Chapter 37 Chapter 37 What do you think about when you are well fed and warm?

Chen Yuchu's tone was as sharp as a drawn sword.

Even Wen Yunhui was surprised. Shang Yu was always on the verge of angering Chen Yuchu, but he had never seen him truly angry.

This time, it's a little different.

Wen Yunhui looked at Yan Jiu's bewildered face and said in that steady tone, "Xiaojiu, Shang Yu and I will prepare another gift to apologize. We won't bet with you anymore."

Shang Yu nodded.

Chen Yuchu glanced at Yan Jiu, as if waiting for her to speak.

Yan Jiu hadn't taken it seriously at first. She wasn't some child who had grown up in a greenhouse and had never suffered injustice. Furthermore, Wen Yunhui and Shang Yu had good intentions.

But now, everyone was looking at her, as if waiting for her answer.

Yan Jiu opened his lips and said hesitantly, "It's okay. You don't have to apologize to me."

After saying that, she pursed her lips uncertainly and looked at Chen Yuchu nervously. Was he venting his anger for her?

So, is she embarrassing him by looking so unimpressive now?

Yan Jiu had a feeling that Chen Yuchu was unwilling to bet on her out of respect. However, Wen Yunhui and Shang Yu had known Chen Yuchu for many years and knew that Chen Yuchu didn't even care about being used as a bet, so how could he be angry with them for the sake of face?

Most likely it was because Chen Yuchu had fallen in love with his new wife.

Chen Yuchu looked at Yan Jiu's docile appearance and said nothing more.

The matter was passed over so lightly, but in the hearts of Wen Yunhui and Shang Yu, Yan Jiu became a little different.

Xiang Tianjiao arrived quite late, and several people had just finished talking.

The lunch was about to begin, and Chen Yuchu took Yan Jiu and sat at the main table.

Their position was undoubtedly the focus of everyone's attention. Although it was a luncheon, there were not many people who came to eat seriously. Everyone was keeping an eye on all directions and listening carefully.

The most important thing is to keep an eye on the Chen family's movements.

Chen Hongfu and Yong Meiru haven't participated in any activities for a long time. Today, they both wore dark blue Chinese suits. Except for a string of Buddhist beads on Yong Meiru's chest, neither of them wore any jewelry. They looked like two ordinary old people.

A little boy in a suit and bow tie blinked and asked in a baby voice, "Why don't those grandparents wear formals? Mommy said there's a dress code today!"

There was silence for a moment. After a few seconds, his mother finally reacted, covered his mouth, and said embarrassedly, "Children's words are innocent."

Then he whispered in his ear: "Rules are only used to constrain ordinary people like us, and they are the ones who make the rules, so of course they don't have to follow them."

The little boy nodded, not quite understanding.

The Chen family members at the main table seemed completely unaware that they were caught in the vortex of discussion.

Such occasions are commonplace to them, something they have participated in since childhood and are almost as easy as breathing.

Only Yan Jiu's eyelashes trembled somewhat unnaturally. She lowered her eyes, and her skin was porcelain white and transparent under the light, with a kind of classical and gentle beauty, as if she had walked out of a painting of ladies.

The lunch went smoothly and everyone acted as if they hadn't noticed Sheng Jingyao's disappearance.

Even her father Sheng Junhao did not express any opinion. The smile on his face never disappeared and he chatted with people around him as usual.

After lunch, guests can choose to stay here to visit, have afternoon tea, play cards or billiards. There is also a place for guests to rest and change into their dresses.

Meng Zhuxing and Qu Lingling didn't get along well, but they did enjoy playing cards together. Chen Baichuan had no interest in hanging out with women, and he wasn't interested in the people Qu Lingling wanted to introduce him to. He went to play billiards with the wealthy young men who usually surrounded him.

Yan Jiu didn't know many people, and even Xiang Tianjiao was forced by her parents to greet people everywhere. She made a helpless expression towards Yan Jiu.

Yong Meiru noticed Yan Jiu's discomfort and said gently, "Accompany me to the Buddhist temple with your mother."

They really knew each other.

Yan Jiu lowered his eyes and said obediently, "Okay."

The Buddhist hall was filled with a pleasant woody aroma, perhaps the same sandalwood that Chen Yuchu used, but slightly different.

The furnishings inside are simple, but the items are exquisite.

The three of them didn't speak a word the whole way. As soon as they entered the door, Yong Meiru let go of Yan Jiu's hand.

Yu Xue silently helped Yong Meiru kneel on the mat.

Yong Meiru didn't turn around, and a faint voice came, "Xiaojiu, let Arnold take you to rest."

Yan Jiu knew that they had something to say, so she said softly, "Okay, grandma."

Jiang Wennuo seemed to have known this for a long time and was already waiting for Yan Jiu at the door. Without her saying anything, he smiled and said, "Xiaojiu, I'll take you to rest."

Jiang Wennuo and Yong Meiru grew up together, and she accompanied her to marry into the Chen family. They have a special relationship, and everyone in the Chen family respects her very much.

Yan Jiu followed Jiang Wennuo carefully through the winding nanmu corridor.

The Huaishao old house was so huge that even though she had been there several times, she had never walked around it completely. If she walked alone, she would probably get lost.

There were not many people along the way, and Yan Jiu was a little worried about how she would get back to the banquet venue later. She forced her brain to memorize the complicated route.

This left her with no extra energy to think about what Yu Xue and Yong Meiru would say.

"arrive."

Jiang Wennuo bowed slightly.

Yan Jiu nodded slightly. This was an independent two-story courtyard. It was not large but had everything it needed. There was a pond beside the pavilion with running water and a few fish swimming in the clear water.

She was afraid of disturbing the tranquility here, so she climbed up the stairs quietly. She had already guessed that this was where Chen Yuchu once lived.

The place was permeated with the same fragrance as his.

Yan Jiu pushed open the door and closed it quickly.

A few seconds later, the door opened from the inside.

The tall man put on a shirt with the buttons partially buttoned.

The thin muscle lines on the back that he had just seen flashed through Yan Jiu's mind. He swallowed hard, "You said before that you would be with Wen Yunhui and the others in the afternoon..."

Chen Yuchu's face was more relaxed, and his tone was unusually relaxed. "Use them as an excuse to hide away."

Yan Jiu understood and said "hmm".

Chen Yuchu moved aside to make way for her, and began to unbutton the buttons he had just fastened.

Listening to the movement from Chen Yuchu's side, she bit her lip, but in the end she didn't ask him why he had to put on his clothes before opening the door for her if he was going to take off his clothes and take a shower.

Chen Yuchu glanced at her and knew what she was thinking without thinking.

If I opened the door shirtless, she probably wouldn't even come into the room and would just run away.

He unbuttoned two buttons, then paused and stopped moving for a moment.

Yan Jiu looked over naturally with surprise, and their eyes met in the air. The next second, she abruptly retracted her gaze, but her long eyelashes were still trembling.

Chen Yuchu's deep black eyes curved, and he asked calmly, "Have you been looking at me?"

Yan Jiu's face flushed. What did Chen Yuchu mean by saying this in this situation? Did he think she was going to peek at him?

How come she hadn't realized he was so bad before?

He was only polite on the surface, but in reality he was a very malicious person. Not only did he have many tricks to torture her over and over again, but now he was saying such things.

The tips of Yan Jiu's ears turned red, he was both embarrassed and angry.

She took a deep breath, regained her composure, and said in a deep voice, "I didn't."

Chen Yuchu realized that she was a little angry, so he restrained himself and stopped teasing her. He took some clean clothes and said, "I'm going to the next room. No one else will be here. You change out of your dress, take a shower and get some sleep."

Yan Jiu nodded. It was tiring enough for her just to stand there with Meng Zhuxing, note down the identities and backgrounds of the guests, and choose the right words to chat.

This is just lunch.

If Yong Meiru hadn't taken her with her, she would probably have to sit next to Meng Zhuxing and watch her play cards and chat with those noble ladies.

The topics they talked about were mostly jewelry and fashion, but Yan Jiu had no interest and couldn't say a word.

Since they have not been in the same circle since childhood, it is inevitable that they will feel awkward and uncomfortable when getting along with each other.

There was a clean pair of women's pajamas placed beside the bed. Yan Jiu wanted to take off her dress in the bedroom first. She tilted her neck back, and there were laces on her back, which made it difficult to take off. She fumbled with her slender arms for a long time before she was able to untie it a little.

Instead, she was sweating profusely.

As he struggled to find his way, he heard a faint fragrance and a deep voice from behind him, "Do you need my help?"

Yan Jiu's fair skin was slightly flushed, and the light beads of sweat looked like tiny pearls of light. His hair, which had been tied up in the morning, had been untied and was flowing loosely like silk.

Her lips parted slightly, and she uttered a sound as thin as a mosquito's whimper, "Thank you for your help."

Even after so many intimate actions, she is still so polite.

Chen Yuchu's black eyes looked over with a smile, his black silk nightgown simply fastened with a buckle, hanging loosely on his body, less solemn, but still calm.

He leaned over, a large shadow covering the exposed white skin, his slender finger bones hooked the laces, and his hands moved as steadily as ever.

When he untied the last part, he untied the laces, and his fingertips touched the trembling skin. His deep eyebrows raised slightly, and he let go immediately, saying softly, "Go."

Yan Jiu didn't dare to look back at all. She held up the dress that was dangling from her chest and ran to the bathroom in small steps as if escaping.

After she closed the door and knew that Chen Yuchu could no longer see her, she breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at her beautiful face in the mirror, with an unknown emotion flickering in her eyes.

The toiletries here are exactly the same as those in Jianan Villa.

...

Yan Jiu pushed open the door, and the mist behind her rushed out. She moved slightly, and her silky long hair fell quietly. She was wearing home clothes and was as quiet as a student, with misty eyes and eyebrows pure and clear.

Chen Yuchu leaned against the bed, his washed black hair still a little damp at the ends, and his usual sternness faded as it pressed against his skin. He held a book in his hand. When he heard the noise, his raven-like eyelashes lifted, and he said in a deep voice, "Come here."

Yan Jiu, who had just finished taking a shower, felt very sleepy all of a sudden. At this moment, she just wanted to have a good rest. Upon hearing this, she obediently walked to the bed.

Unexpectedly, as soon as my body touched the bed, I was pulled over by an irresistible force.

The next second, her nostrils were filled with the scent of dry wood and a lingering hint of alcohol.

Chen Yuchu did drink some wine during the luncheon. Many people came to offer him a drink; it was his mother's birthday party, so he couldn't refuse. Shang Yu and Wen Yunhui not only didn't help him, but they also gave him a few drinks. Some people wanted her to drink, but he refused.

Yan Jiu's lips moved, but his voice was weak, "What?"

His broad chest pressed against her back, his slender fingertips occasionally playing with the ends of her hair, his magnetic voice rising, "What are you thinking about when you're well fed and warm?"