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The room fell silent in an instant, so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.
Under the bright lights, Wen Shuyu’s face gradually regained its color. Jiang Huaiyu’s deep, dark eyes gazed at her while his hands continued massaging the acupoint on her palm. “Whatever concerns you,” he said, his voice steady and magnetic, “are important to me. You will always come first. Understand?”
His voice was soothing, not aggressive, almost casual. There was a hint of helplessness to it, yet also a sense of unwavering determination.
Wen Shuyu’s heart tightened. She took a sharp breath but avoided a direct answer. “I’ve finished sorting things out. I’m going to sleep now.”
“Alright. Good night.” Jiang Huaiyu tucked her in gently.
It wasn’t surprising that Wen Shuyu didn’t fully rely on him. From childhood sweethearts who grew distant to mere neighbors, and now to married couple—it was a leap that felt too sudden.
To others, they seemed perfectly familiar with each other, as if nothing had changed. Only they knew that everything was just on the surface.
Like an iceberg in the Arctic, only the tip was visible; the real depth lay hidden beneath the water.
After years of estrangement, suddenly living together every day was a rhythm neither of them had yet mastered.
The next day, the sun shone brightly across the clear sky, its rays spilling through the clouds and shimmering across the distant lake.
Wen Shuyu opened the curtains, letting the sunlight wash over her. A soft, golden halo enveloped her, as if nature itself was painting her in light.
The pain in her lower abdomen had completely vanished, and her mood brightened with the weather, shifting from cloudy to clear.
The large room was silent. Jiang Huaiyu had already left for work. On the dining table, there was a note: “Yu, don’t forget to have breakfast.”
Inside the thermos was a warm mix of red date milk and white fungus soup.
It was as if nothing had happened the night before.
Wen Shuyu typed out a message, “Thank you for the breakfast. You don’t need to make it next time.” But she held down the backspace key and deleted it.
No matter the reason, no one would be happy to find their spouse treated like an outsider and sent home by another man.
Especially when they were once so familiar with each other.
In the end, she settled for a more neutral message: “The breakfast was delicious. I liked it. ��”
Jiang Huaiyu, upon receiving it, was slightly surprised. “I’m glad you liked it.”
The dark clouds hanging over his head instantly dissipated.
Loving someone in secret was always a humbling experience.
Wen Shuyu, now reviewing a contract with Su Nian, furrowed her brows as she scanned the first page. A faint irritation crept into her expression.
“This clause isn’t rigorous enough. When signing with an individual, you need to ask for their ID number and a photocopy. It’s a basic error; don’t let it happen again.”
Her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable sternness.
By the time she reached the fourth page, her frown deepened. She pointed to the appendix. “The delivery time and quantity are mentioned, but the model isn’t specified. This could easily lead to disputes later. Double-check with Liangshi Tech. Make sure the model numbers and letters are exactly right.”
She didn’t raise her voice, but Su Nian could hear the frustration in her sighs. One correction after another—it was like a slow, torturous reprimand.
“Go on, take care of it,” Wen Shuyu finally said, waving her hand dismissively.
Outside, the sun was swallowed by clouds, casting a shadow over the once-clear sky, now turning gray and dark.
Later that day, Zhou Hangyue invited Jiang Huaiyu out for drinks. “How come you’re free to meet up today?”
Ever since Jiang got married, he had been harder to pin down.
Jiang Huaiyu sat down, moving leisurely. “Just checking in on you, you lonely old bachelor.”
Ah, marriage pride.
He was physically present, but his mind was back at home. Jiang Huaiyu sipped absentmindedly on plain water, not touching a drop of alcohol.
Zhou Hangyue took a swig of his own drink. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Huaiyu played with his brown glass, “Nothing.”
Though they’d been married for some time now, things between him and Wen Shuyu hadn’t progressed.
Every time he took a step forward, she took one back.
They were stuck, frozen in place.
Zhou Hangyue sighed, “After all these years, I’ve always wondered—why do you like Wen Shuyu?”
Back in high school, Wen Shuyu had ignored him, sometimes treating him poorly. In the height of teenage male pride, Jiang Huaiyu had simply laughed it off.
At first, Zhou thought it was all just family duty, but then he stumbled upon Jiang’s hidden secret.
“Liking her was natural. As for the reason… I’ve forgotten.”
Jiang Huaiyu fell silent, staring blankly at his water.
His tone was light, like a breeze, but he chose not to reveal the truth.
Why did he like her? No matter how much time passed, he still remembered.
It was something he had never shared with anyone—a secret buried deep in his heart.
Zhou Hangyue gave him time to reflect and went off to flirt with a girl.
When he returned, his seat was occupied.
A beautiful woman had taken his spot and was chatting with Jiang Huaiyu. “Hey, handsome, are you alone?”
Her intentions were obvious, plain as day.
Jiang Huaiyu, with his tall, slender frame and sharp features, exuded an air of quiet elegance. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his demeanor dignified yet aloof, dressed in a crisp white shirt that only added to his restrained charm. His silhouette was clear and refined, but out of place in the noisy bar.
Without even lifting his head, Jiang Huaiyu’s response was cold and concise, “Married.”
He raised his left hand, the silver ring on his ring finger glinting under the lights.
He unlocked his phone on the black marble countertop. The wallpaper—a wedding photo. From the favorites folder, he pulled up their marriage certificate. “I love my wife very much.”
The rejection was clean and sharp, leaving no room for anyone to exploit. When he mentioned his wife, there was a trace of warmth.
Jiang Huaiyu’s commitment to “men’s virtue” was so admirable that Zhou Hangyue almost wanted to applaud. But on second thought, this wasn’t for show—it was his true feelings.
Outside, dark clouds gathered as the sky suddenly darkened, and large raindrops began to pelt the ground.
Inside the bar, no one seemed to notice.
People rushed in, shaking off the rain, chatting away. “The rain outside is crazy, like the sky’s sprung a leak!”
“It’s terrifying. It’s as dark as night, and the wind’s so strong, it could blow someone away!”
“Haven’t heard thunder this loud in years.”
Jiang Huaiyu glanced at his watch and grabbed his jacket off the back of his chair. “I’m heading out.”
Zhou Hangyue called out, “So soon?”
“I’m going to pick up my wife.” With long strides, Jiang Huaiyu walked away, not bothering to turn back as he waved over his shoulder.
A bolt of lightning slashed through the sky, lighting up half of the southern city.
Three seconds later, a deafening clap of thunder roared overhead, as the rain continued to pour relentlessly.
Jiang Huaiyu climbed into his car and hesitated for a moment before dialing the pinned number on his phone. “Off work yet, Yu?”
His tone was cautious, as if he wasn’t sure how to approach her.
Wen Shuyu mumbled, “Yeah, I’m done.”
There was a sudden quietness between them. Through the silence, she could hear the sound of rain from his side, along with the rumble of the engine.
Standing in front of her office’s floor-to-ceiling window, she watched the raindrops streak down the glass. Her finger traced their path, leaving a faint print behind.
Once, twice, three times…
Without realizing it, she had written out three characters: Jiang Huaiyu.
“I’m coming to pick you up. Wait for me.”
“The rain’s really heavy. Could you come and get me?”
They both spoke at the same time, then broke into quiet laughter, as if they shared some unspoken understanding.
Wen Shuyu stared at the endless line of red taillights below. “Drive slowly, no rush. The rain’s bad, be careful.”
Jiang Huaiyu turned into the left lane, his lips curling up into a grin. “Worried about me, huh?”
“Yeah, I don’t want to be a widow,” Wen Shuyu teased softly, laughing at her own remark without a second thought.
Her unexpected answer left Jiang Huaiyu momentarily speechless. He didn’t know how to respond.
After a pause, he finally said, “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you behind. We’ve got a lifetime together.”
They exchanged just a few more words before she scolded him lightly, “Focus on driving.”
After hanging up, Wen Shuyu caught her reflection in the window—she was smiling. The kind of smile that spread from her eyes to the corners of her lips.
She couldn’t believe it. She hardly recognized herself.
Meng Man pushed the door open. “Well, well, who were you on the phone with that’s got you so happy?”
It was rare to see Wen Shuyu in such high spirits. Meng Man playfully answered her own question, “Let me guess. Was it your new husband, Jiang?”
Ignoring the teasing, Wen Shuyu glanced behind her. “Has everyone else left?”
Meng Man yawned. “Not yet. The rain’s too heavy and the wind’s too wild—it’s not safe.”
Outside, the rain battered against the windows, mixing with the howling wind—a rare and powerful storm.
Wen Shuyu rubbed her stomach. “Is there anything to eat? My stomach’s acting up.”
Meng Man replied, “There’s instant food in the break room. Better than nothing.”
The black clouds outside rolled and churned, the torrential rain showing no signs of stopping.
Wen Shuyu clutched her phone, her heart pounding as she worried about Jiang Huaiyu. She made herself a bowl of instant noodles, eating while waiting for him. She wondered—was he hungry?
The thought startled her. Shaking her head, she dismissed it as nothing more than hormones acting up from her cycle. He’d taken such good care of her lately, coming to pick her up in the middle of a storm—no wonder she felt emotional.
Footsteps approached, and Wen Shuyu turned to see Cheng Xianzhi. “You haven’t left yet?”
Cheng replied, “I’m waiting for the rain to ease up a bit.”
His home was in a low-lying part of the southern city, prone to flooding whenever it rained, let alone in this once-in-a-century downpour.
“How are you getting home?” he asked.
Wen Shuyu, slurping her noodles, answered casually, “Jiang Huaiyu’s coming to pick me up.”
An expected answer. Their childhood bond had wandered off track, but it only took a moment to steer it back.
The office building’s underground parking lot was flooded, with no cars allowed in. Jiang Huaiyu parked his car above ground instead.
At the front desk, the receptionist led Jiang to Wen Shuyu’s office. “Yu, your husband’s here.”
Her coworkers had all met Jiang Huaiyu at their wedding, and Wen’s approachable nature meant they affectionately called her Yu Yu.
The title Yu’s husband clearly pleased Jiang Huaiyu.
“Didn’t you bring an umbrella?” Wen Shuyu asked when she saw his damp hair, droplets sliding down his neck.
He smiled lazily at her, looking entirely at ease.
Wen Shuyu handed him a blanket after a brief pause. “Dry yourself off. Wait for me.”
She stood up and headed to the break room to find some cold medicine.
There weren’t any spare cups in the room, so she used her own, mixing the medicine. “Drink this—it’ll help keep you from catching a cold.”
Jiang Huaiyu took the cup, his fingers brushing hers—soft and delicate—but the touch was fleeting.
“Having a wife is great,” he said, holding the ceramic mug, his fingers tracing the raised whale design. The worn marks on the cup showed that she used it often.
Letting him use her cup—did that mean she wasn’t as distant toward him anymore?
He drank the warm liquid in one gulp. The faint sweetness spread down his throat, warming his stomach.
But the sweetness in his heart—oh, that was much greater.
Wen Shuyu folded the blanket. “Just returning the favor.”
The mutual care between a husband and wife, when described as “a fair exchange,” sounded so distant, almost impersonal.
The massive storm that had loomed over Nancheng finally began to shift eastward, leaving the city behind.
As the rain subsided, Wen Shuyu offered a ride to three of her colleagues who lived nearby.
In the back seat, her colleagues began gossiping in their group chat.
[The decoration in the car? It’s their wedding photo! How sweet is that?]
[Did you notice the umbrella tilted more toward Wen Shuyu earlier?]
[Their love is all in the details. Her husband didn’t even think about it—it was just a natural reflex.]
At the next traffic light, Jiang Huaiyu turned around and whispered, “There’s a blanket in the backseat. Could you pass it to me?”
“Sure thing, Brother Jiang.”
[And guess what? The blanket has a fish on it too! We’re swimming in fish here! Even the tissue box is fish-themed! Are we underwater?]
[Why does it feel so warm in here?]
[That’s because Wen Shuyu fell asleep, and they turned off the A/C.]
[Honestly, it feels like we’re not even inside the car anymore—we’re definitely hiding underneath it!]
[I finally get why Brother Jiang pulled down the sun visor earlier.]
[??]
[You dummy! The headlights from the opposite lane were too bright, and Wen Shuyu was asleep. Brother Jiang was shielding her eyes!]
Eventually, only one colleague was left in the car.
[Everyone else got dropped off, and let me tell you, Wen Shuyu was talking in her sleep just now. Am I gonna be silenced tomorrow for hearing this?]
[What did she say? Spill!]
[She mumbled that her stomach hurt, and here’s the kicker—Brother Jiang slammed on the brakes and softly cooed, “Let me rub it for you.”]
[It’s been three minutes now, and no one cares if I live or die?! Can someone drop me off already?!]
[Five minutes later—finally got home! But seriously, I’m full from all the couple vibes I’ve been force-fed. Who knew Wen Shuyu could act all cute and cuddly like that?]
Normally, Wen Shuyu was far from being harsh, but she was the picture of a decisive, no-nonsense woman. Who could have imagined she had such a soft, girlish side?
Standing in front of the master bedroom door, Wen Shuyu paused after pushing it slightly open. “Goodnight, Jiang Huaiyu.”
Jiang Huaiyu leaned down, smiling even more brightly, “Goodnight, honey.”
Bitterness welled up inside him. They were married, yet they still slept in separate beds. How embarrassing.
The storm had passed, leaving the world calm as if the chaos of the night before had never happened. Uprooted trees and scattered leaves on the streets were the only reminders of the wild weather.
It felt like the little barriers between them had been swept away by the storm.
Wen Shuyu was slipping on her shoes at the entrance. “I’m heading to the police station. I’ll take a cab.”
Despite everything, calling him by his full name was a habit she couldn’t break just yet.
But Jiang Huaiyu was waiting for her. “Honey, I’ll drive you.”
How did he manage to call her “honey” so smoothly?
Today’s breakfast was shrimp pancakes and purple rice porridge. They both had cooks at home, but when did Jiang Huaiyu learn to make such elaborate dishes?
Wen Shuyu nibbled on a shrimp pancake. “Jiang Huaiyu, how do you know how to cook all this?”
“Hm?”
Jiang Huaiyu glanced at the food, then it dawned on him. “Oh, you mean the cooking.”
“What else would I mean?” Wen Shuyu muttered under her breath.
Jiang Huaiyu leaned an elbow casually against the back of the chair, a playful smile on his lips. “Take a guess.”
There was a hint of teasing in his expression, making her roll her eyes. His thoughts were always straying into unhealthy territory.
After saying goodbye, Wen Shuyu arrived at the police station, where she ran into Fu Qingzi.
When Fu Qingzi saw her stepping out of Jiang Huaiyu’s car, she pretended not to notice and hurried into the building.
Wen Shuyu wasn’t one to be awkward about it. After all, she had married the man Fu Qingzi once liked. Who wouldn’t find that hard to accept?
In the waiting hall, the police officer’s voice was crystal clear as she spoke to Fu Qingzi.
“Miss, we’ll try to recover your money, but there’s no guarantee. These online romance scams often target kind-hearted young women like you.”
How embarrassing, Wen Shuyu thought. And of all people, she had to overhear it.
Online dating? Getting scammed? It wasn’t hard to believe, given Fu Qingzi’s innocence. But had she really given up on Jiang Huaiyu?
Fu Qingzi waved her over. “Wen Xiaoyu, come here. I need to talk to you.”
Wen Xiaoyu was the cute nickname Fu Qingzi had given her, and she had to admit, it was kind of endearing.
Not sure what Fu Qingzi was up to, Wen Shuyu hesitated before walking over. Fu Qingzi leaned in, whispering, “Relax, princess here is not into married men.”
Wen Shuyu clapped her hands together. “Even if you were, it wouldn’t matter. Now, what’s the royal decree?”
“You two go ahead and have your love-hate drama,” Fu Qingzi replied, her expression unusually serene. She had traveled abroad recently, and it seemed like she had gained some perspective.
“I mean it,” she continued, “he doesn’t like me, and forced feelings don’t work. I’m more into the sweeter types now.”
Even if they had gotten together, she’d still have ended up exhausted.
Wen Shuyu playfully hugged Fu Qingzi, teasing her, “Look at you, little princess. You’ve really leveled up. So why’d you get scammed, then?”
Always the one to hit the sore spot, Wen Shuyu knew just how to twist the knife.
Fu Qingzi shoved her away with a pout. “Wen Xiaoyu, you’re as annoying as ever.”
Leaning back in her chair, Wen Shuyu shrugged, unbothered. “I don’t need you to like me.”
Every time they bickered, Fu Qingzi was the one who gave in. “Seriously though, you can’t tell Jiang Huaiyu about this. Or Shen Ruoying. I have my pride, you know.”
Her soft, doll-like face, framed by a peter pan collar and a little white skirt, made her look like a porcelain doll. Even with a straight face, she had zero intimidation.
Wen Shuyu raised an amused brow. “And if I don’t promise, what will you do?”
Fu Qingzi propped her chin in her hand, pondering for a while. “I’ll curse you so that mosquitoes only bite you in summer, and you’ll always find ginger in your food.”
Wen Shuyu burst out laughing. She pinched Fu Qingzi’s cheek, finding her utterly adorable. “That’s the best you’ve got?”
“I’ll agree to it,” Wen Shuyu said.
Fu Qingzi swatted her hand away. “Wen Xiaoyu, don’t pinch my cheeks! I’m older than you by a month!”
“Oh,” Wen Shuyu replied, continuing to tease her.
Just as the clock struck the right hour, Jiang Huaiyu arrived to pick up Wen Shuyu, embodying the model husband, driving her wherever she needed to go.
Fu Qingzi slipped on her sunglasses. “Wen Xiaoyu, I can’t wish you two well right now. Hurry up and go—you’re in my way.”
“Bye, little Zizi!” Wen Shuyu ruffled her hair playfully.
“How are you two doing?” Fu Qingzi asked.
In Jiang Huaiyu’s mind, he couldn’t recall a time when they had a proper conversation.
“Are you surprised that the one who likes you is getting along so well with your wife?”
Wen Shuyu, realizing she had casually used the term “your wife,” felt a little taken aback.
“I’m not concerned about others,” she replied.
Jiang Huaiyu chuckled softly, leaning closer to whisper in her ear, “I just want to ask my wife—when will you start calling me ‘hubby’? And when will you let your hubby move into the master bedroom?”
As he asked, he turned his head slightly to fasten his seatbelt, their bodies nearly brushing together.
The summer air was stifling, their adult frames close enough that they could feel each other’s rapid breaths.
The cool air from the AC swirled around them in the cramped space, making it feel almost like a tropical rainforest—humid and heavy.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves outside, casting a warm glow on their flushed ears, enhancing the intimacy of the moment.