Ch 27: The Rabbit Keychain
“Eyeliner?” The term was completely unfamiliar to her; she had only heard it in TV dramas. Xiao Yao looked at him in surprise. Planting an informant near his stepmother? What was he guarding against?
“Although I don’t get along with my father, I don’t want him to be manipulated. If you say their relationship is true love, do you believe it?” Zhuang Lingyun’s words were full of sarcasm. “If she’s willing to stay with my father until old age, that’s fine. But if she has any ulterior motives, I won’t allow her to stay in the Zhuang family.”
“Since you care so much about your father, why do you act so indifferent?” Xiao Yao remained puzzled.
“Many factors. Even if I want to get along well, some people will interfere. Why else would my father rather believe slander than his own son?”
Zhuang Lingyun chuckled, putting his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go home.”
The wind was biting, and snowflakes were falling sparsely from the sky. Xiao Yao got into the car beside him.
Zhuang Lingyun didn’t ask about Mu Yang along the way. Wasn’t he curious why Mu Yang was living in her house?
Zhuang Lingyun, however, had an indifferent yet gentle smile. “When you want to tell me, you’ll tell me without me having to ask.” He showed absolute trust.
Xiao Yao felt that trust should be mutual. Since he had seen it with his own eyes and hadn’t misunderstood anything, she shouldn’t let this minor issue create a rift between them.
They had just gotten married, intending to spend their lives together. Trust was a crucial factor.
“Zhuang Lingyun, why don’t we adopt a child?” Xiao Yao suggested calmly. “What do you think of this idea?”
“If it’s because of the pressure my father is giving you, you don’t have to worry.” He drove quietly, replying softly. “But if you like children and want to adopt one, I’m fine with it. Anything that makes you happy, I’m willing to do it for you.”
He was always good at flirting; sweet nothings came easily to him. Regardless of whether it was genuine, which woman wouldn’t be moved by a handsome man’s advances?
Xiao Yao was just an ordinary woman. Although she had Shen Mingzhe before, they rarely saw each other, and a man with ulterior motives wouldn’t waste time cultivating a relationship or being romantic with her.
Therefore, overall, her love experience was still like a blank sheet of paper.
From then on, no matter how busy Zhuang Lingyun was, he would always find time to pick her up and drop her off. Even if he couldn’t, he would have his assistant pick her up and take her to his company, and then they would go home together after work.
Xiao Yao didn’t think she was being fussy. Since that incident, Zhong Lingxiu hadn’t appeared in her sight again. Zhuang Lingyun probably said something to her, dissuading her from further harassment.
New Year’s Eve was approaching. Mother called to say she wouldn’t be coming home this year; she would be spending the New Year with her Third Uncle and Grandmother. She told Xiao Yao and Zhuang Lingyun to spend it at home by themselves, repeatedly urging them to cook some decent dishes and not to be perfunctory, to make Zhuang Lingyun feel at home.
Eight minutes out of the ten-minute phone call were spent talking about Zhuang Lingyun. Her words were full of praise and admiration, saying that Zhuang Lingyun had arranged for their friends to stay and even planned their Xinjiang trip meticulously.
After chatting with her mother for a while, Xiao Yao hung up the phone.
She glanced at the time on her mobile phone; it was almost ten o’clock. She got up, left the room, and saw that the study door was still closed, with light leaking from under the door.
In the month since their marriage, they had gotten along fairly well. Although they shared a room and a bed, Zhuang Lingyun always respected her feelings. Even when his physiological responses were strong, he would rather take a cold shower to calm himself down than force her.
Xiao Yao thought that, as a man, he had done enough. She, on the other hand, was spoiled and took his understanding for granted, delaying their wedding night again and again.
But she also understood that she couldn’t avoid it forever. Besides, this wasn’t their first time; she didn’t need to be so fussy.
Tonight, she had mentally prepared herself, but Zhuang Lingyun still hadn’t come out of the study, and she was already too sleepy to keep her eyes open.
She went to the study and knocked lightly on the door. It was silent inside.
Xiao Yao pushed the door open and found Zhuang Lingyun asleep at the desk. The computer screen was still on, displaying data related to the annual report. The light illuminated his side profile, emitting a faint blue glow.
As the New Year approached, his work was particularly busy; he stayed up late every night. However, every morning, Xiao Yao would find him beside her.
“Zhuang Lingyun?” she called softly, wanting him to go to bed.
He mumbled “Yaoyao,” the corner of his lips slightly raised, half-awake.
“I’m here,” she replied softly. “Go to bed?”
He hummed, turned his head to the other side, and continued to sleep, his arm as a pillow.
When he moved, he revealed an unclosed drawer under the desk. Through a crack, a fluffy white object suddenly caught her attention.
She reached out and took it out.
It was a snow-white, fluffy rabbit keychain, quite old, completely unlike his image. The rabbit had long ears, cute red eyes, and dense, soft, fluffy fur; it looked incredibly cute.
This was a girl’s thing, yet he kept it in his desk drawer. Was it to see it and reminisce easily?
She said nothing, gently put the keychain back, glanced at him, quietly left the office, and returned to her room.
She was very sleepy and fell asleep quickly, but she didn’t sleep soundly.
She woke up several times, the bed beside her was empty, and she turned over and continued to sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Yao was suddenly awakened by the weight on her. She instantly woke up and saw Zhuang Lingyun lying on top of her in the darkness.
His face, inches away, carried a hint of alcohol. He suddenly buried his face in her neck, took several deep breaths, and his soft lips gently touched her neck, exhaling hot breath.
“Zhuang Lingyun…”
“Zhuang, Zhuang Lingyun…” Xiao Yao shrank her shoulders. “Are you awake?”
“I’m very awake.”
His voice was in her ear, murmuring, “Is it okay?”
Good, he knew who she was.
Xiao Yao’s stiff hands gradually relaxed. He chuckled softly, his hot breath becoming more rapid.
Xiao Yao tilted her head, seeing the undulating moonlight outside the window, the stars flickering intensely in her eyes like shooting stars. The blanket slipped from her waist; she didn’t feel cold, but rather a wave after wave of heat spreading through her body.
It was destined to be a sleepless night, thankfully tomorrow was a day off, no need to wake up early.
✦ ✦ ✦
