Xia Liuyue wasn't flustered at all. Instead, she clasped his hand back.
His palm felt slightly cool, but the touch was pleasant.
Her fingertips moved restlessly within his palm, tracing back and forth, testing Yan Hechuan's reaction.
Just before she saw him frown slightly and show signs of impatience, she stopped her movements.
She said slowly:
"Hechuan, we are engaged, right?"
"But I feel we don't act like it."
Yan Hechuan looked puzzled. "Don't act like it?"
Xia Liuyue nodded her head, speaking with an air of seriousness:
"Yes, I've talked with my good friend Jiashu about how engaged couples should interact. He said they can respect each other like guests, but they shouldn't be as cold as ice to each other."
"I think we're currently at that 'ice' point."
Just as Yan Hechuan opened his mouth to explain,
she quickly interrupted again:
"I know you don't like being touched by unfamiliar women, but I'm not a stranger. I'm your fiancée."
"... I also want to gradually help you overcome your condition. So, let's be a little more intimate, okay?"
As she spoke, she leaned her head closer.
Her warm breath brushed against his ear.
Her slender fingertip traced the edge of his lips.
Yan Hechuan swiftly grasped her finger, somewhat displeased, and said:
"Yinyao, when we agreed to be together, we clearly defined our respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations. These probably aren't included."
Xia Liuyue let out a somewhat listless 'Oh.'
Yan Hechuan thought she had given up.
He didn't expect the next second to feel a soft sensation against his lips.
Along with her voice, tinged with laughter:
"Well, how would we know without trying? What if you don't resist?"
Yan Hechuan raised his hand to push her away, but his hand sank into a soft, warm sensation against her chest.
And Xia Liuyue deliberately teased, "Oh my! Hechuan, even though you can't see, how did you manage to undo the button? It's so cold."
After saying this, she shivered and pressed even closer.
Yan Hechuan clenched his teeth tightly, his face flushing red.
He looked exactly like a pure-hearted young boy being bullied.
"Don't... do this, Yinyao. I'm really going to get angry," he said, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Hearing this, Xia Liuyue only grew more excited.
"Oh."
This time, her kiss landed on his ear, with gentle licks and nibbles.
A fine, tingling sensation traveled up his spine.
Just as Xia Liuyue was about to push Yan Hechuan down onto the sofa, the world suddenly spun, and instead, she found herself pinned beneath him.
Yan Hechuan's eyes were misty, lacking focus.
Yet for a second, she could sense his gaze directed at her.
"Yinyao, stop," his pale lips issued a warning.
"Hechuan, really?"
A triumphant smile played on Xia Liuyue's face. She could feel the part pressing against her swelling slightly.
Yan Hechuan turned his head away somewhat uncomfortably.
But Xia Liuyue, unrelenting, sat up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and her bonelessly soft hands slipped through the gap in his homewear, winding their way up his spine.
"Let me stay over tonight, okay?" she whispered in his ear.
Yan Hechuan's expression changed several times before he finally pushed her away forcefully.
He retreated somewhat awkwardly, but because he couldn't see his surroundings, he almost stumbled onto the cashmere rug beside the sofa.
"Yinyao, you're acting really strange today," he repeated.
Just then, a crisp ringtone sounded.
Breaking the silence.
Only then did Xia Liuyue reluctantly get up, help him back onto the sofa, patted his head, and said:
"Be good. I'll go answer the phone."
She went outside to the villa's balcony, closed the sliding door, isolating the indoor and outdoor sounds.
Xia Liuyue took out her phone.
The caller ID showed: Du Jiashu.
She mercilessly rejected the call once.
He called again, persistently.
After three such cycles, she finally answered unhurriedly.
"Hello?" Her tone was light.
Du Jiashu's cold, hard voice came from the other end: "Where are you? I just called home, and the maid said you went out."
Xia Liuyue: "None of your business!"
Du Jiashu: "I am your husband. I have the right to ask."
A derisive snort came through the phone.
Du Jiashu knew his arranged-marriage wife's temperament all too well—proud and obsessed with saving face.
She said this deliberately to provoke him.
"Liuyue, Yaoyao is going abroad tomorrow. She'd like to have dinner with you."
"Is that necessary?" A flicker of mockery passed through Xia Liuyue's eyes.
"What happened with the child was an accident, but Yaoyao also feels very sorry about it. This time, could you put aside your personal grudges? Just for my sake, have a meal together."
"Du Jiashu, do you know the saying 'a weasel giving New Year's greetings to a chicken has ulterior motives'? Tang Yinyao inviting me to dinner? More like a Hongmen banquet."
"Xia Liuyue! Do you know what Yaoyao just said on the phone with me? She advised us not to get a divorce. How can you think of her like that?"
After a pause, Du Jiashu continued with a sarcastic tone:
"Yaoyao is different from you scheming young ladies. Her thoughts are straightforward; she says what she means."
"Don't measure another's corn by your own bushel."
Xia Liuyue was amused.
She realized Du Jiashu was truly a loyal lapdog.
He didn't even care that his own child was gone and still believed his Yaoyao was kind and pure.
"Beg me, and I'll come," she said, tired of arguing with him.
"Xia Liuyue, don't go too far!"
"How am I going too far? If I don't come, you and Tang Yinyao can enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner for two tonight. How lovely!"
"You're thinking dirty! Yaoyao has a fiancé. At the very least, I've never made my feelings for her clear, because I don't want to make her feel awkward or put her in a difficult position. We're just good friends now."
"Fine, then you have a proper farewell with your good friend." After saying this, Xia Liuyue prepared to hang up.
"Wait!"
Du Jiashu's tone suddenly softened a little:
"Liuyue, I was too harsh just now. Yaoyao hopes we can reconcile. Let's have dinner together tonight and clear the air between us."
Xia Liuyue found it almost laughable.
"What? Your Yaoyao advises you to make up, so you're not planning to divorce me anymore?"
Du Jiashu replied:
"I've considered it, and what you said also makes sense. After all, our marriage is an alliance between two families, and the cooperative projects between Du Corp and Xia Corp aren't finished yet. We shouldn't be so impulsive."
"Liuyue, I'm sincerely inviting you. Will you agree?"
Xia Liuyue actually wanted to meet Tang Yinyao before she went abroad.
Her eyes slightly downcast, she said: "Alright then. Send me the address and time. Remember, I'm doing this for the stability of the family alliance."
"Should I pick you up?"
"Sure. Jinjunwan Hillside Villa."
The Du family in Haishi was wealthy, but not top-tier wealthy.
So it wasn't that they couldn't afford it, but that they weren't eligible to buy there.
It was a symbol of status and wealth.
Du Jiashu thought she was joking again and said: "Fine, then come on your own. Don't be late."
