Chapter 06 Chapter 6

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Go Home and Play Your Good Lover

Concentrate on your tenderness and passionate kisses

—— Kary Ng/Pakho Chau, "Confessions"

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Before Wen Ying could speak, Wen Cong excitedly called him brother-in-law.

Shen Li responded amiably, took a few steps to Wen Ying, took off his coat and put it on her shoulders: "The weather is getting colder, why don't you bring a coat?"

The fine woolen coat was soft and thick, carrying the scent of mint from Shen Li's body. Wen Ying took a breath unconsciously, knowing that it was the scent of the shower gel that Shen Li usually used.

She was wrapped up, her coat hanging down to her knees, with a section of her slender calf exposed. Her whiteness was a bit eye-catching in the gray autumn night.

Wen Cong rushed out with his schoolbag on his head, saying, "I'll get in the car first."

Wen Ying walked under Shen Li's umbrella and looked up at him: "I didn't expect it to rain."

He said, "It was Jichun who told me you were here."

Wen Ying nodded: "I can guess."

The autumn rain, accompanied by the night wind, was blown slantingly and densely, some raindrops sneaking into the umbrella. Chen Li put his long arms around Wen Ying, holding her close to his chest, and carried her to the passenger seat.

Chen Li closed the passenger door for her. Wen Cong leaned forward from the back seat and said, "Brother-in-law is so considerate."

Wen Ying's smile didn't reach her eyes: "Really?"

Chen Li got in the car, raised the air conditioner temperature by two degrees, and then turned on the seat heating for Wen Ying.

"Congcong, where are you going? Home or back to school?" Shen Li asked.

"Let's go home," Wen Cong said. "It's getting colder, and I was just about to go home to get some warm clothes. I can just take the bus to school tomorrow morning."

Wen Cong's home is not far from Pingchuan Road. It is raining and there are not many cars on the road.

Wen Cong turned into a curious baby, holding on to the front seat, and leaning his head between the two of them, looking at Chen Li on the left and Wen Ying on the right.

Wen Ying frowned: "What's wrong?"

Wen Cong smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "I thought my sister and brother-in-law were having a conflict, but now it seems that they are not. I didn't dare to mention my brother-in-law's name all night. I didn't expect that I would be the clown myself."

Wen Ying glanced at Chen Li, then shifted her gaze back to the front, her voice flat, "Your brother-in-law is very busy at work, and he has to make dinner appointments after work. I don't even have time to see him, so how can I have the chance to argue with him?"

The atmosphere was full of tension. Wen Cong stuck out his tongue awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

Chen Li was in a good mood, and chuckled and said, "Cong Cong, just look at your sister's temper and you'll know whether it's me and her who's having a conflict, or her and me."

"What's the difference?" Wen Cong was a little confused.

"Of course there's a difference," Chen Li explained to her. "'I had a conflict with her' means I initiated it, while 'she had a conflict with me' means she's unhappy with me. I'm out there battling wits and courage with lawyers, but when I get home, your sister despises me. Don't you think this is a strange kind of energy conservation?"

"Haha," Wen Cong laughed until his eyes curved into crescents, not forgetting to speak up for his sister. "My sister's work is also very difficult. For her physical and mental health, it's no big deal if you are disliked a few times."

Shen Li nodded: "You are really thorough. I'm grateful for your advice."

Listening to the two of them gossiping back and forth, Wen Ying felt a little annoyed. The seat beneath her was too hot, and a slight heat welled up on her back.

She reached out to turn off the seat heating button, and just as she was about to retract her hand, Chen Li grabbed her hand, held it in his palm, and placed it on the middle armrest.

Wen Ying tried to struggle, but Shen Li held her tighter.

He turned his head to look at her, his deep eyes emitting an unusual light under the red taillights of the car in front.

Wen Cong smacked his lips and said, "I shouldn't have gotten on the bus. I deserve to be ridiculed like a single dog."

Shen Li chuckled in his throat, seeming to be satisfied.

He held the steering wheel with one hand and the other hand met Wen Ying's. His thumb rubbed the back of Wen Ying's hand intentionally or unintentionally, causing Wen Ying to tremble.

This is so weird.

Wen Ying turned her head to look at the lights rapidly receding outside the car window. Lights of various colors intertwined and entangled in the rain, and then flashed by quickly, leaving a bizarre and colorful scene in her eyes.

The car soon arrived at Wen Cong's house.

Wen Cong's family lives in a village in the city. Their slightly shabby self-built house is out of tune with the modern buildings around it.

Shen Li's car couldn't drive into the alley and could only stop at the entrance.

The rain was getting heavier, there were no lights in the alley, and it was pitch black and looked a little scary.

Wen Cong said goodbye to them and wanted to get off the car by herself, but Wen Ying stopped her: "I'll take you there, Congcong."

She took the opportunity to break free from Chen Li's hand. Her skin suddenly felt cold and she was still a little uncomfortable with it.

"No need, sister. It's just this section. I can run over there."

Chen Li had already opened the car door with an umbrella. "I'll take her home." He then said to Wen Cong, "Your sister and I have seen too many cases. We really can't let you go home alone."

Wen Cong could only say okay, and after saying goodbye to Wen Ying, he followed Shen Li out of the car and into the alley.

They left the car, and Wen Ying could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She looked down at her left hand and could even feel the touch of Shen Li's skin.

The phone rang. It was an email from Yu Jiaran, telling her about her schedule for tomorrow.

Wen Ying took a quick look and sent her a confirmation email.

Just as I was about to lock the screen, a new WeChat message from Yao Fangzhou popped up.

Yao Fangzhou: "Who is Zheng Di having dinner with?"

Yao Fangzhou: "Pictures"

It’s a screenshot of a Moments post.

Wen Ying zoomed in on the picture and saw a plump, rosy crab on the table. Looking closely at a corner of the photo, she could see a teacup held in the hands of a man across from her.

The hand had distinct joints and long, slender fingers, and just now it had been holding Wen Ying's hand warmly.

Yao Fangzhou: "Don't tell me it's really Shen Li..."

Wen Ying: "Do you have clairvoyance?"

Yao Fangzhou: "Damn! It's true! I knew it was Old Shen who could make Zheng Di show off in secret. This bastard, I will definitely not be polite to him next time I see him in court."

Yao Fangzhou: "Huh? Wait, you knew they were having dinner?"

Wen Ying: "I met you"

Yao Fangzhou: "! I want to hear it now!"

Wen Ying: "Thank you for the invitation, but I'm busy."

The car door opened and Shen Li got back into the car.

Seeing Wen Ying typing, he casually asked, "Are you busy?"

Wen Ying didn't even look up and said, "I was watching Yao Fangzhou scolding people."

Shen Li became interested: "Who are you scolding?"

Wen Ying raised her head and met his gaze: "Scold you."

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As the car got closer to home, Shen Li explained for the third time, "It was really because Zheng Di said she had something serious to tell me that I agreed to go."

In contrast to the previous two silences, this time Wen Ying finally answered, "Chen Li, why are you explaining to me? I didn't ask you."

Shen Li pursed his lips: "I don't want you to misunderstand."

Wen Ying tried her best to sound nonchalant. "Misunderstandings arise when you care. Chen Li, I always remember that our marriage is just an agreement." She paused. "I won't interfere with anything you do. But I hope you can wait until we're officially divorced before considering these issues."

"Wen Ying!" Chen Li was a little angry. "Didn't I tell you that I have no intention of divorcing you?"

"Yes," she said, as if out of habit, wanting to confront him for some reason, "but you also said you agreed to divorce me."

"The premise of this sentence is - if you really think about it."

When Wen Ying heard these words, a nameless anger ignited in his heart.

She retorted, "What does it matter whether I'm ready or not? It's been like this since we were little. When you're happy, you'll talk to me, but when you're unhappy, you'll ignore me. It's still the same now—if you want to get married, I'll marry you. Even if I file for divorce now, it's just me fulfilling what you said before we got married. Chen Li, why is it that now it seems like I'm the one busy trying to free myself, so impatient to leave you as soon as possible?"

When Wen Ying came to the Wen family from the welfare home, Shen Li discovered that she was mature beyond her age.

I guess life in the welfare home is not that good, which is why a five-year-old girl has to learn to read people's faces and make a living so early.

Wen Ying has spent most of her time with Chen Li since she started school. When Wen Lin is not around, Chen Li is all she can rely on.

She was cautious, quiet, and spoke appropriately. Even after entering puberty and becoming familiar with each other, Wen Ying was very measured in her jokes and banter, because she could clearly sense whether Shen Li was happy or annoyed at the moment.

After knowing each other for more than 20 years, Wen Ying tonight was a look that Chen Li had never seen before.

Shen Li's anger suddenly subsided, and instead he felt a little guilty.

"I'm sorry," Shen Li said in a low voice, as if whispering, "I never thought about your feelings. It's my fault."

Wen Ying realized her own gaffe, pursed her lips, leaned back in her seat, and looked sideways: "It's okay."

Silence returned to the car. It was as if the fierce confrontation just now was just an accidental rip of a pocket, letting out the noise inside. The two of them immediately sewed the pocket back together and pretended nothing happened.

The car just drove into the community.

The old-style villa does not have a garage, and the parking space is not too close to the stairs.

The rain was still falling. Shen Li parked the car, got out, walked to Wen Ying's side with an umbrella and opened the car door.

She wrapped herself tightly in Shen Li's coat and got out of the car. She lowered her head and walked with him under the umbrella, without speaking or looking up.

After a few steps, they both stopped. Perhaps too many fallen leaves had blocked the drain, and the large area in front of the stairs was flooded. Raindrops continued to fall, stirring up a large splash.

Wen Ying looked down at her expensive high heels and lamented her bad luck in her heart.

When people are unlucky, even drinking cold water will cause food to get stuck in their teeth. It seems that everything is unlucky today.

Just as she was about to resign herself to her fate and walk over, Chen Li grabbed her arm and asked, "Where are you going?"

She looked confused: "Go home."

Shen Li also looked down at her shoes.

Her bare legs were in high heels, and her fair feet and slender ankles looked thin and fragile.

Chen Li was caught off guard and squatted down slightly, supported her hips with his right arm, and picked her up with one hand.

Wen Ying was unable to react in time, screamed, and subconsciously tried to break free.

Shen Li's thick forearms were tightly muscled and stretched across Wen Ying's hips, forcing her entire body to fit snugly against him.

"I advise you to hold on to me tightly," Chen Li said, sounding effortless and even joking with her. "If you don't behave, we'll both roll into the water."

Wen Ying could only take advantage of the situation to hug Chen Li's neck, with their faces pressed together and their breathing clearly audible.

There was almost no light under the black umbrella, but Shen Li's eyes were extremely bright.

Fortunately, there was no light, which could cover Wen Ying's hot cheeks.

She turned her face away and wanted to reach out to hold the umbrella handle for him: "Let me hold it."

He looked at her and smiled, saying, "Wen Ying, you are as light as a cat."

Wen Ying hugged his neck and retorted stubbornly, "I'm worried that you'll be working at your desk all day and won't be able to do anything."

Chen Li held her with one arm, very firmly and easily, and even lifted her up again: "Wen Lu, don't forget, prosecutors also have physical training every day."

Chen Li's arms supported her hips and lifted them up, causing Wen Ying to blush and subconsciously slap his shoulder in reproach.

Shen Li seemed to enjoy it very much. He chuckled and then took a step forward.

Wen Ying was wearing a pencil skirt that just reached below her knees. When she was picked up, the fabric of her skirt moved up, revealing part of her thigh.

They were so close that Chen Li could feel Wen Ying's thigh rubbing against his lower abdomen with every step he took.

After only six or seven steps, Shen Li's breathing had become heavy.

Wen Ying looked down at him and joked, "Just a few steps, and Inspector Shen is already out of breath?"

Shen Li just looked at her strangely and said nothing.

When he reached the stairs, he pressed the button on the umbrella handle with one hand, and the ribs automatically folded up.

Wen Ying wanted to get down, so she held his shoulders with both hands and tried several times but he didn't move at all.

Shen Li still held her.

"What?" The umbrella was put away, and the lights in the corridor suddenly came on. Wen Ying felt that the anger on her face could no longer be hidden from Chen Li's eyes.

Shen Li's facial features were coated with a soft glow by the dim light on the stairs, like an art sculpture with the most perfect proportions.

"Wen Ying," he looked up at her, the distance between them probably no more than ten centimeters, "can we not get divorced?"

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