After a Contract Marriage with a Cold and Older Person - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Sleeping Together!

Song Tingyun was obviously much happier. His tightly knitted brows relaxed, and he smiled faintly—a perfectly understated, handsome look.

Ji Wenxu’s gaze rested on his face for a few seconds, then he quickly shifted his sight, trying to act composed. He muttered, “Fine. Cheating is a form of strategy too. You win.”

Song Tingyun leaned back against the sofa cushion, “It seems I need to carefully consider how to use this hard-won ‘prize’.”

Ji Wenxu moved closer to him, saying, “You only get this chance once. Don’t waste it by asking me to pour your foot bath water or give you a shoulder massage.”

Song Tingyun wanted to say that he wouldn’t be that stupid.

However, the sound that came out before he could speak was a protesting stomach.

They hadn’t eaten anything since seven o’clock last night until now, twelve noon.

Ji Wenxu exclaimed, “You’re hungry?”

Song Tingyun’s expression was a little awkward. He pretended not to hear Ji Wenxu’s words.

Ji Wenxu: “I told you to eat more last night. Wait for it!”

He stood up and patted his chest as if he was about to undertake some great endeavor. He walked out the door and went downstairs.

Meng Ying was cutting vegetables in the kitchen. Ji Wenxu moved closer to his mother step by step, then leaned his head close to her, “Mom, is there anything I can eat ahead of time? I’m a little hungry.”

Meng Ying didn’t look at him, continuing to chop the vegetables, “You, you just can’t change that habit.”

“There’s fruit salad I just mixed in the fridge, and the cake in the oven should be done baking.”

Ji Wenxu quickly massaged Meng Ying’s shoulders, “Mom, you’re the best.”

“Thank you, thank you for your hard work.”

Meng Ying raised her hand to push his hands away, pretending to be serious, “Stop bothering me. The fruit salad and cake are for Tingyun too. Don’t eat it all yourself.”

“I know, I know. I’ll plate it up and eat it with him.” Ji Wenxu took a white porcelain plate from the cupboard.

While he was slicing the cake, Meng Ying spoke, “Are you and Tingyun getting along without any problems?”

Ji Wenxu answered casually, “What problems could there be? Your son here has such a naughty personality, but we haven’t even had an argument. He’s the one who accommodates me entirely.”

Seeing the seasonings Meng Ying prepared to put into the soup, Ji Wenxu casually reminded her, “Mom, Tingyun doesn’t eat wolfberries (goji berries). Don’t put them in the soup later.”

Meng Ying’s hand paused. She slowly turned her head, looking at Ji Wenxu as if she was scrutinizing a stranger.

Ji Wenxu didn’t think he had said anything shocking. He took out the fruit salad, divided it into two portions, picked out and ate all the apple slices before placing the remainder on the tray.

“Xiaoxu,” Meng Ying called him.

Ji Wenxu, with half a piece of cake in his mouth, looked at Meng Ying. He answered indistinctly, “Mmm?”

“It’s nothing. It’s enough that you and Tingyun are getting along well.” Meng Ying seemed to have understood something and offered a gentle, relieved smile.

Ji Wenxu took the cake out of his mouth, “Mom, I’ll be back to help you later.”

Meng Ying quickly refused, “No need. You go spend time with Tingyun. I can manage by myself.”

Ji Wenxu asked, “Are you sure you don’t need help? Don’t be polite with your son.”

Meng Ying pushed his back, shooing him out of the kitchen, “Go, go quickly. Staying here only distracts me.”

Ji Wenxu then half-heartedly went upstairs.

He pressed the doorknob down with his elbow, then nudged the door open with his knee and walked in, “Song Tingyun, look what I brought.”

Song Tingyun was no longer in the bedroom after he had only been gone for this brief time. Ji Wenxu knew exactly where he was with his eyes closed.

So, he turned and went into the study next door.

Song Tingyun was sitting at the desk again. The computer light was reflected on his glasses, showing dense rows of text on the screen.

Ji Wenxu walked over and placed the cake and fruit salad next to Song Tingyun.

“Eat some to tide you over. The pigeon is just starting to stew in the kitchen. It will probably be a while before lunch. I didn’t tell my mom we haven’t eaten lunch yet.”

Song Tingyun, “I’ll go to the kitchen to help Auntie later.”

Ji Wenxu sat in a chair, naturally propping his legs up on the desk. He pouted, saying, “Didn’t you just call her ‘Mom’? Why ‘Auntie’ in private?”

Song Tingyun wasn’t sure what Ji Wenxu was subtly hinting at, so he explained, “I was just afraid you’d feel uncomfortable.”

Ji Wenxu scoffed, “It’s this that makes me uncomfortable. It makes us look like we’re not legally married.”

Song Tingyun frowned, “But isn’t it an agreement marriage?”

Ji Wenxu was speechless and reverted to the original topic, “My mom won’t let us help her. Let’s just stay upstairs. She’ll call us when it’s time to eat.”

As he spoke, he used a fork to spear a green grape and held it out to Song Tingyun, “Hurry up and eat. Hurry up, or I’ll eat it all myself.”

Song Tingyun took the fork from his hand, his gaze returning to the computer.

Ji Wenxu saw his serious expression and the slow browsing speed, indicating he had encountered something tricky. Ji Wenxu stood up, walked around to his side, and leaned down to look at the computer screen, asking, “What’s wrong? Work-related?”

“Yes. We negotiated with the owner of Anhe Art Museum to take over the subsequent project, but for some reason, they haven’t withdrawn their people.”

Ji Wenxu was already capable of understanding project matters. Song Tingyun only needed to explain a few details before Ji Wenxu grasped the situation.

“Where’s the contract?”

“The contract hasn’t been signed because it involves fund allocation. The initial agreement was for them to withdraw their people, and for us to sign the contract and allocate the funds.”

“I had someone check. Wei Han Group also has private dealings with the Art Museum owner…” Song Tingyun pulled up the relevant information on the other company.

“So, they negotiated a new price, right?”

Ji Wenxu immediately came to a conclusion.

Song Tingyun paused before nodding, “The project is urgent. I might have to travel out of town in the next two days to negotiate with Wei Han. At the company…”

Ji Wenxu interrupted him, “No need for that hassle. I’ll go negotiate with this ‘Wei Han’ person. I know him—he’s a friend of an old friend of my grandfather.”

“Can you handle it? They might not even agree to meet with you. You’ll have to put in effort just to schedule a meeting with him.” Although Song Tingyun had witnessed Ji Wenxu’s rapid growth and progress, this kind of real-world negotiation was a first for both of them.

Ji Wenxu patted his chest, confidently saying, “Song Tingyun, just trust me. If I say I have a way, I have a way.”

“If the negotiation is difficult, don’t be discouraged. We can renegotiate the funding with the Art Museum owner,” Song Tingyun added superfluously.

Ji Wenxu reached out and closed the laptop, repeatedly saying, “I know, I know.”

“I think vacation time at home should be for rest. You tell your employees not to touch any work on the weekend, so why don’t you take a small break yourself?”

“Hurry up and eat the cake and fruit salad. It’s okay if you don’t finish the cake, but finish the fruit salad.” Ji Wenxu said while also gathering up the documents near Song Tingyun.

Song Tingyun had no choice but to compromise.

For the remainder of the time, Song Tingyun read a book. Ji Wenxu took a phone call that lasted over forty minutes in the bedroom.

“Tingyun, Xiaoxu, dinner is ready.” Meng Ying’s gentle voice drifted up from the downstairs living room.

Ji Wenxu finished his call just in time. He quickly called down, “Okay!” and then shouted into the study, “Song Tingyun, time to eat.”

After speaking, he scurried downstairs to help Meng Ying serve the dishes and bowls.

…

At the dining table.

Ji Wenxu and Song Tingyun sat next to each other, with Meng Ying across from them.

She smiled with her eyes curved, gently saying, “Try these dishes. I hope they suit your taste.”

“Thank you, Mom,” Song Tingyun said.

Meng Ying, “Don’t thank your mother. We are all family. Xiaoxu, don’t just eat by yourself. Put some food in Tingyun’s bowl.”

“Oh.” Ji Wenxu picked up the serving chopsticks, put a piece of braised pork into his bowl. He carefully removed the fat and minced garlic before transferring the remaining piece to Song Tingyun, “My mom’s braised pork has always been delicious. Try it.”

His action was so practiced it seemed he had done it countless times.

Meng Ying was stunned. She felt that her naughty, fearless son seemed to have truly met someone special to him.

…

After the meal, Ji Wenxu actively offered to help Meng Ying clean up the kitchen.

Song Tingyun initially wanted to help, but both Meng Ying and Ji Wenxu refused.

The mother and son wiped down the kitchen counter.

Meng Ying said, “Seeing you and Tingyun so close makes me feel much better. Tomorrow, when I get back, I must tell your grandpa and dad.”

Ji Wenxu, however, caught the important part of her words, “Tomorrow? Mom, are you planning to stay overnight here?”

Meng Ying dramatically covered her mouth with both hands, “Didn’t I tell you, your dad is away on business today, and your grandpa and maternal grandfather went fishing together? I was bored at home, so I came to see you!”

“I know you young people might feel awkward, so I’ll just sleep in the downstairs guest room tonight. I won’t disturb you two lovebirds,” Meng Ying said, following up with a few noncommittal chuckles.

Ji Wenxu thought, this is terrible.

After cleaning the kitchen, Ji Wenxu quickly told Meng Ying he was going upstairs to find Song Tingyun.

Meng Ying called after him, “You’ve only been away for a moment and you’re already anxious? You young people, honestly.”

Ji Wenxu rushed to the second floor, threw open the study door, and ran inside.

He plopped down opposite Song Tingyun, “Song Tingyun, this is terrible!!”

Song Tingyun slowly sipped his tea and asked, “What is it? It’s not the end of the world yet.”

Ji Wenxu’s expression was serious, “This is worse than the end of the world! My mom is staying overnight at our house, and the fact that we sleep in separate rooms is going to be exposed!!”

Song Tingyun’s hand paused when he heard this. He looked up at Ji Wenxu, “Are you serious?”

“You should ask my mom if she’s serious,” Ji Wenxu crossed his arms, wearing an expression of “I’m out of ideas.”

Song Tingyun was silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Then we’ll sleep together tonight.”

“Oh.” Ji Wenxu didn’t object. After all, it seemed like the only solution.

Song Tingyun continued, “You were so worried just because of this? Even if we sleep together, it’s not like I’m going to eat you.”

Ji Wenxu, “It’s a wonder you can joke about it. I’m scared to death. I feel like my mom has noticed something fishy.”

Song Tingyun laughed.

In the afternoon, the three of them sat in the downstairs living room chatting all afternoon. In the evening, the family went to a restaurant outside the complex for dinner. It was past eight o’clock when they returned.

Meng Ying, saying she wouldn’t disturb their sleep, went back to the guest room early to rest.

Song Tingyun didn’t have any work to do either, so he also went back to his room.

Ji Wenxu followed right behind him, “So, how are we sleeping tonight? Do I sleep on the sofa or the floor?”

Song Tingyun stopped. Ji Wenxu quickly braked so he wouldn’t bump into him. Song Tingyun looked at him and said, “You won’t sleep in the bed?”

Ji Wenxu: Wait, what!!!