Chapter 305: What Do You Want
After leaving the restaurant, Yang Chen didn't head straight back to the office. Instead, he wandered aimlessly along Zhongnan Street, not thinking much, just feeling uneasy. He walked slowly, bought two boxes of cheap cigarettes, smoked them all, and felt slightly relieved.
Yang Chen didn't think he had done anything wrong, but he didn't believe he had done anything right either. Not everything in the world had clear rights and wrongs—especially matters of the heart, whether you hurt others or sacrificed for them, it was hard to judge.
As the sky darkened, Yang Chen called home to tell Wang Ma he wouldn't be back for dinner. Then he drove towards Mo Qian Ni's place as planned.
As if it were agreed upon beforehand, when Yang Chen parked his car downstairs from where Mo Qian Ni lived, Mo Qian Ni's red Audi had just returned home.
Getting out of the car, Mo Qian Ni, dressed in office attire, showed no signs of fatigue. She carried a light-colored Louis Vuitton bag, her slim legs encased in fashionable grid-patterned stockings, leaving firm imprints in the snow—a particularly stylish sight.
Seeing Yang Chen had just arrived at her building, Mo Qian Ni smiled brightly, her charm irresistible in the snowy surroundings.
Yang Chen suddenly had a feeling, as if this woman in front of him was his true wife. Coming home together after work, parking the car together at the door, sharing a smile filled with countless affectionate meanings.
Seeing Yang Chen staring at her foolishly, Mo Qian Ni blushed and teased, "What are you looking at? Your eyes are almost popping out. Come help me with these things."
"What did you buy?"
"Just some vegetables and meat for tonight. You eat so much, and my fridge only has tomatoes, eggs, milk, and bread. There's nothing else, so I had to buy everything," Mo Qian Ni complained as she opened the trunk, revealing several supermarket bags filling up most of the space.
Yang Chen glanced strangely at Mo Qianyi, "Did you carry all these things onto the car by yourself?"
"What else could I do? I just made a few trips," Mo Qianyi smiled. Yang Chen looked at her with a hint of reproach, "Didn't I tell you to be careful with your body? What if your leg acts up while you're carrying so much? I'm not around, and you suddenly fall down in pain, what then?"
Mo Qianyi pouted slightly, feeling a bit aggrieved. "It's my first time cooking for you at home. I wanted to impress you and make sure you eat well. I didn't expect it to be so much."
Yang Chen looked at the woman before him with a complex expression and silently muttered "silly girl." He didn't say more and helped Mo Qianyi unload everything from the car. With just his two hands, he effortlessly carried all the items. "Let's go upstairs, I can handle it from here."
Seeing Yang Chen not upset anymore, Mo Qianyi happily exclaimed, "It's so much better with a man around. I would've struggled so much by myself."
Following behind Mo Qianyi, they entered her small apartment. It was Yang Chen's second time there, so he was somewhat familiar. He recalled the events of their first night together and couldn't help but smile.
Mo Qianyi seemed to remember the night she sneakily kissed Yang Chen. Yang Chen pretended not to know, playfully acting oblivious to that absurd incident. She gave him a flirtatious look, "Stop smiling or I won't cook for you anymore. Put the groceries in the kitchen and then you can watch TV."
"Don't need my help?"
"You'll just make it more complicated. I'm cooking Sichuan cuisine, you wouldn't understand. Just relax," Mo Qianyi said.
"My knife skills are excellent. I can help you cut anything you want," Yang Chen insisted.
Mo Qianyi thought about Yang Chen's skillful hands and agreed. Soon, the two of them were working in the kitchen together with perfect harmony. Mo Qianyi washed and selected vegetables while directing Yang Chen to cut various types of fish, meat, and vegetables into different shapes and arrange them on plates.
Once Yang Chen finished cutting everything neatly, Mo Qianyi was very satisfied and kissed him on the cheek in praise. Then, with a lively rhythm, she started cooking—stewing and frying with great joy.
Yang Chen didn't bother watching TV. He stood at the kitchen door, slightly entranced, watching Mo Qianyi move around in her shirt and a pink apron, bustling about cooking.
This scene was something Yang Chen had dreamed about before, though the woman in his dreams had never been clear. After tonight, he was sure that if he dreamt that dream again, it would feature the woman before him.
After about an hour, Mo Qianyi had made five stir-fries, a soup, and a bowl of spicy and sour fish. Yang Chen helped bring all the dishes to the small dining table outside.
Mo Qianyi pulled out a half-empty bottle of ten-year-old vintage red wine from somewhere, feeling a bit embarrassed. "This is all I have at home. I drink it before bed to help me sleep. Let's just make do with it."
Yang Chen shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not really into drinking. Why don't you keep it for yourself to drink tonight?"
"No, I insist on having a little. It completes the meal," Mo Qianyi stubbornly replied, pouring two small wine glasses, filling one for Yang Chen and one for herself.
Yang Chen took the glass and gently clinked it with Mo Qianyi, who still had a few beads of sweat on her face. "My dear little Qianqian, if you want it to be complete, I suggest turning off the lights and lighting some candles."
Mo Qianyi widened her watery eyes, looking regretful. "Why didn't you say that earlier? I don't have any candles at home. If you had reminded me, I could have bought some from the supermarket, the rose-scented ones. I really like that scent."
Yang Chen grinned, looking somewhat vexed. "I just said it casually. Do you really want a candlelit dinner?"
"Of course! Don't you know romance is a woman's prerogative?" Mo Qianyi said proudly.
Watching her playful expression, Yang Chen couldn't help but laugh and shake his head. His mood, heavy earlier in the afternoon, suddenly lifted.
The two of them enjoyed their meal and chatted happily. Mo Qianyi's cooking skills were good, and Yang Chen found the food delicious. However, Mo Qianyi herself, not used to such spicy dishes for a long time, kept wiping sweat off her face with a napkin, her fair cheeks flushed.
After serving Yang Chen a piece of stir-fried chicken thigh, Mo Qianyi suddenly said, "In a little over a week, the company's rotational holidays will start. You'll go to Yingben, and I'll lead a team to Yingnan. We won't see each other for a while."
"You're going to Yingnan?" Yang Chen was surprised, it was the first time he heard Mo Qianyi mention it.
"Yeah, the Ministry of Finance organized the trip to Yingnan. They said it's warm there, not as hot as summer. I think it's a good change," Mo Qianyi said, puzzled. "How come you didn't know? I thought you knew I was going to Yingnan. Ruoxi is also going with us this year. Aren't you living with her? Haven't you heard?"
Yang Chen was even more taken aback. Lin Ruoxi was going too? He hadn't heard her mention it before. But considering the recent tension between them and Lin Ruoxi's attitude towards him, it wasn't surprising she hadn't told him.
Mo Qianyi sensed there might be something wrong and asked cautiously, "Did you have a fight with Ruoxi?"
Yang Chen smirked, "You know her temperament. It's normal for her not to mention things to me. It's good though, she works so hard year-round, she deserves a break."
Mo Qianyi didn't press further, sighing lightly. "Yes, I've been with the company for so many years, and it's the first time I've seen Ruoxi willing to take a vacation and travel with the staff. You should have seen it, when I announced in the department that the CEO would be going with everyone, the whole office nearly went crazy with joy. I'm starting to envy your wife's personal charm. Despite always being so stern and quiet, she has so many people admiring her to the extreme. I thought maybe you persuaded her to go, but clearly not."
"I can't persuade her of anything. Despite what she says, her temper is as stubborn as they come," Yang Chen replied with a bitter smile.
Mo Qianyi nodded knowingly and didn't continue the topic. Instead, she switched to chatting with Yang Chen about everyday matters and amusing stories from the company.
After dinner, Mo Qianyi washed dishes in the kitchen while Yang Chen sat on the couch watching the evening news.
Once Mo Qianyi finished washing up and removed her apron, she stretched lazily and leaned gently against Yang Chen, smiling tenderly. "Are you going home tonight?"
Yang Chen lowered his head and pecked Mo Qianyi's lips at the corner. "It depends on your performance. If you do well, I won't leave. If not, I'll head out."
Mo Qianyi narrowed her eyes, a hint of disdain in her expression. She stood up and glanced at Yang Chen. "If you want to leave, then leave. No need to see you off."
But before she could finish speaking, Yang Chen grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his arms.
This time, Yang Chen flipped over and pinned Mo Qianyi beneath him. He leaned close to her ear and whispered huskily, "I'm sorry, your performance just now is exactly what I like. It was too outstanding, so I've decided not to leave."
"Mm," Mo Qianyi's earlobe was warmed by his breath, sending shivers down her spine. "You're not leaving, but don't be like this, okay?"
"How about this?" Yang Chen teased with a smirk.
"Just like this," Mo Qianyi blushed, softly responding, "I don't know..."
"Then let's keep it like this," Yang Chen chuckled lightly and sealed her words with a passionate kiss.
The two entwined together, causing the couch to creak under their weight and pressure.
Yang Chen was about to proceed further when the phone on the coffee table vibrated.
Yang Chen reluctantly stopped, picked up the phone, and chuckled. It turned out to be Tang Wan, who hadn't contacted him for several days. Since the day Tang Wan mistakenly thought he had an affair with her daughter Tang Tang, she hadn't been in touch. He didn't expect her to call now.
Seizing the opportunity while Yang Chen was distracted, Mo Qianyi hurriedly escaped from under him like a runaway bride, exclaiming, "I'm going to take a shower!" Then she disappeared into her own room.
Yang Chen pursed his lips and answered the phone.