Chapter 71 Side Story 1
Before returning home, Wen Bairan called Ms. Xie.
After some casual chit-chat, the conversation inevitably turned to Song Xu.
Ms. Xie’s impression of him, whom she had met only once, was much deeper than she’d expected.
Wen Bairan tentatively asked what if they got married...
She didn’t finish her sentence, feeling that her current state was vastly different from before she went abroad. Back then, she had confidently declared herself single, and now suddenly talking about marriage might make it seem frivolous.
Ms. Xie, however, didn’t seem surprised at all. "Your life is your own, and so are your choices in love or marriage. Your father and I won’t say much. Song... he’s your former boss, right? Was it his idea to get married? When I met him last time, he seemed like a steady person. How long have you two been together?"
Wen Bairan hemmed and hawed, avoiding the question and saying she was still considering it.
Ms. Xie knew her daughter’s evasiveness all too well. If she were truly still considering it, she wouldn’t have brought it up at all. The fact that she mentioned it meant she had already made up her mind but needed a little support and encouragement.
"You’ve always been an overthinker since you were little, always overanalyzing everything. That’s not a bad thing, but there are many things in this world you can’t figure out or see through—you have to learn to accept them. Accept that instead of worrying yourself sick over things before they happen, it’s better to face them head-on. Marriage might be unfamiliar to you, but at its core, it’s just two people relying on each other to live their lives." Ms. Xie asked, "Is he someone you can rely on?"
Rely on?
Thinking about Song Xu, he was thorough in everything he did. With him around, she rarely had to worry or bother with anything because he usually took care of everything. Although this trait sometimes came off as overbearing and controlling, overall, he was a reliable person.
As Wen Bairan was lost in thought, her landlady suddenly knocked on her door, asking her to come downstairs.
It was past dinnertime. In the living room downstairs, Song Xu was discussing porcelain and flower tea with the landlord, who had invited him for a drink.
He was dressed casually, his beige T-shirt collar slightly low, revealing just the right amount of collarbone and chest muscle—stylish yet subtly sexy. Though there wasn’t a single designer label on him, the way he held his teacup and spoke about the Silk Road and international trade made him seem like a business elite who couldn’t even vacation without expanding his ventures.
Wen Bairan: "......"
How did he end up here? He hadn’t even notified her before coming.
After they returned from the beach that day, she said she needed some alone time. They hadn’t been in touch much these past couple of days. She thought Song Xu was keeping his distance because she had accepted the ring, but now he had shown up at her doorstep.
She stood frozen at the staircase. The landlady beside her pointed to the brand-new lawnmower at the courtyard entrance and was raving about Song Xu.
"Vivi, your fiancé is such a wonderful man!" Last time he visited, he saw her fixing the old lawnmower, and today he gifted her a new one—an expensive brand they usually couldn’t afford.
The landlady took Wen Bairan’s hand and exclaimed effusively, "It’s all thanks to you!" and "You’re my lucky star!" Wen Bairan glanced at her, flustered, then looked at Song Xu, suddenly noticing a duffel bag at his feet.
Sensing her gaze, the man glanced over leisurely, meeting her eyes that were clearly asking, "What does this mean?" He took a slow sip of hot tea, the smile curling at his lips seeming to say, "What do you think?"
Wen Bairan: ......
/
The room on the left side of the second floor, facing the courtyard, belonged to the landlady’s youngest daughter. Though small, its simple and cozy style suited a young woman perfectly.
Wen Bairan led Song Xu to the room and locked the door.
Song Xu strolled casually around her less-than-15-square-meter room, noticing a photo on the desk. He picked it up, studying the serene smile in the picture—free of hesitation and worry. Her calm expression, much like the blue sky over the harbor, was refreshing.
He loved seeing her like this and asked if he could have the photo.
Wen Bairan couldn’t tell if he was serious or just trying to make her happy. She looked down and said earnestly, "I know you want to show your sincerity, but it’s enough. Since I’ve accepted the ring, I won’t go back on my word. There’s no need for you to make up lies about being kicked out to play on my sympathy."
The hotel room Song Xu had booked in Sydney cost six figures per night. Since he had transferred all his assets to Wen Bairan and she hadn’t yet signed the agreement to release funds to him, when the front desk called to ask if he wanted to extend his stay, he decisively opted to come here instead.
In short, he was here because he was out of money.
......
............
..................
Wen Bairan couldn’t describe how surprised and speechless she was upon hearing this reason. This was Song Xu—how could he possibly be out of money?
He had even bought the landlady a lawnmower.
Song Xu pulled out his last remaining card. "You can check it. No password."
Wen Bairan: "......"
He always knew how to hit where it hurt.
Qiao Yi said he had handed over all his work responsibilities before going abroad, making it seem like he was planning to be away for a while. This suggested he had prepared for a long haul. But now, in less than a week, he claimed to be out of money. Whether it was true or not, it was clearly aimed at her.
Never mind whether she had accepted his proposal a couple of days ago—how could she possibly let him end up homeless in a foreign country?
Once they were living under the same roof, wouldn’t that give him countless opportunities to break down her defenses?
Wen Bairan inwardly cursed what a schemer he was, only to realize he was already right in front of her.
The room was small, and as he leaned in, the space suddenly shrank to nothing more than the half-inch within his arms.
She froze.
Her breath bounced back against his chest, and the intense pressure of his gaze above made her eyelashes tremble unconsciously.
The familiar sense of pressure made her forget to breathe for a moment.
Song Xu’s lowered voice released a warmth and intimacy she couldn’t refuse. "So, have you decided whether you’ll take me in or not?"
Take him in?
He looked more like someone who could buy this entire house.
But this was already him humbling himself.
"You..."
Wen Bairan, too flustered to look up at him, finally forced out a resigned sentence after a long pause. "...You’re such a scoundrel."
He knew exactly how she would answer, yet he still asked.
"Thank you," Song Xu said with a satisfied smile, lifting her chin and pressing his lips to hers.
It had been a long time since he last kissed her.
Her lips were as soft and tender as always.
At first, there was a hint of unfamiliar shyness and tension, her stubborn refusal to part her lips making her already supple skin even more enticing.
He tasted her lightly, and the thought of stopping lasted less than 0.1 seconds before it shattered.
Yeah, he wanted to devour her even more.
The depth of his presence intensified in an instant.
Wen Bairan had almost forgotten how much of a conqueror he could be. The moment she accidentally gasped as his fingers traced the edge of the groove below her tailbone, he seized the opportunity.
The base of her tongue went numb from his sucking, and her cheeks ached.
Her hands pressed against his shoulders, trying to push him away, but it was useless.
His hand slipped under her clothes, holding her in place while his palm rubbed against her skin, making her skin tingle.
Song Xu knew Wen Bairan’s buttons better than she knew them herself.
His teeth grazed playfully, and his hands roamed her waist.
She had lost weight.
Even slimmer than before, with less supple, yet the curve of her waist seemed even more alluring.
He caressed her lovingly, his heart clenching a little as he pulled her into his arms. Though his movements grew gentler, his feverish kisses were still devastating.
Mmm…
A breathy moan escaped her unconsciously, and Wen Bairan was startled by it.
Coming back to her senses, the room was still the same—moonlight spilled into the room, the pale pink wallpaper took on a warm glow under the soft bedside lamp, like a flush blooming from her chest. The air hung heavy with an ambiguous, intimate scent.
The eyes of the man before her were clouded with desire.
Song Xu also seemed lost in this long-missed kiss.
Wen Bairan’s chest burned, her pulse stuttered.
She closed her eyes along with him.
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, teetering on the edge, Song Xu suddenly stopped.
“As punishment, I’ll hold back until we’re married.”
Wen Bairan opened her eyes, her eyes glazed over. Meeting his serious expression, she blinked.
What kind of punishment was this?
Hadn’t he had her countless times already?
Song Xu’s strain burned low in his gut, yet his expression remained as calm as ever.
Wen Bairan snapped out of it, lowering her gaze. Without realizing it, her arms had wrapped around his neck, now slipped limply to rest against his chest. Even now, the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat sent vibrations through her palms.
Maybe it was for the best. She had said she needed more time to think anyway, and this would keep him from thinking she agreed too easily.
“Whatever you say,” she said, trying to turn away, but his grip on her waist held her firmly.
“Don’t you miss me?” Her quick agreement seemed to rub him the wrong way, his voice a low grumble.
“......”
This man really knew how to turn the tables. He was the one who said he’d restrain himself, and now he was upset that she was going along with it.
Song Xu pressed his forehead against hers, dotted kisses over her eyes, nose, and lips as if he wanted to kiss her thoroughly. “But I’ve missed you so much.”
His gentleness was quicksand—once you stepped in, you could only sink deeper.
“Go away,” Wen Bairan murmured, growing restless from his actions and voice. She lowered her head, resting her cheek against his shoulder to hide the flush she knew was in her eyes.
Song Xu’s shoulders were broad, warm, and solid. It felt like any burden could be easily shouldered by him, as if no matter what happened, leaning on him would keep her from falling.
This must be what Ms. Xie meant by reliable—in the most literal sense.
Her protestations only made her seem more endearing, and he couldn’t resist nuzzling the nape of her neck.
Starting from behind her ear, his lips and teeth left jolts of electricity that crackled all the way down her spine.
Wen Bairan trembled in his embrace.
Song Xu immediately held her tighter.
He whispered, “I take it back.”
The bed in the room wasn’t large—it could fit two people, but it certainly wasn’t meant for anything more.
Wen Bairan struggled to free one hand and pressed it against his chin, reminding him that they were in someone else’s home and he ought to tone it down—otherwise, they might both be kicked out.
Song Xu, addicted to kissing her, captured her hand and pressed his lips to the pulse on her wrist, drinking in her scent. “Then let’s go somewhere else.”
Worn out, her waist nearly aching, she asked, “…Where?”
This man was utterly full of it—he’d said he would restrain himself, yet here he was.
Who exactly was being punished here?
Perhaps sensing her discomfort, Song Xu finally stopped.
He tilted his head, nuzzling into her palm, and gave a lazy, half-lidded smile.
“Paris.”