Zhōng Yì buried her face in the hollow of his neck. However long she lay in his arms, he held her for that long.
In the past, whenever they had conflicts, he would always soothe her like this until her anger dissipated.
After they broke up, his scent carried the sharpness of cedar and fir. When they first reunited, she found it unfamiliar.
She didn’t realize when she had already grown accustomed to this scent.
Her parents were not home tonight, and neither the housekeeper nor the workers would come to disturb them.
Four or five minutes passed, yet she still didn’t straighten up.
She had always wanted an embrace like this.
In the car, Driver Zhāng shū was unwrapping the remaining piece of chocolate to pass the time.
He had once been young too, had quarrels with his wife, so he understood these young people.
In just a few minutes, Zhōng Yì’s emotions surged wildly — from an initial inexplicable grievance, then relief, and now quietly enjoying his embrace.
As his chin rested down, she suddenly felt a wave of unfamiliar grievance she had never experienced before.
After the grievance came relief.
Relief that even after three years apart, they still loved each other. Though there had been complications in between and the long separation had made them somewhat strangers,
it was only a matter of time before everything would be resolved.
Zhōng Yì lingered in his arms for a few more minutes, then looked up and asked, “Do you want me to hold you for a bit?”
Zhōu Shíyì:
These were his exact words to her before.
He countered, “Do you want to?”
Zhōng Yì said nothing, lifting her arms to wrap around his waist.
Zhōu Shíyì’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as he lowered his gaze to her: “No more perfunctory hugs like last time.”
Last time, she had just lightly held him and immediately let go.
This time, she held on a few seconds longer.
@无限好文,尽在晋江文学城
Hesitation.
Just as she was about to let go, Zhōu Shíyì bent down and pressed his lips onto hers.
A burning sensation — familiar yet mixed with something strange.
Zhōng Yì’s heart jolted fiercely, her heartbeat skipping half a beat.
The brief kiss ended, and Zhōu Shíyì pulled away from her lips.
“From now on, if you want to lean on me, just do it. It was my poor wording before, handling things so awkwardly that you even hesitated to lean on me.”
“Pack up your things and go to bed early.”
Having said that, he finally let go of her completely.
Only when the Maybach slowly drove out of the yard did Zhōng Yì calm down, drawing her gaze back from the fading taillights.
The sky had darkened as she went inside. @无限好文,尽在晋江文学城
There were many things to take to the bridal suite, but after a whole night of packing, she had only packed less than a fifth.
Her parents returned from their date, and she was still packing.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá noticed the light still on in her daughter’s room from the courtyard and went upstairs to knock on the door. “Xiǎo Yì, where are you? Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
Zhōng Yì: “Packing my things!”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá followed the voice to the walk-in closet, which was piled high with stuff, barely leaving any space to stand.
She had to stay by the door. “Why don’t you let Ayi help you tidy up? Go to bed early. You have work tomorrow. Will you be able to get up?”
“I will.”
Zhōng Yì thought to herself, Not just get up, I probably won’t sleep at all.
“Zhōng jiě, how was your date with San Ge?”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá teased: “Your dad actually asked me if you got emotionally involved during filming!”
“And what did you say to Dad?”
“Of course, I said I was moved. After that, your dad ate half as much tonight.”
Zhōng Yì smiled: “Don’t scare him. Tonight my dad won’t sleep either.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá leaned against the doorframe: “Getting old, he probably wouldn’t sleep well anyway. Enough about that —” She turned to concern her daughter, “How was visiting Zhōu Shíyì’s grandparents’ house today?”
“Pretty good. When we were leaving, grandma said there’s no need to visit often for the sake of everyone’s mental and physical health.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá laughed aloud: “What an interesting old lady.”
“Yes, very open-minded. I heard my mother-in-law agreed to the marriage because she liked grandma’s character.”
“Exactly! Zhōu Yúnlián still holds a grudge when he talks about it now. How about the old master? Did he act like the head of the family?”
Zhōng Yì: “Not toward me. Zhōu Shíyì started getting scolded the moment he entered the door. Grandpa even said some harsh words, worried he wouldn’t get married.”
“The old master must have some psychological trauma from last time.”
Zhōng Yì paused: “Mom, you know about Zhōu Shíyì’s last engagement, right?”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá nodded: “Yes, your dad mentioned it.”
Zhōu Shíyì had found someone suitable — two years younger than him, not in the same school but the same major, both holding dual degrees in physics and applied mathematics.
She was not only highly intelligent but also beautiful and kind-hearted.
***
After graduation, she didn’t join her family business but started a company with friends, focusing on her field of interest. The company went public a year ago.
The two families had some social disparity, but in looks and abilities, they matched well.
In the end, they didn’t stay together, and the old master ignored Zhōu Shíyì for half a year.
Jiang Jingyuan said the girl got engaged earlier this year to someone else in the influential circles.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá looked at her daughter: “Did you already know or just find out today?”
Zhōng Yì’s tone was calm: “I’ve known for a long time. I heard grandpa mention it last year during a family dinner.”
Zhōng Zhuóhuá suddenly understood — the wedding photos of her daughter were probably deleted then.
Zhōng Yì comforted her mother instead: “Zhōng jiě, I’m fine. If I minded, I wouldn’t be marrying him.”
She never blamed Zhōu Shíyì for the matchmaking.
Although occasionally the memories stung a little, she could fully handle the emotions herself.
The past wasn’t discussed further between mother and daughter.
Zhōng Yì opened an empty box and put the neatly folded silk scarves inside.
Zhōng Zhuóhuá urged, “Go to sleep. Leave the things for now; I’ll help you pack tomorrow.”
Zhōng Yì responded softly, and after her mother left, she continued packing.
The closer the wedding date approached, the less she slept each night.
She didn’t even nap at noon but still felt energetic. @无限好文,尽在晋江文学城
This excitement was something she only experienced before when breaking through a technical bottleneck or securing a patent.
On the day she dined with Níng Quē, she had only slept five hours.
***
Now, only three days remained until the wedding.
She had finished packing all the items for the bridal suite.
She didn’t have to worry about the wedding preparations and went to the company as usual today.
Zhōng Yì finished the water in her glass and just lifted the cup when Níng Quē called her over.
“Kuncheng Motors’ proposal passed.”
Zhōng Yì glanced at her watch — it was only 9:30. “They finished the meeting this early?”
Last night, when she spoke with Zhōu Shíyì on the phone, he said there were severe divisions within the board.
Níng Quē: “They met until 11:30 last night and gave everyone the night to think. I heard this morning’s meeting lasted less than half an hour, and Chairman Zhou made the final decision. Come look at the team list.”
“Coming right away. I’ll grab a glass of water first.”
Because of her recent excitement, she had temporarily given up coffee.
After receiving a cup of warm water, she went to Níng Quē’s office.
Níng Quē gestured to the chair opposite and handed her the paper list.
Zhōng Yì took it — a thick stack listing the entire project team, including chip experts.
Each team member’s resume was attached. She read through them carefully from start to finish.
Níng Quē said, “I organized it myself to make communication easier later.”
He took a sip of goji berry tea. “Tang Nuoyun was originally part of the project. Didn’t I tell you? We saw her at the last Cross-Group Meeting. But she applied to withdraw.”
Zhōng Yì looked up. “Why suddenly withdraw?”
Níng Quē shrugged, unaware of the reason.
He had been looking forward to Zhōng Yì working with Tang Nuoyun: “If she had stayed, you two teaming up would have given me great confidence we could overcome all technical bottlenecks.”
But some things can’t be forced.
He rubbed his brow. The biggest headache now was Du, also a project leader.
Although Chairman Zhou supported the project, he didn’t fully trust his son and assigned Du to supervise Zhōu Shíyì, forbidding him from making decisions independently.
Zhōng Yì’s phone vibrated, a chat window popped up.
Zhōu Shíyì: [From now on, technical matters will be coordinated with me.]
Zhōng Yì: [OK]
Zhōu Shíyì: [If Du ever questions your technical level, don’t take it to heart. I know your capability.]
Zhōng Yì: [Thank you.]
Zhōu Shíyì: [One more thing — ask your brother if the photos are ready yet. If not, just forget it.]
Zhōng Yì:
Everything at the wedding venue was ready, except for the wedding photos.
No need to ask — they were still not done.
Yesterday, grandpa tagged her cousin in the family chat: [Why do you insist on making things difficult for yourself?]
Her cousin hadn’t replied yet.
Maybe he muted the group chat.
Her aunt was also in the group and tagged her: [Xiǎo Yì, still at work? It’s time to take leave.]
She promised her aunt she wouldn’t come to the company two days before the wedding.
“Where are we eating tonight?” Níng Quē’s question interrupted her thoughts.
Zhōng Yì: “Zhōu Shíyì said we’re going for private kitchen cuisine. But I’ll leave it to you.”
The private kitchen restaurant Zhōu Shíyì frequented was not open to the public, expensive, with a single private room for the three of them — too formal.
What they wanted from a gathering was atmosphere.
Níng Quē thought for a moment: “Let’s go for hotpot.”
“Dishes cool down quickly, but hotpot stays warm even until dawn.”
“Alright, you pick the place and send it to me.”
Zhōng Yì took the list back to her office and spent half a day familiarizing herself with all the team members’ education and achievements.
The last resume was Tang Nuoyun’s, with Níng Quē’s note: Personal reasons, withdrawn.
At lunch, Níng Quē brought up Tang Nuoyun again.
He had asked her boss why she suddenly quit.
Her boss pondered for a moment and told the truth: Tang Nuoyun’s mother is Yang Jiayuan.
Zhōng Yì was about to pick up food when her chopsticks suddenly paused.
Níng Quē said, “Tang Nuoyun didn’t know who you were at first, so she was eager to participate. Later, when you revealed your background in the comments, she must have heard about it.”
“There have been many posts online recently about Jiang Dong’s first love. Even if Tang Nuoyun didn’t know who her mother’s first love was before, now she does. That relationship makes things difficult for her.”
“To avoid awkwardness, Tang Nuoyun withdrew.”
Zhōng Yì asked, “Is she a few months older than me?”
Níng Quē: “More than five months.”
Zhōng Yì slowly digested this news.
She never expected Tang Nuoyun to be Yang Jiayuan’s daughter.
Starting tomorrow, Zhōng Yì would take five days off for her wedding leave and return to work after the Kuncheng Motors launch.
***
After finishing all pre-leave tasks, she took out the Velvet Box from her Canvas Bag.
If it weren’t for dining with Níng Quē, this ring probably wouldn’t be worn until after the wedding.
Before leaving work, she set her email to out-of-office and posted a moment on social media:
Joyful news at home, taking five days off for wedding leave, back to work on the 22nd.
The groom is Zhōu Shíyì.
Níng Quē was used to her style of posting and liked the update.
Zhōu Shíyì only saw her update an hour later. The 22nd was the day of the car launch event; Níng Quē said he would attend to support it, and the other invitation was given to another department.
She didn’t keep an invitation, probably not planning to attend.
“Uncle,” Chén Chén quietly called to him and handed him a candy.
Zhōu Shíyì smiled, “Thank you.”
Chén Chén gave him another candy, then continued handing them out to others.
Tang Ge’s family had come from Jiangcheng today, and several cousins had returned from Hong Kong Island — the whole family was helping with the wedding.
From the afternoon onward, he also switched to wedding leave mode.
Grandpa’s house hadn’t been this lively in a long time.
Zhōu Jiāyè also received two candies from his nieces, peeled one and popped it in his mouth, then asked his cousin, “What’s going on with your wedding photos? Grandpa said you haven’t taken them yet, and he’s upstairs still angry.”
Zhōu Shíyì replied, “We’ve taken them.”
Even now, grandpa didn’t believe the wedding would happen on schedule.
He checked the time. “I’m heading back.”
Zhōu Jiāyè: “Not eating dinner?”
“Eating with Zhōng Yì.” Before leaving, Zhōu Shíyì hugged Chén Chén again.
Zhōu Jiāyè looked at his cousin: “Why not just show grandpa the wedding photos? If they’re done, no need to make him unhappy.” Although he himself had just been angry with grandpa yesterday.
Zhōu Shíyì put down Chén Chén and said, “Grandpa wouldn’t believe it anyway.”
Zhōu Jiāyè looked puzzled: “Why not?”
“The hairstyle is different on the photos.”
“Isn’t that normal?”
“They were taken earlier when she had long hair.”
With the different hairstyle and aura, how could grandpa believe it?
Zhōu Jiāyè came up with a reason: “Then just say she’s wearing a wig for the look.”
Zhōu Shíyì didn’t respond, took his suit, greeted his cousins and their spouses, then left first.
Upstairs in the study, Zhōu Lao Yezi turned his head and saw his grandson get into the car through the window.
He thought his grandson had gone to get something from the car, but unexpectedly, the car started up after a few seconds and slowly drove out of the yard.
The old man pointed downstairs, scolding his third son: “Look at what you’ve raised!”
Zhōu Yúnlián:
Zhōu Lao Yezi sipped his tea, calming down slowly. His grandson was afraid of being scolded at dinner for not having taken wedding photos, so he just left without eating.
He could no longer bear it and shouted at his son, “The wedding is in three days, and he still hasn’t taken the photos! What do you think Zhōng Yì must be feeling? What have you been so busy with that you don’t care?”
Zhōu Yúnlián defended his son: “It’s not too late to shoot tomorrow. They can get the photos the same day.”
The old man was left speechless.
Fuming, he pointed at the door and waved his hand dismissively.
Out of sight, out of mind.
He thought to himself, I really didn’t raise a good one.
The Maybach left the old house and headed straight to the Beicheng Old Hotpot Restaurant for the gathering.
It was rush hour, and the roads were jammed tight.
Níng Quē arrived first, picked a quiet table inside, grabbed a few slices of watermelon, and waited for the other two while snacking.
The copper hotpot on the neighboring table steamed invitingly, and he glanced at what dishes they had ordered.
Hotpot was his favorite. Today, they were accompanying him specifically.
Before he finished a slice of watermelon, Zhōng Yì arrived.
“Oh.” He noticed the diamond ring on Zhōng Yì’s ring finger — not easy, finally wearing the ring — and after a moment’s scrutiny, said, “Isn’t it a bit…”
Zhōng Yì replied, “This one’s for everyday wear.”
“Everyday wear is perfect. I thought it was the wedding ring.”
While they were chatting, Zhōu Shíyì arrived, slightly late.
Níng Quē congratulated him, “Congratulations on your wedding, wishing you a lifetime of happiness.”
“Thank you.” Zhōu Shíyì sat beside Zhōng Yì.
His gaze briefly swept over her and suddenly paused, falling on her diamond ring.
Níng Quē pushed the fruit plate over: “Try some. The flesh is crisp and very sweet.”
Zhōu Shíyì took a clean wet towel to wipe his hands.
Níng Quē leisurely nibbled on watermelon. He had been curious earlier about how the two would act in front of him.
Unexpectedly, they were so in sync, both wearing wedding rings.
Zhōng Yì also noticed the slender ring finger of Zhōu Shíyì adorned with a ring — the very one she had bought.