Chapter 8: Blushing

Jiang Huaiyu’s breath warmed Wen Shuyu’s ear, causing a blush to spread from her ear to her cheeks.

With just a step separating them, their faces were so close that their cheeks seemed almost to touch.

Wen Shuyu’s heart raced uncontrollably, and she turned her head sharply to glare at Jiang Huaiyu. “Dare you?”

“Do you think I would?” Jiang Huaiyu asked with a slow, teasing smile.

Wen Shuyu’s eyes met his unexpectedly, and she found herself breathing the same air. She could even see the fine beads of sweat on his nose.

She initially thought he wouldn’t dare, but with Jiang Huaiyu so close, just a slight shift could bring their noses to touch.

The smile in his eyes was enigmatic, and Wen Shuyu wasn’t sure what he was thinking. “Jiang Huaiyu, you can’t force me, and it’s illegal.”

She clutched the blanket tightly, trying to pull it over her neck as she shifted her body to the other side.

“So, is that how you see me?” Jiang Huaiyu asked, amused by her actions. He straightened up, no longer teasing, and gently lifted a corner of the blanket. “I’m afraid you might suffocate, so I won’t do anything.”

“Oh, I knew you wouldn’t,” Wen Shuyu said, fanning herself with her hand, trying to cool her flushed face.

In the tropical heat, the temperature remained high even at night, and the hotel’s air conditioning wasn’t very effective compared to back home.

“Your face is so red,” Jiang Huaiyu remarked lightly.

“It’s just hot,” Wen Shuyu insisted, not admitting that her flushed face was due to his gaze making her embarrassed.

Jiang Huaiyu went to the cabinet to fetch an extra blanket, which hotels often keep on hand for such needs.

With the lights turned off and the sound of the waves outside, the two of them closed their eyes.

Wen Shuyu had seen too many cases of relatives making life difficult for each other, keeping her senses on high alert and maintaining a light sleep.

Eventually, sleep won over, and she didn’t hear Jiang Huaiyu’s sigh from the sofa. “Silly Yuyu.”

As dawn broke and the sea turned a pale gray, the room remained dim, and the sofa was empty.

Warm yellow light filtered through the frosted glass door, and the sound of running water from the bathroom indicated that Jiang Huaiyu was getting ready.

He kept the noise to a minimum, careful not to disturb the person in bed.

By the time Jiang Huaiyu emerged from the bathroom, the sun was fully up, and Wen Shuyu was still fast asleep.

The blanket had fallen off her, exposing her long, slender legs. The morning light revealed her curves, leaving behind any pre-sleep defenses.

Jiang Huaiyu tiptoed over, deliberately avoiding looking at her, and carefully tucked the blanket back around Wen Shuyu, worried she might catch a cold in the cool morning air.

After sleeping for twelve hours, Wen Shuyu woke up to find the room empty. She looked at her clothes, still intact and undisturbed.

A peaceful night confirmed that Jiang Huaiyu was indeed a gentleman.

Hearing movement in the bedroom, Jiang Huaiyu set the table. “Yuyu, breakfast is ready.”

Wen Shuyu, still with a mouthful of foam, mumbled, “What a coincidence. How did you know I’d wake up at this time?”

“You always sleep in until this time when you’re not working,” Jiang Huaiyu said with a knowing smile.

It wasn’t hard to figure out with a little observation.

Wen Shuyu stared at the breakfast on the table—burgers, curry, and a sticky, mysterious soup. The sight didn’t inspire any appetite, and her pale fingers fidgeted with the spoon without bringing any food to her mouth.

The spoon made a faint “clink” against the ceramic.

The woman’s brows furrowed into a “川” shape, her face expressing clear disdain.

“There’s no garlic, ginger, or scallions. I’ve removed the skin from the chicken too,” Jiang Huaiyu explained.

“How did you know I don’t eat those?” Wen Shuyu’s stomach growled as she speared a piece of chicken. She answered her own question, “Oh, we often eat together at home.”

That’s the downside of being childhood friends—too familiar. You touch their head, and they already know what you’re thinking.

Wen Shuyu chewed on the chicken, deepening the furrow in her brow. The meat was tough, the seasoning strange, and the taste nearly inedible.

She even found herself nostalgic for instant noodles from home.

“This is awful. Is there anything else?” Wen Shuyu put down her spoon and fork, sprawling out on the chair.

Jiang Huaiyu pondered for a moment. “Wait here.”

Outside, the sapphire-blue sea stretched endlessly, shimmering like a massive, clear blue gemstone.

What was he up to? Wen Shuyu lay on the couch, scrolling through delivery options and searching for nearby convenience stores or Chinese restaurants. She vowed not to touch the food on the table.

About twenty minutes later, Jiang Huaiyu walked in with a takeout bag. “Make do with this.”

Wen Shuyu opened the packaging to find a bowl of beef noodles with a layer of spicy oil on top.

Her eyes lit up. “Jiang Huaiyu, where did you find this?”

The taste couldn’t compare to home, but it was infinitely better than the local fare.

Jiang Huaiyu, munching on the table’s offerings, said, “I found it through an online guide.”

Wen Shuyu nodded. “My mom and Aunt Jun told you to take good care of me, didn’t they?”

Who else would go out in the sweltering heat just to find something edible for her?

Jiang Huaiyu wiped his hands with a tissue. “You’re my fiancée. Taking care of you is part of my duty; no reminders needed.”

“Cough, cough, cough,” Wen Shuyu still wasn’t used to the term “fiancée.” “Jiang Huaiyu, with just the two of us, you don’t need to put on an act.”

“This is the truth. It’s always been this way,” Jiang Huaiyu replied casually, his thick eyelashes casting shadows over his eyes.

The mention of “always” transported Wen Shuyu’s memories back over a decade.

It must have been before their first year of high school, when they were still close. Jiang Huaiyu had taken care of her as if she were his younger sister.

Even though they shared the same birthday.

When had things changed? It seemed to have started after their middle school exams when they went to an amusement park together.

Suddenly, Jiang Huaiyu’s hand waved in front of her face. “Hurry up and eat; the noodles are going to get soggy.”

“Oh, right.” Wen Shuyu lowered her head and began eating.

At noon, the sun blazed, delaying the shoot. Wen Shuyu, in her camisole, wandered around the room.

Jiang Huaiyu watched her, wondering if she had grown so trusting in just one night.

At five in the afternoon, with the sun setting, it was the perfect time for the shoot.

The beach was packed with tourists, many couples taking wedding photos, and there were familiar East Asian faces among them.

The shoot began with simple poses, like holding hands, which Wen Shuyu managed well.

But then it got tricky.

The photographer directed, “Bride and groom, hold each other’s waist and look into each other’s eyes.”

“Alright.” Wen Shuyu, not one to be shy, hugged Jiang Huaiyu first, her face meeting his neck. The man froze for a moment.

So close that Wen Shuyu could sense every subtle change. She teased him, “Jiang Huaiyu, have you never hugged a girl before?”

Jiang Huaiyu answered softly, “No.”

So he was a pure-hearted childhood friend.

Their breaths mingled against each other’s ears, and moving even a little closer would bring their lips within touching distance.

“Jiang Huaiyu, you’re taking advantage of me,” Wen Shuyu whispered, barely audible to the two of them.

Jiang Huaiyu feigned innocence. “I haven’t done anything.”

Wen Shuyu had felt a sudden chill on her neck, almost as if he had kissed her.

Was it just a fleeting sensation or an illusion?

The awkward pose finally ended, and Wen Shuyu tilted her head, teasing, “Jiang Huaiyu, your ears are so red.”

She reached out and pinched them. “Still so hot.”

Jiang Huaiyu smiled, his gaze falling on Wen Shuyu’s ears. “You’re not much different.”

Wen Shuyu quickly touched her own ears; they were indeed warm, and she shot Jiang Huaiyu a pointed look.

Typically, people’s ears are cool due to inadequate blood flow.

Instead of outdoing him, she had exposed herself.

The photographer directed the next pose, “Foreheads together, look into each other’s eyes.”

The book said that intimate distance should be within 44 centimeters, but for them, it was nearly impossible.

They had managed close physical contact before without needing to stare into each other’s eyes, but now every position felt uncomfortable.

Their entire bodies were tense, their backs rigid, and the situation felt very unnatural.

Jiang Huaiyu moved a bit closer, and Wen Shuyu stepped back significantly. “Jiang Huaiyu, don’t stand so close.”

She took step after step, nearly backing into the sea.

“Yuyu, stop retreating,” Jiang Huaiyu said, pulling her close.

In a swift motion, Wen Shuyu fell into Jiang Huaiyu’s chest, almost kissing him.

The photographer said, “Yes, like that. Hold it.”

Their foreheads touched, and Wen Shuyu’s entire body stiffened. Everything felt hot, especially her forehead and lower back.

Through the wedding dress, why was his palm still so warm? And his forehead was as hard as a heated metal sheet.

So close, Wen Shuyu looked down and saw Jiang Huaiyu’s lips, his thin, slightly red lips.

Below that, his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly with each swallow.

Wen Shuyu wasn’t used to being so close to someone. Her gaze wandered, finally falling into Jiang Huaiyu’s dark eyes.

From his pupils, she saw a faint reflection of her own small, yet clear, image.

Time stretched in the quiet moment until the photographer gave the next command, “Good, perfect. Next, the groom will kiss the bride, just a light touch of the lips.”

The two people in front remained motionless, standing still at the seaside. The photographer asked, “Never been kissed?”

The photographer had said it casually, but Jiang Huaiyu’s dark eyes locked onto her, his mouth curling into a serious smile, waiting for her response.

“Yes, I’ve been kissed. But you’re not like my mother or Aunt Jun,” Wen Shuyu said, staring intently at Jiang Huaiyu and raising her voice to emphasize her point.

Jiang Huaiyu had no idea about her past with Lu Yunheng. Apart from her parents and Shen Ruoying, everyone else assumed they had been together.

The bitterness in Jiang Huaiyu’s heart grew like a rampant virus. Knowing about it was one thing; hearing it was another.

It wasn’t that he minded—just that he felt envious of those who had had her before.

Jiang Huaiyu suddenly looked down at Wen Shuyu, meeting her gaze. “Then, fiancée, teach me how to kiss.”

His tone was sincere, like an earnest student.

“Dream on. Jiang Huaiyu, you go tell the photographer to skip the kissing shots.” Wen Shuyu patted him on the shoulder and gave him a gentle push.

Jiang Huaiyu nearly stumbled, almost falling. Wen Shuyu reflexively grabbed his arm.

Her slight strength could hardly push him; he was just playing along.

However, Wen Shuyu’s instinctive worry about his actions eased some of Jiang Huaiyu’s bitterness. “Fine, I’ll go talk to him. I’ll follow the fiancée’s orders.”

The photographer understood; everyone has different comfort levels and shouldn’t be forced.

Besides, the customer is always right.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky scattered with pink and purple hues, signaling the end of the photo session for the day.

The photo shoot was far more exhausting than running; Wen Shuyu’s smile had frozen, and she practically raced back to the hotel, collapsing onto the sofa.

She was waiting for Jiang Huaiyu to get the food from the Chinese restaurant.

She had no intention of eating the local, unpleasant cuisine.

But why was the sofa so hard? Jiang Huaiyu had slept on it the whole night.

During the shoot, he had handed her water, fanned her, and, despite her picky eating, had gone to a distant restaurant to buy her favorite food.

Jiang Huaiyu returned with several takeout boxes, all filled with dishes she liked.

Wen Shuyu felt a pang of guilt. “You take the bed tonight, I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

She wasn’t heartless; after a whole day of his care, she wanted to repay him somehow.

Jiang Huaiyu replied, “No need.” He was the kind of person who feared indebting himself to others.

While he was in the bathroom, Wen Shuyu seized the opportunity to claim the sofa, and when Jiang Huaiyu came out, she said, “Good night, I’m going to sleep now.”

She lay down on her own, saying goodnight to Jiang Huaiyu.

“You go to the bed.” Jiang Huaiyu, wiping his hair, sat at the edge of the sofa, gently patting her leg through the blanket.

Wen Shuyu adjusted the blanket. “No, I won’t.”

No one could force her to move; she didn’t want to owe Jiang Huaiyu anything.

Anticipating this response, Jiang Huaiyu set aside his towel and lifted Wen Shuyu effortlessly. “Then let’s sleep together.”

Taken by surprise and instinctively clutching Jiang Huaiyu’s neck, Wen Shuyu’s straight legs flailed as she shouted, “Jiang Huaiyu, put me down! What are you doing?”

“Fiancée, you’re being disobedient,” Jiang Huaiyu said with a lazy smile, gently setting Wen Shuyu down on the bed.

The moment she hit the bed, Wen Shuyu decided she didn’t want to sleep on the sofa anymore. It was too uncomfortable, and the bed was far better.

Jiang Huaiyu brought another blanket to the bed. Wen Shuyu sat up, insisting, “But don’t cross the line.”

Given their impending marriage, it seemed a bit overly sentimental, but she had never imagined sleeping with Jiang Huaiyu.

Jiang Huaiyu replied, “Don’t worry. Besides, we’ve slept together before.”

He emphasized “slept together,” making it sound like their relationship was more than it was.

Wen Shuyu mumbled, “It’s not like we actually slept together.”

They had only shared a bed when they were kids.

“Really? You still regret it? How about… we practice a bit?”

Jiang Huaiyu’s slow, clear voice came from beside her. Wen Shuyu glanced at him and said, “Jiang Huaiyu, you’re really annoying.”

“Just kidding, Yuyu. Let’s sleep,” Jiang Huaiyu said with a smirk, turning off the main light. “Good night, fiancée.”

The room fell into darkness, the thick curtains blocking the moonlight. Wen Shuyu wondered why Jiang Huaiyu said “fiancée” so smoothly.

Fiancé, fiancé—Wen Shuyu mentally repeated the term, feeling goosebumps as she drifted into a drowsy sleep.

Waves crashed against the shore, rolling over one another in white foam.

In the bright morning light, the bedroom remained pitch black. Jiang Huaiyu checked his phone—it was 8:30 local time.

He carefully moved Wen Shuyu’s arm from around his waist, but her legs clung to him once more.

Unable to do much, he lay quietly in bed.

It wasn’t until 11 a.m. that Wen Shuyu woke up. Opening her eyes, she saw a well-defined face and bright, peach blossom eyes watching her.

Groggy, Wen Shuyu took half a minute to remember they had slept together last night.

“Ah.”

She quickly withdrew her arm from Jiang Huaiyu’s waist, pulling the blanket around her. “Jiang Huaiyu, you’re taking advantage of me.”

She had been on the edge of the bed before, so how did she end up in his arms?

Jiang Huaiyu raised his eyes and turned slightly. “Wronged. You were the one snuggling up to me.”

Wen Shuyu looked around and touched the empty space on her right side. Indeed, it was her doing.

She touched her ear. “I thought it was a pillow. You could have pushed me away.”

No wonder the pillow felt so good—neither too soft nor too hard. It turned out to be a human-shaped pillow.

Jiang Huaiyu thought Wen Shuyu had clung to him tightly.

“Yuyu, don’t trust men too much.”

“Ah.” Through the blanket, Wen Shuyu felt the obvious presence and smiled awkwardly. “Oh, it’s just a normal physiological reaction.”

“I’m getting up,” Jiang Huaiyu said, needing to move away. He had exerted great self-control to keep his own restlessness in check.

He pulled open the curtains, and the sparkling sea looked like it was covered in gold dust. Wen Shuyu stretched, hearing a yawn from beside her.

Turning her head, she noticed Jiang Huaiyu’s dark circles, resembling panda eyes, and asked, “Didn’t you sleep well?”

“Maybe it’s the change in environment.”

Jiang Huaiyu had hardly slept all night; Wen Shuyu’s legs had kept him pinned, using him as a human toy.

Wen Shuyu clung to him tightly, unwilling to let go, nuzzling against him every now and then.

In the sweltering summer heat, she wore a light camisole, the faint scent of roses wafting directly to his nose.

Jiang Huaiyu dared not move all night, inching towards the edge of the bed, but Wen Shuyu, like a determined little heater, snuggled closer and closer.

Her smooth skin pressed against him, her warm breath mingling with his own. Such torment made it impossible for him to sleep well—he might have had a better rest on the sofa.

Wen Shuyu patted his shoulder. “You get some rest. I’m going out for a bit.”

Jiang Huaiyu reminded her, “Don’t go too far.”

She was in her twenties, yet he still treated her like a child.

After Jiang Huaiyu managed to sleep for an hour, Wen Shuyu still hadn’t returned, and her phone went unanswered.

He hurriedly went outside to search and found her on the shaded part of the beach, crouched down building a sandcastle with a guy who spoke fluent Mandarin.

“Miss, your skin is so nice.”

“Miss, doesn’t your boyfriend accompany you?”

“Miss, would you like to grab a drink tonight?”

Wen Shuyu, dressed in a camisole and tiny shorts with straps so thin they seemed ready to snap, was the object of the guy’s lingering gaze.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see Jiang Huaiyu’s cold, indifferent face. “No thanks. My fiancé is here.”

As the guy walked away, Wen Shuyu clapped her hands together. “What a pity. If we were in China, everyone would be calling me ‘sister.’ How charming.”

Jiang Huaiyu flicked her on the head. “You’re getting married, Wen Shuyu.”

His tone carried a barely perceptible chill.

Wen Shuyu shrugged, “So what? We can each do our own thing, as long as our parents don’t find out.”

“I said we wouldn’t disturb each other, but I didn’t say we could do whatever we liked.”

Pausing, Jiang Huaiyu’s lips curled into a slight smile as he leaned in, whispering in her ear, “Fiancée, if there’s one thing we can do, it’s this: you play your game, and I’ll play mine.”