CHAPTER 19: 016 THERE IS A BEAUTY

The last trace of sunset vanished on the horizon, and night arrived.

Inside the villa, the banquet had just begun.

People occasionally came over to greet Yun Shen, mostly business partners seen on frequent occasions, with whom cooperation was abundant and inevitable.

Yun Shen conversed with guests in a gentlemanly and polite manner. Though he seemed aloof, he was actually very sociable; each sentence he spoke hit the mark without making the atmosphere stagnant, much to Kang Jinse’s growing dismay.

Men were one thing, but the women—did they think she was blind? Bai Ran left, and in her stead came a thousand Bai Rans.

The Miss Zhao from Dongfeng Electronics...

The younger sister of Minister Pan...

...

Not one of them could she afford to provoke.

Kang Jinse took a deep breath. She knew her status was unfit for Yun Shen. Perhaps in the eyes of these women, she was a joke. But so what? Outside of Ji Lanyi, she was the only woman who could stand by his side openly and legitimately. She had an advantage over these women.

Kang Jinse lowered her gaze, docilely accompanying Yun Shen.

Yun Ya watched Kang Jinse from behind, the nails almost digging into the skin of her palm, and he curved his lips.

While conversing with others, Yun Shen discreetly surveyed his surroundings and felt increasingly alarmed.

Minister Yan had been transferred to Jiangzhou two years ago and had kept a very low profile. But his position was highly sought after, and he had achieved considerable success in those two years. It seemed very much in line with the eight-word adage: work high-profile, live low-profile, which made him all the more enigmatic.

He and his wife had not attended any social gatherings or made public appearances in the past two years. This was their first time hosting such a high-profile event. Figures of significant political and business stature from all over Jiangzhou were present, including both primary and secondary leaders; his eyes fell on Mayor Su, who was chatting with Secretary Zhou.

This event was less a birthday party for his wife and more of a precursor to Minister Yan’s formal foray into the power center of Jiangzhou.

He glanced down at the quiet and obedient Yun Ya, his eyes narrowing slightly.

How could Yun Ya not feel the scheming gaze above her head? A hint of mockery flashed in the depths of her lowered eyes.

To exploit my value comes with a price.

Upstairs, in the master bedroom.

In front of the dressing mirror stood a figure in white.

The off-shoulder white gown left her right shoulder bare, soft and luminous skin contrasting with the eye-catching silken flower on her left. Trailing ribbons fluttered gracefully behind her. Her hair was up, adorned with a pearl hairpin highlighting her slender, pale neck, exuding a calm beauty and surpassing elegance.

On her left wrist, she wore the White Jade Bracelet, its whiteness merging with her fair skin, with a hint of aqua shimmering within, exceedingly beautiful and captivating.

The beauty in the mirror pursed her lips into a smile, and in an instant, the world seemed to brighten. Moonlight rushed over themselves to enter through the window, yearning to leave their mark on the woman’s attire.

A shadow approached silently, embracing the woman from behind, his hands grasping her waist as he looked at their reflection and smiled, "There is a beauty, unforgettable at sight, a day without her presence drives one mad with longing..."

Zhuang Xiyue rolled her eyes, her elegance unfazed, "Is that not cheesy? I recall you never passing your Chinese language exams in elementary and middle school, yet now you can recite poetry offhand. Should I praise you for that, or should I scold you?"

The man in the mirror, with his sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, looked handsome and captivating. His peach blossom eyes, particularly striking, were said to be the mark of a flirtatious person. However, in this man’s eyes was unabated tenderness; just to be gazed at by those eyes could send one’s heart aflutter uncontrollably.

Zhuang Xiyue’s heart pounded fiercely. How long had they been married, and yet, she could still get electrified by this man from time to time—what a bewitching creature he was.

"Of course you should praise me. To be in the same class as you, I had to study furiously, reciting those ancient texts until I nearly threw up. But what can I do when my wife’s grades are so outstanding? To keep up with you, I had no choice but to chase after you with all my might." His magnetic voice was full of passion and tenderness. Zhuang Xiyue, trying to control her wildly beating heart, glared at him.

"You have the nerve to say that, after getting caught cheating on the exam and nearly had a leg broken by Grandfather Yan for it. I’m too lazy to settle accounts with you over the foolish things you did as a youth. If our two sons found out, your bright and valiant image in their minds would be utterly destroyed."

Yan Nanmo’s slender fingers lingered on her body, his teeth gently nibbling at her neck, sensing the trembling of the body in his arms, he chuckled softly, his fingers navigating through the shoulder seam of her clothes.

"Don’t..." Zhuang Xiyue moaned softly, reaching up to grasp his mischievous hand, and said in a low, husky voice, "The banquet is about to start... don’t grope around..."

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes hazy with desire—she had no idea how alluring she was at this moment.

Yan Nanmo gave a tight squeeze, eliciting a muffled groan from the woman in his embrace, and chuckled, "Without my hands wandering, where would those two little brats come from? I want you now, let the others wait."

Zhuang Xiyue hadn’t regained her composure when she suddenly felt a chill below, and the next moment, with her back heavily against the wall, his forceful and domineering presence enveloped her, almost drowning her. The rain had just ceased, and the wind picked up speed in the evening.

Exhausted, Zhuang Xiyue slumped into his arms, "You... damn it, I just finished doing my makeup, can’t you hold back a bit?"

Yan Nanmo grunted, "Can’t... hold back."

After kissing her ear, he whispered softly, "Who made you so beautiful tonight that you triggered my criminal tendencies?"

"Mmm... You’re not going to continue... you bastard, we’re really going to be late, get off me... now."

This man was utterly unruly—the thought of so many people waiting downstairs while the two of them hid upstairs sent a chill down her spine.

"What a killjoy. After the banquet is over, I’ll see how I settle the score with you." However, despite his words, Yan Nanmo still held her tight and didn’t let go. Zhuang Xiyue was at a loss for words—the man was very tall, standing before her like a wall, immovable no matter how hard she pushed.

"Yueyue," Yan Nanmo’s voice suddenly softened, his arms tightly encircling her waist, his face buried in her neck.

Zhuang Xiyue paused, stopping her movements.

"These past few years, I’ve made you endure a lot. Coming to this place with me, far from your parents and relatives, do you resent me?"

Zhuang Xiyue’s eyes softened instantly, she patted his shoulder smilingly, as if consoling a child. Although Yan Nanmo was sometimes forceful and domineering, in front of her, he often seemed more like a child who never grew up.

"From the day I married you, I understood the responsibilities I bore. As the saying goes, ’to follow one’s husband,’ what use would complaining be? Enough of this pointless talk, get up now; otherwise, you’re not getting into my bed tonight." She had to be more assertive than him to deal with him.

"Yueyue, we might have to stay here for a few years—at least until things settle down back in the capital. I can’t go back. I’m sorry." This man was like the wind and like the mist—even though they were childhood sweethearts and now married with two children, Zhuang Xiyue still sometimes couldn’t see through him; love so intense that sometimes it scared her.

But at this moment, she suddenly felt at peace. This man, he loved her more than she had imagined. Take for instance the topic of who confessed their love first, which they bickered about for more than a decade. It was clear that he was the first to fall for her, yet he kept it hidden, stubbornly waiting for her to make the first move.

Claiming that it was such a struggle to accept someone with his charm.

As a result, Zhuang Xiyue regretted for many years that she hadn’t played hard enough to get, yet who could blame her for losing patience and inevitably falling into his trap.

"Wherever you and the children are, that’s home," she said gently, leaning contentedly into his embrace.

"Madam... it’s terrible, the eldest young master and the youngest young master have started fighting, please come quickly," the nanny’s anxious voice came from outside the door.

Zhuang Xiyue gritted her teeth, "These two rascals, itching for trouble again, aren’t they?"

Yan Nanmo got up with ease, glanced at Zhuang Xiyue, and laughed, "They certainly take after their father, hahaha..."