Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Even though he had mentally prepared himself, the moment Jiang Baichuan saw Yun Li walk out of the flower shop’s little side room holding a bouquet of roses, the surprise still made his breath catch.

Yun Li had been rather nervous at first, but after seeing Jiang Baichuan’s reaction, she was quite satisfied. That bit of nerves in her heart transformed into motivation.

All this time, Jiang Baichuan had given her far too much.

Emotionally, spiritually, in life, materially-in every possible way…

She had known how he felt about her from the very beginning.

She was the one who had never been willing to face Jiang Baichuan, or face this relationship.

She worried that she couldn’t bear the weight of it, and she didn’t know whether she was worthy of him.

He was the high and mighty President of Jiang Corporation, while she was merely a Boss’s Wife at a flower shop. The gap in their status was the first barrier between them.

Marriages among wealthy families cared about equal standing, just like Xia Wanzhi and Xie Qiyan.

People could feel inferior.

Just as Yun Li was wavering over whether to admit her own feelings, he brought Zhaozhao and Mumu into her world. Then came his older sister, his younger sister…

When every single member of his family supported his choice and quietly conveyed their acceptance of her, aside from disbelief, Yun Li felt deeply moved.

Xia Wanzhi told her that children born into wealthy families were also ordinary people when it came to love.

Not every wealthy family valued profit above all else.

The Jiang family did not need to sacrifice their children’s happiness to maintain the family’s interests, and Jiang Baichuan did not need to either.

Even if Jiang Baichuan never married in this lifetime, the Jiang family’s position would not be shaken.

What Jiang Baichuan wanted, from beginning to end, was only her, Yun Li.

Jiang Baichuan stood up, staring in something of a daze at Yun Li, who was holding a bouquet of roses with a smile in her eyes. She stood there, surrounded by all the flowers in the shop as if they were there to set her off.

Yun Li grew a little shy under his gaze. Pressing her lips together, she quickly walked over and tossed the bouquet she had so carefully wrapped into his arms. “Why are you spacing out? Has no one ever given you flowers before?”

Jiang Baichuan held the bouquet of roses tenderly and smiled with unrestrained delight. “They have. My sister has given me flowers before. But I’ve never received roses, and I’ve never received flowers from a girlfriend.”

He knew that every single flower in this bouquet had been carefully selected by Yun Li. Every thorn on every rose had been stripped away by her. She had trimmed the stems, and she had wrapped the bouquet herself.

This bouquet represented all of her feelings.

It was also the answer she was giving him.

Yun Li’s fingers curled slightly.

The feelings between them were written plainly across their faces. Even if neither of them said it aloud, they both understood.

But since Yun Li had called him over and decided to give him this bouquet, it proved that she was allowing him to enter her life from now on.

Jiang Baichuan had had a hard time lately. Not only had he kept bothering Xia Wanzhi, but everyone in the Jiang family, young and old, had worried plenty on his behalf.

Every last one of them was fretting over Jiang Baichuan pursuing her.

As Yun Li thought about it, her cheeks heated faintly. The whole family had mobilized, making it seem as if she were so hard to pursue.

After working herself up for a while, Yun Li mustered the courage to look at Jiang Baichuan’s smug face and blurted everything out in one breath, as if throwing caution to the wind. “You’re a big president. You’ve seen plenty of precious things. I don’t have any gift impressive enough to give you, so I gave you a bouquet of flowers. But a bouquet of red roses signifies the beginning of a relationship. So what I want to say is, Jiang Baichuan, I…”

“I like you,” Jiang Baichuan said in a low voice, taking the words from her.

Yun Li’s lips parted slightly. She froze for several seconds before she came back to herself.

Holding the flowers, Jiang Baichuan stepped closer to her. The tips of their shoes touched. He leaned down slightly, bending for her, his breath falling against her cheek as he repeated with sincerity and burning heat, “Yun Li, I like you.”

He had said he liked her many times before, but none of those times had felt as formal as this one.

“Whether it was love at first sight or simply being tempted by your beauty, you’re the one who has occupied every bit of this place.” His heart was beating very fast. He took Yun Li’s hand and pressed it over his heart. “I’ve never liked anyone else. You’re the only one who makes me think of you day and night. I have nothing to be ashamed of admitting. I want you. I want your heart. I want all of you.”

Yun Li swallowed. Her ears, cheeks, and neck all burned from his words. She truly couldn’t stand this side of him, so she reached out and covered his mouth, cutting off whatever else he was about to say. With a soft reproach, she said, “You really have no shame, confessing to me while holding my flowers…”

This time, Jiang Baichuan did not hold back. He kissed her palm.

Yun Li froze on the spot, then abruptly withdrew her hand, her gaze darting everywhere with nowhere to land.

Even though she had read widely, she was still a grown woman who had never been in a relationship. This was the first time someone had ever… flirted with her like this.

She was truly embarrassed.

Jiang Baichuan took in her expression, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. He grasped the hand he had kissed and lifted it a little, then devoutly pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

Sensing her nervousness, he asked in a deliberately unserious tone, “So, Boss’s Wife, take me, won’t you?”

Yun Li: “…”

Seeing her relax, Jiang Baichuan continued, “Yun Li, I want an official title.”

Of course Yun Li knew he wanted an official title. When she lifted her eyes, she saw his face magnified completely before her. She pressed her lips together slightly, pulled free the hand he was holding, and pinched his chin.
Jiang Baichuan’s breath caught.

A featherlight kiss landed at the corner of his lips.

Yun Li was nervous, her voice trembling a little. “Got it, boyfriend.”

She tried to pull away, but Jiang Baichuan caught her by the waist.

The flowers between them were rather in the way, so Jiang Baichuan set them properly on the table. Then he strode toward Yun Li, cupped her face in both hands, and kissed her hard.

His movements were urgent.

Filled with all the joy and love in his heart.

His masculine scent swept over her. He was so tall and broad that Yun Li had to rise onto her toes, nearly lifted right off the ground by him.

A tingling numbness spread through her entire body. Yun Li’s knees went weak, and she grabbed at his coat, about to lose her balance. Just as she was about to scold him, he supported her and lifted her into his arms.

Startled, Yun Li clutched his head.

Seeing the glistening at the corner of her lips, Jiang Baichuan offered himself up again.

He kissed her endlessly.

This time, the one tilting his head back was Jiang Baichuan.

God knew how long he had fantasized about this moment.

“Stop…” Yun Li was panting. “No more kissing, Jiang Baichuan.”

Jiang Baichuan gave her another hard kiss. “Baby, I’m so happy I could die.”

Yun Li, both embarrassed and annoyed, covered his mouth with her hand.

He was a big CEO. How could he be this shameless…

Jiang Baichuan truly was happy. He held her and spun around several times, only setting her down when he grew a little dizzy, then kept hugging her. As if he had suffered some enormous grievance, he buried his head in the crook of Yun Li’s neck. “That wasn’t easy. You’re finally willing to have me.”

Yun Li’s eyes stung. Unable to hold it back, tears welled in her eyes. She secretly wiped them on his clothes and lowered her voice. “Are you stupid?”

Jiang Baichuan smiled. “I’m very smart. No one else could win you over, but I could.”

Yun Li laughed through her tears and punched him in the back.

Jiang Baichuan wiped away her tears tenderly and said with a smile, “Now that I have a girlfriend, I have to show off a little. I’ll add you to the family group chat later and have them send you red envelopes.”

Yun Li glared at him. “I’m agreeing to be your girlfriend, not your wife!”

Jiang Baichuan kissed her again. “Same thing. Either way, you won’t escape the palm of my hand.”

Chapter 114: He Knows How to Cherish Someone-Worth Marrying

Public opinion had caused too much damage. Liang Jing had been smeared from every angle, and he had already missed work for several days in a row.

A few days later, the transfer order from above came down, approving Liang Jing’s application for a position change.

The only reason Yun Li knew about it was because Yun Meilan told her.

She said she had run into the Liang Family’s parents at the mall. They wanted to come apologize in person, but truly didn’t have the face to do so. After explaining things and apologizing, they revealed to Yun Meilan that their whole family would soon be leaving Beicheng and returning to their hometown.

“It’s good that they’re leaving. Once they leave, just treat it as if none of this ever happened.” Yun Meilan liked to discuss things at the dinner table. Yun Li didn’t respond, only listening quietly.

Hearing that, Yun Li’s hand paused slightly as she picked up food. She couldn’t help laughing bitterly to herself.

How could she possibly pretend none of it had ever happened?

Yun Li only felt chilled to the bone.

Back then, Yun Meilan had not hesitated to threaten her with her own life just to force her to be with Liang Jing. Now, she could say so lightly that they should act as if nothing had happened.

Not a single word about all the grievances Yun Li had suffered.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Women were sensitive by nature. Yun Meilan felt she had already humbled herself enough, and she was displeased by Yun Li’s coldness. “Are you still blaming me?”

“What am I supposed to say? Not a single word you’ve said is something I want to hear.” Yun Li lost her appetite, set down her chopsticks, and stood up.

Yun Meilan slammed the table. “I think you’ve been led astray by someone else!”

“No one led me astray. I’ve always been like this. You just never knew.” During this period, Yun Li had already figured it out. Yun Meilan valued her life so much-how could she ever truly seek death?

Yun Li had simply acted too obedient, cared too much about her, and that was why Yun Meilan had used her soft heart again and again to do whatever she pleased.

She knew Yun Li would fall for it.

And the old Yun Li really had fallen for it.

After all, that was her only mother.

But once a person saw things clearly and set down the burden on their shoulders, nothing felt like such a big deal anymore.

Right now, Yun Li only wanted to be herself.

She wanted freedom.

“Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. I’m together with the person I like now-the rich fifth- or sixth-generation heir I mentioned to you last time.” Halfway to her room, Yun Li suddenly turned back and informed Yun Meilan, “His name is Jiang Baichuan. He’s my boyfriend.”

After saying that, she went into her room, not caring what Yun Meilan’s reaction would be.

What else could her reaction be? At most, smashing the house to pieces.

–

In the blink of an eye, Winter Solstice arrived. The temperature in Beicheng had already dropped below freezing. It was Saturday, so Xie Tan didn’t have school. She reported to Old Master Xie that she wanted to go to Lanting Bieyuan to spend the holiday with Xie Qiyan.

After Winter Solstice came the New Year. Since today was Winter Solstice, Old Master Xie had originally planned to have Xie Qiyan bring Xia Wanzhi back for dinner, but unexpectedly, the young people already had their own arrangements.

“Tell your brother to bring Wanzi back for a meal when he has time,” Old Master Xie specifically instructed Xie Tan.

Although he knew that this grandson of his didn’t have him, an elder, in his heart, he did value Wanzi. So the Old Master could only hope they would settle things between them sooner.
Xie Tan was in a hurry to leave, so she answered perfunctorily, “Got it, Grandpa. I’ll pass it on.”

Watching the young girl’s anxious retreating figure, the Old Master silently sighed.

The older one got, the more one felt lonely.

He had a house full of sons and grandsons, but what good was that? Few in this family were sincere. Even their most private, heartfelt words sounded false.

His eldest son lay unconscious. His eldest daughter-in-law was mad and erratic. The others resented him for calling his eldest grandson back, resented him for handing Xie Corporation to an illegitimate son.

But if he had not broken up Xie Tianqi and Yao Qin back then, how would Xie Qiyan have ever been treated as an illegitimate son?

Xie Tianqi had insisted on being with Yao Qin. For her, he had cut ties with the family. Old Master Xie had been furious, so angry he had already decided to give up on this eldest son. Yet five years later, Xie Tianqi came back.

The moment he returned, he knelt and kowtowed, admitting he had acted rashly back then and saying he was willing to fulfill the marriage agreement with the Hou Family.

Not long after his return, he and Hou Mengqiu went straight to register their marriage.

How could the Old Master not have seen that the two of them had already been involved?

But if that was the case, then what had Yao Qin been?

Later, when Yao Qin came to their door, he learned that Xie Tianqi and Yao Qin had a son.

Yao Qin had come to demand an explanation from Xie Tianqi. After learning he had married, her heart turned cold, and she wanted to leave.

But the Old Master could not allow a descendant of the Xie Family to wander outside. So he had a talk with Yao Qin and asked her to leave her five-year-old son with the Xie Family. He promised that the Xie Family would carefully raise and educate Xie Qiyan, and he guaranteed he would not stop mother and son from seeing each other.

But after Yao Qin left Xie Qiyan behind, she disappeared.

No matter how he searched, he could not find her.

Thinking back on that past, then thinking of Xie Tianqi and Hou Mengqiu now, and of that son of Hou Mengqiu’s who might not even carry the Xie Family’s blood…

The Old Master closed his eyes in pain.

The true culprit was him.

He had promised to raise Xie Qiyan properly, but from the moment Xie Qiyan moved into the Xie Family, he had been hostile toward every single person there.

The Old Master could not get close to him, and the rest of the Xie Family did not like him either. With no other choice, he sent him abroad to be educated.

But once he was overseas…

The Old Master’s eyes grew faintly damp.

It was not until Xie Qiyan entered university that he learned how hard a time the boy had had abroad as well. From then on, he began trying to make it up to him.

He let Xie Qiyan return to take over Xie Corporation, first because he had learned from the UK branch that Xie Qiyan had the ability, second out of guilt, and third because, by coincidence, he had found out about Xie Qiyan’s connection to the York Family.

In the end, he had always had his own selfish motives.

To keep Xie Corporation from being destroyed in this generation, he had chosen Xie Qiyan.

Facts proved that choosing Xie Qiyan had been the right decision.

When Xie Tan arrived at Lanting Bieyuan, she passed the Old Master’s message on to Xie Qiyan. Xie Qiyan was making dumplings. He did not even lift his eyes, only answered lightly, “We’ll talk when I have time.”

Xia Wanzhi glanced at him a few more times. “Didn’t you used to like taking me back for meals?”

Before they had gotten together, he had always used the Old Master as an excuse to bring her back. Now that they were together, he had stopped mentioning the Old Master instead.

Xie Qiyan did not hide it either. “Just a little scheming on my part.”

Yun Li, who was off to the side, immediately hooted and then glared at Jiang Baichuan.

Jiang Baichuan smiled innocently. “What does that have to do with me?”

Yun Li gave a soft huff. “Scheming.”

Men were all the same. In order to create opportunities, who knew what they were hiding in their hearts?

Xia Wanzhi pressed her lips together slightly, and heat inexplicably crept up her cheeks.

Thinking back now, it turned out Xie Qiyan had already had designs on her even then.

Xia Wanzhi made a few dumplings, but none of them held their shape. Compared to everyone else’s, hers were simply too awful to look at, so she gave up.

Xie Qiyan told her to go rest. Seeing this, Jiang Baichuan also took the liberty of untying Yun Li’s apron. “You go rest too.”

As Yun Li was pushed outside, she looked back and protested, “It’s not like I don’t know how to make dumplings…”

“You just have fun. Leave the rest to President Xie and me.” Only after Jiang Baichuan pushed her onto the sofa did he finally stop. Xia Wanzhi watched cheerfully from the side.

Once they were gone, Xia Wanzhi nudged Yun Li’s shoulder and whispered, “Certified by an authority: he’s the type who knows how to dote on someone. Marriage material.”

Yun Li shot her a reproachful look. “You’re teasing me now, are you?”

Xia Wanzhi smiled. “Look at you, your face is red.”

As she spoke, she reached out to touch Yun Li’s face. Yun Li grabbed her hand while dodging, and the two of them tumbled into a playful scuffle, their laughter constantly drifting over to the kitchen.

Xie Tan was full of resentment. “Is no one going to tell me to go rest too? I’m still a child, you know.”

Only then did the two tall men notice Xie Tan off to the side, silently joining the fun by making dumplings. “…”

Xie Qiyan gave a light cough. “You go out too. You’re in the way standing there.”

Xie Tan secretly spat at him, washed her hands, and slipped out to watch TV.

Today was Winter Solstice. Eating dumplings was fake; being force-fed dog food was the real thing.