Chapter 35: Encouragement

Wen Shuyu’s mind was a beat behind, the shadow in front of her flickering in and out of focus—one, two, she couldn’t see clearly.

In a swift motion, she straddled his lap, her long dress spilling over the sides.

Through the layer of silk fabric, her warm, smooth skin felt as if it were transmitting heat directly to him.

It was impossible to ignore.

Above them, the bright lights cast a glow over her flushed cheeks, giving them the appearance of being dusted with rouge, her ruby lips glistening with a radiant sheen.

Each parting and closing of her lips made him want to take a bite.

The woman on his lap tossed her head, her brown hair twisted into a cute bun. Jiang Huaiyu shifted to relieve the mounting heat in his body and couldn’t help but pinch her cheek. “You’re such a lightweight when it comes to drinking.”

Wen Shuyu pouted. “I’m not a lightweight! It’s your fault for adding something intoxicating to the wine.”

She would never admit her poor alcohol tolerance.

“It’s my fault,” Jiang Huaiyu conceded.

Suddenly, all the lights above dimmed, and Wen Shuyu could only vaguely make out Jiang Huaiyu’s expression. Her eyes were drawn to the movement of his Adam’s apple, and she swallowed hard, recalling that she had come to settle a score.

Jiang Huaiyu raised his eyebrows, his hands instinctively wrapping around her waist, his gaze seeming to say he was ready for whatever she had in store.

Wen Shuyu took a preemptive measure. “You can’t say I’m bringing up old grudges. It was clearly your misunderstanding.”

“Okay, it’s all my fault. You’re always right, my little fairy.”

Jiang Huaiyu had no idea what she was getting at—he had no bottom line when it came to Wen Shuyu.

He had to unconditionally pamper the wife he had chased after.

Wen Shuyu started counting on her fingers. “You know I don’t like Lu Yunheng anymore. You misunderstood me, and then you were harsh with me. You treated me like that!”

Jiang Huaiyu sincerely apologized, “I’m sorry, my wife. I was wrong.”

He recognized that misunderstanding was indeed his fault; as for the other matter, there was absolutely no problem.

A simple apology felt less than satisfying.

“Oh.” Suddenly, Wen Shuyu leaned forward, kissing Jiang Huaiyu’s Adam’s apple.

There was no preparation, no foreplay—she went straight for the main event.

Her soft, warm lips pressed against him, and Jiang Huaiyu’s body stiffened, as if he had been enchanted; she was more sensitive than he had anticipated.

He thought that with Wen Shuyu’s boldness, a quick kiss would wrap it up.

But Wen Shuyu opened her red lips and took his Adam’s apple into her mouth.

Having had a few drinks, her breath carried the sweet scent of grapes and barley, which wafted over to his neck.

Jiang Huaiyu’s entire body went rigid; his fists tightened around her waist as he nervously swallowed.

Following the movements in his throat, Wen Shuyu playfully bit down gently.

Once, twice, she let her tongue flick out to taste.

It was firm and responsive, like a mischievous little sprite.

He had just showered, his body radiating the refreshing scent of his favorite shower gel, with a hint of pine.

Wen Shuyu continued to nibble and lick; her touches were light, like a gentle sting from a bee, sending tingles throughout Jiang Huaiyu’s body.

She pressed against him, and his heart raced dangerously close to bursting, somewhere within him stirring back to life, beyond his control.

The room was so quiet it felt like being in a snow-covered landscape, their heartbeats resonating loudly—thump, thump, as if they were bungee jumping, suspended in mid-air.

Jiang Huaiyu could hear her soft sounds of sucking, punctuated by tiny gasps.

Wen Shuyu’s loose strands of hair brushed against his neck with her every movement, igniting a delightful warmth.

Jiang Huaiyu’s breath hitched. “Yuyu, a little harder.”

His voice was raspy and barely above a whisper.

Even as his heart felt ready to explode, he yearned to draw closer to her, craving to erase any distance between them.

Wen Shuyu looked up, locking eyes with him. The warm, inviting light in her pupils sparkled like obsidian.

Jiang Huaiyu gazed back at her, an undeniable emotion blossoming in the depths of his eyes.

With high cheekbones and a strong nose, he was the picture of masculine beauty.

She bit down again, this time harder, her tongue swirling around his Adam’s apple as if savoring a delectable ice cream.

Hearing the soft gasps escaping his throat, Wen Shuyu grew more exhilarated, relishing the power she had over him.

She bit down harder on his Adam’s apple.

Jiang Huaiyu was caught in the consequences of his own actions; not only was his heart about to burst, but something else was awakening too, forcing him to call out, “Yuyu, that’s enough.”

Wen Shuyu pressed her finger against his lips. “Jiang Huaiyu, you’re not shy, are you? Planning to flee?”

After all, the undercurrents swirling beneath her skirt were unmistakable, nudging against her.

She could even feel its vibrant pulse.

Wen Shuyu was determined to stoke the flames further. “Or are you saying Jiang Huaiyu can’t handle it? You did walk away last time.”

“Jiang Huaiyu, if there’s a problem, it’s better to address it early. You’re still young, and medicine has come a long way, right?”

She arched an eyebrow, feigning innocence, her smile glinting mischievously as she aimed to provoke him.

“Is this a form of baiting?”

Jiang Huaiyu swiftly rolled over, pinning Wen Shuyu back on the sofa, the heat of emotion in his eyes intensifying. “Congratulations, you’ve succeeded.”

He was irresistibly drawn to her antics.

With a swift motion, he removed the shark clip from her hair and tossed it aside. Her brown curls cascaded down like a goddess’s veil, pooling on the couch.

“But I don’t want that,” Wen Shuyu exhaled softly against his neck. “Mr. Jiang can handle it himself; cold showers are your specialty.”

The absence of a certain someone was palpable, and it was impossible not to notice. Each time he got heated, she could hardly resist a playful bite on his neck, a smirk of satisfaction dancing in her eyes.

If a little spark could light a fire, she had no qualms about fanning the flames, especially since it wasn’t her discomfort at stake.

Jiang Huaiyu’s gaze darkened, fierce and commanding. “Yuyuyu, you don’t get to decide that. Tonight, I’m going to ‘feast on fish.’”

The way he pronounced “feast on fish” was loaded with meaning, an undeniable pressure radiating from him.

He grabbed a wet wipe from the table, quickly cleaned up, and lifted her skirt with a deliberate slowness, his long fingers teasingly unveiling what was beneath.

It fell to her ankles, sparking all sorts of tantalizing thoughts.

Jiang Huaiyu knelt before her, the hem of her skirt shielding the chaos that was about to unfold.

This was different from last time; his tongue was much more tantalizing.

Wen Shuyu felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead and nose, her hands gripping the sofa tightly as he returned the torment he’d endured. She was about to experience the consequences of her own actions.

The room fell silent, and she dared not utter a sound, feeling unlike herself.

“That’s enough, Jiang Huaiyu,” she managed to gasp, struggling to voice her surrender. She didn’t want to beg, but her heart raced violently, threatening to stop.

“Not yet, my dear.”

His words were muffled, just enough for her to catch the gist.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated, slipping beneath the couch, bouncing next to Jiang Huaiyu.

A strange number appeared on the screen, with “USA” as the location.

Jiang Huaiyu swiped to answer, a familiar and annoying voice echoed, calling out, “Yuyuyu.”

What a presumptuous term of endearment! What right did he have?

He didn’t want Lu Yunheng to hear her gasps; those were solely meant for him.

With a quick flick, Jiang Huaiyu hung up, his resolve strengthening.

Men could be so foolish, always trying to compete.

In that moment, Wen Shuyu felt a rush of blood to her head; she thought she might just perish on that couch.

Yet, on the other hand, an emptiness lingered within her, an insatiable yearning that begged to be filled.

As the fireworks in her mind erupted, she gasped for air, confused about why she felt so drained and unable to move.

Why was it so hot? Why was her face and neck drenched in sweat?

“Who was that on the phone?” she panted, trying to regain composure.

Jiang Huaiyu casually wiped his hands and face with a towel, nonchalantly responding, “Just an insurance scam call.”

He scooped her up in his arms.

“What are you doing?”

The corners of his mouth lifted in a grin. “It’s not over yet; you can’t escape tonight.”

That was merely an appetizer; the main course was yet to come.

Besides, a fish so close to being caught would never be set free.

The consequences of her actions were catching up to her. “I don’t want to,” she protested.

“You do want this; you were clearly enjoying yourself. Look at your dress.” Jiang Huaiyu peeled off her long skirt, revealing a wet patch that resembled a blooming flower against the dark green fabric.

Her cheeks flushed crimson, the best evidence for her embarrassment.

Lost in her daze, Jiang Huaiyu had already tossed her clothes into the hamper and dragged her into the bathroom.

With nowhere to retreat, she found herself pressed against the cool glass, and in front of her stood Jiang Huaiyu, who looked like he wanted to devour her whole.

He turned on the hot water, soaking them both.

Their skin touched, exposing their vulnerabilities.

Yet, Jiang Huaiyu remained still, neither kissing her nor starting the main event.

Her impatience was palpable; it was clear she was the one eager for more.

Noticing her restlessness, he explained, “No protection.”

So that was it—Wen Shuyu sighed in relief.

She might escape this one.

But then Jiang Huaiyu suddenly chuckled. “Honey, the protection is 1500 meters away.”

Wen Shuyu stared at him incredulously. Did they really have delivery for that?

It seemed she truly had no way out.

Jiang Huaiyu took his time washing her, paying meticulous attention to every inch, using his preferred body wash rather than the rose scent she favored.

Though they had seen each other in the raw before, Wen Shuyu still couldn’t bear to meet his gaze, her embarrassment painting her cheeks a soft pink.

Feeling lightheaded, she allowed Jiang Huaiyu to drape his shirt over her, leaving her long, fair legs exposed.

“Care to make a bet?” he leaned in, whispering in her ear.

Wen Shuyu blinked through the steam. “Bet on what?”

Jiang Huaiyu’s tone was enticing. “Let’s see if we can make it from the bathroom to the foyer before the delivery arrives.”

Wen Shuyu shot back, “I bet we won’t.”

“Alright, let’s start,” he said, bending down to kiss her lips.

He enveloped her mouth, teasingly licking, just like before.

Who said moving to the foyer meant walking?

With her curves in his grasp, he opened the bathroom door.

All the glass in the house was one-way, and the smart curtains had already shut via remote control.

Yet she felt nervous, a rush of guilt swirling within her, as though they were committing a crime.

Guided by memory and familiarity, they navigated through the master bedroom, hallway, living room, and stopped at the foyer.

This kiss turned long and anxious, with Wen Shuyu fidgeting, aware of the silence around them.

Jiang Huaiyu’s warm hand gripped her neck, pulling her tightly against him.

Time passed without notice until the delivery person called, saying the order was hung on the hook at the door.

Wen Shuyu’s shoulders slumped, a smile breaking free in her eyes. “It’s not delivered! I win! I’m off to bed now!”

Jiang Huaiyu tore open the paper bag, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close, a mysterious smile curling at the corners of his mouth. “You won.”

Then, with a hint of mischief, he added, “But I’m going to cheat.”

Wen Shuyu mentally kicked herself for trusting him.

He pulled out a small plastic box from the bag, and she intentionally avoided looking at it, holding her breath, her heart racing in anticipation of what might come next.

Meanwhile, Jiang Huaiyu’s phone rang incessantly, and upon seeing Song Jinnan’s name, he stormed over to silence it.

On the other side, Wen Shuyu’s phone buzzed as well—another call from Song Jinnan.

“He’s definitely calling you for something,” she said, answering the call on speaker.

Song Jinnan’s voice came through, straightforward as ever: “Check the trending news.”

Wen Shuyu opened her app to find a trending entry about Liang Shi Technology. It hadn’t exploded yet, but the views were rapidly climbing.

In just a few minutes, it would likely hit the top of the charts.

The same was true on other platforms.

The two of them suddenly lost their earlier excitement, quickly adjusting their clothes, turning on the main light, and sitting on the couch to check the trending news.

The first post was from a personal account, revealing a whistleblower against Liang Shi Technology. The report stated that the laser therapy device they produced emitted radiation levels far exceeding what the human body could tolerate.

It came with test reports, lending credibility to the claims.

While this alone didn’t prove Liang Shi Technology was at fault—there could be malicious competition at play—this whistleblower was an employee of the company, significantly boosting the story’s trustworthiness.

Wen Shuyu wasn’t a PR expert, but she had some experience. Grabbing a pen, she quickly twisted her hair into a bun. “Jiang Huaiyu, I’ll draft a statement to soothe public concern. You contact a reliable third party to issue a clarification report to quickly dispel any negative impact.”

She opened her laptop to start drafting the statement.

“I’ll reach out to the company’s branding department for a PR plan. Song Jinnan is already mobilizing people for a report,” Jiang Huaiyu replied.

Wen Shuyu’s fingers flew over the keyboard. “I think they might have backup plans. It feels like someone is stirring the pot.”

On a Friday night, when everyone was most excited about gossip, the whistleblower surfaced. With the weekend ahead, there was ample time for the situation to escalate.

The intent behind it was too obvious, yet the audience remained oblivious.

Unaware of the truth, netizens quickly jumped on the bandwagon, and rumors started flying.

“I just used this. Will it be okay?”

“Is this really about health? How unscrupulous!”

“A whistleblower means the company isn’t doing well.”

“Damn capitalists!”

“Those hospitals that purchased this, be careful!”

In less than ten minutes, Wen Shuyu had drafted a statement. Jiang Huaiyu glanced at it, then quickly switched to the official account to go live, taking a moment to consider before deciding to personally issue the statement.

“Thank you all for your interest in Liang Shi Technology. Regarding the rumors circulating online, we are taking them very seriously and have established an investigation team. Once the results are in, we will promptly publish the truth.

Please refrain from spreading or believing rumors.

We welcome continued attention and oversight from everyone.”

As soon as the video aired, the tide began to shift slightly.

“Ah, he’s so handsome!”

“What’s his name? Waiting for a reply, really urgent.”

“Based on that face, I choose to trust their company.”

“The sisters upstairs are so naive!”

“Any info available? Any partners? Need a wife?”

“It’s a face-value era; let’s focus on what matters.”

Even though Jiang Huaiyu sat next to her, Wen Shuyu couldn’t resist clicking on the video. He was dressed in a white shirt, with the top button undone, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. His dark eyes were cool and aloof, exuding a sophisticated charm.

While scrolling through the comments, her brow furrowed; he was just too handsome—what if he attracted too much attention?

Removing his glasses, Jiang Huaiyu smirked, “Looks like fate isn’t unfair to me; I got the set for free. I’ll save it for next time—I used it all up tonight.”

He was acting so frivolous, even at such a critical moment. Wen Shuyu felt her face heat up. “You still have the energy to joke?”

“Seeing you upset over nothing, it’s no big deal. Go to sleep; I’ll head to the office and resolve this by morning,” Jiang Huaiyu said, smoothing her furrowed brow and wrapping her in his arms.

Knowing he wouldn’t rest at home, Wen Shuyu decided to let him go.

“Okay, remember to call me.”

As Jiang Huaiyu gathered his things to leave, Wen Shuyu called out to him from behind, “Jiang Huaiyu.”

She ran over and hugged him, gently patting his back as if encouraging a child.

“This is for you. Keep going!”

“Hubby.”

A token of love and encouragement.