Shao ChengZe gathered up the smile in his eyes and his expression became solemn. He straightened his back and lowered his head over the garden wall and moonlight to say, "Uncle Cheng."
He was completely unruffled at being caught like this, as if he could ignore that he had just stumbled and nearly fallen off the ladder when he first heard the voice. He would seem even more nonchalant if that hadn't happened.
Cheng Shanhe's face was icy cold. "I can't accept that 'uncle' from Mr. Shao."
Shao ChengZe immediately switched to a more formal address. "Director Cheng."
Cheng Jinlan's whole body was rigid and the heat nearly burnt her face off. If there was a hole at her feet, she would bury herself in it right now. She pretended to stay calm and called out, "Dad."
"Son, go to bed," Cheng Shanhe ordered Cheng Jinlan. His daughter had always been a little cold, and only called him so tenderly in rare moments of acting spoiled.
Cheng Jinlan glanced at Shao ChengZe, then left without looking back. If she stayed any longer, her dad would just get angrier, and the situation would be harder to resolve.
Seeing his daughter leave, Cheng Shanhe's expression softened a little. He said to Shao ChengZe, "Mr. Shao, since you can't sleep, come join this sleepless old man for some tea."
Shao ChengZe replied, "Alright, Director Cheng, I'll come over right away."
Cheng Shanhe said coldly, "No front door for you, Mr. Shao. Since you could climb the wall, I'm sure you can also jump down from it."
Shao ChengZe stood on the ladder, realizing that his future father-in-law had given him a difficult problem. He couldn't jump down from this wall, but he also couldn't not jump down.
If he didn't jump down, there was no way he could enter the Chengs' home tonight. If he couldn't get in tonight, he probably would never get in again.
Jumping down wasn't a problem for him in terms of the height, but the old man was looking at him right now like he wanted to hack him into a thousand pieces. If he really dared to jump down, the old man would probably want to boil him in hot oil. Of course, before that, he'd have to break Shao's legs first.
After weighing the options, Shao ChengZe still jumped down from the wall with a muffled groan, as if he had sprained his ankle when he landed.
Hearing the groan, Cheng Jinlan's shoulders tensed, but she still didn't look back and went straight into the house.
Cheng Shanhe gave a cold humph, no longer looking at that annoying playboy smile. He turned and walked deeper into the yard, taking out his phone to call Lao Qu. "Tomorrow, have someone raise the height of the wall on the left side of Er's house, and embed glass on top of it. Also add iron wiring. Don't let even a fly come over from next door."
Hearing these clear jabs at himself, Shao ChengZe sighed. It seemed his attempt to win them over hadn't worked on anyone in the Cheng family.
Although Cheng Jinlan had returned to the house, she was standing by the window watching the situation outside. Shao ChengZe limped over and smiled at her through the window, signalling her to stop worrying and go back to sleep. Cheng Jinlan didn't know if his injured foot was real or fake, since she had seen him jump down from even higher walls.
Cheng Shanhe let out another cold humph. He was no longer interested in looking at that annoying playboy smile, so he turned and walked deeper into the yard.
Soon after, Cheng Jinlan's phone received two messages from her mother.
The first said: [The young man looks decent, just not very nimble with his feet and legs.]
The second said: [I said it was odd, that time at your place, seeing your new employee wearing sunglasses indoors. So it turns out it was him. Little LiQi's eyes are just like his.]
Cheng Jinlan felt she might as well dig a hole now and bury herself. She was already a mother, yet she still had to experience the awkward embarrassment of a teen romance being uncovered by her parents. It was so awkward she just wanted to die.
Shao ChengZe was led by Cheng Shanhe into the study. Cheng Shanhe sat at the desk, silently reading documents. Shao ChengZe stood right in the middle of the study. Whenever he wanted to speak, Cheng Shanhe would turn a page of the document, blocking his words.
Shao ChengZe understood. This was leaving him hanging.
Time passed second by second, while Shao ChengZe stood frozen without moving an inch, though sweat did form on his palms from the pain. He really had twisted his ankle.
He had to injure himself jumping down. If he could land safely and unharmed after jumping from the wall, wouldn't that just blatantly announce that he snuck over the wall night after night? Although this was the first time he had climbed a ladder and the wall, and he really had no intention of trespassing over it - he just wanted to say good night - they probably wouldn't believe his explanation. It would just add to his crimes, pinning him with shameless behavior.
After an hour, Cheng Shanhe put down the documents in his hands. He slowly drank a sip of water from the cup next to him, glancing at Shao ChengZe with slight astonishment. "Why doesn't Mr. Shao sit?"
Before Shao ChengZe could answer, Cheng Shanhe put down the cup and said in realization, "I see, Mr. Shao doesn't like sitting on chairs. He only likes sitting on ladders. Or should I bring over a ladder for Mr. Shao to sit on?"
The biting sarcasm made Shao ChengZe understand for the first time what it meant to be utterly ashamed.
He steeled himself and answered, "Uncle."
Cheng Shanhe's gaze sharpened.
Shao ChengZe corrected himself. "Director Cheng," he paused, then continued, "I was rash and reckless tonight. I'm anxious to redeem myself to Jinlan, so I acted without thinking and used the wrong methods."
Cheng Shanhe asked, "How long have you been living next door, Mr. Shao?"
"Almost half a month."
Cheng Shanhe's thick brows furrowed deeply. "I remember telling you before, Mr. Shao, not to disturb my daughter. Do you have a bad memory, or are my words unimportant to you?"
Shao ChengZe replied, "You said you wouldn't let your daughter through my door. So if I leave the Shao family, can I ask for a chance at the Chengs' door?"
Cheng Shanhe's brows shifted imperceptibly.
When Shao ChengZe had invited Cheng Jinlan to dinner, he wanted to use her to convey his intentions to Cheng Shanhe. But Cheng Jinlan didn't fall for it. Not only did she not pass on Shao ChengZe's words of determination to her father, she didn't even let her parents know that Shao ChengZe had moved in next door. She knew that the later her father found out about this, the greater his anger would be. The more trouble Shao ChengZe had to go through after the truth came out, the happier she would be. She was perfectly willing to watch Shao ChengZe suffer. The more cruel and miserable it was, the better. Why would she be his free go-between?
Cheng Shanhe leaned back in his chair, looking into Shao ChengZe's eyes. "According to my knowledge, barring accidents, the entire Shao Corporation will be yours in the future."
Shao ChengZe said, "I'm not interested in the Shao Corporation. I'll only take what I'm due. I don't think my grandmother would have wanted to see her assets carry the Shao name either."
Cheng Shanhe's eyes flickered. "Do you know...how your grandmother died?"
Shao ChengZe nodded. "I know."
"Who told you?"
Let alone the outside world, even within the Cheng and Shao families, very few people knew about this. Shao Yunzheng wouldn't have had the chance to hide it yet, much less let his son and grandson know the truth.
Shao ChengZe replied, "I investigated it myself."
Cheng Shanhe tapped his fingers on the desk twice. "Since you already know the truth, you should understand even more clearly that no matter who is entering whose door, I will not agree to this. I fundamentally don't trust your Shao family. Mr. Shao, your house must have many more. Whether you sell this one or leave it empty, in short, I don't want to see you next door anymore."
Shao ChengZe stepped forward. "I know I have no credibility with Director Cheng, but if I can prove my sincerity to Jinlan, in the past and present, could I ask Director Cheng to give me a chance?"
Cheng Shanhe smiled sardonically. "How will you prove it? The Shao family has no such thing as sincerity."
Shao ChengZe replied, "Director Cheng can watch and see."
Cheng Shanhe stared at his eyes in silence for a long time before speaking heavily, "When the day comes that you feel you've succeeded, come back to ask me for that chance. It won't be too late."
Shao ChengZe secretly relaxed. "Alright. I won't make Director Cheng wait too long."
By the time Shao ChengZe walked out of the Chengs' home, it was late into the night.
Fei Zuhui glared at Cheng Shanhe. "Look at you. The young couple was having a romantic time under the moon. Their budding romance was going so well, yet you just had to stick your nose in tonight."
Cheng Shanhe frowned. "If I didn't show up, that brat would have no restraint at all. He dared to climb the ladder today. Tomorrow he'd dare to hop the wall, really thinking this was his own home, coming and going as he pleased. Thankfully he was tactful enough to know to sprain his own leg. Otherwise I'd have to find a stick to break his legs myself."
Fei Zuhui took his arm to soothe his anger. "What do you think of him?"
Cheng Shanhe pursed his lips silently for a long time before speaking. "More like his grandmother."
Fei Zuhui laughed, "It seems to me it's not just looking a bit alike, but very much alike, in appearance and temperament. I rather feel this is destined by fate."
Cheng Shanhe's frown grew tighter, "What destined by fate, I see it's just this brat relying on a handsome face and slick mouth, strutting around everywhere deceiving people. You didn't see his profligate behavior on the ladder with that young master, using my daughter to say goodnight when he's free."
"Of course, saying goodnight every day is very romantic. I also want someone to say goodnight to me, unfortunately no one does. Alas, I've lived over half my life in vain." Fei Zuhui lamented with a sigh, and went upstairs.
Cheng Shanhe didn't expect the ending of tonight's drama to hit him in the foot again. He followed his wife upstairs and said in a low voice, "If you want to hear it, I can say it to you every day from now on. Not just goodnight, but good morning and good afternoon too, however you like."
However you like, not one bit. Only when reminded did he know, can saying it voluntarily be the same as taking initiative?
Inside was whispered sweet nothings, outside was the night insects' chorus.
Suddenly a "creak" sounded, Shao Chengze stopped in his tracks, and looked over. A figure walked out of the half-open small door.
Shao Chengze's eyes curved down, slowly walking over to her, "Waiting for me all this time?"
Cheng Jinlan leaned against the door, lightly replying, "I wanted to see if you got beaten to death."
Shao Chengze smiled, "Won't go as far as getting beaten up, your dad is civilized, I just sprained half my leg jumping over the wall."
Cheng Jinlan said, "Serves you right, who told you to stay up late at night instead of sleeping, insisting on climbing ladders and scaling walls. Spraining just one leg got you off easy."
Shao Chengze agreed, "Yes, messed up in strategy, shouldn't have climbed the ladder. Should have dug a tunnel, or at least hide in the tunnel to make a date, then I wouldn't have gotten caught red-handed by father-in-law and scared half to death just now."
Cheng Jinlan glared daggers at him, "Who's your father-in-law."
Shao Chengze half-embraced her, bringing her into his arms, and whispered by her ear, "You guess."
Cheng Jinlan jabbed him in the chest with her elbow, "Looks to me like you don't want your other leg either."
"Shhh," Shao Chengze gently rubbed her earlobe, "just let me hold you for a while. After tonight, wanting to hold you will be difficult."
Cheng Jinlan poked him again, but didn't move anymore, letting him hold her tight. Her chin rested on his shoulder as she looked at the tree shadows on the roadside, flatly asking, "Does your leg need the hospital?"
"No need, just a pulled tendon. I'll wrap it when I get back, have to take a little damage when I jumped to let your dad vent. Can't be too serious or you'll worry."
Cheng Jinlan twisted the skin on the back of his hand. He didn't have one proper sentence.
Shao Chengze asked her, "You're not worried about me?"
Cheng Jinlan replied, "Not worried."
"Not worried waiting here for me all this time?"
...
Cheng Jinlan didn't want to split hairs with him. "My dad... what did he say?"
"Father-in-law said a lot. What does darling Mingming want to hear?"
Cheng Jinlan was annoyed. She kicked out at his shin. Even if he wasn't lame, she had to lame him now.
Shao Chengze pretended to be very hurt, bending at the waist. "Done for, leg really lamed by you. I'll depend on you to support me the rest of my life."
Cheng Jinlan pushed him away, refusing to let him hold her anymore.
Shao Chengze chuckled lowly, no longer teasing her. "I think your dad doesn't dislike me that much. I feel I'll still have a chance to drink tea with him in his study again."
Cheng Jinlan didn't know where his confidence came from.
"What eye did you use to see him not disliking you so much? Just now he almost tore you limb from limb."
"Tearing limb from limb is still better than ignoring my existence. He was willing to call me into the study to talk, there's still room to maneuver."
Cheng Jinlan looked at him suspiciously, "Why do I feel you're actually happy getting caught red-handed?"
Shao Chengze couldn't deny he was indeed happy. "For me this isn't a bad thing. Otherwise I'd be forever your secret boyfriend you can't bear to make public. With things brought to light, there are always ways to smooth it over."
Cheng Jinlan used her arm to force distance between them, expression serious. "When did I say you were my boyfriend?"
Shao Chengze couldn't resist wanting to kiss her pursed lips. How he loved that mouth of hers, saying the opposite of her heart. He just did as he thought, hooking her waist and moving in close, iron lips and stone tongue, he'd still have a day to kiss her soft.
"Whose boyfriend am I?" In the space between breaths, he asked pressing against her.
Cheng Jinlan hurried to suck in fresh air, answering him breathlessly and brokenly, "Who knows... love whoever..."
Shao Chengze leaned down again.
After some time, he nibbled her swollen lips, asking again, "Who is your boyfriend?"
Cheng Jinlan scratched his neck, "Dog."
Shao Chengze sucked the sweetness in her mouth, asking vaguely, "Who's... the dog?"
Cheng Jinlan answered him clearly and plainly, "You."
Breathing stopped, his first, then hers.
Shao Chengze pressed his lips against hers, laughing hoarsely, "See, you admitted it yourself, the dog is your boyfriend. I'm the dog, so I'm your boyfriend, can't take it back now."
Cheng Jinlan violently bit down on the corner of his upturned mouth. She didn't admit anything, he took advantage of her oxygen deprived state to set a trap.
Shao Chengze held her waist tightly against him. "Don't bite, or something will happen if you keep biting."
She felt the obvious heat against her waist, and Cheng Jinlan's mind blanked a moment, then flushed with anger and shame. "Shao Chengze, can you not get aroused so casually..."
Aroused.
Shao Chengze's face could thicken to rival a city wall only in front of Cheng Jinlan. "You have to forgive it. Seven years now, only used one night on your birthday. Idle the rest of the time, no wonder it has excess energy."
Cheng Jinlan decided she might as well just bite him to death.
Even in dreams that night, Cheng Jinlan kept biting him, biting until she broke out in sweat. She woke up and took a cold shower. Cheng Liqi also rubbed her eyes and came out of the bedroom, looking for mama to hold her when she saw her mother.
Cheng Jinlan picked her up and used her hand to smooth her messy slept-on hair. "Did little Liqi sleep well?"
Cheng Liqi nodded, her fluffy hair swaying along. "I slept very very well."
Sounds and voices came from the yard. Cheng Liqi pricked up her ears, perking up too. "Mama, who came?"
Cheng Jinlan said, "Maybe it's your grandpa Qu over."
She heard her dad calling uncle Qu last night. With uncle Qu's efficient working style, the wall would probably be up by this morning.
"Mama, I want to go out and see."
Cheng Jinlan took her to the door. Uncle Qu was in the yard directing the workers carrying materials.
Cheng Liqi yelled in her childish voice, "Grandpa Qu, morning!"
Uncle Qu looked back, "Little Liqi morning! Second miss, hope we didn't disturb your rest?"
"You didn't disturb us, Liqi and I just happened to wake up. Grandpa Qu, what are you and the worker uncles doing?"
Uncle Qu told Cheng Liqi, "Your grandpa said to build this wall a little higher."
Ah, oh.
Cheng Liqi looked at mama. "Mama, is it because papa was caught by grandpa climbing the wall last night?"
Cheng Jinlan flicked her little nose, not wanting to answer this question.
Cheng Liqi tilted her head. "It's okay, mama. Even if the wall goes up, papa can still dig a tunnel from next door. Our side is grass, easy to dig."
Cheng Shanhe could hear his granddaughter's words from afar, coughing loudly twice.
Cheng Liqi saw grandpa, looked around, then yelled loudly to uncle Qu standing below the wall supervising: "Grandpa Qu, you can replace the grass with cement so even if someone wants to dig a tunnel, they can't get through!"
Hearing his granddaughter's words, Cheng Shanhe laughed out loud.
On the other side of the wall, Shao Chengze propped his forehead.
Cheng Jinlan turned around and went into the house.
