Chapter 40

A girl is softer than velvet. A resplendent rose, repeatedly blooming and withering, a sealed berry bursting. As the tide receded, she asked him if the scratches on his body still hurt.

He couldn't form a complete sentence, his tongue burning with passion. Wei Qingyue just repeatedly kissed her hair.

Jiang Du had scratched his back, so the first thing he did was hold her hand up to the light to look. Oh, Jiang Du's nails needed to be trimmed. Her pink nails were like flower petals, but it was obvious their owner hadn't trimmed them very carefully, nor had she gotten pretty manicures like other fashionable girls her age.

“How about I trim your nails for you?” Wei Qingyue asked her. His body, with its toned muscles, was covered with unsightly scars. Jiang Du said okay, lightly kissing a scar on his shoulder, her face hot and red.

Wei Qingyue caressed her face, then got out of bed, found the nail clippers, and began to trim Jiang Du's nails.

Her hands felt as if they had no bones, their color like fine porcelain. Just like the rest of her body. Wei Qingyue had always been amazed by her fairness; how a person could be born so fair. But at this moment, she was like a sweet, juicy peach.

Crescent-shaped nail clippings fell. He moved cautiously, not forgetting to ask her, “How am I doing?”

“Not that great, it seems.” Jiang Du lowered her head, flanked by clouds of fluffy hair, her smile hidden, not letting him see her face.

Wei Qingyue didn't believe it. “Nonsense, where did I do a bad job?” He spread her hand open on his palm, pinched it with his thumb, and raised it high towards the light. “They could only be this beautiful. No one else could trim such a perfect curve for you.”

Jiang Du's face was still very, very red. She said in a small voice, “Have you always been this narcissistic?”

Wei Qingyue scoffed, “How can you call this narcissism? It's just an objective fact. I can do anything I set my mind to well.”

“Then how come your startup still went out of business?” Jiang Du continued in a small voice.

Wei Qingyue looked completely unfazed. “A high-priced sell-out. Not everyone is worth that price.”

Jiang Du's gaze fell lightly on the quilt beside them. She said, “Oh, you're so valuable. What do I do if I don't have any money?”

“What?” Wei Qingyue was briefly confused. His robe was worn loosely, hanging open. He seemed to realize what she meant, turning Jiang Du's face towards him. His gaze was earnest yet ambiguous, his breath spraying onto her face. “If it's you, I don't want money. How about I give you money? All my money is yours.”

He spoke as if he were drunk.

Jiang Du had to try hard to suppress her smile.

But Wei Qingyue pulled back. He picked up the freshly cut nail clippings one by one, wrapped them in a tissue, and put them in the bedside table.

Jiang Du tugged at him. “Why are you wrapping those up?”

Wei Qingyue smiled and closed the drawer. He got up to pour her a glass of warm water. Wherever he went, Jiang Du's gaze followed. Wei Qingyue was barefoot, silent on the carpet.

After she finished the water, he pressed down on her again, holding her shoulders and laying her down. He began to touch her. A large section of the bed seemed to collapse.

Jiang Du didn't dare to look into his eyes, her breathing growing more and more rapid.

But Wei Qingyue frowned. He suddenly said, “The sheet seems wet? Didn't you feel it?”

Jiang Du's face flushed completely red. She stiffly pushed him away, sat up, and said, “I think so.”

Wei Qingyue pulled open the closet, took out a new set of sheets and a duvet cover, and tossed them onto Jiang Du's face. He asked her, “I hate changing these things the most. Can you do it?”

Jiang Du pulled the sheets off, her head emerging, her hair a messy chicken's nest.

She started to change the sheets and the duvet cover. Her strength was still so small; she couldn't shake them out properly, and they landed on the bed in a crumpled heap.

Wei Qingyue had been watching with his arms crossed. After just a few seconds, he walked over, squeezed in next to her, and pushed her to one side. “Let me do it.”

He was strong. As he spread the sheet, the airflow it created was cool against her face.

On the sheet they had removed, there was a small, dark red mark. It was very small. Wei Qingyue's movements paused as he brought it closer to examine it. Before he could get a good look, Jiang Du snatched it away. She hugged it to her chest, pursed her lips, and said, “Where's the washing machine? I'll go wash it.”

Wei Qingyue just smiled, a smile like the flickering of a cigarette.

Seeing her heading for the balcony, he blocked her with his arm, stopping her from leaving. His eyes were inexplicably filled with a teasing look. “I haven't asked you yet. Did it feel okay?”

Jiang Du ducked, trying to slip under his arm, but Wei Qingyue pulled her back, trapping her in the corner by the closet. He leaned down, staring at her without blinking, snatched the balled-up heap of sheets and duvet cover from her hands, threw it on the floor, and kicked it away.

“Wash what? Don't wash it.” Wei Qingyue swept her up in his arms, pressed her onto the bed, and while pinching her earlobe, whispered, “Do you want to study me a little?”

Jiang Du's hands frantically struggled free from his grasp. His guidance was very dangerous. Nestled under his control, she couldn't stop trembling and wanted to close her eyes.

Wei Qingyue glanced at the bedside lamp and turned it off. In the darkness, he nibbled her ear and said, “Don't be so afraid of me, baby.”

He was imitating her Grandma, calling her baby.

Jiang Du's heart collapsed just like the bed. She suddenly said, “Wei Qingyue, I'm so happy.” As she spoke, she felt like crying. People seem to get braver in the dark. “Are you happy? I want to know if you're happy.”

A laugh escaped Wei Qingyue's nose. “Silly girl.”

“Are you happy?” Jiang Du asked again.

“Happy.” He slyly hinted, “If you're willing to study me a bit, I'll be even happier.”

And so, Jiang Du was forced to conduct an in-depth study of his body. Wei Qingyue said, "I must return the favor, so I have to study you too, don't I?"

When he woke up the next day, Wei Qingyue's phone was ringing nonstop. Jiang Du hadn't woken up. He got up, took his phone to the balcony to answer the call. There was a last-minute industry salon he needed to attend.

Wei Qingyue wanted to curse.

For the first time, he felt that work was so fucking shitty. Salon, salon, my ass.

What happened to not getting out of bed for three to five days?

He was already out of bed now, and he still had to get food, find clothes, pick out shoes, and there was a baby in bed who needed to be taken care of.

Wei Qingyue went to check the fridge. Inside, there was nothing but mineral water, milk, and sports drinks—all liquids.

He just remembered that he had never once used his kitchen. Sometimes, the housekeeping auntie would bring him a bento she made herself. That was his only chance to eat simple home-cooked meals.

In the end, Wei Qingyue made instant noodles and told Jiang Du to get up and eat.

At night, they were all lovey-dovey and deeply affectionate, but the very next morning, he was making her eat instant noodles.

Jiang Du stared blankly at the instant noodles. She couldn't bring herself to eat them. Wei Qingyue stood with his hands in his pockets, looking like he had a case of morning crankiness. Seeing that she wasn't eating, he took the bowl, had a taste, and said, “Forget it, don't eat this. I'll go downstairs and buy you breakfast. What do you want to eat?”

He remembered her grandfather was a gourmet; Jiang Du's stomach was actually quite pampered.

"Then buy soy milk and boiled corn." Jiang Du thought for a moment. “The soy milk needs sugar. I like it sweet.”

Wei Qingyue had originally planned to establish the persona of the perfect, most devoted boyfriend who could take good care of his girlfriend, but he discovered it was difficult. He couldn't cook; the cooking skills he'd learned while studying in America had long been swept into the dustbin of history.

After he brought the breakfast back, Wei Qingyue ate quickly as usual. Jiang Du was quite refined. She pecked at her food slowly and methodically like a bird, taking a bite of corn, then a sip of soy milk. She chewed the corn slowly, and sipped the soy milk as if trying to discern some special flavor.

The two of them had to start getting used to each other right from the morning. She was unhurried, while he liked to get things done quickly.

Wei Qingyue stared at her, coughed, and said, “Jiang Du, do you always eat this slowly? Aren't you in a hurry for work?”

Jiang Du said seriously, “I don't sleep in, so I have plenty of time for breakfast. I work nine to five, my home is close to the office, and I don't like eating on the subway.”

...

Wei Qingyue smiled and nodded, still staring at her as she ate. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes as he said, “You're a goose, aren't you?”

Jiang Du looked at him, confused.

Wei Qingyue covered his lips with his hand, hiding a teasing smile. “Isn't there that essay in the textbook, Feng Zikai's The White Goose? His goose, it ate so methodically. How did it go? Unhurried, taking a bite of food, then a sip of water, and finally a bite of mud and grass. The only thing missing is me getting you a serving of mud mixed with grass.”

Jiang Du's face reddened. Seeing the growing amusement in his eyes, her face finally took on a nonchalance that effortlessly deflected the tease:

“I may be a goose, but you're a pig.”

Wei Qingyue was very displeased. “How am I a pig?”

“Like those pigs they raise in the countryside, covered in stinky mud. The moment they hear someone bringing food, they rush over and bury their heads in it, gobbling it down. You know pig feed? The owner spends forever mixing it, but the pig finishes it in three minutes. That's how you eat.” Jiang Du suppressed a laugh and continued to nibble her corn.

Wei Qingyue tutted twice and said, “And here I thought you were so kind. You really hold a grudge.” He stood up, flicked her on the head, and walked away. He found a key for her, with a brand new Tweety Bird keychain attached, still in its plastic packaging.

With a clatter, he tossed it onto the table.

“A key to the apartment. You take one.”

Jiang Du weighed it in her palm, smiling with pursed lips. But Wei Qingyue turned back, leaning on the dining table with both arms, and looked at her seriously. “Stop smiling. Can we eat a little faster? I have to drop you off first.”

“Alright then,” Jiang Du said, embarrassed. “Actually, I can take the subway myself. You don't have to go to the trouble.”

Wei Qingyue straightened up. “I want the trouble. I'm happy to do it.”

'He really isn't a likable guy, is he?' Jiang Du thought to herself. Wei Qingyue had already gone to change. He had to dress more formally today, a shirt and dress pants. His height had eventually settled at 189 cm, very tall.

His appearance had indeed changed somewhat. Before, he had the lean air of a youth, but now, he was handsome, sharp, and robust.

Jiang Du saw that his closet wasn't very organized, with clothes for all four seasons hanging mixed together. She said gently, “Should I come over after work and help you organize it?”

Wei Qingyue smiled as he buttoned his shirt, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. “Little housekeeper.”

“Who are you calling a little housekeeper? Such an old-fashioned term.” Jiang Du thought Wei Qingyue's mouth was really quite annoying.

“You,” he answered crisply. Wei Qingyue's waist was truly slender—a lean, powerful kind of slender. She had just been annoyed at the lack of a nice nickname from him, but now, Jiang Du's gaze couldn't help but linger on his waist, her mind filled with a jumble of thoughts.

Wei Qingyue seemed to see right through her, and with a wicked smile, he said, “Tonight, I'll leave the lights on and take off my pants so you can get a good look.”

Jiang Du still got shy easily. She was helpless against him. This was just how Wei Qingyue was. He was so lively, so uninhibited and openly joyful in front of his most intimate partner.

The hostility on him seemed to be gone.

He smiled a lot, joked a lot, and his features would relax.

Jiang Du slowly began to smile too. The two left, and as she sat in his car, Wei Qingyue said, “I'll go to your house tomorrow. Let the two elders know first.”

He was a man of his word. After dropping Jiang Du off, he arranged for Old Luo to help him buy some gifts.

Old Luo asked him, “President Wei, are you visiting a friend, or...?”

“Meeting the parents. But, my fiancée's family is just her grandparents, two elderly people. You can decide what to buy for them, I don't know about these things.” Wei Qingyue's tone was light, his steps even lighter than his tone.

In his entire life, he had never felt so light.