Chapter 42 "The Boat!"
He Yanzhou propped himself up with his lower arm, pressed his body horizontally, and squeezed Zhu Xu into the gap between the sofa and the sofa.
He gently kissed Zhu Xu, feeling her raise her hand to cup his earlobe, her cool fingertips running up his neck and through his hair, before she gripped it tightly.
He Yanzhou's breathing hitched slightly. He stopped what he was doing, glanced at her eyes briefly, and then pressed them down again, losing control of himself.
The light peck turned into a nibble, his teeth gently tearing at her lips, his tongue searching for them, playing with them, licking them.
The kiss was wet and deep; he ended the passionate kiss with a heavy sucking, then lowered his head to kiss her neck.
"Hmm..." Zhu Xu raised his chin, his voice trembling. He could feel the hot breath burning his skin, and his own heartbeat seemed to rise to his throat.
The two-seater sofa is on the low side, but the armrests are at a suitable height.
Zhu Xu covered his face with his hands and buried himself in the sofa. His abdomen was supported by the armrests, so he had to stand on tiptoe to barely support himself on the floor.
The rain outside seemed to respond to each other, and it grew heavier and heavier without anyone noticing. The large raindrops seemed to be hitting the glass one after another, and then it intensified, forming a rapid and dense line.
Unexpectedly, Bei Dao's first spring rain came with great force.
Zhu Xu's heart also felt damp, as if filled with rainwater. Unconsciously, her voice became intermittent and fragmented as she spoke, calling his name in a delicate voice: "Zhou!"
She paused behind him, and felt as if a torrential downpour was about to engulf the entire world. Overwhelmed by the onslaught, she bit her lip and reached back to grab his arm before she could suffocate.
So He Yanzhou slowed down, bent down and kissed her, his lips lingering on her back.
Zhu Xu felt a sudden numbness in his mind and couldn't help but curl up, causing small goosebumps to rise on his skin.
Soon after, He Yanzhou withdrew, squeezed into the sofa, and faced her. Let's go again.
Their lunch break was ultimately ruined, and by the end, both of them were drenched in sweat.
Nothing moved; only the sound of rain could be heard in the room.
He Yanzhou remained on top of her, his head buried in her neck and shoulders with his eyes closed, but he used his elbows and knees to distribute half of his weight, so she didn't feel any discomfort.
Zhu Xu turned his head to the side and quietly looked at the gloomy sky outside the window.
Her hand hung off the sofa, still intertwined with his. Her fingertips touched the skin on the back of his hand, little by little, slipping between his fingers to touch the base of his ring finger.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
He Yanzhou slightly opened his eyes, his voice a little hoarse: "What?"
"I can't believe it took me so long to see it." His skin was so smooth that you couldn't even trace the outline of the tattoo with your hand.
He Yanzhou said, "We don't spend much time together, so it's normal that you didn't see it."
Aside from his return to Lincheng, which separated them, they were mostly busy with their own lives. Sometimes when he came back, she was already asleep, and by the time he finally managed to squeeze out a little time, she was already rushing around to various sites, so busy that she barely had time to breathe.
"It's just a tattoo," he said casually. "Otherwise, He Xi would be itching to get it and keep thinking about you."
Zhu Xu said, "Your older brother is really good."
He Yanzhou raised an eyebrow: "Shouldn't you praise me for being a competent partner?"
Zhu Xu was very generous: "I'll give you a 9.9 out of 10."
He Yanzhou was fairly satisfied. No one is perfect, so there was no need to dwell on the 0.1 point difference she deducted. He was silent when he heard her say, "100 points is the maximum."
He Yanzhou laughed out of anger, turned his head and bit her neck, his teeth opening and closing slightly, alternating between left and right, successfully making her giggle and beg for mercy in a soft voice.
I lay down for a while longer until the sweat subsided.
They removed the used item and threw it in the trash can, then went to take a shower together.
He Yanzhou came out first, went to the bedroom to get clean pajamas and took them into the bathroom, then went to his desk to handle official business.
The sky seemed to have cleared up a bit, the rain had slowed down, and clusters of newly sprouted tree buds were appearing downstairs, emerald green and glossy.
Zhu Xu brewed a cup of Pu'er tea and brought it over to him.
"Thank you." He kept his eyes on the computer and didn't look up.
"You're welcome," Zhu Xu replied casually.
She went to the kitchen, rummaged through the refrigerator and found the raw chestnuts she had bought a few days ago. She rinsed them several times with cold water, pressed out a cross-shaped opening with a sheller, and put them into the oven.
While waiting, I arranged the bunch of peonies in a vase, picked some fruit, cut it up, and plated it, then took it all to the table on the balcony.
She moved very quietly, so as not to disturb his work.
There was a recliner next to it, forming a right angle with the chair He Yanzhou was sitting on, also placed next to the table.
Zhu Xu picked a book from the bookshelf, lay down on the recliner, and first held up a piece of melon to his lips. Without looking at what it was, he opened his mouth and ate it.
The book he chose was "The Secrets of Flower Arrangement," which introduced hundreds of types of flowers and flower arranging techniques. Zhu Xu casually flipped through a few pages, touched the chestnuts to check their temperature, peeled one open, and let him taste it first.
"Is it delicious?" she asked expectantly.
The chestnuts are freshly baked, with a smooth texture and moderate sweetness.
“It’s delicious,” he said.
Zhu Xu smiled and didn't bother him any longer.
The living room returned to silence, with the occasional sound of typing and turning pages.
Silently, warm sunlight streamed in from the west, bathing her in its glow. The rain had stopped.
Zhu Xu turned to look outside for a while and suddenly felt that everything at this moment was full of happiness.
She couldn't help but turn her head with difficulty, as if only by seeing him could she confirm the reality of this feeling.
He Yanzhou seemed to sense something and shifted his gaze to her face: "What's wrong?"
"No." Zhu Xu straightened his head.
He Yanzhou couldn't look away for a moment; from his angle, he could see her full forehead and gently drooping eyelashes. The gentle sunset danced on the tip of her nose.
The thick picture book was draped over her lap as she flipped through it while eating some fruit from the table.
The porcelain plate held sliced honeydew melon, apples, and a few cherry tomatoes.
He Yanzhou raised his hand and moved the fruit plate elsewhere. Not long after, he saw her reach out, her slender fingers exploring the table. Finally, she had no choice but to turn her head, confirm the location of the fruit plate, and then pick up a cherry tomato to eat.
He Yanzhou smiled silently, took a small, bright red fruit and put it in his mouth, then moved the fruit plate away.
Zhu Xu didn't turn around, but deliberately let out a long sigh and muttered softly, "You're so childish."
He Yanzhou smiled faintly and remained silent, then raised his hand and gently tapped her forehead.
Zhu Xu touched the spot where he had tapped her; he seemed to particularly enjoy teasing her like that.
She turned around and half-leaned on the recliner to look at him: "Finished with work?"
"almost."
She rested her arm on the backrest and her chin on it: "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat out or cook at home?"
"Whatever you say." He Yanzhou patted his leg. "Come sit here."
Zhu Xu obediently got up, walked around the recliner, and straddled his lap. She sat on top of him, cupping his face in her hands.
He Yanzhou leaned back in his chair, placed his hand on her waist and hips, and looked up slightly into her eyes.
Zhu Xu leaned in, and the two kissed passionately and tenderly.
The setting sun cast its light on the table behind them, and tiny dust particles danced freely in the light.
The bunch of peonies on the corner of the table will not bloom for a few more days. In its current state, the plump buds are tightly wrapped by the calyx.
A whole afternoon of tender moments, with torrential rain outside followed by sunshine, and only the two of them at home, everything was extremely pleasant.
Before long, Zhu Xu was panting heavily, his head resting on his shoulder to calm his racing heartbeat.
When asked what came to mind, she said, "Xiaoxi has a lot of creative ideas and ingenuity in her mind. You can tell that she really likes the profession of tattoo artist."
He Yanzhou couldn't help but open his palm and look at it, admitting that he had been prejudiced against her before, but now he had to admit that the little girl was indeed quite capable.
He said, "If she insists, she can keep the tattoo shop open after graduation."
"Then she must be very happy."
"You still have to finish reading the book."
"Of course." Zhu Xu recalled the funny things that happened when he first met He Xi and asked him, "Have you seen Xiao Xi's resource library?"
"No."
"The contents are incredibly rich." She smiled and said, "When I first contacted her, she showed me a folder filled with line drawings of men and women in various poses. I was shocked. Who would get those kinds of designs tattooed on their body?"
He Yanzhou belatedly frowned, and for a moment, many sounds and images flashed through his mind, but it only took him a few seconds to draw a conclusion.
His face darkened: "He Xi and Zheng Zhi are dating?"
This question stumped Zhu Xu, who shook her head blankly, "I don't know. How could that be?"
That evening, the two did not go out. Zhu Xu gathered all the ingredients in the refrigerator and made a very simple meal of two dishes and a soup.
A few days later, He Yanzhou went to Jidao Island with his subordinates.
The plot of land they had bid on was near the sea, and because it was situated on a hillside, it offered an extremely expansive view. He Yanzhou stood on a smooth rock, looked into the distance, turned around, and saw Qingfeng Temple, hidden among the trees, several hundred meters away. Facing him was the wall where he and Zhu Xu had first met.
He watched silently for a while, then turned his head and saw Zheng Zhi standing not far away, looking at his phone and flashing a bright white smile. His expression immediately darkened.
He Yanzhou stepped off the rock, supporting himself on his arm, and walked to his side: "He Xi, are you coming to Beidao for Labor Day?"
“She said she would.” Zheng Zhi’s mouth moved faster than his brain.
"Do you keep in touch frequently?"
Zheng Zhi realized something was wrong, so he obediently put away his phone and didn't dare to answer immediately.
He Yanzhou asked directly, "Where are you at?"
"Mr. He, I..."
No further confirmation was needed; his reaction spoke volumes.
He Yanzhou didn't say a word, dusted himself off, and turned to walk away.
On the eve of Labor Day, the hotel experienced a surge in bookings, and by the morning of the 30th, all rooms were sold out.
The sun has been shining brightly for days, the weather has warmed up, and a gentle breeze carrying the salty scent of the sea has been blowing everywhere, making it pleasant and comfortable.
Several plants in the hotel lobby were rotting and turning black. Zhu Xu came over with the maintenance worker to take a look and then asked the movers to deliver a Black Diamond Rubber Tree to He Yanzhou's office.
She had given him a heads-up before he came in, and when he entered, he was reviewing a document.
Zhu Xu pointed in a direction to his two masters, and the three of them quietly placed the Black King Kong in the corner of the bookshelf behind him, filling that empty space.
He Yanzhou glanced at her briefly, finished reviewing the remaining documents, signed them, and handed them to his secretary. After everyone left, he turned slightly and saw her squatting there adjusting the angle of the flowerpot.
The matte black square ceramic basin looked quite heavy. He got up and went over, just about to reach for it, when she said, "I'll do it."
He Yanzhou then straightened up.
Zhu Xu was thin but strong, and moved nimbly to the left, adjusting the Black King Kong to the best viewing angle.
He Yanzhou leaned back on the sofa armrest, hands in his pockets: "What's this called?"
"Rubber tree".
The tree is nearly two meters tall, with thick, intertwined branches and large, sturdy leaves at the top. In natural indoor light, the leaves appear a pure dark green, but when the afternoon sun shines on them, they turn a glossy black.
It is healthy and strong.
A few days ago at the flower market, Zhu Xu took a liking to this plant at first sight.
He Yanzhou asked, "Is there any symbolic meaning?"
Zhu Xu stood up, took a few steps back, and looked at the whole thing with great satisfaction. The leather texture of the black leather had a very business-like feel.
She said, "Most of these kinds of plants symbolize wealth and prosperity. I think this one is of excellent quality, very resilient and healthy." She walked over to He Yanzhou and said, "It doesn't have high requirements for sunlight and water, you can take good care of it. Just water it once a week to keep the soil moist, and I'll come over twice a month to fertilize it."
He seemed very obedient: "Okay."
Zhu Xu leaned against him, touched his face, and said softly, "This is your homework."
"I will definitely finish it carefully." After a moment, he smiled and said, "Thank you for remembering me, Teacher Zhu."
"Given our relationship, it's only right."
Perhaps they were reminded of the past, for they both smiled.
He Yanzhou pulled the person into his arms and gently shook them a few times.
It was almost noon, and they planned to go downstairs to the restaurant for lunch.
Zhu Xu went to the restroom to wash his hands, then came out and asked, "Have you asked Xiao Xi? She and Zheng Zhi..."
“I didn’t ask.” He Yanzhou picked up his suit jacket and came over to take Zhu Xu’s hand. “But I can confirm it.”
What is your attitude?
He Yanzhou paused for a moment: "I won't interfere, nor will I be optimistic about it."
He Xi eventually found out that He Yanzhou knew the truth. Zheng Zhi dared not hide it from her.
On the first day of the Labor Day holiday, He Xi rushed over from school with a mix of anxiety and trepidation. She arrived in Beidao in the evening, still wary of He Yanzhou, so she first called Zhu Xu to test the waters.
After ending the call, she immediately called a car and went to Zhu Xu's house.
When Zhu Xulai opened the door, He Yanzhou was taking a bath.
He Xi was completely different from her swaggering demeanor during her first visit. While changing her shoes, she peeked inside and mouthed, "Where's my brother?"
Zhu Xu: "Taking a bath."
Even her normal volume startled her.
He Xi shushed him, tiptoed into the living room, and sat down properly on the sofa.
Suddenly, she couldn't understand why she was so timid and afraid of him. She was just in a relationship; she hadn't done anything heinous.
Thinking this, she subtly raised her chin to bolster her confidence.
But after a short while, he slumped down again, looking dejected.
Strangely enough, she had been willful and fearless since childhood, but in this matter, she had not worried about her mother, but was more concerned about He Yanzhou's reaction.
Zhu Xu placed a glass of juice in her hand: "Have you had dinner?"
"No." She touched her stomach and said pitifully, "Sister-in-law, I'm so hungry."
As if he had already gotten used to it, Zhu Xu didn't immediately correct her way of addressing him. He racked his brains to recall what ingredients were left in the kitchen so he could quickly make something to fill her stomach.
Just then, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.
Not long after, He Yanzhou came out wearing a white T-shirt and gray casual pants, with a towel draped around his neck and his hair still damp.
He Xi stood up: "Brother."
He Yanzhou glanced over, his expression unreadable for a moment: "How did you get here?"
"High-speed train".
He nodded and sat down in the chair. "Have you had dinner?"
"My sister-in-law made it for me."
He Yanzhou didn't say anything. After a brief silence, he stood up, took a few booklets from his desk, and handed them to her: "These are some tattoo schools in Japan. See which one you prefer. If you don't want to continue studying sculpture, you can go there for targeted training."
He Xi was stunned, never expecting him to pull this tactic. He knew her passion for tattooing, and yet he used it as leverage to force them to break up.
He Xi found it hard to remain calm: "What did I do wrong? Why do they have to send me away?"
"It's not mandatory; it's up to you whether you go or not."
He Xi clenched the booklet in her hand: "But you know I can't refuse your conditions."
He Yanzhou paused for a moment, deciding not to beat around the bush any longer: "You've been hiding it all along, do you also feel there's a gap between you and Zheng Zhi? Or that you might even face obstacles?"
He Xi retorted, "You think he's poor?"
"That's true. At least under the current circumstances, it would be very difficult to support a family, especially if the person in question is you."
He Xi was speechless.
He Yanzhou concluded by saying, "If you want to continue, you must do two things: first, be self-reliant; second, be willing to accept an ordinary life where material needs are not met."
After he finished speaking, he saw Zhu Xu walk in carrying a tray, so he didn't say anything more harsh.
The room fell silent for a moment, and no one spoke.
Zhu Xu fried rice with a sunny-side-up egg, but He Xi didn't touch it. After sitting for a while, she touched the temperature of the bowl, then looked up at He Yanzhou.
He Yanzhou also glanced at her.
The two did not exchange any words, but he stood up and said, "I still have some things to take care of at the hotel. I'll go there. It's too late, so I'll stay here."
Zhu Xu nodded: "Then be careful on the road."
He Xi stayed here that night, and it was clear she was in a bad mood, as she curled up in a ball on the sofa.
Zhu Xu didn't offer many words of comfort, after all, He Yanzhou had already made his point very clear. Seeing that she still refused to eat, he couldn't help but offer a word of comfort: "The first point your brother made was that he wants you to be self-reliant. He only wants you to study, he hasn't said anything else, has he?"
After a moment, He Xi finally moved and looked up at her.
Zhu Xu pushed the tray: "Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets any hotter."
He Xi slowly picked up her chopsticks and sniffed twice: "Sister-in-law, you're so good. What good deeds did I do in my past life to have a sister-in-law like you?"
"..." Zhu Xu wanted to laugh; even in his distress, he couldn't resist being sweet-talking.
After eating, the two took a shower and sat side by side on the sofa watching TV.
He Xi shared every interesting thing she and Zheng Zhijian did with Zhu Xu. Zhu Xu nodded occasionally and smiled occasionally.
Around 8 o'clock, the phone started vibrating.
Zhu Xu thought it was He Yanzhou, so he reached under the pillow for his phone and was surprised to see Zhu Luan's name on the screen.
She went to the balcony and answered the call.
“Sister,” Zhu Luan said.
"Zhu Luan." She leaned on the windowsill with her elbows. "Did you go home for the holidays? Or did you stay at school?"
"at home."
Zhu Xu: "Oh." Guessing that he had something to say, he waited for him to speak.
Zhu Luan stammered for a while, "Sister, that scumbag has been released from prison..."
Zhu Xuxin's heart sank.
“…I went to play basketball last night and saw him leaving when I came back. I asked my mom, and she said that scumbag wanted to get back together with you and came to ask about you.” He paused for a long time, finding it hard to say: “You sent me clothes for the New Year, and there was an address on them. My mom…my mom told him.”
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