Chapter Forty-Three

Upon hearing these words, Shi Qing's suppressed emotions suddenly burst forth, and hot, wet tears soaked his shirt.

"Why are you crying?" Liang Yuheng leaned down to look her in the eye.

Shi Qing quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand: "I had a fight with my family and said some very hurtful things."

Liang Yuheng glanced out of the car and saw her walking forward in a daze, guessing that she must have experienced something bad.

Although he felt bad seeing her upset, he still pretended to joke: "You can even argue? That's great. It's a pity I wasn't there, otherwise I would definitely applaud you."

Shi Qing didn't expect him to say that, and couldn't help but laugh: "Aren't you going to ask me what I said?"

Liang Yuheng lowered his eyes: "No matter what you say, my wife is always right."

Shi Qing sniffed and looked at him blankly, "How come you're so good with words?"

Liang Yuheng gently coaxed, "Don't be sad, I'll take you to celebrate your birthday tonight."

Shi Qing: "Where do we go now?"

Liang Yuheng put his arm around her shoulder and walked her to the car: "Let's go home first to change clothes and put on makeup. Then I have a meeting, and we'll go over later."

When Shi Qing heard that he had another meeting, she realized that he must have rushed back early today.

"How did you know it was my birthday today?" Shi Qing asked him after getting into the car.

Today, the driver was driving, and Liang Yuheng sat in the back seat with her, casually lowering the partition.

He pulled Shi Qing onto his lap and said, "You have the nerve to ask? Why didn't you tell me it was your lunar birthday?"

“I was going to say that, but haven’t you been too busy with your project lately? I was afraid it would distract you.” Shi Qing lowered her eyes, looking at the dark pattern on his tie.

"No matter how busy I am, I'll still find time to celebrate your birthday." Liang Yuheng moved closer to her lips. "Have you missed me these past few days?"

Although she knew the driver couldn't hear them, Shi Qing still felt embarrassed being so close.

"I did."

"I miss my baby too."

After saying that, he pressed his lips against hers.

-

After arriving home, Liang Yuheng led her to the living room and handed her the white box from the coffee table.

When Shi Qing opened it, she saw a strapless tulle dress covered in rhinestones inside, and she was amazed: "What a beautiful dress!"

"It was specially ordered for you, go and exchange it." Liang Yuheng said with a smirk.

"good."

After putting on the dress, Shi Qing applied light makeup and then braided a side braid.

The tulle skirt reached her knees, appearing voluminous yet not heavy. The cinched waist accentuated her slender figure, making her look like a ballerina dancing on a music box—ethereal and gentle.

When Liang Yuheng came over from his study after finishing a video conference, his eyes lit up when he saw her.

He was now somewhat impatient to see her in her wedding dress.

"My wife is so beautiful." Liang Yuheng hugged her from behind, smiling as he looked in the mirror.

Shi Qing discovered that Liang Yuheng really liked to praise her.

She had heard a saying before that if you are often praised by the people around you, you will become more and more beautiful.

Shi Qing didn't know if it was true or not, but she really liked Liang Yuheng praising her.

Shi Qing turned around, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the lips.

Liang Yuheng seemed pleased: "Aren't you afraid your makeup will run this time?"

Shi Qing shook her head: "It's okay, it's just the two of us today."

Liang Yuheng's eyes were filled with laughter: "Although I really want to kiss you now, let's celebrate your birthday first, in case you don't have the energy to open your presents later."

Shi Qing, her ears red, let out an "Oh".

Before leaving the house, Shi Qing put on a coat. Since she went downstairs and got into the car, she didn't feel too cold wearing a skirt.

The black sedan drove towards the city center and arrived at the most upscale hotel under the Keyu brand about half an hour later.

Liang Yuheng put his arm around her and led her into the elevator, where they went to the top floor.

As soon as she entered, Shi Qing was captivated by the scene in the suite's living room.

Pale pink rose petals were scattered on the ground, and the pink and white flowers cascaded from the table to the ground like a waterfall.

A small archway made of balloons stands beside a large bouquet of roses, over a meter in diameter, adorned with fairy kisses. Two silver heart-shaped balloons are also tied to the bouquet.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of the entire city of Beijing, a sight that Shi Qing has never witnessed before.

"Do you like it?" Liang Yuheng stood beside her.

Shi Qing glanced at him and said sincerely, "I really like it. Your taste is amazing!"

Liang Yuheng lazily raised his lips: "I asked Zhou Han to help me with some research."

Shi Qing: "You guys are really tight-lipped. I haven't heard her mention it at all these past few days while I've been with her."

“If she dares to let it slip, she’s finished.” Liang Yuheng chuckled. “Take some photos first, then I’ll have them serve the food.”

"good."

Today's dishes are not only exquisite, but also all to Shi Qing's liking.

She didn't eat much for lunch; she just had a very satisfying meal.

After the meal, Liang Yuheng asked the waiter to remove the plates and bring over the chilled cake.

The cake wasn't large, but it was exquisite and elegant, with a light pink gradient in its white color, and two beautiful little swans on top.

At the same time, the image on the screen of the distant skyscraper across the street changed.

Shi Qing looked closely and saw that it said:

Happy Birthday, Shi Qing

She stared at it quietly for a long time, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.

"I didn't have time to prepare properly for the last confession, so I'm making up for it this time with my birthday," Liang Yuheng said gently.

Shi Qing hugged him: "Thank you."

Liang Yuheng chuckled: "Make a wish."

The room lights were turned off, and the blessings on the large screen outside were playing on a loop.

Shi Qing placed her hands on her chest and closed her eyes.

After blowing out the candles, Liang Yuheng asked, "What did you wish for?"

Shi Qing didn't tell him her true wish, but just casually said, "I hope my work goes well in the new year."

“It will definitely happen.” Liang Yuheng pulled her up from the stool. “Let’s go open the gifts.”

Shi Qing was stunned when she saw the large pile of gift boxes on the ground: "So many?"

Liang Yuheng leaned against the wall and smiled, "I'll make up for the gifts I gave you before, a total of twenty-six."

Shi Qing received so many surprises today, and she is still very touched.

She joked, "You're so curly, this puts so much pressure on me for your birthday."

"It's okay, even if you just make me a bowl of noodles, I'll be happy." Liang Yuheng sat down on the carpet with her. "Let's take it apart."

Shi Qing first removed the one that said "one year old," and found it to be a golden peace lock.

The card inside reads:

Wishing you a lifetime of health and peace.

Shi Qing held it in her palm and looked at it: "I've seen people give them to babies."

Liang Yuheng's eyes softened: "You are my baby too."

This was the first time Liang Yuheng had called her "baby" outside of the time they were doing *that*.

Shi Qing: "It's a little cheesy, but I like it when you call me that."

“Okay, that’s what you’ll call me from now on.” Liang Yuheng said naturally, “Keep taking it apart, baby.”

For her second birthday, she received a set of pure gold tableware, with small and adorable gold bowls, chopsticks, and spoons.

The card reads:

I hope you eat well every day.

Shi Qing carefully took it out and immediately felt its heavy weight. She bit it in surprise: "Could this be pure gold?"

Liang Yuheng raised an eyebrow: "Yes, it's not very big."

"Wouldn't it be too extravagant to eat with this?"

"As long as you don't think it's tacky."

"Who would complain that gold is dirt?"

"So, when you come back, will you replace all the tableware at home with gold?"

"That won't be necessary." Shi Qing choked slightly. "You didn't send gold, did you?"

Liang Yuheng laughed at her: "Of course not."

Shi Qing's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Of course, I'd like it even if it's all gold."

"Little money-grubber."

Upon seeing that her eighteenth birthday outfit consisted of a pair of silver high heels, Shi Qing couldn't help but ask again, "How did you know how to do this? I love it."

"I searched online a lot and also asked Zhou Han." Liang Yuheng helped her sit on the sofa, then half-squatted down, held her slender ankles, and helped her put on the shoes. "Do they fit?"

"Hmm." Shi Qing rarely wears high heels, but she stared at them for a long time.

Liang Yuheng pretended to invite her to dance, and took Shi Qing's hand and put it over their heads. Shi Qing then spun around.

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd had a lot of girlfriends before," Shi Qing said, smiling at him.

Liang Yuheng gently placed his hand on her waist: "Don't you know whether I've dated or not?"

Shi Qing remembered that he was indeed not very skilled at kissing her when he was drunk, and he even bit his lip until it bled.

"Okay, I believe you." Shi Qing quickly pushed against his shoulder when he leaned closer. "I haven't finished disassembling it yet."

Liang Yuheng had no choice but to let go of her: "Then can we dismantle it faster? Please understand, your husband hasn't seen you for almost a week."

"Who told you to buy so many?" Shi Qing chuckled softly.

Liang Yuheng said helplessly, "It's my fault. I should have let you dismantle it later."

"It'll be quick, just wait a little longer."

When she took out the car keys, Shi Qing asked curiously, "Is this car the same as Zhou Han's?"

"Yes, it's purple. You can change it if you don't like it."

"No, I like purple."

When Shi Qing saw that her twenty-sixth birthday gift was a property deed, she opened her mouth and asked, "Why are you giving me a house?"

Liang Yuheng: "You didn't move your things over, so you still want to live back here, right?"

Shi Qing felt a little guilty: "How did you know?"

“That’s not hard to guess.” Liang Yuheng smiled at her. “I know you want to earn your own money to buy it in the future. Don’t worry, this isn’t very big, it’s enough for you to live in.”

Shi Qing felt a wave of tenderness wash over her, and she bit her lip, saying, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The twenty-six gifts included all sorts of things, from small items like a lipstick and a Jellcat doll to large items like a house and a car; each one was made with great care.

Shi Qing hugged the pink plush rabbit toy to her chest and looked at him quietly: "Aheng, you are too good to me."

Liang Yuheng slowly spoke: "Because you deserve the best."

"I had a really bad fight with my parents today and told them I would never go back again." Shi Qing's eyes welled up with tears as she said this. "I was really sad, but thank you for coming back today and giving me such a wonderful birthday celebration."

“You have me now.” Liang Yuheng pulled her into his arms. “I hope you can get closer to me in the future. Maybe I don’t give you enough security yet, but I will continue to work on it.”

Shi Qing's heart burned with warmth: "You've done so well. Compared to you, I feel like I haven't done anything; I've only ever been receiving your kindness."

Liang Yuheng: "Your task from now on is simply to be liked by me. Can you do that?"

"Yes." Shi Qing leaned down and kissed his Adam's apple. "Aheng, I want to do it with you."

Liang Yuheng's eyes darkened, and he could no longer hold back, so he pressed her down onto the sofa.

She was still wearing the gauze skirt, which clung to her hot body.

After an unknown amount of time, the two stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Liang Yuheng leaned down and kissed her shoulder blades on her back: "Baby, I love how you look now."

The scent glides over my skin, making it very itchy.

Shi Qing glanced at the glass unintentionally.

Her strapless top slipped down a bit, revealing glimpses of her skin that made people blush.

Liang Yuheng's collar was half open, and his tie hung loosely, as if Shi Qing's consciousness had been knocked out of sight.

She had just drawn the curtains halfway when he yanked them back up forcefully, his voice hoarse: "This is the top floor, no one can see."

The room grew warmer, breaths mingled, and the air became thicker.

...