His Sunday Substitute - Chapter 28

Can I Have a Goodnight Kiss?…

When Qin Cangye returned to the dining room after finishing his phone call, Su Yinuo was sitting with her head lowered, absentmindedly stirring the soup in her bowl. The thick soup had long stopped steaming, and the spoon clinked lightly against the rim of the bowl, producing a crisp sound. Su Yinuo’s shoulders were slightly hunched, her entire demeanor radiating dejection.

“Nuonuo, what’s wrong?” Qin Cangye asked with a hint of unease.

Kong Wenxin’s words had left Su Yinuo both heartbroken and filled with self-reproach. Heartbroken for the suffering Qin Cangye had endured, and self-reproachful for her own cowardice. She had always known the Qin family was a pit of fire, which was why she had avoided it at all costs, why she had repeatedly rejected Qin Cangye, and why she had openly admitted to him that she lacked the courage to face any storms by his side.

Even after hearing Kong Wenxin’s true request, beyond the ache in her heart, Su Yinuo still felt a surge of panic. She was genuinely afraid to attend the memorial, afraid to face the man everyone described as ruthless and vicious, Qin Weishu, afraid of bringing trouble upon herself.

And then it struck her, how utterly spineless she was. She had comfortably basked in Qin Cangye’s love and protection, comfortably assumed that in half a year or a year, she could simply reap the rewards of his solitary struggle. From beginning to end, she had given him nothing, and now, she didn’t even have the courage to stand by him through his darkest hour.

“Nuonuo, what’s the matter?” Qin Cangye hurriedly sat down beside Su Yinuo, grasping her hand and gently lifting her chin. What met his eyes were a pair of fragile, slightly reddened eyes, brimming with vulnerability and tenderness.

Qin Cangye’s heart clenched, and he pulled Su Yinuo into his embrace. Just as he was about to offer words of comfort, he heard her choked voice: “Did you come here today to relax because of whatever terrible thing you’ll face tomorrow?”

A pair of trembling hands clutched at his shirt. “So… tomorrow, is there anything I can do to help?”

Su Yinuo still despised herself, even now, she was hesitating, still waiting for him to push her into taking that step.

“Did Aunt Kong say something to you?” Qin Cangye finally understood the reason for Su Yinuo’s distress. He gave a bitter smile, stroking the back of her head as he reassured her, “It’s alright. You don’t need to do anything, Nuonuo. Just wait for me at home.”

Though Qin Cangye’s tone was light, Su Yinuo could feel the slight tremble in the large hand resting against the back of her head. He was restraining himself, masking his fear of what tomorrow would bring.

The first memorial for his mother’s death anniversary had been held the year Qin Cangye entered society. At the gathering, he hadn’t been aggressive. Instead, he had approached Qin Weishu with restraint and sincerity, almost pleading for an apology to his mother. Naively, he had believed that with so many relatives and friends as witnesses, Qin Weishu would relent. Instead, he was met with shameless denial and a torrent of vicious insults.

That breakdown had been worse than any that followed. In a frenzy, he had smashed everything in the venue, only to be pinned to the ground by over a dozen of Qin Weishu’s bodyguards, bound, injected with sedatives, and locked in his bedroom.

Later, he began collecting evidence of his mother suffering domestic violence. But over a decade had passed, and given Qin Weishu’s domineering, tyrannical, and cautious nature, what evidence could possibly remain? Yet he never missed any opportunity to confront Qin Weishu. Even things that were merely related but couldn’t be considered solid evidence, he would fling them in Qin Weishu’s face in front of relatives and friends.

The anniversary of his mother’s death was both his day of vengeance for her and his day of suffering under Qin Weishu’s ruthless retaliation.

He feared failing again, feared being seen as a madman or a fool, and most of all, he dreaded Qin Weishu’s words: “Look, this is the child that crazy woman gave birth to!”

He tightened his embrace around Su Yinuo, a few hot tears slipping into the loose collar of her sweater.

The salty tears trickled over the bite marks from last night, stinging Su Yinuo slightly. Realizing what they were, she immediately cupped Qin Cangye’s face, wiping the dampness from the corners of his eyes with her fingers. “I’ll go with you!” she said, surprised and heartbroken. “I’ll go with you tomorrow!”

In that instant, Qin Cangye’s heart felt enveloped in a warm spring. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he cradled the back of Su Yinuo’s head and kissed her, pressing her down onto the long bench in the dining area.

The lush greenery around them concealed their entwined figures, while the gentle murmur of flowing water masked the soft gasps between their lips. Qin Cangye kissed her with abandon, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to meld her into his very being.

Su Yinuo’s sweater rode up, her smooth waist pressing against his crisp shirt. When she felt his cool hand slide beneath, she snapped back to awareness, pushing against his shoulders and lifting her head to break the kiss. Gasping for air, she whispered, “Stop… stop kissing… there are people around…”

Qin Cangye lowered his gaze to her heaving chest, then buried his face in the soft fabric of her sweater. After a long moment, he finally released her and sat up, leaning against her shoulder as he murmured, “Thank you, Nuonuo.”

Su Yinuo’s face flushed crimson as she pushed his large head away. “I still need to eat! I’m not full yet!”

That afternoon, the two discussed the plan with Kong Wenxin. The next day, Su Yinuo would accompany Kong Wenxin to the memorial service as her niece. If Qin Cangye could keep his emotions in check, she would simply stay by his side quietly, needing to do nothing more.

If any unexpected situation arose, even if their relationship was exposed, Kong Wenxin assured them she would never let Qin Weishu uncover Su Yinuo’s true identity.

With that, Qin Cangye felt much more at ease.

In the afternoon, he took Su Yinuo back to the spacious apartment in Rongjinhua Garden before heading to the office. Once there, after a moment’s thought, he sent a message to Li Jinmiao: Rongjinhua Garden, Building 3, Unit 2001. Send over some women’s clothes and daily necessities.

Half a minute later, his phone rang. Qin Cangye answered to hear Li Jinmiao’s indignant voice: “Vice Chairman Qin? What’s this about? Treating me like a servant to wait on your little canary in Rongjinhua Garden? Has your brain been invaded by something it shouldn’t? You…”

Qin Cangye furrowed his brows and irritably interrupted Li Jinmiao’s words: “It’s Nuonuo. You know her measurements. I’ll cover the cost, no limit.” With that, he hung up the phone.

Li Jinmiao stared at her phone, eyes wide with astonishment.

Su Yinuo, idling in the luxurious mansion, video-called her mother to check on the home renovation progress.

Zhang Lihua sat in her wheelchair, her face beaming with an uncontainable smile. Wu Heng pushed her around the yard as she held up her phone, saying, “Look, Nuonuo, see how efficient they are? The yard is almost cleaned up just from this morning’s work. Xiao Wu took me out for lunch at noon, so don’t worry, Nuonuo. I’ll supervise a bit more this afternoon before heading back. I’m not tired at all, that big bed last night was unbelievably comfortable… Oh, and our snack cart has been brought back too. It’s parked outside the yard, and the housekeeping staff cleaned it along with everything else. Don’t worry!”

After a long, rambling conversation, Su Yinuo hung up and heard the urgent ring of the doorbell. She quickly jumped off the sofa, slipping into her soft cotton slippers as she hurried to the door, wondering: Is Qin Cangye back from work already?

When she checked the door’s display screen, it turned out to be Li Jinmiao. Su Yinuo quickly opened the door, and Li Jinmiao, laden with bags, gasped at the entrance, “Nuonuo! It really is you! You’re actually living with Qin Cangye now!”

“We’re not living together! I’m just staying here for a few days,” Su Yinuo hastily explained as she ushered Li Jinmiao and Zhang Yifeng, who was dragging several large suitcases behind her, inside. “Something happened at home, and it’s uninhabitable right now. Qin Cangye took my mom and me in temporarily. We’ll go back once the repairs are done.”

Li Jinmiao eyed Su Yinuo skeptically before dropping her bags and pulling her aside, whispering, “How far have you two gone? Have you slept together? Did you use protection?”

Su Yinuo’s face flushed red as she stammered, “We haven’t slept together! We just kissed a few times, what are you thinking, Miaomiao?”

Li Jinmiao’s lips twitched as she tilted her head. “A few times?”

“Seven times!” Su Yinuo blurted out.

“Oh, counting so precisely?” Li Jinmiao burst into laughter.

Su Yinuo’s face burned even hotter as she pouted. “Miaomiao, stop teasing me.”

“Alright, alright,” Li Jinmiao ruffled Su Yinuo’s hair and guided her to sit on the balcony sofa, speaking earnestly, “I just want you to know, it’s fine if you like him, and it’s fine if you date him. But every step after this needs careful thought. Even if you do sleep with him, that’s not the issue. Just make sure you never get pregnant before marriage, understand?”

She pinched Su Yinuo’s burning cheek and added gently, “It’s not about reputation. Pregnancy can be incredibly damaging for a girl, physically and mentally. If you don’t believe me, ask your mom. If Qin Cangye can’t promise you a stable future, that line must never be crossed. Got it?”

“Got it, Miaomiao,” Su Yinuo leaned against Li Jinmiao’s shoulder, cooing, “Miaomiao is the best.”

Basking in the sunlight, the two of them grew warm and drowsy, nearly dozing off on the balcony sofa.

Zhang Yifeng, with his easygoing nature, found the coffee machine in the house and brewed two cups, bringing them over with a smile. “Ladies, don’t you want to check out the clothes and cosmetics we brought today?”

“Oh! I almost forgot the main thing!” Li Jinmiao immediately stood up from the sofa, took the coffee, and said, “That guy Qin Cangye asked me to bring you some clothes and daily essentials. Nuonuo, see if they suit you? Is there anything else you need?”

Su Yinuo also took the coffee and said, “Thank you, Assistant Zhang.”

“Wow, so many clothes, all new?”

“Of course! Qin Cangye is footing the bill, might as well take advantage, right? If we could carry more, I would’ve emptied the entire Miu Miu store for you.”

“No, no need! that’s too wasteful…”

“Don’t worry, that guy has more money than he knows what to do with.”

…

“Miaomiao, are you busy today?”

“Not at all, why?”

“Can you teach me how to do makeup?”

“Sure! Come here!”

The afternoon flew by in a flash. When Zhang Lihua returned home, she was startled by Li Jinmiao’s appearance. “Wow, young lady, you look so much like my Nuonuo.”

“Haha, isn’t it amazing, Auntie?” Li Jinmiao chatted warmly and effortlessly with Zhang Lihua.

A little later, two chefs arrived to prepare dinner.

By the time Qin Cangye came home, he was greeted by a scene of warmth and joy.

The person he loved was surrounded in the center, family on one side, friends on the other, everyone’s face lit with smiles. From the dining table nearby, the aroma of food wafted through the air.

Qin Cangye froze at the doorway, experiencing for the first time what truly felt like a “home.”

Perhaps, it could even include a few more children running around the house.

Just as his thoughts began to drift uncontrollably toward the future, the person he loved ran over, took his hand, and said with a smile, “You’re finally back.”

After dinner, Qin Cangye had to put in considerable effort to persuade Li Jinmiao, who was reluctant to leave, to go home. By the time everyone settled down for the night, it was already 11 p.m.

Su Yinuo picked out a simple dark-colored outfit for the next day and was about to turn off the lights when she heard a soft knock at the door.

She walked over and opened it to find the person she had expected.

“It’s so late, is there something else?” Su Yinuo didn’t dare meet his slightly unusual gaze, letting her eyes naturally fall to his chest. Beneath the thin silk pajamas, the rise and fall of his heartbeat seemed almost visible.

“Can I,” his voice was low and husky, “have a goodnight kiss?”