Marry by Relying on Favor: Chapter 20 - Wen Shuchen, let me go buy some medicine for you
Chapter 20: Wen Shuchen, let me go buy some medicine for you
He firmly and gently clasped each of He Qingchi’s fingertips in his palm. His body heat pulsed steadily through her skin, the sensation vivid and undeniable. Thankfully, the lighting in the private room was dim—no one would notice.
She turned to look at Wen Shuchen in stunned silence, not even blinking.
The man’s eyes curved with a faint smile. With a small tug, he pulled her to stand by his side.
[This is my girlfriend, He Qingchi.]
That straightforward introduction—what a bombshell.
Qu Bixin’s expression cracked as her eyes widened, fixed on their intertwined hands...
One second. Two seconds. Still hadn’t let go.
Her gaze slowly moved up, scrutinizing the man beside He Qingchi. She tried to find flaws in his face, but no matter how long she stared, she couldn’t find a single one.
A man at the top of Jiangcheng’s elite was indeed extraordinary—even his looks surpassed the rest.
“Qingchi, when did you find me such a fine brother-in-law?”
After a brief moment of silence, Qu Bixin composed herself and pouted sweetly, pretending to scold her: “You kept this from your best friend? Four years apart, and this is how you surprise me?”
Even though she sounded friendly, He Qingchi could hear the gritted teeth beneath the words. She kept her smile effortlessly: “It’s not public yet, Bixin. You have to keep it a secret.”
Qu Bixin, still wearing her fake smile: “...” Damn it. The top elite in Jiangcheng is dating you and it has to be a secret?
This little wench is clearly just trying to show off.
Even though she was cursing inside, Qu Bixin nodded with a feigned innocence, her black-and-white eyes wide: “I understand, especially since you’ve always been afraid of marriage.”
Labeled a heartless playgirl, He Qingchi shot back without hesitation: “I really don’t want to get married as badly as you do.”
Two seconds later—
Qu Bixin gave her a shy, sweet smile.
He Qingchi returned one, neither willing to be the first to crack.
……
Ultimately, the star of this Penglai Palace gathering was still Qu Bixin, the host.
After exchanging a round of fake-bestie barbs, He Qingchi backed off and didn’t try to steal the spotlight.
She knew Qu Bixin too well. Despite her sweet voice and obedient girl-next-door looks, she had always been adept at charming elders and maintaining her image.
Years ago, she made a huge scene eloping with a man.
Now that she had something to flaunt, of course she wanted to show everyone she hadn’t backed the wrong horse.
He Qingchi wasn’t interested in picking a fight with her, especially because someone else had completely thrown her off her game—Wen Shuchen.
When she tried to pull her hand back from his palm, he silently tightened his grip just a bit.
“Shall we leave?”
His deep, mellow voice echoed beside her ear.
She could feel his warm breath brush her ear. Her face flushed a little as she met his amused gaze.
After a moment, she nodded.
Most people in the private room had known each other for years and made no effort to hide their true selves. Qin Chuan was tipsy, drinking with a few young heirs, and Qu Bixin was surrounded by a gaggle of fake friends, basking in their sweet, exaggerated congratulations. Every sofa was packed, and the noise alone was enough to make He Qingchi’s head ache.
She and Wen Shuchen slipped out quietly. Only when they entered the elevator did peace return.
Alone with him, she felt a nervous tension build again. Her breathing quickened slightly, and she subtly wiggled her fingers.
“Don’t move.” Wen Shuchen’s voice was calm and soft, but he still didn’t let go.
He Qingchi blinked in confusion. Her fingers were starting to go numb—she just wanted to stretch them.
Wen Shuchen’s gaze was gentler than usual. Noticing her discomfort, he subtly shifted the topic to ease her tension: “Do you and Mr. Shen’s new wife always talk to each other like that?”
That brought her back to her senses.
She pressed her lips together and asked, “Earlier in the room… you did that to help me save face in front of Qu Bixin, didn’t you?”
“I saw you the moment you walked in.”
Wen Shuchen didn’t confirm anything directly, but his calm tone revealed something more: “You seemed to be enjoying your chat with Shen Fu’s new wife.”
He Qingchi thought back on it—two women smiling like wicked stepmothers while exchanging veiled barbs. And Wen Shuchen actually described it as “chatting happily”?
He must’ve seen their grudge from afar. That’s why he made that move. “The identity announcement.”
In the end, she still felt grateful and took a deep breath: “If you hadn’t been there, Qu Bixin wouldn’t have let me off so easily.”
Having Wen Shuchen—a walking weapon of a man—by her side, Qu Bixin would rather pretend she’d never known He Qingchi than dare push her any further.
Wen Shuchen accepted her gratitude silently, his gaze steady, and added with emphasis: “Every word I said earlier was true.”
He Qingchi looked up at him, her long lashes fluttering at close range.
Just then, Wen Shuchen lowered his head slightly so their eyes met at the same level. The elevator was so quiet they could hear each other breathe—his, slow and deep; hers, a bit too fast.
[This is my girlfriend, He Qingchi.]
Every word of that sentence was filled with deep, unspoken emotion.
Wen Shuchen’s eyes didn’t have a trace of joking in them as he added seriously, “There’s a saying: when someone’s heart is moved, their body temperature rises to 38.6°C.”
As his thumb gently but firmly stroked the skin of her wrist, he paused for two seconds and then added with a smile in his voice, “And the heartbeat also…”
“The elevator’s here!”
He Qingchi suddenly interrupted, feeling like the atmosphere in the elevator was getting so intense it was hard to breathe.
She tried to step out, but before she could, Wen Shuchen easily pulled her back.
Using his natural height advantage, he effortlessly cornered her in the elevator. His clean, cool scent was in stark contrast to the boldness of his actions.
Startled, He Qingchi’s wide, dark eyes showed a flicker of panic.
“The doors are open—someone might come in…”
Her warning didn’t make Wen Shuchen back off in the slightest.
Instead, he lowered his head, inch by inch, getting closer. His handsome face reflected in her wide eyes, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
That strong, overwhelming feeling from last time returned.
He Qingchi had a wild suspicion—was he trying to kiss her?
Next second.
But just as he closed the distance, Wen Shuchen stopped, lips hovering barely a hair’s breadth from hers. His voice was low, warm breath brushing the corner of her tightly pressed lips: “Qingchi, I want to confess again tonight—let me be your boyfriend, okay?”
That “okay?” was so soft, so gentle...
He Qingchi’s heart was completely out of control now. Trapped between his long arms, she had nowhere to run. Her eyes dropped nervously. Despite being so close, Wen Shuchen was still respectful—he hadn’t touched her anywhere inappropriate.
Except, once again, he held her fair hand.
His palm was noticeably warmer than hers.
“Qingchi?”
The way he called her name—low and mellow—was devastatingly charming.
He Qingchi nearly lost her footing. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Isn’t this... a little fast?”
“What makes you think it’s fast?” Wen Shuchen asked calmly.
She thought for a moment, turned her head slightly, and caught their reflection in the elevator’s glass wall—two figures standing close together. In a quiet voice, she said: “We’ve only known each other for less than three months.”
“Two-plus months isn’t two days. Some people become husband and wife after just one glance.”
Wen Shuchen spoke slowly, reasoning with her. Then he added: “Besides, I already proposed to you before. This time I’m just asking to date—you should find that easier to accept.”
He Qingchi was momentarily speechless.
So what he meant was—he failed at proposing, and now he’s lowering the bar to just dating and still feels wronged?
The atmosphere in the elevator grew even quieter.
Wen Shuchen was always patient. He’d wait for her to give in.
He Qingchi glanced anxiously toward the elevator doors, worried someone might walk in and catch them in this intimate moment. Trying to reason with him, she said, “The way you’re cornering me in the elevator doesn’t really feel like a confession... Wen Shuchen, did you drink again in the private room? Let’s leave Penglai Palace first. There’s a pharmacy nearby—I’ll get you something to sober up.”
Wen Shuchen didn’t move. He looked down at her nervous face, lips curling into a faint smile. “Did I scare you?”
Not exactly.
But He Qingchi didn’t reply or shake her head.
She knew that when he wasn’t drinking, Wen Shuchen was the picture of a gentleman—refined and respectful.
But once alcohol was involved, his behavior changed—his actions became unpredictable, and his usual self-restraint toward her loosened. He always seemed to have an urge to lean down and kiss her.
She’d never let him actually succeed—afraid that once it started, it wouldn’t stop.
He Qingchi tried to stay calm. Seeing that Wen Shuchen wouldn’t listen and was hard to handle, she decided to change tactics—
She pretended to be upset and stiffened her expression. “It’s rude to hog the elevator like this.”
Wen Shuchen gazed at her deeply for a whole minute before finally stepping back.
With his oppressive presence gone, He Qingchi finally relaxed a bit. But she still couldn’t help blinking nervously. The blush on her delicate face made her look especially lovely and adorable. “Let’s go get you some medicine.”
She took the lead, stepping out of the elevator, acting calm.
Wen Shuchen, still composed and noble-looking, remained inside the elevator for a moment. He hadn’t followed her out yet, but his deep, clear voice rang out first: “Okay, girlfriend.”
Click. He Qingchi’s stiletto heel caught awkwardly, and she nearly fell face-first outside the elevator.
—That sudden title drop? He really scared the soul out of her.
So now she had a boyfriend… But she’d also completely lost face, having fallen flat in Penglai Palace.
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