She kept breathing heavily in the bathroom, but still lacked the courage to face the situation. Even her already conservative pajamas didn't feel enough. She hesitated for a long time before finally opening the door. Yi Zhengwei was lying on the edge of the bed reading a magazine. Hearing the noise, he only glanced at her before turning back to his book.
She stood for a while, then felt cold and got into bed. There was enough room for two people to lie down between them.
Yi Zhengwei turned off the main ceiling light, leaving only the two bedside lamps on.
She lay on the outer edge of the bed, her mind clear. She racked her brains, trying to think of something she should say. Suddenly, an arm reached out and pulled her to the center of the bed, and she froze instantly.
"The bed is big, so there's no risk of falling off."
She had never been this close to a man in her entire life, especially alone in the dark. Under the covers, their body heat and breaths mingled, and in the darkness, her face flushed red, yet she dared not move an inch.
Yi Zhengwei chuckled softly, right next to her ear, making her hair stand on end and her neck feel both sore and itchy.
Why aren't you saying anything? You're usually very quick-witted.
She was a little annoyed, so she simply turned her back and ignored him.
Yi Zhengwei buried his head in her neck, letting her snuggle into his arms. Her figure was similar to Shen Xing's, but she was a little thinner, and she felt slightly uncomfortable in his arms. He found that he often had two feelings for Song Qing: admiration and heartache.
This feeling of heartache is somewhat different from pity for Shen Xing. It's like two fruit trees, one laden with fruit, the other bearing only a few scattered fruits hanging high on the branches. While everyone else goes to pick the tree full of fruit, it stands proudly, indifferent to whether you pick it or not—that's its magnanimity.
In the darkness, he slowly and quietly undressed her. Her skin was incredibly smooth, and the silk nightgown slipped down effortlessly as soon as the buttons were undone. He sighed softly, leaving a mark on the small yet incredibly powerful body in his arms. At this point, he knew perfectly well that this was Song Qing's first time, and her chastity only intensified his heartache.
Song Qing closed her eyes tightly, letting him do as he pleased. Waves of heat and masculine scent washed over her from under the covers, making her feel dizzy. His kisses were different from Xu Zhihan's; like the first time she met him, they carried a deep sense of pressure and presence, making it impossible for her to ignore his presence.
Yi Zhengwei's kisses moved from her shoulder to her neck. She tilted her head back slightly, which only made it easier for Yi Zhengwei to kiss her.
She suddenly pushed him away gently and whispered, "Wait for me."
She picked up her pajamas, casually draped them over herself, went to the bathroom, but quickly returned to bed.
"You really know how to torture people."
"Nothing will happen again." She said somewhat awkwardly.
Considering it was her first time, Yi Zhengwei didn't mind.
"It will hurt a little, just bear with it," he said softly, his voice already tinged with suppressed gasps.
Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but grab his arm with both hands, extremely nervous.
Yi Zhengwei picked her up and rolled over, putting her on top of him, afraid that he might accidentally hurt her.
The moment he touched her, she instinctively wanted to get down. Yi Zhengwei no longer gave her the chance; he pressed her down and kissed her lips, silencing her cries of pain.
After a while, he let her catch her breath. By then, she had regained some composure. She bit her lip, frowned, and lay motionless on top of him, praying that he would not move either.
Yi Zhengwei whispered words of comfort in her ear, trying to get himself into the mood as quickly as possible. He managed to prevent Song Qing's first time from being too terrifying.
Tension replaced all other feelings. She shouldn't have been able to sleep that night because she was worried about Song Jingmo, but as soon as Yi Zhengwei withdrew from her body, she was already drowsy.
Yi Zhengwei gave a wry smile, cleaned the two of them, and after a while, he held her and fell asleep.
He woke up suddenly in the middle of the night. Careful not to disturb her, he put on his clothes and sat by the window to smoke. When he got home, he learned that Shen Xing had already moved out of Tangquan; he tried calling her and Shen Yang, but both phones were switched off. He kept exhaling smoke rings, then suddenly glanced back at Song Qing, stubbed out his cigarette, and went back to bed to continue sleeping.
Chapter Forty Funeral
"Zhengwei, it's going to rain. Look, there's already thunder in the west, as if it's about to split the heavens and the earth apart."
-Song Qing
Song Qing and Yi Zhengwei rushed to the hospital early in the morning, only to find the hospital bed empty when they arrived. She was startled and stared blankly at Yi Zhengwei.
"It's nothing, maybe the nurse took him out for a walk."
She hurriedly called Xu Heng, but his phone was off. As the two walked out of the ward, they saw people coming and going in the corridor, surgical instruments clattering on trolleys. A doctor passed by them and said urgently, "Are you Miss Song? Your father is in the operating room, come with me quickly!"
Yi Zhengwei quickly put his arm around her and rushed her to the operating room. As they walked, she trembled as she dialed the phone.
"Hey, Xunan, you and Ning'er need to come to the hospital quickly, Dad might be in danger." She choked up a little.
Yi Zhengwei had already poured hot tea and handed it to her, saying, "I've already sent a driver to pick up your mother."
"Thanks."
Just after nine o'clock, their phones rang, and they each answered the call in front of their respective hospital rooms.
Secretary Liu called to say that the stock market was stable, and many clients who were in negotiations had taken the initiative to call and renew their contracts. The factory had also started production on old project orders.
Fuhua, like a machine, began to operate steadily again.
One's own abilities seem so insignificant in the face of this driving force. The slightest disturbance in the business world makes people panic, regardless of the truth or facts.
For example, whether Fuhua lost its technical data, and her marriage with Yi Zhengwei. Who cares about the truth or falsehood in those matters?
She can assure the public that no other company can compare to Fuhua's projects, but who would believe her?
No sooner had they hung up the phone than Yan Xunan and Song Ning rushed over, along with Madam Song. This family, gathered together now, were simply bound by kinship; all thoughts of self-interest were irrelevant. Staring at the glaring red light, everyone was sweating with tension.
The wind howled outside the window, rattling the glass. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, but this morning it looked like a storm was brewing.
Song Qing felt fear, her heart as gloomy and terrifying as the sky. She couldn't help but grip Yi Zhengwei's hand tightly, her body trembling slightly.
"It's alright," he whispered in her ear.
"Zhengwei, it's going to rain. Look, there's already thunder in the west, as if it's about to split the heavens and the earth apart."
Madam Song had fainted in Song Ning's arms, but Yan Xunan pinched her philtrum and she slightly woke up again.