73 The gift that President Xi gave her
Cheng Boyan immediately withdrew his arm, his brows furrowing with unmistakable aloofness: "No time."
Before Qiao Qianyue could respond, he had already turned and left quickly.
*
A week later, on a Thursday morning, before dawn, Wen Xueyan was still asleep.
In a hazy state, Wen Xueyan felt the mattress beside her sink slightly, and a warm body suddenly slipped into the quilt, bringing with it a refreshing scent of pine.
She woke up instantly, her heart pounding involuntarily.
Through the dim light filtering through the curtains, she saw Xi Mingyuan's face, which was very close to hers.
This was the first time she had been so close to him in such a private space, close enough to count his thick eyelashes and see the new stubble on his chin. He was wearing a dark gray silk robe, the collar slightly open, revealing the lines of his well-defined chest muscles.
Wen Xueyan could even feel the warmth emanating from his body, which was especially noticeable in the slightly cool morning.
Because the nanny sometimes brings the child to her, she has gotten used to not locking the bedroom door, so Xi Mingyuan can enter the room directly at this moment.
"What's going on?" Wen Xueyan subconsciously moved closer to the bed.
"Don't worry," Xi Mingyuan explained in a low voice, his voice still hoarse from the morning, "Just cooperate, it'll only be a little while."
"Cooperate with what?"
Xi Mingyuan responded, "My grandmother suddenly decided she wanted to see the baby and she's already downstairs. She's getting old and gets up very early. I'm worried she'll find out we're sleeping in separate rooms, and it wouldn't look good if word got out, especially since we don't want people questioning the child's paternity." He paused briefly, then added, "Only the two of us and the nanny we've contracted know about our agreement."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a commotion came from the living room. Grandma Xi's hearty laughter could be faintly heard through the door, accompanied by a child's babbling response.
"It seems our little darling has woken up." Grandma Xi's voice drew closer. "Where are Mingyuan and Xueyan?"
Xi Mingyuan winked at Wen Xueyan, then got up and straightened his robe. He opened the door, cleverly blocking half of her view: "Grandma, why are you here so early?"
"Come see my great-grandson!" Grandma Xi, holding the baby, glanced sharply into the bedroom. "Where's Xueyan? Still not awake?"
"She was a little tired from taking care of the child last night," Xi Mingyuan stepped aside, "She just woke up."
Wen Xueyan sat up in bed at the opportune moment, smoothing her slightly disheveled long hair: "Good morning, Grandma."
Grandma Xi nodded with satisfaction, playfully stroking the child in her arms: "It seems you two get along well. This child is growing up so fast, getting more and more handsome."
Wen Xueyan put on her coat and went to the living room.
"How's work going lately?" Grandma Xi asked with concern. "I heard you just went back to work. If it's too tiring, just tell Mingyuan."
"Everything is fine," Wen Xueyan replied with a smile. "Mingyuan is taking good care of me."
"That's good," Grandma Xi nodded with satisfaction. "Seeing you all like this puts my mind at ease." She tugged at the child's little hand. "This child is truly a lucky star for our Xi family. Your grandfather has been in a particularly good mood lately."
After Grandma Xi left, the apartment returned to silence. Xi Mingyuan put down his teacup, his tone unusually calm: "Thank you for your cooperation earlier. I'm thinking of giving you a reward."
"What reward?" Wen Xueyan asked.
"It's a secret for now, but I'm sure you'll like it," President Xi said mysteriously.
On Thursday night, a warm light shone in the Xi family's study. The nanny was going to take a shower, leaving the child with Wen Xueyan for a while. Wen Xueyan sat on the sofa, holding the baby; the little one's rosy cheeks looked especially adorable under the light. Xi Mingyuan put down the financial statements he was holding, sat down beside her, and gazed gently at the child.
"Let me hold you." Xi Mingyuan reached out and skillfully took the child. Over this period of time, he had gradually learned how to be a good father.
Xi Mingyuan gently stroked the child's soft cheek, his eyes revealing a rare tenderness: "This little guy is looking more and more like you."
Wen Xueyan smiled slightly but didn't reply. She knew Xi Mingyuan was referring to the child's almond-shaped eyes, which were just like hers, but he deliberately ignored certain other features.
At this moment, the child started crying. Xi Mingyuan immediately got up: "I'll go make some formula."
Watching his tall, straight back as he walked towards the kitchen, Wen Xueyan felt a mix of emotions. For over a year, Xi Mingyuan had consistently upheld the terms of their agreement, giving her the respect and care she deserved. Even when they had to portray a loving couple in front of others, he always maintained a perfect balance.
A short while later, Xi Mingyuan returned with a baby bottle and skillfully fed the child. This man, who was so powerful at the negotiating table, was now gently holding an infant, creating an unexpectedly harmonious scene.
"It seems you've become a qualified father," Wen Xueyan said softly.
Xi Mingyuan looked up at her, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Is she praising me?"
His humor made Wen Xueyan smile. Only in such private moments would Xi Mingyuan show a completely different side of himself, no longer the serious and aloof CEO, but a gentle and witty partner.
After the nanny took the child to bed, only the two of them remained in the study. Wen Xueyan gazed at the moonlight outside the window and suddenly asked, "How long until we can get a divorce?"
Xi Mingyuan, who was tidying up the documents on the coffee table, paused slightly upon hearing this. He looked up, his gaze deep: "You have to wait until my grandfather transfers the shares to me. According to our agreement, you'll have to wait more than a year." He put down the documents and walked over to her. "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Wen Xueyan gently shook her head: "It's nothing, I just suddenly thought of it."
Xi Mingyuan sat down beside her, his voice gentle: "Do you miss your CEO Cheng?"
This straightforward question startled Wen Xueyan slightly.
"Between us," Xi Mingyuan continued, "there's no need for formalities. I know your heart has always belonged to President Cheng."
Wen Xueyan remained silent for a moment.
He stood up and walked towards the kitchen: "Wait here, I'll warm up a bowl of white fungus soup for you. The doctor said your blood and energy are still a bit weak lately."
A moment later, Xi Mingyuan returned with a steaming bowl of white fungus soup. He carefully placed it in front of Wen Xueyan, reminding her, "Be careful, it's hot."
"Thank you," Wen Xueyan said softly, her fingertips gently stroking the rim of the bowl.
"No need to thank me." Xi Mingyuan sat down on the sofa opposite her. "Ultimately, our relationship is a mutually beneficial transaction. You help me deal with family pressure, and I provide you with protection. It's just..."
He paused, his gaze becoming distant: "In the past year or so, I've found you to be a great business partner, a wonderful mother, and also..."
Xi Mingyuan hesitated before saying the last half of the sentence, but ultimately did not.
Wen Xueyan looked up and met his smiling eyes.
"Once the agreement expires," Xi Mingyuan continued, "I will grant you your freedom as agreed. But to be honest, the thought of losing such a capable 'wife' is truly hard to bear."
Xi Mingyuan's humor lightened the atmosphere considerably. Wen Xueyan scooped up a spoonful of white fungus soup; the sweet and glutinous taste melted in her mouth, warming her heart as well.
"You know," Xi Mingyuan said, "life is like this bowl of white fungus soup. It seems simple, but it requires just the right amount of heat. Isn't our current way of getting along the same thing, slowly simmered over time?"
Wen Xueyan nodded thoughtfully. Yes, over the past year, they had indeed gone through a considerable period of adjustment, from initial awkwardness and unfamiliarity to their current tacit understanding.
He rose and walked to the window, the moonlight casting a silvery glow on his tall figure. "Looking back now," he turned, a mocking glint in his eyes, "our wedding was truly a perfunctory affair. At first, I really did treat you like a tool; even the wedding dress was rented, and the ring was bought at the last minute. If I had married some rich heiress, there would have been a huge uproar."
Wen Xueyan responded, "I remember that the wedding dress was two inches too big at the waist that day, and the makeup artist used safety pins to hold it in place."
"Indeed," Xi Mingyuan sat down beside her, elegantly crossing his long legs. "I was worried the safety pin would suddenly pop open, which would have made headlines in the business world." His eyes softened. "But now you're playing the role of Mrs. Xi even better than the real thing."
"That doesn't sound like a compliment."
"I'm praising your acting skills," Xi Mingyuan said, a sly glint in his eyes. "Even my grandfather, who's so picky, was completely won over by you. At the last family gathering, he actually said in front of everyone that this was the marriage he was most satisfied with."
He suddenly leaned forward and lowered his voice: "Haha, have you ever considered switching careers to become an actor? I know a few directors..."
Wen Xueyan chuckled at his joke, then said seriously, "President Xi, I'm a tech guy."
"Xueyan, why don't you try calling me Mingyuan?" he corrected, his tone so natural it seemed perfectly natural. "At least in private. After all, we're a 'loving couple' now."
Xi Mingyuan's gaze was thoughtful. "Sometimes I think, if I had really married a rich girl according to my family's arrangement, I wouldn't have been able to get past the hurdle of renting a wedding dress. It certainly wouldn't be like this now..." He paused, finding the right word, "comfortable."
Wen Xueyan noticed that Xi Mingyuan was different tonight; he was less aloof than usual and more approachable.
"Arrange your work during the day tomorrow, and don't work overtime tonight," Wen Xueyan heard Xi Mingyuan say before she went back to her bedroom to rest.
Is something the matter?
"You can come back earlier to be with the baby. Also, since my grandfather has already transferred 35% of the shares today, and I've replaced the HR director, I'll give you a gift tomorrow night. Go to sleep now, I still need to look at the financial statements for a while," Xi Mingyuan said slowly.
*
The afternoon sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Cheng Boyan's office, casting dappled shadows on the floor. He was reviewing a merger agreement when a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Please come in."
Qiao Lanyue pushed open the door and entered. Today, she was dressed in a well-fitting light gray business suit, and her steps were composed.
"President Cheng, Shiming Group has sent a formal invitation, hoping you can attend their family dinner tonight." Her tone was calm. "President Xi specifically instructed that this invitation be sent in the company's name."
"I understand," he replied casually, but his gaze involuntarily drifted out the window.
Qiao Lanyue stood there, seemingly still having something to say.
She recalled how her younger sister, Qiao Qianyue, had repeatedly begged her a few days earlier to help her arrange a concert with President Cheng, which she had refused outright at the time.
In Qiao Lanyue's view, the most taboo thing about relationships is forcing them. They are like sand in your hand; the tighter you hold them, the faster they slip away.
"Is there anything else?" Cheng Boyan noticed her hesitation.
"I just felt," Qiao Lanyue carefully chose her words, "that President Xi specifically went through official channels to extend the invitation this time, so there must be something important to discuss. Also, my sister Qiao Qianyue wanted to meet with you, but you were on a business trip a few days ago, so I declined on your behalf. I'm just reporting that now."
Cheng Boyan nodded slightly. He only caught the first two sentences; he understood Qiao Lanyue's unspoken meaning—this was no ordinary family dinner.
In the business world, Xi Mingyuan also faces internal family struggles, so he is an extremely discreet person. He chose to issue the invitation in the name of the company, which maintained the formality of business dealings while leaving room for possible private conversations.
"Please reply to President Xi for me, I will be there on time," Cheng Boyan said.
After Qiao Lanyue left, Cheng Boyan stood alone by the window. A gentle spring breeze brushed against his cheek, carrying a faint floral fragrance.
He recalled Wen Xueyan's gentle demeanor as she held the child, and Xi Mingyuan's all-seeing eyes, and a mixture of anticipation and hesitation welled up in his heart.
Over the past year, he has learned to numb himself with work when his longing grows, and to talk to the stars in the quiet of the night.
But every time he saw Wen Xueyan, all the carefully built defenses in his heart would crumble. Just like land that has endured a long winter, a mere spring breeze can awaken the deeply buried seeds.
As dusk fell, Cheng Boyan sat in the car on his way to the Xi family's house, gazing at the lights flowing outside the window.
At this moment, Xi Mingyuan and Wen Xueyan were sitting at the dining table.
"What secret gift do you have? And why did you insist that I get home half an hour early? But I haven't seen anything yet." Wen Xueyan asked curiously.
Over the past year, this intelligent and resilient woman had already secured a special place in Xi Mingyuan's heart. But he quickly composed himself, his tone regaining its usual calm: "I heard that President Cheng has recently rejected quite a few blind dates. He's quite sought after, just like me."
Xi Mingyuan was even worried that Cheng Boyan would be snatched away by other women. After all, no one likes endless waiting, and he felt that would be too unfair to Wen Xueyan.
He continued, "I invited him to my house for dinner tonight, ostensibly for business. This is the gift I was talking about. I told you you'd like it."
This suggestion surprised Wen Xueyan slightly. She looked up at Xi Mingyuan and saw understanding and tolerance in his eyes.
Ten minutes later, Cheng Boyan arrived as promised. The Xi family's single-story apartment was elegantly and comfortably furnished, reflecting the owner's taste in every detail.
Inside the restaurant, a crystal chandelier cast a warm glow. Cheng Boyan took out an exquisite gift box from his briefcase; inside was a set of pure gold longevity locks, meticulously engraved with auspicious cloud patterns.
"This is a gift for the baby." Cheng Boyan handed the gift box to Wen Xueyan, his gaze falling on the baby in her arms. The three-month-old baby was staring at Cheng Boyan with wide, round eyes.
Xi Mingyuan calmly took over the conversation: "President Cheng, you're too kind." He naturally turned to Wen Xueyan, "Let President Cheng hold the child."
This suggestion startled Wen Xueyan slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and carefully handed the child to Cheng Boyan.
When Cheng Boyan took the tiny, soft life into his arms, his movements were exceptionally gentle. The child was unusually quiet in his arms, his little hand unconsciously grasping his tie and then touching Cheng Boyan's cheek.
"It seems he really likes President Cheng," Xi Mingyuan said slowly.
Perhaps sensing the warmth of his biological father, the little guy was delighted to see Cheng Boyan, waving his little hands and making adorable noises.
During dinner, Xi Mingyuan initiated the conversation: "Recently, international energy efficiency standards for chemical machinery have been raised again, especially the new regulations issued by the European Union, which have placed higher requirements on exported equipment." Cheng Boyan responded in a businesslike manner.
After the meal, Xi Mingyuan naturally picked up the child and instructed the nanny, "Get ready, bring the baby bottle and diapers, we're going for a walk."
Before leaving, he turned back to Wen Xueyan and said, "Take good care of President Cheng."
The door closed gently, and the apartment suddenly fell silent. Wen Xueyan led Cheng Boyan to the bedroom, where warm yellow wall lamps created a cozy atmosphere.
"Xueyan, do you have any injuries?" Cheng Boyan asked suddenly as he locked the door.
Wen Xueyan was stunned: "No. Why do you ask that?"
Cheng Boyan's gaze deepened: "Take off your clothes and let me see."
This request made Wen Xueyan subconsciously take a step back, her face full of confusion.
"I know this is the Xi family home," Cheng Boyan's tone softened, "I won't do anything overstepping my bounds. It's just that I've heard some rumors, and I'm really worried."
Looking at Cheng Boyan's upright face, Wen Xueyan's cheeks flushed slightly.
He stepped forward, his voice gentle yet resolute: "Xueyan, is there anything about you that I haven't seen? Why must we be so distant? I want to see now."
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Is it a happy ending?
Yes, the ending is a happy one. Thank you for reading.
I love it! Looking forward to updates!
Hahaha, I almost thought President Xi had fallen for Xueyan!
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Haha, thank you for your detailed analysis and comments! ^_^
Looking forward to it!
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A huge thank you to Professor Toyama for her encouragement and support; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to finish such a long novel. Professor Toyama's stories are always fantastic, and I look forward to the next installment!
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