Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  Lin Nuan listened earnestly and nodded.

  Seeing how eager Lin Nuan was to learn, Xie Jingqian longed to impart her experiences to her.

  “For example, today, I knew Ji Zibai would object if I asked him if I could invite my third brother and his wife as well as Tang Xi and You Jiaxin. So, I acted first and only told him afterwards, but I did so in a coquettish manner. And voilà, it worked!” Xie Jingqian slapped her hands together, looking pleased with herself.

  “Yes, that’s right!” Lin Nuan nodded sheepishly. “But my personality is not cheerful and forthright, unlike yours… and I don’t know how to act coquettish.”


  “Idol, trust me, every woman has this potential! Do you think I was born with it?” Xie Jingqian instructed Lin Nuan diligently. “You can start with the basics — gently shake Fu Huai’an’s arm and bite your lip as you gaze at him…”


  As she spoke, Xie Jingqian swayed and knelt in front of Lin Nuan to demonstrate. She shook Lin Nuan’s arm, tilted her head to the side, and gazed at Lin Nuan endearingly, looking a little aggrieved. “Huai’an, please don’t be mad at me. I admit I was wrong…”


  Lin Nuan couldn’t help but burst out laughing as she shook her head vigorously. “No way! I can’t do that!”


  “Idol! You have the potential! Think of me as Fu Huai’an and give it a try…”


  Lin Nuan and Xie Jingqian caroused all night until they fell asleep, slumped together on the carpet.

  When Fu Huai’an and Ji Zibai returned, the two women reeked of alcohol and seemed to have drank even more than the two men.

  Ji Zibai was speechless.

  He knew that it must have been Xie Jingqian who started drinking first and invited Lin Nuan to join in.

  “I’m sorry, Qianqian can get carried away when she turns wild…”


  Ji Zibai turned to look at Fu Huai’an, whose mouth was curled slightly, but he didn’t look angry.

  Fu Huai’an removed his jacket and placed it on the back of the sofa. He walked towards the windows and carried Lin Nuan. “Xie Jingqian is drunk, why don’t you guys stay in the other room tonight!” he told Ji Zibai.

  Ji Zibai nodded.

  Lin Nuan was usually very reserved and restrained, and she had very good self-discipline. Fu Huai’an never imagined that he would have a chance to see her drunk.

  He thought this self-indulgence was a good way to relieve stress for Lin Nuan.

  Fu Huai’an placed Lin Nuan, who was sleeping soundly, on the bed. He unbuttoned his shirt collar as he walked to the door to adjust the temperature higher and lock the door.

  Then, he took out Lin Nuan’s pajamas from the wardrobe, walked to the side of the bed, and sat down. He carried Lin Nuan and placed her against his chest as he lifted her sweater…


  “Huai’an…” Lin Nuan murmured.

  “Yes, it’s me,” Fu Huai’an replied as he removed her sweater.

  He knew that Lin Nuan didn’t have the habit of wearing a bra to sleep, so he unhooked and removed it…


  Fu Huai’an’s throat moved slightly as he took in the sight of the smooth curve of Lin Nuan’s shoulders, the delicate outline of her collarbone, and the enticing fullness of her bosom. He had to restrain himself as he helped put the silk pajamas on her.

  “Huai’an… I’m thirsty.” Lin Nuan furrowed her brows and clutched Fu Huai’an’s shirt.

  “I’ll get some water!” Fu Huai’an said in a slightly hoarse voice.

  Fu Huai’an wanted Lin Nuan to lie down on the bed, but she clutched his shirt tightly and didn’t want to let go. Her nostrils twitched as tears streamed out from the corners of her shut eyes.

  Her long hair was messy and damp from the tears, and some of her hair was stuck against her fair face.

  Fu Huai’an gently wiped her tears away and pushed her hair behind her ears with his slender and long fingers.

  He kissed Lin Nuan’s neck and hugged her tightly. He didn’t speak, nor did he ask why she was crying.

  “Huai’an…” Lin Nuan called out his name.

  Fu Huai’an answered, “Yes, I’m here…”


  Even though Lin Nuan wasn’t sober, she felt reassured when she heard Fu Huai’an’s deep and sonorous voice.

  Lin Nuan kept many things to herself. Even when she was in emotional turmoil, she would still pretend to be calm and collected. She would smile slightly and never disclose her inner thoughts.

  Drinking alcohol helped to relieve her stress. Crying was also a form of stress-relief for her.

  …


  Lin Nuan woke up in the middle of the night. Her throat was dry, and she was still in Fu Huai’an’s embrace.

  She was pressing against Fu Huai’an’s chest. Before she could straighten her body, she heard Fu Huai’an say, “Do you want to drink some water?”


  Lin Nuan saw Fu Huai’an standing up. Against the light of the bedside lamp, the shadow of his tall silhouette shrouded her.

  Still intoxicated, Lin Nuan reached out to hug Fu Huai’an’s waist.

  Her small face leaned against Fu Huai’an’s warm leather belt. With her eyes closed, she felt someone caressing her long hair, and it felt so good.

  “Huai’an…” Lin Nuan called out his name.

  “Yes…”


  “Please don’t ever leave me, okay?”


  Fu Huai’an curled his lips. “Okay…”


  Lin Nuan felt reassured by Fu Huai’an’s response.

  “Let’s get you out of your pants, you will feel more comfortable sleeping that way,” Fu Huai’an said.

  “Okay…”


  Lin Nuan nodded her head obediently.

  He laid her down on the bed, bent over, and helped to unbutton her pants before removing them.

  Lin Nuan was drunk and didn’t feel shy; she was in a daze.

  After that, Lin Nuan swayed from side to side as she walked towards the toilet. Fu Huai’an carried her there and took care of her as he would Tuan Tuan. He helped to wash her face and hands.

  …


  Early the next morning, Lin Nuan was woken up by Xie Jingqian loudly knocking on the door.

  “Idol, are you awake?”


  Lin Nuan rubbed her temples, which were throbbing in pain, and propped herself up on the bed.

  Fu Huai’an was nowhere to be seen.

  She reached out for her phone on the bedside table. It was 6:30 a.m.

  The knocking continued. Lin Nuan lifted up the quilt; she was still in a daze and couldn’t find her slippers.

  “Idol, I’m coming in…”


  Xie Jingqian knew that Fu Huai’an wasn’t around and didn’t bother with formalities. She pushed the door open, holding Lin Nuan’s slippers in her hands.

  “Are you looking for these?” Xie Jingqian smiled.

  They had a lot to drink last night, and Lin Nuan could still remember what happened after that.

  Xie Jingqian felt that Lin Nuan was now her comrade in arms after their drinking session.

  Xie Jingqian placed Lin Nuan’s slippers by the side of the bed and sat down next to her. “Did you try to act coquettish towards Fu Huai’an last night?”


  Lin Nuan didn’t expect Xie Jingqian to remember that. She put on her slippers and combed through her hair awkwardly. “Nope…”


  “I knew it!” Xie Jingqian inched closer to Lin Nuan and lowered her voice. “Idol, you could start by giving Fu Huai’an a nickname. Like me… I call Ji Zibai by his nickname ‘Dabai’. Of course, he didn’t like it initially, but he gradually came to accept it after I kept calling him that!”


  Lin Nuan lowered her head as she combed her hair, not speaking. Xie Jingqian thought that Lin Nuan’s character was similar to that of her third sister-in-law; she couldn’t force her.