Chapter 64 "Coming to pick up my husband and take him home."...

Tang Ci hurriedly hid behind the desk. She wasn't the one who had been indulging in lewd behavior during the day, but it was she who nervously glanced at the closed door.

Sheng Yu continued her antics, stammering in a low voice, "Your employees are all outside. What if they come in and see us like this..."

"Like that?" Sheng Yu remained unmoved, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her ear with his soft lips.

What do you think?!

Sheng Yu seemed to be startled by her anxious voice, and slightly propped himself up from her, lowering his eyes to look at her at eye level.

“Baby, I just wanted a kiss,” he said with a slight smile, “but you seem to be thinking about something else?”

Tang Ci held her breath, her cheeks flushed red: "...I didn't."

"It's alright if you do," Sheng Yu smiled, speaking in a tone as if discussing what to eat today. "When I have a day off, I'll bring you over tonight. Lock the door—"

Tang Ci covered his mouth tightly, her voice trembling with tears: "I told you there's nothing left."

Sheng Yu grasped her wrist loosely, but didn't pull her away: "Be good, let's switch to gagging."

His voice was muffled in her palm, deep and hoarse, carrying a tingling sensation that vibrated against her skin.

Tang Ci abruptly withdrew her hand, ignoring his unreasonable request, and leaned on the desk, ready to jump down: "I'm going back to the company, you should go eat."

Sheng Yu helped her jump to the floor and took her hand in the process: "Eat together. Next time you bring food, eat it yourself first and then come over."

Tang Ci was pushed onto the sofa by him, looking somewhat bewildered: "How did you know I hadn't eaten?"

Sheng Yu hugged her from behind, his large palms pressing against her flat stomach through her clothes: "It will bulge a little after you eat."

Tang Ci opened her mouth: "I hadn't even noticed."

“There are many things you haven’t noticed.” Sheng Yu sat down opposite her and deftly opened the lunchbox: “You have two dimples on your lower back.”

He blinked and said, "Very cute."

Tang Ci lowered her eyes and stuffed a large mouthful of rice into her mouth: "Eat, eat your rice."

After finishing his meal, Sheng Yu regained his composure and, rolling up his shirt sleeves, tidied up the mess on the table: "Lock the door when you go to bed tonight."

Tang Ci twitched her fingertips, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly: "Aren't you going home to sleep tonight?"

Sheng Yu paused for a moment, then raised his hand to smooth the furrow in her brow: "I'll try my best, but don't wait for me, I'll go to sleep first."

Tang Ci said "Oh," and looked up with a blank expression: "Then I won't lock the master bedroom door."

Sheng Yu twirled his fingers at his side, and upon hearing the knocking at the door, he ultimately refrained from touching her again.

/

When Tang Ci took the elevator downstairs, she touched her lower abdomen when no one was around, and sure enough, it was bulging.

Thinking of the dimples on her lower back that Sheng Yu mentioned, her face flushed slightly. She was too embarrassed to touch them now, but planned to check them in front of the mirror when she got home that night.

As she left Binzhou Prefecture, an SUV was parked on the sidewalk. As she passed by, the door of the car opened from the inside.

Tang Ci glanced at the car door, took a few steps toward the inside of the sidewalk, and was about to leave when she heard a dignified middle-aged male voice from inside the car calling her name.

She looked into the car.

The man inside the car got out and stood outside, looking at her: "Do you remember me?"

Compared to his spirited appearance on the podium in high school, Sheng Hong now looks much older, with many wrinkles on his face, but his sharp, hawk-like eyes remain unchanged.

Tang Ci swallowed hard and nodded.

Sheng Hong noticed her wariness, smiled, closed the car door, and walked up to her: "Sheng Yu, are you extremely busy right now?"

Tang Ci paused, realizing that Sheng Yu's current crisis was entirely his doing. He lowered his voice and looked at him warily: "What do you want to do?"

“I’m his father, of course I want to help him.” Sheng Hong sneered, “Unfortunately, my son is stubborn and incorrigible, so I have to settle for talking to his girlfriend instead.”

Tang Ci clenched her fists and took a step back: "Since you can't get through to Sheng Yu, then you can come to me instead."

“Young people, the reason you’re so resolute now is because you haven’t encountered anything major yet,” Sheng Hong said with a contemptuous tone. “If Yunqi were to face a devastating storm, do you think Sheng Yu would still choose someone like you who is of no help to her?”

Tang Cixin's heart skipped a beat. She steadied her slightly disordered breathing before saying, "I don't understand what you mean."

“Sheng Yu is now facing two choices. One is to marry into the Li family, in which both Yunqi and the Sheng family can get investment, and the current situation can be calmed down within two days.” Sheng Hong raised his eyebrows disdainfully and looked Tang Ci up and down. “The other is to continue to be with you, but you will not get any benefits. The turmoil in Yunqi will not only not stop, but I will make it escalate.”

"What do you think he should choose?" Sheng Hong glanced at her, his fingertip tapping along the seam of his trousers. "Or you can make the choice for him."

The heat on Tang Ci's face faded, and her nails unconsciously dug into her palms: "I have no right to make choices for him."

“But this shouldn’t be difficult for you.” Sheng Hong smiled. “Didn’t you already make the right choice during the college entrance exam?”

Tang Ci stared in astonishment, her eyes widening.

"If you don't want to be a burden, then continue to be a smart person." After saying that, Sheng Hong ignored her and got into the car, instructing the driver to leave.

Sheng Hong's voice was low and cold, like a snake spitting its tongue, which made Tang Ci tremble with fear. She watched as the SUV drove off the street corner, and her hands still couldn't warm up.

The feeling of being enveloped in coldness lasted until she got off work. After returning home, Tang Ci ate a quick dinner, took a shower, and then snuggled into her warm bed.

Even so, her hands and feet were still ice cold.

The sky outside the bedroom's floor-to-ceiling windows changed from deep blue to dark black, with scattered neon lights almost completely swallowed up.

Tang Ci felt as if she had returned to that summer after the college entrance examination. The weather was hot and the cicadas were chirping incessantly, but she could not seem to warm up, just like she was now.

Half asleep and half awake, Tang Ci heard the rustling of clothes behind her. She drowsily lifted her eyelids, and only when the person behind her wrapped their arms around her waist did she fully wake up.

She had barely moved her arm when Sheng Yu's deep voice sounded from above her: "Not asleep?"

She shook her head, propped herself up on her elbows, and turned around to face him.

Sheng Yu didn't lie down in a hurry. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her, his voice carrying a hint of amusement: "—Or were you waiting for me to come home?"

Tang Ci looked at the dark circles under his eyes, and instead of answering his question, asked in a muffled voice, "Have the company's problems been resolved?"

Sheng Yu frowned slightly and patted her gently with the palm of his hand on her waist: "Almost there."

"How long is 'soon'?" she pressed.

"Want to help your husband solve this?" Sheng Yu chuckled softly.

"Is it okay?" Tang Ci blinked. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Sheng Yu put away his flippant expression: "You don't need to think about this, I can handle this."

“Even if I can’t help,” Tang Ci paused, her voice choked, “I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

Sheng Yu's eyes narrowed instantly, and he gently lifted her chin: "Sheng Hong is looking for you?"

Tang Ci's brow twitched sharply. Surprised by his keen perception, she nodded, completely bewildered.

"If you see him again, tell him to get lost." Sheng Yu was clearly angry, his sharp eyebrows furrowed tightly, and he warned her, "You're not allowed to listen to a single word of his nonsense again."

"Can……"

"But what?" Sheng Yuyi's dark pupils stared intently at her: "You want to listen to his advice, to leave me like before, so that I can have my way, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Ci's lips tightened instantly.

My mind, which had been in turmoil all day, finally regained a sliver of clarity at this moment.

Regardless, she didn't want to be separated from Sheng Yu this time.

Before she could even gather her thoughts, the hand gripping her waist tightened until it hurt.

Sheng Yu's gaze turned completely cold as he told her, word by word, "Tang Ci, I don't think I've told you yet, but no matter what happens in the future, I will never let you leave again."

Before Tang Ci could speak again, Sheng Yu pulled her into his arms and ruffled her hair: "Go to sleep now."

Hearing the strong heartbeat from his chest, Tang Ci's anxiety strangely subsided. She hummed in his arms and hugged his waist back.

/

The incident involving Yunqi employees' anti-China remarks escalated again the following day.

What no one expected was that the trending topics directly targeted Sheng Yu.

[#Yunqi CEO Sheng Mou once assaulted his biological father, suspected of having antisocial personality disorder#]

Tang Ci stiffly tapped the image under the entry and saw a scene that she would never forget.

Tang Ci still doesn't know whether, on that day in the Sheng family's study, when Sheng Yu pointed a fruit knife at Sheng Hong, he really wanted to kill the murderer who drove his mother to her death.

Even if he was only threatening at the time, his fierce expression in the picture was enough to send chills down one's spine.

This time, Tang Ci didn't even dare to open the comments section.

Since waking up, Sheng Yu's phone has been vibrating non-stop. In between answering calls, he quickly tidied himself up and prepared to head to the Australian headquarters.

Tang Ci learned from his phone call that the company had contacted the employee who leaked the information and the media company, and he would go there now to negotiate a lawsuit.

Sheng Yu bent down to tie his tie in the entryway. As he stood up, he kissed Tang Ci, who was standing hesitantly beside him, on the cheek: "Be a good girl and wait for me at home."

Tang Ci rubbed her face as she saw him off, feeling a deep sense of loss.

She was distracted at work all day, constantly checking her phone to see if Sheng Yu had sent any messages, but their chat remained silent.

Just before she was about to leave work, she unexpectedly received a call from Song Ke.

Song Ke took his girlfriend back to Nanling to meet his parents. Remembering the promise he made when he participated in a school activity, he sent messages to Tang Ci and Jiang Chan, inviting them to dinner together.

Jiang Chan was in the middle of a job change, so without hesitation, she bought a high-speed rail ticket and rushed back to Nanling, where she would rest at home for a while.

Tang Ci couldn't stay at home by herself, so she treated going out as a way to clear her head and headed to the agreed-upon restaurant after work.

Song Ke's girlfriend, Gu Yi, was beautiful and had a spirited personality, which quickly enlivened the atmosphere at the table.

After exchanging pleasantries, Song Ke and Jiang Chan both asked about the current crisis at Sheng Yu Company.

Song Ke asked gently, "Has Sheng Yu been so busy lately that he hasn't been able to come home?"

Tang Ci sipped her tea with concern: "I only got back late last night."

"Wait, wait, wait—" Jiang Chan's eyes widened as she listened to their conversation. She patted Tang Ci's arm and said, "You and Sheng Yu are living together now? You two are dating?! How come I didn't know about this?"

Because the past events were too complicated, Tang Ci had not found an opportunity to explain to Jiang Chan, so she simply took this opportunity to tell her the story briefly.

When asked about asking Song Ke to pretend to be her boyfriend, Tang Ci sincerely apologized to Gu Yi: "I'm sorry, my thoughts and actions at the time were immature."

Gu Yi waved her hand: "It's okay. He told me that he liked you back then, and in a moment of passion, he was willing to help with anything."

Seeing her attitude, Jiang Chan forgot about gossiping about Tang Ci and asked Gu Yi in surprise, "Don't you mind that he liked someone else before?"

"What's there to mind?" Gu Yi smiled. "I've had several boyfriends before."

Song Ke glanced at Gu Yi with gentle eyes: "As long as we like each other now, that's enough."

Jiang Chan sighed, "You two have such a good relationship."

Gu Yi smiled and said, "We've been perfectly compatible since the beginning of our relationship. We've never argued, and we've hardly ever had any minor conflicts."

Tang Ci pictured Sheng Yu's cold face in her mind and hesitantly asked her for advice: "How do you two usually get along?"

Gu Yi thought for a moment and said, "It's probably because we always discuss things in advance. Even when the conflict is still in the latent stage, we've already come up with a solution."

“It’s really about mutual trust,” Song Ke continued, “saying whatever comes to mind.”

Tang Ci seemed to be suddenly awakened, realizing why Sheng Yu's brows were always furrowed.

Because of her hesitation, her retreat, and her distrust.

With a sharp, aching pain in her chest, Tang Ci paused for a moment before taking a sip of water, her appetite gone.

Song Ke noticed her low spirits: "Did you and Sheng Yu have a fight?"

Jiang Chan stopped chattering and added some hot water to her cup.

Faced with her friends' concern, Tang Ci finally let down her guard and told them everything about Sheng Hong's mischief.

After hearing this, Jiang Chan angrily slammed down her cup: "He's an entrepreneur, yet he did something so heinous!"

Song Ke also sighed because of the complicated inside story of the Sheng family.

Gu Yi didn't know Sheng Yu, and as an outsider, she quickly came to a conclusion: "Judging from what he said, it seems that he doesn't need your help. Moreover, as the boss of a company, he certainly has the ability to solve this kind of thing. You're just worrying too much."

Tang Ci nodded: "I think he's working too hard, and I want to share some of his burden."

Gu rested her cheek on her hand and thought for a moment: "What do you think he needs most from you?"

Tang Ci was stunned for a moment, unable to give a definite answer.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Jiang Chan suddenly pointed to the television hanging on the wall: "Look, Sheng Yu is being interviewed."

Tang Ci immediately looked up, and Song Ke and Gu Yi also turned their heads to look at the screen.

“It’s a live broadcast from Nancheng Evening News,” Song Ke glanced at the station logo on the screen and turned to Tang Ci, “He’s probably here to clarify the rumors about Yunqi.”

Tang Ci's heart leaped into her throat, her fingers clenched tightly as she stared intently at the television screen.

Sheng Yu was still wearing the same clothes he wore that morning. His crisp shirt was wrinkled from a day of running around, but he remained meticulous and showed no signs of weakness when facing the camera.

For ratings reasons, the reporters' opening questions were all very pointed, but Sheng Yu responded calmly and quickly gained the upper hand in the conversation.

Once he got down to business, he produced the statements of the employees who made the allegations and the media company, as well as the signed documents of employees he had dealt with for making discriminatory remarks.

With the evidence conclusive, the reporters in the room asked a few questions and then stopped.

The interview then focused on the issue of Sheng Yu beating his father.

A reporter asked directly: "What were your reasons for beating your father back then?"

Several other reporters then raised different questions on this issue.

Sheng Yu waited until the room quieted down before speaking, but did not directly address the reporter's questions.

Facing the camera, he unbuttoned his sleeves and rolled them up to his elbows, revealing two old scars on his arms.

"These two scars are from when I got a question wrong in the third grade of elementary school, and Sheng Hong whipped me with a belt."

After he finished speaking, several more images of large and small scars on his shoulders and back appeared on the screen behind him.

Sheng Yu explained the source of each item, stating that they were all done by Sheng Hong.

The audience erupted in uproar and murmurs.

Although the scars on the screen were shocking, Sheng Yu's attitude was indifferent, as if those injuries were not on his own body.

A reporter questioned, "Even a regular fight can cause these scars. How can you prove that your father did these things?"

Sheng Yuchao glanced at the screen from the sidelines, and a refined middle-aged man entered the scene.

Tang Ci's eyes widened slightly as she recognized the man as Uncle Zong, the steward of the Sheng family.

Uncle Zong attended as an eyewitness and, in response to reporters' questions, recounted in detail Sheng Hong's long-term violent control over his family.

When the topic turned to the screenshot of the video showing Sheng Yu abusing Sheng Hong, Rong Wei was finally brought up.

Tang Ci's eyelashes trembled slightly. After many years, she learned from Uncle Zong that Sheng Yu lost control that day because Sheng Hong wanted to rebuild the swimming pool where his mother committed suicide for his new wife.

She looked at Sheng Yu, who had a calm expression, through the screen, and a slow, sharp pain began to throb in her heart.

Finally, Uncle Zong said to the reporters' cameras, "I am willing to take legal responsibility for everything I have said. I will then sue Sheng Hong together with Sheng Yu and have the matter notarized by the media."

"Since these things happened back then, why didn't you expose them at the time?"

When faced with the reporter's final question, Sheng Yu crossed his arms and looked at the camera: "Actually, Uncle Zong and I had already contacted the media back then, but there was a small mishap at the last minute."

He paused, then said with a sigh, "My family insisted on sending me abroad so that I could be free."

In an instant, it felt as if an invisible hand had gripped her heart, and Tang Ci couldn't breathe; her eyes instantly reddened.

It turned out that Sheng Yu had already prepared the key to the cage she once feared.

Jiang Chan thoughtfully handed her a tissue. Tang Ci thanked her silently, but she couldn't stop her tears.

The interview on the screen was coming to an end, and the reporters began asking questions casually.

Gu Yi rolled her eyes and suggested, "The live stream isn't over yet, are you going to go find him?"

Tang Ciseng stood up abruptly from her chair, wiping away her tears, and said, "Then I must take my leave."

Jiang Chan and Gu Yi were taken aback at first, but quickly became excited: "Let's go, let's go!"

/

The streets were bustling with people at night, and the street scenes outside the taxi window flashed by.

Tang Ci listened to the buzzing sound coming from the crack in the window, her heart pounding.

As the car slowed down, her heartbeat also slowed down.

Time seemed to stretch out.

Tang Ci could even clearly hear her own heavy, long breaths.

She closed the car door and walked step by step down the building, where she saw reporters who had not been able to enter the building quietly surrounding the entrance with their cameras.

The dark and silent autumn night was only filled with the howling of the cold wind.

A few seconds later, a tall and imposing figure walked out of the gate.

Reporters erupted in a barrage of questions, and camera flashes blared as if it were daytime.

Sheng Yudi walked through the noisy crowd, and when faced with the swarm of reporters, he simply answered a few questions with a cold and indifferent expression.

It looks rather lonely from a distance.

Tang Ci took a deep breath and was about to step forward.

Sheng Yu suddenly lifted his eyelids and saw her through the crowd; the corners of his lips immediately turned up.

She stood still, watching Sheng Yu push through the crowd and walk towards her, like a traveler walking alone in a desolate wilderness, finally catching a glimpse of the lights of her hometown.

She thought she knew what Sheng Yu wanted.

Whether it's sunny or rainy, she stands firmly by his side.

In a daze, Sheng Yu was already in front of her, and he vigorously rubbed her head with his large hand.

What brings you here?

Her heart was pounding. Tang Ci looked at him and said, "I've come to take you home."

Sheng Yu's smile deepened, and he mischievously leaned closer to her ear: "Hmm?"

Tang Ci wanted him to keep smiling so relaxed, so she tiptoed and whispered in his ear, "Come pick up your husband and take him home."