Chapter 057　 I’ve changed. Update your impression of me.

  *

  Li Chengshi started a video call with his mother. Li Xiao had gone to her grandmother's house for the New Year; the family home was full of relatives and very lively. Relieved, Li Chengshi held up his phone to show her the environment of the guesthouse and said to Su Xian, "Say hi."

  "Hi, Sister Li! Wishing you a peaceful New Year's Eve!"

  "Engineer Su, Happy New Year's Eve! You two be good to each other, okay?"

  "Don't worry, Sister Li."

  Though they didn't speak the same language, Honda’s mother was just as cheerful as her daughter and proactively greeted Li Xiao.

  Su Xian joined a group video call with Liang Wenyua, Lao Zhang, and Wang Jing. They were all having New Year’s Eve dinner with their families, and it was incredibly boisterous.

  Li Chengshi whispered to Su Xian, "The Boss has no one to call. He’s quite pitiful." In this moment, Zhao Nanfeng was just another poor kid without parents in his eyes.

  Just then, Zhao Nanfeng’s phone rang. Su Xian, Li Chengshi, and Honda all crowded around to look.

  "Are you guys sick?" Zhao Nanfeng tilted the screen toward them so they could see.

  It was Wakui Ryo.

  He hung up immediately.

  "That's so rude." Su Xian grabbed his phone, entered "0815" to unlock it—it was his birthday—and called back for him.

  The faces of Wakui and Mio appeared on the screen. "Hi, Nanfeng. Happy New Year's Eve."

  "Hi! Happy New Year's Eve!" The group on this side shouted greetings together, except for Zhao Nanfeng, who remained silent.

  Wakui smiled. "It looks so lively over there. Mio and I are relieved. We were actually thinking of bringing some food over to sit with you for a while."

  "I don't need your hypocrisy."

  Wakui gave an awkward smile.

  Su Xian asked, "Wakui-san, do you have any more apple pies? Last time we ate the Boss’s portion, and he was furious. He said he loves the apple pies you bring the most."

  "Then I’ll ask my mother to send some to Tokyo and bring them over to you next week."

  "Who would get angry over something like that? Don't listen to her nonsense," Zhao Nanfeng grumbled.

  Wakui laughed, chatted for a few more minutes, and then he and Mio said their goodbyes and ended the call.

  *

  A variety of Chinese and Japanese dishes were served, and the group—a rather curious mix of people—celebrated a boisterous New Year's Eve.

  **

  At 1:00 AM Japan time (midnight in China), the two of them sat cross-legged opposite each other on the tatami mats. Li Chengshi counted down with the clock: "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Wifey, Happy New Year."

  Su Xian slapped a large red envelope down. "Honey, Happy New Year."

  Li Chengshi stuffed the envelope back into her pajama pocket. "I don't want this."

  "Then what do you want?"

  "Guess."

  Su Xian started undoing her clothes.

  Li Chengshi quickly reached out to stop her. "If you guess wrong, don't even think about doing this anymore!"

  Seeing him threaten her, Su Xian grinned mischievously. "Li Chengshi, you’ve used this to dangle me along for a year and a half, but Sister Li has already accepted my 1 million. This trick doesn't work anymore." As she spoke, she started tugging at his pajamas.

  Li Chengshi got anxious and held onto his clothes tightly. "A money-grubber like you was willing to spend 1 million on me, so why aren't you willing to call me 'Hubby'?!"

  "So it was that!" Su Xian burst out laughing. "You could have just said so. Hubby."

  He pounced forward excitedly and hugged her. "So it was that easy? Wifey, thank you. I love you."

  "Honey, I love you too."

  "Ahem."

  "Hubby, I love you too." Su Xian stroked his back, realizing that while saying the title carried a lot of bashfulness, she didn't actually feel any resistance to it.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  **

  The magazine was published. Su Xian bought four copies, one for every member of Towa Design.

  Wakui brought an ample supply of apple pies. Upon seeing the magazine, he congratulated Zhao Nanfeng and Su Xian and was lavish in his praise for Su Xian’s revisions.

  "If it weren't for that incident, completing this project would have surely won a major award. But even so, I expect this design will cause a stir and spark discussion on architectural forums. This is very beneficial for Towa Design."

  "From your lips to God's ears."

  "I have a meeting, so I won't stay. "

  " When is Mio’s due date?"

  "April 12th."

  "Let me know when the baby is born."

  "I will."

  *

  After seeing Wakui off with Honda, Su Xian immediately turned back to Zhao Nanfeng’s desk. Looking at the mountain of apple pies, she asked, "Boss, can we have a few?"

  Zhao Nanfeng took one. "The rest are yours."

  "Thanks, Boss! You’re the best!" She scooped up the pies to put them in the office fridge.

  "Su Xian, don't become this childish just because you're dating a 25-year-old, okay?"

  "I’ll be fighting for food even when I'm 100. What does that have to do with being childish?"

  "You never used to like sweets."

  Su Xian paused. It wasn't that she didn't like sweets; it was that she had always been exercising and strictly controlling her diet. It was true she was being a bit undisciplined lately, but she knew exactly why.

  Before, there was no one behind her. She needed to make money, stay fit, and keep herself wealthy, strong, and perfect. Otherwise, she’d be afraid—afraid of being discarded by the world. But now it was different. She had a home. she didn't need to be so tightly wound. Even if she still pursued wealth, strength, and beauty, there was no pressure in relaxing occasionally.

  She smiled and said, "I’ve changed. Update your impression of me."

  **

  One evening before Valentine's Day, Su Xian was lying in a rocking chair listening to music. Li Chengshi finished ironing his clothes and came over to remind her: "In Japan, Valentine's Day is when girls give boys chocolate. Don't forget."

  "Can I just give money?"

  "No!"

  "Kid, you're really not being wise. The chocolat frais from Wako is only 5,940 yen. My red envelope would be 100,000 yen."

  "I want the sentiment." He then realized something and knelt beside the rocking chair, asking softly, "You pre-ordered Wako chocolates for me?"

  "Yeah. Because my little puppy can eat chocolate."

  He happily let out a couple of "woof-woof" sounds like a dog and rubbed his face against her arm. He then said generously, "You can give Zhao Nanfeng some 'Giri choco' (chocolate for family or friends or colleague); I won't be jealous."

  "No need, and it’s too late to pre-order now anyway. Honey, don't worry about that. Come on, let's do some 'Double Cultivation'!" She pointed to the power rack in the living room.

  Since moving in, she had recreated the gym setup from her home in China. Whenever they had time, she’d drag Li Chengshi to train with her. It was one of her dreams, and it felt amazing.

  The next day at the supermarket, Li Chengshi helped Su Xian pick out a small box of chocolates for Zhao Nanfeng.

  **

  "What is this!" Zhao Nanfeng looked at the beautifully wrapped gift on his desk with disdain. "Looking at this wrapping style, there’s no way you did it."

  "Correct." She indeed couldn't manage such a complex fold. "It’s chocolates. Li Chengshi picked them out and wrapped them, but the sentiment is mine."

  "What a calculating 'Green Tea.' Tell him I don't accept pity. Give it to Honda."

  "You really are ungrateful." Su Xian handed the two boxes of chocolate to Honda instead.

  Honda was thrilled and gave a portion of her own handmade chocolates to everyone in the company. After Zhao Nanfeng accepted his, she asked to leave two hours early.

  Su Xian asked with a smile if she was going on a date.

  She didn't answer directly, but her sweet smile gave it away.

  Watching her leave, Zhao Nanfeng frowned. "Who would like her? She must be being scammed."

  "You really have a dark mind." Su Xian couldn't be bothered with him and went back to work.

  **