Chapter 16

The atmosphere gradually shifted; both of them tacitly avoided mentioning anything about children, as if the earlier conversation had never broached the subject.

Xie Jinnan took the documents, casually glanced at the signature at the bottom, then closed the file and spoke, “The lawyer has been arranged. We’ll go for notarization tomorrow. Let Bai Heng and Mo Chen accompany us so that any issues can be promptly addressed.”

His gaze swept over the girl’s slightly flushed cheeks, and Xie Jinnan awkwardly averted his eyes.

He felt as if he had been bewitched just now. Seeing Wen Jingyi, who was usually calm and reserved, reveal such a rare, delicate, girlish expression, he couldn’t resist teasing her.

Their conversation on their wedding night was all business, aiming for a harmonious life after marriage.

Yet, in less than two days, things didn’t seem to be unfolding as planned.

Wen Jingyi had no objections and simply gave a soft “Mm.”

“Going to take a shower?” he asked.

The heat on Wen Jingyi’s face had just subsided but was subtly rising again. She stood up, as if trying to suppress her nervousness with her height. She spoke slowly, “You go first. I’ll make a call in the study. I want to tidy up the study tomorrow.”

That was the truth.

She genuinely intended to reorganize the study and add more books.

Xie Jinnan remained seated, and though she stood up, even though she wasn’t as tall as him, she still had a height over 1.6 meters, so he had to slightly look up to meet her gaze.

“All right.”

Wen Jingyi quietly breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the notebook on the table, smiled at him, and then left the bedroom.

It was only nine o’clock at night. Wen Jingyi went to the study, put down her notebook, tidied away the book she had been reading before dinner, placed it aside, and reopened her notebook.

She noted down everything needed for the study and finally sent the list to Bai Heng.

These items could be purchased by Bai Heng.

As for the books, Wen Jingyi planned to visit the bookstore herself before buying.

Contacting Bai Heng naturally reminded her that this morning Xie Jinnan had sent him and Mo Chen out on business. After some thought, she called Bai Heng.

The call was quickly answered: “Miss.”

Wen Jingyi went to the water dispenser, poured herself a cup of hot water, held the cup, and sat down in the chair. “Did my brother talk to you about the post-marriage agreement?”

Bai Heng answered truthfully, “The night before your wedding banquet, the young master called me and briefly mentioned it.”

Indeed, he was prepared.

Even though he hadn’t attended her wedding banquet, he remembered these details clearly.

“Did my brother say when he would be back?”

This time, Bai Heng was silent.

Wen Jingyi pressed her lips together. “Okay, I got it.”

Finishing her words, she took a sip of water.

Bai Heng said, “You should rest early.”

Wen Jingyi responded, “You too.”

After hanging up, Wen Jingyi sorted through the books she needed to buy one last time. By the time everything was settled, it was already past ten. She turned off the computer and returned to the bedroom.

She had thought Xie Jinnan would have showered and gone to bed by now, but upon returning, he was nowhere to be seen. Her gaze scanned the room and found his figure on the bedroom balcony.

Under the heavy cloak of night, he stood with his back to her, speaking on the phone.

He wore a dark-colored sleepwear beneath a long coat, which fluttered slightly in the summer breeze. One hand was in his pocket, his tall, imposing figure exuding a noble elegance with a hint of aloofness that made him unapproachable.

Unable to see his face, Wen Jingyi couldn’t tell what mood he was in.

Just as she was about to look away, the man seemed to sense her presence and glanced back.

Their eyes met briefly in the dark. Wen Jingyi’s eyes flickered faintly but remained calm and composed. She smiled at him, exchanging a greeting.

***

However, Xie Jinnan only signaled with his eyes for her to go to sleep first and then withdrew his gaze.

Wen Jingyi thought to herself that he must be busy starting tomorrow.

Tomorrow was the last day of their wedding leave, and it was rare that these past few days, besides being with her, he hadn’t gone anywhere else.

After watching quietly for a while and sensing he might turn around again, Wen Jingyi withdrew her gaze, took her pajamas, and entered the bathroom.

The bedroom still held lingering steam, residue from Xie Jinnan’s shower. Wen Jingyi took a simple shower, dried her hair, and did her skincare, spending nearly an hour.

When she came out, Xie Jinnan was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, reading emails on his iPad, leaving a space beside him.

Wen Jingyi’s pajamas were mostly modest styles, fully buttoned from top to bottom.

Though it was summer and the fabric was light, it wasn’t see-through, but the loose pajamas subtly revealed the girl’s slender figure, lending a graceful allure rather than concealing it.

Xie Jinnan’s gaze fell on her briefly before quickly looking away.

Seeing that he intended to sleep, Wen Jingyi climbed into bed more quickly, pulled the covers over herself, and lay down.

“Are you asleep?” Xie Jinnan, still leaning against the headboard, put down his iPad upon noticing she was lying down.

“Sleeping,” she replied softly.

“All right, lights out.”

Compared to the first night, Wen Jingyi felt much more at ease.

Given Xie Jinnan’s cold temperament, for him to say what he did on their wedding night meant he wasn’t hostile to her. It was unlikely he would touch her anytime soon.

She could just treat it as if she were still at home, only with a different bed.

Thinking this, the lights went out.

In the pitch-black surroundings, Wen Jingyi felt sleepy and closed her eyes to drift off.

But within minutes, movement beside her startled her awake. She clutched the blanket tighter, her breath catching slightly.

The darkness obscured what the man beside her intended. She faintly sensed his crisp scent, pursed her lips, and closed her eyes again.

At that moment, she wished deeply that she could die early and be reborn.

Anything would be better than this—being so jumpy at every little sound.

“Jingyi.” The man’s voice was low and pleasant.

In the profound silence of the night, where even a pin drop could be heard, only the faint breeze rustled the curtains by the window. His voice, like plucked strings, stirred Wen Jingyi’s already restless heart.

“...What is it?” she tried to keep her voice calm.

He whispered, “I forgot to ask—my friend wants to meet you tomorrow. Would you like to go?”

His friend?

Even if Wen Jingyi wanted to refuse, she couldn’t. This was him inviting her into his circle. If she declined now, he might never ask again.

“In the evening?” she slightly turned her head in the dark to look toward him. “Or should I go in the afternoon and have dinner together?”

“In the evening.”

Wen Jingiyi nodded. “Okay.”

“Go to sleep,” he said.

Knowing she would agree, Xie Jinnan closed his eyes after asking.

Yet tonight, sleep eluded him.

The words she said moments ago about bearing his children lingered persistently in his mind.

Even the faint fragrance from the girl seemed to hover around his nose.

In the bathroom, their bathing products were separate. Her scent was richer than his men’s body wash. With her various skincare products mixed in, all the fragrances blended into a unique aura belonging solely to her.

He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at the girl beside him.

***

He didn’t know how long he’d been restless, but the girl beside him was already asleep, breathing evenly.

In the dim room, he couldn’t see her face clearly, only her faint breathing.

With each breath exhaled...

Xie Jinnan, nearing thirty years of age, had never tossed and turned like this.

He closed his eyes deeply, attributing his restlessness to never having shared a bed with a girl before, thus feeling somewhat unsettled.

The girl’s scent continued to invade, as if determined to push him off the bed. His temples throbbed, so he pressed them twice, then finally turned over, facing away from Wen Jingyi.

This lessened the scent considerably.

At last, he felt a bit more at peace.

***

Early the next morning, Wen Jingyi woke promptly at eight, only to find the man beside her gone.

Did he get up this early every day?

She pondered briefly for two seconds before dismissing the thought, remembering she needed to go to the bookstore this morning. After washing up and changing into light clothes, she went downstairs.

Aunt Jiang had already prepared breakfast. Sitting at the table without seeing Xie Jinnan, Wen Jingyi asked casually, “Is Jinnan still out jogging?”

At the mention, Aunt Jiang couldn’t help but say, “The young master got up before six today. He stayed in the study for an hour, then went jogging, and now he’s back in the study, saying he’ll come down shortly.”

Wen Jingyi frowned. “Why so early?”

Seeing her worry, Aunt Jiang immediately exaggerated, “He usually gets up at seven. Today, I don’t know what’s wrong, he looks so weak, as if he’s sick. If he weren’t afraid the young madam would be lonely eating alone, he probably wouldn’t eat.”

She immediately watched Wen Jingyi’s reaction.

Seeing her eyes grow more concerned, she inwardly felt pleased, though her face remained worried.

Wen Jingyi glanced upstairs, hesitated for two seconds, then stood up. “I’ll go check on him.”

After all, he was her husband. If he was unwell, she should care.

Aunt Jiang almost couldn’t hold back her laughter but managed to restrain it. “Okay, please go quickly.”

***

Wen Jingyi stopped at the study door, which was wide open. She faintly heard Xie Jinnan answering a call inside. She paused and waited a moment.

After the call ended and silence returned, she lightly knocked.

Xie Jinnan, originally with his back to the door, turned upon hearing the sound. Seeing Wen Jingyi, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he gestured her in. “Why did you come up?”

Wen Jingyi stepped in and looked at his handsome face. There was indeed a faint trace of weariness, but not as exaggerated as Aunt Jiang said—at most, he hadn’t rested well.

Meeting his deep gaze, which seemed to see right through her, Wen Jingyi suddenly regretted coming up. She gathered her words, “I just came to ask when you’ll come down for breakfast.”

Xie Jinnan studied her for a few seconds, ensuring she was fine, then said, “I just took a call from a company shareholder. I’m heading down now.”

Wen Jingyi curled her fingers and smiled at him. “Okay, I’ll go down first.”

“Come with me,” the man’s words stopped her from turning away.

“All right,” she whispered.

Wen Jingyi led the way, Xie Jinnan following closely behind, his tall figure nearly shielding her.

At the staircase, he motioned for her to watch her step. Wen Jingyi noticed faint blue shadows under his eyes. Hesitating, she couldn’t help but ask, “Have you not been resting well lately?”

Xie Jinnan stopped walking. “Hmm?”