But Yu Xinwei didn’t follow in his footsteps. Chen Cheng looked back, "What’s wrong?"
"Brother Cheng."
"Hm?"
Yu Xinwei slowly said, "I know staying here overnight is you giving face in front of Miss ng."
"But I also know that Xiao ier didn’t invite , so if I’m still here at dawn, it’ll cause trouble for you."
Chen Cheng listened to her speaking, the cold wind swept in through the open door, and he knew she was being sincere.
She was sensitive, self-respecting, yet yearned for warmth.
Chen Cheng retracted the foot he had stepped out, "Co in, it’s cold outside."
Yu Xinwei nodded, and the door to the warm room was closed once again.
"You, always thinking too much." Chen Cheng poured her a glass of water.
Yu Xinwei took the cup, and Chen Cheng sat next to her, "It’s true Xiao Er didn’t invite you, but I did."
"Brother Cheng, I won’t make it difficult for you."
Yu Xinwei put down the cup of water, wrapped her arms around Chen Cheng’s neck, nestled into his embrace, and said, "I’ll leave before dawn."
Chen Cheng gave a slight smile and t those lips offered to him.
...
...
The next day, Xiao ier got up very early.
"Xiao Cheng..."
She fuzzily opened her eyes, only to find that Chen Cheng, who should have been by her side, was nowhere to be seen.
Feeling the empty bed, it was ice cold.
Xiao ier fully awoke, rubbed her sleepy eyes, a trace of doubt rising in her heart.
Her mories from last night were a bit fuzzy, only recalling everyone eating dumplings together, lively and bustling, then... what happened afterward?
She tried hard to rember, but couldn’t recall anything.
She lifted the quilt and got out of bed, walked to the window, and pulled open the curtains. The morning sunlight stread in through the window, illuminating the entire room.
The plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, swaying gracefully in the cold wind, exuding a faint fragrance.
"Strange, where did Xiao Cheng go?" Xiao ier muttered to herself.
She put on her coat, left the room, and walked into the courtyard.
The morning air was fresh and cold, making her shiver involuntarily.
She looked around but didn’t see any sign of Chen Cheng.
Looking again, the door to ng Wanning’s room was still closed, and there was no sign of Wen Shulin’s side room being opened.
"So strange."
Just as she was puzzled, sounds ca from the kitchen in the back courtyard, and she quickly walked over.
The kitchen door was half open, with steam spilling out from inside.
Xiao ier pushed the door open and saw Chen Cheng wearing an apron, standing in front of the stove with a large ladle in his hand, cooking sothing in the pot.
Chen Cheng heard the door open and, seeing that it was Xiao ier, smiled warmly, "Awake? Go wash up, the glutinous rice balls are almost ready. Aren’t we going to visit Mr. Jin for New Year’s greetings?"
Looking at this dostic man in front of her, Xiao ier felt a surge of guilt.
"Xiao Cheng, I..." She frowned, walking up to Chen Cheng’s side.
"What’s wrong?" Chen Cheng knowingly asked.
"I thought..."
Chen Cheng feigned shock, "Oh, what were you thinking?"
"I just woke up and didn’t see you!" Xiao ier hugged Chen Cheng.
"Xiao ng ca by last night, but you were drunk," Chen Cheng said with an unchanged expression, "I made her so dumplings, and by the ti I cleaned up, it was nearly four or five o’clock."
He continued, "When I ca back to the room and saw you sleeping soundly, I didn’t disturb you, just made do in the warm room for the night."
"Four or five o’clock?" Xiao ier raised her head to look into Chen Cheng’s eyes, full of tenderness, "So late? You must not have slept well."
Indeed, she drank a lot last night and completely blacked out, having no idea what happened afterward.
Thinking about it now, Chen Cheng was busy taking care of everyone while she slept deeply, and she felt quite apologetic.
She hugged Chen Cheng tightly, her voice slightly choking, "Xiao Cheng, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let my mind run wild... I just... just got a little scared."
"Silly girl, what are you afraid of? We’ve known each other for so many years, don’t you trust ?"
Xiao ier raised her head, her eyes slightly red, her voice low, "It’s not that I don’t trust you, I’m just... afraid you’ll get tired, afraid you’ll... leave ."
Chen Cheng smiled, wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes, "You always overthink. If I was feeling tired, I would have run away long ago, wouldn’t have waited until now. Besides, your willfulness is quite cute, I like seeing you like this."
Xiao ier was coaxed into laughing through her tears, lightly punching him, "You rascal, always sweet-talking ."
Chen Cheng shook his head solemnly, "I wasn’t coaxing you, I’m being honest. Look, you’re so beautiful, so capable, and so caring, if I ran away, wouldn’t I be a fool?"
Xiao ier was a bit embarrassed by his praise, murmuring softly with her head down, "It’s not as good as you say..."
Chen Cheng playfully pinched her cheek, "Alright, it’s ti to go visit Mr. Jin for New Year’s. If Mr. Jin sees you crying, he’ll think I bullied you."
"It’s all your fault, making cry."
"Okay, okay, it’s all my fault, my bad." Chen Cheng hugged Xiao ier tightly, "Co on, let hubby give you a kiss, and the tears will stop."
"No, no, I haven’t washed up yet." Xiao ier playfully resisted a bit, but eventually let Chen Cheng kiss her on the cheek.
Chen Cheng then let go, "Go on."
"Hm."
"Eh?" As Xiao ier reached the door, "We’re going for New Year’s greetings, what about them?"
"They probably won’t be up this early, right?" Chen Cheng replied, "You can leave a note for them later."
"Okay."
Just as Xiao ier was about to return to her room to freshen up, Wen Shulin, all dressed up and with perfect makeup, appeared in front of her.
"Morning, Xiao Er."
"Ah? Sister Lin, you’re up already?"
Wen Shulin smiled, "Yep, I took a walk and heard you guys talking here, so I ca over."
Chen Cheng looked at Wen Shulin, who was radiant, and called out, "Perfect timing, you have this bowl."
"Sister Lin, you eat first. I’ll go wash up."
"Alright."
After they switched places, Wen Shulin walked up to Chen Cheng, and after confirming Xiao ier had walked far off, asked, "Did you have fun with Yu Xinwei last night?"
"Huh? You didn’t sleep?" Chen Cheng felt a bit flustered.
"I woke up in the latter half of the night," Wen Shulin gave Chen Cheng a coquettish glare, leaning against the table, "I thought you’d co find in the middle of the night, but you didn’t."
"Hey, I didn’t want to disturb your sleep."
Chen Cheng put the bowl on the table, letting out a sigh of relief, "Didn’t dare to."
"Don’t tease ." Wen Shulin wrapped her arms around his neck, "Your dreams have co true."
"Not bad, you’re the one who taught them," Chen Cheng teased.
Wen Shulin was both amused and exasperated, her other hand also climbing onto him, "So how will you make it up to ?"
"Surely not here, right?" Chen Cheng intentionally asked, "You know it takes a long ti, and..."
Wen Shulin patted Chen Cheng’s shoulder, pretending to be angry, "You’re never serious, who wants to do it here."
She moved aside, picked up a spoon, the steaming mist rising and obscuring her eyes, "However, think hard about how you’ll compensate , don’t think sweet words will get you out of it."
Chen Cheng loved seeing Wen Shulin being delicately shy like this, pinching her exquisite cheek, "Don’t worry, I know what to do."
Wen Shulin brushed his hand aside, "Wait till we get to Hainan, then you’ll have your couppance."
Chen Cheng raised an eyebrow, asking on purpose, "Is Chairman Wen going to put pressure on ?"
"Hmph, you just love to bully ,"
Wen Shulin walked to the side, picking up the spoon, steam billowing up as she spoke softly, "After what happened to Xinye last night, you better make things right with her."
Xiao ier didn’t expect to see everything so clearly; she ran away and left the two standing there.
Chen Cheng watched her departure and heard Wen Shulin say, "What now? Going to comfort her again?" She mocked him playfully before returning to her stew.
"It’s not just words, it’s the truth," Chen Cheng quipped as he watched her move away.
Wen Shulin turned back to him and smiled fondly, leaning against the counter and whispering, "You always know how to make laugh even when I’m angry."
Chen Cheng wrapped his arm around her, "Co here, and let hubby hold you."
Wen Shulin pretended to struggle but soon gave in, leaning into his embrace and closing her eyes, "Once we’re in Hainan, you better not bully too much."
Chen Cheng raised an eyebrow and gave a teasing smile, "Is Chairman Wen going to pressure ?"
"Hmph." Wen Shulin pretended to sulk with a hint of laughter, "Don’t push your luck."
Just then, their attention turned to the doorway, where Li Ya appeared along with i Xiang.
"Mom, why are you up so early?"
Wen Shulin brushed her hair behind her ear, smiling awkwardly, "Oh, sweetheart, why are you awake so early?"
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