Chapter 40 The invitation to start a family with her almost slipped through her fingers...
He Yanzhou knew her too well; even three minutes would be too much.
But he felt it wasn't nearly enough. He stepped back a little, raised his hand, and made sure to take care of every fingertip of his four fingers together.
He looked down at Zhu Xu, "Are you alright?"
Zhu Xucai ignored him and covered his face with his hands.
He Yanzhou smiled, his fingertips already completely wet, and he rubbed them up and down quickly.
Zhu Xu was completely unable to bear it, and in an instant, he collapsed at the top.
He Yanzhou paused for a moment at the almost sobbing scream that she was covering with her hands, then quickly bent down to hug her.
He was willing to be tossed around by her wanting and not wanting things, and he also liked to see her trembling as she bit her lip with a dreamy look in her eyes.
For all happiness begins with him and ends with him.
He Yanzhou calmed down and said, "I'll take a shower first."
It was past midnight when it ended, and He Yanzhou stayed overnight at her place.
The bedroom lights were off, and a faint light from the living room seeped in through the slightly ajar door.
Zhu Xu felt aches in her back, legs, and lower abdomen. Her body rapidly rose and fell, repeating this several times until she was exhausted. She lay on the edge of the bed, her head resting on He Yanzhou's lap, as he used a hairdryer to dry her hair.
The bedroom bed was only slightly higher than the tatami mats. He Yanzhou was tall and had long legs, so when she sat on the edge of the bed, her knees bent at a large angle. She was in a very comfortable position with her head on the bed.
A buzzing sound filled his ears as Zhu Xu pressed his forehead against his abdomen, his fingers tightening around the straps of his robe.
“That’s fine,” she said.
He Yanzhou didn't stop moving, blowing on his still slightly damp hair. Strands of hair slipped through his fingers, spreading out like seaweed on his legs.
He turned off the hairdryer, smoothed her long hair, and gently stroked her forehead with his hand: "It seems like you always had short hair back in school."
"Hmm," she said. "I had long hair for a few years, then short hair for a few years, it wasn't very consistent."
"That's quite easygoing."
"I'll get tired of seeing it after a while." Her chest sank inexplicably. After a moment of silence, she turned to look at him above her. "I have a question."
"Go ahead and ask."
"...When did you start having feelings for me?"
He Yanzhou thought for a moment and found it difficult to describe the whole process to her, and he was even unclear about when he had truly fallen in love.
In the past ten years or so, he has never waited for her, nor has he met anyone he particularly liked.
He was 15 when he broke up with her. His first relationship was seven years later. He was certain that he hadn't harbored any romantic feelings for Zhu Xu during that time before he started dating Sun Ning. He was very serious about that relationship. Six months wasn't a short time, but it ended naturally without any conflict.
Later, when he went hiking with his senior brother Liang, it seemed as if by fate that the amulet she gave him saved his life. Only then did he realize that she was a faint but indelible presence in his heart.
I had no intention of having anything happen between us, otherwise I wouldn't have waited until the class reunion to find her. In fact, after learning that she was married that night, I felt it was absurd for me to be there. But with each subsequent encounter, various things touched my heart, and that deep-seated memory was unearthed. The desire to possess her permanently grew stronger and stronger, becoming uncontrollable and determined.
Not wanting to use these emotions, which he himself couldn't even understand, to beautify himself, he simply answered, "The year before last."
"Tell me more."
"It's gone."
Zhu Xu muttered unhappily in a low voice, "Perfunctory."
He Yanzhou smiled but still didn't explain.
"At the class reunion two years ago, you..." she said, a little embarrassed, "...you came here for me too?"
“Otherwise what? Do you think I’m so free that I’d waste my time on classmates I haven’t contacted in ages?” He added, “I ran into Liu Chuang by chance once, and he invited me to join him. I thought I hadn’t seen him for over ten years and wanted to see what he had become.”
Zhu Xu asked anxiously, "Were you disappointed?"
"have."
Her breath hitched, but then she heard him say, "I was very disappointed to learn that you got married."
"Tch." Zhu Xu lightly poked his waist.
He Yanzhou grasped that hand and rubbed it firmly in his palm: "As for the rest, I am overjoyed."
These words made Zhu Xu feel flattered, and he couldn't help but press his head against him: "Am I handsome?"
"It looks absolutely beautiful."
Zhu Xu could barely suppress a smile. "Then how long did it take you to recognize me?"
"Half a second." He raised his hand to separate her forehead, turning his body slightly away. "Behave yourself, don't rub against me."
Zhu Xu obediently stopped moving, letting him run his fingers through her hair, again and again, from the roots to the tips. The slight pulling sensation was extremely comfortable, making her drowsy.
The night was quiet, and a gentle breeze rustled the shadows of the trees, casting them onto the light-colored curtains by the window.
Zhu Xu suddenly opened his eyes, propped himself up to sit up despite his aching body, and reached out to pull him: "Lie down quickly, it's warm under the covers."
He Yanzhou lifted the corner of the blanket and lay down beside her.
Zhu Xu immediately rolled to his side and snuggled into his arms.
The two bodies were completely different; one was extremely cold, and the other was extremely warm.
Zhu Xu couldn't help but shudder, but didn't flinch: "Do you think feelings are like hairstyles, that you get tired of them after a while?"
He Yanzhou knew that she still lacked a sense of security, and that any answer to this question would be meaningless; only time could tell.
He joked, "Don't worry, you're still you whether you have short hair or long hair."
Zhu Xu smiled silently, and didn't ask any more questions for a long time. He placed his hand on the man's chest, then lowered it, and lowered it again...
In the darkness, He Yanzhou suddenly said in a deep voice, "Haven't you figured me out yet?"
"I see through it, I see through it," Zhu Xu said quickly, withdrawing her hand and looking up at him. Her voice was soft: "Maybe I should be more reserved in the future, so I can keep things fresh. I feel like I'm a two-faced person. I usually hate socializing, but when I'm with you..." She became unrestrained and bold. She didn't finish her sentence.
He Yanzhou smiled silently: "You can be yourself in front of me. Your concerns are exactly what I like."
"real?"
"real."
Zhu Xu's eyes lit up. After fidgeting in the blankets for a few seconds, she took a step and climbed onto him. She draped the blankets over herself like a small hill, biting her lip: "Well... I want to try it."
"What?"
She suddenly pulled the blanket over her head.
He Yanzhou's eyes darkened. She took a deep breath. She was slow and clumsy, and simply couldn't do it. She never expected that she would now be suffering the same torment, like a frog in slowly boiling water, enduring unbearable agony.
He closed his eyes, yanked off the blanket, and dragged the person to the ground, making them kneel. He then stood up.
Sometimes, Zhu Xu felt that He Yanzhou lacked gentleness, like now, or like the muffled thuds like high-fives in the bathroom just now.
She looked up and saw his deep, unfathomable eyes filled with a hint of confusion. His lips were pursed, and he was looking intently into her eyes. The hand behind her head was firmly planted on her thigh, which was taut with excitement. She raised her hand to support herself against his thigh, which was tense from excitement, and felt a lump in her throat.
The room was quiet, with a sliver of cold white light streaming in from the window.
Zhu Xu realized that she might never forget the moonlight of today and the special scent that surrounded her, which belonged only to him.
The two finally quieted down as the sky began to lighten.
Some time later, He Yanzhou took half a day to visit the tattoo shop that He Xi had closed down.
The day ended at exactly 5 p.m., and he went straight back to the hotel to attend his third uncle's dinner party.
He Sheng didn't return to Lincheng for the Spring Festival; he still had a small home in Beidao. The girl he was talking to was delicate and charming, and even younger than He Yanzhou.
He Yanzhou declined to comment on his lifestyle.
He had already guessed most of the purpose of tonight's banquet.
When he arrived at the private room, his third uncle had not yet arrived, and several vice presidents were sitting at the card table playing cards.
Upon seeing him enter, Wang Jinxiang, who had bumped into him last time, immediately stood up and offered his seat: "President He, come quickly, I'm having bad luck today, can I borrow your Taobao account?"
He Yanzhou didn't even glance at him; he's the kind of person who holds grudges.
After exchanging pleasantries with others, he went to the other end of the table to watch someone repair the security camera.
This room is the most spacious in the entire banquet hall, and it's usually very popular. I heard a few days ago that the security cameras were broken, and the staff kept dragging them around before finally replacing them.
He Yanzhou hunched over slightly, propped his elbows on the back of the chair, and looked up listlessly.
Before long, the engineering department finished the replacement and said goodbye as they left: "General Manager He."
He Yanzhou casually asked, "Is it usable now?"
"Absolutely no problem."
He nodded slightly, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone coming in through the door. He then stood up and looked in that direction.
He Sheng stood in front of the door with a cigar in his mouth and a beer belly sticking out. He had a girl in his arms, with light makeup, long hair, and a height that was half a head taller than him.
He was followed by two bodyguards, both of whom were strong and had unfriendly faces.
"Third Uncle." He Yanzhou nodded first.
He Sheng looked over and grinned from ear to ear: "My son is here." That's what he called him.
He Yanzhou smiled.
The other people in the room also got up and eagerly gathered around. After chatting for a while, they all sat down.
He Sheng stood close to He Yanzhou and patted him on the shoulder: "You haven't had a moment's peace even during the New Year. You haven't had time to go back to Lincheng. How are my brother and sister-in-law's health?"
"Uncle is worried, everything is fine."
Where is Xiaoxi?
He Yanzhou said, "I was complaining about being bored during winter break, so I came to Beidao yesterday."
"Why didn't you invite her out for a meal? What kind of brother are you?" He said in a deep, smoky voice, then looked down to reach for his phone: "I'll call her later."
He Yanzhou stopped her, saying, "She's always causing trouble when she comes; just ignore her."
After chatting casually for a while, the waiter served all the dishes. They raised their glasses to wish each other a Happy New Year and then started eating.
Soon, someone brought up the topic: "I heard that the resort hotel on the street is opening next month. I asked around and all the rooms there are fully booked. With the peak season approaching, will this affect us?"
"It's hard to say," Wang Jinxiang chimed in. "Although they are not as large as us, and their interior decoration and facilities are not necessarily top-notch, their services are more comprehensive, so their customer base should be wider."
Someone asked, "What kind of projects are there? We cater to couples, families, and business travelers, and we have amusement parks, shops, and various leisure spaces, which is quite comprehensive."
Wang Jinxiang: "They added bathing and massage therapy."
The man chimed in, "No wonder."
Their coordinated efforts couldn't be clearer.
He Yanzhou remained unmoved, savoring the original flavor of the steamed grouper, which was very fresh and delicious. He then waved his hand behind him to call the waiter over: "Please make me an extra portion to take away later."
The other person nodded and tiptoed out.
An unusual silence fell over the table for a few seconds. Wang Jinxiang dared not say anything more and gave He Sheng a pleading look. The latter slowly puffed on his cigar, then leaned forward and stubbed it out in the ashtray after a while.
"Yanzhou." He didn't like beating around the bush: "Give your third uncle the truth, what's your opinion?"
He Yanzhou paused with his chopsticks: "I don't agree."
He Sheng guessed it.
He Yanzhou put down his chopsticks and said bluntly, "The highest value of a resort hotel is to enhance happiness, so every corner must be clean enough. Also, I will not get involved in this kind of industry." He paused, then turned to look at He Sheng: "Uncle, I made this point clear before we started working together."
“Okay.” He Sheng readily agreed. He admired and liked this younger man even more than his own son. “From now on, let’s not mention this matter to anyone. If you want to run a bathhouse, I’ll find another place.”
The meal was fairly pleasant, and afterwards, He Yanzhou returned to Zhu Xu's place.
He went upstairs and unlocked the door, a room lit up, and Zhu Xu's voice was muffled inside: "You're back?"
He Yanzhou was stunned for a moment, finding it hard to describe his feelings at that moment. It took him a while to step inside and close the door behind him.
She was in the kitchen, dressed in a black and white checkered loungewear outfit with an apron tied around her waist. Her hair was casually curled, with the ends of her hair sticking out to one side like little brooms.
Her cooking skills weren't particularly proficient, but she was methodical and organized.
He Yanzhou leaned against the door and watched for a while.
She raised her hand and turned on the exhaust fan, which immediately switched on the overhead light source, casting a thick, warm orange glow throughout. She stood right in the center.
He Yanzhou's gaze never left the room, his heart even more moved than when he first entered. The scene before him was one of warmth and life he had never experienced before.
My feelings for her are pieced together from countless moments.
At this moment, add one instantly.
Zhu Xu turned around and asked with a smile, "What are you doing there?"
He Yanzhou went inside, put the steamed grouper he had brought back aside, and hugged her waist from behind: "Why are you only eating at this hour?"
"I went to check out the scene with Zhao Siqiao." His breath was right next to her ear, and she shrank back, ticklish. "I made ginger porridge, do you want a bowl?"
"good."
She glanced to the side: "What's that?"
"I had steamed grouper at the dinner party, and I thought it tasted pretty good, so I'll pack some for you to try."
"Here we go again, Mr. He, aren't you ashamed?" she said, but she was secretly overjoyed.
"Who cares?" he asked. "What are you cooking?"
The shredded potatoes in the pan sizzled and steamed. She said, "Tomatoes." As soon as she finished speaking, he smiled happily beside her ear, and at the same time, he tightened his grip on her waist as if punishing her.
Zhu Xu paused for two seconds, then twisted his body and said, "Stop fooling around, or it'll burn."
"I'll help you." He smoothed her clothes and took her hand that was holding the spatula.
"don't want."
"Come on." He Yanzhou had no idea how to cook. He was just deliberately making things difficult for her to tease her. Zhu Xu wasn't as strong as him, so she couldn't push him away or dodge him. She could only let him rummage around with her for a few minutes, and a few strands of potato shreds were pulled off the outside.
Zhu Xu was both angry and amused, and said in a soft voice, "You're so annoying."
He Yanzhou stopped teasing her, bracing himself against the edge of the table with both hands, still keeping her in the middle. Her profile was serene and gentle, her long eyelashes drooping, and her hair seemed to be covered with a layer of orange.
"Xiao Xu," he suddenly called her softly. The invitation to start a family with her almost slipped out, but he managed to hold it back.
Zhu Xu turned his head: "Hmm?"
He Yanzhou straightened up and leaned in to kiss her lips. His movements were incredibly gentle; his lips lightly pressed against her lower lip, and his hand cupped her chin, turning her slightly to face him. Their breaths mingled, and he heard her make a very soft "mmm" sound. She put down the spatula, turned to face him, and reached out to hook her arms around his neck, returning his kiss passionately.
He Yanzhou seemed to sigh deeply, then his tongue probed inside, kissing her even more passionately.
Much later, a burnt smell wafted from the kitchen; the shredded potatoes had indeed been overcooked. To avoid waste, Zhu Xu scooped out the top layer, which was barely edible.
The two went to the restaurant, where He Yanzhou drank a bowl of ginger porridge and ate a few bites of shredded potatoes. The fish he brought back suited Zhu Xu's taste, and she ate most of it herself.
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