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Both sets of parents had finished their vacation and were set to fly back to South City tomorrow. In the family group chat, Jiang Huaiyu had gone silent.
That meant he was busy.
Wen Shuyu returned home and headed straight for the kitchen, only to find Jiang Huaiyu cooking.
The warm white light enveloped him in varying shadows, his features softened by the gentle illumination. With a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, he exuded an air of refined elegance.
She found herself momentarily entranced, until the sizzling sound of hot oil brought her back to reality.
“Are you nearsighted?”
In her memory, Jiang Huaiyu had never worn glasses before.
“A little,” he replied, momentarily taken aback, realizing he hadn’t noticed when she returned.
He had been so absorbed in his report in the study that he forgot to take them off.
As the spatula danced between his long, graceful fingers, he effortlessly juggled tasks at home and at work, a perfect example of someone who could charm in the boardroom and cook up a storm in the kitchen. Her taste had become quite spoiled.
“Mom and Dad are back, and we’re having dinner at the old house tomorrow.”
They had agreed earlier that it would be better to be honest with their parents about what had happened rather than letting them find out on their own.
Leaning against the doorframe, Wen Shuyu groaned dramatically, “Let the storm come even stronger!”
This time, it was worse than before; if he had shifted just a little, that knife could have pierced his back—she couldn’t even imagine the consequences.
What mattered most was that Jiang Huaiyu had risked himself for her again.
He had only suffered a scrape last time, but now he had ten stitches, and the scar was a constant reminder of his sacrifices.
Just how much did she owe him?
Wen’s mother’s nagging didn’t scare her, but she felt guilty about letting Jiang’s parents down.
At the door, a woman with fingers pointing at the doorframe frowned, as if she could trap a butterfly between her brows.
Jiang Huaiyu dried his hands and gently rubbed her furrowed brow. “With me around, you won’t get scolded.”
Wen Shuyu shook her head irritably. “I’m not a child anymore! You can’t keep taking the blame for me!”
“You’re my wife. It’s only right that I protect you,” Jiang Huaiyu said softly, lowering his head to look into her eyes.
While his words were soothing, she couldn’t shake off her guilt.
The plane landed in South City, and while their driver went to pick up her parents, Wen Shuyu and Jiang Huaiyu waited at the villa.
Wen’s mother and Jiang’s mother excitedly opened their photo albums to share what they had seen and experienced on their trip. Wen had seen these photos countless times already—shared in the Moments feed, posted in the group chat, and sent via private messages.
Not wanting to dampen their enthusiasm, she decided to wait until they had eaten.
The meal felt like sitting on pins and needles for Wen Shuyu.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she took a deep breath and said, “Mom, Dad, we have something to tell you.”
The solemnity of her tone made Wen’s mother raise an eyebrow. “Are you pregnant?”
“Not that,” Wen Shuyu replied, bowing toward Jiang’s mother. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry.”
Jiang’s mother blinked in confusion. “What’s going on with this child today?”
Before Wen Shuyu could speak again, Jiang Huaiyu grabbed her wrist, cutting her off. He took the lead in explaining everything, laying it all out simply while carefully omitting certain details.
As the four parents processed the news, they seemed at a loss for words. They had come clean, but it had taken them half a month to do so.
After a long silence, Jiang’s mother spoke up. “Let me see your wound.”
As long as it wasn’t serious, she began to scold, “Huaiyu, how could you not discuss something this big with the adults?”
Last time, he had jumped in front of a car; this time, he had taken a knife for her. Wen’s mother chimed in, “Yuying, this was your idea, wasn’t it?”
Jiang Huaiyu quickly retorted, “No, I didn’t let Yuying tell you.”
He took care to keep Wen Shuyu from speaking at all.
The two kids had admitted their mistakes, but their parents were unsure how to respond.
Wen’s mother called Jiang Huaiyu into the study while Wen Shuyu and Jiang’s mother stepped outside to the yard.
“Mom, I’m sorry. Huaiyu got hurt because of me,” she admitted.
Though her apology sounded distant, Jiang’s mother feigned annoyance. “He was just protecting his wife. We’re not angry because he acted to defend you; we’re upset because you kept it from us.”
She reached out to pat Wen Shuyu’s head, her heart aching for both her son and the girl she had raised like a daughter.
Wen Shuyu felt tears welling in her eyes. “I promise it won’t happen again.”
Meanwhile, in the study upstairs, Wen’s mother lectured, “Yuying is being reckless, and you’re indulging her! Not only is her job exhausting and dangerous, but it also puts you in harm’s way. How can I explain this to your parents? You’ve saved her once, maybe twice, but what happens after that? Huaiyu, I hope you can talk her into changing jobs—return to the company as a lawyer or anything else. We don’t have high expectations; we just want her safe and healthy.”
Jiang Huaiyu’s voice was gentle yet firm. “I can protect her once or twice, but I can protect her for a lifetime.”
At his words, Wen Shuyu’s grip on the doorknob relaxed slightly.
He had always been this way—protective and caring.
As a child, whenever she got into trouble, it was Jiang Huaiyu who shielded her. Even now, when things went wrong, he was still standing in front of her, defending her.
His soothing voice carried through the room. “Mom, this is Yuying’s dream, and I will always support her and keep her safe.”
It was the same story as last time, and once again, nothing had changed.
“Mom, I know you’re worried about us. Yuying helps others, and that makes her happy. Her happiness means more than anything else. As for the danger, I’ll protect her,” Jiang Huaiyu reassured.
Wen’s mother sighed, realizing there was no reasoning with him. “Just indulge her, then.”
Hearing footsteps approach, Wen Shuyu quickly ducked into a nearby room and wiped her eyes—why were there tears? Her parents often warned her that it was too dangerous and that she should give it up, while classmates whispered behind her back. Why put herself through this?
Yet, after facing danger, there was still someone who respected her thoughts and supported her dreams.
Wiping her tears away, Wen Shuyu checked her reflection in the mirror. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She stepped out of the room and said, “Jiang Huaiyu, thank you.”
Jiang Huaiyu playfully flicked her forehead. “What are you saying, silly Yuying?”
“I’m not silly! You’re the one who’s silly.”
“Right, my wife isn’t silly. I’m the silly one.”
Due to his agreement with Jiang’s father, Jiang Huaiyu found himself busier than ever. His arm injury had caused him to fall behind on work, and he often worked late into the night, making it impossible for Wen Shuyu to find a moment to offer herself completely.
Her courage was dwindling.
As night fell, the city was awash in vibrant neon lights, cloaked in darkness. Inside Liangshi Technology, bright incandescent bulbs illuminated the back of the building, where Song Jinnan pushed open the laboratory door to find Jiang Huaiyu calibrating machinery.
“Did you have a fight with your wife? You’ve been at the office every day lately,” he remarked.
Not long ago, Jiang had rushed home after work, eager to cook dinner and pick her up. Now, it was nearly ten o’clock, and he hadn’t gone home yet.
“Working to make money for my wife; you wouldn’t understand being a lone wolf,” Jiang Huaiyu replied, immersed in his data.
“Exactly! I don’t get it. Being single is fantastic. I’m heading out,” Song Jinnan said, waving goodbye as he left the lab to pursue his nightlife.
Work was never-ending.
With Jiang Huaiyu buried in overtime, Wen Shuyu stayed late at the office, sifting through files.
She had taken on a case from fifteen years ago; an elderly couple had approached her, claiming their son had been wrongfully accused and hoping Wen could help them.
The case was old, the verdict long settled, and the chances of reopening it were slim. But seeing their deep wrinkles and the gray in their hair, Wen couldn’t bring herself to refuse and took on the case.
However, the details were convoluted, leaving her stuck and frustrated.
Suddenly, her phone rang—it was Shen Ruoying.
“Princess Wen, are you coming to the bar?”
“I’m not going,” she replied, recognizing that something was off in Shen’s voice. After a long day with a dead-end case and returning to an empty home, Wen Shuyu changed her mind. “Fine, send me the address.”
Gathering her paperwork, she flipped the main switch off, and the automatic doors slowly closed behind her.
Ding Jingming was already in custody, so she wasn’t worried about him seeking revenge. Besides, their parents had hired bodyguards.
Arriving at the bar, Wen Shuyu found Shen Ruoying sitting alone in a booth, sulking as she sipped her drink.
“What’s wrong? Did you have a fight with Meng Xinhao?”
Shen gulped down her drink. “Oh, he’s been so distant lately. Everything I say is met with ‘uh-huh,’ ‘sure,’ and nothing else.”
“With your anniversary coming up, I asked him how he wanted to celebrate, and he said we could just grab a bite. ‘Whatever.’ Men are all the same. Once they have you, they stop cherishing you. He wasn’t like this before we got married!”
As Shen drank more, her words flowed freely. “You should be careful with Jiang Huaiyu. You two don’t have much history; it’s easier for things to change.”
Wen Shuyu listened to her friend’s rants. She and Jiang Huaiyu were still in the budding phase of their relationship, and who knew when it would change?
Shen had clearly drunk quite a bit before Wen arrived, her face flushed. “I’m calling Meng Xinhao to come pick you up.”
Wen Shuyu waved her hand dismissively. “No, I’m fine.”
“Don’t be silly! I want to sleep with you,” Shen giggled foolishly, pulling Wen into a hug.
“Alright,” Wen agreed, paying the bill and helping her friend to the parking lot.
As they sped back to Qinhayuan, they reached an intersection where two cars collided. Wen Shuyu spotted a girl standing by the rear of one car, and her silhouette looked strikingly like Fu Qingzi’s. She slammed on the brakes.
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed her.
At first, she didn’t want to get involved; it was late at night, and it was just a girl and a boy—she worried for Fu Qingzi’s safety.
After settling Shen down, Wen Shuyu hopped out of the car.
Fu Qingzi, seeing her approach, grabbed her arm. “Wen Xiaoyu, you have to judge this! He clearly hit me, but he doesn’t want to pay!”
Her brand-new pink Panamera was dented right after its first outing.
“And look at this bump on my head!” Fu Qingzi complained, touching the swollen area on her forehead, grimacing at the pain.
The other driver wasn’t letting it go easily either. “You slammed on your brakes out of nowhere! How was I supposed to know?”
In the sparse traffic at that hour, who would expect someone to stop suddenly in the middle of the road?
He was also feeling the sting of his own car; he’d only had it for a month.
Fu Qingzi raised her voice. “But you still hit me! You weren’t keeping a safe distance!”
She turned back to Wen Shuyu, “Wen Xiaoyu, I’m not going to settle this quietly. You’ll see—I’ll file a lawsuit!”
Wen Shuyu stepped in to mediate. “How about we all calm down and talk this out? No one’s hurt, and that’s what matters, right?”
Just then, the boy called out, “Sister-in-law!”
Wen Shuyu, relying on her limited memory, recognized him. “Song Jinnan?”
She wasn’t face-blind; she just had a selective memory for people. Those she deemed unimportant faded from her mind, and in this moment, she couldn’t quite place him.
Especially under the dim streetlights, where it was hard to make out anyone’s features.
Uncertain of his temperament, Wen Shuyu decided to call for help. “Jiang Huaiyu, hurry up! I’m at the intersection of Fushan Road and Sakura Avenue!”
About ten minutes later, Jiang Huaiyu arrived. During that time, she managed to keep the situation under control with both parties.
“Are you okay?” Jiang Huaiyu asked, his hair slightly tousled by the wind as he placed a steady hand on her shoulder, examining her closely.
Wen Shuyu realized that her hurried phone call hadn’t conveyed the full story, leading to some misunderstandings. She pointed at the two people nearby. “It’s not me! It’s Song Jinnan who rear-ended Fu Qingzi. They’re stuck in a standoff right now.”
She summarized the situation for him.
“Xiao Zizi,” Wen Shuyu said, turning to Fu Qingzi, “let’s avoid the hassle of a lawsuit. How about we just have Jiang Huaiyu ask Song Jinnan to apologize and cover your repair costs? Does that sound good?”
Fu Qingzi huffed, her chin tilted defiantly. “If he sincerely apologizes, I’ll forgive him.”
Their conversation was audible to the other parties involved.
Jiang Huaiyu spoke coldly. “The rear-end collision is already your fault. Just apologize and don’t waste my time; I have to put my wife to bed.”
Song Jinnan scoffed at him. “You prioritize romance over friendship.”
Realizing they were all friends here, Song Jinnan conceded to Jiang Huaiyu’s request and turned to Fu Qingzi. “I’m sorry. I’ll pay for your repairs.”
Fu Qingzi lifted her chin slightly, her expression softening. “That’s more like it.”
It felt like a battle had taken place that evening, and Wen Shuyu almost forgot that there was still another person in the car.
They quickly drove back home. “Yingying got out,” she said, turning to explain to Jiang Huaiyu. “She had a fight with Meng Xinhao and is coming over to stay the night.”
The scent of alcohol hung in the air as Jiang Huaiyu helped her gather some documents. “Have you been drinking too?”
Wen Shuyu shot him a look. “Drunk driving is illegal.”
Jiang Huaiyu replied seriously, “If I’m not around, you shouldn’t drink.”
“You’re such a busybody.”
“You can be one too.”
But she wasn’t in the mood to fuss over him.
After freshening up in the master bathroom, Wen Shuyu grabbed her pillow and headed straight to the guest room.
Jiang Huaiyu emerged from the study. “Why are you going to the guest room?”
“I’m sleeping with Yingying,” she replied casually.
This wasn’t Shen Ruoying’s first visit, and she was familiar with the layout of the house. As she returned from the wet bar with a glass of water, she suddenly faced Jiang Huaiyu.
“Jiang Huaiyu, listen up! If you dare to upset Shuyu, I won’t let you off easy. Forget about whoever you used to like!”
With that, she flung the guest room door open and plopped onto the bed, falling asleep instantly.
Wen Shuyu blinked, surprised. “You have someone you like?”
Jiang Huaiyu’s expression faltered for a moment before he quickly regained his composure. “She’s just drunk and rambling.”
But then he thought about it; if Shen Ruoying knew, she would definitely gossip about it later. He reached for the doorknob of the guest room.
Just then, a clear voice pierced the silence behind him. “What if there really is someone?”
Wen Shuyu froze, a smile creeping onto her face as she replied teasingly, “A gentleman never takes what others cherish. I’ll step aside for you two and facilitate your happiness.”
Jiang Huaiyu was taken aback by her bluntness.
Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Too bad there’s no ‘what if.’ The position of Mrs. Jiang belongs only to you, to Wen Shuyu.”