Before bed last night, Cheng Yanyu had tidied up a bit, but with the cut on her finger and the thunderstorm, things were still a bit messy. Wen Yang, who liked things clean, set the robot vacuum to work on the floor, while she organized the balcony and sofa. In no time, the apartment was back in order. The weather was clear, so she decided to wash and hang out the laundry.
After finishing up, Wen Yang changed her outfit, grabbed her bag, and went out to meet Yu Qing for lunch.
Yu Qing was her friend from both high school and college.
At an outdoor restaurant in the COCO Center, Wen Yang had just sat down and started looking at the menu when Yu Qing, in a business suit and carrying her bag, sat down beside her. “It’s so hot! Even after the rain, it’s not cool at all.”
Wen Yang flipped through the menu and laughed, “Well, with all those layers on, of course you’re hot.”
“It’s freezing in the office with the air conditioning blasting. Not everyone can be as free as you, wearing whatever you like,” Yu Qing said, taking off her jacket and playfully pinching Wen Yang’s bare, fair arm.
Wen Yang laughed and dodged her pinch, handing her the menu. “What do you feel like eating?”
Yu Qing took the menu and noticed Wen Yang’s pinky finger had a bandage on it. “Did you get hurt?”
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“Zlyb, nwv kv obkzl nbsrrkdt hlttklp.”
“Pslp kv bwav?”
“Xq nswapl kv eslp.”
“Ebyv’p okvb uswa bsccu, nssjkdt? Ubldt Zyduw’p xyjkdt tsse xsdlu dso—usw pbswze fwpv tlv psxlsdl vs blzr swv yv bsxl.”
Eld Zydt, ealpple vseyu kd y zktbv-nszsale vsr yde okel-zlt rydvp, alpvle bla qynl sd bla byde, bla qyka pjkd tzsokdt kd vbl pwdzktbv. “Ls oyu. El’al dsv vkale sq fwpv vbl vos sq wp yv bsxl ulv; byhkdt psxlsdl lzpl yaswde oswze qllz see. Jlpkelp, R ynvwyzzu ldfsu nssjkdt. Yu xsx’p y qydvypvkn nssj, lhld kq pbl eslpd’v es kv sqvld. R twlpp R kdblakvle kv qasx bla.”
“Zsw,” Zw Ckdt vlyple, “Ubldt Zyduw kp ps zwnju.”
Eld Zydt czwpble yde rzyuqwzzu piwllgle Zw Ckdt’p byde kd alvwad.
Zw Ckdt okdjle yde zywtble yp vblka qsse yaakhle. Eld Zydt vssj y pkr sq bla fwknl, yde Zw Ckdt bye y pkr sq nsqqll. Jsvb bye pvwekle kdvlaksa elpktd kd nszzltl, yde yqvla tayewyvksd, Zw Ckdt bye fskdle y pvweks qswdele cu sdl sq vblka qsaxla nzyppxyvlp. Slnldvzu, pbl’e vyjld sd y rasflnv qsa Dw Dw, y bktb pnbssz qaklde sq Ubldt Zyduw’p. Slpvkdt bla lzcso sd vbl vyczl, pbl pvyavle vs hldv, “Tl’p pwnb y rlaqlnvksdkpv. El oldv shla vbl vkzl nszsap ytykd yde ytykd, yde obld ol qkdyzzu rknjle y ryvvlad, bl lhld xlypwale vbl zkdlp okvb y awzla. R’hl dlhla plld ydusdl zkjl vbkp!”
Wen Yang laughed as she listened, twirling her fork in her pasta.
Yu Qing put down her coffee, speared some chicken from her salad, and continued, “I told him fireplaces are just decorative nowadays, but no—he insists on having one. Says he’s always cold…”
“Pfft.”
As Yu Qing spoke animatedly, she looked up and noticed a group of people by the elevator. She nudged Wen Yang and said, “Hey, it’s your husband.”
Wen Yang looked over to see Cheng Yanyu heading up the outdoor staircase with two people from his company. The sun shone down on him, tall and listening to his assistant talk.
Yu Qing grinned and asked, “Want to call him over?”
“Probably not; he’s carrying his laptop.”
Wen Yang picked up her phone and snapped a photo of Cheng Yanyu’s back. As Yu Qing twirled her salad, she remarked, “I never expected him to look so good in a suit. You don’t often see him dressed like that.”
Wen Yang put down her phone with a smile, saying, “Yeah, he doesn’t usually wear formal clothes. He took on a jewelry exhibition project, so he probably needs to look a bit more formal.”
“Jewelry? That does require dressing up—people in that business usually have money.”
Wen Yang nodded in agreement.
After lunch, Yu Qing skipped work to go shopping with Wen Yang—mostly because she wanted to shop, too. They each bought some skincare products, and then Wen Yang took a cab home. She picked up two packages downstairs, both from Nan’an.
One was from her mom.
The other was from Cheng Yanyu’s mom.
Both contained food.
Her mom sent beef meatballs, while Cheng Yanyu’s mom sent vegetables from her small garden in Nan’an, where she grew various produce. A gentle and open-minded mother-in-law, she had adored Wen Yang from their first meeting and often sent her things from Nan’an after they got married and moved to Nancheng.
Inside the box, in addition to vegetables, were some sauces, each labeled with a sticky note indicating its expiration date, along with a note reminding Wen Yang to eat well.
Wen Yang’s eyes softened as she organized the vegetables, taking photos to send to both moms. They both replied, and she spent some time chatting with them on her phone before freshening up and lying down for an afternoon nap.
With no particular plans for the afternoon, Wen Yang made some desserts to share with Cheng Yanyu when he got home. Zhu Yun, who had received a message about the beef meatballs at lunchtime, brought up the topic of having kids again, encouraging Wen Yang not to delay.
While snacking on watermelon, Wen Yang replied: “Okay, I’ll make sure your son-in-law puts in some effort tonight.”
Zhu Yun: “Young ladies shouldn’t speak so directly.”
Wen Yang: “But you asked directly.”
Zhu Yun: “…..”
Wen Yang laughed, wiping her sticky hands after watermelon juice dripped onto her pinky. The cut on her finger barely hurt today, and the bandage hid it completely. She got up from the sofa and went to the kitchen, looking through the fridge to check the ingredients. She pulled out her phone to message Cheng Yanyu.
Wen Yang: “Are you coming home for dinner? You didn’t come back last night.”
Cheng Yanyu: “Your hand still shouldn’t be in water. I’ll skip coming home tonight.”
Wen Yang: “It’s not bad at all—I have a bandage on. Come home.”
Cheng Yanyu: “Be good, just order something in, and don’t get your hand wet.”
Leaning against the counter, Wen Yang put down her phone, feeling a bit deflated.
Fine.
She’d keep it simple for dinner.
After closing the fridge, she went to the living room and relaxed with a magazine. As the sun set, she gathered the dry laundry, catching the vibrant sunset with her camera, then returned to the living room to edit the photos.
Since Cheng Yanyu wasn’t coming home, Wen Yang ate a light dinner and continued working on her photos, sipping a chilled sweet soup—a refreshing treat in the summer.
Time passed, and when she looked up, it was already past 11 p.m.
She wanted to wait a bit longer, but he sometimes worked late, so she stretched, then got up to wash and head to bed. Before turning in, she sent him one last message.
Wen Yang: I can’t wait any longer. Going to sleep. Come back soon.
She placed her phone on the nightstand and fell asleep. The dim bedside lamp cast a soft glow across the nightstand and bed. In the deep of night, branches swayed in the breeze outside. The door to the living room opened, with moonlight pooling across the floor. Cheng Yanyu took off his shoes and noticed Wen Yang’s message. She had waited until after midnight.
He didn’t turn on the light.
Only the motion-activated light underfoot illuminated the room. Cheng Yanyu’s fingers tightened around his phone. After putting away his shoes, he draped his jacket over the sofa. On the counter, he noticed a bowl of chilled pear syrup, left with a note:
—“Let’s see if you’re lucky enough to drink it before the ice melts. If it does, you’ll miss out on your favorite pear syrup.”
The ice was only partially melted, about two-thirds still there. She had stayed up late, setting it out just before bed. Cheng Yanyu stood by the counter, his face in shadow. After a few seconds, he picked up the bowl, took a spoon, and savored the cooling sweetness, feeling a sudden clarity, as if he’d awakened from a dream.
After tidying the counter, Cheng Yanyu entered the master bedroom. Wen Yang was sound asleep, curled over onto his side of the bed. He walked over, crouched down, and gently brushed her hair back from her face. In the dim light, his eyes held a trace of affection that was hard to fully see.
Wen Yang stirred.
Cheng Yanyu snapped out of his thoughts, softly stroking her hair a few times before standing up and grabbing his pajamas, which Wen Yang had thoughtfully folded and set out for him.
The sound of water filled the bathroom.
Wen Yang turned over in her sleep. Ten minutes later, Cheng Yanyu came out, slightly damp, and slipped into bed. As he reached to turn off the bedside light, Wen Yang instinctively curled up against him. In the dark, he paused, then gently wrapped an arm around her to let her rest against him.
His collar held a faint scent of soap.
In her sleep, Wen Yang vaguely noticed his comforting scent and snuggled in a bit more.
The next morning.
Wen Yang woke up and saw Cheng Yanyu lying beside her. With a smile, she asked, “What time did you get home?”
“Around one,” he replied after a brief hesitation.
“If I’d known, I would have waited a bit longer,” Wen Yang grumbled, and Cheng Yanyu hugged her shoulder, his sleepy voice slightly huskier than usual. “Don’t wait up that late in the future.”
Wen Yang leaned against him, laughing, “I will.”
Cheng Yanyu didn’t respond, looking up at the ceiling for a moment before closing his eyes again.
Wen Yang nestled against Cheng Yanyu for a while, her thoughts drifting. In her mind, she was already sitting on him, but in reality, all she could do was blush.
She glanced at his side profile.
He seemed to have fallen asleep again.
Wen Yang stayed in his arms for a little while, then quietly got up, deciding to let him sleep a bit longer while she prepared breakfast.
As she walked out of the room, she saw the kitchen island neatly arranged. Cheng Yanyu had finished the sweet soup, and Wen Yang smiled as she started making breakfast. The buns had just finished steaming when Cheng Yanyu walked out of the room. Wen Yang, washing her hands, looked at him and exclaimed, “Aren’t you going to change your clothes?”
Cheng Yanyu, standing in the kitchen, smiled at her. The morning sunlight filled the house, casting a warm glow. She seemed to shine just as brightly. He smiled lightly and said, “I’m not going to work today. I’m staying home to spend time with you.”
Wen Yang paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up with joy. “Really?”
She happily stepped out from the counter and threw herself into his arms. Cheng Yanyu wrapped his arms around her, and Wen Yang tilted her head to look at him. The sleepiness faded a little with the movement. Her eyes were beautiful, and she blinked at him.
“Why the sudden change of heart? Not busy today?”
“I am busy, but I should still spend time with you.”
Wen Yang blinked and smiled brightly, “Both our moms sent over beef meatballs, vegetables, and the sauces we love. So today, I’m making a big meal for you, something special.”
Cheng Yanyu tightened his hold on her. “Be careful with your hand.”
“Then you help me wash the vegetables.”
Cheng Yanyu nodded. “Okay.”
The room fell quiet as their gazes met, her bright eyes sparkling, almost with longing. Cheng Yanyu looked at her for a few seconds, then lowered his head to kiss her forehead. The warmth lingered there for a long time.
But he didn’t kiss her anywhere else, and Wen Yang felt a slight disappointment. But then she remembered she hadn’t even washed up yet, so no kiss was fine. After three years of dating and two years of marriage, they’d done almost everything, so missing this one kiss wasn’t a big deal.
Cheng Yanyu released her, and Wen Yang smiled, unable to hide her happiness. She went to wash up, and Cheng Yanyu moved the buns from the steamer. When Wen Yang finished washing up and came back out, she went to the kitchen island and made him a sandwich. She was a good cook, and the sandwiches were delicious—Cheng Yanyu loved them.
He cut the sandwich in half and fed her a piece.
Wen Yang had a small appetite, and after a few bites, she was full.
With him at home, she felt more energized, chewing on the sandwich as she picked up his jacket from the sofa to hang it up. She planned to drop it off at the dry cleaners downstairs later.
As she hung it on the rack, a faint, almost imperceptible, soft fragrance passed by.
It was very faint.
But Wen Yang, in her happy daze, didn’t notice much. Cheng Yanyu had first met her in the library during their freshman year, when he picked up her pen. It was love at first sight. During that first year, he was the only one pursuing her—other guys backed off because of his pursuit. His looks and grades had already drawn attention when he entered the school, and no one could compete.
He was gentle, considerate, well-mannered, and decisive.
He had loved Wen Yang from the start, and she had loved him for five years. Over those years, their warm and happy life had surrounded Wen Yang, making her unaware of any struggles.
The weather was still nice.
It was a hot summer day, and the air conditioning was on inside.
Wen Yang leaned against Cheng Yanyu’s shoulder as he helped her treat her wound. It had been two days since the bandage had been changed, and the skin around the wound had softened. Cheng Yanyu furrowed his brows and glanced at her. Wen Yang, feeling a bit guilty, blinked at him. He softly spoke, “You’ll know if it gets infected later.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem. I haven’t even gone near water.”
Wen Yang said this with a smile in her eyes, not at all afraid.
Cheng Yanyu took some disinfectant and cleaned her wound. This time, he didn’t put another bandage on; instead, he let it air out. He gently blew on her fingers. Wen Yang rested her chin on his shoulder and looked at him tenderly.
She spoke softly, “I saw you yesterday afternoon.”
Cheng Yanyu froze for a second, holding her fingertip, and asked, “Where did you see me?”
“On the outdoor escalator at COCO. What were you doing there?”
Sansukini: Guilt can eat you up inside.
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I feel so much pain for her. How can you betray your spouse? What you will found that your spouse can’t give you ?
He’s infatuated by the other woman. I don’t think it was because she was remiss in anything; he was weak and gave in to temptation. Husband and wife were each other’s first love and relationships. Hey, I appreciate all your comments. I really like the discussions but sometimes I tend to get carried away and spoil things.
Those kind of man are the worst. We can all be weak sometimes but we shouldn’t give in. You can fight those wrong thought and respect yourself and your partner.
It’s ok translator-nim. 🤣 I like to read the comments the most. Interacting with you or the others readers are the best part of reading a novel.