Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Slice of Life 5: Stay by My Side

The anger Xie Qiyan had felt during the day was canceled out by the kiss Xia Wanzhi took the initiative to give him. But what he was owed at night still had to be collected.

Xie Qiyan held her in his arms and vented his jealousy.

Unable to take it, Xia Wanzhi cursed him. “You beast in gentleman’s clothing!”

Xie Qiyan accepted it modestly. “Mm. I’m despicable and shameless too.”

When it came to insults, she only had those few lines anyway. The mumbled words, thick with a nasal little whine, felt like they were scratching right at his heart, making it tingle.

Almost like she was egging him on.

But no matter how wanton and shameless he was, he still knew where to draw the line.

They finished early tonight. By the time the two of them came back to the bedroom from the bathroom, Xia Wanzhi said she was hungry, so Xie Qiyan promptly headed for the kitchen.

At home in the summer, one could go around half-dressed with perfect ease. Xie Qiyan did just that, bare-chested, wearing only the long pants from Xia Wanzhi’s three-piece pajama set.

The shirt and shorts from the set were on Xia Wanzhi.

Perhaps because she had never expected Xie Qiyan to have a habit of wearing her pajamas, Xia Wanzhi couldn’t hold back. She went up to him and grabbed his firm backside twice.

“Still want more?” When it came to acting like a hooligan, Xie Qiyan was the undisputed winner.

Xia Wanzhi glared at him and withdrew her hand. “…”

The pajama pants were too small. On Xie Qiyan, they looked like tight pants-especially in the front.

Suppressing the wicked thoughts in her head, Xia Wanzhi closed her eyes and cursed him, “I can’t even look…”

Xie Qiyan shrugged. Turning back, he watched his blushing little wife flee in embarrassment, the smile in his eyes rising all the way to his brows.

–

In June, just when the Zhou Family had finally emerged from public controversy and returned to calm, more bad news came from them.

Sun Lingzhi had missed her footing, fallen down the stairs, and shown signs of a threatened miscarriage.

The baby was not saved.

According to the Zhou Family, only Sun Lingzhi and the servants had been at home when it happened.

The miscarriage was an accident.

Xia Wanzhi heard nothing more about what happened afterward.

How the Zhou Family was doing, how Zhou Yu was doing-none of it had anything to do with her anymore.

That same month, Jiang Baichuan’s movie queen sister, Nan Qiyue, attended a film festival with her husband, Lu Beiting. Quite a few unedited photos and videos from the event circulated online, and when Xia Wanzhi saw them, she praised him three times in a row: “So handsome!”

The person she was praising was that internationally renowned director, Lu Beiting.

That night, Xie Qiyan used his actions to interrogate her. “Who’s more handsome, me or him?”

Xia Wanzhi could only humor him. “You are. You’re the most handsome. You’re super invincible, number one under heaven handsome…”

A woman’s intuition was always accurate. Xia Wanzhi vaguely felt that Xie Qiyan would be soaking in a vat of vinegar for decades to come.

After staying at Lanting Bieyuan for two months, Xia Wanzhi took the initiative to suggest moving back to Qingcheng Villa.

With Liu Shubai and Xia Changsheng keeping her company, Yao Qin was not exactly lonely. After all these years, she had also grown used to the quiet. But being used to quiet did not mean she disliked liveliness.

She enjoyed spending time with her son and daughter-in-law, but she missed Nancheng just the same.

“Ayan told me your neighborhood is closer to the office. This place is too far.” Recently, Yao Qin had learned several dishes from Liu Shubai. Taking advantage of today, she had made them all for her son and daughter-in-law to taste. As she picked food into Xia Wanzhi’s bowl, she urged them not to let her delay their work.

“Ayan drives. It doesn’t take that much extra time.” Xia Wanzhi looked at the food piled like a little mountain in her small bowl and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Mom, you can’t always play favorites. Give me some too…” Xie Qiyan took the initiative to hold his bowl in front of Yao Qin.

In his memory, Yao Qin did not know how to cook.

“Is it edible?” Xie Qiyan asked sincerely.

Ever since the surgery, Yao Qin had been in recovery, exercising her thinking and reaction abilities as the doctor required. Now, almost by instinct, she turned her head and glared at Xie Qiyan. “Shut up.”

Liu Shubai brought a pot of soup out from the kitchen and picked up the conversation with a smile. “Your mom was very careful. At most, she used a little less salt. It’s edible, and healthy too.”

Xia Wanzhi nodded as she ate. “Right. Healthy.”
“Next time, I’ll teach you something even simpler.” Afraid Yao Qin would be upset, Liu Shubai patted the back of her hand as he took his seat.

Xie Qiyan saw it, but he was more concerned with Yao Qin’s reaction.

The knot in her heart had come undone, and her condition was gradually improving. Everything was moving in a good direction.

But the one thing that had not changed was Liu Shubai’s status.

Yao Qin wanted to go back to Nancheng.

Whether she wanted to go by herself or have Liu Shubai accompany her, no one knew.

In the height of summer, the evening breeze came carrying a refreshing coolness. Yao Qin alone loved this kind of wind.

She missed this kind of wind.

She still wasn’t used to the air-conditioning indoors.

Out on the terrace, she sat there quietly, as if she had returned to the way she was when she had been ill before, her eyes staring blankly at one spot.

And from beginning to end, Liu Shubai never left her side.

“Shubai, I want to go back to Nancheng.” The air around them was utterly still, and Yao Qin’s words broke the silence.

Liu Shubai usually did not disturb her easily. Seeing that she had come back to herself, he immediately poured her a cup of warm water. “Let’s wait a little longer. The doctor said…”

“I want to go back.” Yao Qin looked into his eyes. “I want to go back now.”

Their gazes met, and Liu Shubai could see the hope and longing in her eyes.

“Then another day, we’ll discuss it with Ayan. I’ll go back with you.” In the end, Liu Shubai’s heart softened.

The reason he did not recommend that she leave now was because she had to undergo various examinations every few days.

“Shubai, I mean I want to go back by myself.” Moonlight faintly spilled down from the sky, but after only a short while, that crescent moon was once again hidden behind thick clouds. Yao Qin said it seriously, and Liu Shubai stared back at her for a long time.

“Ah Yao, you know I won’t leave you.”

No matter what way he had to do it, he would stay by her side.

It had been that way in the past. It was that way now. And it would be that way in the future.

Another long silence followed.

Yao Qin did not dare look into his eyes. She lowered her head and twisted the handkerchief in her hands. When she lifted her head and met his gaze again, tears were streaming down her face. “Why?”

“What about me is worth…”

The last sentence sounded more like self-mockery.

“There aren’t that many whys.” This was not the first time she had asked such a question, nor was it the first time he had answered.

“Ah Yao, some people are born… perhaps destined to love only one person their entire lives.” He crouched slightly, his knees touching the tips of her feet, his eyes deep. “I liked you from the time I was a green, inexperienced boy, and even now, you’re still the only one I like.”

“Next month, I’ll be fifty.” His fingertips brushed lightly over the back of her hand. Only after confirming she did not pull away did he cover it fully with his palm. “Half a lifetime has already passed… How many half-lifetimes can a person have? The children have grown up, and we have grown old. Do you really have the heart to leave me behind and let me grow old alone?”

“I can’t imagine how I’m supposed to live without you. Do you understand?” In Liu Shubai’s life, there was only one thing he had ever regretted, and that was leaving the country all those years ago.

If he had not left, his Ah Yao would never have fallen into Xie Tianqi’s trap and suffered for half her life.

“This isn’t fair.” Her tears were scalding as they fell, one after another, onto the back of Liu Shubai’s hand, still warm when they landed. Yao Qin’s whole body was trembling as she choked out, “This isn’t fair to you… You know perfectly well that I…”

That she had loved that man deeply.

That she had once deeply loved a man who had hurt her so cruelly.

She was awful. She had delayed Liu Shubai through the best years of his life.

Someone like her was not worth it.

“Then just think of it as something you owe me.” Liu Shubai raised a hand and wiped away her tears, his tone calm. “Ah Yao, stay by my side.”

“I want you to use the rest of your life to pay me back.”

After half a lifetime wasted, at this age, whether it was love, friendship, or family affection, he only wanted to be with her.

No matter in what way.