Chapter 69 Liang Yanru x Ji Peiqian: How long has it been since we did it?

The silence in the study erupted when Ruan Ruan woke up in the middle of the night crying and looking for her parents.

Ji Peiqian moved into the master bedroom before the weekend.

Liang Yanru felt as if a double room had been turned into a standard room, but Ruan Ruan asked her several times with secret delight if her parents would be sleeping in the same room from now on.

A child's world is simple; simply living in the same room is, in her eyes, a symbol of a good relationship.

That's good too; the child's mental health is the most important thing.

They continued to live under the same roof, yet lived like strangers.

Like many arranged marriages, they each have their own social circles.

Liang Yanru followed the arrangement and stayed at the city hospital for two years. Her obsession with working at the traditional Chinese medicine clinic back home grew stronger, and she planned to bring it up directly with her father when she went home on the weekend.

When she approached him, Liang's father asked the housekeeper to tell her to go to the study.

Ruan Ruan rarely sees her mother, and holding her hand tightly, she doesn't want to let go, asking, "Can I come with you?"

"Xiao Ruan, why don't you and your dad go for a walk by the lake? Your great-grandfather has recently started raising koi fish." Liang Yanru pushed her daughter toward Ji Peiqian.

Ruan Ruan looked back every few steps, pouting, "Okay, hurry up and come here."

"Okay, go ahead." Liang Yanru followed the butler to the courtyard where her father lived.

Mr. Liang was writing calligraphy in his study, dressed in an elegant long gown. On the table in the center of the room, a pot of fine tea was being heated, and an incense stick was being lit. The room was filled with swirling smoke, giving it the air of an ancient scholar.

Liang Yanru took her seat at the guest table and sipped the tea that had been poured for her.

From a young age, I learned about tea and its aroma from a master tea master. I could tell at a glance that it was the valuable Da Hong Pao, which cost eight figures to buy a pound of.

Others have their own taste when it comes to tea, but Mr. Liang only picks the most expensive tea. He likes anything that can enhance his image, such as being the president of the Chinese Medicine Association, or having a daughter who can inherit his mantle.

Although she was a comedian, Liang Yanru had no interest in tea and didn't even have a particularly good impression of it. Tea was a darker substance than wine; once it was in and out, certain kinds of money became legal, and the water was extremely deep.

"How's Xiaoruan doing lately?" Father Liang switched to a smaller calligraphy brush and added his own pen name at the end.

Liang Yanru's heart tightened: "It's great, everything is good."

"You'll be starting elementary school next semester. Have you decided which school you want to attend?" Mr. Liang's tone was like that of an elder caring for a younger generation, but it carried a deeper meaning in Liang Yanru's ears, causing her fingertips to tighten until they turned white.

"Gangding near Jingjiang." Liang Yanru had no plans to move, and she had also checked it out. The school had a good environment and a good school spirit. Children's learning should not only focus on textbooks, but also on enriching their school life.

“Go to a private school. Your uncles’ grandchildren all go there. If you’re lucky enough to be in the same class, you might even become good friends,” Liang’s father said. “Going to Gangding is too comfortable. It’s not like Gangding in Beijing. I’m afraid the teaching staff at Gangding in Jiangdu isn’t good enough.”

Liang Yanru didn't respond, so her father added another incentive: "You've been working at the Municipal Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for two years now, right? Xiaoruan is starting elementary school, so you should go back to Jiu'an to practice medicine. I'll personally take care of you. The private school is closer to the old house, and the courtyard you used to live in was quite large and is currently empty. You can all move back home together."

It wasn't a tone for discussion; it was all commands that brooked no argument.

She felt like she couldn't breathe, and for the first time, she couldn't suppress the urge to escape. She stood up and said, "It's almost dinner time."

Dissatisfied with his daughter's reaction, Liang's father gave a cold snort and roughly threw away the brush in his hand, leaving circles of ink on the rice paper.

Liang Yanru finished her dinner absentmindedly, unable to think of anyone to talk to, and finally went to her mother.

Liang's mother thought Liang's father's suggestion was good and hoped that the family of three could move to the old house.

She had anticipated that no one would stand by her side, and she wasn't too upset when her mother tried to persuade her. It had always been like this since she was a child, and the final result was always compromise.

But this time she didn't want to.

I don't want my cheerful daughter to live in a high-pressure environment. She's already been controlled, and her life is destined to be like this. But my daughter is different; she can try more and experience more.

On the way home, Ruan Ruan fell asleep in Liang Yanru's arms. She said to Ji Peiqian, who was sitting next to her, "You take her home first. I'll get off at the next intersection."

Ji Peiqian looked up from his work tablet, glanced at the street scene outside, and roughly guessed where she was going.

Almost every time she returns home from her old house, she gets off at the busiest intersection, because taking Metro Line 1 will take her directly to the bars near Jiangdu University.

Ji Peiqian lowered his eyes: "I'll pick you up tonight."

"No, you should get some rest." Liang Yanru felt a tightness in her chest and desperately needed to find a place to catch her breath.

Ji Peiqian didn't respond. When she got out of the car, he took his daughter and held her in his arms.

This time, Liang Yanru didn't go to the bar, but to the coffee shop in front of it. This shop serves white coffee and late-night drinks. At night, the coffee shop is empty, with only a few dim lights. Pushing open the door near the kitchen reveals another world.

Tu Xia is currently pregnant and has become a bit more reserved. When she doesn't have performances, she spends her time sitting in a coffee shop.

After listening to her complaints, she said, "Why didn't you let Ji Peiqian step in?"

"I don't want him to get involved in the Liang family's mess." They kept to themselves. Liang Yanru was never bothered by the Ji family's bad relations, and Ji Peiqian had no reason to worry about the Liang family's affairs.

“You two are even more distant than when you were in college.” Tu Xia noticed that they bickered from time to time and their relationship was good during her pregnancy, so she thought it would work out. She didn’t expect their relationship to drop to a freezing point after the baby was born. It’s really strange.

The waiter brought Liang Yanru two freshly mixed drinks.

"Just bring me your most expensive drinks, I don't want any special cocktails." Liang Yanru doesn't like tea or alcohol, but she's never drunk anything inferior since she was a child. Bad alcohol makes her feel worse than a hangover; half a glass is enough to give her a splitting headache.

"You tell patients to take care of their health at work, but you drink and smoke in your private time, right?" Tu Xia was speechless.

Liang Yanru corrected, "No one in our family smokes."

Tu Xia stretched out her arm: "Imperial Physician Liang, please take my pulse. If you make me happy, I'll take you home tonight."

Liang Yanru never stays at home on nights when she drinks; I don't know what's wrong with her.

"No, thank you." Liang Yanru placed three fingers on the baby's head to feel the pulse. "Don't worry, your child will be able to run as soon as it's born."

Tu Xia scoffed, dismissing her exaggerated analogy.

"Just drop me off at a nearby hotel later." Liang Yanru drank half a glass of wine and became slightly tipsy.

Tu Xia asked in a low voice, "Give me a straight answer, will you divorce Ji Peiqian?"

“No.” Liang Yanru recalled the late night of their confrontation in the study two years ago. “We might become animosing couple in our old age, hating each other for holding each other back.”

“Arranged marriages between families are truly terrifying,” Tu Xia asked again. “Why torture each other? Wouldn’t it be better to just separate?”

“I have interests I can’t let go of, and he has his own sunk costs. Since we chose to follow our families’ arrangements and get married, there’s only one outcome.” Liang Yanru slowly raised her head, her eyes shattering, “We’ll rot together.”

Tu Xia was unfathomable.

Liang Yanru is not a sophisticated egoist, otherwise she wouldn't be her and Lin Fei's best friend. But when it comes to anything related to the Liang family, she becomes a self-serving elite, so it's hard to persuade her to change her attitude in this wedding with Ji Peiqian.

"Don't you like him?" Tu Xia murmured to herself, then realized she had said the wrong thing and covered her mouth.

Liang Yanru smiled and said, "To like someone is to betray my persistence."

"What about him?" Tu Xia asked in a deep voice.

Liang Yanru fell silent.

She didn't know, and she never dared to know.

They feared that the answer they received wouldn't be the one they wanted, and they also feared that the answer would disrupt their seemingly peaceful lives.

“Aru, your father and grandfather got the results they wanted—your obedience, and those close to you know that you have principles in your heart, but outsiders don’t see it that way.” Tu Xia sighed, “You have backed down again and again for the sake of the Liang family, and your bottom line has changed again and again. In my opinion, Young Master Ji’s unconditional tolerance is already very clear.”

"Are you his advocate? We're perfectly fine, why are we suddenly talking about love?" Liang Yanru rubbed her arms dramatically.

Tu Xia resisted the urge to roll her eyes: "Fine, then, the noble Miss Liang, you'll be a lonely widow for the rest of your life!"

"I'm asking you for advice, so please stop dragging Ji Peiqian into this." Liang Yanru rested her chin on her hand, her brows furrowed.

Tu Xia: "Only Ji Peiqian can help you with this. Since you can't do anything to defy him, then let Ji Peiqian do it. There is a second way: sever ties with the Liang family, rebel once, and let them see what it means to think you're a pushover."

Clearly, neither method was satisfactory.

Liang Yanru could only continue drinking alone in silence.

Liang Yanru, who usually drinks moderately, got drunk tonight. Before even leaving the store, she started rambling incoherently, saying things she couldn't understand.

Tu Xia was pregnant, and even brute force couldn't move her. Just as she was about to call He Jingshi, her finger paused on the dial pad for a moment before dialing another number.

-

Ji Peiqian arrived about half an hour later and apologized to Tu Xia several times as soon as he entered.

"I'll have the driver take you home." Ji Peiqian was worried about Tu Xia going home alone.

Tu Xia pushed Liang Yanru, who was leaning on her shoulder, over: "She has a terrible drinking habit. When she drinks too much, she doesn't want to go home. She wants to leave a good impression on Ruan Ruan. Why don't you take her to the hotel across the street? She usually stays there. She has a membership in my name."

Ji Peiqian caught Liang Yanru, but before he could thank her, Tu Xia stood up and said that He Jingshi had come to pick her up, and then walked outside.

Ji Peiqian took Liang Yanru's handbag and helped her walk towards the hotel across the street.

During check-in, the receptionist glanced at Ji Peiqian several times, and even secretly made a phone call once.

This was the first time the check-in process had taken so long. Before he could even urge them on, the lobby manager came over and said with a smile, "Sir, I'm sorry, we have a requirement here. If Ms. Liang doesn't check in personally, we need to do a simple registration of your relationship."

Ji Peiqian understood the implied meaning and suspected that he had ulterior motives.

"Why didn't you handle it in person? Aren't I right here!" Liang Yanru, abandoning her usual dignified demeanor, called out indistinctly.

Ji Peiqian pressed down on her shoulders to prevent her from leaning onto the marble countertop and said to the manager, "I am her husband, and this is her ID card."

He was about to take out his wallet when Liang Yanru forcefully pressed his hand down: "I'm the one who checked him in, don't bother him!"

No one would argue with a drunk person, but the three people present were all a little embarrassed.

Ji Peiqian quickly showed his ID card: "As soon as possible, thank you."

The lobby manager urged the front desk staff to hurry up and register the guests.

Liang Yanru became agitated: "Why won't you listen to me? Don't I have a say? This is my business, and my word counts!"

Ji Peiqian thought Tu Xia was exaggerating, but now it seems her drinking manners really aren't that good.

After getting the room key, Ji Peiqian left with Liang Yanru, making sure to cover her with his coat to prevent her from causing any further trouble.

"Ji Peiqian, you've already taken over my room, why are you still haunting me even though I'm staying outside..." Liang Yanru bit his hand unreasonably.

That was a really hard bite; it left deep teeth marks.

Once inside, Ji Peiqian thoughtfully took off her shoes and coat, then helped her sit on the edge of the bed: "I'll leave once I've settled you in."

"Where are we going..."

"Where are we going..."

Liang Yanru wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Didn't you complain that I was taking up your personal space?" Ji Peiqian removed her jewelry, afraid that she might hurt herself if she moved around while sleeping.

Liang Yanru leaned on his shoulder, her laughter rising and falling: "You're so honest. You said you'd sleep in the same room, and you really didn't cross the line."

"It's getting late, let's get some rest." Ji Peiqian didn't plan to leave and intended to spend the night on the sofa.

Liang Yanru took the wedding ring off his ring finger and casually tossed it into the pristine white sheets, catching Ji Peiqian completely off guard.

"Are you crazy?" Ji Peiqian took back the ring and put it back on.

Liang Yanru laughed and said, "Ji Peiqian, if we live together for another two years, we'll really become enemies."

"You will hate me for being selfish, for taking away your freedom."

"In less than two years, you've already come to see me as an enemy." His eyes were bloodshot, and his aura of hostility intensified.

"No, you're Ruanruan's father." Liang Yanru took off her wedding ring and casually put it aside.

Ji Peiqian glanced at him, his eyelids drooping: "I don't know either, but not because you're Ruanruan's mother."

Liang Yanru stopped throwing a tantrum and quieted down.

“If things get ugly with the Liang family, it will put you in a difficult position. You can use me as a pawn.” This was the second time Ji Peiqian had taken the initiative to intervene in Liang Yanru’s affairs with the Liang family.

Last time, it was the Liang family who demanded that they have a child.

Liang Yanru gazed at him silently.

Ji Peiqian was prepared to be rejected.

She spoke, but it was unexpected.

"Ji Peiqian, how long has it been since we last did it?"

Five years.

Ji Peiqian pursed his lips again and again.

The answer automatically popped into my mind.

After having Ruan Ruan, Liang Yanru's hormones were out of whack for a year. She had no interest in sex, and he respected that. Over time, they stopped having any intimate contact.

His heart was stirred by her words.

Are you drunk?

Ji Peiqian pressed his forehead against hers.

The ambiguous atmosphere inside the room gradually intensified.

A large, burning hand pressed against her lower back, her thoughts drifting, slowly sinking into this beautiful night.

She silently glossed over the topic.

Are you drunk?

He pressed for an answer again.

"No." She loosened her grip on the back of his neck, bracing herself for him to push her away.

But if she were pushed away, someone as proud as her would feel it was an insult.

Her heart was in her throat.

"Then I'm going to kiss you." He lowered his eyelashes and pressed his lips to hers.

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[I've already written] I guess I'll have to write another chapter, so please don't complain about it being too much.