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◎The thought of you calling me “sister-in-law” makes me sick.◎
On Saturday, Bai Duo invited Fu Jiaxi to try out the new dishes at Guojin.
The shopping mall was crowded with cars on the weekend, and it took two rounds before they found a parking spot. The parking space was near a pillar, making it difficult to park. Fu Jiaxi tried twice but failed both times.
She leaned out of the car window to estimate the width, preparing to try again when—
“Turn the steering wheel half a circle to the right.”
A young man stood by the headlights, wearing a loose black T-shirt that accentuated his slim yet well-defined shoulders.
“Alright, straighten it out, and back up directly.”
“Thanks,” Fu Jiaxi said as she got out of the car with a bright smile to thank him.
The guy was super cool, nodding his head slightly before walking away with his hands in his pockets.
While waiting for the elevator, Fu Jiaxi replied to Bai Duo’s message: “Almost there. I just met a handsome guy who was really helpful, quite charming, and easy on the eyes.”
Bai Duo: “How exactly is he handsome?”
“He has a bit of a wild horse vibe.”
“Isn’t that exactly your type?”
“The me from ten years ago might have liked him.”
“Sweetie, you’re still in your prime. The younger guys these days like women like you—innocent yet full of charm.”
This conversation was getting ridiculous.
Entering the restaurant, Bai Duo waved, “Over here.”
Fu Jiaxi smiled while putting her phone away, “Go ahead and find a younger guy now and ask if he likes someone like me.”
“Well, look who’s here.” Bai Duo nodded toward the person behind her.
Fu Jiaxi turned around, surprised, “It’s you.”
The young man who had helped her park the car was standing right in front of her.
Bai Duo introduced him with a smile, “This is Shen Ye, my little brother.”
Shen Ye glanced at her, “I’m a brother, but not so little. Hello, I’m Shen Ye.”
Fu Jiaxi understood; Bai Duo was perfectly suited to run a matchmaking agency.
Shen Ye didn’t talk much, sitting comfortably with an air of restrained wildness that matched his name. He mentioned that he owned a car repair shop, and if Fu Jiaxi ever needed car repairs, she could come anytime. After a brief pause, he added, “But having to fix a car isn’t a good thing. I wish you safe travels.”
A few days later, Bai Duo sent a WeChat message: “Little Ye has taken a liking to you.”
No need for hints; the younger brother was more straightforward than the older sister.
That evening after lunch, he sent Fu Jiaxi a message asking, “Can I pursue you?”
Simple, direct, skipping all the flirtation, Shen Ye’s style was actually quite to Fu Jiaxi’s taste.
Appreciation aside, reciprocity was necessary. She promptly, yet politely, declined.
Bai Duo was incredulous, “Dating could give your dopamine a nice boost.”
Fu Jiaxi replied, “Spare me. I can barely take care of myself, let alone deal with that kind of thing.”
Bai Duo exclaimed, “You’re divorced, not a nun!”
Fu Jiaxi smiled but didn’t respond.
Divorce wasn’t a big deal.
But she had to admit, those soft flutters and intense emotions seemed to have sunk deep into the ocean. From beneath the sea, even the lightest starry sky couldn’t stir a ripple. Saying ‘a light boat has already passed through thousands of mountains’ might be too heavy. But Fu Jiaxi truly enjoyed this moment of desolation and freedom.
After her rejection, Shen Ye quietly disappeared.
The clear-cut understanding between adults made Fu Jiaxi feel comfortable.
The weather forecast was accurate; Tuesday indeed saw a drop in temperature.
Continuous rain left Jin City unusually humid and stuffy, like a giant steamer relentlessly cooking everything, forcing out moisture and making the atmosphere unbearably sticky.
Fu Jiaxi disliked such weather the most; she couldn’t muster any energy to do anything.
Everything seemed preordained. That morning, her eyelid twitched incessantly. Halfway through her drive, something unusual happened. The dashboard warning light suddenly lit up red, and the car began slowing down. Fu Jiaxi, being sharp, quickly pulled over to the side of the road.
The tire pressure was unbalanced; the tire had blown out.
...
Before eight o’clock, Liu Yun’s daily review would always arrive punctually in Yue Jincheng’s email inbox. He would read it on his way to the group company.
Jiao Rui went over the schedule, “There’s a banquet at six. Should I have Xiao Zhang bring over your suit? There won’t be enough time to go back and change.”
“Move the afternoon meeting up by fifteen minutes, and we’ll discuss the financial budget together.”
The car stopped at a red light. Yue Jincheng finished reading the last line and looked out the window.
Across the green belt and four lanes, he spotted Fu Jiaxi standing helplessly by the roadside.
Yue Jincheng frowned and immediately instructed the driver to pull over there.
“Yes, Mr. Yue.” The driver responded, “I’ll make a U-turn ahead.”
...
The tire blew out during the morning rush hour amidst heavy traffic, with honking filling the air. Fu Jiaxi looked around, helpless, and could only wait for roadside assistance.
Just as she was about to call in sick—
A matte gray SUV flashed its hazard lights twice and smoothly parked behind her car.
The car color was pretty cool. Shen Ye, stepping out of the driver’s seat, took off his sunglasses, grabbed a toolbox, and walked over without saying a word, looking even cooler.
“You… how are you here?” Fu Jiaxi was utterly shocked.
He took out a jack and skillfully placed it under the car, “I told you, I’m pursuing you.”
Shen Ye had been driving her to work these past few days without telling her, pure-hearted and determined.
Fu Jiaxi squatted down, teasingly asked, “Are you particularly popular with girls?”
Shen Ye, using a wrench to remove the tire, moved deftly and spoke fluently, “Do you welcome me?”
“I’m not a little girl.”
“Are you a boy?” Shen Ye feigned surprise, staring at her for three seconds before coldly turning his head, “Then forget it, I can’t change my sexual orientation.”
Fu Jiaxi laughed.
He focused on removing the tire while she handed him tools.
Master Shen’s repair shop wasn’t opened for nothing; his skills were top-notch, and watching him work was a treat.
Ten minutes later, the job was done. He sat in the driver’s seat, ensuring everything was fine before handing the car back to Fu Jiaxi.
“When you have time, come to my shop to rotate the tires, and replace the front left one with a new one.”
“Alright, I’ll support your business.” Fu Jiaxi said gracefully, “Give me the discounted membership price.”
“Family discount.”
Shen Ye smiled broadly, looking incredibly handsome even behind his sunglasses.
The younger brother knew how to charm, gradually and naturally.
Fu Jiaxi remained composed, putting on her own sunglasses, not taking the bait.
Before Shen Ye drove off, he rolled down the car window, “Sister.” He called her that, then tossed something over, “Have a good breakfast.”
Fu Jiaxi caught it with one hand—it was a bottle of warm milk.
The bustling noise of the city’s CBD seemed to be completely shut out beyond the Bentley. Jiao Rui couldn’t help but glance at Yue Jincheng, confirming that the air conditioning was blowing cold air, yet he still felt stifled and oppressed.
Yue Jincheng sat like a statue, expressionless as he watched the entire scene unfold.
Jiao Rui mustered up his courage, “Boss Yue, I’ll get out and see if there’s anything else Sister Jiaxi needs help with.”
Yue Jincheng responded coldly, “Drive.”
—
It was just in time; they weren’t late.
As Fu Jiaxi entered the elevator, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, they were pressed open again—this time by Yue Jincheng and Jiao Rui.
Fu Jiaxi greeted them cheerfully, “Good morning.”
Jiao Rui: “Good morning, Sister Jiaxi.”
There was no one else in the elevator. Noticing Yue Jincheng’s grim expression, Fu Jiaxi asked, “Is your stomach still hurting?”
Yue Jincheng replied, “It’s fine now.”
“Oh.” Fu Jiaxi turned to Jiao Rui, “Is the private elevator broken again?” She had encountered them taking the employee elevator several times recently.
Jiao Rui instinctively replied, “No, it’s not broken.”
Yue Jincheng shot him a sharp, heavy glare.
Realizing his mistake, Jiao Rui quickly corrected himself, “It’s broken, it’s broken now.”
Fu Jiaxi gradually became aware of something and looked back at Yue Jincheng.
Her gaze was clear and understanding, probing his face for answers with just the right amount of persistence. Yue Jincheng remained relatively calm, loosening the tight collar button of his shirt and checking his phone for new messages.
When Yue Jia Yi called on his smartwatch, sending sweet WeChat messages, each “Daddy” came out in a cute, babyish voice.
When talking to the little guy, Yue Jincheng was soft and patient.
During their voice chat, Fu Jiaxi handed him the milk.
Its warmth clung to his palm. When Yue Jincheng turned his head, he met her bright and lively smile.
Fu Jiaxi said, “Drink it, it’ll settle your stomach.”
Yue Jincheng didn’t take it, “I don’t drink other people’s things.”
Fu Jiaxi became even more certain of her suspicions, responding with an “Oh,” drawing out the syllable meaningfully.
Yue Jincheng looked at her, waiting for her explanation.
But Fu Jiaxi said nothing, taking the milk back from his hand.
“If you’re not drinking it, don’t waste it.” She unscrewed the cap and started drinking it herself.
Yue Jincheng’s face was gloomier than the overcast sky outside, looking as if he’d suffered some unspoken internal injury.
Fu Jiaxi wanted to laugh but held it in.
When they reached their floor, she waved casually, just about to step out when suddenly, the milk was snatched away from her hand.
Fu Jiaxi tilted her chin slightly upward, “Isn’t Boss Yue not supposed to drink other people’s things?”
Yue Jincheng’s gaze and tone were both light and indifferent. He said, “Once you’ve drunk from it, it’s no longer someone else’s.”
The elevator doors closed at just the right moment, leaving them standing inside and outside, their eyes locked through the narrowing gap.
In the final moment, Yue Jincheng raised his hand and naturally took a sip from the milk she had drunk from.
Before Fu Jiaxi could react, the elevator doors had fully closed.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Yue Jincheng’s lips seemed to curve upwards as he drank the milk.
Jiao Rui confirmed it wasn’t an illusion.
Forced to witness this exchange in the elevator, this boss was too easy to please. That last action of drinking the milk was very much like a flirtatious counterattack.
—
Liu Yun gradually accepted Fu Jiaxi in her work.
Since the last meeting, where she valiantly stood up, she always managed to turn things around somehow.
Market daily reviews, overnight analyses, risk alerts—things that were previously ignored—were now personally requested by Yue Jincheng to be reported daily to the senior management.
Liu Yun was a rigid person, occasionally stubborn. The day before yesterday, he argued with Fu Jiaxi for a long time over a data point.
Fu Jiaxi could have backed down, but her obstinacy wouldn’t allow her to yield an inch.
Liu Yun questioned the relevance of her data, so Fu Jiaxi compiled a database spanning twenty years, listed formulas, created charts, and organized trend lines clearly.
“Tell me, who is right?” She insisted earnestly, fiercely demanding an answer.
Liu Yun swallowed his frustration, “You are right.”
Fu Jiaxi immediately beamed, “I’m sorry, Team Leader Liu. I was too impatient. Please don’t take it to heart. Next time, I’ll definitely pay attention to my approach.”
Liu Yun was stunned by her effortless shift in expressions, letting out a cold chuckle, “Will there be a next time?”
“I can’t speak for others, but you, sir, must surely enjoy being a leader who appreciates ‘a next time.’”
She was sincere and possessed a matching level of intelligence.
Naturally, Liu Yun wouldn’t show appreciation but sent her a link instead.
Fu Jiaxi: “What’s this?”
“A simulated account. In your free time, you can practice simulated trading.” Liu Yun said, “No matter how much you learn, systematically or otherwise, ultimately, you need to apply what you’ve learned.”
Fu Jiaxi’s life during this period was going smoothly, and her work was temporarily on track. Shen Ye’s pursuit hadn’t stopped either; he continued to tirelessly assert his presence. But this younger brother had class—his efforts were full of emotional intelligence.
Sending breakfast or roses, these simple tricks, Shen Ye didn’t bother with.
What he did was follow Fu Jiaxi every morning, punctually driving behind her like a bodyguard, escorting her to work.
Upon reaching the company entrance, without saying a word, he would nod in acknowledgment, not even rolling down the car window, and drive off coolly.
Playing hard to get.
Fu Jiaxi didn’t fall for his tactics, letting him entertain himself for now.
On the weekend, Yue Jia Yi was routinely picked up by the Yue family, and Fu Jiaxi took the opportunity to visit Zhou Xiaojun at Manyuan.
By the lotus pond pavilion, the old lady lay leisurely on a rocking chair, cracking sunflower seeds.
“No need to check my phone; I haven’t tipped any handsome young men lately.”
“Are you behaving? Have you been dating boys?”
Fu Jiaxi said, “Guess?”
“I won’t guess.” Zhou Xiaojun said, “If you haven’t been dating, come look at these photos. I’ve collected many pictures of young men.”
Fu Jiaxi hurriedly picked up the fish food tray, “Grandma, the fish are hungry.”
Zhou Xiaojun watched her sprinkle the fish food, leaning against the intricately carved pool railing. Her long hair draped over her profile, revealing curled lashes, basking in the gradually intensifying sunset glow, which smoothed out the tenacity in her brows and eyes, making her appear gentle and serene.
Zhou Xiaojun sighed, “You really won’t take a look? This batch is particularly handsome.”
Fu Jiaxi tossed the fish food in her palm and said seriously, “Right now, I prefer ugly ones.”
Zhou Xiaojun replied, “Then Yue Jincheng has a chance.”
Fu Jiaxi met her gaze, and both burst into laughter.
—
The Yue family villa.
Yue Jincheng inexplicably sneezed twice in a row. Wanyu quickly handed him a cup of hot tea, attentively concerned, “Big Brother, the weather is changeable; you must take care of your health.”
Yue Jincheng accepted it and nodded his thanks.
Not far away, on a small terrace, the group of chatting younger sisters sneered, “The new second sister-in-law sure knows how to ingratiate herself—she’s even better at it than Tangyuan.”
“Who’s Tangyuan?”
“My dog.”
Laughter rippled through the air.
“Thinking that marrying in makes her part of the family.” One cousin remarked sarcastically, “She’s not even as good as Fu Jiaxi.”
“Give me a break, you’re overestimating her. Fu Jiaxi at least graduated from a prestigious university. She didn’t even get into college—what’s there to compare? Enough said, here she comes.”
Instantly, intimate and enthusiastic greetings filled the air like honey, “Second Sister-in-law, you look absolutely stunning today!”
...
The moonlight was bright that night, not overshadowed by the breathtaking sunset earlier.
After having dinner with Zhou Xiaojun at Manyuan and accompanying her to the prayer hall for some chanting, Fu Jiaxi finally left.
Passing by the Yue family villa on her way home from Manyuan, estimating the time, Fu Jiaxi sent a message to Yue Jincheng: “I’m nearby. I’ll come pick up our son, so you don’t need to make a detour.”
By the time she sent the message, she had already been waiting outside the villa for ten minutes. Yue Jincheng probably hadn’t checked his phone yet, as there was no reply.
Never mind, let him deliver the boy then. With that thought, Fu Jiaxi was about to drive off when—
“You’re passing by without coming in? You’re being too distant.”
Yue Yunzong walked over to her car with a smile, “All the siblings are here. Won’t you come in and sit for a while?”
Fu Jiaxi got out of the car and greeted him gracefully, “President Yunzong.”
Yue Yunzong responded, “Everyone calls me that these days. But this is private; there’s no need for formalities.”
Fu Jiaxi smiled, “It’s the same whether we’re in public or private. If you’re polite, I can’t take it too seriously, or else I’d be considered ungrateful.”
Yue Yunzong was much taller, especially noticeable when standing close.
The three brothers of the Yue family all had striking appearances, each with their own charm. However, Yue Yunzong exuded an innate sense of superiority. Even when smiling, he concealed sharp edges beneath his gentle demeanor.
“In fact, you don’t have to force yourself to work at Baifeng,” Yue Yunzong said. “If you’re bored and have nowhere to go, I can introduce you to a good company and a great position.”
Fu Jiaxi covered her mouth with her hand, feigning appropriate surprise, “President Yunzong, could it be that you’ve always thought Baifeng isn’t a good company, and doesn’t have good positions?”
Yue Yunzong looked awkward, completely cornered by her clever retort.
He reined in his smile, “With Big Brother around, Baifeng is thriving.”
Fu Jiaxi laughed more naturally than him, “Working under a leader like you, I’ll only get better and better.”
Deflecting every move, maintaining harmony—it was all about generating goodwill.
These two qualities, Fu Jiaxi had mastered to perfection, almost mirroring Yue Jincheng.
Yue Yunzong had intended to intimidate her but found himself unable to gain any satisfaction.
Casually, Fu Jiaxi said, “President Yunzong, if there’s no other work for me, I won’t disturb your rest.”
She opened the car door, preparing to leave.
“Sister-in-law.”
This unexpected form of address from Yue Yunzong hit her like an electric shock, sending chills down her spine.
Yue Yunzong smiled, seemingly unfazed, “Sister-in-law, I know the bond between you and Big Brother runs deep. It’s not something that fades easily or can be erased. You were the one who endured hardships with him, helping him rise to become the heir of the Yue family and the CEO of Baifeng Group. Life throws many challenges—daily struggles, soul-searching moments, disagreements—all of which might cause two deeply loving people to drift apart.”
Fu Jiaxi stood firm, her gaze steady and unwavering.
Yet, her breathing faltered slightly, betraying a crack in her composure.
Men raised in the opulent, commanding environment of the Yue family excelled at reading people, dismantling defenses, and turning situations to their advantage. Yue Yunzong subtly pinpointed her emotional vulnerability, twisting it silently, causing a pain too deep for words.
“What’s life’s chaos compared to love? When feelings remain, hearts stay close, and nothing can tear them apart. But...” He feigned a sigh, “Since when did you start using such childish tactics typically employed by young lovers? Or perhaps… this is a special kind of marital playfulness between you and Big Brother? Oh dear, Sister-in-law, if you want to reconcile with Big Brother, just say so.”
His tone dripped with disdain, disgust, offense, and belittlement—like salt on frost or oil on fire, layer upon layer searing Fu Jiaxi’s pride.
The moonlight was cold that night, hanging high in the sky.
After a moment of silence, Fu Jiaxi suddenly broke into a smile, “No, I think it’s best not to be direct. I’m afraid President Yunzong wouldn’t be able to handle the truth.”
Yue Yunzong narrowed his eyes slightly, “What do you mean?”
“You’re right. For a fleeting moment, I did entertain thoughts of reconciling with him. But it was just that—a fleeting impulse,” Fu Jiaxi said. “Because the moment I think about getting remarried and being called ‘Sister-in-law’ by you again, it makes me sick to my stomach.”
Author’s Note:
Drawing 100 little red packets, wishing everyone a pleasant read.
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