Chapter 55 "Who proposes in bed?"...
Song Yue silently touched her dry, lifeless face.
Qiao Shu leaned back at her desk, holding a coffee cup. She raised an eyebrow at the question, thought for a moment, and replied, "It's probably because I have special stress-relief techniques."
What I can tell Song Yue is that she has started to enjoy playing games, especially visceral combat games. Yu Zeheng plays with her the whole time. Her favorite is motion-sensing games; after sweating profusely, she feels an indescribable sense of exhilaration.
What can't be said is that the pressure-filled scene transforms into a bed where neither of them needs to speak; their heavy, rapid breathing becomes their exclusive language, and the skin beneath their fingers is warm and vibrant. It's a feeling of wanting to release all their strength and energy onto each other, to be covered in sweat, and to have fireworks constantly exploding in their minds.
Song Yue had an idea: "Should I learn boxing or something?"
Qiao Shu nodded: "It's a good choice."
That evening, Qiao Shu used her stress-relief techniques and felt much better.
Yu Zeheng turned to the side, reached out to pry open her lips, pressed against her teeth and asked if she was a puppy. She grabbed his shoulder and bit him. Without even looking, he knew that his shoulder was covered with her teeth marks.
With wet eyes and unsteady breath, Qiao Shu said, "You hit me too, so we're even."
"Was that hitting you?" Yu Zeheng asked, amused.
Qiao Shu gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "Does spanking not count as spanking?"
Every time she was slapped on the buttocks, shame came before the pain. She couldn't help but tense up, even her toes curled up. He would then hold her down to make her relax.
So compared to that, her biting him a few times was at most a harmless retaliation.
Qiao Shu propped herself up on her arms and looked at him from mid-air: "Help me pick out some clothes after you take a shower."
What clothes?
"It's Auntie's birthday party. There are two nice sets. Can you help me decide which one is more suitable?" Qiao Shu crossed her arms, got off the bed, and went into the bathroom before he could respond.
On the day of her birthday party, Qiao Shu changed into a light gold halter-neck dress and wore two round pearls on her earlobes, looking elegant and dignified.
Jiang Wenxin was a low-key person and originally did not want to hold a big celebration, only inviting some relatives and friends. However, the Yu family's network of relationships was intricate, and some people also came to wish her a happy birthday, making the entire Yu family home crowded with people.
They're all in the same city, so their social circles are limited. Those who are on good terms with the Yu family will also have dealings with the Qiao family.
Qiao Shu saw the woman he usually visited and greeted her with a smile. The woman touched her earlobe and responded with a stiff smile.
The atmosphere was awkward, and not wanting to make a fool of herself, she greeted everyone and then left gracefully.
"Did you see that? When she walked over, my hair stood on end."
"She always calls me 'sister' and has a sweet smile, but I never expected her to be so ruthless. If she ever tries anything of mine, I'll be played to death."
"They're already divorced and they still come. Putting aside everything else, they need to have a strong mentality."
"..."
The ladies exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.
"sister in law!"
Yu Mingwu spotted Qiao Shu in the crowd at a glance and squeezed through the crowd: "Big brother said you would come today, I've been waiting for you so long."
"You miss me that much?" Qiao Shu was pulled by her arm, and then looked at her light pink dress today. "You look beautiful and radiant."
Yu Mingwu wrinkled her nose: "I'm still far inferior to my sister-in-law. You look absolutely gorgeous today, with a queen-like aura."
"Your brother picked it."
“My older brother has good taste.” Yu Mingwu hugged her arm, leaned closer, and whispered, “Sister-in-law, does this mean you and my brother are dating?”
Qiao Shu tilted her head: "Didn't your brother tell you?"
Yu Zeheng, as the eldest son in the family, returned a couple of days earlier to prepare.
Yu Mingwu blinked her eyelashes: "He asked me to ask you."
Qiao Shu gently pinched the tip of her nose, looked at her throat and hummed softly. Yu Mingwu's eyes widened at first, then she grinned foolishly: "Great, we're family again!"
A family.
Qiao Shu murmured those three words. The adult world is more complicated, and there are more things to consider. Choosing her means standing on the opposite side of the old man and the entire Qiao family. So many years of friendship and business dealings cannot be severed so easily.
As they spoke, they entered the hall. Jiang Wenxin was surrounded by a group of people who had come to offer their congratulations. She was making greetings to everyone around her with a broad smile on her face.
Qiao Shu took a breath, lifted her leg and walked over: "Auntie, happy birthday."
"Xiao Shu is here." Jiang Wenxin gestured for her to come over.
"I've prepared a birthday present, but I don't know if Auntie will like it." The birthday present Qiao Shu prepared was a painting by a painter from the late Qing Dynasty. The painter's name wasn't well-known, but the painting itself was quite good. It depicted a lotus pond in summer, with dragonflies, butterflies, and fish swimming in the water. With just a few strokes, the painting was vivid and lifelike.
“How could I not like what you gave me? No one in this family knows my preferences better than you.” Jiang Wenxin patted the back of her hand. “I’m still not used to you calling me Auntie. Just call me Mom. I’m used to it.”
Qiao Shu was stunned for a moment.
Jiang Wenxin was already talking to the people around her, praising Qiao Shu for always being so thoughtful, buying her different gifts every year, each one made with great care.
The people around were all shrewd and understood Jiang Wenxin's meaning, echoing her sentiment that their relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was like that of a mother and daughter.
"Mom, Uncle Wu and Aunt Wu are here." Yu Zeheng's voice rang out. He had been busy since early morning, and all the big and small things at the banquet had to go through him.
"I'll go pick him up," Jiang Wenxin replied, then said to Qiao Shu, "Let him handle things at home; you just focus on looking beautiful."
"Okay." Qiao Shu paused for a moment. "Mom."
Jiang Wenxin clutched her chest and took a deep breath: "That feels better."
Yu Zeheng walked over to her and gently bumped her shoulder. His gaze was fixed on the direction Jiang Wenxin had left in. He turned back to her and asked in a serious tone, "You're already calling me 'Mom,' so what should you call me?"
In the past, Qiao Shu would have definitely wrapped her arms around his, sweetly called him "husband," and enjoyed watching his livid face; it would have made her feel extremely happy. Not for any other reason than to annoy him.
But now, Qiao Shu scoffed inwardly; she didn't want to reward him.
In a corner where no one noticed, she placed her hand in his palm, and he calmly took her hand in his. In his palm, there was only a slender middle finger.
Qiao Shu brushed a stray hair from her cheek, smiled gently, and looked innocent and harmless.
This wasn't the first or second time she'd been given the middle finger. Sensing her quirky intentions, Yu Zeheng moved closer to her with his cold face, opened his mouth, and silently uttered five words.
Qiao Shu: F*uck you
Yu Zeheng: Now? That's not a good idea.
Qiao Shu was speechless, and couldn't help but laugh in anger: "Fine, you win." When it comes to shamelessness, she was completely defeated.
Yu Zeheng smiled and readily accepted, "Thank you for your kind offer."
The two barely had a chance to chat before the birthday banquet needed to be attended to. Qiao Shu didn't stand idly by either; she was quite adept at handling such situations. Since the number of people at the banquet far exceeded her expectations, she had someone make purchases in advance and then called over a chef from South Bay to help.
At the birthday banquet, amidst the clinking of glasses, Qiao Shu stayed by Jiang Wenxin's side, occasionally whispering intimately to her. Jiang Wenxin treated her no differently than before, perhaps even better. Qiao Shu also sensed that Jiang Wenxin was deliberately putting on an act for others.
At the same time, it was a declaration of the Yu family's stance.
Others gradually realized that Qiao Shu and Yu Zeheng were always seen together, and although they were currently divorced, it was probably only a matter of time before they got back together.
The relationship between the Qiao and Yu families is complex and difficult for outsiders to understand. They can only speculate on the direction of events based on the existing situation.
It now appears that the Yu family is on Qiao Shu's side.
As the banquet was drawing to a close, Qiao Shu was stopped by several of the ladies: "Xiao Shu, you were so busy earlier that we didn't get a chance to talk properly. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since we had afternoon tea or a meal together. When do you have some time? We'd love to get together."
“You look much thinner. You must have been having a lot of worries lately. You always carry everything on your own. If you need any help, just tell your sisters. We will definitely help you if we can.”
"Yes, don't be shy. I happen to know a nice new restaurant that just opened. How about this weekend?"
Qiao Shu was already used to the practice of flattering the powerful and belittling the weak in the industry.
"Maybe next time." She smiled slightly, politely declining, then made an excuse to leave. Turning back, Yu Mingwu was calling her to take a family photo.
Qiao Shu stood next to Yu Zeheng, with Yu Mingcong and Yu Mingwu on either side, and Jiang Wenxin and Yu Xunli in front.
"Look at the camera, smile, that's very good."
The photographer pressed the shutter, capturing the moment.
The Yu family is very traditional and values family. They take a family photo every year. Qiao Shu missed two years, but now, after many twists and turns, the family photo is complete again.
After the banquet ended, Yu Xunli stopped Qiao Shu and said, "Let's talk alone."
“I’ll come too.” Yu Zeheng frowned, and subconsciously stepped forward, placing Qiao Shu behind him in a protective posture.
Yu Xunli's face was icy: "I'm not going to eat anyone, why are you so nervous?"
Yu Zeheng wanted to say something, but she held his arm with one hand, her lips pursed, her face showing no tension or fear. She hummed in response and calmly replied, "I'm fine."
“I’m downstairs,” Yu Zeheng said.
Yu Xunli's gaze swept across Yu Zeheng's face, wondering what kind of son he had raised.
The conversation took place in the study, which was different in style from the study in South Bay. It had mahogany floors, two large bookshelves on two walls filled with books, and a solemn and more vintage feel.
"Sit down." Yu Xunli asked her to sit down first.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't nervous. Yu Xunli had a patriarchal sense of pressure. He was usually taciturn and rarely showed any expression on his face. Even if it weren't for the current special situation, I would feel pressure when chatting with him normally.
“Don’t be nervous, I’m not here to hold you accountable,” Yu Xunli said. “I know what you’ve been doing lately, and it’s gotten to this point, so I don’t want to comment. What I want to talk to you about is how to end things now that things have escalated to this point. Being too extreme will not be good for either of you.”
Qiao Shu breathed, raising her eyelashes at those words.
“Your older brother is a potential variable. It’s only natural that he would feel resentful or bitter after falling from such a high place. And when people are in dire straits, they might do something outrageous. Do you understand? I want to reduce this risk to zero…”
After chatting for about half an hour, Qiao Shu came out of the study. Yu Zeheng was downstairs. When he saw her, he came over and asked her what they had talked about.
"I'll tell you when I get back."
Qiao Shu summarized the conversation in the study: Yu Xunli would go and talk to the old man. They acted impetuously and without considering the consequences. As an elder, he couldn't let it go unchecked. The old man had been tricked like this. If he wanted to retaliate, they might not be able to handle it.
Secondly, Yu Xunli will increase cooperation with the Qiao family. As Qiao Shu's position allows him to bring additional benefits to the Qiao family, the cooperation will continue as long as Qiao Shu remains in Zhongcheng. In this way, Qiao Shu naturally has a greater advantage than Qiao Kaiyu.
Qiao Shu felt strange. It was as if it was the first time her family had gone to such lengths to consider her needs, and this selfless affection felt unfamiliar to her.
"My parents love you so much, so they love everything about me too, and they're very good to me as well," she said softly.
Yu Zeheng held her hand and corrected her point of view: "Even in the two years since our divorce, Ms. Jiang still likes you very much. What they approve of is you as a person. At first, it may have been because of me, but not afterward."
"How come you're suddenly so good at comforting people?" Qiao Shu chuckled. She had just been envious of him for having a harmonious family, but now she felt that hers wasn't so bad after all.
She received quite a lot as well.
"I'm not trying to comfort you, it's just the truth." Yu Zeheng kissed her cheek. "Can we go to sleep now?"
Qiao Shu understood the implication in his eyes. She was in a good mood today, and her stress had decreased. She was not interested in his invitation and said calmly, "Just shut up."
"That's not what you said during the day."
Qiao Shu was puzzled: "What did I say during the day?"
Their eyes met, and after a long silence, she thought of the middle finger he had raised, a gesture that expressed her speechlessness: "Yu Zeheng, I can sue you for staging an accident."
"Do you need me to help you get convicted?" Yu Zeheng chuckled softly, his voice magnetic and pleasant.
Qiao Shu touched his chin and admitted that he was pleasing to the eye, but she couldn't eat anymore because she had been under too much pressure and had been eating too much.
"No, I'm not interested."
Yu Zeheng's eyes darkened. These words were tantamount to saying that she was tired of him and that he no longer attracted her. He gave a reluctant "Mmm" and said, "I'm going to take a shower."
Qiao Shu smiled and agreed.
The bathroom light came on, and soon the sound of water could be heard. Qiao Shu picked up her phone and saw Song Yue's post on WeChat Moments. She had indeed signed up for boxing lessons, with one-on-one instruction from the coach. Sweat was dripping from her flushed face. Qiao Shu smiled and gave it a like.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Yu Zeheng came out.
Qiao Shu caught a glimpse of a cold white figure out of the corner of her eye. As her brain analyzed what she was seeing, she looked up again in disbelief and saw Yu Zeheng coming out wrapped in a bath towel.
He had only hastily dried his upper body with a bath towel, and water droplets were still on his skin, sliding down his muscle lines.
The bath towel was wrapped loosely, revealing the V-line of his abdomen. As he walked, Qiao Shu could almost see the top of his legs.
Her face felt slightly hot.
Yu Zeheng's face, fresh from washing, had a pale pinkish hue, bright red lips, and dark eyes. His handsome face was captivating.
Qiao Shu thought the phrase "lotus emerging from water" was also a suitable description for the man before her.
Qiao Shu hugged the blanket, her gaze following him from the bathroom door to the bedside. She raised the corners of her lips, somewhat knowing what his intentions were.
He used his good looks to seduce her.
That's really shameless.
Yu Zeheng did not go directly to bed, but instead hunched over with his taut back holding his phone, the lines of his back smooth and obvious, taut into an arc.
It looks just like when you're gathering your strength.
The water droplets clinging to her skin evaporated little by little from her body heat, and she smelled the moist and refreshing scent.
It tickled her heart like a kitten's paw.
Qiao Shu pursed her lips, somewhat agitated: "Aren't you cold?"
"Aren't you cold?" Yu Zeheng placed his hand on the bath towel, seemingly about to remove it and put on his pants, but then paused and looked at Qiao Shu. "You shouldn't be cold. Your face is so red, you must be very hot."
Qiao Shu shifted her gaze from his hands back to his face: "What do I have to be ashamed of?"
Yu Zeheng calmly replied, "That's right, you're not interested in me."
"Are you done yet? Can you go to sleep?" Qiao Shu's mouth was dry. She thought that she had seen it before, but this half-covered look was more attractive than usual.
"alright."
He reached for the bath towel, and Qiao Shu bit her lip. However, the next second, the lights were also turned off.
In the darkness, the only sound was the sound of a bath towel being thrown onto the sofa.
Qiao Shu's vision went completely black; she couldn't see anything except for the graceful undulations of the last scene.
This is really bad.
Qiao Shu was caught in a limbo, pouting unhappily. The side of the bed sank in, and the next moment, she was pulled into someone's arms, the moist, vibrant heat surrounding her.
"Miss Qiao, your eyes were glued to me as soon as I came out of the bathroom. Isn't that a bit impolite?" A low voice sounded in her ear.
"You did this on purpose, dressing like this to lure me in." Qiao Shu was held tightly in his arms, the heat of his breath like a silent threat.
"You're not interested in me, so you're not interested in what I wear."
I can't stop remembering her words; some people are really petty.
"As long as you understand." Qiao Shu wanted to soften and melt in this heat, but she was determined to keep playing along with him.
Yu Zeheng continued, still completely naked, but he seriously discussed with her why she had lost interest in him. Was it because they had spent too much time together, or because they had been intimate too often, causing her to no longer like him?
He went from being uninterested to disliking her; he really knows how to make a big deal out of small things.
Qiao Shu's tone was like that of a heartless, heartless woman: "You know, it's human nature to get tired of the old and crave the new. There are so many handsome guys around, you see them all, and they're all just so-so, you don't feel anything."
She almost cried out as soon as she finished speaking.
□*□
"You didn't feel anything when you kissed me?" Yu Zeheng lowered his head and kissed her eyes first in the darkness. He felt the trembling of her eyelashes on his lips, and then his lips.
□*□
Yu Zeheng took her hand and placed it on his chest: "You don't feel anything either?"
"Um!"
□*□
□*□
"Little liar."
Yu Zeheng whispered in her ear, "My legs are all wet."
"..."
□*□
□*□
They got to know each other through touch in the dark.
"When are we going to remarry?" Yu Zeheng asked, hugging her from behind.
"You bastard!" Qiao Shu swayed back and forth, the blanket was too slippery, and apart from him, she had no fixed spot. She grumbled and complained, "Who proposes in bed?"
If it weren't brought up now, given Qiao Shu's personality, she would have simply found another topic to avoid it.
“I was very serious,” Yu Zeheng said in a hoarse voice, “I’ve been kneeling the whole time.”
Qiao Shu's face turned bright red. Of course she knew he was kneeling, but didn't he know why he was kneeling?
Yu Zeheng is a complete bastard!
Qiao Shu gripped the headboard, her strength failing her several times. She exhaled a breath of air, realizing she had lost her composure, but had to keep a straight face: "I disagree!"
Qiao Shu was now forced into a disadvantageous position, so how could she want him to have his way? Her arms got tired after a while, and before she lay down, Yu Zeheng put a pillow under her lower abdomen.
"All right."
Yu Zeheng said helplessly, "Then I'll kneel for a while longer."
"roll!!!"
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Author's Note: Here I am, haha! Seeing everyone's comments, I almost dare not say it's too long anymore.
I saw the extra episode and ordered food, so I wrote it down. Welcome, Momo!
50 red envelopes, kiss kiss!
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