Chapter 6 Inviting Guests & Cohabitation
Even after adding each other on WeChat, the two still didn't keep in touch; the last message they exchanged was a voice message from You Yue.
Cheng Hexi was driving, waiting at a red light that would last for more than a hundred seconds.
The car windows were open, and the outdoor temperature was just right.
There was no music playing inside the car; it was completely quiet.
She glanced at her email briefly, quickly checked one message, then tossed her phone aside and her gaze fell on the map on the central control screen.
After turning left and walking across one more street, you'll reach Hongsheng's industrial park, which occupies a very prominent large area on the map.
I happened to be passing by on my way to the club.
Cheng Hexi suddenly had an idea: Should she pick him up on the way?
This young master has a driver and, according to rumors, a row of luxury cars that are always parked in Hongsheng's underground garage, so he doesn't really need her.
She didn't have to worry about anything related to the wedding. You Yue arranged everything perfectly, and the study was decorated to her liking. However, she went on a business trip and disappeared on the very first day after moving in.
And then there was the ibuprofen from last time...
Cheng Hexi was unwilling to owe favors, nor could she feel at ease being the one being taken care of.
She glanced at the time; it was exactly 6:30, so she tried making a phone call.
A few seconds later, the other party answered.
"President Cheng?"
"Yes, it's me. Are you still at the company?"
Upon hearing the title "President Cheng," Cheng Hexi realized that it had been half a month since they got their marriage certificate, yet they were still so unfamiliar with each other.
"In the elevator, we were about to go to the underground parking garage," You Yue said.
Cheng Hexi always got straight to the point, asking him, "I'm about a two-minute drive from Hongsheng, do you need me to pick you up?"
"Hmm?" There was a pause on the other end.
"how?"
"Nothing much, just a little surprised." You Yue reached out and changed the elevator button to 1, saying, "You can just drive in."
He asked, "Is it still that Bentley Continental? License plate number G7333?"
“Yes,” she said, turning on her turn signal and changing lanes. “You remember?”
You Yue hummed in agreement: "Easy to remember."
After hanging up, he called his second assistant and instructed, "Have the security guard let the car with license plate G7333 through, and tell the driver that he doesn't need to wait for me in the underground parking lot."
There are two security checkpoints for outside vehicles entering Hongsheng, and both must be notified in a timely manner.
With a "ding," the elevator doors opened on the first floor. The receptionist, who was about to leave work, saw You Yue at this rare moment and hurriedly got up to greet him.
He nodded politely, but didn't stop walking, and went out through the main entrance.
Cheng Hexi's white Continental had just stopped not far away when You Yue strode over, opened the car door, and got into the passenger seat.
Are you tired from business trips?
He glanced at the person in the driver's seat and asked while fastening his seatbelt.
"It's alright, I'm used to it."
Cheng Hexi also turned her head to look at him.
It was sunset, and a fiery red glow burned across the horizon, the buildings bathed in the afterglow.
She looked away, turned the car around, and left the towering buildings behind.
The sports car entered the main road. Cheng Hexi drove steadily, not slowly, which was quite different from when she was racing. You Yue rarely sat in the passenger seat and felt a little uncomfortable.
The bustling street scene flashed past.
The car air freshener has an ebony scent; it's light and smells very nice.
The safety buckle on the car swayed gently as the car moved.
You Yue saw this as soon as he got on the bus, and was somewhat surprised that someone with Cheng Hexi's personality would believe in such things.
Cheng Hexi, keeping an eye on the car, suddenly said, "I've packed my things."
Upon hearing this, You Yue didn't react much, simply humming in response, and asked her, "Where are you planning to sleep?"
"The side bedroom next to the master bedroom."
As she waited at the last red light, she turned her head to look at the man in the passenger seat, and they made eye contact.
You Yue had no objections, only saying, "The master bedroom is bigger and connects to the walk-in closet. You can sleep in the master bedroom, and I'll go to the side bedroom."
There was only one walk-in closet, but it was quite spacious. Cheng Hexi put all her clothes and accessories in there that afternoon, and they were placed very close to You Yue's, making it look quite homey.
Upon hearing his words, Cheng Hexi suddenly remembered that You Yue had initially placed her things in the master bedroom, but now he was saying he wanted to give them to her...
Could it be that he initially assumed they would sleep together?
That's not a bad idea, since they are a real couple. It's just that they're not familiar with each other, they barely exchange a few words, so lying in the same bed is pointless.
Moreover, her sleeping posture is not good, and she cannot get good rest because she cannot sleep as she pleases.
You Yue did think that way, but he respected her idea of sleeping in separate rooms and even offered to give her the master bedroom.
Cheng Hexi said, "It's okay. The side bedroom also has a private bathroom, and the walk-in closet is right across from it. It's not a hassle."
You Yue hummed in agreement and said nothing more.
-
The two walked out of the elevator side by side, not holding hands, but their sleeves rubbed together, adding a touch of ambiguity.
Their looks and temperaments were perfectly matched, and they appeared to be very close.
As soon as they exited the elevator, someone came forward to greet them, and a waiter led them to a private room on the right.
Before entering, You Yue glanced at the sign and realized that this side was all private clubs and not open to the public.
As usual, he pulled out a chair for Cheng Hexi, sat opposite her, and spoke first: "Qi Xuan said that your assistant asked him about my dietary preferences."
"I let him have it," Cheng Hexi said, not denying it.
Inviting someone to dinner should be done in accordance with their preferences and to make things convenient for them; this is basic etiquette.
“Qi Zhu said you are allergic to seafood, and your taste is neither salty nor bland, and you have no other preferences,” she stated.
You Yue looked at her.
The woman leaned forward slightly and squinted her eyes.
"Doesn't he understand you? Doesn't he have anything you like to eat?"
“No,” You Yue leaned back in his chair, thought for a moment, and concluded, “They’re all fine.”
Cheng Hexi abandoned the topic, secretly thinking that people with no demands are the hardest to please.
She had stored several bottles of good wine here, and the waiter brought up the one she had chosen in advance.
"Although I didn't find out your food preferences, I did find out your alcohol preferences."
You Yue inexplicably felt a hint of smugness in her eyes and brows, and was asked, "Are you satisfied?"
He thanked him politely, raising his eyebrows and saying, "Mr. Cheng is very generous."
2014 Romanée-Conti.
That's certainly a generous statement.
But she wasn't short of money; when treating someone, she had to show sincerity.
Night quietly fell.
The skyscrapers stood silently, brightly lit, and the streetlights gradually turned on, while a dazzling halo emanated from the central fountain.
The atmosphere in the private room was quiet.
You Yue could tell that Cheng Hexi was very familiar with this place, and he was curious about her ability to freely enter non-public areas.
He casually asked, "Are you very familiar with the owner here?"
“Yes,” Cheng Hexi said, “He was a friend of mine when I was studying at Columbia University. He lives in New York all year round and has reserved a few private rooms here for friends.”
Soon, one after another, perfectly plated dishes were served with practiced ease.
You Yue knew that she had given prior notice.
In fact, Cheng Hexi not only gave advance notice, but she also specially invited a chef over.
Since You Yue herself didn't make any requests, she should take good care of her stomach.
The waiter poured them drinks, then left and closed the door to the private room.
"How much alcohol do you drink?" he asked as the door closed.
Cheng Hexi thought for a moment and told the truth: "I've never been drunk."
Upon hearing this, the man smiled slightly, picked up his wine glass, and she did the same.
When the cups collided, You Yue lowered the rim of the cup slightly.
Watching the man across from her cut his steak with a knife and fork, her gaze shifted from his ring finger adorned with a wedding ring to his face, and she suddenly spoke up: "The reason I invited you to dinner today is actually because I need your help with something."
"I guessed it."
You Yue remained calm and said, "It's not a matter of helping, since we're sharing the risks and benefits now."
Cheng Hexi looked at him and said, "It's my grandma's birthday the day after tomorrow, and I'd like to ask you to come home with me."
“No problem.” You Yue raised his eyes. “It’s a small matter. You can just tell me. There’s no need to go to all this trouble.”
"It's not entirely because of that."
Her tone remained indifferent: "I said I'd treat you to dinner last time."
“Cheng Hexi,” You Yue chuckled, “we are husband and wife.”
His smile somehow suddenly shortened the distance between the two of them.
Cheng Hexi also curved her lips slightly, "You'll find it unbearable then, you don't know what my family is like..."
She paused for a moment, then asked, "You know about my family, right?"
This gossip wasn't exactly a secret, and he nodded: "I know."
That's all I need to say.
His family's affairs weren't exactly high-society secrets, nor were they particularly dramatic. It was the usual trope of a heartless husband cheating and having an illegitimate child—a clichéd plot that's not even written in a script.
Where did my loving father from my childhood go?
She would think about these kinds of questions when she was a teenager, but she never did again.
Cheng Hexi's doubts gradually turned into hatred, which was then buried deep as she grew up.
She no longer needs family ties, but Shirin must be hers.
After saying "I know," You Yue said two more things.
One sentence is "It's okay," and the other is "Don't worry."
Cheng Hexi thanked her and was truly relieved.
A note from the author:
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Hooray for living together! (Living together but in separate rooms)
Less than 3000 words, I'm so sorry, I'll compensate everyone with the three questions about compatibility.
1. What were your first impressions of each other?
Xi: Handsome, but arrogant.
Yue: You played the race car very well, which was a bit unexpected. (And you became a little curious.)
2. What flower do you think would best match your partner?
Xi: Hmm... Gladiolus, blue gladiolus.
Yue: Red rose.
3. My personal ranking of "love, freedom, life, and existence"?
Xi: Love, life, freedom, existence.
Beyond: freedom, life, love, existence.
Additional question: What's the thing you most want to do right now?
Xi: Take a break and relax.
Yue: No.
This compatibility question will randomly appear during the serialization, and will also be summarized in a bonus chapter after the series ends (setting a flag).
We're going back to work tomorrow, and I suspect the time flow between work and holidays is different. Is anyone going to do something about this...? (I got a little angry in a fit of rage) Also, I added two hundred words at the end of the last chapter, you can go back and take a look~ (It doesn't affect the plot)
Thank you for reading, and thank you to the little angels who pointed out the bugs and added nutrient solution. See you the day after tomorrow!
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