Chapter 74: The Pitiful Female Supporting Character from a Patriarchal Family in the 2000s (21)

Everyone thought He Wenlei was about to go mad. They were ready to intervene at any moment.

After coming back to his senses, He Wenlei simply greeted Ai Xiaoling and Ye Zhou, then smiled and said, “Congratulations.”

His words were so sincere that those present were astonished to the point of tongue-tied silence.

“Thank you,” Ai Xiaoling replied with a bright smile, making no effort to hide her happiness and sweetness. “Let’s eat together. I haven’t thanked you yet.”

If He Wenlei hadn’t reminded her again and again, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly between her and Ye Zhou.

“Let’s go.”

He Wenlei agreed and chatted with Ai Xiaoling about blueprints while walking downstairs.

Everyone present: “???”

What just happened? Why couldn’t they understand?

Ye Zhou was in a good mood and generously treated everyone to the meal.

At the table, Ai Xiaoling and He Wenlei chatted and laughed, discussing work matters and getting along very well.

But with Ye Zhou sitting beside her, the contrast was obvious.

Even though Ai Xiaoling and He Wenlei chatted harmoniously, it lacked something. On the other hand, with Ye Zhou, even if they weren’t speaking, the affection between them was that of lovers.

“Want some beef? It’s a bit spicy,” Ye Zhou asked Ai Xiaoling.

Ai Xiaoling shook her head and drew out her tone: “Nooo~”

“Have a piece of pork ribs.” Ye Zhou picked one up for her.

While discussing blueprints with He Wenlei, Ai Xiaoling also picked up the rib and ate it. When she found some tasty beef tripe, she gave some to Ye Zhou.

If she didn’t understand something while talking to He Wenlei, she instinctively asked Ye Zhou, who would patiently explain.

On the way back, Ai Xiaoling naturally reached for Ye Zhou’s hand.

The two had just gotten together and were still in the honeymoon phase. They wanted to stick close to each other. Even if they tried to restrain themselves, in the eyes of others, it was an obvious show of affection.

Everyone around them felt envious.

When they looked back, they saw He Wenlei was completely unfazed, even indifferent. There wasn’t a trace of jealousy.

When it came to work discussions, this guy could still argue with Ai Xiaoling to the point of blushing and raised voices. But when Ye Zhou spoke, a few words in, and he would forcibly hold back.

This didn’t seem like facing a love rival. It was more like how they acted around their boss — fake and submissive.

After returning, the gossipers were all confused. Even while gossiping, they couldn’t get their thoughts together.

Could it be they had misunderstood something?

Wang Dazhou ran into He Wenlei and couldn’t help but ask curiously and quietly, “Wasn’t Ai Xiaoling into you?”

He Wenlei’s face showed great shock: “When did she ever like me?”

Wang Dazhou stood there, utterly confused. In order to avoid making a fool of himself, he tactfully chose not to ask any more questions.

In the afternoon.

Ai Xiaoling and Ye Zhou went out to the construction site.

Before departure, he even got out of the car to buy her a cold drink.

“Thank you.” Ai Xiaoling smiled sweetly.

Ye Zhou said seriously, “No need to say thank you.”

“?”

He said, “It’s only right for me to be good to you.”

Ai Xiaoling’s eyebrows raised higher and higher as she listened. She curiously asked him, “You’re being so nice to He Wenlei now?”

Just a few days ago, he didn’t want to deal with him at all. Today, they were chatting and laughing without the slightest gap between them.

“He’s already cleared of suspicion. It’s impossible for him to be with you.” After saying this, Ye Zhou paused. “I used to think he liked you. But now it doesn’t seem like it. He’s probably going through some emotional troubles.”

“How do you know that?” Ai Xiaoling was greatly surprised.

Ye Zhou said, “Just a guess.”

Before, he had also been full of gloom, constantly thinking that Ai Xiaoling liked He Wenlei and not him. Now that his wish had come true, everyone looked pleasing to the eye, and he could see it clearly at a glance.

Ai Xiaoling was afraid he’d keep asking, so she didn’t say more.

Ye Zhou wasn’t in the habit of prying into others’ privacy, so he casually changed the subject and drove to the construction site.

Today’s site was located at the top of a mountain. It was so steep that even driving was difficult.

After parking the car, they had to walk up the slope. The distance wasn’t short.

Ye Zhou carried the tools and freed up one hand to pull Ai Xiaoling. He walked in front and reached back to help her.

Seeing Ye Zhou carrying tools and still helping her, Ai Xiaoling smiled and said, “I’m just dragging you down by coming along.”

He turned to look at her. “I want to bring you.”

“Why?”

“Just because I want to.” Ye Zhou had a faint smile on his lips. “I want to keep you by my side. That way I have more motivation to work. It’s tough on you for following me.”

Ai Xiaoling suddenly understood. He used to tell her it was hard on her when he brought her to the site. So he’d always had this thought?

She suddenly felt like she had eaten preserved fruit. Her heart was full of sweetness. She quickened her steps, wrapped her arms around his, and clung to him.

In the past, when Ye Zhou brought Ai Xiaoling to the construction site, he would pretend and make her do some work. Now he did everything himself and told her to wait in the shade while he busied about alone.

Ai Xiaoling stood for too long waiting for him. Her legs had gone a bit numb.

“Carry me.” She reached out to him, half-joking.

Ye Zhou actually came over and crouched in front of her. “Hop on.”

She had just wanted to tease him. Seeing him crouch down piqued her interest. She walked forward, leaned onto his back, her slender arms wrapped around his neck. She clung to him and still spoke sweet words. “You’re so good.”

Ye Zhou really was very good.

He treated her well.

Ye Zhou reached back with his hands. When he stood up, he lightly bounced her twice and carried her down the mountain. He said the same thing again, “You’re my girlfriend. It’s only right that I’m good to you.”

Before he finished speaking, smack, Ai Xiaoling kissed him on the cheek.

After kissing him, she looked like a mischievous little kitten who had successfully stolen a treat, lying on his shoulder and laughing happily.

Ye Zhou didn’t say anything. Just when she thought he was calm, once they got back in the car, he leaned over to her, sealed her lips, kissed her open lips, tasting the fragrance inside. Because of the lack of oxygen, Ai Xiaoling opened her teeth.

He slipped his tongue inside, twining with her own, and placed his hand behind her head, pulling her even closer to him.

He kissed her earnestly and obsessively.

Ye Zhou had wanted to kiss her for a long time, even in his dreams.

The day he confessed, Ai Xiaoling kissed him and ran off, leaving him alone, standing there to recover for a long while. It was really too much.

Ye Zhou seemed to be making up for everything he was owed that day. Ai Xiaoling was kissed until her legs went weak. Her small, fair face was flushed red, full of spring-like charm.

“Mm——” She shyly reached up to cover her face, her tone playful. “What’s wrong with you? You’re going to kiss me until I’m swollen——”

“Let me see.” Ye Zhou tried to pull her hand down.

Ai Xiaoling wouldn’t let him look. She extended a small hand and kept trying to hit him, though the force was light, more like acting cute. Ye Zhou grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it.

“So dirty.” She frowned.

Ye Zhou didn’t mind at all. His movements were so natural as he held her soft hand.

Perhaps it was because his gaze was too pure and sincere, Ai Xiaoling felt a bit moved inside.

Ye Zhou didn’t have any dating tricks. He just had eyes full of her. He might be clumsy, but he really did his best to treat her well, always thinking of her first.

Ever since the two of them started dating, Ai Xiaoling no longer received any external work pay when she followed Ye Zhou to sites.

All of Ye Zhou’s earnings were given to her, not a single penny left out.

“I don’t want it.” At first, she resisted and explained to him, “We’re only dating now. It’s best not to have financial exchanges. What if we break up?”

Ye Zhou didn’t hesitate. “Then I’ll give you everything.”

Ai Xiaoling’s eyes swirled with emotion. She still thought he was very good.

“If we don’t break up, we’ll use it for the wedding.” When Ye Zhou said this, his face showed some expectation and longing. “If it’s not enough, I’ll earn more.”

She gently nodded and added, “Then let’s save our money together.”

How far could they go?

No one knew, so they might as well enjoy the moment.

Ye Zhou was truly good to Ai Xiaoling.

After they got together, he could openly take her out for big meals, take her shopping for clothes, patiently pick out outfits for her, and even take her to the movies…

He was doing everything he could to give her all he had.

Afraid of sudden changes, Ai Xiaoling also loved with no reservations. She became like a little girl in front of him. Though she had always been lively and cheerful, she had always pretended to be strong and tough.

In front of Ye Zhou, she could be someone who couldn’t even open a bottle of water, who couldn’t lift heavy things, who could act spoiled and say her feet hurt, and ask him to carry her.

Anyway, he would always indulge her.

On the weekend, when Ai Xiaoling went to the movies with Ye Zhou, she dressed herself up nicely, wearing the dress he bought her and even putting on high heels.

When Ye Zhou saw her, his eyes went wide, and he couldn’t bear to look away.

But walking around while shopping was really tiring.

Before, Ai Xiaoling would send all her salary back home. She always bought the cheapest shoes. Later, she followed Ye Zhou around various construction sites, wearing only sneakers and canvas shoes.

This was her first time wearing high heels.

She just wanted to look better in front of the person she liked.

Ye Zhou seemed to know this, and he walked especially slowly today, always holding her hand.

When they walked down the stairs from the cinema, he moved as slow as a snail and gently reminded her, “Take your time. No rush.”

Walking down the stairs was still okay. But when they walked toward the street after leaving the cinema, Ai Xiaoling lost her balance and almost twisted her ankle. Ye Zhou quickly supported her. She fell into his arms.

Ai Xiaoling felt she had embarrassed herself on the street and wished she could find a hole to crawl into. While she stayed in Ye Zhou’s arms, she reached out and hugged his waist, letting out two small whimpers.

“Other people probably experience this too. It’s nothing,” he raised his hand and placed his big palm on the back of her head, gently patting it to comfort her. “It’s okay, hmm?”

Ai Xiaoling slightly rubbed her head against his chest.

Ye Zhou lowered his head and whispered in her ear, gently comforting her, “How about we go buy a pair with lower heels? These aren’t good for walking. Save them for another time.”

Ai Xiaoling raised her head in his arms. In fact, she was a little sensitive and insecure inside, just covered up by her easygoing personality.

When she did things, she still cared about others’ opinions and thoughts.

Ye Zhou was now looking at her with a full smile. There was no teasing on his face. He simply felt it was no big deal.

His big palm moved forward. His thumb gently rubbed her smooth and fair forehead as he softly asked, “Okay?”

“You’re always so, so nice,” Ai Xiaoling said again.

Hearing her words, Ye Zhou looked at her with tender eyes, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Then would you marry me a little sooner?”

He was actually very nervous. Ai Xiaoling had said, what if they broke up.

He didn’t want to break up.

So he wanted to get married quickly.

They hadn’t been dating for long, and Ai Xiaoling had never even thought about marriage. When Ye Zhou asked, she was stunned, instinctively stepping out of his arms. Then she looked toward someone in the distance, and her face turned bright red.

Ye Zhou turned his head and saw that he was meeting eyes with his mother.

“……”