Chapter 28

Feng Chengze naturally wouldn’t tell her about the things he had found in the bathroom. Some things were best kept to himself. Under her gaze, he could only subtly change the topic, “So, you want me to play along?”

However, the moment he said this, his expression turned strange. It indeed had a double meaning, but fortunately, she didn’t catch on.

Ji Qingyu also felt that his tone was odd, giving her the illusion that they were talking about different things, “…Not exactly, just a little cooperation would be fine.”

She then brought up the incident a few days ago: “Do you want to be a very serious dad? When Yuan Bao called your Dad ‘Chairman Feng,’ I noticed you seemed to mind and were a bit upset.”

“I wasn’t upset,” Feng Chengze wasn’t sure if she was making small talk or having a serious conversation. After a moment of thought, he replied, “It’s just that the rules at home are strict, and I’m not used to it. I understand the affection between generations and won’t stop it, but I still hope Yuan Bao, as the younger generation, can respect her elders.”

“Do you think calling her grandfather’ Chairman Feng’ is disrespectful?” Ji Qingyu wasn’t trying to argue; she was simply curious.

“Maybe,” Feng Chengze glanced at her, “but perhaps my view is biased.” She also called her father-in-law’ Master Ji,’ but he could tell that the Ji family was very happy and warm, and there was no issue of disrespect from the daughter.

“Well…” Ji Qingyu softly shared her perspective, “That’s between Chairman Feng and Yuan Bao. As long as they both agree and are happy with it, I don’t see a problem. Of course, that’s just my opinion.”

Feng Chengze seemed to be lost in thought as well. “If Yuan Bao doesn’t call you ‘Dad’ and calls you ‘Mr. Feng’ instead, and you don’t like it, you can correct her. I noticed Chairman Feng wasn’t unhappy, so maybe it’s something they agreed on themselves?”

“Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”

Ji Qingyu found him puzzling. They weren’t that close before; how could she have said this to him? She quickly thought on her feet and used his own words, “Because that was between you and Yuan Bao,” she emphasized, “Let me make it clear: I’m not blaming you; it just came up, so I’m sharing my opinion.”

Feng Chengze nodded thoughtfully, “Alright.”

“But,” he paused, implying something, “with the two nannies and you entertaining her, I think that’s enough.”

Ji Qingyu wasn’t unreasonable. She didn’t like to force people. Reflecting on his words, she couldn’t help but smile. “You’re right. Imagining you playing roles like a police officer, teacher, or doctor is indeed odd.” He didn’t seem like someone who would play along with such nonsense.

“It’s late. You go ahead and wash up first,” Feng Chengze suddenly interrupted, “I need to go to the study to answer an email.”

“…Oh, okay.” Watching him leave almost hurriedly, Ji Qingyu blinked in confusion. Was it an urgent email?

Clearly, they didn’t understand each other well enough. Even if she wanted to guess his thoughts, she had no clue, so she gave up and walked lightly to the bathroom. As usual, she put on her hairband. When she raised her hand, it felt like she could still smell his faint scent on her wrist. Fortunately, it wasn’t the kind of hand-holding where fingers were tightly interlocked.

The relationship between men and women is strange. The fast pace of life has already mixed up the sequence. Hand-holding and hugging seem to test intimacy more than kissing or sleeping together.

Meanwhile, Feng Chengze calmly entered the study. The desk was still cluttered with Feng Jiayuan’s children’s picture books. Flipping through “Animal Homes,” he was surprised to find it was a pop-up book with hidden mechanisms on each page, which was quite interesting. After going through a few pages, he finally cleared his mind of all the unnecessary thoughts. He closed the picture book, set it aside, and turned on the computer. After handling a few emails, he lit up his phone screen. He guessed she wouldn’t finish washing up so quickly. Hesitating for a moment, he opened the mini-program and re-entered the delivery platform. The business trip to Nan City had been scheduled more than a month in advance and couldn’t be easily changed or canceled. His presence in Nan City was inevitable. Based on the information she gathered from Assistant Zhang, her presence in Nan City was coincidental. Perhaps she had broken up with A Yu at that time. He leaned towards the idea of a breakup rather than a quarrel. After the breakup, she might have come to Nan City to relieve the depression brought by the breakup—a normal reaction, considering it was a bustling tourist seaside city. And they just happened to stay at the same hotel.

During those days, they probably ran into each other more than once. Then, on one of those nights, they had a relationship. It could only have been with her, not with another woman. If another woman had appeared in his life, he and Ji Qingyu would never have gotten married. She also provided him with another line of thought. He could completely trace their timeline through the purchase list. She was likely pregnant around mid to late September. The current orders were from July. What about the two months in between?

He wouldn’t let anyone else buy these things for him, and there were no other orders on the delivery platform. Calmly rummaging through his phone, he found the payment records from five years ago just as Ji Qingyu sent a message saying, “I’m done.”

【Yowei Convenience Store, 109, August 20, 19:28】

【Yowei Convenience Store, 109, August 26, 22:35】

【Yowei Convenience Store, 109, September 8, 12:33】

【Yowei Convenience Store, 109, September 15, 18:20】

The bill didn’t show what he had bought, but each amount was exactly the same, suggesting he was likely purchasing the same item each time. After that year, he never revisited the convenience store.

…

“Where did you live five years ago?” Ji Qingyu had just finished her bath and was applying skincare at the dressing table when Feng Chengze suddenly asked her this question. She was slightly stunned. Although she didn’t understand his purpose, after thinking for a while, she replied, “I rented a small apartment on Yongyuan Road. Why?”

Although she had considered living at home after graduation, her family lived in the old city area, and all the jobs she was interviewing for were in the new city area, spanning several districts. Commuting time was at least three hours a day, which she couldn’t handle.

At that time… she lowered her brows, remembering that Feng Yu had mentioned more than once that once she decided where she would work, he would buy her an apartment nearby. Coincidentally, a college friend wanted to sublet her place, and the lease had three or four months left. The location and rent were suitable, so she decided to take it.

Feng Chengze asked, “Was there a convenience store nearby?”

Fortunately for Ji Qingyu, this happened only recently, so she remembered many details clearly. “Yes, there’s a Yowei Convenience Store right at the apartment complex’s entrance. What’s going on?”

He just looked at her intently. They stared at each other in silence. When Ji Qingyu was puzzled entirely, he silently handed her his phone. She put down her massager, took the phone suspiciously, and looked closely. At first, she didn’t understand, but then she saw the series of convenience store orders and looked up at him in shock.

Goodness! How many times was this?

“There’s a month in between…” Ji Qingyu immediately noticed the key point, but she said only the first half of the sentence; the rest was implied. At least one month was blank. What happened during that month? Could Detective Feng give her a hint she could understand?

“Your return ticket to Jing City,” Feng Chengze said vaguely, “wasn’t booked by me.”

Ji Qingyu understood his implication. Of course, he didn’t book it; it was an economy-class ticket she had booked herself before leaving for Nan City. He didn’t seem like the type to be stingy with women, so it was very likely that five years ago, after those four nights, she returned as planned without saying goodbye. She wasn’t too surprised because that was indeed something she would do. Otherwise, what was the point of staying?

“… I’ll go take a shower,” Feng Chengze said slowly and deeply, breaking the dead silence.

“Alright, alright!” Ji Qingyu hurriedly grabbed her massager and ran off.

Feng Chengze didn’t have time to stop her; she took his phone with her, and he could only let it go.

In the living room, Ji Qingyu was once again shocked by her past self from five years ago. The suspicion of a one-night stand was cleared, but who could save her now? She couldn’t get the bold and capitalized “turning a fling into a relationship” out of her mind!

If it were someone other than Feng Chengze, she would be more inclined to think that during that blank month, he was desperately and wildly pursuing her, and she was moved by his sincerity, accepting his confession and once again losing control on the night of August 20. But since it was Feng Chengze, she couldn’t imagine this scenario being possible.

As she frowned in thought, the phone’s built-in ringtone rang, and she realized she had taken his phone. She definitely couldn’t answer this call for him.

Although they were now married, Ji Qingyu and Feng Chengze were still in the exploratory stage of their relationship, not yet at the point where they could answer each other’s calls. She didn’t know if he had finished his shower, and barging into the bedroom might lead to an awkward situation. So, she stared at the phone screen, letting it ring. Modern people’s time was precious, but surely the world wouldn’t end if someone waited a few minutes. She couldn’t afford to create an awkward situation for herself.

Ten minutes later, Feng Chengze came out, looking refreshed. She quickly handed him the phone with both hands, explaining nervously, “I didn’t mean to. I thought it was my phone…”

“It’s okay,” he said calmly as he took it.

“Oh, by the way, you had a call earlier. The number wasn’t saved, so I didn’t answer it.”

As they walked towards the master bedroom, Feng Chengze dried his hair with a towel while checking the missed call. He casually said, “It was the private detective I hired. He should have the results of the past five years’ investigation.”

Ji Qingyu sat down on the bed, surprised. “So fast? Is this the power of money? Can he uncover someone’s five-year life history in just a few days?”

She had always wondered, when reading novels, how the boss would often tell his assistant, “I want all the information on this person in ten minutes.” How did the assistant manage that? Where did they find the information? Did rich people have a system to check someone’s life instantly? Now, she was about to gain some insight!

“Fast?” Feng Chengze neither confirmed nor denied, “It’s alright.”

“Not five days, but five years,” Ji Qingyu praised him with a smile, “You’re really amazing. If I had to find someone to do this, even half a month would be considered fast. No, I wouldn’t even know where to start.” After today’s events, she understood his concerns and decided to reassure him. She added cheerfully, “No matter what happened in the past five years, it’s already over. The past is important, but what’s more important is the present and the future.”

Feng Chengze’s expression softened, and he nodded slightly. He sat down on the other side of the bed. “I’ll call him back.” He dialed the number and put it on speaker. When the call started connecting, Ji Qingyu looked at him in surprise. He answered in a low voice, “You should listen too. There might be details I could miss if I relay it.” This was their matter, and there was nothing she couldn’t hear. Plus, it saved him the trouble of repeating everything. Ji Qingyu nodded happily. She liked how he included her.

A loud male voice came from the phone, “Good evening, Mr. Chen. Sorry, I only had time to handle your case these past few days.”

Chen?

Ji Qingyu glanced at him, but he caught her looking. Their eyes met, and he didn’t need to explain; she understood his concerns.

“No problem,” he said. “Do you have the results?”

Ji Qingyu held her breath, focusing all her attention on the call and waiting for the answer. Feng Chengze seemed much calmer, but they both awaited the detective’s response.

“Mr. Chen, here’s the thing. My assistant took your case. He’s new and doesn’t quite understand the rules in Jing City. I just got back from a business trip, so I wanted to discuss this with you…” The detective started rambling.

Feng Chengze patiently listened for a few moments before saying in a deep voice, “We can discuss the price directly.”

Ji Qingyu couldn’t help but smile. Her slender, fair hand sank into the dark gray blanket, the contrast so stark that you could see the delicate blood vessels under her pale skin. Her wrist and arm looked fragile.

Feng Chengze was lost in thought for a few seconds before returning to normal.

“Mr. Chen, you misunderstand. It’s not about the money,” the detective said, sounding extremely helpless. He gritted his teeth and said bluntly, “No one in Jing City dares to investigate this matter. Anything that could be found has already been erased. Do you think no one is curious about the Feng family’s affairs? It’s impossible to investigate, and you can probably guess whose handiwork it is, right?”

Ji Qingyu suddenly looked at Feng Chengze: “???”

Feng Chengze froze. “Do you believe that if I took this case and really investigated, within half a day—no, within three hours—the Feng family would get wind of it? What should I do then? I can’t afford to offend them,” the detective said. He was a decent person but didn’t want to get into trouble. He hoped this customer would drop the idea; otherwise, if the Feng family traced it back to him, it would be a disaster.

Who could he turn to for help then?

He paused and continued, “You’re not from Jing City, are you? So, you might not know. At the wedding, he said something to his wife on stage—”

What did he say??

Ji Qingyu perked up her ears. Feng Chengze regretted putting the call on speaker. His instinct told him it was best not to hear this nor let her know. He calmly interrupted, “Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work.”

Huh??
Is this something a person would do?

Ji Qingyu couldn’t catch her breath. She instinctively grabbed the blanket, looking at him disapprovingly.

She didn’t know yet!
She wanted to hear more!!

The detective seemed satisfied. “You’re welcome, Mr. Chen. About the deposit you paid…”

Feng Chengze wanted to end the call quickly. “Keep it as a service fee.”

The detective cheerfully wished him goodnight, and Feng Chengze swiftly hung up. He lowered his eyes, not surprised by the result. From the information they had gathered, it was clear that things had been tense back then. Given his personality, he wouldn’t want family matters to become gossip, so he would have suppressed it, ensuring no one could exploit it to harm his family and… his wife. This aligned with his style and methods. However, it also led to the current awkward situation. After repeatedly assuring her that he could quickly uncover the past, he made the foolish decision to let her hear this call—why did he put it on speaker a few minutes ago?

After the initial shock, Ji Qingyu almost laughed inside. Hahaha!

The more silent he was, the funnier she found it. She couldn’t help it; her sense of humor was ridiculously low. Could this be the first time the composed and confident Mr. Feng Chengze felt this awkward?

No one would have guessed that his past self coldly blocked the things he wanted to investigate from four or five years ago. She couldn’t hold it in any longer and quickly turned her head to hide her smile. She didn’t mean to gloat but worried he might misunderstand. Her shoulders shook slightly, and Feng Chengze’s gaze moved inch by inch, deeply observing her. He reached out and turned off the main switch in the room. In an instant, the room was pitch black.

Ji Qingyu, caught off guard, let out a surprised “Ah!” and felt a dizzying sensation. His presence enveloped her completely, leaving no escape. His hand supported the back of her head, gradually drawing closer. She could feel his hot yet restrained breath. They were very close, but apart from that hand, he didn’t touch her.

“You said,” he paused for a few seconds, then whispered, “You don’t mind.” The darkness heightened her senses.

Ji Qingyu suddenly understood why her past self had those chaotic nights and beginnings with Feng Chengze five years ago. What seemed impossible now had a reasonable explanation. It was like this moment—this second—she couldn’t control herself and felt a desire. His breath smelled good. His voice was deep. His hand had a restrained strength. Feng Chengze’s essence was “reliable.” He wasn’t a dangerous and uncertain sea, cliff, or mountain. He always gave a sense of security. If she jumped in his direction, she would land safely, without injury or harm. So, even if she was tempted for a second, she would let herself go.

Now, Ji Qingyu, like the impulsive Ji Qingyu from five years ago in the car, seemed to have her thoughts and feelings finally aligned on the same wavelength.

They were the same person.

She closed her eyes, instinctively leaning in gently, her nose brushing against his, a light touch. Their breaths intertwined—one shallow, the other gradually deepening. After a few seconds, when she felt her neck was almost sore, she stopped torturing herself, relaxed, and lay back, safely landing in his large palm.

This was the feeling.

Steady, secure.

Before she could even get used to the feeling of something pressing against the back of her head, he forcefully came over, capturing her lips, prying them open, their lips and tongues intertwining.

For a moment, she gently hooked him, and then he licked and bit her.

In the already silent room, every little sound was incredibly clear.

This was their home, their bedroom, the bed where they had been intimate countless times before.

They had both fallen into a trap.

Her lung capacity couldn’t compare to his, slightly inferior, and she was almost out of breath. Her frail body struggled to withstand his weight. Instinctively, she reached out, clutching his shoulders, not in resistance. He sensed it and, with one arm around her, turned over, letting her lie on his chest.

They didn’t know how long they had been kissing. Maybe he had stolen all the oxygen, and she felt dizzy, not knowing what day it was. Just when she thought the kiss was over, he pressed his lips against her neck, his high nose bridge perfectly resting against her carotid artery, feeling her rapid heartbeat. She didn’t know if it was intentional or not, but his breath seemed to brush against her heart, snapping a string in her mind.

It was indeed intentional. Where can you feel a pulse and heartbeat?

Neck, chest, wrist… Ji Qingyu was once again supported by him. She lay back on the bed, her head tilted back, helplessly sinking into the soft pillow, gasping for breath like a fish stranded on the shore, its moisture slowly evaporating.

“Do you want to take a shower?”

Feng Chengze’s voice was hoarse, but he still patiently asked her.

Ji Qingyu hadn’t come to her senses yet. She had never experienced the feeling of being drunk, but she was sure it was just like how she felt now. His words reached her eardrums one by one, but when put together, they were dull and hard to understand.

After a long while, she replied dully, “… Yes.”

She had sweated a lot, not just feeling hot but also very thirsty.

Actually, in the dark, hands are more useful than eyes. He had explored every inch and had already “seen” everything he was curious about, but she didn’t know. With various concerns, he slowed his tone and said, “Then I’ll go to the guest bathroom?”

“Mm.”

Feng Cheng straightened up but turned back as he got out of bed and leaned over. Ji Qingyu placed her hand on her stomach, calming her breathing and heartbeat. Suddenly, a restrained, gentle kiss landed on her forehead.