Chapter 40: Is it sudden?

The next morning, Wen Ya woke up in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed. She stared at the ceiling, blinking, then glanced at Ji Ming sleeping beside her. Remembering the previous night, she felt a bit embarrassed. Quietly, she got up, planning to dress and slip away before he woke.

“You took advantage of me, and now you’re running away?” Ji Ming’s deep, hoarse voice broke the silence.

Wen Ya turned back, pursing her lips. “Who’s running? I’m just going to the bathroom.” She grabbed her clothes and hurried to the bathroom.

As she sat on the toilet, lost in thought, Ji Ming knocked on the door. “Xiao Ya, are you okay?”

Realizing she’d been in there too long, Wen Ya quickly showered, changed, and stepped out. Ji Ming was already dressed, waiting for her.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked, his eyes scanning her with concern.

Wen Ya glared at him. “I’m fine. I’m just hungry. What’s for breakfast?”

“Isn’t it supposed to hurt the first time? Should I carry you downstairs?” Ji Ming teased.

Wen Ya rolled her eyes. “I’m fine, really.” It was a bit uncomfortable, but nothing like the exaggerated stories she’d heard.

Ji Ming’s apartment was spacious, with one unit per floor, offering great privacy. The design was simple yet cozy, clearly a place he called home.

“Do you live here alone?” Wen Ya asked, looking around.

“Yes. A big house feels too empty. This place is close to the company, so I stay here unless I’m visiting my grandpa,” Ji Ming explained, rolling up his sleeves and heading to the kitchen.

Wen Ya sat for a while, flipping through channels, then wandered to the kitchen. She leaned against the doorframe, watching Ji Ming skillfully wash and chop vegetables, with water boiling in a pot.

“Are you hungry? Noodles will be quick. What kind do you like?” Ji Ming asked, glancing at her.

Wen Ya was surprised. “You can cook? Last time you said your dream was to be a chef. I didn’t think you’d actually learned it.”

“I apprenticed under a master. My skills are decent. You’ll have to try it and let me know,” Ji Ming said, choosing thin noodles for easier digestion.

When the noodles were served, Wen Ya was impressed. The aroma and presentation were perfect.

After the first bite, she paused, then took a few more. “This tastes just like the noodles from Azure Villa. Did you apprentice under their chef?” she asked, shocked.

Ji Ming smiled. “When I was younger, I wanted to be a chef, but my parents didn’t approve. Later, I found a master and learned. I have some talent, so I occasionally act as the head chef at Azure Villa. The first time we met, I hadn’t visited my master in a while, so I went early. He asked me to cook, and it just happened to be for you. The second time, I made it especially for you because you seemed to enjoy it so much.”

Wen Ya couldn’t believe it. It was really him—”That little carrot?”

“The Jiaren Club is run by my cousin. Once, by chance, he tried my pickled radishes and liked them so much that he asked me to make more for him. I use pickling as a way to relieve stress. I have plenty at home, so I gave them all to him.” He had never shared this with anyone before, but since Wen Ya asked, he saw no reason to hide it.

This method of stress relief… was so unique! But she liked it.

“What other ways do you have to relieve stress?” Wen Ya asked eagerly.

Ji Ming gently tapped her forehead and then rubbed it. “My way of relieving stress is cooking—making lots of dishes and cleaning the house.”

Wen Ya’s eyes sparkled. Her way of relieving stress was sleeping and eating.

She really admired Ji Ming’s approach. She never imagined someone would use such a “self-disciplined” method to unwind. It seemed their different upbringings led to opposite ways of coping. For example, she thought about how to relax and be lazy, while he focused on staying busy.

Well, she had to admit it again—she loved his way of relieving stress.

She really… loved it so much!

After finishing the noodles and soup, Wen Ya let out a satisfied sigh.

“Do you want to move in?”

Just kidding. Although she didn’t see anything wrong with their relationship, moving in together felt too fast, and they were fundamentally different.

“I have more free time on weekends, so I can cook bigger dishes—like Dongpo pork, squirrel fish, lion’s head, or Buddha jumps over the wall… I tend to eat a lot on weekends, so I’ll keep it light on Monday. How about shrimp dumpling porridge in the morning? For lunch… maybe some vegetarian dishes, and a bowl of noodles in the evening. On Tuesday…”

“Stop, don’t say anymore.” Wen Ya swallowed hard. This man was too cunning—using food as bait.

Ji Ming moved closer, wrapping his arms around her and holding her against his chest. “Aren’t you tempted?”

Wen Ya hesitated for three seconds, then shook her head. “No, I have to go home.”

“I’m just teasing you.” Ji Ming smiled. “Just tell me what you want to eat in the future, and I’ll have Xiao He deliver it to you.”

“Well, I won’t hold back then. Oh, and give me some pickled radishes. My mom likes them too.”

Hearing that his future mother-in-law also enjoyed them, Ji Ming had no reason to refuse—not that he ever would.

“I’ll pickle some radishes for you tomorrow.” Ji Ming hugged her and added, “But you should eat less pickled food. It’s not good for your health. Understand?”

“I know~~” Wen Ya drew out her words, and the two shared a look before tumbling back onto the bed…

Holding Ji Ming, Wen Ya thought he was the perfect fit for the “overbearing CEO” trope.

“Take a nap.” Ji Ming held her close. It was the first time he didn’t want to get up—he had never slept in before.

By the time Ji Ming dropped Wen Ya off at her place, it was already noon. Now, everyone in the company knew they had spent the night together, and the “battle” was so intense that both CEOs were late. Ji’s side would likely hear about it soon.

But this was a normal relationship, and Wen Ya didn’t feel the need to be shy. If people had a problem with it, they shouldn’t talk about relationships at all.

Back in her office, Wen Ya had just sat down when Ji Ming called. She shook her head, amused. She never knew Ji Ming could be so clingy.

“I just got news that Wang Chenxi was gang-raped in the countryside, and… her face was scratched. The Wang family is investigating, and I’ll keep an eye on it too. You must never go out alone—always bring bodyguards.” When Ji Ming heard about Wang Chenxi, he immediately thought of the danger Wen Ya had faced before. Would she suffer the same fate?

“You… what did you say?” Wen Ya clutched her chest. This was exactly what she had feared.

“I think the other party will come after you again. Be careful. I’ll find them as soon as possible.” Ji Ming frowned, unhappy with the situation.

Right after hanging up, Wen Ya received an update from the detective agency she had hired.

Most of the people who had harmed Bai Yunzhu were students from Nancheng Middle School. Their identities could be traced through school records. Among them was a leader—Wang Chenxi’s former follower, Wang Qian. She had been disfigured in an accident while working during college and took out high-interest loans for plastic surgery. To repay the debt, she became a call girl. Now, under the name Wang Nana, she was the mistress of a wealthy man in his fifties, living in Nancheng.

The others had similar stories—plastic surgery, changed appearances, and involvement in illegal industries.

Wen Ya felt a chill run down her spine and immediately made another call.

“Have you found any leads on what I asked you to investigate?”

“Bai Yunzhu’s family isn’t in Country A anymore. They moved away a year after settling here. I finally tracked their address after the move, but they only stayed for two years before leaving for another country. As Chinese expats, they kept to themselves, so no one knows where they went. But I’ll keep digging.”

“Okay, as soon as possible.” Wen Ya hung up, clasped her hands under her chin, and sank into deep thought.