On the way back, Shen Yin kept wondering how to bring it up - whether to tell Xu Xiuhe tonight or tomorrow evening, or not to say anything and just bring Zhengzheng to live with her in the small house by the Clear River, acting as if she knew nothing?
Shen Yin was conflicted. She felt so vexed. After entering the house, she found that the table had been cleaned up by Xu Xiuhe, who must have given Zhengzheng a bath on it. Shen Yin changed her shoes in the cloakroom before going upstairs, turning off the downstairs lights as she climbed the stairs.
In the bathroom, Shen Yin soaked in the bathtub, the water temperature just right. She had been busy all day, designing three dresses, so she would think about the divorce tomorrow. Tonight, she would just sleep.
Zhengzheng had not come to her room yet, so in a while, Xu Xiuhe would surely bring him back. Learning from the previous lesson, after taking a bath and putting on a robe, Shen Yin went to the dressing room next door, changed into a modest nightgown, and then began to dry her hair.
At nine o'clock, it was Zhengzheng's bedtime. As expected, Xu Xiuhe knocked on Shen Yin's door, carrying Zhengzheng.
When Shen Yin opened the door, to avoid contact with Xu Xiuhe, she did not take Zhengzheng from him as usual but let Xu Xiuhe carry Zhengzheng onto the bed instead, keeping a distance herself.
"Then I'll leave first." Xu Xiuhe wanted to say something more, but seeing Shen Yin's expressionless face and her unwillingness to talk, he gave up.
After Xu Xiuhe left, Shen Yin also lay on the bed. Zhengzheng's eyes kept blinking, and he rubbed them with his hands from time to time, apparently sleepy.
"Zhengzheng, be a good boy. Go to sleep if you're tired. Mommy is going to sleep too." Shen Yin kissed Zhengzheng's forehead, then lay down, gently patting his little belly to lull him to sleep.
To Shen Yin, Zhengzheng was the most precious little treasure in the world.
The night was quiet. Xu Xiuhe lay in bed, recalling the unfinished kiss from earlier that day, and felt a surge of heat in his heart. Especially when he had just seen Shen Yin in her nightgown, her fair skin, her swan-like neck accentuated by her dark hair, making her even more alluring. Her hair was still dripping wet, droplets falling onto her nightgown. The loose nightgown revealed that she was not wearing any undergarments, and he could vaguely make out her full breasts, even more striking than the bathrobe she had worn before. His mind was now filled with this image, and he found himself unintentionally aroused.
The evening breeze blew gently through the summer night. Xu Xiuhe went into the bathroom and opened the window, letting the cool air in as the cool shower rained down on him, finally making him feel better.
Shen Yin decided to calm down herself first. In the morning, she had brought some clothes and important documents, so she wouldn't have to go back and forth for now since her work was also busy.
Xu Xiuhe sat in his office, unable to focus on the documents. This predicament was the first he had encountered in years, and he couldn't share his troubles with anyone else.
So Xu Xiuhe picked up his phone and googled "How to win back your wife's favor."
There were actually some answers. Be her listener, hug her every day, compliment her in front of friends, participate in household chores, cook for her, praise her appearance, help her, and accept her for who she is. At the end of the article, there was a sentence about the "Harmonious Family Course" that explores issues and insights about life and family with you.
Xu Xiuhe felt that none of these applied to him, except perhaps the second point about hugging her every day. But for him, that seemed more difficult than ascending to heaven. It wasn't that he didn't want to hug her - it was that shoulder throw that had slammed him onto the couch. If he tried, she would just report him for harassment.
So he searched for another term: "What to do if your wife knows martial arts." He wished he hadn't seen the search results - all sorts of ridiculous answers like "learn to kneel and scrub clothes," "learn to kneel on a durian," "don't talk back, don't fight back," "when you have time, massage her shoulders, feet, and legs."
"Assistant Liu Bo, come in."
When Liu Bo received the direct call, he dared not delay, and as soon as he entered the door, he could feel the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
"Sir, you called me?" Liu Bo asked cautiously.
"Tell Xiao Li'er to submit the proposal by 5:30 this afternoon." Xu Xiuhe sat at his desk, tapping his fingers rhythmically, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
In the studio, Shen Yin had spent the entire morning designing Xu Xiuhe's clothing sketches. Originally, she didn't want to make clothes for Xu Xiuhe anymore, but she had promised yesterday, so it wouldn't be good to go back on her word now.
"Yin Yin, are these clothes for Xiuhe?" Fang Yue walked over from the kitchen to where Shen Yin was working and noticed the exquisite men's clothing design.
"No, I'm just designing for fun." Shen Yin didn't want to admit that it was for Xu Xiuhe right now since she was still upset with him. She had apologized to Xu Xiuhe last night for throwing him, which was her fault, but it was clear that Xu Xiuhe was the one who had made the first mistake.
"These clothes look so nice. Yin Yin has really grown up and done such an amazing job." Fang Yue praised her generously.
"Thank you, Mom. When I finish these dresses, I'll make one for you too." Shen Yin said.
Fang Yue was pleasantly surprised. "Really? That's wonderful. But come and eat first."
When Shen Yin arrived at the studio this morning, she found that Fang Yue had come again to help take care of Zhengzheng, just as she had promised. While Shen Yin was sketching, she would occasionally look at Zhengzheng and play with him during breaks. Sometimes, though, she became too absorbed in her work. With Zhengzheng being so young, having someone constantly watching over him put Shen Yin at ease. She was very grateful to Fang Yue for letting her experience a mother's love.
After finishing lunch, Zhengzheng let out a yawn.
"Zhengzheng is sleepy. Grandma will take Zhengzheng for a nap, okay?" Fang Yue said.
"Okay, sleep and grow taller," Zhengzheng stretched out his arms, and Fang Yue carried him into the bedroom.
"Yin Yin, why did you bring so many things here? Are you planning to stay here often?" Fang Yue returned and asked after seeing the wardrobe full of clothes.
Shen Yin didn't know how to explain. If she said she wanted a divorce, Fang Yue would definitely disagree. "I've just been really busy these past two days, so I'm not going back."
Fang Yue made a mental note of it.
Shen Yin felt she couldn't drag it out any longer. She took out her phone and found Xu Xiuhe's chat window.
[Let's get a divorce.] After much hesitation, Shen Yin sent the message.
In fact, she didn't know what she was doing - whether she was testing his feelings for her or wanted to end it quickly.
Seeing this message, Xu Xiuhe's expression darkened even further. Why so suddenly? Hadn't they been getting along well lately? Shen Yin was even going to make clothes for him.
"Liu Bo, have Xiao Li'er come in." Xu Xiuhe made a call.
When Xiao Li'er entered, she was carrying an unfinished romantic proposal plan. "Sir, it's not done yet."
"Put that plan on hold for now. My wife wants a divorce from me. You watch a lot of TV shows and read novels, don't you? Think of a way to stop it."
Xiao Li'er was utterly shocked. Wow, what drama had she stumbled into? So the plot had changed from romance to the CEO pursuing his wife. How exciting!
"What's the matter? Finding it too difficult to come up with an idea? Then resign immediately."
"I'm thinking, I'm thinking, Sir. In novels, when the CEO pursues his wife, he's relentless and never gives up," Xiao Li'er quickly responded, her eyes scrutinizing Xu Xiuhe's expression.
Xu Xiuhe considered the feasibility of the approach. So the next step was to relentlessly pursue her? The phone on the desk rang just then, and Xu Xiuhe glanced at it before answering without hesitation.
