“At nine twenty this morning, Miss Zheng left Jiangcheng for the Netherlands.”

After the secretary finished speaking, Yan An looked up at the clock. It was already ten o’clock now.

Great. He had just opened his eyes, and his wife was already flying out of Asia.

Yan An sat in his office for half a day, then suddenly laughed silently.

How boring.

In the afternoon, the same few friends invited him out.

Yan An was the first to arrive. Looking at the empty private room, he inexplicably thought of his empty mansion.

Right now, Zheng You’an should still be on the plane.

Later when Ji Yan said his “wife ran away again,” he felt like there was some truth to it.

He truly had the feeling of being a neglected husband in a wealthy family.

When leaving that evening, Ji Yan and Zhu Dong walked ahead while Yan An and Fu Mingyu walked side by side, a step behind.

As Fu Mingyu got into his car, Yan An heard him instruct the driver to go to the airport.

Yan An laughed, “Such a devoted husband, going to the airport at this hour to pick someone up. Is she underage or something?”

Fu Mingyu rolled down his window completely, resting his arm halfway out, turning his head to look at him.

“Better than someone who wants to be devoted but has no opportunity to show it.”

Yan An “…”

The car slowly stopped in front of Yan An. He stood at the door and sneered, “I don’t have that kind of free time like you.”

The winter night was cold. Yan An didn’t close his car window.

With his eyes closed, gusts of cool wind blew in, but they couldn’t dispel the irritation in his heart.

When the car reached the city center, he opened his eyes and instructed, “Go to Chenghu Riverside.”

The riverside had alcohol and beautiful women in abundance.

Yan An waved his hand and rented an entire outdoor restaurant, sitting quietly alone as the beautiful female singer on stage performed just for him.

The singing was melodious, the singer swaying her hips, her charming eyes fluttering.

Yan An sat with his eyes closed, fingers lightly tapping to the rhythm of the music, feeling utterly content.

But this wasn’t enough. He recorded a short video and sent it to Fu Mingyu, with a hint of showing off.

“Want to join? The singer is very beautiful.”

A few minutes later, Fu Mingyu sent back a voice message.

Yan An opened it to listen, but it was Ruan Sixian’s voice.

“Mr. Yan, are you jealous that World Airlines’ stock is doing too well? Want to engage in unfair competition and have me kill Fu Mingyu?”

Yan An didn’t reply, just gave a cold laugh.

Henpecked husband.

But as he laughed, his smile gradually froze.

Yan An looked around. Of the people passing by, eight out of ten were couples.

While he sat here alone, with four or five waiters standing around him, looking strange however you looked at it.

How boring.

Yan An paid and left.

This leisurely lifestyle continued for half a month more.

There was nothing wrong with it. He could drink when he wanted, and go wherever he pleased, and in that huge house, he could sleep in whichever room he wanted.

Not like some people who were busy from morning till night and still had to go to the airport to pick up their wives.

Even breaking a cup made them tremble with fear, constantly worried about being banished to the guest room.

That afternoon, Yan An leisurely went to the airport to check the condition of the apron, coincidentally encountering Fu Mingyu there too.

The two stood side by side, watching the ground crew doing the mooring work. Amid the noisy machinery, Fu Mingyu’s phone kept ringing incessantly.

Yan An found it very annoying.

“Can’t you turn off the ringtone? Isn’t it annoying to hear?”

Fu Mingyu “How would I hear when my wife calls if I turn off the ringtone?”

Yan An “…”

Fu Mingyu “Sorry, I forgot. You don’t have this worry.”

Yan An’s gaze froze. Suddenly he couldn’t speak.

Fu Mingyu continued while replying to messages, “Sometimes, no matter how busy work gets, you have to answer your wife’s calls, otherwise… Sometimes I envy you.”

“Is that so?”

Yan An turned and walked toward the exit, “Then why don’t you get divorced?”

Just after leaving, he encountered Ruan Sixian in the airport crew passage.

She was about to board a plane, coming face to face with him, and greeted him.

“Mr. Yan, you’re at the airport so early?”

Yan An didn’t speak. Ruan Sixian tilted her head slightly and said mysteriously, “You’re not going to Europe, are you?”

“Who said that?”

Yan An raised his eyebrows slightly, “Am I that free?”

Ruan Sixian touched her nose and made an “um” sound, not knowing what to say.

“Ah, husband!” she suddenly raised her head and waved to someone behind him.

Sensing Fu Mingyu walking toward them, Yan An couldn’t be bothered and walked away.

But after a few steps, he couldn’t help but look back.

Tsk.

Are you two conjoined twins or something?

Almost thirty years old and still hugging and cuddling.

Couldn’t bear to watch.

But why did it feel so heartbreaking?

How could two airline company presidents have such vastly different fates?

Yan An leisurely returned to the North Aviation Building.

After a day’s work, he still found making money interesting.

Just as he was about to go home, he suddenly remembered that tomorrow was Zheng You’an’s birthday.

However, according to Zheng You’an’s time zone, it was already her birthday.

He thought for a moment, feeling he should say something to her.

But as soon as he opened their conversation, seeing her message from half a month ago—”Brother Yan An, I think I damaged your clothes last night, I’m going to Europe to buy you an identical one to make up for it!”—his head started throbbing.

Forget it.

Yan An exited the conversation.

Zheng You’an had been gone for half a month without saying a word to him, why should he send her a message?

However, after wandering around for a while, with nothing to do, purely with nothing to do, he went to check Zheng You’an’s Moments again.

Good, she hadn’t updated anything.

Even on her birthday, she was quiet. It seemed she wasn’t having that great a time in Europe either.

Yan An’s mood calmed a bit more.

That night, he received a notification from the bank about a deduction from his supplementary card.

It wasn’t a small amount.

This was the first time Zheng You’an had used his card in over half a month.

Did she go buy him a shirt?

If so, Yan An felt he could forgive Zheng You’an.

It was natural for a young girl to feel shy and find it hard to face him after being coaxed into doing this and that in bed.

“Arrange a driver for me,” Yan An instructed his secretary. “By the way, what about the necklace you were supposed to order?”

“It’s already been delivered to your home, but no one was there.”

The secretary was about to leave when Yan An called her back.

“Never mind, I’ll drive myself.”

The secretary nodded, looking at Yan An twice, seeming to want to say something but holding back.

This secretary was new, mainly responsible for Yan An’s daily matters, and hardly involved in work-related affairs.

The young woman was careful, usually arranging everything related to Zheng You’an properly too.

“What is it?” Yan An asked. “Anything else?”

The secretary licked her lips and took out her phone, saying cautiously, “This morning Miss Zheng posted in her Moments. I feel like she might have forgotten to hide it from me.”

Yan An “What?”

The secretary showed him her phone.

The small photo was packed with people.

Zheng You’an sat in the middle of the sofa, with several girls standing behind her—her friends.

And around her were five, six, seven, eight… shirtless blue-eyed hunks, holding a birthday cake and champagne, wearing little light boards on their heads that connected to form “Happy birthday to Anna”

The caption read “Growing up on schedule! New year, new cuteness! Thank you all for coming to a foreign country to celebrate my birthday, love you all!~”

Yan An’s eye twitched.

He didn’t know where to start being angry.

Because this could kill him with rage from any angle.

New year, new cuteness?!

And fucking “love you all”?!

I didn’t even know your English name was Annie!

So she spent tens of thousands of his money to hire eight muscular hunks to celebrate her birthday, and the person who paid was blocked?!

For a moment, Yan An’s blood pressure shot up to a level that required calling 120.

“Freeze her card for me!”

The secretary immediately nodded in agreement.

Yan An sat down and lit a cigarette.

Calm down, no, must calm down.

He pressed his chest, took several deep breaths, and instructed his secretary, “Arrange a flight for me. I’m going to Europe.”

It was eight o’clock at night.

The secretary said, “There aren’t any more flights now. The earliest is World Airlines at 9 PM tomorrow.”

Yan An “Can’t you arrange a private jet?!”

The secretary retreated two steps, shocked by Yan An’s anger.

Yan An grabbed his coat and left, slamming the door thunderously.

The secretary looked at the door pitifully.

“But, but your wife took your private jet…”

At this moment, Zheng You’an had just woken up in her hotel bed.

She stared at the ceiling, unwilling to get up for a long time.

Emptiness, just pure emptiness.

Yesterday, a few good friends learned she was in Europe and quietly came to give her a surprise.

Since it was a surprise, she had to entertain her friends properly.

Throw a party, celebrate.

But even her friends flew all the way here, while her husband didn’t even send a message.

Although it was just in name… no, now it was more than just in name.

Zheng You’an flipped over irritably.

All night, she had hoped Yan An would wish her “happy birthday,” yet also feared him saying these words to her.

After waiting most of the day, on impulse, she hired eight models and took a special photo.

She wanted to post it in Moments for only Yan An to see but feared he would be suspicious if there were no likes or comments from mutual friends, so she set it to be visible only to his secretary.

But after so long, Yan An showed no reaction.

Perhaps his secretary saw it but didn’t dare tell him.

Most upsetting was that when she went to pay, she realized she didn’t have enough money.

She wasn’t the Miss Zheng of before anymore, didn’t dare ask her family for money at will, and had to use her husband’s card.

This marriage was so meaningless.

Zheng You’an slowly sat up, staring at her disheveled self in the mirror, spacing out for a good while.

No, she couldn’t look like an abandoned wealthy wife.

It’s my birthday! My birthday!

Even in a fake marriage, he should at least say “Happy birthday,” right?

In the years before marriage, he even had people deliver gifts. How come now that they had a marriage certificate, there wasn’t even a word from him?

The more Zheng You’an thought about it, the angrier she became, her hair almost standing on end.

Yan An, I’m telling you, send me a message within ten seconds, or you won’t have a wife anymore.

Zheng You’an took out her phone and stared at the screen.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, nine, eight, seven, nine, eight, seven…”

After an unknown number of countdowns, Zheng You’an’s phone finally pinged once.

—A bank account freeze notification.

“Hiss—”

Zheng You’an heard herself drawing in a sharp breath.

Yan An had already reached the airport when his secretary nervously called to inform him of the situation.

Very good.

Yan An smiled.

He stood silently in the business terminal, staring at the large glass, looking at the reflections inside, but saying nothing.

The people behind him wanted to speak several times but didn’t dare.

“Mr. Yan, should we still arrange a World Airlines flight for you?” the secretary asked cautiously. “It takes off at 9 PM tomorrow, and you’ll arrive there at noon local time.”

“No need.”

Yan An hung up the phone.

Running away on my plane, spending my money to surround yourself with handsome men, and still expecting me to travel thousands of miles to Europe to find you?

Zheng You’an, let me tell you.

That’s not impossible.

Two minutes later, Fu Mingyu received a WeChat message.

[Yan An] You there? Can I borrow a plane?

Zheng You’an’s girlfriends hadn’t left yet. They gathered at her hotel in the afternoon to find her, but she wasn’t there.

They called her, but she didn’t answer.

Even her assistant Pei Qing was staying alone at the hotel, not knowing Zheng You’an’s whereabouts.

But everyone wasn’t too worried because when she left, she had gone to the front desk to request a thorough cleaning of her room.

She complained that the blanket was a bit rough.

Zheng You’an had just gone out for a walk alone.

The Netherlands was the birthplace of Van Gogh and Rembrandt, and its capital Amsterdam had some of the world’s best art museums, so Zheng You’an was quite familiar with this country.

She went to the Rijksmuseum, and then to the Van Gogh Museum, before unknowingly wandering into the Red Light District.

She didn’t pay attention to the scenery, just felt it was too cold.

How could this damn place be so cold!

After sneezing by the riverside, Zheng You’an crouched down questioning her life choices.

It was too miserable. She had never imagined her future would be so wretched.

Having slept with her legal husband, yet too afraid to face him, running away faster than anyone.

Now she truly was a wealthy abandoned wife who couldn’t return home.

In all her years, she had seen other fake marriages. At least they spent money freely, but her fake husband not only failed to give a birthday wish, he froze her bank card!

Zheng You’an felt faint just thinking about it.

In the evening, the canal water buses saw another rush hour.

Zheng You’an bought a ticket too, but for a traditional small boat that could only accommodate two people.

She sat on it all alone, positioned at the very edge.

Sigh.

Zheng You’an sighed heavily.

“Beautiful lady, are you traveling here alone?” asked another Chinese tourist on the same boat, a man who was quite handsome except for his long, permed hair that made him look like Dick Cowboy.

Zheng You’an nodded without speaking.

“You’re quite brave,” Dick Cowboy moved a bit closer. “Aren’t you afraid, of being alone?”

“Afraid of what?” Zheng You’an said expressionlessly. “Isn’t Amsterdam the safest city in Europe?”

Dick Cowboy looked at her and smiled, “You look like you’re in a bad mood and came out to clear your head?”

Seeing her looking at her phone again, Dick Cowboy understood everything. “Fought with your boyfriend?”

Zheng You’an “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Oh, I see…” Dick Cowboy pursed his lips, slowly taking out his phone. “Then can we add each other on WeChat? I’m also traveling alone here, I’m here for photography. If you’re free, I could take some photos for you.”

“Sure,” Zheng You’an nodded. “If my husband doesn’t mind.”

Dick Cowboy “…”

He slowly put away his phone. “That won’t be necessary.”

Time waits for no one. Zheng You’an had already taken out her phone to send a voice message to Yan An.

“There’s a man who wants to add me on WeChat and take some photos for me. Do you mind?”

Dick Cowboy “…”

It wasn’t like he wanted to that badly.

The message was sent, and Zheng You’an played it back herself, then felt a bit regretful.

What was this supposed to be?

They had agreed not to interfere in each other’s private lives.

Not even two minutes had passed before she quickly recalled the message.

Dick Cowboy quietly moved a bit further away. Zheng You’an looked up at him and asked, “Can you lend me a tissue?”

She didn’t know why, but suddenly she felt like crying.

It felt as if she was somehow entangled by something.

“Oh, let me check…” Dick Cowboy patted himself all over, only finding a crumpled piece of toilet paper. “Here.”

Unprecedentedly, Zheng You’an didn’t complain about the slightly dirty paper and roughly wiped her eyes.

Good thing she hadn’t put on makeup when she went out today.

Although she was a married woman, Dick Cowboy saw how pathetic Zheng You’an looked and quickly repositioned himself as a women’s confidant, moving back toward her.

“Little sister, did you fight with your husband?”

Zheng You’an nodded.

A few days ago, her friends had come to celebrate her birthday with her, but she hadn’t told them anything.

Facing a stranger, she instead felt more desire to confide.

“If you don’t mind, you can tell me about it, and I’ll try to comfort you,” Dick Cowboy said. “But we’re not adding each other on WeChat, really not.”

How to put it?

Zheng You’an thought about it. The source of her emotions seemed to be that Yan An hadn’t wished her a happy birthday.

“On my birthday, he didn’t wish me happy birthday.”

Dick Cowboy “Just that?”

Zheng You’an “Just that.”

Dick Cowboy remained silent for a long time, thinking women were really difficult to deal with.

Just because of a missing birthday wish, she got so angry she came abroad alone, and now she was acting like Lin Daiyu.

Zheng You’an turned to look at him with teary eyes, “Isn’t that too much?”

“Yes, it’s too much,” Dick Cowboy said. “Get a divorce.”

Zheng You’an “Is that how you comfort someone?”

“Sigh.” Dick Cowboy took out another piece of paper from his bag and handed it to Zheng You’an. “Look how upset you are over this. If your husband were to cheat on you and bring back a third, fourth, or fifth woman, wouldn’t you jump into a river?”

Zheng You’an didn’t answer, but her heart trembled.

She was seriously thinking about what she would do if Yan An did that.

Yet it was she herself who had said they wouldn’t interfere in each other’s private lives not long ago.

“Well, if you don’t want a divorce, just turn a blind eye and get on with it.” Dick Cowboy reached out to pat her shoulder. “Worst case, you can find someone outside too. Be carefree, double the happiness.”

His hand hadn’t yet withdrawn when Zheng You’an suddenly heard someone calling her.

She blinked, thinking she had misheard.

“Zheng You’an!”

Zheng You’an looked up and saw a familiar figure standing right on the bridge.

In this damn Dutch weather, he wasn’t even wearing a coat, standing straight up there, with the sunset shining on him as if laying a layer of golden light over him.

Zheng You’an looked at him, now thinking she was hallucinating.

Until Yan An leaned over and pointed at her.

“Stop.”

Zheng You’an’s mouth was half open, her thoughts slowly taking shape.

How did Yan An appear here???

In that moment of her daze, the small boat had sailed under the bridge, suddenly cutting off her view.

Shortly after, the boat sailed out from under the bridge.

Zheng You’an still maintained her upward gaze, but Yan An was no longer on the bridge.

She was stunned, slowly turning her head to see that Yan An had somehow boarded another boat and was looking at her from a distance.

“Zheng You’an! Stop!”

Only at this moment did Zheng You’an confirm that Yan An had come.

Colorful fireworks exploded in her mind.

But after the fireworks cooled, her first reaction was to flee.

As if seeing this person would make her fall into some abyss.

“Don’t, don’t let him catch up!” Zheng You’an got so nervous she forgot to speak English. “Run quickly!”

But the boatman had been doing this job for decades, had seen tourists from all countries, and had developed the ability to translate facial expressions into language.

Dick Cowboy looked around several times, not understanding who the man behind them was to Zheng You’an.

Anyway, not her husband, right?

What woman would run away from her husband?

Unless he was abusive.

“Wait, why are you running? Who is that guy?”

Seeing Zheng You’an excitedly stand up, Dick Cowboy feared she would fall in and reached out to hold her, “Be careful.”

Yan An watched helplessly as that man grabbed Zheng You’an’s hand.

His eyes blazed with fire as he instructed the boatman in a deep voice to speed up.

The two small boats began a chase in the canal.

Zheng You’an saw the distance between her and Yan An getting closer and closer, and her heart beat faster and faster.

What the heck!

Is he crazy?

Why is he chasing me?!

“What are you doing?!” Zheng You’an couldn’t help shouting at him, “Are you crazy?!”

Yan An didn’t speak, just walked toward the bow of the boat.

The distance between the two boats rapidly decreased.

A few seconds later, there was a chorus of gasps around them.

Before Zheng You’an could react, she was grabbed around the waist and carried onto another boat.

Both boats shook violently at the same time, and Mr. Dick Cowboy almost fell into the river.

Although Zheng You’an’s feet touched the boat, she was still in shock.

The boat was rocking, and she was held tightly by Yan An.

“You’re crazy! What are you doing?!”

“Zheng You’an, don’t move!”

“You’re crazy—Ah!”

As Zheng You’an struggled and moved toward the other side, one foot suddenly stepped into emptiness, and there was another chorus of gasps from tourists around them.

Yan An never let go of her hand, and as she fell toward the river, he pulled her back with all his strength.

He did pull her back, but the two of them fell into the river from the other side.

The river instantly boiled with commotion, voices clamoring, some gasping, some shouting “Help.”

But before others could come to their rescue, Yan An had already surfaced with Zheng You’an in his arms.

The two embraced in the ice-cold river.

Zheng You’an’s brain might have been soaked by the water. She dazedly said, “I-I remember you like swimming.”

Yan An closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, “Zheng You’an, did I owe you something in my past life?”

In the hotel suite, the doctor and Pei Qing were quietly discussing matters in the living room.

Zheng You’an sat wrapped in a blanket on the bedroom bed, not daring to look up.

Yan An, in a bathrobe, sat on the sofa opposite her, his face pale.

He never imagined he would be so pathetic in this life.

Waking up to find his wife gone, having taken his plane. Then abroad, using his card to hire handsome men, he had desperately borrowed a plane to chase after her, only to find her chatting with some explosion-head guy.

He didn’t want to say much, just grabbed her back, but fell into the river in front of everyone.

He might be trending again soon.

But this time it was okay; the female lead was his wife, so his father would have nothing to say.

Yan An opened his mouth, wanting to say something to Zheng You’an, but found his throat burning with pain, so he decided not to say anything at all.

Zheng You’an felt the same.

The temperature in the Netherlands at this time was not above five degrees, and both had fallen into the river together. If they weren’t both young, they could have died on the spot in a foreign country.

So just catching a cold was already considered a blessing from heaven.

Pei Qing brought in two cups of hot water, carefully eyeing the two of them.

“Take some more medicine.”

As Yan An drank the water, Pei Qing asked from the side, “So, Mr. Yan, should I arrange another room for you?”

“Another room?” Yan An laughed, irritated by Zheng You’an’s assistant. “My wife is here, and I need to get a separate room?”

Zheng You’an, on the bed, inexplicably trembled.

But she didn’t dare say anything.

“Oh, oh…” Pei Qing backed out of the room. “Then rest early, call me if you need anything.”

It was already ten o’clock at night.

According to Yan An’s time zone, he hadn’t properly rested for an entire day, and Zheng You’an had been sick, so naturally she was tired too.

Yan An lifted the blanket and got into bed. “Sleep.”

Zheng You’an curled up like a shrimp on the other side of the bed, facing away from Yan An, softly asking, “Why did you come?”

Yan An, with a cold face and unfriendly tone, said, “If I hadn’t come, were you planning to have a date with that explosion-head or call sixteen more naked men for pleasure?”

Zheng You’an “…”

So he had seen it.

Was that why he flew to the Netherlands?

So he was… jealous?

Zheng You’an’s cheeks suddenly felt itchy, and she quietly rubbed them against the pillow.

“Are you jealous?”

Instantly, she heard Yan An inhale sharply.

“Zheng You’an.” Yan An turned over and pulled her toward him. “This isn’t about being jealous or not. When you do these things and others see it, where do I put my face?”

The room had only one dim floor lamp turned on, making Yan An’s outline appear especially soft in the hazy light.

Zheng You’an looked at him and asked quietly, “So is it that you’re jealous or that you’ve lost face?”

The light was dim, but Yan An’s eyes were clear.

It was the first time they had looked at each other for so long, yet neither spoke.

The hotel’s heating system wasn’t loud, but now Zheng You’an felt as if a train was whistling past her ears.

After a while.

Perhaps a few seconds, or possibly a few minutes, Yan An spoke.

He first let out a shallow sigh.

“Jealous, okay?”

Zheng You’an suddenly turned away again, not speaking.

Yan An waited a moment, thinking she wouldn’t speak anymore, so he closed his eyes to sleep.

After a long time, Zheng You’an suddenly said, “I didn’t.”

Yan An opened his eyes. “What?”

Zheng You’an “I just took a photo for Moments, and only your secretary could see it, no one else could.”

Yan An smiled, curling his lips. “Oh.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Zheng You’an continued. “I didn’t even touch their abs.”

Yan An “…”

He turned to his side and hooked Zheng You’an’s neck.

“You want to touch abs?”

Zheng You’an murmured with a red face, “I… I…”

“Haven’t you touched mine enough?”

Yan An caught her hand and pressed it against his abdomen. “Touch it, touch as much as you want.”

Perhaps it was because of how the body reacted after falling into the water, but Zheng You’an felt Yan An’s body was especially hot.

She immediately pulled her hand back and glared at him, “Are you crazy?”

Yan An released her hand and rubbed her forehead.

“Almost.”

That night, although Zheng You’an was sick and had taken medicine with sleeping components, she hardly slept.

Neither did Yan An.

“Um, let me ask you three more questions.” Zheng You’an still faced away from him and said, “Why didn’t you wish me happy birthday?”

Yan An “You left without a word, disappeared for half a month as if you’d vanished from the earth, and I’m supposed to act like nothing happened and wish you happy birthday?”

“Oh.” Zheng You’an digested his answer. “So you were sulking?”

Yan An sighed, “If that’s what you want to call it.”

Zheng You’an opened her mouth to say something else, but Yan An suddenly interrupted her, “That’s already the second question.”

?

“You’re so stingy?” Zheng You’an’s mouth twitched. “Then I’ll just ask directly, Brother Yan An, do you like me now?”

As the words fell, the room again lapsed into a long silence.

Zheng You’an vaguely felt that Yan An’s breathing was a bit unsteady.

“Say something.”

“Little An’an.” He called her as he did when they were children. “Why else do you think I would travel thousands of miles to this hellish place?”

Zheng You’an swallowed, “I have a fever, my brain isn’t working well, just be direct.”

“Yes, I like you.”

She looked into Yan An’s eyes, examining them carefully, taking a long time to let those words sink into her heart.

She must have had a fever; Zheng You’an felt a bit dizzy.

Oh, love is like a tank—whoever crashes into it gets knocked out.

She quickly closed her eyes and said, “I’m going to sleep.”

“Mm, sleep then.”

Yan An reached out to hold her, resting his chin on her neck. “Listen to me say a few things as you fall asleep.”

“We’re already married, and I never thought about divorcing casually. Besides, I’m not young anymore, past my wild years. Don’t torment me anymore, let’s have a good life together.”

“Oh.”

“So when we’re better, we’ll go home?”

“Oh.” Zheng You’an nodded slightly. “Let’s just make do with each other then. What else can we do besides divorce?”

On the day they returned, they both slept through the entire flight.

They arrived home at ten o’clock at night. They couldn’t adjust to the time difference, but they were quite tired.

So they continued to lie down on the bed.

Zheng You’an didn’t know where to look, so she glanced around and noticed a box on the bedside table.

“What’s this?”

She picked it up to look.

Yan An watched her with a smile on his face.

After opening the box, Zheng You’an frowned.

“Whose necklace is this? So flashy and ostentatious, how tacky.”

Yan An “…”

He picked up the iPad beside him and flipped through a couple of pages. “Don’t know, maybe the cleaning lady left it.”

Another long silence followed. Zheng You’an changed from sitting to lying down, retreating under the blanket.

“I’m going to sleep then?”

Yan An reached out to turn off the light. “Good night.”

Zheng You’an looked at him in the darkness, suddenly realizing—could that necklace have been Yan An’s birthday gift to her?

Then… what she had just said was quite bad.

Zheng You’an carefully reached out and poked Yan An’s wrist.

Yan An turned his head to meet Zheng You’an’s bright, doe-like eyes.

Very beautiful, very cute.

But he remained unmoved, expressionlessly turning back.

“Not doing it.”

“Otherwise you’ll run off again tomorrow.”

“…?”

All the pink bubbles in Zheng You’an’s heart burst at that moment.

“Who wants to do it with you?!” Zheng You’an forcefully pulled the blanket and turned her back to him. “Your fever must have fried your brain!”

Yan An chuckled softly, putting down what he was holding and leaning over her.

“So do you want to do it?”

The hazy moonlight seeped in sporadically, only illuminating Yan An’s eyes.

His breathing was shallow, but when it brushed against Zheng You’an’s face, it felt scorching.

This was the first time they had this process of asking before performing their marital duties.

Zheng You’an didn’t know how to answer, only slightly turning her face away.

Yan An lowered his head and gently kissed her cheek.

“Will you run away tomorrow morning?”

“I won’t… run… mmm…”

The night was like water, quiet and gentle.

Zheng You’an’s eyes were misty, the person before her becoming both real and illusory.

Her chin was hooked, the breath by her ear burning hot.

“Little An’an, have you ever called me husband?”

“Mm…” Zheng You’an reached out to hold his waist. “Husband.”

Early morning, the alarm rang on time.

Yan An wasn’t completely at ease before sleeping, so he had specifically set an alarm for six o’clock.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he instinctively looked to the side of the bed.

Unexpectedly, yet somehow expectedly—the bed was empty.

He let out a long sigh.

So tiring.

He was a CEO, not a bounty hunter chasing his wife all over the world.

So which country had his wife gone to today?

Yan An reached for his phone, desperately yet stubbornly preparing to call his secretary.

But there was a note next to his phone. He picked it up and saw Zheng You’an’s handwriting.

“She was originally a wealthy family’s daughter, but her family fell into decline, and she sacrificed herself in an arranged marriage to save her family. Her husband disdained her, unwilling even to touch her. But when he discovered her drinking alone late at night, he found her enchanting. That night, they entangled passionately, thoroughly satisfied. But when he woke up, she was gone, with only a note on the bedside—”

Yan An didn’t know if he was still half-asleep, but he looked up at the bedside.

Sure enough, there was a small note stuck there.

Yan An narrowed his eyes and looked closer. It read: Add my WeChat, send a 20 yuan red packet to read the full text ^-^

Yan An “…”

The door suddenly opened, and Zheng You’an poked her head in.

“You’re awake?”

The tension Yan An had been feeling dissipated entirely when he saw “Add my WeChat, send a 20 yuan red packet to read the full text ^-^”

He beckoned to Zheng You’an. “Where did you go?”

Zheng You’an walked toward him, saying, “I went to do some yoga.”

Yan An glanced at her neck and smiled. “You wear a necklace while doing yoga?”

“Oh…” Zheng You’an said, “I just wanted to prove that this necklace isn’t that ugly, it mainly depends on who’s wearing it.”

Drowsy with sleep in the morning, Yan An half-propped himself up on the bed. Today’s mood was the most relaxed he’d felt in months.

“I can tell you don’t like it,” he said, stroking her collarbone. “Let me get you another birthday gift. What would you like?”

“Can I choose whatever I want?”

Zheng You’an looked at him expectantly.

Yan An nodded. “Mm, whatever you want.”

Zheng You’an smiled, pressing her lips together, and hugged his arm. “Then let’s commemorate our unexpected fall from the boat that day.”

Yan An “Mm.”

Zheng You’an “So buy me a yacht.”

Yan An “…”

Married for over a year, Zheng You’an felt like she was dating.

And she wanted to show off to the whole world how great her boyfriend—no, her husband was.

The day the yacht arrived, she eagerly prepared a party.

Though she didn’t say it out loud, she felt this was her real “wedding,” except Yan An couldn’t make it today because he had something to attend to.

But there was no place to put this thing in Jiangcheng, so it was placed in Jinxing City.

Zheng You’an invited many people. The yacht’s deck was filled with champagne and desserts, and all the guests were envious.

“So this is what you call ‘making do with each other’?”

“I also want a husband who buys me a yacht to ‘make do’ with.”

“Look at your smile, your face is about to bloom.”

“Alright, alright, go have fun.” Zheng You’an’s face indeed was blooming with smiles. She felt she was the happiest woman in the world.

At this moment, Ruan Sixian arrived.

Zheng You’an went to greet her, asking, “Why are you so late? We’ve been waiting for you.”

Ruan Sixian looked travel-worn, with a hint of fatigue on her face. “My husband took me shopping, I’m exhausted.”

“What happened?” Zheng You’an pulled her along to tour her yacht. “What were you buying that was so tiring?”

“An airplane,” Ruan Sixian sighed. “Looked at them for ages.”

Zheng You’an “…”

She lost.

She felt she had lost.

“Oh, doesn’t your family already have one? Why buy another?”

“I can’t fly that model. How am I supposed to go on self-driving tours in the future?”

Zheng You’an looked up into the distance. “Fine.”

Meanwhile, both “husbands” were at the bank.

Certifying such high-value assets required their signatures.

As they came out of the VIP room, they ran into each other.

Both were startled by the other’s handsomeness in paying.

“What are you doing here?” Yan An asked. “Aren’t you going to Jinxing City?”

“No time,” Fu Mingyu adjusted his cuffs and said, “Aren’t you going to accompany your wife?”

“I don’t have time,” Yan An looked at Fu Mingyu with a smile. “What do you mean ‘no time’? It’s your wife who doesn’t want you to come along, right?”

Yan An guessed correctly.

Zheng You’an had invited almost all the girls this time, and Ruan Sixian didn’t want to be the only one bringing her husband, how boring would that be?

Fu Mingyu didn’t speak.

Yan An took out his phone and scrolled through WeChat.

A few minutes ago, Zheng You’an, who was still hosting the party, had sent him two messages.

[Wife] Husband, why aren’t you replying to my messages? TVT

[Wife] Is it because I didn’t message you? QAQ

Although it was unreasonable, it was still cute.

“Sigh, when your wife is too clingy, always wanting hugs and kisses, you have to coax her,” Yan An sighed. “Sometimes I envy you.”

Fu Mingyu “Then get divorced.”

Yan An “… No, why are you so vindictive?”

That night, Yan An and Fu Mingyu went to Jinxing City after all.

The moon was bright, stars invisible.

“An’an, come here.” Yan An came out after a shower, wrapped in a towel, and sat on the sofa, but waited a long time without his wife moving.

Yan An had to walk to the balcony and hug Zheng You’an from behind.

“What are you daydreaming about?”

Zheng You’an had been looking up at the sky. “I was thinking, they can fly in the sky, while we can only swim in the water. It’s boring.”

Yan An felt a bit of a headache.

“You want to fly in the sky too?”

“Husband, can I?”

Zheng You’an looked at Yan An expectantly once again.

Yan An gritted his teeth. “You can, you can, you can have whatever you want. Do you want to go to outer space too?”

“Husband.” Zheng You’an’s mouth turned down. “You don’t love me anymore.”

Yan An “…”

He frowned and looked at the sky, speechless for a moment.

Zheng You’an burst out laughing.

“I’m just joking with you.” She pushed Yan An. “Go change your clothes, I want to go out for a walk.”

What’s there to see this late at night?

Yan An had this doubt in his heart, but he didn’t say it out loud, otherwise, he’d face another round of “husband, you don’t love me anymore” attacks.

On such a beautiful night, a spring evening worth a thousand gold, he felt it was unnecessary to waste it.

“An’an.” He didn’t move, looking down at Zheng You’an. “I’ve always had a question I wanted to ask you.”

“Mm.” Zheng You’an carelessly surveyed the scenery below. “Go ahead.”

Yan An held her head, making her look at him.

Water was still dripping from the man’s hair, falling onto Zheng You’an’s neck, cold yet seductive.

She pressed her lips together, her eyes beginning to blur.

This scene, this atmosphere, was perfect for a kiss.

Yan An also looked at her intently. “Am I that bad in bed?”

Zheng You’an “…”

Speechless, completely speechless.

Why are you men so concerned about this?

“I…” Zheng You’an found it difficult to speak. “Didn’t I already tell you…?”

“Doesn’t count.” Yan An pressed on. “A woman’s words in bed are equally untrustworthy.”

“Oh…” Zheng You’an lowered her eyes, mumbling, “Anyway, I never fake it.”

“Good.”

Yan An let out a long breath.

His self-esteem returned.

Little Mr. Yan, satisfied, went back to the room to change into loose clothes, then held Zheng You’an’s hand as they went downstairs.

Jinxing City was very hot today, with temperatures not dropping below thirty degrees even at night.

After walking just a few steps, Yan An complained about the heat.

It was quiet all around, with only street lamps and no other lighting, creating quite an atmosphere for a secret rendezvous.

Yan An stopped and leaned against a street lamp.

“An’an.”

“Hmm?” Zheng You’an turned back. “What’s wrong?”

He pulled Zheng You’an into his arms. “A kiss?”

“No, no, no…” Zheng You’an pushed against his chest. “What if someone sees us? All the hotel guests are people I invited.”

“No way,” Yan An couldn’t understand. “Who would be so bored as to wander around here at night?”

It was dark and hot, and there were mosquitoes.

Only this young master would be willing to accompany his wife outside.

But Zheng You’an paused. “What do you mean?”

After a few seconds of stiff atmosphere, Yan An gave up.

“Forget I said anything.”

The two walked a few more steps when low voices came from ahead.

Yan An was speechless.

Someone was so bored as to wander around.

Looking closer, they were familiar faces.

On a bench, Fu Mingyu and Ruan Sixian sat side by side.

Ruan Sixian turned her head upon hearing footsteps and smiled. “You couldn’t sleep either, so you came out for a walk?”

Yan An twitched his lips and didn’t speak.

The ones who couldn’t sleep were probably just you two.

“Mm.” Zheng You’an said. “Out for a walk.”

As she spoke, she noticed Ruan Sixian holding a few roses, so she tugged at Yan An’s shirt.

“Husband, I want those flowers too.”

Yan An solemnly looked at the few flowers in Ruan Sixian’s hand, thinking that women are just like this—whatever others want, they want too.

So he turned toward a flower bed where several clusters of roses were planted.

As he reached out, he was cursing in his mind.

Fu Mingyu, are you even human? Picking roadside flowers, do you have any sense of public morality?

But as soon as he touched the flower stem, a sharp pain struck, and Yan An sighed helplessly.

Fu Mingyu had it tough too.

After plucking the flower and handing it to Zheng You’an, Yan An looked at his fingertip under the street lamp.

The skin was indeed pierced.

“Oh!” Zheng You’an saw it too. Instead of taking the flower, she grabbed his hand. “How did it start bleeding?”

Ruan Sixian laughed, falling into Fu Mingyu’s arms.

“Mr. Yan, what’s wrong with you? Don’t you know roses have thorns? Mine are just casually taken from the hotel room. Why did you go pick from the roadside?”

Yan An felt very solemn. He turned to look at Fu Mingyu.

—Keep your wife in check.

Fu Mingyu acted as if he hadn’t caught his glance, leaning back on the bench and tilting his chin up at him.

“Come sit.”

The bench was quite spacious even with four people.

A breeze blew by, and Zheng You’an and Ruan Sixian ran to take photos by the fountain.

The moon reflected in the water, perfect and complete.

“Hey, are you planning to have children?” Yan An asked casually.

Fu Mingyu made an “mm” sound.

“What a coincidence,” Yan An said. “We’re planning too. Should our children marry each other in the future?”

Fu Mingyu “Rejected.”