Chapter 51: How Early

The hospital in the evening had fallen into silence, unlike the bustling noise of the day.

A row of tall sycamore trees rustled with the wind.

As night fell, the dim lights flickered on, fading into the winding roads.

In the increasingly dim light, Jiang Huaiyu held Wen Shuyu’s hand tightly. They stood face to face, neither daring to breathe too loudly.

Suddenly, the man raised a slight smile, his tone calm as he said, “Yes.”

“How early?” she asked, blurted out in pursuit of the answer.

Wen Shuyu’s gaze was fixed on Jiang Huaiyu’s every movement, presenting him with two options.

“Before marriage, or after marriage?”

At that moment, the two seemed more like they were in a game of strategy, neither willing to back down.

After a brief hesitation, Jiang Huaiyu calmly admitted, “After the engagement.”

It was an answer that couldn’t be wrong.

If she truly had seen what was in the box, she definitely wouldn’t be showing such a look.

Wen Shuyu asked again, “Really?”

His eyes and expression didn’t change at all. It was hard to tell if he was just good at hiding the truth or if he was speaking honestly.

The hand she had been holding had already slipped away in their silent battle.

“Really.” Jiang Huaiyu took a step forward and grabbed her hand, his palm facing hers, a thin layer of sweat forming on his back.

A lie always requires countless more lies to cover it up.

Wen Shuyu buried her face in his chest, not saying a word.

After a brief silence, Jiang Huaiyu timely shifted the conversation. “Wen Yuyu, what’s this about seduction?”

Wen Shuyu, as expected, was diverted. “It’s nothing. I was just tricking Uncle Fu. You really think he doesn’t have dirt on me? Besides, Qi Zihao isn’t stupid. Seduction isn’t that simple.”

Jiang Huaiyu looked at her with a deep gaze. “You can’t risk yourself. You care about Fu Qingzi, but you also need to think about me. You’re married, you have a husband.”

He clearly used the words “can’t risk” to make it explicit that he wasn’t okay with it.

Wen Shuyu shrugged off his hand and started walking backward. “I know, I know. Having a husband is such a hassle. Shouldn’t have gotten married in the first place.”

Jiang Huaiyu grabbed her wrist. “Too late. You’re stuck with me. Stuck with me for life.”

An electric scooter zoomed out from the end of the road. Jiang Huaiyu quickly took a long stride, running toward her. “Watch out behind you.”

He grabbed her hand, preventing her from being hit.

“You never listen to anything I say.” His voice held more affection than scolding.

She had a habit of walking backward and on the edge, as if the road was hers.

Wen Shuyu stuck out her tongue. “Well, isn’t it because of you? You won’t leave me anyway.”

“I won’t leave you.”

He thought to himself, “Not even if I die.”

The two playfully bickered, as if returning to how things used to be.

She couldn’t help but wonder: why did he know her habits so well?

His admission of “before the engagement” didn’t convince her, yet he clearly didn’t want to tell her the real answer.

Wen Shuyu could only play dumb.

The next evening, Wen Shuyu went to pick up Fu Qingzi, bringing a few new outfits. “Xiao Zizi, let’s split up. You go on the blind date, and I’ll go meet your cousin.”

Fu Qingzi took the clothes. “Okay, Xiao Yuyu, thank you.”

On the surface, they avoided talking to Fu’s father, but in reality, he could hear everything clearly from the hospital room.

Fu Qingzi changed into a white dress. “Dad, I’m leaving.” She linked her arm with Wen Shuyu’s, preparing to leave.

In reality, her steps were very, very slow, moving like a snail.

Looking at the thin backs of the two girls, he realized his daughter had always been pampered and never endured this kind of hardship.

Fu’s father called after them, “You don’t need to go.”

He took a USB drive from under the pillow and placed it on the table. “I originally wanted to leave some protection for Zizi. This is the evidence I collected before, you can take it and use it.”

Wen Shuyu hesitated, “Isn’t this a bit inappropriate? We’re all family.”

Fu’s father turned his head to glance out the window, where wild geese were flying south. “There’s nothing inappropriate about it. He wasn’t benevolent first.”

He had originally turned a blind eye to Qi Zihao’s behavior, as long as it wasn’t too extreme. But now, Qi Zihao had gone too far, disregarding the company’s safety, and trying to swallow the company whole.

Now, he wanted his daughter to marry a man in his 40s or 50s to gain his benefits, even dragging unrelated people into this.

He had been considering family ties, but others didn’t think the same way.

The dividends he received each year weren’t small, but as always, greed was insatiable.

Fu Qingzi took the USB drive and left the hospital room hand-in-hand with Wen Shuyu.

Once they were out of the room, the two girls covered their mouths and smiled at each other. When they reached the end of the stairs, they finally let go of their laughter.

Their acting skills had reached their peak—they had even tricked her father.

The stairwell wasn’t particularly safe, often filled with people eavesdropping. The two girls then moved to the grassy area outside.

Fu Qingzi leaned on her shoulder. “How did you know my dad had a backup plan?”

Wen Shuyu leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Lawyer Cheng told me, and I asked my dad. That’s how he operates.”

In a family with an only daughter, the greatest fear is that others will take advantage of their absence and leave their daughter to suffer.

Fu Qingzi felt touched. “If it weren’t for you, I’d have really gone blindly into the blind date.”

Wen Shuyu refused to act overly sentimental. “Silly girl, I wouldn’t let you do that. Little princesses enjoy life, they don’t end up being someone’s stepmother.”

As they were talking downstairs, Song Jinnan and Jiang Huaiyu walked in from outside.

To give them space, Wen Shuyu and Jiang Huaiyu left first.

Song Jinnan handed over a heavy folder. “This is the information I’ve gathered. It’s not very detailed, but it’s enough for now. I’m still looking into the rest.”

The folder was handed over at a distance between the two. Fu Qingzi eventually took it. “Thank you. Once the crisis is over, I’ll treat you to a big meal.”

As for the favors owed, they could only be repaid slowly.

However, Song Jinnan didn’t bring up marriage again.

After a few days, Fu Qingzi had lost a little more weight. Song Jinnan wanted to hug her, but he raised his hand and lowered it again, holding back, “You… I’m glad your family is okay. We’re just friends.”

Fu Qingzi repeated his words. “Yes, we’re friends.”

Fu’s father had been discharged from the hospital and needed to rest. Fu’s mother and Fu Qingzi attended the company’s meeting on his behalf.

They announced that they were applying for an investigation into Qi Zihao’s personal matters. The company was filing charges against him for accepting bribes and spreading rumors, which caused the company significant economic losses.

This caused a huge uproar.

Within a few days, the situation was reversed.

Song Jinnan’s investigation had proven useful. The so-called bribery was actually Qi Zihao’s personal doing. As for the food quality issue, that was pure nonsense. The video of the waste disposal had been edited.

“The human heart is so malicious that it doesn’t hesitate to ruin someone else’s life.

Wen Shuyu had been sitting cross-legged on the sofa since the afternoon, with a tablet and a laptop in front of her, and a phone in her hand. She opened multiple platforms to observe the latest public opinions.

The man beside her was silently suffering, as his wife only had thoughts for another woman and had ignored him for a long time.

Wen Shuyu looked at the real-time comments and rising stock prices, and suddenly sighed, ‘The little princess has grown up.’

Growth happens in an instant; no one remains carefree forever.

Jiang Huaiyu put his arm around her shoulders. ‘You can always be my little girl.’

He kissed her forehead. ‘Always my little princess.’

He had always treated her like a little girl, a younger sister, a little princess.

Wen Shuyu hugged her arms and shivered. ‘That’s so cheesy.’

‘It’s the truth.’

He didn’t care that she wasn’t paying attention to him. He put on his glasses and focused on his work.

‘Baby, how long have you ignored me?’ Jiang Huaiyu lifted her onto his lap, pressed his forehead against hers, and began his soft complaints.

She had ignored him ever since they came back from Hong Kong, right until today.

Wen Shuyu gazed into his deep black eyes, his eyelashes like crow feathers, his straight nose and thin lips, dressed in a gray shirt that clearly showed his dignified business appearance. When he spoke, he exuded an aura of dominance.

She put down her phone, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his face. ‘Mr. Jiang, have you suffered?’

She always knew how to say sweet things to soothe him, even when she wouldn’t call him ‘husband.’

‘You don’t even try to be sincere when comforting me.’

‘How about this? Huaiyu gege.’ Wen Shuyu grasped what she was holding, moving slowly.

She unzipped his pants, making contact without any resistance.

She tilted her head and bit his Adam’s apple, hearing him grunt softly.

Her other hand began unbuttoning his shirt and cufflinks.

She knew exactly how to make him lose control.

‘Baby, is this what you want?’ His voice was hoarse and tight, yet Jiang Huaiyu remained unmoved, like a good teacher setting an example with both words and actions.

His large hand covered her slender wrist, guiding her gently.

‘I’m tired,’ Wen Shuyu said, her hand aching. It wasn’t over yet, so she decided to give up.

Why was she provoking him like this?

‘What an ungrateful little fish.’ Jiang Huaiyu scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom.

Wen Shuyu was placed on the sink counter, a towel on the surface. Jiang Huaiyu turned on the bathtub faucet, letting the water flow slowly.

The steam rose, and mist began to form on the mirror cabinet.

Jiang Huaiyu moved leisurely, glancing around the bathroom. Two ties were hung on the towel rack. He covered Wen Shuyu’s eyes with one. ‘Baby, let’s play a game.’

His voice was clear, with a gravelly undertone.

Wen Shuyu’s heart raced, pounding like a drummer in a rock band. ‘What game?’

The man didn’t answer. He pulled out the tie and tied one around Wen Shuyu’s wrist and the other to cover her eyes.”

“Wen Shuyu’s wrists were bound, the knot tied tightly, and with her vision lost, she raised her voice, ‘Jiang Huaiyu, what are you doing?’

Jiang Huaiyu pulled her skirt halfway down. ‘Baby, you ignored my punishment.’

With the tie covering her eyes, a faint light seeped through, and she had to rely on her hearing. Wen Shuyu could hear his deep, muffled laugh near her ear.

She moved her wrists, unable to break free, and gave up resisting, muttering, ‘I didn’t do it on purpose.’

Jiang Huaiyu chuckled softly, ‘Let this be a lesson.’

Suddenly, her body was lifted off the ground. Jiang Huaiyu carried her in his arms, startling her. ‘Where are we going?’

Fear of the unknown.

Jiang Huaiyu slowly said, ‘I’m not telling you.’

His tongue pried open her delicate white teeth and swept through her mouth.

She was placed into the bathtub, and all she could feel was heat.

Her senses of hearing and touch were heightened, and she could feel every breath he took and the rise and fall of his chest.

Wen Shuyu’s phone was shoved into his pocket, and Jiang Huaiyu took it out, placing it on the shelf.

Suddenly, a familiar ringtone sounded in the bathroom. Jiang Huaiyu glanced at it. The screen displayed ‘Lin Yuhua’s son.’

That could only be Lu Yunheng.

Jiang Huaiyu kissed the back of Wen Shuyu’s neck. ‘Yuyu, Lu Yunheng called you.’

Wen Shuyu replied, ‘I’m not answering.’

Jiang Huaiyu said, ‘What if you accidentally pressed the answer button? What would you do?’

‘Then you hang up,’ she retorted.

Wen Shuyu tightly bit her lip, not letting herself make a sound. A soft whimper escaped, and her lower lip showed several bite marks. The man traced his fingers over the marks. ‘Yuyu, stop biting, it hurts my heart.’

He was still teasing her, playing an erratic rhythm.

Wen Shuyu bit his arm, silent.

Jiang Huaiyu leaned in to whisper in her ear, kissing her earlobe. ‘The call ended.’

He pressed his lips firmly against hers.

She didn’t believe him.

He removed the deep blue tie covering her eyes and turned her around. ‘Wife, I didn’t lie to you.’

The phone screen was black, and the call had ended.

‘Wife, you wronged me. What should I do?’

‘Serve it cold,’ she said dismissively.

There was a window in the bathroom, offering a view of the outside. The daylight was bright, and the shimmering surface of a distant lake glimmered.

In this small space, they lingered in a passionate embrace.

The heavy breathing echoed in the room, the sounds of a man and a woman intertwined in an intimate melody.

Jiang Huaiyu held her hand tightly, their fingers laced as they pressed against the glass window, leaving palm prints. ‘Wife, the rest is up to you.’

Wen Shuyu’s eyes were hazy. ‘How should I do it?’

Jiang Huaiyu pinched her slender waist. ‘I’ll teach you.’

A good teacher meets a good student, and understanding comes easily. Like blue turning to a deeper blue.

Jiang Huaiyu took a sharp breath. ‘Baby, don’t bite.’

Wen Shuyu feigned innocence. ‘I didn’t bite.’

The world spun, and Jiang Huaiyu cupped her face, kissing her, sweeping through her mouth, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

Outside the window, the sky turned dark, and the rain began to patter against the window, jumping wildly.”

“Her palm danced with Wen Shuyu’s.

The room lingered in the heat, the glass fogged up, dissipating and then covering again.

Back inside, Wen Shuyu checked her call history. ‘Jiang Huaiyu, you didn’t answer. You lied to me.’

Using the last of her strength, she kicked Jiang Huaiyu.

His hand caught her foot, slowly rubbing it, as if doing something else.

‘Wife, how could I let another man hear your voice?’

He untied the tie around her wrist and gently massaged it.

The tie was now so wrinkled it was unrecognizable.

‘Your voice is mine alone.’

Her voice, the sound from the bathroom just now, made Wen Shuyu’s ears flush red. She glared at him. ‘Pervert.’

Jiang Huaiyu’s chest vibrated with laughter. ‘I’m only a pervert for you.’

The rain in Nancheng came down heavy and fast, swirling around, yet it didn’t stop.

After a hectic afternoon, Jiang Huaiyu held an impromptu meeting in his study that evening.

His right hand was held by Wen Shuyu as she studied his life line, career line, and love line.

In the middle of the meeting, when she needed to jot something down, Jiang Huaiyu had to use his left hand to write a series of numbers on the paper.

Wen Shuyu silently asked, ‘Jiang Huaiyu, you can write with your left hand?’

Jiang Huaiyu answered with his lips, ‘I can do it a little.’

‘Oh.’ Since he was still in the meeting, Wen Shuyu continued studying the palm reading.

When Jiang Huaiyu wasn’t paying attention, Wen Shuyu secretly snapped a photo of his left-handed handwriting and stored it in a private folder.

After the meeting, Jiang Huaiyu pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘What did you figure out?’

Wen Shuyu rested her chin in her hand. ‘Your career is perfect; everything will fall into place, and you’ll live a long life. As for your love line…’

She hesitated, pretending to be troubled.

Jiang Huaiyu froze. ‘What’s wrong with the love line?’

Wen Shuyu pursed her lips, then slowly spoke. ‘The love line is a little bumpy. You need to be honest with each other for it to last.’

‘So, are you hiding something from me?’

Jiang Huaiyu rolled up his sleeve and calmly said, ‘What could I be hiding from you? Are you hungry? I’ll make a midnight snack.’

He quickly changed the subject, clearly hiding something.

Wen Shuyu played along. ‘I’m hungry. I want egg fried rice.’

Jiang Huaiyu grinned. ‘Alright, little greedy fish.’

The divorce case between Lin Yuhua and Lu Zhiyong had already been filed, and now they were just waiting for the court hearing.

At this time, Lu Yunheng called her. After hesitating, Wen Shuyu returned the call.

She wondered if something had happened to Lin Yuhua.

‘Hello, what’s up?’ Wen Shuyu’s voice was cold, as though it had been frozen in a fridge.

Lu Yunheng was still not used to her coldness. ‘I wanted to thank you and invite you to dinner.’

He still spoke to her kindly, even though she was impatient with him.

She was never like this before.

‘No need, it’s not a big deal.’

Wen Shuyu walked to the kitchen, turned on the speakerphone, and continued, ‘If I have dinner with you, my husband might mind.’

Lu Yunheng sneered. “Is he really that petty?”

Wen Shuyu patiently explained, “It’s not that he’s petty, it’s that I’m petty. If he’s not happy, then I’m not happy. It affects the harmony in our married life.”

Jiang Huaiyu, who was cooking, blurted out, “Wife, what harmony?”

Wen Shuyu playfully chided him, “What do you think? Of course… it’s the kind of harmony that can’t be heard by others.”

That was, of course, referring to their intimacy in bed.

Her phone screen went dark as Lu Yunheng directly hung up the call, right in front of him, while they were flirting.

Wen Shuyu thought to herself, that’s just perfect. Next time he calls, she’ll make sure he hears it loud and clear—if he likes making phone calls so much.

She didn’t mind, as long as he dared to listen.

Leaning against the door of the kitchen, Wen Shuyu suddenly thought of another person—the other party involved, Ye Keyi. She hadn’t contacted her for a few days now, the girl with postpartum depression.

She used to reach out every few days to chat, to ask how things were going. But after dealing with things related to Fu Qingzi, she realized it had been a few days since she last heard from her.

She opened the chat page. The last conversation had been three days ago, when Wen Shuyu had told her to hang in there, and Ye Keyi had simply replied with one word: “Okay.”

Wen Shuyu felt a sudden pressure in her temples. She pressed on it with her finger, but the throbbing wouldn’t stop. She had the uneasy feeling that something big was about to happen.

【Keyi, are you okay?】

【Keyi, please reply when you see this.】

She sent the message and waited for a reply, but nothing came. Even her egg fried rice didn’t taste good anymore.

Jiang Huaiyu looked up at her. “What’s wrong?”

Wen Shuyu stirred her egg fried rice. “One of the people involved hasn’t replied to my message. Maybe she just hasn’t seen it.”

They both had their own thoughts, and the meal was eaten in silence.

Jiang Huaiyu suddenly spoke, “Lu Yunheng wants to reconcile with you, right?”

“Stop. There’s no ‘good’ between us.” Wen Shuyu complained loudly. “I’ll tell my senior tomorrow that the case will be handed over to her.”

Jiang Huaiyu walked around the table, took her hand, and said, “Yuyu, you do what you need to do. I’ll handle things on my own.”

Wen Shuyu looked up at him. “You’re not happy, are you? When we were… intimate earlier, his call came in, and you weren’t happy.”

Even though she couldn’t see it, she could feel it.

Jiang Huaiyu adjusted his glasses. “Because I’m jealous of him.”

“Why?” Wen Shuyu asked.