Harbor
Zhong Yunxi was both moved and troubled by the 1314 ring.
Bai Yi didn't want to talk about this: "I want to open a gift."
"Let me show you around the room first." Zhong Yunxi took her hand and led her away from the sofa area in the living room.
He described the house's layout, its excellent location, the environment, and the decorating style. She had no complaints.
The master bedroom on the second floor extends onto a spacious terrace. Looking out, the lakeside vegetation stretches out like a river of trees, undulating in the wind. Further away, the vast and boundless modern urban complex of Yuegang stretches as far as the eye can see.
Bai Yi nestled in the hanging chair, her eyes slightly squinted. The autumn sunlight shone brightly, yet felt cool as water. She was wearing a short skirt, and Zhong Yunxi took a blanket from the dressing room to cover her. He opened the parasol and pulled over a rattan chair to sit next to her: "This is your first time visiting Qiwu Mountain Residence. I have a feeling you'll like staying in a villa."
Bai Yi is extremely picky, but her preferences aren't hard to guess. She wants an overall look that's elegant and comfortable, with intricate and sophisticated details. Money alone isn't enough, nor is being overly particular. Zhou Qi is the man who was rejected by her aesthetic.
At least on the surface, she couldn't find fault with Zhong Yunxi.
She curled her fingers, stretched out her wrist, and handed him something. Zhong Yunxi reached out to take it.
The ring fell from her hand into Zhong Yunxi's upward-facing palm.
It was ordinary and not particularly eye-catching, since he already knew the price. But regardless of the price or style, it was something she had personally picked out and bought for him.
Zhong Yunxi hooked her fingertips together, "Help me put it on?"
Bai Yi glanced at him, but still granted his request.
They had agreed to keep their marriage a secret, and both of their rings were on their middle fingers.
Bai Yi pulled the blanket tighter, tucking her arms inside. Zhong Yunxi placed his hand on hers through the blanket and said, "How about we move in these next couple of days?"
There's nothing lacking here, so she doesn't need to "move" anything; he's just asking for her opinion.
"Did you live here alone before?" Bai Yi asked curiously.
This house doesn't look like it's ever been lived in.
“I rarely come back here. I stay in a long-term rental at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the East Tower, or an apartment not far from the East Tower. There’s a large flat there.”
Bai Yi tilted her head to look at him: "So your commute time has become longer? Are you used to it?"
"It hasn't been long, and there's nothing I'm not used to. I want to get used to you."
Zhong Yunxi's execution is too good, Bai Yi can't tell whether he's setting a goal for himself and executing it step by step, or whether he really has some feelings for her and wants to cultivate the relationship seriously.
This man she didn't quite understand must love her a little. She couldn't be as rational and self-disciplined as Zhong Yunxi. Although she had used him, he was good to her, and she was moved by his kindness.
She was so proud that she didn't want to fall in love with someone who didn't love her back.
"Next week, when I'm in a good mood, I'll come over for a day or two. Otherwise, I won't be used to living here all at once, and I won't be able to sleep well." She wouldn't compromise herself at all.
Zhong Yunxi smiled and replied, "Okay."
He stood up, bent down, and hugged her. "Let's go downstairs and open the presents. What do you want to eat for lunch? At home or out?"
Bai Yi lifted her leg: "I can walk by myself."
The housekeeper and nanny were on the first floor, and she felt awkward.
Zhong Yunxi wouldn't let go: "I'll hug you more, so you'll get used to it faster."
Bai Yi: ...
"Zhong Yunxi, can you cook?"
"Won't……"
He has never cooked before; his time is too precious, and other daily chores are taken care of by others.
Bai Yi frowned: "You can't even make soup?"
Zhong Yunxi guessed that she probably wanted to eat something he had cooked himself, "What do you like to eat? I'll learn how to make it."
Actually, Bai Yi isn't very good at making anything that's visually appealing, delicious, or tasty in the kitchen.
As they descended the stairs, Zhong Yunxi placed her on the sofa. She sat cross-legged and reached for a gift box to open.
"Wonton noodles, blanched bok choy."
We ordered two dishes. Both were ordinary home-style meals.
Zhong Yunxi nodded: "I'll have Auntie cook for lunch today. I'll write down the ingredients and the cooking process, and I'll cook for you next time I come over."
Bai Yi took out two silk scarves and continued to open the next gift box, not bothering to talk to him.
Seeing how busy she was, Zhong Yunxi chuckled softly, went to the tea counter to make her honey grapefruit tea, and then went into the kitchen.
Wonton noodles look simple, but Zhong Yunxi learned to make them from his aunt and found that making them delicious was not easy. He seemed to have a weakness in cooking and wasn't very quick to grasp the techniques.
Even an hour later, when it was time for dinner, Bai Yi still hadn't finished unpacking the pile of gifts.
But her happiness was obvious to everyone. Zhong Yunxi asked, "Which one do you like the most?"
Bai Yi took a bite of the wonton and answered irrelevantly, "Did you make it?"
"I was involved." Zhong Yunxi hesitated to admit that he was the one who did it.
"I want to drink milk tea."
Her ideas change faster than the weather in June.
Zhong Yunxi had no way to deal with Bai Yi's trivial requests. He took the grapefruit tea she hadn't finished and looked at her bowl: "Eat first, I'll buy you some this afternoon."
She took a sip of grapefruit tea through the straw.
After lunch, she took a nap until after 2 p.m. When she woke up, Zhong Yunxi handed her a milk tea. She then unwrapped her gifts until 5 p.m., playing with them as she unwrapped them.
Zhong Yunxi took his computer from the study and worked while keeping her company.
Zhong Yunxi spent her first weekend at Boyun Beach and felt that she didn't dislike the place.
For dinner, she asked Zhong Yunxi to accompany her back to Qiwu Mountain Residence.
Zhong Yunxi led her to the second floor to pick out tea, red wine, mechanical watches, and calligraphy and paintings.
Bai Yi knew it was a gift for her father, so she only chose tea and wine. "My dad doesn't wear mechanical watches and can't read calligraphy and paintings."
"What about quartz watches? I don't like calligraphy and paintings. I also have a high-quality blue-green turquoise bracelet. I can always pick out two things." He rummaged through the bottom shelf of a bookcase in his study and pulled out a few boxes.
Bai Yi shook her head. "No."
Zhong Yunxi pulled him close: "Sweetie, we can't listen to you on this matter; it's basic etiquette."
Bai Yi lowered her head slightly, neither speaking nor looking at him.
He knew that Bai Yi was worried about the two-year engagement and wanted to avoid unnecessary material exchanges from the beginning, like the jewelry she gave him when she rejected his marriage proposal that day.
She felt that what he gave her was too expensive, and that she felt burdened, afraid of owing him something.
“Even if we get divorced next month, I still need to bring all these things when I go to your house today.” His voice was normal, calm and magnetic, yet devoid of any emotion, and like his eyes, it naturally carried a sense of authority.
Bai Yi could tell that his tone didn't show any dissatisfaction; he was being reasonable.
With her thoughts so blatantly exposed, Bai Yi was at a loss for words. She slightly raised her foot and kicked his ankle repeatedly. Soft-soled slippers held absolutely no intimidation power.
Zhong Yunxi chuckled softly, patted her back, and said in a much gentler tone, "Alright, all of this adds up to less than a tenth of what I'm giving you."
Bai Yi directly raised his knee and hit his leg.
Her little actions, which were clearly expressions of her sulking, appeared to Zhong Yunxi as nothing less than a way of being affectionate.
Zhong Yunxi lifted her chin with one hand and lowered his head to kiss her.
Zhong Yunxi took her lips in his mouth and sucked on them twice. She was stunned for a moment before sticking out her tongue to touch his. Zhong Yunxi felt a slight lick on his lips, and his neck went numb instantly.
He raised his hand to support the back of her head, his slightly disordered breath and force penetrating her mouth, entwining with her tongue. Their breathing grew heavier until Baiyi couldn't catch her breath, and she let out a drawn-out "Mmm," before pushing him away.
Zhong Yunxi pressed his forehead against hers, "Don't argue with me over such trivial things, okay? These things are just material possessions; they take up space at home, but they're still somewhat useful if you give them away."
Bai Yi remained silent and casually pointed to two items.
Before leaving, Zhong Yunxi asked the housekeeper to fetch a fruit and flower basket from the central kitchen.
In the afternoon, Bai Yi took out a set of Bonnie Rabbit dolls from that series and asked the housekeeper to put one in each car. He also asked Aunt Wu to buy another set of the same dolls to put in the bedroom.
After the two returned to Qiwu Mountain Residence, Bai Yi went upstairs to change into her home clothes, while Bai Yeliang and Zhong Yunxi went to the study to talk.
"Dad." Zhong Yunxi placed the watch and bracelet that Bai Yi had casually picked out on Bai Yeliang's desk. "Xiao Yi and I got our marriage certificate today."
Bai Yeliang has never been able to control Bai Yi, not since they were children.
From school uniforms to wedding gowns, their relationship was undeniably deep. Even after their daughter was born, despite arguments and disagreements, their love for their daughter never diminished. She never suffered any hardship growing up. It was almost natural that she developed such a spoiled and demanding personality.
Seeing Bai Yeliang's stunned expression, Zhong Yunxi continued, "Xiaoyi has her reasons. She only gave me a two-year marriage contract and wants to keep it a secret. The wedding can't be held for now, but I'll make it up to her later."
Bai Yeliang sighed: "This is too ridiculous."
“I’m serious. In two years, I will make her truly willing to marry me. From the very beginning, I wasn’t making a deal,” Zhong Yunxi told him.
Bai Yeliang was taken aback when he heard this, "You..."
Zhong Yunxi nodded slightly: "I know about her marriage to Zhou Qi, and I intentionally let her know about Tiansheng's affairs. I'm willing to let her use me. Zhou Qi is not good enough for her. However, since everything has been resolved, you don't need to let her know."
Bai Yeliang almost gasped.
This is why he wasn't so averse to Zhou Qi, but was exceptionally wary of Zhong Yunxi. He knew the Zhou family inside and out, but he couldn't even see the tip of the iceberg when it came to Zhong Yunxi.
At Zhong Yunxi's position, and at a mature and composed age, he could easily find out the whole story of the Zhou and Bai families' affairs with just a little inquiry. What they found troublesome, their covert struggles and rivalries, were nothing more than a matter of course for him.
Men are most fearful and resigned to their fate when faced with power.
"Yunxi, since we've come this far, you should find a chance to explain things to her as soon as possible. Although she has some ulterior motives, she doesn't like being lied to like this, and she'll inevitably get angry later. With Xiaoyi's temper, she'll cause a lot of trouble."
Zhong Yunxi hummed in agreement: "I'll talk to her when the opportunity arises."
Bai Yeliang glanced at the two framed calligraphy pieces on the wall, in Tang Dynasty regular script and Ouyang Xun style, A4 size, the Xuan paper slightly yellowed, indicating they were quite old. They hung next to a large landscape painting, not particularly eye-catching.
His voice was deep and slow, as if he didn't know how to say it, "I'm just afraid that you two have only known each other for a short time and are already treating marriage like this. Someone in your position is probably someone who always has the final say, and Xiaoyi has been spoiled since she was a child, and you two..."
Zhong Yunxi said, "I know, it's all because I'm the one who coaxes her."
"A day or two, three to five months, it's still fresh. How long is a lifetime? You can't imagine it when you're young."
The room fell silent for a moment. Zhong Yunxi looked down at the ring on his middle finger, which Bai Yi had put on him today. "I have enough patience. I've never given up halfway through anything."
He pointed to the two small calligraphy pieces on the wall: "Dad, those are Xiaoyi's calligraphy, right? Can I have one?"
He saw the signature.
"Yes, it was written in a calligraphy competition during her high school years. It's Su Shi's poem 'Linjiang Xian'. She has practiced the Ouyang Xun style since she was a child, and sometimes she also writes regular script. She has also practiced the styles of Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, Zhao Mengfu, and Mi Fu."
Bai Yeliang took down the two small calligraphy scrolls, put them in a brown paper bag, and handed them to him.
Zhong Yunxi accepted it: "Thank you, Dad."
Li Wan knocked on the door: "Xiao Yi said she's hungry, let's go downstairs for a meal."
The group went downstairs.
When Bai Yi called home to say that Zhong Yunxi was coming over for dinner, it was already quite late. It was his first time coming over for dinner, and Li Wan and Wang Ma busied themselves preparing a rather lavish meal.
Li Wan had heard Bai Yeliang mention Zhong Yunxi before, and knew that he was even more powerful than the Zhou family.
At the dinner table, Bai Yi served Zhong Yunxi food twice. He glanced at her sideways, wondering if she was putting on an act for others at home.
Before coming, she seemed to be trying to distance herself from him because of two gifts, as if she wanted to settle scores after the engagement ended. Now she's making these little moves to pull him back.
No one can mess with people's mentality like her.
He always resented his mother forcing him to go on blind dates because he knew all too well that in that circle of people from families of unparalleled prestige, few were not arrogant and conceited.
He fell in love at first sight, captivated by Bai Yi's charming and gentle nature. In the end, she proved to be even more unpredictable than those girls from aristocratic families.
After the meal, Zhong Yunxi, holding a small bowl of strawberries, asked her, "There's a dinner party at Tingsong Garden tomorrow night, a gathering of some friends. Would you like to come with me?"
She was reading a paper on her tablet, leaning against him on the sofa. As soon as she opened her mouth, Zhong Yunxi fed her a strawberry. She said, "I don't want to go."
His social circle consisted mostly of people in high positions of power and living in luxury, which created an invisible sense of oppression. She was not interested in power, resources, money, or business; she only wanted to do what she liked, such as researching traditional Chinese medicine, writing scientific papers, and designing experiments—simple things.
“Lu Xin is going too. You can talk to him; their research institute might have received some new policy information.”
Bai Yi paused for a few seconds when she heard "senior brother," then asked, "Oh...do you guys chat very late tonight?"
"It's not late. If you don't want to stay any longer, we can leave early. There's no need to be so formal."
Zhong Yunxi actually wanted to introduce her to his friends so that no one would bother to set him up on random blind dates anymore.
"Okay. I'll go with you then."
She emphasized that she was accompanying him, a habitual way of seeking credit. Zhong Yunxi smiled and fed her strawberries, then put his arm around her waist.
When she was about to go upstairs to sleep, Zhong Yunxi left Qiwu Mountain Residence. Before leaving, he asked, "Will I pick you up tomorrow morning to go to Boyuntan? Come and keep me company."
She's not going, saying she has plans with a friend for tomorrow.
Zhong Yunxi could only smile and nod: "Then I'll pick you up this afternoon to go to Tingsong Garden."
She returned to her room, where the bunny lay across her pillow. She hugged it and snuggled under the thin blanket, unable to sleep. She was a little nervous thinking about going to Boyun Beach to live with Zhong Yunxi in a week. But being with him didn't feel bad. Zhong Yunxi was patient and indulgent towards her, almost like a perfect lover.
As she grew sleepy, a thought popped into her head before she went to bed: should she send Zhong Yunxi a goodnight message? But she was too tired, so she decided against it.
Zhong Yunxi returned to Boyuntan and told the housekeeper and Aunt Wu that he would be staying there permanently from now on. They asked him to go to the apartment next week to pack up his clothes and personal belongings.
There was a bunny on the sofa downstairs. He picked it up, gave it a squeeze, and put it back.
In the afternoon, Bai Yi was unpacking the pile of gifts, and Aunt Wu had already sorted them and put them in their proper places. The pile of boxes was also stored away in the storage room.
The living room was emptier than it had been in the afternoon.
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