Chapter 36 "Get down, or you'll be very tired"...

Now that things have come to this, how could Qiao Shu be foolish enough to tell the truth?

She was still holding Xiao Xi in her arms. It lay obediently in her arms like a doll, its little head tilting up to look at her curiously when she spoke. She stroked its fur intermittently: "Of course I don't think that way. It's fine. It's just that I have a lot of things, so there's not much room for you."

Yu Zeheng said casually, "It's okay, I'm not picky."

That treacherous scoundrel.

Qiao Shu smiled in the same way: "That's good."

Once Yu Zeheng's things were actually delivered, she realized that Qiao Shu's statement that "there wasn't much space" was a euphemism. Aunt Chu had tried her best to organize, but Qiao Shu had just too many clothes and bags, and countless skincare products on the bathroom sink. She took a deep breath, as if clearing territory, to carve out a small space for Yu Zeheng.

Aunt Chu didn't know whether this place would gradually be swallowed up and disappear without a trace, or gradually expand and become part of this room.

In conclusion, Yu Zeheng has officially moved in.

Qiao Shu was in the closet, glancing from vibrant colors to somber black, white, and gray. Among a pile of bottles and jars, she saw a men's razor, and she had a subtle feeling about it.

From the moment she said she wanted him, the relationship was out of her control.

Qiao Shu brushed her long hair aside, her fingertips feeling the soft, smooth strands. She didn't plan to think too much; she wanted to live in the moment and enjoy each day as it came.

She applied cherry-colored lipstick and looked radiant as she went to work.

After lunch break, Qiao Shu was called to Qiao Kaiyu's office. She knocked on the door and went in with practiced ease: "Did you acquire some treasure that you want me to appraise again?"

"I don't have the time for that right now. The ones I bought last time are stuck with me. I didn't make a single penny from buying and selling them." Qiao Kaiyu asked his assistant to buy coffee, and thoughtfully told Qiao Shu to control her sugar intake, so an Americano would be fine.

Qiao Shu sat down, leaning to one side, and propped her head up with one hand: "That's normal. In order to get a good price, in addition to its intrinsic value, the story behind it is also very important."

Just like the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, which became famous after its legendary story of being stolen and then recovered.

Qiao Kaiyu leaned against his desk and looked at her: "The old man has been recovering well recently, and his spirits are much better. I heard from your sister-in-law that he remembered Qiao Yan performing a recitation for him at his birthday banquet a couple of days ago."

Qiao Shu responded casually.

Just like the doctor said, the old man's amnesia is like a traffic jam, but the brain can self-correct. If a section of the road breaks down, a new road will be rebuilt.

If he can already recall some fragmented memories from those two years, does that mean that one day he will remember everything?

“This is a good thing,” Qiao Shu said.

Qiao Kaiyu said maybe: "I don't know what kind of trouble they'll cause when they think about your divorce. You've never seen anything like it."

"That day will come sooner or later."

"Take it one day at a time." Qiao Kaiyu walked over and sat down next to Qiao Shu. He clasped her hands and asked, "Little sister, do you have any money lately?"

Qiao Shu raised an eyebrow: "You need money?"

Qiao Kaiyu explained, "It's because your sister-in-law recently took a fancy to a house in Sydney. She wants to buy it because she thinks it has room for appreciation and she can take Xiaoyan there for vacations in her spare time. Of course, I agreed, but this purchase has made me quite nervous. Can you lend me ten million first? I'll pay you back once I've calmed down."

Qiao Shu exhaled: "You scared me. I thought you touched something you shouldn't have."

Qiao Kaiyu's face stiffened: "How could that be?"

Qiao Shu didn't ask further, but when asked where the property was bought, she twirled a strand of hair with her finger and said, "Brother, you know I don't know how much money I spend. After the divorce, I only took my share of the money. The money from the auction house was just enough for daily expenses. How could I possibly save any money?"

That's the truth.

She was really not good with money. After the divorce, Yu Zeheng gave her a good amount of stock funds in Nanwan. With the dividends and the proceeds from the auction house, she was able to live a decent life.

Qiao Kaiyu hadn't held out much hope, but upon hearing this, he still frowned: "If you hadn't divorced him, you wouldn't be in this mess now."

If she had settled down and been Mrs. Yu, she could have spent money recklessly without a care in the world, instead of being unable to afford any spare cash now.

"I'm going to find Yu Zeheng. Do you think he'll lend it to me?" Qiao Kaiyu said to himself, "You'd better put in a good word for me. Aren't you going to Las Vegas to watch the game together this time?"

Qiao Shu never mentioned this. She only said she was going on vacation, without saying she was with Yu Zeheng or what they were doing.

It seems Qiao Kaiyu has been paying close attention to her relationship with Yu Zeheng.

Qiao Shu's lips slowly smoothed out, revealing a meaningful yet faint smile: "Big brother can go to him to borrow money, that's between you two, just don't drag me into it."

Qiao Kaiyu frowned more and more deeply, and asked her, "Why do you always side with your elbow?"

"Who is on the outside, and who is on the inside?"

These words almost slipped out, but Qiao Shu sensed a different meaning in them, and she added again: "After all, he is my ex-husband."

Besides, he's also her current bed partner.

As a bed partner, Yu Zeheng was fairly competent.

Contrary to Qiao Shu's assumption that he was nearing thirty and declining in all aspects, the reality was quite the opposite; he was indeed still very capable.

Just like wine, the longer it ages, the more mellow and fragrant it becomes.

She was satisfied, yet not entirely satisfied.

Qiao Shu felt that Yu Zeheng was playing hard to get with her. He would hook her, kiss her, comfort her with his fingers, let her taste a little sweetness, but not let her be full all at once. She frowned and breathed unhappily, her heart caught in the trap. When her patience ran out, he would come closer, fill the emptiness, and smooth out every wrinkle on her brow.

She will always get what she wants, but not easily.

Qiao Shu knew perfectly well that he wouldn't always do as he pleased, which would mean she had very weak self-control.

She also had moments of detachment, unmoved by his kisses as he lowered his head. She blinked her eyelashes, looking sleepy, and said she wanted to go to sleep.

Yu Zeheng lowered his head, his warm cheek brushing against her cool touch, and said okay.

One character per line.

Then he quickly pulled himself out, dragged the blanket over himself, and lay down to sleep.

She was the one who refused, and she was also the one who was unhappy. In her expectation, he would try to hook her up, just like he did a couple of days ago, kissing her earlobe, his fingertips lingering on her waist, his breathing hoarse and deep, and finally, after she repeatedly pretended to refuse, he would lie down with a look of disappointment on his face.

In short, it is by no means a bland or unremarkable reaction.

Qiao Shu's resentment dissipated as sleepiness washed over her. Half-asleep, she felt something wet on her face. Her eyelashes trembled as she felt her eyelids being licked. She raised her hand to push it away, only to touch her soft cheek, then her thin jawline, and her palm was lightly brushed.

The body awakens before consciousness.

Qiao Shu opened her eyes groggily and saw Yu Zeheng's cold and stern face.

"woke up?"

A kiss landed on the tip of her nose, and his breath, warm and vibrant, brushed against her cheek, making her feel as if she were melting.

Qiao Shu was not fully awake yet. She frowned in a daze and saw her own reflection in his dark eyes. She wanted to speak, but it felt like a ball of fire burned in her throat and she swallowed it down into her stomach. As a result, her entire body began to feel hot.

"What are you doing..."

Before she could even finish asking the last question, Qiao Shu felt herself being pulled down, and then pushed so hard she almost couldn't catch her breath.

Yu Zeheng leaned closer, lowered his head, and gently bit her lips, savoring them between his teeth: "Xiao Shu wants to ask me what I'm doing?"

"..."

Qiao Shu's eyes welled up with tears. She had finally fallen asleep, only to be woken up in this way. Before she could even get angry, she was swept up in the waves, drifting and sinking, completely out of her control.

She was unwilling to give up, so she reached out and pushed his shoulder. Yu Zeheng's eyes flashed, and he was pushed down weakly by her. She turned over and sat up, supporting herself on his shoulder with her hands, and looked down at him with her lips pursed.

"asshole."

Qiao Shu slapped him on the chest, raised her chin, and her beautiful eyes shone with a different kind of light: "You are a really awful man."

He was unpredictable to her, like a wild horse that could never be tamed. How could she accept that? She wanted to ride on his back, to be domineering and to let him know who was in control.

"Get down." He slapped her buttocks with his large hand.

Qiao Shu trembled. She bit her lip and, unwilling to be outdone, took a deep breath and tightened her chest.

Yu Zeheng's breathing became heavier, and his voice became magnetic and pleasant.

Qiao Shu looked at him from above, at his jet-black hair and eyebrows, at the spark that seemed to be hidden in his eyes. He stared at her, his gaze burning her.

She made a slight swallowing motion: "Say it, you'll listen to me from now on."

Yu Zeheng countered with a sharp look in his eyes: "And you, whose opinion do you listen to?"

Qiao Shu hummed softly, "Of course I... will listen to myself."

That's always been the case.

Yu Zeheng patted her buttocks again: "Get off, or you'll get very tired."

"No, you wish." Why should only he be able to hook her? If the roles were reversed, she could do it too.

Yu Zeheng took her hand, his fingers tracing across her palm. Her heart skipped a beat. He held her waist and whispered, "Sit tight."

He could have easily laid her down, given the disparity in their physical strength, but he deliberately didn't. He granted her wish, yet he didn't quite make it so. He had been working out for years, and his narrow waist and muscular build allowed him to steadily support her.

Qiao Shu felt terrible and leaned down to hug him, pressing her face against his neck.

It felt like returning to a yacht night in Croatia, where the waves surged endlessly, and she swayed precariously, with only one point of support. He seemed to be trying to break through her, to drill into her heart.

As the wind and rain subsided, Qiao Shu felt sticky and uncomfortable from the sweat on her body, so she took a shower first.

She had just woken up from a dream and was still half asleep. She was about to fall back asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow when she felt Yu Zeheng's outstretched arm. She instinctively moved towards the source of warmth and snuggled into his embrace.

Winter has arrived and the temperature has plummeted. Her hands and feet are still icy cold, but Yu Zeheng is like a heater. She curls her feet up, pressing the backs of her feet against his legs, and finds a comfortable position to fall asleep peacefully.

When Qiao Shu woke up, she didn't see Yu Zeheng. She turned to her side, her cheek sinking into the soft pillow. She closed her eyes and could still recall fragments of last night.

As if the afterglow had not completely dissipated, she pursed her lips, feeling both pleased and displeased.

After a few minutes, Qiao Shu got out of bed. After washing up, she moved her gaze from the bed to the bedside table and noticed that the drawer was not completely closed.

She hesitated for a moment, then walked over and opened the drawer. It was completely empty; there was nothing inside.

Qiao Shu's expression changed. She closed her eyes, almost confused with anger. How dare he touch her things? Didn't he have any sense of boundaries? The answer was no. She reflected on whether she had been too lenient with him lately.

This drawer used to contain all her toys, some of which she had bought but never even used. Now they're all gone, and it goes without saying who took them.

Qiao Shu took out her phone and called Yu Zeheng directly.

Her face was as cold as ice, and her voice was even colder: "Where are my things?"

Yu Zeheng was probably exercising; on the other end of the phone, I could hear his heavy, rapid breathing. He said in a calm tone, "It's lost."

He found the item when he put the unused condom back. It was the first time he had ever seen it; he had only heard her mention it before. It wasn't just talk; it actually existed.

He didn't throw away the bedside table as well, which is already quite restrained.

Yu Zeheng continued, "Anyway, you don't need it anymore."

"Make a list and calculate the total price, and I'll compensate you. Oh, and from now on, I'll lose one every time you buy one, and ten times if you buy ten, but don't worry, I'll compensate you for the full price."

Qiao Shu was genuinely amused and exasperated: "Yu Zeheng, you really have guts."

The voice on the other end of the phone was heavier, and seemed to carry a hint of laughter: "You should know best whether I have the guts or not."

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Author's note: My ex-husband has wanted to do this for a long time.

I'm late, sorry! Here are 66 red envelopes for this chapter, muah!