Chapter 62 "Baby, you have to call me 'Old Man' first..."

Ci didn't get to eat the lemon-flavored candy soup.

In the darkened bedroom, Sheng Yu coaxed her into choosing a box of strawberry-flavored condoms.

By the time the third piece of the thin plastic bag was removed, the night outside the window had already fallen into a thick darkness.

Tang Ci sobbed as she pushed Sheng Yu away, put on her nightgown, hugged her pillow, and murmured that she wanted to go back to the second bedroom to sleep.

Sheng Yu lazily got up, brushed his damp bangs to the top of his head, and easily pulled her back into his arms: "Why are you running?"

Tang Ci opened her mouth and realized her throat was hoarse: "When are you going to finish? I'm so tired."

"Didn't you just say you felt comfortable?" Sheng Yu still held her tightly, his voice low and hoarse.

Tang Ci's neck slowly flushed red, and she turned her head away angrily, saying, "You forced me to say it."

Sheng Yu chuckled: "It seems I haven't tried hard enough."

"..."

Unable to argue with him, Tang Ci threw the torn-open package into the trash can. When her gaze fell on the other incriminating evidence in the trash can, she abruptly turned her face away and pulled at the arm around her waist.

"I won't tease you anymore." Sheng Yu loosened his grip, pulling her slightly into his arms, and affectionately rubbed his forehead against her shoulder blade: "Shall I take you to take a bath?"

"I can wash myself," Tang Ci said softly.

He suddenly pinched her calf, and she instinctively let out a soft moan before immediately covering her mouth.

"How can you stand up with your legs so sore?" Sheng Yu asked without waiting for a reply, then picked her up and carried her around the waist.

Suddenly lifted into the air, Tang Ci instinctively grabbed his shoulders, but before her fingertips could touch his skin, she quickly let go.

"You, you should put on some clothes..." Tang Ci said anxiously.

Sheng Yu clicked his tongue lightly, picked up the bathrobe that was thrown on the back of the chair, and casually draped it over his body.

/

When the leaves on the trees downstairs turned golden, Tang Ci accompanied He Xiao on a business trip to Jiangcheng.

This time, while packing her luggage at home, Sheng Yu's condition did not deteriorate again, but her complexion was still not very good.

"You travel for work all the time too, and I'm never upset about it," Tang Ci muttered to the man standing outside the door with his arms crossed as she squatted on the floor packing her clothes.

Sheng Yu chuckled softly: "Love or not love is really obvious."

Tang Ci: "?"

Sheng Yu raised an eyebrow.

Tang Ci paused for a moment, put down the clothes in her hand, rubbed against him, and coaxed, "I'll only be gone for a week. I heard that the almond cookies in Jiangcheng are delicious. I'll buy you some."

Sheng Yu lowered his eyes, grasped her waist and pulled her closer: "How about giving me some comfort now?"

Tang Ci looked into his deep eyes and her ears burned: "But I have to go to the airport in an hour."

"There's still time."

"Stop lying to me." Tang Ci, who had personally tested it, didn't believe his nonsense.

Sheng Yu leaned close to her ear and said in the most serious tone, "I'm not lying, Xiao Ci will definitely have enough time."

Before Tang Ci could react, he pushed her onto the sofa and made her lie down. Fifteen minutes later, she sat up, still dazed, propping herself up on her elbows.

Sheng Yu had already helped her get dressed, and while wiping her mouth with a tissue, he looked at her with obvious mischief in his eyes: "Baby, you can't even last half an hour."

"..."

Tang Ci suddenly wanted to thank He Xiao for rescuing her from the debauched life that Sheng Yu had created for her.

Sheng Yu was originally going to take her to the airport, but he received a work call at the last minute. Tang Ci realized that the problem was complicated, so she took a taxi herself.

When the taxi arrived downstairs, Sheng Yu had just hung up the phone and put her luggage in the trunk. He said to the driver, "Could you please help her with her luggage at the airport? She's not feeling well."

"Okay." The driver readily agreed, and watching Sheng Yu carefully zip up Tang Ci's coat, he smiled and said, "You two have such a good relationship."

Tang Ci paused as she opened the car door, and earnestly explained to the driver, "You've misunderstood, we're just a couple."

The driver gave an awkward smile.

Sheng Yu shrugged and said, half-jokingly, "I'm still in the probationary period. She'll only agree to marry me if I pass her test."

Tang Ci was speechless at his offhand nonsense and glanced at him from inside the car: "Don't talk nonsense."

"I was wrong." Sheng Yu raised an eyebrow and readily shrugged, "Next time, I'll wait for your instructions before I speak."

The driver laughed and turned to Tang Ci from the front seat, jokingly saying, "This young man seems reliable, girl, you should say yes to him."

Tang Ci blushed and mumbled, "Please drive quickly, I'm going to be late..."

If it had been any later, she really didn't know what other shocking things Sheng Yu would have said.

Once the driver started the engine, Sheng Yu finally became serious and tapped on the car window with his finger.

Tang Ci turned her head to look over.

Sheng Yu stood outside the car and said calmly, "Send a message when you land, and don't forget to send me your location when you get to the hotel."

Tang Ci looked at him through the car window, and a feeling of reluctance suddenly welled up in her heart.

But looking at Sheng Yu's calm and composed expression, she simply curled her fingertips, nodded slightly, and said okay.

Although Jiangcheng is not far from Nanling, as soon as they left Jiangcheng Airport, He Xiao took Tang Ci to the client's company.

After discussing the project, they inevitably had another meal. By the time Tang Ci returned to the hotel, it was almost 11 p.m.

She quickly took a shower, lay down on the bed, and called Sheng Yu.

The phone rang for two seconds before being hung up. Tang Ci listened to the busy tone coming from the receiver and hesitated whether to call again in a while. Then, Sheng Yu's video call invitation popped up on the phone screen.

Tang Ci's heart skipped a beat, and she pressed the answer button with her fingertips.

Seeing Sheng Yu sitting in her office on the screen, she paused, her voice unconsciously lowering: "You're still working overtime?"

There's no one else in the office.

Tang Ci said "Oh," and raised her voice: "I've arrived at the hotel. Did you receive the address I just sent you?"

Sheng Yu nodded: "Why did you get home so late?"

"I went to dinner with clients tonight."

The air conditioner in the room had just been turned on, and Tang Ci felt a little cold sitting there. She talked to Sheng Yu while shrinking into the blanket.

Sheng Yu watched her actions and his gaze narrowed slightly: "Turn up the temperature. Tell me if you're feeling unwell in advance."

Through the phone, his voice carried a faint electrical current, deep and magnetic.

Tang Ci tightened her grip on her phone, buried her chin in the blanket, and said in a muffled voice, "It's no use talking about it."

"Why didn't it work?"

"You're not in Jiangcheng."

Tang Ci suddenly fell silent after speaking, realizing the absurdity of her words. Her face flushed red, and she cleared her throat, saying seriously, "I have medicine on hand, so I won't feel unwell."

“I can come anytime.” Sheng Yu smiled and lowered his voice, asking her, “As long as you say you miss me.”

Tang Ci met Sheng Yu's gaze on the screen and was actually tempted to comply with his suggestion. She only snapped out of her daze after running her fingertips across the smooth hotel sheets and suddenly realized that they had been apart for less than twenty-four hours.

"Stop... making a scene." Tang Ci swallowed, unsure whether she was trying to persuade herself or him. "I'll be home Friday morning."

Sheng Yu twirled the pen in his hand and negotiated with her: "When you come back, I want more than just almond cookies."

Tang Ci rolled her eyes and changed the subject: "I've heard that Jiangcheng's peaches are also very famous..."

Sheng Yu's eyes darkened, and he scoffed, "I decide what to ask for."

Tang Ci hurriedly hung up the phone.

A few seconds later, she replied with a smiley face to Sheng Yu, who had sent her several question marks, and lied that her phone battery was low to get away with it.

/

On Friday, Tang Ci did not return to Nanling as originally planned. She had a disagreement with the client regarding the project design, so He Xiao took her to work an extra day in Jiangcheng, and the flight was changed to Saturday.

When Sheng Yu received her call, he was quite critical of her work arrangements: "Is He Xiao really going to control you like this?"

Tang Ci glanced at He Xiao a few steps away and cautiously covered her phone: "There's just a little thing left, I'll finish it soon, it'll only be one day later than originally planned, don't be angry."

Sheng Yu gave a noncommittal hum.

Tang Ci was afraid that her secret phone call would attract He Xiao's attention, so she chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up, using work as an excuse.

Sheng Yu put down his phone, took the dinner guest list from Xiang Wen, glanced at it, and asked in a flat voice, "Sheng Hong is going too?"

Xiang Wen pointed to the name on the list: "He was invited by the newly appointed President Li, and probably doesn't know that you are going too."

"This is his third public appearance this month." Sheng Yu sneered, his tone contemptuous: "It seems the Sheng family is truly in decline."

Xiang Wen cautiously raised his eyes: "So you mean you want to meet him?"

Sheng Yu stood up and put down his pen: "He can do it himself."

The newly appointed CEO, Mr. Li, was about sixty years old and brought his beloved youngest daughter to the banquet.

As Sheng Yu entered, Li Jiang, who was exchanging pleasantries with someone by the door, happened to see him and extended his hand to him with a smile: "Mr. Sheng, it's an honor to meet you."

With a slight twitch of her lips, Sheng Yu shook hands with him without making a sound.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Li Jiang pushed his daughter, who was standing beside him, forward: "This is my daughter. She is currently starting a business by opening a bed and breakfast, but she is having trouble finding someone to mentor her. Would you please teach her, Mr. Sheng?"

Li Xin blinked and extended her hand to him: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Sheng."

The smile on Sheng Yu's lips did not fade, but his voice became indifferent: "I'm just a handyman in Yunqi, I'm afraid I can't mislead the younger generation."

Seeing that he hesitated to reach out and shake her hand back, Li Xin looked slightly annoyed and gave her father a resentful look.

Li Jiang wanted to say something more.

Sheng Yu stretched out his hand towards Qin Nong in the distance: "President Qin is calling me."

Qin Nong was busy chatting with her sisters and had no time to pay attention to him. Sheng Yu took Xiang Wen to socialize in the hall and then went up to the terrace to smoke alone.

Xiang Wen originally wanted to follow.

Sheng Yu glanced at him and instructed, "Go back to the car and rest."

Xiang Wen glanced at the middle-aged man following downstairs, then lowered his eyes and went downstairs from the other side of the stairs.

The terrace was dimly lit, and a cool breeze was blowing.

The lighter's flint sparked a flame, and Sheng Yu gathered the flame to light a cigarette. Without turning his head, he asked, "Did you handle the Yunqi matter?"

Sheng Hong climbed the steps, walked to the railing, and laughed, "He truly is my son."

On the day the rainstorm stopped, Sheng Yu returned to Australia because of Yunqi's qualification issues.

He and Qin Nong conducted a joint investigation both domestically and internationally, which led them to a shell company in China. They continued to investigate meticulously, and the Sheng family was indeed brought to light.

Sheng Yu glanced at him sideways, exhaling a puff of blue mist from his lips: "It's kind of you to go to such lengths. Yunqi is alright."

“Xiao Yu.” Sheng Hong lit a cigarette and looked at him with his wrinkled eyes: “You must have heard about the problems in the Sheng family. As a member of the Sheng family, you can’t just sit idly by. You know I’ve always considered you my only heir.”

"Do I care?" Sheng Yu flicked his cigarette ash and scoffed, "Sheng Hong, your new wife divorced you because she thought you couldn't have children. Now you've figured I'm your only son, so you have no choice but to come begging to me."

He narrowed his dark eyes, a look of disdain and cunning in them: "Is this how you ask for favors?"

Sheng Hong was enraged by his attitude, his face turning red and white in a few seconds before turning ashen: "What happened to Yunxi last time was just a reminder to you, to make you remember that you still have me as your father."

"The Sheng family is facing some difficulties, but they still have more than enough resources to establish Yunqi."

"Then let's give it a try." Sheng Yu stopped arguing with him, put out her cigarette, and turned to go downstairs.

"Sheng Yu!" Sheng Hong called out to him fiercely from behind, his authoritative voice mixed with a barely perceptible hint of humility: "You've met President Li's daughter. She's outstanding in every way, from family background to appearance. Marrying her would not only help the Sheng family overcome their difficulties, but would also be a powerful support for Yunqi."

Sheng Yu didn't stop walking, his hands casually in his pockets: "Unlike you, I don't always think about relying on women. I founded Yunqi to support my wife."

Sheng Hong pressed the half-smoked cigarette butt into his palm, his face full of anger: "Since you don't care about your family, then don't blame me for not showing any fatherly affection."

"This family will be gone when you drive my mother to her death." Sheng Yu stopped in her tracks as she went downstairs, raising her eyes to meet Sheng Hong's gaze from upstairs.

Even though he was looking up, his sharp and cold gaze was extremely oppressive, making Sheng Hong inexplicably tremble with fear, and he could only watch helplessly as his figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

After Sheng Yu got into the car, Xiang Wen turned his head and asked, "Mr. Sheng, are you going back to Zizhuyuan tonight?"

Sheng Yu pressed his tongue against his cheek, looked at the bustling streets outside the car window, and suddenly said, "To the airport."

Xiang Wen paused for a moment, then guessed, "Going to Jiangcheng?"

Sheng Yu's lips twitched slightly, and he nodded.

Xiang Wen, fearing he might forget, reminded him, "President Sheng, Miss Tang said she's going back to Nanling tomorrow."

Sheng Yu raised an eyebrow: "But I want to see you now."

/

He Xiao and his client were both drunk. Tang Ci, who hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, grabbed one of them and pulled the other to the left and right, finally managing to get them outside the restaurant.

The customer was so hospitable that even though he was completely drunk, he insisted on taking He Xiao, who was not much more sober than him, back to the hotel.

Fortunately, the restaurant was not far from the hotel, so Tang Ci had no choice but to escort them there without complaint.

Halfway there, Tang Ci's phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw Sheng Yu's name. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the client who was about to fall into the green belt. She quickly grabbed his arm and didn't have time to check the message.

When they arrived at the hotel, a woman who had been waiting by the parking lot approached them. She thanked them politely, then grabbed one of the customers' ears and complained, "Who told you to drink so much?! You don't care about your life, do you?!"

The customer immediately smiled when he saw the visitor: "Honey, I stewed coconut chicken for you before I left. Have you eaten it yet?"

The woman gave a curt "hmm," shoved him into the car, and softened her voice: "Sit tight, honey, be careful not to fall out."

Tang Ci and He Xiao watched the client's car leave before turning back to their hotel.

As Tang Ci went up the steps, she subconsciously looked up and suddenly stopped.

A tall, well-dressed man stood outside the hotel's glass doors, hands in his pockets, watching her. It was unclear how long he had been waiting.

Tang Cixin's heart leaped with joy at first, but when she caught a glimpse of He Xiao out of the corner of her eye, she started to feel anxious again.

Before she could think of what to say, He Xiao had already spotted Sheng Yu and rubbed his eyes in disbelief: "President Sheng, what are you doing here?!"

Sheng Yu's lips twitched slightly.

Tang Ci quickly answered, clenching her fingers: "President Sheng, he's here on a business trip."

He Xiao stopped on the stairs, looked at Sheng Yu and then at her, and gave a meaningful "Oh".

Sheng Yu looked at Tang Ci noncommittally: "I also came to discuss the design draft with you."

"Yes, yes." Tang Ci nodded hurriedly and gestured to He Xiao to explain, "There's been a small problem with the planning in Changning."

Sheng Yu walked downstairs, his elbow brushing against her shoulder as if by accident: "Come over and let's talk."

"Okay." Tang Ci swallowed, gestured to He Xiao, and followed Sheng Yu toward the sidewalk.

He Xiao entered the hotel lobby, paused for a few seconds while waiting for the elevator, and then returned to the door.

He didn't believe that someone like Sheng Yu would be genuinely interested in a lowly employee of his company. Besides, Sheng Yu's expression when facing Tang Ci was so arrogant that he couldn't see any affection in him.

He Xiao decided to investigate and followed the direction in which the two disappeared.

Autumn arrives earlier in Jiangcheng than in Nanling. The leaves on the trees along the streets have already fallen, and the orange streetlights illuminate the bare branches, casting long shadows on the stone steps.

He Xiao turned a corner and saw two figures about three or four hundred meters away from him, one tall and one short, walking at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, and their posture was certainly not intimate.

It seems he guessed correctly; Sheng Yu was probably just after Tang Ci for a short time.

He Xiao took a break and was about to turn around and go back to the hotel when his mind suddenly stopped.

The street is old, and the tiles on the sidewalk are uneven. Because it rained a couple of days ago, there is still water in the low-lying areas.

Tang Ci looked up at Sheng Yu as she spoke, then stepped into the water and exclaimed in surprise.

She looked at her wet shoes with frustration. Before she could even lift her legs, her waist tightened. Sheng Yu had picked her up and strode across the pool, but he still wouldn't put her down.

It was late at night, but cars were still passing by on the road from time to time.

The rustling wind disturbs one's heartstrings.

The bright light from the streetlamp shone on her pink ears. Tang Ci stammered and pleaded softly, "Sheng Yu, please put me down quickly. What if someone sees us?"

"So what if I saw?" Sheng Yu pulled her closer, his tone roguish: "Is hugging your girlfriend illegal?"

He Xiao could hardly believe what he was hearing. Shocked, he took two more steps toward their retreating figures, determined to confirm his suspicions.

This time, he not only heard clearly, but also saw it clearly.

The usually aloof and cold Sheng Yu was now raising an eyebrow, coaxing the person in his arms in a low, husky voice: "I can put you down, but baby—"

"You have to call me 'husband' first."