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The conversation between Wen Zhihan and her parents went smoothly, and the results were what she expected.

After leaving the Wen estate, Wen Zhihan did not return home right away. Instead, she accepted her friend group’s invitation for a meal.

She had coffee and chatted about work with Xu Zhouzhou and the others.

They didn’t part ways until it was almost 11 o’clock.

When Wen Zhihan returned home, Shao Cixin was already asleep.

Since she knew that Wen Zhihan was having coffee with her friends instead of drinking, Shao Cixin didn’t need to worry too much. After coming home tired from a long day of work, she went to bed early.

Afraid that Wen Zhihan wouldn’t be able to see clearly when she came back, Shao Cixin still kept two bedside lamps on to show the way through their bedroom.

Seeing Shao Cixin sleeping peacefully, Wen Zhihan was careful not to disturb her and moved as quietly as possible.

But when she completed her nightly routine and returned to their room comfortable and refreshed, she saw that Shao Cixin had woken up anyway.

It was just that she was still sleepy.

“You’re back…” Shao Cixin was so tired she couldn’t open her eyes because of the light.

Wen Zhihan leaned against the head of the bed. Seeing Shao Cixin’s reaction, she quietly turned off the lights and responded softly, “En, I’m back. Did I wake you up? I’m sorry, you should continue sleeping. Good night.”

Shao Cixin first responded with some vague murmuring, then she turned to Wen Zhihan and said in a low voice, “You didn’t wake me up. I just wanted to ask you a question. Since I’m free tomorrow, do you want me to wait for you to leave together…”

Wen Zhihan thought for a moment and responded softly, “You should head out first.”

“Why?”

“I may not be able to get off work on time tomorrow. I have a social event later in the day, and I will probably be home late.”

“It won’t be as late as tonight, right? Then your parents won’t scold you…”

Wen Zhihan smiled when she heard this and promised gently, “They will understand. I will try to get back as soon as possible.”

Shao Cixin nodded. “Okay…”

Their surroundings fell into silence once again.

The two of them were facing each other but not touching each other, yet they could still feel the other person’s breaths and presence.

Wen Zhihan wasn’t in a rush to fall asleep. Instead, she quietly took in the moment.

This kind of verbal exchange made them feel like real wives, with no agreement between them—only themselves and their families.

Whenever she encountered such a beautiful moment, she couldn’t help but think: If she couldn’t have Shao Cixin’s heart, it was also good to be able to live together like this for three years…

Of course, Wen Zhihan couldn’t say for sure whether she could resist attempting to extend the contract’s deadline.

If possible, who wouldn’t want to be with the person they loved for a lifetime?

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound beside her.

The next moment, Wen Zhihan heard Shao Cixin ask, “Wen Zhihan, are you tired?”

Wen Zhihan didn’t think much and replied softly, “I’m not tired.”

Eating and chatting with friends all night was easier than working all night.

Then she heard Shao Cixin let out a brisk, “Oh.”

The bedside lamp was turned on again.

Wen Zhihan saw Shao Cixin moving to her side, resting her head on her body, and looking at her with those peach-blossom eyes.

Wen Zhihan gazed at the person on top of her quietly.

The sleepiness in Shao Cixin’s bright peach blossom eyes had not completely disappeared, making her appear dazed and gentle.

And the smile hanging on the corners of her lip was lazy but inexplicably attractive.

“Senior sister…” Shao Cixin’s red lips opened and closed, her voice soft and coquettish. “I want…”

As if acting coquettish wasn’t enough, Shao Cixin also wanted to tease Wen Zhihan’s fingers, kissing and licking them, like a puppy trying to please someone.

Wen Zhihan looked at her without blinking. “Aren’t you sleepy, Cixin?”

Shao Cixin smiled at her playfully. “Hm, speaking of which, I’m not tired anymore…”

Wen Zhihan curved her eyes and smiled. Her fingertips touched Shao Cixin’s soft lip, and she was overwhelmed by Shao Cixin’s teasing and temptation.

The magic box of desire sprung open.

Wen Zhihan didn’t have the slightest thought of struggling and quickly gave in.

She pressed Shao Cixin under her and kissed her lips and tongue.

They passionately unbuttoned each other’s clothes, adding another scorching flame to the night.

White skin, pink cherry blossoms.

Surging desire combined with a love that neither dared speak of.

At this moment, everything turned into lingering spring scenery, enveloping them tightly and unwilling to let go.

Shao Cixin held Wen Zhihan and her fingers sank into her long hair, hand stroking up and down as her emotions surged.

Then she couldn’t help but raise her head, arch her body, and exhale in a delicate and soft voice.

Wen Zhihan’s kiss fell between her eyebrows.

She uncontrollably kissed Shao Cixin from top to bottom, finally landing on her neck and leaving some red plum blossoms in her wake.

Shao Cixin slowly came back to her senses amid her desires and raised her hand to touch the side of her neck that was being kissed. She looked at Wen Zhihan with wet eyes, and her voice was so soft that she didn’t know whether the words she spoke were accusations or provocations.

“Wen Zhihan, this will leave traces that people can see….”

Wen Zhihan gently lifted her thumb and wiped the tears from the corner of Shao Cixin’s eyes. Then she said calmly and gently, “Aren’t you free tomorrow?”

Shao Cixin reacted. “Oh, right, I’m free tomorrow.”

Wen Zhihan couldn’t help but laugh when she saw how silly Shao Cixin was.

Shao Cixin thought about it more and felt that something was still wrong. “But I have to go home to see your parents tomorrow. It would be so embarrassing if our elders saw this…”

Wen Zhihan stroked her long hair and comforted her. “It’s okay. We can cover it with your hair so no one can see…”

After hearing this, Shao Cixin took Wen Zhihan into her arms intending to do something just as bad to the side of the other person’s neck.

—Wives should be neat and tidy!

But when her lips touched the skin beside Wen Zhihan’s nape, she stopped herself.

“No, you have work tomorrow.” Shao Cixin turned to kiss Wen Zhihan’s lips. “I’ll let you go today.”

Wen Zhihan’s eyes curved. “En, then let’s just save it for next time.”

She leaned against Shao Cixin’s ear and said in a sultry voice, “Cixin, you have to pay me back next time. Don’t forget it.”

After saying this, she kissed the tip of Shao Cixin’s ear, as if sealing an agreement.

Shao Cixin was so aroused that half her body had gone weak. She held Wen Zhihan tightly, then grabbed her wrist and pushed her down.

“Senior sister, I still want you…”

Wen Zhihan liked all of Shao Cixin’s looks, but especially her current appearance.

She was more sensitive than before, more delicate than before, but still cute, and full of endless desire for Wen Zhihan.

Wen Zhihan knew that it was only in moments like these that she was the person Shao Cixin wanted the most in her heart.

—She couldn’t let Shao Cixin down.

“Okay.”

She responded gently, offering all of herself without reservation.

“It’s all yours, Cixin.”

My Cixin, I belong to you, and I am forever yours.

On Thursday morning, Shao Cixin got into the car and left for the Wen residence first.

Wen Zhihan and Wen Yu were both working at Guanglan, so Shao Cixin was immediately handed the responsibility of accompanying their parents.

Fortunately, she was beautiful, sweet-tongued, and well-behaved, and so she was able to make the two elders happy.

And even more fortunately, the hickey on her neck was not discovered, saving her from experiencing a social death.

In the afternoon, Wen Zhihan called and told Shao Cixin that she was required to attend some business meetings and social events, so she would be back a little later than usual.

Shao Cixin said, “Okay, don’t drink too much at night, and don’t drive if you drink.”

Wen Zhihan responded, “En, I understand. Please help me spend more time with my parents.”

Shao Cixin said, “I’m a little sweetheart. You can rest assured while I’m here.”

Two gentle chuckles came from her phone. “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Hey, we’re in this together. Saying such a thing is out of place.”

In the evening, Wen Yu arrived home before Wen Zhihan.

After a hard day at work, she had no energy left. Her eyes only lit up slightly when she caught sight of Shao Cixin.

But the next moment, she saw the wedding ring on Shao Cixin’s hand, and the light in her eyes was extinguished again.

—The wedding ring, it should be hers on that finger.

Shao Cixin didn’t bother paying attention to Wen Yu’s changes.

Her time was precious, so she had to spend it on the world’s treasure, her President Wen.

Wen Yu? Not worth it.

Wen Xingyun personally cooked that night. His only regret was that his eldest daughter did not come home.

But there was nothing he could do about it.

Before he retired and retreated behind the scenes, he was often as busy as his eldest daughter, attending meetings and staying out to socialize from time to time.

Joanna was very relieved.

It was a good thing that Wen Zhihan had grown up an independent woman who could thrive in the industry.

And even though her eldest daughter was not present, her daughter-in-law and younger daughter were still there to accompany her.

At the dinner table, Joanna was very interested in Shao Cixin’s work. She knew that one of Shao Cixin’s projects would be included in the upcoming film and television awards ceremony.

When Wen Xingyun heard this, he looked at Shao Cixin with surprise. “Really? Is it the Best Actress award? I knew our Cixin could do it!”

Shao Cixin didn’t dare blindly proclaim herself the winner, so she waved her hand quickly. “No, no! It’s still too early. This is just the selection, the final results haven’t come out yet. And I’m still far away, there’s so much to learn, it definitely won’t be me…”

Joanna picked up her soup bowl with a gentle touch and smile. “No matter what, you are the best actress in our hearts.”

Shao Cixin looked at her parents-in-law and thought that she was actually very lucky.

Although she had many ups and downs when it came to her love life, at least she had it better than most people when it came to familial relationships.

Her parents loved her, and the parents of the person she liked also loved her very much. Being able to live with such abundant love was also a blessing in life.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad.” Shao Cixin smiled and held up her bowl of warm soup, humoring her parents-in-law to make them happy. “Don’t say too much. It’s all in the soap. I’ll finish it first!”

Wen Xingyun’s soup was delicious and fragrant. It warmed the heart and spleen with its mellow and rich flavor, and it was also highly nutritious. These traits made it all the more essential to have during the wintertime.

Shao Cixin liked to drink the soups that Wen Xingyun and Lu Lan made the most.

Wen Xingyun watched Shao Cixin quickly finish her bowl of soup, then he stretched out his hand to take her empty bowl. “That’s not enough. Dad will serve you another bowl. You’re so thin, you need to eat more.”

Shao Cixin: “…”

The weight she had worked so hard to maintain…Goodbye!

After dinner, Shao Cixin stood on the balcony of the second floor and felt the blow of the evening breeze.

Below the balcony stretched out the Wen family’s large courtyard. There were many flowers and plants planted under the side walls, so delicate and colorful that they added a bit of much-needed vitality to the monotonous corner.

When the evening breeze blew slowly, the soft fragrance of flowers faintly floated in the air.

Shao Cixin leaned against the railing, closing her eyes and enjoying this wonderful moment.

“Tian Jiahe!”

A sudden shout scattered Shao Cixin’s serenity.

Shao Cixin snapped opened her eyes and looked down. She saw Wen Yu walking into the courtyard with her phone to her ear. Judging from her tone, she wasn’t in a good mood.

“I said I have no feelings for you anymore. Can’t you understand me?”

“Don’t bother me again. We are over!”

“Please respect yourself, Miss Tian!”

After saying these words, Wen Yu hung up her phone and stood alone in the yard, sulking.

Shao Cixin raised an eyebrow calmly.

Ooh, Wen Yu lost her temper with Tian Jiahe again.

Wen Yu also asked Tian Jiahe not to bother her again, and she had the nerve to accuse another person of not being able to understand people.

Didn’t she even think about when she was bothering her sister-in-law?

When a person lived for long enough, they could see anything…

Shao Cixin felt disgusted and turned to go back to her room. She didn’t bother to look at Wen Yu again.

At 9:30 in the evening, Wen Xingyun and his wife went back to their room to rest for the night, but Wen Zhihan hadn’t returned yet.

Shao Cixin got tired of being alone in their bedroom, so she moved to sit on the sofa in the courtyard, leafing through the scripts that the directors had handed her while waiting for Wen Zhihan to come home.

She felt most at ease during a quiet night.

It was a pity that there were always some people who disgraced the scenery with their presence.

“Cixin, why are you sitting here alone?”

Wen Yu sat down on the sofa opposite Shao Cixin, wearing a gentle expression.

In her previous life, Shao Cixin had only seen such gentleness when Wen Yu was looking at Tian Jiahe.

She calmly flipped to another page of the script she was reading without raising her head. “Of course I’m waiting for your sister—my wife. Do you have something on your mind, sister-in-law, or are you also waiting for her?”

“…”

Wen Yu said, “I’m not waiting for her, and there’s no need for you to be so hostile to me.”

Shao Cixin smiled slightly, her tone indifferent. “Sorry, I can’t do that.”

A person who cheated on her and betrayed her feelings could not hope to obtain her forgiveness. It was best not to give Shao Cixin a chance for revenge, otherwise the other party would have to bear the consequences.

Recalling Wen Yu’s attitude towards Tian Jiahe just now, Shao Cixin closed her binder and looked at Wen Yu in suspicion. “Wen Yu, you can’t still be holding onto hope, thinking that I’ll change my mind and get back together with you, right?”

Wen Yu did not deny it.

She did indeed still have hope.

Wen Zhihan liked Shao Cixin, but Shao Cixin didn’t like her back, so Wen Yu still had hope. And if she had hope, she couldn’t give up easily!

She was reborn in order to make up for her shortcomings and mistakes.

If she couldn’t have Shao Cixin’s forgiveness, couldn’t rebuild her old relationship with Shao Cixin, couldn’t fulfill her responsibilities as a wife, and couldn’t make up for the mistakes of the past, then what was the point of her rebirth?

Seeing Wen Yu like this, Shao Cixin suddenly remembered something, and she couldn’t help but sneer.

“Wen Yu, Wen Yu, you really don’t want to give up until you reach the Yellow River^[1]

Wen Yu thought that Shao Cixin was going to say something indecent to punish her again, but then she saw Shao Cixin brush aside the long hair over her chest, revealing her previously covered neck.

She could clearly see that when Shao Cixin turned slightly sideways, the red marks on her skin were as conspicuous as balls of fire.

Shao Cixin pointed to the red marks and smiled slightly.

“What this is, you don’t need me to explain it, right? My sister-in-law.”

Wen Yu’s eyes were completely fixated on the place Shao Cixin was pointing at on her neck, as if she had been struck by lightning.

She was dumbfounded.

She couldn’t believe that Shao Cixin and Wen Zhihan’s relationship had already developed to this point…

They were actually really together?!

^[1] Essentially, “Wen Yu, you’re persistent.” Here, Shao Cixin is using a Chinese idiom that goes “不到黄河不死心” (bù dào huánghé bùsǐ xīn), which literally translates into “not giving up even if you haven’t reached the Yellow River,” a metaphor for not giving up until you achieve your goal.

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