Wen Liang had indeed visited Wu Xi the day before.

He had Zhu Qicong find out where Chen Die’s former home was and what her foster parents’ names were, then came ahead for a visit.

Originally, he hadn’t planned to come early, but seeing how nervous Chen Die was, he worried that if she discovered the truth was exactly as she had feared, she would certainly cry in secret again.

Wen Liang couldn’t bear to see her cry.

He wasn’t skilled at communicating with parents or elders. When he first came, he had simply planned to give Wang Mian and Chen Jianping some money so they would speak kindly to Chen Die later—purely to make her happy.

Wang Mian had waved her hands repeatedly and backed away just like earlier, explaining the events of that year in disjointed sentences.

At that time, Wen Liang had told them that he would bring Chen Die to visit in a few days, but whether she would enter their home would depend on her.

He hadn’t thought too much about it then, only wanting to confirm in advance whether Chen Die would be hurt.

Wen Liang excused himself to Wang Mian and brought Chen Die back to her bedroom.

Chen Die still found it incredible, her eyes red: “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Wen Liang took her hand to the bedside, then pulled her onto his lap, holding her waist and kissing her forehead.

He briefly explained to Chen Die what had happened when he came to Wu Xi yesterday.

He omitted how he had originally planned to give her foster parents money even if they had sold Chen Die, to make them speak kindly so that Chen Die wouldn’t continue feeling abandoned.

After hearing his explanation, Chen Die sobbed uncontrollably.

It seemed that since the last time she had cried in front of Wen Liang, she had gradually returned to being the true Chen Die.

She no longer held back her tears for fear that he would find them annoying.

“Alright, don’t cry anymore,” Wen Liang comforted her, looking around her room.

It was a young girl’s room, with pink curtains trimmed with lace.

It must have been cleaned in advance, as the books on the bookshelf were dust-free. There were several textbooks stacked neatly, from tallest to shortest.

Chen Die wiped her tears, wrapped her arms around his neck, and nuzzled against him, murmuring a sticky “thank you.”

Wen Liang smiled, accepting it readily: “You should thank me.”

Chen Die shifted on his lap, changing to straddle him, encircling his neck, and with her chin lowered, she kissed him minutely bit by bit.

Wen Liang rested his hands behind him, chin lifted, letting her take the initiative.

He was utterly incorrigible.

When Chen Die wasn’t taking the lead, he couldn’t resist using brute force to hold her down and take advantage.

Yet when Chen Die took the initiative, he completely assumed a passive stance, just enjoying it.

Chen Die was accustomed to being the receiving party, so now that she had to take the lead, she felt awkward and uncertain, carefully extending her tongue to explore between his teeth.

But Wen Liang remained unmoved.

Chen Die felt her kissing skills were being scorned!!

She abandoned the territory she had already invaded, slowly moving downward, biting his chin, then his Adam’s apple and collarbone.

Wen Liang suddenly paused, his earlier composure vanishing. He lifted her chin away and whispered in her ear, lowering his voice playfully: “What are you doing, throwing yourself at me?”

Chen Die blinked, looking at Wen Liang.

The man before her had a face with distinct features that always carried a natural coldness when he wasn’t smiling. Now his eyes held a hint of subtle amusement, looking both roguish and charming. His hand pinched her waist repeatedly, making the atmosphere ambiguous.

It was as if he was hinting at something.

Chen Die didn’t know what to say.

She only felt that at this moment, she truly liked Wen Liang so much that he could do anything he wanted.

Unable to speak, she once again took the initiative and hugged him.

Wen Liang was silent for two seconds, then chuckled softly, his hot breath falling on her neck as he teased: “Surprising, my little Lingling has such courage.”

Chen Die didn’t understand.

Since seeing Wen Liang and Wang Mian’s conversation downstairs, she had been in a daze, her mind working slowly.

Until Wen Liang kissed her and pressed her back onto the bed, and then the bed frame let out a “creaking” sound—

Chen Die snapped back to reality.

Damn it.

It was all because of that bastard Wen Liang seducing her.

She had forgotten where she was!

She was actually in her childhood bedroom, being seduced by Wen Liang, and had almost taken the initiative.

No wonder that bastard had said earlier he was surprised by how brave his Lingling was.

He had known all along!

And was waiting to see her make a fool of herself!!

“Wait, wait a minute.” Chen Die froze after coming to her senses, pushing him with her arms. “Wen Liang!”

He laughed continuously, muffled against her shoulder, his hands sliding downward. Chen Die kept twisting to avoid his hands.

As a result, the creaking sound continued without stopping. The wooden structure, already quite old, made Chen Die worry it might fall apart.

Soon she dared not move anymore, afraid of waking Wang Mian and Chen Jianping in the room across.

“Wen Liang.” Chen Die gripped his wrist tightly, almost gritting her teeth, unable to hold back a curse. “Can you behave like a decent human being?”

“Hmm?” He kissed her reddened eyes with a smile. “Don’t you want to?”

“Want my ass!” Chen Die immediately said in a low voice.

His palm covered her, fingers closing, and he asked coolly, “Will you come live with me in the western suburbs?”

“…”

Yet Chen Die sensed a threat in his calm question—if you don’t agree, I’ll continue.

She quickly replied: “Yes, yes, yes.”

“You’ll move in after we return to Yan City?”

Chen Die couldn’t stand it anymore and finally gritted her teeth: “Fine!”

Wen Liang smiled, his supporting arm relaxing as his entire body pressed down on her.

He was heavy, making it hard for Chen Die to breathe. She pushed him again, and Wen Liang, in an exceptionally good mood, smiled and finally obligingly moved off her, lying to one side.

Her bed was completely a single bed, too small even for Wen Liang alone, let alone both of them.

The two squeezed together, arms tightly pressed against each other.

Wen Liang raised his arm, laying it across her waist, and then placed his leg on top of her as well.

Chen Die frowned and complained: “Don’t crush me.”

Wen Liang moved perfunctorily, his arm and leg still resting on her: “The bed is too small, can’t even fit my legs.”

Chen Die laughed: “Who asked you to squeeze in with me? You should go sleep next door.”

They lay talking for a while, and Chen Die no longer planned to send Wen Liang back. She raised her hand to turn off the bedside lamp and asked softly: “Why don’t you sneak back to your room before dawn tomorrow?”

“Why?”

Chen Die hesitated: “Otherwise it would be awkward if they saw…”

Wen Liang laughed: “Do you think they don’t know by now?”

“…”

“What’s wrong with boyfriend and girlfriend sleeping together?” He said matter-of-factly.

The bedroom was very quiet, with only the faint sound of bicycle bells from outside. Chen Die was held in Wen Liang’s arms. After a moment, Wen Liang asked softly: “Are you happy now?”

Chen Die responded and held the back of his hand.

In the darkness, some emotions gradually surged forth.

Wen Liang lay beside her, kissing her ear repeatedly, while his hand, holding hers, began to move back and forth in her palm.

Chen Die made a murmuring sound, retreating her head slightly and turning to look at him, asking softly: “What are you doing?”

The young girl’s eyes were bright even in the night. Wen Liang pulled her hand and guided it downward: “Teaching you a new game.”

“…”

Previously, they had always gone straight to the point. All of Chen Die’s limited experience had been taught by Wen Liang—naturally, she only knew what he had taught her. But this “new game” phrasing…

Was too embarrassing.

Not until Wen Liang moved her hand up and down did Chen Die to realize what he meant by “new game.”

She jumped in fright, her hand tensing. Wen Liang let out a muffled “hiss,” saying softly: “Gentle, don’t grip so tight.”

“…”

Chen Die truly didn’t know why this person had such thick skin, able to say such things with a straight face.

By now, she couldn’t even speak.

It was like a landmine had exploded in her brain, shattering all her worldviews, values, and life philosophies. Her mind was filled entirely with the thing that was intimately meeting her palm—a bit hot, throbbing.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

Was! Wen! Liang! Crazy!?

Her heart was racing at 180 beats per minute, her breathing becoming rapid. Just as she finally organized her thoughts to speak, Wen Liang had already lowered his head to kiss her, sealing her mouth.

A moment later, Wen Liang released her hand, like a teacher allowing a student to take an exam independently, and said hoarsely: “You do it yourself.”

“…”

Do it myself, my ass.

Under the tension, Chen Die’s body was trembling slightly: “…I don’t know how.”

Teacher Wen was very patient, guiding her through it again, complete with careful explanation. His voice was extremely gentle when he spoke, like coaxing a child.

Chen Die was bewitched by him, and after he let go, she truly followed his movements.

Wen Liang was so stimulated that his temples throbbed, but he still remembered to praise her: “Baby is so smart.”

“…”

After what seemed like forever, Chen Die’s hand was sore by the time they finally finished.

Wen Liang sat up, and the space that had been quiet for a long time suddenly made a creaking sound again, like an audible accusation of what they had just done.

Chen Die buried her head even lower.

…Because of Wen Liang, that beast, she was no longer pure.

Yet he remained very calm, lifting his hand under Chen Die’s right hand to prevent those things from dripping down, then reaching past her to pull several napkins and wipe her hand clean.

He threw the waste paper into the trash can.

“Go wash up,” Wen Liang said, his voice still tinged with unresolved huskiness.

Chen Die’s throat was strangely hoarse too, as if in a stress response. After making just the first sound, she stopped, closed her mouth tightly, and nodded.

Wen Liang took another tissue, wiped himself clean, put on his clothes, and got up, then took a pair of slippers and placed them in front of Chen Die.

Chen Die got up slowly, slipping into the slippers, her face clearly showing refusal to talk, refusal to make eye contact, refusal of everything. Wen Liang stood to the side, observing her expression for a long while before turning his head with a laugh.

He didn’t expose her current embarrassment and awkwardness, but walked straight to the bathroom and turned on the light.

Chen Die stood in place, watching his back, then looking down at the tissues in the trash can.

The trash can was very clean, making her wonder if it was brand new, used for the first time, and now it contained such things.

…Shameless.

This person truly had no constraints.

Finally, Chen Die stamped her foot in private frustration, squatted down, and took out all the balled-up tissues from the wastebasket.

Her expression was extremely disgusted, her fingers raised like orchids, pinching just the corner of the tissue, as she rushed into the bathroom, threw them into the toilet, and pressed the flush button.

Then, not knowing how to face Wen Liang beside her, she lowered her head, staring at the toilet, continuing to reflect on her pain.

Wen Liang understood her little thoughts too well. After watching her for a while, he finally couldn’t help laughing, asking curiously: “You’ve been staring for so long, reluctant to see it flushed away?”

Chen Die: “?”

She swung her head around in anger. All the messy emotions—embarrassment, shock, unspeakable feelings—rushed up at once, transforming into fury toward Wen Liang.

She glared at him: “Are you a pervert!?”

Wen Liang’s temper was uncharacteristically good. He pulled her to the sink, turned on the water, tested the temperature, and guided her hand under the water, saying casually: “No need to be reluctant, I’ve still got more.”

“…???”

Chen Die discovered that at this moment, all of Wen Liang’s seals had been broken.

Wen Liang carefully washed her hands and dried them with a tissue.

“You go out first,” Chen Die said softly. “I want to wipe my body, I’m sweaty.”

Wen Liang laughed.

That laugh was like the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Chen Die’s face turned bright red again. Fortunately, Wen Liang didn’t continue teasing her, just leaving with the words “Come out quickly, be careful not to catch a cold” before closing the door behind him.

Chen Die leaned on the sink with both hands, her heart beating uncontrollably.

After dawdling for quite a while, she finally pushed open the door.

Wen Liang wasn’t on the bed but standing in front of her bookshelf, looking.

Chen Die was surprised and walked over: “What are you looking at?”

“Looking at what your life was like before.” Wen Liang’s gaze fell on the stack of textbooks, and he frowned. “Are the textbooks here different from those in Yan City?”

“…”

Wen Liang was truly remarkable.

He had just behaved so shamelessly, yet now the topic had suddenly jumped to such a studious area.

“Yeah, Yan City uses the People’s Education Press versions.”

Wen Liang turned his head: “Then how did you study after coming to Yan City in your second year of high school?”

“I had to relearn everything. Don’t you remember when I first transferred, my grades were quite poor, almost at the bottom?”

Wen Liang certainly remembered.

The school Chen Die attended issued grade reports after each monthly exam, requiring a parent’s signature. Naturally, Chen Die could only ask him to sign.

At that time, Wen Liang had thought her grades were simply poor, and after signing, he had even teased her a bit.

Chen Die: “But the differences weren’t that significant. A lot of the key content was similar, and once I got used to it, it was pretty easy to master the knowledge points again.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Wen Liang asked.

“You weren’t around much.” Chen Die glanced at him. “Besides, I didn’t think you’d know about different textbooks anyway. You looked like someone who didn’t study much.”

Wen Liang laughed, raising his hand to loosely drape over her shoulder. Suddenly he laughed again: “It’s quite interesting.”

“Hmm?”

“Back then, I had to sign all your grade reports, and now we’re sleeping together.” Wen Liang ruffled her hair, glancing to the side. “Even on your childhood bed.”

“…”

These words reminded Chen Die of what had just happened on that bed, and she deliberately changed the subject: “By the way, why did you give… give my mom a bank card earlier?”

“It wasn’t much money,” Wen Liang said dismissively.

“Since when did you become so sentimental?”

Wen Liang embraced her from behind, saying softly: “I’m only good to those who are good to you.”

“Hmm?”

“At least for the first sixteen years, they took good care of my little girl. When they handed you over to me, you were beautiful and healthy.”

Because of the previous night’s commotion, Chen Die had forgotten to send Wen Liang back to his room before dawn. By the time she woke up the next day, it was already bright outside.

She groggily reached for her phone to check the time.

“…”

Ten in the morning.

Wang Mian and Chen Jianping must have been up for a while. Perhaps they were too embarrassed to disturb them, even at this late hour.

The day before, Wang Mian had already brought her toiletries, but only one set. Wen Liang went to the next room to get the one prepared for him.

After quickly freshening up, the two went downstairs.

Wang Mian and Chen Jianping were indeed already sitting at the dining table. Seeing them come down together, their expressions didn’t change: “You’re here, come quickly and have breakfast.”

The table was set with soy milk, fried dough sticks, and steamed buns that Chen Jianping had bought from an outside breakfast stall.

“They might be cold,” Wang Mian stood up, touching the back of her hand to the breakfast bag. “Let me heat them for you.”

“No need, no need,” Chen Die hurried over to stop her. “They’re still warm. We’re not that particular, we can eat them.”

Wang Mian still seemed constrained: “Oh, okay, you try them first. If they’re not good, I’ll heat them.”

Chen Die responded with an “mm,” looked back at Wen Liang, and pulled him to sit to one side.

This man had a morning temper problem—he tended to look sour when just waking up, appearing quite fierce.

Chen Die glanced at him for a while, then stuffed a steamed bun into his mouth and kicked him under the table.

Wen Liang turned to look at her.

After a moment, Wen Liang raised his hand to press his brow, and exhaled, and his face didn’t look as stern anymore.

Wen Liang didn’t act like a typical rich young master. Perhaps because of his time in the military, he didn’t have high demands regarding food. His eating and drinking manners weren’t refined, and soon he had eaten two steamed buns and finished his soy milk.

Wang Mian had been worried about not hosting them well, but seeing Wen Liang eat breakfast this way, she finally relaxed.

Wen Liang finished his breakfast and took a tissue to wipe his mouth. Chen Die was still eating.

At this time, the door was pushed open from outside. It was a little boy who looked around the room, then fixed his gaze on Chen Die and Wen Liang, staring steadily.

Chen Die’s hand holding the soy milk stopped in mid-air as she realized this must be the child Wang Mian had later.

“Qiqi, why are you back so early? Where’s your uncle?” Wang Mian asked.

The little boy walked to Wang Mian’s side, his eyes still sizing up the two of them, while his childish voice answered: “I remembered I haven’t finished my homework, uncle dropped me off.”

Wang Mian looked out the window: “Did your uncle leave after dropping you off?”

“Yes, he had to take his sister to tutoring class.”

Though young, the boy spoke very clearly.

Wang Mian looked at Chen Die: “Qiqi, this is your…”

She didn’t know how to introduce them.

Chen Die leaned forward, waving at him: “You can call me sister.”

The little boy was young and didn’t know about celebrities. He probably just thought Chen Die was beautiful and seemed out of place in this house, which was why he kept staring.

When Chen Die greeted him, he became shy and didn’t dare speak, tugging at Wang Mian’s sleeve and hiding behind her.

Wang Mian stuffed an extra steamed bun into his hand: “Have you eaten? Didn’t you say you haven’t finished your homework? Go upstairs and finish it first.”

The little boy was very obedient, not mischievous at all. He nodded, glanced at Chen Die again, and then ran upstairs.

Chen Die and Wen Liang didn’t stay long. After finishing dinner, they prepared to leave.

Before leaving, Chen Die called out to Wang Mian: “Mom.”

Because of this address, Wang Mian froze. Her eyes, which had cried so much the night before, turned red again, and she responded with an “Eh.”

Chen Die hadn’t used this term of address for a long time and felt awkward. After a while, she explained: “Since I never went back to live with my biological parents, they’re not my parents either. I’ll just call you this for now.”

The news that Chen Die hadn’t lived with her biological parents was something Wang Mian had only learned when Wen Liang came alone two days ago.

Chen Die took out her phone: “Save my number. If you need anything in the future, you can call me.”

Wang Mian nodded repeatedly, tremblingly taking out her phone from her pocket and handing it to Chen Die.

Chen Die saved her number in it.

After a few more words, Chen Die and Wen Liang got up to say goodbye. Wang Mian had wanted to keep them for a meal, but Chen Die declined politely.

With the little boy at home, the child might feel uncomfortable if they stayed too long. Besides, after yesterday, she had let everything go. Perhaps Wang Mian and Chen Jianping could also live better from now on.

Leaving the Chen home, the two walked back to the hotel.

The sunshine was brilliant, with willows swaying gently, casting dancing spots of light on their faces.

Chen Die had only removed her makeup simply the night before and hadn’t applied any that morning. As soon as they returned to the hotel, she pulled out her suitcase, squatted down, and took out her makeup bag.

She walked into the bathroom, preparing to apply makeup.

Wen Liang followed her in, hugging her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, and asking softly: “Do you still want to go out this afternoon?”

“What’s wrong?” Chen Die turned her head. “Does your company have something urgent to handle? If it’s urgent, we can go back today.”

After all, she had achieved her most important purpose for coming back.

Wen Liang curved his lips slightly: “Then I’ll book the flight now.”

Chen Die rarely saw him looking so eager and asked another question: “Is the company okay? Is it something with Fu Wanmei…”

“No, she can’t cause any trouble.”

Wen Liang still held her, appearing calm and unruffled. He tilted his head to kiss her ear, then leisurely asked, “Do you remember what you promised me last night?”

“What?”

Wen Liang didn’t answer, as if giving her enough time to think.

Chen Die remembered: that after returning to Yan City, she would move in with him.

The man’s arm was across her waist, holding her from behind. He slightly hunched his back, resting on her shoulder. The hair at his temples was cut short, pricking her face a bit.

He closed his eyes, his voice very soft, yet seeming to plead: “Let’s go home, baby.”