Chapter 103 Freedom

◎Nothing could be more peaceful than this, I know. ◎

free

End of June.

It's summer again.

I finished drawing the last design sketch, saved it, and then my body involuntarily leaned back in the chair.

California has seen a continuous rise in outdoor temperatures over the past few days, almost reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The streets are filled with men and women dressed casually and comfortably in light clothing, and the heat wave shows no signs of abating by evening.

The temperature inside the classroom was very low, as if it were isolated from the outside. Suddenly, my phone vibrated.

I trembled almost imperceptibly, trying to calm myself down.

Yu Xu sent me a message.

"I have arrived."

I picked up my phone and quickly looked out the window. The campus was ablaze with color at night, with lush palm trees everywhere. And finally, that tall, slender figure, so familiar to me, came into view.

He was dressed in light-colored casual sportswear, tall with long legs, carrying a tennis bag, and looked handsome and refined. Several students who had just finished class were already looking at him curiously. I smiled, put my laptop into my bag, and pushed open the door.

Yu Xu walked over and naturally took my hand. "Are you tired? If you are, we won't play tennis tonight."

I hugged his waist tightly, finally feeling a bit more real. I shook my head, "But I still want to exercise. I've been busy with final assignments these past few days, and I feel like my body is getting stiff."

"Mmm." Yu Xu hugged me back, the fresh, cool scent of mint filling my nostrils. "Then we'll go in a bit."

I looked up and met Yu Xu's smile. He had even bought ice cream and handed it to me; it was my favorite cocoa flavor. I looked at him silently. Yu Xu was gentle and considerate. I was willing to stay by his side, and then pay those insignificant prices.

Yu Xu and I strolled through the campus, where the buildings were predominantly brick red.

A few years ago, after I graduated, I came to the University of California to continue my studies in film arts. Yu Xu, on the other hand, found a job at a company here and even bought an apartment in the city center. He would pick me up and drop me off from get off work, and when he had free time, he would take me to the beach, play tennis, and go to concerts...

As we passed the mascot statue on campus, Yu Xu even took out his phone, as he loves taking pictures. I also took the opportunity to run over to the statue and raise my hand.

We played for quite a while before finally arriving at the court.

I changed into a tracksuit, and Yu Xu handed me the racket. We found a court on the side, and I served first. Yu Xu used all sorts of forehand and backhand shots, hitting and returning the ball. He is already very athletic, and in order to play with me, he has practiced to the point where he is on par with a professional athlete.

Seeing Yu Xu hit another long-range shot, I rushed forward. I kept running and hitting the ball.

The continuous swinging and running made me feel my blood rushing, and beads of sweat slowly slid down my neck. During the halftime break, I gently bent over and held my knees. Seeing this, Yu Xu quickly came over worriedly and held my wrist.

"How are you, Xiao Fu?" Yu Xu opened a bottle of mineral water for me and brought it to my lips. "You're still not fully recovered from your trip back from the Empire State. Don't run around so much."

"I'm really fine." I looked up at Yu Xu, and habitually raised my hand to wipe the sweat with the sports brace on my wrist. But Yu Xu had already anticipated my move, and a towel was placed on my head.

My vision blurred for a moment, and I felt Yu Xu's exceptionally gentle touch as he wiped my cheeks and neck. I felt my eyelashes flutter, and I had a persistent feeling of being watched.

I suddenly opened my eyes and subconsciously glanced around. People near the tennis court were practicing, or sitting nearby drinking water and chatting. That faint, indistinct gaze seemed like a hallucination...

Yu Xu's hand, still warm from exercise, gently covered my forehead. "Xiao Fu, are you tired?"

I gently squeezed his hand, and Yu Xu lowered his head accordingly. I unexpectedly kissed his cheek, lowering my voice, "I'm not tired at all. I want to go home and play other games with you..."

Yu Xu's cheeks flushed slightly, and his pupils suddenly darkened.

But it was only for a moment. He smiled helplessly, his voice both indulgent and resigned, "Xiao Fu, do I need to remind you? Your temperature seems a little high right now. You should really rest."

Although Yu Xu said that, I really enjoyed seeing his adorable expression when I teased and provoked him.

We had just returned to the apartment when the door slammed shut. In the darkness, I held Yu Xu's neck, my back pressed against the cold wall. I kissed him passionately and proactively, while our sweatshirts and jackets were scattered on the floor...

I knew perfectly well that someone was watching me and monitoring me.

“It seems like someone is here…” I said to Yu Xu. He froze on the spot, then hugged me even tighter.

We both fell onto the sofa at the same time, rolling around a couple of times. I looked at his disheveled appearance; his brows were slightly furrowed. He was clearly a gentle and patient person, yet at this moment, he exuded a dangerous calmness.

"Do it." Yu Xu hugged me tightly.

His arms were strong and firm, his thin lips pressed against my cheek, and he kissed me all the way. I could even feel the temperature in the air gradually rising. As for the gaze that made me uncomfortable at that moment, it gradually disappeared in the lovemaking with Yu Xu.

Our breaths mingled, and my feelings alternated between extreme discomfort and immense comfort. Yu Xu had already mastered many techniques over the years. I was almost out of strength when Yu Xu picked me up and held me in his arms.

“Today…” I cupped Yu Xu’s face in my hands. In the dark room, even though I knew someone was nearby, I still breathed softly and said to him, “Just stay inside.”

Yu Xu gently combed through my long hair and stroked my sweat-dampened cheeks. "Didn't you say you didn't want children?"

"I want it now." My heart was racing, and I even drank some milk on my own. "I want a child, Yu Xu, I love you."

Yu Xu paused in his breathing, then kissed my cheek. The bluish veins on my neck slowly tightened, and he suddenly pulled me into his arms.

...

The next morning, Yu Xu went to work.

I woke up in the big bed. Although my whole body ached, I wasn't that tired. I looked at my phone on the bedside table and sure enough, I had received a call last night, but I should have been asleep in Yu Xu's arms by then.

Walking into the kitchen, I saw the toast Yu Xu had prepared for me, and I also took some low-fat chocolate sauce before sitting down on the chair at the island counter.

I held the slice of toast in one hand, took a bite, and then picked up my phone.

"Mom!" On the other end of the phone appeared a little girl who looked three or four parts like me.

She was slender, wearing a light white dress, with delicate eyebrows and eyes that drooped slightly. Her face was fair and innocent, with a hint of fragility and weakness.

The girl's eyes lit up when she saw me. "Mom, why are you so late? Are you too tired from playing tennis last night? I have so much to tell you, but my brother said you were playing tennis. I waited for so long, and I was so afraid that you wouldn't want me anymore."

“What’s wrong with Bella? Mom just met you a few days ago.” I smiled at the girl. “Aren’t Dad, your brother, and your sister Ji-eun good friends to play with you?”

“Dad said yesterday that he’s going to buy a new house with an outdoor tennis court and a swimming pool.” Bella counted on her fingers. “Dad and Xie Yong will play with you, and your brother can play with us too. But Mom will have to take a vacation next time she comes back, right?”

Bella looked a little disappointed and called my name again, "Mom, do you know what divorce is?"

My heart sank slightly.

But she is my daughter, my and Jiang Zhao's only child. I smiled gently, put the toast aside, and said with a smile, "I know, but why is Bella suddenly asking this?"

The little girl across from me lowered her eyes. Her eyelashes were very long and thick. "Will Mommy and Daddy get divorced? I feel like Mommy doesn't love Daddy, and she doesn't love my brother either. And why is it that only my family has a brother who is much older than me? The other children don't have any."

Bella was extremely depressed. She rested her head on her tablet and said in a soft, low voice, "Besides, Mom and Dad rarely see each other. I want to go to California to see you, but Dad won't agree no matter what. I miss Mom. I also want to play tennis with Mom."

"Woof!"

The sound of a puppy barking came from the other end of the screen.

The Samoyed rushed to Bella's side. It had grown quite a bit, and now it even had a fluffy little Samoyed puppy next to it.

Bella brought the puppy to the screen. "Mommy, Daddy bought a big house. Come back soon. Bruce, his puppies, and I are waiting for you at home."

I couldn't help but laugh.

“If you don’t come back soon, I’ll start to suspect that you’re going to divorce Dad,” Bella said cautiously, leaning closer to the screen. “You must have a lot of suitors lately.”

"Bella." A cold and arrogant voice rang out from the side.

The little girl quickly turned her head, "Daddy!"

I picked up the toast and ate it casually.

Soon, a sharp and naturally imposing gaze, carrying the air of a superior, came from the other side of the screen. Jiang Zhao's eyes were deep, filled with emotions that were hard to discern. He quietly held Bella and looked at me: "Don't listen to Bella's nonsense."

"I know." I propped my chin up and looked at him. Jiang Zhao and I played with our daughter for a while longer. She got a little sleepy, so Jiang Zhao asked the maid to take Bella to the next room to rest.

"Jiang Zhao, how long has it been since I last saw you?"

"Twenty-four days."

"Where is Xie Yong?"

"Twenty-two days."

I chuckled. “I ran into Ye Fenglin and Lin Jindong in California a few days ago. They were handling a financial case.”

“I know.” Jiang Zhao’s lowered eyes suddenly darted over, looking at me intently.

"Then, what about Jiang Mingzhuo?"

"Him? Why don't you care about me? I'm the one you haven't seen in the longest time right now, understand?" Jiang Zhao smiled slightly at the camera, and then the camera slowly moved down, focusing on the cool guy under his casual shirt. His usually neat hair had a rare touch of laziness today, and the messy bangs even covered his overly delicate and aloof eyebrows and eyes.

The place is already teeming with life.

Behind me, I heard the sound of the apartment door being opened.

I didn't even need to turn around; the man embraced me from behind. His tall frame pulled me into his arms, his arms tightening around my waist. Although it was forceful, it wasn't in a destructive way. I smiled and, nestled in his embrace, fully enjoyed watching Jiang Zhao's appearance on the other side of the screen.

“Yu Xu will be back tonight,” I said to Jiang Mingzhuo behind me.

"I know."

“You breached the contract.” I was referring to the fact that he arranged for people to follow me, monitor me, and even break into my home in the middle of the night last night.

“I just miss you so much,” Jiang Mingzhuo said with a faint smile, but his expression already indicated his agreement. “Besides, you and Yu Xu are finally going to have a child, and I just wanted to move here in advance to take care of you.”

Jiang Mingzhuo gently stroked my trembling eyelashes and said tenderly, "I'll only stay with you for a little while, okay, Xiao Fu? I'll disappear before Yu Xu comes back."

“Actually, you don’t need to be afraid. I won’t use your and Yu Xu’s child to threaten you.” Jiang Mingzhuo’s tone was unusually gentle. I shivered and looked up at him, but he immediately calmed down and stared at me with a half-smile.

I closed my eyes.

I know there's nothing more peaceful than this.

I have finally gained relative freedom.

[Author's Note]

I wrote three versions of the ending, but I wasn't satisfied with most of them. This one is the one I'm most happy with. Some plot points will be saved for the epilogue.

All bonus chapters are set to be fan service and will be released in 7 days. Please be patient.