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It was almost ten o’clock at night when Shen Tang returned to her rented apartment.
After picking her up from the studio, Jiang Chengyu took her back to his villa, where she ate a bowl of vegetable porridge specially made for her by the auntie, tasting exactly as it did years ago.
She had only twisted her ankle and been hit on the back, but Jiang Chengyu made a big fuss, treating her like an invalid.
Tonight, she had a half-baked cheesecake and a bowl of porridge. With her injured foot, she couldn’t exercise, so she would definitely gain half a jin by tomorrow morning.
Jiang Chengyu carried her all the way to her doorstep and told her to open the door.
Shen Tang patted his shoulder: “Put me down. Yuanyuan is home, it’s not convenient for you to go in.”
Jiang Chengyu didn’t let go. “She’s not back yet.”
“?” Shen Tang was half-skeptical.
“Qin Xing took your company’s people to a club for team building. The earliest they’ll be back is dawn.”
Shen Tang seemed to hear the biggest joke. “On his first day of work, he took people to an entertainment venue for team building?”
Jiang Chengyu: “As long as they’re happy, it doesn’t matter where they do team building.”
That was not team building; it was blatant bribery.
Qin Xing’s specialty was having fun, and following him could truly be exciting.
Jiang Chengyu carried Shen Tang to the bedroom. He didn’t rush to leave, afraid she might be unsteady on her feet. If she slipped in the bathroom while showering and Yuanyuan wasn’t home, she’d be left helpless.
“I’ll leave after you’ve showered and are in bed.”
He turned and went to the living room outside.
The house was too quiet; the vibration of Jiang Chengyu’s phone receiving a message sounded amplified.
Lu Zhifei: [Heard you and Shen Tang are back together. Congratulations.]
Jiang Chengyu: [Thanks.]
Lu Zhifei had just arrived in Beijing that afternoon, returning to spend the holiday with her father.
In the evening, a friend invited her to a club. She ran into Qin Xing, who was having a wild time in the next private room.
Qin Xing brought people she wasn’t familiar with. He didn’t bring them to her private room but opened another one next door.
She learned from Qin Xing that today was a special day: Jiang Chengyu had won Shen Tang back.
Such an unapproachable man, pursuing the same woman twice.
Lu Zhifei: [To you, I sincerely offer my blessings. As for Shen Tang, frankly, I wish she weren’t doing well. But it seems no matter how miserable she is, she’s not as miserable as I am. Perhaps you can tell Shen Tang that now that she has love, she should stop interfering in my business and let us both go. In the future, regarding fashion resources, I’ll do my best to help her if I can.]
Jiang Chengyu: [I never force her to do anything, nor do I advise her. Between the two of you, she has her own measure in her heart.]
“Jiang Chengyu!”
Shen Tang called him from the bedroom.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Chengyu stood up.
“Can you get my bag for me? There’s a spray in it.”
Jiang Chengyu took the bag from the entryway cabinet and brought it to her. Shen Tang was leaning against the doorframe, waiting for him. She reached out and grabbed the bag strap. “You can go back now. Isn’t it enough that I promised to celebrate Father’s Day with you tomorrow?”
Jiang Chengyu: “...”
________________________________________
The next day, Shen Tang went to work as usual. Yuanyuan had only returned at 3 AM and was now sound asleep.
It was the weekend, so only she and Qin Xing went to the office.
Qin Xing yawned, his eyes bloodshot.
Too sleepy to keep his eyes open, he brewed himself two cups of coffee, without sugar.
“Why aren’t you resting today?” Shen Tang asked, surprised, as she pushed the door open.
“My parents aren’t home, so I don’t have to eat at home,” Qin Xing drank the coffee like it was plain water, not tasting anything as it flowed down his throat.
“It wouldn’t look good for me to rest on my second day of work.”
Shen Tang was going to negotiate a variety show contract with a certain platform today. Chu Ran’s drama “How Should I Love You?” was still far from starting production, so she had time to record a variety show for these next few months.
Qin Xing went to the restroom to splash his face with cold water and then accompanied Shen Tang.
This variety show invited six popular young female stars. Chen Yinuo and Chu Ran, being of similar age, both received invitations from the production team.
Enemies meet on a narrow road. Today, Fan Yu also went to sign a contract for Chen Yinuo.
As fate would have it, they met face to face.
Fan Yu said haughtily, “I heard you’re also competing for the female lead in ‘How Should I Love You?’ How do you feel about your chances?”
It seemed she didn’t know that the role had already been signed by Chu Ran. Shen Tang smiled faintly, “What do you think?”
Fan Yu naturally scoffed, “That time at Zhang Xu’s wedding banquet, I kindly reminded you that if you target Yinuo, Chen Nanjin will be the first to rush to her defense.”
“Is that so? What a pity,” Shen Tang mercilessly slapped her smugness with a loud retort. “At the Time fashion show, the arrow that struck your daughter was placed in her heart by Chen Nanjin himself.”
Fan Yu’s expression changed dramatically. “What do you mean?”
Shen Tang didn’t bother to reply and left side-by-side with Qin Xing.
Fan Yu had a bad feeling, her heart pounding. She was not in the mood to discuss the contract details today, so she found an excuse and rescheduled with the production team for tomorrow.
She rushed home.
Today, her daughter was going to celebrate Father’s Day with Chen Nanjin. She was currently at home preparing a handmade Father’s Day gift for Chen Nanjin.
Her daughter had specially bought the materials last night.
The reason she was so confident in front of Shen Tang just now was because, on such an important day as Father’s Day, Chen Nanjin was having dinner with Chen Yinuo, so the lead role in that drama should undoubtedly belong to Chen Yinuo.
Otherwise, her daughter wouldn’t be in the mood to make a handmade gift and would not have scheduled dinner with Chen Nanjin tonight.
What unknown oversight had occurred in between?
Chen Yinuo finally finished the gift she had been working on for six hours. She breathed a sigh of relief. Her legs were numb from sitting cross-legged on the carpet for so long.
Bang! Her mother slammed the door shut and came in.
She was furious, as if she had come to settle a score with her.
But this morning, she and her mother had been laughing and talking before she left.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Chen Yinuo knew her mother had gone to negotiate a variety show contract, assuming there was some unpleasantness with the contract. “Did it not work out? If it didn’t, just let it go. Getting angry harms your health.”
“Chen Yinuo, you’re really something now!” Fan Yu threw her handbag onto the coffee table, knocking over a cup, spilling water everywhere, and her bag wasn’t spared either.
She had asked around on her way back, and it turned out that “How Should I Love You?” had been signed by Chu Ran.
Just now, she had looked like a clown in front of Shen Tang.
“You knew all along that this role was given to Shen Tang, didn’t you? And it was your father who gave it to her, wasn’t it?”
A series of two furious interrogations.
“Mom--”
“Don’t call me Mom!”
Fan Yu sneered, “How exactly did Chen Nanjin brainwash you? She’s already given the role to Shen Tang, and you’re still deceiving yourself by making him a Father’s Day gift. Isn’t that ironic? Chen Yinuo, how pathetic you are!”
Chen Yinuo couldn’t bear to listen anymore. At this point, no matter what she explained, her mother would only respond with sarcasm. She didn’t argue, getting up to tidy up the gift she had just finished.
“Chen Yinuo, are you out of your mind? At a time like this, you’re still siding with your dad! Who do you think I’m working so hard for? It’s all for you!”
Fan Yu almost couldn’t catch her breath.
Seeing her daughter indifferently tidying up the gift, she took two steps forward, snatched it, and threw it on the floor.
“Mom! What are you doing!” Chen Yinuo’s cry was hysterical.
“I just can’t swallow this! Why did he give the role to Shen Tang when you were the one who wanted it first! Why!” Fan Yu pointed outside the door. “You leave now, go find Chen Nanjin, tell him you’ve fallen out with me and have nowhere to go, so you’ll live with him from now on. Shen Tang makes him feel sorry for her, and now you can too. Chen Yinuo, this is your only chance to get all your dad’s love and resources.”
“Heh.” Chen Yinuo wiped her tears and locked herself in her room.
She started packing her luggage; she couldn’t stay in this house for another moment.
________________________________________
Shen Tang’s contract with the variety show group was also not signed; there were still many details that needed to be ironed out.
It was already noon, so she and Qin Xing found a restaurant to eat.
“Different professions are like different mountains,” Qin Xing mused.
This morning, listening to Shen Tang discuss the details with the person in charge, he realized how deep the water was; a moment of carelessness could lead to falling into a trap set by the other party.
Shen Tang took a few sips of warm water, her throat parched from talking all morning.
“Hey,” Qin Xing called her. “Look at that table on the left. Those two have been staring at you.”
Shen Tang followed Qin Xing’s indicated direction and saw a sharp gaze fixed on her.
It was Xiao Donghan.
Sitting opposite him was Xiao Dongkai. They had arrived earlier than Shen Tang and Qin Xing, and their food was already on the table.
Xiao Donghan raised his glass, toasting her from afar.
Shen Tang smiled faintly, returning the toast with her water glass.
“Who’s that?”
“Chairman Xiao’s grandson.”
Even Qin Xing sensed it; they meant trouble.
After lunch, they left the restaurant. Shen Tang pretended not to know Xiao Donghan was in Beijing and sent an email to Xiao Dongkai, asking why Xiao Donghan was also in Beijing and when he arrived.
Three hours passed, and Xiao Dongkai didn’t reply to her.
________________________________________
At six in the evening, Jiang Chengyu left the company.
He sent Shen Tang a message, asking if she was busy and if he should come pick her up.
Shen Tang sent him her location; she was already at the entrance of his villa.
No one was home today; the housekeeper and workers were absent, so she was waiting in the yard.
“Why didn’t you wait for me to pick you up?” Jiang Chengyu called her.
“I had an appointment nearby this afternoon, and came straight here after,” Shen Tang answered his call distractedly, still pondering the email on her tablet.
Xiao Dongkai had replied ten minutes ago: [He’s here to discuss a collaboration and has been here for some time.]
“I just left the company.”
Jiang Chengyu’s voice interrupted Shen Tang’s thoughts.
The weather was muggy, so Jiang Chengyu told her to go inside first. “The house’s security system hasn’t been updated, so your fingerprint is still in there.”
Shen Tang’s mind was preoccupied, and she blurted out, “You, the owner, haven’t arrived yet. How can I go in first? It’s not proper.”
“Shen Tang--” He only called her name once, saying nothing else.
Jiang Chengyu’s voice was clearly displeased.
Shen Tang placed her tablet face down on her lap, pulling herself away from the emails.
She had no recollection of what she had just blurted out to him. “The yard is prettier than it was a few days ago, with many more flowers transplanted.” She changed the subject.
These flowers had been in the yard since last spring. They had already bloomed when she came for the seafood barbecue last time; she just hadn’t paid attention. Jiang Chengyu didn’t expose her, going along with her words, “Yes, the housekeeper tidied the garden a few days ago.”
The roads were jammed, it would take at least an hour to get home.
He suggested again, “Wait for me in the living room.”
Shen Tang looked at the blooming garden. “The air in the yard is good.”
Silence on the phone.
“Shen Tang, that’s your home too.”
Shen Tang sensed his displeasure and tried to coax him, “If I didn’t consider this home, I’d just wait for you to pick me up. Why would I come here early to wait for you? Besides, waiting for you in the yard, I can see you a few seconds earlier than in the living room, can’t I?”
“...” Jiang Chengyu was already accustomed to her saying one thing and meaning another.
Xiao Dongkai immediately sent another email: [When are you free?]
The email had become their chat tool.
Shen Tang was eager to reply to the email, so she told Jiang Chengyu, “I’m hanging up now.” She replied to Xiao Dongkai: [Whether I’m free or not depends on my mood.]
Xiao Dongkai: [This kind of conversation is inefficient and a waste of time. Please unblock me.]
Shen Tang was very straightforward this time; she added him on WeChat: [Let’s find a time next week. I’ll treat you to a meal as the host.]
Seeing Xiao Donghan in the restaurant earlier, she felt an invisible net being cast over her. Jiang Chengyu might also be caught in it.
Jiang Chengyu’s inexplicable uneasiness about the acquisition case, Xiao Donghan’s sudden appearance, and Xiao Dongkai’s persistent attempts to meet her.
Too many anomalies.
Perhaps Xiao Dongkai was aware of this conspiracy.
But he wouldn’t abandon his own brother.
Shen Tang turned off her tablet and put it in her bag. This largest bag was a Children’s Day gift from Wen Di, and it was now coming in handy, easily accommodating a laptop.
“You can go back first.”
She told the bodyguard and pushed open the car door to get out.
The bodyguard was now also her driver.
Shen Tang walked directly into the villa, her mind filled with thoughts related to the Xiao family.
She didn’t know if she was already trapped or still outside the game.
She had no idea how to break the deadlock next.
Putting down her bag, Shen Tang turned on the TV.
She leaned back on the sofa, surveying the living room; it was still exactly as it was before their breakup.
After watching one episode of a variety show, she heard the sound of a car outside.
Shen Tang lowered the volume and went out to wait for Jiang Chengyu.
Jiang Chengyu got out of the car. There was no one in the yard. After walking a few steps, he saw the villa gate, with Shen Tang standing at the entrance.
She was wearing a black T-shirt and low-rise trousers today.
“If I had been in the yard, I would have seen you two seconds earlier,” Shen Tang said, balancing on one foot, her injured foot gently wrapped around the other leg, leaning lazily against the door frame. Her slender waist was subtly visible beneath the black T-shirt.
Occasionally, a few inches of dazzling white skin would show.
Jiang Chengyu rarely saw her in such casual attire; it was probably for ease of applying medicine to her back.
“Aren’t you hot in black?” He hurried toward her.
“Only if I’m not in an air-conditioned room,” Shen Tang said. “I wanted us to have matching couple outfits.”
Unfortunately, he was wearing a white shirt today.
Jiang Chengyu bent down and scooped her up. “Does your foot still hurt?”
Shen Tang wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t feel it unless I put pressure on it. After two more days of spraying, it should be fine.”
With only the two of them in the house, their hugs and kisses became uninhibited. Jiang Chengyu lowered his head to kiss her, but Shen Tang deliberately turned her face away.
Unable to reach her lips, his kiss landed on her forehead.
He placed her on the sofa. “I’m going to change.”
Shen Tang, having nothing to do, went to the kitchen to take out the ingredients for dinner from the refrigerator.
She found an apron and tied it on; it was the same one Jiang Chengyu had tied for her last time.
More than twenty minutes passed, and Jiang Chengyu came downstairs.
Hearing footsteps, Shen Tang turned her head. He had just showered and changed into a black shirt. She had mentioned wearing a black T-shirt to match him for couple outfits, and he had taken it to heart.
“I just said that casually. You didn’t have to specially change your clothes.”
Jiang Chengyu: “It’s just changing clothes, not a big deal.”
He always indulged her in small details, yet he did so casually.
Jiang Chengyu tapped on the operating system on the island counter. Inside were videos of the dishes he planned to cook tonight, recorded step-by-step by a chef.
Shen Tang stood beside him, watching the screen with him. “You can’t cook without watching the video?”
“I haven’t cooked since I learned, I forgot in the past few days because I was busy.” Jiang Chengyu focused on the video, recalling the steps he had learned for this dish before.
Shen Tang untied her apron and placed it on the counter, then moved a few steps to stand behind him.
“What are you looking for?” Jiang Chengyu turned to look at her.
“Nothing.” Shen Tang hugged him from behind. “You keep watching the video.”
His waist and abdomen were firm, without an ounce of excess fat.
Through the shirt, one could clearly feel the well-proportioned muscles.
Shen Tang took out a piece of paper from her pants pocket. “I’ll put my hand in your pocket; this way, my arm won’t get tired.”
Jiang Chengyu: “As you wish.”
She leaned her face against his back, and while slipping her hand into his pocket, she subtly tucked the folded paper inside.
Afterward, she pretended as if nothing had happened, continuously leaning against him.
Jiang Chengyu felt something in his pocket. When she had just put it in, the folded corner of the paper poked his leg; it didn’t feel like a finger.
“Tangtang, help me wash some green onions for use.”
“Okay,” Shen Tang straightened up and put on her apron again.
Taking advantage of her distraction, Jiang Chengyu pulled out the paper.
It was a large piece of white A4 paper, with childlike scribbles on it. The theme was Father’s Day, and the drawing was naive but full of innocence.
There was also a line of shaky writing:
[Dad, I love you, Happy Father’s Day! You and Mom wait for me! --- From your tiny, tiny future Jiang]
He stared at it for a long time. When he came back to his senses and was about to put this precious gift away, Shen Tang was somehow standing beside him.
Jiang Chengyu carefully folded the gift and tucked it into his pocket, then picked her up in one swift motion.
He squeezed too hard, forgetting the injured spot on her back.
“Hiss--” Shen Tang gasped.
“I’m sorry, I forgot,” Jiang Chengyu quickly placed her on the high stool beside the bar counter. “Let me see.”
“It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt if you don’t touch it.”
Jiang Chengyu was only relieved after looking. He slowly rolled up her T-shirt. The mark from the impact was a little lighter; the severity of the injury wasn’t visible to the naked eye.
He lowered his head and lightly kissed the injured area.
Shen Tang shivered, almost losing her balance, and put a hand on the edge of the bar counter to steady herself.
Jiang Chengyu’s kiss traveled from Shen Tang’s back to her lips.
He picked her up, embracing her, and Shen Tang’s legs naturally wrapped around his waist.
Jiang Chengyu held her like that, and as they kissed, it naturally turned into a deep kiss.
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