Chapter 19: My Wife

Today was the third-day return visit to the bride's parents' home after the wedding.

Wen Ruan replied with a simple "OK" to Min Qing and turned off the phone screen. She stood up, stretched leisurely, and opened the curtains of the bay window.

The rain last night didn't affect today's fine weather. There were already colorful clouds edging the horizon.

Since coming back from the south, Wen Ruan hadn't seen the sky with the warm sun shining high for a long time, and her mood improved a lot.

There was a rustling sound outside the room. Wen Ruan put away her laptop and opened the door. It was the maid cleaning the room.

"Madam, did we disturb your rest?" Aunt Li clearly didn't expect Wen Ruan to get up so early. Her busy hands paused slightly. She stepped forward to greet Wen Ruan and waved at the other maids who were still cleaning. The others quickly and nimbly gathered their things and went downstairs.

"No, I always wake up early." She actually hadn't slept much at all.

"Madam, didn't you have a good rest last night?" Aunt Li smiled faintly.

"?" Wen Ruan didn't understand.

Aunt Li smiled and pointed at the dark circles under Wen Ruan's eyes.

Wen Ruan immediately understood and quickly touched under her eyes, feeling annoyed. "Is it very obvious?"

Aunt Li smiled gently. "It's not too bad. I'll boil an egg. It's very effective for getting rid of dark circles."

"OK. Thank you." Wen Ruan thanked her. She glanced at the master bedroom next door which was tightly closed. He Yanci probably hadn't come back, right?

What if he had come back and was busy?

They were supposed to go to her parents' home today, so she'd better ask.

After some hesitation, Wen Ruan asked Aunt Li, "Has the master come back?"

"No, he hasn't." Aunt Li replied awkwardly. After saying that, she realized it wasn't appropriate and added, "The master might still be busy. Do you want me to call the master?"

"No need." Wen Ruan lowered her eyelids and replied softly.

*

Aunt Li was very efficient. Soon the egg was boiled. Wen Ruan sat on the sofa in the living room and slowly applied the warm egg to her eyes.

The effect was quite obvious. After about forty minutes, the dark circles under her eyes had significantly faded.

At around six o'clock, Wen Ruan nestled on the sofa and drank a cup of warm milk. Another message from Min Qing came in:

[Ruanruan, are you up? Ask Yanci about his taste preferences. I remember when he was a child, he ate very light food and couldn't tolerate even the slightest bit of saltiness.]

Wen Ruan took a look at the message. There was an indescribable feeling about Min Qing's message. What was there to ask? The person wasn't even around.

She felt an indescribable taste in her heart, but she regained her calmness in just a few seconds.

The gifts for the return visit to her parents' home had already been arranged. They were all prepared according to the proper procedures and gift lists of the two families, so Wen Ruan didn't have to worry about it.

An hour later, Wen Ruan got herself ready and prepared to go back to her parents' home.

"Madam, it's still early. Why don't you have breakfast before leaving? Your stomach will feel uncomfortable if you don't eat breakfast." The two families lived close to each other, and it was only an hour's drive.

The male master didn't come home yesterday because of something at the company and still hadn't come back from last night until now.

However, no matter how busy he was, he should have taken a break during the newlywed period.

The affairs of the masters were not something that outsiders like them could interfere in.

They who worked for the housekeeping company knew very well that a marriage alliance in the wealthy family was never that simple.

It was just a bit regrettable. The mistress was gentle and beautiful, and the male master was handsome and a gentleman. They seemed like a perfect match in every way.

"My mother urged me to go back early in the morning, saying that if I'm late, she won't save any food for me." Wen Ruan smiled indifferently.

Aunt Li was an experienced person and knew more than most young people. She understood how important the return visit to the bride's parents' home was for the bride, especially for a prestigious family like the Wen family. She still tried to persuade, "Madam, it's better to wait for the master. The return visit is a big event. It's more auspicious and brings good luck if the two of you go back together."

Good luck and auspiciousness.

She and He Yanci probably didn't need to seek such good omens.

"It doesn't matter. He's quite busy." Wen Ruan pulled the corner of her lips and said softly, "Everything is already prepared. There's nothing missing."

Aunt Li still said, "Madam, you'd better give the master a call. The master is a well-organized person and doesn't seem like someone who would neglect the proper etiquette in this regard. It's inevitable that he might forget the time because of being too busy. He still needs a reminder." She wasn't wrong. Although she hadn't worked here for a long time, Mr. He, though giving people a sense of distance, really didn't seem like an irresponsible person.

In Wen Ruan's view, He Yanci certainly wasn't someone who would be negligent in etiquette. He was even a person who paid great attention to etiquette and rules. It's just that it wasn't that important.

Both emotionally and rationally, she really shouldn't go back alone. Not to mention that she couldn't lie to his parents, but it would also make their family lose face. Then there would be meetings between the two families, which would be a headache.

Seeing that Wen Ruan was hesitant, Aunt Li smiled and said, "Madam, I'll go and get your phone for you."

Wen Ruan looked at He Yanci's number on the phone. After a moment of hesitation, she dialed the number.

*

Dingxin Group Building

The tense atmosphere in the research room lasted all night and continued until the data on multiple central control panels on the large screen stabilized one by one. All the senior executives and researchers present heaved a sigh of relief.

The operation that had lasted for more than ten hours was a complete success.

All the indicators had returned to normal, and the patient had no abnormalities.

Yan Yue stretched his limbs and looked extremely relaxed. "Finally, everything is okay. If there had been a medical accident at this time, I don't know how those media would have written about it. You were just in time."

Qi Lanxi, wearing a white coat, came out of the laboratory, took off her mask and gloves, and washed her hands. "Even if I hadn't arrived in time, you already had a solution, didn't you?"

Although that was true, if Qi Lanxi hadn't brought back the latest test results in time.

They would have had to spend at least another week rearranging the experiment, and many plans would have been postponed. Although, as He Yanci said, postponing wasn't necessarily a bad thing, and there was no need to rush things.

After all, for those of them who spent a lot of money on research, every extra minute they could gain was equivalent to life and money.

"I won't say much. Your bonus and the celebration banquet are guaranteed." Yan Yue didn't say more and rubbed his shoulders with his backhand. "I'm so tired. I can't take it anymore. I have to go out and stretch my muscles. My whole body feels like it's falling apart."

"You really lack exercise." Qi Lanxi glanced at Yan Yue. "I saw a lot of sports equipment in your house. Haven't you used them? I'm really worried that you'll enter the stage of middle-aged men getting fat in advance."

Yan Yue couldn't stand hearing this and clicked his tongue. "Of course I've used them. I pay great attention to my health, okay? It's just that I can't compare with you, the sports ambassador."

"Compared with our boss, I'm nothing." Qi Lanxi smiled.

Yan Yue curled his lips. "Come to think of it, I really miss the days in college. At that time, neither of you would admit defeat to the other. You were completely two different landscapes on campus."

He Yanci and Yan Yue got to know each other while studying abroad. They were college classmates. He Yanci had been devoted to medical technology research since college, and Yan Yue was also interested in this field, so he had always followed He Yanci's work. Currently, several major research projects in the country were in He Yanci's hands.

Qi Lanxi was one grade lower than them and came to their school later. It was said that she had been in a different major before and changed her major when she came to their school.

Later, Yan Yue accidentally learned that He Yanci's mother and Qi Lanxi's mother were college classmates and had a good relationship, and the two families often visited each other.

Qi Lanxi found it funny. "Come to think of it, it was me who was being competitive with him. He didn't take me seriously at all. Every time, my research results were defeated by his."

Yan Yue laughed. "Then you've wronged Yanci. You're a leading figure in the industry and a rare talent. Yanci has always cherished talents."

Qi Lanxi's smile didn't reach her eyes, and she didn't respond. She changed the topic. "Where is the boss now?" She had rushed back in a hurry in the middle of the night and dived into the laboratory, so she didn't have a chance to meet He Yanci.

Yan Yue propped up his tired eyes and said, "The several authoritative medical researchers didn't sleep all night last night. The boss accompanied them to have breakfast in the restaurant and just sent them off."

"Oh. Then I'll wait here for the boss to come out and report some work to him." Qi Lanxi gestured at the documents in her hand.

"You can go in. The boss should be free now. He might not be available later. I'll go and buy a coffee." Yan Yue turned back and asked her, "What's your taste?"

"The usual, an Americano latte, thank you." Qi Lanxi said.

"OK." Yan Yue replied.

"Vice President Yan, bring a cup of Americano for the boss." Qi Lanxi called out.

Yan Yue nodded with a smile.

*

Wen Ruan dialed He Yanci's phone several times, but no one answered.

Just as she was about to hang up, the call was answered.

"Hello, who is this?"

It wasn't He Yanci who answered the phone. It was a refreshing and capable female voice on the other end of the line.

Wen Ruan's eyes fixed slightly. Her heart and fingertips trembled simultaneously. She held her breath and didn't know how to react for a moment.

Since there was no response from Wen Ruan, the person on the other end repeated the question. "Are you looking for Yanci?"

Yanci—

The person who could address He Yanci like this must have an extraordinary relationship with him.

Wen Ruan opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. She couldn't say anything at all.

The woman on the other end of the phone looked up at the closed lounge and then said, politely and decently, "Oh. He's taking a shower. Is there anything I can help you with? I can convey the message for you."

Taking a shower?

Wen Ruan could instantly imagine the scene of the woman looking towards the bathroom. Her newlywed husband, who had been intimate with her and treated her gently, was now with another woman.

She thought of what Tang Suiyi had said yesterday afternoon about He Yanci hiding women in his company.

Taking a shower early in the morning, and the woman's voice indeed carried a hint of tiredness. In the adult world, everyone knew what could cause such a state.

Wen Ruan felt uncomfortable all over, as if she had been disgusted.

She smiled self-deprecatingly. At this moment, she really admired the self-control of those married couples in arranged marriages who lived their own separate lives. Wen Ruan felt that she didn't have enough self-control and was somewhat uncomfortable.

With that discomfort, Wen Ruan composed herself and took a few seconds to calm down.

Wen Ruan felt that she had been abrupt after all, and there was no particular emotion in her. She said gently, "Well, there's no need to trouble you. It's nothing important."

Wen Ruan hung up the phone quickly. Her expression wasn't very good. She collected herself, adjusted her emotions, and said calmly, "He's still busy. He'll come over when he's done."

Wen Ruan let out a sigh. She had made the call, and the woman beside He Yanci should convey the message to him.

Whether He Yanci would go to her parents' home or not was up to him. It didn't matter if the message wasn't conveyed. She didn't care.

"That's good." Aunt Li, who didn't know the twists and turns, felt much relieved after hearing this. She just thought it would be best if the two of them could go back together for the return visit. It was auspicious and full of a sense of ceremony.

"Put all the things in the car." Wen Ruan told the driver. She held an exquisite handbag gracefully with her fair little hand, and walked outside with small steps in high heels, looking dignified and generous.

*

After seeing off several medical authorities, He Yanci rubbed his tall nose bridge and turned his head to smell his body. There was a mixture of the smell of formalin and coffee, which wasn't very pleasant.

Wen Ruan had always been delicate and disliked and couldn't stand these smells the most.

It was not yet seven o'clock. At this time, Wen Ruan was probably sleeping soundly.

Just thinking of Wen Ruan, with her small nose, small mouth, and long curled eyelashes, looking like a small ball on their big bed, with a soft body that smelled sweet, He Yanci let out a low sigh and a smile, and his cold face showed a trace of warmth.

Today was the day to go back to the Wen family's home. He Yanci thought of taking a shower first and then going back to the villa to pick up Wen Ruan and go to the Wen family's home together. The time would be just right.

He Yanci went to the lounge in his office, took a quick shower, and changed into a set of clothes.

The tightly closed door of He Yanci's lounge opened from the inside. Qi Lanxi, who was sitting in the sofa area reading a medical magazine, suddenly looked over.

Their eyes met in the air. Qi Lanxi's heart tightened, and she avoided his gaze first.

There was no special emotion on He Yanci's cold face. He walked towards the sofa area with his long legs and asked her in a calm voice, "When did you get back?"

Qi Lanxi stood up from the sofa. She didn't mention that she had come back last night and entered the laboratory. She showed her usual professional smile. "I just arrived. That's why I rushed back to report to you, boss. This is the latest test report. The data test has been completely passed, and the remote surgery operation can be launched at any time."

He Yanci pointed at Qi Lanxi's sofa with his long fingers, indicating for her to sit down.

Qi Lanxi handed the documents to He Yanci and sat down on her own.

He Yanci placed the coat draped over his arm on the armrest of the sofa, crossed his long legs, leaned his tall body against the back of the sofa, put the documents on his lap, and casually flipped through them. It was almost the same as the electronic version he received an hour ago.

As He Yanci lowered his head to read the documents, Qi Lanxi's tense state relaxed a lot. Her eyes began to boldly look at He Yanci sitting on the opposite sofa.

Qi Lanxi hadn't been in the country for more than half a year. She had been monitoring the experimental data in a pharmaceutical factory abroad and hadn't seen this man in front of her for more than half a year.

He Yanci was as indifferent and noble as ever. He was wearing a simple dark-colored shirt and a pair of gray trousers that wrapped around his long legs, setting off his meticulous, steady, and reserved demeanor.

Probably because of his background from a prominent family, there wasn't much of the arrogance of a businessman on He Yanci. Instead, he looked more like a surgeon holding a scalpel or a university professor.

He Yanci had always paid attention to exercise, and there was no excess fat on his body. The well-fitting shirt only wrapped around his smooth muscle lines, and his every gesture exuded an innate noble temperament.

"You've worked hard. It's excellent." He Yanci closed the documents and looked up. "When you have time, call Cheng Lian and the others to give you a welcome-back dinner."

Upon hearing this, Qi Lanxi came back to her senses and smiled. "Then I won't be polite."

He Yanci didn't say anything more and bent down to pick up his personal belongings placed on the coffee table.

He Yanci had just taken a shower, and there was a faint smell of agarwood on him, which was captivating and made her heart flutter.

Qi Lanxi noticed that the agarwood bead bracelet that He Yanci had worn on his right wrist for many years wasn't on his wrist. She didn't think too much about it.

Seeing He Yanci unlocking his phone, Qi Lanxi thought of something. "Oh, by the way, your phone rang just now, and I answered it."

He Yanci didn't think there was anything wrong at first. The phone in his hand was his personal phone.

There was a trace of change on his calm face, and it was hard to tell what kind of emotion it was.

He said in a deep voice, "Lanxi, don't touch my personal phone next time."

Qi Lanxi was a bit surprised and immediately apologized. "I'm sorry. I didn't know it was your personal phone. It rang for a long time, and I was afraid it was something urgent, so I answered it."

She and He Yanci were alumni from university and had worked together for several years. Leaving aside the relationship between their two families, they were quite familiar with each other.

She didn't expect that just by answering a phone call, she would be specifically reminded. She felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart.

"Was the call important?" Qi Lanxi pursed her lips and forced a smile, which was somewhat 试探性的.

Qi Lanxi felt an intuitive sense of urgency welling up in her heart. She thought that she couldn't keep waiting for He Yanci to turn around and look at her.

A man like He Yanci was always high and mighty, with a strong sense of control and a desire to conquer. If she didn't take the initiative to move forward, she might never be able to wait for him to take the initiative.

She didn't believe that after working together for so long, He Yanci really had no feelings for her at all.

When the 5D technology was perfectly presented to the world, she would express her feelings to He Yanci. She couldn't delay it any longer.

Qi Lanxi had never expected that He Yanci's answer would crush all her thoughts to the bottom.

"My wife." He Yanci answered as casually as ever, without any intention of hiding it.