Chapter 212: Sisterly Deep Affection

Cheng Ayi understood that he was taking advantage of the opportunity, and there was no good solution, especially since her legs had been squatting for too long and were now truly numb.

Xu Yuexin's large hand rested on Cheng Ayi's beautiful leg, tightly wrapped in black stockings, and he felt very satisfied.

Black stockings are truly humanity's greatest invention.

When a woman wears them, they are both pleasing to the eye and feel decent to the touch.

"Alright, alright, the legs aren't numb anymore."

After a while, Cheng Ayi lowered a pair of long legs from Xu Yuexin's knees, hurriedly got up and said.

Before the words finished, Cheng Ayi quickly ran toward the restroom.

The reason Cheng Ayi walked so fast was that she noticed Xu Yuexin, while rubbing, was actually showing a tendency to covet her thigh.

If he were to get his hands on it step by step, how could that be allowed? Cheng Ayi thought as she took off her coat.

She also feared that if Xu Yuexin lingered too long, she would eventually be unable to restrain herself.

……

The next morning, Cheng Ayi was about to return to Hu Hai.

Xu Yuexin escorted her to the airport and gave her a hug before leaving.

"Next time we meet, it should be in Xiangjiang."

Cheng Ayi leaned on Xu Yuexin's shoulder and said, "I have no idea when that will be."

Xu Yuexin, that guy, is indeed hard to deal with.

But he really does make her like him.

So at the parting, Cheng Ayi felt very reluctant.

"Hehe, don't be so sentimental."

Xu Yuexin gently stroked Cheng Ayi's neat, orderly bun and said, "It won't be long before I go there."

"Alright, then see you then."

With that promise, Cheng Ayi's expression brightened a little.

After seeing Cheng Ayi off, Xu Yuexin returned to Guogongfu and gave the house a thorough cleaning.

Having been away from home for a long time, dust had accumulated inside and out, and it needed careful handling.

However, this courtyard of over two mu was truly labor‑intensive to clean.

Xu Yuexin spent a morning on it and still hadn't finished the front yard.

In theory, he could spend some money and hire a few aunties from the neighborhood to sweep.

The problem was that his wealth couldn't be exposed, and moreover, the courtyard held many antiques stored by Shen Qingru, making it truly unsuitable for outsiders.

Earlier, Xu Yuexin had said he would hire a nanny, but the delay until today was also because of this reason.

First clean the regularly occupied Guogong Mansion Main Hall, and deal with the rest later!

Xu Yuexin thought to himself.

Even so, cleaning the 200‑square‑meter Guogong Mansion Main Hall thoroughly was not that easy.

Xu Yuexin kept busy until the sunset, finally marking a pause.

Gah… Is this the happy trouble of owning a big house?

After a day's work, Xu Yuexin wiped the sweat from his forehead and said while lying on the sofa in the Guogong Mansion Main Hall.

By the way, the mailbox outside hasn't been cleared until today.

After a short rest, Xu Yuexin remembered something, stood up, and walked outside.

In the twilight glow, Xu Yuexin opened the iron mailbox at the door.

Hmm, the contents inside were spectacular; it's not just many, it's off the charts.

Stacks upon stacks of letters piled inside; the top layer was a chaotic heap, while the lower layers were neatly stacked.

Clearly, when the mailbox ran out of space, the courier had to place them horizontally, creating this sight.

So this is the treatment of a famous writer?

If you don't check the mailbox for two months, it will burst? Xu Yuexin first took some letters from inside, hugged them to his chest, then felt it was improper, so he went back home, fetched a tote bag, and placed the piles of envelopes into it.

There were so many letters that hugging them and taking them home could easily cause them to be blown away and lost.

Carrying the heavy bag back home, Xu Yuexin first unpacked all the letters and made a simple categorization.

According to the division, all the letters were finally grouped into three categories.

The largest proportion were commission letters, including those from Wang Chaoyin, Liu Xinwu, and other Magazine Office editors.

The next were invitations to attend various seminars and field trips, some from Literature Federation and Writers Association across the country, and others from universities and Magazine Offices.

Besides these, there were letters inviting publication or adaptation.

Xu Yuexin counted them; the last type was the smallest proportion, yet still about thirty letters, which is quite substantial in absolute numbers.

Xu Yuexin first took out an invitation‑to‑publish letter from People's Literature and read it carefully.

According to People's Literature, they intend to compile all his works since he entered the literary world into a collection for publication.

They didn't specify the print run in the letter, only invited Xu Yuexin for a face‑to‑face meeting.

Alright, then let's schedule a meeting.

The exact timing will be decided after reviewing the other letters.

Xu Yuexin thought.

After setting aside the People's Literature letter, he read through the other invitation‑to‑publish and adaptation letters from start to finish.

It was too late; the recipients were certainly off work, so even if he finished reading the letters and called each Magazine Office immediately, it would be too late.

Nevertheless, Xu Yuexin still made brief notes on each letter, including whether he agreed to a meeting and the proposed print run, among other things.

This way, the next day he could reply by phone directly according to the annotations, making the process much more efficient.

When Xu Yuexin finished reading all the letters, it was already deep night and quiet.

He simply gathered all the letters, put them into the desk drawer, and then went to sleep.

The next morning, Xu Yuexin, according to the approvals in the letters, began calling each house.

"Hello, is this Chief Editor Wang? This is Xu Yuexin."

"Sorry, I was out of town recently, didn't get your letter, just saw it yesterday after returning home."

"Right, right, it's the letter about publishing the novel collection."

"Tomorrow then, no problem. I'll go to People's Literature at ten to meet you, okay?" "Alright, see you tomorrow."

After hanging up the call to People's Literature, Xu Yuexin dialed the next place, this time Liu Xinwu of October Magazine…

He spent the whole morning busy returning calls to various Magazine Offices, arranging meeting times with them.

To avoid date conflicts, each time Xu Yuexin agreed with a place, he noted it down with a pen to schedule.

When he finished the last call, it was already high noon outside.

Xu Yuexin stretched lazily, prepared to go out for a meal, when a door‑opening sound came from the front yard.

Xu Yuexin guessed his daughter‑in‑law had returned, so he stepped outside.

"Qiao Qiao, you're back."

"Yeah, the preparatory work for the Tianjin branch office is finished."

Indeed, from outside came Chen Qiao Qiao's affirmative voice, followed by a short jog.

Xu Yuexin quickened his steps forward, and saw Chen Qiao Qiao, bag slung over her shoulder, rush into his arms like a bird returning to its nest.

"Did you miss me?"

After cuddling in Xu Yuexin's arms for a while, Chen Qiao Qiao whispered softly.

"Of course I missed you."

"Then why didn't you come to see me?"

Chen Qiao Qiao lifted her face, asking plaintively.

"I've just been busy, you know."

Xu Yuexin ran his hand over Chen Qiao Qiao's jet‑black hair, then planted a kiss on her cheek, "Don't worry, for the coming period I won't go anywhere, I'll stay home to keep you company."

"Mm…"

With his promise, Chen Qiao Qiao finally set aside her plaintive expression, "Actually the Tianjin side also kept me, saying that as long as I don't go back they'll let me be Deputy Director."

"I didn't agree to them."

Deputy Director? That's a rank most public‑sector staff spend a lifetime striving for without ever reaching.

The daughter‑in‑law's starting point is rather high.

Xu Yuexin felt a jolt inside and said.

At the same time, he asked himself a question.

If he faced the same opportunity, would he ultimately give it up to reunite with Chen Qiao Qiao? Xu Yuexin pondered, when Chen Qiao Qiao's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Why aren't you speaking? Are you regretting?"

"It's fine, if you really stay, I'll go over."

Xu Yuexin, smiling, patted Chen Qiao Qiao's cheek and said.

Hearing Xu Yuexin's words, Chen Qiao Qiao felt very happy; she liked being valued by him.

"Then there's no need; if I really go to work in Tianjin, I'll come back every weekend."

Chen Qiao Qiao nestled her face in Xu Yuexin's arms, gently rubbing against his chest as she said.

Xu Yuexin continued to gently stroke Chen Qiao Qiao's hair, feeling moved by her change.

After entering the workforce, Chen Qiao Qiao's eyes became more radiant, her demeanor more capable and confident, and her speech a bit faster.

Moreover, Xu Yuexin noticed her figure had also improved…

Under her white shirt were round, bulging mounds; when they pressed together, Xu Yuexin sensed a feeling of compression.

"My wife is finally coming of age."

Xu Yuexin thought to himself.

"Let's go out for a meal, a lavish one."

After cuddling with Chen Qiao Qiao for a while, Xu Yuexin said.

"No, I just want to eat at home with you, some home‑cooked dishes."

Chen Qiao Qiao left his arms, shook her head and said.

"But I didn't buy groceries today."

"Then go buy them now, okay?"

Chen Qiao Qiao clung to his arm, cooing coquettishly.

"Fine, I'll go buy them right away."

When the daughter‑in‑law gave the order, Xu Yuexin naturally obeyed, swiftly hopping on his motorcycle and heading out.

The state‑run agricultural market and shops on the street were closed at noon, but some individual stalls were still selling.

Xu Yuexin bought some eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers and the like, and finally a large black fish.

There was also a pork stall on the way, but Xu Yuexin didn't buy, fearing the meat wouldn't be fresh at noon.

After buying the groceries, as he was about to head home, he remembered something, rode his motorcycle to Tuanjie Lake and told Chen Yixue that Qiao Qiao had returned.

"Qiao Qiao back?"

Chen Yixue had been playing the piano; upon hearing the news, she happily stood up immediately, "Let's go, take me with you."

Xu Yuexin then rode his motorcycle with Chen Yixue, heading straight from Tuanjie Lake to Guogongfu.

After arriving at the place, Xu Yuexin opened the vermilion‑painted gate, and as soon as it opened, Chen Yixue hurriedly walked in.

Soon, from inside the gate came the eager voices of her and her sister Chen Qiaoqiao conversing.

When Xu Yuexin stopped his bicycle and walked in, he saw Chen Yixue happily holding her younger sister's hand and talking with her at the doorway of the Guogong Mansion Main Hall.

Seeing Xu Yuexin approach, Chen Qiaoqiao released her sister's hand, stepped forward, and tried to help him carry the vegetables.

"No need, you talk with Xue Xue."

"I'll take care of the food."

Xu Yuexin blocked Chen Qiaoqiao's hand, saying,

The daughter‑in‑law and Da Yizi share a deep sisterly bond; it's better to give them more time together.

Moreover, Da Yizi had recently felt lonely and in a bad mood, so having the daughter‑in‑law keep her company and talk more should help her emotions.

(End of chapter)