Chapter 21: Open Your Mouth

The Ferris wheel slowly ascended, its cars rising one by one.

A bright moon hung high in the deep blue night sky, its light filtering through thin clouds and casting a silvery glow inside the cabin.

The light flickered on and off, illuminating the profiles of a man and a woman inside, as they sat side by side.

Around them, silence reigned, only the faint sound of their shallow breathing breaking the quiet.

After boarding the Ferris wheel, Jiang Huaiyu and Wen Shuyu sat facing each other, neither awkward nor uncomfortable, simply passing the time.

Wen Shuyu had spoken on purpose, as she often did—teasing him with words that left room for misunderstanding. She pursed her lips, resting her chin in her hand, waiting to see Jiang Huaiyu’s reaction.

Under the silver moonlight, his expression remained unreadable, but his deep eyes grew even more striking in the soft glow.

After a long pause, his clear voice, carried on the wind, drifted into Wen Shuyu’s ears. “One of them is Lu Yunheng. Who’s the other?”

His words came faster now, a hint of urgency hidden beneath a probing tone.

Wen Shuyu glanced out the window, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I won’t tell you. You’re the third one, but the only one who actually made it onto the ride.”

She hadn’t intended to reveal the answer, and Jiang Huaiyu knew that.

“Yuyu, do you know the legend of the Ferris wheel?”

It was said that couples riding the Ferris wheel would ultimately part ways, but if they kissed at the very top, they would stay together forever.

It was nothing but an internet myth, a romantic notion tacked onto a simple amusement ride, making it a must-do for couples.

Wen Shuyu nodded, her playful tone light. “I know. What, you actually believe that?”

“I do.” Jiang Huaiyu turned his gaze to the distant stars, his tone calm as he lightly tapped his knee.

“Yuyu, if fireworks go off when the Ferris wheel reaches the top, I’ll kiss you.”

It wasn’t a request, nor a suggestion.

It was a statement, a notice, and a promise all rolled into one.

The Ferris wheel continued its slow ascent, each car moving forward with a gentle jerk. Wen Shuyu clenched her fists, her palms damp with sweat.

She kept her eyes fixed on the surroundings, a glimmer of hope sprouting deep inside her, growing with every passing moment.

In the small, confined space, a 185 cm man and a 168 cm woman shifted their seats, from facing each other to sitting side by side.

The night in Nan City arrived quietly, the silence only broken by their soft breaths in the still air.

Wen Shuyu held her breath, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

As the Ferris wheel reached the top, they looked down over the city below. Everything remained quiet, unchanged.

There was no festival, no special occasion—how could there be fireworks?

Wen Shuyu spread her hands. “Jiang Huaiyu, no fireworks.”

It was hard to tell whether she felt more disappointment or relief.

The moon hung close, its pale light illuminating Jiang Huaiyu’s dark, deep eyes. He remained calm, unruffled. “What a shame.”

His words barely settled when Wen Shuyu suddenly felt a face appear in front of her, covering her vision.

The sharp pop, pop, pop of fireworks pierced the air. Wen Shuyu turned instinctively, wanting to see where the bursts of color came from.

But her wish went unfulfilled.

Jiang Huaiyu pressed his forehead to hers, his hand holding the back of her head gently. His voice, calm yet resolute, whispered into her ear, “Yuyu, there are fireworks.”

Before she had a chance to react, his lips were on hers.

In that instant, time seemed to freeze—the world went silent. All her senses seemed to vanish, except for the cool warmth of his kiss.

Her heart skipped a beat, its rhythm syncing with the distant sounds of fireworks.

Jiang Huaiyu pulled Wen Shuyu into his embrace, his large hand resting at the curve of her slender waist.

His scent, fresh and crisp like bamboo and wood, filled her senses.

After a brief silence, the sound of wind and fireworks flooded her ears once more.

Jiang Huaiyu’s cool lips traced the outline of her soft ones, carefully, as if he were trying to familiarize himself with this new sensation.

His unfamiliar, somewhat clumsy kiss, full of hesitation and exploration, sent Wen Shuyu’s heart into disarray.

Her eyes widened slightly, her lashes trembling, and instinctively, she closed her eyes, forgetting to push him away.

Realizing she wasn’t resisting, Jiang Huaiyu deepened the kiss, growing more intense, more demanding.

The kiss sent her thoughts spiraling, as an unfamiliar tide overwhelmed her reason.

“Open your mouth.”

His low command jolted her back to reality. Was he really self-taught in this?

“Ah,” came her instinctive response, her lips parting slightly. That momentary gap gave him the chance he needed—his tongue slid in, soft and gentle, before their lips and teeth tangled together.

Through the thin fabric of their clothes, their bodies pressed close, their hearts pounding wildly in sync.

Wen Shuyu suddenly regretted wearing the cropped top—his hand was resting on her bare waist.

His palm, once warm, was now burning.

The kiss, slick and heated, spread from their lips to her chest and waist.

Everything felt too warm.

Despite the cool night, their body temperatures soared.

It was their first time, clumsy and fumbling. She accidentally bit his tongue, and the kiss stretched on endlessly before it finally ended.

The Ferris wheel was just a notch away from reaching the ground.

Jiang Huaiyu touched his lips where her teeth had left an imprint, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “What’s wrong? Lu Yunheng’s kissing skills that bad? He never taught you?”

He knew they had never kissed before, but wanted to hear Wen Shuyu say it out loud.

It wasn’t that he minded—it was jealousy. Jealous of Lu Yunheng, for receiving so many years of her affection.

He kissed her without permission, and now he teased her about it.

Wen Shuyu breathed heavily, refusing to back down. “Your kissing skills aren’t any better—on par with his.”

Also? On par?

Jiang Huaiyu’s eyes curved with laughter, unbothered. “After all, it’s my first kiss. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bit rough.”

He was giving himself an out.

The sound of fireworks continued, but Wen Shuyu glanced outside. There was nothing—no display, no color.

Following the sound, she glanced down at her phone resting on the seat. The screen was playing a fireworks video.

Wen Shuyu raised her hand and punched Jiang Huaiyu. “You cheated!”

What happened to fireworks? It turned out he had planned it all along.

Achieving his goal, Jiang Huaiyu let her fists fall on him. “I never said where the fireworks were coming from.”

The Ferris wheel landed, its doors creaking open. They were the last passengers of the night.

Jiang Huaiyu took Wen Shuyu’s hand as they exited the cabin. “Yuyu, who’s the other person? Cheng Xianzhi?”

He hadn’t given up—he still wanted to know the answer.

Wen Shuyu feigned mystery, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’m not telling you. It’s a secret. Consider it your punishment for cheating.”

She was determined not to reveal anything she didn’t want him to know.

The lights dimmed gradually, the Ferris wheel shedding its dazzling colors as the amusement park closed for the night.

The excitement faded, replaced by a quiet emptiness, a stillness that crept up in the wake of all the noise.

She wasn’t afraid of loneliness—but the idea of waking from this dream was a different matter.

“Jiang Huaiyu, why did you kiss me?” Wen Shuyu asked softly, her fingers twined together.

Looking back, it felt like a dream.

The rules of law were clear, unchangeable: yes was yes, no was no.

But people were far more complicated, their actions unpredictable.

The motive behind a suspect’s actions was always the driving force. So, what was his motive?

“Because I don’t want it to be a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Jiang Huaiyu answered seriously. “Because I want to grow old with you.”

A materialist at heart, but in love, he was a romantic.

He knew the Ferris wheel legend was fake, but he chose to believe in it.

“Cheating doesn’t bring blessings,” she said softly.

The legend was meant for lovers, and clearly, they weren’t one.

Jiang Huaiyu pulled Wen Shuyu into his arms. “The only thing the heavens know is that we kissed at the highest point.”

“Right, dear wife.”

Did love really last forever because of a kiss at the top of a Ferris wheel?

Besides, they had no feelings for each other.

“Yes.” She had once believed in this legend as a child, but after all this time, she found herself back with Jiang Huaiyu.

Perhaps, the reason they were heading toward marriage was simply to escape their parents’ constant interference. Now, maybe, it was time to rethink.

Perhaps there might be an unexpected surprise.

After all, Jiang Huaiyu isn’t bad, and she doesn’t mind his closeness.

It was prejudice that had blinded her before, preventing her from seeing his good qualities.

Wen Shuyu wouldn’t tell Jiang Huaiyu her thoughts, as being too deliberate might backfire.

But how could she resist, especially since he always teased her?

The gentle night breeze stirred the dreams of a long summer night.

---

It was the end of June when Song Jinnan entered Jiang Huaiyu’s office at Liangshi Technology, placing three invitations on his desk.

“Here are the invitations for the company’s press conference and three from Ruishan Law Firm. Could you personally deliver them, Mr. Jiang?”

Jiang Huaiyu glanced at his watch, “Alright, I’ll head over right away.”

He hurried, as soon as he heard he was going to meet his wife.

Speaking of Wen Shuyu, Song Jinnan’s curiosity piqued, “I’ve been your classmate for so many years, but I’ve never met your wife.”

They had been classmates through university and graduate school, but back then, Wen Shuyu and Jiang Huaiyu had completely stopped interacting.

Jiang Huaiyu raised his eyelids, “My wife? Why do you want to see her?”

Song Jinnan laughed casually, “Don’t twist my words. Oh, I know now, you secretly admired her, but she wasn’t interested.”

Jiang Huaiyu, who always appeared composed, was caught off guard. How did he guess so quickly? Seeing Jiang Huaiyu’s awkward expression, Song Jinnan knew he had hit the nail on the head.

“No wonder Mr. Jiang turned down so many girls in college. Turns out, you were saving yourself.”

Jiang Huaiyu typed away on his keyboard, voice indifferent, “You’re too free. Check the schedule for the press conference, the contract with Director Wang came back, and…”

“Alright, getting embarrassed now?” Song Jinnan chuckled, opening the door just as a commotion from outside caught his attention.

The receptionist, Tian Tian, reported, “Lawyer Wen from Ruishan is here…”

At the mention of “Lawyer Wen,” Jiang Huaiyu stood up immediately, making Song Jinnan realize his job here was done.

Wen Shuyu sat in the reception area, and as soon as she heard familiar, steady footsteps, she looked up and saw Jiang Huaiyu.

“Hubby, I twisted my ankle.”

Her voice was soft, her nose slightly red, gazing at him pitifully.

Jiang Huaiyu froze, completely taken aback. He had expected Wen Shuyu to pretend not to know him, but instead, she called him “hubby” in front of his colleagues—acting all sweet.

After a moment of stunned silence, Jiang Huaiyu crouched down to examine her ankle. It was slightly swollen, but thankfully, nothing was broken.

“Does it hurt, dear?”

“It hurts a lot.”

Jiang Huaiyu turned to Tian Tian, “Please bring an ice pack, a towel, and a can of spray. I’ll transfer the money to you.”

His brows furrowed in concern, and his voice had cooled slightly.

“Got it, Mr. Jiang.”

Jiang Huaiyu carefully scooped Wen Shuyu into his arms and headed towards his office, leaving everyone behind in a daze.

“Anyone curious about the gossip can ask me,” Song Jinnan quipped, his tone playful as he looked back at the colleagues who were just starting to catch on to who Wen Shuyu was.

They were the lawyer who had just delivered documents—a beautiful woman, no less. The colleagues now realized that this was Mr. Jiang’s wife, and they were stunned. The usually aloof and distant Mr. Jiang was so gentle with her.

Love is reserved for those we hold dear.

Tian Tian returned with the ice pack and towel, and as she handed them over, she realized why the towel was needed—direct skin contact with the ice was too cold. Mr. Jiang truly paid attention to every detail.

She knocked on the door of the office, and after getting a response, she entered.

“Thank you,” Wen Shuyu said as she took the ice pack and towel.

Jiang Huaiyu reached out and took them from her, “Let me do it.”

He crouched beside the sofa, wrapping the towel around the ice pack and gently rolling it against her ankle, every movement tender and careful.

“Feeling better, dear?”

Wen Shuyu gently moved her ankle, “A little better.”

Jiang Huaiyu sighed, a bit hurt, “Weren’t you just calling me hubby?”

“Oh, hubby,” she teased with a small smile.

Jiang Huaiyu was more confused than ever—how had she gone from playfully teasing to suddenly being so obedient?

It was as if something she had longed for had finally come true, yet he found himself doubting it.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming earlier?”

Wen Shuyu pulled out the contract from her bag and pouted, “I just came to deliver the contract, not to see you.”

“You little ungrateful thing,” he grumbled as he playfully pinched her nose, before slipping the three invitations into her bag, “I hope Lawyer Wen, Lawyer Cheng, and Lawyer Meng will be able to attend our company’s new product launch.”

Wen Shuyu teased him, “Mr. Jiang sure is efficient, not even delivering them personally.”

After applying the ice and spray, Wen Shuyu felt much better. She used the sofa to slowly stand up, her eyes roaming around Jiang Huaiyu’s office.

This was the first time she had visited his office, and it was smaller and simpler than she imagined. There were no expensive ornaments, no artificial landscapes, no antique paintings. Just bookshelves filled with medical literature.

She remembered hearing from Wen’s mother that Jiang’s father had opposed Jiang Huaiyu’s decision to start his own business, wanting him to take over the family business for stability. The two had argued fiercely over it.

But why Jiang’s father had ultimately compromised, she didn’t know.

As Wen Shuyu walked from the sofa to the desk, Jiang Huaiyu steadied her, smiling, “Mrs. Jiang, on a little inspection? There’s no lounge or any other women here.”

Wen Shuyu tilted her head, smiling, “I didn’t say I was inspecting. Mr. Jiang, feeling guilty?”

Jiang Huaiyu didn’t respond directly, “Mrs. Jiang is generous. It seems I’ve been overly suspicious.”

Suddenly, Wen Shuyu’s eyes caught a frame on the upper left corner of the desk.

It wasn’t unusual to see photos, but what stood out was that this was a picture of them from childhood until now.

Five years old, ten years old, fifteen, eighteen, and twenty-six.

The photo at five was their first trip to the amusement park, standing before a castle, dressed as a princess and prince.

At ten, they were at the beach, with her arm linked in Jiang Huaiyu’s, the endless azure sea stretching behind them.

At fifteen, they went hiking together. She was too tired to climb, so Jiang Huaiyu held her hand to help her up.

The childhood photos were filled with joy, but as time went on, the pictures became more indifferent, with smiles that seemed more like a formality.

She used to always hold onto Jiang Huaiyu, but without realizing, things had changed.

Time had really passed by too quickly.

Wen Shuyu’s eyes were drawn to the photo from when they were eighteen. When had it been taken? She couldn’t remember at all.

After the age of fifteen, there had been no more photos together until they took their wedding pictures.

Jiang Huaiyu noticed her confusion and spoke up, “It’s edited from our high school graduation photo.”

No wonder it looked so awkward.

“Mr. Jiang, you deserve an award for your acting.”

“Mrs. Jiang, after so much time, perhaps we’ve long become actors in our own play.”

What was he saying? Why did he sound so philosophical?

Her car was parked downstairs, but with her ankle injury, she couldn’t drive. She had no choice but to hitch a ride with Jiang Huaiyu.

Wen Shuyu had already forgotten where she stood in the graduation photo. She hadn’t saved it in her phone album, so she asked for help from Shen Ruoying.

【Yingying, do you have our high school graduation photo saved?】

Shen Ruoying: 【Found it, here you go. Why are you looking for this?】

Wen Shuyu: 【Just reminiscing.】

When Wen Shuyu opened the photo Shen Ruoying sent her, she realized that right behind her stood Lu Yunheng, and right next to him was Jiang Huaiyu.

They had been that close.

Back then, she hadn’t cared about Jiang Huaiyu at all. She didn’t even remember where he stood. Her heart and mind had been entirely consumed by Lu Yunheng.

She had plenty of photos with Lu Yunheng, but she had long forgotten where she had placed the graduation photo.

Turns out, Jiang Huaiyu had intentionally retrieved it and edited it into this picture.

With her ankle injury treated, Wen Shuyu could walk without putting much weight on it. When she got home, the first thing she did was rummage through the storage room.

When Jiang Huaiyu finished cooking and came looking for her, he followed the sound of rummaging to the storage room. “What are you looking for?”

Wen Shuyu, covered in dust and with her head half-buried in a box while standing on a ladder, muttered, “Wedding photos. I’ll return the favor. You made one, so I’ll make one too.”

Jiang Huaiyu gently lifted her off the ladder, worried she might fall.

He leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and teasing, “Mrs. Jiang, if I give you a kiss, doesn’t that mean you’ll have to return the favor too?”

His voice was deep, his breath warm against her delicate neck, carrying an almost lazy smile.

He was tempting her, drawing her into a shared surrender.