Xu Xu not only recognized the Hong Kong license plate but also recognized that the person closing the car door was Jiang Yue. However, he didn’t think too much about it because he knew that Wen Yang was helping Fu Xingzhou renovate his house, so it was normal for them to have contact.
He looked at Cheng Yanyu and replied, “Yes, it’s a Hong Kong license plate.”
Cheng Yanyu received confirmation but said nothing as he leaned against the railing. It was as if he had already expected that things would develop this way after the divorce. His grip on the railing tightened slightly.
Xu Xu deliberately refrained from explaining further and instead looked at Cheng Yanyu, saying, “I really don’t understand what you were thinking.”
Cheng Yanyu remained silent, gazing at the distant moon.
After a long pause, he finally said, “It’s all in the past. There’s nothing to think about anymore.”
At that moment, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID—it was Li Man. He answered the call, and her sultry voice came through. “When are you coming back? Bring me something to eat.”
Cheng Yanyu asked, “What do you want?”
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“Gduvbkdt. R fwpv osjl wr yde qllz y zkvvzl bwdtau.”
Ubldt Zyduw dseele. “Xjyu.”
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“R qkdkpble osaj lyazu, ps R nyxl cynj.” Tl alynble swv yde blze bla byde. Eld Zydt zlv bkx bsze bla, bla lulp nwahkdt kdvs y pxkzl.
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Tkp tygl zydele sd vbl dlnjzynl yaswde bla dlnj, yde bl qlzv pzktbvzu xsal yv lypl.
The black sedan was headed for the same club they had visited last time. Wen Yang followed Fu Xingzhou out of the car, glancing at him. He held her hand and said in a clear, calm voice, “This is one of Qingzhou’s properties.”
Wen Yang immediately understood. “So last time, the lounge on the top floor was actually your personal resting place?”
As they entered the elevator, Fu Xingzhou replied, “Something like that.”
Wen Yang looked up at him, still puzzled.
Fu Xingzhou tapped her nose lightly and said, “I used to stay at the old house most of the time. Since I don’t spend much time in Nancheng, staying there for a night or two was fine. I didn’t want to bother with hotels, so I set up a place to rest here instead.”
Wen Yang nodded in understanding.
No wonder the lounge on the top floor felt more like a fully furnished apartment—it had everything one could need and was spacious, practically like a home.
When they entered, Jiang Yue followed behind them, carrying documents and a laptop, which he casually placed on the coffee table before silently retreating.
This time, compared to their last visit, there was a new addition—a plate of freshly washed fruit on the table. There was also a cup of warmed milk, prepared in advance for Wen Yang.
She set down her bag and sat on the sofa.
Fu Xingzhou poured a cup of milk and handed it to her. She took it with both hands and sipped on it. Fu Xingzhou unbuttoned his cuffs and sat beside her, pouring himself a cup of hot tea. Steam curled up from the cup.
As she drank, a bit of milk dripped onto her wrist, feeling sticky. She let out a small noise of surprise and set the cup down.
Fu Xingzhou took her wrist, grabbing a napkin to wipe it clean.
Wen Yang said, “I should wash it with water.”
Fu Xingzhou nodded. “The bathroom is inside.”
Wen Yang responded with an “okay” and headed toward the bathroom.
The last time she had come here, she had used the en-suite bathroom in the master bedroom. The space was so large that she hadn’t explored much of the rest of the place.
This time, she went to the same bathroom, turned on the faucet, and began washing her wrist. However, the water pressure was too strong, and it ended up soaking the sleeve of her chiffon blouse completely.
After replying to an email, Fu Xingzhou realized that Wen Yang still hadn’t come out. He got up to look for her and, upon pushing open the master bedroom’s bathroom door, found her helplessly leaning against the sink, blowing on her sleeve. She looked at him with slight grievance. “It’s all wet—my sleeves are soaked.”
Hearing this, Fu Xingzhou’s eyes flickered with amusement. He picked up a towel from the sink, unfolded it, and asked, “Both sleeves got wet?”
Wen Yang raised her arms to show him.
Fu Xingzhou took the towel and helped wipe one sleeve while Wen Yang used a hairdryer on the other. The warm air carried a faint scent of bath soap, likely from the fragrance sachets placed around the bathroom. Since he rarely stayed here, everything was spotless, and even the towels carried that same scent.
She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair, delicate wrists, which felt particularly soft in his hands.
His hands, including his wrists, were well-defined, with faint veins running along the back. Under the warm scent lingering in the air, Wen Yang’s face grew hotter. Whether it was from the heat of the hairdryer or the atmosphere between them, she wasn’t sure. She switched off the dryer and hung it back up.
Fu Xingzhou suddenly moved, effortlessly lifting her onto the bathroom sink.
Wen Yang’s heart pounded violently.
Even at this height, she barely reached eye level with him. Her eyes were beautiful, reflecting the soft glimmer of light like tiny stars.
Fu Xingzhou looked at her. “Seeing Cheng Yanyu tonight… did it make you sad?”
Wen Yang hadn’t expected that question. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly before she shook her head after a brief pause. “Not particularly. It just feels like… time has moved on.”
Fu Xingzhou raised an eyebrow. “This outfit looks really good on you.”
Wen Yang blinked and quickly explained, “I didn’t wear it for him. This is just how I normally dress.”
Fu Xingzhou smirked. “I know.”
“I’m just saying that seeing you in this makes my heart race.”
Wen Yang’s heart pounded even harder. How could a man say things like this so effortlessly?
Before she could react, Fu Xingzhou wrapped his arm around her waist and leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss. Instinctively, Wen Yang closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck. Fu Xingzhou easily pried her lips open, deepening the kiss. Wen Yang felt her arms go weak, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her mind a blur.
Tianyue.
After a night of partying, the newly renovated house was in complete disarray. Most of the guests had left, except for Yu Qing, who was forced by Xu Xu to stay behind and help clean up. She rolled her eyes dramatically in frustration.
As she cleaned, she muttered, “I’m a designer, not your housemaid. If you can’t afford a housekeeper for a place this big, then you shouldn’t have bought it.”
Xu Xu tossed some trash into the bin and replied, “The housekeeper isn’t on duty yet. Besides, you deliberately spilled chips all over Cheng Yanyu just now. Shouldn’t you be the one to clean them up?”
Yu Qing pouted. “He deserved it.”
Xu Xu glanced at her. “Don’t be so childish. Even Wen Yang is slowly letting go. If she were here, she’d only feel embarrassed by what you did.”
“I only did it because she wasn’t here,” Yu Qing said matter-of-factly. She wasn’t the type to cause a scene in front of Wen Yang. When Wen Yang was present, all her attention was on Wen Yang’s feelings—she had no time to care about that man named Cheng.
Xu Xu shrugged. “Alright.”
Just then, the door opened, and a woman who had left earlier returned. She placed a bouquet of flowers on the table and said, “Mr. Xu, these flowers are for you. I forgot to give them to you earlier.”
Xu Xu glanced over. “Thanks. Head home early.”
The woman smiled at him for a few seconds before turning to leave.
Yu Qing, watching from the side, couldn’t help but comment with a hint of jealousy, “Oh wow, Mr. Xu, flowers for you?”
Xu Xu shot her a look. “Jealous?”
Yu Qing’s expression darkened at being called out.
Xu Xu noticed her change in expression but didn’t say anything else.
He went inside to continue tidying up. A few minutes later, he came back and said, “Take as many apples as you want before you leave. If you like them, take more.”
Yu Qing dumped a pile of dishes into the dishwasher and replied, “Got it.”
Xu Xu lingered for a moment before speaking again. “I’ll drive you home. Also, ask Wen Yang if she’s back yet.”
Yu Qing washed her hands, but she didn’t tell Xu Xu anything about Wen Yang and Fu Xingzhou. That was for Wen Yang to share whenever she wanted. So she simply replied, “She’s home. She just texted me.”
Xu Xu felt relieved.
Much later.
Fu Xingzhou eventually pulled away, brushing Wen Yang’s hair aside. Her eyelashes were damp with tiny beads of moisture as she looked at him, her expression shy.
Fu Xingzhou kissed her lips once more, then murmured, “Shall we go out?”
Wen Yang nodded. It was getting too warm in there.
Fu Xingzhou lifted her down from the sink and led her out of the bathroom. At the door, he guided her hand to input her fingerprint.
Wen Yang turned to him, puzzled.
Fu Xingzhou said, “With your fingerprint saved, it’ll be easier for you to come and go.”
He looked at her. “You can think of this place as another home for you to rest.”
Wen Yang nodded. “Alright.”
Fu Xingzhou’s voice was gentle. “You can decorate it however you like.”
Wen Yang’s eyes curved with a smile.
“Mm.”
With that, Wen Yang finally took the time to look around. The suite was spacious, with a secondary bedroom, a home theater, and a chess room. Inside the chess room, an international chess set was arranged—the classic black and white pieces, the king and the queen standing prominently.
She picked up the queen, pausing as she considered where to place it.
Fu Xingzhou watched her from the side. Taking her wrist, he guided her hand slightly. “Place it on the black square.”
Wen Yang then picked up the black king.
Fu Xingzhou gestured for her to place it beside the black queen. She followed his instruction.
He then picked up the remaining pieces, positioning them one by one before asking, “Have you played before?”
Wen Yang shook her head. “I’ve played Chinese checkers.”
Fu Xingzhou tapped the black king, standing beside her. In a low voice, he explained, “This is the king. The one beside it is the queen. The others are the rook, bishop, knight, and pawns.”
Wen Yang listened attentively and nodded, her expression focused. Fu Xingzhou glanced down at her and casually moved a rook forward. “The rules of chess are actually quite simple. The movement of each piece is fixed; you just need to learn how to apply them,” he said.
Wen Yang looked up at him.
Fu Xingzhou smiled. “Do you want to play?”
Wen Yang nodded.
Fu Xingzhou said, “I’ll teach you.”
“Sure!”
But remembering all the rules at once was a bit difficult for her. She only managed to memorize the movements of the king and queen, while the rules for the rooks, bishops, knights, and pawns left her a little confused. She made a few wrong moves, and Fu Xingzhou patiently corrected her, feeding her pieces from his own side so she could learn how to attack and capture effectively.
Wen Yang realized that chess was actually quite fun—mainly because Fu Xingzhou kept setting up opportunities for her to take pieces, allowing her to experience the thrill of winning.
Leaving the Club
It was already quite late when they left.
Back at the Yage Residences, Wen Yang unlocked the door and stepped inside. Yu Qing was lounging on the sofa. She glanced over and said, “You’re back.”
Wen Yang smiled. “Yeah, I’m back.”
While changing shoes, she noticed a large bag of apples sitting on the kitchen island. She hung up her bag and asked, “Did you really bring apples back?”
Yu Qing hugged a pillow and leaned back against the chair. “Xu Xu told me to take them, so I did.”
Wen Yang poured herself a glass of water and walked over to the sofa, only to notice that Yu Qing looked a little sluggish, her mood somewhat low. Pausing, Wen Yang sat on the armrest and gently patted Yu Qing. “What’s wrong?”
Yu Qing sighed and looked at Wen Yang. “Just feeling a bit annoyed.”
Wen Yang shifted to sit properly beside her. “Annoyed about what? Have you figured out the source?”
Yu Qing looked at Wen Yang and asked, “Do you think we and those from First High School just don’t get along?”
Wen Yang was momentarily taken aback.
“First High?” she asked hesitantly. “Are you talking about Xu Xu?”
Xu Xu had attended First High, the same school as Cheng Yanyu. Though he only studied there for a year, it still counted.
Yu Qing nodded.
Wen Yang studied her. “Are you upset about Xu Xu?”
Yu Qing ran a hand through her hair and muttered, “Sort of. It feels off. At first, I found him super annoying—so picky, always finding fault, and treating me like an errand runner. But later, he kept standing up for me no matter what. I started remembering those moments and enjoyed arguing with him. Then tonight, some girl brought him flowers, and suddenly, I felt… weird.”
“The worst part is, he totally called me out and asked why I was jealous.”
“I mean, jealous of what? I’m not jealous!”
Wen Yang watched as Yu Qing clutched a pillow, visibly irritated. She hesitated for a few seconds before gently holding Yu Qing’s hand and softly asking, “Do you think maybe you like him?”
Yu Qing immediately looked stunned and lifted her head. “Me? Like him? No way! Who would like someone so fussy and particular?”
Wen Yang stayed silent for a moment.
Then she said gently, “Then don’t worry about what he says. Just do whatever you want, say whatever you want. Follow your heart.”
Yu Qing thought about it.
That actually made sense.
She grinned. “Yeah, exactly! Why should I care?”
Wen Yang sighed lightly.
She had a feeling that Yu Qing probably did like Xu Xu but just wasn’t ready to admit it yet. After all, their dynamic had always been a mix of bickering and banter, and she likely never considered the possibility of romantic feelings. Given their complicated relationship—as both client and friend—it made sense that Yu Qing needed time to process her emotions.
Meanwhile…
Fu Xingzhou was back in Nancheng for an extended stay, though he was still quite busy.
At noon, Wen Yang sent him a voice message while he was in a meeting. Since he couldn’t listen to it at the time, he converted it to text and read it below.
It was easy to imagine her tone as he read:
Wen Yang: I’m eating lunch! The cafeteria downstairs made tomato and scrambled eggs today. (smiley face)
Fu Xingzhou finished reading and typed back: Just one dish?
Wen Yang: I’m dieting.
Seeing those two words, Fu Xingzhou couldn’t help but laugh. He capped his fountain pen and wrote something on a notepad before sliding it over to Jiang Yue, who glanced at it and immediately said, “Got it.”
25 Minutes Later
A chef from a private kitchen arrived at the Yunchi Design Studio with a team of assistants, carrying several exquisite dishes.
Everyone had already eaten, but the moment the rich aroma filled the room, they all turned their heads.
The food was delivered straight to Wen Yang’s desk.
She blinked in surprise. “I just finished eating…”
Her phone beeped twice.
She picked it up and saw the message.
Fu Xingzhou: Eat a little more, okay?
Wen Yang: ……
She was already full.
Yu Qing, peeking at her reaction, slung an arm around Wen Yang’s shoulders and laughed. “You can’t tell your boyfriend you’re dieting. He’ll only want to feed you until you’re soft and round.”
Wen Yang: …..
In the end, they left the food out for everyone to share. Their usual quick cafeteria lunches were nothing compared to this high-end cuisine. The moment the lids were lifted, the delicious scent made everyone’s appetite surge, and chopsticks immediately started reaching in.
Wen Yang accidentally ended up eating another half bowl of rice.
Just as they were enjoying their meal—
A knock sounded at the door.
Wen Yang turned her head.
Standing at the entrance was a somewhat familiar figure—Cheng Yanyu’s assistant, Yu Zhan. He adjusted his glasses, holding a document folder in one hand, and gave Wen Yang a polite smile.
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