The Art of Teasing - Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Seeing it was still early, Wen Zhengyu dragged Ye Ling to a furniture mall to pick out a rosewood large painting table and chair, and had them delivered to the Lian residence, then again dragged Ye Ling to accompany her to buy brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and painting pigments.
In the past, she would have gone shopping alone. Now that Ye Ling was with her, even shopping felt different. She suddenly understood why people in love could walk for ages on the street without getting bored.
After buying her painting supplies, she thought about how rare it was to go out shopping with Ye Ling and was reluctant to go back so soon. She dragged Ye Ling to dinner, then took her to buy things. Some everyday small items could be picked up. For clothes, they had to be tailored to fit. She made Ye Ling try on a few, but none were satisfactory, so she thought she'd ask Second Aunt later and have someone come over to take Ye Ling's measurements for a few outfits.
Ye Ling was in an excellent mood; her eyes and the corners of her lips carried a smile. The way Wen Zhengyu held small accessories up against her and looked so serious was adorable and cute.
Over the years, she'd gotten used to being a local tycoon, always the one picking gifts and buying things for others. Very rarely did anyone give her gifts; even when she received things, they were merely social obligations. Wen Zhengyu thought she needed something, that something suited her, or that it looked good on her, and bought it for her, with Wen Zhengyu paying for everything. It let her taste what it felt like to be kept by someone.
Ye Ling said to Wen Zhengyu, "Come to think of it, I've never really given you anything proper. I was afraid you wouldn't accept it and would get angry, so I never dared. Seeing you scraping by so tightly, I wanted to help you out, but I didn't dare."
Wen Zhengyu thought for a long while and couldn't think of anything she needed Ye Ling to give her. She said, "I don't seem to lack anything."
Ye Ling instantly felt a stab in the heart. "I seem to lack everything."
Wen Zhengyu felt a twinge of sympathy. Ye Ling had known hardship; she'd been poor and suffered. It was like someone who'd gone hungry; afraid of starving again, so they always felt there wasn't enough food and kept extra reserves, with a sense of unease and insecurity. She said, "You don't lack anything."
Ye Ling made a confused "Hm?" and looked at Wen Zhengyu.
Wen Zhengyu said, "Anything you want, you can earn for yourself, so you lack nothing."
Ye Ling's face lit up. She gently flicked the tip of Wen Zhengyu's nose with her curled finger and said, "I love hearing that." Then she dragged Wen Zhengyu to go shopping for her.
Wen Zhengyu sensed something odd. She turned her head and saw a woman not far away looking in their direction. The woman's attire was extremely exquisite, she was tall, and her presence was very commanding, her aura extraordinary. She was staring unblinkingly at Wen Zhengyu, her gaze especially sharp, with a fierce, cutting edge.
Ye Ling noticed Wen Zhengyu turn around and asked, "What's wrong?" She followed Wen Zhengyu's gaze, and the smile slowly faded from her face.
The woman walked over in her high-heeled boots, smiled lightly, and said, "What a coincidence."
Ye Ling said, "Yes, what a coincidence." Her entire body tensed involuntarily.
The woman asked, "Your girlfriend?"
Ye Ling answered, "My wife." The corners of her mouth held a faint smile, her gaze aggressive as she stared at the woman, full of imposing force, like a needle to a wheat awn.
The woman's gaze swept over the ring on Ye Ling's hand and said, "Not quite yet, right?" As she spoke, her gaze swept back and forth over Wen Zhengyu.
This one comes with ill intent. That was the feeling Wen Zhengyu got from this woman.
Wen Zhengyu unhurriedly picked up the conversation. "Yes, we've only settled the relationship and still need to wait for the elders to formally propose to the Ye family. May I ask how I should address you?"
The woman was quite taken aback by the mention of a formal proposal, but quickly recovered and laughed. "Cen Xun. You are Miss Wen?"
Wen Zhengyu understood immediately: indeed, she came with ill intentions. She grabbed Ye Ling and decisively retreated several steps back.
Wen Jing, ever perceptive, stepped forward and positioned herself between Wen Zhengyu and Ye Ling.
Zhuo Yao didn't move; he merely fixed his gaze on the several bodyguards who were inconspicuously drawing near.
Cen Xun treated Wen Jing as though she were invisible and asked with a smile at the corner of her mouth, "What is Miss Wen doing?"
Wen Zhengyu replied very politely, "Please excuse us for taking our leave. Another day, when we hold the wedding banquet, we won't send you an invitation, so please forgive us." Having said this, she tugged Ye Ling along to continue strolling and looking at things.
Seeing Ye Ling staring at her, she asked, "What is it?"
Ye Ling asked thoughtfully, "Are you… protecting me?"
Wen Zhengyu said, "We have bodyguards." She didn't like the way Cen Xun looked at Ye Ling; from just now, the way the two of them interacted, she could already see why they had separated. She sighed. "The imperial capital is so small." Of all places, we run into Ye Ling's ex.
Ye Ling vaguely detected a note of vinegar in the air. She said, "This mall belongs to her family."
Wen Zhengyu paused, then said, "I'm done shopping. Is there anything else you want to buy?"
Ye Ling said, "The mall belongs to her family, not the shops. But I don't have anything else I want to look at. I want to eat a late-night snack." She took Wen Zhengyu to find a place for snacks.
Wen Zhengyu said, "You didn't tell me this mall belonged to her family."
Ye Ling said, "Someone you've cut ties with—there's no need to mention them again." After so many years, seeing her again, those feelings carved into her bones still surfaced. Meeting again, everything in the past felt like it had happened just yesterday.
Ye Ling's low, slow voice and the mood unlike her usual self made Wen Zhengyu think that perhaps Cen Xun hadn't just left a scar on Ye Ling's forehead. Her forehead, her hand, her emotions, her family—all of it had left scars.
Some people, it's best to let them become the past forever. Some pasts, best buried forever.
When Cen Xun saw the two of them, she didn't pretend not to notice, didn't turn and leave; she walked over. Ye Ling, in her heart, had not become the past; the page had not been turned. Wen Zhengyu wasn't worried about this. A cracked mirror is hard to mend; the two of them hadn't gotten back together after so many years, and now that Ye Ling already had her, it was even harder for them to come together.
After getting into the car, Ye Ling asked Wen Zhengyu, "Jealous?"
Wen Zhengyu shook her head. "I don't like dealing with people like her."
Ye Ling asked, "What kind is she like?"
Wen Zhengyu said, "The kind who hits people."
Ye Ling instantly caught a stray bullet.
Wen Zhengyu slowly added, "When she came over just now, the two of you were at odds, as if you'd grab whatever was at hand and start fighting at any moment. I secretly compared; you're shorter than her, and your presence isn't as strong. You might end up at a disadvantage. Wen Jing is much more capable than you; if there's a fight, let Wen Jing handle it."
Wen Jing glanced at her own young lady through the rearview mirror.
Zhuo Yao glanced back without betraying any expression.
Ye Ling, on the other hand, looked at Wen Zhengyu with surprise and a hint of shock. She had always thought Wen Zhengyu was the type who wouldn't fight back or talk back. It turned out this young lady just didn't do her own hitting.
The two returned home. After washing up and getting into bed, Ye Ling wrapped her arms around Wen Zhengyu and asked uneasily, "Will you mind?"
Wen Zhengyu habitually burrowed into Ye Ling's arms, found a comfortable position, and asked, "About what?"
Seeing Wen Zhengyu burrowing so familiarly, Ye Ling couldn't help smiling. She figured there was probably no issue. "Never mind."
Wen Zhengyu thought for a moment—if Ye Ling wasn't speaking ambiguously, it definitely wasn't that, so it could only be about Cen Xun. She said, "I didn't like the way she looked at you… very invasive and aggressive. And I felt a bit sorry for the way you were then, all on edge, bristling with defensiveness…" That phrase "like you'd been hurt" she didn't say out loud.
Ye Ling held Wen Zhengyu tighter and gently patted her to soothe her. She envied Wen Zhengyu's way—desireless and fearless. She bent down and pressed a kiss to Wen Zhengyu's forehead, thinking of what Wen Zhengyu had said about going to formally propose, and found it amusing. This eternal bottom actually took it for granted that she ought to marry Ye Ling, rather than marry into Ye's family. She asked, "You want to marry me. What betrothal gifts do you plan to give?"
Wen Zhengyu was already sleepy, yawning as she said, "Aren't betrothal gifts always the same?"
Ye Ling asked, "Which ones?"
Wen Zhengyu listed them off with her eyes closed. "First, the betrothal money: I'll need to discuss with Grandfather and my maternal grandparents how much to give. For the betrothal gifts, the number is usually six or twelve items. Goldware is a must, twelve gold bars. You were born in the Year of the Tiger, so we have to make a little gold tiger for you, to keep in the bottom of your chest. Then make a little sheep, so the two of us make a pair. Jewelry is necessary too. I doubt you normally pay attention to collecting it; when the time comes, I'll open my mother's dowry chest and pick a chestful for you. Grandma's bracelets were originally part of my dowry; I don't need to marry out now, so we'll each wear one—a perfect pair. Silk, fine satin, and damask are indispensable. I'll also go to Old Zhou and the others to pick a few suitable things, and have my maternal grandparents add a bit, to make up twelve full betrothal chests." If it were when she was short on money, she might have had to pare down—for example, making the gold pieces smaller, less jewelry; silk wouldn't cost much and needn't be scrimped on, and perhaps swap some precious items for more practical ones. Now that she had some financial ease, and Ye Ling's eyes lit up at antiques and collectibles, she naturally wanted to cater to Ye Ling's tastes.
After roughly tallying the betrothal items, she murmured very softly, "I'm sleepy," and shrank into Ye Ling's arms and fell asleep.
Ye Ling gazed silently at the sleeping Wen Zhengyu. Facing this eternal bottom, she couldn't find a reason to refuse to marry her. If she wanted Wen Zhengyu to marry into her family and move out from under the eyes of the Wen compound and the elders, she reckoned she'd first be torn to shreds by them.
Then she thought, Wen Zhengyu had actually considered marrying her so seriously, and had even thought through what betrothal gifts to prepare. She was overjoyed and excited, so wide awake in the middle of the night that she couldn't sleep. Her fingertips rested on Wen Zhengyu's face, gently stroking that fine, delicate skin, brimming over with happiness. She said, "Actually, as long as you're willing, even with nothing at all, I'd still marry you." It didn't matter if Wen Zhengyu had nothing; she could earn it. Given the dowry Wen Zhengyu was providing, she was very willing to marry her. Displaying it all would be quite a face-saver.
Ye Ling was so stirred she couldn't fall asleep until nearly dawn.
She still hadn't earned enough money, but she discovered she also had a condition of not wanting to work.
Ye Ling slept in until almost noon before getting up. When she woke, Wen Zhengyu was no longer in the room. She'd slept so deeply she didn't even know when Wen Zhengyu had gotten up.
The sensation of sleeping in felt especially wonderful, especially having someone who allowed her to sleep in, who let her sleep until she woke naturally.
She lay in bed without moving, only grabbing her phone to send Wen Zhengyu a message: I'm awake.
Two minutes later, the bedroom door was pushed open. Wen Zhengyu walked in, hesitated a moment, then, mimicking how Ye Ling used to sit on the bed and kiss her forehead and cheek when she woke, she bent down to kiss Ye Ling.
Ye Ling burst out laughing, immediately wrapped her arms around Wen Zhengyu, pressing her down on the bed, and planted a kiss on Wen Zhengyu's lips. "An eternal bottom still dreaming of topping."
Wen Zhengyu looked puzzled. "What is an 'eternal bottom'?"
Ye Ling didn't answer; she pulled Wen Zhengyu into another deep kiss before finally getting up, satisfied.
Wen Zhengyu watched Ye Ling disappear into the bathroom. To prevent a repeat of the last explosive laughing mishap, she waited until the bathroom door closed and the sound of water started, then took out her phone, typed "What is an eternal bottom" into the browser's search bar, and found an avalanche of terms. She read with rapt attention.
Until the bathroom door abruptly opened. Startled, Wen Zhengyu instantly hid the phone behind her back, sitting bolt upright, looking nervous at Ye Ling, and surreptitiously shoved the phone a little further under the covers, pressing the power button on the right side. Her phone wasn't on silent; the button press produced a distinct click.
Ye Ling froze for a moment, then realized what was happening, and "Pfft," she burst out laughing.
Wen Zhengyu fished the phone out of the covers and walked away, expressionless.
Ye Ling's laughter grew even louder; even the people downstairs could hear it.
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