31. After Miss Xu woke up

Wen Xueyan turned around and kissed his forehead.

Cheng Boyan's breathing immediately became heavy. His hand caressed her rose-colored lips, and then he gently pulled down her shoulder strap.

The silk fabric slid obediently down, revealing her fair shoulder. He leaned down and placed a light kiss there, feeling her tremble again.

Wen Xueyan felt that his kiss was as gentle as an autumn drizzle, yet it carried a warmth that could dispel all the cold.

“Your arm,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, “tell me if I accidentally touch the wound.”

"Mm." Wen Xueyan nodded.

His lips traced along her collarbone, inhaling the faint jasmine scent emanating from her, mingling with the unique aroma of a late autumn night.

Wen Xueyan felt his large hand slip under the hem of her nightgown, and he lowered his head to kiss her watery eyes…

When emotions run high, Cheng Boyan's movements become no longer gentle.

Afterwards, Cheng Boyan carried her to take a bath, carefully avoiding the bandaged area.

After taking a shower and returning to bed, Wen Xueyan leaned against Cheng Boyan's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

"Sometimes I wonder, why does someone like Gu Hui exist in the world?" Wen Xueyan asked softly, a question that had been lingering in her mind all evening.

Cheng Boyan thought for a while before answering, "Darkness and light always coexist, Xueyan."

He paused, then continued, “Before I was with you, my world was gray for the past few years. I was like a machine with a set program, getting up on time, working, socializing, and sleeping. There was no joy, no pain. I just existed. Later, when I found out she had been cheating on me for years, I felt that my five years of emotional emptiness were not worth it. Then, with you by my side, I felt that life had become more vibrant and clear.”

Looking at this profound and gentle man, Wen Xueyan suddenly realized that the love he gave her was not just passion and pleasure, but also dignity, strength, and recognition in her most vulnerable moments.

Wen Xueyan gradually relaxed in Cheng Boyan's arms, and sleepiness slowly crept in.

The next morning, when Wen Xueyan woke up, Cheng Boyan had already prepared breakfast and brought her a tablet. "Look at this," he said, pointing to the local news trending topics on the screen.

A news report described a man who was treated for a head injury at the hospital. Shortly after being discharged that night, he was attacked by several drunk men with mental illness. The man suffered three broken ribs and is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

The report did not mention the man's name, but described his physical characteristics, which matched Gu Hui perfectly.

Wen Xueyan looked up at Cheng Boyan, whose eyes held a cold glint.

"A coincidence?" Wen Xueyan asked softly.

Cheng Boyan shrugged slightly: "The city at night can be dangerous sometimes, especially for those with malicious intent." He neither admitted nor denied anything directly.

After a while, Cheng Boyan added, "The law will deal with what Gu Hui did to you, but sometimes justice can take many forms. This matter is not over yet, but I'm sure he won't dare to hurt you again."

Wen Xueyan remained silent. She was not a supporter of violence, but the thought that Gu Hui might also face legal sanctions and suffering brought her a complex sense of relief.

*

One month later, one morning, sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the teak floor.

Considering safety issues, Wen Xueyan has moved to a different place and is currently renting an apartment in Shijia Huafu.

Wen Xueyan stood in front of the full-length mirror, her fingertips fastening the last pearl button on her cashmere cardigan. The morning light bathed her in a soft glow, the thin cardigan outlining her slender waist, and her long, dark hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.

"Breakfast is ready." A smiling voice came from behind her, and Cheng Boyan hugged her from behind. His chin gently brushed against the top of her head, and his handsome brow bone was reflected in the mirror.

Wen Xueyan leaned into his arms and caught a glimpse of the pride in his eyes in the mirror: "I heard someone's new chemical machinery patent has been approved?" His slender fingers gently stroked her cheek. "You now have two patents. Should I promote you again?"

His silhouette became even more defined in the morning light. "What do you want as a reward for my engineer? Tell me when you've thought it through."

But for some reason, Wen Xueyan noticed a hint of anxiety in his eyes. Cheng Boyan had already filed for divorce yesterday afternoon, but hadn't told Wen Xueyan yet.

During breakfast, Cheng Boyan was focused on his tablet, browsing emails. Wen Xueyan had just picked up her coffee when Ning Zhiyi called.

“Xueyan!” Ning Zhiyi said, “I need you, my good friend, to help me with a risk assessment. Dr. Qi proposed to me last night.”

Ning Zhiyi spoke so fast it was like she was selling a product: "Given information: A surgeon who graduated from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, you've met him, he looks like a young Tony Leung, but he's taller, 180cm. Question: Why would someone like that fall in love at first sight with a single mother with a child? What's even stranger is that he hasn't even unbuttoned my clothes in two months. He said he wants to, but he'll wait until after we get married."

The morning light danced on the rim of her coffee cup as Wen Xueyan gently stirred the milk foam: "Perhaps some people value the resonance frequency of the soul more?"

“Soul?! You’re just trying to comfort me. I’ve been in sales for several months now, I’m very down-to-earth, I know best that behind perfect data often lie all sorts of hidden problems.” Ning Zhiyi’s voice suddenly lowered, “He said he fell in love with me at first sight, but a successful man in his thirties is still single… His parents are retired civil servants with good jobs. Although he’s not as rich as your CEO Cheng, I still think his data is too perfect.”

Wen Xueyan asked, "Don't you think it's not realistic enough?"

“If he said he had been married before, I would feel more at ease, but now…” Ning Zhiyi hesitated, “Should I suggest getting engaged first? After all, a second marriage should be treated with the same care as a restructuring project.”

“You can discuss it with him; getting engaged first is a good idea,” Wen Xueyan replied.

*

At 11:00 AM, at the Cheng Group.

The air in the boardroom was heavy. On either side of the long table, more than a dozen directors had different expressions, but all of them exuded anxiety.

Cheng Boyan sat in the main seat, dressed in a suit and tie, as if he were not at the center of the storm of the company's stock price crash.

"So much market value has evaporated in just one morning." CFO Gu Huaiyang pushed up his glasses and pointed to the PPT. "President Cheng, the capital market is reacting strongly to your filing for divorce at this time, fearing it will trigger changes in shareholding and a battle for control of the company."

Cheng Boyan's gaze swept across the room, lingering on the faces of each director for a moment.

“I understand your concerns,” he said calmly, “but my personal life decisions should not be mixed with company operations. I have signed documents to ensure that my shareholding will not be affected by the divorce.”

“The market doesn’t see it that way, Mr. Cheng,” an older director shook his head. “Although your father-in-law, Xu Dechuan, is over sixty, his influence in the industry remains. This divorce lawsuit is seen by outsiders as a declaration of war. What if the Xu family applies for asset preservation due to the lawsuit, resulting in the judicial freezing of some of Cheng’s Group’s shares?”

Silence fell over the meeting room.

Just as Cheng Boyan was about to speak, there was a gentle knock on the conference room door.

His secretary, Qiao Lanyue, strode in and whispered a few words in his ear with an unusual expression.

"Everyone, there's an emergency that needs to be addressed." Cheng Boyan stood up, his voice still calm. "Today's meeting is suspended and will resume at the same time tomorrow."

Before anyone could react, he strode out of the conference room.

Cheng Boyan walked quickly, but each step was unusually heavy. Qiao Lanyue followed behind him, giving a brief report: "The hospital informed me that Miss Xu suddenly regained consciousness this morning. After a series of examinations, it was confirmed that she has woken up, but she is still quite weak. The doctor said she needs to recover slowly."

Qiao Lanyue was very careful with her words; she said "Miss Xu" instead of "Mrs. Cheng".

The hospital corridor was filled with the smell of disinfectant. Cheng Boyan stopped in front of the ward.

He saw Xu Junxian's older brother, Xu Junheng, walking out from the shadows of the corridor, the hem of his coat carrying the chill of the outside air.

“I know you’ve filed for divorce,” Xu Junheng said coldly, his voice low. “But the doctors just had a consultation, and she can’t handle any stimulation right now. You know what I mean.”

Cheng Boyan's gaze swept over the other person's shoulder, and through the observation window in the door, he saw the green light of the electrocardiogram monitor. He straightened his shirt cuffs, the metal cufflinks flashing coldly. "I know what I'm doing."

The moment Cheng Boyan pushed open the door, he felt a sense of temporal and spatial dislocation.

She had been in a coma for more than five years. And now, she has woken up.

The ward was very warm, and Xu Junxian lay on the hospital bed, her face paler than the pillow.

Xu Junheng followed closely behind, his eyes fixed warily on Cheng Boyan.

"Xu Junxian?" Cheng Boyan approached the bedside and called her by her full name, seemingly wanting to quickly distance himself from her.

Welcome all readers, teachers, and darlings to leave comments and vote! Thank you for your support.

I hope the female lead won't be hurt during the male lead's divorce process.

Can you update two chapters a day? I haven't had enough.

Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions, readers! Feel free to leave more comments.

Thank you to all the readers for urging me to update! I'm very happy to see your requests. I'll update twice a week when I have more time.

Is the doctor not capable?

Thank you for your speculation, reader! The answer will be revealed in later chapters after the engagement. Feel free to leave a comment!

My engineer! Ahhh, Mr. Cheng is so gentle!

Thank you to the reader for leaving a message. Mr. Cheng both likes and admires her.

Go, Teacher Yuanshan! I can't bear to see Xueyan suffer any more; I hope the happy ending comes soon.