"Bo Xubai, what exactly are you trying to say?"
A woman's shrill demand came from upstairs.
The nanny squad pretended to be busy, but every one of them had her ears pricked up, listening to the drama.
"They've been arguing for half an hour, haven't they?"
"Longer than that. They've been fighting for two days. They nearly came to blows last night."
"Why? Weren't the eldest young master and her getting along really well? Why have they suddenly started having problems?"
"It's probably because of the one in the annex..."
"The annex? That bastard?"
"Shh!" One of the nannies hurriedly glanced around and lowered her voice in warning. "Still calling him a bastard? Careful the young mistress doesn't hear you and teach you a lesson!"
"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen the young mistress in three days."
"I heard the one in the annex went to the Wen Family's this afternoon to pick her up. Do you think he'll even get through their door?"
"Of course not. It's not like you don't know how much the young mistress hates that illegitimate son. That scene she made at dinner a few days ago was probably just her sulking at the eldest young master. She must have gone back to her parents' because of him, too."
As though confirming the maid's guess, Jiang Tingwan sobbed and shouted upstairs, "What about you? Where did you go today? Bo Xubai, how much longer are you going to keep lying to me? Mengmeng even took pictures of you going to the Wen Family's!"
Bo Xubai explained helplessly, "I was only passing by."
Jiang Tingwan sneered. "Passing by? Bo Group and the Wen Family's place are in opposite directions. That's one hell of a detour!"
Somewhat at a loss for words, Bo Xubai pinched the bridge of his nose. "Jiang Tingwan, I'm asking you why you went to see that bastard again a few nights ago. Don't change the subject!"
Jiang Tingwan looked at him. After a long while, she smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. "Bo Xubai, if you regret it, let Zhizhi and me go home. I don't have the time or the inclination to be part of you and Wen Ning's little game... I'm tired. I'm sleeping with Zhizhi tonight."
"Wanwan!" Bo Xubai reached out.
Jiang Tingwan turned away resolutely, and he only managed to catch a corner of her clothes.
The study fell deathly silent.
Half a minute later, Bo Xubai kicked over the low coffee table and cursed under his breath, his face dark. "Fuck!"
He must have been possessed today, actually fucking believing He Cheng and those other idiots and going to the Wen Family's.
Bo Xubai had been in a terrible mood lately.
First his love life had gone wrong, and now the joint project with the Wen Family had run into trouble.
His father had flown abroad four days ago and would return in a week.
If his father found out he had botched this project, he would die a horrible death!
Seeing his bad mood, He Cheng had arranged a drinking session last night.
After listening to his drunken complaints, the others had analyzed things for him one by one.
In the end, they concluded that Wen Ning was the source of it all.
"Think about it. There were no problems with this project before, so why did trouble start the moment Wen Ning went home? Those two old foxes in the Wen Family are famous for doting on their daughter. Wen Ning must have gone back and tattled!" He Cheng gulped down some liquor. "And isn't Wen Ning the reason things have gone wrong between you and Jiang Tingwan, too? Have you forgotten why Wen Ning married that bastard? If Wen Ning could handle him properly, wouldn't both your career and your love life be smooth sailing?"
"So, A-Xu, what you need to do now is-sweet-talk her."
"That young mistress is so desperately in love with you that one crook of your finger would have her kneeling down to lick your boots. Whisper a few words in her ear, and she'd even help you finish that bastard off!"
"So stop putting on airs. Just buy her some random present and give her a little sweetness. Wouldn't that cut through all your problems like a knife through bamboo?"
Bo Xubai was dizzy from drinking and took most of their words to heart. But remembering how Wen Ning had kept calling that bastard her husband a couple of days ago, he frowned again. "But lately, she seems to be treating that bastard... Besides, he said he was going to pick Wen Ning up tomorrow."
The moment he finished speaking, everyone burst out laughing.
"Are you stupid? She's just trying to make you jealous. Women only know these little tricks."
"A-Xu, are you kidding? That young mistress hates that bastard even more than we do!"
"She's clearly waiting for you to coax her, hahaha!"
"That bastard will only get thrown out! I'll put it right here: if he manages to bring her back, I'll livestream myself eating shit!"
"Then again, A-Xu, won't you really consider keeping both? Someone like Jiang Tingwan is suited to marrying and settling down with, while the young mistress would make a nice little mistress on the side. Besides, that's the renowned Wen Family of Yanjing. As long as you keep Wen Ning firmly under your thumb, won't the entire Wen Group be yours for the taking?"
Bo Xubai's face instantly darkened at those words. "Don't ever let me hear anything like that again."
Yet that very night, he dreamed of having a woman in each arm, sneaking off during working hours to see Wen Ning and returning at night to dine with Jiang Tingwan. Before long, Bo Group swallowed up Wen Group, and his father's eyes were filled with nothing but appreciation as he said, "A-Xu, you truly live up to being my only child..."
After waking that morning, Bo Xubai stared at the ceiling for a long time.
On the one hand, the dream left him feeling guilty; on the other, the smooth-sailing life in it had felt incredibly satisfying.
After that, he drove to the Wen Family estate without anyone knowing...
Almost as soon as he arrived, he saw Bo Yan get out of a taxi.
Bo Yan really had come to pick Wen Ning up!
He scoffed and stayed in the car rather than getting out right away, ready to watch that bastard get swept out the door.
But half an hour passed without him seeing the Wen Family throw Bo Yan out.
Bo Xubai gritted his teeth. He wanted to drive away, but he couldn't accept it.
Just then, he saw Wen Ning return!
Delight rose in him. He knew it! The only reason Bo Yan hadn't been thrown out was that Wen Ning wasn't home!
Now that Wen Ning was back, Bo Yan would definitely be kicked out!
Bo Xubai waited and waited. The sun sank behind the western hills, but Bo Yan didn't come out.
Darkness fell, and Bo Yan still didn't come out.
With the night growing late, Bo Xubai finally accepted the fact that not only had Wen Ning not thrown Bo Yan out, he was even staying the night with the Wen Family!
Bo Xubai was inexplicably furious!
What right did that bastard Bo Yan have to stay overnight at the Wen Family's?
And that woman Wen Ning-hadn't she said she loved him so much her heart ached unbearably?!
Brimming with anger, Bo Xubai returned to the Bo Family estate.
Who would have thought he would run into Jiang Tingwan coming back from the annex the moment he entered?
Both had guilty secrets. Unable to suppress his temper, Bo Xubai was the first to light the fuse.
War broke out...
In the end, one spent the entire night washing her face with tears, while the other spent it drowning his sorrows in cigarettes and alcohol.
Meanwhile, the very person who had sparked their conflict enjoyed a wonderful night's sleep.
Wen Ning woke up in Bo Yan's arms the next morning.
Seeing that she had locked herself around Bo Yan with both her arms and legs, Wen Ning felt a stab of guilt.
Then she noticed the arm Bo Yan had draped over her waist, and her heart gave an involuntary leap.
She looked up for a furtive glance. Bo Yan's breathing was even; he hadn't woken yet.
With no time to admire the beauty, Wen Ning carefully disentangled herself from Bo Yan, then gently lifted his arm and put it back.
Finally, she pinched up the corner of the quilt and rushed into the bathroom.
Little did she know that the moment she entered the bathroom, the person lying in bed opened his eyes.
Bo Yan rubbed his temples, then touched his burning ears, a trace of chagrin flickering in his eyes.
How had he fallen asleep?
And lying in the same bed as this woman, under such a horrifying quilt, at that...
His insomnia had always been severe. How had he...
Bo Yan raked a hand through his hair in irritation. Hearing the bathroom door, he immediately lowered his hand and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
Wait, Bo Yan, are you sick in the head? Why the hell are you pretending to sleep?!
But soon, Bo Yan's mental storm came to a halt.
A faint peach fragrance drifted toward him, and the woman's sweet breath brushed his face.
Bo Yan's body went rigid, yet his heartbeat instantly lost its rhythm.
Why was this woman suddenly so close?
It was first thing in the morning. Could she-could she have some shame?
Remembering those perverted remarks in Wen Ning's diary, so blunt about wanting to "devour" him, Bo Yan's heart pounded.
He wanted to open his eyes, wanted to kick this shameless pervert out, but his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own, squeezing tighter and tighter shut.
Her breath drew closer and closer, stopping at his forehead.
This time, she was kissing his forehead instead of his lips?
Just as he thought that, the sweet scent abruptly withdrew.
Wen Ning stealthily pulled her phone from beneath Bo Yan's pillow and happily headed downstairs for breakfast.
Everything fell utterly quiet.
The person lying in bed furrowed his brows tightly. A faint flush rimmed the elongated corners of his eyes, spreading farther and farther until it covered his entire face.
Bo Yan raised his arm to cover his eyes and secretly gritted his teeth.
Bo Yan, are you sick in the head?!
What on earth were you thinking...
"Ningning, is Xiao Yan still asleep? Why don't you go up and call him?" her mother asked when she saw that Bo Yan still hadn't come downstairs.
Wen Ning swallowed her milk. "No, let him sleep a little longer. His insomnia is pretty bad. He finally managed to fall asleep."
She had barely finished when her mother looked behind her. "You're awake, Xiao Yan. Come have breakfast."
Wen Ning turned and saw Bo Yan coming downstairs, looking every inch the gentleman.
Her cheeks puffed out as she chewed her bread, she curved her eyes into a smile and greeted him indistinctly. "Mornin', hubby~"
Bo Yan felt he really must be ill. Even a pervert was starting to look pretty to him.
He hurriedly averted his gaze and sat down beside Wen Ning.
He wondered when this woman had learned about his insomnia.
And his seafood allergy...
Although those things weren't exactly secrets, the old Wen Ning had never cared whether he had allergies or insomnia...
Breakfast was as lively as ever.
With Wen Ning and Wen Jing around, this home would never be quiet.
After breakfast, her mother arranged for a driver to take Wen Ning and Bo Yan back to the Bo Family estate.
The two estates were some distance apart, and the drive took two hours.
Wen Ning asked the driver to stop at the estate gates.
Just before getting out, she received a call. The contact name was "Baby Xinxin," probably a friend of the original owner.
To avoid giving herself away in front of Bo Yan, Wen Ning told him to go inside first.
Bo Yan gave her a thoughtful look but asked no questions and got out.
He was returning to work at the company today, so he needed to fetch a few things from the basement first.
As he headed toward the annex, a Rolls-Royce approached him.
Recognizing whose car it was, Bo Yan silently stepped aside.
But the black Rolls-Royce stopped as it drew level with him.
The window lowered, revealing Bo Xubai's mockingly smiling face.
"Weren't you going to pick Wen Ning up? Why are you back alone?" Seeing Bo Yan all by himself, Bo Xubai felt immensely pleased. With the air of someone enjoying a show, he asked, "What, couldn't bring her back?"
When Bo Yan said nothing, Bo Xubai became even more certain of his guess.
He continued snidely, "That woman Wen Ning isn't easy to coax. If you'd known you were going to be thrown out, you should have come begging to me. Maybe if I was in a good mood, I could have brought her back for you with one phone call."
Bo Yan remained completely unruffled and gave no reply. Bo Xubai felt as though his punch had landed in cotton.
He gritted his teeth. "Bo Yan, Dad will be back in the country soon! If he finds out you angered that woman Wen Ning into going back to her parents', just see how he'll deal with you!"
Bo Yan finally reacted.
He lifted his eyelids and drawled an indifferent acknowledgment. "Thanks for your concern, big brother. But compared with my argument with my wife, your situation seems a little more serious."
Bo Xubai's pupils trembled. He reached out through the window and grabbed Bo Yan's collar, his eyes nearly splitting with rage. "What do you know?!"
Bo Yan curled his lips but said nothing more.
Bo Xubai nearly lost it. "I'm telling you, even if Dad finds out, this is all because of you! If you hadn't upset that woman Wen Ning, why would the Wen Family have suspended the project?!"
Bo Yan smiled. "Was it really because of me, and not because of your-incompetence?"
"Bo Yan, say that fucking again! I'm telling you! It's because you upset Wen Ning, because you weren't capable of bringing her home, that the Wen Family is holding Bo Group responsible! You'd better go kneel at the Wen Family's and beg her to come back, or else-"
Before he could finish with "when Dad gets back, he'll definitely throw you into the back mountain," Bo Xubai heard a furious shout-
"Bo Xubai, what are you doing to my husband?! Let go of him right now!"
Bo Xubai's savage expression froze!
He turned his head in disbelief!
Not far away, Wen Ning took a running leap and sent a flying kick toward his head!
Bo Yan, who had just been letting Bo Xubai threaten him by the collar, raised his right eyebrow at the sight and promptly leaned backward in perfect coordination.
Bo Xubai's grip on Bo Yan's collar came up empty. The next second, Wen Ning kicked his head straight back into the car...