Finally, Cheng Dongge released Qi Chengyue and her feet landed on the ground, but he was still hugging her, refusing to let go. It was almost like he had never hugged a woman in his life before.
“You haven’t had dinner, have you?” Cheng Dongge pictured a timeline in his mind—Qi Chengyue arrived only a little earlier than him. Although he had to take a detour to kick out Huang Ziyue, it did not cause much of a delay. He had not had dinner, so he deduced that she had not either.
“No. When I was waiting for you downstairs, I was so angry that my stomach started to hurt, and I lost my appetite.” Qi Chengyue glared at him.
Cheng Dongge was delighted to see her acting cute with him. He kissed her on her dimple and said, “I haven’t had dinner either. I’ll whip something up for you. What would you like to eat?”
“I’ve been starving for so long, I don’t feel like eating anymore. I’ll just have some porridge. What about you?” Qi Chengyue was still held in his embrace. She had never been so clingy with anyone. It was a completely different feeling.
“I’ll have porridge with you.” Cheng Dongge kissed her again and squeezed her waist. Then finally, though reluctantly, he let her go.
He rarely had the chance to eat at home, but whenever he had time off, he preferred staying at home rather than going out. Therefore, he always kept ingredients at home. Although there were not as many ingredients as there were in his house in Li City, he would still always have rice.
“How can you do that? You’re not going to be full if you only eat porridge.” Qi Chengyue followed him. She wanted to keep him in her sight—she would never get bored of looking at him, so she refused to wait alone in the living room.
“I also don’t feel like eating. Besides, it’s late so I don’t eat too much.” Cheng Dongge saw Qi Chengyue following him. Immediately, he grabbed her hands and laced his fingers with hers. “Is rice porridge fine with you? I only have rice here.”
“Mmhmm.” Qi Chengyue nodded. Cheng Dongge seated her in the dining room.
The dining room was adjacent to the kitchen, so it was possible to look into the kitchen from there.
Cheng Dongge scooped a bowl of rice, rinsed it several times, and poured it into a rice cooker. He then proceeded to take out a cucumber from the fridge and made cold cucumber to go with the porridge.
That day, he did not have many ingredients at home. He could not find any pickled food, so he made black fungus with vinegar.
While cutting the cucumber, he turned around to look at Qi Chengyue in the dining room. Her elbows were placed on the table and her chin rested on her palms as she watched him.
Cheng Dongge grinned and continued to prepare the dishes. However, not long after, he turned his head to peek at her again.
He glanced at her several times, making her extremely embarrassed. When he turned around again, Qi Chengyue finally decided she had enough. Flustered, she protested, “Why do you keep looking at me? I’m not going to run away. Pay attention to your task at hand. What if you accidentally cut yourself?”
Cheng Dongge stopped chopping. He turned around to face her and said solemnly, “If I leave you alone, I’m afraid you might fill your head with nonsense and tell me you changed your mind.”
Qi Chengyue felt a sting in her throat. Without uttering a word, she stood up and walked up to him.
She stood on her toes, trying her best to reach his height but could only reach his chin. She gave him a peck on his sharp, defined jaw. “I know that if you see another woman, I’ll be heartbroken. When I see a woman who’s not in a relationship with you but is trying to pursue you, my heart aches just the same. Even if you reject her, somehow, it still hurts. That feeling is something I can neither deny nor endure, so I decided I’ve had enough. Thus, you shouldn’t worry about it. I won’t change my mind.”
“That’s good.” Cheng Dongge smiled with relief. His lips curled into a warm smile. His pair of dark, black eyes were also filled with love and tenderness. He pecked her lips and continued chopping.
Since Qi Chengyue was already in the kitchen, she decided to stay there. She sat on a chair and watched him cook.
Cheng Dongge’s movements appeared fluid and experienced. ‘Dong dong dong.’ The sound of his knife hitting the chopping board was music to her ears.
Cheng Dongge was only making two cold dishes, so he finished preparing the dishes swiftly and placed the dishes on the dining table. All that was left was to wait for the porridge to finish cooking in the rice cooker.
After washing his hands and drying them, he turned around and stood in front of Qi Chengyue. She was still seated so when he abruptly appeared in front of her, her face was looking straight at his crotch.
Qi Chengyue hastily turned her head upward and saw that Cheng Dongge was staring at her earnestly.
Being loved by someone like this, he would not waste a second without looking at her. He wanted to stare at her all day long. Seeing him staring at her with so much love and devotion, Qi Chengyue’s heart pounded.
Cheng Dongge’s stare had made her heart race. Anxious, she did not know what to do. Finally, Cheng Dongge cupped her face in his hand, his thumb slowly caressing her tender cheeks. His alluring lips were curled into a smile the entire time.
Qi Chengyue knew why women as snobbish as Jiang Xiyao would like him even though he did not have a strong family background.
He truly was a capable man. Even though he was about the same age as Jian Yi, he was distinguishably more mature. His competence and problem-solving skills were just as outstanding as those who were carefully nurtured by their family to become heirs.
Gently, she placed her hand on his and turned her head to kiss his palm. When she turned back, she was shocked.
Without her realizing, Cheng Dongge had leaned his head so close to her that his face could almost touch her nose.
Nervous, Qi Chengyue held her breath. Up close, his face was still as clean, clear and captivating as ever.
“It’s great.” Cheng Dongge continued out of nowhere then kissed her on the lips.
Qi Chengyue closed her eyes. Somehow, she understood his words.
It was great that they could be together.
‘Ding ding.’ The rice cooker sounded, knocking them back into the present. Cheng Dongge smiled and instantly got up and walked toward the rice cooker. He opened it and scooped out the porridge.
The two of them filled a bowlful each and headed to the dining room.
“Your parents… will they agree to us being together?” Qi Chengyue recalled Sun Shaoyun’s reaction to her divorce the morning she left Cheng Dongge’s home.
Since Cheng Dongge returned to B City, Sun Shaoyun continued to call him regularly to see how he was doing, but she never brought up a word about Qi Chengyue. That showed she had not accepted it.
“Don’t worry about stuff like this. Let me handle it. I’m sure they’ll come around,” Cheng Dongge reassured.
Qi Chengyue nodded. Since she had decided to be in a relationship with him, she would not let them split up so easily. Agreeing to be with him was not an easy decision. She had even considered the issue regarding his parents.
Now that she had made her decision, she could only face those problems head-on with him. They would work hard to get the elders’ approval.
After resolving to do that, instead of becoming more stressed, she felt like a burden was lifted from her shoulders. Relieved, she gobbled up the entire bowl of porridge.
“Do you want more?” Cheng Dongge asked with a smile as he saw her empty bowl.
Qi Chengyue shook her head and rubbed her belly. “If I have any more, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
Qi Chengyue regretted saying that immediately after those words left her mouth. Her face burned up.
Being at his home at such late hours, it was extremely awkward to bring up sleep.
Cheng Dongge smirked, fully aware of her mistake. When Qi Chengyue saw his smirk, she wished she could sew her lips together. It was all too humiliating for her.
She turned her head downward, afraid to look at him.
Cheng Dongge glanced at his wristwatch and said, “It’s almost ten. Let me take you home or your parents might get worried.”
He headed to the living room and picked up the suit on the sofa.
Qi Chengyue was dumbfounded. She did not expect him to say that. She thought that it was only natural for him to let her stay for the night.
Still in a daze, she stood up blankly. Cheng Dongge had already grabbed his car keys. He took her hand and as he was leading her to the door, he tightened his grip on her.
“We don’t have to take things so quickly. We should go with the flow. There’s no need to rush,” his smooth, elegant voice sounded above her.
“…” Qi Chengyue had the urge to ram herself into the wall.
He said that as if implying she was impatient—as if she could not wait.
“Who’s in a rush?!” Qi Chengyue was humiliated. Annoyed, she pulled her hand away from Cheng Dongge’s.
However, Cheng Dongge clasped tightly onto her, refusing to let go. Qi Chengyue pulled as hard as she could but all was in vain. Unfazed, he asked calmly, “What did I say to make you so angry?”
“You tell me!” Qi Chengyue lashed out.
Cheng Dongge brought her outside and locked the door. Half-smiling, he looked at her and explained, “I meant that we don’t have to rush the matter with my parents. We’ll just go with the flow. When our relationship has developed further, they would have to choice but to accept it. Why are you so enraged by this? Why is your face so red?”
He acted as if he was pondering upon his words carefully but could not figure it out. “There’s nothing wrong with what I said!”
“…” Qi Chengyue did not believe his words were pertaining to his parents. How clever of him to be able to fake an explanation so well.
Cheng Dongge brought her to the elevator. He pressed the button and as they waited, he questioned again, “What did you think I meant?”
“Nothing!” Qi Chengyue retorted impudently.
When the elevator arrived, Cheng Dongge grinned and pulled her into the elevator.
They were alone in the elevator—not many used them at those hours. Cheng Dongge pulled her into his embrace with one arm wrapped around her waist. Looking down, he leaned toward her and smirked. “Were you having dirty thoughts?”
“I said it was nothing!” Qi Chengyue twisted and turned in his arms, arousing him. She was so caught up with her anger and irritation, she subconsciously pounded on his chest, barking, “Why are you so bad!”
“What’s so bad about me?” Cheng Dongge leaned forward to kiss her. Unsatisfied, he pressed her against the elevator wall.
Qi Chengyue was taken aback. Shaking, she could only let him kiss her. His hands were on her waist, her back—she felt the warmth of his palm on every inch of her skin.
Squeezed tightly in his arms, only her head was against the elevator wall. His arms acted as a barrier between her back and the wall.
The elevator stopped on the first floor. Just before the door opened, Cheng Dongge finally let go of her. His hand glided down from her arm to her palm where their fingers intertwined.
The elevator door opened. Unexpectedly, a neighbor of his was waiting in front of the elevator. Qi Chengyue looked down with embarrassment. Her face was flushed and her lips were red and swollen. How could she let anyone see her in that state?
His neighbor was stunned. When Cheng Dongge walked out of the elevator holding Qi Chengyue’s hand, his neighbor smiled at him then entered the elevator without saying a word to avoid an awkward situation.
Even though Qi Chengyue was holding hands with Cheng Dongge, she could not keep up with his pace, so she was always walking a step behind him.
Looking up, she took a glimpse at his broad shoulders and strong back that gave her a sense of solidity and dependability. She sped up her steps a little so that they were walking side-by-side. She clung onto his arm with her other hand. His strong and muscular arm fit perfectly in her arms.
Feeling shy, Qi Chengyue was slowly testing things out with him. Little by little, she tilted her head toward him until it rested against his shoulders.
Cheng Dongge looked down. He smiled and tightened his grip on her hand.
…
…
It was past ten o’clock when Cheng Dongge drove Qi Chengyue home. Through the courtyard gate of the mansion, they could see that the lights in the living room were still on.
Cheng Dongge got out of the car. Qi Chengyue did not wait for him to open the car door for her—she did not want to be overly dramatic. She opened the door and got out. Seeing this, Cheng Dongge smiled.
He strolled in front of Qi Chengyue and raised his hand to tuck her hair behind her ears. Softly, he asked, “After you go in, you won’t fill your head with nonsense and tell me you changed your mind, right?”
Qi Chengyue proactively walked into his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Trust me, I won’t. It wasn’t easy for me to make tonight’s decision, but since I’ve made up my mind, I won’t have second thoughts.”
Knowing that he still was not confident, she poured out the words she kept in her heart. “I know that your parents won’t be able to accept me immediately. There will be a long process before I can display to them that my affection toward you is real and that I’ll be a good—”
She almost uttered the word ‘daughter-in-law’ before she realized it did not sound right. Although they were in a relationship, implying she wanted to be their daughter-in-law was too hasty. It was as if she could not wait to marry him.
Even though she guessed that Cheng Dongge got together with her with intentions of getting married one day, she still could not bring herself to say it now. She was not so thick-skinned.
Cheng Dongge understood. He did not tease her but saw that she was red from her hairline to her neck. Even her ears were glowing red. Hurriedly, she clarified, “Anyway, this wasn’t an easy decision so I won’t go back on my words. I’ll stay with you and overcome any challenges that come our way. I won’t back down. As long as you’re there to support me, I can overcome anything.”
After saying that, she became anxious about his reply. Not knowing what his thoughts were made her extremely uneasy.
She looked up and immediately locked eyes with him. Flames of passion burnt within his eyes.
Cheng Dongge inched his lips toward hers and kissed her slowly then intensely.
He held her waist tightly and let out a sigh next to her lips. “I wish I can bring you home.”
“…” Qi Chengyue’s cheeks burnt red. She glared at him playfully. “Who’s the one in a rush now?”
Cheng Dongge chuckled. In a husky voice, he admitted, “I am.”
He kissed her again. Taking a deep breath, he finally forced himself to let go of her. His hands slowly slid away from her body. “Go ahead and go in.”
Qi Chengyue plodded toward the entrance then suddenly stopped. She looked back and asked, “Cheng Dongge, do you think I’m too needy? I’ve already been in a marriage before, yet I’m still here being all clingy—”
Before she could finish, Cheng Dongge marched in front of her. “No. This is the first time you’re with me, and it’s the first time I’m with you. Stop bringing up your marriage. You deserve my love and affection.”
Qi Chengyue beamed with delight, revealing her two dimples. Tiptoeing, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him downward. She gave him a peak on his lips. “You should go home. Be careful on the way.”
“I’ll leave once you enter the house,” Cheng Dongge insisted.
Qi Chengyue walked toward the house but stopped at the doorway. She looked back and saw him standing beneath a lamp post. Illuminated by the lamp post, his tall, slender body cast an even slimmer shadow. He watched her in silence, giving her a feeling of warmth.
She was also reluctant to leave. She wanted to go home with him.
Finally, she turned away and entered the courtyard unwillingly.
The moment she entered, Guan Liya was already waiting at the door. “Why did you come home so late? Were you on a date? What family is he from? Who introduced him to you? Is it your big brother?”
“Mom, what are you talking about?” Qi Chengyue was staggered. Her face was tinted with pink. She was afraid Guan Liya would see through her lie.
“Still trying to hide this? I saw everything from the window.” Guan Liya was ecstatic. Seeing Qi Chengyue being able to leave behind her marriage with Jian Yi so quickly and welcome a new relationship, she was overjoyed.
In spite of that, she was still concerned that Qi Chengyue might get taken advantage of again—Qi Chengyue might end up with another unreliable man.
This fear and trepidation tortured Guan Liya greatly. When she was looking out the window, she was extremely agitated.
It was night-time, so it was dark. Guan Liya could not see clearly from the living room window. Even so, she could definitely recognize Qi Chengyue—she was her daughter after all. However, she could not make out any features of the man.
“Mom, how could you spy on me?!” Qi Chengyue was vexed. Just now, Cheng Dongge and her were kissing quite fervently. If Guan Liya saw them, how humiliating would that be!
“What do you mean I’m spying? You’re the one who came home so late, making me so worried. It’s not like you weren’t aware that ever since your divorce, I’m afraid you’re only putting up a brave front, but in reality, you’re picking at problems that don’t exist. What if you do something stupid? How can I sit at home, relaxed?” Before that night, Guan Liya did not dare to tell Qi Chengyue the truth. She was afraid she might be rubbing salt on her wound. However, Qi Chengyue had found a new boyfriend. Although she could not see his face, she saw that they were quite intimate. She then knew that Qi Chengyue had dismissed her marriage with Jian Yi. Therefore, she could finally spit out the truth.
“Mon, don’t worry, I’m seriously fine.” Hearing Qi Chengyue saying that with such determination, Guan Liya should be at ease. Nevertheless, she was still troubled. She could not let it go.
“I know. After seeing you two making out outside, I can finally rest assured.” Guan Liya tugged on Qi Chengyue, asking, “Who’s the guy this time? Do your dad and I know him? What does he do for a living? How old is he? What business does his family run? Is he dependable?”
Guan Liya fired questions at her relentlessly. Before Qi Chengyue could answer, Guan Liya turned to Qi Zhongxun and instructed, “Hey, old man, go look out the window and see if the young man is still there. If so, ask him to come in!”
“And you!” Guan Liya turned back to Qi Chengyue. “He came all the way to our house, why didn’t you ask him to come in? You should let us get to know him and let us judge if he’s good enough for you!”
“Mom—” Qi Chengyue called out. It was only the first day she was together with Cheng Dongge. If she asked him to come in, how stressful would that be?
“Don’t think your mom is nagging! We gave you so much freedom when it came to Jian Yi. We didn’t get to judge him for you and look at how things ended. He doesn’t have to come from a good background if we let you choose your own partner, but we have to ensure he has a good character!” Guan Liya stated firmly.
“Mom, you don’t have to worry this time. I assure you that there are no problems with his character,” Qi Chengyue announced.
Suddenly, Qi Zhongxun’s voice sounded in the living room, “He hasn’t left yet. I think it’s a Touareg. The logo is blocked by the courtyard gate, but it looks like one.”
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Finally, Cheng Dongge released Qi Chengyue and her feet landed on the ground, but he was still hugging her, refusing to let go. It was almost like he had never hugged a woman in his life before.
“You haven’t had dinner, have you?” Cheng Dongge pictured a timeline in his mind—Qi Chengyue arrived only a little earlier than him. Although he had to take a detour to kick out Huang Ziyue, it did not cause much of a delay. He had not had dinner, so he deduced that she had not either.
“No. When I was waiting for you downstairs, I was so angry that my stomach started to hurt, and I lost my appetite.” Qi Chengyue glared at him.
Cheng Dongge was delighted to see her acting cute with him. He kissed her on her dimple and said, “I haven’t had dinner either. I’ll whip something up for you. What would you like to eat?”
“I’ve been starving for so long, I don’t feel like eating anymore. I’ll just have some porridge. What about you?” Qi Chengyue was still held in his embrace. She had never been so clingy with anyone. It was a completely different feeling.
“I’ll have porridge with you.” Cheng Dongge kissed her again and squeezed her waist. Then finally, though reluctantly, he let her go.
He rarely had the chance to eat at home, but whenever he had time off, he preferred staying at home rather than going out. Therefore, he always kept ingredients at home. Although there were not as many ingredients as there were in his house in Li City, he would still always have rice.
“How can you do that? You’re not going to be full if you only eat porridge.” Qi Chengyue followed him. She wanted to keep him in her sight—she would never get bored of looking at him, so she refused to wait alone in the living room.
“I also don’t feel like eating. Besides, it’s late so I don’t eat too much.” Cheng Dongge saw Qi Chengyue following him. Immediately, he grabbed her hands and laced his fingers with hers. “Is rice porridge fine with you? I only have rice here.”
“Mmhmm.” Qi Chengyue nodded. Cheng Dongge seated her in the dining room.
The dining room was adjacent to the kitchen, so it was possible to look into the kitchen from there.
Cheng Dongge scooped a bowl of rice, rinsed it several times, and poured it into a rice cooker. He then proceeded to take out a cucumber from the fridge and made cold cucumber to go with the porridge.
That day, he did not have many ingredients at home. He could not find any pickled food, so he made black fungus with vinegar.
While cutting the cucumber, he turned around to look at Qi Chengyue in the dining room. Her elbows were placed on the table and her chin rested on her palms as she watched him.
Cheng Dongge grinned and continued to prepare the dishes. However, not long after, he turned his head to peek at her again.
He glanced at her several times, making her extremely embarrassed. When he turned around again, Qi Chengyue finally decided she had enough. Flustered, she protested, “Why do you keep looking at me? I’m not going to run away. Pay attention to your task at hand. What if you accidentally cut yourself?”
Cheng Dongge stopped chopping. He turned around to face her and said solemnly, “If I leave you alone, I’m afraid you might fill your head with nonsense and tell me you changed your mind.”
Qi Chengyue felt a sting in her throat. Without uttering a word, she stood up and walked up to him.
She stood on her toes, trying her best to reach his height but could only reach his chin. She gave him a peck on his sharp, defined jaw. “I know that if you see another woman, I’ll be heartbroken. When I see a woman who’s not in a relationship with you but is trying to pursue you, my heart aches just the same. Even if you reject her, somehow, it still hurts. That feeling is something I can neither deny nor endure, so I decided I’ve had enough. Thus, you shouldn’t worry about it. I won’t change my mind.”
“That’s good.” Cheng Dongge smiled with relief. His lips curled into a warm smile. His pair of dark, black eyes were also filled with love and tenderness. He pecked her lips and continued chopping.
Since Qi Chengyue was already in the kitchen, she decided to stay there. She sat on a chair and watched him cook.
Cheng Dongge’s movements appeared fluid and experienced. ‘Dong dong dong.’ The sound of his knife hitting the chopping board was music to her ears.
Cheng Dongge was only making two cold dishes, so he finished preparing the dishes swiftly and placed the dishes on the dining table. All that was left was to wait for the porridge to finish cooking in the rice cooker.
After washing his hands and drying them, he turned around and stood in front of Qi Chengyue. She was still seated so when he abruptly appeared in front of her, her face was looking straight at his crotch.
Qi Chengyue hastily turned her head upward and saw that Cheng Dongge was staring at her earnestly.
Being loved by someone like this, he would not waste a second without looking at her. He wanted to stare at her all day long. Seeing him staring at her with so much love and devotion, Qi Chengyue’s heart pounded.
Cheng Dongge’s stare had made her heart race. Anxious, she did not know what to do. Finally, Cheng Dongge cupped her face in his hand, his thumb slowly caressing her tender cheeks. His alluring lips were curled into a smile the entire time.
Qi Chengyue knew why women as snobbish as Jiang Xiyao would like him even though he did not have a strong family background.
He truly was a capable man. Even though he was about the same age as Jian Yi, he was distinguishably more mature. His competence and problem-solving skills were just as outstanding as those who were carefully nurtured by their family to become heirs.
Gently, she placed her hand on his and turned her head to kiss his palm. When she turned back, she was shocked.
Without her realizing, Cheng Dongge had leaned his head so close to her that his face could almost touch her nose.
Nervous, Qi Chengyue held her breath. Up close, his face was still as clean, clear and captivating as ever.
“It’s great.” Cheng Dongge continued out of nowhere then kissed her on the lips.
Qi Chengyue closed her eyes. Somehow, she understood his words.
It was great that they could be together.
‘Ding ding.’ The rice cooker sounded, knocking them back into the present. Cheng Dongge smiled and instantly got up and walked toward the rice cooker. He opened it and scooped out the porridge.
The two of them filled a bowlful each and headed to the dining room.
“Your parents… will they agree to us being together?” Qi Chengyue recalled Sun Shaoyun’s reaction to her divorce the morning she left Cheng Dongge’s home.
Since Cheng Dongge returned to B City, Sun Shaoyun continued to call him regularly to see how he was doing, but she never brought up a word about Qi Chengyue. That showed she had not accepted it.
“Don’t worry about stuff like this. Let me handle it. I’m sure they’ll come around,” Cheng Dongge reassured.
Qi Chengyue nodded. Since she had decided to be in a relationship with him, she would not let them split up so easily. Agreeing to be with him was not an easy decision. She had even considered the issue regarding his parents.
Now that she had made her decision, she could only face those problems head-on with him. They would work hard to get the elders’ approval.
After resolving to do that, instead of becoming more stressed, she felt like a burden was lifted from her shoulders. Relieved, she gobbled up the entire bowl of porridge.
“Do you want more?” Cheng Dongge asked with a smile as he saw her empty bowl.
Qi Chengyue shook her head and rubbed her belly. “If I have any more, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
Qi Chengyue regretted saying that immediately after those words left her mouth. Her face burned up.
Being at his home at such late hours, it was extremely awkward to bring up sleep.
Cheng Dongge smirked, fully aware of her mistake. When Qi Chengyue saw his smirk, she wished she could sew her lips together. It was all too humiliating for her.
She turned her head downward, afraid to look at him.
Cheng Dongge glanced at his wristwatch and said, “It’s almost ten. Let me take you home or your parents might get worried.”
He headed to the living room and picked up the suit on the sofa.
Qi Chengyue was dumbfounded. She did not expect him to say that. She thought that it was only natural for him to let her stay for the night.
Still in a daze, she stood up blankly. Cheng Dongge had already grabbed his car keys. He took her hand and as he was leading her to the door, he tightened his grip on her.
“We don’t have to take things so quickly. We should go with the flow. There’s no need to rush,” his smooth, elegant voice sounded above her.
“…” Qi Chengyue had the urge to ram herself into the wall.
He said that as if implying she was impatient—as if she could not wait.
“Who’s in a rush?!” Qi Chengyue was humiliated. Annoyed, she pulled her hand away from Cheng Dongge’s.
However, Cheng Dongge clasped tightly onto her, refusing to let go. Qi Chengyue pulled as hard as she could but all was in vain. Unfazed, he asked calmly, “What did I say to make you so angry?”
“You tell me!” Qi Chengyue lashed out.
Cheng Dongge brought her outside and locked the door. Half-smiling, he looked at her and explained, “I meant that we don’t have to rush the matter with my parents. We’ll just go with the flow. When our relationship has developed further, they would have to choice but to accept it. Why are you so enraged by this? Why is your face so red?”
He acted as if he was pondering upon his words carefully but could not figure it out. “There’s nothing wrong with what I said!”
“…” Qi Chengyue did not believe his words were pertaining to his parents. How clever of him to be able to fake an explanation so well.
Cheng Dongge brought her to the elevator. He pressed the button and as they waited, he questioned again, “What did you think I meant?”
“Nothing!” Qi Chengyue retorted impudently.
When the elevator arrived, Cheng Dongge grinned and pulled her into the elevator.
They were alone in the elevator—not many used them at those hours. Cheng Dongge pulled her into his embrace with one arm wrapped around her waist. Looking down, he leaned toward her and smirked. “Were you having dirty thoughts?”
“I said it was nothing!” Qi Chengyue twisted and turned in his arms, arousing him. She was so caught up with her anger and irritation, she subconsciously pounded on his chest, barking, “Why are you so bad!”
“What’s so bad about me?” Cheng Dongge leaned forward to kiss her. Unsatisfied, he pressed her against the elevator wall.
Qi Chengyue was taken aback. Shaking, she could only let him kiss her. His hands were on her waist, her back—she felt the warmth of his palm on every inch of her skin.
Squeezed tightly in his arms, only her head was against the elevator wall. His arms acted as a barrier between her back and the wall.
The elevator stopped on the first floor. Just before the door opened, Cheng Dongge finally let go of her. His hand glided down from her arm to her palm where their fingers intertwined.
The elevator door opened. Unexpectedly, a neighbor of his was waiting in front of the elevator. Qi Chengyue looked down with embarrassment. Her face was flushed and her lips were red and swollen. How could she let anyone see her in that state?
His neighbor was stunned. When Cheng Dongge walked out of the elevator holding Qi Chengyue’s hand, his neighbor smiled at him then entered the elevator without saying a word to avoid an awkward situation.
Even though Qi Chengyue was holding hands with Cheng Dongge, she could not keep up with his pace, so she was always walking a step behind him.
Looking up, she took a glimpse at his broad shoulders and strong back that gave her a sense of solidity and dependability. She sped up her steps a little so that they were walking side-by-side. She clung onto his arm with her other hand. His strong and muscular arm fit perfectly in her arms.
Feeling shy, Qi Chengyue was slowly testing things out with him. Little by little, she tilted her head toward him until it rested against his shoulders.
Cheng Dongge looked down. He smiled and tightened his grip on her hand.
…
…
It was past ten o’clock when Cheng Dongge drove Qi Chengyue home. Through the courtyard gate of the mansion, they could see that the lights in the living room were still on.
Cheng Dongge got out of the car. Qi Chengyue did not wait for him to open the car door for her—she did not want to be overly dramatic. She opened the door and got out. Seeing this, Cheng Dongge smiled.
He strolled in front of Qi Chengyue and raised his hand to tuck her hair behind her ears. Softly, he asked, “After you go in, you won’t fill your head with nonsense and tell me you changed your mind, right?”
Qi Chengyue proactively walked into his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Trust me, I won’t. It wasn’t easy for me to make tonight’s decision, but since I’ve made up my mind, I won’t have second thoughts.”
Knowing that he still was not confident, she poured out the words she kept in her heart. “I know that your parents won’t be able to accept me immediately. There will be a long process before I can display to them that my affection toward you is real and that I’ll be a good—”
She almost uttered the word ‘daughter-in-law’ before she realized it did not sound right. Although they were in a relationship, implying she wanted to be their daughter-in-law was too hasty. It was as if she could not wait to marry him.
Even though she guessed that Cheng Dongge got together with her with intentions of getting married one day, she still could not bring herself to say it now. She was not so thick-skinned.
Cheng Dongge understood. He did not tease her but saw that she was red from her hairline to her neck. Even her ears were glowing red. Hurriedly, she clarified, “Anyway, this wasn’t an easy decision so I won’t go back on my words. I’ll stay with you and overcome any challenges that come our way. I won’t back down. As long as you’re there to support me, I can overcome anything.”
After saying that, she became anxious about his reply. Not knowing what his thoughts were made her extremely uneasy.
She looked up and immediately locked eyes with him. Flames of passion burnt within his eyes.
Cheng Dongge inched his lips toward hers and kissed her slowly then intensely.
He held her waist tightly and let out a sigh next to her lips. “I wish I can bring you home.”
“…” Qi Chengyue’s cheeks burnt red. She glared at him playfully. “Who’s the one in a rush now?”
Cheng Dongge chuckled. In a husky voice, he admitted, “I am.”
He kissed her again. Taking a deep breath, he finally forced himself to let go of her. His hands slowly slid away from her body. “Go ahead and go in.”
Qi Chengyue plodded toward the entrance then suddenly stopped. She looked back and asked, “Cheng Dongge, do you think I’m too needy? I’ve already been in a marriage before, yet I’m still here being all clingy—”
Before she could finish, Cheng Dongge marched in front of her. “No. This is the first time you’re with me, and it’s the first time I’m with you. Stop bringing up your marriage. You deserve my love and affection.”
Qi Chengyue beamed with delight, revealing her two dimples. Tiptoeing, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him downward. She gave him a peak on his lips. “You should go home. Be careful on the way.”
“I’ll leave once you enter the house,” Cheng Dongge insisted.
Qi Chengyue walked toward the house but stopped at the doorway. She looked back and saw him standing beneath a lamp post. Illuminated by the lamp post, his tall, slender body cast an even slimmer shadow. He watched her in silence, giving her a feeling of warmth.
She was also reluctant to leave. She wanted to go home with him.
Finally, she turned away and entered the courtyard unwillingly.
The moment she entered, Guan Liya was already waiting at the door. “Why did you come home so late? Were you on a date? What family is he from? Who introduced him to you? Is it your big brother?”
“Mom, what are you talking about?” Qi Chengyue was staggered. Her face was tinted with pink. She was afraid Guan Liya would see through her lie.
“Still trying to hide this? I saw everything from the window.” Guan Liya was ecstatic. Seeing Qi Chengyue being able to leave behind her marriage with Jian Yi so quickly and welcome a new relationship, she was overjoyed.
In spite of that, she was still concerned that Qi Chengyue might get taken advantage of again—Qi Chengyue might end up with another unreliable man.
This fear and trepidation tortured Guan Liya greatly. When she was looking out the window, she was extremely agitated.
It was night-time, so it was dark. Guan Liya could not see clearly from the living room window. Even so, she could definitely recognize Qi Chengyue—she was her daughter after all. However, she could not make out any features of the man.
“Mom, how could you spy on me?!” Qi Chengyue was vexed. Just now, Cheng Dongge and her were kissing quite fervently. If Guan Liya saw them, how humiliating would that be!
“What do you mean I’m spying? You’re the one who came home so late, making me so worried. It’s not like you weren’t aware that ever since your divorce, I’m afraid you’re only putting up a brave front, but in reality, you’re picking at problems that don’t exist. What if you do something stupid? How can I sit at home, relaxed?” Before that night, Guan Liya did not dare to tell Qi Chengyue the truth. She was afraid she might be rubbing salt on her wound. However, Qi Chengyue had found a new boyfriend. Although she could not see his face, she saw that they were quite intimate. She then knew that Qi Chengyue had dismissed her marriage with Jian Yi. Therefore, she could finally spit out the truth.
“Mon, don’t worry, I’m seriously fine.” Hearing Qi Chengyue saying that with such determination, Guan Liya should be at ease. Nevertheless, she was still troubled. She could not let it go.
“I know. After seeing you two making out outside, I can finally rest assured.” Guan Liya tugged on Qi Chengyue, asking, “Who’s the guy this time? Do your dad and I know him? What does he do for a living? How old is he? What business does his family run? Is he dependable?”
Guan Liya fired questions at her relentlessly. Before Qi Chengyue could answer, Guan Liya turned to Qi Zhongxun and instructed, “Hey, old man, go look out the window and see if the young man is still there. If so, ask him to come in!”
“And you!” Guan Liya turned back to Qi Chengyue. “He came all the way to our house, why didn’t you ask him to come in? You should let us get to know him and let us judge if he’s good enough for you!”
“Mom—” Qi Chengyue called out. It was only the first day she was together with Cheng Dongge. If she asked him to come in, how stressful would that be?
“Don’t think your mom is nagging! We gave you so much freedom when it came to Jian Yi. We didn’t get to judge him for you and look at how things ended. He doesn’t have to come from a good background if we let you choose your own partner, but we have to ensure he has a good character!” Guan Liya stated firmly.
“Mom, you don’t have to worry this time. I assure you that there are no problems with his character,” Qi Chengyue announced.
Suddenly, Qi Zhongxun’s voice sounded in the living room, “He hasn’t left yet. I think it’s a Touareg. The logo is blocked by the courtyard gate, but it looks like one.”
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