“Xiao Bianzi, don't be a fence-sitter.”
Bai Yin stared at Chen Huaixiao with determined eyes for a few seconds before finally giving in. People have to lower their heads when living under the eaves. After all...the man in front of her was not only her husband, but also her boss!
Bai Yin waved Chen Huaixiao's gray tennis racket and said to Chen Jingye, "I heard your teammate is a professional tennis player. If she partners with Mr. Chen, we amateurs might as well not play and let them grind us into the ground."
"You're right," Chen Jingye thought about it and agreed with her reasoning.
With just one Chen Huaixiao they could barely handle, if his professional teammate also partnered with Chen Huaixiao, it would be a crushing defeat. It would be pointless for amateurs like them to play. Letting the amateur Bai Yin drag his legs might give them a chance at winning.
Before the match started, Bai Yin walked up to Chen Huaixiao and said softly, "I can play with you, but you have to return the swimsuit photo of your cousin to me."
Chen Huaixiao looked up and gazed at Chen Jingye, with his trendy bleached white hair across the court, "You're his fan?"
"Chen Jingye sings well, is handsome, who doesn't like him? I'm his number one fan."
"I burned the photo."
"..."
Bai Yin finally compromised, "Actually, it's for my best friend. She's the diehard fan of Chen Jingye. I took the photo for her."
A faint smile appeared on Chen Huaixiao's lips as he finally relented, "Fine, if we win, the photo is yours."
"It's a deal."
Before the match started, Chen Huaixiao took off his white sweatband and put it on Bai Yin's forehead to protect her.
Bai Yin disdainfully said, "It's soaked in sweat, I don't want it."
But he put it on her anyway and whispered, "You didn't mind the sweat when we were in bed together, why be pretentious now?"
"..."
Bai Yin pushed him away and swung the racket with a blank expression, serving the first ball.
Chen Jingye and his teammate calmly returned it.
After several volleys back and forth, Bai Yin found her rhythm. She and Chen Huaixiao coordinated seamlessly without giving any leeway to the professional player.
Clearly she had practiced tennis extensively for a long time to achieve this level of skill and positioning.
In the end, Bai Yin and Chen Huaixiao won the match.
The professional tennis player even praised Bai Yin, "You and Mr. Chen have such seamless teamwork, we lost fair and square."
Bai Yin smiled humbly at her. She knew her own skill level. They only won because of Chen Huaixiao's superior skills and Chen Jingye dragging down the professional player.
Chen Huaixiao put down his racket and lifted a bottle of mineral water to drink. The water trickled down his elegant jawline as his Adam's apple bobbed with each gulp.
Bai Yin glanced at him several times before averting her gaze and going to get her own bottle of water.
"I didn't know you played tennis so well," said Chen Huaixiao as he casually threw the empty bottle into the trash can. His gaze towards her now held some undisguised appreciation, "What else don't I know about you?"
Bai Yin didn't answer right away. She thought to herself, during those years secretly pining for him, there was much he didn't know.
And those things, he never needed to know.
"Chen Huaixiao, give me back the photo."
"Come to my room tonight to get it."
As he spoke, he slipped the room key inconspicuously into the front of Bai Yin's halter top.
"..."
Bai Yin went to the gym to retrieve her yoga bag. The class had ended and all the celebrities had left, except for Qiao Yan Shi who was still practicing on the equipment while waiting for her.
Seeing her return, he put down the dumbbell and asked worriedly, "Everything okay?"
"What could happen?" Bai Yin laughed breezily, "Chen Huaixiao isn't some ferocious beast, he can't possibly eat me up!"
"I was afraid you'd make him unhappy. That guy has a bad temper. Just look at what happened to Sheng Xi Ran."
"Aren't you afraid of him talking about your boss behind his back like this?"
Qiao Yan Shi looked at Bai Yin solemnly, "I don't care if he's my boss or whoever. I only care about you."
Bai Yin drew back sensitively, "Don't tell me you're confessing to me?"
"Absolutely not!" Qiao Yan Shi's fair face immediately flushed crimson as he frantically explained, "I see you as a sister. When we were filming The Crane Robe, almost no one in the crew looked upon me favorably, only Sister Yin helped me."
Seeing his sincerity and considering his young age, barely an adult, Bai Yin was reassured that he really saw her as a sister.
"But I was just a rookie. How could I have helped you? If anything, you're my senior."
"Although I entered the industry before you, I've just been muddling along all these years. The trainees from my batch either left the industry or hit it big. I'm the only one stuck in mediocrity..." Qiao Yan Shi scratched his head and earnestly said, "It's impossible to get ahead in the entertainment industry without some background. But seeing Sister Yin succeed through her own efforts gave me hope and confidence."
Looking into Qiao Yan Shi's clear, determined eyes, Bai Yin was rendered speechless. "I'm not what you think, self-made through my own efforts. Actually I..."
Before she could finish, Sun Lili rushed anxiously into the training room.
Having heard that Bai Yin was summoned away by Chen Huaixiao, she hurried over to ask about the situation.
Bai Yin paused and patted Qiao Yan Shi's shoulder encouragingly, "A golden scale is no longer a petty pond thing. One day, you will become what you dream to be."
Qiao Yan Shi nodded resolutely, "Yes! We both will."
Sun Lili pulled Bai Yin out of the gym, joking, "When Qiao Yan Shi debuted, he was so aloof and arrogant, never speaking more than three sentences to a female artist. So cold. But now he calls you Sister Yin so sweetly."
"Doesn't he also call you Sister Lili?"
"That's different. I'm his agent. You and Qiao Yan Shi are the only two artists I have at Xingchen Entertainment. You're both my treasures!"
Bai Yin smiled lightly, "He'll be fine. He just needs an opportunity to skyrocket."
"I'm not worried about whether he'll make it big. I'm worried you'll get too close to him and stir up some scandal. Your husband at home and his jealous temper, even a tiny bit of suspicion is enough to spell Qiao Yan Shi's certain death."
Bai Yin knew Chen Huaixiao wasn't actually the jealous type. He just disliked others touching what belonged to him.
"Don't worry, I know my boundaries."
...
At 10pm that night, after Bai Yin finished her evening class, she freshened up a bit and swiped into Chen Huaixiao's room.
Chen Huaixiao was staying in a first floor suite with a private hot spring, the most luxurious and elegant room type in the entire mountain resort.
The private hot spring was nestled in a secluded, winding bamboo courtyard. The room had traditional Japanese tatami mats, giving a relaxed, leisurely feeling.
Chen Huaixiao stood in the courtyard, talking on the phone.
He wore a black bathrobe, the collar gaping open to reveal his rugged neck. His left hand fiddled with a silver lighter case, fingertips absentmindedly sliding over the arc of the lighter lid.
Seeing Bai Yin enter, he tilted his face slightly and swept his tranquil gaze towards her through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall.
Bai Yin knew he was on a business call and so quietly walked in and sat down in his office chair.
A few minutes later, Chen Huaixiao ended the call and strolled over behind Bai Yin.
The little wife's black hair cascaded messily over her shoulders. She had downloaded a gaudy bejeweled match-3 game on his computer and was engrossed in playing it.
Chen Huaixiao waited patiently, leaning against the chair and watching her play the game.
Soon, all the flashy special effects disappeared from the screen. To keep playing, it prompted for payment to unlock premium membership.
She closed the game.
Chen Huaixiao said lightly, "Don't randomly download games on my computer in the future."
Bai Yin muttered, "Stingy."
Chen Huaixiao hadn't intended to explain, but seeing her sulky appearance, he added, "This computer contains some project files, much of it confidential business information. Leaks could cause the company significant losses."
Bai Yin's previously nonchalant expression instantly vanished, a flicker of unease in her eyes. "I already downloaded it. Will it cause trouble? I didn't know it would be like this."
Seeing her flustered state, ripples disturbed Chen Huaixiao's tranquil heart and he felt a bit distressed.
"I'll have the tech department remotely sanitize it later," he said breezily. "No big deal."
"I won't touch your computer again in the future."
On this trip back, she seemed bent on seizing the upper hand in every way, yet her concern at times also seemed genuine rather than contrived.
That was why Chen Huaixiao, despite clearly knowing she was using him and deeply detesting that feeling of being used, still harbored compassion and couldn't let go.
"You can use it, just ask me first." Chen Huaixiao closed the laptop.
"I came for the photo. Where's the photo?"
"The swimsuit is on the bed. Soak in the hot spring with me for a bit and I'll give it to you."
Bai Yin saw the brand new black swimsuit on the bed and the private hot spring surrounded by verdant bamboo in the backyard... just picturing it made her blush thinking of the romantic scene.
"Chen Huaixiao, I played tennis with you today and took a class this afternoon. I'm really tired and can't fulfill my wifely duties today."
Bai Yin wasn't making excuses. She really was exhausted to the bone.
Chen Huaixiao's lips tightened slightly. His fingers played with her soft hair, winding it round and round. "What are you thinking? Just a simple hot spring soak."
"Really? You just want me to soak in the hot spring?"
"Mm."
Bai Yin immediately perked up. The bastard had a sudden attack of conscience and was treating her to soak in this luxurious private spring... of course she was more than willing!
"Let me go change then."
Holding the swimsuit from the bed, Bai Yin happily went into the bathroom.
She still harbored some doubts in her heart. Would the bastard really be so kind?
But when Bai Yin opened the swimsuit packaging, she saw that the one Chen Huaixiao picked for her wasn't some sexy bikini, but a very cute, girly halter top two piece with scalloped edges. She loved it at first sight.
It seemed nothing would happen tonight after all.
Bai Yin changed into the swimsuit with a clear conscience.
Outside, Chen Huaixiao's long fingers pinched a cigarette, about to light it, when urgent knocking sounded at the door. "Bro, open up! Emergency!"
Chen Huaixiao hadn't intended on answering but hearing Chen Jingye's urgent tone, he still went to open the door. "What's the matter?"
Chen Jingye outside was shirtless, looking as if he had just come from the pool with water droplets still on him.
His face was contorted in discomfort as he rushed straight for the bathroom, "Can't hold it in, gotta borrow your bathroom real quick!"
Chen Huaixiao froze for two seconds before chasing furiously after him and bellowing, "Chen Jingye!"
Chen Jingye had already flung open the bathroom door. Before he could even make out the woman inside, Chen Huaixiao violently shoved him away and burst into the bathroom. He wrapped the naked woman entirely in his black bathrobe, bundling her up securely and holding her tightly to himself.
Seeing this scene, Chen Jingye's mind exploded, "What the f***?"
Chen Huaixiao forcibly pressed Bai Yin's face into his firm chest and glared icily at Chen Jingye, voice heavy as a mountain, "Get out."
"I...I'll get out right now! Sorry to disturb you, Third Bro! I'm outta here!"
Chen Jingye scrambled out of the room on all fours, slamming the door behind him.
The room instantly fell silent, with only the two people's ragged breathing audible.
After a long while, Bai Yin stirred slightly in his embrace, her warm breath caressing his chest, and whispered: "It's okay now."
Chen Huaixiao still didn't let go of her, maintaining the unobstructed embrace and pressed closeness of this moment.
"Chen Huaixiao?"
Chen Huaixiao was still shaken, his voice irritated: "You don't lock the door when changing clothes?"
"I thought with only you in the room, there was no need to...so..."
He gave a cold laugh: "So I'm that safe?"
"You're my husband."
