Chapter 2: A Nutritious Boost

Jiang Qiyan trembled all over, her delicate shoulder blades fluttering like butterfly wings.

She turned around incredulously to look at the man with a dark expression and immediately cursed at him, shedding all pretenses of grace and elegance in front of others.

“You perverted old bastard, let me go!”

But Chu Yize’s lips curved up involuntarily. The way he looked at her was full of reverence. Sometimes, he truly felt like a devoted believer—one who pledged loyalty only to her.

Jiang Qiyan’s figure was truly remarkable. Years of fitness training had left her with smooth, defined curves. Just one glance from him stirred an overwhelming desire for possession.

Yet, the woman in his arms seemed oblivious to this. She struggled with all her might to break free.

“Let me go!”

Jiang Qiyan’s face flushed red. Though she didn’t want to admit it, Chu Yize’s actions had perfectly catered to one of her… niche preferences.

They had lived together for so many years, and knew each other too well. Just one sentence or a pause, and Chu Yize could tell how she was feeling.

He lowered his head and brought his hand down.

It was both a punishment—for not taking better care of herself—and a kind of flirtation, one unique to their marriage.

“You jerk!”

Jiang Qiyan was furious. She believed Chu Yize didn’t come all the way from the capital to Hengdian out of concern, but to pick a fight. This damn man dared treat her like this? When their son or daughter misbehaved, at most he’d make them kneel or give a few strikes with a ruler. But her? He never treated the kids like he treated her.

And she was his wife! Yet she had it worse than the kids.

Disheveled, her hair a mess over her face, Jiang Qiyan was ready to argue with the bastard. She didn’t believe her sharp tongue couldn’t win this time.

Chu Yize ignored her curses. His little wife might be spoiled and willful, often spewing profanities when annoyed, but she really only had a few go-to insults: “old pervert,” “damn bastard,” “dog man,” and occasionally “filthy animal.”

He actually enjoyed hearing her curse. No one else knew how cute her expressions were when she was swearing. Only he had the privilege of seeing that side of her.

“Little one, I said I just want to talk.”

Jiang Qiyan scrunched her nose. Realizing she couldn’t overpower him, she softened her tone and tried a new tactic. Stretching out her arm in mock grievance, she whined, “Then let go of me first. You hit my wound earlier—it hurts so bad. Tell me honestly, are you trying to kill me so you can marry some young, pretty girl and have two cute sons?”

Chu Yize silently watched her act out the scene, throwing metaphorical mud at him. Honestly, she had talent for acting—could switch to drama mode in seconds.

But since she was willing to yield, he also relented. He released her wrist and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into an embrace.

Jiang Qiyan took the chance to knead his face hard in retaliation. Unfortunately, his skin was smooth and tight—no signs of aging to pinch or twist.

Seeing her still being mischievous, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her, ignoring her protests.

He expertly pried open her lips, savoring her slowly.

It felt to Jiang Qiyuan like he wanted to devour her whole, as if he wished he could absorb her into his own body. She didn’t understand why, even after so many years, he was still this obsessed with her.

“Tongue,” he ordered during a brief moment of breath.

Jiang Qiyan bit his lip hard, tasting a hint of blood before finally smiling in satisfaction. The mood softened between them.

Their kiss deepened, shadows intertwining under the warm, golden light above.

While kissing, Jiang Qiyan mischievously pinched his arm. The muscles were rock solid, a result of his long-term discipline and self-control.

Chu Yize gently held her waist and buried his head in her shoulder, whispering, “Qiyan, come home with me tomorrow. Forget this lousy drama—we’re not filming it anymore.”

He couldn’t stand to see her hurt. This role involved a lot of action scenes, and the thought of her suffering on set pained him.

To him, her only role in life should be his beloved little wife—running her company casually, having fun with her friends in the capital, living the good life.

Jiang Qiyan instantly bristled. This nitpicky man just wanted to trap her at home like a pampered pet.

“I disagree. You can’t control me.”

She shoved him, but he held her fast.

“Look at your arm.” He rolled up her sleeve to reveal bruises. “I only let you work twice. The first time, you almost lost your and our daughter’s lives. The second time, you end up like this.”

She was speechless, glaring at him. “It’s your fault!”

She slapped him twice on the neck, leaving two red marks on his fair skin.

“If you hadn’t been so damn persistent back then, how would I have gotten pregnant by accident? Don’t act like you didn’t know the chances were low with protection. If you’d held back a couple of times, maybe I wouldn’t have ended up pregnant without even knowing!”

At the mention of the past, guilt flickered in Chu Yize’s eyes.

Her second pregnancy had indeed been an accident. Despite using protection, she still got pregnant. He was so remorseful that he even underwent a vasectomy to give her peace of mind. To him, it was the ultimate show of love and protection.

He gently stroked her cheek. “That was my mistake. But I know what’s right now. Just come back to the capital with me. Do whatever you want—I’ll support you.”

Jiang Qiyan found his logic infuriating. He was overbearing, controlling, and never took no for an answer.

She cut to the chase and dropped her trump card: “I think our values don’t match. Let’s get a divorce.”

There it was again. “Divorce.”

Chu Yize narrowed his eyes and gripped her calf tightly. “Qiyan, that’s the second time you said that today. Did you forget what I said?”

“What did you say? You think your words are law? Why should I remember everything you say?”

He closed his eyes. She had threatened divorce countless times. Each time, he would coax her back, then treat her like royalty.

They would argue, fight, she would scratch and bite him, but he never really held it against her.

Chu Yize gently tucked her messy hair behind her ear and leaned close, repeating, “I said if you say ‘divorce’ again, I’ll lock you up.”

The moment he spoke, Jiang Qiyan felt the world spinning.

She didn’t know where she was anymore—only that she felt like she was plunging into deep water, her ears filled with muffled sounds.

Meanwhile, Chu Yize remained clear-headed. He was reasoning with his rebellious wife, trying to convince her to stop filming and come home.

“Hubby…” No matter how stubborn she was, the moment she saw him, her heart softened. She clung to him like a koala, wrapping herself around his neck.

He looked down at her dazed eyes, his voice deep and rich. “Little one.”

She opened her eyes, lips slightly parted. “Hubby.”

Looking down at her, he thought she was like a fox—enchanting and dangerous. Otherwise, after over twenty years, how could he still love her this much?

He’d often wondered if she cast some kind of spell on him. How else could she turn him from a proper gentleman into a beast with just one glance?

“Little minx.” He gently grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head.

She giggled innocently and leaned in for another kiss.

Sensing her intent, Chu Yize chuckled and changed tactics, pressing his lips to hers again.

“Are you going to behave?” he asked during the kiss.

Jiang Qiyan bit her lip. “Yes, yes, hubby.”

Satisfied, Chu Yize kissed her cheek. To him, she was the delicate flower he nurtured—his precious little wife who deserved the best of everything.

They hadn’t seen each other in half a month since she defied him and joined the production crew. He missed her terribly and just wanted her to come home.

The evening breeze drifted in, making Jiang Qiyan shiver.

He immediately wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead, nose, lips, and collarbone.

This was their norm—no matter how intense the fight, tenderness always followed.

Only at times like these did Jiang Qiyan feel he acted human, treating her like a treasure and soothing her little moods.

And only then was his temper gentle.

She snuggled into his chest, her voice soft. “Hubby, I really love acting. Can you not make it hard for me?”

From the age of sixteen, she’d stumbled into acting. Through her twenties, she made her way in the industry, but with stiff competition, she never really rose to fame.

When she became pregnant with their daughter, Chu Jinlan, she didn’t even know she was expecting and collapsed from low blood sugar during a shoot. That near-miscarriage pushed her to quit and move behind the scenes, where she eventually built her own successful film company—Yueyuan Entertainment.

Her comeback in the series “Atop the Canglang” was due to director Su Jue’s persuasion. The role of antagonist Ling Xue was hard to cast, and Su Jue thought no one fit better than Jiang Qiyan herself.

She agreed, thinking it would be fun and refreshing to act again.

But Chu Yize, possessive to the core, refused to let her film. Claiming it was for her own good, he restricted her freedom.

She believed he had selfish motives. When she was on set, he couldn’t see her or touch her.

She could’ve easily not taken the role. But once he said “no,” her rebellious side kicked in. She’d rather threaten divorce than stay home obediently.

As she gushed about her passion for acting, Chu Yize lazily twirled her hair around his fingers.

“Qiyan, I’m doing this for you,” he said dotingly.

Realizing he wouldn’t back down, Jiang Qiyan dropped the sweetness, pinned him down, and bit him hard on the shoulder.

She only stopped when she left a neat row of teeth marks.

Content, she wiped her mouth and kicked his leg. “Dog man, I don’t need your control.”

Chu Yize looked at the bite mark, amused. She was like a little pup—biting to mark what was hers.

Wasn’t this just another way of saying she loved him?

And yet she kept threatening divorce. As if she could actually leave him.

He thought she was throwing another childish tantrum, but he liked her this way. To him, she was like a daughter—he doted on her more than on their own child.

With that in mind, Chu Yize decided not to argue anymore. As the older one, he should let his immature wife have her way.

Let her play out her rebellion. So long as she was safe, she’d come back to him eventually.

He grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his arms again, and kissed her lips. “Be good, baby. Call me.”

Jiang Qiyan stared wide-eyed, her amber pupils reflecting his figure.

This damn man! Just from his tone and gaze, she knew he was going crazy again—he wanted her to call him daddy.

(Dear Admin, can’t a married couple joke around anymore?)

Pfft!

This authoritarian bastard—she’d never give in to him.

“In your dreams!”

Then suddenly, a thought struck her.

She angrily grabbed tissues from the nightstand. “Pervert! Always taking advantage of me. Why don’t you try calling me mommy for once?”