Delicate Beauty in the Palm : Chapter 87 - In Every World, We Are in Love
After signing the contract, Chen Die finally felt much more at ease.
She carefully hid her copy deep inside her bookshelf, pressing it flat under a heavy dictionary. As for Wen Liang’s copy, who knew where he had casually tossed it.
Several times Chen Die wanted to remind him to keep it safe, but she was afraid he’d see through her little secret thoughts. So every time, she’d lay down some groundwork before subtly bringing it up.
But ever since Wen Liang stopped being ‘human,’ he had mastered the art of reading between the lines. Every time he came home, Chen Die would barely begin to set the stage before he’d lean down to kiss her, hands wandering, and begin his ‘main course.’
Afterward, Chen Die would be too exhausted to bother about the contract, falling asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
It was the freest summer she’d ever had since the end of the college entrance exams. Her friends stayed up all night playing games, while she—thanks to Wen Liang—maintained a very regular schedule.
After about half a month of this, Wen Liang temporarily wrapped up his work at the company, leaving the minor details to Zhu Qicong. Then he took Chen Die on a trip.
He said it was to reward her for doing well in the exams, but it was also a vacation for himself.
The farthest Chen Die had ever been from home was the distance from Wuxi to Yan City. She didn’t know where was fun, so Wen Liang chose the destination.
It was a slow-paced coastal city in the south.
She was thrilled—not just because it was her first trip, but because it was her first trip with Wen Liang.
She even carefully planned what clothes to bring and how she wanted to take pictures by the sea.
The night before departure, Chen Die excitedly wheeled her suitcase into the bedroom and sat cross-legged on the plush carpet, sorting through her clothes.
Wen Liang had just come out from a shower when Chen Die asked, “Do you have anything you want to bring?”
“Just grab a few changes of clothes from my closet.”
Wen Liang didn’t have many casual clothes—just a few sets. And summer clothes didn’t take up much space. Chen Die folded them neatly and packed them in the suitcase. “I’ve already packed toiletries and chargers. Anything else?”
“Nope.”
So Chen Die focused on packing her own things.
After graduation, she’d bought some new clothes. She had the kind of figure that looked good in anything.
But she was indecisive when it came to picking outfits. She held a pile of clothes in front of the full-length mirror, comparing them one by one, and took a while before settling on a few.
Time ticked by.
Wen Liang watched her and couldn’t help frowning. “Even packing takes you this long.”
Chen Die shot him a look but didn’t argue. Holding up a dress, she twirled the hem and asked, “Does this look good?”
The girl stood barefoot on the carpet, holding the skirt hem, one foot lifted behind her in a mock-curtsy. Her black hair hung softly over her chest, and her eyes sparkled. Her excitement made her look even more youthful.
Wen Liang stared at her for a while, then beckoned. “Come here.”
Chen Die let go of her dress and walked over without suspicion. “What?”
Before she could finish the word, Wen Liang pulled her under him and kissed her lips. Shamelessly, he murmured, “You look better not wearing anything.”
Chen Die’s face flushed red instantly, burning hot.
She was still young, and hearing such words embarrassed her. She turned her head and muttered, “You’re awful.”
“I’m just like this.” Wen Liang was very close to her, their noses almost touching. His voice was low, tinged with possessiveness. “And only I get to say things like that to you. Understand?”
Chen Die huffed, “You’re not allowed to say it either.”
There was no chance of finishing her packing after that.
Wen Liang had his way with her, and the next day she nearly missed their flight.
Though her personality had matured, she was still a bit slow-moving—not like Wen Liang, who was all about efficiency.
Even though they were in a rush that morning, she still insisted on carefully folding and packing the clothes she hadn’t finished the night before. She was anxious inside but moved at her usual unhurried pace.
Wen Liang eventually got annoyed watching her and scolded her to hurry up.
So on the plane, Chen Die was in a bad mood. She barely spoke to him. The excitement she’d felt the night before had vanished, and she silently stared out the window at the clouds.
Wen Liang felt like he was raising a daughter.
He had a bad temper and wasn’t the type to coax anyone. He let Chen Die sulk while he closed his eyes to nap.
After landing and picking up their luggage, they first dropped it off at the airport storage.
Wen Liang had booked a hotel right by the sea. Their suite had the best view—floor-to-ceiling windows opening to an endless stretch of blue sky and ocean. Right outside the balcony was an open-air pool.
Wen Liang looked around, opened the windows for some fresh air, and then took Chen Die for a walk on the beach.
He bought a coconut, stuck in a straw, and handed it to Chen Die. “Here.”
Chen Die glanced at him. They were already at the beach, and honestly, her bad mood had faded. But since Wen Liang hadn’t said a single word to comfort her, she couldn’t bring herself to let it go. She took the coconut silently and very politely said, “Thank you.”
Wen Liang was so annoyed he laughed, let out a cold snort, and was about to say something harsh.
But Chen Die looked up at him, and he paused. Thinking that it wasn’t easy for the girl to get a vacation, he swallowed his words.
Chen Die knew him well. Biting the straw, she asked, “What were you about to say?”
Wen Liang pushed her gently on the shoulder. “Go stand over there. I’ll take your picture.”
“......”
Chen Die obediently stepped back a few paces as he instructed. She held a green coconut in her hands, dressed in a white dress and white shoes. Below her was the beach, and behind her, the turquoise sea surged toward the shore.
Wen Liang took out his phone, opened the camera, and zoomed in.
But zooming in only revealed that Chen Die was still pouting, glaring angrily into the camera even though she was supposed to be posing for a photo.
Wen Liang strode toward her, using two fingers to push up the corners of her mouth into a forced smile. He frowned as he looked down at her and asked, “Who are you making that face for?”
Chen Die leaned away and swatted his hand. “Then don’t look.”
Wen Liang clicked his tongue in annoyance and pulled her in by the waist, his expression darkening further. “You’re getting more spoiled by the day.”
“No more than you,” Chen Die retorted immediately.
Wen Liang didn’t want to hear another word. He lifted her chin and bit her lip.
He didn’t hold back. Chen Die gasped from the pain, eyes going wide in shock at his public display of affection. The sting made her eyes water instantly.
But Wen Liang showed no sympathy. He roughly wiped her lips with his thumb and warned, “Try pouting again and see what happens.”
The frustration Chen Die had just managed to swallow flared up again at his words. She felt both furious and deeply wronged. She didn’t want him touching her, but the strength gap between them was too great. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t get away—Wen Liang only held her tighter.
So she could only protest bitterly, “Who’s throwing a tantrum?!”
She dug up old grievances: “Last night I was halfway through packing, and you dragged me off and started acting like a pervert. That’s why I was late this morning. It was clearly your fault, and you still yelled at me for being slow, ignored me, and now you bit me!”
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. She punched him a few times, struggling hard. “Let go! I don’t want to be this close to you!”
Only then did Wen Liang realize the real reason she’d been in a bad mood all morning.
“Alright,” Wen Liang finally softened his tone. One arm still around her waist, he gently tapped her lips with a finger. “Does it still hurt?”
Chen Die seized the opportunity to retort, glaring at him. “Why don’t you try it and see if it hurts?”
He chuckled. “Then bite me back.”
“......”
Chen Die didn’t say anything. She glanced at his lips. His were thin—the classic sign of a cold-hearted man. After a long moment, she mumbled, “I don’t want to.”
The earlier oppressive tension around Wen Liang finally dissipated. He relaxed, grinning with a bit of roguish charm. Leaning in close, nose brushing hers, he gently kissed her, patiently licking and soothing her lips.
It was summer break, and the beach was full of tourists—groups of kids about Chen Die’s age, families with children…
The sun blazed, the air full of salt and sunshine.
And there she was, kissing Wen Liang on the beach.
For the first time, Wen Liang kissed her without any lewd undertones.
Even though they’d just had a fight, and Chen Die had been fuming, she shamefully found all her anger melting away because of the kiss.
Wen Liang’s hand rested on her back, gently patting and stroking it, slowly soothing all her bristling emotions.
After a while, he pulled back a little and asked with a smile, “Does it still hurt?”
“......”
Chen Die’s long lashes fluttered, and for a moment she forgot what pain he was referring to. Her grip loosened, and the barely-sipped coconut dropped to the sand.
The juice gushed out with a thud, quickly soaking into the beach.
She stood there dazed from the kiss, licking her damp lips and staring at the fallen coconut. “Ah.”
Wen Liang’s mood was now very good. “Want another one? I’ll buy you a new one.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want it now.”
Seeing that he had finally coaxed her out of her mood, Wen Liang lifted his phone and asked, “Still want to take photos?”
“Of course.” Chen Die loved taking photos.
Wen Liang stepped back, ready to snap a picture, but Chen Die grabbed his sleeve again. He looked down. “Hmm?”
“You’re taking one with me,” she said.
Wen Liang replied, “I don’t take photos.”
“Why not?”
“......”
Wen Liang looked into her clear, bright eyes, and in the end, he gave in. He took a photo with her.
Afterward, Chen Die looked at the photo and couldn’t help complaining, “And you had the nerve to tell me not to pout. Look at yourself.”
Wen Liang snorted lightly and couldn’t be bothered to argue. He just raised his hand and ruffled her hair.
After that argument on the first day of their trip, the rest of the days were relatively peaceful—except for another small spat when Wen Liang taught Chen Die how to swim a bit too roughly.
Aside from that, they were just like any other couple vacationing together.
Because of their good looks, they even drew quite a bit of attention.
They stayed there for a week before returning to Yan City.
After a few days at home, it was time for university military training.
On the day she reported to school, Wen Liang had an emergency and couldn’t go. He sent a driver to take her and help move her luggage to the dorm room on the sixth floor—though she wouldn’t be staying there regularly. She still planned to go back to the villa in the western suburbs often. She only paid the dorm fee to avoid drawing attention.
The driver moved her luggage upstairs and said, “Miss Chen, I’ll head off now. Let me know when your training ends and I’ll pick you up.”
“Is Wen Liang not coming?” Chen Die asked.
“Mr. Wen said if he finishes work, he’ll come by.”
Lately, Wen Liang had been especially busy—and Chen Die knew that too.
She had also heard some rumors from Aunt Zhang and Zhu Qicong. The Wenyuan Group, now in Wen Liang’s hands, had stabilized. He had even implemented several large-scale restructurings, and planned to inject new blood into the company, making it truly his—Wen by surname, Liang by name.
Chen Die didn’t fully understand the conflicts of interest involved. She just knew that Wen Liang was far more capable than she had originally imagined.
In the future, even if business marriages were no longer necessary, Wen Liang, sitting firmly at the top, would certainly meet many outstanding women.
And she… was just a student.
This thought troubled Chen Die.
After morning military training, the counselor came to say the school needed a group of military training photos of the freshmen. They wanted those with good looks and presence, so naturally, they started with the performing arts department.
The counselor walked around the ranks and finally called Chen Die over.
“Would you be interested in doing the photo shoot?”
Chen Die asked, “Will a lot of people see those photos?”
The counselor assumed she was being modest and nodded, “Yes.” He was about to go look for someone else, thinking she’d decline, but to his surprise, Chen Die quickly agreed: “I want to do it.”
She wanted to shine a little, to let Wen Liang see her.
She wanted, one day, to stand beside him with confidence and pride, to be able to say her name aloud—not just be his golden canary.
Chen Die was photogenic, and the shoot went smoothly.
She had all the youthful energy and spirit the photographer was looking for.
Soon, the school published over twenty portrait-style shots of Chen Die in military training uniform in the first issue of the campus newspaper for the new semester, under the theme ‘Welcome Freshmen,’ filling an entire page.
She looked beautiful, and the photos turned out excellent. They initially stirred attention on campus, then started spreading through students’ friend circles and onto the school forum.
Eventually, the photos even went viral online—a result Chen Die hadn’t anticipated.
In no time, she became well known at school, earning the title of ‘campus belle.’ And although there had never been any official vote, she somehow became the publicly acknowledged one.
Many curious seniors, both male and female, went out of their way after class to sneak a look at her at the training field.
Naturally, Wen Liang also heard about what had been happening.
That afternoon, after a meeting wrapped up around 5 p.m.—just before the end of Chen Die’s training—he packed up and headed to the school.
Zhu Qicong drove him directly to the training ground. Through the chain-link fence, he could see a sea of freshmen in dark green camo uniforms still marching in step.
Because of those photos, Chen Die had been picked by the instructor to lead the group.
Wen Liang easily spotted her in the crowd.
The girl wore a high ponytail, her face slightly sunburnt. As the lead, she had a belt cinched around her waist, accentuating her slim figure. She was leading the group in marching drills, and her form was surprisingly standard.
Wen Liang rolled down the window and watched quietly.
About ten minutes later, the chief instructor blew a whistle, and the students cheered—they were finally dismissed.
Chen Die, laughing and chatting with a new friend, walked under the shade to grab her bag and water bottle, not noticing the car parked nearby.
But before she could walk far, a male student stopped her.
The scene was all too familiar—Wen Liang had encountered it before. He didn’t need to guess to know what the boy was about to say.
Her new friend, quick on the uptake, gave her a teasing look and waved before running off to give them space.
Wen Liang took out his phone and called Chen Die.
From inside the car, he watched her cut the boy off mid-sentence, rummage through her bag, and answer the call. Her voice came through: “Hello?”
“It’s over,” Wen Liang said calmly. “I’m already at your school. Come out.”
Chen Die immediately looked up, spotted his car, and her eyes lit up.
Wen Liang had been incredibly busy lately. This was the first time he had come to see her since training began.
“Okay, coming!” she said with a bright smile.
After hanging up, the boy who had just confessed asked, “What’s up? Do you have something to do?”
“Mm-hmm.” Chen Die, knowing Wen Liang was too far to hear, let herself indulge in the moment. “My boyfriend came to pick me up.”
“You have a boyfriend?” the boy looked stunned.
Chen Die beamed and delivered the final blow: “En.”
Wen Liang watched her chatting happily with the boy and felt a twinge of irritation.
But just as he furrowed his brows, he saw Chen Die bypass the guy and run straight toward him. Her backpack bounced at her side, her ponytail arcing behind her in the setting sun. She was still smiling.
His irritation faded away.
She ran so fast her hat nearly blew off. Clumsily, she raised both hands to press the brim down as she ran.
She looked a little silly.
Wen Liang chuckled.
At that moment, he thought—if things stayed like this, it wouldn’t be a bad deal at all.
Panting and grinning, Chen Die finally reached the car and said, “Why’d you come today?”
The weather was perfect. The golden light of dusk bathed her figure, adding a warm glow that made her shine.
Just like that moment at the bus station when they first met—when she looked up, he felt a faint sting from her light.
And now, that light had grown strong enough that he couldn’t look away.
When he didn’t reply, Chen Die pouted and playfully complained, “Why are you ignoring me?”
And again, Wen Liang thought—if this is how it stays, he’d call himself lucky.
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