Chapter 31 Let her touch her scars

The faint light of the setting sun swept over He Xi.

The last rays of the setting sun gradually faded on the horizon.

Behind her were the vibrant flowers blooming in the courtyard, and in the distance, the azure horizon outlined with gold.

Cheng Hexi turned around and met his gaze.

You Yue leaned quietly against the door, his gaze deep and silent.

The two stood facing each other in silence for a long time.

A summer night breeze brushed a stray strand of hair from the woman's cheek as she walked toward the door, her pearl earrings swaying gently with her movements.

The front door was not closed, and the parrot in the entryway suddenly squawked.

It brought You Yue back to his senses.

He had already extended his hand.

Cheng Hexi, without any ulterior motives or reservations, took his hand without hesitation.

You Yue smiled and diagnosed himself with being too immersed in the role, beyond cure.

-

Even with one person missing, the atmosphere inside the villa became lively again.

Cheng Hexi ate a small cake at the table and praised the old lady for her beautifully braided hair today.

The old lady had long hair when she was seventy years old, but she only cut it a little shorter in the last two years.

From her youth to the present, she has never been anything but elegant and dignified.

Cheng Hexi was very envious.

After being praised, she raised an eyebrow and said, "You have good taste. A-Yue has never praised you like that before."

The two women sat together. You Yue, who was checking emails on the side sofa, glanced up when she heard this, but said nothing and looked away again.

The old lady wouldn't let it go: "What's your problem?"

"No." You Yue raised an eyebrow.

Look, a man with two sides.

Grandma said, "Come here, let me comb your hair."

She asked Aunt Yun to get a comb.

Cheng Hexi was very interested in the proposal, but felt she couldn't take on the responsibility.

It was too late, and after all the effort, it soon dissipated again.

She didn't want her grandmother to be overworked for no reason.

The old lady got up with great interest.

Aunt Yun happened to bring over a wooden comb with a smile.

Cheng Hexi didn't want her grandmother to stand, so she tried to get up and get a low stool, but her grandmother stopped her.

You Yue stopped working, kept her phone on, and sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, watching them.

Cheng Hexi has very long hair with excellent quality.

You Yue had personally washed her, and he vividly remembered the soft touch.

Perhaps due to her age, my grandmother liked to mutter something while doing things.

She combed Cheng Hexi's hair and praised it for being black and shiny.

Cheng Hexi hummed in response, without any modesty: "I guess I have to thank my mom for this."

The old lady smiled kindly.

Seeing that she didn't shy away from mentioning her mother, I said, "When A-Yue's mother was little, I would get up very early every day just to braid her hair."

Cheng Hexi said enviously, a smile never fading from her lips: "My mother doesn't know how to do this at all."

"With such a beautiful daughter, you don't know how to braid hair?"

After teasing her, the old lady carefully braided a side braid for her.

-

Back home, Cheng Hexi took off her suit jacket and went to the kitchen to get a drink of water. Not long after, the "Yunjian" delivery arrived.

Cheng Hexi was somewhat puzzled when she saw You Yue take the lunchbox and carry it to the dining table.

"Didn't you eat well tonight?"

You Yue pulled out a chair for the person next to her. She sat down.

You Chenghui was asking all sorts of questions, which really affected my appetite.

Cheng Hexi took the bowl and spoon he handed her and silently held them in her hands.

Since their marriage, You Yue has always taken good care of her.

On the table were chicken congee, pigeon, and two vegetarian dishes.

Cheng Hexi took a spoon and stirred the porridge in the bowl, releasing a burst of fresh and delicious flavors that stimulated her taste buds.

The congee was cooked to perfection, the boneless chicken leg was tender and juicy, with a few drops of oil floating on top. A sprinkle of chopped scallions added, and the chicken was infused with flavor, fragrant but not greasy.

She returned to Xilin at noon just in time for the tail end of lunchtime, so she just grabbed a quick bite and didn't really eat very properly.

Although he said he wasn't curious, he was still thinking about the relationship between You Yue and his father.

Almost all reports praised You Chenghui highly, with very few negative news reports. Cheng Hexi was well aware of these unspoken rules and felt that this seemed more like a persona and a previous publicity stunt.

It's getting late, and the roast pigeon on the table is a bit greasy, but it tastes great.

On the day they met by chance at the "Yun Jian" private restaurant, You Yue had chatted with her about his family's dishes.

She said that this was her favorite dish, roast pigeon, and he remembered it.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Cheng Hexi turned her head to look at him, then looked at the dishes on the table. "I can't eat this much by myself."

You Yue doesn't usually eat after 8 o'clock, but after hearing her say that, she served herself half a bowl of porridge.

The restaurant only had one light on, the dimnest one, and they were standing very close together, their sleeves almost touching.

Cheng Hexi finished the porridge in the bowl and the water in the cup, but didn't eat anything else.

You Yue put down his spoon, put the bowl in the dishwasher, and waited for her to go upstairs together.

In the elevator, Cheng Hexi unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, revealing a necklace around her neck and her prominent collarbone.

You Yue knew she had a small brown mole on her collarbone, but he couldn't make it out clearly with just a quick glance.

The temperature was just right, so why did she suddenly unbutton one button?

Cheng Hexi's outfit today is her usual work style: a simple casual white shirt and dark gray trousers.

She always manages to make even the most ordinary outfits look stylish.

Long, slender, and fair legs were encased in trousers, and the waistline was concealed by a shirt, yet You Yue knew just how slender the waist of the person next to him was.

Cheng Hexi had no idea what he was thinking, but as she stepped out of the elevator, she suddenly spoke up, saying, "It seems that President You... isn't very satisfied with me."

She was simply stating a fact, without any personal emotion.

You Yue walked beside her, half a step behind.

Upon hearing this, he paused for a moment, but then resumed his usual lazy demeanor.

“Don’t mind him,” he said, a slight smile playing on his lips. “I’ve never seen him satisfied with anyone.”

Cheng Hexi opened the door to the master bedroom, and You Yue followed her inside.

She tilted her head, her brows furrowing slightly without her noticing.

"I thought he was the kind of person who was very refined and elegant?"

This is also the deeply ingrained image of him in the public eye.

But after seeing it today, my impression is completely different.

You Yue scoffed lightly: "How did you know? From previous reports?"

"Under the leadership of Chairman You Chenghui, Hongsheng has achieved great success and become a leading internet group in mainland China, gradually expanding its territory over the decades."

He was also deeply impressed by titles such as "Elegant and Decisive: Exploring the Powerful Life of Chairman Hongsheng".

You Yue smiled and asked, "Is it like this?"

"You can memorize it?" Cheng Hexi asked in surprise, turning her head to look at him.

"I can basically remember these short sentences after just one glance. And it's always the same formula, and it hasn't changed much over the years."

His tone remained emotionless throughout: "Old You has always had a good reputation."

"But what kind of person is he actually?"

Cheng Hexi understood the hidden meaning in his words.

"actually……"

You Yue asked her, "Do you remember? That night in Manhattan, you asked me about the scar on my forehead?"

Although Cheng Hexi drank more than usual, she remained rational throughout.

She certainly remembered asking, remembered her hand gently stroking the scar, remembered asking him what happened, and received no answer.

Why bring this up all of a sudden...?

A sudden inspiration struck her, and she opened her eyes wide, her gaze shifting from Youyue's eyes to the location in her memory.

His gaze was no longer as calm and serene as before.

Cheng Hexi had already changed out of her high heels, and the height difference between her and the man suddenly increased, with her only reaching his nose.

Before she could speak, You Yue noticed the intention of the person in front of him, and took the initiative to bow his head, letting her reach out and brush away the stray hairs on his forehead.

She saw the scar on his forehead again.

When You Yue was five years old, he finished his lessons in his small study and saw his tutor off. Just then, You Chenghui returned home.

He wore a mild light gray suit and shiny leather shoes, looking formal and proper yet approachable.

You Yue was only up to his waist at the time. He was very handsome and usually looked cool, but he had an innate desire to be close to his only relative in the big villa.

He happily told his tutor that she had brought him a cake, knowing it was his birthday and that he wanted to ask his father for a present.

In fact, the rich young master, who had never lacked anything since childhood, didn't want any gifts; he just wanted some companionship and care.

I don't know which of my words just now touched a nerve with You Chenghui.

He suddenly flew into a rage and kicked his son, You Yue, whose forehead struck the leg of a mahogany table, causing him to bleed profusely.

You Yue later realized that it was the overwhelming hatred of his father, with whom he shared a blood relationship.

After that, he was taken away by his maternal grandparents and never returned to that villa.

The little boy who was only a little taller than the table back then has now grown into a tall and upright man, nearly 1.9 meters tall. He obediently lowered his head in front of her, letting Cheng Hexi touch his deepest scars.

He is the helmsman of a business empire, a loving husband, a dutiful son-in-law, and the founder of a charitable foundation.

He was also a murderer who would abuse a five-year-old child.

Cheng Hexi pursed her lips, her heart feeling as if it were being squeezed and then dripped with lemon juice.

Even though she herself had her own painful and difficult days, and even though their marriage was just a mutually beneficial arrangement, she would still protect him and feel sad for him.

She lowered her hands and hugged the man's waist.

Cheng Hexi was sad for him.

You Yue did not mean to make her sad.

He tore open his wounds, ripped off the "mask" he had always worn, and, embracing a flame, saw his own melting true heart.

“It’s all in the past, and I’ve long forgotten about it.” You Yue gently stroked the hair of the person in his arms and said, “Nothing remains except for this scar.”

After a short while, Cheng Hexi released his hand, still standing opposite him, and asked, "He didn't object to your marriage?"

"Why should I listen to him? He can't control me." You Yue lowered his eyes: "Marrying you was my choice."

The warmth in the atmosphere dissipated somewhat, and they returned to the familiar atmosphere of their interactions.

Cheng Hexi smiled, thinking to herself, "It's still the same You Yue."

Arrogant, aloof, and difficult to tame.

Who can control him?

The two of them had just been very close in heart and body.

Her fingertips seemed to still retain the warmth of the man's broad back.

She suddenly remembered that night in Manhattan, when she couldn't bear it anymore, and her fingernails must have left many red marks on the back of the person in front of her.

You Yue leaned down and placed his warm hand on her waist, causing the temperature to rise suddenly.

Her waist was very sensitive, and a tingling sensation swept through her almost instantly.

He began to kiss her lips very lightly.

Cheng Hexi was taken aback, then closed her eyes in response.

The two of them fell onto the bed together.

An expensive and comfortable mattress gently supported Cheng Hexi's body.

You Yue consciously propped himself up to avoid letting his weight press down on her.

“I saw your shirt clip in the drawer.”

He knelt on one knee on the bed and spoke between kisses.

Cheng Hexi spun a thread to consider his words: "Shirt clip?"

He reached out to unbutton the shirt of the person on top of him.

One button at a time, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his strong and sexy chest and abdomen.

Feeling the woman's hand roam over his chest, You Yue closed his eyes briefly. His long, slender fingers moved upwards from her waist, while his other hand cupped her chin. He hummed in response and then asked, "Did you use it today?"

“No…” he had already seen the answer to the question as she said it.

Her long, fair legs were smooth and bare.

Cheng Hexi smiled and asked, "Are you disappointed?"

"How could that be?" You Yue chuckled.

The man's kiss returned, tender and lingering. Then, he picked up Cheng Hexi and carried her into the bathroom.

The woman's ankles brushed against his strong, muscular waist.

-

Cheng Hexi arrived at the company an hour later than usual, but fortunately there were no urgent meetings scheduled for the morning.

She had been awake, but drifted back to sleep in a daze.

When I woke up again, it was already time for me to go to the office.

Cheng Hexi knew that the man had deliberately restrained himself last night.

She still couldn't handle it.

Surprisingly, the man who usually gets up at 6:30 am to exercise is still lying in bed.

When Cheng Hexi woke up, he was sitting on the headboard in his bathrobe, looking at his phone.

Her hand landed on his strong waist and abdomen without any hesitation.

"woke up?"

You Yue put down his phone, touched her neck, then turned around and poured a glass of water on the bedside table.

After drinking it, Cheng Hexi felt that her throat had regained its ability to speak.

I lay back down on the bed, closed my eyes to rest, and noticed that my lower back was still a little sore.

This time, I don't want to look at my body for any marks anymore.

She was still wearing her bathrobe properly, and the man beside her had once again resumed his gentlemanly demeanor.

You Yue was quiet for a moment, then gently touched her hair with a very light touch.

Cheng Hexi heard him ask, "Are we going to see Yu An's exhibition this afternoon? Should I pick you up from Xilin then?"

-

Last night, he specifically told You Yue not to leave any obvious marks, and he seemed to use a lot of self-control to prevent his kiss from landing on her neck.

Cheng Hexi was quite satisfied that she didn't need to hide herself when going out.

As usual, the morning consisted of signing documents and attending meetings, and I also attended a lunch party at noon.

It was past 3 p.m. when I returned to Xilin after the dinner party.

The sun is high in the sky, at the time when the sunlight is strongest.

From the underground parking lot to the general manager's office, Cheng Hexi heard Tang Ying mention in the private elevator that a lady had been waiting for her for several hours.

If you meet everyone, then you won't need to work at all.

There are designated personnel responsible for everything, so Cheng Hexi doesn't need to meet with anyone.

Tang Ying naturally knew this.

She said this because the person who came was somewhat special.

“She claimed to be your second aunt.” Tang Ying paused for half a second, then added, “And your mother’s old classmate.”

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Author's Note: I'm here! Thanks for reading! [Heart emoji]