“Come on, baby!!! You know you want to!” Linlin was bouncing up and down, tugging at TangShi’s sleeve as she tried to finish washing up after dinner. “Zhengy promised me that when he got off work he would take me out, and you two should totally come. A double date to celebrate your best friend’s first serious boyfriend! This is a big deal.”
“I know it is, and I’m really happy for both of you. I love you two together. It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just YuZhi has been tired the last few days with work and the arrangements for the engagement announcement. I don’t want to pressure him into a night out when he already seems exhausted.” TangShi defended, not entirely being truthful. Since the awkwardness of a few days ago things seemed a little off between them and he was being distant and overly subdued. Like he was overthinking again, the same as the time they kissed.
They got home in relat
YuZhi kicked open the apartment door and hauled TangShi inside by the hand, not giving her a second to slide her shoes off after a strained ride home in an Uber. They had behaved, sat side by side holding hands, and counted the miles until they could be alone again, reserved and respectful of their driver. YuZhi had been tapping his thumb on his thigh like a mad man, riled up, and impatient about getting TangShi home.He pushed her against the wall hard and began kissing her mercilessly. Letting out everything he had held back while counting the seconds to getting her here after they left the bar and then some. Unleashing everything that had pent up with not being able to devour her after the explosion of emotions. Pinning her, sliding her hands up to hold by her head and exploring the taste and feel of her as though he couldn’t get enough.TangShi responded, moaning under her breath when he released her lips and began nibbling and sucking her jawline and neck. I
TangShi was nestled between YuZhi’s legs on the couch, with her back against his chest as they cuddled up together to work. Him with a document in hand leaning up on the back of the rest so he could read it, while she had a sketch pad on her lap to work on her class assignment for the coming week. Soft music playing on the surround sound, the digital fire on, and warm and cozy while it rained outside and added to the feeling of a blissful home. Her head nestled against his throat while his chin lightly sat on top of her head. Lost in a world of happy contentment as they relaxed together. This morning he had woken her up and made love to her for a longer session, showing her how good sex could be, all over again. No longer worried he would regret it and solidified the fact this was real, and they were now properly together. YuZhi had fully immersed himself into this new dynamic and was
TangShi was feeling sick with nerves, clinging to Linlin’s hand as they stood backstage and awaited the official walk out onto the runway for the engagement announcement. Uptight and strung out like a tightly wound coil. She had never understood this tradition of treating engagement like a show, strutting out on a stage and being presented to rich men and women who didn’t care at all who was being married off. Even her own family sat out there had little to no emotion on this announcement, given they already got what they wanted, and she was secretly married to their business promoter. It was all about money and status after all.“Breathe. Relax. It’s no big deal. Think of it as a pageant and you only have to walk out, smile, get your ring, and then go enjoy yourself with YuZhi after a small speech. You don’t even have to say anything. Just look pretty.” Linlin was trying to soothe her panic, fluffing out her bridal style dress and making s
“To never taking these off again. Don’t cry, Tang.” YuZhi leaned in and said it only to her, giving her a small hug and brushing his thumb over her cheek to catch a stray single tears that managed to escape. Giving her a moment to compose herself by lifting her hand with his and placing a kiss right under her engagement ring and grinning at her with glee.He stepped back to turn them both and display their hands to awaiting photographers by holding them up while clasped together firmly. They were cheered on by everyone present, an eruption of applause and whoops, and then he dipped in and delivered a kiss on her lips. A chaste respectable show of affection for the event. Cupping her chin with his hand and pressing their mouths together but she could feel his sincerity and love. His warmth and care for her as he protected her in the moment.“When will the wedding be set?”“Can you turn this way, Mr Leng, over here?”
TangShi focused on her food and tried to avoid Aunt’s glare, mid-way through Sunday roast and yet she was uptight and wishing it was over. It had been a tense half hour already and despite YuZhi shielding her, she was aware of the darts being visually aimed her way from across the table.“Grandad, we’re staying for coffee afterwards in the study. TangShi wants to know more about her mom. Give you time to spend some quality time with your granddaughter in law and build some bonds.” YuZhi reminded him, smiling with content, reaching out to pick up some meat and put it on TangShi’s plate. Ignoring his aunt’s scathing mood today and relaxed with the casual late lunch even if his Aunt had been a frosty and silent member who kept tutting because he rejected a specialized diet for Tang. He had sent it back to the kitchen and asked for her to eat the same as everyone else.“Yes, yes. That’ll be nice. We can have some cake.”
“Xiaosu take my food to my room, I’m tired and no longer in the mood for company.” Grandfather picked up his walking aid and moved deliberately out of the way before turning and walking towards the door. “YuZhi, bring TangShi to see me after work one evening, not too late, and we can have a chat. I have old pictures somewhere in this house I need to find.” He nodded their way, avoided Rhea completely as if she wasn’t here at all and walked out without a backwards glance. Not shy about snubbing the girl as he had been doing for a decade. Rhea didn’t react because she was used to this from him, but it was the first time TangShi witnessed it and her heart actually ached for the girl. Seeing it for herself that Rhea was never the accepted and loved daughter of Leng the press made her out to be all these years.“YuZhi.” TangShi tugged at his hand softly, knowing this couldn’t hurt while he had told Rhea they could try and
“Baby? Have you seen the file I had last night?” YuZhi was wandering around the Livingroom, pulling up couch cushions and kneeling down to check under furniture, trying hard to remember what he did with it. Frustrated with himself for losing something so important in one night and clock watching because he was already running late. He was tired, head already buzzing with so many details about today and agitated with this delay.“Try the bedroom. You came in with it, I think, when I was falling asleep.” TangShi was in the bathroom tying her hair up into a high ponytail for a day at school, checking the time while YuZhi seemed unusually scatterbrained. His normal CEO composure out the window today. He had been like this since he jumped out of bed with his alarm and seemed to be out of whack. Losing things, his schedule upside down and he had even showered without eating breakfast today.“God dammit. It’s the proposal for this morning&r
“Babe?” YuZhi came back from the bathroom sliding his phone into his inside pocket, deflated in mood and tone, and spotted her getting ready by the main door. Coming to slide his own shoes on and eyeing her with a remorseful frown. Cute boy face firing on all cylinders and she immediately knew something was wrong.“I need to drop you off fast and get to the office. ZhengLi has problems. I may have to cancel tonight’s meetings and fly early to Hong Kong instead of this weekend. I might be gone all week.”TangShi’s heart dropped, and her eyes widened in disappointment, already not looking forward to him going away as it was but now he might be gone for days. Sometimes things like this happened but this was a first where it was more than a day or two.“I know, don’t look at me like that. If you didn’t have school and this show I’d be taking you with me.” YuZhi was upset about it too. Feeling li