As soon as Cheng Yi appeared, Tan Bo led the way, setting off the party poppers in his hand.
Everyone shouted "Happy Birthday," pushing the atmosphere to a climax.
Xinan pushed the cake cart step by step toward Cheng Yi, then clearly and slowly said, "Brother Yi, happy birthday."
She was a bit shy and timid, but she didn't want to wait any longer.
Xinan looked up into Cheng Yi's eyes, her voice clear and not the least bit cloying, "Brother Yi, I like you. Can you be with me?"
Her gaze was very firm, Xinan knew clearly that she would never be as brave as she was at that moment.
With those words, the entire private room exploded with a bang, everyone was shouting, "Together, together."
However, the young man was not moved, nor did he succumb to the pressure of the crowd and accept her confession.
"I'm sorry, I don't like you." Although it was only a few short words, each one was heartbreaking.
Cheng Yi walked away without looking back, not even stepping into the private room; Xinan stood still for a long time, unable to recover, until finally, Tan Bo took her home.
After that, Xinan and Cheng Yi never contacted each other again, and a few months later, Cheng Yi went abroad.
And that parting lasted five years.
"Starting today, you'll move in and live with me," Cheng Yi's voice carried a commanding tone that brooked no argument.
Xinan frowned slightly upon hearing this, "What about the Xi Family..."
"I always keep my word."
Xinan knew Cheng Yi's character well; anything he promised, he would surely do.
Cheng Yi lived in Luming Academy in the Northern Suburb, the top luxury residence in Jing City surrounded by the best educational resources. This apartment was a birthday gift from his parents for his eighteenth birthday. Although he now had many properties under his name, he mostly lived here, and by now, the price of this place was probably already over a hundred million.
The car slowly stopped at the villa's entrance. Xinan looked up at the incredibly luxurious villa, pausing for a moment—this was not her first time here.
She had stayed here for a few days during high school.
Back then, just after Cheng Yi had finished his college entrance exams, she, Tan Bo, and a few other close friends often came here to visit Cheng Yi.
Sometimes, if they stayed late, they simply spent the night here.
Their relationship had been so good back then; she even vividly remembered the young man lounging on the couch, legs crossed, watching TV, listening to music, leisurely holding a game console.
"Why are you still standing outside?" Cheng Yi impatiently urged, one hand in his pocket.
"Oh." Xinan followed him slowly into the villa.
The villa was also luxuriously decorated, with a base of light colors, grey to moderate, and brown as an accent. The floor was laid with marble that was simple yet subtly luxurious, matched with a gray and white carpet, elegant and stylish, matching the owner's temperament and character.
Xinan casually surveyed the villa; it was exactly the same as before, even the placement of the vases hadn't changed.
"I've had Ye Rui move your things to the master bedroom. From today onwards, you're in charge of all my daily needs," he spoke officially like discussing a contract: "Your phone must be on for twenty hours a day, don't get too close to other men, and if I find out you're implicated in a scandal with some male celebrity, you will face the consequences yourself."
Xinan felt less like she was getting married and more like she was selling herself.
But then again, wasn't their marriage just a transaction? Simply fulfilling mutual needs.
Cheng Yi, stepping on the staircase, suddenly turned around as if he'd just remembered something, "Oh right, I don't like to make my private life public."
"I understand," Xinan replied, realizing they were having a secret marriage. This way was better, sparing them many unnecessary troubles.
—
In the following days, Xinan saw neither hide nor hair of Cheng Yi, nor did she receive any news about him.
Recently, to help her better understand the script, Ding Lan had postponed all her commercial activities, so she spent almost every day in the villa.
Because Cheng Yi didn't like having strangers around, even though he was very wealthy, he only hired a part-time cleaner and had no live-in housekeeper.
Thus, the vast villa was now occupied by only Xinan.
As she was wondering whether to give Cheng Yi a call to check on him, her phone rang.
"Nannan, it's dad."
Xinan's eyes flickered slightly, "Is something the matter?"
"Nothing important, just wanted to call and see how you're getting along with Brother Yi, he's treating you well, right?" Xi Kanglei asked.
Xinan's voice hesitated slightly, "He... he's treating me quite well."
"That's good to know, knowing you're happy puts me at ease."
Xinan was about to hang up the phone, but hesitated for a moment before asking, "Dad, how is Tianyi doing now...."
"Tianyi is now supported by the Cheng Family and the situation has improved a lot. It won't be long before things stabilize," Xi Kanglei said. He had devoted so much effort to Tianyi over the years and was very happy to see it slowly getting better.
"That's good." Cheng Yi had indeed done it, pulling a company on the brink of bankruptcy back from the cliff.
"Please thank Ah Yi for me when you have the time."
"I will."
How should she thank him?
Cheng Yi lacked nothing, and sending gifts felt too mundane.
After much thought, Xinan finally decided to cook a dinner for Cheng Yi.
Today was the third meeting Cheng Yi had chaired, and the company veterans had been arguing over a harbor project for two hours.
He was tired of listening and began looking at his phone when suddenly, a message from Xinan popped up on WeChat.
Xinan: Are you coming back tonight?
Cheng Yi stared at the message on his phone for a while before replying with a question mark.
Xinan: I made sweet and sour pork, steamed clams, spicy chicken offal... Will you come back?
Cheng Yi silently curved the corners of his mouth and typed back, "I finish work at eight."
Everyone in the meeting room looked at each other, not knowing who their boss was messaging that made him show such an expression. After all, Cheng Yi was known for being cold and precise at the company.
Xinan, satisfied, looked at the lavish dinner on the table and glanced at the time; just a few minutes until Cheng Yi was off work.
Cheng Yi's stomach was famously picky; even during his school days, he was quite particular about food. She wondered if he would like the dishes.
Xinan went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of red wine, recommended by a store clerk; she wasn't very knowledgeable about wine either.
Suddenly, the sound of unlocking the door came from the entrance.
Wasn't he supposed to finish work in a few more minutes? Why was he back so early?
Cheng Yi took off his coat, changed into slippers, and walked straight to the living room. Seeing the fragrant dishes on the dining table, he raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised, "Did you make all this?"
Xinan nodded and hummed softly.
"Go wash your hands and get ready to eat." Xinan brought the last hot dish to the table.
At the dinner table, seeing Cheng Yi pick up his chopsticks and methodically put a piece of food into his mouth, Xinan couldn't help asking, "Is it good?"
Looking into Xinan's eyes, twinkling like stars, Cheng Yi paused for a moment before slowly answering, "Not bad."
To receive that comment from him was high praise indeed. Xinan finally relaxed, having been worried that he might not like it.
Xinan was very happy inside and even voluntarily served Cheng Yi a bowl of chicken soup.
"Thank you," she muttered in the middle of the meal.
Cheng Yi, still chewing on his soup, paused and said, "You don't need to thank me. We just need each other, and as a businessman, I don't make unprofitable deals."
With those words, the atmosphere instantly froze.
"Oh." Afterwards, Xinan quietly continued eating without saying another word.
After finishing the meal, Cheng Yi leisurely put down his chopsticks and instructed indifferently, "Wash the dishes after eating."
"I cook such a great meal and you can't even say thank you, and now you're asking me to do the dishes, ungrateful." Xinan muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?" Cheng Yi's eyes narrowed, his voice growing colder.
"I said I understand," Xinan quickly corrected herself.
Cheng Yi nodded and went upstairs.
When Xinan finished cleaning the kitchen and went upstairs, Cheng Yi was already asleep.
They had been married for so many days, and this was the first time she and Cheng Yi had slept in the same bed.
Staring at his handsome sleeping face for a while, Xinan turned and went to take a hot shower in the bathroom, having spent an afternoon in the kitchen covered with the smell of cooking oil.
After her bath, Xinan carefully climbed into bed, careful not to wake the person beside her.
Just as she was about to drift off, a pair of strong, warm hands suddenly wrapped around her, pulling her entire body into an embrace.
Cheng Yi suddenly turned over, pinning her beneath him, his eyes flashing with intense heat.
His movements were no longer as rough as before, and towards the end, Xinan even voluntarily hooked her arms around his neck.