CHAPTER 25

Xu Yi pressed his lips together in a grin.

Even though her words were casual and perfunctory, he still found them satisfying despite the slight sting.

Wen Yang said, “Feelings should be mutual. Right now, I don’t have that kind of special feeling for you. You could try pulling back a little. When I do respond, you can invest more in me again. If I make you feel uncomfortable, you have every right to step back.”

“My love for you is like a balance scale—you can add to it little by little. I’ll wait until we’re even. But I won’t slow down in loving you,” Xu Yi said, glancing at the rearview mirror. “Loving you is like a long-distance race. Even after running many laps, I’ll still be ahead. But I won’t run beside you from the start. I’ll always be a step ahead, always loving you a little more. But in the end, I want us to cross the finish line together.”

Wen Yang couldn’t remain completely indifferent to such words.

In the past, she dismissed love as sentimental nonsense because of her naturally aloof nature. But now, Xu Yi was trying to pull her into his deep emotions, making her consider what it meant to love and be loved.

He always annoyed and frustrated her, yet he also had a way of drawing her closer each time.

She was undeniably drawn to him.

Wen Yang closed her eyes, saying nothing, but feeling slightly irritated again.

—

Xu Yi parked in the underground lot of a shopping mall and took her to the cinema on the top floor.

Outside the theater, two retractable banners displayed movie posters. The walls inside were lined with foreign movie posters, and the screens continuously displayed upcoming showtimes.

They stood at the entrance.

Xu Yi lowered his head to browse movie listings on his phone. He pulled up a page for Wen Yang to see and scrolled through the options, asking, “Sci-fi, adventure, thriller, romance… There’s also a family drama. What do you feel like watching?”

“Romance.”

She wanted to see how other people handled relationships.

“What do you mean?” Xu Yi looked at her with amusement—her answer was unexpected.

Wen Yang didn’t hide her reasoning. “To learn how to be in a relationship.”

Xu Yi felt an itch in his heart. “I’ll learn with you.”

He booked tickets on his phone and picked them up from a self-service kiosk. The screening was at 3:15 p.m., and it was currently 2:20 p.m.

“Want to walk around downstairs?” Xu Yi suggested, thinking they had time.

“Not in the mood.”

They sat on the chairs outside the theater.

As Wen Yang looked at her phone, her gaze was drawn to Xu Yi’s polished leather shoes. She followed the line of his legs—his tailored trousers forming neat creases, his unbuttoned suit, his loosened bow tie…

“Why’d you stop looking?”

The moment he spoke, his cool demeanor was ruined.

“I already looked once.”

Meaning: Nothing interesting enough to warrant a second glance.

“You just said I was handsome in the car, and now you’re taking it back?”

Wen Yang leaned back, resting her head against the wall, before sitting up again. “I forgot to add—you’re even more handsome when you don’t speak.”

“Just admitting I’m handsome is enough for me. I’m not greedy.”

Xu Yi thought, if he didn’t talk, their conversations would stall completely.

—

By the time their movie ended, one group of viewers exited while another entered.

Xu Yi asked, “What time is it?”

“Three ten.”

A notification popped up on Xu Yi’s phone, reminding him to enter the theater.

They walked down the dimly lit corridor. Xu Yi checked the seat numbers. “Here.”

When they entered, Wen Yang’s vision hadn’t adjusted, and everything felt as though covered in darkness. Almost instinctively, Xu Yi reached for her wrist.

“It’s a bit dark.”

Since they booked their tickets late, all the best seats were taken. Xu Yi chose seats in the back.

The movie began—a girl in an off-white linen dress rode a bicycle through a narrow alley. The names of the director, producer, and cast flashed on the screen.

A long take over a minute long followed the girl as she stopped her bike and walked into a courtyard.

Some time later, the audience let out soft sighs and whispers. Wen Yang opened her eyes and adjusted her posture.

On the screen, two pairs of lips lingered in a slow but unhurried kiss before parting.

Suddenly, she felt warmth in her palm. She shifted slightly.

“Awake?” Xu Yi leaned close to her ear.

Her hand, now completely warmed in his grip, reminded her of the on-screen kiss. Not awkward, not intense, not too gentle, not too bland—nothing worth learning from.

“Let’s go.” Wen Yang tightened her hold on his hand.

“The movie’s bad?” Xu Yi tried to ignore the thrill of her grasp.

“The kissing scene wasn’t impressive. Didn’t watch the rest.” She caught his overly serious expression and laughed internally. “I need to go back and pack my things.”

—

At the apartment, Wen Yang packed her few belongings into a suitcase.

Xu Yi asked, “Is this all?”

“Yeah.”

“You left a note saying you went to find your parents. Have you been doing okay these past few years?”

“No real feelings about it.”

Xu Yi didn’t understand. But before he could ask further, the landlord arrived.

The woman, dressed in a red mesh dress, eyed Xu Yi up and down, easily spinning a Cinderella-meets-rich-young-master story in her mind.

She turned to Wen Yang. “That your boyfriend?”

Wen Yang paused deliberately. Xu Yi bit the inside of his cheek. Then she nodded.

The landlord hesitated, then kindly advised, “Keep a backup plan for yourself. Don’t give him everything too soon. If his family doesn’t approve, you’ll be the one who suffers.”

Wen Yang thanked the aunt for her kindness.

Xu Yi carried his suitcase and blanket downstairs, with Wen Yang following behind him empty-handed.

When they reached downstairs, she stopped Xu Yi. “Put them next to the trash bin.”

—

In the villa, Lin Huashan was deep in thought. Wen Yang had said she had known Xu Yi for seven years, and she also knew Xiao Yan. This inevitably made him think back to the time seven years ago when his grandson had gone to the countryside.

He made a call to Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan: “Sir, is there something you need?”

Lin Huashan: “Do you know a girl named Wen Yang?”

Zhang Yuan wasn’t sure whether this was good or bad, so he replied cautiously, “It’s been too long. Maybe I knew her before, but I’ve forgotten by now. Why do you ask, sir?”

Lin Huashan: “Xu Yi has a girlfriend now. Her name is Wen Yang. They’ve known each other since seven years ago. That was when Xu Yi spent some time in the countryside—I just remembered.”

Zhang Yuan continued to play dumb. “That was so long ago. I don’t recall anymore. But it’s good that the young master has found a girlfriend. What do you think of her?”

Lin Huashan: “She’s a nice girl, looks proper, just a bit introverted and not very talkative. But they’ve only been together for a day, and Xu Yi already brought her home.”

Zhang Yuan sighed in relief. “If they’ve known each other for seven years and ended up together, then it’s fate. Once they get married, sir, you’ll be at ease.”

Lin Huashan: “Yes, and it would also fulfill Yiqing’s wish to see her son settle down.”

—

In the car.

“You’re my girlfriend. It’s only natural that I spend money on you.”

“I won the lottery. Even if I don’t have as much as you, I can still spend freely for a lifetime.”

Xu Yi didn’t dare get angry over this. Feeling aggrieved, he said, “The money I earn is meant for you to spend.”

Wen Yang thought for a moment. “As long as you’re happy.”

She felt like she was too unpredictable for Xu Yi—constantly suppressing his gestures wasn’t a good thing.

When they returned to the villa, the housekeeper was cooking. Earlier, the old master had called to ask if Xu Yi would be home for dinner.

Xu Yi had been caught in his own melancholic fantasy, thinking he had upset Wen Yang again. After answering, he remained silent for the rest of the journey.

The old master, seeing them return together, smiled at the well-matched pair and gestured toward the sofa. “Come, sit here.”

Wen Yang’s lips tensed for a moment before she quickly relaxed. Xu Yi noticed her mood and hooked his pinky finger around hers.

She sat down, with Xu Yi close beside her. It wasn’t that she had softened toward him—it was just out of respect for the elder.

“Since you’re both back, I wanted to ask—when do you plan to get married?”

Xu Yi glanced at Wen Yang’s expression. No signs of anger.

Suppressing his inner excitement, he replied, “We want to wait until our relationship is more stable before discussing that. There’s no rush.”

Wen Yang, in her heart, applauded him. Outwardly, she remained composed. “We’re in no hurry.”

The old master smiled, tinged with bitterness. “You have your own plans. Don’t mind me.”

Xu Yi saw through his grandfather’s poor acting. For the first time, he wanted to be on the same side as the old man, but nothing mattered more than Wen Yang. He didn’t want her to feel pressured by family.

Lin Huashan sighed, but when no one comforted him, he quickly dropped the act and shot a glare at his grandson—so spineless.

Just then, a store clerk arrived to deliver clothes. Wen Yang immediately went upstairs, with Xu Yi following behind, claiming he was there to help his girlfriend try them on.

Neither of them wanted to listen to the old man’s nagging.

Coincidentally, the newly hired nanny walked out carrying the just-awake Xiao Yusheng. The old master turned his attention to the baby instead.

—

On the third floor.

Xu Yi stood at the doorway, watching as the store clerk measured Wen Yang’s bust, waist, weight, and height to prepare properly fitted clothes for the next time.

He overheard a string of numbers. Apart from the 172 cm, the rest seemed quite small. He quietly memorized them.

During dinner, Xu Yi kept adding food to Wen Yang’s bowl. Out of respect for the elder, she didn’t protest.

In a low voice, she complained, “I don’t like any of these dishes.”

Xu Yi whispered back, “Then what do you like?”

“Why should I tell you?” she retorted.

“If you don’t tell me, you’ll keep getting food you don’t like.”

Wen Yang chuckled. “Look at you, acting all high and mighty now.”

Xu Yi smirked. “I’ve always been a tiger. I just learned to purr like a cat to chase you.”

Wen Yang was successfully flustered by his sweet talk.

The housekeeper and the old master, overhearing their so-called “secret” conversation, couldn’t help but smile knowingly.

—

That night, after her shower, Wen Yang plugged in the hairdryer to dry her hair. A knock came at the door. She walked over and opened it.

Leaning against the doorframe, she looked at Xu Yi. “What do you want?”

“Your hair isn’t dry.”

“If you hadn’t come, I would’ve dried it myself.”

“Then I’ll wait until you finish.”

She thought he meant he’d return later, but instead, he shamelessly walked in and pushed her back into the room.

Xu Yi sat on the sofa, watching her in her warm white pajamas, hair still damp, his gaze flickering. “I’ll wait for you.”

Did I say something harsh again? Wen Yang wondered as she continued drying her hair.

With the soft hum of the hairdryer as cover, Xu Yi quietly moved behind her, leaning against the vanity, tilting his head as he watched her.

Wen Yang clutched the ends of her hair and said, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“I just wanted to see you. I rescheduled all my meetings to tomorrow, so I’ll be really busy then and won’t have time for you.”

Wen Yang thought, Isn’t it me who keeps him company?

She turned off the dryer, ran her fingers through her semi-dry hair, and unplugged it.

“You’re a CEO. Being busy every day is understandable.”

“And you’re the CEO’s girlfriend. Not thinking about the CEO every day? Unacceptable.”

“So you came just to argue with me?”

“I came to…” He suddenly leaned in, placing his hands on either side of her against the vanity. “The CEO’s girlfriend made a comment after watching a movie today. The CEO remembers it well.”

Wen Yang frowned. “Comment? I didn’t even really watch it—just the beginning and maybe the middle or end of some random part.”

She paused, realizing Xu Yi had remembered her words and waited here just for her.

He touched her lips lightly. “Do you remember now?”

She lowered her head, silent for a long time, before placing her hand over the back of his. Meeting his gaze, she asked, “Trying to take advantage of me?”

Xu Yi spread his fingers, trying to interlock them with hers.

“Can I?”

Can I? Wen Yang asked herself.

She lifted her chin slightly. The answer was yes.

With her free hand, she patted his head. Her lips were soon muffled.

She tried to push him away with her knee, but her body felt weak.

Xu Yi finally stopped, pulled out a tissue, and gently wiped her lips.

Leaning down, he whispered something in her ear, then touched his forehead to hers. “Goodnight.”