Chapter 31: A Sharp Pang Struck Her Heart

Tang Yuan nodded, her body pressing tightly against his.

His physique was truly impressive. Even though her consciousness was drifting, she could vaguely sense the perfection of the frame before her.

He had said he would use his hands, and he had truly meant it.

Tang Yuan buried her face in his shoulder, shivering like a small kitten. One of his hands supported her waist, while the other remained tirelessly attentive.

An hour later, her chaotic world began to regain a sliver of clarity. Outside, the rain continued to fall, and the curtains billowed in the air. She could still clearly feel the lingering strangeness in her own body. A jolt went through her as all the disordered scenes from before flooded into her mind.

She shoved him away abruptly.

He sat on the edge of the bed in the dim light of a single bedside lamp. He raised his fingertips; they were glistening, as were his taut, defined wrists. Tang Yuan’s cheeks flushed a deep, explosive red. She clutched her coat tightly and swallowed hard.

Fu Yansheng wiped his hands casually on his shirt—a loose, black athletic top he had changed into before heading out.

"Do you still want some water?" he asked.

Tang Yuan’s palms were slick with sweat, her mind racing with thoughts of how to handle the situation. A glass of water was held out before her lips. Standing by the bed in the hazy light, he looked truly striking. She didn't take the glass, wishing only that the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

Fu Yansheng held it out for a moment, and realizing she wasn't going to move, he placed the plastic cup on the bedside table. He sat on the edge of the bed for a long time before finally saying, "I'm sorry."

Tang Yuan’s heart gave a jolt. She took a deep breath. What was she doing? Was she really going to make someone younger than her apologize? It was obvious she had been the one compromised, and the memories in her mind told her clearly that she had been the one to initiate the request.

He had not taken advantage of her.

She gripped the quilt, feeling suddenly powerless. "I’m the one who should be apologizing. Just... let me collect myself."

Things had developed in a way that was entirely beyond her expectations, leaving her completely blindsided. How was she supposed to face him from now on? She raised a hand to rub her temples, and in a daze, she heard him say, "The films I’ve shot before... they didn't have any kissing scenes."

She looked over and saw him gripping the mineral water bottle, appearing somewhat uncomfortable.

Tang Yuan realized what he meant. Had she actually stolen his first kiss?

The plastic bottle in his hand crumpled under his grip, emitting a sharp, crinkling sound that was piercingly clear in the quiet room. Tang Yuan sat on the bed, the top buttons of her shirt still undone. Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to recover from the recent intensity.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her, and a warmth was left against her lips.

"I'm still clean," he said.

With those words, he stood up, picked up her trousers from where they had fallen, and laid them on the bed. Tang Yuan opened her mouth, but for a moment, she couldn't find the words to respond.

The room had been locked from the inside, but he opened the door now and stepped out. The entire floor had been booked by the film crew; there were no empty rooms, and she had no idea where he would go.

Tang Yuan sat on the bed for a long time, wishing she could slap herself. She hurried to get up, and seeing a patch of moisture on the sheets, her face burned red again. She rushed to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

After bathing, she felt refreshed, and the initial weakness had passed. She turned on all the lights in the room, as if the brightness could disperse the lingering atmosphere of intimacy. But outside, the storm still raged. Memories of her cupping his face and kissing him flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but cover her eyes.

She couldn't forget it. Even though her mind had been blurred at the time, she knew how dedicated he had been while tending to her. Behind those unpracticed movements lay a profound, raw innocence.

Tang Yuan opened the window, and a gust of cold, wet wind rushed in, finally helping her calm her racing thoughts.

Her phone rang just then. It was already nine in the evening; she had never been out this late before. She took a deep breath and saw that it was a call from Shen Zhou. For some reason, a flash of guilt crossed her eyes.

She pressed the answer button, and his voice came through. "Where are you?"

Tang Yuan’s voice held a lingering, sweet exhaustion. "At the studio. Chen Meng was discharged today, so I'm planning out the upcoming schedule with her."

He didn't suspect a thing. He tossed his loosened tie aside and asked, "Do you remember where you put that suit you ironed for me last month?"

Tang Yuan lowered her lashes. It was a light brown suit that Shen Zhou rarely wore; he usually opted for darker, more steady colors that weren't as flashy. "It's in the garment bag on the far right side of your closet."

Shen Zhou opened the closet to the side, and sure enough, he saw the suit there. His heart softened. "You remember that clearly? I’m going on a business trip to the neighboring city later. Don't stay out this late next time."

His tone was gentle. It was clear he was in a good mood tonight, likely because his collaboration with Tang Shangxu had been finalized.

Tang Yuan listened to the sound of the rain outside and decided to strike while the iron was hot. "Hubby, my studio is still in its early stages. It’s going to be a bit busy for a while."

Shen Zhou lit a cigarette and raked his hair back. His back bore scratch marks left by another woman, looking incredibly feral. He understood what Tang Yuan meant; she wanted more time to gain experience outside. But he had always believed that a delicate flower like her belonged at home—perhaps it was simply because she hadn't faced many setbacks yet.

When she didn't get an answer, she knew he disagreed. Shen Zhou was deeply chauvinistic by nature, holding one standard for the lovers he kept outside and another for the wife he kept at home.

"Yuanyuan, let this be the only time."

She gripped her phone tighter, a suffocating weight pressing on her chest. He could spend months at a time with his mistresses without coming home, yet she couldn't even stay out a little late without issue.

She took a deep breath, and his voice continued. "The Tang family thinks you're obedient, and I think you're obedient, which is why you were able to marry me. Yuanyuan, I just want a wife who stays safely at home. These matters of business are not things for you women to meddle in."

He took a drag of his cigarette. Coming home to an empty house tonight had left him inexplicably irritable. Even a pet, if kept long enough, becomes a habit one cannot break. It seemed he had given her too much freedom lately.

"I’ll bring you a gift when I return from my trip. Stay home and be good."

Tang Yuan said nothing, merely curling her lip. After hanging up, she looked out at the wind and rain, sighing.

The rain stopped at six in the morning. When she went downstairs, she saw Fu Yansheng curled up on a chair in the lobby, a book covering his face. The lobby lights were dim, and the front desk clerk was nodding off. His legs were long, but the lobby chair was too small to accommodate them comfortably.

She walked over slowly and removed the book from his face. As that stunningly beautiful face was revealed, her heart was gripped tight.