As usual.
In a rare turn of events, Xu Yinsheng got up early today—so early, in fact, that she woke even before Zhao Yicheng. By six in the morning, she was already up brushing her teeth, washing her face, tidying up her things, and even personally making breakfast for Zhao Yicheng.
Poached eggs.
Add water and bring it to a boil, then crack the eggs in. Once the whites solidify and wrap around the yolk, take them out and place them in a bowl.
Sprinkle a bit of white sugar on top. With a single bite, the sweet fragrance of eggs spreads instantly on the tip of your tongue.
This was one of the few times in the past two years that Zhao Yicheng got to taste Xu Yinsheng’s cooking, and the flavor was surprisingly good.
Bedroom.
“How come your wardrobe only has work clothes and loungewear? CEO Zhao, are you always so frugal and thrifty?” Xu Yinsheng pulled open the wardrobe door, took a glance, then turned to Zhao Yicheng, who was blow-drying his hair nearby.
Every shirt in the closet had its sleeves neatly arranged and its wrinkles ironed flat, all set in perfect order—a sight that immediately put people at ease.
The only shortcoming was the lack of variety in style and color: it was either black suits, light gray casual loungewear, or deep blue pajamas.
No other colors or styles, not a single one.
“Clothes are meant to be worn. A few are enough.” With the blow dryer in one hand, Zhao Yicheng said, “Having too many just takes up space. Even if I buy them, they end up as decorations.”
“Tsk.” Xu Yinsheng curled her lip and handed over the suit he wanted. “You really do have your principles, huh. Maybe the International Secretary should just award you the Nobel Environmental Protection Prize?”
Zhao Yicheng paid her teasing no mind. He took off his pajamas, revealing his firm, tight upper body right in front of her, a sight that made one’s blood boil.
Maybe it was a sign of becoming more feminine, but Xu Yinsheng couldn’t help swallowing hard, almost feeling like she’d get a nosebleed.
She quickly looked away, using another topic to distract herself:
“Let me tell you, I’m not like you. My bedroom is packed with two full wardrobes, all sorts of clothes. Lately, I’m even thinking of collecting an entire series of pajamas. Let me see… so far, I have Octopus Bro, SpongeBob, Patrick Star… Wait, I don’t have SpongeBob yet.”
â—Ž
She patted her head, then turned to look at the man who had already put on his suit and was adjusting his collar. She lifted her foot and playfully kicked his calf.
With a smile.
“Heard that? After we’re done today, you’re coming with me to the mall to buy clothes. I want the SpongeBob pajamas!!” “Fine, fine, whatever you say.” Zhao Yicheng finished straightening his collar and reached out to ruffle Xu Yinsheng’s hair, his face overflowing with fondness.
Xu Yinsheng was looking especially energetic today, and he liked that very much.
Xu Yinsheng shook her head to free herself from his large hand. Suddenly, she seemed to notice something and quickly walked over to the nightstand.
On the nightstand were two framed photos. One was from their university days—Zhao Yicheng and Xu Yinsheng, arms around each other, sitting on the school staircase. The other was from the last time they watched the meteor shower together, both beaming, with a sea of yet-to-bloom peach blossoms behind them.
Xu Yinsheng picked up a frame in each hand, then walked up to Zhao Yicheng and waved them in front of him.
“Pick one—left or right?”
“What for?”
By now, Zhao Yicheng had finished tidying his suit. He bent down slightly, his gaze landing on the dark blue tattoo at Xu Yinsheng’s neck.
“To put in the car as decoration. It feels weird leaving them on the nightstand.”
While speaking, Xu Yinsheng suddenly gave Zhao Yicheng a strange look.
“By the way, you haven’t touched me at all this month or last. Are you bottling things up somewhere? After locking your bedroom door at night, do you do stuff while staring at my photo?”
She glanced down at the photo frames in her hands, then, as if remembering something, rolled her eyes in disdain.
Zhao Yicheng: …
Little Yin’s train of thought really was something else.
Still, he explained patiently, “Yeah, I’m a little pent-up, but I can control my desires.” Then, stroking his chin, he looked between the two photo frames and finally settled on one.
“The one on the left can go in the car for decoration.”
“This one?” Xu Yinsheng took a closer look. It was the university photo of her and Zhao Yicheng, arms around each other.
She looked up and gave him a helpless and disdainful look. “You really don’t forget your roots, do you?” “That’s called staying true to myself.” Zhao Yicheng laughed, giving her a gentle pat on the head.
After a bit more playful banter, the two made their way to the backyard garage. The sky was overcast, and even the swallows were flying low—it looked like a heavy rain was coming.
Zhao Yicheng started the engine, while Xu Yinsheng secured the photo frame on the dashboard, thoughtfully wiping the glass with a wet tissue.
Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!!
With the engine’s deep roar and a flash of black, the car disappeared into the morning twilight.
Because of the land requisition issue, Zhao Yicheng had been a hands-off boss for two months, not even going to the company, and now he headed straight for the site.
Xu Yinsheng gazed out the window, watching the scenery flash by.
Zhao Yicheng had said the site was out in the suburbs. The company’s reason for acquiring the land was to work with the government to build a farm-stay tourism spot.
As for Liu Jianqian’s construction crew, it seemed they were planning to put up residential buildings. Xu Yinsheng wondered why they’d buy land in the suburbs instead of the city center—would they just put up a gate and abandon it?
The car weaved left and right, and after over ten minutes, finally broke free of the city’s traffic.
Out here in the suburbs, there were far fewer cars and the greenery was far better than in the city.
Both sides of the asphalt road were lined with poplars, thick with leaves and deep green.
The car slowed down as it entered a mountain road—a must-take route to reach the suburban site.
Tianlin City’s Panshan Road was famous for its 108 sharp bends—steep, narrow, dangerous, and notorious for frequent accidents.
The entire stretch was twelve kilometers, filled with curves. The elevation rose from 200 meters at the foot of the mountain up to 1,000 meters at the summit.
At night, under the sparse streetlights, it became even more mysterious and unpredictable, especially with no guardrails near the cliff edge.
Each year, no fewer than ten vehicles went off the cliffs here.
Of course, the most common activity was the monthly Racing Club events.
Tianlin Municipal Government wanted to install guardrails, but with the Racing Club pouring money into blocking it, the project was always stalled.
Zhao Yicheng’s driving skills weren’t up to professional standards, but he certainly wasn’t a newbie. At regular speed, he drove safely enough.
â—Ž
The sky was dark and overcast, layers of clouds heaped overhead. Even though it was noon, it looked pitch black and gloomy.
“Didn’t expect it to be this easy.” Xu Yinsheng walked out of the construction site, hands behind her head as she stretched hard.
“Took us over an hour to drive here, and the negotiation only lasted about ten minutes. I thought I’d get to see you in a war of words, like a master debater. But we just raised the price by a million, and the other side immediately caved. Even smashed down the gate themselves.”
“A man in his fifties wielding an eighty-pound sledgehammer, smashing up his own pig farm’s front gate. What a sight!!”
“Business is best when conducted peacefully.” Zhao Yicheng walked behind her, holding a black briefcase in his hand.
“If money can solve it, best not to resort to force. If this project works out, we can keep cooperating with the government in the future.”
“Government cooperation? No wonder you’re taking this land deal so seriously.”
“Trying to hitch a ride on the government express, grow bigger, and reach new heights?”
Xu Yinsheng turned around to face Zhao Yicheng, walking backwards as she spoke. She wore a black business suit today, her lower abdomen’s tattoo hidden away, her long hair tied back in a ponytail.
She bit her finger, seeming to have a sudden thought:
“Say, if my Old Ancestor hadn’t opted out back then, and joined the other founding heroes in politics, what would things look like now? Would I be Noble Lineage, born with a Bloodline Bonus?”
“No, wait.” She stroked her chin again.
“I am Noble Lineage, born with a Bloodline Bonus.”
“Thanks to my Old Ancestor for doing all the work for my generation and a dozen generations after me.”
Zhao Yicheng just smiled at that and didn’t pursue the topic further, instead voicing a different question that had been bugging him since morning.
“Xiao Yin, you seem a little different from usual today?”
He couldn’t quite put his finger on exactly what was different, but if he had to describe it, it was like… like a high school student stuck at home for half a year during an epidemic, finally able to run free again.
It might not be a perfect comparison, but for now, Zhao Yicheng couldn’t find a better one.
“Today is a good day—my lucky day. Of course I’m different.”
Xu Yinsheng hummed a casual tune, spun around, and walked ahead again. She didn’t stop until she reached the entrance of the construction site, then turned back.
She looked up at the overcast sky, spreading her fingers wide as if to grasp the sun, dim and hidden behind the clouds. As if trying to clutch the last fading rays, or maybe excited for what was about to arrive.
“I have a feeling today’s my lucky day.”
She whispered these words softly.