Unspoken Tensions and Hidden Desires

Barlen placed the bags properly and then made a call to his secretary, asking for pictures of some brand bags, specifically mentioning 'limited edition.'

Unable to sleep, Zoey opened her eyes and glared at him, "If you're going to make phone calls, go to the study. You're keeping me awake!"

Barlen set his phone aside: "If you calm your mind, you'll fall asleep naturally."

Zoey shot him a look and buried her face in the pillow, trying to drift back to sleep. She still lay on her stomach, the blanket haphazardly wrapped around her waist, legs exposed and dangling off the bed.

Barlen caught her ankle, placing it back on the bed, and felt her cold feet. He pulled out the blanket she was pressing under her and covered her properly, then turned up the air conditioning a few degrees.

Zoey protested, "What are you doing? I'm boiling here!"

"Don't worry, you won't overheat," Barlen reassured her, putting away the remote, "Girls should avoid getting too cold in the summer. It's not good for your health."

She looked at him skeptically: "Who says?"

"My mother."

Zoey then remembered his mother was a well-known gynecologist, with appointments needing to be booked weeks in advance, as she only held clinics one afternoon a week.

She asked, half-jokingly, "So, if I need to see your mom, should I make an appointment through you? Just say I'm your friend's girlfriend."

Barlen paused, then sat down by the bed, turning her to face him, arms propped beside her: "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

Zoey said, "It's not a serious illness, just cold uterus, light menstrual flow, cold hands and feet, might be problematic for pregnancy later." She had seen a doctor already but was just joking with him. She wouldn’t really go to his mother for treatment.

Barlen caressed her cheek, asking, "Thinking of having kids?"

Zoey, half-jokingly: "Yeah, how about I have one for you?"

Barlen looked at her, knowing she was just being playful. But if she really wanted to, it was okay. She was graduating soon and of legal age to marry.

"We can have one now," he said, starting to lift her nightgown.

Zoey pushed him away, "You're so annoying!"

She had never thought of entrusting her life to a child. Even if she did have a child, it wasn’t certain she'd marry him. She'd only consider children after getting officially married.

In their social circle, she had seen too many women who had children for men, ending up with nothing but illegitimate children.

Barlen embraced her: "Annoyed with me now? Who was talking about having kids?"

Zoey hugged his neck, "Just kidding. I've just graduated, no work experience, how can I think of having kids?"

Barlen asked, "So when do you plan to have kids?"

Zoey looked at him. When to have kids?

With his background, love and marriage were always separate matters. His mother, although a doctor, didn't marry his father out of love; it was an arranged union between powerful families. His maternal grandfather’s influence rivaled the Ren family.

She was well aware of her limitations. His family was beyond her reach. She knew what she could strive for and what was futile to even dream about.

Zoey met his gaze for a few seconds and then answered nonchalantly, "I don’t plan to have kids before thirty. If I suddenly want to but can’t due to health issues, there’d be nowhere to cry. A senior advised to treat such conditions early while young."

Barlen inquired, "Is your cold uterus just a guess, or have you seen a doctor?"

Zoey: "The landlord of my sister's rental house, her family practiced traditional Chinese medicine. She diagnosed me and even prescribed a remedy."

She added, "I recently went to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor confirmed it." But she didn’t want to take herbal medicine, so she didn’t pick up any.

Barlen frowned, "Why didn't you tell me you went to the hospital?"

Zoey: "It wasn’t serious. You were busy, so I didn’t mention it. I’m telling you now, aren’t I?"

Barlen pressed, "It's really just cold uterus?"

Zoey: "Why would I lie to you! The test results are in the drawer of the coffee table downstairs."

Barlen nodded thoughtfully. Zoey hugged his neck, "It's not a big deal. No need to see your mother. I was just kidding before."

Barlen's phone vibrated a few times, he picked it up to see the pictures of bags sent by his secretary. Opening the images, he handed the phone to Zoey, "Pick one."

Zoey glanced at the pictures, understanding his intent but deliberately being contrary, she said, "Didn't you just give me two? That's enough."

Barlen clarified, "They're not for you."

Zoey's gaze swept over him dismissively, "For Lydia?"

"Yeah."

Without really looking, she squinted her eyes and said, "The cheapest one."

Barlen chuckled, instructed his secretary to get the third bag from the pictures, and sent the restaurant address for lunch.

As Barlen was about to get up, Zoey wrapped her arms and legs around him, pulling him back. He lost his balance and ended up lying on top of her. He said, resignedly, "What now?"

Zoey pointed to the spot on his throat, "Your 'birthmark' is fading. Let me plant a new one."

Barlen involuntarily touched his throat, remembering how Zoey used to love biting that spot, leaving purplish-red marks that even his shirt collar couldn't hide.

Once, during an outing, his friends teased him about it. He half-joked that it was a birthmark. His childhood friend Adam even played along, insisting it wasn't a love bite but a birthmark, as he had seen that purplish-red mark since they were kids...

Everyone hesitated, seeing that Adam wasn't joking, they took it as the truth.

After that, Zoey became uninhibited. Each intimate moment, she would kiss that spot on Barlen's throat, making sure the 'birthmark' never faded over the years. 

This time, due to his long business trip, the mark had faded almost to invisibility.

"Be gentle!" Barlen furrowed his brow.

Zoey released her teeth and kissed the spot again, quite pleased with her artwork, and patted his cheek, "Off you go, or someone will be left waiting too long."

Barlen didn't rush to leave, instead, he pulled down her nightgown and buried his head against her chest. This time Zoey was the one who yelped in pain, but he was gentle, just kissing a few times before letting go.

"Sleep a bit more. I'll have the housekeeper come over to cook at one."

"Mhm."

After putting on his watch, Barlen left the bedroom and picked up Zoey's medical report from the living room before heading downstairs. The driver was already waiting. As he got into the car, he dialed a number.

The person on the other end answered, "Back from your trip?"

"Yeah, got in last night."

"Lunch at home today? Your dad's home too."

"Not today, I have plans." After a pause, Barlen asked, "Mom, how do you treat a cold uterus?"

A moment of silence followed before his mother countered, "Who has a cold uterus?"

Barlen didn't hide it, "Zoey."

His mother knew about Zoey, having seen them dining out two years ago, though he hadn't noticed her then.

Later, his mother indirectly asked who the girl was, and he frankly said she was his girlfriend.

At that time, his mother asked, "How old is she? What does she do?"

He replied, "Nineteen, a sophomore."

His mother sighed after a long pause, "I thought you were different from those rich kids, why a student? You know it's a sin!"

He retorted, "They are them, I am me."

Later, his mother added, "Such a young girl, being with you, she won't have simple thoughts. Such relationships don't last."

Two years passed, and his mother didn't pry further.

When there was no reply, Barlen glanced at his phone, still on the call, and called out, "Mom?"

"I'm listening," his mother's voice came, "Thought you two had broken up by now."

Barlen chuckled, "Why are you so keen on us breaking up?"

His mother's tone remained stern, "Not that I want you to break up, but you and that girl aren't suited for each other. It's bound to end sooner or later."

Barlen, resting his elbow on the car window, looking out, said softly, "Even if we make it together, it'll end eventually. In sixty or seventy years, we'll both be old and gone. Isn't that separation too?"

He was asserting his determination to be with Zoey. His mother scoffed, "At least you see that clearly."

Barlen: "That's what you taught me." Life is fleeting. Don't count on the afterlife. No one knows if it exists. Make the most of this life without regrets.

In this subtle duel between mother and son, he had the upper hand.

Barlen then reminded his mother, "Don't mention Zoey and me to dad yet. I have my plans."

His mother teased, "Got bold, afraid of your father?" After a brief pause, she changed the subject, "But maybe before your dad finds out, you and that girl will be over."

Barlen: "…Mom, can't you wish me well?"

His mother pondered, then offered, "How about wishing you become a father next month? How's that for sincerity?"

Barlen was taken aback but used this chance to ask, "Speaking of which, Mom, can you prepare a few prescriptions for treating a cold uterus?"

"How can I prescribe without seeing her?"

"I've got all her medical records and tests from your hospital's deputy director. I'll send them to you. Zoey hates traditional medicine; even if you prescribe it, she won't take it."

"Alright, send me the documents to review."

Barlen specifically instructed, "Don't use the hospital's decoction service. I'll have the housekeeper do it."

His mother agreed, reminding him, "Agreeing to prescribe doesn't mean I approve of her. To me, she's just a patient, and I am the doctor."

Barlen replied, "Then on behalf of my fiancée, thank you, Director Wang." His mother's surname was Wang.

His mother: "…"

Frustrated but knowing further discussion was pointless, she said, "Get lost

, I'm busy."

Barlen: "Take care, Mom."

"I know." The call ended.

Barlen stared at the darkened screen for a long time before putting it away, continuing to watch the bustling world outside the car window.

Another message from Lydia came in: "Barlen, I'm here :)"

He replied: "I'm almost there."

Lydia: "So soon? No rush, I'm just hanging around. Take your time with your stuff~"

Barlen glanced at the phone but didn't respond.

Fifteen minutes later, Barlen arrived at the restaurant.

Seeing him enter, Lydia quickly stood up to greet him, her voice quivering as she said with a faint smile, "Barlen."

Just three short words, yet she could hear the tremor in her own voice.

Internally, she chastised herself for being so weak-willed.

She had woken up around five in the morning, feeling both nervous and excited. Unable to fall back asleep, she got up to get ready, spending over an hour on her makeup. Still unsatisfied, she wiped it off and went to a beauty salon for a professional makeover.

Even her dress was chosen to match her makeup.

After exchanging greetings, they settled at the table.

Lydia's heart raced, barely able to catch her breath.

This wasn't her first meal with Barlen. They had dined together before with her uncle, though Barlen ended up paying.

During that meal, Barlen was quite relaxed, not very talkative but gentle in tone.

But today, even before the meal started, she felt an inexplicable pressure.

While ordering, Barlen gave a few instructions to the waiter. Lydia couldn't help but steal glances at him, the conspicuous love bite on his neck catching her eye.

A sting of discomfort, not quite painful but unpleasant, shot through Lydia's heart.

She knew men like Barlen wouldn't be without women, but seeing such marks of intimacy firsthand was unsettling.

After ordering, Barlen took the initiative to ask, "Have all your job arrangements been taken care of?"

Lydia nodded vigorously, "All set. I start on the first of next month." She added, "My uncle asked me to thank you."

Barlen, lifting his teacup, paused it at his lips, "No need to be so formal."

In Lydia's eyes, even the way Barlen held his cup was mesmerizing. She couldn't resist sneaking peeks at him.

Barlen kept the conversation flowing, ensuring the meal wasn't awkward.

Lydia, hailing from the south, talked about her hometown with a smile, "Barlen, if you ever have time, you should visit our region. The lesser-known towns in Jiangnan have their own charm. I can be your tour guide."

After finishing the meal, Barlen set aside his cutlery and dabbed his mouth with a napkin, responding politely to her invitation, "I'll consider it."

When the bill arrived, Barlen didn't rush to pay. Lydia, feeling a surge of unprecedented pride, handled the bill. The unpleasantness caused by the love bite earlier seemed to vanish entirely.

Until Barlen's phone rang. Lydia snapped back to reality, hearing him say, "Yes, the Western restaurant on the twelfth floor, by the window."

He then gestured towards the entrance.

Following his gesture, Lydia saw a woman in a business suit approaching, holding a luxury brand bag.

Was this… for her?

It must be. Otherwise, Barlen wouldn't have it delivered to the restaurant.

Her heart raced, barely containing her excitement.

The store employee handed the bag to Barlen, "Mr. Barlen, your bag."

"Thank you," Barlen received it.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the employee left.

Barlen handed the bag to Lydia, "For you."

Lydia, still reeling from excitement, gripped the bag tightly, taking a moment to compose herself before saying, "Thank you."

She pretended to offer it back, "This is too valuable. I can't accept it."

Barlen didn't take it back, indicating for her to keep it.

Lydia didn't feign politeness any longer, examining the bag over and over. She could afford it, her family being quite wealthy back home.

She owned several bags from the same brand, one even more expensive than this. But this bag held a different meaning for her. It was from Barlen.

She thanked him repeatedly.

Barlen, with a faint smile, said, "No need to thank me. Consider it a graduation gift. Also a thank you for the ZIPPO you gave me."

He paused deliberately before adding, "My girlfriend also liked that ZIPPO, said it was quite unique. I don't know what gifts young girls who just graduated like, so choosing this bag was her suggestion."

Lydia's smile froze. It took her a long while to recover.

Before she could even hint at her feelings, he had subtly rejected her.