Chapter 22

After handling some business at the office, Shang Yushang worked until nearly seven o’clock. He briefly informed Madam Shang that he wouldn’t be returning to the old house that night, then drove to his apartment at Jingyuan.

Xiao Wu had expected the young master to return to Jingyuan, so when he saw him, his expression remained neutral. Aunt Qin was a bit surprised at first but quickly understood and simply greeted him before heading off to prepare dinner.

Shang Yushang opened the door and saw He Changning sitting on the windowsill, staring blankly out into the night.

He quietly walked over and gently scooped the young man into his arms, kissing the top of his head. “What are you thinking about?”

He Changning shifted a bit to find a comfortable position and leaned into his embrace. “Nothing really. Just spacing out for a while.”

He didn’t want Yushang to sense that anything was wrong, so he kept his unease to himself. He just wanted Yushang to stop worrying. That thought alone made Shang Yushang’s heart ache unbearably. He slipped one arm under his legs and lifted him horizontally, carrying him over to the sofa. Sitting down with him on his lap, he wrapped an arm around his waist and let him rest securely on his shoulder.

“Changning, I know what happened really scared you. That was my fault. But baby, I need you to believe me—from this day on, I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I’ll protect you and give you the life you deserve. Can you trust me?”

“I do trust you,” He Changning replied softly. “It’s just… what happened last night really shook me. I mean, it’s not like I have some complex about being a virgin, but I didn’t want to give myself away like that. If something like that had happened, I don’t think I could’ve kept going with you. It wouldn’t have been your fault—it would’ve been mine. I was the one who let my guard down. You warned me, and I still clung to the belief that the Yin family couldn’t be that bad. Last night was a hard lesson.”

He nuzzled into Shang Yushang’s neck and buried his face deeper.

Shang Yushang’s arms tightened around him, like he wanted to absorb him into his very bones. “Changning, it’s over now. Don’t think about it anymore. From now on, I’ll protect you with everything I have. I promise, no one will ever hurt you again. Believe me, okay?”

“Mhm, I know. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
If… He didn’t even want to think about that possibility. It terrified him.

Shang Yushang gently lifted his face and kissed him softly—starting at his forehead, then between his brows, then his nose, and finally, his lips. He lingered there, gently nibbling and licking, tasting the sweetness he’d come to treasure most in this world.

Moved by Shang Yushang’s tenderness, He Changning shyly parted his lips for the first time and awkwardly responded to the kiss.

That simple gesture instantly lit a fire in Shang Yushang. His gentleness turned heated—his tongue pushed between Changning’s lips, capturing and sucking on his soft little tongue like he couldn’t get enough.

The sudden intensity overwhelmed Changning. He let out a soft, involuntary moan, and a thin string of saliva slipped from the corner of his mouth. It was both arousing and indecent.

That sound worked like gasoline on an open flame. Shang Yushang couldn’t stop—he deepened the kiss, one hand cradling Changning’s head, his lips full of emotion—comforting, passionate, possessive—like he wanted to swallow him whole and never let him go.

It wasn’t until Changning nearly ran out of breath that Shang Yushang finally let him go. Their ragged breaths mingled in the charged air between them.

Shang Yushang used the last shred of his self-control to pull back. God, he wanted so badly to lay Changning down, to see his lover beneath him, writhing in passion, taking him in completely.

Instead, he held him close and gently stroked his back, helping him steady his breath—and trying to calm his own raging desire. What a tormenting little demon. Then again, it was always him who started it. And he was the one who always ended up falling deeper.

The thought made him laugh a little inside. Since when did he, Shang Yushang, become like some hormone-crazed teenager? The self-control he once prided himself on was absolutely useless in front of this little guy.

Once he caught his breath, He Changning gave him a half-hearted smack. This guy always found a way to take advantage of him. Every time, he wouldn’t let go until Changning was about to pass out. If he ever misjudged, Changning could literally die from suffocation. That would be such a pitiful way to go.

Face still buried in Shang Yushang’s neck, he muttered, “You always do this. I’m practically choking to death every time.”

Shang Yushang chuckled softly, the vibrations in his chest making Changning’s ears tingle and heart pound. His already flushed face turned a deeper shade of red. He weakly punched Yushang’s shoulder. “Still laughing? Keep it up and I’ll get mad.”

He coughed lightly to suppress the laugh, genuinely worried Changning would blow up. “Okay, okay. No more laughing. Be good—look at me.”

He gently lifted his lover’s face and stared at the lips he’d just ravished, now swollen and crimson. He wanted to take another bite—but knowing Changning would explode, he resisted and simply stroked the corner of his lips with a finger.

“Hmm… a little swollen, but not too bad. Seems like I’ve still got some skill.”

He Changning glared at him with angry little sparks in his eyes. “You still dare to talk?”

Shang Yushang quickly patted his head to soothe him. “Don’t be mad, baby. My bad. I’ll be gentler next time.”

Changning’s chest heaved with frustration. He gritted his teeth and growled, “Don’t call me baby again. Or else you’re dead meat.” That term made his skin crawl—it was too cheesy for him to handle.

“Got it. When you’re upset, I won’t call you that.” (When you’re in a good mood, I’ll call you whatever I want.)

Just then, Aunt Qin came to call them—dinner was ready.

Shang Yushang took Changning’s hand and strolled downstairs casually to eat.

Changning kept his head down the whole time, occasionally shooting daggers at Shang Yushang. That bastard had no sense of moderation. Now he had to walk around with his head lowered. What if someone noticed his swollen lips? What was he supposed to say—that he bumped into something? People would think he was an idiot. It was all that jerk’s fault.

The glare in his eyes was so intense it couldn’t be ignored. Shang Yushang leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Don’t worry. No one will ask anything.”

His warm breath tickled Changning’s ear, making him squirm and blush. “Mind your own business,” he muttered, glancing away with a pout.

God, the shy and prickly little thing was too tempting for his own good. Shang Yushang suddenly felt grateful for the choice he made back then. Without Changning, the rest of his life might have been painfully dull.

After dinner, the two returned upstairs. They sipped tea on the sofa to help digest.

Seeing that Shang Yushang showed no intention of leaving, He Changning asked, “Why are you still here?”

“Where else would I go?”

“You’re not going back to the old house?”

Shang Yushang shook his head. “I’ll be staying here for a while.”

He Changning looked at him nervously. “Why are you staying here?”

Shang Yushang looked at his anxious little lover with amusement, smiling. “Why shouldn’t I stay here?”

He Changning’s eyes flickered. “Well… we’re not married yet.” His face flushed again, betraying him.

“That’s exactly why we should live together. We’ve got wedding matters to plan—outfits, accessories, photo shoot locations, choosing between a Western or Chinese-style ceremony, scouting venues for both styles. And you’ll need to come with me to look at the villa in Fanjin. We should pick a decoration style soon—we’re running out of time.” He took a sip of tea and continued. “We also need to stop by the old house. Grandma said even though the clan is already working on setting up the wedding suite, we still need to make sure it meets our standards, so we’ll need to give them our input.

“Also, my father wants me to bring you by the company. He hopes you’ll meet some of the board’s senior members ahead of the wedding. They’ll be invited to the ceremony, of course, but an early meeting will help solidify your position in both the Shang family and Shangshi Group.”

He Changning’s eyes widened in shock. So much just for getting married? If they had to handle all of that, they’d be exhausted. He swallowed hard. “Why is there so much stuff to do?”

“When the heir of the Shang family gets married, it’s not a casual affair.”

“Oh, please,” He Changning scoffed, “what’s there to be so proud of?”

Shang Yushang set his teacup down and suddenly pounced, pinning He Changning beneath him. With a mock-threatening tone, he said, “Baby, are you doubting your man’s status? The name ‘Young Master Shang’ carries a lot of weight.”

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, He Changning blinked up at him. Normally, this man was all polished and elegant—who would’ve thought he had such a childish side? He laughed, “You’re so full of it. You pretend to be this mature elite, but deep down you’re a sly old fox—completely shameless and sneaky.”

Shang Yushang wasn’t angry at being exposed. Instead, he praised him, “You really are a clever little demon.” He grinned. “If I’m the sly old fox, then you’ll have to run through the mountains with me. And tonight, I’m going to teach you what it means to be the head of the household.”

As he spoke, he started biting playfully at Changning’s face and neck, one hand slipping into his clothes to tickle him.

He Changning burst into laughter, squirming as he tried to dodge the onslaught. “Hahaha! Shang Yushang! Stop it! It tickles! You big jerk! Hahaha! Stop!”

“Learned your lesson, baby?”

“Hahaha, yes! Yes! You evil jerk! Stop already!”

Shang Yushang finally stopped, his eyes sparkling as he looked down at his breathless lover. His eyes were hazy with warmth, cheeks flushed a healthy red, and those soft, kiss-swollen lips parted with every pant, exhaling warm breaths tinged with the scent of tea—it intoxicated him.

He Changning felt pressured under that heated gaze and pushed at him. “Hey, enough playing around—get off, you’re heavy.”

Shang Yushang gently stroked his face, voice low and husky. “Changning, I want to have you—forever.”

He kissed him slowly, with deep affection, letting the warmth seep in and melt both their hearts—so much so they never wanted to part.

When the lingering kiss finally ended, He Changning buried his face in Shang Yushang’s neck and mumbled, “Stop taking advantage of me.”

Shang Yushang lovingly ran his fingers through his black hair and murmured indulgently, “Okay, I’ll let you take advantage of me next time. I won’t mind one bit.”

That earned him a solid punch.

After all the teasing and kissing, they finally sat up. Shang Yushang naturally pulled Changning into his arms and smoothed down his messy hair. “We’ll talk about the wedding stuff tomorrow. For now, tell me—why didn’t you want me to alert the Yin family during the incident?”

He had long gotten used to Shang Yushang holding him, and frankly, didn’t feel like struggling. It was tiring, and most of the time pointless. He shifted into a comfy position and said slowly, “When I realized something was wrong, I figured they must’ve done something. Xiao Wu showed up in time, and I knew I’d be fine—because you’d be there.” He paused. “I didn’t want to stir things up with the Yin family because the wedding is coming up. It’s not worth making a mess right now. We can deal with them later. Besides, if we make too big a move, people will notice. The Shang family shouldn’t be dragged into unnecessary trouble over this.”

Shang Yushang rubbed his cheek affectionately. “Changning, just remember—don’t worry about anyone else. And don’t keep thinking about my concerns. I just want you safe, healthy, and happy.”

He wrapped his arms around Shang Yushang’s neck and rested his chin on his shoulder. “You can’t spoil me like this. I’ll get arrogant.”

Patting his back, Shang Yushang smiled. “Don’t worry. No matter what kind of Changning you are, you’re my wife. Do whatever you want—leave the rest to me.”

After a little more cuddling, considering Changning’s condition, Shang Yushang decisively pushed him into the bathroom to shower and change. After tucking him into bed, he went to shower himself.

Once clean and in pajamas, he returned to the bedroom and lifted the covers.

He Changning grabbed the blanket and stared at him. “What are you doing?”

“Sleeping.”

“Why don’t you sleep in your bedroom?”

“This is my bedroom!!”

“Ah!!”

Before he could react, Shang Yushang dove under the covers, wrapped Changning up, and pulled him close. “What are you screaming about? Your body’s still recovering. Go to sleep.”

Without giving him any more time to protest, he turned off the lights, kissed his cheek, and whispered, “Good night, baby.”

And just like that, He Changning—normally so sharp—was tricked into bed. Wrapped tightly in Shang Yushang’s arms, he drifted off, still unsure how he ended up in that situation.

Listening to his little lover’s steady breathing, Shang Yushang smiled in satisfaction. Holding his precious wife in his arms, he closed his eyes and peacefully fell asleep.