He Ran planned the timing and wanted to look at properties with Jian Xi the next morning.

As for buying a house, Jian Xi wasn’t very enthusiastic. She told He Ran the truth.

“Actually, my mom has prepared a house for both me and my brother, probably in Junshan Garden.” Jian Xi tentatively said, “Why don’t we use that one as our new home?”

Junshan Garden, a famous villa area in the city, was high-end real estate opened in 2014. Tao Xihong had reserved two units for her children.

After hearing this, He Ran didn’t say anything.

Jian Xi thought he was upset and consoled him by gently tugging his arm. “Honestly, I don’t care about having a new house. I can move to your place. If you’re willing, living in our current apartment is fine too. He Ran, let’s not buy a house, okay?”

Hearing the cautiousness in her tone, He Ran squeezed her hand and slowly said, “Let’s buy it. The house is from your mom.”

“What’s mine is yours.” Jian Xi said, “From now on, it’s ‘us,’ no longer just you and me.”

He Ran held her hand tighter. “But Jian Xi, I want to give you a home. Besides, the real estate market still has room to grow these years. Buying now can also be a family investment.”

Jian Xi knew that his last sentence was an optional addition. The deepest selfish desire of a man is simply to provide a world for the woman he loves.

Jian Xi pursed her lips, complied with his wishes, and accepted the decision.

“However, I can contribute some money too. Why don’t we buy a bigger one? In the future, when we have children, there will be enough space even if we bring grandma over.”

He Ran rested his chin on top of her head, his nostrils quivering slightly when he smiled.

“So eager to have my child? Right now, I have nothing.”

Jian Xi let go of his hand and hugged his waist tightly. “Who says that? Don’t you have me?”

He Ran chuckled. “Little fool.”

“Don’t scold Tao Xinglai.” Jian Xi quickly retorted.

There was nothing wrong with what she said, so He Ran followed up, “Does your brother have a girlfriend?”

Jian Xi: “I think he had a crush on someone in his sophomore year of high school, but nothing serious.”

“What if one day he brings back a real movie queen and says he wants to get married?” He Ran imagined wildly.

“Then let them marry. As long as he’s happy, it’s fine.” Jian Xi was open-minded. “He’s too noisy at home; it’s terrifying.”

He Ran patted her hand. “Since you’re on vacation, shall we go see houses tomorrow?”

Jian Xi thought for a moment and agreed.

Chang City, among cities of the same level in surrounding provincial capitals, is considered a benchmark. In recent years, the municipal government has achieved a lot, making it a leader in both economy and living environment. Therefore, housing prices are generally high.

The prerequisite for the properties He Ran considered was proximity to the hospital where Jian Xi worked.

In summary, three developments were decent, but in such locations, prices wouldn’t be less than 20,000 yuan per square meter.

Jian Xi had a clear goal, favoring three-bedroom units around 120 square meters. After looking at several places, they finally chose a mid-range community closest to the subway exit.

Jian Xi had a housing provident fund, and the down payment of 30% came to nearly 800,000 yuan.

He Ran: “Do doctors earn this much?”

Jian Xi laughed. “Salaries aren’t that high, and I’m not a saver either. But my mom owns a company, and she gave shares to both me and Xinglai. When the company went public, I became instantly wealthy overnight as ‘Millionaire Jian.’”

She raised her eyebrows and looked at He Ran. “If you dare to bully me in the future, I’ll immediately change husbands.”

“If I treat you exceptionally well, will there be any rewards?”

“Yes.” Jian Xi nodded and whispered quickly into his ear, “I’ll allow you to bully me to death.”

Her voice was coy, and He Ran understood immediately, gritting his teeth with a grin. “You wait.”

After paying a 10,000-yuan deposit, there were still some certification materials to prepare. Jian Xi was on night duty, so they resolved dinner casually outside.

Jian Xi: “Are you going home tonight?”

“I still have something to do.” He Ran said, “Then I’ll go check on Grandma and come to pick you up after work tomorrow morning.”

“No need. You sleep more. I’ll go back to the apartment by myself.” Jian Xi served him a bowl of soup and handed it over. “I’ll visit Grandma tomorrow too. I asked a colleague to bring some cordyceps. We can stew chicken.”

“Alright, I’ll slaughter the chicken when I return.” He Ran placed the spare ribs from the soup into Jian Xi’s bowl.

“Forget it, I’ll do it.” Jian Xi completely lacked trust in him. “You have no sense of aesthetics.”

“As long as it dies.” He Ran said, “In the future, tasks like killing chickens and ducks in our home will be done by men. You’re not allowed to handle knives.”

Jian Xi felt pleased inside and ate the spare ribs clean.

After dinner, Jian Xi drove to work. Once she left, He Ran took a taxi to Wanxiang.

This restaurant was grandiose, located in the city center, frequented by high-end clients. The young and beautiful female CEO was named Chen Qing. If Lu Hanxiao’s information was correct, she should be in the large private room on the third floor.

Lu Hanxiao arranged connections through one or two intermediaries, serving as an introduction for him.

He Ran waited in the lobby on the third floor, first calling Chen Qing’s assistant.

No one answered the first time, but the second call was picked up belatedly.

A drunken male voice, “Hello? Who is it?”

He Ran patiently explained, “Hello, I’m a client introduced by Mr. Xu. My surname is He.”

“Oh, it’s you.” There was a hubbub on the other side. “Alright, I’ll be right out.”

Not long after, the male assistant emerged from the large private room. He wore a tight, lime-green shirt and looked He Ran up and down with his chin raised.

He Ran: “Could you please inform Ms. Chen...”

The male assistant interrupted, “Our dinner is far from over. Why don’t you reschedule for another time?”

He Ran: “It’s alright. I’ll wait outside until Ms. Chen is free.”

This male assistant was somewhat unreliable, and since Chen Qing had been drinking, this report was merely perfunctory.

“Do as you wish.” The male assistant didn’t say more and turned to leave.

His hand touched the door handle, twisted it open, and pushed the door. The gap gradually widened, spilling out a roomful of noise.

He Ran quickly glanced up. Within those fleeting seconds, he saw several guests. The woman with big wavy curls was Chen Qing.

Just these few seconds, her gaze inadvertently swept over.

After nine o’clock in the evening, the dinner party finally ended. About ten people walked out, with two tall beauties chatting enthusiastically with male clients.

“Ms. Chen, I’ve already booked a private karaoke room.” The male assistant hovered around Chen Qing, trying hard to please. “I’ve had them prepare all your favorite songs.”

Chen Qing reached out to touch his face. “Such a thoughtful boy.”

He Ran waited at the corridor entrance. As people approached, he stepped forward to greet them. “Ms. Chen.”

“Eh? You’re still here?” The male assistant blurted out, frowning slightly.

Ignoring him, He Ran looked at Chen Qing, “Hello, my name is He Ran.” He extended his hand politely, his palm wide and flat, fingers evenly spaced.

Chen Qing lowered her gaze. Her eye makeup was particularly heavy. Her eyes swept over He Ran’s hand, then she smiled, grasping it. “Hi.”

Her expression was full of interest, not hiding her attraction at all. “You’re looking for me? Is there something you need?”

He Ran got straight to the point. “Yes, actually I am...”

“Come sing with us,” Chen Qing interrupted with a smile. “How about it?”

He Ran was momentarily speechless.

This female CEO didn’t seem to give him any time to consider, swaying her body confidently as she walked forward.

Approaching the elevator, she noticed He Ran finally quickening his pace to catch up.

Chen Qing wasn’t particularly attractive, loved heavy makeup, dressed fashionably, and wore strong perfume. In just this short while, He Ran could tell that this woman had an open personality and lived quite wildly. The male assistant, most likely her kept lover, stuck to her all night, afraid that his benefactor would neglect him.

He Ran tried several times to discuss matters with her, but each time he was met with soft rejections.

After the third attempt, Ms. Chen finally began to show some interest. “Won’t you have a drink with me?”

He Ran calmly replied, “I don’t drink with women.”

“Interesting,” Chen Qing’s crimson lips curved into a smile.

“Ms. Chen, I want to ask you about someone named Qin Sheng, who used to be the supervisor of the transportation team in your company’s operations department.”

Before He Ran could finish, his words faltered because Chen Qing pretended not to hear, raising her glass to talk to someone else.

Faced with such deliberate disregard, He Ran’s temper began to flare.

The male assistant glared at him, then leaned close to Chen Qing, fawningly saying, “Sister Qing, I’ll keep you company tonight, okay?”

Chen Qing swirled the wine in her glass, smiling as she whispered something softly.

The male assistant blushed slightly, looking a bit nervous. “It’s fine, but I’m afraid you might feel uncomfortable.”

Chen Qing’s gaze drifted towards He Ran. “More people make it more comfortable.”

Under the hazy lights, He Ran looked even more masculine from afar—broad shoulders, a tight abdomen, and jeans that fit just right... very appealing.

Feeling exhilarated, Chen Qing approached him with a drink, pretending to care. “That person is called Qin Sheng, right?”

He Ran raised his eyes. “Yes.”

“He quit a year ago.”

“Ms. Chen, could you get the HR department to give me his phone number?”

“Does he owe you money?” Chen Qing teased.

He Ran didn’t respond. “If it’s inconvenient, I won’t bother you further.”

“It’s convenient,” Chen Qing smiled. “Why are you in such a hurry? I’m quite busy now. How about we change places later, and I’ll have the HR manager check?”

After a few seconds of silence, He Ran’s tone gradually turned cold. “Change to where?”

Chen Qing took two steps closer, almost pressing against his chest, breathing out, “Somewhere quieter, just you and me.”

He Ran’s eyes darkened, a slight curve forming on his lips. “Alright.”

In the underworld, everyone understands the underlying meaning.

The room was a suite on the top floor. He Ran used the excuse of making a call, saying he would come later. He secretly followed Chen Qing, coldly watching her and the male assistant flirt their way upstairs.

No rush. He Ran smoked a cigarette outside, bought a few things, and then calmly went to the room.

Chen Qing excitedly welcomed him in; her face flushed from the alcohol and the anticipation.

At this moment, the male assistant came out of the bathroom, completely naked except for a loosely wrapped towel around his waist.

Seeing this setup, He Ran pretended to ask, “Three people?”

“Do you agree?” The room was warm; Chen Qing only wore a thin gauze dress.

He Ran said yes. “You come here first.”

Chen Qing reached out to hug his neck, but He Ran dodged perfectly, unceremoniously grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back—

“Ahh! Ahh!” Chen Qing’s face turned pale with fright. “Why are you tying me up?!”

He Ran took out the rope he had just bought and tied her up. Seeing the male assistant trying to escape, he kicked him down.

Then he forced the pair together into an extremely suggestive pose and took ten consecutive photos with his phone.

“Don’t take pictures! Stop taking pictures! What do you want?!” Chen Qing screamed shrilly, terrified.

He Ran squatted down, holding the screen in his hand, and said to the male assistant, “Little brother, your muscles still need work. This old woman has drained you dry.”

Chen Qing: “Delete them!”

“Delete your mother.” He Ran grabbed her chin tightly, applying great force. “You want to sleep with me? Dream on! Tell me what I want by nine o’clock tomorrow morning, or these photos will be uploaded to your company’s internal network.”

“I’m calling the police! I’m reporting you!”

“That’s perfect. The police officers should love these pieces of evidence. Let’s also go ask your husband about it.” He Ran clicked his tongue in admiration. “Isn’t it thrilling?”

Chen Qing’s face stiffened, gritting her teeth. “Hooligan! Thug! Pervert!”

He Ran’s voice was calm. “Good to know.”

The night was hazy, winter nearing its end, and the neon lights seemed to bring warmth back to this bustling world.

He Ran bit on his cigarette, strolling through the bustling streets. Occasionally, the wind blew open his unbuttoned coat.

Holding the fresh, hot phone number, he stared at it silently for a long time.

The smoke slowly rose into the air like a thin veil.

He Ran gripped his phone, his voice calm, “...Qin Sheng, it’s me.”

________________________________________

First Municipal Hospital.

Last night, the obstetrics department was relatively peaceful. Jian Xi performed two natural births and managed to get a couple of hours of sleep before dawn.

When she finished work, her face showed fatigue. He Ran was waiting early at the hospital gate, holding breakfast and smiling at her from afar.

As Jian Xi approached, she leaned her entire weight on him, like a boneless person. “I’m so tired.”

He Ran laughed. “Do you want your husband to kiss and cuddle you and lift you high?”

It was meant as a joke, but Jian Xi seemed serious, raising her head and blinking her eyes. “Okay!”

He Ran kissed her right cheek.

Jian Xi was dissatisfied. “Tch, perfunctory.”

He Ran kissed her left cheek, always mindful of balance and symmetry.

Jian Xi pouted. “Still one more.”

Even the early spring sunlight couldn’t match the tenderness in He Ran’s eyes.

He cupped Jian Xi’s face and planted a firm kiss on her forehead, whispering, “Let me give my wife a beauty mark.”

Jian Xi felt like her heart was full of honey, glancing at what he was holding. “What breakfast did you buy?”

“Bite Spring Pancake,” He Ran said. “Grandma made them early, filled with lots of cucumber strips you love.”

Jian Xi handed the car keys to He Ran and sat in the passenger seat to eat breakfast.

Back at the apartment, Jian Xi quietly went to take a shower. He Ran noticed she finished unusually quickly this time.

Sure enough, the woman’s eager hands hugged his waist from behind, pressing her body tightly against his.

This signal was blatant. Jian Xi coquettishly said, “Husband, I want you.”

He Ran smiled. “What do you want from me?”

Jian Xi slid like a fish to his front, grabbing his hand and covering her curves, her eyes playful. “Make love.”

He Ran took a deep breath, his eyes dark, his voice hoarse. “Let’s make clear beforehand—no backing out, no crying, no saying no, no kicking me, no squeezing me. If you can do that, we’ll do it.”

Jian Xi looked at her man, so seriously getting into it, and was utterly captivated.

She nodded. “I can!”

He Ran furrowed his brows slightly, sensing something off but didn’t have time to think more as Jian Xi’s hands already unbuckled his belt.

She tiptoed, biting He Ran’s ear and said, “...it’s throbbing.”

The morning exercise ended after an hour. He Ran’s waist was numb, the tingling sensation lingering.

Recently, during their intimate moments, Jian Xi was exceptionally proactive, changing positions and practically reversing roles.

However, after being refused when she suggested not using protection last time, Jian Xi hadn’t brought it up again. Afterward, He Ran discussed having children with her. His suggestion was to wait for half a year before planning.

Jian Xi neither agreed nor refused, leading He Ran to believe she tacitly accepted.

Night shifts plus lovemaking depleted her energy to negative numbers. Jian Xi didn’t even have the strength to dress and fell into a deep sleep.

He Ran tucked her in, barefoot, and tidied up. He bent down, spread his legs, and prepared to remove the condom. But upon inspection, he froze.

The tip of the small balloon was deflated, containing nothing.

He Ran frowned, examined it closely, and burst into laughter.

The tip had been cut open, rendering it useless.

Behind him, the breathing was steady and shallow. He Ran turned over, whispering into Jian Xi’s ear:

“Woman...you’re plotting something...”

He Ran didn’t expose Jian Xi’s little trick but secretly bought a new box and replaced it.

In the following days, Jian Xi remained enthusiastic, like an insatiable kitten, both alluring and charming.

Later, He Ran checked and found that the positions she favored were all conducive to conception.

This little thing...

Half a month passed until one night, after they had been asleep for a while, Jian Xi stealthily got up halfway through the night, sneaking a box from the drawer and slipping into the bathroom.

Without the familiar warmth beside him, He Ran woke up quickly. He reached out, wondering where she was.

Walking into the living room, he saw the bathroom door ajar with light seeping out, which reassured him.

But soon, he heard something amiss.

He Ran approached, standing by the door, listening carefully—Jian Xi was crying.

He rushed in, alarmed. “Wife? What’s wrong?”

Jian Xi jumped, startled that he came in. Her tear-streaked face became even more pitiful.

He Ran panicked, quickly squatting down to pull her into his arms. “What is it? What happened? Darling, let your husband hold you.”

Only then did he see the pregnancy test stick by his feet—a white stick with only one red line in the display area.

With a sobbing voice, Jian Xi cried, “...Husband, when will Little Ran come?”

He Ran’s whole body tensed, feeling heartbroken.

He lifted her horizontally and carried her back to the bedroom, embracing her again, continuously comforting and kissing her.

Jian Xi was like a little girl who hadn’t gotten her candy, pouring all her frustration-induced sorrow onto He Ran’s heart.

On the low cabinet, the mobile phone screen lit up silently.

A new text message appeared—

[Big Brother, everything is settled. Head south as soon as possible.]