88. Timid
Chen Minghui's face changed slightly as he watched Qian Yuan leave with the briefcase. The evidence he'd thought was a handle on him had become an insignificant, outdated backup in Chen Yunsheng's mouth, and the old man wasn't even interested in asking any more questions.
On the other side, Jiang Nan watched from the side and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, he also admired Chen Yunsheng's response.
Today's family dinner was packed with people. If Chen Yunsheng had been more explicit, he would have been peppered with questions. Even if he'd evaded the issue, Old Master Chen would likely have probed privately. That would have undoubtedly led to another wave of trouble.
Thinking of this, Jiang Nan adjusted his expression to make himself look calmer.
After the document bag incident was quietly brushed aside, Chen Minghui and Li Li became noticeably quieter. They stopped picking fights and even refrained from saying anything unnecessary. However, some of the other distant relatives showed more enthusiasm and curiosity towards Jiang Nan, their granddaughter-in-law, surrounding her with questions.
Jiang Nan responded with aplomb, occasionally trying to steer the conversation. She tried to limit the subject to mundane topics like New Year customs, her words naturally revealing a fondness for home while deftly avoiding any potential comparisons.
Chen Yunsheng would occasionally add a word or two to her to avoid being speechless or being looked down upon.
To others, the tacit understanding between the two made them look like a newlywed couple with a deep affection.
Old Master Chen, standing by, watched them with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. In the past, when Chen Yunsheng brought Jiang Nan home, they had been accompanying him in his performance, deliberately ignoring the awkwardness, but now it seemed like the two of them were truly ready to start a new life together.
So when the family dinner ended and the guests left one after another, and Chen Yunsheng was about to take Jiang Nan home, Mr. Chen suddenly called Chen Yunsheng and handed him a thick red envelope: "Here, this is the New Year's money for you and your wife."
Chen Yunsheng was stunned. He hadn't received New Year's money from his grandfather in years. His first reaction was suspicion, then disappointment.
After a while, he took the red envelope and smiled faintly: "Thank you, Grandpa."
The old man nodded, his eyes swept over Jiang Nan who was talking to Su Wanrong, and his tone softened: "Nannan is a good child, you should treat her well. When you have time... bring her back to visit more often."
"I will, Grandpa." Chen Yunsheng promised solemnly.
After saying that, Chen Yunsheng bowed slightly to Old Man Chen, then turned and walked towards Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan saw him coming, smiled softly, and then extended a hand to him. Chen Yunsheng took her hand and turned to Su Wanrong: "Mom, we're going back first."
Su Wanrong nodded: "Drive carefully."
Chen Yunsheng agreed, then took Jiang Nan and slowly disappeared from Su Wanrong's sight.
——
On the car ride back to the city center, both of them were silent. Jiang Nan was tired; dealing with a large family was more exhausting than even working several days of overtime. Chen Yunsheng, on the other hand, was focused on driving, seemingly calm.
It wasn't until the car entered the basement of the apartment building that Jiang Nan couldn't help but ask the question that had been lingering in his mind all night: "What's in that document bag?"
Chen Yunsheng paused as he unbuckled his seatbelt. Then he raised his head slightly to look at her and said briskly, "A forged piece of evidence about my setting up a shell company overseas to transfer assets."
Jiang Nan frowned slightly: "He wants to use this to frame you?"
"Well, then he could use this as an excuse to kick me off the board," Chen Yunsheng continued. "Unfortunately, he's too timid."
"Is this still small?"
Hearing this, Chen Yunsheng smiled. He ruffled Jiang Nan's hair and explained, "He could have handed it to Grandpa in person, or he could have used Zhang Lei or someone else to pass it to Grandpa. But he knows Grandpa's patience with him is limited. If he can't completely kill me, he absolutely can't tear his face with me in front of Grandpa."
"So, he chose to have Zhang Lei deliver this document at the family dinner today," Chen Yunsheng said, looking at Jiang Nan. "I haven't seen this document before today, and he'll probably open it right away. With so many people around, someone will definitely see it. Even if no one sees it, he'll make sure someone sees it and then tell Grandpa about it. And then everything will follow naturally."
Jiang Nan was a little worried: "Then Grandpa...did he really not suspect anything?"
Chen Yunsheng chuckled, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "Grandpa is astute as anyone. He might not fully understand what Second Uncle did, but he's always been aware of his actions. That document was so carefully crafted, full of flaws, Grandpa could see through it at a glance. He remained silent, simply observing my reaction."
"What's your reaction?" Jiang Nan's expression showed a hint of confusion. "Is it your attitude towards your second uncle, or your ability to cope with it?"
When Chen Yunsheng heard her question, he was silent for a while before speaking: "Both."
Jiang Nan felt that he had said something wrong and hurriedly changed the subject: "Why do I feel like he wants to test me too?"
As he finished speaking, Chen Yunsheng chuckled softly. He pinched Jiang Nan's cheek and then gave a serious evaluation: "You performed very well."
Jiang Nan imitated his movements and raised her hand to pinch his face: "You are very good too."
But when she looked into Chen Yunsheng's eyes, she had only one thought - she really wanted to know what kind of environment he had grown up in over the years.
"Tired?" Chen Yunsheng saw her in a daze and reached out to rub her hair. "Let's go home and rest early."
His touch brought Jiang Nan back to her senses. She nodded and followed him out of the car.
As soon as I return to the apartment, I can see the simple dolls on the entrance cabinet and the softly glowing star lights hanging from the French windows. There is no complexity or loneliness of an old house here, only a reassuring simplicity and authenticity.
Chen Yunsheng took off his coat and slipped on his green cartoon slippers. Jiang Nan watched him, and the gloom in her heart suddenly dissipated a little. No matter how harsh the outside world was, at least this was a haven where they could temporarily let down their guard.
"I'll go turn on the water. You can take a bath to relieve your fatigue." After saying that, Chen Yunsheng walked towards the bathroom in the master bedroom.
Jiang Nan hummed vaguely, feeling both expectant and a little embarrassed.
Of the several bathrooms in the house, only the master bedroom, where Chen Yunsheng lived, had a bathtub. To put it bluntly, she was going to bathe in Chen Yunsheng's bedroom. Even though they had shared a bathroom a few nights together in the old house before, this time, the air was filled with a smoky, enchanting atmosphere.
Thinking of this, Jiang Nan's face turned red, and then she walked to the living room and threw herself into the soft sofa. She picked up a colorful pillow and listened to the sound of Chen Yunsheng busying around the room.
The sound of the rushing water and his occasional footsteps were calm and hazy, as if separated by a layer of gauze, but they slowly stirred her thoughts.
After a while, Chen Yunsheng finally came out: "The water is ready, you can go."
Hearing this, Jiang Nan showed an awkward expression. Then, she quickly stood up, walked past him quickly, and hummed, "Thank you."
Chen Yunsheng didn't understand. But when he saw Jiang Nan's slightly flustered back, he immediately figured it out. Then, he sat on the sofa, staring at the closed door, feeling both amused and helpless, muttering, "Isn't that stupid?"
His voice was soft and a little gentle.
At the same time, Jiang Nan walked into the master bedroom bathroom without looking around. She tried not to look at the toiletries belonging to Chen Yunsheng, then quickly took off her clothes and carefully entered the bathtub.
Soaking in the warm water, her fatigue gradually dissipated. Jiang Nan closed her eyes, but her mind couldn't help but replay the events of the past few days. From the warm reunion dinner in Jichuan, to the family dinner at the old house with its hidden meanings, to the silent and considerate man beside her.
She found herself becoming more and more greedy for the warmth that began with the agreement.
When Jiang Nan came out of the shower, Chen Yunsheng had already changed into his home clothes and was sitting on the sofa browsing something on his laptop. Hearing the door open, he looked up and asked, "Are you done showering?"
"Yeah." Jiang Nan walked over, wiping her hair, and sat down next to him.
Chen Yunsheng closed his computer, took the towel from her hand naturally, and helped her wipe her hair. His movements were a little awkward, but very gentle.
Jiang Nan was stunned for a moment, but did not refuse. He quietly enjoyed this rare intimacy.
"My hair has grown a lot longer." he said suddenly.
"Well, I'm too lazy to cut it," Jiang Nan replied vaguely. Actually, it was because Wenwenwen had mentioned that her hair would look better longer. But her hair was already long.
Chen Yunsheng didn't say anything else, just focused on helping her wipe her hair. The living room was very quiet, with only the slight sound of the towel rubbing against her hair and the sound of their breathing.
"After the Spring Festival," Chen Yunsheng suddenly said, "I may have to start cleaning up my second uncle's influence within the group."
Jiang Nan was slightly startled, then turned to look at him: "Is there any danger?"
Chen Yunsheng looked at the worry in her eyes, his heart softened, and he shook his head: "No. It's just that the process might be a bit ugly. By then, the family might not be too peaceful, you——"
"I'm fine," Jiang Nan interrupted him, "I can take care of myself. Go do what you need to do and don't worry about me."
Chen Yunsheng looked at her deeply, then raised his hand and touched her cheek: "Nannan."
His gaze was so intense that Jiang Nan's heart began to beat wildly. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found she had no idea what to say.
And just when she was frustrated, he suddenly bent down and kissed her.
This kiss was different from the tentative and cherished first kiss on Christmas Eve. It was deeper, heavier, and carried an almost urgent confirmation, as if it wanted to melt her into his bones and blood.
Jiang Nan felt dizzy from his kiss and instinctively clung to his shoulders. His breath sprayed on her skin, carrying the coldness of cedar and the warmth she was familiar with, a contradiction yet a harmony.
After the kiss, both of them were a little breathless. Chen Yunsheng rested his forehead against hers and said softly, "After I finish dealing with these things, we can... start well, okay?"
Jiang Nan understood what he meant by starting over. It was no longer an agreement, nor was it just a play, but a true marriage based on love.
Jiang Nan looked into his eyes, which were so close to her. Her reflection was clearly reflected in them. Then, she nodded seriously: "Okay."
Chen Yunsheng breathed a sigh of relief, and then he hugged her tightly in his arms.
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