Chapter 46

At He Xiu’s suggestion to exercise, Jian Yan actually began to exercise.

“This is a very popular set of exercises online. You You previously introduced it to me.”

“…” All sorts of feelings welled up in his heart as He Xiu watched Jian Yan talk while stretching her arms. “Then you should do that while I go take a bath.” 1

Once he finished was.h.i.+ng and exited the bath, Jian Yan was still in the middle of exercising. Not to mention this exercise seeming to truly be of some use, Jian Yan’s forehead also had a thin layer of sweat.

Seeing He Xiu come out from the bathroom, Jian Yan didn’t continue exercising. “You finished bathing? Then I’ll go bathe. Taking a bath right after exercising is extremely comfortable.”

“…Mn.”

He took advantage of Jian Yan bathing to deal with the doc.u.ments in his inbox. By the time Jian Yan came out, he had already put away his laptop.

Jian Yan crawled into bed once she finished bathing and tossed the blankets over herself,  intending to sleep. He Xiu also got into bed immediately afterwards and wrapped his arms around her waist, her back pressed into his chest. “Are you going to sleep?” 2

Jian Yan closed her eyes and made a sound of agreement. “Mn, we walked a lot outside today, very tired.”

He Xiu laughed lightly and replied, “You consider that running around all day? You clearly spent the whole day eating. Are you certain you exercised enough? If you don’t burn enough calories, then it’s very easy to grow fat.”

“…” Jian Yan still had her eyes closed, remaining silent. He Xiu once again took the opportunity to move closer to her, his lips, intentionally or otherwise, brus.h.i.+ng her ear. “How about I help you some more?” 3

“…” She had never realized before that Eldest Master He was so flirtatious.

Sensing the hand of the man behind her sneakily slip inside her collar, Jian Yan finally opened her eyes. “I think I’ve exercised enough.” 4

“I don’t think so…” Once these words left He Xiu’s mouth, he straightforwardly turned Jian Yan over and pressed his body against hers. He lowered his head, seizing her lips in a kiss. At first, Jian Yan didn’t feel anything, but He Xiu’s kiss gradually awoke something within her, fire racing across every inch of her skin.

He Xiu’s hand pinned Jian Yan’s left hand to the side of her pillow as his other hand explored underneath her nightgown. Jian Yan couldn’t help but let a moan escape, though she did purse her lips shut to stifle any more.  He Xiu gasped roughly for air and breathed, “Don’t restrain yourself…” 5

At this point, all sense of reasoning or even a single strand of conscious thought had already fled Jian Yan. With his words, she loosened her tightened lips. He kissed her softly, slowly, little by little coaxing hers to relax completely. It was somewhat challenging for Jian Yan to continue frowning in resistance under his delicate care. Finally her mind blanked, and her entire body melted.

Inside the room, only their rough and heavy breathing could be heard. Jian Yan’s heart throbbed, her eyes glimmering with moisture as she gazed up at the man above her. She originally believed that He Xiu was about to go one step further, as she could clearly hear his violently beating heart and feel his taut muscles—she could even feel…that which symbolized male pride somewhere.

He Xiu, however, merely leaned over her for a while, panting, before getting up. Jian Yan stared at him in slight disbelief. “Where are you going?” 6

“Shower.” He Xiu’s lips seemed to be slightly downturned. He lowered his head next to her ear and said with a low voice, “We are still taking this one step at a time.”

“…” Jian Yan’s face reddened several shades at this words.

When He Xiu finished taking a shower again and exited the bathroom, Jian Yan had already changed the bed sheets. He Xiu walked up and tugged her into his embrace, brus.h.i.+ng her hair aside to smile at her. “That should be enough exercise for now. Let’s sleep early.” 7

“Mn…” Jian Yan struggled to free herself from his chest and very quickly withdrew back beneath the blankets.

Their flight tomorrow was booked during the afternoon. When a colleague at Zhen Guo Studio found out that Jian Yan went to France, she sent her a shopping list that very same night. Jian Yan, helpless, went to as many tax-free stores at the airport as possible to find the items on the list.

Back in China, the person Zhao Ying Fang sent to Yu Zhi had also finally given her a reply.

“We got in touch with CEO Yu. He said…” The subordinate reporting in cautiously looked at Zhao Ying Fan and her son. He lowered his head before continuing, “CEO Yu said that the current contract with Starlight General Merchandise was built upon the relations.h.i.+p between him and He Xiu. The contract before this also shows that the person from Starlight General Merchandise who signed it was also He Xiu. If, in the future, Starlight General Merchandise falls into someone else’s hands, then he will request to negotiate and sign a new contract.”

Zhao Ying Fan frowned when she heard this. “What does he mean by this?”

The subordinate clarified, “The current contract between Yu Zhi and Starlight General Merchandise covers rent, percentage allotments, and countless preferential clauses and subclauses. At the same time, they have also pledged that they will only open Dessert Heaven Parlours in Starlight General Merchandise, but if He Xiu is no longer in charge of Starlight General Merchandise, CEO Yu said…this contract will become invalid. Graceful has always wanted Yu Zhi to open a Dessert Heaven at their department store, possibly, maybe…”

Zhao Ying Fang realized what he did not say; Yu Zhi might collaborate with Graceful.

“Ah, He Xiu is actually a bit capable in this regard; he even knows how to strike first to gain a strong hand,” Zhao Ying Fang sneered.

Fine beads of perspiration dotted the subordinate’s forehead. “Actually, it’s not limited to only CEO Yu. The young entrepreneurs in A City, such as CEO Song—Song Nan Chuan, CEO Xiao—Xiao Gu, and even Tang Zheng from the Tang Family, have all expressed extreme willingness to collaborate with the Starlight General Merchandise that is under He Xiu’s management…” He deliberately emphasized ‘under He Xiu’s management.’

Zhao Ying Fang contrarily laughed, a tinge of anger clinging to it, and said, “Very good. I hadn’t realized earlier that He Xiu was impersonating a hog to eat the tiger by pulling these people into his camp long ago!” These young entrepreneurs were precisely the future of A City. He Xiu had built a good relations.h.i.+p with these men a long time ago, which was tantamount to having a solid foothold in A City.

He Chen was also extremely surprised. When had he roped these men in? Establis.h.i.+ng good friends.h.i.+ps with these men absolutely was not a matter completed in one morning and one evening. It seemed that all those years ago—back when He Xiu had insisted a complete lack of interest in vying for the family state—He Xiu had truly been deceiving him all along!

“Forget Song Nan Chuan and Xiao Gu, can Tang Zheng also be considered an entrepreneur?” He Chen was completely disdainful towards this notion.

The subordinate stated, “Tang Zheng had recently begun working at Tang s.h.i.+’s company, sticking close to his older sister’s side the entire time.”

Zhao Ying Fang was also slightly surprised. This Tang Zheng normally never attended to his proper duties. Wasn’t he extremely afraid of going to work at the company? “Why did he suddenly begin to work at the company?”

“I do not have a very clear understanding of this, but from what I’ve dug up, he had returned to work at the company ever since He Xiu began buying He Zhi shares.”

“Ah, he truly is a good younger brother to He Xiu.” Zhao Ying Fang suppressed her anger and sounded out the subordinate’s opinions before making him leave. She glanced at He Chen—his expression less composed than hers—and barely squeezed out a smile. “Chen’er, don’t worry. He Xiu merely played a few small tricks. Roping in these entrepreneurs isn’t much.” Her heart hardened once she said this. “Those men were willing to be friends with He Xiu because he still wears the t.i.tle of being the eldest son of the He Family. If they knew that he was simply a b.a.s.t.a.r.d child, do you think they would help him?”

He Chen frowned. “What do you mean?”

Zhao Ying Fang simpered, “Since He Jing Long and He Xiu did something like this, then don’t blame me for doing this. If worst comes to worst, He Xiu’s past will be made public. I have already endured enough these many years!”

He Chen finally laughed bitterly, saying, “Haha, then make it public. Who do you think will be humiliated with this announcement? Don’t forget that you are the homewrecking mistress!”

Pa!

Just as these words fell from He Chen’s mouth, Zhao Ying Fang’s palm slapped his face. “He Chen, do you know who you are speaking to?! I am your mother!”

Striking He Chen with her palm increased the rage bursting from his heart, but only an icy laugh left his lips. “Mother? It’s precisely because I have a mother like you that I have never been able to lift my head in front of He Xiu for so many years!”

He would not forget that memory of when He Xiu had seized him by the collar and said those words five years ago in this lifetime.

Zhao Ying Fang’s heart was both pained and enraged. She originally wanted to slap He Chen again, but seeing that fiery palm imprint on his left cheek, she restrained her hand.

He Chen’s eyes reddened as he picked up his jacket from the sofa and left with lightning speed.

He Xiu and Jian Yan’s flight arrived early the next day at 8:00AM. After leaving the airport, Jian Yan beat back a yawn. “Ah, once again I have to adjust to a different time zone.”

He Xiu smiled as he ma.s.saged her head, helping her carry her luggage that the baggage handlers had brought over. There were very many visitors in line waiting for taxis close to the airport. He Xiu had not ordered a chauffeur to come receive him, instead pulling Jian Yan to take a seat in a taxi.

After telling the driver Jian Yan’s address, the driver started the car while saying to them, “A traffic accident occurred on the main route into the city. It’s backed up pretty far, so we might need to take the long route.”

“Traffic accident?” The originally yawning Jian Yan had now revived a bit. “Very serious?”

“A bus turned over; do you think it’s serious or not? At dawn when the sky was just brightening, a long distance tourist bus suddenly got out of control and collided into quite a few cars before the vehicle ultimately fell over the railing.”

He Xiu furrowed his brows lightly. “That serious? Any casualties?”

“The specifics of the situation still aren’t known at the moment. The police are still in the middle of a rescue operation. I’m worried!”

Jian Yan and He Xiu glanced at each other and didn’t say anything. Soon after, He Xiu’s phone rang, a call from Tang Zheng. He Xiu accepted the call and asked, “You’re actually up so early?”

“Joke all you want, I am now someone who needs to clock in and out for work.” Tang Zheng’s voice held a bit of indescribable pride. “You’ve returned?”

“Just left the airport.”

“Oh, it’s good that you returned. These few days when you’ve been gone, He Chen pretty much wants to turn over the heavens!” Mentioning this event left Tang Zheng feeling aggrieved. “They really did send people to scout our stances, not even letting Song Nan Chuan or Xiao Gu off!”

“Mn, I already heard them say that. You should have been the last one they sounded out.”

Tang Zheng: “…”

“Heng, underestimating me. There will inevitably be a day in the future where I’ll make them cry!”

He Xiu laughed and remarked, “I hope that day won’t be too far off.”

“Definitely won’t be long! Let me tell you, recently I have been following my older sister every day. I think I can finish my apprentices.h.i.+p after several more days!”

“And then be pressed to the ground by others?”

“…You should channel this energy to hate your younger brother!” Tang Zhen became depressed. Sure enough, He Xiu’s first action upon returning was to go against him. “Returning to our main topic, however, Zhao Ying Fang has also become extremely prejudiced. You and He Chen are…”

“Tang Zheng.” He Xiu interrupted him before he finished speaking. “Regardless of how you say it, I need to thank you all for this time.”

“You suddenly being this polite makes me worried…”

He Xiu chuckled and said, “Let’s just leave it here for now. I’ll contact you later.”

“Okay.”

After He Xiu hung up, his brows furrowed again. Upon seeing this, Jian Yan asked him, “What’s going on? Did Tang Zheng irritate you again, making you displeased?”

He Xiu pursed his lips and looked at Jian Yan, saying, “Tang Zheng and I have known each other for ten years, but he doesn’t know about this matter of mine.”

The matter he was referring to was naturally his past.

Jian Yan thought for a moment before asking him, “Are you contemplating whether you should tell him?”

“Mn.” Those other men might have already guessed most of it even though he hadn’t told them, but Tang Zheng was different. He didn’t immerse himself too much in the business world, and his mind was not very twisted and cunning. Since he hadn’t told him anything, it wouldn’t have occurred to him that He Xiu actually wasn’t Zhao Ying Fang’s son.

He was still thinking of a good time to tell him when his phone rang again. This time, it was He Jing Long.

Author’s Note:

I’ve been stuck on how the male and female leads begin to touch each other affectionately for quite a while