Chapter 19 Liu Zijin It was almost lunchtime, Zhong Wanyuan...

It was almost lunchtime when Zhong Wanyuan was dragged out of her room by her father. She peeked out from behind the door and clung to the door frame, her pigtails swaying in the air behind her head. Shen Li, who was sitting on the sofa, saw her immediately.

Shen Li waved to the little girl.

Zhong Wanyuan's bright little eyes darted around, and she ran over to Jiang Huaichuan's side and plopped down on the floor.

Shi Sheng hurriedly looked at Jiang Huaichuan, and seeing that he did not show any signs of being offended, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said helplessly to Zhong Wanyuan, "You little rascal."

Zhong Wanyuan sat quietly on the sofa.

Suddenly, Jiang Huaichuan felt his clothes being tugged by a very light force. He subconsciously looked down at the little girl beside him.

Seeing that he was looking at her, Zhong Wanyuan tugged at him again, gesturing for him to bring his ear closer.

“I’ve seen you before.” Zhong Wanyuan covered her mouth with her hand and said in a low voice, “There’s an album on Xiao Li’s phone that’s full of your photos.”

Jiang Huaichuan's eyes flashed, and he lowered his voice, asking curiously, "When?"

Zhong Wanyuan: "Last summer vacation, when my brother Xiao Li was tutoring me with my homework, he accidentally clicked on it."

How did you know it was me?

Zhong Wanyuan grinned, wiggled her toes, and her small eyes were full of admiration for her skill: "Hehe, I have a good memory. I can remember the faces of handsome men. But you looked so fierce in there, unlike now."

Jiang Huaichuan raised an eyebrow in surprise: He looks so fierce?

Zhong Wanyuan was too young to accurately capture the facial expressions of adults, let alone someone like Jiang Huaichuan who was good at remaining expressionless. She continued, "Brother Jiang, Brother Xiao Li is so nice, why don't you like him?"

Jiang Huaichuan: "...Why do you say that?"

Zhong Wanyuan rested her chin on her palm, a worried expression on her innocent face. She frowned and said, "Because Brother Xiao Li gets very sad every time he mentions you, as if he's about to cry. Once he even secretly hid in the bathroom to wipe away his tears."

I've only ever seen Mom make that face when Mom and Dad are arguing. You must be arguing with your brother Xiao Li all day long, that's why he looks unhappy.

Jiang Huaichuan's breath hitched, and his heart felt as if it were being pierced by countless tiny needles, making each breath painful.

The sound of a lock being opened came from the door. Zhong Wanyuan quickly jumped off the sofa and ran towards the door, leaving Jiang Huaichuan, whose throat was sore from being blocked, sitting there blankly.

Jiang Huaichuan pursed his lips tightly. A little girl's cheerful voice came from the doorway. He stiffly rolled his eyes and grabbed Shen Li's fingers, which were hanging by the sofa, in a panic.

Shen Li paused in her speech, subconsciously turned her head, and met Jiang Huaichuan's reddened eyes.

Shen Li: ? What's wrong??

Shen Li subconsciously raised her hand to wipe away the redness at the corner of Jiang Huaichuan's eyes and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Huaichuan shook his head without speaking, but instead pinched Shen Li's fingertips again and again, as if playing with a favorite toy.

A kind chuckle reached her ears, and Shen Li looked at Shi Sheng with embarrassment. Ever since he and Jiang Huaichuan cleared up some misunderstandings, this man would always do some childish things from time to time, making Shen Li feel happy but also a little helpless.

Jiang Huaichuan, dressed in a black sweater, sat on a fabric sofa that was no more than three meters long, exuding an air of nobility. His handsome face was expressionless, and he seemed as composed and in control as the calm and collected ruler described in novels.

However, the way he kept kneading and massaging Shen Li's aching waist when he sat down, the slight upturn of his lips when he spoke to Shen Li, and the love in his eyes when he looked at Shen Li broke the cold image that people had in mind, making him seem more down-to-earth.

Shi Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Actually, she had a selfish reason for asking Shen Li to bring Jiang Huaichuan over this time. She wanted to see for herself whether Jiang Huaichuan was truly worthy of Shen Li entrusting her life to.

Merchants are profit-driven and shrewd. Shi Sheng has lived for over seventy years and has seen all sorts of successful people, including some who outwardly appear to love their wives and children but are actually despicable in private. Shi Sheng has long regarded Shen Li as her own child, and she hopes that Shen Li can find true happiness, rather than falling into the abyss after a fleeting moment of glory.

"The goose is cooked! Yuanyuan, go call your brothers to eat."

"Okay, Mommy, Yuanyuan is hungry!"

The aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen, and Zhong Wanyuan's chattering voice came through the frosted glass door, prompting the three of them to look towards the kitchen.

——

Leaving Shi Sheng's house, there were still two hours before the movie started, and they wouldn't be able to stay home for long anyway. Jiang Huaichuan turned the steering wheel and drove Shen Li onto the elevated road.

The car was heated, and the warm afternoon sun shone on the windows, while soft music played inside.

Shen Li didn't know when she fell asleep. When she woke up, she was waiting at a red light. When the light turned green, she felt a slight push on her back.

Shen Li's gaze fell on Jiang Huaichuan's right hand holding the steering wheel.

"Awake?" Noticing Shen Li's gaze, Jiang Huaichuan turned his head slightly and tapped the steering wheel twice with his index finger. "We're almost there, just two more traffic lights."

Jiang Huaichuan had a small red mole on his right index finger, on the last joint. Shen Li glanced at it and dared not look at it again, afraid of recalling the absurdity of last night.

Shen Li rubbed the soft cashmere fabric against her chin, the familiar faint lemon scent filling her nostrils: "Okay."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Li realized something was wrong. He had gone out wearing a down jacket today, but the texture of his chin was clearly not down.

Shen Li looked down and saw that Jiang Huaichuan's black coat was covering her, while her own coat was folded up in the back seat.

He clearly remembered taking off his coat and carrying it when he got on the bus, but Jiang Huaichuan put his coat on the back seat instead. Why is it the other way around now?

Shen Li was about to ask, but the words rolled on her tongue and she swallowed them back. Her gaze swept over Jiang Huaichuan's reddened earlobes and unnaturally pursed thin lips. Shen Li's thoughts turned, and she immediately understood: "You changed it?"

Jiang Huaichuan, feigning composure, glanced at the road conditions and said, "Hmm."

"Oh." Shen Li didn't know what to say. His ears were even redder than Jiang Huaichuan's. Besides the familiar lemon scent, he also smelled Jiang Huaichuan's favorite green citrus scent. After muttering for a while, Shen Li finally managed to say, "It smells pretty good."

No, what is he saying?

Shen Li's cheeks turned bright red.

Jiang Huaichuan was also taken aback, then a slight smile appeared on his lips as he licked them contentedly: "I think so too."

When we arrived at the cinema's underground parking lot, there was still an hour before the movie started. Because it was the weekend, and the movie had received very good reviews, everyone was taking advantage of the weekend to come see it, and the lounge chairs in the cinema lobby were full of people.

Jiang Huaichuan is 190cm tall, and Shen Li is a bit shorter, but still 180cm. One wears a black overcoat, and the other wears a gray down jacket. With their handsome faces that rival those of celebrities, they are very eye-catching standing at the entrance of the cinema.

The cinema is on the fourth floor, and there are two elevators at the entrance. When the elevator doors open, people who come out will subconsciously look at Shen Li and his companion.

"Holy crap! Handsome guy!" As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, Liu Zijing was looking down at her phone when her friend excitedly tugged at her arm twice.

Liu Zijin subconsciously looked up and followed her friend's gaze. From her angle, she could see half of Shen Li's face buried in the scarf.

The boy was slender, with thick, curled eyelashes drooping slightly beneath his wispy bangs. He occasionally spoke to the tall boy standing opposite him, his bright, gentle almond-shaped eyes curving slightly with a tender smile.

Liu Zijing's eyes lit up, and she grabbed her friend's wrist: "Wow! She's my type!"

Friend: "Let's go, let's go get someone's WeChat."

Liu Zijing hesitated for a moment: "Isn't that too presumptuous?"

"Oh, I was just asking. If you don't add me, then goodbye. If you do add me but there's no future, just consider it a decorative item I found to put on my WeChat Moments. It'll look nice."

"Fine! You go first, I'll go second?"

"You go first, you're beautiful."

Liu Zijing smoothed her hair and walked to the opposite side of Shen Li in her boots.

Shen Li looked at her.

Liu Zijin smiled gently and said in a soft voice, "Hello, would it be convenient to add each other on WeChat?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Zijing saw the man with his back to her move. His black coat swept across the room with a clean arc, and a hand with distinct knuckles landed on the boy's shoulder, exuding a strong sense of possessiveness.

Liu Zijing was stunned. She blinked, her heart filled with despair: Ah? Ah!! Why is it another same-sex relationship?! Is falling in love with the bottom (the dominant partner) her destiny?!

"You want to add my wife on WeChat?" the man's deep voice rang out, his tone dangerous. "Liu Zijing, does your brother know you're having a relationship?"

Holy crap!! This is absolutely shocking!!

I managed to snag an acquaintance!

Her friend suddenly turned to look at Liu Zijing. Liu Zijing's eyes widened, her face full of "Holy crap!" She stared at the face next to her in horror, as if a ghost had crawled out of the mirror next to the toilet when she went to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Liu Zijin, Liu Jingmo's younger sister, is a high school sophomore this year and is completely underage.

"Brother Jiang." Liu Zijing quickly stood at attention, straightened her legs, and obediently lowered her head. "Long time no see, haha."

Jiang Huaichuan frowned, his face displeased. Why did everyone seem to like his wife?!

Is he such a big guy just standing there as a decoration?

His wife is very good—good personality, good looks, good ability, everything about her is good, but!

This is absolutely not a reason for you to covet him!!

He even made a point of blocking it!

Jiang Huaichuan was incompetent and furious.

Jiang Huaichuan snorted coldly at the two quails in front of him, then reluctantly turned to introduce them to Shen Li: "Liu Jingmo's younger sister."

Shen Li smiled gently, her eyebrows arching, and extended her hand to Liu Zijin: "Hello, I am Shen Li."

Ah! Handsome guy! My dream guy! We're destined to be apart.

Liu Zijing inwardly groaned, but outwardly remained calm as she reached out her hand. Suddenly, she felt a cold wind sweep past her back. She subconsciously looked at Jiang Huaichuan and, sure enough, saw his warning look in his eyes.

No wonder Second Brother always complained that Brother Jiang was love-struck, always jealous, always wanting something, a real jealous pot. Liu Zijing had never imagined this before, but now she finally felt it for herself.

Liu Zijing's lips curled slightly as she gave Jiang Huaichuan a provocative smile. Opportunities to make Jiang Huaichuan lose face are rare.

Liu Zijing quickly grabbed Shen Li's hand and shook it. "Hello, sister-in-law, I'm Liu Zijing. You're so handsome and beautiful! Hehe, see you next time~ Bye-bye~~"

After saying that, Liu Zijing grabbed her friend and ran away.

Liu Zijing was too fast. Shen Li's hand was still hanging in mid-air when Jiang Huaichuan quickly reached out and grabbed it: "Hello, wife. I am Shen Li's husband, Jiang Huaichuan."

Shen Li: ?

Shen Li chuckled and looked at Jiang Huaichuan with disbelief: "How old are you? Aren't you childish?"

Jiang Huaichuan grabbed Shen Li's hand and pulled her towards him. Shen Li was drawn into his arms and mumbled, "I don't care."

A note from the author:

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