A beautiful summer night

Yunli was surrounded by a group of children who happily called her "little aunt" and crowded around to listen to Jiang Yourong tell stories about Jiang Baichuan's childhood.

Xia Wanzhi listened intently from the side.

The adults' jokes and the children's laughter created a beautiful scene that attracted attention and sparked contemplation.

Xie Qiyan subtly withdrew his gaze, a flicker of something seeming in his eyes.

Celebrating the New Year at the Jiang family's house definitely felt more festive than at the Xie family's house.

By the end of the day, Xia Wanzhi's smile had become stiff, but she still felt refreshed and even a little nostalgic when she left.

"Have you been to the Jiang family before?" Xia Wanzhi hadn't heard Xie Qiyan mention this before, but the group of children from the Lu family seemed to have seen him before, calling him Uncle Yan directly.

Xie Qiyan shook his head and explained, "I've seen him a few times abroad. Lu Beiting was taking his wife for some alone time, and Jiang Baichuan was taking the child, so they brought them to my place."

"No wonder." Xia Wanzhi sat up and frequently turned to look at Xie Qiyan on the way back.

Xie Qiyan smiled helplessly: "What are you looking at?"

"See if my husband is unhappy." Xia Wanzhi's eyes were bright, and she simply sat sideways and stared at him.

Xie Qiyan was taken aback and turned to meet Xia Wanzhi's smiling gaze.

On their first night together, he had to use a lot of coaxing and threats before he finally got her to call him "husband."

But now she's starting with zero frames.

Xie Qiyan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he chuckled, "Xia Wanzhi, you're quite capable."

That one word, "husband," made all his unhappiness disappear.

Xia Wanzhi coughed lightly: "You flatter me."

When they returned to Lanting Villa, it wasn't dark yet. Xia Changsheng, having heard the commotion, was already sitting on the porch to greet them. Xia Wanzhi washed her hands, got off the dog, and carried it to the sofa. She whispered to it as if complaining, "Changsheng, your dad is unhappy. What do you think we should do to appease him?"

Xie Qiyan poured her a glass of water and handed it to her, adding, "His father wasn't upset, he just felt a little guilty."

Xia Wanzhi was slightly taken aback: "What?"

Xie Qiyan directly handed the cup to Xia Wanzhi's lips: "You didn't drink enough water today, open your mouth."

Drink more water to prevent illness; Xie Qiyan is now quite strict about this.

"I've finished drinking." Xia Wanzhi put down Changsheng, took the cup, and drank the whole thing. She then put down the cup, stood up, and sat next to Xie Qiyan, her eyes direct. "What are you blaming yourself for? Just because I felt happier at the Jiang family's house today than at the Xie family's house for the New Year?"

Xie Qiyan: "..."

All their cleverness is being used here.

Xie Qiyan took a deep breath, lifted her up and held her on his lap. Only when he was close to Xia Wanzhi did he feel relaxed and at ease.

“Not entirely.” Xie Qiyan’s voice was slightly deep.

“That’s it.” Xia Wanzhi clicked her tongue, grabbed Xie Qiyan’s chin with the air of a superior, and said fiercely, “What’s there to blame yourself for? It’s none of your business. You’re happy to spend the New Year at the Jiang family’s house because you’re happy for Yunli.”

"It has nothing to do with whose house you're at, what matters is who you're with." Xia Wanzhi was a little angry, and she tightened her grip, speaking solemnly, "Xie Qiyan, I'm marrying you, not the Xie family. I only care about you."

Xia Wanzhi found it strange that Xie Qiyan was so competitive, even comparing himself to Jiang Baichuan here.

Xie Qiyan smiled slightly: "I haven't heard enough, tell me more."

Xia Wanzhi slapped his face: "You're pushing your luck."

“Your unhappiness is partly my fault.” Xie Qiyan took her hand and touched it to his lips, saying frankly, “I’m just afraid I haven’t given you enough. Like today, Yunli was able to learn about Jiang Baichuan from Jiang Yourong when he was young, and she will even have Nan Qiyue and Jiang Yourong as companions in the future, while you…”

What does he have?

His past was absolutely terrible.

Before he had Xia Wanzhi, he had spent many years walking alone in the dark and gloomy gutter.

He couldn't even find his mother, and he even caused Xia Wanzhi to be distracted and worried about this matter.

“I have Xie Tan with me.” Xia Wanzhi easily shut him down. “You also have Xie Tan. Don’t be fooled by how this girl always argues with you. If anyone says anything bad about you, she’ll be the first to stand up for you because she’s family.”

“Ayan, I’d rather hear your past from you.” Xia Wanzhi sighed softly, cupped his face, and said earnestly, “You don’t need to be perfect, and you don’t need to feel indebted to me. I just want you to be honest with me.”

She believed Xie Qiyan loved her, but she also hoped that Xie Qiyan believed she loved him too.

Nothing else matters, only pure love.

“If I’m unhappy, I’ll tell you.” Xia Wanzhi traced the shape of his lips, her voice flowing slowly, “Like right now, I’m unhappy because of your oversensitivity.”

"I'm sorry," Xie Qiyan admitted, "It won't happen again."

His eyes were full of smiles, happy to have Xia Wanzhi and proud that Xia Wanzhi loved him deeply.

Such a wonderful person belongs to him.

She is his wife.

Xia Wanzhi refused to accept the debt, snorted, and was about to push him away when a warm hand grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her forward forcefully.

Their lips were pressed tightly together, perfectly sealed.

Xie Qiyan forcefully inhaled: "Don't be angry, I apologize, I promise you'll be satisfied."

"Hey hey hey—" Xia Wanzhi cried out as she was lifted into the air, "Where are you going—"

"Xie Qiyan! My clothes..."

The sound of running water in the bathroom couldn't drown out Xia Wanzhi's soft moans.

Xie Qiyan demonstrated to Xia Wanzhi through his actions that he also loved her.

-

Xie Qiyan went back to work on the third day of the Lunar New Year. Xia Wanzhi didn't plan to start work so early. During the day, she would visit other people's homes with Yun Li or Jiang Yourong, and at night she would hang out with Xie Qiyan.

Jiang Yourong has been clinging to Yunli lately. On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, when Yunli's flower shop opened for business, Xia Wanzhi bumped into Jiang Yourong again while helping out.

"Little Maruko! What a coincidence!" Jiang Yourong immediately forced a handshake.

After Xia Wanzhi became familiar with her, she had long since lost all manners. She gritted her teeth and lowered her voice, saying, "You've already got your bad intentions written all over your face. What a coincidence! What a coincidence!"

Jiang Yourong chuckled and said, "Isn't it because I'm so eager to see my sister-in-law?"

Xia Wanzhi laughed in exasperation: "Jiang Baichuan is lucky to have you."

"It's an equal exchange. He'll take care of Chaochao and Mumu for me, and I'll win over my sister-in-law," Jiang Yourong revealed everything.

Yunli, who was tending to the plants, finally couldn't help but stand up when she heard this: "You two can't even keep your voices down when you're whispering to each other, I heard everything..."

Xia Wanzhi touched her nose, looking like she was saying "it's all her fault, not my fault," and went to find something to do.

Jiang Yourong, thick-skinned, grinned slyly: "I wanted you to hear that. Do you need any help? I'm free, you can do whatever you want with me."

"You just said Jiang Baichuan is with Chaochao Mumu? Isn't he... at the company?" Yun Li didn't stand on ceremony and handed the scissors to Jiang Yourong to help her prune the branches.

“Yes, Jiang Baichuan can work and take care of the kids at the same time. He can keep his office quiet all morning.” Speaking of this, Jiang Yourong leaned in and smiled slyly, “My brother is pretty good at taking care of kids. The kids are all attached to him and listen to him.”

"Cough..." Yun Li scratched her brow. "I know..."

She had seen what Jiang Baichuan looked like with Chaochao and Mumu; they were indeed quite impressive.

But why bother telling her this!

Yunli's face flushed slightly, and she avoided Jiang Yourong's gaze, hurriedly getting to work.

After teasing her, Jiang Yourong went to chat with Xia Wanzhi.

Xia Wanzhi chuckled and asked her, "Why don't you give the child to your husband?"

"My husband is filming a new movie, which started shooting yesterday." Jiang Yourong couldn't stop talking once a new topic came up. After finishing, she threw out another question, "There's a second male lead in his new movie. He's good-looking and an artist under Jiang's company. Why don't you and my sister-in-law come with me to visit the set tomorrow?"

Jiang Yourong had a sudden inspiration and accurately seized Xia Wanzhi's weakness: "I bet you guys have never been to a film set before, so it's settled then, I'll take you there tomorrow to broaden your horizons!"

Xia Wanzhi: "..."

Yunli: "..."

This is called forcing someone to do something they're not ready for.