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In the evening, Yu Jingxin went to bed early. Her mood hadn’t been great these past few days, but tonight was the most peaceful—it helped that Ji Qingyuan was beside her.
She realized she cared about him more than before.
When he wasn’t around, she couldn’t fall asleep.
After four or five months without intimacy, she felt a strange unease.
She didn’t know how much longer he could endure. Based on their previous frequency of intimacy, this period must have been difficult for him.
Yu Jingxin lay flat on her back, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
Ji Qingyuan happened to be looking at her too. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
She wrapped herself tightly in the blanket and turned away again.
Ji Qingyuan put down his phone and turned off the bedside lamp.
He moved closer to Yu Jingxin, removed her pillow, and offered his arm as a substitute.
Only when nestled in his embrace did Yu Jingxin feel truly at ease.
Ji Qingyuan’s heart wasn’t entirely balanced either. Every time, he was the one making concessions. During her ten months of pregnancy, he had traveled for work only a handful of times, each trip shortened to return as soon as possible.
Whenever he traveled, he arranged for his mother to come and keep her company.
Even so, she still seemed unsatisfied, occasionally giving him the cold shoulder. He had never held it against her. Now that she was out of her confinement period, she was still distant.
“Yu Jingxin.”
No response.
Yu Jingxin disliked being called by her full name—it felt too cold.
Ji Qingyuan brought his lips close to her ear. “Don’t pretend to sleep. I’ll compromise again tonight and not hold it against you. Next time you’re upset, tell me directly instead of picking fights. Understood?”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
As she spoke, Yu Jingxin turned over to face him, lying on her side.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak up—it was just that some things were hard to say.
She knew it wasn’t his fault. His past was none of her business; those things had happened before they met. Bringing it up would make her seem unreasonable and petty.
And since she had secretly learned about his ex-girlfriend through a hidden Weibo account, it made it even harder to bring up.
But she was jealous, and it made her resentful toward him as well.
Ji Qingyuan had been fuming earlier, but seeing her turn to face him melted all his anger.
He hugged her tighter. “Realizing your mistake is enough. Don’t be stubborn next time.”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
Ji Qingyuan kissed her forehead. “Sleep now.”
Yu Jingxin closed her eyes and instinctively snuggled closer to him.
________________________________________
Without that essential act of reconciliation, Ji Qingyuan felt there was still a barrier between him and Yu Jingxin—a sense of separation despite their outward harmony.
This was what his sister had said on the day of the baby’s full moon celebration.
His sister’s exact words were: “Ji Zha, can’t you see your wife isn’t happy? She doesn’t even want to look at you. Shouldn’t you reflect on yourself? A new mother’s emotions are very sensitive. Don’t let her get postpartum depression—you’d be sinning big time, beyond just being a jerk.”
In the past, they would reconcile in bed, but now that wasn’t an option—her body wasn’t ready yet.
He worried that his sister might be right—that her recent nitpicking was due to hormonal changes rather than deliberate provocation.
The weekend after the full moon celebration, Ji Qingyuan decided to take Yu Jingxin to a private restaurant to surprise her.
“Where are we going?” Yu Jingxin asked.
Ji Qingyuan replied, “I’m giving you a gift.”
Yu Jingxin had only gone out once since the baby’s birth—the day of the full moon celebration. The rest of the time, she stayed home with the baby. When Ji Qingyuan said he was giving her a gift, she made an effort to put on makeup and changed into a loose, flowing dress.
As she stood in front of the mirror adjusting her appearance, Ji Qingyuan walked in and glanced at her. “You’re not fat—you look the same as before the baby.”
“Can you stop lying with your eyes open? I’ve gained six pounds since before the baby, and my waist is all soft!”
Ji Qingyuan: “Anything under a hundred pounds isn’t heavy.”
He thought for a moment. “How about I buy you a slimming mirror today?”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
She was too exhausted to even roll her eyes at him.
Grabbing her bag, Yu Jingxin briskly walked out, unwilling to exchange another word with him.
Ji Qingyuan followed behind her and called the driver.
The villa wasn’t far from the private restaurant—about a thirty-minute drive—but most of the time was spent stuck in traffic.
Yu Jingxin rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the sidewalk outside. It had been a while since she’d been out, and the shops lining the road felt like a scenic view.
With the driver in front and a bodyguard in the passenger seat, there was little conversation between her and Ji Qingyuan. Occasionally, she glanced at him—he was busy on his tablet, likely working.
After more than twenty minutes, Ji Qingyuan closed his tablet and glanced outside. They were almost at the private restaurant.
Yu Jingxin rarely came to this area. She assumed he was taking her shopping. “Did a new mall open nearby?”
Ji Qingyuan: “I don’t know—I haven’t paid attention to these things.”
Yu Jingxin couldn’t guess what the surprise was. “So where are you taking me?”
“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Ji Qingyuan reminded her again, “Once you receive the surprise, before we can do anything, don’t pick fights with me. You’ve been in a bad mood, so please remember that.”
Yu Jingxin didn’t respond. She would try.
________________________________________
Standing in the first-floor hall of the private restaurant, Yu Jingxin felt as though she were dreaming. From the courtyard to the interior decor, every blade of grass, every brick and chair, was styled exactly to her taste.
“There are ten private rooms. Let me show you.” Ji Qingyuan walked ahead.
Yu Jingxin steadied herself and followed, gazing at his back. “How long did it take to renovate?”
Ji Qingyuan: “Over a year, and then we aired it out for two more years.” It was originally supposed to open last year, but when she became pregnant, he delayed it by a year to avoid tiring her out, finally presenting it to her now.
Yu Jingxin found herself speaking more than usual today. “Why did you suddenly decide to give me a private restaurant?”
“You’re picky about food. The kitchen at home isn’t big enough for the chefs to showcase their skills, so we can use this place for trying out dishes. Plus, your bank’s hospitality events and my own gatherings can all be hosted here.”
After touring several private rooms, Yu Jingxin grew increasingly fond of the place. She looked at him and said, “Thank you.”
Ji Qingyuan had been waiting for her to hug him and give him a kiss—but after a long wait, it didn’t happen. Still, her heartfelt “thank you” was satisfying enough.
On the way back, Ji Qingyuan took out his tablet again.
Yu Jingxin didn’t disturb him. She opened her phone and reviewed the photos she had taken earlier at the private restaurant, selecting a scenic shot of the courtyard to use as her chat background.
Suddenly, Ji Qingyuan lowered the car’s sunshade and tapped her. “What do you think of this style?”
Yu Jingxin turned her head—the tablet screen displayed a mirror, the kind used in clothing stores to make people appear slimmer.
For a long moment, she was speechless.
Hadn’t he been working? Turns out, he was shopping for mirrors for her.
Hadn’t she made her feelings clear enough at home?
Ji Qingyuan interpreted her silence as approval. “Then I’ll place the order.”
Yu Jingxin: “….”
She stared into his eyes. “Even if you buy it, using it would just be self-deception. What’s the point?”
Ji Qingyuan: “It’ll make you feel better.”
He had already placed the order. “Jingxin, don’t be so perfectionistic. At your height, even if you weigh 110 pounds, you’re not fat. You’re perfect just the way you are—don’t be too harsh on yourself.”
Yu Jingxin thought to herself, If I don’t stay strict, will he start obsessing over me every day?
________________________________________
This summer, Beijing experienced unusually frequent rainstorms. By the end of August, another torrential downpour arrived.
Yu Jingxin’s maternity leave hadn’t ended yet. Watching the sky grow completely dark outside, she hesitated for a while before sending Ji Qingyuan a message: [Come home early—there’s a heavy rainstorm coming.]
Ji Qingyuan replied instantly: [Mhm, I’ll head back as soon as the meeting ends.]
So he was still in a meeting. Yu Jingxin didn’t disturb him further. On a whim, she sent a message to the family group chat, reminding everyone not to work overtime and to head home early.
Perhaps everyone was busy—no one replied.
Standing in front of the slimming mirror, she noticed her long legs appeared nearly five-foot-seven.
Her phone vibrated—a message appeared in the family group.
Yu Jingze: [Not working overtime—I’m already on my way home.]
Only Yu Qing hadn’t chimed in.
Everyone assumed Yu Qing hadn’t found a job yet and was staying home, so they didn’t worry about her.
In reality, this was the busiest day since Yu Qing started working. Just before leaving the office, her supervisor called her in and asked her to finish a legal opinion by the evening.
It wasn’t part of her job responsibilities, but she had no choice but to comply. Swallowing her objections, she stayed late to work on it.
There was too much material to review, and with the rainstorm outside, she couldn’t take it home. She had no choice but to work overtime at the office.
She thought the rain would stop by the time she finished. Who knew that after more than four hours, it showed no signs of letting up. She couldn’t delay leaving any longer—it was getting too late.
She tried calling a ride for twenty minutes, but no one accepted her request.
Yu Qing turned off the lights, grabbed her umbrella, and left.
She was the last person to leave the legal department.
While waiting for the elevator, she glanced at the executive elevator in the corner.
She didn’t know if Fu Jichen was still working or had already gone home. Since starting at Fu Group, she had never run into him.
However, she had heard plenty of gossip about him.
Downstairs, she checked her phone again—still no one had accepted her ride request. She exited the app and decided to take the subway, which would also save her money.
Opening her umbrella, she braved the wind and rain.
She had only walked a few dozen meters when headlights lit up behind her. She moved to the side and instinctively glanced back, fearing she wasn’t far enough from the car to avoid getting splashed.
To her surprise, the car slowly pulled up beside her, and the window rolled down.
“Get in.”
Yu Qing froze—it was Fu Jichen, and he still recognized her.
The rain was heavy, and the window quickly rolled back up.
Yu Qing’s first impression of Fu Jichen had been positive. Back on the tennis court, even though she had hurt him, he remained gentlemanly and gave such generous tips.
Knowing the other coach had a heavy family burden, he intentionally gave extra.
Yu Qing walked around the back of the car and opened the door to sit in the backseat.
The overhead light came on as she folded her umbrella.
The wind was strong, and rain inevitably splashed onto her face.
She wiped it with the back of her hand. “Thank you, President Fu.”
Fu Jichen grunted in acknowledgment. Seeing she was settled, he turned off the overhead light. “Where to?”
Yu Qing gave him the address of her rental apartment and thanked him again.
Fu Jichen had just noticed she was wearing the uniform of Fu Group. Her ID badge was tucked away—he didn’t know which department she worked in or her name.
Yu Qing behaved very demurely, sitting upright and saying nothing extra.
Outside the window, the rain poured down like a waterfall, obscuring everything.
Inside the car, a crisp, pleasant scent lingered.
She wasn’t sure if it was from him or the car’s air freshener. Sensitive to fragrances, she couldn’t identify what it was.
Fu Jichen broke the silence. “Which department are you in? Why are you working so late?”
Yu Qing: “Oh, Legal.”
Fu Jichen nodded and didn’t say anything further. Leaning back in his seat, he closed his eyes to rest. For some reason, he couldn’t figure out why he felt this way—she was so beautiful, surely she had a boyfriend.
Yet, by some coincidence, he had encountered her twice.
In all these years, the women who left an indelible impression on him and occasionally came to mind were few—and she was one of them.
Perhaps it was because she had beaten him on the tennis court, leaving him barely able to stand straight.
The rain grew heavier, visibility almost nonexistent.
The driver proceeded cautiously. A route that usually took ten minutes now dragged on for over an hour.
The driver wasn’t familiar with the roads leading to her rental area, especially during rainy weather. Unsure which sections had standing water, they drove carefully.
Suddenly, the car came to an abrupt stop.
Fu Jichen opened his eyes. “Are we here?”
Yu Qing looked out the window—the buildings she could barely make out weren’t familiar.
The driver turned his head. “President Fu, the car stalled. The water’s too deep—we need to get out quickly.”
Fu Jichen nodded. He slipped his phone into his pocket and rolled up his pants, all the way above his knees. If the water was deep, his clothes would still get wet anyway.
He glanced at Yu Qing and asked a question he had wanted to ask for a while: “Do you have a boyfriend?”
For some reason, he didn’t want to hear a single-word answer.
Yu Qing was stunned by the sudden and inappropriate question. Of all times, why was he asking this now?
But since he was her boss, she answered anyway. “No.”
Fu Jichen gave a faint “Mhm.” If she had a boyfriend, he wouldn’t bother helping her out of the car—even if her clothes got soaked, it wouldn’t be his concern.
He opened his umbrella and stepped out of the car.
Yu Qing’s door was blocked by the greenery, so she waited for Fu Jichen to exit first before getting out from his side.
Before stepping out, she could already imagine how dirty and murky the water would be.
She glanced at her shoes—they were about to be ruined.
To make matters worse, she didn’t have spare money to buy new ones.
Fu Jichen stepped into the water, which was deeper than he expected, reaching up to his thighs.
He extended his hand. “Hurry up.”
Yu Qing stared at his hand, momentarily frozen.
Fu Jichen lost patience. “At this reaction speed, how did you even get hired by the Legal Department?”
Yu Qing hesitated to grab his hand—he was her boss, after all.
Quickly moving to the edge of the car, she hadn’t even extended her foot when Fu Jichen shoved his umbrella into her hands. Before she could process what was happening, he scooped her up in a princess carry.
Her heart skipped a beat, as if it had exploded.
Yu Qing held the umbrella with both hands, unable to imagine how much strength and endurance it took for him to carry her through such deep water.
She glanced at him—he looked even more handsome than when she first met him.
The driver trailed behind, silently watching the boss’s back.
This was the first time the boss had gone out of his way to help someone.
They walked for over ten minutes before finally crossing the flooded section. The torrential rain gradually eased, and the driver, who hadn’t followed, found a shallow spot to wait and guard the car.
Fu Jichen carried Yu Qing all the way to dry ground. His arms felt like they were about to break, yet he didn’t want to put her down.
Yu Qing asked him the same question: “President Fu, do you have a girlfriend?”
Fu Jichen looked down at her. Their gazes met under the lamplight, sparks seemingly flying.
He said, “No. If I did, I wouldn’t be carrying you.”
Yu Qing’s arm holding the umbrella was tired. She had been holding it aloft for so long that she switched hands to rest.
As her arm dropped, it accidentally brushed against his hand holding her.
Fu Jichen looked at her again. Yu Qing turned her face away—it wasn’t intentional.
He walked onto the sidewalk, where the ground was higher. Neither mentioned that the road was now free of water and she could get down.
He just kept carrying her.
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