"Old lady, you're not...?"

  "Yong Qian..." Qiao Yunxue's voice slowly faded away. Her body was suspended on the ladder, her hands dangling, and her mouth half open. She felt one side of her face higher than the other, slightly distorted. She was so shocked that she forgot Yong Qian's hand was still resting on her butt, under her skirt.

  Because Rong Qian is smiling.

  He rarely smiles, that smile is precious like a diamond. But now he's grinning, shining brightly under the sun.

  "You... what are you laughing at?" She was suddenly frozen by that smile, unable to move a single limb.

  He gently and nimbly caught her from the stainless steel ladder: "Sleep."

  "Hmph!" Ge Yunxue, who had fallen to the ground, finally came back to her senses. She pressed her hands against his chest and said, "You said you didn't love me at all, so why are you hugging me? I said it before, from today on, whether or not we live as husband and wife will be up to me."

  "Who wants to live with you as a couple?" Rong Qian hummed, his smile fading, his tone light, "You... don't really think I have no woman wanting me, do you?"

  "I..." She glanced at him with a faint smile, radiating an aura that suddenly made Qiao Yunxue lose her breath. She gritted her teeth and looked up at the sky, "Who knows?! Otherwise, why would you still be single at 32? If I weren't in such a hurry to get married, you might still be alone, not even knowing what it's like to have a woman!"

  "I suppose it's because of a bad heart..."

  Her face twitched, Rong Qian bowed her head and wrapped her arm around hers, walking in the opposite direction.

  "Hey?" Qiao Yunxue struggled with all her might, trying to break free from his grasp.

  Rong Qian held on tight and didn't let go, unknowingly flipping a switch, and the originally upright and square thing magically transformed into a hammock.

  Rong Qian carried her to the soft hammock. His fingertips slipped under her skirt and landed on her white, plump skin. Then, with a forceful hug, half of her body sank into his. As if he found her skirt troublesome, he frowned and unbuttoned it, along with her underwear. He buried his head in her chest, his arms wrapped around her soft waist.

  "Hey, in broad daylight, you're not allowed... You really have no shame." Looking up at the bright white sun above her head, Qiao Yunxue's face turned bright red with embarrassment. This man was always introverted and reserved, why did he suddenly become so... so shameless.

  "Sunbathing." A soft and gentle voice floated from her full lips, "Don't worry, I'm not interested in an escaped wife. Like this... you can't run away."

  "Ah——" He froze, Qiao Yunxue carefully looked down and only saw his thick black hair. It turned out that he was holding her down because he was worried she would run away.

  "Sleep!" Rong Qian's voice was soft and teasing, "If you can't hold on, just call me."

  She stretched out her hand, and Qiao Yunxue's palm hit him squarely on the face: "Shameless. Hmph, I'd like to see who can't hold on. Rongqian, just you wait."

  She will be able to hold on. Definitely.

  Qiao Yunxue was still thinking about it when Rong Qian had already started breathing evenly.

  He actually fell asleep? In Sanya in winter, the sun is warm and comfortable to bask in, no wonder he wanted to sunbathe.

  Stinky man!

  She gazed up at the sun in the sky with embarrassment, struggling to prop herself up, only to see her skirt disheveled and tangled, her body half-exposed, her snow-white skin pressed down by him more than halfway. She muttered sullenly: "Sleep then, sleep all you want. You won't divorce me, but one day you'll lose sleep over it."

  Although he was snoring, Rong Qian seemed to have heard the words and held her body tighter. He slept for her sake, but she refused to sleep.

  Qiao Yunxue was startled and quickly closed her mouth. Helpless, she looked up at the sky, how could he sleep like this?

  She must have been unable to sleep.

  Alright, she thinks about it. Luo Shaofan should be fine, right? Shu Yu must not be happy, the two of them came together, but returned alone. What about Yanzi, how can Rong Qian feel at ease letting her return by herself...

  She thought she couldn't sleep, but the warm sunshine was too comfortable, and she fell asleep in less than three minutes.

  It wasn't until evening that Qiao Yunxue realized that Rong Qian was going to take her home by water.

  Rong Qian was so busy, how could he possibly spend his time on a boat. Qiao Yunxue was puzzled in her heart, but she didn't say anything more.

  Rong Qian did something wrong, she remembered it all her life. Whenever she thought of it, her heart would ache and her behavior would become slightly estranged.

  "Sleep!" Rong Qian seemed sleepier than her.

  Basking in the sun during the day and sleeping at night, she's almost become a pig. Qiao Yunxue pouts, but as soon as she snuggles into her quilt, she starts to doze off. What she lacks most now is sleep. These past few days have been exhausting, and her appetite hasn't been great either; what she needs most is rest.

  Qiao Yunxue fell asleep, and Rong Qian opened his eyes, his gaze stopping on her slightly pale face. The once vibrant woman had become haggard due to the truth, as if she had changed into a different person. She needed a good rest.

  I hope this 24-hour boat ride can make up for the exhaustion of the past few days. Otherwise, once I get back home, there will be many things to face. Because she was once Lu Shao Fan's fiancée, someone from the Rong family will definitely secretly look for her.

  He can't watch her twenty-four hours a day. She wouldn't like it, she loves freedom.

  Getting up and coming to the desk, Rong Qian opened her handbag.

  The phone rang.

  Glancing at the number, Rong Qian got up and walked outside. He climbed all the way up to the observation deck, sat down on it, and then answered: "Dad?"

  "Where are you? You've disappeared without a word. Rong Qian, I'm so disappointed in you. Luo Shaofeng's woman..."

  "If you don't let go... just you wait, tomorrow the board of directors will re-examine you. The great responsibility of being the CEO of Jinghua, it seems like you haven't taken it to heart at all." Rong Changfeng was fuming on the other end of the phone, "Women are all the same thing, which one isn't the same after turning off the lights? You just had to provoke Luo's fiancée. I'm so angry, I'm so angry..."

  Lowering her eyelids, she thought for a few seconds and smiled calmly: "Dad, I've already started, and I don't have the habit of giving up halfway. Sorry!"

  "Why are you provoking the woman related to the Luo family?!" Rong Changfeng was furious, his voice trembling with rage. "I'm so angry I could kill this woman! Rong Qian, why did you disappoint me, why... and she's a woman who can't even bear children, tell me, what is it about her that you like?"

  His eyes darkened slightly, and Rong Qian said slowly: "If she could give birth... I would have another choice. But Yunxue can't give birth now, so I must be Yunxue's lifelong reliance. Dad, I am a man!"

  His tone was gentle, but the content was not. Rong Changfeng's face turned red with anger, and finally, tears streamed down his face: "You're just like your mother, so stubborn. Except for responsibility, it's all about responsibility, a lifetime of being tied down. I just thought that in just half a year, how could you fall in love with a woman who can't have children? But you can tolerate her not having kids, our Rong family can't. Rong Qian, as soon as you return tomorrow, come to see me at Jinghua first. You understand my stance, I won't let Jinghua's property fall into the hands of anyone related to the Luo family. Including Luo Shaobai's ex-fiancée."

  "Good." Rong Qian answered without any hesitation.

  "What a fart!" Rong Changfeng snorted, "I'll tell you, even if you give up your inheritance rights to the capital. I still have one more request, and you must agree. Otherwise..."

  Rong Qian interrupted him: "Is there anything else you want?"

  The wind died down, and it seemed that he had thought deeply before deciding: "You can't give me a grandson, so our ten-year contract must be doubled. You have to serve my capital for twenty years. Then, whether you want to return to Beijing or take your woman away, I won't stop you."

  "Good." Rong Qian replied lightly. His voice was so light that it was even softer than the sound of the sea breeze.

  "What the hell!" Rong Chang hung up the phone with a long sigh.

  Bai Yu Yao slowly got up and gently patted the back of Rong Chang Feng: "He really won't give up on Qiao Yun Xue?"

  Rong Chang shook his head with a long sigh.

  "Pei Cui is indeed the best marriage... Who would have thought it was all in vain." Bai Yu Yao sighed softly, "Chang Feng, you were so eager to get Xia Si Si's bloodline. In that case, these twenty years of waiting for Chang Feng will not be in vain."

  "No way!" Yong Changfeng slammed his hand on the table and stood up, "Help me contact them and tell them to hurry up, we can't wait any longer. I won't be able to bear it for another minute... Heaven, how could Rong Qian have married Luo Shaofan's woman..."

  Hurriedly, Rong Changfeng rubbed his chest, and Bai Yuyao promised: "We'll contact them later. Tomorrow I'll find an opportunity to get Ge Yunxue and Luo Shaofan together. Even if they're not together, I'll think of a way to get them together. Changfeng, don't worry yourself sick."

  On the ocean.

  Rong Qian slowly put away his phone, his deep eyes unfathomable.

  Twenty years, he had to continue for ten more years in the capital, and also had to stay in the capital for thirteen more years. Deprived of his inheritance rights, he handed over the entire capital to Rong Jing, a sixteen-year-old boy. Thirteen years later, Rong Jing was twenty-nine years old and could indeed start taking charge on his own.

  Thirteen years later, he was forty-five years old, could he make a comeback at that time?

  Rong Qian's long eyebrows were furrowed into a knot. He lit a cigarette, and Rong Qian quietly finished it, then walked back to the cabin with steady steps.

  She didn't sleep very soundly, as if she was struggling.

  "Yunxue." Rong Qian bowed his head and shouted.

  No response.

  It's clear that the trip to Sanya didn't bring her happiness. What happened that night was still haunting her. Those eight years, no matter what, were not something she could easily put down.

  He could only be grateful that what happened in Oil Painting Village occurred before Luo Shaofeng's second choice, which had chilled her heart. Otherwise, she would not have been so calm today.

  He sat back at his desk and became absorbed in his work. But before long, a faint noise came from the bed again.

  She stood tall and walked back to the bedside with a humble expression, bending down to gaze at her slightly pale little face.

  She seemed to be trapped in a nightmare, stuck, with a painful expression on her face. What was she saying?

  Bowing his head, he listened humbly.

  "Sorry, Shǎo Fān." She murmured softly, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you..."

  His heart tightened, Rong Qian heard something shattering in his heart. He wrapped his arms around her body, grasping her small hands tightly: "Yunxue?"

  But she didn't wake up and was still murmuring: "Shao Fan..."

  With a flash of his long eyes, he sat up straight and gazed at that troubled face. His slender fingertips slowly touched the corners of her eyes, which were slightly wet. His heart skipped a beat as he leaned in, holding his breath: "Yunxue, do you want to go back to Luo Shaobai's side?"

  "Can't go back to his side. Can't..." This time she spoke along with him, "Can't... I won't go back."

  His heart skipped a beat, and Rong Qian's expression relaxed: "Alright, then just stay here with me."

  "No..." She muttered, with a hint of tears in her voice, trembling as she grabbed his hand. "I don't dare... You're too evil. I want to leave. Stinky Rong Qian, dead Rong Qian, one day I'll drag you down to the sea and jump together... You're too evil, a scourge for a thousand years, I'll take justice into my own hands..."

  Her voice gradually became softer and smaller.

  Her bright and beautiful eyes sparkled, and he pinched her cheek.

  Her nose wouldn't let her enter dreamland: "Tell me, will you fall in love with..."

  "I'll fall in love with you, I'll cry...I'll cry hard..." She struggled to pull his hand, "I want you to fall in love with me, so I won't love you. Really."

  Obviously resentful, but with a soft voice...

  This time, she really fell asleep.

  Rong Qian couldn't sleep anymore this time.

  Her eyes were still wet. Lin Xiaomei was right, this stubborn woman always smiled in front of people and cried behind their backs.

  She wanted to drag him down into the sea with her...

  Rong Qian no longer had the mind to work, and quietly lay down beside her, his fingertips slowly caressing her delicate face. For a long time, Rong Qian was lost in thought - why did he care whether she loved him or not?

  Could it be that being entwined with him every day has truly moved her heart...

  Rong Qian suddenly sat up and stared at the woman in a daze for a long time, shocked and bewildered.

  The night has deepened even more.

  Tonight, destined to be sleepless.

  The next afternoon, Rong Qian went to Jinghua Company as soon as he got off the boat. Qiao Yunxue was carried like a rice dumpling and was sent back to Oil Painting Street by Rong Qian first.

  "I'll come pick you up tonight." Rong Qian gazed deeply into her eyes. After sleeping a lot, she was in much better spirits, but her eyes were still puffy from sleep, and she was still an ugly woman.

  Jinghua's board of directors' office, Rong Changfeng was already waiting there. He held a copy of the agreement in his hand. As soon as he saw Rong Qian arrive, he threw the agreement in front of him: "This is your 20-year contract to sell yourself to Jinghua. If you insist on not leaving Qiao Yuxue, sign it. I'm warning you, once you sign this, there's no going back. From now on, all of Jinghua will belong to Rong Jing."

  She nodded slightly and signed "Rong Qian" on the contract without saying a word.

  "Now Dad can rest assured." Rong Qian's lips curled up slightly, gazing deeply at his father, and strode out of the chairman's office.

  Rong Qian's back disappeared, Rong Changfeng slapped the office table with a palm: "Within three days, I want to see the news of Qiao Yunxue losing her virginity. I want the whole city to know that she is not worthy of being my daughter-in-law, and I want her to leave Rong Qian's side voluntarily. I cannot let Rong Qian be ruined by a woman who cannot bear children..."

  Back in the president's office, Rong Qian put on a sweater, lit a cigarette and calmly stared at a certain place.

  "Hey, our Rong has finally returned to his wife." Qian Tao burst into laughter and came in, winking at him vigorously, "How was it? Did our lovely Mrs. Rong get so moved that she threw herself into your arms?"

  Bai Lian looked at Qiantao with a glance, and Rongqian remained calm and composed as usual.

  One person's play singing can't go on, Qian Tao had to awkwardly discuss official business: "My meaning is, are you going to recruit a secretary again? This time is it you recruiting yourself or me recruiting?"

  "We're not hiring for now." Rong Qian nodded slightly, "Just collect resumes first. We're looking for a male assistant, under 28 years old. I'll send you the specific requirements via email."

  "Really not recruiting men?" Qian Tao was stunned. "How can we temporarily not recruit again? Zong, I'm confused."

  "This time, let Yun Xue help me out first."

  "Ah?" Qian Tao looked at Rong Qian's tense expression and vaguely understood what he was worried about. Qian Tao tactfully left, "It's better to keep it safe by my side for now, let's observe the situation first. If nothing happens, I'll send her to financial training again."

  He nodded humbly and cast his eyes in the direction of Oil Painting Village.

  Qiao Yunxue is now in Oil Painting Village.

  She threw herself into her mother's arms and cried loudly. For the first time, she didn't care about hurting her mother and had a good cry.

  "Alas..." Xia Xinqin was heartbroken and couldn't say a word, she could only hold her daughter tightly.

  As a result, she fell asleep again, exhausted from crying.

  Xia Xinqin shook her head, laughing and crying at the same time: "How can you sleep more than a pregnant woman?"

  It wasn't until dusk that Qiao Yunxue woke up, still woken by the ringing of her phone. She answered it and heard Bai Yuyao's voice: "Yunxue, since you're already our family's daughter-in-law, let's have dinner together. I'll come pick you up tomorrow at noon."

  "Oh." She responded. She still remembered the slap, but Bai Yuyao was after all a senior. And it was Rong Changfeng who wanted to see his daughter-in-law, she couldn't put Bai Yuyao's account on Rong Changfeng's head. Still by Rong Qian's side, she couldn't refuse the summons of the Rong family elders.

  She has always respected her elders.

  "Uh..." Bai Yuyao hesitated for a moment, "Yunxue, don't tell Rong Qian about this. We'll let him know later."

  "Oh." Qiao Yunxue had no comment. She really didn't want to talk too much with Rong Qian at this moment.

  Just after getting up and washing, Rong Qian arrived.

  "I won't go back, I'll just live at my mother's house." Qiao Yunxue refused to leave. "I've decided, from now on, on odd-numbered days I'll live at my mother's house, and on even-numbered days I'll be at Shui Xiang Hua Yuan."

  "Today is Tuesday." Rong Qian reminded.

  Alas, she made a mistake, these days have been spent in a daze, misremembering the date. The usually reliable Qiao Yunxue, who never goes back on her word, had no choice but to sullenly follow behind Rong Qian and obediently get into the Audi.

  Back in the Water Village Garden, the entrance is desolate and cold, the house inside is pitch black.

  "Where's Swallow?" Qiao Yunxue pushed open Swallow's bedroom door, but there was no one inside.

  Rong Qian glanced at him: "She said that day that Dad's body is getting worse and worse, wanting to accompany Dad for two days, maybe she went to the villa."

  "Oh." She shut her little mouth. But she stood still, with the swallow there, as if the atmosphere wasn't so awkward...

  Rong Qian took his pajamas and went into the bathroom: "Starting tomorrow, go to Jinghua to work, as my assistant,"

  "There's an empty seat next to me, it's been cleaned today."

  "I won't!" Qiao Yunxue jumped up, blocking the bathroom door, staring at him with a huff. As if she would joke around, she was thinking of ways to avoid him every second, how could she possibly take the initiative to put herself under his nose, so that he could stare at her 24 hours a day?

  Rong Qian's phone rang.

  Rong Qian raised an eyebrow and replied: "Pei Rong?"

  "Rong Qian, you're back?" came Zhao Peirong's worried voice from the other end. "I was worried to death. Your dad even looked for me and thought you were with me. Rong Qian, when did you get divorced?"

  Qiao Yunxue glared at her: "Shut up, country bumpkin!" Everyone was urging Rong Qian to get a divorce.

  Gazing deeply at Qiao Yunxue, Rong Qian's voice softened a little: "Pei Rong, I'm a bit busy now, let's talk later."

  He hung up the phone and stared at her with a faint smile: "Perhaps I really have feelings for Pei Rong."

  "Cut! What a beautiful idea!" She stormed into the small bathroom, "Isn't it just an assistant? I don't believe I won't be able to do it. I'm sure that with my help, you'll become busier and busier. I absolutely believe it. Don't worry, on the day you fall in love with me, I'll make a big show of dumping you."

  She originally wanted to run into the swallow's room to sleep, but in order to make Rong Qian fall in love with her earlier and then let him suffer a broken heart. She still obediently slept on the big bed for two people. However, she placed a row of books between the two of them.

  Rong Qian nodded, no objection.

  Lying down and thinking. After a while, Qiao Yunxue suddenly crawled up with a thud. She leaned forward and pressed against the headboard to look at the calendar, frowning as she counted the days: "That's not right..."

  "What's wrong?" Rong Qian's head leaned over from her shoulder, just opposite the neckline of her pajamas, where two red strawberries lazily propped up her pajamas. Rong Qian's black pupils flashed, and his hand unknowingly pulled off her pajama strap...

  A loud slap on his hand, Qiao Yunxue scolded: "You rascal!"

  "Oh?" Rong Qian's face twitched, "Rong Huai Dan?"

  Qiao Yunxue rubbed her nose: "Look at the good thing you've done, I'm so angry that my menstrual cycle is all messed up. My aunt hasn't come for almost two months..."

  He reached out with a big hand and touched her belly, Rong Qian's eyes sparkled: "Really? Wife, you're not...?"

  —————————————

  Will there be? Will it be a surprise for inexperienced husbands and wives? Hehe, you'll know in the next chapter... Tomorrow's update, see you all then~

  Thank you for the reward. Thank you for the monthly vote, ranking doesn't matter, what's important is your heart, so touching... Strawberry loves you all, muah~