Chapter 53: Baby

Wen Shuyu struggled fiercely and bit Jiang Huaiyu’s lower lip. “Jiang Huaiyu, what are you doing?”

She shouted loudly.

The man touched the corner of his lip, which was bleeding, but it didn’t matter. He smiled silently and didn’t speak.

Jiang Huaiyu casually turned off the switch on the wall, then kissed Wen Shuyu again. She was kissed forcefully, and an uncontrollable energy spread throughout the room.

To prevent her from escaping, Jiang Huaiyu gripped her wrist with one hand and encircled her slender waist with the other.

He pulled her into his embrace, as if trying to merge her into his very bones.

Wen Shuyu twisted in his arms, trying to escape his searing hold.

But in the end, her strength was too weak to resist his power.

His domineering lips held her in place, swallowing all her whimpers.

In the darkness, Jiang Huaiyu kissed her roughly and urgently, his tongue probing deep, like a torrential storm.

Her tongue tingled as he coaxed it.

The man sealed her lips, his scorching breath sweeping over her cheek. Wen Shuyu gradually found it hard to breathe, gasping for air.

His kiss alternated between shallow and deep, and it moved to her earlobe.

This was her sensitive spot, and Jiang Huaiyu gently bit it with his teeth, feeling the trembling of the woman in his arms.

She stopped struggling.

Jiang Huaiyu’s arm wrapped around Wen Shuyu’s legs, and he carried her straight to the bathroom, placing her in the shower. “I’ll wash you.”

He turned on the shower, and warm water poured down.

Their clothes became soaked, clinging uncomfortably to their bodies.

“I don’t want to do this.” Wen Shuyu glanced at him, shook the water off her body, and stepped out of the shower, crossing her arms.

Before she could take another step, Jiang Huaiyu pulled her back into his arms. The floor of the shower was slippery, and his strength weakened slightly. Jiang Huaiyu pressed his lips together and chuckled softly, “I didn’t say we were doing anything.”

His gaze was innocent, like a pure, unknowing look, completely different from the storm of moments before.

“Are you sick? Hurry up if you’re going to wash me.” Wen Shuyu bit his arm.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through him. Jiang Huaiyu reflexively looked down, just as he saw Wen Shuyu’s collar.

Under her soaked white shirt, her apricot-colored bra was faintly visible.

Jiang Huaiyu raised his hand and slowly unbuttoned her shell-like blouse. “Yuyu, things like this can’t be rushed.”

Taking a shower isn’t like making love, so why can’t it be fast?

Wen Shuyu retorted, “Mr. Jiang, things like this can be quick.”

Their body wash bottles were placed together, and Jiang Huaiyu chose his own brand, which had a pine scent.

He pumped two doses of green body wash onto the bath sponge, and soon white foam formed. With one hand, he lingered near the bushy area while the other hand wrapped around her back. “Baby, this area needs a good wash.”

“You don’t actually want to give me a shower.” Wen Shuyu gritted her teeth and looked up at the ceiling.

“Correct, baby, here’s your reward.” Jiang Huaiyu grabbed the shower head, rinsed the foam off their bodies, then knelt down.

The kiss was like before, recklessly roaming, with sucking sounds that were softened by the sound of the water.

Jiang Huaiyu turned off the shower, and the sucking sounds became clearer, directly flooding her ears. She couldn’t avoid hearing them.

The shower was filled with heavy breaths and kiss sounds that would make anyone blush.

But this kiss landed somewhere else.

Wen Shuyu’s cheeks, which had been heated, turned even redder. She weakened, leaning against the glass shower screen, gripping it tightly to avoid falling.

In that moment of trembling, Jiang Huaiyu reached out with his long arm, grabbed the towel from the rack, wrapped Wen Shuyu in it, and placed her on the bed.

He opened the bedside drawer and found the necessary tools.

Jiang Huaiyu’s eyes darkened, like an unfathomable sea. He coldly spoke, “Yuyu, who did you have lunch with today?”

The man’s gaze was cold and fixed on her.

“By myself.” Wen Shuyu avoided his gaze.

She guessed he had seen something, otherwise, he wouldn’t keep asking.

She wasn’t going to tell the truth. Jiang Huaiyu tilted his head and bit her neck.

A sudden wave of pain shot through Wen Shuyu. She raised her hand and slapped Jiang Huaiyu across the face. The sound of the slap echoed through the room.

“Jiang Huaiyu, are you out of your mind?”

What was he going on about in the middle of the night?

Jiang Huaiyu touched his cheek and let out a cold laugh. “I’m out of my mind. I saw you sitting with him.”

Seeing you sitting with him made me insanely jealous.

Seeing him made me regret not marrying you sooner, regret not breaking you two apart earlier, regret not keeping you by my side.

The cloud-shaped light gave off a warm white glow, clearly illuminating the anger in his eyes and the faint outline of her fingerprints.

Both of them were holding back, a tension that was about to explode.

Jiang Huaiyu rubbed her palm. “Yuyu, are you feeling better? If not, give me another one on the left.”

Slapping him was her instinctive action. Jiang Huaiyu didn’t dodge but leaned into it, letting her vent.

He was truly out of his mind tonight.

“Who I sit with is my own business.”

Facing his questioning, Wen Shuyu felt a suffocating anger building up inside, unable to back down.

Jiang Huaiyu tore open the jagged packaging and threw it into the trash. “Anyone can sit with you, just not him.”

“You had a girl you liked in high school, so why can’t I have my own?” Wen Shuyu avoided his deep gaze and pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

The man didn’t answer her. His deep gaze remained fixed on her.

“Get out, I need to change.” Wen Shuyu pointed to the door, signaling him to leave.

Jiang Huaiyu ignored her and asked instead, “Do you want to?”

A simple two-word question, which seemed like an inquiry but was actually a forceful demand.

Wen Shuyu tightened the blanket. “I don’t want to.”

“Do you want to?” Jiang Huaiyu’s hand slipped under the blanket, going straight to the point.

A silent battle ensued. Wen Shuyu bit her lip, trying not to make a sound, but the man deliberately teased her. “Do you want to?”

He asked again, and his grip didn’t loosen.

“Ah.” She couldn’t help but let out a sound, her lips moist and shimmering.

“Jiang Huaiyu, if you’re going to do it, hurry up.”

She couldn’t escape it, so she might as well just give in. Whatever, she wouldn’t lose anything anyway.

Jiang Huaiyu pushed her hair aside. “Yuyu, you’re probably the first to encourage your husband like this.”

Suddenly, a smile curved at the corner of his mouth. “But, sweetheart, things like this can’t be rushed.”

As the words fell, fireworks exploded in Wen Shuyu’s mind.

No foreplay, no preparation.

“Jiang Huaiyu, I hate you.” Wen Shuyu’s eyes reddened, and a tear fell from her eye.

It was almost as bad as the first time.

Every time she cursed him, it was always those four words. Jiang Huaiyu had long gotten used to it. He leaned down to kiss the tear from her cheek, his eyelashes trembling lightly, fogging up with water vapor as he soothed her, “Yuyu, don’t cry, it hurts me.”

The lights in the master bedroom stayed on. Wen Shuyu avoided his gaze, staring blankly at the matcha green curtains.

Jiang Huaiyu gently turned her head, forcing her to look at him.

“Yuyu, don’t meet him alone.”

“I didn’t.”

“Then how about we get rid of that plant?”

“No, the plant has nothing to do with him.” The plant is innocent.

Not getting the answer he wanted, Jiang Huaiyu suddenly picked her up, leaving the bed. Wen Shuyu asked, “Where are you going?”

“Yuyu, you’re mine.” Jiang Huaiyu kissed her lips, her cheek, her earlobe, and her neck. Wen Shuyu slightly parted her lips and tilted her head to accept it.

Jiang Huaiyu sealed her lips with his, stealing her breath away.

They stopped in front of the wardrobe. There was a full-length mirror, and in the reflection, she was a head shorter than Jiang Huaiyu.

Wen Shuyu felt embarrassed to look at the mirror.

They had been holding hands tightly, and Jiang Huaiyu seemed like he wanted to merge her into his very bones.

In the mirror, it felt like another world. The man deliberately teased her. The shape of his hand was clearly visible, as well as her flushed, vibrant face and dazed eyes.

The rhythm was beyond her control, as if they were lost in space.

“Yuyu, baby, wife.” Jiang Huaiyu repeatedly called out these names.

The early autumn sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling window, like a thin veil covering everything.

Wen Shuyu struggled to open her swollen eyes and tried to sit up.

She glanced at the man sleeping beside her. His black hair fell across his forehead, the dominance from last night gone.

She didn’t remember when she had fallen asleep or how many times they had made love. Her questions had gone unanswered.

She tiptoed out of the room.

Her legs ached, her waist was sore, and her eyes wouldn’t open—these were the aftereffects from last night.

In front of the mirror in the dressing room, the images from last night flooded Wen Shuyu’s mind. They were exhausted in front of the mirror, then moved to the bay window to look at the stars.

Jiang Huaiyu hugged her from behind, kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear repeatedly, “Yuyu, don’t leave me.”

The whispers and soft kisses filled her mind.

How did she respond? She didn’t respond.

She was too tired to answer. She just wanted to sleep.

Wen Shuyu took off her sleepwear, and the mirror clearly reflected the red marks on her body. There were marks on her neck and chest. They weren’t grotesque, but still hard to look at.

She found a turtleneck to change into. The autumn heat was still fierce, but it was cool in the mornings and evenings, so wearing a turtleneck wasn’t unusual.

For the first time in her life, Wen Shuyu arrived at the company before 8 AM. The office was empty.

It wasn’t that she was avoiding him, but she was still mad at him. He had been jealous, and she didn’t want to argue.

Besides, they had already fought yesterday, and there was no resolution.

Wen Shuyu put her phone on silent and blocked Jiang Huaiyu on WeChat, spending the entire day in peace.

Meng Man came in with breakfast. “Lawyer Wen, you’re up so early today.”

After joking a little, she got down to business. “Do you remember Qin Siwan? She’s back in her hometown. She tried calling you this morning but couldn’t get through, so she called the office and said she has a case she wants to entrust to us.”

Wen Shuyu, looking exhausted and about to fall asleep, mumbled, “I remember. I’ll get back to her right now.”

Meng Man asked, “Didn’t sleep well?”

She looked drained, her eyes swollen.

Wen Shuyu lied, “I had bubble tea. The caffeine kept me awake.”

Meng Man suggested, “Then take a nap.”

After communicating the basics of the situation with Qin Siwan, Wen Shuyu decided to leave the next day. The task wasn’t complicated, so she’d just bring her assistant along.

“Sū Niàn, you’re coming with me on this business trip.”

Sū Niàn responded excitedly, “Fishy姐, you finally remembered to take me with you!”

Wen Shuyu replied, “It’s not a vacation. Why are you so excited?”

Cheng Xianzhi suddenly walked out, “Young people, filled with curiosity.”

Who didn’t want to venture out when they were young?

Wen Shuyu agreed, “You’re right, Lawyer Cheng.”

Having already made a small escape in the morning, Wen Shuyu didn’t waste any time after work and went straight home.

Jiang Huaiyu hadn’t finished work yet and had only sent her one message asking why she left so early that morning.

She had expected a flood of messages.

The housekeeper came over to cook, noticing the tension between the two of them but unsure of what had happened.

Wen Shuyu put down her utensils. “Jiang Huaiyu, I’m going on a business trip to Hai’an City tomorrow, probably for three to four days.” She added, “Sū Niàn is coming with me.”

Her tone was devoid of warmth.

She traveled for work often, and this was one of the reasons why her mother disapproved of her job—constantly being away.

It was easier in legal work.

Jiang Huaiyu nodded. “After dinner, I’ll pack your luggage for you.”

Wen Shuyu nodded, “Okay, together.”

The two of them were as polite as strangers.

When she woke up in the morning, the bed beside her was empty, and Jiang Huaiyu’s first thought was that she didn’t want him anymore.

Her not replying to his messages all day only confirmed his thoughts.

Jiang Huaiyu took a small green suitcase from the closet and started packing her clothes. Looking down, he said, “Yuyu, we’re not getting a divorce.”

Wen Shuyu’s fingers paused. “I’m not getting a divorce. I’m just going on a business trip. I’ll be back in a few days.”

Their fingers brushed lightly inside the suitcase. Their pinky fingers accidentally touched—brief and subtle, before quickly pulling away.

Jiang Huaiyu zipped up the suitcase. “Okay, I’ll wait for you at home.”

Neither of them mentioned the argument from yesterday. The silence wasn’t because the issue was resolved—it was just swept under the rug.

The next day, Jiang Huaiyu accompanied Wen Shuyu to the station entrance.

He took the initiative to wrap his arms around her, holding her close. “Yuyu, message me when you arrive safely.”

His broad palm patted her back, reluctant to let go.

Sū Niàn was nearby, and Wen Shuyu scratched her temple. “I will. You should head back now, and be careful on the way back.”

Jiang Huaiyu released her, saying, “Don’t forget.”

After walking a few steps away, Su Nian sighed, “Yuyu, you two are so sweet. Brother-in-law can’t bear to leave you.”

Wen Shuyu wasn’t convinced, “Is that so? It’s fine, really.”

Su Nian shook her head, “You’re too close to it to see.”

From the look in Brother-in-law’s eyes, the reluctance was overwhelming, filling the entire high-speed rail station.

A minibus from the town came to pick them up. After they boarded, the vehicle didn’t start moving. The person in charge of the reception only told them to wait a little longer.

No one knew who they were waiting for.

Soon, the remaining two people arrived. The girl, Wen Shuyu didn’t know, but the boy was very familiar.

Wen Shuyu’s gaze met his for a moment. She quickly turned away and looked out the window at the towering mountains.

Lu Yunheng hadn’t expected to meet Wen Shuyu here.

It must have been fate.

Wen Shuyu took out her phone, snapped a few pictures, and sent them to Jiang Huaiyu.

After half an hour, the minibus stopped at the town government office. Wen Shuyu saw Qin Siwan and immediately understood what was going on. To make things easier, the town had arranged for them all to arrive at the same time so they didn’t have to repeatedly organize the villagers.

She didn’t mention her acquaintance with Lu Yunheng—after all, they were strangers now.

Wen Shuyu sighed, “It’s so good to see you doing better.”

Qin Siwan linked her arm with Wen Shuyu’s, “It’s all thanks to Lawyer Wen.”

The case was one part, but the villagers’ legal disputes had to be solved as well. There weren’t as many people here consulting about medical conditions as there were over there.

Su Nian remarked, “Why is it always middle-aged women? This is easy.”

Wen Shuyu smiled, “Don’t underestimate Aunties. A lawyer with ten years of experience who has won many cases still can’t beat an Auntie.”

Su Nian realized, “I get it now. It’s like when a police officer’s phone gets stolen, or an electrician’s electricity gets stolen.”

As it turns out, these disputes weren’t as simple as they seemed.

Because they were so trivial, organizing them took more time, and they couldn’t even figure out the relatives’ relationships.

By the afternoon, the two of them were exhausted. Su Nian flopped onto the bed, “Sister, this is really hard.”

Suddenly, she shouted, “There’s a mosquito! And other bugs too!”

The bugs were flying back and forth under the light. She didn’t recognize them.

Wen Shuyu wasn’t surprised. It was strange, though. She had lived a comfortable life since she was little. When she first went to the countryside, there had been no need to adjust.

“I’ll go borrow some mosquito coils.”

Su Nian stopped her, “Sister, you have some in your suitcase.”

Wen Shuyu paused at the door and looked at the suitcase, realizing she hadn’t noticed before.

She began to organize the suitcase, finding basic cold, fever, and allergy medications, along with mosquito patches and insect sprays, all packed to comply with high-speed rail regulations.

Su Nian sprayed insect repellent around the room, “Brother-in-law is really thoughtful.”

Wen Shuyu stared blankly, “Yes.”

That was just his nature—thoughtful in everything he did. Even the underwear he packed for her was disposable, and the power bank was fully charged.

There were also a few candies at the bottom.

Wen Shuyu popped one in her mouth, walked out to the yard, and dialed a number. “Are you…busy?”

Jiang Huaiyu: “Not here.”

Wen Shuyu briefly explained the situation, and Jiang Huaiyu listened carefully.

What he most wanted to hear from her was that she missed him, liked him, loved him.

But none of that came.

The phone line fell silent again. Jiang Huaiyu said, “You’ve had a long day, get some rest. Good night, Yuyu. I think about you all the time.”

A slight sigh came through the phone.

Wen Shuyu took a deep breath, gazing at the stars in the sky. “Jiang Huaiyu, I…” She paused for a moment. “Good night.”

She didn’t say she missed him. She needed some time to calm down.

The next afternoon, Wen Shuyu went with Qin Siwan to the factory to understand the specific situation.

When they returned to the courtyard where they were staying, a familiar figure stood there, tall and straight.

Jiang Huaiyu turned around and quickly walked towards Wen Shuyu, pulling her into his arms. “Wife, I’m here to comfort you.”

Before Wen Shuyu could respond, Jiang Huaiyu saw the person behind her and frowned. “Why is he here too?”

The same question had confused Wen Shuyu for two days. How was it that every time she came to Hai’an City, Lu Yunheng was there too? It was as if she had a Beidou satellite tracker implanted in her.

Before one conflict could settle, another arose, and Wen Shuyu felt like she couldn’t clear her name, even if she jumped into the Yellow River.