Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Desire for Exclusivity

Previously, aside from that fleeting kiss in the Kisscam footage, they only kissed when they were in bed.

Silk fabric has a soft luster and is breathable and cool.

You Yue's hand rested on Cheng Hexi's waist.

His hands were large; one hand could almost encircle the waist of the person in his arms, his thumb gently caressing them.

Cheng Hexi closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, feeling the burning heat on her waist.

As their lips and tongues intertwined, You Yue tasted the sweetness of the jujube blossom pastry in her mouth.

This kiss wasn't aggressive like before; instead, it was tender and lingering, leaving her defenseless.

After kissing for a while, Cheng Hexi's hands could no longer relax as before, resting on the man's firm chest.

With his other hand, he grabbed his tie.

You Yue noticed that she was using some force, and he chuckled softly during the kiss, then obediently lowered his head to make her position more comfortable.

"Eating sweets again?"

Their lips parted, but You Yue's gaze still only had eyes for her.

When Cheng Hexi first formally met You Yue in "Yun Jian", she thought that this person's eyes were really beautiful, peach blossom eyes, and he always looked affectionate when he was focused.

At that moment, she looked up and could only find her own reflection in his dark pupils.

The last rays of the setting sun gradually disappeared from the room.

Before Cheng Hexi could reply, You Yue's gaze passed over her and fell on the old lady who had appeared at the door at some point.

The old lady hadn't been hiding at all, thinking that the two younger people were too engrossed in their own world to see her. She didn't apologize at the moment and said generously, "Ah Yue is here."

You Yue was in a great mood and smiled lazily: "Grandma."

Cheng Hexi was already a little dizzy from the kiss, and now she didn't even have the courage to turn around. She grabbed the hem of the man's haute couture suit.

You Yue felt no pity whatsoever, only surprise at the fact that the person in front of her had this side to them, finding it somewhat of a contrast.

That kiss at the concert can still be found on social media, so why is she so embarrassed now?

What's wrong with a married couple kissing?

Cheng Hexi took a deep breath and released the fabric in her hand.

You Yue tidied her slightly messy hair very naturally, and then took out the hairpin that she had just used to fix her hair from her suit pocket.

Cheng Hexi glanced at him before turning to look at the old lady.

Grandma had a kind smile on her face and didn't seem to think anything of it.

"I'm staying here for a few days, so I won't keep you for dinner tonight," Grandma said.

You Yue hummed in agreement and glanced into the inner room: "Where's Auntie?"

"She's on the phone; it's her daughter calling."

You Yue nodded, playing with the hairpin with tassels: "Then He Xi and I will wait a little longer, say goodbye, and then leave."

Cheng Hexi couldn't stand seeing his fingers fiddling with something, so she took the hairpin back into her own hand.

-

The customization process for both cheongsams and suits is lengthy and involves complex procedures.

A slight difference in size between a suit and a shirt is not noticeable, but a cheongsam looks best when every stitch fits perfectly.

Before leaving, You Yue specifically asked her grandmother how long it would take to finish, and Cheng Hexi patted her hand imperceptibly.

The old lady smiled, taking in their subtle interactions.

Youyue has probably fallen in love with her G-Class, as she's been driving it everywhere lately.

The alleys near the courtyard house are narrow, with almost no parking spaces. The fact that he could park such an SUV so neatly is a testament to his excellent driving skills.

The car drove steadily onto the main road, skimming along the wall.

Aunt Yao had some family matters to attend to and went back to her hometown last night. On the way to pick up Cheng Hexi, You Yue ordered a fusion restaurant right next to Chang'an Street.

This is a long-established restaurant in Beijing, known for its high prices, but the food is indeed delicious, with several signature dishes and desserts.

You Yue drove the car to the entrance, gave the keys to the doorman, and then got out of the car to open the passenger door himself.

The G-Class has a high chassis, and Cheng Hexi was wearing a white silk dress, making it difficult for her to get out of the car. You Yue took the opportunity to bend down and help her straighten the hem of her dress.

Even in the sweltering heat of Beijing's summer, there's no sign of coolness even in the evening; today is especially muggy.

She left her blazer on the passenger seat and got out of the car wearing only a skirt.

Several busy lanes of traffic flowed back and forth, the streetlights had just come on, and the scene before me was open and expansive.

The lights that fall on the steps dance, making the restaurant look magnificent.

The two climbed the steps. Cheng Hexi's heels were a bit high, so You Yue reached out and took her hand.

She was held by that slender hand, and asked, "Why did you decide to eat here?"

You Yue usually prefers to go to "Yun Jian" because it's more convenient since he doesn't need to make reservations there. It serves fusion cuisine, so the dishes there should suit his taste better.

The man casually said, "You said last time that the almond tofu here is the best."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Hexi was slightly taken aback and began to recall when she had said those words.

She had so much to do every day that she couldn't even remember what she'd said in casual conversation. You Yue, on the other hand, had just as much to do, yet he remembered a single casual remark she'd made.

Seeing that she suddenly stopped speaking, the person next to her smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Touched?"

Cheng Hexi glanced at him, then looked away and smiled faintly.

You Yue doesn't come here often. He remembers the last time he ate here was last November, at a business dinner.

It was afternoon after lunch, the temperature was a bit higher, and the north wind wasn't so biting. He put on a long coat over his suit jacket and saw the first snow falling outside the window.

The driver was waiting at the door. He took a few steps, and the snowflakes melted on his leather shoes.

You Yue always has a long-term vision and meticulous plans in business, but he never considers his own emotional issues.

At that time, the old lady was already urging him to date, but he ignored her completely and never thought that after two seasons, he would be holding someone's hand.

I don't know which moment will be the instant the gears of fate begin to turn.

Coincidentally, Jingyao had a lot of free time when he was in school, and at a gathering he read tarot cards for his friends.

You Yue simply couldn't be bothered with him at the time.

Jingyao repaid evil with kindness, saying he would help him find a proper match.

When he said, "Your future partner is a great beauty, but she doesn't seem to like you very much," You Yue suspected that the man had been drinking fake alcohol.

Looking at it now, Jingyao's nonsense also shows some talent.

-

This restaurant has a prime location, and booking a private room is not easy; those who come here are either rich or powerful.

After the two finished their meal, they ran into Tan Moru as they left the private room.

She was accompanied by Mr. Tan and Mrs. Tan.

Cheng Hexi and President Tan had met several times in business settings and were fairly familiar with each other. She greeted Mrs. Tan in a generous and appropriate manner.

Tan Moru blinked, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Originally, after exchanging pleasantries and polite greetings, they were about to part ways when Tan Moru suddenly suggested having a longer chat with Cheng Hexi. President Tan frowned and looked at his daughter with a somewhat stern gaze.

You Yue also looked at Cheng Hexi, silently asking for her opinion.

Cheng Hexi looked up and met his gaze, then shooed him away.

The dark clouds that gathered in the afternoon indeed brought a sudden summer night rain.

As Cheng Hexi and Tan Moru walked towards the door, You Yue was still chatting casually with President Tan.

She caught the last word of his voice, and Mr. Tan asked him, "When are we going to see Lucky?"

You Yue smiled casually and said, "In a few days."

Afterwards, Mr. Tan and his family took their leave.

At the right moment, a waiter at the door handed over two black umbrellas. You Yue only wanted one, so he took it and held it in his hand.

Cheng Hexi stood beside him, her figure tall and slender, the sound of her high heels clicking crisply on the ground.

She was wearing a long dress, revealing her shoulders and arms. You Yue didn't forget to take off his suit jacket and drape it over her shoulders.

The rain was heavy and torrential, yet it was only a light drizzle. It had been falling since they had dinner, and now, as they stepped out of the revolving door, the wide driveway in front of them was already covered with a layer of moisture.

Cheng Hexi turned her head to look at him in the damp summer night, enveloped by the familiar scent of the man's suit. She smiled and said, "I'm not cold."

The raindrops pattered on the umbrella, their crisp sound like nature composing music, and the green trees along the street looked even greener.

You Yue hummed in agreement: "I'll shield you from the rain."

The rain was falling at an angle, and he only had one umbrella, so the rain was bound to wet her skin.

Using a haute couture suit as a raincoat?

Cheng Hexi lowered her eyes and moved closer to him. A gust of wind blew by, causing her hair to fall onto the shoulder of the person next to her.

"What did Miss Tan say to you?"

You Yue started the car and finally asked.

"Hmm?" Cheng Hexi thought he wasn't curious, so she casually said, "She told me about you."

"..."

Why is it so ambiguous?

You Yue denied it, turned the steering wheel, and the off-road vehicle merged into the main road: "What do I have to do with her?"

Prior to this, Cheng Hexi had only met Tan Moru once at the Mid-Levels Charity Gala.

She had a good impression of this Miss Tan.

Tan Moru told her that she had played a part in fueling the rumors between her and You Yue. She said she liked You Yue at the time and acted somewhat presumptuously. She was also somewhat resentful at the banquet, feeling that since it was an arranged marriage, why couldn't it be with her?

She said she had let it go and hoped Cheng Hexi wouldn't mind.

Cheng Hexi hadn't expected her to say these things.

She wouldn't stoop to the level of arguing with a girl who grew up under her parents' wings.

You Yue recalled that at the time, he asked Qi Xuan to inquire about Cheng Hexi's preferences, and they eventually decided on "Yun Jian". The reason for this was this "scandal".

He asked, "So, do you mind?"

This question seemed difficult to answer, and she remained silent for a long time.

A moment later, he asked, "How long have you known Miss Tan?"

You Yue recalled, "We went to the same high school; I was two years ahead of her."

"What happened after she went abroad?" Cheng Hexi said, "She studied at the University of California, which is very close to you."

"You even know where she goes to university?" He raised an eyebrow.

"My pre-wedding PR persona contacted me several times, showing me your scandalous rumors. Didn't you see those fabricated campus romance stories?"

No wonder she was unhappy back then.

“I was having dinner with Mr. Tan, and Ms. Tan was also there. We were just acquaintances before, and we didn’t have any personal relationship.”

You Yue remembered that he hadn't explained it properly last time, so he made up for it now.

Cheng Hexi glanced out the car window.

She remembered telling herself that she minded the night they met in the clouds.

But what she cared about at the time was the fidelity of their marriage; she couldn't tolerate You Yue having ambiguous relationships, that was all.

But now, she seems to have developed a possessive desire for You Yue.

It's not just because of the marriage, but because of... him as a person.

This startled Cheng Hexi for a moment.

The streetlights cast their light on the wet road, isolating the air inside the car from the rain outside.

Cheng Hexi decided to stop thinking about it and asked again, "Who is Lucky?"

She overheard the conversation between President Tan and the others.

Previously, even if she heard about it, she wouldn't be curious or ask.

You Yue smiled and said, "A racehorse."

"Mr. Tan has a horse farm in the suburbs. Do you know how to ride horses? Can you come with me in a few days?"

Cheng Hexi certainly would.

She said, "Okay." Then she asked, "Why did you name the racehorse like that?"

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Author's Note: Almond tofu... almond tofu... I was craving it so much while writing this.

Sorry for being a few minutes late, thank you for reading, everyone! [hugs]