Chapter 45 045 "I want to hear you say it yourself."...
Meng Ran pressed her cheek against Chen Sulin's suit fabric, and whether it was her imagination or not, she felt as if she could hear his steady heartbeat through the fabric.
The anxiety that had been building up suddenly subsided.
The hug lasted longer than Meng Ran had imagined. She wanted to wait for Chen Sulin to let go first, but in the end, she couldn't help but speak up herself.
Meng Ran: "Shall we... get in the car first?"
She didn't have his strong mental fortitude; she couldn't help but wonder if the ground staff around them were watching them as they hugged for so long.
Chen Sulin then released her: "Okay."
The accompanying staff had already efficiently put Chen Sulin's luggage into the trunk.
Meng Ran and Chen Sulin got into the back seat of the car together.
After getting into the car, Chen Sulin lowered the partition inside the car, completely isolating the back seat into a private space for the two of them.
Having not seen each other for almost a week, Meng Ran's fingers curled slightly, and she was momentarily nervous.
"Was the journey back smooth?" she asked.
Chen Sulin: "Hmm."
Meng Ran: "Things are fine at home. Miao Ying has been very well-behaved these days, only occasionally mentioning that she misses her dad."
As she spoke, the corners of her lips curved into a smile.
Chen Sulin took her hand: "Why are you suddenly smiling?"
Meng Ran let him hold her hand tightly: "I just suddenly thought of that day... you had just returned from a business trip abroad."
Chen Sulin stared at her, something flickering in his eyes.
Meng Ran didn't specify which day, but she knew he would understand which day she was referring to.
It was the day she was found after she went missing, and the first time she met him while she was suffering from amnesia.
After briefly recalling the scene of their first meeting, Meng Ran complained in a low voice, "You were so fierce that day."
Chen Sulin: "Really?"
“Yeah,” Meng Ran said, “You stared at me for ages without saying a word, with such a stern face. I don’t know what I did to offend you.”
As she was speaking, she suddenly lost her balance, and Chen Sulin pulled her into his arms.
Meng Ran's heart rate spiked instantly, and she instinctively tried to push him, but couldn't budge him.
Chen Sulin: "Don't worry, no one else can see or hear you."
Meng Ran: "..."
She leaned against his chest, giving up the struggle, but she still felt a little awkward.
Chen Sulin may have been used to being driven by a chauffeur since she was a child, but she wasn't. Even with the partition in place, she still lacked a sense of security.
Fortunately, it was just a hug, which Meng Ran could accept.
Before her heart could fully calm down, she heard Chen Sulin say, "I'm sorry, I was just in a bad mood that day."
Meng Ran was slightly taken aback, then realized that Chen Sulin was apologizing for her saying that he had been very fierce that day.
She looked up from his arms: "Why are you in a bad mood?"
Chen Sulin remained silent.
Meng Ran's curiosity reached its peak. He rarely spoke frankly to her about his thoughts, and it was very unusual for him to admit so openly that he was "in a bad mood."
But he only said half the story and didn't explain why it was bad. Wasn't he just deliberately keeping her in suspense?
Meng Ran couldn't help but press, "Is it because of work? Did your business trip go wrong?"
Chen Sulin: "No."
Meng Ran: "Why is that?"
He looked down to meet her curious gaze, and just when Meng Ran thought he was finally going to answer her, everything went dark.
"Hmm—"
Caught off guard, he captured her lips in his mouth, and the next second his jaw was pried open.
Chen Sulin probed into her mouth, deepening the kiss.
His kiss came fiercely, instantly stealing her breath. His unique scent filled the air, mixed with the faint bitterness of coffee, forcefully invading every inch of her senses.
Meng Ran felt her tongue go numb and her head spin from his antics.
A soft moan involuntarily escaped her lips, but she forced herself to suppress it.
A man's low, husky voice came, as if enticing her to succumb: "It's okay, no one can hear you."
Meng Ran screamed inwardly: How could it be unrelated!
But she was indeed tempted by him, and her initial resistance soon turned into acceptance, as she tightly gripped the fabric of his chest.
It's unclear how much time passed, but Chen Sulin finally slowly backed away when Meng Ran's lungs were completely empty.
She lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him, and her body stiffened, not daring to move.
Meng Ran could clearly feel the heat emanating from his body, and she was afraid that he might act impulsively and turn that suffocating kiss into something more out of control and more intense.
As Chen Sulin continued to push his luck, her sense of shame grew increasingly thin.
But in any case, a passionate kiss like that in the car was already the limit she could psychologically accept.
She wasn't actually any calmer than him.
After being apart for almost a week, and with her period having ended several days earlier, she could feel the desire aroused within her body after the kiss.
Meng Ran leaned against Chen Sulin's chest, and it took her a long time to finally calm down the emotions he had stirred up.
She hooked her finger around his, breaking the silence: "You've dodged my question again. Why were you in a bad mood that day?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Sulin sighed softly: "You really want to know the answer that much?"
Meng Ran looked up at him: "Yeah, you're allowed to be in a bad mood, but I'm not allowed to ask?"
She didn't realize that she had never been one to ask so many probing questions before.
He gave her confidence without her even realizing it.
Chen Sulin touched the top of her head.
Just when Meng Ran thought he was determined not to answer her, Chen Sulin finally spoke: "Because my wife finally came back to my side, but she is thinking of someone else."
Meng Ran reflexively defended herself: "What I was thinking was—"
She suddenly stopped speaking halfway through her sentence.
She almost forgot that when she first woke up from her amnesia, her mind was indeed filled with thoughts of Zhao Yanzhou.
At that time, her memory was stuck on the birthday she spent with Zhao Yanzhou. Often, when she closed her eyes, she would vaguely think that she was still twenty-three years old and still in love with Zhao Yanzhou.
Now, only a month has passed, but it feels like a lifetime has gone by, making it almost impossible for Meng Ran to empathize with her past self.
Feeling guilty, Meng Ran bit her lip and whispered, "You're not a mind reader, how would you know who I'm thinking about?"
It's impossible for her to admit that she was thinking about Zhao Yanzhou back then.
Her emotional intelligence isn't that low, and besides, after what happened yesterday, just mentioning that name makes her want to sneer.
Chen Sulin: "I really don't know."
Meng Ran looked at him in surprise: He admitted defeat so readily, it wasn't like him.
Chen Sulin stared at her: "Then tell me, who are you thinking about right now?"
Meng Ran was stunned.
Chen Sulin raised an eyebrow, waiting for her reply.
Meng Ran's face tightened.
Was this person just trying to trick her with sweet talk?
It was one thing before, but now she's taking a special trip to the airport early in the morning to pick him up. Who else could she be thinking of?
Meng Ran: "...We've already kissed, why are you still asking this?"
Chen Sulin: "I want to hear you say it yourself."
Meng Ran: "..."
We haven't seen each other for many days, so it's no big deal to satisfy him this once.
Meng Ran suppressed the heat in her cheeks and whispered, "I was thinking of you."
No sooner had she finished speaking than a kiss landed on her cheek.
The man's lips slowly moved upwards, then gently nibbled on her earlobe, whispering in her ear, "Say it again, who is it?"
Meng Ran's eyelashes trembled, and her voice trembled as she said, "You, Chen Sulin."
A kiss landed on her trembling eyelids.
Then, a warm touch pressed against her brow, slid down inch by inch to the tip of her nose, and finally covered her lips.
Unlike the previous passionate and plundering kiss, Chen Sulin's kiss this time was incredibly gentle.
His lips gently caressed her, with boundless patience and tenderness, as if confirming her existence little by little in this way.
Meng Ran indulged herself in Chen Sulin's tenderness.
...
Back at the villa, Uncle Dong helped carry the luggage to the entrance before leaving.
Meng Ran was shy and didn't dare to look at Uncle Dong the whole time.
Although Chen Sulin repeatedly said that she couldn't hear anything from the front after the barrier was lowered, she was still worried.
Meng Ran thought that if she had the chance someday, she would like to personally test the soundproofing effect.
Unfortunately, it's just a thought; in practice, you need to find someone to cooperate with, which is too troublesome.
Upon entering the house, no one else was seen on the first floor of the villa.
The living room curtains were drawn, making it somewhat dark.
The temperature drops quickly in the north of the city in autumn. Just a few days ago, I could still run around in a single layer of clothing, but now I have to wear a coat to go out.
Although the car had air conditioning, Meng Ran still wore a trench coat when she went out today.
Chen Sulin helped Meng Ran take off her coat.
Noticing that his actions were accommodating her height, Meng Ran raised the corners of her mouth.
“Chen Miaoying seems to be one of the tallest in the class,” she said. “I wonder if she inherited it from you. By the way, do you know how tall Miaoying is?”
Chen Sulin: "The measurement last month was 121 centimeters."
He casually hung his coat on a hook in the entryway.
Meng Ran: "Oh..."
She had no idea about children's height and was pondering the number in her mind when she was suddenly hugged from behind.
Chen Sulin rested his chin on the top of Meng Ran's head and rubbed it against her, then put his arms around her shoulders and turned her around.
Meng Ran subconsciously looked around.
During the daytime, a housekeeper cleans the house.
Chen Sulin: "Don't worry, no one's home right now."
Meng Ran: "How did you know..."
Chen Sulin: "I told the housekeeper before we came back that no one would come unless we called for them."
Before Meng Ran could react to what those words meant, her chin was lifted up.
Chen Sulin kissed him.
Meng Ran's body had been yearning for this for a long time, and after just a few seconds of his kiss, she went limp.
As he picked her up, she mustered her last shred of consciousness and asked him, "Really, no one will be here?"
Chen Sulin said in a deep voice, "I promise."
He lifted her onto the sofa, her skirt spreading out like flower petals.
The clasp on the back was quickly unfastened, and the full curve fit perfectly into the palm.
Meng Ran trembled slightly from the heat of the man's palm and craned her neck in frustration.
Looking at the slender, fair neck before him, Chen Sulin's eyes darkened further.
Perhaps knowing he wouldn't be disturbed, Chen Sulin's actions weren't too hasty; he was very patient with both his kisses and his hand gestures.
As he gently touched the edge, his fingertips quickly became wet, and Chen Sulin chuckled softly.
Meng Ran realized what he was laughing at, and her face burned so hot it felt like it could bleed.
It was all because he started touching her inappropriately in the car, which made her weak all over.
Now, if he teases me even slightly, my physical reaction becomes uncontrollable.
Meng Ran wanted to say something, but as soon as she opened her mouth, broken syllables escaped from her throat, so she could only purse her lips tightly and hug Chen Sulin even tighter.
His breathing rose and fell with the movement of his fingertips.
Not long after, he brought her to her highest point.
The tingling sensation was like an electric shock, coming in waves.
Meng Ran kept her eyes tightly closed, her nails digging deep into the man's back.
...
When Chen Sulin carried her upstairs in a princess carry, Meng Ran had not yet fully recovered from the afterglow of what had just happened.
Unbelievable, she actually allowed herself and Chen Sulin to become intimate on the sofa in the living room.
Only after she truly got together with Chen Sulin did she realize that she didn't understand herself at all before.
Just like she never knew her body could be so sensitive.
Chen Sulin first carried her to the bed, and then he pressed himself against her.
Noticing that she had not yet recovered from the passion he had just experienced, he did not rush into anything, but instead soothingly kissed her lips.
After a moment, Chen Sulin got up and took out the box he had opened before his business trip from the drawer.
"Help me?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
Meng Ran: "...Okay."
He had put it on himself the previous times, but this time it was her turn, and her movements were inevitably clumsy and awkward.
Having finally succeeded, Chen Sulin's aura enveloped them once again.
Previously, Chen Sulin had always been restrained in matters of the heart.
In the two nights before his business trip, he only used one each night.
Meng Ran thought this was his normal state: Chen Sulin would not indulge himself excessively or immerse himself in physical pleasure.
A few days ago, when she was tidying up her bedside table, she found an extra box in the drawer and thought it was obviously unnecessary.
At the current rate of consumption, it will take a long time just to finish the box that has already been opened.
So when Meng Ran bit her lip and accepted him, she never imagined that this was just the beginning of today.
...
She trembled in his arms countless times, until he drained her last bit of strength.
Before he could leave, Meng Ran warned weakly, "There won't be a next time."
Chen Sulin: "Feeling unwell?"
It's not accurate to say I felt uncomfortable; it was more like a feeling of exhaustion after extreme pleasure.
Meng Ran had no idea how this man could be so energetic, as if he wanted to make up for all the days he missed during his business trip.
She felt weak all over and couldn't muster any strength.
My legs are incredibly sore, from sitting on his waist for too long.
Even though he changed his posture the last time, his leg muscles still haven't recovered.
Meng Ran: "Anyway... don't move and don't talk to me."
At first, she suppressed her voice, but then she realized that there was no one else in the house and it was in the bedroom, so she gave up resisting completely.
Now, my throat feels a little uncomfortable.
I remember once when I was in school, I sang karaoke with Jiang Yuqing for several hours straight. After returning to the dormitory, no matter how much water I drank, my throat still felt dry.
Chen Sulin hummed in agreement and hugged her from behind.
After a long while, Meng Ran regained some strength to speak: "What time is it?"
There was a small alarm clock by her bedside, but she was too lazy to turn her head to look at it.
Chen Sulin: "2:30."
Meng Ran: "..."
She checked the time when they returned from the airport; it was five minutes to eleven.
Three and a half hours have already passed.
For more than three hours, I was either in bed or in the bathroom.
While she was lying in bed recovering her strength, Chen Sulin had already taken a shower and was now dressed in his pajamas, looking refreshed.
He was clearly the one who put in more effort, I really don't know how he manages to be so energetic.
Perhaps, Meng Ran thought, she really should put fitness on her agenda.
Chen Sulin brought her a glass of water, and after watching her drink it, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
Meng Ran then realized that she hadn't eaten lunch yet.
I was so exhausted that I even forgot about osmium.
Meng Ran: "It's alright."
Chen Sulin: "I'll carry you to take a bath first, and then I'll make you something to eat."
Meng Ran refused without even thinking: "No need, I'll wash it myself."
Just now, when he carried her to the bathroom to wash, he couldn't help himself.
Chen Sulin chuckled softly, trying to reassure her, "I promise, it's just a shower."
Meng Ran insisted, "I can do it myself."
Chen Sulin: "You were almost unsteady on your feet just now, are you sure you're okay?"
Meng Ran replied decisively, "No problem."
Chen Sulin sighed, "Then slow down. I'll go downstairs to cook, and I'll let you know when it's ready."
Meng Ran stopped him: "Just make something simple to fill your stomach. You'll be eating with Miao Ying tonight."
Chen Sulin: "Okay."
After he left the room, Meng Ran propped herself up from the bed, hissing as her feet touched the floor.
She thought she now understood what the Little Mermaid felt when she first came ashore.
I took a shower and changed into a clean set of pajamas.
Meng Ran picked up her phone to see if anyone had contacted her in the past few hours.
Fortunately, apart from a few WeChat messages from Jiang Yuqing, there was no other important information.
Jiang Yuqing said she had come up with a few more ideas for operating accounts, but it was hard to explain in a message, so she asked Meng Ran if it would be convenient to make a voice call.
The message was sent ten minutes ago, but her phone was on silent, so she didn't hear it.
After hesitating for a moment, Meng Ran made a voice call.
Jiang Yuqing answered quickly: "Hey, Ranran, did you see my message?"
Meng Ran: "Hmm, you said you wanted to talk to me by voice?"
Jiang Yuqing: "Yes! I just came across a really interesting video format while I was scrolling through short videos, and I think we can try making one too."
Meng Ran: "Okay, go ahead and tell me."
Jiang Yuqing: "...Ranran, it's been a change of seasons these past few days, did you forget to put on more clothes and catch a cold?"
Meng Ran was confused: "No, I'm fine."
Jiang Yuqing: "Then why does your voice sound like—"
Halfway through her sentence, Jiang Yuqing seemed to remember something and suddenly stopped talking.
Meng Ran also realized what had happened and was filled with regret.
She shouldn't have casually mentioned it to Jiang Yuqing yesterday, saying that Chen Sulin was coming back from his business trip today.
Jiang Yuqing's reaction clearly indicated that she had guessed something.
Meng Ran said awkwardly, "Oh, maybe it's because I just woke up from a nap, so my voice is a little nasal."
Jiang Yuqing: "Haha, is that so? It's alright, it's alright, I'll continue."
The two discussed their video ideas over the phone for a few minutes.
Before hanging up the phone, Jiang Yuqing couldn't help but advise, "Ranran, you still need to take care of your health. I'm just an operations person, and you're the only boss now. If you overwork yourself, I won't be able to take your place..."
Meng Ran was speechless and could only say "okay".
After hanging up the phone, Meng Ran picked up the water glass from her bedside table and gulped down several more mouthfuls.
Chen Sulin pushed open the door and said he had cooked two bowls of wontons.
He was met with a sharp glare.
Chen Sulin raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong? Don't you want to eat wontons?"
Meng Ran couldn't bring herself to say anything when she realized her voice sounded off.
She could only glare at him again to vent her anger: "No, I'll go eat now."
Seeing her get up, Chen Sulin said, "I'll carry you downstairs."
Meng Ran hesitated for a moment, but did not refuse.
She decided not to make things difficult for herself.
Sitting down at the table, Meng Ran picked up her chopsticks and asked him, "You didn't go to the company all day today, is that okay?"
She had just received a call from Jiang Yuqing when she realized it was Monday and he was supposed to be at the company.
Chen Sulin: "Yes, there are no meetings scheduled for today. I can handle my work from home."
Meng Ran: "..."
One can't help but suspect his sinister motives in making this arrangement.
Chen Sulin pointed to the bowl next to her: "I just tested it, the temperature is just right, it will get cold if you leave it uneaten."
Meng Ran said "Oh," picked up a spoon, scooped up a wonton, and put it in her mouth.
Since he returned from his business trip, the two of them hadn't spoken face-to-face so calmly.
As the effects of hormones wear off, certain worries resurface.
Meng Ran swallowed the wonton in her mouth and didn't eat a second one right away.
She looked at him hesitantly, unsure whether she should speak up at this moment.
Chen Sulin was incredibly perceptive; she hesitated only slightly before he realized she had something to say: "What is it?"
Meng Ran: "I..."
She thought about it and decided that since she would have to say it sooner or later, she might as well do it now while he was in a good mood.
Meng Ran: "Yesterday, when I took Miaoying to the park for a picnic, something happened..."
She paused again at this point.
Chen Sulin: "You're talking about Zhao Yanzhou?"
Meng Ran stared at him in astonishment, completely forgetting to hide her surprise.
"Didn't you just get back from abroad?" she said. "How did you know?"
Chen Sulin: "There was internet on the plane. After Uncle Dong reported it to me, I had someone investigate what happened."
Meng Ran stared at him in a daze.
Chen Sulin said gently, "It was already night in China at that time, and I was worried that you wouldn't get enough rest, so I didn't tell you."
Meng Ran opened her mouth: "Then...you know about that bracelet?"
Chen Sulin: "Hmm."
Meng Ran opened her mouth, then closed it again.
All the prepared arguments suddenly became useless.
Meng Ran: "Did you already know there was something wrong with that bracelet?"
Otherwise, why would I have specifically put it in my desk drawer?
Chen Sulin: "Previously, we only suspected that the bracelet was not purchased by Zhao Yanzhou using his own identity, so we couldn't find any concrete evidence."
Meng Ran: "..."
“Don’t worry, there won’t be a next time.” Chen Sulin held her wrist. “Miaoying is my bottom line. I will not let him appear in front of our daughter again.”
Meng Ran's mind was racing: "What did you do?"
Chen Sulin: "It's nothing. I just told Chairman Zhao what Zhao Yanzhou had done, and also talked with Chairman Zhao about the areas where the Zhao family and Hengyue would be involved in the next few years."
The amount of information was too much for Meng Ran to process immediately.
Does Chen Sulin mean that he threatened Zhao Yanzhou's father?
Seeing that she stood there stunned and didn't speak for a long time, Chen Sulin's brow twitched slightly.
"What's wrong?" Chen Sulin asked. "What are you worried about?"
Meng Ran: "I..."
“I’m not worried,” she said, shaking her head slowly. “I’m just a little surprised.”
Chen Sulin's eyes darkened slightly: "Mm."
“If you have any concerns,” he said gently, “it’s not too late to tell me now.”
Meng Ran seemed to be suddenly awakened by these words, and looked up at Chen Sulin.
The man's expression was calm, his face seemingly devoid of any emotion, but his eyes held a shadow she couldn't decipher.
Meng Ran frowned, a sudden impulse rising within her to question him: "Chen Sulin, do you think I have any concerns?"
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