Marriage and perseverance
On September 29, 2013, Xiaofeng was practicing boxing in the team's gym. Her boxing gloves alternately struck the sandbag three times per second. Pressure sensors projected her footwork data onto a display screen in real time, while her coach, Chen Rui, stared intently at the curves on the screen.
"Start the burst mode." Chen Rui's instructions were transmitted to Xiaofeng's ears through the headphones. She instantly switched the rhythm and launched a combo with jabs - three sets of straight punches at different angles landed accurately on the sandbag, leaving evenly spaced dents.
After a short break, the sparring began. Xiaofeng's back was to the door. Chen Rui suddenly heard movement at the entrance and subconsciously glanced sideways. At that moment, Xiaofeng's left shoulder dropped slightly, and his right arm swung like a taut slingshot, striking the opponent's left rib with a whistling sound. Chen Rui's defense was a beat too slow, and he stumbled back two steps, but he wiped his sweat and smiled, "Beautiful."
"You're distracted." Xiaofeng shook his numb hands, with a hint of pride in his tone.
Chen Rui stood up, a smile on his face, and raised his chin to signal her to turn back. Xiaofeng then turned around and saw Wen Qing standing at the door with a few strange men.
There were low murmurs from below the ring: "Tsk tsk, that's a really powerful punch" and "This woman..."
Xiaofeng gestured to Chen Rui, asking him to help remove her boxing gloves. She then ripped off her headgear herself, her movements quick and almost brutal, her gaze fixed firmly on Wenqing. She leaped down the stairs in two steps and threw herself directly into Wenqing's arms. Wenqing ruffled her still sweaty hair and said with a smile, "Let me introduce you to some friends."
…
"What are you doing in the gym?"
"Of course we come to the boxing gym to eat."
"Have you told Uncle Ming?"
"No, it was a last-minute decision."
"Then I'll arrange it for you!"
Xiaofeng jumped and ran away, leaving a group of people standing there in a daze, with expressions of shock on their faces from the fierce punch she had just thrown.
"My wife." Wenqing's eyes followed Xiaofeng's back the entire time, and his tone was filled with pride.
"Can you beat her?" someone couldn't help but ask.
Another person added, "Since I've met a gentleman, how can I not be happy? At this moment, who cares whether I can win or not?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Wenqing's phone soon received a message: "At 'Moonlight', six people, Uncle Ming has made arrangements."
He typed, "Won't you come eat with me?"
"I want to eat, but the coach will scold me. I need to eat a nutritious meal."
"I'll come to you after dinner."
"Okay, I'm near the ring."
After taking a shower and changing into casual clothes, Xiaofeng returned to the boxing ring to check the training data with Chen Rui.
"The explosive power index of the previous movement reached 92%, but the posterior muscles were over-consumed." Xiaofeng said, pointing to the screen.
"I'll ask the team doctor to adjust the formula of the cold compress later." Chen Rui nodded.
"The defensive transition reaction was 0.07 seconds faster than the standard value, but at the cost of heart rate fluctuation exceeding the recommended value by 23%."
"The equipment guy said the custom-made new shock-absorbing glove padding won't arrive for another two or three days."
"I'm really looking forward to it."
"On the sandbag training side, all 27 key technical points were maintained well." Chen Rui flipped through the records and suddenly looked up. "That punch just now didn't hurt me, but you hit me hard enough."
"It's just an instinctive reaction." Xiao Feng was a little embarrassed. "How about we let the team doctor take a look at you?"
"Don't worry about me! I'm actually worried about President Jiang." Chen Rui joked.
"He's used to it a long time ago." The two smiled at each other.
When Wenqing and the others finished their meal, they saw Xiaofeng again. She looked completely different - she was wearing a dress, with long hair draped over her shoulders. The fierce aura she had just had in the boxing ring was gone.
"Have you been drinking?" Xiao Feng smelled the alcohol in the air, but the corners of his mouth raised a gentle arc and said with concern, "Shall I call a designated driver?"
"No, no, Mrs. Jiang, we have arranged it ourselves." Someone waved his hand with a smile.
"Wenqing, are you going back to the company? I'll take you there." Xiaofeng turned to the person next to him.
"go home."
"Then go to the basement and wait for me. I'll see you in the elevator lobby at number 11."
Everyone rushed to the underground parking lot and waited for their designated drivers at the entrance of Elevator Hall No. 11. Suddenly, a motorcycle screeched to a halt in front of them, and the rider, helmet in hand, walked towards Wenqing—his close-fitting motorcycle jacket outlined his neat lines. As she approached, Wenqing leaned over tacitly and asked her to help put the helmet on, his chin tilted back slightly, the movement so natural as if he had practiced it a thousand times. After Wenqing got on the motorcycle, he held Xiaofeng's waist with one hand and waved to everyone with the other: "My driver is here, bye!"
The motorcycle engine roared away, and the fluorescent signs of the underground parking lot were swept by the taillights, casting a flowing light and shadow.
Someone looked at their backs and asked dazedly, "How many wives does he have?"
The two of them returned home and parked their motorcycle. Wenqing then pulled Xiaofeng into the car. Just as he was about to open the door, Xiaofeng grabbed his hand and said, "You're drunk and you want to drive? You're pretty drunk."
"I didn't drink, it was spilled on me."
"Where are you going now?"
"Go buy some clothes first, and then go to a party with me in the evening."
Xiaofeng was completely bewildered by the sudden arrangement and sat obediently in the passenger seat. When the car came to a stop, Wenqing gently patted her awake.
"Are we there yet?" Xiaofeng rubbed his eyes and adjusted his hair in the rearview mirror.
Wenqing took her into a clothing store, and the clerk immediately came up to them: "Hello, Mr. Jiang, Hello, Mrs. Jiang!"
"Please get us each a set of clothes. We have a business meeting tonight."
The clerk responded, quickly glanced at Xiaofeng in her motorcycle jacket, and turned to prepare the goods.
"Mrs. Jiang, please come this way." Xiaofeng timidly followed the clerk to the fitting room. She carefully pushed open the door of the fitting room with one hand and subconsciously covered her chest with the other hand.
The clerk quickly explained with a smile: "Mrs. Jiang, you don't need to wear underwear with this dress."
"Without underwear, I really have nothing left?"
"That's how you look classy," the clerk said with a smile. "Think about it, which supermodel doesn't look that way?"
The two women covered their mouths and laughed softly.
When Xiaofeng emerged from the fitting room in her gown, Wenqing's Adam's apple rolled unconsciously. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, exuding a languid, sexy air. Her hair was swept aside, revealing her delicate collarbone, the spotlight shattering into tiny stars across the hollow of her collarbone. The black satin gown enveloped her like night mist, yet as she turned, it inadvertently revealed her slender waistline.
Wenqing quickly stood up, and the clerk opened a gift box. He took out the necklace, put it around Xiaofeng's neck and gently placed it on her collarbone.
Xiaofeng was like an actor making his debut on stage. He turned his head to the side and secretly glanced at himself in the mirror. He repeatedly adjusted the necklace clasp, but he always felt that something was not right.
Wen Qing saw through her uneasiness and praised her softly, "Wife, you are so beautiful." He raised his arm in a gesture, a smile in his voice, "Let's go."
Xiaofeng felt a lot more at ease when her parents, second uncle, and fourth uncle were all present at the Ninghai Chamber of Commerce event. She sat down next to Jiang Wan and noticed she was constantly checking her out. She couldn't help but feel a little flustered and whispered, "Mom, is there something wrong with me?"
"No, you're very beautiful, but you rarely dress like this."
"It's so uncomfortable to wear this way. My neck feels stiff."
Jiang Wan covered her mouth and smiled: "Don't be nervous, let their men go to the social gatherings, and we can just chat."
"That's great."
"Are you going to compete again soon?"
"Well, mid to late October, still five stations."
"Another month?"
"yes."
"Mom wants to ask, do you have any plans to have a child?" Jiang Wan said, gently gesturing at Xiaofeng's lower abdomen.
Xiaofeng's face flushed red, even her ears were stained pink: "Mom..."
"Wenqing is already 32 years old."
"Maybe he thinks his career is more important."
"Maybe? Haven't you talked about this before..."
Before she could finish her words, a familiar voice was heard: "Xiao Feng...", interrupting the conversation between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Xiaofeng looked up and saw Grandpa Zhou, Uncle Zhou, Aunt Fan, Uncle Zhou, and Brother Zhou Yang.
The Jiang family members hurriedly stood up. Wenqing leaned towards Xiaofeng, half-protecting her. Xiaofeng subconsciously held his arm.
After a few pleasantries, the Zhou family prepared to leave. Zhou Shijie passed by Xiaofeng and asked calmly, "Is this Rao Xiaofeng?"
Xiaofeng quickly responded, "Grandpa Zhou, I'm Rao Xiaofeng."
"I don't deserve it." Zhou Shijie walked away, leaving behind another sentence, "She's still just a little girl."
Jiang Heng promptly stopped Jiang Tao who was about to step forward to argue.
Zhou Yong stopped and walked over to Xiaofeng to comfort her: "Don't take it to heart."
Xiao Feng hurriedly shook his head: "Is Grandpa okay?"
Zhou Yong covered his mouth with his hand and explained in a low voice: "He's old, so his recovery is average, but it's nothing serious. It's just Alzheimer's disease, which is unavoidable."
Xiaofeng nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Zhou."
The dinner ended without incident. Back home, Wenqing took off his coat and untied his tie, then sat on the sofa. He buried his head in the crook of Xiaofeng's neck, greedily inhaling her fragrance. After a moment, he kissed her collarbone, following the curve of her neck. Xiaofeng's body tensed instantly, her fingers subconsciously clenching the back of Wenqing's shirt. The soft sound of fabric rubbing against each other was quickly drowned out by the lingering sound of the kiss.
Just as the kiss was about to land on her chest, Wenqing suddenly turned over and sat up, leaving Xiaofeng stunned on the sofa for a long time. After recovering from her shock, she softly asked, "Wenqing, Mom asked us today if we have plans to have children."
"You're still young, wait until you graduate from college."
"But we are married."
"You're only a junior. Let's discuss the child's matter later, okay?"
Xiaofeng suddenly wrapped her arms around Wenqing's neck and pulled him toward her, wrapping her legs around his waist, causing him to lose his balance and fall into her arms. Without hesitation, she kissed him, the living room filled with the sound of wet kisses. Xiaofeng frantically tried to unbutton Wenqing's shirt, but Wenqing grabbed her hand, lowering his head. His voice was a little tired, "Xiaofeng, I'm a little tired," he said, and then he got up and went upstairs.
Xiaofeng felt as if the fire in her heart was extinguished in an instant, and a feeling of emptiness and grievance surged up. She clenched her fists and hammered the armrest of the sofa hard.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
