Chapter 56: Since You’re Asleep, I’ll Just Do This and That..

“I’m open-minded about it. Our ancestors used to say ‘Children have their own fortunes,’ and there’s wisdom in that,” Su’s father said slowly. “We’re not Jinshi, we can’t decide what kind of life she should lead. If she prefers being single and thinks it’s better for her, then let her be. The most important thing is that the child is happy.”

“Getting married and having children like everyone else might put our minds at ease, but what’s the use if the child herself isn’t happy?”

Su Jinshi had never realised her father thought this way.

She hurriedly dusted off some flour from her palms and ran to hug her father. “Dad, you’re the best.”

“Your dad is good because he says what you want to hear. I’m not so good; you don’t like what I say,” Su’s mother interjected, her face showing displeasure.

“Mom, you’re good too,” Su Jinshi quickly reassured her mother. “But it would be even better if you didn’t rush me about dating and marriage.”

“Forget it; I won’t argue with you anymore,” Su’s mother huffed, glaring at Su’s father.

Always causing trouble.

He might be the good guy now, making their daughter happy, but what use would all that money be when she got older and struggled to find a partner? Without children, wouldn’t the money just benefit others?

Su’s father grinned innocently at Su’s mother, pretending not to know anything.

Su Jinshi stood by, holding her mother’s arm and stifling a laugh.

That evening, before the Spring Festival Gala ended, Su’s parents were too tired to stay awake any longer.

Their family didn’t have the custom of staying up on New Year’s Eve; they would eat dumplings the next morning.

Fireworks and firecrackers were banned in the capital, so it was unusually quiet outside.

Su’s parents went to bed first.

Only then did Su Jinshi go to the liquor cabinet.

Looking at the beer, red wine, and white wine in the cabinet, she thought for a moment. The people of Great Xi always drank white wine.

So she took a bottle of white wine and quietly grabbed a small wine cup before heading back to her bedroom.

After securely closing the door, she went to check on Shen Shilang.

Great Xi’s time was the same as hers now, but its people usually went to bed early.

However, tonight was different; it was New Year’s Eve, and they valued staying up late.

So, even if the they usually slept early, they would stay up tonight…

As soon as she entered Wei’s residence, Su Jinshi noticed that the hospital area was brightly lit, with lively chatter and laughter.

The main courtyard had dismissed all the servants, keeping them for after they finished eating and drinking.

Thus, the servants had time to gather together, drink a little, and celebrate the New Year.

Su Jinshi didn’t check on the main courtyard but went straight to Shen Shilang’s small courtyard.

The small courtyard was eerily quiet with no lights on; even inside the room was pitch black.

Even Su Jinshi couldn’t see clearly inside.

“Shen Shilang?” Su Jinshi called out.

Its New Year’s Eve, Shen Shilang couldn’t have gone out, right?

“Shen Shilang?” She called again as she approached his bed.

In the darkness, she could vaguely see a human-shaped figure on the bed, lying on its side facing away from her.

“Shen Shilang, are you asleep?” Su Jinshi asked.

Shen Shilang didn’t reply, so Su Jinshi said, “Since you’re asleep, I’ll just do this and that. It’s New Year’s Eve; I want to have some fun too.”

With that, she went to pull Shen Shilang’s blanket.

Su Jinshi tugged once but couldn’t budge it.

“Why are you pretending to sleep?” She playfully slapped his bottom over the blanket.

The slap made Shen Shilang flinch slightly, his whole body startled.

After a moment, Shen Shilang turned back, his clear dark eyes looking at Su Jinshi. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

“I promised you I would come,” Su Jinshi replied. “Did you think I wouldn’t come? Were you upset?”

“No,” Shen Shilang shook his head and said softly. “Just a bit disappointed.”

“Shen Shilang.” Su Jinshi called seriously. “I will never do anything to disappoint you. Ever.”

“I know; you still have to be with your family.” In the darkness, Shen Shilang’s voice was low, making Su Jinshi’s heart ache.

She reached out and gently poked his cheek. “Sorry, I should have come earlier.”

Shen Shilang shook his head; how could he ask her to give up her family for him?**

Su Jinshi continued asking: “Didn’t you go to the main courtyard tonight? Were you alone here? Didn’t Wei Zhaoxian come to call for you?”

“I went to the main courtyard, but I felt out of place after some time. So I found an opportunity to leave,” Shen Shilang explained.

Staying too short a time would make him seem pretentious and spoil Wei Zhaoxian and Wei Jianlang’s mood. But staying too long would clearly make Madam Wei, Wei Jianming, and Wei Ruyan unhappy.

In such an atmosphere, it was better to be alone.

“So how long have you been back?” Su Jinshi asked.

“Not long—about an hour,” Shen Shilang replied. “I didn’t want to spoil their mood.”

Su Jinshi sighed; after all, living in someone else’s home, Shen Shilang didn’t even dare to show any dissatisfaction.

“So do you want to rest now or eat something with me?” She asked him.

Shen Shilang immediately sat up; the blanket slipped down, revealing his inner garment.

He had a bit of a cleanliness obsession, so he never slept in his clothes—even for such a short time, he always changed first.

Shen Shilang hurriedly grabbed the blanket to cover himself up again.

Su Jinshi unceremoniously yanked down his blanket and even skillfully tugged at his inner garment collar, revealing a large expanse of Shen Shilang’s chest muscles, extending downwards to show two abdominal muscles.

Su Jinshi admired Shen Shilang’s physique with satisfaction—especially paired with his stunningly handsome face that seemed unreal. In her world, she wouldn’t even dare look at such a face—this was truly a double impact on her senses.

“Oh come on! What are you hiding? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before,” she teased playfully like a rogue teasing an innocent woman.

Shen Shilang’s face turned beet red all the way to his ear tips, and the blush continued down his neck to the exposed abs beneath the blanket.

Su Jinshi swallowed hard and couldn’t resist touching his abs—she just couldn’t let go!

It was New Year’s Eve; surely she deserved some sweetness!

Shen Shilang: “!!!”

Although there was a charcoal brazier burning in the room, it still wasn’t very warm inside.

Su Jinshi’s hand was warm and soft against his abs.

Shen Shilang felt a tingling sensation spreading from his abs up through his chest and into his ears.

Red-faced, he placed his hand over where Su Jinshi was touching him.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t feel anything at all!

His eyes lowered, eyelashes trembling slightly.

A deep sense of disappointment rose in Shen Shilang’s heart.

He wished he could hold Su Jinshi’s hand instead of just feeling her touch on him!

In that moment of distraction, Shen Shilang suddenly felt a chill against his abdomen.

He looked down in shock to find that somehow Su Jinshi had completely pulled away his blanket without him noticing!