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Psst! We're moving!
The bedroom lights had been off for a while, but neither of them had fallen asleep.
Ji Qingyuan remembered Yu Jingxin’s menstrual cycle because during those days each month, he could only kiss her gently. Occasionally, when she felt discomfort in her lower abdomen, he would even massage it for her.
He calculated the timing—these few days were right in the middle of her cycle.
Yu Jingxin rested her head on Ji Qingyuan’s arm, occasionally glancing up at him, wondering what was on his mind.
She really wanted to hug him and fall asleep, but after raising her hand slightly, she let it drop back to her side. Their embraces only happened during moments of intimacy; once rationality returned, she didn’t know how to get close to him.
“Are you asleep?” Ji Qingyuan suddenly spoke.
Yu Jingxin replied, “What is it?”
Ji Qingyuan looked at the person in his arms. “Do you have to work overtime tomorrow?”
Yu Jingxin nodded. “Mhm.” If he wasn’t home, she’d be bored anyway, so she might as well go to the office. Being busy would keep her from overthinking.
Ji Qingyuan decided to accompany her at work. “I don’t have to work for the next few days.” With the Mid-Autumn Festival overlapping with the National Day holiday, he could take a few extra days off.
Since their marriage, he had worked non-stop.
Yu Jingxin suddenly regretted mentioning overtime. She could have stayed home with him instead. But it was too late to take her words back.
She tried to backtrack. “I have a meeting in the morning, but the afternoon won’t be busy.”
Ji Qingyuan couldn’t believe she was speaking to him so calmly. He pulled her closer, brushing his lips against the corner of her mouth. “From now on, let’s stop arguing.”
Then again, it seemed unrealistic for a married couple to never argue.
“At least try not to fight. I’ll work on my temper, and you should too.”
As he spoke, his lips moved softly against the corner of her mouth, tickling her. They had never been this intimate before, and he had never said anything about changing himself.
Unconsciously, Yu Jingxin leaned closer to his cheek.
Their lips pressed tighter together.
Ji Qingyuan thought she wanted more. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, and in the next moment, she was beneath him.
They hadn’t made love the previous night—he had assumed he wouldn’t push her body since he was taking care of her—but that morning, he had taken her twice, and her body was feeling a bit overwhelmed.
But now, under his kisses, she couldn’t help herself and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Both eager for a baby, they hoped to conceive in one go. Never before had they experienced such harmony between body and mind.
________________________________________
The Next Day
When Yu Jingxin woke up, Ji Qingyuan was already up and no longer in the bedroom.
She had to go to the office today, so she couldn’t linger in bed. After struggling for a bit, she sat up.
Only then did she notice neatly folded underwear and a bathrobe placed on the footstool at the end of the bed.
After last night’s activities, he had prepared her clothes for today.
She wondered if a man could gradually forget the woman he once loved and slowly grow fond of the wife he lived with day and night.
She had read plenty of inspirational articles—some claimed it was possible.
Others argued that when a man loved, he truly loved; when he didn’t, he simply didn’t. Any feelings that developed later were merely habits, emotions of gratitude, or even a sense of duty.
Regardless of whether it was possible or not, she had yet to see Ji Qingyuan display any tender or romantic side toward her.
Sitting halfway up, Yu Jingxin reached for the clothes and put them on.
After a quick wash, makeup, and changing into her work attire, she grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.
Ji Qingyuan was in the yard on a business call, dressed in formal business attire.
Seeing him looking so sharp, Yu Jingxin reaffirmed her decision to work overtime. Just because he said he wouldn’t be working for the next few days didn’t mean he’d stay home.
Ji Qingyuan said into the phone, “No time. Mhm, you all have fun. Not busy—I’m spending time with my wife.”
As he spoke, Yu Jingxin happened to walk past him. She gave him a fleeting glance—liar, he wasn’t staying with her at all.
She got into her car and noticed the driver wasn’t in the driver’s seat.
After hanging up, Ji Qingyuan strode over to the driver’s side, opened the door, and got in.
Yu Jingxin asked hesitantly, “You’re driving?”
Ji Qingyuan sat down and fastened his seatbelt. “Didn’t you hear me on the phone? I said I’d accompany you.”
Yu Jingxin couldn’t believe it. “Why are you being so nice today?”
Despite her teasing tone, she moved from the backseat to the passenger seat.
Ji Qingyuan started the car. “For the next few days, I’ll be by your side without leaving.”
Yu Jingxin wondered, “Did the family pressure you?” Since their marriage, he had been busy with work every day and had never stayed home to keep her company.
Ji Qingyuan replied, “No.”
As the car slowly left the yard, he added, “I volunteered.”
Yu Jingxin was easily moved and softened. As long as the “Calm Serenity” Weibo account didn’t update, she could remain relatively calm around him.
“You suddenly acting like this makes me uneasy.”
Ji Qingyuan reassured her. “You can rest assured—it’s all for making a baby.”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
Speechless.
She looked ahead through the windshield, sharing the view of the road with him.
It was early autumn, and they were heading to work in the morning light. Having him drive felt like a rare moment of happiness.
From time to time, she stole glances at Ji Qingyuan. Her family members were all good-looking, but she still thought Ji Qingyuan was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
The car was too quiet, so Yu Jingxin tried to find a topic to chat about. “Are you not busy these two days?”
Ji Qingyuan replied with one word: “Busy.”
And just like that, there was nothing more to talk about.
Yu Jingxin didn’t know if he only ran out of things to say when he was with her. Out of boredom, she fiddled with her seatbelt.
“Jingxin.”
“Hmm?”
Yu Jingxin turned her head, seizing the opportunity to look at him. His profile was flawless—sharp jawline, irresistible angles. The more she looked, the more she wanted to keep looking.
Ji Qingyuan voiced his thoughts. “In the future, whenever we speak in front of our elders, let’s tell each other afterward which parts were true and which were insincere. It’ll prevent misunderstandings.”
Yu Jingxin nodded. So, when he said last night in front of Grandma that he wanted children, it wasn’t sincere? Was he trying to convey that?
“Go ahead and explain, so I don’t misunderstand.”
Ji Qingyuan replied, “I never lie. Even in front of family, I don’t need to say things I don’t mean.” He glanced at her. “You think everyone’s like you?”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
He was subtly calling her out.
She immediately countered, “Did Jiajia really ask you about repaying your debt?”
Jiajia—his younger sister. Ji Qingyuan thought about how to respond. What he said last night was just an excuse to get her to transfer him 520 yuan.
Such a petty woman was truly uninteresting.
She clearly knew what he wanted, yet she refused to make him happy and even pretended to be kind by giving him an extra thirty yuan.
“Something like that,” Ji Qingyuan said. “She asked when I’d repay the money I owe.”
Yu Jingxin: “Jiajia wouldn’t lend you money. How could she demand repayment?”
Ji Qingyuan: “….”
“Jingxin, as a married couple, you’re really making things difficult.”
He admitted, “That was the only white lie I told. Nothing else.”
Yu Jingxin probed further. “What about the child? Was what you said last night just to appease the family?”
Ji Qingyuan countered, “Have you ever seen someone who says something to appease the family and then repeatedly acts on it afterward?”
Yu Jingxin blushed and turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
“Jingxin, if we don’t plan to divorce, let’s try to make things work. Have a child. A family of three can carry on. I promise to be a good father.” Ji Qingyuan gripped the steering wheel tightly. He wanted to add, If you can’t forget Li Yanzhuo, then keep him in your heart.
Don’t make it obvious, and don’t let him know.
He would act as though she had already forgotten.
“What about you? Do you want to have a child?” he asked.
Yu Jingxin replied, “What do you think?”
Ji Qingyuan: “I don’t know.”
Yu Jingxin shot back using his earlier tone, “Have you ever seen someone who doesn’t want children but keeps letting you skip protection?”
Ji Qingyuan had been holding back a thought for nearly a day. When the traffic light turned red, he stopped the car and looked at her. “You never know. Maybe you’re pretending to cooperate with me, saying you want a child, but secretly taking emergency contraception afterward. You’d take all the credit for being the good one.”
Yu Jingxin froze, indignant. “Ji Qingyuan, don’t make baseless accusations!”
Ji Qingyuan had been thinking—no matter how much he accompanied her at work, he couldn’t stay glued to her side. When she went to the restroom, he couldn’t follow her. During meetings, he couldn’t enter the conference room either.
A tiny pill could easily be swallowed given the chance.
If she failed to conceive, he wouldn’t even be able to blame her.
She was such a convincing actress in front of the elders, always playing the role of the obedient daughter. Meanwhile, he was painted as the villain, the heartless playboy.
“Didn’t you buy contraceptives online?”
Yu Jingxin finally understood. He had only seen the brand name on the screen. “I bought pregnancy tests. That brand doesn’t only produce contraceptives.”
Ji Qingyuan didn’t dare to feel relieved too soon. Borrowing her earlier words, he said, “You suddenly acting like this makes me uneasy.”
Truthfully, he just wanted to check the order to confirm it wasn’t for contraceptives.
Yu Jingxin resented his lack of trust, but she couldn’t fault him for wanting a child so badly. She opened her phone, took a screenshot of the order, and sent it to him.
After Ji Qingyuan finished reviewing it, the traffic light turned green.
He finally exhaled and started the car.
This traffic light—he barely made it through the intersection in the final seconds.
Yu Jingxin realized that his reason for accompanying her to work today wasn’t to make a baby but to ensure she didn’t secretly take emergency contraception. Now he could finally put his mind at ease.
She asked, “Aren’t you busy? Are you still going to accompany me at work?”
Her eyes locked onto him, hoping for an affirmative answer.
Ji Qingyuan replied, “I’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”
Yu Jingxin was still satisfied—he would spend the entire day with her today.
Ji Qingyuan added, “Need to earn money for baby formula.”
Yu Jingxin hummed in acknowledgment. After two and a half years of marriage, they were finally starting to feel like a real couple. For the sake of having a child, she and Ji Qingyuan had gone through an entire day of emotional turmoil.
Thankfully, after enduring so many obstacles and taking such a long detour, they had finally figured something out.
The car fell silent for a moment.
Ji Qingyuan glanced at her, seeing her lost in thought. “What are you thinking about?”
Yu Jingxin lightly crossed her arms. “If only there was a way to rewind to the day before I met you.”
Ji Qingyuan’s expression shifted. He had been the one to suggest stopping arguments, so he tried to keep his tone as calm as possible. “Do you regret marrying me?”
Yu Jingxin shook her head. “If I’d known, I would’ve met you six months later.”
If their blind date had happened later, his breakup with Leng Wenning would have settled down, and their marriage wouldn’t have started in such a tumultuous way.
Of course, if she had a choice, she wouldn’t have met him at all. That way, she wouldn’t have suffered.
She wouldn’t have experienced a month of happiness only to plummet from heaven to hell.
Ji Qingyuan assumed that if she had met him six months later, she would have sorted out her emotional mess and avoided post-marriage arguments and cold wars.
Realizing her mistake, he wouldn’t hold it against her.
He consoled her. “It’s all in the past. Just treat me well from now on.”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
________________________________________
This was Ji Qingyuan’s first time visiting Yu Jingxin’s office. Many people from the venture capital department were working overtime today.
When the assistant saw the person behind Yu Jingxin, her jaw dropped. The big-spending CEO Ji, known for his extravagant gifts, had actually shown up at their bank.
Their Yu CEO loved money, and Ji Qingyuan catered to her preferences, sending gifts for every occasion.
The first time she received an envelope from Ji Qingyuan’s secretary, she thought he was cold and impersonal. Now, she realized how rare men like him were.
After all, being willing to spend money was a sign of true love.
Snapping out of her daze, the assistant hurried over and asked, “Mr. Ji, would you like coffee or tea?”
Ji Qingyuan replied, “No need to be polite. I’m here to accompany Ms. Yu while she works overtime. I’ll handle it myself.”
Hearing that it wasn’t business-related, the assistant quickly excused herself, closing the office door behind her.
So, Yu and Ji’s marital relationship wasn’t as rumored outside.
Ji Qingyuan surveyed Yu Jingxin’s office. Though small, every piece of decor was tastefully arranged. She seemed to have obsessive-compulsive tendencies—there wasn’t a single unnecessary item on her desk.
Cups were neatly arranged by height and newness.
“What do you want to drink?” Ji Qingyuan picked up her cup, preparing to head to the pantry.
Yu Jingxin knew he could brew coffee, though she had never tasted it before. “Coffee.”
“You can’t drink it.”
“I’m not pregnant yet—it won’t affect anything.”
Ji Qingyuan stared at her, relenting this once. He swapped the glass in his hand for a coffee mug.
Yu Jingxin followed him to the pantry. Walking one behind the other, even in silence, the atmosphere no longer felt as awkward as before.
Yu Jingxin leaned against the counter, watching him prepare the coffee.
Ji Qingyuan glanced up. “Aren’t you going to your meeting?”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
She didn’t know where he had learned to ruin the mood so effortlessly.
She fabricated an excuse. “The meeting was canceled.”
Ji Qingyuan nodded. “Then focus on your work. This afternoon, come with me to my office.” Anticipating her reluctance, he added, “Reciprocity.”
Yu Jingxin had never been to Ji Shiguang Group, nor did she know what his office looked like.
Ji Qingyuan eyed the clothes she was wearing. “Do you have a dress in the lounge?”
Yu Jingxin countered, “Why?”
Ji Qingyuan: “Change into a dress after you finish your work. My office is strictly professional. If you go in your work attire, it’ll look like we’re discussing a collaboration.”
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