Late at night, a sudden downpour began.
The restless rain battered the hydrangeas, as the sweltering heat was swept away by a cool breeze.
Raindrops the size of beans slapped against the window, producing a pattering sound.
Song Xinya lay on her pillow, her bewitching fox-like eyes glistening with a layer of misty moisture, radiant and flushed.
She clutched the bedsheet tightly with both hands. Because he exerted force, she exerted force as well, her knuckles turning a pale, translucent white as she gripped the sheet.
Her voice trembled like flower petals shaking in the rain, her soft, alluring tone rising and falling unsteadily.
“Qin Yuhe… come out…”
The fabric over her chest bulged into the shape of a rounded head, and Qin Yuhe’s voice came from within.
“Come out of where? I haven’t even gone in…”
He deliberately twisted her words, acting mischievously.
Song Xinya patted the head hidden beneath her clothes: “The window isn’t closed.”
Qin Yuhe replied: “The rain’s heavy; your little brother downstairs can’t hear a thing.”
Summer rain was like that—unpredictable, falling without warning, fierce and sudden.
First, lightning split the dark sky, then thunderclaps exploded, followed by a torrential downpour.
The thunder and rain drowned out every sound.
The little worry in Song Xinya’s heart vanished like smoke, dissolving under Qin Yuhe’s lips and hands, as she let out soft moans and gasps.
He brought her to the peak four times, her body feeling light and unresponsive, like a delicate feather drifting in a soft, warm cloud—dizzy and hazy, she drifted off in the bliss he bestowed.
Qin Yuhe got out of bed and went to the bathroom, taking a cold shower.
…
The next day was the day they both went to the office.
Qin Yuhe called Song Xinya three times. She murmured and grumbled, curling up under the covers, refusing to get up.
He stopped calling her. Opening the wardrobe, he took out a dress, lifted her from the bed into his arms, and began dressing her.
She seemed boneless, collapsing limply against his chest.
At least she was cooperative—when he told her to raise her arms, she did; when he told her to lift her hips, she did.
Qin Yuhe felt like he was taking care of a helpless little baby.
He suddenly thought: If they ever had a child of their own, would she dress their little baby like this too?
Of course, he could just as well be the one to dress their little baby.
They said taking care of a child was exhausting—so he’d take on that task.
After dressing Song Xinya, Qin Yuhe half-carried, half-dragged her to the bathroom.
He squeezed toothpaste onto the brush and said to her: “Open up.”
Song Xinya kept her tired eyes closed: “Ah…”
Qin Yuhe put the toothbrush into her mouth and brushed her teeth.
The bristles gently glided over her enamel. Afraid of hurting her, he was extremely gentle, very slow, and patient.
A cool minty fragrance filled her mouth and nose.
By the time Qin Yuhe finished brushing her teeth, Song Xinya was fully awake, opening her eyes.
A damp, cool towel wiped across her face, refreshing and invigorating her instantly.
After wiping her face, Qin Yuhe studied her features: “Want to put on some makeup? It’s okay if you don’t—you look great without it.”
Song Xinya said: “I want to. It’s the first day back after a long holiday—I need to look radiant.”
Qin Yuhe glanced at his watch: “We only have enough time left for breakfast now.”
Song Xinya: “I have a way!”
Her way was to save time for breakfast and then do her makeup in Qin Yuhe’s car on the way to work.
The Rolls-Royce cruised down the road as Song Xinya held up a small mirror, sketching her eyebrows and lining her eyes.
Qin Yuhe dealt with work matters, occasionally looking up to see her drawing something over her eyelids with a pen-like tool.
“What are you doing?”
Song Xinya: “Drawing eyeliner.”
Qin Yuhe didn’t understand.
He lowered his head and continued working.
Men generally weren’t interested in makeup, and a career-driven man like Qin Yuhe was even less so.
Suddenly, Song Xinya poked his arm: “Hey, help me pick which lipstick looks better today.”
Qin Yuhe turned to see two lipsticks—one a lighter shade, one darker.
He wanted to say they both looked good, but held back.
Because he knew women would think that answer was dismissive.
But men swore they weren’t being dismissive—they truly thought they looked the same.
This was indeed a no-win question.
Qin Yuhe thought for a moment and replied: “The one on the left.”
Song Xinya’s delighted voice rang out: “Ah! You agree with me! I thought the left one looked better too.”
Qin Yuhe breathed a huge sigh of relief—lucky guess!
He actually wanted to ask: Since you already thought the left one looked better, why did you even ask me?
But he didn’t.
Everything was for the sake of marital harmony, and he didn’t want to ruin his wife’s mood.
When his wife was happy, their relationship was good.
Yes—he was that self-aware.
The Rolls-Royce stopped at the headquarters of the Qin Group.
Song Xinya stepped out of the car, her face adorned with delicate, sophisticated makeup, glowing and radiant.
As she reached the main entrance, a voice boisterously called out beside her: “Song Xinya! Holy crap! You’re finally back at work!”
Chen Siyan rushed over in a single bound, shoving the coffee he’d bought for himself into her hands.
“A day apart feels like thirty-eight autumns. Long time no see—I missed you so much, it made my heart ache. Brother Yan’s treating you to coffee.”
Song Xinya: “What about you? Aren’t you drinking?”
Chen Siyan: “I can have coffee anytime. But to show how happy I am to see you, today’s first cup has to go to you.”
Chen Siyan scanned Song Xinya from head to toe: “It’s been a while since you’ve worked. Where’d you go out playing?”
Song Xinya: “Nowhere. Just stayed at home.”
Chen Siyan: “Stuck at home with President Qin the whole time, huh?”
Song Xinya hummed in agreement.
Chen Siyan said, with a meaningful edge: “No wonder you look so glowing.”
Song Xinya: “…”
Chen Siyan: “Don’t be shy about it. We’re all adults here. One man and one woman under one roof, both in the prime of life. You wouldn’t just turn off the lights and stare at a glow-in-the-dark watch, doing nothing, would you?”
Song Xinya: “…” Actually, they did nothing.
But since he wouldn’t believe her anyway, she didn’t waste her breath.
Chen Siyan: “I haven’t seen you in forever. Brother Yan really wants to give you a hug.”
From behind, Qin Yuhe’s voice sounded: “Ahem.”
