When Chu Yang returned home, Chi Yan immediately ran over and hugged her. "You're back?"
Wen Yi saw this and quickly retreated.
"Mm, let me go first. I need to change my clothes."
Chi Yan picked her up in one swoop. "I'll help you."
Chu Yang thought to herself: Are you really trying to help or just cause trouble? Don't think I don't know what you're up to.
After changing into comfortable home clothes, Chu Yang told Chi Yan about Madam Zhuang's situation.
"So there really is scheming and infighting in wealthy families," Chu Yang mused, lying on the bed and playing with a button on Chi Yan's chest.
Chi Yan held her waist and replied, "There is. The world is full of wonders. The Zhuang family is too large, and when there's uneven distribution of wealth or excessive favoritism, conflicts arise."
"I originally didn't want to get involved, but I saw such heavy death energy around Madam Zhuang's belly. I thought she might be pregnant, so I asked and found out she really was. Thinking the child was innocent, I decided to help her."
Chi Yan kissed her forehead. "My Yang Yang is so kind."
Speaking of children, Chu Yang looked up at Chi Yan. "Do you like children?"
Chi Yan glanced at her belly and reached out to touch it. "I'd like any child you bore. But I'm worried pregnancy would be too hard on you." Since Chu Yang was still in graduate school, Chi Yan had actually been deliberately avoiding pregnancy, fearing it would be too taxing for her while juggling her studies.
Chu Yang also touched her own belly. "I promised Sophia I'd pass on the witch legacy." It wasn't easy for witches to get pregnant.
Chi Yan kissed her. "Then let's have a daughter, one just like you."
Chu Yang nodded with a smile. "Mm."
Chi Yan hugged her. "Let's take a nap first, then I'll take you out to play in the afternoon."
"Mm."
The couple lay down for their afternoon nap, the blanket pulled up to their chests. Chu Yang lay flat, one hand intertwined with Chi Yan's and the other resting on her lower abdomen. Chi Yan lay on his side facing Chu Yang, one hand holding hers and the other around her.
A gentle breeze blew in through the window, making the moment feel quiet and cozy.
They woke up around 2 PM and left the house at 3 PM. Chi Yan took Chu Yang to an art exhibition.
"You mentioned you've been learning to paint recently, so let's come appreciate others' artwork."
After viewing the exhibition, they even bought one of the paintings.
"How about we put this in the living room? Or the bedroom?" Chi Yan consulted with Chu Yang about where to place the painting.
Chu Yang thought for a moment. "Let's put it in the study."
"That works too."
They left the painting in the car for now. Chi Yan then took Chu Yang for a candlelit dinner, followed by a movie – a comedy this time.
Chi Yan suddenly remembered that he had originally bought a projector for their home in the Forest Garden Community, intending to watch horror movies with Chu Yang and then get intimate. But after buying it, they never actually watched any horror movies there. What a waste of effort that had been.
Chi Yan whispered this to Chu Yang.
Chu Yang playfully punched his chest. "I knew that horror movie when I had amnesia must have been your doing. You even said Wei Feng bought it back then."
Chi Yan caught her hand, laughing. "It was indeed Feng who bought it, but I asked him to."
Chu Yang gave him a reproachful look. "Shh, let's watch the movie. I'll teach you a lesson when we get home tonight."
However, when they got home that night, it wasn't clear whether Chu Yang was teaching Chi Yan a lesson or vice versa.
In the dim light, Chu Yang's hands tightly gripped the pillow, her head buried in it. Her forehead was slightly damp with sweat, and she could only make small sounds.
Behind her, Chi Yan leaned down, his head close to her ear as he whispered, "Hmm? Didn't Yang Yang say she was going to teach me a lesson?"
"I take it back."
"But Yang Yang is teaching me a lesson right now. She's punishing little Chi Yan, and he's crying. Can you feel it?"
Chu Yang didn't want to respond. The more she engaged, the more enthusiastic he became, saying lewd things that made her face burn.
"Wifey, look at me, okay?"
"No!" came the muffled reply from the pillow.
"Come on, lift your head and let me see you."
Chu Yang lifted her head from the pillow and glanced at him sideways. He immediately caught her in a deep kiss, ravishing her both above and below. That night, Chu Yang was like a delicate flower beaten down by rain, its petals scattered on the ground.
The next morning, Chu Yang's legs were shaky when she got up. Although her witch power was full, she couldn't withstand being "bullied" continuously.
...
Chi Yan was attending a business forum. During a break, Zhuang Jin came over to offer a toast. "Thank you for your wife's generous help last time. When my wife recovers, we'll definitely pay you a visit."
"You're too kind."
"Oh, and here's a VIP card for our family's beauty salon. Please give it to your wife. If you ever need any help, feel free to ask me. I'll head back now." The Zhuang family was in the cosmetics business and excelled in beauty and skincare.
"Alright."
After Zhuang Jin left, Yuan Zhi came over. "How come the Zhuang guy approached you? Are you that close now?" Yuan Zhi had recently started helping with his family business too, but his responsibilities weren't as heavy as Chi Yan's. He was still learning.
"We're not close, just met a few times before. This time it's mainly because Yang Yang attended a women's gathering with Madam Zhuang and helped his wife a bit. He came to thank my Yang Yang."
Hearing it was Chu Yang who helped, Yuan Zhi understood. He gave Chi Yan a thumbs up. "The boss's wife is doing great with diplomacy, huh?"
Chi Yan was proud. "Of course!"
Despite his pride, Chi Yan actually felt a bit guilty. He thought she should be free and unrestrained, doing whatever she wanted. But now she was learning art and attending events among wealthy ladies for his sake. He didn't think she truly enjoyed doing those things, but was doing it all for him.
Chi Yan had told Chu Yang before: "Yang Yang, if you don't want to attend those rich people's events in the future, it's okay not to go. If you don't want to accompany me to banquets and parties, that's fine too. Just do what you want to do."
Chu Yang shook her head. "No, I still need to do these things. I know you didn't really want to take on such a heavy responsibility for Chi Corporation, but you had to shoulder that responsibility. It's the same for me. Since I enjoy the benefits, I also need to bear my responsibilities." Chu Yang caressed his face. "You really don't need to worry. Although I don't love it, I don't hate it either. Sometimes it's actually quite interesting, and at least I'm learning many new things."
"If there ever comes a day when I really dislike going, I'll definitely refuse. Don't worry."
"Alright. Thank you for your hard work."
Chu Yang patted his head. "You're working hard too, for our family."
She also knew the pressure Chi Yan was under. To outsiders, he might seem glamorous, but she knew it was difficult for someone so young to bear such a heavy responsibility. Sometimes when she woke up at night, she would see him sitting in the study, staring blankly, his face tinted blue by the computer screen's light.
Once, she even smelled cigarette smoke in the study. Chu Yang actually disliked the smell of smoke, but she didn't say anything. After that time, she occasionally caught the scent a couple more times, but never saw any cigarette butts.
All she could do was quietly support him from behind, doing whatever she could within her abilities.
