Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Wen Mochuan didn't know that the person lying in bed had so many thoughts swirling in her mind. Seeing that she had already lain down and wasn't moving, he assumed she was too tired and had fallen asleep. Therefore, he reached out to turn off the large light hanging from the ceiling.

Only two small lamps remained lit, casting a dim glow that made the room considerably darker.

As the room suddenly grew dimmer, Jiang Yiyan became even more alert. She had no trace of sleepiness now; her spirit was highly focused, preparing for a potential battle at any moment.

But Wen Mochuan merely sat quietly at the foot of the bed for a while. Once he cooled down, he got up and entered the bathroom. The door closed, and the faint but still audible sound of a hairdryer came from inside.

Was he drying his hair?

Jiang Yiyan shrank in the dimness, not reducing her vigilance by a bit.

Not until the sound of the hairdryer suddenly stopped, the person inside walked out on tiptoes, turned off the last two lights in the room, and quietly got back into bed with no further movement for about five minutes did Jiang Yiyan let out a slight sigh of relief.

Then ten minutes passed, fifteen minutes passed, half an hour passed... seeing that there was still no movement from her side, Jiang Yiyan finally relaxed completely.

Once her mind relaxed, the exhaustion from her body naturally swept over her. Soon, Jiang Yiyan fell into a deep sleep.

In the middle of the night, Jiang Yiyan woke up needing to urinate.

Perhaps due to drinking too much alcohol and feeling thirsty, she had also drunk a lot of water before sleeping. Now, she felt as if her bladder would explode. She stealthily reached for her phone and saw that it was only a little past three. Deciding it was best to get up and use the restroom, she opened the flashlight on her phone and slowly made her way there using the faint light.

The night was so quiet that Jiang Yiyan barely dared to make any noise while using the restroom, carefully finding a suitable position to minimize the sound as much as possible.

He was right outside, and despite her efforts to keep the rustling sounds low, they were still clearly audible, making the situation rather awkward. But Jiang Yiyan had no choice but to continue.

After finishing, she immediately pressed the button to flush the toilet. Unexpectedly, the sound of the toilet flushing was loud, especially in the dead of night, sounding like an explosion. After the water flushed, the toilet continued to rumble for a moment before finally stopping.

Jiang Yiyan closed her eyes, hovering on the brink of despair.

She knew that even if Wen Mochuan was a heavy sleeper, her series of actions would have surely woken him up. Resigned, she decided not to be cautious anymore and boldly walked out holding her phone.

Sure enough, Wen Mochuan was awake, with the bedside lamp on, reclining against the edge of the bed.

Wen Mochuan was a light sleeper. He had woken up when Jiang Yiyan got out of bed. Sensing her careful movements, Wen Mochuan had planned to continue pretending to sleep, but the sound of the toilet flushing came like thunder, making it impossible for him to pretend any longer.

Worried that she might trip over something in the dark, he simply turned on the light to wait for her to come out.

Having mentally prepared herself, Jiang Yiyan wasn't surprised to see him awake, with the light on, waiting for her when she emerged. Embarrassed, she smiled apologetically. "Sorry, the... sound of the water was indeed quite loud."

Wen Mochuan didn't feel disturbed or in need of an apology. His gaze remained fixed on her as she moved, only speaking once she had returned to sit beside him on the bed. "There's no need to apologize. It's not your fault."

Only after returning to the bed did Jiang Yiyan notice that Wen Mochuan was sleeping shirtless and hadn't put on a robe later. Being closer, Jiang Yiyan took the opportunity to openly scrutinize him under the pretense of their conversation.

Despite appearing slim when dressed, his body was actually quite solid. At least, the shoulders and arms exposed now were firm and muscular.

After greedily taking a few more glances, Jiang Yiyan silently retracted her gaze, drawing in a breath.

"Let's go back to sleep." She turned to face away from him, subconsciously shifting closer to the edge of the bed.

Wen Mochuan stared at her back for a moment before turning off the light and lying down again.

This sleep lasted until dawn, waking up to a bright sky filled with the sounds of insects and birds.

Apart from the small interruption in the middle of the night, Jiang Yiyan slept deeply and soundly. After waking up, she felt refreshed.

Stretching comfortably, she then realized that the person beside her was gone.

Jiang Yiyan reached for her phone, noticing that it was still early, just past seven o'clock. As she was getting up to put on her shoes and prepare to leave the bed, Wen Mochuan emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed and his hair neatly combed.

With his gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, he exuded the elegance and sophistication of an elite, a stark contrast to the bare-chested man from the previous night.

However, Wen Mochuan's tone remained consistently gentle. Seeing his wife awake, he spoke to her. "There's breakfast available where we had dinner yesterday. Get ready, and we'll eat before leaving."

"Okay." Jiang Yiyan didn't linger in bed, getting up and heading towards the bathroom. "I'll be out in a few minutes."

Jiang Yiyan didn't apply makeup this morning. She simply changed clothes and washed her face with water. Her hair wasn't meticulously styled into a bun today but was casually brushed and left to hang behind her waist.

Standing in front of Wen Mochuan, he found that her natural appearance today seemed even more beautiful than her carefully adorned look from yesterday. Yesterday, she was exquisite; today, she was casual.

"Let's go." Jiang Yiyan couldn't wait to finish breakfast and return to the city, urging him.

Additionally, she carefully checked her belongings one more time to ensure nothing was left behind. They would likely depart directly after breakfast without coming back.

She didn't bring much, just a small handbag and her phone.

Remembering to return the makeup remover oil she borrowed from Xu Yan, she deliberately checked if it was in her bag.

The weather this morning was a stark contrast to the previous night. Despite the thunderstorm, the sun now shone brightly. The farm was lush and vibrant, making it hard to imagine that it had been battered by a heavy rainstorm just the day before.

The air after the rain was fresher than usual. Stepping outside, Jiang Yiyan took several deep breaths, savoring the pure, natural freshness that differed greatly from the polluted air in the city.

Moreover, perhaps because she was about to leave and return home soon, Jiang Yiyan felt unexpectedly good.

Many people were passing by, some classmates, others strangers.

Jiang Yiyan thought that the farm must have reopened to the public today. Those unfamiliar faces were likely tourists who had come for picking and sightseeing.

The dining hall was already crowded, and the Wen Mochuan couple arrived relatively late. Upon entering, someone greeted them with a smile.

Jiang Yiyan searched the crowd and, spotting Xu Yan, told Wen Mochuan, "I'm going to find Xu Yan," nodded at the person greeting them, and then left.

The person standing in front of Wen Mochuan now was a brother from his dormitory during their school days.

At the time, there were four people in their dormitory, and the other two went to develop in other places after graduation. Due to being in another city and with busy work, they couldn't make it back this time.

Working and living in the same city is different from not working and living in the same city. Compared to the other two, Wen Mochuan naturally had a better relationship with the roommate present.

Xie Mingfeng was originally a native of Shenzhen. Although his family's background was far inferior to that of Wen Mochuan, the wealthy heir, his parents were both employed in prestigious jobs. They owned several houses, and he also had a good job, so overall, his conditions were quite favorable.

Although he couldn't fully integrate into Wen Mochuan's circle, Wen Mochuan treated him well. He would sometimes be invited to dinners and referred business when available.

Watching Jiang Yiyan's gradually receding figure, Xie Mingfeng smiled and said, "You and sister-in-law have a good relationship now." Because they had stayed close after graduation, Xie Mingfeng knew more about Wen Mochuan's marital situation than others.

Wen Mochuan wouldn't go into detail about his marital affairs, so he could only half-heartedly reply, "People change. As we grow up, many things become clearer, and naturally, changes occur."

Xie Mingfeng: "Yes, my sister-in-law's character has become increasingly adorable. Her appearance this time will likely put an end to the rumors that have been circulating in our class for years. She used to hate Shu Yao the most, but look at them now, sitting together and getting along so happily."

Wen Mochuan followed Xie Mingfeng's gaze and indeed saw his wife sitting with Shu Yao and Xu Yan, having a meal. There was conversation during the meal, and judging by their demeanor, they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Perhaps to avoid suspicion, fearing that others might misunderstand if they saw him looking, Wen Mochuan didn't stare too long. After a brief glance, he immediately averted his eyes.

Xie Mingfeng patted Wen Mochuan on the shoulder. "'What is past cannot be recalled; what is to come may still be pursued.' Perhaps it's not my place to remind you, but cherish the person before you. Sister-in-law has changed for you, and even if you're right, you should take a step back at times for a lasting relationship." Xie Mingfeng understood Wen Mochuan and knew that despite any regrets he might have, he would never betray his wife and family.

But while he might not act on it, what if he couldn't get over it mentally? If he couldn't let go, wouldn't he spend his life trapped in regret and remorse?

Life is meant to be lived happily.

Xie Mingfeng stopped there, realizing he had said enough. Saying more would be intrusive, so he promptly bid farewell and went to chat with other old classmates.

Naturally, Wen Mochuan listened to Xie Mingfeng's words and agreed with him. Even without today's conversation, Wen Mochuan had already considered these matters himself.

Jiang Yiyan had breakfast with Xu Yan and Shu Yao, while Wen Mochuan was called over by Xie Mingfeng to join some other classmates.

After eating, everyone set off back to the city.

Xu Yan drove his own car, carrying Shu Yao and two other female classmates. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the gathering, and the two female classmates in the backseat continued chatting about it on the way back.

The most noteworthy topic of discussion at the reunion was naturally Jiang Yiyan.

"I never expected her to be completely different from what I imagined. I thought as a rich heiress, she'd be haughty, but unexpectedly, she's so down-to-earth. She was very enthusiastic and cheerful when interacting with us. Oh, I asked for her WeChat, and she gave it to me without hesitation."

Xu Yan was driving, with Shu Yao in the front passenger seat, and the two female classmates in the back, making it convenient for them to chat.

One started the conversation, and the other quickly joined in: "Who would have thought? I also asked for her WeChat, and she gave it to me without a second thought. Who spread those rumors about her being unreasonable? It must be someone jealous of her, spreading ill will behind her back."

The first one to speak chimed in again: "And she's truly beautiful. She wore makeup yesterday, and I thought her beauty might be due to that, but today, she's clearly makeup-free. Her skin is so naturally fair, smooth, and tender. Only someone with such great skin would dare to go without makeup. I certainly wouldn't."

As the two female classmates chattered away, Xu Yan instinctively glanced at Shu Yao with his peripheral vision. Although Shu Yao hadn't spoken, she looked visibly upset and didn't seem to be in a good mood.

"Hey, hey, hey, can you stop being so noisy? Can't we talk about something else? If you keep this up, I'll ask you to get out of the car."

The two female classmates, engrossed in their conversation, seemed to have forgotten about Shu Yao in the front seat. Realizing their mistake, they felt awkward and promptly fell silent.

To avoid further awkwardness, they later tried to engage Shu Yao in conversation, showering her with compliments about her good looks and high education, and inquired about her future plans.

Xu Yan knew that Shu Yao wanted to become a university professor, but when the two classmates asked, she avoided mentioning this, instead saying, "I'm not sure yet. I want to find a job myself, but my parents and brother hope I work at the family company. I don't want to disappoint them, so I'm still considering my options."