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Psst! We're moving!
Wen Di didn’t know what message Yan Heyu was replying to or what he had written, but he seemed to be in a very good mood. Perhaps it was because she had bought him clothes.
Yan Heyu started the car and turned to her. “Is there anywhere else you want to go?”
Jiangcheng wasn’t like Beijing, which had more places for dates. With the cold weather, besides shopping and movies, there were very few fun places to go.
And the New Year’s movies hadn’t been released yet.
Wen Di thought for a moment. “Let’s go back and read.”
She never got tired of reading; she could read from morning till night and not get bored.
Yan Heyu drove out of the parking garage. The road in front of the mall was a one-way street, so he had to take a long detour to get back onto the main road to the villa.
He still wasn’t very familiar with the roads in Jiangcheng, so to avoid getting lost, he turned on the GPS. Following the navigation, he passed a road they had walked down before.
Wen Di propped her head on her hand, looking out the window. She also had a strong impression of this stretch of road.
“Wen Di.”
“Hmm?”
She didn’t turn to look at him.
There was an intersection ahead, and cars were slowly stopping to wait for the traffic light. Yan Heyu also gently stepped on the brake. He looked at the side of the road through the windshield. “Do you remember when we walked down this road?”
That was the year before last. It had rained in Jiangcheng, and the sidewalks were covered in fallen leaves. She had walked with him for a bit but didn’t finish the walk. She had stopped at this intersection and told him that a left turn led to the food street and a right turn led to the commercial street. Then, she excused herself and went back the way she came.
That night, he had walked the entire food street from south to north by himself.
Wen Di was still looking out the window. “Are you reminding me that I left you halfway?”
“That’s not what I mean.” Yan Heyu looked at her profile. “When it’s not so cold, I’ll walk all the streets and alleys of Jiangcheng with you.”
“If you want to walk, you can walk by yourself. I don’t want to.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to show me around Jiangcheng before?”
Wen Di finally turned around and said, “I was probably fresh out of the shower when I said that.”
As in, her brain was full of water.
Yan Heyu was both annoyed and amused. “Wen Di, talk to me properly.”
Wen Di was speaking the truth, not trying to annoy him on purpose. If anyone asked her to walk through all the streets and alleys of Jiangcheng now, she would definitely get angry with them.
The reason she wanted to show him around Jiangcheng back then was that he had never been there before.
Her mood was just different.
She asked him, “Are you still dwelling on the past?”
“I’m not dwelling on it. I just want to make up for your regrets as much as possible.”
The traffic light turned green, and Yan Heyu stepped on the gas, moving forward with the cars in front of him.
“Forget about making up for regrets. It’s not necessary.”
“Then what do you want?”
Wen Di asked back, “What do you think I’m lacking?”
She really seemed to lack nothing. She wasn’t short on money or love. The people pursuing her had never stopped, and her career was considered the top in her industry. Yan Heyu said, “I’ll let you bully me for a lifetime.”
“See? That’s so much better than trying to make it up to me.”
“...”
A few seconds passed.
Yan Heyu spoke again. “I used to think I lacked nothing, but now I’ve realized that’s not the case.”
Wen Di didn’t respond and turned on the car’s music.
She wouldn’t ask him what he was lacking. If she asked, a flagship store wouldn’t be big enough to sell him all the things he lacked.
Only light music was playing in the car. After a while, she still didn’t say anything.
Yan Heyu had to watch the road ahead and could only glance at her. “Why aren’t you talking?”
Wen Di pointed to her mouth. “I’m a little tired. I’m letting it rest.”
Yan Heyu smiled. She wasn’t going to fall for it. After that, he focused on driving.
Back at the villa, Yan Heyu carried nine shopping bags by himself. The wind outside was strong, so Wen Di walked behind him to let him block the cold wind.
No one was home today. Yan Heyu had to open the villa door himself.
Wen Di asked, “Is Aunt Cui on holiday?”
“Yeah, they all got the day off today. I’ve asked a restaurant to deliver food for the next few days.” Yan Heyu put the shopping bags by the sofa and took off his coat. “What would you like to drink?”
Wen Di shook her head. She had finished the large hot drink he bought her and wasn’t thirsty.
Yan Heyu was about to make her some coffee, but her not wanting one saved him time. He took off his cashmere sweater and pulled a piece of clothing out of a shopping bag.
Wen Di stared at him. “Didn’t you say these were for New Year’s dinners?”
“I’m not going to wear it. I’m just trying it on.”
By the third piece he tried on, Wen Di was lying on the sofa, with a headache. She put a cushion over her head. He started trying on the fourth one, a white shirt.
“Why are you trying on a shirt?”
Wen Di sat up. “Did you shrink?”
“...Have you ever seen anyone in their thirties start to shrink?”
“Exactly. You haven’t grown taller or shorter, and your weight is about the same as before. Why are you trying on every single one? Are you just unbearably bored?”
Yan Heyu unhurriedly buttoned his shirt and said, “To you, I’m unbearably bored. To me, I’m not. It’s been almost four years since you last bought me clothes.”
Wen Di patted the sofa next to her, telling him to come sit.
Yan Heyu tucked the shirt into his pants and fastened his belt before sitting down.
Wen Di sat on his lap with her legs crossed, pinning him down so he couldn’t try on any more clothes. “If you get addicted to trying things on, I’ll start a live-stream shopping show. I could make money from it.”
Yan Heyu held her in his arms. “I’ll only try them on for you. In the future, buy me more clothes. When I have more clothes, I won’t have time to try them all on.”
Wen Di automatically ignored the last sentence. She had to be on guard when talking to him; one wrong move and she’d fall into a trap.
She put her arms around his neck. “Come with me to the study to read.”
Yan Heyu carried her upstairs. “Give me two hours. One and a half hours is fine too.”
He didn’t go to the study. He carried her to the master bedroom next door.
This was the first time Wen Di had been in the master bedroom here. The decor was the same style as the place they used to live in, and even the floor lamps were the same model.
Yan Heyu drew the curtains and walked toward the bed, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. Wen Di had been in Jiangcheng for so long, and they hadn’t been intimate yet.
Wen Di stood up from the edge of the bed. As he approached, she raised her hand to button one of his shirt buttons. “Don’t even think about it without protection.”
“I have some. I brought a box from home.”
“...”
Yan Heyu wrapped his arms around her, letting her unbutton his shirt.
He leaned down and kissed her neck. She was wearing a low-cut top, and he didn’t suck too hard, afraid of leaving a mark by accident.
Wen Di only unbuttoned his shirt, but he took her hands and moved them to his belt buckle.
Yan Heyu’s kisses moved from her chin to her lips. “You didn’t call me last night.”
“...I forgot.”
“Didn’t I tell you to set an alarm?”
“My phone was in my bag. I was walking with my second aunt in the courtyard for over an hour.” When she went back upstairs, she remembered he was attending the New Year’s gathering, which wasn’t a normal social occasion, so she didn’t end up calling.
“Were you too drunk last night?”
“Not really.”
The floor lamp went out.
The bedding in the Jiangcheng master bedroom didn’t have much of his scent. The pillow smelled of laundry detergent.
Wen Di lay on his new pillow, feeling no sense of familiarity.
Yan Heyu kissed her. “What should we do about you not calling me last night?”
“I sent you a ‘good night’ message.”
“Just two words. It was a little perfunctory. Not enough.” He asked her to call him “husband.” “Just once.”
Wen Di pinched his jawline. She liked his smooth jawline and was gentle, not pinching too hard.
She used her actions to tell him to stop dreaming and be realistic.
Yan Heyu looked at the person below him. She rarely even called him by his name now, usually just saying “hey.” He rubbed his chin against hers. “Call me something.”
They talked about it for a few minutes with no result.
No matter how much he tried to coax her, she wouldn’t do it.
Wen Di slightly raised her upper body, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his neck, but she still wouldn’t call him “husband.”
Finally, in a moment of passion, a drop of water from his hair fell on her nose. He looked into her eyes and called her “wife.”
His voice was a little hoarse when he said it.
Wen Di felt it had been years since she had heard him call her that.
Yan Heyu calmed down and pulled her into his arms.
He was covered in sweat, and the scratches on his shoulder blades stung slightly from it.
She had been lifted so high today, but she had managed to hold back from calling him “husband.” However, she did call out “Yan Heyu” many times in between.
“What time is it?” Wen Di asked him.
Yan Heyu turned on the light, checked his phone, and said, “It’s not yet eight. After I shower, I’ll read with you for two hours, and then I’ll take you home before eleven.”
There weren’t many books in the study. After showering, Wen Di grabbed a book on finance from the bookshelf to read. While she read, Yan Heyu blow-dried her hair.
If she didn’t understand something, she would ask Yan Heyu for help.
When her hair was dry, Yan Heyu turned off the hairdryer, unplugged it, and put it away.
He poured a glass of warm water, worried that Wen Di’s throat would be sore tomorrow, and fed her half the glass.
The phone on the table vibrated. Yan Heyu put down the water glass and picked up his phone.
Jiang Chengyu had sent a few photos to the group chat. After looking at them, Yan Heyu frowned. [How do you have a picture with Wen Wen?]
Someone in the group replied: [Brother Jiang, are you in Jiangcheng?]
Jiang Chengyu: [Yeah, I just got settled.]
Yan Heyu hadn’t heard from Jiang Chengyu that he was coming to Jiangcheng. He @-ed Jiang Chengyu: [Did you not see my question?]
Jiang Chengyu: [I’m at Grandpa Wen’s house. My whole family is spending the New Year here this year.]
Yan Heyu: “...” [You didn’t tell me you were coming.]
Jiang Chengyu explained: [I was afraid you’d get unbalanced if I told you, so I just didn’t.]
Yan Heyu: [If you were afraid I’d get unbalanced, why did you post a photo in the group?]
Jiang Chengyu said: [I wanted to un-send it after I posted it, but who knew you’d see it.]
Yan Heyu knew Jiang Chengyu was doing it on purpose and couldn’t be bothered to argue. He asked Wen Di, “Did you know that Shen Tang came to Jiangcheng today?”
Wen Di looked up suddenly. “No, she said she wasn’t sure when she would arrive.”
Then she realized. “Shen Tang is here? Jiang Chengyu told you?”
“Yeah, he posted a picture with Wen Wen in the group.”
Wen Di closed her book. “Then I’m going back.” Shen Tang knew she was running between the film sets every day recently and probably didn’t want to bother her, so she hadn’t told her when she was coming.
Yan Heyu went downstairs with her, handed her coat to her, and put on his own coat.
“You don’t need to drive me. It’s too much back and forth.” Wen Di took his car keys from the coffee table. “Let me borrow your car. I’ll have a driver send it back to you tomorrow.”
Yan Heyu was concerned. “I don’t have anything to do at home.”
“If you really have nothing to do, watch a TV show. It’s about to premiere. Contribute to the ratings.”
Yan Heyu still insisted on driving her home. If she left, he would be alone at home. Although he would still be alone when he came back after taking her home, at least she would be sitting next to him on the way there.
Wen Di gave up the fight and tossed the keys to him.
On the way back, the lights of ten thousand homes shone wherever the car went.
Yan Heyu broke the silence in the car. “Next year, I’m going home with you for the New Year too.”
“Just to compete with Jiang Chengyu?”
“You know that’s not the reason. After we get married, we’ll have a daughter. She should look like you and me, and have your personality.”
Wen Di leaned against the car window and stopped talking to him. She hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. She had in the past, though, wondering who their child would look like, and what kind of father Yan Heyu would be.
Yan Heyu didn’t try to chat with her anymore. All the way there, he was thinking of a nice nickname for their daughter.
The car arrived at the entrance of Grandpa Wen’s villa. Yan Heyu didn’t drive in and stopped at the gate.
Wen Di quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed the car door open. She couldn’t wait to see Shen Tang and little Ningmeng.
“Drive safely.” She waved her hand and turned to run towards the villa.
The villa’s main gate slowly opened. From a distance, she could hear laughter coming from inside. Her uncle’s family had also come over today, and the parking area in front was full of cars.
The car behind her hadn’t started yet. Wen Di suddenly stopped, paused for two seconds, and then quickly turned back and went around to the driver’s seat.
Yan Heyu rolled down the window. “What’s wrong?”
Wen Di bent down and leaned into the car to hug him. “You live alone in that empty villa, and you’ll be alone on New Year’s Eve. Can’t you just go home?”
He stroked her back, gently patting her. “It’s okay. Being close to you, even alone feels lively.”
Wen Di closed her sympathy valve and forced herself to be clear-headed. This man was the type to take an inch and go a mile. She couldn’t be soft-hearted or feel sorry for him.
“I’ll call you later.”
“Mm, go on in. I’ll wait for your call.”
She had only walked a couple of steps when Yan Heyu remembered something. “Tell Jiang Chengyu that Wen Wen is my daughter. Tell him to hold her less and stop posting pictures in the group chat.”
“...”
She should have just gone straight into the house. She shouldn’t have felt sorry for him.
“Wen Di?” In the courtyard, Shen Tang came out to look for her.
The gate had been open for a while, and the auntie inside had said Wen Di was back, but she hadn’t appeared. Shen Tang had put on her jacket and come out to find her.
Wen Di said goodbye to Yan Heyu a second time and rushed into the courtyard in a flash, hugging Shen Tang tightly. She scolded Shen Tang for not letting her pick her up from the airport.
“It’s the same whether you or Uncle Wen pick me up.”
“My dad went to the airport to pick you up?”
“Yeah. I had a lot of luggage, so we took two cars.”
The two of them walked arm-in-arm, chatting as they went inside.
Jiang Chengyu, Wen Changyun, and Wen Di’s two cousins were playing cards. The others were gathered around the twins, playing with toys and trying to make them laugh.
At a year and a half old, they were at a very fun age.
Little Ningmeng’s eyes lit up when she saw Wen Di, and she ran to her with a smile.
Wen Di picked up little Ningmeng. “Did my baby miss me?”
Little Ningmeng was eating fruit, her cheeks puffed out, so she couldn’t speak. She just kept nodding.
Wen Di kissed her little cheek and held her, unwilling to put her down.
Wen Qizhen was playing with little Ningmeng’s brother. She remembered when her two sons were that age. A dozen years had passed in the blink of an eye.
A few minutes ago, Guan Xiangmu had messaged her, saying he had left the airport and asking if she was free for lunch tomorrow. He wanted to have a meal with her.
She hadn’t replied yet.
When it was time for the two kids to go to bed, Shen Tang took them to shower. Wen Di held little Ningmeng, helping Shen Tang bathe the children.
Wen Qizhen had nothing to do. “I’ll join in the fun too.”
Shen Tang was staying on the third floor. The biggest suite in the house was for them and the two children.
With children in the house, there was always laughter.
Wen Di’s clothes got splashed with water by the two kids, and so did her face.
“Second Aunt, Shen Tang and I are going to the barbecue restaurant you always go to tomorrow. Do you want to come with us? I’ll pick you up from your company.”
Wen Qizhen said, “Guan Xiangmu asked me to have lunch with him tomorrow. I haven’t replied yet.”
Shen Tang said, “How about we invite him and Yan Heyu along? Tomorrow, the three of us can sit at one table, and Jiang Chengyu and those two can sit at another. We can eat separately, but we can still see each other.”
Wen Di laughed. “Guan’s anger would cook the barbecue directly.”
Everyone laughed.
Wen Di finally decided to take no one. She and Shen Tang would go to eat by themselves, and Jiang Chengyu could stay home and take care of the kids.
After bathing the two children, Shen Tang read them a bedtime story. Wen Di quietly closed the door and went back to her room.
Yan Heyu had sent her a strange message: [Little Pomegranate, Little Grape, Little Lychee, Little Lime.]
Wen Di sat down on the sofa and replied to him: [What does that mean?]
Yan Heyu: [Nicknames for our daughter. See which one you like.]
“...”
Wen Di looked at the names, a little dumbfounded. [I’m not going to talk anymore. I’m going to take a shower.]
Yan Heyu: [Aren’t you going to call me later?]
Wen Di: [I’ll call you later. You need to cool down. I’m going to take a shower first and try to get my brain to absorb some water. Otherwise, we won’t be on the same page.]
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