Chapter 60 Eating is the happiest thing in the day

It was late at night, and Yan Shuang was fast asleep, a faint smile still on her lips.

She dreamed of flying at dusk, with the wind whistling in her ears and the clouds churning beneath her feet.

In her dream, she opened her arms wide and couldn't help but laugh out loud. Her body involuntarily shifted, and she swung her arms.

"Smack!"

A soft slap landed squarely on Shangqiu Zhu's face.

The man suddenly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his dark pupils in the night.

He frowned as he looked at the woman sleeping unguarded beside him. Yan Shuang was still muttering "fly higher" when she kicked her leg, almost hitting his waist.

Shangqiu Zhu's forehead twitched.

Yan Shuang suddenly let out a small scream, as if she had encountered something terrible in her dream.

He sighed, stretched out his long arm, and pulled the person into his embrace.

Yan Shuang was soaring through the clouds in her dream when she was suddenly restrained by a force. She frowned in displeasure, flailing her arms wildly, muttering indistinctly, "Don't pull me..."

Shangqiu Zhu was elbowed in the chest by her, let out a muffled groan, and had no choice but to let go.

Regaining her freedom, Yan Shuang immediately stretched out her body, like a bird finally freed from its cage, rolling around on the large bed. She kicked off the blankets, her arms outstretched, a satisfied smile on her lips, as if she were truly gliding freely in a clear blue sky.

Shangqiu Zhu watched coldly as she rolled towards the edge of the bed; if she had gone any further, she would have fallen off.

He suddenly reached out, grabbed her waist, and pulled her back.

Yan Shuang grumbled in dissatisfaction, but he didn't give her a chance to break free. He pressed down with his long legs and locked her completely in his arms.

In her sleep, Yan Shuang seemed to have finally resigned herself to her fate and stopped struggling, only gently rubbing her forehead against his chest.

She snuggled closer to him, her breathing gradually becoming steady.

Shangqiu bamboo, however, is not feeling well.

Yan Shuang's nightgown straps slipped down to her arms, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin. The marks left a few days ago had faded considerably, leaving only a few light pink marks.

These past two days, out of concern for her injury, he has refrained from touching her.

Holding her at this moment would undoubtedly add fuel to the fire.

The sleeping woman was completely unaware, instead burying her face in the crook of his neck, her warm breath spraying onto his Adam's apple.

Her nightgown was made of such thin fabric that her body heat burned his heart through the fabric, and her faint fragrance was amplified infinitely in the darkness.

Shangqiu Zhusong released his hand from her waist. His Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

But Yan Shuang, still asleep, immediately followed and rubbed the back of her head against his chest.

"......"

When she was awake, she was too shy to look him in the eye, but when she was asleep, she would snuggle into his arms without any defenses.

Shangqiu Zhu suddenly sat up, grabbed the cup from the bedside table, drank half a cup of ice water in one gulp, then threw off the covers, got out of bed, and went straight to the bathroom.

Cold water gushed from the showerhead, flowing down the defined abdominal muscles, revealing the V-shaped physique sculpted by years of fitness training in the mist.

He leaned against the tiled wall and took a deep breath; his body was still faintly hot despite being rinsed with cold water.

Shangqiu Zhu turned off the shower, his wet hair hanging messily over his forehead, water droplets dripping from the ends onto his taut abs. The mirror was already blurred by the steam, but it still reflected the lines of his back, taut like a fully drawn bow, his shoulder blades flaring like butterfly wings about to emerge from their cocoons.

He grabbed a towel and roughly wiped his hair, then looked up and saw his own reddened eyes reflected in the mirror.

Ten minutes later, Shangqiu Zhu returned to the bedside, emanating a chill from her body.

Yan Shuang had already rolled over to the side where he was sleeping, her cheek pressed against the spot where he had used his pillow, her peaceful sleeping face softening one's heart.

"Shangqiu bamboo..." Yan Shuang suddenly murmured in her sleep.

The man stiffened slightly, but then heard her mumble sleepily, "...Don't you dare steal my steamed buns..."

His tense lips suddenly relaxed, and Shangqiu Zhu pulled her into his arms again. He looked down at the person in his arms, gazed at her for a long time, and finally lowered his head to place a solemn goodnight kiss on her smooth forehead.

The next day at breakfast, Yan Shuang was spreading jam on her toast while Shang Qiuzhu sat opposite her reading the morning paper.

Lin Sheng knocked lightly on the door and entered after receiving permission.

"Mr. Shang, there's been progress on the acquisition deal in Canada." Lin Sheng opened the document. "The other party has agreed to our proposed terms, but they want to renegotiate the payment method."

Without looking up, Shangqiu Zhu took a sip of his coffee and said, "Tell them that not a single word of the terms will be changed."

"Yes." Lin Sheng answered readily, but suddenly stopped when he looked up.

On Shangqiu Zhu's well-defined profile, a suspicious red mark was clearly visible on her right cheek.

Lin Sheng's gaze shifted subtly between Shang Qiuzhu and Yan Shuang for a moment.

"Mr. Shang," he asked cautiously, "are you... injured?"

Yan Shuang was drinking coffee with her head down when she heard this and looked up. On Shang Qiuzhu's right cheek, there looked like a handprint.

She blinked, her face full of confusion.

Lin Sheng's gaze shifted back and forth between the two, finally settling on Yan Shuang with a meaningful look, as if to say: This is what you did, isn't it?

Yan Shuang sensed Lin Sheng's gaze and almost choked on her coffee. She put down her cup, waved her hand innocently, and said, "How could I dare?"

"Mr. Shang... you must have been hit somewhere, right?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shangqiu Zhu glanced at her and then pushed a cup of hot milk in front of her.

Lin Sheng wisely lowered his head, pretending not to have seen what was happening, keeping his eyes down and focusing on his own thoughts. "Should we call the family doctor to come and take a look?"

Yan Shuang, holding the milk, secretly glanced at the red marks on Shang Qiuzhu's face, and suddenly remembered the dream she had last night...

No way?!

Her hand trembled, and the milk almost spilled. Shang Qiuzhu seemed to sense something, looked up at her, and her eyes were dangerous.

"No need."

Yan Shuang quickly lowered her head and drank her milk in large gulps, the tips of her ears turning slightly red.

Lin Sheng took two steps back without looking to the side and said, "I'll go get the car ready." He then quickly fled the scene, thoughtfully closing the restaurant door behind him.

The only sound in the restaurant was the soft breathing of the two of them.

Yan Shuang stared at the milk sloshing in the glass, finally mustering up her courage: "I'm sorry, Mr. Shang, I fell asleep last night and it was an accident... I promise it won't happen again."

Her peach-like cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and her eyelashes trembled nervously.

Shangqiu Zhu's eyes darkened, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but his face remained calm and expressionless.

Yan Shuang waited for a long time without receiving a response. Thinking that this person was always vindictive, she gritted her teeth and said, "How about... you slap me back?"

Shangqiu Zhu raised an eyebrow.

Yan Shuang had her eyes tightly closed, her lips slightly pursed due to nervousness.

The next second, she suddenly felt her wrist being gripped by a force. Shang Qiuzhu's slender hand easily encircled her wrist bone, and with a little force, he lifted her up.

Yan Shuang was caught off guard and fell into his arms. Before she could react, her lips were sealed by his burning heat.

Shangqiu Zhu's tongue parted her trembling lips, slowly licking the milk stains remaining at the corner of her mouth, rolling that sweetness into his own mouth.

"Hmm..."

His large hand held her head firmly.

He entwined his tongue with hers, sucking repeatedly, as if trying to savor every inch of the sweetness in her mouth.

The crisp morning air became murky, and only the mingled breathing could be heard in the restaurant.

His fingers weren't idle either; his slender knuckles slid down her delicate neck, and the sweet scent of milk emanated from her skin, making him unable to resist lowering his head and taking a light bite on that porcelain-white skin.

"Mr. Shang..." Yan Shuang trembled all over, her fingers helplessly clutching the front of his shirt.

The next second, his burning palm had already slipped inside her clothes. When his thumb pressed against her soft breast, Yan Shuang finally sobbed and turned her head away: "The...the car is waiting..."

Shangqiu Zhu bit her lower lip as punishment before reluctantly stopping.

Yan Shuang collapsed into his arms, her face flushed.

Outside the window, Lin Sheng stood by the car, glanced at his watch, then looked at the tightly closed gate, and decided to wait another ten minutes.

Ten minutes later, the villa's gate finally opened.

Shang Qiuzhu walked out calmly, dressed in a sharp suit with his tie perfectly tied, as if nothing had happened.

Yan Shuang followed behind him, her cheeks as red as ripe peaches, and her lips even redder than usual.

Lin Sheng stood by the car and immediately opened the back door, saying, "President Shang, Secretary Yan, please."

Yan Shuang quickly climbed into the car, wishing she could curl up into a ball. Shang Qiuzhu then got in, draping his arm over the back of her seat, seemingly marking out a private space.

As soon as the car started, Yan Shuang's phone vibrated.

She was overjoyed and quickly unlocked her screen, only to find that she had been added to a WeChat group called "Happy Family".

Lin's mother is the group leader, and the only members are herself, Lin Chengyu, and a "head chef of the Lin family's old house" with a lotus flower avatar.

"Shuangshuang, what would you like to eat tonight? Auntie will have the kitchen prepare it~"

Yan Shuang looked at the screen and couldn't help but smile. She typed back, "Auntie, no need to trouble yourself, I'll just eat something light."

As soon as the message was sent, Lin's mother immediately sent three angry emojis: "No way! If you don't tell me, I'll have the kitchen prepare a Manchu Han Imperial Feast!"

Yan Shuang immediately pictured the spectacular scene of the long table covered in food from last night, and her fingers flew across the screen: "No, no, no! Then... then just stir-fried vegetables, sweet and sour pork ribs, and a winter melon soup will do."

As soon as the message was sent, a confetti emoji popped up in the group chat, followed by a message from Lin's mother: "No problem! Our Shuangshuang really knows how to order, all healthy dishes!"

Just as Yan Shuang was about to reply, she suddenly saw a message from Lin Chengyu: "Mom, what's my opinion?"

Lin's mother replied instantly: "You eat air."

Yan Shuang chuckled. Shang Qiuzhu turned his head and looked at her upturned lips: "What are you chatting about so happily?"

"We're talking about food," Yan Shuang replied without looking up, her fingers still typing rapidly on the screen, sending a cute emoji to Lin's mother.

"Food?" Shangqiu Zhu's voice remained calm and unwavering.

“Yes,” Yan Shuang finally looked up, her eyes sparkling, “eating is the happiest thing of the day, isn’t it?”

Shangqiu Zhu did not object, but asked again, "And what was the result?"

Yan Shuang then realized that he was asking about the specific menu, and counted on her fingers: "Stir-fried seasonal vegetables, sweet and sour pork ribs, and winter melon soup."

Shangqiu Zhu nodded and finally didn't ask any more questions.

The sun was shining brightly at noon. Yan Shuang was packing her bag to go to USC when her desk was suddenly tapped three times.

“Secretary Yan,” Lin Sheng said with a smile, “President Shang requests your presence.”

Yan Shuang paused in her movements: "Now?"

"Yes."

"good."

Yan Shuang got up, walked to the president's office, and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Shangqiu Zhu's deep voice came from inside.

Yan Shuang pushed open the door and entered, thinking there were some urgent documents to deal with, but she saw the man standing by the window making a phone call, a pen between his slender fingers. When he saw her come in, he simply gestured with his eyes for her to go to the reception area.

Yan Shuang walked towards the sofa area with a puzzled look, but froze the moment she saw the coffee table.

On the exquisite bone china tableware, three steaming dishes are neatly arranged: emerald green vegetables garnished with pine nuts, sweet and sour pork ribs coated in glistening sauce, and tender pink shrimp balls floating in winter melon soup.

It was the menu she casually mentioned that morning, but it was a hundred times more exquisite than she had imagined.

"...Yes, the afternoon meeting is postponed." Shang Qiuzhu hung up the phone, walked over and sat down next to her. "Let's eat."

Yan Shuang looked up at him, "This is..."

“Didn’t you say,” Shangqiu Zhu slowly unbuttoned his cuffs, “that eating is the happiest thing in the day?”

His tone remained calm.

Yan Shuang took the chopsticks, bent down and picked up a piece of pork rib. The sweet and sour taste burst on her tongue, even more delicious than she had imagined.

"Is it tasty?"

"Mmm!" She nodded emphatically, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

Shangqiu Zhu leaned over and wiped the sauce off her lips with his thumb: "Eat slowly."

After finishing her meal, Yan Shuang stood up to leave.

She smiled at Shang Qiuzhu and said, "Mr. Shang, I'll be going now."

Shangqiu Zhu put his hands in his trouser pockets and simply nodded.

Yan Shuang walked to the door, then paused, remembering the slap mark on his face.

She bit her lip, turned around and walked back quickly. Under Shang Qiuzhu's gaze, she tiptoed and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"See you tonight," she said, blushing, and turned to leave.

But her wrist was suddenly grabbed, Shang Qiuzhu's palm burning hot. "Where did you used to eat lunch?"

"Huh?" Yan Shuang didn't expect him to ask this. "I just... bought a Subway and took care of it on the way."

He tightened his grip and pulled her a step closer: "Let's eat lunch here from now on, okay?"

Yan Shuang blinked, and after a moment nodded: "Mm."

"What does 'hmm' mean?" Shangqiu Zhu persisted.

"Yes...yes, boss." She deliberately put on a stern face, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips.

Shangqiu Zhu then let go of her hand and watched her leave.