76: Embrace

It was snowing. Flurries of snowflakes danced across the sky, scattering down upon the earth. Under the orange streetlights, they looked like streamers at the end of a stage performance, shimmering with a warm, golden light.

On the way back, Yan Zhuohua drove the car, as Yan Qinghe's emotions had yet to fully settle.

As soon as they entered the house, Yan Zhuohua pushed Yan Qinghe toward the bedroom to rest for a while.

“We didn't have dinner tonight, only some dessert. I'll go make two bowls of noodles.” After sending him upstairs, Yan Zhuohua went straight to the kitchen.

Unexpectedly, just as Yan Zhuohua was washing vegetables in the kitchen, he saw Yan Qinghe—who was supposed to be resting upstairs—had somehow come back down silently. He was standing at the kitchen doorway, watching him motionlessly.

Yan Zhuohua was startled.

“You scared me to death, Husband, standing there without a word.” Yan Zhuohua clutched his chest. “Why aren't you resting? I would have brought the noodles up to you once they were ready.”

Yan Qinghe's muffled voice drifted over: “I just wanted to watch you here.” To watch you busy yourself in the kitchen to make a meal for me—it was the warmth of a family, just like how his mother, Qin Yue, had cared for him once when he was sick.

It was rare to see the Head of the Yan Family acting so clingy. Yan Zhuohua shook his head helplessly and let him be. Since he was in a bad mood, it was better to indulge him a little.

And so, Yan Qinghe stayed there, staring blankly at Yan Zhuohua's figure.

His relationship with Qin Yue couldn't be called particularly good; it was just that amidst the malice from everyone else around him, Qin Yue was the only one who treated him somewhat like family.

The only warm memory he had was also from a time when he was sick. He still remembered how his mother, while he was in a daze, had said with expectation that she hoped he could be happy every day in the future. That was the only time he had heard such loving words from the mouth of the mother who wasn't particularly close to him.

Forget it. He had already been heartbroken once eight years ago. Now that years had passed, he should just live a happy life as his mother had hoped. Once the matter with Zhao Mingting was completely over, he would go to Qin Yue's grave to pay his respects and tell her; it would serve as a way to comfort her soul in heaven.

Scallion Oil Noodles were very quick to make. In less than half an hour, Yan Zhuohua had finished preparing the dinner, which could now be called a midnight snack.

Yan Qinghe had been standing outside in a daze for a long time. At first, he was reminiscing about his mother, then he was craving this warmth. As his emotions gradually recovered, the look in his eyes began to change.

The soft light of the kitchen hit Yan Zhuohua's waist, nearly dazzling Yan Qinghe's eyes.

Yan Qinghe entered the room silently.

Yan Zhuohua, who had just turned off the heat and was serving the noodles, saw a shadow move at the door out of the corner of his eye. He thought Yan Qinghe was coming to help carry the noodles out, so he wasn't on guard at all.

This gave Yan Qinghe his opportunity.

“What are you doing?” After saying that, he didn't forget to add, “Husband.”

Yan Zhuohua's waist was embraced from behind. His hands were occupied and he couldn't struggle, so he could only anxiously beg for mercy.

“Husband, weren't you feeling sad? You, right now...”

“What about me right now? Mother wants me to be happy from now on. Do you dare to disobey your mother-in-law's instructions?”

She's actually my mother; Jiang Fuyue should be my mother-in-law. Yan Zhuohua muttered in his heart, but he didn't say it aloud, otherwise he feared he might end up with two mothers-in-law.

Yan Zhuohua tried another reason: “We haven't eaten yet...”

“I am eating.”

“You...” Yan Zhuohua put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands and braced himself against the counter. “This is the kitchen!”

“I know. It's perfectly normal to eat in the kitchen.”

Normal, my foot! Who eats in the kitchen?! No, I've been led astray. Am I talking to you about actually eating food?

Yan Qinghe showed no intention of stopping; instead, his pace quickened. Yan Zhuohua was helpless. Thinking that his mood might indeed be bad today, he decided to let it go and allow him to vent.

Yan Zhuohua compromised, saying, “I have to work tomorrow.”

“I know. I'll exercise restraint.”

The very restrained Yan Qinghe finally let go of the now-unsteady Yan Zhuohua two hours later. He successfully unlocked a new location and, feeling quite satisfied, began making a fresh midnight snack in the kitchen for his wife, who was resting in the upstairs bedroom.

The two bowls of noodles from earlier had, of course, turned into a soggy mess. Someone as picky about food as Yan Zhuohua was naturally unwilling to eat them. However, he didn't want to waste food, so under Yan Zhuohua's threatening gaze before he left, Yan Qinghe had no choice but to finish both bowls of noodles.

Serves you right; who told you to be the culprit?

Upstairs, nestled under the covers, Yan Zhuohua was venting to Sheng Xufeng.

“You really can't pity a man,” Yan Zhuohua said. “It only leads to misfortune.”

Sheng Xufeng: “?”

Sheng Xufeng: “It's the middle of the night. Did you just finish your nighttime activities with your husband? And now you're so eager to come and torment me, is that it?”

Yan Zhuohua felt a bit guilty for being called out.

“I'm telling you that men are no good.”

“Oh?” Sheng Xufeng's memory suddenly became sharp. “You've said that before.”

Had he? Yan Zhuohua thought back for a long while before remembering that red dress from before.

Stop right there! How shameful!

But he had indeed said it before.

“Then I'll say it again!” Yan Zhuohua snapped in embarrassment.

“Fine,” Sheng Xufeng replied magnanimously. “Since you've even included yourself in the scolding, how could I not give you face?”

After failing his offensive multiple times, Yan Zhuohua decisively changed the subject.

“Didn't you say you were going to find a new girlfriend? How do you still have time to answer my call?”

“It's because you've been dealing with the Zhao family lately. My brother saw how swift and decisive your methods were and started looking down on me as a useless waste again. He canceled my cards and forced me back to the Group to work, keeping me right under his nose.” A thick sense of resentment came through the phone. “I'm currently working overtime late into the night to revise a proposal for him!”

Yan Zhuohua's conscience stung for a moment. “Can something you've revised even be called a proposal?”

“Are you mocking me?” Sheng Xufeng's tone changed drastically. “You dragged me into this, and now you're mocking me?”

“No,” Yan Zhuohua said, being sensible. “You misunderstood. I meant that once you've revised it, it's called a top-tier proposal.”

“Heh,” Sheng Xufeng sneered. “A love-struck brain really does lower one's IQ. Listen to what you're saying; do you think I'll believe that?”

Yan Zhuohua changed the subject again.

“I'm not going to bicker with you. I called you tonight for something serious.”

“Hmph, serious business after nighttime activities?” Sheng Xufeng's anger remained. “Are you pregnant?”

“You're the one who's pregnant!” Yan Zhuohua nearly bounced off the bed, but unfortunately failed due to his aching waist. “I said it's serious business! I'm not joking!”

“Fine, fine, fine. Go ahead. Let me hear what kind of serious business would make you call at this hour.”

Yan Zhuohua didn't want to argue with him over useless things anymore.

“Something big is about to happen to the Zhao family. Tell Brother Xulin and let him decide what to do. Also, aside from Li Wu, don't tell anyone else for now.”

It really was serious business? Sheng Xufeng was a bit surprised. “Tell me specifically? What big thing?”

“You'll know when the time comes. Just remember to remind Li Wu to keep it a secret for now as well.” Yan Zhuohua was too lazy to explain it to him.

“Fine, I got it. I'll tell them tomorrow.”