#56 (Together)

Shen Tang rested her chin on Jiang Chengyu’s shoulder, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the collar of his shirt. This was her fourth year and six months knowing Jiang Chengyu, and only today did she hear him say “I love you.”

The second young master of the Jiang family’s love was rarer than any priceless treasure.

Jiang Chengyu held her, accompanying her in silence.

Knock knock, the office door was knocked twice. Qin Xing’s voice called out, “Brother Jiang, the spray is by the door.”

Qin Xing had returned from the pharmacy long ago. He had even seen Jiang Chengyu’s car turn into the underground parking lot downstairs. He couldn’t ruin their reconciliation atmosphere, so he smoked a few cigarettes downstairs.

Estimating the time was right, and that he was needed to provide a buffer, he appeared just in time.

This reconciliation should be stable now.

Whistling a cheerful tune, Qin Xing’s footsteps gradually faded away.

Inside the office, it remained quiet. Jiang Chengyu didn’t rush her, giving her time to consider.

Shen Tang’s surging emotions finally calmed down slowly. She slightly turned her gaze, only then noticing that he was wearing a white shirt today.

“What’s your shirt-wearing pattern now? White on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and black on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday?”

She was willing to speak, so she must have forgiven him.

Jiang Chengyu had no particular dressing pattern, but to make her happy, he said, “Black during the day, white at night.”

Shen Tang smiled and asked him to let her down.

Her current sitting posture was both awkward and agonizing.

Jiang Chengyu let her sit on the stool, perfectly positioned for him to check the injury on her back.

He first sought her opinion. “Can I look now?”

Shen Tang clutched the hem of her T-shirt, her refusal more than obvious. “I haven’t agreed to get back together yet.”

Jiang Chengyu leaned over, placing both hands on either side of her stool, looking down at her. His posture was very aggressive; if he were to kiss her directly, she would have nowhere to hide.

“Tell me where you still feel wronged.”

Shen Tang’s eyes were less than ten centimeters from his; she could clearly see a tiny reflection of herself in his eyes. “I waited too long for those three words from you.”

Jiang Chengyu: “Tangtang, we’re only getting back together now. You have enough time to find a place for your grievances with me. When I propose, you can also make me wait a little longer before saying yes.” He lowered his head a few more inches, making a motion to kiss her.

“If I kiss you, you’ll say I did it on purpose and that I’m disrespecting you.”

Jiang Chengyu turned his head and leaned close to her lips. “Kiss me.”

Shen Tang blanked for a few seconds, then lifted her chin and very lightly kissed his cheek.

It was when this gentle kiss landed that Jiang Chengyu truly felt his heart race, experiencing the moment of being loved by her.

He turned to look at her, his lips finding hers.

Shen Tang wrapped her arms around his neck, and the initial kisses were exceptionally tender.

He kissed her upper lip, then her lower lip.

Later, the kiss became as dominant and possessive as his current standing posture.

As their tongues entwined, their heartbeats also tangled together.

Jiang Chengyu released her in time; continuing would lead to something more.

His self-control faltered around her; he couldn’t remain unaffected.

“Let me see your back.”

Shen Tang no longer demurred, whether it was because the pain had lessened over time or for some other reason. “It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt as much as before.”

Jiang Chengyu wouldn’t be at ease without seeing it with his own eyes. He carefully pinched the corner of her T-shirt and cautiously rolled it up.

Her skin was like fine jade; even a slight scar was exceptionally noticeable.

Two deep red marks, though not shocking, were still incredibly distressing.

He carefully lowered her T-shirt again. “Where else does it hurt?” Jiang Chengyu touched her head. “Did it hurt here when you were crushed under that pile of gypsum boards?”

“Let’s go to the hospital for an X-ray,” he decided on his own.

Shen Tang adjusted her clothes. “My head wasn’t hit. There wasn’t a pile of gypsum boards, just one that got knocked over. If a whole pile had fallen, you’d be waiting for me at the emergency room door now.” As she said this, she belatedly realized, “Qin Xing told you it was a huge pile? And that I was crushed and couldn’t get up?”

“Yes,” Jiang Chengyu felt a sudden sense of relief. “Don’t move around. I’ll spray your foot with medicine.”

He opened the door and brought in the medicine from the doorway.

Jiang Chengyu held Shen Tang’s sprained foot in his hand and sprayed the medicine on the swollen area.

She looked at him. “If Qin Xing hadn’t exaggerated the facts, would you not have begged me to get back together?”

“Whether I begged you or not has nothing to do with what Qin Xing said. If he hadn’t called me, I might not have begged you today. Qin Xing just moved the timing forward.”

After the medicine was sprayed, Jiang Chengyu knelt down and placed her foot on his lap to let the medicine dry.

He put the spray back into its box.

“Stay at the villa tonight. It’ll be easier for me to take care of you.”

“It’s not a major injury, it happens often in film crews,” Shen Tang moved her injured foot. After spraying the medicine, her ankle felt cool.

“Yuanyuan is very meticulous in taking care of people. I’m not going to your place; then I’d have to deal with your expressions again.”

Jiang Chengyu put the medicine box into her bag and looked up. “Are you looking at my expression, or am I looking at yours? Shen Tang, between us, you’re always the one giving me an attitude, both in and out of bed.”

“...” Shen Tang didn’t pick up the conversation.

Silence for a few seconds.

The medicine on her foot hadn’t completely dried. Jiang Chengyu took out his phone to help her pass the time. “The photos I took on the yacht a few days ago.”

He handed her his phone.

Shen Tang scrolled through the photos, seeing various night shots he had captured of her from different angles.

Jiang Chengyu let her know how many he had taken over the years. “I have over 3600 videos and photos, all of them are of you.”

Shen Tang: “Then your phone has quite a bit of memory.”

“...”

Jiang Chengyu was speechless.

It was almost time. Shen Tang handed him back his phone. She still had work to do back at the studio. “Call Qin Xing and ask him where he is. We need to go back.”

“No need to call.”

“He went back?”

“No, but he’ll say he went back long ago on the phone.”

Jiang Chengyu brought her high heels to her feet. “Put them on, I’ll carry you down.”

“No need, it’d be too awkward if we run into people in the elevator. It’s not like my leg is broken and I can’t move.” Shen Tang insisted on walking herself. She leaned on Jiang Chengyu to stand up.

Jiang Chengyu bent down to pick her up, but she pushed him away.

She had been just as stubborn the time she fought with Chu Ran the year before last, saying it didn’t hurt even after falling.

Shen Tang put all her weight on her other foot, then held onto Jiang Chengyu’s arm, barely managing to walk on her own.

Despite his gentle demeanor towards her, Jiang Chengyu’s advantage in height and presence, along with his innate sense of superiority, could not be ignored.

Jiang Chengyu had the driver pull the car up to the elevator. Shen Tang didn’t have to walk far, and the stinging in her foot was within her tolerable range.

Once in the car, Shen Tang’s tense nerves relaxed.

Jiang Chengyu received a call from Xie Yucheng.

It was still about the acquisition of the target company. From February to June, he had been busy for half a year, meticulously checking every possible acquisition trap. All risks were within controllable limits.

“Didn’t you say you felt uneasy? I’ve started over from scratch this time, investigating all the executives of the target company and their consulting firms that could be investigated.”

“Everything is normal, right?” Jiang Chengyu spoke on the phone, holding Shen Tang’s hand, their fingers intertwined.

Xie Yucheng complained that the red wine wasn’t cold enough and added a few more ice cubes made of milk. “So far, there’s nothing out of the ordinary.”

He swirled his glass. “Is it because you’ve been so exhausted chasing someone lately, didn’t get enough rest, and your heart palpitations made you feel uneasy?”

Jiang Chengyu: “Shen Tang and I are back together.”

“Then you must have just gotten back together, otherwise you would have already announced it in the group chat.”

Jiang Chengyu didn’t respond for a long time.

Xie Yucheng laughed, and after a few playful remarks, he got down to business. “I think there shouldn’t be any major problems. If you can’t find any flaws on your end, shouldn’t you formally negotiate with them and finalize the acquisition agreement?”

Every day of delay increased various costs.

No one could afford to drag it out.

After considering, Jiang Chengyu said, “Then let’s meet at the end of the month.”

After he hung up the phone, Shen Tang asked, “Decided to acquire it?”

Jiang Chengyu nodded. “It’s basically settled.”

Her hand was still in his.

Jiang Chengyu didn’t release her until they reached the studio building.

The studio had a dedicated elevator, and Jiang Chengyu, ignoring her protests, carried her from the car and didn’t put her down even after entering the elevator.

Qin Xing was already in the office, greatly exaggerating how badly Shen Tang was injured at the renovation site, even having difficulty walking.

So when Jiang Chengyu carried Shen Tang in, they weren’t surprised at all and came over to inquire about Shen Tang’s injuries.

“It’s nothing, just a minor injury,” Shen Tang told them to go back to their own work. When she looked for Jiang Chengyu again, he was no longer in the office.

Qin Xing wasn’t there either.

In the hallway outside, Qin Xing was blaming himself. If he hadn’t rushed in recklessly, Shen Tang wouldn’t have been hit like that. Even though he successfully brought them back together, he still felt remorseful.

“It’s not your fault, don’t worry about it,” Jiang Chengyu patted Qin Xing’s shoulder hard before leaving. “Thanks for today.”

He sent Shen Tang a message: [I’ll pick you up from work tonight.]

Shen Tang: [I don’t know what time I’ll finish work. I’ll text you then. No need to come early and wait.]

She put down her phone and got busy on her computer.

Ten minutes ago, she had just received a new email.

[I’ll be in Beijing next Friday. If you see this email, and if you’re not busy those days, I wonder if we could have dinner together. -- Xiao Dongkai]

Shen Tang remembered Xiao Dongkai saying he had a collaboration with a law firm in Beijing. But she really didn’t want any involvement with anyone from the Xiao family, even if he had helped her before.

During this time, she had been too busy with the new company and hadn’t paid much attention to Xiao Ning Group, so she didn’t know what the situation was now. She also heard Xie Yucheng mention that Xiao Donghan had also come to Beijing.

Xiao Donghan was a troublemaker.

As she was distracted, Sister Li sent her a message: [The contract with Zhou Mingqian has been signed.]

Chu Ran’s role was confirmed.

Shen Tang deleted Xiao Dongkai’s email and started getting busy.

She looked up from a pile of emails, and it was almost seven o’clock. She sent a message to Jiang Chengyu: [I’m done working.]

________________________________________

Jiang Chengyu had just left his office when he received a call from his mother.

Mrs. Jiang asked him if he would be home for lunch tomorrow.

She reminded her son, “Tomorrow is Father’s Day.”

Jiang Chengyu almost forgot. It was a rare day for the family to eat together, so he would definitely go. “Mom, I’ll bring Shen Tang home sometime soon. We’re back together.”

This was him telling her that he and Shen Tang had reconciled. Mrs. Jiang congratulated her son first; his dating and bringing someone home had a fundamental difference.

A moment later, “If you’ve decided, then bring her back.”

Mrs. Jiang asked her son, “Which day are you planning? I’ll prepare in advance.”

Jiang Chengyu wasn’t sure when Shen Tang’s foot injury would heal. “After I finish this busy period.”

Emerging from Jingxu Building, the sky had already darkened.

Passing by the dessert shop they had visited twice before, Jiang Chengyu went in and bought a box of half-baked cheesecake. Being too exceptionally handsome, even the cashier remembered him from before.

The traffic was jammed for almost an hour. When they arrived at the building where the studio was located, Shen Tang was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing his car, she slowly descended the steps.

Jiang Chengyu hurried over to meet her, unable to help but scold her, “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me in the office?”

“The medicine has been sprayed, so I don’t feel much right now,” Shen Tang could go down the steps one by one without needing support.

She held his hand, not letting him carry her.

There were people coming and going in front of the building, and a princess carry would attract attention.

Once in the car, Jiang Chengyu handed her the half-baked cheesecake.

Since their breakup, she hadn’t seemed to eat it.

Shen Tang had only eaten some fruit for lunch and was now hungry. She tore open the box and broke off half to eat.

Jiang Chengyu invited her to dinner tomorrow night. “Tomorrow is Father’s Day. Come to my place in the evening. I’ll cook a few dishes, and we’ll eat at home.”

Shen Tang almost choked. “Father’s Day isn’t a holiday you celebrate yet.”

Jiang Chengyu: “Once we have children, I’ll be a father. Since the children haven’t arrived yet, you, as the mother of my future children, can celebrate for me first.”