Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Yun Li was surrounded by a crowd of children, all gleefully calling her their little aunt-in-law as they pressed closer to listen to Jiang Yourong tell stories about Jiang Baichuan when he was a child.

Xia Wanzhi listened with just as much interest from the side.

The adults teased, the children laughed, and the beautiful scene drew the eye as much as it stirred the imagination.

Xie Qiyan quietly withdrew his gaze. Something seemed to flicker through his eyes.

Spending New Year’s with the Jiang family did feel far more festive than spending it with the Xie Family.

By the end of the day, Xia Wanzhi’s face had gone stiff from smiling. Even as they left, she still felt as if she were basking in a spring breeze, even a little reluctant to let the feeling fade.

“Have you been to the Jiang family’s place before?” Xia Wanzhi had never heard Xie Qiyan mention it, but the group of children from the Lu Family had clearly seen him before. They had called him Uncle Yan right away.

Xie Qiyan shook his head and explained, “I met them a few times overseas. Lu Beiting took his wife off for some couple time, and Jiang Baichuan was watching the kids, so he brought them over to my place.”

“No wonder.” Xia Wanzhi settled into her seat, but kept turning to look at Xie Qiyan on the way back.

Xie Qiyan smiled helplessly. “What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking to see whether my husband is unhappy.” Xia Wanzhi’s eyes were bright and clear. She simply turned sideways and stared at him openly.

Xie Qiyan froze, then turned his head and met Xia Wanzhi’s smiling gaze.

That first night, he had coaxed and pestered and threatened her for ages before finally getting her to call him “husband” just once.

But now she had gone straight for it without even needing a lead-in.

Xie Qiyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he let out a laugh. “Xia Wanzhi, you’re getting good at this.”

That single “husband” had coaxed away every trace of his unhappiness.

Xia Wanzhi gave a light cough. “You flatter me.”

When they returned to Lanting Bieyuan, the sky had not yet gone dark. Xia Changsheng heard the movement and had long since seated himself on the entryway bench to welcome them home. Xia Wanzhi went to wash her hands, then crouched down and carried him to the sofa. In a tattle-tale whisper, she said to him, “Changsheng, your dad isn’t happy. What do you think we should do to coax him?”

Xie Qiyan came over with a glass of water and handed it to her, answering in passing, “His dad isn’t unhappy. He just feels a little guilty.”

Xia Wanzhi paused. “What?”

Xie Qiyan brought the glass directly to Xia Wanzhi’s lips. “You didn’t drink enough water today. Open up.”

Drinking more water prevented illness, and Xie Qiyan had become very strict about it lately.

“I’ll drink it.” Xia Wanzhi put Changsheng down, took the glass, and finished the whole thing. Then she set it aside, got up, and sat close beside Xie Qiyan, her gaze direct. “What are you feeling guilty about? Just because I went to the Jiang family’s place today and felt happier there than I do spending New Year’s with the Xie Family?”

Xie Qiyan: “…”

All that sharp wit of hers had gone straight to this.

Xie Qiyan took a deep breath, lifted her up, and settled her onto his lap. Only when he held Xia Wanzhi tightly against him did he feel relaxed and at ease.

“Not entirely,” Xie Qiyan said, his voice low.

“So that is part of it.” Xia Wanzhi clicked her tongue. In a lofty, superior posture, she pinched Xie Qiyan’s chin and said fiercely, “What’s there to feel guilty about? It has nothing to do with you. I was happy spending New Year’s with the Jiang family because I was happy for Yun Li.”

“It doesn’t matter whose home we’re in. What matters is who I’m with.” Xia Wanzhi was a little angry now, and her grip tightened as she said solemnly, “Xie Qiyan, I married you, not the Xie Family. The only person I care about is you.”

Xia Wanzhi really found it strange. Xie Qiyan was surprisingly competitive-even this, he had to compare with Jiang Baichuan.

The corners of Xie Qiyan’s mouth lifted slightly. “I haven’t heard enough. Say more.”

Xia Wanzhi slapped his face with a crisp pat. “Don’t push your luck.”

“Your unhappiness is partly because of me too.” Xie Qiyan held her hand and brushed it against his lips, speaking bluntly. “I’m just afraid I haven’t given you enough. Like today-Yun Li can learn from Jiang Yourong what Jiang Baichuan was like as a child, and even in the future, she’ll have Nan Qiyue and Jiang Yourong to keep her company. But you…”

What did he have?

His past was a complete mess.

Before he had Xia Wanzhi, he had walked alone for many years through a dark, filthy gutter with no light at all.

He could not even find his mother, and he had even made Xia Wanzhi worry and spend her energy on it.

“I have Xie Tan to keep me company.” Xia Wanzhi easily cut him off. “You have Xie Tan too. Don’t be fooled by the way that girl is always arguing with you. The moment anyone says something bad about you, she’ll be the first to jump out and defend you, because she’s your family.”
“Ayan, when it comes to your past, I’d rather hear it from you yourself.” Xia Wanzhi sighed softly, cupping his face as she said seriously, “You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to feel like you owe me anything, either. All I want is for you to be honest with me.”

She believed Xie Qiyan loved her, but she also hoped Xie Qiyan would believe that she loved him too.

It had nothing to do with anything else. It was simply love, pure and unadulterated.

“If I’m unhappy, I’ll tell you.” Xia Wanzhi traced the shape of his lips, her voice flowing out slowly. “For example, right now, I’m unhappy because you’re being far too sensitive.”

“I’m sorry.” Xie Qiyan admitted his mistake. “It won’t happen again.”

His eyes brimmed with laughter, delighted that he had Xia Wanzhi, proud that Xia Wanzhi loved him so deeply.

Such a wonderful woman was his.

His wife.

Xia Wanzhi wasn’t buying it. She gave a little huff and was just about to push him away and get down when, in the next second, a warm palm clasped the back of her neck and tugged her forward with force.

Their lips pressed together, fitting perfectly with no space between them.

Xie Qiyan’s breath invaded hers. “Don’t be mad. I’m apologizing. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

“Hey, hey, hey-” Her body was suddenly lifted into the air, and Xia Wanzhi let out a cry. “Where are you going-”

“Xie Qiyan! My clothes…”

The sound of running water splashed in the bathroom, but it couldn’t drown out Xia Wanzhi’s soft moans.

Xie Qiyan proved to Xia Wanzhi, with actions rather than words, that he loved her too.

–

Xie Qiyan went back to work on the third day of the Lunar New Year. Xia Wanzhi had no intention of starting work that early, so during the day she followed Yun Li or Jiang Yourong around to visit people, and at night she fooled around with Xie Qiyan.

Jiang Yourong had recently taken a liking to clinging to Yun Li. On the seventh day of the New Year, Yun Li’s flower shop opened for business, and when Xia Wanzhi came over to help, she ran into Jiang Yourong again.

“Xiao Wanzi! What a coincidence!” Jiang Yourong came up and forcibly shook her hand.

After getting familiar with her, Xia Wanzhi had long since thrown politeness out the window. Gritting her teeth, she lowered her voice and said, “Your scheming is written all over your face, and you’re still calling it a coincidence? Coincidence, my foot.”

Jiang Yourong chuckled. “I just can’t wait to have a sister-in-law, that’s all.”

Xia Wanzhi laughed in exasperation. “Jiang Baichuan is truly blessed to have you.”

“Equivalent exchange. He helps me look after Zhaozhao and Mumu, and I come here to win over my future sister-in-law.” Jiang Yourong laid it all out without holding back.

Yun Li was tending to the flowers and plants. Hearing this, she finally couldn’t help standing up. “If you two are going to whisper, could you at least keep your voices down? I heard everything…”

Xia Wanzhi touched her nose, putting on an expression that said, This has nothing to do with me, it’s all her fault, then slipped inside to find something to do.

Jiang Yourong was thick-skinned. She grinned slyly. “I wanted you to hear it. Is there anything you need help with? I’m very free. Order me around however you like.”

“You just said Jiang Baichuan is looking after Zhaozhao and Mumu? Isn’t he… at the office?” Yun Li didn’t stand on ceremony either, handing Jiang Yourong a pair of shears and asking her to help prune the branches.

“He is. Jiang Baichuan can work and look after kids at the same time. Zhaozhao and Mumu can stay quietly in his office for an entire morning.” Speaking of this, Jiang Yourong leaned closer with a crafty smile. “My brother is pretty good with kids. They both stick to him, and they both listen to him.”

“Ahem…” Yun Li scratched the space between her brows. “I know…”

She had seen how Jiang Baichuan looked after Zhaozhao and Mumu before. He really did seem quite competent.

But why was Jiang Yourong telling her that?

Yun Li’s face grew a little warm, and she avoided Jiang Yourong’s gaze as she hurriedly went back to work.

After teasing her, Jiang Yourong went to chat with Xia Wanzhi again.

Xia Wanzhi couldn’t help laughing and asked, “Why didn’t you send the kids to your husband’s place?”

“My husband’s filming. It’s a newly prepared production, and shooting started yesterday.” Once Jiang Yourong encountered a new topic, she couldn’t stop chattering away. After she finished, she tossed out another question. “There’s a good-looking second male lead in his new drama. He’s an artist under Jiang Corporation. Why don’t you and my sister-in-law take some time tomorrow and come visit the set with me?”

A flash of inspiration struck Jiang Yourong, and she seized Xia Wanzhi’s weakness with precision. “I’m guessing you’ve definitely never gone to a film set for fun before. Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, this big sister will take you to broaden your horizons!”

Xia Wanzhi: “…”

Yun Li: “…”

This was what people called forcing a duck onto a perch.