Chapter 2, "Is our princess still angry?"...

Qiao Shu raised her leg, intending to kick the person down.

Yu Zeheng reacted even faster, grabbing her ankle. He looked down into her eyes, his voice low and husky: "Don't you like telling me?"

"roll."

As she wished, Yu Zeheng rolled away, taking her with him. Qiao Shu's hands were held by him, and her long hair fell down her neck, the strands smooth, black, and shiny.

Under the light, the muscle lines are clearly defined, like a sculpted result.

Even after retiring, Yu Zeheng maintained the habits he had when he was a race car driver, doing strength training every day without fail. He was lean and muscular with a narrow waist and clearly defined eight-pack abs. She had seen photos of him from his previous races, wearing a white, tight-fitting, quick-drying shirt with broad shoulders, looking exactly the same as he does now, and quite pleasing to the eye.

Unlike other pampered young masters, his palms were calloused and he had a strong grip, so much so that visible bruises would be left on her arms, ankles, and more often on her waist and even her groin.

Qiao Shu hated this and would retaliate by swiping his card to buy a bunch of random things the next day, while Yu Zeheng, upon receiving the long bill, would calmly ask if he wanted to buy the entire mall.

"Are you worried about the money?" she retorted.

Yu Zeheng, gentle and considerate towards her husband, said, "I feel even more sorry for you."

Tonight, Qiao Shu's wrist was marked with red welts, which she couldn't cover with her clothes. She retaliated by biting his neck until she tasted the metallic taste of blood on her tongue. Yu Zeheng let her bite him without a sound, his large hand gripping the back of her neck, their noses almost touching. After a half-second close eye contact, he kissed her lips, saying that kissing was no different from biting. He pried open her tightly closed teeth and took the taste of blood from her mouth.

That's utterly despicable.

Before Qiao Shu could utter a curse, Yu Zeheng tightened his grip on her waist. Before she could react, she gripped his arm tightly with her fingers.

He wasn't the gentle and refined type; in fact, he was rather assertive. Qiao Shu didn't like people who were too mild-mannered either. Asking too many questions would only make her lose interest.

This is probably the only thing that made her satisfied in this marriage.

Afterwards, she pushed him away and pulled herself out of bed, supporting herself on her arms as she went into the bathroom. With her back to him, she put on a long, thin-strapped dress. The fabric was smooth and clung to her body. She tossed her long hair aside with one hand, her back view resolute and distant. Using her and then discarding her was her habit.

Qiao Shu has a well-proportioned, slender figure with a slim waist, long legs, straight and thin shoulders, and a long neck. She is strict with her figure, eating three meals a day with precise measurements down to the gram, plus five Pilates sessions and gym visits a week, which he considers almost self-torture.

When Yu Zeheng thought of Qiao Shu mentioning divorce, he stepped barefoot onto the ground, his face, backlit, darkened.

It's not accurate to say that Yu Zeheng liked Qiao Shu a lot; in fact, he was initially against their marriage.

Qiao Shu's first marriage partner wasn't him, but her cousin. Her cousin was steady and had been in the business world for several years, while he was just a playboy who played racing cars. At the family banquet, she was charming and tactful, making all the elders present very happy. Her cousin, who was usually quiet, also responded with a few words. They seemed like a perfect couple.

Yu Zeheng felt bored, so he went out to smoke a cigarette. In the corridor, he came face to face with Qiao Shu, whose skirt was swaying. He lowered his eyes, flicked off a bit of cigarette ash, and listened to the clattering sound of high heels hitting the ground getting closer and closer.

Given her sociable nature, he couldn't help but exchange a few polite words, which he found extremely annoying.

But the sound stopped abruptly at the door of the private room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of a crimson skirt fluttering by. She had no intention of speaking to me at all, not even bothering to greet me.

It was only after marriage that Yu Zeheng came to understand Qiao Shu: shrewd and self-serving, she wouldn't waste her energy on people who were useless to her.

At that time, in her eyes, he was just a dispensable supporting character.

A month before the engagement, Qiao Shu learned of his cousin's girlfriend, his first love from college. Although the two broke up under pressure from their elders, the young lady refused to accept the breakup and insisted on canceling the engagement. The matter caused quite a stir, and he overheard some of it while lying in his hospital room.

One day, his hospital room door opened, and Qiao Shu appeared holding a bouquet of flowers. Her beautiful eyes were hidden by the flowers and leaves. She asked him about his condition with enthusiasm. He frowned, not understanding what she was doing there. She smiled sweetly and asked if he wanted to marry her. Her voice was gentle, the kind of tone she always used to try to control him.

She dumped her cousin one minute and used him as a replacement the next.

Yu Zeheng pointed out the location of the door to her.

"Get some rest." Qiao Shu pretended not to hear, casually smoothing out the creases in the blanket, and appeared with a bouquet of flowers on time the next morning.

The bouquets in her arms were never the same: purple larkspur paired with white lisianthus, bright yellow roses with small blue flowers, large cream sunflowers... without exception, all bright and intense colors, matching her clothes that day, becoming part of her outfit and accessories. She was using his hospital room as a runway. She smiled and asked, "Are you feeling any better today?"

Yu Zeheng turned his head to look out the window, his voice calm and even: "I would have recovered faster if you hadn't come."

Despite her view being blocked, Qiao Shu remained good-natured, putting down the bouquet herself: "Actually, there's no need to get better so quickly."

Yu Zeheng felt a tightness in his chest, and his fractured ribs throbbed with pain.

What did Qiao Shu say at that time?

She said, "Yu Zeheng, even if you don't want to marry me, your elders will arrange for you to marry Miss Li and Miss Lu in the future. I think I'm pretty good in every way, young, beautiful and smart. It's better to stick with what you know than to do something new. If you choose me, I won't let you regret it."

Qiao Shu spoke with absolute certainty, his eyes filled with unwavering confidence.

She has ambitious eyes, and she makes no attempt to hide it.

Yu Zeheng was silent for a moment, then asked in return, "When did we become acquainted?"

"Two months of living together day and night isn't enough to make you familiar?" Qiao Shu crossed her arms and looked at him, speaking frankly and openly.

If they only appear for ten minutes each day and then leave citing their dislike of the disinfectant smell, and then disappear for a whole week in the second month, it would be considered that they've been together day and night, meaning they've really gotten to know each other very well.

Yu Zeheng didn't like her, but what she said made sense.

The two later got married. The marriage was neither particularly good nor particularly bad. She was more interested in the title of Mrs. Yu than in him as a person. Rather than divorcing him and marrying a new rich girl and adapting to a new marital relationship, Yu Zeheng preferred to maintain the status quo.

No arguing, no noise, no interference.

The commotion that night made Qiao Shu fall asleep quickly, more effectively than sleeping pills, to the point that she didn't even notice there was someone else beside her. She habitually lay on her side, arching her back, and vaguely felt a warm touch against her. A heavy arm wrapped around her waist. Her lips pressed down, and before her impatience could even fester, sleepiness overcame her, and she had already drifted off to sleep.

—

When Yu Zeheng came downstairs, the lobby was already bustling with activity.

The spiral staircase winds its way down, and on the handrail, an antique vase holds a large bunch of full, blooming blue-and-white porcelain peonies and chrysanthemums, their petals curled and tips adorned with pink. The marble dining table is a pale blue, endless summer color, soaked with moisture, and is freshly changed every morning.

There are five housekeepers in the family. The head of the household is Aunt Chu, who is in her early fifties and was brought from the Qiao family by Qiao Shu. Aunt Chu is meticulous in her work and cannot tolerate any mistakes. Under her management, everyone performs their duties and the work proceeds in an orderly manner.

Everyone else was chosen by Qiao Shu, who was overly picky in this regard. Living under the same roof and managing her daily life, she had to make sure that the other person was trustworthy.

at the same time.

Qiao Shu came out of the gym, wearing a purple yoga outfit. She had just finished her workout and called a driver to take her Pilates instructor home. She wiped the fine sweat from her neck with a towel. Aunt Chu came over and asked her what she wanted to eat for breakfast. She frowned slightly and thought for two seconds before saying "as usual," complaining as she mentioned that she had gained weight because of eating at the old house and that she needed to lose it within two days.

Aunt Chu said, "I'll brew you a pot of lotus leaf and barley tea. It's the most effective way to dispel dampness and retain heat."

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Chu."

She loves crowds and is surrounded by people and flowers. She thrives in such an atmosphere, just like a performer who needs an audience. In public, Qiao Shu is always glamorous and radiant.

The aunt left with the Pilates instructor. Qiao Shu turned around and her gaze fell on Yu Zeheng, who was coming downstairs. He was wearing a black quick-drying sportswear, the fabric of which clung to him and outlined the contours of his muscles. She calmed down and passed by him. When she greeted him with a "good morning," she only breathed a little heavier and did not respond. Then she shuffled upstairs.

Qiao Shu looked even worse while taking a shower.

Not only were there marks on her wrists, but also three finger marks an inch above her knees, turning from red to blue, leaving ugly scars on her fair skin. Qiao Shu's brow twitched, and beneath her brow bone was a barely suppressed anger. She turned off the water, dried herself off, and went out. Her gaze swept over the clothes displayed in the dressing room, finally glancing past the bodycon skirts before choosing a bright yellow long dress with a hem that covered her ankles.

When Qiao Shu came downstairs again, the aunt was collecting the dishes. More than an hour after she finished washing up and putting on makeup, Yu Zeheng had finished his morning run, even showered and eaten breakfast, and had already left for ten minutes.

Out of sight, out of mind; she was happy to have some peace and quiet.

Josh cut open the Eggs Bankney, dipped the runny yolk into the bread, and put it in his mouth. He then finished his breakfast with a large glass of iced Americano to reduce swelling.

She wasn't particularly fond of food; her breakfasts were relatively substantial, while her dinners were simple, usually boiled food dipped in vinaigrette. Since adulthood, she had maintained the habit of not consuming carbohydrates after noon.

After breakfast, her anger was still not appeased. Her way of calming down was cliché and unoriginal. As usual, she planned to go to the mall, swipe Yu Zeheng's card, and buy a bunch of clothes, bags, and jewelry in a vengeful manner. She was too lazy to unpack them, so in the end, the housekeeper sorted them all out and put them in the room to gather dust.

Qiao Shu sent a message to Song Yue, giving her an address.

Just as SA was enthusiastically recommending the latest styles to her, Song Yue arrived, wearing a light gray casual jacket, wide-leg jeans, short hair with bangs, a round face, and big eyes. She always looked like a college student who had just graduated and was doing an internship. She had been Qiao Shu's assistant for five years, and now they were not only superior and subordinate but also friends.

At first glance, Song Yue looks unremarkable, with a fair and gentle face, but in reality, she is a top student who graduated from the Finance Department of Jiang University.

"Honey."

Qiao Shu raised her hand, the diamond-encrusted bracelet on her slender white wrist sparkling, just enough to cover the mark. "How is it?"

“You know I don’t understand these things.” She sat down on the soft stool opposite her, carrying a large canvas bag.

"Wrap it up," Qiao Shu said with a smile.

“Yes, Miss Qiao,” SA replied, taking the bracelet while wearing gloves.

"Grandpa's 80th birthday is coming soon." Qiao Shu held her teacup, taking small sips. After a while, she looked up and said, "There's news that Grandpa will announce his will and his heirs on this day."

Her father is not favored, so there is basically no hope for her.

The eldest uncle's family is the most likely, but their family is not peaceful either. The eldest uncle is mediocre, the eldest brother Qiao Kaiyu is ambitious and capable, and even his own younger brother is wary of him. The second brother Qiao Kaizhou made a mistake and was exiled abroad by his grandfather. Their family seems harmonious, but in reality, everyone has their own agenda.

By any measure, the eldest brother has the best chance of winning.

Qiao Shu was not interested in the struggle for succession and knew that she was never in the old man's consideration. What she wanted was her own share.

After thinking for a moment, Song Yue said, "Grandpa loves you. He's the granddaughter he raised, and he would never mistreat you."

Over the years, Qiao Shu has served the Qiao family diligently, playing both sides. On the surface, she manages the auction house, but in reality, she maintains the Qiao family's network of relationships. She even sacrificed her marriage to form an alliance with the Yu family. She has given far more than her two brothers and deserves to be rewarded.

“I’ll go and sound out what they think for you.” Song Yue stared into her eyes.

"Keep an eye on my older brother's recent movements."

Song Yue asked, "What about your second brother?"

“He doesn’t need to. My eldest brother will take care of things. If he hadn’t reported it to the old man last time, my second brother wouldn’t be unable to go home.”

Qiao Shu picked out two bracelets, made of enamel. She casually picked up two and compared them against Song Yue's wrist, finally choosing the cypress-green one.

Song Yue looked helpless, playing the role of a stiff wooden figure, and she reiterated that she couldn't tell which color looked better.

Qiao Shu: "This color suits you, so I'll give it to you."

"Give it to me? It's too precious, I can't accept it."

None of Song Yue's entire outfit was as expensive as this bracelet.

"It's a gift."

Qiao Shu smiled and patted her hand: "Someone's paying, why not?"

Qiao Shu's eyes ached from all the shopping. She knew that in the past few hours, Yu Zeheng's phone had been flooded with payment notifications one after another. She felt a sense of vengeful pleasure. She tapped the display case lightly with her finger and smiled, "Wrap them all up."

It was already six o'clock when I got back to South Bay.

South Bay is brightly lit, with white walls and gray roofs. Behind the Roman columns is a large porch with a round cast-iron table. When the weather is nice, she would drink tea there. The warm yellow ground lights on the garden path illuminate the slender tips of the grass leaves. It is the height of summer, and the endless summer under the night is as tranquil as a medieval oil painting.

After moving in after getting married, she poured a lot of effort into this house, and it was her dedication that breathed new life into it.

A subtle fragrance wafted in the air, and her steps were light. Her good mood was extinguished when she saw Yu Zeheng having dinner alone.

He was always elusive, and often on the first night after his return, when the atmosphere was good, the two of them would tacitly fulfill their marital obligations and relieve their desires, and the next day he would already be on a plane to the next country.

But he took the wrong medicine today and is still here.

Yu Zeheng sat upright, slowly drinking water from his glass, his gaze fixed on her. As he put down the glass, he greeted her, "You're back."

His voice was deep and steady, as if their roles had been reversed: he was the husband who was always at home, while she was the wife who was often away from home.

Qiao Shu changed out of her high heels, which made her a few centimeters shorter, but her imposing manner remained undiminished. "I didn't expect to see Young Master Yu today."

Yu Shao was Qiao Shu's way of retaliating against him for calling her princess. He started racing cars when he was a teenager, and each car cost tens of millions of yuan. He had wrecked countless cars, making it a truly money-burning hobby. His image had long been that of an idle and good-for-nothing playboy from a wealthy family. He had become more composed after retiring, but she knew what kind of person he used to be.

Yu Zeheng calmly asked, "Is it strange that I'm in my own home?"

"How could that be?" Qiao Shu raised an eyebrow and smiled with a hint of sarcasm. As if suddenly remembering something, she took out an orange-wrapped gift box from her bag and handed it to him in a friendly manner, "This is for you."

"You spent a seven-figure sum on me today and gave me a two-thousand-dollar twilly?"

"Yes, do you like it?" Qiao Shu asked with a showy attitude, rarely observing his expression up close after maxing out his credit card. Her enthusiasm was feigned: "Do you need me to try it on for you?"

Yu Zeheng glanced at her, placed his hands on the dining table, and stepped back to make room for her: "Thank you for your help."

"You're welcome," Qiao Shu said with a smile.

Yu Zeheng sat down, while Qiao Shu stood by the dining table, at the perfect height. She wrapped her slender, white index finger around the silk scarf, lowered her head, and wrapped it behind his neck, her chin almost touching his forehead. Her fingertips brushed against his crisp collar. She straightened up again, lowered her head and gazed down, focusing intently on tying the knot. Finally, she tugged at the silk scarf and smoothed the fabric on her shoulders with her fingers.

"It suits you quite well." Grayish blue, retro pattern, with a touch of understated elegance.

Yu Zeheng glanced down at her, his face expressionless and devoid of any emotion: "Thank you, I like it very much."

It was like punching cotton; after she swiped his seven-figure card and casually sent him two thousand yuan worth of goods, his reaction was so bland it was utterly uninteresting.

Qiao Shu pursed her lips; she could have tied it tighter just now.

Yu Zeheng had already taken off the silk scarf and put it back in the box. He sat up straight again, picked up his knife and fork, and saw steak with a small portion of asparagus on his plate. As if it took him a while to realize that Qiao Shu was still there, he looked up and asked, "Have you eaten?"

Aunt Chu came over with a pot of brewed sleep-inducing tea in her hand. It was made by boiling jujube seeds, lily bulbs, and poria cocos in water for twenty minutes, and it has the effect of calming the nerves and promoting sleep. "Young lady, is dinner as usual?"

Logically speaking, Qiao Shu should have changed her address now that she's married, but she's been used to calling her Aunt Chu for over a decade and can't change it overnight. Yu Zeheng doesn't care and has never corrected her, and he's not in Nanwan most of the time anyway, so the address has remained the same.

Qiao Shu turned slightly, her left palm resting on the edge of the table, and took the calming tea with her right hand. It had cooled down to a comfortable temperature and was just right to drink. She quietly drank half a cup, raised her lips and said that she didn't need any more. She turned her head to the side and glanced at Yu Zeheng beside her: "I won't eat tonight because I really feel a bit... nauseous."

Aunt Chu knew her habit: if she had an important occasion to attend, she would skip dinner three days in advance.

Qiao Shu stepped onto the stairs. The bathtub was already filled with water. She looked at her face in the mirror. Makeup always looks best when it's about to be removed. She took off her earrings and threw them into the walnut jewelry tray.

Her skincare routine is always meticulous. After removing her makeup and cleansing her face, she applies a cleansing mud mask and takes a bath. After the bath, she applies a hydrating face mask, squeezes two large pumps of body lotion into her palms, and carefully cares for every inch of her skin from her neck to her feet. After removing the mask and washing her face, she begins a new round of facial skincare, starting with essential oils.

Qiao Shu may lack patience in other things, but in this matter, she has been patient for years.

She pushed open the bathroom door and came face to face with Yu Zeheng, who was entering the bedroom. He had already taken a shower and was wearing a linen-colored loungewear set. The fabric was comfortable and soft, and the trousers were loose and draped. His legs were long and straight. He casually brushed his fluffy short hair aside, as if he was getting ready for bed.

"Wait," Qiao Shu called out to him.

Yu Zeheng stopped and looked at her, his eyes filled with doubt, waiting for her to say the next thing.

Qiao Shu: "Go sleep in the next room. I'm used to sleeping alone, and I can't sleep if someone is next to me."

Yu Zeheng asked knowingly, "Did you have insomnia last night?"

She fell asleep quickly and soundly last night, while he took a long time to adjust to the light.

"Don't you know why I was able to sleep last night? But yesterday was enough. I don't plan to do it again tonight, so sleeping in separate rooms is better for both of us. Although I really want to go to the next room, you know I'm not used to sleeping in different beds." She sighed, her expression one of embarrassment and helplessness, as if she felt she had no choice but to make do with the other person.

Princesses always have their flaws. Yu Zeheng learned these lessons one by one during their two years of marriage. He thought he had good tolerance, perhaps thanks to his career. As he walked in, Qiao Shu's brows furrowed a little with each step he took, as if her private territory was being invaded.

But last night, he violated more than just her private space.

Yu Zeheng said, "I don't have the habit of sleeping in separate rooms. We haven't done it in the two years we've been married, and today will be no exception. I thought we had already worked things out, and I had accepted your bedtime 'habits'."

The pause before the word "habit" is quite telling.

Qiao Shu retorted, "Do you think you're perfectly healthy? Your arm is so heavy and cumbersome; I thought I was being paralyzed by a ghost this morning."

Yu Zeheng replied in a flat tone, "Really? I'm sorry."

He walked to the bedside, lifted the covers and lay down, facing Qiao Shu from a distance. He said, "If you think your apology isn't enough, I'll let you get your revenge tonight."

Qiao Shu pursed her lips repeatedly, barely suppressing her anger. She walked over in a few steps, lay down on her right side, and quickly put on an eye mask, unable to close her eyes no matter what.

She's been constantly frustrated; nothing has gone smoothly since Yu Zeheng came back.

Qiao Shu couldn't see him, but she could feel his presence. Men are naturally warmer than women. He remained motionless and silent, giving her no chance to make a move, like a dormant volcano.

Yu Zeheng closed his eyes, not sleepy at the moment. He felt the presence of light. When he first got married, he was not used to it either. The mattress was too soft, the quilt fabric was too slippery, and the light was too bright. Later, he gradually got used to these things. Since they were married, it was normal for both of them to adjust to each other's lifestyles.

Half an hour passed.

Qiao Shu opened and closed her eyes, unable to fall asleep. She had a burning anger inside her that she hadn't yet vented. She tossed and turned, thinking about the old man's questioning, the veiled meaning in her family's words at the dinner table, and how he disappeared for several months and then suddenly reappeared, which seemed perfectly reasonable... Why should she tolerate him?

Her emotions surged, and the next second she was about to take off her blindfold, determined to get him out of her room no matter what, when suddenly an arm came across, gripped her waist with great strength, and easily pulled her over and pinned her down.

Yu Zeheng propped himself up on his arm above Qiao Shu, and with his other hand stopped her from removing the blindfold, pressing down on her wrist.

Qiao Shu was taken aback. She took two quick breaths in the darkness and heard a deep male voice from above.

"Is our princess still angry?"

A note from the author:

----------------------

The princess became even angrier and warned [the clown].

50 random red envelopes, kiss kiss kiss