His physiological preference

This week, the two of them started living together.

Qin Yuzheng successfully gained entry into the family. Yang Zhiyan had always thought he was considerate, meticulous, and thoughtful, but after actually living together, she found that those adjectives were not enough.

He didn't just do those things; he treated them as his duty, without seeking credit or boasting, and without making you feel that you should remember his kindness.

Yang Zhiyan sometimes wonders if the past twenty-five years she lived were all for the sake of waiting for this person.

All the hardships she had experienced—being ignored, taken advantage of, and treated as a tool—didn't seem so painful anymore, because now she was being loved wholeheartedly.

She never knew what it felt like to be cherished, but now she does.

She has let go of all the suffering she has experienced.

She lived a mediocre life for the first twenty-five years, all for the sake of a happy life after she turned twenty-five. She believed it.

Both of them were waiting, waiting for their periods to end so they could reunite.

No one spoke of it, but both of them knew. On the fifth day, Yang Zhiyan's period was almost over.

She went to the bathroom in the morning, and when she came back, her expression relaxed a bit. Qin Yuzheng was putting on his shirt, buttoning it up to the second to last button. When he saw her expression in the mirror, his fingers paused for a moment.

The two looked at each other without saying a word, but they both understood.

Qin Yuzheng buttoned up the last button and turned around.

"It won't be completely clean until the seventh day, so don't rush it now." Yang Zhiyan blushed slightly.

"I'm not in a hurry." Qin Yuzheng walked over and kissed her on the forehead.

"Am I in a hurry?" Yang Zhiyan pushed him away.

Qin Yuzheng began to secretly make plans.

He planned to take Yang Zhiyan to a romantic hotel. He checked out several hotels but wasn't satisfied with any of them. Finally, he called Mu Cheng for a recommendation.

Mu Cheng was silent for two seconds on the other end of the phone, then laughed.

"Zheng, you've finally figured it out?"

Qin Yuzheng said, "Stop talking nonsense." Mu Cheng recommended a place that had a nice environment and was very private, making it suitable for couples.

Qin Yuzheng noted it down but didn't decide immediately. He wanted to wait until it was confirmed before making a decision, not wanting any further changes to the situation.

Yang Zhiyan was also counting down the days, but she was counting down the days of the competition.

Yang Zhiyan was drawing design drafts in her studio when she received the notification. Her phone rang; it was a landline number.

She answered the phone, and the other party said it was the organizing committee of the cheongsam design competition, informing her of the training arrangements for the finals.

"Ms. Yang Zhiyan, congratulations on advancing to the finals. You will need to attend a month-long intensive training program before the finals, which will be held in Beijing. You will be scheduled to report next Monday."

Yang Zhiyan held her phone, twirled the pen between her fingers, and dropped it onto the table.

She hung up the phone, sat at her work desk, stared blankly at the fallen pen for a while.

One month. She was going to Beijing for a month. She took out her phone and sent a message to Qin Yuzheng.

"I received a notification that I need to train for the finals in Beijing for a month."

After sending the message, she stared at the screen for a few seconds. The other person's typing indicator popped up and remained there for a long time before finally replying with just one word: "Mm".

Yang Zhiyan looked at that "hmm" and felt something was off. He didn't usually reply like that.

She said her "stomach hurts," and he would call to ask if she "needs to go to the hospital."

She says, "I'm so tired today," and he'll reply, "I'll pick you up after get off work."

She said she was going to Beijing for a month, and he replied with an "Mm".

She typed a few words: "Are you unhappy?"

Qin Yuzheng replied with three words: "No."

A man who says one thing but means another; if he doesn't mean it, he does.

When Yang Zhiyan got home that evening, she began packing her luggage. She spread her suitcase on the bedroom floor and took clothes out of the closet, folded them, and put them in.

Qin Yuzheng sat on the edge of the bed, watching her pack. He didn't help, didn't say anything, didn't give any instructions, and didn't make any arrangements.

Yang Zhiyan folded a shirt and put it in the box, glancing at him.

He leaned against the headboard, holding his phone in his hand. The screen was dark, and he wasn't looking at it. He held the phone in his hand, his thumb slowly rubbing the edge of the screen.

Yang Zhiyan folded another coat and put it inside. He still didn't say anything.

She remembered the last time she went to S City, he booked a hotel for her, gave her Zhou Zhanyu's phone number, and repeatedly told her to "call him if anything happens."

He didn't say anything this time?

She stopped when her suitcase was half full, stood up, walked to him, bent down and hugged him.

His body stiffened slightly, then relaxed, and he raised his hand to place it on her back.

"Are you angry?" Her voice was muffled in the crook of his shoulder.

"No, why would I be angry?" He gently stroked her back.

Yang Zhiyan straightened up, cupped his face in her hands, and turned his face away from the phone so that it was facing her.

"Okay, stop being so angry," she said, gently rubbing her thumb against his cheekbone.

"I'll only be gone for a month. I'll be back after the competition. And you can come see me on the weekend if you're free."

Qin Yuzheng looked into her eyes. Her eyes reflected the light, his image, and sincerity.

"Hmm," he said. Again, "Hmm."

Yang Zhiyan sighed inwardly. She released his face and turned to continue packing her luggage.

Qin Yuzheng sat on the edge of the bed, watching her put the folded clothes into the suitcase one by one.

She folded clothes with great skill, each piece neatly folded with the edges aligned, as if she were making a very delicate handicraft.

Qin Yuzheng had actually applied for a week of annual leave to accompany Yang Zhiyan to get familiar with the environment before returning to work.

But seeing how Yang Zhi coaxed him, he liked it so much—so soft and sweet. He decided to keep it a secret for now and surprise her later.

That night, Yang Zhiyan tried everything. She leaned on his shoulder and said, "I'll miss you."

Qin remained unmoved by the political situation.

She lay on his lap and said, "A month will pass quickly, it's only four weeks."

Qin Yuzheng remained unmoved. She nestled against his chest and said, "Come see me this weekend, and I'll take you to the Forbidden City."

Qin Yuzheng's expression softened slightly, but he remained silent. Yang Zhiyan was at a loss.

When they slept, Qin Yuzheng had his back to her. He wasn't usually like this; he would usually sleep facing her, with one hand on her waist or holding her hand.

Today, he turned his back to her, leaving her with a straight, silent silhouette, like a wall.

Yang Zhiyan hugged him from behind, her face pressed against his back, feeling his body temperature and his heartbeat.

Her hand slipped under his waist and rested on his chest. Her lips pressed against his earlobe.

This action was learned from Qin Yuzheng.

He had kissed her like this before, and every time he did, her body would go limp.

When her lips touched his, Qin Yuzheng's body stiffened.

Her lips brushed against his earlobe, paused for a moment, then opened her mouth and took it in.

Qin Yuzheng's body tensed up. The muscles in his back hardened, one by one.

Yang Zhiyan sensed it and became a little nervous, but she didn't stop.

She blew a warm breath near his ear, brushing against his earlobe.

Qin Yuzheng rolled over quickly, and before Yang Zhiyan could react, she was already pinned beneath him.

His hands were on either side of her head, and his body was over hers. Through the thin nightgown, she could feel his body temperature.

His eyes were red, like they had reached their limit, like a taut string that was about to snap.

"Baby," his voice was seductive, "do you know what you're doing?"

Yang Zhiyan looked into his eyes, and her heart pounded.

She raised her hand, placed it on his face, and offered him her alluring red lips.