Chapter 35

Facing her own mother’s unabashed disdain and unexpected happiness.

Cheng Li still wanted to put up some resistance. She said, “Moving houses requires picking a good day. It’s not something you just do on a whim.”

“You didn’t care about picking a good day to register your marriage—just did it casually—yet now you care about the day for moving?” Ms. Ling gave her a surprised look, as if Cheng Li was spouting nonsense.

Then she shot Cheng Li a sideways glance and said faintly, “Now you’re just being picky.”

Cheng Li: “…”

Exactly.

She shouldn’t have said anything at all. She should’ve known her place, packed her things, and left quietly.

Cheng Dingbo, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn’t take it anymore and chimed in, “Who moves house this late at night? Do it tomorrow.”

“It’s the weekend now. If she doesn’t move tonight, she’ll have work tomorrow and even less time. If this keeps getting postponed, who knows how long it’ll drag on?” Ms. Ling, as always, was resolute and decisive at home.

And so, under Ms. Ling’s orders, Cheng Li was to move out that very night.

When Cheng Li entered her room to pack, Rong Qi followed her.

She sighed helplessly, “I’m sorry for all this trouble so late at night.”

“Trouble?” Rong Qi deliberately paused, then drawled lazily, “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

Cheng Li hadn’t expected him to play it so direct, and her cheeks immediately flushed.

“What are you standing there for? I brought you two suitcases. Start packing,” Ms. Ling said as she pushed two suitcases through the open door and walked right in.

Feeling pressured, Cheng Li reluctantly countered, “There’s no need to rush me so much. If you miss me later, I won’t come back so easily.”

“Don’t worry. That day won’t come anytime soon,” Ms. Ling said bluntly.

Resigned, Cheng Li opened the suitcase and began to pack.

“Don’t bother with trivial things. Just pack the essentials,” Ms. Ling reminded her before leaving the room.

Cheng Li nodded.

Having lived here for decades, moving out all of a sudden required a lot of packing.

On the cabinet nearby were many of her old books and photos.

As Rong Qi walked over, he noticed a solo photo of her. She was clearly quite young, her hair tied back in a ponytail, her face full of youthful innocence. It must have been taken during her high school years.

“You don’t need to take those,” Cheng Li muttered behind him. The two suitcases weren’t enough for all her things, and she had only packed some clothes she needed right now. But winter clothes were bulky, and just a couple of them filled up the space.

Rong Qi picked up the photo from the cabinet. “Take this one.”

Cheng Li turned and saw the photo he was holding—a high school portrait that had always been on display in her room.

“This photo?” Cheng Li frowned. She had thought it was just average when it was taken. “Do we really need to bring it?”

Rong Qi nodded.

Seeing his response, Cheng Li placed the photo in its frame into the suitcase.

It took two hours to finish packing.

Cheng Li ended up with two suitcases, while Ms. Ling had somehow found two additional cardboard boxes, which were packed to the brim.

Thankfully, Rong Qi had called a driver to bring a business car.

The rear seats could be folded down, and the boxes fit perfectly in the back.

The driver carried the two cardboard boxes downstairs while Rong Qi took the two hard suitcases.

Cheng Li followed behind with her laptop and tablet. As she was about to leave, she glanced at her parents and hesitated. “Am I really leaving?”

This time, Ms. Ling didn’t quip. She looked at Cheng Li for a long moment before finally saying, “Come back for meals. Don’t make your dad call you repeatedly.”

Cheng Dingbo opened his mouth, but only nodded. “Yes, it’s your dad who’ll miss you. Your mom won’t miss you at all.”

His comment lightened the melancholy in Cheng Li’s heart just a little.

Standing by the door, Rong Qi waited. When they reached the elevator, he softly said, “Ms. Ling, please rest assured. Whenever you miss Cheng Li, she can come home anytime.”

“Exactly! Rong Qi’s grandparents live nearby too. What are you worried about?” Cheng Li teased as she clung to Ms. Ling’s arm.

This time, Ms. Ling didn’t say anything else.

The family went downstairs together. Cheng Li and Rong Qi got into the car, while Ms. Ling and Cheng Dingbo stood outside.

“Hurry back inside. I’ll come home tomorrow night for dinner,” Cheng Li said in an attempt to sound cheerful.

Cheng Dingbo immediately asked, “What do you want to eat? Let me know in advance.”

“Well, this time, don’t forget the salt,” Cheng Li joked with a grin.

“I won’t forget!” Cheng Dingbo promised.

As the car started, her parents remained standing there. Cheng Li rolled down the window, waving at them as the car drove off.

Soon, their figures faded from view, and Cheng Li was overcome by a strange sense of uncertainty.

From this moment on, it felt like she was stepping into an entirely new life.

As the car left the neighborhood, Cheng Li sat silently in her seat.

The car’s interior was dark, with no lights on.

She kept her eyes wide open, staring out at the familiar scenery passing by, but it only seemed to tug at her tear ducts.

It was all within the same city.

She was simply moving from this home to another place.

So why was she being so sentimental?

Cheng Li silently berated herself for being so weak.

Just then, a hand reached out beside her, gently clasping hers.

Cheng Li didn’t move.

But Rong Qi’s fingers slowly turned her palm over, threading through her fingers with a deliberate slowness. His hand was warm and dry, wrapping hers securely.

Like two perfectly fitted pieces of a mortise and tenon joint, their hands locked together, resilient enough to weather a thousand years of storms.

Inside the car, silence reigned. Their hands remained tightly clasped together.

*

Fortunately, as they arrived at Rong Qi’s home, the bright lights of the new residence illuminated the space, lifting the mood instantly. It was nothing like the dimly lit car earlier, where the faint traces of sadness had been magnified by the shadows.

Cheng Li moved her suitcase into the living room and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the glimmering nightscape of the Huangpu River outside.

Living here—could it get any better?

“Coming home from work every day to a view like this must make you feel that everything you’re working for is worthwhile,” Cheng Li remarked as she glanced at Rong Qi, who was standing by the bar pouring water.

Rong Qi approached her and handed her a glass of water. Cheng Li held the warm glass, feeling its comforting heat spread through her palms.

“It’s alright,” Rong Qi replied in a low voice.

Cheng Li snorted lightly. “Are all rich people like you?”

Rong Qi raised a brow. “And just how many rich people have you met?”

Cheng Li almost choked. “…”

Fine. His confidence was undeniable.

Putting down her glass, she said briskly, “I’m going to unpack now.”

She habitually moved her suitcase toward the door.

Just as she reached for the handle, a hand from behind grabbed it first. Cheng Li turned around and found Rong Qi standing close behind her, his hand firmly holding the door handle. At that moment, their positions made it look as though he were embracing her from behind.

“Isn’t this my room?” Cheng Li asked.

Rong Qi sighed. “It is.”

Seeing his reaction, Cheng Li paused. “Is there a problem?”

Rong Qi glanced at her, his expression calm yet resigned, before finally releasing the door handle.

Fine.

Cohabitation was cohabitation. Living under the same roof counted, didn’t it?

To be honest, Cheng Li found it hard not to like this room. Compared to her old home with its decade-old interior design, this place was entirely catered to modern tastes.

To her surprise, she noticed a brand-new carpet in her room.

A white, plush carpet. Kicking off her slippers and socks, Cheng Li stepped onto it barefoot.

Soft. So soft it felt like stepping on clouds.

As she enjoyed the sensation, she pulled out her phone and typed:
[When did you buy the carpet in the room? It’s so soft.]

Rong Qi replied:
[As long as you like it.]

Cheng Li grinned and sent back:
[I love it.]

After her brief moment of amusement, Cheng Li started unpacking her clothes. But as she opened the closet, she realized the clothes that had been hanging there before were gone.

While she stood in surprise, the door to her room was knocked on again.

“Coming!” She ran over to answer.

Rong Qi had taken off his coat and was wearing a dark gray pullover, exuding a clean and youthful vibe—like a fresh graduate.

But as he glanced down, his eyes landed on her bare feet.

“The floor is cold,” he said, frowning slightly.

The house was fitted with marble tiles throughout. While luxurious, the flooring felt icy cold. At this time of year, even the underfloor heating hadn’t been turned on yet.

Cheng Li realized her oversight and nodded. “Oh, right.”

“The slippers are by the carpet,” Rong Qi pointed out with a subtle nod. “Put them on first.”

Cheng Li quickly complied. “Now, what were you saying?”

Rong Qi motioned for her to follow him. “Come with me.”

As she trailed behind him, Cheng Li couldn’t help but marvel again at the size of the house.

Although she had taken a brief tour during her last visit, she still struggled to remember the layout.

Thankfully, the room they headed to wasn’t far from hers. It was just past another bedroom and a shared bathroom.

When Rong Qi opened the door, Cheng Li was greeted by the sight of an immaculate walk-in closet. Cream-colored cabinetry with glass-paneled doors created a clean yet elegant atmosphere.

This kind of walk-in closet, Cheng Li had only ever seen on Xiaohongshu (social media).

“For convenience, I had this closet prepared for your clothes,” Rong Qi said. “Luckily, it was finished before you moved in.”

Cheng Li pressed her lips together, a wave of realization washing over her. When Rong Qi had suggested they live together, he hadn’t been making an offhand remark.

He had been serious about preparing for it.

Without saying a word, Cheng Li felt a ripple of emotion spread through her heart.

That feeling stayed with her as she lay in bed later that night, unable to fall asleep. Turning over, she grabbed her phone and sent a message:

[If a man quietly takes care of everything for you, what should I do in return?]

The reply came swiftly.

Meng Yuange:
[Be straightforward.]
[If you’re going to flaunt your relationship, just do it openly.]
[So, what did your husband do now?]

Cheng Li: “…”

Fine.

[I moved in with him today. Then I found out he’d already prepared a walk-in closet for me.]

Meng Yuange:
[Damn, does it have Hermès?]

Cheng Li:
[No, it doesn’t.]

Cheng Li:
[But he said I could just use his card to buy anything I like.]

This was indeed what Rong Qi had told her. Aside from a few outfits she’d seen last time, the closet was mostly empty. Rong Qi explained that he didn’t know her preferences and suggested she fill it with whatever she liked.

Meng Yuange:
[You single-handedly destroyed me.]
[But before I die of envy, let me tell you this:]
[The best way to repay him is to…]

The message stopped halfway. Cheng Li stared at her screen, waiting.

But Meng Yuange seemed to be deliberately keeping her in suspense.

Finally, unable to resist, Cheng Li asked:
[What is it?]

After a moment, two notifications popped up.

The voice message read:
[Claim him.]

Claim… him.

Cheng Li stared at those two words.

Lying in bed, she suddenly felt unbearably hot.

Especially when she thought about Rong Qi sleeping just in the room next door, while she was texting her best friend, discussing how to “claim him.”

Of course, the suggestion was from Meng Yuange.

But somehow, she didn’t seem entirely against it.

Ahhh!

Cheng Li pulled the blanket over her head.

It’s still winter!

Why is her mind stuck on such thoughts?

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to clear her mind.

Yet, it only made things worse.

As soon as her eyes closed, chaotic images of Rong Qi filled her head, accompanied by Meng Yuange’s voice repeating, “Claim him.”

All night, the thought looped in her mind.

Even her dreams were dominated by Rong Qi.

So much so that she almost missed her alarm the next morning.

She had fallen into such a deep sleep that the phone alarm rang over and over without waking her.

Finally, a knock at the door broke through her slumber.

Even then, she didn’t wake until she felt a slight difficulty breathing. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw a magnified face above hers—Rong Qi, gazing at her with a mix of exasperation and amusement.

At the same time, he released her nose, which he’d been pinching to wake her.

Cheng Li blinked at him groggily.

Her almond-shaped eyes, usually calm and composed, were tinged with a rosy hue. Her pupils looked misty and unfocused, resembling a lost, soft-tailed rabbit.

“Your phone kept ringing. I was worried you’d be late for work,” Rong Qi explained.

Only then did Cheng Li hear the alarm blaring on her bedside table.

The sound was deafening, yet she hadn’t noticed it at all.

Had she slept like a log?

Just as she was about to reply, she caught sight of Rong Qi. He was wearing a black turtleneck sweater paired with tailored trousers, looking clean-cut and composed, clearly having been up and ready for some time.

Whoosh.

Cheng Li pulled the blanket over her head again, hiding her face. From beneath the covers, she mumbled, “I haven’t washed my face or brushed my teeth yet.”

“Then get up,” Rong Qi chuckled softly.

“Leave first,” Cheng Li insisted.

“Alright.”

His tone carried a trace of amusement.

Hearing the door close, Cheng Li scrambled out of bed.

She rushed into the bathroom, quickly brushing her teeth and washing her face, then tidied herself up.

When it came time to pick her outfit, she paused, noticing a white turtleneck sweater in the closet. It looked oddly similar to the one Rong Qi had been wearing.

After getting dressed, she stepped out of her room and headed toward the living room.

The curtains were drawn wide open, allowing the morning sunlight to flood in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside was the breathtaking view of the Huangpu River bathed in golden light, with rippling waves glistening on the water’s surface.

Ferries glided lazily across the river, marking the start of a bustling morning.

Rong Qi was at the bar counter not far away. Turning slightly, he asked, “Want some coffee?”

Cheng Li looked at him. He was still dressed in the same black outfit, his trousers perfectly pressed, highlighting his tall, lean figure.

Her gaze trailed lower, and she couldn’t help but notice—

Damn.

His backside was unexpectedly perky.

He must work out a lot.

Noticing her silence, Rong Qi turned his head to meet her gaze. Seeing her staring, he glanced down at his own legs.

But the angle of her gaze was clearly off.

Cheng Li was still lost in her thoughts when his playful voice broke through, “That fascinating, huh?”

“Mm,” Cheng Li responded instinctively.

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized what she’d just admitted. Flustered, she quickly tried to backtrack. “It’s… not bad.”

“Oh, just ‘not bad’?” Rong Qi lifted his coffee mug and began walking toward her, his long legs drawing closer with every step. Once he was right in front of her, he looked down, his voice teasing. “Then why were you staring for so long?”

Cheng Li realized she couldn’t win a battle of words with him.

Their levels of shamelessness were not on the same plane.

“I’ll have coffee,” she blurted, changing the subject.

The truth was, Cheng Li didn’t even like coffee much. She only drank it during late-night work sessions when she was desperate to stay awake.

“Feel free to look more openly in the future,” Rong Qi said, calm and composed, his eyes fixed on her.

Cheng Li wanted to defend herself, to say she’d only glanced briefly.

But it wasn’t her fault! His legs were so long.

And his backside… so annoyingly perfect.

Before she could form a response, Rong Qi tilted his head slightly and added, “Whatever you do, it’s perfectly legal.”

Legal?

That single word sent a jolt through Cheng Li.

Her dreams from the previous night resurfaced vividly in her mind.

Even though dreams were usually chaotic, some fragments had stayed with her.

She almost instinctively blurted, “Including claiming you?”

What the—

No!

What nonsense was she saying?

Ahhh.

Damn it.

Was she still half-asleep?

Cheng Li quickly added, “I was just sleep-talking.”

The corners of Rong Qi’s mouth relaxed slightly. Then he placed the coffee cup in his hand onto the nearby shelf. The crisp clink as the cup touched the glass surface felt as though it struck directly at Cheng Li’s heart.

“So, your dreams are all about me too?”

Ah.

He could even pick up on such a loophole?

Cheng Li felt a chill run down her spine.

Is talking to a clever person always this terrifying?

Rong Qi didn’t seem to mind her silence. Instead, he let out a slow chuckle and drawled arrogantly, “What’s this? Thinking about me so much during the day that I invade your dreams at night?”

She didn’t…

Okay, fine.

She did.

Cheng Li didn’t even dare to argue, because the truth was, she really had dreamed about him all night.

Just as she was about to flee in embarrassment, the sound of the front door unlocking suddenly echoed—a series of beeps from the fingerprint lock. At that moment, to Cheng Li, the sound was nothing short of heavenly music.

Whoever it was.

Whoever had arrived was her savior.

When the person at the door entered and walked through the entryway, they saw the two standing in the living room and immediately looked surprised.

“Sir, you’re home?” It was the housekeeper.

Though Cheng Li had visited before, it was always when the housekeeper wasn’t around.

The housekeeper glanced at Cheng Li standing beside Rong Qi, stunned for a moment, before breaking into a smile. “So this is…”

The housekeeper was aware of Rong Qi’s marriage.

After all, there were women’s clothes in the house, and a room had been prepared, though she’d never met the person in question.

Before the housekeeper could finish, Rong Qi cut in, “Let me introduce you.”

Cheng Li had been about to greet the housekeeper politely. After all, she was moving in permanently now.

But before she could say a word, she felt an arm drape over her shoulders. Rong Qi casually pulled her close and, with a light laugh, said to the housekeeper, “This is my wife, the one who thinks about me day and night, even in her dreams.”

Cheng Li: “…”

Was that… supposed to be a proper introduction?!

Author’s Note:

Rong Qi’s brainwashing tactics~~Give it some time, and Cheng Li will willingly think: Wow, turns out I really do love him.