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Psst! We're moving!
On the morning of September 19th, just as dawn was breaking, Shen Tang felt a slight heaviness and swelling in her lower abdomen. At first, she thought she was dreaming, that it was a sensation from a dream. The swelling became clearer and clearer until she woke up feeling very uncomfortable.
Today was a weekend, so her lie-in was ruined.
There was a heavy weight on her waist; Jiang Chengyu’s arm was wrapped around it.
Shen Tang buried her face in Jiang Chengyu’s neck, unable to see him even when she lifted her head.
There was a rustling under the covers. She gently tried to remove his hand, but Jiang Chengyu was still fast asleep. When his arm was tugged, his subconscious reaction was to pull her even tighter into his embrace.
He rubbed his chin against her forehead.
Shen Tang’s sixth sense about her period was always accurate. Her period usually arrived around the twentieth, sometimes two days early, and occasionally it would be delayed by a few days due to work stress.
She tried again to gently pry open Jiang Chengyu’s arm. This time, Jiang Chengyu was disturbed. “Don’t move.”
Shen Tang had no choice. She couldn’t delay any longer, or she’d soil the sheets.
“Husband, I need to go to the bathroom.”
Jiang Chengyu, half-asleep, mumbled, “Mm.”
Then there was still no movement.
“Husband.”
“I’m here.”
“Let go of me, you’re suffocating me.”
Jiang Chengyu opened his eyes, hazy with sleep. “What’s wrong?”
He reached back for his phone on the nightstand and saw it was only 5:30 AM.
“Didn’t you say you don’t need to go to the company early today?”
“I want to go to the bathroom.” Shen Tang herself felt like a spoilsport. They could have both gotten a good night’s sleep, but she had ruined it.
Jiang Chengyu let go of her. After waking, it was hard for him to fall back asleep, so he decided to get up and shower.
Shen Tang wrapped herself in his bathrobe, too rushed to put on slippers, and darted into the bathroom.
Jiang Chengyu watched her helplessly, like a child, so frantic.
“Husband.”
Shen Tang called out to him from the bathroom.
“Mm.”
Jiang Chengyu went to the walk-in closet to find the clothes he would wear today, then took them to the bathroom to shower.
“Coming.” He pushed open the bathroom door and closed it casually. “What’s wrong?”
Shen Tang looked at him. “All your efforts these past few days were in vain. My period arrived on time today.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengyu felt a strange sense of relief. “That’s perfect then.”
Shen Tang was puzzled. “What’s perfect?”
She interpreted it as: “You don’t want children?”
“It’s not that I don’t want them, but we should adjust our mindset,” Jiang Chengyu said, placing his clothes on the rack. He made her recall, “Aside from the night we got married, did it feel like we were just doing it to have a baby these past few days, and the experience wasn’t great?”
Shen Tang nodded. That was indeed the case.
Their intense affection was wrapped in an invisible, transparent film. It looked the same, but it lacked that tingling sensation.
Jiang Chengyu: “From now on, we won’t use condoms. I’ll pull out. If we accidentally get pregnant, we’ll have the baby. If we’re lucky, we’ll have a few more years of just the two of us. As for children, we won’t force it; when fate arrives, the child will naturally come to us.”
Shen Tang felt light and happy hearing him say this.
She spread her arms, asking Jiang Chengyu for a hug.
Jiang Chengyu wrapped her in his arms. “Does your stomach feel uncomfortable?”
“It doesn’t hurt, just a bit bloated.”
“I’ll get you some hot water.”
Jiang Chengyu didn’t rush to shower. He went downstairs and poured her a cup of hot water.
Shen Tang had finished washing up and sat in front of the vanity.
Drinking a large cup of hot water didn’t seem to offer much relief.
Jiang Chengyu came out after his shower; she hadn’t started her makeup yet.
“What are you thinking about?” He buttoned his shirt facing her vanity mirror, also looking at her reflection.
Shen Tang put down her foundation and imitated his movements. When he buttoned a button, she would also pretend to button one in front of the mirror.
She tightened her face, imitating his serious expression.
Jiang Chengyu chuckled to himself, walked to her side, took her hand, and pulled her up. “Button the rest for me.”
This was a special intimacy reserved for weekends. Normally, when she opened her eyes, he would already be at the company or exercising in the downstairs gym, with no extra time for lingering.
Shen Tang wasn’t interested in buttoning buttons; her imitation earlier was just for fun. But she still carefully buttoned his shirt. This black shirt was custom-made, well-fitted, subtly outlining his abdominal muscles.
“Have you thought about what to name the baby?” She had buttoned up to the second button from the top, leaving the first one undone.
Jiang Chengyu: “I’ve thought of a few, but I’m not very satisfied. I’ll think more when I have time.”
With his clothes on, he put on his watch.
“Are you going to the company now?”
“Yes, if I go early, I can come back early. I don’t have a dinner engagement today, so I can be back by three or four in the afternoon. If you can’t find me in the study when you get home, I’ll be in the gym.”
His workout for today was moved to the evening.
Jiang Chengyu went to the study to grab his laptop and then came back to the bedroom before leaving.
“Shen Tang, I’m leaving.”
Shen Tang was choosing clothes in the walk-in closet and came out when she heard him.
She held a black women’s shirt. “See you tonight.”
“Wearing this today?” He looked at the clothes in her hand.
“Yeah.” Shen Tang held the shirt in front of him. “The same color as yours.”
“Do you want me to help you button it?” Jiang Chengyu said, already placing his laptop bag at his feet.
“Aren’t you going to the company?”
“No rush for these two minutes.”
Jiang Chengyu took the clothes from her hand and helped her put them on.
His slender fingers were very nimble, quickly buttoning the shirt from top to bottom.
Jiang Chengyu leaned down to her height, and Shen Tang pecked him on the lips.
It was only 6:30 AM, and they both got busy with their respective tasks.
________________________________________
Shen Tang arrived at the company at about the same time as usual today. In the parking lot, she saw a familiar license plate, but couldn’t recall where she had seen it.
There was someone in the car, and the window was slightly open, with music drifting out.
It was an old song.
Shen Tang got out of her car, and the door of the car in front opened from the inside.
“Tangtang.” The person who got out was Chen Nanjin.
He had come directly from the airport. He had been away on a business trip recently and had only sent a congratulatory Weibo message on the day his daughter got married. Of course, his daughter hadn’t responded.
Slam! Shen Tang closed her car door.
The sound of displeasure was directed at him.
Chen Nanjin didn’t care, or rather, he was used to it.
“Dad just got back from a business trip. I didn’t expect you to get married so soon. I haven’t even properly congratulated you yet.”
“No need.” Shen Tang walked towards the elevator.
Chen Nanjin followed. Even though his daughter was impatient, he continued speaking to himself, “Dad prepared a villa for you, as a wedding gift.”
Shen Tang stepped into the elevator, reaching to press the close door button.
Chen Nanjin raised his hand to block the door. “I came today to ask you when you’re free, so we can handle the... transfer of ownership.”
“Tangtang.” A strange, cold male voice came through.
Chen Nanjin’s unfinished words were interrupted by this call of ‘Tangtang’.
Shen Tang sized up the man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, surprised that he was at her company building so early in the morning.
Xiao Donghan subtly glanced at Chen Nanjin a few times. This was the man for whom his aunt was willing to abandon everything in the Xiao family and run away with him, but this man was too self-centered and selfish.
Otherwise, he would have almost become his uncle by marriage.
Chen Nanjin didn’t want the Xiao family to watch the show. He told his daughter, “You go on with your work. Dad will come to see you when he’s free.”
Until the elevator doors slowly closed, Xiao Donghan looked at Shen Tang’s reflection in the elevator mirror. “He’s here to repent to you again?”
Shen Tang didn’t answer directly, asking instead, “What are you doing here?”
She folded her arms, eyeing him. “Have you come to your senses and specifically come to authorize your character?”
Xiao Donghan couldn’t be bothered to respond.
Upon reaching the office, Shen Tang cordially entertained him, brewing him black coffee.
Last time, Xiao Donghan had an upset stomach from drinking coffee here, which made him lose interest in coffee for a long time.
“Business or private?” Shen Tang asked.
Xiao Donghan’s visit to Beijing was for business, but seeing her was a private matter.
Entrusted by Xiao Dongkai, he was delivering a wedding gift to Shen Tang. Xiao Dongkai was busy lately, with several cases on hand, and couldn’t spare time to come to Beijing.
He took out the gift from his bag: two watches.
Since Xiao Dongkai had sent a gift, he couldn’t come empty-handed, so he splurged on one. Even the watch he bought for himself wasn’t as expensive as hers.
Shen Tang placed the coffee in front of him, eyeing the watch box. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Xiao Donghan leaned back on the sofa, gesturing with his chin. “The one on the left is from Xiao Dongkai. The one on the right, I reluctantly gave to you.”
Shen Tang: “...”
She showed no politeness and took both watches.
“You’ve ripped off a lot of money from Jiang Chengyu. I’d be foolish not to take it. When I have time, I’ll use this watch to get my husband a new car.”
This time, it was Xiao Donghan who was left speechless.
Shen Tang sat on the armrest of the sofa opposite him, crossing her legs, looking down at him. “I heard you’ve cashed out a lot recently.”
The subsidiary acquired earlier through General Manager Ge, having lost Jiang Chengyu as a major client due to patent usage rights, would certainly see its profits shrink significantly a year later.
She had heard Xie Yuncheng mention that Xiao Donghan was considering selling this company.
But the company’s future profitability was worrying, so it was unlikely anyone would buy it at a high price.
She wondered what stage this acquisition was at.
Xiao Donghan: “Are you perhaps too curious?”
“Absolutely, otherwise how could I always win battles?”
“Heh.”
Xiao Donghan sneered.
He hadn’t adjusted to the time difference yet, rubbing his temples.
With a madwoman like Shen Tang, he had nothing to hide, and couldn’t hide it anyway. “It was sold, acquired by a competitor, and the process is underway. I made two hundred million USD.”
Shen Tang: “...You scammed someone again?”
“At least I didn’t scam you.”
His tone was so matter-of-fact.
This man’s ruthlessness was ingrained in his bones.
Xiao Donghan began to drink his coffee. “I’ve delivered the gift to you. Tell Xiao Dongkai.”
Shen Tang thanked Xiao Dongkai and then shared Wen Di’s business card with Xiao Donghan. “Since you’re already in Beijing, perhaps you can consider it.”
Xiao Donghan wasn’t interested and directly ignored the business card message.
After finishing a cup of coffee, he took his leave.
________________________________________
In mid-November, Beijing experienced its first cold snap of the year, and temperatures plummeted.
Shen Tang had a social engagement tonight. Emerging from the restaurant, a chill immediately hit her. She had left home that morning dressed lightly, and the cold front only arrived in the evening. She didn’t have a warm coat at the office.
She rubbed her arms, jogging to her car.
It was almost eleven when she got home. The light in Jiang Chengyu’s study on the second floor was on.
“Husband.” Before reaching the door, she called out to him.
Jiang Chengyu was busy. He glanced at the time in the bottom right corner of his computer. She had already reached the door. “That fast? Wasn’t there another event?”
“Qin Xing told me to come back. He can handle it alone.”
“Did you drink?”
“No.”
Shen Tang smiled and said, “They all know that President Jiang is preparing for pregnancy, so they don’t dare urge me to drink.”
Jiang Chengyu also smiled, speechless.
This “preparing for pregnancy” news was spread by Yan Heyu, who subtly alluded to it from time to time.
Seeing him busy, Shen Tang said, “I’ll take a shower first.”
“Not very busy.” Jiang Chengyu was replying to an email, extending his hand to her.
Shen Tang took his hand and sat on his lap.
He was wearing suit trousers and a shirt, but his hair was half-wet, and he carried a faint scent of shower gel, indicating he had just showered.
“Why are you still dressed so formally after showering?” She turned to look at him. “Are you going out again?”
“Not anymore.” Jiang Chengyu circled her waist with one arm, typing with the other hand to reply to the email. “Didn’t you say earlier that after the dinner, you were going to a club? I was planning to pick you up at the club later and bring you clothes.”
“It’s not cold.”
Shen Tang watched him reply to the email. She was a bit tired after a night of socializing. Leaning against him, she relaxed completely. He was typing slowly with one hand. She patted the hand he had wrapped around her waist. “You don’t have to hold me. Focus on your work.”
Jiang Chengyu freed his hand and typed with both hands.
After replying to one email, all his self-control was used up.
Shen Tang watched him exit the inbox. “Aren’t there many emails you haven’t replied to?”
“No rush. I’ll deal with them tomorrow.”
Jiang Chengyu closed his laptop, turned her around, and held the back of her head with his left hand, lowering his head to kiss her.
Shen Tang said nothing, kissing him back.
Ever since he said they should let a child be, and enjoy their time together as a couple, they had been loving each other without inhibitions for these past few months. Without that constraint, not only their bodies and minds, but also their souls resonated.
An hour later, Jiang Chengyu tidied her hair, sweeping it behind her, and the study slowly fell silent.
He checked the time; it was past midnight.
Shen Tang found her slippers and got off his lap.
Her dress was sticking to her back, which was uncomfortable.
Her hair was constantly dripping sweat; anyone unfamiliar would have thought she had just washed her hair.
“Do you want to take a bath?” Jiang Chengyu casually buttoned two buttons on his shirt.
“Mm, a hot bath.”
A bathtub with essential oils and roses was Shen Tang’s favorite thing, besides Jiang Chengyu.
After drinking half a glass of milk and listening to relaxing light music, she almost fell asleep in the bathtub.
As the weather turned cold, she didn’t want to get out of the heated bathtub.
That weekend, November 21st, was their fifth anniversary.
Beijing saw its first snowfall of the year.
When Shen Tang woke up, Jiang Chengyu was beside her, leaning against the headboard reading. From October until now, he hadn’t taken a single day off. Today, with the snow and Shen Tang at home, he decided to take a day off for himself.
Due to his biological clock, Jiang Chengyu woke up at seven and had read a third of a book.
Shen Tang nestled in the warm quilt, groggily. “Husband, what time is it?”
“Half past ten.”
“Oh.” It wasn’t even lunchtime yet.
Shen Tang rolled over, continuing to sleep.
Jiang Chengyu pulled the quilt up to her neck. “Still sleepy?”
“Mm.”
These past few days, she felt like she could never get enough sleep.
Yesterday, she was yawning constantly in the office.
Perhaps the office heating was too strong, making it easy to doze off.
That’s what she thought.
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