Chapter 128

When Zhou Yinhe woke up, it was already past five; summer nights are short, and by then the sky had already lightened.

A month's habit made him instinctively want to get out of bed and wash up, but he came to his senses when he felt Wen Ling in his arms.

Wen Ling wasn't deeply asleep; when he moved, she woke, her arm shifted, and she took hold of Zhou Yinhe's hand.

"Baobao." She whispered, calling him: "You're awake."

Zhou Yinhe hummed in response, turned sideways, and kissed her.

It was a very light kiss, unlike last night; this time he had no other thoughts, only warmth and tenderness.

"You woke up late; are you hungry?"

Wen Ling shook her head: "I'm fine."

"Shall we go get breakfast?" Zhou Yinhe released her, kissing her palm.

Wen Ling still felt the freshness of him; now whatever he said, she was willing to listen. Probably Zhou Yinhe guessed this, and while they were having breakfast together, he suggested they go to the Zhou family today.

"I've come back but haven't seen my parents yet; if I don't go, my mom will surely be unhappy. Later, could you come with me?"

Wen Ling froze for a moment; she had originally wanted to wait a bit longer, until they went out to play and came back.

But Zhou Yinhe brought it up, so she agreed; after agreeing, she called Aunt Zhou to have her prepare gifts for visiting the elders.

Zhou Yinhe said: "I'm ready."

"How could that not do?" Wen Ling frowned: "When I go to see your family, naturally I should prepare."

Zhou Yinhe then didn't argue with her.

After finishing their meal, the two walked home together; walking by the roadside, Zhou Yinhe suddenly turned toward a side window, frowned, and touched his own hair.

"Does this really look good?" He felt especially strange; even after a month, he still hadn't gotten used to his new hairstyle.

Wen Ling looked at the window with him, then tilted her head to examine him: "It looks nice, just different from your previous style."

"I'm not used to it; otherwise I'll go get a haircut."

"No need, hair grows fast; it'll be back soon." Wen Ling pulled him along, continuing to walk, and said disparagingly: "You're a grown man—why are you more concerned about your appearance than I am?"

Zhou Yinhe stepped forward a few steps, hugged Wen Ling from behind, deliberately pressing her forward as they walked, and said: "It's still your fault—you keep telling me I'm handsome; if I become ugly and you don't want me anymore, what am I to do?"

"How could that happen? If I dared to leave you now, you'd probably come kill me at home." Wen Ling rolled her eyes, being pressed on the shoulder by him, walking with difficulty step by step.

"How you put it makes me sound like a bandit."

"Aren't you?"

"I'm not."

Pedestrians on the road gradually increased; seeing the two leaning against each other, all lovey-dovey, and with such an outstanding, well-matched pair of faces, they couldn't help but glance a few more times.

Wen Ling complained he was heavy and told him to get off, but Zhou Yinhe didn't listen; the two bickered all the way back to Chen Yue Fu.

Wen Ling broke out in a sweat; the first thing she did upon returning home was take a shower. Her clothes here are few, and those suitable for visiting elders are even fewer.

Zhou Yinhe changed his clothes and waited for her in the first-floor living room, meanwhile sending a message to the family group telling them they must find time to come home.

Apart from Zhou Qiyue, who is still overseas, everyone else replied and will arrive home before noon.

Wen Ling finished her bath and went downstairs; Zhou Yinhe was improving Hehe's diet nearby. She leaned against him, lowered her eyes to watch him busy, and smiled: "Your patience is far better than mine."

"I ought to cozy up to it, just in case it doesn't protect me next time." Zhou Yinhe chuckled, recalling the last time Qi Zhan and a few others tried to bully him, and Hehe gave those people a fierce look.

Wen Ling rubbed his earlobes, waited for him to finish, and then the two returned together to Lang Po Wan.

Wen Ling went upstairs to change clothes and do her makeup; he waited at the side, while Aunt Zhou together with the servants moved things onto the car.

"Shall I do your makeup for you?" Wen Ling finished doing her own, blinked her eyes, and smiled mischievously.

Zhou Yinhe looked resistant, but Wen Ling was already holding the lipstick and approaching him.

"At least put on some lipstick without makeup, okay?"

"All right." Zhou Yinhe slightly opened his lips to make it easier for Wen Ling to apply lipstick.

Wen Ling had originally wanted to tease him by picking a bright red lipstick, but seeing how cooperative he was, she switched to a dusky pink.

After applying it, Wen Ling clicked her tongue a few times and praised: "Ah, I don't even know how to compliment you."

Zhou Yinhe leaned close to the mirror, glanced, pursed his lips, and felt a bit strange.

But Wen Ling didn't give him a chance to wipe it off; she pulled him downstairs.

Aunt Zhou had just finished moving things with the servants; she looked up, happened to see Zhou Yinhe, felt something was off, frowned and took a closer look, then realized his lips weren't their usual rosy shade.

She looked at Wen Ling and indeed saw the amusement in Wen Ling's eyes.

The two got in the car; Zhou Yinhe glanced back and saw that even the back seat was full of gift boxes—just a casual glance showed they were all famous brands.

"Do we really need this many?"

Wen Ling lowered her eyes to her phone and casually said: "Is this even a lot?"

Zhou Yinhe sighed, started the car, and asked her: "Have you decided where to go?"

"No." Wen Ling pursed her lips, sighed, and said: "How about a coastal city?"

"Sure." Zhou Yinhe had no objection to that.

They are now more affectionate and more everyday than before their breakup.

Arriving at Feng Qi Yuan, Ning Qing was arguing with Zhou Shuanglin over nothing but the placement of a potted plant.

"I just want to put it here! The whole house is my design and renovation—what do you know?" Ning Qing had her hands on her hips, brows furrowed, glaring angrily at Zhou Shuanglin.

Zhou Shuanglin also looked displeased: "You placing it there is too glaring; we can't make others tolerate it just because it's nice-looking."

Zhou Congyu had slept at Feng Qi Yuan the previous night; now he sat on the sofa reading emails, oblivious to the couple's argument.

He didn't want to get involved, but Ning Qing insisted on dragging him into the fray.

"Put it anywhere; just stop arguing. Later when Miss Wen arrives, people will have a laugh."

Upon hearing that, Ning Qing glared at the father and son, snorted coldly, turned to go upstairs, and bumped into Zhou Yinhe and Wen Ling just as they entered the door.

She dropped her earlier displeasure, smiled gently and warmly, stepped forward, and took Wen Ling's hand.

Ah Ling, you finally came.

Zhou Yinhe glanced at Zhou Shuanglin, whose displeased expression hadn't yet faded, and asked, "Did you two argue?"

Ning Qing pursed her lips and snorted, "I said to put that bouquet on the table, but he won't have it—he says it's an eyesore."

"Just put it there." Zhou Yinhe glanced away indifferently as the butler, with the servants, carried in the gifts Wen Ling had brought.

Ning Qing gazed at the endless gifts: "Ah Ling, you're being so polite."

Wen Ling smiled, "It's only proper for a first visit; I also brought some jewelry and handbags for you, your sister-in-law, and your two older sisters."

Ning Qing hooked her arm through Wen Ling's, brought her into the drawing room, and introduced her to the second son.

"This is Xiao Wu's second elder brother; you can just call him Second Elder Brother."

Wen Ling's eyes curved into a smile as she said cheerfully, "Hello, Second Elder Brother."