Chapter 153: Comrade Su Ruan, you

The scent of soapberry mixed with a hint of drawing‑pencil shavings lingered on her skin and curled around his nose; it made him feel immensely at ease, yet inexplicably set his heart aflame.

"Wife," he lowered his voice, his breath brushing Su Ruan's ear, "do you think the Incubation Park will leave us a Gongzuoshi with a big window?"

"Just like those foreign designers you saw in the art magazine—when sunlight streams in, the whole room is filled with your design drawings."

Su Ruan's ears tingled from his touch; she tucked her neck in, didn't pull away, but instead leaned further into his embrace, finding a comfortable position.

In the darkness, her eyes glittered, "That's a beautiful thought. If we could have a decent studio, not cramped together with a warehouse, I'd be completely satisfied."

She paused, her voice tinged with a smile, "But a large window… that's worth considering. The light is good when drawing."

"Then it must have a big window!" Jiang Ran said firmly, as if he could already see it, "and you'll need a specially comfortable chair, the kind you never want to get up from. So you won't keep complaining about a sore back."

As he spoke, his hand rose naturally, applying moderate pressure to massage her lower back.

That spot was where she most often felt soreness from sitting long hours drawing.

His palm was rough and warm, pressing against her skin through the pajama fabric.

Su Ruan let out a soft sigh; her tense nerves and body relaxed under his practiced kneading.

"Mmm… there, a bit more pressure…"

Her unconscious whisper brushed his heart like a feather.

His Adam's apple rolled slightly, his hand never stopping, he lowered his head, his lips almost touching her earlobe, his voice even hoarser, "Is a massage enough? When we have a big Gongzuoshi, I'll get you a recliner, massaging you daily from head to toe…"

His breath drew ever closer, the final word almost pressed against her earlobe.

Su Ruan shivered all over, her cheeks instantly flushing hot.

She lifted her hand and gently nudged his chest, without much force, "Stop it… we have to get up early tomorrow, maybe still need to discuss details with Editor Shen, and the shop has a bunch of things…"

"Got it, not teasing you."

Jiang Ran said that, yet using the force of her push, he pulled her tighter into his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head, inhaling deeply as if to draw her breath into his very lungs.

"I'm just happy, wife. Especially happy. I feel full of energy with nowhere to use it."

His arms were solid and strong, his chest broad and hot, completely enveloping Su Ruan.

Su Ruan could clearly feel his vigorous heartbeat and the passion about to burst from his body.

She knew he wasn't being malicious; this immense joy and anticipation needed the closest person to share and bear it.

She quietly nestled in his arms, letting his body heat and heartbeat surround her, her own heart becoming hot and steady.

"I'm happy too," she whispered, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest, "but the more it's like this, the more we must stay steady."

"We don't know when Editor Shen's magazine will be published, and the Incubation Park matter is just beginning. We can't start drifting on our own."

"Can't drift." Jiang Ran tightened his arms, let out a muffled laugh, his chest vibrating against Su Ruan, "With you keeping me grounded, where could I drift to?"

"At your word, I'll immediately take root and keep the shop firmly guarded for my wife."

Those words were both blunt and heart‑warming.

Su Ruan felt a sweet warmth in her heart, lifted her face, precisely located his lips in the dark, and gave them a gentle press.

"A reward for you."

It was a fleeting touch, yet like a spark splashing into hot oil.

Jiang Ran's breath caught, then he turned the tables, lowering his head to kiss her back heavily.

This kiss differed from the usual gentle entwining; it carried a cathartic passion and intense possessiveness, as if to convey all the current turmoil and his deep‑rooted love for her through that single kiss.

Su Ruan initially still clung to "we have to get up early tomorrow," nudging him twice, but quickly softened under his scorching, irresistible advance, her arms instinctively winding around his neck, responding earnestly.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Jiang Ran finally, panting, released her, his forehead touching hers, and at an extremely close distance gazed at her hazy eyes and flushed cheeks that he could still imagine even in the darkness.

His thumb gently rubbed her slightly swollen lower lip, his voice hoarse, "…really deadly. Comrade Su Ruan, you're deliberately keeping me from sleeping."

Su Ruan's breath faltered, she tucked her heated face back into his neck hollow, murmuring softly, "…you were the one who started it."

Jiang Ran let out a low laugh, his chest resonating and making Su feel comfortable.

He made no further moves, just held her tightly.

"Sleep now, we still have to build our future for our child tomorrow." He kissed the top of her head, his tone becoming steady and powerful again, "When all this is settled, just watch how I deal with you."

The last three words he whispered were extremely light, yet carried an unmistakable ambiguity and promise.

Su Ruan's ears grew hotter, but she didn't protest, merely letting out a soft "mm" in his arms.

The two embraced, sinking into a brief yet unusually peaceful sleep as their breathing steadied and heartbeats intertwined.

Outside the window, the eastern horizon faintly showed a sliver of fish‑belly white.

The next day, the two indeed got up early, radiant, with a faint bluish shadow in their eyes, yet their spirits were excellent. Li

Hui Juan watched the silent, flowing tacit understanding between the young couple and the unmistakable spring in their eyes and brows; as someone who had been through it, her heart was clear as a mirror, she just smiled faintly and added an extra spoonful of side dish into Su Ruan's porridge bowl.

Shortly after arriving at the shop, Shen Man's call came in, her tone even more enthusiastic than yesterday: "Boss Su! Yesterday's interview was a great success! The Photo turned out especially great!"

"Our editor read the draft and samples, was very interested, and decided to give 'Chongsu' an extra page, making an independent special feature!"

"We may need to add some stories about your early startup days, as well as the husband‑and‑wife management insights. Would it be convenient to schedule another meeting? Or we could discuss it over the phone."

Su Ruan glanced at Jiang Ran, and Jiang Ran gave her a vigorous nod.

Su Ruan then laughed into the mic, "Editor Shen, thank you and the editor for your generosity. Let's talk over the phone; we're both free now."

Thus, for the next hour, Su Ruan and Jiang Ran faced the mic, you say one thing I

"Awesome!" Shen Man exclaimed on the phone, "This is exactly the story we were looking for! Real, vivid, full of power!"

"Boss Jiang, Boss Su, once the magazine is out, I'll send it to you the moment it's published!"

After hanging up, Jiang Ran let out a breath, wiped away nonexistent sweat, "What a guy, it's even more exhausting than a day's work. But it was worth it!"