Chapter 80 I Like Your Unlovable Side...
On Saturday morning, at 6:30, Jiang Nuanyu woke up at the same time as Liang Qi.
She looked at him without saying a word, her dark eyes sparkling, but there seemed to be a layer of displeasure in them.
Liang Qi leaned over and kissed her eyelids, then touched her eyebrows and said, "Did I wake you up?"
Jiang Nuanyu didn't answer him. After a few seconds, she shook her head.
Liang Qi kissed her cheek again and coaxed her gently, "Sleep a little longer."
Seeing him about to get out of bed, Jiang Nuanyu reached out and wrapped her arm around his waist. Liang Qi had just gotten up halfway when she suddenly pulled him back onto the bed. She tilted her head to his side and said, "Hmm, I want to hold you for a while."
She's becoming increasingly clingy to him, and compared to the past, she's expressing her needs for him more directly. Liang Qi is also adapting to her changes, cooperating as much as he can when possible.
He sat and turned to her, letting her comfortably rest her head on his lap and hug him.
Jiang Nuanyu remained silent for a while, then suddenly called out to him, "Liang Qi..."
Liang Qi: "Hmm?"
Jiang Nuanyu fell silent for a moment.
Liang Qi turned her face around, casually brushed the hair away from her face, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Nuanyu said in a muffled voice, "I dreamt that I was in Paris, and when I woke up, I found that you were already gone... without even saying a word to me."
Liang Qi paused, then smiled silently. He had said she hadn't been behaving herself this morning.
He cleaned up the mess in her dream, saying, "It's my fault."
Jiang Nuanyu was easy to coax. Hearing him say that, the slight gloom in her heart caused by the dream immediately disappeared. But she still went a step further and said, "Then kiss me."
Liang Qi took one of her hands and kissed the back of it. She buried her head in his waist and mumbled, "A kiss on the hand doesn't count..."
Liang Qi looked down at her. Her nightgown was slightly loose, revealing her fair and delicate shoulders. Through the thin fabric, her hot face was pressed against his waist and abdomen.
She unintentionally rubbed against him, and his muscles tensed suddenly. The heat emanating from her face suddenly began to rush towards that area.
Jiang Nuanyu noticed the change in his body and looked at him with slight surprise. Before she could say anything, Liang Qi grabbed her arm and lifted her up. He turned around and leaned down, pressing her onto the bed.
Jiang Nuanyu was suddenly suspended in mid-air and then quickly fell back onto the bed. Her heart was pounding wildly in surprise. The gasp she was about to utter was cut off by his kiss. "Mmm..." she shrank back, feeling weak and numb.
Even in the morning, Liang Qi was exceptionally patient, teasing her calmly and patiently. As dawn broke, Jiang Nuanyu grew tired and started to whine, finally ending their intimate moment.
Liang Qi went to throw away the condom and came back with a wet towel in his hand. Jiang Nuanyu was curled up in the middle of the big bed, covering herself with the blanket and resting with her eyes closed.
Liang Qi picked up one of her ankles, spread her legs apart, and said, "Wipe yourself before you sleep."
Jiang Nuanyu let him clean her up, and slowly said, "I'm not going to sleep anymore..."
Liang Qi glanced at her and said, "I have important business to attend to today."
Liang Qi nodded knowingly and carried her to take a shower together.
Jingyao's wedding was a rather formal occasion. Jiang Nuanyu carefully applied her makeup and curled her hair. For her outfit, she chose a light blue silk satin gown. The skirt almost reached her feet, had a beautiful drape, and the semi-fitted design subtly outlined the curves of a woman's body without being overly ostentatious.
She put on the dress in front of the mirror, adjusted the front and back of her chest, swept her hair to one side, and began to fix the zipper on her waist.
Hearing approaching footsteps, she looked up and glanced behind her in the mirror.
While she was putting on makeup, Liang Qi briefly dealt with his work. Now that his hair was styled, he came to the dressing room to change.
Upon seeing her, he slowed his pace, glanced at her for a second or two, and gave a slight smile. Jiang Nuanyu's heart instantly filled with sweetness.
While in Paris, Jiang Nuanyu gradually realized that Liang Qi was someone who was very good at expressing appreciation with his eyes.
Every time he stayed overnight at her place, the next morning when she appeared before him after changing her clothes, he would always give her a slow and deliberate look, rarely saying anything, but she could feel his attention from it.
She actually appreciated this and felt a subtle flutter in her heart—before venturing out into the world, there was someone else besides herself who cared about and liked her.
The invisible zipper of Jiang Nuanyu's dress was stuck in the middle, and she tried to pull it up several times without success. She tried to use a trick to force it up, but it got stuck in the middle and wouldn't budge.
She kept twisting her body, and she was sweating. Liang Qi saw this, threw the shirt he had just taken off into the storage basket, and walked towards her.
He went to her side, picked up the zipper of her skirt, and said, "I'll do it."
"Okay." Jiang Nuanyu let go of his hand, turned slightly to let him help her, and then straightened the shoulder strap again.
She hadn't thought much of it at first, but when she looked up and saw the image in the mirror, her face suddenly felt hot.
Liang Qi was shirtless, wearing only trousers, with his waist and hips partially covered, making him even sexier than if he were naked. His broad shoulders and well-defined muscles made him appear even taller and more reliable compared to her, as if he could hold both of her in his arms.
The intimacy after waking up had barely passed when she easily connected the Liang Qi in front of her with the image of her sitting on him and embracing him that morning, and a hazy sense of disorientation washed over her.
The zipper was zipped up, and Liang Qi looked up at her: "All done."
Jiang Nuanyu stared ahead without reacting. Liang Qi glanced at her again, then turned to look in the mirror. Their eyes met in the mirror, and Liang Qi raised an eyebrow at her. Only then did Jiang Nuanyu blink and come back to her senses.
Liang Qi, not quite understanding, asked her, "What are you thinking about?"
Jiang Nuanyu shook her head: "No."
Ye Ji is right, she can hardly be considered serious now.
She cleared her throat, touched the hem of her skirt, and asked, "Can I wear this?"
Liang Qi's gaze swept up and down her figure, then looked into her eyes and nodded, saying, "Beautiful."
Although it was an expected answer, Jiang Nuanyu still smiled happily.
Liang Qi lowered his head and kissed her shoulder, then casually touched her waist before turning around to change his clothes.
Jiang Nuanyu pinned her hair up on both sides with a delicate little clip, tying it into a half-updo at the back of her head. The square neckline of the dress fell very low, and looking at herself in the mirror, she felt that her neck area looked bare and that she needed to wear a necklace to make it look better.
Back in the dressing room, looking at the options, she hesitated, glancing at Liang Qi who was tying his tie in front of the mirror, and called out, "Liang Qi?"
Liang Qi looked at her in the mirror. She hung the two necklaces on her fingers, held them up, and asked him, "Which one should I wear?"
Liang Qi turned around and glanced at the two necklaces. One was a flat, linear chain made of small diamonds, and the other was a delicate pearl chain.
He gestured with his chin towards the one on her left hand and said, "This one."
It's that pearl necklace.
Having her subconscious choice confirmed, Jiang Nuanyu's eyes lit up: "I think this is better too!"
Liang Qi tightened his tie and took the necklace from her hand. Seeing this, Jiang Nuanyu leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his waist and saying, "Thank you~"
Liang Qi was startled by her sudden lunge and swayed slightly before looking down at her.
Her upper body was pressed against him, her head tilted back, her long neck like a swan stretching its neck.
The two were too close, making it a little awkward to wear the necklace. Liang Qi picked up both ends of the chain, accommodating her posture, and with his hand around her neck, he looped the chain around one end and fastened the small hook and loop together.
Jiang Nuanyu didn't care at all whether Liang Qi's movements were strenuous or not. She stared straight at him, greedily and wantonly admiring his handsome face, which was expressionless at the moment.
After putting on the necklace, Liang Qi glanced at her for a moment, then raised his eyelids and said, "If you look at me again, I'll kiss you."
Ha... that poses no threat to her.
Jiang Nuanyu feigned surprise, tiptoed closer to him, widened her eyes even more, blinked, and smiled as she welcomed his "punishment."
She twisted and turned in front of him, but Liang Qi didn't even look at her. After a few seconds, he smiled and reached behind his waist to untie her hands.
Jiang Nuanyu reluctantly hummed in response, her arms clenching tightly to prevent her from letting go of him. This time, Liang Qi didn't give in to her; he grabbed her wrist and easily pried her off him.
She was complaining, "You didn't keep your word—"
Before he could finish speaking, Liang Qi lowered his head and kissed her on the lips.
Okay... I'll keep my word.
*
Jingyao's wedding was held at the Tianqi International Convention and Exhibition Center, which is also where Tianqi and Conti officially signed their cooperation agreement.
The journey from Liang Qi's home to the destination is not far; soon the semi-circular outline of the convention center will come into view.
Jiang Nuanyu gazed out the window, her brows furrowing slightly. She had been much quieter than usual on the journey.
This wedding wasn't a purely private party like Song Lanxin's birthday celebration, nor was it the business event in Milan that still maintained professional boundaries. On this occasion, Jiang Nuanyu wasn't someone's friend, nor an editor for a magazine; her sole identity was herself—a woman standing shoulder to shoulder with Liang Qi.
Everyone would scrutinize and evaluate her qualifications with the most critical eyes. After agreeing to attend the wedding with Liang Qi, despite her pride preventing her from telling him, she was actually very uneasy inside.
She and Liang Qi never discussed external topics such as social status, class, or background. In Milan, when she brought it up half-seriously out of jealousy towards Julie, Liang Qi didn't respond, simply brushing it off with a comment she thought he was having an affair with.
Liang Qi's parents didn't interfere in his affairs, but she had no idea how the rest of his family would feel about their relationship. She hadn't asked, and Liang Qi never revealed anything to her.
The car slowed down as it approached the main building's entrance. A middle-aged couple stepped out of the car ahead, one on each side, and walked hand-in-hand onto the long, wide, dark red carpet in the drop-off area.
On both sides of the carpet, uniformed concierges lined up, with the one at the front leading the guests inside.
Jiang Nuanyu took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, but the tension in her chest did not ease at all.
Liang Qi turned to look at her and took her hand, which was resting on her lap. The car was warm, but her hand was icy cold.
He rubbed her knuckles together and asked, "Are you cold?"
Jiang Nuanyu knew he was concerned about whether she was nervous, so she answered truthfully, "A little."
"Shall I warm it up for you first?" Liang Qi glanced at her side of the car window and said, "When we get out of the car later, you can hold my hand and walk with me."
Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips, didn't reply immediately, and turned to look at him.
Because she was unsure of herself, her eyes looked inexplicably pitiful. Liang Qi smiled, raised his hand and lightly stroked her cheek, then asked, "Do you want some?"
Jiang Nuanyu looked at the man beside her and thought that perhaps she could rely on him in this matter. So she pulled her hand closer to his palm and said, "Yes."
Liang Qi smiled faintly, squeezed her hand and said, "Okay."
The doorman opened the car door, and after getting out, Liang Qi walked around to Jiang Nuanyu's side, buttoned his suit jacket, glanced at the foyer, and turned back to help her.
Jiang Nuanyu took Liang Qi's arm and stepped out of the car, her skirt billowing around her. The carpet beneath her feet was thicker than she had imagined; her legs went weak for a moment when she first stepped on it. Liang Qi clasped her hand in his, and she instinctively gripped it tightly as they stepped onto the red carpet together.
The registration area in the lobby was already crowded with guests. The men were dressed in suits and ties, while others wore traditional Chinese Zhongshan suits, exuding an old-fashioned elegance. The women were dressed in both Western-style dresses and Chinese-style cheongsams, chatting and exchanging pleasantries in small groups. Several video cameras were set up nearby, pointing directly at the entrance.
Liang Qi did not need to sign in. The ushers took the coat that Jiang Nuanyu had taken off and led the two of them straight to the main venue.
The venue was quite large, with a circular layout. Under the high dome, layers of light curtains hung down, interspersed with streaks of gold and blue light, making the curtains appear like a galaxy. The main stage was located in the very center of the venue, raised slightly, like a spotlighted rock in the heart of the ocean.
Faced with the scene before her, Jiang Nuanyu was momentarily stunned. It wasn't that she had never seen such a grand occasion before, but rather that she had never seen such a grand wedding.
Round tables were arranged in layers around the central stage, covered with light-colored silk and linen tablecloths. Each seat had a nameplate with the guest's name and a simple identification tag.
Jiang Nuanyu's gaze fell on those signs, and her heart skipped a beat—she didn't have an invitation, nor did she register at the door. What if her name wasn't on the sign?
While she was still thinking about this, guests had already come over to greet Liang Qi.
The other party was a young couple. After the man shook hands with Liang Qi, his wife smiled and nodded at Liang Qi, saying, "Mr. Liang."
Liang Qi nodded slightly and returned a smile. The two people opposite him then looked at Jiang Nuanyu.
Jiang Nuanyu wore a composed and polite smile, but her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to introduce herself, or... like the lady opposite her, should she greet her first?
Before she could figure out a response, the other party quickly gave her a knowing and friendly look and looked back at Liang Qi.
The man said to Liang Qi, "I heard that Yun Jing expanded into Europe last year? You really have guts. Those Westerners are into political correctness. My industry is sensitive, and doing business with them has been difficult these past two years."
"That's right," Liang Qi joked. "With those supportive policies, you still want to profit from both domestic and international markets?"
The other person laughed and said, "I'd like to, but I don't have the ability. I still envy you, your business is getting bigger and bigger," and then glanced at Jiang Nuanyu, "and you don't neglect other things either."
Liang Qi nodded and smiled faintly, without saying anything more.
After the two parted ways, they hadn't walked far when new people came up to chat with them, and Liang Qi still handled them with ease.
Among the guests were couples, solo travelers, and families with their adult children. Regardless of gender or aura, almost everyone instinctively glanced at Jiang Nuanyu beside Liang Qi before the conversation even began.
Contrary to Jiang Nuanyu's initial worries, in fact, no one needed to introduce them. The other person would understand simply by seeing her and Liang Qi holding hands. After all, in this kind of setting, the person standing beside Liang Qi wouldn't be just an ordinary friend, nor just an ordinary girlfriend.
The two chatted with guests as they walked and stopped, crossing half of the venue and ascending the spiral staircase to the second floor.
Although it's called the second floor, it's actually just an area that's half a floor higher, directly facing the stage, and the line of sight is just right.
The light on this floor is softer and quieter than on the first floor. The entire area is divided into several zones by low metal railings and flower walls. The zones are visually open yet subtly form natural barriers.
There were no name tags on the tables upstairs, and Jiang Nuanyu breathed a sigh of relief, at least she didn't have to face the embarrassment of not having her name on the table. But then, a new wave of panic washed over her—the fact that no identification was needed meant that everyone here was probably "one of their own."
At the very front of the platform, Jiang Nuanyu saw Song Lanxin first.
Song Lanxin was wearing a light pink strapless dress and talking to the person sitting opposite her. She was leaning against the railing, talking and laughing, when she inadvertently glanced at Liang Qi and Jiang Nuanyu, and her movement of turning her head stopped.
She waved to the two of them and took small steps to greet them.
After exchanging WeChat contacts in Milan, in early December, Song Lanxin went to Paris on a business trip and took the initiative to invite Jiang Nuanyu to dinner.
Fearing that Liang Qi would cause her trouble, Song Lanxin did everything she could to get close to Jiang Nuanyu. Jiang Nuanyu also liked Song Lanxin's personality, and the two girls naturally became much closer.
Before Song Lanxin even arrived, she grabbed Jiang Nuanyu's free hand and exclaimed with delight, "Nuanyu, you're back!"
Jiang Nuanyu smiled at her and said, "Yes, I'm taking a vacation and going back to China for a few days."
Song Lanxin suddenly leaned closer, sniffed, and said, "The scent on you..." Her eyes lit up, and she asked, "Is it the perfume you gave me last time?"
As a gift to Song Lanxin when she went to Paris, Jiang Nuanyu gave her a bottle of perfume from a niche Parisian brand.
“They’re not the same.” Jiang Nuanyu thought for a moment, then added, “But the two do taste a bit similar.”
“Yes, it’s very similar!” Song Lanxin nodded, then added earnestly, “But this one smells great too.”
Jiang Nuanyu smiled, then turned to look at Liang Qi. Liang Qi had remarked on her fragrance when she left earlier that day.
Song Lanxin then realized that she had been talking to Jiang Nuanyu and had forgotten to greet Liang Qi. Their eyes met, and she quickly greeted him with a sweet smile, "Brother Liang Qi..."
Liang Qi ignored her overly apologetic smile, glanced at the seats in front of him, and said, "Let's go ahead."
Song Lanxin slowly withdrew the enthusiastic expression from her face, which was completely out of place compared to Liang Qi's indifferent attitude.
She dared to express her dissatisfaction but not to speak her mind. She wrinkled her nose at Jiang Nuanyu and said, "He didn't even tell me you were coming today. How outrageous!"
Although it's common for girls to complain about their boyfriends when they chat, Jiang Nuanyu didn't dare to side with Liang Qi right there. She smiled and said, "He's been a bit busy lately, with a lot of things to do."
"I think he's afraid I'll steal you away." Song Lanxin took Jiang Nuanyu's hand and whispered, "He's so stingy. And so unlovable."
Jiang Nuanyu couldn't help but chuckle, then quickly glanced at Liang Qi. Liang Qi was looking ahead, expressionless, presumably unaware of Song Lanxin's assessment of him.
The three walked to the sofa area in front of the platform, and Jiang Nuanyu then realized that the person who had been talking to Song Lanxin earlier was someone she had seen before—Liang Qi's sister-in-law, Manling.
After greeting Liang Qi, Zhou Manling turned her gaze to Jiang Nuanyu.
Just like when she unexpectedly ran into Song Lanxin in Milan, Jiang Nuanyu still felt uneasy in front of Zhou Manling because of Jingyao's matter.
The two smiled at each other, and Zhou Manling suddenly said, "You look really good in this."
Jiang Nuanyu was secretly taken aback, but smiled and said, "Thank you."
After sitting down, Zhou Manling added very sincerely, "Really, this color suits your skin tone so well. I don't dare to wear this color in autumn and winter because it makes me look very pale, but it makes you look so radiant."
Jiang Nuanyu laughed: "It might also be related to the fact that I've been resting these past few days."
Song Lanxin picked up the conversation, saying, "Nuanyu has excellent taste."
“Yes,” Zhou Manling chimed in, then said to Jiang Nuanyu, “Lan Xin said you work for a fashion magazine in Paris. Can I add you on WeChat? Maybe we can go shopping together next time I’m in Paris?”
“Okay.” Jiang Nuanyu took out her phone from her bag and scanned the QR code to add Zhou Manling as a friend.
Zhou Manling said, "I'm so indecisive when I buy things. With you by my side and helping me make the selections, it'll save me a lot of trouble." Then she said to Liang Qi, "Liang Qi, you won't mind spending the money, will you?"
Liang Qi relaxed his expression and said after a couple of seconds, "It's not up to me to decide this." He then glanced at Jiang Nuanyu.
Everyone looked over, waiting for her answer. Jiang Nuanyu suddenly felt a little shy, lowered her eyes and said, "It's okay, I have good stamina, he doesn't care."
After she finished speaking, everyone present laughed.
Unlike their last meeting, where she only showed polite formalities, this time Zhou Manling was noticeably warmer and more affectionate towards Jiang Nuanyu.
As for whether Zhou Manling recognized her as "Jingyao's friend," Jiang Nuanyu couldn't tell at all. But in any case, such perfectly timed friendliness was hard to dislike and was enough to make her lower her guard a bit.
Not long after, Jing Ru and Liang Qin arrived. They were not surprised to see Jiang Nuanyu, and after sitting down, they even took the initiative to chat with her about the heavy snow in Paris at the beginning of the year.
Jiang Nuanyu is naturally quick-witted in interpersonal relationships, and with the experience she gained in Paris over the past year, she is even more adept at handling social interactions.
She naturally picked up on conversations and initiated topics, without forcing conversation or creating awkward silences. In short, the first half of the wedding went much more smoothly than she had imagined.
When only she and Liang Qi were left on the sofa, Jiang Nuanyu suddenly realized that, apart from when she added Zhou Manling on WeChat, Liang Qi had been holding her hand ever since they got out of the car.
She tilted her head to look at him, moved her fingers in his palm, and whispered, "You're sweating."
Liang Qi removed his hand, looked down, and said, "Looks like it's really not cold anymore."
Jiang Nuanyu immediately understood what he meant, leaned closer to him, and said, "Because you keep me warm. You're the warmest."
Liang Qi said, "Isn't it being stingy?"
Jiang Nuanyu was taken aback, then burst out laughing: "You heard what Lan Xin said?"
Liang Qi said, "So when you laughed back then, it meant you agreed?"
Jiang Nuanyu smiled faintly, not denying it. She knew that Liang Qi wouldn't believe her even if she denied it.
Liang Qi pressed her, "Is that right?"
“Yes—” Jiang Nuanyu continued, “but I like you because you’re stingy, and I also like that you’re not cute.”
She went straight to the point, and Liang Qi was speechless. He nodded and let her off the hook: "Okay."
Jiang Nuanyu smiled happily. Actually... he's quite adorable when he responds better to gentle persuasion than force...
Liang Qi held her sweaty hand between his two hands, talking to her while wiping the dampness from her palm with his own.
His calloused hands, calloused from exercise, rubbed against her palms, one stroke after another, as if trying to scratch into her heart.
She gently squeezed his hand, laughing as she stopped him: "It tickles."
Liang Qi stopped, placed his hand in her palm, looked at her, and had a casual smile in his eyes.
Although he could sense her caution in her response, she was just as he had expected, capable enough to handle the situation.
She no longer needed him to hold her hand, but he seemed a little reluctant to let go of her.
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A note from the author:
The young couple is playing cryptic games again. [smoke]
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