Chapter 48: Tidying Up

Wen Shuyu’s gaze shifted to the window, watching the streaks of clouds stretched out by the planes in the sky. Her thoughts drifted back to the day Lu Yunheng left—a day of clear skies with the same arc in the distance.

But the world had changed, and so had her mindset.

Wen Shuyu curved her lips into a faint smile, “No need, just call me if anything comes up.”

Her tone was filled with a sense of detachment, like the winter evening sun—appearing warm, but with no actual warmth, chilling when it touches the skin.

Lu Yunheng stared at the woman in front of him, feeling a mix of unfamiliarity and familiarity—like the brief glance in the hospital, or the profile at a school reunion.

Her features had lost some of their softness, gaining a more refined, dazzling beauty.

Years had passed, and people change.

Lu Yunheng refused to give up. “How about WeChat? It’s more convenient.”

These days, very few people make phone calls, and there aren’t many phone numbers saved in his contacts.

He wouldn’t bother her, nor would he disturb her, but he just wanted to see her recent updates through her Moments.

Wen Shuyu remained firm in her refusal. “I don’t want to make my husband unhappy. After all, it’s a fact that I once liked you. Putting myself in others’ shoes, no one wants their partner to stay in contact with someone they once liked. Besides, there’s no need for us to stay in touch.”

Since their reunion, this was the most she had spoken to him.

Although it was a rejection.

This attitude, as always, reflected her personality—if she didn’t want to do something, no one could force her.

When she said she liked Jiang Huaiyu, she really did like him, always considering his feelings.

Lu Yunheng no longer insisted. “I’ll head back first. Thank you for your trouble.”

Her meaning was clear: there was no point in pushing further.

Wen Shuyu nodded, “No need to see me off.”

The fact that she could speak to him this calmly was the greatest concession. In other words, it was because she truly didn’t care anymore that she was able to remain so composed.

About five minutes later, the door to Wen Shuyu’s office was knocked on. She thought it was her assistant and casually said, “Come in.”

She continued to focus on organizing the case.

The sound of footsteps was absorbed by the soft carpet. After the door opened, no one spoke. Only then did Wen Shuyu lift her head, and she saw a distinguished and familiar face.

She fell into a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Wen Shuyu put down her pen, stood up, and rushed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. “What are you doing here?”

It had only been a few hours since they parted in the morning, but it felt like a long time.

Perhaps it was because her conversation with Lu Yunheng hadn’t gone well. Seeing Jiang Huaiyu now felt especially comforting.

Jiang Huaiyu was knocked slightly backward by her sudden movement, but he still steadied her with ease. “I came because I missed you.”

He had arrived ten minutes earlier. At that time, Wen Shuyu and Lu Yunheng were discussing something, and he vaguely overheard them talking about exchanging contact information. He had stood at the door for a moment to listen.

At first, he had been genuinely worried. Lu Yunheng’s reasons were valid—they had once had feelings for each other. Would Wen Shuyu soften her heart?

Thankfully, thankfully…

“Tell me, what’s going on?” Wen Shuyu knew him well. He wouldn’t come over to her office without a reason.

Saying he missed her was just something he used to coax her.

Jiang Huaiyu lowered his head to kiss her lips, “I need to go to Hong Kong City for a bit, the afternoon flight—I won’t make it in time, so I came over to tell you.”

His lips brushed against hers, not daring to kiss her too forcefully, lest it stir something he couldn’t put out.

“Oh,” Wen Shuyu said, releasing him. Worried that Jiang Huaiyu might lose control, she added, “You could just say it over the phone. Why come all the way here?”

Jiang Huaiyu grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace. “I wanted to see you.”

His deep voice fell near her ear.

Wen Shuyu’s earlobe, exposed to the air, turned slightly pink.

From childhood to adulthood, aside from university, even during their years of estrangement in high school, they had almost seen each other every day.

It seemed he couldn’t get enough of her, specially coming over just to say this.

Wen Shuyu couldn’t withstand his gaze—his deep, smiling peach blossom eyes—so intense. “Mr. Jiang, go catch your flight. I’ll be here waiting for you to come back.”

Her slender fingers tightened around the last button of his shirt.

She pulled the hair tie off her hair, letting it fall. “Put the little hair tie back on, Mr. Jiang. You’re a married man.”

Her hair spilled over her shoulders like a goddess’s flowing tresses.

The office building used single-pane glass, so the inside couldn’t be seen from the outside.

The sunlight was filtered through the glass, casting a soft glow on the brown carpet.

Jiang Huaiyu held her neck, his heated breath brushing against her face. “What should I do? I can’t bear to leave.”

Wen Shuyu unbuttoned one of his shirt buttons, just enough to avoid him suffocating, her nails grazing over his Adam’s apple. “Mr. Jiang, you’re a person who accomplishes great things. How can you indulge in romantic affairs?”

“Indulge in ‘fish’ love affairs.”

Jiang Huaiyu captured her lips, retreating to the two-person sofa. He pulled Wen Shuyu onto his lap, pressing her head back into his chest.

Because they were about to part, Jiang Huaiyu kissed her aggressively, exploring every inch of her mouth like he was conquering a city.

Out of habit and instinct, his lips moved down, kissing her earlobe, neck, and the soft edge of her skin through her clothes.

A soft sound of “mm” escaped from the woman’s mouth.

It was filled with restraint.

Jiang Huaiyu’s inner restlessness spread, running wild and unchecked. If he didn’t stop now, he wouldn’t be able to leave at all. Reluctantly, he pulled away from Wen Shuyu.

When they separated, a thin strand of saliva connected their lips.

She didn’t have a break room here.

“How about you?” Wen Shuyu sat on his lap, and Jiang Huaiyu kept pressing her into his arms, the man’s strange reaction directly evident to her.

The sunlight outside was intense, as if it were spying on every move they made.

They had been tearing at each other’s clothes for a while, but in such a public place, this was their first time.

The sunlight was blinding, flashing into her eyes.

On the other side of the door were her colleagues in the office.

Jiang Huaiyu quietly held her, not daring to touch her inappropriately. “Just hold on a little longer, I’ll move you to another office, one with a resting room.”

When Wen Shuyu realized what he meant, her face turned bright red. “I don’t want that, your place doesn’t even have a resting room.”

Jiang Huaiyu teased her, “What if it did? Would that be okay?”

“Still no,” she said, refusing to indulge in such public displays.

They silently hugged for ten minutes, but it had no effect. Wen Shuyu got up from his lap. “You can take your time.”

His suit pants were wrinkled beyond recognition.

She felt damp.

Her short skirt gathered at her thighs, and the hidden button of her top had been torn open, revealing the beige lace trim. She lowered her head to adjust her hair, clothes, and lipstick.

There was still the lingering scent of pine wood from him. She turned her head and breathed in the air nearby, finally regaining her composure.

Wen Shuyu opened the door and went out. Two minutes later, she returned holding a bottle of cold mineral water.

“Calm down a bit.” She threw the bottle directly into Jiang Huaiyu’s arms.

She was afraid that if he held her again, they wouldn’t be able to leave at all.

It was better if he couldn’t see her. Jiang Huaiyu gulped down the entire bottle of water, finally managing to suppress the remaining heat within him.

“That’s just treating the symptoms, not the root cause.”

Wen Shuyu tilted her head and smiled, glancing at his pants, then pulled him up. “If it works, then that’s fine. You should leave now.”

She gave him the “get out” signal and pushed him out of the office.

“Take care at home. Call me if something happens…” she was interrupted by Wen Shuyu, “I know, I’m the same age as you.”

Jiang Huaiyu lightly tapped her head. “I’m used to it. I’m leaving now.”

Finally, the clingy person was sent off.

Meanwhile, Lu Yunheng and Lin Yuhua arrived at a relatively new apartment complex, the wedding house that his parents had bought for him.

It wasn’t very large, about 120 square meters, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

What made it stand out was its excellent location, very close to the hospital.

It had been vacant before, without being rented out.

Lin Yuhua was busy preparing lunch in the kitchen. “Son, let it go that Lawyer Wen is married. Her relationship is fine, and we shouldn’t cause any trouble for others. In the end, it’s because of me that you’re like this.”

She raised her hand to wipe away her tears.

Lu Yunheng patted his mother’s shoulder. “Mom, it has nothing to do with you. It’s because I lack confidence.”

In high school, his only goal was to get into a good university, to stand out, and for his mother to get a divorce as soon as possible.

He never expected that he would fall for Wen Shuyu. Her cheerfulness brought light to the gloomy three years of his high school life.

But he didn’t have the courage to start.

He knew how great the difference between them was, but he couldn’t bear to part from her.

He wanted to stand at the top, but a person can’t live on dreams alone. He didn’t know how to approach Wen Shuyu, so he just didn’t say anything.

Because he knew that if he spoke, she might agree to go with him. With his financial situation, he would have to work and study hard. How could a little princess bear to endure such hardship with him?

He quietly prepared to go abroad while pretending nothing was wrong.

A long pain is worse than a short one.

The dean’s daughter was just a cover.

After wiping his face, Lu Yunheng helped Lin Yuhua with the cooking.

The weather was fine today, and the flight had not been delayed.

Jiang Huaiyu sent a voice message: “I’m about to board.” His magnetic and clear voice came through the line.

Wen Shuyu pressed the voice message button. “I’ll miss you.”

“I miss you.” From the moment we parted, I started thinking about you.

Wen Shuyu put down her phone and began organizing Lin Yuhua’s information. She had spent her whole life trapped in her family, with all her thoughts focused on her son and husband.

It wasn’t a wealthy family. They lived in a resettlement house in the city, and there was nothing particularly special about their shared property—just a single apartment under Lu Yunheng’s name.

For these years, the family’s main source of income had been Lu Zhiyong.

According to Lin Yuhua, the couple’s relationship had been troubled for many years, with minor arguments every two days and major fights every three days.

No wonder Lu Yunheng didn’t like to talk about his family. After she found out where his family lived in high school, he became distant.

But now, none of this concerned her. Her relationship with Lu Yunheng was simply that of a lawyer and the son of a client—nothing more.

There was no affair, no domestic violence. The current task was to gather enough evidence of emotional breakdown to have the upper hand in court.

Wen Shuyu bit the pen, listening to the recording while organizing the files. The afternoon passed quickly, and as Jiang Huaiyu landed in Harbor City, he called her.

“I’ve arrived.”

“Go rest at the hotel. I’m off work too.”

“Baby, you’re not going to say you miss me?”

Jiang Huaiyu’s voice on the other end of the line was teasing.

“Didn’t we just part?” Wen Shuyu thought to herself, never realizing before how clingy Jiang Huaiyu could be.

She looked up and gazed out the window. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the deep blue sky was dotted with scattered stars.

Jiang Huaiyu picked up his suitcase with one hand and pressed, “So, do you miss me?”

Wen Shuyu closed her laptop. “Yes, is that enough?”

Her response was too dismissive, and through the phone line, Jiang Huaiyu could already guess her expression.

Jiang Huaiyu, exasperated, chuckled. “Wen Yuyu, you’re really being dismissive.”

Wen Shuyu laughed louder. “Yeah, you’re in Harbor City right now, and there’s nothing you can do to me.”

She was purposely provoking him, challenging him.

There was a brief pause in the call, and Wen Shuyu heard the sounds of the airport announcement in the background.

Along with that, Jiang Huaiyu’s smooth voice floated into her ears.

“I’ll deal with you when I get back.”

Wen Shuyu tilted her chin up. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

She was taking advantage of the fact that he couldn’t fly back right now, being playful.

“You’re done for, Wen Yuyu.” His relaxed tone had a hint of hoarseness.

“Oh.”

Her response grew even more dismissive, and Jiang Huaiyu, filled with frustration, wished he could fly back and properly handle her.

The airplane took off outside the window. Jiang Huaiyu glanced to the side, and the plane that had taken off earlier happened to pass through the full moon, merging with it in the sky.

He raised his wrist to check the time. “Yuyu, it’s been 9 hours.”

Wen Shuyu, confused, asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Huaiyu’s clear and smooth voice came through softly. “It’s been 9 hours since we parted, and I’ve thought about you for 9 hours.”

Every moment apart, I’ve been thinking of you.

Wen Shuyu’s heart skipped a beat. She exhaled softly and glanced at the sky outside the window.

The bright moon hung high, another night of the full moon.

“I miss you too.”

She checked the time, making sure it wouldn’t disturb Jiang Huaiyu’s rest, and quickly added, “You should go eat now, I’m heading home.”

Jiang Huaiyu replied, “Text me when you get home.”

Before, Song Jinnan didn’t understand Jiang Huaiyu’s behavior, but since Fu Qingzi stopped responding to him, he completely understood.

Now, he was the one anxiously waiting for a reply from someone else. The message he sent to Fu Qingzi had vanished into silence.

It truly proved the saying: “It’s not that the reply won’t come, it’s just that the time has not yet arrived.”

After the call ended, Wen Shuyu packed up her things and left work.

Cheng Xianzhi and Meng Man went on a business trip, so no one was there to have dinner with her.

It would be a hassle for the housekeeper to come over just to cook for one person, so Wen Shuyu gave her the day off and decided to eat out instead.

This went on for several days.

Late at night, in the quiet stillness, Wen Shuyu counted the days Jiang Huaiyu had been gone. Bored out of her mind, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She got out of bed to stretch and hoped that if she exercised a little, she might eventually tire herself out enough to sleep.

Passing by the walk-in closet, a thought suddenly flashed in her mind. She pulled out a box from the bottom of the wardrobe and found the lingerie Fu Qingzi had given her.

A butterfly-themed lingerie set, with several strands of pearl chains, which she fumbled with for a long time before managing to put it on.

As she walked past the full-length mirror, she was startled by her own reflection.

She hadn’t put on any makeup, but because of the embarrassment, her cheeks were tinged with a natural pink, giving her a blush-like appearance.

Wen Shuyu sat at the edge of the bed, adjusted her phone camera, and took a selfie.

She hovered, hesitating in Jiang Huaiyu’s chat, wavering for a long time. Then, with a deep breath and a determined heart, she pressed the green send button.

She threw the phone onto the bed and didn’t look at it again.

Pulling the blanket over herself, she went to sleep.

This was the boldest thing she had ever done.

Less than two minutes later, the phone rang, its sound especially sharp in the quiet, late-night room. Wen Shuyu jolted, staring at the flashing screen.

She didn’t dare pick up the call; she chickened out.

The ringtone stopped, but the phone rang again. Wen Shuyu picked it up, pretending to be asleep. “So tired, I’m already asleep.”

“Wen Yuyu, so you dare to send it but not admit it, huh?”

Even from thousands of kilometers away, Wen Shuyu could almost hear Jiang Huaiyu’s voice through gritted teeth.

Wen Shuyu forced herself to stay calm. “It’s just a photo, what’s the big deal? Not like you haven’t seen it before.”

Jiang Huaiyu’s tone was lazy. “Never seen the ‘butterfly fish’ before, baby. Are you still wearing it?”

He was staying in a double room with Song Jinnan, each having their own bedroom.

Wen Shuyu nodded. “Mhm.”

“Turn on the video.” Jiang Huaiyu leaned against the window, gazing out at the vast night sky, his heart restless.

The other side of the call fell silent for a moment, before Jiang Huaiyu spoke, coaxing, “Baby, I want to see.”

The night was too quiet, too empty, and Wen Shuyu, almost by instinct, agreed to his unreasonable request.

The video call was quickly connected. Wen Shuyu’s phone camera faced the wall, her fingers gripping the blanket.

Jiang Huaiyu couldn’t see anything. He suggested, “Baby, turn the camera around.”

His tone carried a hint of command.

Wen Shuyu obediently switched the camera. Jiang Huaiyu took a glance and almost threw the phone across the room.

If the shock brought by the photo was like fireworks, then the shock of the video was like an atomic bomb.

The butterfly-winged style of the outfit covered the soft rise and fall, leaving the rest of her body exposed.

In the dim light, the wings shimmered with a radiant glow, her hair spread over her shoulders and neck.

Her cheeks were increasingly flushed, like full, ripe cherries.

Her embarrassment was completely laid bare before his eyes.

“Baby, I’m so hard right now.” From the moment Jiang Huaiyu saw her photo, his blood ran wild and uncontrollable.

As soon as he spoke, his voice was hoarse, full of gravel.

Wen Shuyu nervously fiddled with her fingers and said, “Well, looks like Mr. Jiang will have to handle it on his own. I’m going to sleep now.”

No one could blame her; her goal had been achieved.

Jiang Huaiyu asked, “Are we doing a video call?”

“Isn’t this a video call?” Wen Shuyu vaguely understood what he meant.

She hurriedly added, “Good night, Huaiyu-ge, no, wait, hubby, love you, miss you.”

She intentionally softened her voice, then threw in one last tease, quickly ending the video call.

She was avenging her weekend, making him suffer for how ridiculous he had been.

Jiang Huaiyu: “Wen Yuyu, you’re really done for. When you get back, you’re not getting out of bed.”

Wen Shuyu: “Heh heh heh.” She sent a voice message, speaking in a high-pitched voice: “Hubby, I’m all clean and waiting for you.”

After the playful exchange, a yawn came over her, so she quickly muted the phone and peacefully went to sleep.

Jiang Huaiyu was helpless and had no choice but to go back into the bathroom for a cold shower.

Facing the photos, he took care of it himself.

On the fourth day of Jiang Huaiyu’s stay in the harbor city, Wen Shuyu had eaten her way around all the shops near Qinhé Garden. Without realizing it, she had driven her car to a spot near the school.

Looking up, she saw a familiar name—Nan Cheng Noodle Shop, a small place she used to frequent when she was in school.

The shop had a new sign and interior, and she wondered if it was still run by the same owner.

Wen Shuyu pushed open the glass door and was greeted by a familiar face. The owner paused for two seconds when he saw her, then smiled and greeted her, “Little girl, long time no see.”

It was nearly 8 p.m., and there weren’t many customers in the shop—just a few students scattered around.

Wen Shuyu sat at the farthest corner. “Boss, you still remember me?”

The owner’s wife spoke up, “Of course I remember. You used to come here all the time, and there was a guy with you. Every time you came, he came too.”

The boy she came with—could it have been Lu Yunheng? He didn’t usually go out to eat with her.

There was only one other possibility.

“What did he look like?” Wen Shuyu pulled up a photo of their marriage certificate on her phone and handed it to the owner’s wife. “Is it him?”

The owner’s wife thought for a moment. “Ah, yes, yes, it’s this young man.”

Wen Shuyu grew anxious. “Are you sure?”

The owner confirmed confidently, “We’re in the business of serving people; we’re really good at remembering faces. You can’t go wrong.”

Wen Shuyu ordered a large bowl of noodles with a generous amount of chili, but she couldn’t taste anything. Her mind was completely occupied by the owner’s wife’s words.

She couldn’t figure out why Jiang Huaiyu would follow her. Even if it was because of his parents’ request, there was no need for him to follow her every day.

And she came to eat noodles before evening self-study, not after returning home at night.

Before she knew it, her noodles were gone, and the taste was just like she remembered.

Then another man walked in and sat at a table behind Wen Shuyu. Her attention was entirely on Jiang Huaiyu, so she didn’t notice that the person behind her was Lu Yunheng.

Wen Shuyu absentmindedly paid and continued to think about the strange situation.

Behind her, the owner’s wife proudly said to the owner, “I told you they would get married, didn’t I? See, they really did.”

“I remember one time, she came in on a weekend, and the guy was with her too.”

Back home, she continued to replay the conversation in her mind, vaguely recalling what the owner and his wife had said.

What did “see, they really did” mean? Why would Jiang Huaiyu be with him on the weekend too?

There were too many mysteries, and for a moment, she didn’t know where to start unraveling them. Thinking too much, she decided to go to the study to work instead.

Wen Shuyu couldn’t find the USB drive she had brought back from the office. It wasn’t in her bag, and after searching through several drawers without success, she had no choice but to look in the cabinet.

She was 100% sure it wasn’t in there, but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to overlook any possible place.

Wen Shuyu pulled open the bottom drawer, but it wouldn’t budge. The more it wouldn’t open, the more curious she became.

She went to the drawer to find the key, and inside the cabinet was a locked box that Jiang Huaiyu had hidden and refused to let her see.

Rationality told her not to open it, but her curiosity pushed her to try.

The box had a four-digit combination lock. Wen Shuyu tried their birthdays, their wedding anniversary, and the date they registered for marriage, but none of them worked, so she reluctantly gave up.

As she put the box back in the cabinet, a piece of paper fluttered out.

It clearly read: Nan Cheng First Hospital, Patient: Jiang Huaiyu, Request: Vasectomy, Date: When Liangshi Technology had the accident.