Ning Yuxuan had been longing to taste Xie Zhiyan’s cooking again.
Not the simple egg noodles he made last night, but the hearty dishes he’d prepared on that show—braised shrimp in soy sauce, for example.
But Xie Zhiyan hadn’t bought groceries when he returned from the office at noon, and Ning Yuxuan, who had slept until now without eating, couldn’t wait for him to go shopping and prepare everything from scratch.
So this time, she had to let it go.
“Forget it today,” Ning Yuxuan said in a tone that suggested she was being generous. “Next time there’s a chance, I’ll have you cook me a proper feast, got it?”
Xie Zhiyan chuckled. “Since you’ve given the order, how could I dare to disobey?”
Ning Yuxuan pursed her lips, thinking to herself: As if you haven’t disobeyed plenty of times before.
Just yesterday, when she’d told him to slow down, he hadn’t listened at all.
Xie Zhiyan loosened his tie and walked over to her. “So what do you want to eat now? Should we go out?”
Ning Yuxuan shook her head. “No, it’s too hot outside. I don’t feel like moving. Let’s just order delivery.”
She put the steamed spare ribs she’d just taken out back into the fridge. “We can heat these up when the food arrives.”
With that, she plopped onto the couch and picked up her phone to place an order.
Xie Zhiyan calmly sat down beside her.
Ning Yuxuan glanced at him. “I’m thinking of ordering from that Sichuan place nearby. You in?”
She’d tried it before—it was pretty good—and it had been a while since she last had it.
Xie Zhiyan’s brow twitched slightly. “Do I have a choice?”
Ning Yuxuan feigned magnanimity. “You could always order something different and we’ll each have our own.”
Xie Zhiyan smiled. “Do you know why I started trying the flavors you like?”
Ning Yuxuan paused. “…”
She’d never really thought about it.
Staring at him, she suddenly looked incredulous. “Wait—were you planning this all along? Back then, you were already preparing to live with me?”
Xie Zhiyan only smiled without answering.
Ning Yuxuan mentally retraced the timeline. “That doesn’t make sense. When did you start eating spicy food? Back then, I was still into Gu—I mean, someone else.”
She caught herself just in time, nearly slipping out that name again.
She had made peace with her past, so she didn’t deliberately avoid mentioning him—she just found it a little distasteful to bring him up.
Xie Zhiyan’s gaze sharpened slightly, his voice cool. “No matter who you liked before, in the end, the one you married was me.”
Ning Yuxuan blinked.
Was it just her, or did Xie Zhiyan’s detached tone carry a hint of jealousy?
She’d caught glimpses of this kind of possessiveness from him before, but last time, he’d brushed it off.
Now, she couldn’t resist testing his limits.
Deliberately, she said, “How can you be so sure? What if I hadn’t called you that day? Or if I’d refused your terms?”
Xie Zhiyan’s eyes darkened, his voice steady. “If not that day, then another.”
Ning Yuxuan was genuinely curious now. “How can you be so certain? What if I just never wanted to marry you?”
Xie Zhiyan held her gaze, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. “Then I’d just have to steal you away and make you my bride.”
Ning Yuxuan’s heart skipped a beat.
His tone was teasing, but something in his eyes told her he meant it.
She almost asked: How exactly would you steal me?
But Xie Zhiyan tapped her forehead lightly. “Weren’t you just complaining about being hungry? Why are you still staring at your phone?”
Ning Yuxuan snapped out of her daze.
“Right.” She refocused on the screen. “Let’s see… boiled fish with chili sauce, stir-fried cabbage, and the steamed ribs from the fridge… That should be enough for two, right? Oh, and rice…”
She muttered to herself as she scrolled through the menu, her fingers tapping away.
Xie Zhiyan watched her silently.
She was his wife now.
After all these years, he’d finally gotten what he wanted.
He could hardly imagine what he’d do if he ever lost her.
He prided himself on being rational and controlled, never letting emotions dictate his actions.
But with her, he’d experienced too many moments of losing control.
His earlier words had been half in jest, but Xie Zhiyan knew—if it ever came to that, he might do something even he couldn’t predict.
“Hey, Xie Zhiyan?”
He snapped out of his thoughts. “Hmm?”
Ning Yuxuan frowned at him. “What’s our building number again?”
It was her first time ordering delivery here, and the app had only auto-filled the neighborhood.
She remembered the unit number but not the building.
Xie Zhiyan answered, “Building 7.”
Ning Yuxuan hummed in acknowledgment, typing it in while grumbling, “Even at home, you’re still thinking about work. Can’t even answer a simple question.”
Before she could finish, a hand settled on her waist.
Through the thin fabric of her nightgown, Xie Zhiyan’s fingers traced idle circles. “I wasn’t thinking about work. I was thinking about you.”
Ning Yuxuan stiffened for a second before huffing, “I haven’t even finished ordering yet. Stop distracting me.”
Her protest came out softer than intended, her voice turning slightly breathy under his touch.
Xie Zhiyan’s eyes darkened further. “Mm.”
He agreed, but his hand stayed right where it was.
Not doing anything particularly bold, just enough to make her squirm.
Ning Yuxuan bit her lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of reacting further.
She deleted a mistyped character and corrected it.
Then Xie Zhiyan’s fingers pressed in slightly, giving her waist a deliberate squeeze.
Another typo.
Ning Yuxuan finally snapped.
“Xie Zhiyan!” She glared at him. “I’m trying to order food here. Stop moving, or I’ll get mad!”
The hand tormenting her finally stilled.
Xie Zhiyan’s voice was low. “Fine. I’ll behave.”
But when Ning Yuxuan met his dark gaze, an entirely inappropriate memory from last night flashed through her mind.
How, at first, she’d been so tense, her body stiff and unyielding.
And how, when it became too much to bear, a similar exchange had taken place.
Realizing where her thoughts had gone, Ning Yuxuan’s face burned.
She turned away sharply, forcing herself to focus on entering the address.
But in her fluster, she hit the wrong keys again.
A quiet laugh sounded beside her.
Ning Yuxuan was ready to scream. Three typos in one address, all because of this man.
In a huff, she shoved her phone at him. “I’ve picked the dishes. You fill in the address—and don’t forget to use the coupons!”
After much back-and-forth, the order was finally placed.
The restaurant was less than two kilometers away—it would arrive in about twenty minutes.
Ning Yuxuan clutched her waist and complained to the man, "If you keep this up, I won’t live with you anymore. All you do is exhaust me."
Xie Zhiyan coaxed her gently, "My apologies."
Ning Yuxuan wasn’t letting it go. "And this nightgown you got me—not only is it ridiculously thin, but it’s also ugly."
The fabric of the nightgown was light and breathable, making it comfortable to sleep in.
But its sheer transparency was a problem. For instance, when the man had gripped her waist earlier, the scorching heat of his touch had practically seared through the fabric onto her skin.
Xie Zhiyan said, "Sorry, I didn’t have much reference when buying it."
Ning Yuxuan frowned at him.
On the surface, it sounded like an apology, but why did it feel like there was an underlying meaning?
Xie Zhiyan met her gaze without flinching. "How about next time, you bring a few of your usual nightgowns and other clothes from home? That way, it’ll be easier to change and wash them when you stay here."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
The ulterior motive vibes were getting stronger.
Ning Yuxuan: "Fine, we’ll talk about it later."
Xie Zhiyan added, "I checked the dress you wore yesterday—it’s not dirty. You can wear it straight home."
In an instant, Ning Yuxuan recalled last night’s scene—their clothes tangled haphazardly together—and her cheeks burned.
And what kind of phrasing was that? "Not dirty"?
Yet Xie Zhiyan looked completely unruffled, his expression perfectly composed.
Ning Yuxuan bit her lip, glaring at this "wolf in gentleman’s clothing."
She hadn’t noticed earlier, but now she realized that although he was wearing a white shirt again, this one was crisp and wrinkle-free—probably freshly ironed.
And his tie—wasn’t this a different color from yesterday’s?
Taking in Xie Zhiyan’s face, his features were as striking as ever, but he also looked particularly refreshed.
Then she remembered the faint red marks she’d found on her own body while washing up.
The more Ning Yuxuan looked at him, the angrier she got.
Why was she the only one affected while he remained the picture of elegance and restraint?
Her stare was too blatant. Xie Zhiyan raised a brow. "What are you looking at?"
Ning Yuxuan shot him a glare. "A certain two-faced, wolfish hypocrite!"
...
Their takeout finally arrived. Xie Zhiyan took the steamed spare ribs from the fridge and reheated them in the microwave.
Ning Yuxuan was already seated at the dining table, eagerly digging in.
Two minutes later, Xie Zhiyan sat beside her.
Then he placed a rib into her bowl.
Ning Yuxuan picked it up with her chopsticks and took a bite, her eyes closing in satisfaction.
"By the way," she said, "my mom called earlier. I told her I’d be home soon."
Xie Zhiyan: "Alright, I’ll take you back later."
Ning Yuxuan: "Don’t you need to return to the office early this afternoon?"
Xie Zhiyan: "It’s not far. Besides, after this morning’s meeting, I don’t have to go back for work."
Ning Yuxuan let out an "Oh," teasing him, "Must be nice being the boss—skipping work whenever you want."
The two takeout dishes and the spare ribs were polished off between them.
Ning Yuxuan checked the time—nearly 1 PM.
She said to Xie Zhiyan, "I’m going to rest in the bedroom for half an hour, then head home."
At the bedroom door, she turned back and added, "And you’re not allowed in."
Xie Zhiyan looked at her.
Ning Yuxuan: "What?"
Xie Zhiyan sighed, feigning helplessness. "It’s only the second day, and you’re already banning me from the room?"
Ning Yuxuan: "...Isn’t there a guest bedroom?"
Xie Zhiyan: "We moved in quickly. The cleaners only had time to change the bedding in the master bedroom."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
She was certain this was just an excuse.
Everything else in the apartment had been tidied up—only the other bedrooms were left untouched?
Suspicious, Ning Yuxuan glanced at Xie Zhiyan, then back at the bedroom.
The clothes that had been haphazardly piled on the chair last night were now neatly folded—her light blue shirt dress among them.
No one else had been in the apartment today, so Xie Zhiyan must have done it.
The note on the bedside table was still there too.
Despite leaving early for a meeting, Xie Zhiyan had still remembered to buy her steamed ribs for breakfast.
Ning Yuxuan had to admit—her resolve wavered.
"Fine..." She pressed her lips together. "You can rest with me, but... no funny business."
But soon, Ning Yuxuan regretted her decision.
She lay on her side, deliberately facing away from Xie Zhiyan.
Just as she began to relax, his fingers slipped beneath the hem of her nightgown.
Ning Yuxuan shuddered. "X-Xie Zhiyan!"
His fingers trailed up her spine, sending waves of tingling warmth through her.
Her mind fogged over as she weakly protested, "No... I still have to go home later..."
Xie Zhiyan’s voice was rough. "Before you change clothes—perfect timing."
Feeling his touch, Ning Yuxuan squirmed. "I can’t... I have a shoot in two days. It’ll last several days..."
The soreness from last night hadn’t even faded yet. If they did this again, what if she couldn’t walk by Friday?
Xie Zhiyan’s voice dropped lower. "Then we won’t see each other for days."
Ning Yuxuan: "..."
That wasn’t what she meant!
Ning Yuxuan: "Seriously, no. This shoot is out of town—I’ll probably be walking a lot... Mmm!"
His lips brushed the sensitive skin behind her ear, cutting off her protest with a whimper as her back arched instinctively.
His warm breath fanned over her neck. "It’s fine. Just stay like this—you don’t have to move."
Her mind was already sluggish, taking a moment to process what he meant by "stay like this."
She didn’t get a chance to refuse.
His grip tightened around her waist, her rounded shoulder sinking into his palm.
Soon, the room was filled with nothing but heavy breaths and her muffled whimpers.
...
After freshening up in the bathroom, Ning Yuxuan emerged, glaring daggers at Xie Zhiyan.
She’d softened for just a second—how had things escalated like this again?
Not only had she failed to rest, but she was even more exhausted now.
Afterward, she hadn’t even showered immediately, collapsing into sleep and only waking half an hour later.
She’d planned to leave before 2 PM, but by the time she was ready, it was nearly 4.
The worst part? Xie Zhiyan still looked annoyingly energetic—a stark contrast to her drained state.
The only silver lining was that she’d kept insisting she had to go home and prepare for her shoot.
All traces were left below the collarbone, invisible unless she wore something too low-cut.
The man, thoroughly satisfied, was exceptionally gentle and patient afterward.
He carefully adjusted her clothes, checking inside and out to ensure nothing seemed amiss—
After a night away from home, her mother surely knew what they had done. But no matter what, she couldn’t return looking disheveled.
Before they left, Xie Zhiyan bent down to help her put on her shoes.
Ning Yuxuan accepted this without hesitation—after last night and what had just happened, she deserved it.
She texted her mother, saying she’d be home soon.
Ning Yuxuan took the passenger seat as Xie Zhiyan drove her back.
After a few turns, the car stopped in front of the villa.
Xie Zhiyan got out with her.
Meeting her questioning gaze, he said, “I kept you out all night. The least I can do is greet Auntie Ning before leaving.”
Ning Yuxuan didn’t stop him. She stepped forward, knocked lightly on the door for formality’s sake, then unlocked it with her fingerprint.
Pushing the door open, she didn’t see her mother at first.
A few seconds later, footsteps sounded from the stairs, and Ning Fei descended.
Ning Yuxuan shifted her shoulders uncomfortably. “Mom, I’m back…”
Ning Fei gave a quiet “Mm,” her gaze lingering on the two of them.
Sensing something off, Ning Yuxuan slowly lowered her eyes.
In her mother’s hands were two small, dark-red booklets with gilded lettering.
Her heart stopped.
A sliver of hope remained—some documents just looked similar.
Softly, she asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Ning Fei walked toward them in silence.
Up close, Ning Yuxuan finally saw the words clearly: “Marriage Certificate.”
…
Ning Yuxuan had imagined countless ways her mother might find out, but never like this.
At a loss, she blurted, “Mom, where did you find these?”
Ning Fei’s voice was eerily calm. “The study on the second floor. I was looking for the driver’s license. One drawer was locked, so I used the spare key to open it.”
The rest needed no explanation.
Ning Yuxuan didn’t know what to say. “Mom…”
Ning Fei lowered her eyes briefly, then looked at her daughter and the man beside her.
She sighed. “Yuxuan, Zhiyan, let’s talk in the living room.”
The three sat on the sofa.
Ning Yuxuan had considered lying—claiming it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, that she and Xie Zhiyan had impulsively eloped.
But Ning Fei, though gentle and seemingly unassuming, wasn’t easily fooled.
“Yuxuan,” Ning Fei said, “the registration date on this is before you told me you were dating Zhiyan.”
She turned to Xie Zhiyan with a polite smile. “I’m sorry, Zhiyan. I know you might have things to say too, but I’d like to hear my daughter’s explanation first.”
Xie Zhiyan nodded silently in understanding.
There was no way out now. Lying further would only hurt her mother more.
With guilt and anxiety, Ning Yuxuan confessed everything—how she and Xie Zhiyan first connected, their agreement to marry for mutual benefit, and when their relationship turned real.
She left out only the details about “the original plot” and her “awakening.” Those secrets would stay buried.
When she finished, she waited, head bowed, for judgment.
After a long silence, Ning Fei finally spoke.
“Yuxuan,” she said, her expression complicated, “why didn’t you discuss something this important with me?”
Ning Yuxuan pressed her lips together. “Because I knew you’d never agree to me buying those properties.”
Ning Fei fell silent.
Her daughter was right. At the time, she would’ve refused to risk their family’s liquidity on those investments.
Xie Zhiyan, who had stayed quiet until now, spoke up. “Auntie—”
Ning Fei raised a hand. “Zhiyan.”
He stopped.
Ning Yuxuan’s heart weighed heavy as she apologized again. “I’m sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have lied.”
Ning Fei didn’t answer, just stared at the marriage certificates on the table.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Finally, Ning Fei met her daughter’s eyes again.
“Yuxuan,” she asked, “do you truly want to be with Zhiyan now? To live as husband and wife?”
Ning Yuxuan froze, instinctively glancing at the man beside her.
Xie Zhiyan wordlessly took her hand.
After a pause, she nodded. “Yes.”
Their unspoken communication didn’t escape Ning Fei. Eyes and body language never lied.
With a soft sigh, she asked, “And besides this, you won’t lie to me again?”
Hearing the implication, Ning Yuxuan’s eyes widened, her lips curling uncontrollably.
Ning Fei gave a faintly exasperated look. “Don’t smile yet. Answer me first.”
Ning Yuxuan nodded vigorously. “I promise! No more secrets, no matter what!”
Ning Fei’s lips curved slightly. “Really?”
Seeing even a hint of her mother’s smile, Ning Yuxuan couldn’t hold back.
She shot up and threw herself into Ning Fei’s arms.
“Mom!” Her voice cracked, tears spilling without warning. “You’re too good to me! After all this, you forgave me so quickly!”
Hearing her daughter’s choked sobs, Ning Fei’s own eyes stung.
“Silly girl,” she murmured, her voice tender. “No matter what you do, I could never stay angry with you.”
That only made Ning Yuxuan cry harder—not just damp eyes, but full, heaving sobs, as if she’d saved a lifetime of tears for this moment.
She was the one who’d done wrong, yet she wept like the wronged party.
Ning Fei patted her back helplessly. “Hush, you’re grown now. Crying like a child?”
But Ning Yuxuan couldn’t stop.
Finally, Ning Fei played her last card. “Enough, Yuxuan. Zhiyan’s still here.”
This time, Ning Yuxuan paused, sniffling. "Don’t mind him, Mom. Just pretend he doesn’t exist."
With that, she buried her face in her mother’s neck again.
Ning Fei chuckled helplessly—what kind of talk was that?
Unable to do anything else, she continued soothing her daughter while shooting Xie Zhiyan an apologetic glance.
...
After crying for a while, Ning Yuxuan finally lifted her head from her mother’s shoulder.
Ning Fei looked at her daughter with exasperation and stood up. "Look at you, crying so much you’ve soaked my clothes. I’ll have to change."
Then, turning to Xie Zhiyan, she added, "Zhiyan, why don’t you stay for dinner? I’ll ask Auntie Xu to prepare an extra portion."
Xie Zhiyan nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from the entrance.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the door—who could be visiting at this hour?
After a few more noises, Ning Shiyue appeared in the doorway.
They all stared at each other in surprise.
The production team had given Ning Shiyue a few days off so he could participate in the final recording of Dear Mom.
Later, Dear Mom would also collaborate to promote the drama—a win-win for both sides in terms of exposure.
Ning Shiyue had secretly booked a flight home without telling anyone, hoping to surprise Ning Fei and Ning Yuxuan.
But the moment he stepped inside, he found three people standing stiffly in the living room.
Scratching his head, Ning Shiyue took a few steps forward. "Why are you all just standing around like this? Uh… Zhiyan-ge, you’re here too…"
Feeling slightly awkward, his gaze wandered unconsciously.
The next second, Ning Shiyue froze.
What were those two red booklets on the coffee table?
