Chapter 283

Chapter 283: 276: To coax people, but only to ignite without putting out fires Chapter 283: 276: To coax people, but only to ignite without putting out fires Madam Su’s kitchen is quite large.

Since there were so many people at the dining table outside, Xie Shang was worried miss Wen wouldn’t feel comfortable, so he invited her into the kitchen, “Changling, come over here.”

There is a small bar in the kitchen where Wen Changling sat sipping soup while Xie Shang went to close the kitchen door, which was made of glass, blocking out the sound.

“I saw Miss Pang San.”

Pang Zijin was sitting together with Gu Yihuan; it was unclear what they were talking about.

Xie Shang said, “Madam Su’s award-winning movie had her as one of the investors.”

Wen Changling craned her neck to look outside, “Is she dating Mr. Gu?”

“No,” Xie Shang pulled several paper towels and placed them on the countertop for Wen Changling to spit out the fish bones, “Did you notice?” Pang Zijin is interested in Gu Yihuan.

“Yueyue did a background check on Miss Pang San earlier and found she often goes to Aoting – every time Mr. Gu is onstage, she’s definitely there.” Wen Changling isn’t very well-versed in matters of love, but Pang Zijin was too obvious, even she noticed something was up.

“Yihuan is rather slow on the uptake.”

Gu Yihuan is single-mindedly determined to make his debut.

It took Pang Zijin several years, first to gain control of the discourse at Pamdow, and then to acquire Huasheng Music, signing several top music producers.

Pang Zijin has clear goals and has been taking each step steadily.

Wen Changling objectively commented, “Miss Pang San is quite skilled at fishing.”

Xie Shang placed the fish meat he had deboned into her bowl.

Wen Changling doesn’t usually eat much fish, shrimp, crab, etc., as she finds them too much hassle.

The two-seater sofa closest to the kitchen was crammed with four people, all craning their necks like giraffes, as if they were desperate to peer into the kitchen.

Zhai Wenjin came over, “What are you all doing here?”

“Watching Xie Shang fall in love.”

“What’s there to watch? Just go about your business.”

Zhai Wenjin shooed the younger crowd away and sat down with Zhai Qiujin—to watch Xie Shang fall in love.

The kitchen door couldn’t block a thing. Xie Shang deboned the ribs, placing the meat into his girlfriend’s bowl. The young girl probably didn’t like vegetables much, and for every spoonful of rice she took, Xie Shang would add a little bit of vegetables, which annoyed her. He bent his head down and said something. Zhai Qiujin wasn’t even this meticulous when feeding his own granddaughter.

“What does this girl’s family do?”

“It’s not important,” Zhai Wenjin wasn’t concerned with such things. “It’s rare for Xingxing to find someone she likes.”

In families like theirs, the children have access to abundant social resources and temptations. Young boys have boundless energy—Zhai Wenjin knows from her card-playing friends that some of their young ones never get serious, others have too many flings, and some don’t bother with either, instead preferring to keep mistresses outside, each more chaotic than the last.

Zhai Wenjin’s concerns are the exact opposite of her card-playing friends.

Xie Shang’s private life is too clean, so clean that Zhai Wenjin once thought Xie Shang wasn’t into the opposite sex—not out of her making unfounded worries, but because of the precedent set by Su Beihe.

“Since he likes her, then why not settle the marriage sooner?” Zhai Qiujin sighed, “At our age, every day counts.”

“I don’t have the final say, it depends on whether Changling is willing or not.”

“She’s not willing?”

“I think she’s preoccupied, perhaps she has something weighing on her mind.”

Zhai Wenjin is insightful and good at reading people.

Wen Changling wasn’t familiar with the guests attending the celebration banquet. After finishing her meal, Xie Shang took her upstairs to find some quiet. The room facing south on the upper floor had windows that perfectly overlooked the garden below, where the climbing plants had already reached the windowsill. This season, the camellias and wintersweet were blooming, their red and pink blooms standing sprightly on their branches.

The tree branches crept over the wall, and the moonlight was good tonight; the wind had shaken the flower petals loose, scattering them like crescent moons on the ground.

Tea was brewing in a pottery pot, with steam rising up gently; the water hadn’t boiled yet, and a few dates floated on the surface.

The window was open, a breeze was gently blowing, and Xie Shang brought over a blanket.

“When did you buy Madam Su’s gift?”

Wen Changling, who was cold, instinctively wrapped herself into a cocoon with the blanket, “Last night.” She said, “I’d previously joined Madam Su’s fan group, and there was a girl there who makes customized gifts. She lives in Minghe District, and I bought it from her home.”

“Did you drive there?”

“I took a cab,” Wen Changling admitted honestly. “I don’t dare to drive at night.”

“Why didn’t you ask me to take you?”

Wen Changling stretched her hand out the window, opening her palm to catch the flower petals blown in by the wind, “You were mad at me, I didn’t dare to ask you.”

The tea in the pottery pot was ready.

Xie Shang poured a cup and let Wen Changling hold it to warm her hands, “How long did it take you to piece together that painting?”

“Three hours.”

The metal jigsaw puzzle had many pieces and was quite difficult to assemble.

“What time did you go to sleep then?”

A round trip to Minghe District took over four hours.

“Around five in the morning, I guess.”

She still hadn’t fully recovered from the illness she caught from the blizzard, how could she wear herself out like this? Xie Shang said, “You don’t have to bring gifts to a celebration banquet. No one else does. Why didn’t you ask me first?”

“Others are others, I am me.”

She blew on the hot tea, took a sip, and tasted the sweetness of the jujube.

She placed the tea cup on the windowsill, grabbed the edge of the blanket, and snuggled into Xie Shang’s side, wrapping both of them up, “I was quite mean to you yesterday and my attitude was bad, I’m sorry.” She tiptoed and kissed the corner of his mouth.

“Will you forgive me, please?”

Her tone was as soft and affectionate as Granny Zhu’s cat when it coyly begged for food.

Both the cat and its owner knew that Xie Shang was a sucker for this act. Gu Yihuan, that little trickster, loved to act cute with Xie Shang because it really worked.

It wasn’t that Xie Shang wasn’t upset; even if he were truly angry, as long as Wen Changling acted a bit spoiled, there was nothing that couldn’t be mended.

“I’m not angry.”

“If you’re not angry, then why didn’t you contact me all day?”

“I wanted to see if you’d take the initiative to find me.” Xie Shang’s gaze was very tender, like the silver-white moonlight filtering through the window and shining on her face, favoring her, “I’m very happy that you came to the celebration.”

Wen Changling was very honest, “I came to coax you.”

He gently repeated, “I’m very happy.” His eyes shone brilliantly, like the shimmering surface of a lake, “Changling, I’m easy to coax.”

Indeed, he was easy to coax, barely requiring any effort at all.

The wind blew a plum blossom petal into the tea cup on the windowsill. The petal floated on the water, and the scent of jujube mingled with the fragrance of the flower. Wen Changling wrapped in the blanket, snuggled quietly in Xie Shang’s arms without speaking.

“Are you sleepy?”

“A little.” She had only slept two hours the night before.

“Then let’s go back.”

“Okay.”

After greeting the elders, Xie Shang and Wen Changling left first.

She was indeed sleepy and slept the whole way. It wasn’t until the car came to a stop that Xie Shang woke her up.

There was a bag at her feet, which she knocked over; she picked it up, “What’s this?”

“It’s for you.”

Inside the bag was a necklace, its pendant a blue diamond.

“Madam Su went to a jewelry exhibition not long ago, and I asked her to bid for me.”

It looked very expensive.

Wen Changling, who had little desire for material things and dressed for comfort except on necessary occasions, said, “I don’t often wear jewelry.”

“I wanted to buy it for you, whether you wear it or not doesn’t matter,” he replied.

It was okay if she didn’t wear it, but Xie Shang wanted Wen Changling to have everything that others had.

She put the necklace back in the box; her heart felt soft and limp from just waking up, and she was covered in a sticky drowsiness. Natural as breathing, she leaned on the armrest, propped herself up, and kissed Xie Shang on the cheek.

After the kiss, she retreated, but Xie Shang’s palm clung to the small of her back, not allowing her to tease and escape. He pulled her body a little closer and leaned down for a kiss—

“If we kiss in the car, will others think we are making love?”

“...”

The frequency of their kisses wasn’t high. Miss Wen was the type who, when in the mood, could kiss Xie Shang until he was aflame with desire. When not in the mood, she didn’t care to put out the fire. Most of the time, she was very peaceful.

She didn’t want to kiss anymore and pushed Xie Shang away.

Xie Shang helplessly said, “Baby, do you have to be such a buzzkill...”