It took Yan An a full few seconds, even considering the context, to understand what Zheng You’an meant.

Silence, long silence.

After the silence came the explosion.

As Yan An rolled over and pinned her down, Zheng You’an paled with fear. She raised her hands to block him but he caught her wrists and pressed them above her head.

“Zheng You’an!”

Each word was punctuated, spoken through gritted teeth. His pent-up anger had nowhere to go, only leaking out slightly through his tone.

“Do you know saying that is asking for…”

The final word, he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say to Zheng You’an.

But Zheng You’an could certainly understand the implication.

“Let me go!” Zheng You’an struggled a bit, unable to free her hands. “What are you trying to do? If you… if you force yourself on me, that’s marital rape!”

“So you do know what kind of relationship we have?”

Yan An tightly held her wrists.

In the quiet night, only their uneven breathing remained.

Once something happens the first time, whatever happens afterward becomes natural.

Especially since they were husband and wife, officially certified, and legitimate in every possible way.

And in this marriage, Zheng You’an knew she was the one who had “married up.”

She tilted her head slightly and said, “Fine then, go ahead. But I’m sick, so my voice might not sound very good.”

Yan An: “…”

“Zheng You’an, did you leave your brain in Africa and forget to bring it back?”

Yan An released her hands and lay back on his side, exhaling deeply.

“I’m a human being. I’m not an animal who would take advantage of a sick person.”

Zheng You’an wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, turning her back to him. After a long while, she let out a soft “Oh.”

For several seconds after that, neither spoke.

But just as Zheng You’an was contemplating whether to move to another room to sleep, she felt the warmth beside her approaching again. Then, Yan An once more gripped her wrist, gently caressing it for a moment before suddenly starting to feel her collarbone… then moving up her neck…

Though Zheng You’an began to tremble all over, she didn’t move or resist. She simply said quietly, “Have you decided to stop being human after all?”

The movement abruptly stopped. Yan An seemed to be holding back his anger as he sighed heavily.

“Zheng You’an—” he closed his eyes briefly, “Get up. Let’s go to the hospital. You have a fever.”

Yan An had just lain down and calmed himself for a moment when he recalled that when he had grabbed Zheng You’an’s wrist, the temperature didn’t feel right.

So he reached out and touched her again, confirming she felt quite hot.

Her collarbone, her neck… the temperature wasn’t normal.

By the time they left the hospital, it was already three in the morning. An ambulance rushed past, sirens blaring, lights flashing. Vehicles came and went, racing against time with death.

Yan An finished a cigarette and rolled up the car window, shutting out the urgency from outside.

He glanced indifferently at Zheng You’an in the passenger seat.

“You didn’t even know you had a fever?”

Zheng You’an looked down and picked at her nails, pretending to be casual as she responded with a light “Oh,” adding, “I didn’t notice.”

Back home, Yan An turned on the lights and said, “Get some rest.”

Zheng You’an went upstairs with her head down, Yan An following behind her.

At the doorway to the room, she turned around, her eyes meeting his.

Though she didn’t speak, Yan An understood her meaning perfectly.

“You—”

Forget it, no point arguing with a sick person.

“I’ll go to the guest room.”

After Yan An turned and left, Zheng You’an clung to the door and softly said, “Yan An-gege, thank you for tonight.”

Yan An didn’t even look back, leaving a curt “You’re welcome” as he entered the guest room.

But lying in bed, he wasn’t at all calm.

Just thinking about how Zheng You’an had looked at him with those rejecting eyes when he entered the room made him uncomfortable all over.

Yes, he knew there was no emotional foundation between him and Zheng You’an, and they hadn’t consummated their marriage in the year before she went abroad.

Although that night was an accident, he hadn’t forced her.

So why was she now guarding against him like he was a thief?

[Yan An]: An’an, are you asleep?

Zheng You’an was already tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. When she heard her phone vibrate, she thought she finally had a friend who was awake to hear her complaints.

But when she picked up her phone and looked…

This was worse than no message at all.

Naturally, Zheng You’an didn’t reply, pretending to be asleep.

In the middle of the night, in her half-conscious state, she felt something cool on her forehead.

Like that night when Yan An’s kiss fell on her brow, cool and without warmth, yet lingering.

As if sensing something, Zheng You’an suddenly opened her eyes, and sure enough, Yan An’s face appeared before her.

She was startled. “You—”

“Don’t speak.”

Yan An didn’t want to hear her talk right now. He reached out and pulled the towel from her forehead. “Your fever hasn’t broken yet.”

Zheng You’an was stunned for a long while, until Yan An had rewashed the towel and placed it on her forehead.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“If I were sleeping, you’d burn to death here tonight, and tomorrow I’d be a widower.”

“Wouldn’t that be… good?”

“Zheng You’an?” Yan An leaned down, frowning. “Has the fever made you stupid?”

Zheng You’an felt like she might indeed have been made stupid by the fever.

“Ah, indeed.”

Yan An pressed his lips together without speaking, but then heard her say, “I shouldn’t curse myself.”

Yan An: “…”

Yan An understood now—the blame lay entirely with that night.

Now in Zheng You’an’s eyes, he was just a beast.

Zheng You’an didn’t know when she had fallen asleep. When she woke up at noon, Yan An was gone, but the towel on her forehead was still warm.

She half-propped herself up, looked around, put on a robe, and opened the door like a thief.

Coincidentally, Yan An was standing at the door with a cup of coffee.

“Awake?” Yan An raised his eyelids slightly. “This is your home. You don’t need to act like this.”

Zheng You’an cleared her throat. “Aren’t you going to work today?”

Yan An walked downstairs with one hand in his pocket, taking his time.

“Yes.”

Zheng You’an stuck her head out. “Then…?”

Yan An leaned against the railing, looking back at her. “I’m working from home.”

“Is that okay?”

Yan An tilted his head. “What’s wrong with it?”

Seeing Yan An’s straightforward manner, Zheng You’an realized she, as the “peace-offering princess,” had overstepped. “Nothing’s wrong with it.”

For the next three days, Zheng You’an recuperated at home, while Yan An continued to work from home.

Though he said he was working, Zheng You’an felt like Yan An had been assigned to watch over her.

One evening, she was watching TV in the living room when she accidentally kicked the table while getting up.

It was marble—the pain made her howl and tears stream down her face.

Yan An came down from his study upstairs and stood in front of her.

“What happened?”

Zheng You’an pointed at her toe. “It’s ruined, ruined.”

Yan An picked her up and placed her back on the sofa.

“It’s not ruined. The skin isn’t even broken.”

“My skin is very delicate!”

As soon as the words were out, they both fell silent.

Zheng You’an had said this phrase once before, but not in this setting—it was that night.

Zheng You’an turned her face away, no longer crying or complaining of pain.

Yan An sat down, silently watching the TV.

Let’s just stay silent like this.

Zheng You’an thought that silence was the best remedy for awkwardness.

“It is quite delicate.”

“…”

After that day, Zheng You’an’s illness seemed to heal at double speed.

She started to feel restless at home, with a heart yearning to escape this strange cage.

“Sisters? Any parties?”

“I can’t stand being at home anymore.”

—”You’re back in the country?”

—”When did you get back?”

“That’s not important. He’s at home watching me every day. I’m about to grow mold.”

“He’s sitting next to me right now looking at data. The TV is on too. Is there anything he can’t look at from the office?”

—”Captive love?”

“?”

—”Come on, it’s just that Achen’s birthday is tonight. Come play at MIX.”

“Okay.”

Zheng You’an put down her phone and secretly glanced at Yan An.

Yan An’s phone had been ringing constantly too.

“Someone looking for you?”

Zheng You’an asked.

“Friends.” Yan An lowered his head to flip through the documents in his hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

“That doesn’t seem right. I’ve noticed you haven’t gone out much these days. Why not go get some fresh air?”

Yan An’s gaze swept over, carrying a somewhat investigative meaning. “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just that I have something to do today too.”

Zheng You’an brushed her hair. “My friend has a charity project. I’m going to check it out.”

An hour later, Zheng You’an stood by the car door, waving goodbye to Yan An.

“I’ll be going then?”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you?” Yan An said. “I need to go out too.”

“No need. My driver is already here.”

In the car, Zheng You’an took out her makeup bag and applied a vibrant lipstick and sparkling blush.

She unbuttoned her coat to reveal a sexy little dress underneath.

When she arrived at MIX, Zheng You’an felt she had made the right choice coming today.

Those girlfriends of hers were all more alluring than the next, and the boys they had called over were all from the Film Academy, each one more handsome than the last. When they shook the dice, it was like watching a dance. Even someone like her who couldn’t drink much wanted to join in and learn.

Decadence and indulgence, a feast for the senses—it was wonderful.

—If only she weren’t the only married woman present.

She repeatedly extended her eager hands, only to be held back by the marriage certificate at home.

Watching her girlfriends flirting with the young men, Zheng You’an felt deeply dejected.

Meanwhile, at a second-floor booth.

Yan An sat in the corner of the sofa, lightly turning the glass in his hand without taking a sip.

A friend leaned over and smiled. “What’s up? Haven’t seen you for the past few days. Where have you been?”

Yan An: “At home with my wife.”

“Huh?” His friend was shocked. “What?”

“She just got back and has been sick for a few days.”

The friend wasn’t surprised about that—he was surprised that Yan An was at home with his “trophy wife.”

All evening, Yan An seemed somewhat distracted.

At some point, more people had gathered around, including several he didn’t recognize.

As soon as it hit eleven o’clock, he yawned, shocking those around him once more.

“Young Master Yan, tired?”

Yan An nodded. “A bit.”

These past few days at home, his schedule had been too regular. At eleven o’clock, he would punctually send the sick person to bed, and with nothing else to do, he naturally went to sleep as well.

After saying this, he sent a message to Zheng You’an.

[Yan An]: Are you home?

[Zheng You’an]: No, still chatting. Some film industry people have shown up.

[Yan An]: Oh.

He put away his phone and casually glanced downstairs. In passing, he noticed a woman by the DJ booth who looked familiar.

He couldn’t help but look a few more times.

Seconds later, he walked over to the railing.

“Young Master Yan, what are you doing?”

A man followed behind him, looking down in the direction of his gaze, his eyes fixed on the female DJ on stage.

“Nothing.”

There were too many people below, men and women in colorful clothes moving to and fro. Yan An’s eyes grew dizzy, and he directly turned back.

However, the man had noticed and very thoughtfully acted on his behalf.

A few minutes later, a voluptuous woman came up.

“This is Young Master Yan,” the man introduced, pointing at Yan An. “The crown prince of North Aviation Group.”

The female DJ raised her eyebrows and extended her hand to Yan An. “Hello, I’ve heard so much about you.”

Yan An looked up from his phone, scanned the person before him, and slowly extended his hand.

After shaking hands, he didn’t say anything, just glanced at the half glass of wine on the table, showing no interest.

But this look, in the eyes of the man beside him, took on a different meaning.

He urged the female DJ beside him, “Go pour Young Master Yan a drink.”

The female DJ, seeing that Yan An seemed uninterested, was reluctant. But she was a shareholder in this bar, and pleasing guests was her responsibility, especially someone of his status who couldn’t be offended. So she quickly put on a smile and approached with a decanter.

“Young Master Yan, let me toast you.”

Yan An casually clinked his glass with hers. He smelled the wine but lost interest, simply setting it aside.

At the same time, the man sat beside him and said, “Our Ms. Baker is single, you know.”

Yan An raised his eyes slightly, glancing at him with a half-smile. “Don’t you know I’m married?”

Seeing Yan An smile, the man thought he understood and beckoned to the DJ who was smoking to the side. “Come keep Young Master Yan company for a drink.”

Everyone knew that Yan An’s marriage had been sudden, and in the year since, the couple had hardly been seen together in public. Everyone had a pretty clear idea of the situation.

The female DJ looked back at them and came over with her glass.

But before she could speak, Yan An suddenly stood up and gave the man a cold look.

“I haven’t thought about disrespecting my wife like that.”

With that, he picked up his coat and walked out.

Two seconds later, the man came to his senses, his face alternating between shades of green and white. He hurriedly chased after Yan An.

“Young Master Yan! Young Master Yan! Wait a moment! I didn’t mean it that way. I just thought you looked bored! Hey! Hey! Young Master Yan! Ow—”

The man unexpectedly crashed into Yan An’s back, nearly breaking his nose.

He rubbed his nose, the alcohol making his head spin and his vision blur with spots. “Master Yan… what’s wrong, how about—”

His voice abruptly stopped when he saw someone in the center of the dance floor.

And Yan An’s silhouette looked somewhat eerie.

The man blinked his eyes and said nothing more, fading away in silence.

When the song ended, Zheng You’an patted her chest. Her forehead was damp with sweat, and a young man eagerly handed her a glass of juice.

The overhead lights were flashing so brightly she could hardly see. She didn’t look carefully at who it was and simply reached out to accept it.

Just as she touched the glass, the juice was snatched away.

“What are you doing?”

Zheng You’an turned around, the flirtatious gleam in her eyes not yet faded, the smile on her lips freezing in place.

“Yan, Yan…”

“Shouldn’t you be calling me ‘husband’?”

Outside the bar was the clear river. The night wind was strong, and Zheng You’an sneezed.

“Close, close the window.”

Yan An took a deep breath, closed the window, and turned on the heater.

“Charity event?” He turned his head, raising an eyebrow. “Who were you doing charity for?”

Zheng You’an hung her head, picking at her nails.

“And the film industry.” Yan An looked back at the bar’s sign. “Those handsome boys were from the Film Academy, right?”

“I don’t know, never asked, don’t know them.”

“Well, you seemed to be having quite a good time?”

They sat in silence in the car for a while. Zheng You’an’s friend sent her a message.

—”An’an, are you okay?”

—”Your husband didn’t look happy just now. Explain to him.”

—”What’s the big deal? We just went out for a drink, didn’t do anything wrong. Besides, how would your husband have run into you at a bar if he wasn’t there himself?”

—”Plus, didn’t you say you both don’t interfere in each other’s private lives?”

Right.

Zheng You’an suddenly raised her head, wondering why she was acting so guilty.

She wasn’t doing anything wrong.

“What’s wrong with me having fun?” Zheng You’an widened her eyes. “Weren’t you at the bar looking for fun too?”

“I—looking for fun?”

Yan An was choked by her words.

What fun was he looking for?

Since getting engaged to Zheng You’an, not even a female pigeon had flown past him.

It wasn’t that he loved Zheng You’an so much back then, but rather that he saw her as the little sister he had watched grow up. Since she had married him, even if there was no love between them, he couldn’t disrespect her.

The circle was small but not too small. If he had anything with any woman, it would make headlines, not to mention making Zheng You’an a laughingstock.

“Isn’t that right?” Zheng You’an waved her hand. “Actually, it’s fine. Do whatever you want, just don’t make it public. I don’t mind, but you should consider my parents’ face.”

Yan An: “…”

He gripped the steering wheel, several times wanting to step on the brake but not doing so.

The frustration in his heart was difficult to release.

Why had he been at home like a caretaker these past few days?

Why had he gotten up in the middle of the night to bring down her fever?

Yan An kept a straight face and asked, “You really want me to do whatever I want?”

“Yes.” Zheng You’an turned her head to look out the window. “I told you before, I won’t interfere with your private life. Look how many lenses you’ve bought me this year, and let me use your secondary card. Of course I won’t go too far.”

“Fine.”

Yan An dropped the word and stepped on the gas. The car shot forward.

“Why are you driving so fast?”

Zheng You’an clutched her seatbelt, her heart nearly jumping out of her throat. “Are you an unofficial Formula 1 driver?”

Yan An said calmly, “Formula 1 is not a Chinese product. There’s no official roster.”

Zheng You’an: “…”

In less than thirty minutes, the car’s tail swung as Yan An backed into the first-floor garage.

When Zheng You’an got out of the car, whether from the high speed or the alcohol taking effect, she was a bit unsteady, walking wobbly to the elevator.

“You were drunk driving, weren’t you? I’m reporting you!”

“Go ahead. I’ll go to prison so you can go clubbing every night, right?”

Seeing her unsteady, Yan An took her hand. “Upstairs.”

Cursing under her breath, Zheng You’an was pulled upstairs by him, stuffed into the bathroom, and the door was closed for her to shower.

“This is too much. You can go to a bar but I can’t?” she muttered to herself. “And I didn’t even do anything. I didn’t even touch those boys’ hands. Unlike you—when I was in middle school, I saw you change three girlfriends.”

A voice suddenly came from outside the door.

“Little An’an, don’t think I don’t know about your middle school romance.”

“…What are you doing standing outside my bathroom door?”

Zheng You’an braced herself against the edge of the bathtub, on alert. “Are you… a pervert?”

Yan An couldn’t take it anymore and directly pushed open the door.

The bathroom was brightly lit. Zheng You’an lay in the bath, the water cloudy with bath salts, floating with flower petals, yet still revealing glimpses of her body.

Because of the alcohol, her face was flushed red.

With a splash of water, Zheng You’an moved to the corner. “What are you doing?”

“Can you stop treating me like a thief one minute and a pervert the next?” Yan An crossed his arms, seemingly without any ill intent as he looked at Zheng You’an. “Regardless, we are a nationally certified married couple.”

“Then you should ask around…” Zheng You’an said, “what normal person hides outside a bathroom door peeping at someone bathing?”

“I was just—” Yan An’s eyes bulged. “I wasn’t peeping!”

“So you were just passing by?”

“…”

“See, you can’t explain it.” Zheng You’an covered her chest. “Yan An-gege, you’re not Emperor Han Chengdi, and I’m not Zhao Hede. This kind of peeping at your wife in the bath is really embarrassing if others found out. Don’t do it again.”

Damn it…

Yan An really wanted to curse.

He was just worried that Zheng You’an might fall while bathing drunk like last time, but she treated him like a pervert.

“What?” Yan An coldly began, “So you do know you’re my wife?”

He slowly approached the bathtub and looked down. In the rippling water, the alluring scenery was half-hidden, half-revealed.

“What’s wrong with me openly watching you bathe?”

Zheng You’an slowly hugged her knees, looking at Yan An uneasily.

“Is that… what you said?”

Five minutes later, Yan An, without further consideration, pinned Zheng You’an against the edge of the bathtub.

“Zheng You’an! Stop acting crazy in the bathroom when you’re drunk!”

Yan An had entered looking proper, but now he was completely soaked, with rose petals hanging from his head.

“Didn’t you want to watch me bathe?” She frantically splashed water with both hands. “This is how I bathe! Watch! Get your fill!”

The alcohol’s aftereffect was truly strong. Zheng You’an seemed to have forgotten she wasn’t wearing anything, flailing her hands wildly in the bathroom.

One moment splashing water from the tub, the next grabbing the shower head to play firefighter.

When one can’t bear it any longer, one doesn’t need to.

“Zheng You’an, behave yourself!”

Zheng You’an didn’t hear clearly and asked while stirring the water, “What did you say? Divide what? Premarital assets?!”

Yan An didn’t bother talking with her and took action directly.

But Zheng You’an had just bathed and was very slippery. Yan An didn’t want to grab her forcefully, and this woman seemed to have extraordinary strength after bathing, breaking free from his hands several times.

Back and forth, over and over, colors blending, senses muddling…

A few hours later, Zheng You’an lay in Yan An’s arms, eyes wide open, completely sober.

History repeats itself remarkably, fate tirelessly cycles.

It seemed she had once again acted recklessly while drunk.

And tonight, she felt even more desperate than last time.

Because she clearly remembered saying several very embarrassing things in succession.

What did this make them?

Legal friends with benefits?

That was indeed legal, couldn’t be more legal. The whole world would applaud them.

The room was quiet. Zheng You’an didn’t dare turn her head, as the other person’s breathing was so close.

She slowly moved a little to the side, a bit more, and a bit more…

Suddenly, the hand on her waist tightened.

“What excuse do you have today?”

Yan An slowly opened his eyes and confronted Zheng You’an with a soul-searching question.

Last time’s excuse certainly couldn’t be used again—she had admitted it herself.

Zheng You’an decided to retreat to advance, shrinking her neck and burying herself in Yan An’s embrace.

“I’m sleeping, Yan An-gege.”

Yan An gently responded with an “Mm.”

“Good night.”

After saying this, he felt that something was strange about Zheng You’an.

Why was she so obedient?

Come to think of it, Yan An also found himself a bit strange.

Since they got engaged, they had actually met fewer times than he had met with his friends.

Because of this, many people had speculated about the state of their marriage.

During this time, temptations large and small had come his way, and some people even openly disregarded Zheng You’an, blatantly trying to pair him with women.

Each time, Yan An thought to himself that he couldn’t let others look down on Zheng You’an. After all, she was the little sister he had watched grow up, and he couldn’t bear it.

—Can’t disrespect my wife like that.

With enough of these mental reminders, it seemed to have become an established fact.

And his complete psychological shift had come from that unexpected night three months ago.

Since they had consummated their marriage, they might as well live properly together, no longer pretending to be a plastic couple to the outside world.

He had never considered divorce anyway.

But that night, he had another strange feeling.

In the words of their CEO circle, it was—this woman was damn sweet.

But this little sister—after sleeping with her own husband, she ran away faster than anyone the next day.

Every time Yan An thought about it, his teeth itched with annoyance.

Fortunately, he had performed well during this period, and Zheng You’an had learned her lesson.

Feeling much more at ease, Yan An fell asleep quickly.

The next morning, the sun shone into the room, and Yan An slowly woke up.

He turned his head, wanting to see the person beside him, but saw only white sheets.

Huh?

Yan An slowly reached out and felt the temperature of the sheets.

Damn.

They were cold.

He had been abandoned again.

He immediately got up and went out, searching the entire villa without finding any trace of Zheng You’an.

Finally, he returned to the room and picked up his phone, only to discover that Zheng You’an had sent him a WeChat message three hours earlier.

[Zheng You’an]: Yan An-gege, I think I damaged your clothes last night. I’m going to Europe to buy you an identical one as compensation!

Yan An: “…”

He understood now.

He wasn’t bad at it.

He just had bad luck.