Chapter 22 [VIP]

Chapter Summary: Cohabitation officially begins

Yao Ye hadn't originally considered marriage. After all, she was still young, hadn't even been out of university for a year, and her career was just getting on track; talking about marriage seemed a bit too early.

But ever since that night at the hotel, Li Fengjian's words have inevitably taken root in her mind.

He said: But if you have to support a wife, that's a different story.

He also said: If you're creative, it's easier to succeed, right?

While he was still half asleep, he called out to her: "Wife, sleep a little longer."

So, does he really want to marry her? Will he, like Xiao Dong, suddenly devise a unique proposal to increase his chances of success? After all, he seemed quite creative when they changed the billboard.

Especially recently, Yao Ye's advertising company took on a promotional project for a jewelry brand's wedding series, and the whole team chattered about related topics all day long.

For example, on this particular day, while everyone was sharing the drinks that Li Fengjian had brought, they were also discussing the topic of "marriage proposal." Their colleague Yu Fei handed her a drink cup labeled "For Yao Ye," and jokingly added,

“We’ve been discussing ‘unexpected proposals’ these past few days. Yao Ye, have you ever imagined how your boyfriend would propose to you?”

Yao Ye took a sip of milk tea, smiled shyly, and said, "Hmm...I didn't expect that."

“He owns a bubble tea shop,” Yu Fei said, looking at the drink cup with the special label in Yao Ye’s hand, her mind racing. “Do you think he might, on some ordinary day, bring you a bubble tea—a bubble tea with ‘For Yao Ye’ written on it—and then secretly hide the engagement ring inside?”

"How could that be..." Yao Ye couldn't help but laugh, but suddenly, she really felt that she couldn't suck anymore, something was stuck in the straw!

No way, no way, Li Fengjian wouldn't really pull this on her, would he?

In an instant, Yao Ye's cheeks flushed, and her heart pounded like a drum. While Yu Fei and the others strolled leisurely towards the conference room, she lagged behind at the back of the group, quietly tearing open the seal on her cup and squinting inside.

Ten minutes later, Li Fengjian messaged her on WeChat to ask, "Are you tired today?"

"It's alright." Yao Ye sat in the conference room, secretly replying with her phone resting on her lap. "By the way, was there anything special about the drink you sent today that was specifically marked for me?"

Li Fengjian replied, "You put the least amount of sugar in your cup because you said you were on a diet."

He was convinced that his thoughtfulness and attentiveness would surely win his girlfriend's heart. But to his surprise, Yao Ye sent a pouting emoji: "Hmph, my sago pudding is a complete mess! You should reflect on your own actions!"

……………………

Of course, Yao Ye knew in her heart that Li Fengjian most likely had no intention of proposing to her. She had heard him say this with her own ears.

One evening, Li Fengjian, the future son-in-law, came to visit and had dinner with Yao's parents.

After dinner, Yao Ye followed her mother to the kitchen to peel fruit, while Li Fengjian was kept in the living room by Yao's father for a talk. Yao Ye couldn't help but eavesdrop while cutting oranges, and her mother laughed at her, "What are you so nervous about? Your father isn't going to eat him."

"I'm not nervous at all, he's the one who's a little nervous," Yao Ye pouted.

"I could tell. When he came in carrying the gift, his posture was stiff, and he was even moving his arms and legs a bit awkwardly," Yao's mother couldn't help but laugh. "Actually, there's no need to be nervous. Your father and I just want to chat with him and get to know him better. After all, you two have been talking for quite a while now..."

“It won’t be long, only two or three years,” Yao Ye retorted.

Yao's mother glared at her and said, "There are plenty of people who date for two or three years and then get married."

"What?" Yao Ye exclaimed in surprise, "My dad didn't call him here to force him into marriage, did he?!"

Yao's mother silently rolled her eyes. "...Don't worry about that. It's more likely that your father is reluctant to marry you off."

So Yao Ye was incredibly curious about what her father and Li Fengjian had talked about. When Li Fengjian said goodbye, she made an excuse to take out the trash and then walk him home, which took more than an hour.

…………

Li Fengjian held Yao Ye's hand and walked slowly along the tree-lined path where the night breeze gently caressed him.

She looked up at him and asked, "Quickly tell me, what exactly did my dad say to you?"

Li Fengjian then said, "He asked me about my family situation, personal situation, the operation of Kazamado, and also about my future plans."

"What specific plans do you mean by the future?" Yao Ye pressed.

Li Fengjian smiled. "He asked me what my thoughts were about our future together."

"So what was your answer?" Yao Ye couldn't help but grab his arm.

“I said that our relationship is very stable and that Yao Ye is definitely in my future plans. I also said that the wedding house my family prepared for me was originally for rent, but now I have taken it back and moved in myself.”

"You took that house back?" Yao Ye asked in surprise. She had heard Li Fengjian mention it before, and she was also surprised to find that the house was quite close to the advertising company where she worked.

"Yes, I'll clean it up and then move in. If you don't want to go home after get off work, you can come to my place."

"I..." Yao Ye stammered, "Why didn't I go home? Why did I have to go to your place..."

Upon hearing this, Li Fengjian gave a meaningful smile. Whenever Yao Ye had work-related frustrations, all she wanted to do after work was run straight into Li Fengjian's arms, and the only place where he could comfort and heal her undisturbed was currently a hotel. Unfortunately, this job was practically a doormat, and Yao Ye had recently suffered so much grievance...

"You know what?" he lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "The hotel receptionist is already trying to sell me an annual membership."

"What?" Yao Ye blushed. "Have we...have we been going there that frequently?"

“I checked the bills, and it’s true. When you do the math, it’s better to take the house back and live in it ourselves. It’s more cost-effective and gives us more freedom.” He paused, then added, “...Besides, Yao Ye, we’ll have a home sooner or later. It just depends on whether you’re willing to accept it.”

One, a family.

As he spoke, he gazed tenderly at her, then suddenly stopped and reached out to take her left hand in his.

Yao Ye was taken aback. Under the soft yellow light of the streetlamp, his hand appeared long and slender with distinct knuckles. He carefully and gently stroked her left hand fingers, starting from her thumb and tracing over it, finally stopping at her ring finger.

He circled her ring finger and asked, "Hey, have you thought it through? Will you accept?"

"I..." She swallowed unconsciously, the warmth from his fingertips reaching her heart. For a moment, she impulsively wanted to agree to his request.

But Li Fengjian smiled and said, "Once I install the fingerprint lock, come over and register your fingerprint. Then you can come and stay anytime."

Yao Ye's nervous heart gradually calmed down, and she nodded with a smile. Hmph, she would never admit that for a fleeting second, she seemed to be hoping he would unexpectedly pull a ring from his pocket… Oh my god, she'd been brainwashed by her colleagues' proposal ideas.

Li Fengjian continued walking, holding her hand. In the swirling night breeze, he suddenly said, "Of course, I also told your father that we probably won't consider marriage for the time being."

"Why?" she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

“I said that marriage is something I look forward to. But Yao Ye has only just graduated and her job has only just become stable, so the timing of the marriage should be decided by Yao Ye.”

"I……"

“And I know you don’t want to right now.” Li Fengjian sighed with emotion. Whether it was that night at the hotel or just now, when he hinted at it and she became nervous and at a loss, Li Fengjian understood that he still had a long way to go.

"Moreover," Li Fengjian said, both amused and exasperated, "after I finished saying all that, it was obvious that your father breathed a sigh of relief."

It seems that this father, who cherishes his daughter like a treasure, is truly reluctant to let her get married.

………………

After Li Fengjian took back his house, cleaned and renovated it, and replaced the furniture, he quickly began his happy life living alone. The greatest joy in this was his girlfriend, who would come over to bother him from time to time. It was only two subway stops away from the advertising company, making it practically Yao Ye's second little nest.

Especially since Yao Ye's parents are going on a trip in the next ten days. The two elders gave Yao Ye countless instructions, even saying...

"You're such a scatterbrain, we're really worried about you. Why don't you go stay with your sister for ten days?"

"I don't want to disturb my sister and brother-in-law's time together. Don't worry, I'm old enough to take care of myself," Yao Ye waved her hands hastily, though she had already made her own plans. The people she was going to bother were probably busy tidying up her room right now.

Indeed, no sooner had her parents boarded the plane than Yao Ye, carrying large bags and small packages, went straight to Li Fengjian's place. Although she had repeatedly and sternly warned him beforehand,

"I'm just scared living alone, and your place is close to the company, so I can sleep an extra half hour. But I definitely need to sleep in another room! Don't overthink it."

"Alright, alright," Miss Yao Ye instructed, and Li Fengjian immediately and efficiently cleaned the guest room, changed the bedding to new ones, placed unopened toiletries, and even put fresh flowers on the windowsill.

But the reality was that on her first night in the house, Miss Yao only symbolically placed her luggage in the guest room, and went straight to the master bedroom, lay down on the big bed, and let out a long sigh.

"I'm so tired. Today, that client who wanted a colorful black ring rejected all of our ideas. How are we supposed to present the engagement ring in a way that's both down-to-earth and romantic, and also unexpected? Maybe we should just grind the ring into a bullet and shoot us all out."

Work was already exhausting, and life was already tough, so her feigned composure was limited to words. In reality, she desperately needed Li Fengjian's warm embrace.

………………

Yao Ye and Li Fengjian's "cohabitation" officially began. With his girlfriend by his side, Li Fengjian also changed his usual routine, and like the earth revolving around the sun, his life also changed to revolve around Yao Ye.

The advertising company had flexible working hours, and the employees often had bursts of inspiration at night, while catching up on sleep at home in the morning. Yao Ye was no exception. On another morning when she finally woke up late in the morning, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and turned her head to see Li Fengjian beside her. He was awake and was quietly watching her.

Yao Ye felt embarrassed by his gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that... Hey, it's already past ten o'clock. Aren't you going to open the store at Belle?"

"It's fine to go later." Li Fengjian got up and prepared to make her brunch.

Yao Ye laughed, hugged him from behind, and rubbed against him lazily. "You're getting lazier and lazier. You didn't open the shop on time the day before yesterday and yesterday."

Li Fengjian felt a series of undulations on his back. He turned his head and glanced at her, as if to say with his eyes, "Who do you think I did all this for?"

Yao Ye was well aware of the situation, but she still insisted on acting coquettishly, saying, "Li Fengjian, you have a very regal air about you now!"

"oh?"

“Your current state perfectly embodies the saying, ‘From now on, the emperor will no longer hold court in the morning,’” she said playfully.

Li Fengjian smiled wryly, turned around and pinched her nose, saying, "It really is! After all, last night, you and I did have a 'short night of passion'..." After saying that, as if to prolong the moment of passion from last night, he hugged her tightly and pushed her into the bed again.

………………