed Wen Changling’s lips, “Goodnight.”

He left the room, closed the door behind him, and went to the guest room.