The temperature in the room rose.
The sound of heavy breathing continued.
Liu Renzhi was like a lion that had suppressed its desires for far too long.
He leaned close to Lin Wanyi's ear, his breath hot:
"Do you know how long I've been thinking about this?
"Ever since the last time, I've thought about it every day, even in my dreams.
"Wanyi, trust yourself to me. I will treat you with all my heart."
With the mood already this intense, what more could Lin Wanyi say?
Pretend to be reserved?
Clearly, that wasn't appropriate now.
She wrapped her arms around Liu Renzhi's lean waist:
"Be gentle, don't leave marks. It won't look good later."
Liu Renzhi had received his orders.
He began his own rhythm.
He avoided every spot that might be exposed to view, instead leaving his marks forcefully on the most hidden parts of her body.
Lin Wanyi hit him with a frustrated punch:
"Didn't I tell you to go easy?"
Liu Renzhi slowed his intensity:
"Yeah, this place—no one else sees it. It belongs only to me."
Lin Wanyi surrendered.
This man, who had just tasted intimacy, was impossible to handle.
Yet he knew his limits.
He didn't keep Lin Wanyi lingering today. After two rounds, he carried her to wash up.
He placed her feet on the edge of the bathtub and carefully washed every part of her himself.
Finally, he personally dressed her in another dark green long dress.
From her neck to her feet, everything was completely covered.
Standing in front of the mirror, he teased:
"Don't worry. That spot, no one will see it.
"Except me!"
Lin Wanyi wanted to hit him again, but Liu Renzhi gently caught her hand:
"If you don't leave now, you won't be able to later.
"Want another round?"
Lin Wanyi immediately turned around. Liu Renzhi set her down at the edge of the bed:
"Wait for me to get the wheelchair."
Lin Wanyi tugged at him:
"I can walk slowly. Sitting in a wheelchair really doesn't look good."
Liu Renzhi didn't agree:
"Compared to your health, nothing else matters."
He smiled with a hint of mischief:
"Besides... are you even able to walk now?"
Lin Wanyi recalled how she had trembled moments ago and blushed.
By the time he wheeled Lin Wanyi back to the dressing room, Liu Siyue and Chen Hui had already finished their makeup.
Seeing Lin Wanyi in a different dress and her makeup washed off, the makeup artist thought she had made a big mistake.
They immediately apologized:
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! Was the makeup from earlier not suitable?
"We'll fix it right away."
Lin Wanyi quickly waved her hand:
"No, no. The previous makeup was great. I just accidentally smudged it. Please do it again."
Liu Siyue was puzzled. She asked Chen Hui:
"How do you accidentally smudge your dress off too?"
Chen Hui winked at her. When she still didn't catch on, Chen Hui pulled Liu Siyue out of the room:
"Are you being dense? It was obviously from being pressed up against your big brother."
"Ah!"
Liu Siyue finally understood and immediately covered her mouth.
Stupid, so stupid.
The two went out to the garden. Su Jing saw them:
"Come on, the venue's almost all set up. If you're hungry, feel free to eat whatever you want."
Chen Hui hesitated: "Auntie, many guests haven't arrived yet."
Su Jing smiled:
"It's fine. Things are casual here. It's a buffet, so eat and drink whatever you like.
"There's no need to wait until everyone's here."
Hearing Su Jing say that, Chen Hui stopped holding back.
She had grown up in hardship—Tang Guixiang had never loved her.
Whenever there was anything good to eat at home, it was hidden away for Chen Daqiang.
Later, even when she started working and earning her own money, she couldn't buy things she liked.
Every time Tang Guixiang found out, it was either a beating or verbal abuse.
Slowly, she had gotten used to living frugally.
Used to not even thinking about good food or nice things.
But now, faced with all the delicious food, she still couldn't resist.
Liu Siyue handed her a plate:
"Huihui, let's dig in."
Chen Hui was like a switch had been flipped. She piled everything onto her plate.
She ate one treat after another. Before all the guests had arrived, she was already full.
Finally, she quietly asked Liu Siyue:
"Can I pack some to take home?"
Liu Siyue asked:
"Aren't you full yet?"
"No."
Chen Hui said happily:
"I want to bring some for Jiajun. He's definitely never had cake this good."
Liu Siyue waved over a server:
"Pack three portions of every kind here."
She turned to Chen Hui:
"For Jiajun, and also for your mom and Keke."
Chen Hui looked at her in surprise:
"How did you know Keke and my mom weren't coming?"
Liu Siyue took a sip of juice:
"I heard Mom on the phone with Auntie Li. She said so."
Guests gradually arrived, and Lin Wanyi's makeup was finally redone.
Liu Renzhi stayed by her side the whole time, waiting.
Once the makeup was finished, the makeup artists were nervous, afraid Liu Renzhi might be dissatisfied again.
But Liu Renzhi was in a good mood:
"Beautiful. Very pretty."
The makeup artists finally breathed a sigh of relief, packed up, and left.
Liu Renzhi crouched in front of Lin Wanyi's wheelchair and helped her put on high heels that matched her dress:
"Does it hurt? If it hurts, don't wear them."
It did hurt a little, but Lin Wanyi wasn't some fragile young girl.
She could handle it.
So she shook her head:
"Since I'm not walking, it doesn't hurt."
Liu Renzhi cupped Lin Wanyi's delicate face and stared at her, entranced, for a long time.
Finally, he said:
"Are you ready? Once we walk out that door, there might be people gossiping about you, people pointing fingers.
"You'll hear it, you'll see it. But I'm telling you now—don't care about anyone.
"Just care about me. Understand?"
Lin Wanyi understood what Liu Renzhi meant.
She knew that those so-called rich wives and daughters would definitely look down on her.
But she wasn't afraid.
She had only been divorced and had a child.
She hadn't cheated, hadn't abandoned her husband or child. There was no moral failing.
She had done nothing wrong.
So she placed her hand on Liu Renzhi's eyebrows:
"Don't worry. I'm not that fragile."
Liu Renzhi's earlier anxiety eased.
He had been a bit worried about today's occasion.
But Su Jing had told him that Lin Wanyi had to get through this hurdle.
Rather than have people gossip about her at someone else's party later, it was better to host a party herself and show everyone.
At least, in her own home, Lin Wanyi would be more relaxed and confident.
And the Liu family would be her strongest support.
Liu Renzhi stood up, moved behind Lin Wanyi, and just as he opened the door, he saw Su Jing.
"Mom."
Liu Renzhi asked: "Were you looking for us?"
Su Jing looked at Lin Wanyi:
"Wanyi, your mom and Keke both said they're not coming. Is there something on their minds?
"I asked, but she said there wasn't anything.
"I really hoped they would come. After all, they're the closest people to you."
Lin Wanyi hadn't expected Keke not to come either.
Li Suhua had only told her she didn't want to come, but hadn't said anything about keeping Keke away.
Lin Wanyi felt something was off.
She immediately called Li Suhua:
"Mom, do you have any concerns?"
Li Suhua was having a good time playing with Wang Keke in the park. She said with a smile:
"No, what concerns could I possibly have?
"Mom is just worried that Keke won't have a good time there. Look, now I'm in the park with her."
"We're having so much fun."
"You also have a good time with Huihui over there. Keke and I won't wait for you guys tonight. You can play for a little longer."
Lin Wanyi felt a pang in her heart as she looked at the hung - up phone.
She knew what Li Suhua was thinking.
But should Keke be made to stay away just for her own happiness?
Keke had already lost her father. Should she also lose her mother?
It shouldn't be like this, and it couldn't be like this.
While she was sitting there in a daze, holding the phone, Liu Renzhi had already called Lin Jiajun:
"Jiajun, go and pick up Auntie and Keke right away."
"Only when all of you are around will your sister be happy."
