Chapter 5 Your kissing skills are absolutely terrible.
Qiao Shu sneered inwardly.
Yu Zeheng was deliberately working against me.
Ye Yuzhen sniffed, nodding with a mixture of gratitude and sadness: "You're right, Xiao Shu, I really don't know what I would do without you."
She was caught up in her emotions and didn't notice Qiao Shu's subtle changes.
Qiao Shu was being stared at leisurely by Yu Zeheng, and she couldn't utter a single word of affected comfort. She gritted her teeth in displeasure, and when she faced Ye Yuzhen, she forced a kind smile, but what she said was far less natural than before: "Aunt Ye, we are family, it's only right."
As soon as the words were spoken, someone lowered their head and looked down, a distinct smile curving up at the corners of their lips.
Qiao Shu's face darkened. She couldn't continue speaking, and she didn't even bother to force a smile anymore. She looked at Yu Zeheng and asked, "Are you alright?"
"The competition just ended, so the answer is I'm fine." Meeting Qiao Shu's gaze, Yu Zeheng walked over and placed a glass of water next to Ye Yuzhen: "Aunt Ye, have some water."
"Thanks."
Ye Yuzhen nodded, drank half of her water glass, wiped away her tears and forced a smile: "I'm so sorry, I came here so early in the morning crying and making you young people laugh at me. It's getting late, I'll go back now."
Qiao Shu invited Ye Yuzhen to have lunch, but she shook her head, having no appetite.
"Please take care on your journey."
The two saw Ye Yuzhen off one after the other. After she got into the car, they both came to their senses, turned around, and put on cold, aloof faces. Yu Zeheng was in a good mood. He glanced at the Endless Summer in the flower garden. She went into the house without saying a word. Before going in, she glanced at him. He was tall and handsome, and looked very presentable. She went in and talked to Aunt Chu about what to have for lunch. After giving her instructions, she lazily yawned and went upstairs.
Back in the bedroom, Qiao Shu called Song Yue and asked her to find out where Qiao Mingjie was.
When Song Yue talked about the disastrous public relations situation of the Qiao family, she said that Qiao Mingjie and the actress were just friends. They had dinner together and both of them drank some alcohol, which led to their behavior crossing the line. However, they had no romantic relationship and Qiao Mingjie did not cheat on her.
Netizens aren't stupid; they've sarcastically pointed out that friends can hug, kiss, and even book hotel rooms together. As more revelations are released, the buzz has only grown.
At a crucial moment, Qiao Mingjie made a mistake, and Qiao Kaiyu certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity to kick him while he was down.
But that's all he'll do. He won't make a big fuss. The old man will hold him accountable, and the matter will be suppressed after a while.
After giving her instructions, Qiao Shu put the phone aside, took off her robe, and went into the dressing room. Her eyes swept across the wardrobe, considering what color clothes would be more suitable for disciplining her philandering and unfaithful father.
Red is too eye-catching and assertive, and it might make the other person feel resistant during conversation. Green is too sarcastic. She hummed a little tune, her mood sounding neither good nor bad. Her fingertips slid over the soft, smooth fabric. In the end, she chose a misty blue dress. Blue makes people feel calm and composed. The dress was just to her knees, with a cinched waist, a lining for support, and a slightly flared hem.
She took off her nightgown, then lifted the fabric on both sides and put it on from her feet up. The straps were slightly tight, hugging her delicate, fair skin. Her legs were straight and white beneath the hem of the dress. She raised her right arm to pull up the zipper at the back.
A warm body pressed against her back, and a familiar scent wafted past her nose. She paused, then suddenly raised her eyelashes, and a deep voice rang out: "I'll help you."
"Okay, you do it." Qiao Shu put down her aching arms.
She felt him gather her loose, soft hair and place it on her chest. He lowered his eyes, pinched the zipper, and slowly pulled it up. She pursed her lips.
Yu Zeheng asked, "Do you know where your father is?"
Qiao Shu turned her head and saw his face: "You know?"
As the zipper was pulled up from her waist to between her shoulder blades, the fabric tightened, and she sucked in her stomach and puffed out her chest. Her warm fingertips brushed against a small patch of skin, and her heart skipped a beat.
Yu Zeheng smelled her faint scent. Her neck was long and slender, and her shoulder and neck lines were well-defined. He lowered his eyelashes, and some messy strands of hair brushed against the back of his hand.
He answered in a low voice, "Tang Palace."
Qiao Shu suddenly realized that she should have realized earlier that Tang Palace was Yu Zeheng's family business, and it was almost the benchmark in the industry. It was magnificent and extremely luxurious, like a city that never sleeps.
Qiao Mingjie didn't have much money, but he had a wealthy son-in-law. He could eat, drink, and have fun at the Tang Palace by simply paying Yu Zeheng's bill.
Yu Zeheng brushed past her, found the long-forgotten tennis racket in the corner, swung it in the air, and found it was still usable. He put it in his bag, zipped it up neatly, and turned around. Qiao Shu had put on her dress, her hair still draped to the side, looking aloof and cold. After a few seconds of eye contact, she turned and left.
He took off his shirt with one hand, put on a white shirt, then changed into dark green athletic shorts, put a baseball cap on his head, and stepped out.
Qiao Shu had just finished sending a message to Song Yue on her phone, saying that there was no need to check anymore, as she had already found the location.
Yu Guangli's style is white and green, a low-key, old-money style, with a certain elegance.
Yu Zeheng walked over, noticing her gaze, and said in an extremely official tone: "I have arranged to play ball with my friends. If you need anything, feel free to call me anytime."
Qiao Shu put away her phone and smiled slightly: "Have fun, nothing will happen."
They both knew perfectly well that Qiao Shu had never bothered him in the two years of their marriage, so naturally she wouldn't bother him with such a trivial matter.
Yu Zeheng hummed in agreement and left the bedroom.
Because it was something new, Qiao Shu took a few more glances. Less than a minute later, she heard a car starting up downstairs. She packed her bag, preparing to go to the auction house first, and then go to Tang Palace to talk to Qiao Mingjie later that evening.
—
Yu Zeheng and Ji Changming arranged to play basketball at the venue.
He had just stopped the car when Ji Changming, wearing a black headband, knocked on his car window. He bowed, waved, and smiled, "Heng-ge'er, long time no see, I've missed you so much."
Yu Zeheng opened the car door and got out, then went around to the trunk to get his equipment. He looked at Ji Changming's grinning face and said, "I hope you can still laugh later."
Ji Changming put away his smile. Knowing his own skill level, he cursed harshly, but his enthusiasm remained undiminished as they walked into the stadium side by side. He complained, "It's becoming increasingly difficult for the four of us to see each other. It's one thing for you to be traveling all over the world, but the other two are in the same city, and we often don't even see each other."
Yu Zeheng casually asked them what they were doing.
When Ji Changming talked about their recent situation, he finally focused his criticism on Lin Jinshen: "Especially our boss Lin, he's simply abnormal. He works like a madman, and at his age, he still doesn't have a girlfriend."
Yu Zeheng smiled faintly.
Upon arriving at the court and finishing their warm-up, the two walked to opposite sides. Yu Zeheng tossed the tennis ball to the ground and then caught it again. He used to use tennis balls to practice his agility, a habit that has stayed with him to this day.
Yu Zeheng's tennis skills are at a top amateur level, which is beneficial to his physical training. He has been coached for a year. His swing is quick and powerful, his muscle lines are beautiful and smooth, and his explosive power is amazing, yet he gives people a feeling of effortless strength. He has strong core strength and good body control.
Nearly an hour later, Ji Changming was panting and unable to swing his racket, so he called a stop.
The two sat down on the bench one after the other. Yu Zeheng wiped the sweat from his face with a towel, while Ji Changming gulped down half a bottle of water. After catching his breath, Ji Changming turned to ask, "How did things go with your father-in-law's matter?"
Yu Zeheng twisted the bottle cap, glanced at the black-screened phone, and said in a flat, indifferent tone, "I don't know."
“Your father-in-law is quite a character. He gets caught every time, and every time it’s different. He’s so old, yet he still does such crazy things. He’s almost fifty, where does he get the energy?” Ji Changming stretched out his legs and asked him if he wanted to suppress the news. The matter wouldn’t have much impact; it would only take a word from him.
Yu Zeheng held the ball and slammed it against the ground intermittently, his voice cold: "Their family's affairs have nothing to do with me."
"I understand, you two have no feelings for each other."
Yu Zeheng remained noncommittal.
Ji Changming said, "But I still want to say something for my sister-in-law. She is innocent to have such a father. She is beautiful and kind-hearted. She always has a smile on her face and is gentle and kind to everyone. She has a good temper and is considerate. Many people envy you for marrying such a good woman as your sister-in-law. You should also be kinder to people."
Yu Zeheng, who had remained expressionless throughout, stiffly turned his head, squeezing out two words through gritted teeth: "Beautiful inside and out?"
Qiao Shu's beauty is undeniable. She was already a famous beauty in the industry when she was a teenager, with countless admirers. She focused on her studies and only accepted an arranged marriage after graduation.
Ji Changming put down the water, somewhat questioning his judgment: "My sister-in-law holds a charity auction every month, and all the proceeds are donated to children in mountainous areas to help them go to school and build Hope Primary Schools. Even if this is necessary to build a corporate image, it is commendable that she has persisted in doing something for several years."
Each of these four characters truly deserves its name.
To outsiders, Qiao Shu is perfect and without flaws. Ji Changming has met Qiao Shu three times: at the wedding and when they met alone afterwards. Qiao Shu would take the initiative to greet him, remember his name, and even his recent achievements. When she praised someone, she would put it into practice and it sounded like she was being sincere.
Upon hearing this, Yu Zeheng simply said, "You have too much of a bias towards her."
It wasn't just deep, it was to the point of poisoning. He had never seen what she was like in private, and he took her packaged image as her true self. In fact, Qiao Shu was spoiled, picky, difficult to please, had a bad temper, was stubborn, sweet-talking but treacherous, and told a lot of lies. However, there was no need to tell him these things.
Ji Changming frowned, holding a different opinion: "You are blind. Your sister-in-law is a goddess."
The goddess he spoke of gave him the middle finger today without any remorse.
There was no point in saying more than necessary, so Yu Zeheng started packing up his tennis racket. Ji Changming was puzzled. Hadn't they agreed to play for two hours straight? He quickly tried to persuade him to stay and play for another half hour.
Yu Zeheng remained unmoved, picked up his racket, stood up, and said coldly, "I have something to do, I'm leaving."
—
After seven o'clock, the long night powerfully pushed in, the last bit of light was extinguished, and a waning crescent moon hung far into the night sky.
The lights in the Tang Palace were all lit early on. The architectural style imitated the prosperous Tang Dynasty, with bright and saturated colors. The vivid red and the magnificent gold complemented each other perfectly. The carved railings and painted beams were antique and full of character.
Qiao Mingjie booked Tang Palace for a week straight. He had a new girlfriend who was gentle and affectionate, and he liked her very much. He kept her by his side and invited a group of friends over for drinks and fun. When he saw that he was on the gossip news, he held up his phone and showed it off to his friends one by one, then casually tossed it aside. Amidst his friends' encouragement, he and his girlfriend drank a toast together.
The door to the private room was pushed open, but it wasn't a waiter who entered. The man was tall and imposing, wearing a white shirt and trousers. He had neither the worldliness of a businessman nor the bookishness of a student. His shirt was rolled up on his arm, revealing his distinct wrist bones. He walked straight in, his features sharp and deep, with a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Yu Zeheng addressed him, "Dad."
Qiao Mingjie was taken aback. It took him a couple of glances to recognize the person. He rarely saw his daughter, let alone his son-in-law. Upon seeing who it was, he didn't even have time to put down his wine glass before smiling and saying, "It's Zeheng."
"Playing around?"
Qiao Mingjie glanced behind him and asked with some apprehension, "Has Xiao Shu arrived?"
“She knows you’re here and is on her way.” The private room was filled with smoke, the smell of alcohol, and a sweet fragrance. Yu Zeheng carefully chose an empty sofa and sat down, directly in front of him. “If you don’t leave soon, I’m afraid Xiao Shu will get angry and smash this place.”
Those present laughed first, joking that Qiao Mingjie was even afraid of his own daughter.
They are all people with sons and daughters, and they believe in the old ways. They say that no matter what, the father is greater than the heavens, and how can the children dare to disobey their elders? They say that things are different once their daughters get married.
The young girlfriend clung to Qiao Mingjie's arm, curiously sized up Yu Zeheng, and then whispered to Qiao Mingjie, "Old Qiao, are you afraid of your daughter?"
Qiao Mingjie patted her hand reassuringly. Qiao Shu resembled him somewhat. Although he was fifty years old, he still looked young. He was carefree and unrestrained, rich, fun-loving, and good at charming people, which made him very popular with young girls.
Yu Zeheng rested his hands on his lap, leaned forward, and smiled. His eyes were a complex mix of light and shadow, exuding a sense of oppression. He didn't rush to speak. After the laughter and talking in the room gradually subsided, he lifted his eyelashes and said, "Because this is a family matter, I can only ask all the uncles and elders to leave first, as well as this young lady."
The girlfriend frowned, hugged him tighter, and said to Qiao Mingjie in a coquettish tone, "You promised to spend time with me tonight."
Qiao Mingjie said awkwardly, "These are all my friends and elders. Whatever you and Xiao Shu have to do, let's talk about it when we get home."
Then some people accused Yu Zeheng of disrespecting his elders, since Qiao Mingjie was his father-in-law.
Yu Zeheng was merely informing, not discussing. He glanced at the speaker, his smile not reaching his eyes: "How did you all get in? Tang Palace has a membership system. If you don't want to leave on your own, I can only ask someone to verify your qualifications, but the scene won't be very pleasant then."
As they were talking, the door to the private room opened wide, and the manager walked in, stopping beside Yu Zeheng, followed by several Tang Palace staff members dressed in black suits.
Not to mention one-on-one, three-on-one is more than enough.
In the tense moment, Qiao Mingjie stood up to smooth things over, first apologizing to his friends and promising to treat them to a meal next time to make up for it. After his friends left with dark faces, he went to coax his girlfriend, who glared at him, slung her bag over her shoulder, and rushed out.
Everyone else left, and the manager went out and closed the door behind him.
Only the two of them remained in the private room. Qiao Mingjie tugged at his collar, his expression displeased, yet he was barely suppressing his anger. He said gruffly, "No matter what, I am your father-in-law. This time I have really lost face. Even if Xiao Shu came, she wouldn't have made me feel so embarrassed."
Yu Zeheng smiled, his tone helpless: "There's nothing I can do. Xiao Shu won't let you drink and act recklessly. If she sees you here, she'll probably have a big fight with me. I'm afraid she'll get angry, so I can only ask you to bear with this, Dad."
Qiao Mingjie was skeptical: "You're not even afraid of your own father, but you're afraid of my daughter?"
The "old man" refers to Yu Zeheng's father, Yu Xunli, who is cold-hearted and always keeps his word. He has always opposed his son's involvement in racing, but Yu Zeheng dared to challenge him at a young age. For a time, the father and son were like enemies, irreconcilable, a fact known to everyone in the industry.
Qiao Mingjie had been tricked by Yu Xunli when he was young, and he knew how ruthless this man could be.
“I’m afraid, I can’t do anything about her.” Yu Zeheng clasped his hands together and said good-naturedly, “If Xiao Shu knew that I was protecting you, she would definitely argue with me. As an elder, you certainly don’t want our marital relationship to be strained.”
The combination of soft and hard tactics left Qiao Mingjie dizzy and confused, and he nodded in agreement without really understanding what was happening.
Yu Zeheng lowered his long eyelashes, stood up and called over two burly waiters: "You've had quite a bit to drink, I'll have someone take you home."
"No need." Before Qiao Mingjie could finish speaking, he was already being carried, one on each side. It was said to be supporting him, but it was really no different from being carried out.
Yu Zeheng summoned the manager and announced that Qiao Mingjie would be prohibited from entering any clubs, bars, or entertainment venues under the Yu family's control. He also warned others that if Qiao Mingjie took a step into any of these places, they would never be able to cooperate with the Yu family again.
Qiao Shu crossed his arms and watched as his father was dragged out and shoved into a car. Qiao Mingjie looked bewildered. The car had already driven away; they would take him straight home. Just as the car drove off, Yu Zeheng came out.
She didn't know why he suddenly contacted her, saying he would handle Qiao Mingjie's matter. Tang Palace was his family's property, so it would be easier for him to handle it. She didn't refuse, saving herself the trouble. Speaking to the phone sweetly and without any burden, she said, "Husband, you're still the best."
Yu Zeheng, on the other end of the phone, frowned slightly at the way he was addressed.
Qiao Shu rarely called him that. Usually, it was when there was something to gain. He knew perfectly well that he was blinded by greed and did everything he could to please the princess. But his friend's words made sense. They were husband and wife, sharing both honor and disgrace. It was only right that he treat her well.
Just this once. He told himself.
In the darkness, two people stood several meters apart, one in the light and the other in the dark.
Yu Zeheng had changed out of his sportswear and was now wearing a casual, loose shirt and trousers. She had searched for his F1 racing videos in the afternoon when she had nothing to do. Even after several years, the video was still clear. He was wearing a red team uniform and had a tall and upright posture. He had just won a race and was being interviewed by the media. The sun was bright and strong, and he stood in the sunlight, making his features even more deep-set. The shape of his long eyelashes was imprinted on his eyelids.
His eyes held an arrogant air of looking down on everyone, as well as the exuberance and freshness of youth.
Qiao Shu remained hidden in the shadows, her expression concealed. Her blue dress was emblazoned with a bold exclamation mark. She crossed her slender arms, her long, curly hair neatly styled, and adorned with sparkling diamond earrings. Her eyes were dark as she faced him from afar.
The night wind blew, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples and brushing against her cheeks. She remained motionless, watching Yu Zeheng walk towards her.
Qiao Shuwei raised her chin slightly, her expression aloof and arrogant: "You had my dad dragged out."
Yu Zeheng walked from the light into the shadows, his features going from clear to blurry and then clear again due to the distance. He corrected, "Dad drank too much. I had someone help him back to rest."
Qiao Shu smiled, tacitly agreeing with his statement. Qiao Mingjie had been playing around for most of his life, thick-skinned, and only responding to gentle persuasion. As his daughter, she couldn't just take action directly, so he did what he had always wanted to do.
"This is the last time," she said insincerely. "After all, he's your father-in-law, he's my dad."
Qiao Shu crossed her arms, lightly touching her phone to her arm. Her whole face was bright and lively because of her smile. She had a pair of beautiful, sparkling eyes that could mislead people into thinking she was incredibly sincere at that moment.
Her lips were a cool-toned berry color, with a thin upper lip and a full lower lip. Her lips were moist and glossy, and her voice was melodious and pleasant as she opened and closed her lips.
In nature, things with bright colors are often poisonous. However, this isn't always the case; sometimes you need to try it yourself to draw a conclusion.
As if possessed, Yu Zeheng asked in a low voice, "Aren't you going to thank me?"
Qiao Shu smiled, her shallow dimples softening the harshness of her striking features and adding a touch of approachable cuteness. "How do you want me to thank you? I'll have a Kiton suit custom-made for you. Their alpaca wool fabric feels great. What color do you like? Linen gray..."
She buys things for herself without batting an eye, but when it comes to spending money on Yu Zeheng, she's stingy, saying that anything too expensive is bad for her mood.
Yu Zeheng couldn't hear what she was saying after that. When she didn't get a reply from him, she lazily shut up and said that he would tell her what he wanted later.
Qiao Shu brushed aside the stray hairs that had been ruffled by the wind and walked straight to where the car was parked.
She had only taken two steps when Yu Zeheng grabbed her wrist. She turned around, and his face blurred as it approached. By the time she realized what was happening, she was pressed against the hard, cold exterior of the car. He had one hand on her waist and the other on the back of her neck. A hint of panic flashed in her eyes, and then his cold lips kissed her. She stumbled and grabbed his arm and the fabric of his clothes.
His throat was dry, but he tasted the sweetness in her mouth.
Qiao Shu took two rapid breaths, her lips felt tingly and numb. Her whole body stiffened, as if only her mouth was still alive, being slowly and passively sucked and crushed by him, soft yet domineering.
After an unknown amount of time, their lips parted, revealing red, wet lips with glistening moisture that shimmered faintly in the darkness.
Qiao Shu took two deep breaths, then grabbed his chest defiantly. Her high heels clattered on the solid ground as she half-pulled and half-pushed him to switch places. She then grabbed his clothes and pulled them down, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him fiercely.
The raw, cold air rushed in and bumped into my teeth.
Qiao Shu controlled her breathing, one hand still clutching his shirt, the other wiping away the lipstick smeared on his lips with her thumb. Her tone was flat and disdainful, but her words were emphasized: "Your kissing skills are really terrible."
Yu Zeheng held her waist, the two of them very close.
His lips were stained with her lipstick, mottled like blood from being bitten. He slowly raised the back of his hand to wipe it away, and said calmly, "You're not bad either."
A note from the author:
----------------------
Stop arguing, neither of you is good enough. You just haven't kissed enough. Your lips will get swollen from kissing too much, okay? [doge emoji]
Here they are, 50 red envelopes! [cat emoji]
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