FY - 24

In the evening, Zhou Yan blew dry Zhou Siyuan’s hair and watched him go back to his room.

At the doorway, Zhou Siyuan turned back and said to Zhou Yan, “Sister, goodnight.”

Zhou Yan smiled, “Goodnight.”

The door closed. Zhou Yan glanced at the clock; 9:30 PM. Time to wash up and go to bed.

Thinking that, she turned to go back to her room for clothes.

She hadn’t taken two steps when her phone rang. She frowned, feeling a bad premonition. She picked up the phone, and it was indeed “Old Bastard.”

She answered but didn’t speak.

The other end was quiet, his breathing faint, but still audible in the pauses.

After a long while, Si Wen said, “Come over.”

Zhou Yan remained silent.

Si Wen spoke again, “I was working nearby. Just finished.”

Zhou Yan remained silent.

Si Wen maintained his usual tone: “I can pick you up.”

Zhou Yan knew that ignoring him for three sentences was already pushing his limit: “Okay.”

She still went back to her room, got clothes, and took a shower.

When she was ready, Si Wen’s call came again. It only rang once.

She left her apartment and pressed the doorbell of her neighbor’s unit before going downstairs.

The door opened, revealing the face of an ordinary fifty-year-old woman. She glanced behind Zhou Yan, as if understanding: “Another night?”

Zhou Yan nodded.

The woman sighed: “Alright. You go. I’ll watch Siyuan for you.”

Zhou Yan: “Thank you, big sister.”

The woman waved her hand: “Thanks for what? Just looking after a child, and I’m alone anyway, no company. Besides, you pay every month, more promptly than my factory wages when I was younger.”

Zhou Yan said no more, nodded, and turned to go downstairs.

The woman called out to her again: “Girl.”

Zhou Yan stood on the steps, turning back: “Hmm?”

The woman looked at her face, made translucent by the moonlight outside the window. Her words were caught in her throat: “Be careful.”

Zhou Yan acknowledged her and continued downstairs.

The woman sighed again.

She didn’t know what was wrong with the world, why such a good girl had such a hard life.

Zhou Yan exited the building. The evening breeze lifted the hem of her white dress. Her casually braided fishtail braid had a few shorter strands that weren’t tied up, restlessly fluttering on her forehead. Overall, she looked unreal.

The community gate was close, only a couple of steps away. Outside, there was a car with a bare price of over two million, Si Wen’s car.

Si Wen had many cars, but he preferred driving those worth around a million. Didn’t he have multi-million supercars? No, he just didn’t care much for grand displays.

Or rather, the name Si Wen itself was a grand display; other flashy things were unnecessary.

Zhou Yan swiped her card, pushed open the small gate, and then saw Si Wen leaning against the car’s hood. His long legs, illuminated by the streetlight at the community entrance, looked even longer with their shadows. He was always like this, knowing which pose could drive people crazy.

She lowered her eyelids, suppressing the ripple in her heart.

Si Wen’s gaze, which had been on the wall, shifted to Zhou Yan just as her dress was caught by the wind. His eyelashes fluttered.

It had only been a month.

Until they got into the car, they only exchanged glances; neither spoke first.

The car slowly drove away from the “slums” and entered the wealthy district.

Along the way, the lights became increasingly beautiful, dazzling and colorful, unimaginable to the poor.

At the base of the building, Si Wen parked the car. Zhou Yan waited for him, then they entered the elevator together.

They still didn’t speak. This time, there wasn’t even eye contact.

When the elevator arrived, Si Wen exited first and entered the apartment. Zhou Yan followed, closing the door.

Si Wen ignored her, turned on the TV, listened to the football game, and went to his room.

When he came out again, he had changed clothes and put on glasses.

His eyesight was excellent, but perhaps due to heavy medication, he had a slight astigmatism. So, for important work, he would wear a pair of fine-rimmed glasses. Like other personal items, they were small and exquisite.

The presence of those items made the apartment seem much cheaper.

This was Si Wen. “I have money, I can afford it, but I don’t necessarily buy it. I don’t need a huge house, but the location must be good. The car is the same; performance matters more than brand. My everyday items might not be the most expensive, but they must be the finest.”

He put on his glasses and started working, showing no intention towards Zhou Yan throughout.

Zhou Yan was used to it. She tidied up the room, then sat quietly on the balcony, waiting for him.

By midnight, she couldn’t stay awake any longer.

Si Wen said, “Don’t fall asleep in front of me.”

Zhou Yan instantly became alert and got up to go back to her room.

As she closed the door, the doorknob was pulled from the outside. She looked up and saw Si Wen. He had taken off his glasses.

Their gazes met, Zhou Yan’s hand still on the doorknob. Si Wen pulled hard, drawing her out and into his arms. He then embraced her.

Their bodies pressed together for the first time in a while.

Zhou Yan was very sleepy and didn’t want to play any games with him. If they were going to have sex, she hoped it would be quick, aiming to finish within an hour.

Si Wen, however, was very slow, so slow that he only held her, his hands uncharacteristically resting on her back.

This continued for a long time. Zhou Yan almost fell asleep in his arms before he finally spoke: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Zhou Yan didn’t know what to say. “Say what?”

“Don’t you like me holding you?”

Zhou Yan frowned. When did she say she liked it? That was just a behavior that occurred after sex to relieve emptiness; it had nothing to do with liking. She denied: “I don’t.”

Si Wen didn’t accept this answer: “You do.”

Zhou Yan didn’t argue with him. It was meaningless.

Si Wen reached out and touched her face. The wound had almost healed, leaving only a slight, barely noticeable raised line when touched.

He only touched, not wanting to look. He said, “You don’t have to worry. I haven’t needed to sacrifice a woman for anything yet.”

Zhou Yan woke up.

Is that so?

Did she not need to consider Zhao Youjin’s influence?

Was Zhao Youjin less important than her?

Si Wen’s words seemed to say: “Go ahead and be arrogant. Let’s see who dares to be presumptuous.”

But: “Is there no expiration date? If I pass my expiration date, will you abandon me?”

Si Wen found the question strange: “I’ve supported you for four years, and now you’re having a crisis of awareness?”

Zhou Yan pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Si Wen felt the body in his arms gradually warm up. He craved this warmth and held her tighter.

He said, “Only fools overthink things that haven’t happened.”

Zhou Yan had heard his “get lost” too many times; it was hard not to keep a fallback plan for herself. It was instinct.

She had to ensure that when Si Wen no longer needed her, she could withdraw, and she could forget him.

Even if it was difficult.

Si Wen kissed her crown: “Don’t overthink it. It’s useless. I won’t be swayed by others, and neither will you.”

This meant, don’t ponder a fallback plan; I see right through yours.

Zhou Yan gave up trying. She would just take things as they came.

Meeting Si Wen was her fate; she didn’t have the power to defy destiny, so she might as well give up.

Look, all her shrewdness in dealing with others completely vanished in front of Si Wen. With Si Wen, she embodied hypocrisy to the fullest, making people grit their teeth.

Si Wen’s hand moved downwards, cupping her thigh, and he lifted her into his arms.

Zhou Yan instinctively clung to his neck, moving too much, and their faces pressed together.

Si Wen allowed her intimacy, even though it was unintentional. He turned and carried her into his room.

Zhou Yan was thrown onto the bed—literally thrown. Si Wen always had to dominate during sex.

She propped herself on her elbows, half her body facing him.

Si Wen knelt astride her, unbuttoning his shirt. He was very impatient, kept fumbling with the buttons, and the more he fumbled, the more impatient he became.

Zhou Yan sat up and unbuttoned it for him. The shirt seemed to surrender to her touch; her fingers moved twice, and it opened.

Si Wen immediately pressed down, his chest against hers, biting her ear: “Still sleepy?”

Zhou Yan shook her head. Not sleepy anymore.

Si Wen’s hot breath brushed her cheek: “Let me fuck you.”

Zhou Yan didn’t answer; she didn’t see it as a question.

Si Wen, however, wanted her to answer: “Say you want it.”

Zhou Yan replied perfunctorily: “I want it.”

Si Wen frowned. Was this a “want”? Why so lifeless? “What do you want?”

Zhou Yan didn’t want him to just penetrate her; she wanted him to kiss her. She hooked her arms around his neck, pulled him down, and actively bit his lips, kissing him arrogantly, biting him occasionally, playfully, like a peacock that had been suppressed for too long fighting back.

Si Wen’s hands dove under her skirt, pinched a bit, and in a few moments, he was hard.

Just as she understood his habits, he also knew how to make her react.

Zhou Yan indeed stopped, lowering her brows as she looked at him.

Si Wen was very pleased, and his actions intensified.

Zhou Yan instinctively clamped her legs together, a faint moan escaping her lips.

When she was aroused, she was most seductive.

Si Wen’s erection showed how much he was captivated by her alluring facade.

Zhou Yan cried out, her nails digging into his arm: “Si Wen.”

Her voice was intentionally restrained, but Si Wen knew her too well; he knew she was already aroused.

He didn’t stop: “Hmm?”

Zhou Yan’s heart was burning: “I’m uncomfortable.”

Si Wen’s fingers moved down a couple of steps, reaching in, stirring her waters of desire: “Do you want me inside?”

“Yes.”

“Then call me.”

“Si Wen.”

“No.”

“Husband.”

Si Wen’s eyebrows shot up. Not “Daddy”? Who allowed her to call him “Husband”?

Displeased, he pulled his hand out, unbuckled his pants, and brought himself to her mouth, letting her lick him a couple of times. Once he was wet, he gave her a thorough penetration.

Zhou Yan cried out, still wanting to hug, clinging to his neck.

Si Wen unconsciously sped up. After a month without cultivating this fertile ground, it was still very receptive to him, and still as tight as ever.

Zhou Yan hit her G-spot and instinctively recoiled.

Si Wen felt her tighten around him. He pulled down her clothes, firmly sucking along her collarbone, distracting her.

Zhou Yan, instead, clamped down even tighter.

Si Wen groaned softly: “Relax.”

Zhou Yan couldn’t: “I can’t relax.”

Si Wen changed positions, and the speed of his thrusts also slowed down. The sounds from their coupling gradually became less intense, and Zhou Yan finally relaxed a bit.

This lovemaking lasted a long time.

By the time it ended, Zhou Yan was “dead” to the world.

Si Wen went out for a cigarette. When he returned, Zhou Yan had pulled a blanket over her lower abdomen, but her chest and legs were still exposed.

He walked over, took her foot, moved it inward, and pulled the blanket down to cover her.

Lying down beside her, he leaned against the headboard, feeling comfortable everywhere.

Indeed, this kind of peace, only Zhou Yan could give him.

He turned his head to look at her, and as if she sensed it, she hugged his arm.

He thought he would withdraw, but that arm remained still all night.

Just as he hadn’t actually been working nearby that night, but simply found an excuse to pick her up specifically.