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Giving up smoking and now even abstaining from alcohol, the message conveyed to the outside world was clearly that he intended to have a child.
Qin Xing saw that Jiang Chengyu didn’t deny the idea of preparing for pregnancy, so it seemed very likely. “Brother Jiang, congratulations on becoming a father!”
He took the glass of red wine originally intended for Jiang Chengyu and drank it himself.
One second, Jiang Chengyu was preparing for pregnancy; the next, he was an expectant father.
Jiang Chengyu finished shuffling the cards, placed them on the table, and looked up at Qin Xing. “If you drink another glass, will you be giving a red packet for my child’s one-month celebration?”
Qin Xing laughed heartily. “Of course, I’d have to give a big red packet! Hey, Brother Jiang--”
With that, he asked the waiter for another glass of wine, then turned back to Jiang Chengyu. “You know, if you had a daughter with a temper like Shen Tang, she’d probably just rip the roof off your villa if she got upset. How would you live at home after that?”
Jiang Chengyu happened to be picking up his glass of warm water. Hearing Qin Xing say that, his hand movements paused.
When Yan Heyu mentioned “preparing for pregnancy” just now, he didn’t feel much. But when Qin Xing spoke of a daughter with Shen Tang’s temper, the feeling was very strange.
Images of a soft, sweet daughter calling him “Daddy” inexplicably appeared before his eyes.
A daughter like Shen Tang, and like him.
“What are you guys talking about?” Fu Chenglin entered the private room, seeing them huddled around the card table, he asked curiously.
Qin Xing chuckled mischievously, “We’re talking about our future little nephews and nieces, which means your future younger brothers and sisters. Don’t you suddenly feel very young and happy?”
Loud laughter echoed in the private room.
Jiang Chengyu’s children would have to call him brother-in-law. Fu Chenglin was powerless to refute and reluctantly accepted the teasing.
Since falling in love with Li Zheng, his heart had become much stronger than before.
Jiang Chengyu’s phone vibrated on the table. Shen Tang: [Traffic is bad, I might need another twenty minutes to arrive. While waiting at the red light for a few tens of seconds, I’m thinking of you.]
Jiang Chengyu: [No rush. I’ll come down to pick you up when you arrive.]
No sooner had the message been sent than Xie Yuncheng and Kohn arrived.
Kohn had recently become obsessed with mahjong, so he asked someone to put away the playing cards and bring out the mahjong tiles.
Jiang Chengyu held a glass of water in his left hand, sipping it slowly. “Let’s stick to poker. If we play mahjong, you won’t have a chance to win.”
“I’m not scared.” Kohn was confident. “I have a secret weapon.”
He took out a stack of papers from his bag, covered densely with tips on how to win at mahjong. It included not just text, but also pictures of the tiles.
Xie Yuncheng had stayed up all night to organize and translate this for him.
Because there were so many mnemonics, Kohn’s memory wasn’t great, so he had to refer to his ‘secret weapon’ while playing, taking no less than three minutes to make each move.
He didn’t think the time was long, and he was having a blast.
The others indulged Kohn; it was the slowest mahjong game they had ever played.
Jiang Chengyu checked his watch from time to time. It hadn’t been twenty minutes yet, but he went down early to wait for Shen Tang, leaving the mahjong game to Qin Xing.
Shen Tang was ten minutes later than expected, her car slowly inching its way to the clubhouse.
As soon as the car entered the clubhouse courtyard, she saw the man standing by the steps, waiting for her.
She got out of the car and quickly walked towards him.
Jiang Chengyu also walked towards her.
Shen Tang: “Is it just me left?”
“They just arrived too.”
Jiang Chengyu naturally took her hand and held it. “There are a lot of people in the private room. If you don’t like it, we can go home after half an hour.”
Shen Tang genuinely didn’t like lively places, but at the moment, she had no choice. “Kohn is my guest. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t accompany him.”
Jiang Chengyu: “He’s completely absorbed in mahjong right now, he won’t have time to talk to you.”
As Jiang Chengyu said, Kohn spoke to her less than five times all night, completely immersed in the world of mahjong.
Qin Xing poured a drink and came over to congratulate Shen Tang. Getting Jiang Chengyu to settle down and commit to marriage was much harder than investing.
As he got closer, he noticed Shen Tang wasn’t wearing a ring.
Since they weren’t at the company, he changed his address. “Sister-in-law, did your ring fall off?”
Shen Tang sat next to Kohn, helping him look at his mahjong ‘secret weapon’. Qin Xing’s question made her consider how to respond appropriately.
Jiang Chengyu chimed in, “No, it’s at home. I’m hoping my second proposal will be successful.”
Shen Tang’s gaze went over the mahjong table, straight to him.
He didn’t care about his image at all, wasn’t bothered by others knowing she had rejected him.
Jiang Chengyu’s words were even more astonishing than his mention of the engagement ring earlier. Second Young Master Jiang’s proposal was actually rejected. Only Shen Tang could have the courage to refuse him.
“Sister, you are simply my goddess! I must toast you. From now on, I’ll follow your lead.” Qin Xing stopped calling her sister-in-law and switched to sister.
Standing next to Shen Tang, his back suddenly straightened. He looked at Jiang Chengyu: “Brother-in-law, be good to my sister from now on. If my sister is even a little bit unhappy, I won’t let you off.”
Jiang Chengyu glanced at Qin Xing, who nonchalantly turned his face away, still lacking the confidence to challenge Jiang Chengyu with a direct stare.
Kohn was slow to play, so Jiang Chengyu sent Shen Tang a message: [Come to my side.]
Shen Tang: [It’s the same no matter where I sit.]
Jiang Chengyu looked at her, still typing: [It’s not the same.]
These three words indeed made Shen Tang’s heart feel different.
Shen Tang found that Jiang Chengyu had a certain quality; even after being with him for so long, he could still make her heart skip a few beats unexpectedly.
After a game, Shen Tang moved to sit beside Jiang Chengyu.
Jiang Chengyu turned to look at her. “From now on, when you come to the clubhouse, sit close to me. Try not to be too far away.”
Shen Tang brought the red wine she was holding to his lips. “This wine tastes good, have a sip.”
Jiang Chengyu didn’t drink. “I promised you I’d drink less.”
He whispered, “I’ve found out about the company developing Haitang Village for you. It’s a subsidiary of Evergreen Group. Zhao Zhiyi isn’t someone who’d throw money away, so the tourism project they’re building should be good.” The key point he wanted to make was, “Director Chen is also one of the shareholders of this project.”
Shen Tang slowly nodded.
Jiang Chengyu: “If you don’t want him to invest, I’ll buy his shares.”
Shen Tang smiled. “I know our President Jiang is rich.”
“No need to buy his shares; I don’t want them either.” She was more open-minded now. “If he wants to develop it, let him. Besides, Haitang Village is also where he grew up as a child. I won’t appreciate his kindness.”
Jiang Chengyu was still unsure. “Are you sure you won’t feel uncomfortable?”
Shen Tang: “Any uncomfortable spots have been smoothed out by you.”
She poked his arm, signaling him not to just talk, but to hurry and play his hand.
After sitting next to Jiang Chengyu for over an hour, the private room was filled with smoke. Shen Tang took a glass of red wine and went outside for some fresh air.
Xie Yuncheng was on the phone in the smoking area. He was the only one sitting there, and compared to the private room, there was less smoke. She walked over.
Xie Yuncheng saw her coming and threw his cigarette into the ashtray, extinguishing it with red wine.
The few un-melted ice cubes in the glass were stained reddish-brown by the wine.
He remembered having two puddings in his bag, rummaged through it, found only one, and tossed it to her. “Congratulations on the move. I couldn’t think of what to give you, so this will be the gift.”
This was made by his own chef; it couldn’t be bought on the market.
Shen Tang opened it and ate it with red wine.
Xie Yuncheng mentioned the corn she and Jiang Chengyu planted on the island. “It’ll be ripe in another week. I’ll go check it out first. Flight on Tuesday next week. Kohn will come back with me.”
Shen Tang asked, “Is Kohn also going to the island?”
“No, he has business in Manhattan. Jiang Chengyu is planning to increase his stake in the Kohn family’s bank.” Xie Yuncheng finished the red wine in his glass, leaving only a few small ice cubes.
“I plan to increase my holdings too.”
Shen Tang had no money to invest now. “Then the stock price will rise again.” Jiang Chengyu was the fifth-largest shareholder of the Kohn family; if he increased his stake again, he might become the fourth-largest shareholder.
A major shareholder increasing their stake was good news for the Kohn family’s stock price.
“Are you still going to fight Xiao Donghan?”
Shen Tang: “If he doesn’t provoke me, I won’t bother him.”
Xie Yuncheng picked up his bag and wine glass and stood up. “Then after this busy period, you and Jiang Chengyu should go to the island to see the corn you planted. It’s a sight to behold.”
“Why a sight to behold?”
“You’ll see when you get there.”
Xie Yuncheng left with long strides.
Shen Tang opened her phone to check her upcoming schedule, planning to find time to visit her plot of land on the island.
________________________________________
At 10:35 PM, Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu returned home.
Jiang Chengyu was afraid Shen Tang would be bored there, so he played mahjong with Kohn for two hours, left early, and had a few others take over for Kohn.
Jiang Chengyu asked her if she was hungry, intending to make her a late-night snack.
Shen Tang didn’t trust him anymore. “You’ve never actually made me eat once.” Whether before or after they got back together, late-night snacks always ended up becoming ‘food for thought.’
Jiang Chengyu found the rice and started cooking porridge for her. “Tonight, I guarantee you’ll get to eat.”
He had a condition: “Don’t hug me.”
When she hugged him, he couldn’t maintain self-control.
Shen Tang refused, still clinging to his back, her hands tightly clasped around his waist.
Jiang Chengyu couldn’t do anything about her, trying his best to think of other things to distract himself.
Shen Tang peered around, watching him rinse the rice.
Wearing a shirt and his wedding ring while cooking, he made it impossible for her to look away.
“Shen Tang, do you have any childhood photos? Show me.” Jiang Chengyu wanted to see her as a child, to imagine what it would be like if he had a daughter.
“How old?”
“Any age is fine. Do you have any from when you were a baby?”
“No.” Xiao Zhen had given her a memory card that time; it should have had photos and videos of her just after birth, but she had broken the memory card.
“Then give me whatever photos you have from whatever age.”
Shen Tang was curious: “Why do you want to see my childhood photos?”
“Haven’t seen them.”
This explanation was impeccable.
Shen Tang had a few childhood photo albums, but they were still in Haitang Village.
Tonight, Shen Tang finally had her late-night snack: half a bowl of porridge and a small plate of smashed cucumbers.
She recorded the first meal Jiang Chengyu cooked for her on her phone.
She felt unusually relaxed these past two days. After showering and lying in bed, they couldn’t help but tumble together.
Jiang Chengyu intertwined his fingers with hers. “Have you planned when you want to have children? It’s okay if you don’t want children, I’ll go with whatever you want.”
Shen Tang: “I want to have a child with you.”
She smiled. “One that looks like me, and upsets you every day.”
Jiang Chengyu also smiled. “Then you’ll have to take my side then.”
“No way, we’ll gang up on you.”
Jiang Chengyu let go of her hand, pulled her into his embrace, and discussed with her, “When do you want to get married and have children? Within one or two years? I’m ready anytime.”
Regarding marriage and family, after nearly two years of change, he was psychologically prepared enough.
Shen Tang hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Naturally.”
In the dim bedroom, Jiang Chengyu looked at the person in his arms. “Tangtang, call me husband.”
Shen Tang neither said she would nor wouldn’t.
Suddenly, she shivered slightly.
Jiang Chengyu had already entered her. He leaned close to her ear. “Say it.”
Shen Tang wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his lips. “Husband.”
Afterward, he conquered her.
Holding nothing back.
Shen Tang’s vision was completely black, only him.
________________________________________
Early Monday morning, Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu woke up at six. Jiang Chengyu exercised, and Shen Tang went to the company before rush hour began.
Qin Xing actually arrived earlier than her.
“What’s wrong with you?” Shen Tang was startled.
Qin Xing was mopping the floor. He had already mopped the company hallway, the conference room, and the practice room. Now, he was holding the mop, mopping in front of her office door.
“Didn’t I say on Saturday night? From now on, I’ll follow your lead.” Qin Xing chuckled playfully. Shen Tang couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not.
Shen Tang entered her fingerprint, pushed open the door, and without any ceremony said, “Then come in and mop.”
“...”
Qin Xing rolled up his sleeves and worked hard.
Shen Tang brewed coffee for him. She leaned against the bar counter, watching Qin Xing. “What’s going on? You’re at the company working before seven.”
Qin Xing paused. “I bought my girlfriend her favorite breakfast this morning. I came back at a little past six, and there wasn’t time for a nap, so I just decided to exercise.”
Shen Tang was stunned for a moment. “When did you get a girlfriend?”
“Yesterday.”
“...” Shen Tang digested it for a moment, then praised him: “Not bad, you know how to care for your girlfriend.”
Qin Xing smiled. “Isn’t this what I learned from Brother Jiang?”
He put the mop aside, went back to his office, and brought a portion of breakfast for Shen Tang.
“Thanks, I’m benefiting from your girlfriend.” Shen Tang hadn’t had breakfast yet, so she heated it up and ate it.
Qin Xing continued mopping, cleaning Shen Tang’s office thoroughly twice over.
When the cleaning lady arrived for work, she repeatedly thanked President Qin, her heart a mix of relief and nervousness, asking Qin Xing if she hadn’t cleaned well before.
“Auntie, I’m just exercising. I only mopped the floor; the glass tables haven’t been wiped yet. You’ve worked hard.”
Only then did the auntie relax.
At eight o’clock, everyone gradually arrived.
Those who hadn’t eaten breakfast all had a portion of breakfast, which Qin Xing had uniformly packed and brought back.
Subsequently, the news that he had a girlfriend spread throughout the company.
Chu Ran also found out. She came to the company’s practice room today to rehearse a dance, and looking at the breakfast in her assistant’s hand, she smelled a sour, jealous scent.
She stood there for a long time without moving.
Suddenly, she didn’t know what she was doing there.
“Chu Ran, the teacher’s here.” It wasn’t until Sister Li called her that Chu Ran snapped back to reality.
________________________________________
At quarter past eight, various financial platforms reported on the target company’s information disclosure. The target company’s stock had once hit its daily lower limit before the acquisition.
It was now officially renamed “Zhichen Shares.”
The board members and executive team were announced concurrently.
After seeing the synchronized news, Lu Zhifei sent a message to Jiang Chengyu: [Congratulations. I’m celebrating too; I increased my holdings in Zhichen’s stock earlier, and I’ll make a profit this time. Last night, everyone in the group chat was talking about you and Shen Tang getting married soon. I used to only wish you well, but now I wish you both well.]
Jiang Chengyu was currently at Zhichen Shares, having scheduled an early meeting with Xie Yuncheng.
Xie Yuncheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Everything with Zhichen Shares had finally settled today. After more than a month of handover, the bad debts were finally sorted out.
“Do you want to get an intermediary agency to audit the accounts?”
Given the numerous issues in the merger, the legal and financial advisors were largely to blame.
Jiang Chengyu replied to Lu Zhifei: [Thank you.]
He exited the chat and said to Xie Yuncheng, “I don’t have time to settle accounts with them; the source isn’t with them.” There were many things to be busy with next.
“I’m going to reduce my holdings in Brand A sports.”
Becoming a shareholder of Brand A sports was entirely for Shen Tang’s sake. In fact, such a mature brand, likely to face market saturation in the future, had little investment value.
Xie Yuncheng: “Which sector are you planning to invest the cash from the divestment in?”
“New energy.”
Xie Yuncheng pondered, “Are you going to invest in General Manager Ge’s new energy company?”
“Yes.” Jiang Chengyu was now used to drinking plain water and poured a glass of warm water for Xie Yuncheng too.
Xie Yuncheng looked at the warm water. “You’re investing so actively now, are you busy earning money for baby formula?”
“...You could say that.”
The stock market had opened, and Jiang Chengyu turned on his computer.
Zhichen Shares’ stock price finally began to rebound.
At eleven o’clock, Shen Tang sent him a message: [Congratulations. A hug for my President Jiang.]
Jiang Chengyu: [List all the gifts you want for me.]
Shen Tang: [I’m not short on gifts. I just want you.]
Jiang Chengyu: [Excluding me, I’m already yours. My people and my money are all yours.]
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