Gently yet dominantly drawing her into his embrace

The marriage registration process was much simpler than expected. The only time-consuming part was taking the wedding photos.

Seeing the staff cleaning up the photo area, Sheng Sui walked to a corner of the room, took out a small mirror to touch up her lipstick, and carefully tucked stray hair behind her ears.

With time approaching closing hours and the bride still not appearing on stage, the staff called out loudly: “Where’s the bride? Why can’t we see her?”

“Just a moment.”

A familiar male voice sounded overhead. Sheng Sui’s vision darkened as Zhou Shiyu positioned himself in front of her, saying softly to comfort her: “Take your time, no rush.”

The intimate address made Sheng Sui’s ears burn. She quickly put away her lipstick and mirror, then heard him suddenly chuckle: “Should have prepared wedding rings in advance.”

“It’s fine,” she rummaged through her bag to find the bracelet the man had given her last night, placing it in her palm: “Wearing this is the same.”

The next second, warm fingertips touched her skin. Zhou Shiyu’s slender hand gently supported her delicate wrist bone, carefully slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. The motion was exactly like putting on a ring.

Surrounded by continuous voices, Sheng Sui only heard the man’s low voice falling by her ear, asking her seriously:

“Sheng Sui, are you willing to marry me?”

She didn’t know sweet words, only responding clumsily: “…I do.”

When receiving the two-inch red-background wedding photo, Sheng Sui once again deeply lamented the Creator’s unfairness.

Even photographed without makeup or retouching, Zhou Shiyu’s facial features and bone structure were flawless, like a finely carved work of art.

And this man in the photo was her husband.

Sheng Sui thought to herself.

Ten minutes later, Sheng Sui took her household registration booklet, looking at the [Married] status in the marriage column. For the first time, this somewhat hasty marriage felt somewhat real.

The staff member, seeing her constantly staring at the marriage certificate, smiled: “Today happens to be White Valentine’s Day. After getting married, you should go have a good meal to celebrate.”

White Valentine’s Day?

Sheng Sui had always been single and didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. Only when reminded did she remember, and her heart began to feel troubled.

Today was Valentine’s Day and also the day she and Zhou Shiyu got married, yet she hadn’t even considered having dinner with her husband.

It seemed like only a marriage contract had been finalized, but life continued as usual, with the two still living in completely separate worlds.

Thinking of the birthday dinner Xiao Ming had carefully prepared and her mother’s sudden invitation, Sheng Sui suddenly said with difficulty: “I might—”

“Just follow your original plan.”

Standing outside the civil affairs bureau, Zhou Shiyu turned sideways to block the wind with his back. Seeing her hair ends being lifted by the evening breeze to cover her face, he raised his hand to tuck them behind her ear, saying warmly:

“Home is a place you can always return to. No need to rush.”

Sheng Sui had never been so close to another man. She was moved yet somewhat shy: “Mr. Zhou, I—”

“Mr. Zhou?”

Zhou Shiyu looked down at her burning red ear tips, his smile deepening. He deliberately leaned slightly closer, his tone leisurely:

“I recall we just got our certificate not long ago.”

Sheng Sui couldn’t bring herself to say “husband” no matter what. She gripped her bag straps tightly, and after a few seconds murmured: “…Sir.”

Her slender white neck was completely flushed red. Zhou Shiyu stopped teasing Sheng Sui, his gaze falling on the bracelet still on her wrist as he responded warmly:

“Mrs. Zhou, congratulations on our happy marriage.”

In the end, Sheng Sui still declined her mother’s invitation, deciding to keep her promise and go home to celebrate with Xiao Ming.

She came home earlier than usual today. At the entrance, she could smell the fragrant aroma of dishes. Looking up toward the kitchen dining table, it was indeed filled with dishes she liked.

She just didn’t see Xiao Ming anywhere.

“It’s her birthday today, and you want me to say this? Fine, I won’t waste words with you. She’s coming back soon—”

The sound of talking and the door opening came simultaneously. Xiao Ming bumped into Sheng Sui in the living room, cursed under her breath first, then urged as if nothing had happened: “Come quickly, I made lots of food.”

Sheng Sui stood without moving, saying softly: “Are you okay?”

Xiao Ming started to speak then fell silent, finally plopping down on the sofa in resignation: “Zhang Tao seems to be stalking me.”

This name sounded very familiar.

Last time Xiao Ming mentioned the person in charge of a company interested in investing in theirs who had run into her several times—that was Zhang Tao.

“Today when I was buying groceries and returning home, as I entered the community and was almost home, I glanced at the road mirror at the corner and saw a man hiding behind a car nearby, acting suspiciously.”

Recalling the figure in the twilight, Xiao Ming shuddered: “But I ran away without seeing his face clearly. I’m not sure if it was Zhang Tao, just that the silhouette looked similar.”

After hearing this, Sheng Sui frowned tightly and decisively tried to pull Xiao Ming up: “We can’t stay here anymore. Pack some overnight things simply, we’ll go to a hotel.”

“But, but you still need to celebrate your birthday,” though Xiao Ming was scared, she had never thought about moving immediately: “I just called my cousin, and he agreed to pick me up and drop me off for work every day.”

Sheng Sui was helpless with her and sighed in resignation.

Seeing her attitude soften, Xiao Ming immediately hugged Sheng Sui’s arm and rubbed against it: “If you’re embarrassed, I won’t let my cousin come inside in the morning.”

Xiao Ming’s cousin Xiao Lang had fallen in love with Sheng Sui at first sight and had been pursuing her for two whole years, expressing countless times that he didn’t mind Sheng Sui’s diabetes. Even now during holidays, he still sent specialty products to Yu Xuemei.

Sheng Sui was afraid of overly passionate love. The more aggressive Xiao Lang became, the faster and farther she ran away, at one point refusing to appear at the same occasion as him.

“It’s safer to pick you up at the door,” seeing Xiao Ming being cautious, Sheng Sui couldn’t bear to blame her further: “Leave five minutes early, and I’ll go to work after you two leave.”

“Okay, okay, eat first,” Xiao Ming hurriedly served her food, suddenly exclaiming: “You never wore bracelets before. Who gave you this?”

Sheng Sui didn’t know how to talk about getting married. Seeing her hesitating, Xiao Ming became more suspicious and pressed: “Is it from a new blind date partner! Confess honestly!”

Unable to withstand the interrogation, Sheng Sui spoke vaguely: “After the relationship stabilizes, I’ll tell you.”

Xiao Ming stopped gossiping, only sighing: “To be chosen by our Sui Bao, what kind of divine person must he be?”

The two laughed and played while eating the birthday meal. Sheng Sui didn’t mention going to the hospital, only shared happy things with Xiao Ming, making the woman laugh heartily.

After dinner, Xiao Ming took initiative to wash dishes, urging Sheng Sui to rest quickly.

After showering, drying her hair, and coming out of the bathroom, it was just past 10 PM. After giving herself an injection, Sheng Sui lay down on the bed, thinking she would fall asleep immediately, but remained awake after half an hour.

Finally, she turned on the bedside lamp, got out of bed to find the brand new marriage certificate, and looked at it over and over.

Her mind recalled Zhou Shiyu standing up for her, patting her head in the parking lot, and him—

He had still been running a high fever last night.

Her thoughts paused for a moment.

The man concealed it so perfectly that Sheng Sui always forgot he was also a patient.

Tossing and turning, she picked up her phone to ask: [Are you feeling better?]

Unlike usual phone calls, this time the other person directly called via video.

Answering in a camisole nightgown seemed too inappropriate. Sheng Sui hurriedly grabbed the outer shirt from the chair back to put on, sat up, and leaned against the headboard to answer.

The next second, Zhou Shiyu’s handsome face appeared on the screen.

He had probably propped his phone against something hard on the desk. From Sheng Sui’s view, it was an upward angle, allowing her to see his clearly defined jawline up close.

No longer in a suit, Zhou Shiyu had changed into light gray silk pajamas. The background behind him was also the same cold gray, a cool style very different from his usual warmth.

Sheng Sui vaguely heard someone talking in the background audio and asked softly: “Are you still busy with work?”

“Not busy, colleagues are playing games in the living room.”

Zhou Shiyu picked up the water glass beside him. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he tilted his head back to drink, then actively started a conversation: “You look like you’re in a good mood. Is it because of the birthday celebration tonight?”

In Sheng Sui’s understanding, every minute and second was precious for someone as successful as Zhou Shiyu and shouldn’t be wasted on casual conversation.

Even their last chat over dinner had been a purposeful blind date. This was the first time the two had talked aimlessly about daily life.

Initially, Sheng Sui worried about being too chatty, but found that Zhou Shiyu not only wasn’t impatient but would sometimes ask interested questions, gradually opening up the conversation.

Later, when she casually mentioned the special birthday dinner Xiao Ming had prepared for her, she saw Zhou Shiyu ponder for a moment before asking: “Is that the person in charge of ‘Yusheng’?”

“That’s her,” Sheng Sui was surprised the man knew and couldn’t help wanting to help her best friend: “Their company specializes in chip development and is currently looking for investors. They should have approached Cheng He.”

“I have an impression.” Seeing her bright, lively eyes, Zhou Shiyu curved his lips in a warm smile, saying unhurriedly:

“After all, the company name contains my wife’s surname.”

“……”

No matter how many times, hearing Zhou Shiyu skillfully call her “wife,” Sheng Sui still couldn’t help being speechless and flustered.

The intimate nickname came so naturally, making one wonder if he had a rich romantic history.

Sheng Sui silently grumbled to herself, when she suddenly heard a subtle muffled sound. She saw Zhou Shiyu turn his head with his gaze sideways, calling lowly: “Ping’An.”

Sweet cat meows immediately followed.

Remembering the man’s WeChat avatar was a cat, Sheng Sui asked curiously: “You have a cat at home? Is it the one in your avatar?”

“Mm.”

Zhou Shiyu bent down to pick up the black and white mixed-fur cat at his feet. He was immediately clung to by the affectionate four-legged creature who nestled into his arms, then affectionately rolled over to show its pink and white belly, constantly rubbing its furry head against the man’s hands while purring continuously.

Sheng Sui leaned closer, completely unaware that the shirt on her shoulders had slipped: “So cute.”

Zhou Shiyu’s gaze moved downward, stopping at the large expanse of pink and white. Her collarbones were straight, with a shallow round mole at the end of the right side particularly eye-catching.

Looking down at Ping’An hugging his arm, the man’s voice was slightly husky: “His name is Ping’An, six and a half years old. I bought him from a cat café.”

The mischievous kitten, seeing someone on the screen, twitched his little nose curiously and came closer, raising a pink little paw to press on the screen, tilting his head with round eyes blinking.

Sheng Sui’s heart melted watching this, smiling with curved brows: “What a coincidence, I also worked part-time at a cat café during my junior year summer vacation.”

Zhou Shiyu said warmly: “Mm, I know.”

“Hm?” Sheng Sui, focused on playing with the cat, didn’t hear clearly and looked up to ask: “What did you just say?”

Zhou Shiyu placed Ping’An on the desk to facilitate interaction between the person and cat: “He’s very friendly. Usually I can’t play with him for too long. After you come over, you can spend more time with him.”

The matter of living together was brought up unexpectedly. Sheng Sui couldn’t react immediately and hesitated: “…Do I still need to move over?”

She felt ridiculous even asking.

They were legally married; living under the same roof was perfectly normal.

Sure enough, Zhou Shiyu chuckled on the other side. Amid Ping’An’s protesting meows, he picked up his phone and brought it to his lips: “We’ve only been married for six hours.”

“Does Mrs. Zhou already have plans for separation?”

“I, I don’t mean that—”

“Sheng Sui, I’m not asking you to move in right now.”

Seeing her hasty explanation, Zhou Shiyu no longer brought up living together to pressure her. After a few seconds of silence, he told her slowly and soothingly, word by word:

“I just want you to know that someone is waiting for you to come home.”

Sheng Sui was completely unexpected.

This was the first time someone had told her so directly that they were looking forward to her coming home.

Meeting the man’s warm, deep black eyes, Sheng Sui gripped the bedsheet, her gaze flickering as the corners of her lips quietly curved up, obediently agreeing: “…I understand.”

Before hanging up, she finally remembered she hadn’t mentioned the important matter and hurriedly asked: “Has your fever broken? You took a lot of medicine from the hospital this afternoon.”

“Mm, it’s fine.” Zhou Shiyu gave the same unchanging response.

Previous experience made Sheng Sui no longer easily fooled. Perhaps emboldened by the dark night, she pressed: “Then take your temperature. I want to see.”

She questioned so confidently that even Zhou Shiyu, long accustomed to high positions, was momentarily stunned.

The man’s dark eyes behind his glasses looked at Sheng Sui’s face gradually flushing, then after a while curved his lips, saying unhurriedly: “It seems my credibility with you is quite worrying.”

After speaking, he turned to find a thermometer to measure, showing Sheng Sui the number 37.9 on the screen, then waited with a light smile for her to speak.

Sheng Sui hugged her legs under the blanket, wishing she could bury her face: “…You said you were fine the last two times too, but were actually still running a fever.”

“Mm, I’ll definitely change in the future,” Zhou Shiyu’s apologetic attitude was sincere, only not forgetting to tease her:

“I’ll try to worry Mrs. Zhou less.”

“……”

Accustomed to her always hanging up in panic, Zhou Shiyu put down his phone and got up to leave the study. From far away, he could hear noise from the living room.

The people were Qiu Si and two other core members of Cheng He. All four were university alumni, each contributing to Cheng He’s development.

Seeing Zhou Shiyu come out, Qiu Si, who had just finished a game, turned around: “Your curved screen is so much better to play on. Want to join?”

The other two chimed in agreement.

Zhou Shiyu sat down on the sofa with his hands in his pockets, long legs crossed and hand supporting his temple. He expressionlessly swept over the takeout drinks and beer on the coffee table, suddenly saying:

“This is the last time.”

“Don’t be so stingy,” Qiu Si had heard this at least a hundred times and didn’t care: “Brothers work hard for you—what’s wrong with playing your game console for a while—”

“I’m married.”

Zhou Shiyu was clearly smiling, but his interrupting voice was slightly cool. He sat up straight and leaned forward, the delicate chain of his gold-rimmed glasses swaying slightly:

“So, it’s inconvenient.”

Qiu Si was first stunned upon hearing this, then after a few seconds couldn’t control himself and burst into laughter: “You? Zhou Shiyu married? It’s hard to say if you even like women, and you’re married, hahaha—”

Amid the playful laughter, Zhou Shiyu glanced at the clock on the wall and stood up.

Before pushing the door to return to his bedroom, he looked back at Secretary Chen who had been following behind him and said lightly: “Half an hour. Get them all out.”

“Yes,” Secretary Chen immediately booked a bar reservation for half an hour later. After arranging everything properly, he inquired:

“Dr. Liang’s assistant came this afternoon asking if the previously scheduled therapy should continue.”

Time passed continuously in silence.

After a long while, just as Secretary Chen was about to repeat his request, the man with his back to him pressed the handle and pushed open the door, his cool voice dropping two words:

“As usual.”

After several days of interaction, Sheng Sui had become much closer to the students in her class.

But closeness aside, troublesome matters were still numerous.

In the morning, a student with intellectual disabilities directly wet his pants in class, and the classroom quickly became foul-smelling.

After noticing, Sheng Sui immediately carried the boy to the nearby washroom, cleaned him up and changed him into new pants, while not forgetting to clean up the large puddle of urine by his seat.

Who knew the child had stomach problems and soiled his newly changed pants again in the afternoon.

With no more spare pants to change into, Sheng Sui could only take hers from the teacher’s storage locker for the student, called the parents to come pick him up as soon as possible, and finally looked toward Qi Yue.

“Please watch over them. I’m going to the washroom.”

Qi Yue saw her skillfully find detergent and a plastic basin, with two pants covered in feces and urine in the basin, and was dumbfounded: “You’re not really going to wash his clothes, are you? His parents will be here soon.”

“His mother takes the bus every day,” Sheng Sui’s tone was calm: “The smell on the pants is very strong. The driver and passengers might refuse to let them board.”

Special needs children had always been forgotten by most people. Although the situation had improved in recent years, they were still a vulnerable group.

Sheng Sui knew she could do very little, but it was better than indifference.

In the rush, the afternoon passed in the blink of an eye. When she came to her senses, Qi Yue was already urging students to leave school.

Light drizzle was falling outside the window with overcast clouds. Sheng Sui reminded students to open their umbrellas properly and lined up at the school gate with other class teachers.

For a moment, the area in front of the main gate was filled with queuing students, teachers, and waiting parents, each holding umbrellas.

Not seeing the nanny who usually picked up Zhou Yi, Sheng Sui had a vague guess in her heart.

Would Zhou Shiyu come?

With worry about being discovered and several parts anticipation that she herself hadn’t noticed, Sheng Sui looked through the bustling crowd and finally saw a tall figure in the misty rain, not holding an umbrella.

Probably not wanting to cause a commotion, Zhou Shiyu stood alone in the slanting wind and fine rain, tall and upright, his windbreaker reaching his knees, surrounded by an air of transcendent solitude and determination.

Until their eyes met in the air, the man smiled slightly at her.

In the end, Zhou Yi was still picked up by his nanny.

The woman seemed unaware of Zhou Shiyu’s presence. Before leaving with the child, she didn’t even glance in the man’s direction.

After seeing off the students, Sheng Sui hurried back to the teaching building, thinking of the person who had just recovered from a high fever still waiting for her in the rain, and couldn’t help quickening her pace.

When she came out again, the area outside the school gate was empty except for Zhou Shiyu standing in place not far away, patiently waiting for her to come over.

The rain was getting heavier. Sheng Sui stepped through small puddles to go over quickly. Seeing the man’s shoulders wet with moisture, she frowned:

“Why didn’t you go to the nearby newsstand to shelter from the rain?”

Zhou Shiyu took the umbrella from her hands. When passing it over, their fingertips touched, and Sheng Sui only felt a chill.

“The rain is light,” the man held the umbrella overhead, tilting it toward her with a warm smile: “The newsstand is too far. I was afraid you couldn’t find me.”

She could call if she couldn’t find him.

Early spring was still cold. Getting caught in rain when not fully recovered—what if the high fever returned?

Perhaps because having diabetes made her too aware of the importance of health, or because their relationship was different from before, Sheng Sui could clearly feel her growing dissatisfaction with Zhou Shiyu’s complete disregard for his own health.

The two walked side by side toward the Aston Martin across the street. Sheng Sui looked down listlessly, only honestly putting distance between them silently.

Zhou Shiyu noticed her dejection and resistance. His well-defined hand gripped the umbrella handle tightly, his tone still gentle: “You seem to be in a bad mood.”

“…No.”

Sheng Sui thought she had no right to point fingers at Zhou Shiyu, but the man’s half-wet right shoulder in her peripheral vision became increasingly glaring. She pressed her lips together: “Did you come to find me for something?”

“These are the house keys. I forgot to give them to you yesterday.”

Zhou Shiyu took out house keys from his pocket, but saw Sheng Sui frowning tightly, seemingly unwilling to take them. His dark eyes behind the glasses dimmed somewhat:

“So, you dislike living with me—”

“Mr. Zhou.”

Not hearing the man clearly, Sheng Sui bit the soft flesh in her mouth painfully and couldn’t help interrupting:

“I know I shouldn’t meddle, but I think you should take better care of your health.”

She looked up at him, only then noticing the umbrella constantly tilted toward her overhead, suddenly understanding the reason for the man’s soaked right shoulder.

Her heart seemed to swell as if soaked in rain. Sheng Sui took out a clean handkerchief from her bag and, with an impulse from nowhere, stood on tiptoe to wipe the rainwater off Zhou Shiyu.

“You might have good health and not care, but health is really important. Please don’t get caught in the rain anymore—”

Before she finished speaking, Sheng Sui felt a strong, powerful arm encircle her waist, drawing her into his embrace both gently and dominantly. Suddenly, her nose was filled with the moist, slightly bitter woody cold fragrance.

For some reason, from this intimate act of embracing, Sheng Sui only experienced relief and some anxiety about gain and loss.

Puzzled more than shy, she was hidden within the black windbreaker, looking up in confusion: “Mr. Zhou?”

“…It’s Sir.”

Zhou Shiyu patiently corrected her once again, turning his face sideways to rest his head lightly on her shoulder. His burning breath fell on Sheng Sui’s neck in an intimate, tender gesture, telling her lowly:

“This way, neither of us has to get caught in the rain.”