Wen Yifan's dance performance wasn't long, lasting only about three to four minutes in total. As the music faded, she struck her final pose.
After holding the position for a few seconds, she straightened up and bowed to the audience. Only then could she spare the attention to glance toward their table, immediately spotting Sang Yan among the crowd.
Catching her breath slightly, Wen Yifan blinked.
After stepping off the stage, she quickly returned to her seat.
Sang Yan turned his head to look at her.
With her stage makeup and the tiny glittering gems beneath her eyes, Wen Yifan sparkled. After exchanging a few words of praise with her colleagues, she finally met Sang Yan's gaze and smiled. "When did you get here?"
"Right before your performance started." Sang Yan grabbed her coat from the back of the chair and draped it over her shoulders. "What's with this outfit? Could there be any less fabric?"
"..." Wen Yifan couldn't help laughing. "That's what makes it look good."
Sang Yan didn't respond, adjusting her coat with deliberate care.
Wen Yifan sat quietly, waiting for him to say more, but after a long pause, he remained silent. Wondering if he was carefully choosing his words, she prompted, "Aren't you going to comment on my performance?"
"Didn't you just tell me you couldn't dance?" Sang Yan poured her a fresh glass of water and handed it to her, his tone casual as he offered a perfunctory compliment. "You danced just fine."
"I practiced a lot," Wen Yifan admitted honestly. "But it's still pretty amateur."
"Nothing amateur about it." Unsure of her standards, Sang Yan propped his elbow on the table, resting his chin on his hand, his gaze never leaving her. "And dancing in so little during winter—wasn't it cold?"
Wen Yifan shook her head. "The heating was on."
After that, Sang Yan didn't bring up her dancing again.
Wen Yifan couldn't help feeling the man was utterly heartless.
She consoled herself—"danced just fine" was probably high praise from him.
For the rest of the evening,
Wen Yifan could sense Sang Yan's eyes on her without even looking. After it happened repeatedly, she turned to him, puzzled. "Aren't you watching the performances?"
Sang Yan raised a brow and answered simply, "Nope."
"..."
Realizing he genuinely wasn't interested, Wen Yifan didn't push it. But worried he might be bored, she made sure to glance at the stage occasionally while stealing moments to chat with him.
Sang Yan hummed in response, idly playing with her fingers.
Before the gala ended, there was an awards ceremony.
Wen Yifan's performance won second place in the popularity category, earning her a prize of three thousand yuan. Her main goal had been to surprise Sang Yan, so she hadn't expected her modest skills to actually win an award.
After collecting the red envelope on stage, she immediately handed it to Sang Yan.
Sang Yan looked at her. "Why give it to me?"
"I only danced for you in the first place." Wen Yifan's eyes curved, bright as stars, her honesty unwavering. "So the prize money should be yours too."
"..." It had never occurred to Sang Yan that one day, this girl would be the one spoiling him. After a long pause, he suddenly chuckled. "Alright. I'll take it then."
Before leaving the venue, Wen Yifan considered changing out of her dance costume before heading home.Unexpectedly, Sang Yan didn’t let her change as usual. Instead, he wrapped his long coat tightly around her, covering every inch of her body before pulling her into the car.
Wen Yifan didn’t think much of it, assuming he was just bored from staying too long and wanted to go home earlier.
In the car.
Wen Yifan’s nose was slightly red from the cold. She smoothed her skirt and glanced in Sang Yan’s direction. Whenever they were alone, she couldn’t help feeling his responses were too perfunctory.
He really seemed like a cheating scumbag.
Wen Yifan brought it up again, “This is my New Year’s gift to you in advance.”
Sang Yan spared her a glance and replied casually, “Got it.”
Wen Yifan: “...”
But perhaps an overly enthusiastic reaction wasn’t necessary.
After all, Sang Yan had never been one for sweet words.
Once she reasoned it through again, Wen Yifan felt she shouldn’t be so petty, and her mood lifted. Soon, she remembered something else and, calculating the time, asked, “By the way, when would be a good time for us to move?”
Sang Yan had mentioned earlier that once their current lease expired, they would move into his house—the one that had previously been damaged by fire.
It was only then that Wen Yifan belatedly realized.
That house had been under renovation for two years, yet Sang Yan had never mentioned moving in.
Sang Yan replied nonchalantly, “Whenever you want.”
“If we move before March, then maybe after the New Year?” Wen Yifan looked at him and said softly, “I should have more free time then.”
“Fine.”
Thinking about contacting movers and packing everything up, Wen Yifan already felt it was a huge task. At that moment, Sang Yan added, “Just pack your own belongings. Don’t worry about the rest.”
Hearing this, Wen Yifan paused, then smiled. “Okay.”
With the decision made, Wen Yifan recalled something from long ago. Back then, because of her sleepwalking antics, Sang Yan had said he would stay until she repaid her debt to him.
But he never specified how she was supposed to repay it.
“By the way, about that debt you asked me to repay—” Wen Yifan wasn’t sure if he even remembered, but she continued, “We never really settled it, did we?”
After a brief silence.
Sang Yan let out a slow, unhurried “Ah.”
His reaction was unreadable, and Wen Yifan suspected he’d long forgotten. She didn’t dwell on it. Soon, the car arrived at the parking lot, and they went home.
Wen Yifan took off her coat and hung it on the rack, then removed her shoes, ready to shower.
Suddenly.
Sang Yan grabbed her waist from behind, pressing her firmly against the door. His movements were rough, as if he’d been holding back for a long time, his body flush against hers.
Caught off guard, she instinctively turned her head.
Sang Yan’s scorching lips trailed down the nape of her neck, moving lower, grazing her bare skin. His voice was low, almost a whisper, “Didn’t you ask for my opinion?”
“...”
As he spoke, his other hand slid upward, fingertips lightly tracing her skin. He bit down on her shoulder blade, the force rough, as if venting pent-up desire.
The Ballet dress clung to her body, and with his movements, Wen Yifan arched her neck slightly, her curves accentuated. The sensation was both ticklish and faintly painful. “Why are you biting me?”Sang Yan ignored her words, continuing his intimate and lust-filled actions. After a long while, he straightened up, nuzzling her hair with the tip of his nose, nibbling gently on her earlobe before whispering into her ear.
"...I want to hide you away."
From the moment he saw her on stage.
He wanted to drag her back into his world, to conceal all her radiance within his embrace, keeping it from others' eyes. Yet at the same time, he felt this was exactly how she should appear in everyone's sight.
Shining brilliantly.
Before Wen Yifan could react, her body had already melted under his touch. She felt Sang Yan's hands kneading her body, pulling down her stockings, and she gasped slightly, saying, "Don't tear them..."
She looked up at him again, meeting his dark eyes that burned with hidden desire.
Sang Yan's features were sharp and masculine, his brows and eyes exuding an unyielding intensity. When silent, he appeared aloof and arrogant. His lips were thin with a straight curve, but now his eyes held affection, the usual coldness inexplicably mixed with lust.
"Why not?"
His movements grew even more audacious, touching every sensitive spot.
"They're one-piece," Wen Yifan felt her body floating as if suspended mid-air, her eyes gradually misting over. She tried to steady her voice, suppressing her whimpers. "...They'll get ruined."
Observing her expression, Sang Yan couldn't resist kissing her lips, his tongue pressing in, entwining with hers.
Amidst the muffled words: "Then teach me."
In the haze of passion, as if suddenly understanding why Sang Yan hadn't let her change out of the dress, a fleeting thought crossed Wen Yifan's mind before she was pulled back into the throes of desire.
Wen Yifan felt herself guiding him, willingly peeling away layers of herself.
Then offering it all up.
Sang Yan's body thrust into her, filled with overwhelming possessiveness, accompanied by a crystal-clear statement.
"Time to repay your debt."
......
Perhaps considering her condition this time, Sang Yan wasn't as unrestrained as the previous night, though his movements were more forceful than ever before. Afterwards, Wen Yifan was carried to the bathroom by him to clean up.
Just before falling asleep, Wen Yifan hazily felt Sang Yan press a kiss to her forehead.
She wasn't sure if she imagined it, but he seemed to murmur.
"——Dance for me at our wedding too."-
This year, Wen Yifan's New Year holiday still ran from the first to the third day of the lunar new year. On New Year's Eve, after work, Sang Yan picked her up and took her home, telling her to pack some clothes and essentials.
As she packed, Sang Yan mentioned, "We're staying for three nights."
Wen Yifan nodded.
"I haven't told my parents you're staying over yet." Sang Yan ruffled her hair roughly, speaking casually. "If you feel uncomfortable, just say the word. We'll come back after the New Year's Eve dinner."
Wen Yifan pulled his hand away. "You messed up my hair."
"Listen to me properly." Sang Yan was particularly mischievous, putting his hand back to tousle her hair again. "Why are you only worried about your hairstyle? No conscience at all."
Wen Yifan looked up, standing on her toes to vigorously ruffle his hair in return.
Sang Yan raised an eyebrow.
Wen Yifan muttered, "You're so childish."
Insisting on doing exactly what she told him not to.
The moment she retaliated, Sang Yan actually stopped. He instead helped smooth her hair, amused. "Who's childish?"Wen Yifan gradually stopped her movements as well. Thinking about what he had said earlier, she pondered for a moment before asking, "Then where would I sleep if I stay at your place?"
Sang Yan glanced at her. "In the same room as my sister."
Wen Yifan nodded immediately. "That works."
"..." Seeing how quickly she agreed this time, Sang Yan inexplicably felt displeased again. "Wait, do you even have anything to talk about with that kid? You'd rather not share a room with me?"
"We do," Wen Yifan replied gently, completely sidestepping the question of whether she was willing or not, and instead voicing a new concern. "But—"
"What?"
"I'm a little worried I might sleepwalk," Wen Yifan said. "What if I scare Zhizhi?"
"..." Sang Yan stared at her, feeling like this girl was acting like some kind of heartless playgirl. He said coldly, "We've lived together for so long. Why didn't you ever worry about scaring me?"
Wen Yifan looked back at him.
After three seconds of eye contact,
Wen Yifan averted her gaze and continued packing her clothes into the bag. "Well, there's nothing I can do about that." "..."
Afraid that Sang Yan's parents might be kept waiting too long, Wen Yifan didn't spend much time packing and soon finished. Only after getting into Sang Yan's car did she belatedly start feeling nervous, fidgeting uneasily the entire ride.
Perhaps sensing her mood, Sang Yan said casually, "Relax."
Wen Yifan: "Huh?"
"My parents will just be grateful to you," Sang Yan said. "For helping me find a partner."
"..."
Having heard Sang Yan mention similar things many times before, Wen Yifan couldn't help but ask this time: "Why are your parents in such a hurry to find you a partner? You're only 26—that's not old at all. I think it's still quite early."
In her opinion, getting married before 35 wasn't even considered late.
"The better the conditions, the harder it is to find someone," Sang Yan said with an arrogant and domineering air. "Understand?"
"..."
Used to his attitude, Wen Yifan didn't respond further, instead thinking about what to say once they arrived. She was very worried about making a bad impression and started typing out various possible remarks in her notes app, as if drafting a speech.
During a red light, Sang Yan glanced in her direction.
Noticing the content on her screen, he smirked but didn't interrupt her.
Soon, they arrived at Sang Yan's apartment building.
Wen Yifan retrieved the gifts she had bought from the trunk, silently rehearsing the script she had just written in the car. Her expression remained calm as she tried her best to appear as composed and collected as usual.
To leave a good impression on Sang Yan's parents.
Sang Yan watched her with amusement.
The two took the elevator upstairs.
Sang Yan fished the keys out of his pocket. Noticing her tightly pressed lips, he gave her fingertips a reassuring squeeze. "Alright, stop worrying. I'll be here to make you look good by comparison."
"..." Wen Yifan didn't quite understand what he meant.
The door opened, and Wen Yifan followed Sang Yan inside.
The interior was spacious and bright. As soon as she stepped into the foyer, Wen Yifan could see Sang Zhi sitting on the sofa watching TV. Hearing the noise, she turned her head and immediately smiled, revealing the dimples by her lips.
Sang Zhi called out obediently, "Sister Yifan."
Wen Yifan also smiled and greeted her.
Sang Yan looked at her and said coolly, "Don't see me?"
Sang Zhi pretended not to hear and patted the spot next to her, enthusiastically saying to Wen Yifan, "Sister Yifan, sit here."
"..."
The next moment, Sang Yan's parents emerged from the kitchen.Wen Yifan had met Sang Yan's mother, Li Ping, not just on the night of the firework show, but also during the two previous occasions when they were accused of puppy love and their parents were called in. Both times, it was Li Ping who came for Sang Yan.
But Wen Yifan wasn’t sure if Li Ping still remembered her.
Perhaps Sang Yan had mentioned her beforehand, as Li Ping greeted her warmly with a smile, "Is this Yifan?"
Wen Yifan quickly nodded. "Yes, Uncle and Auntie, happy New Year." As she spoke, she handed over the gifts she had brought. "These are New Year presents for you."
Li Ping wiped her hands on her apron before accepting them, her expression gentle. "Next time, just come over without bringing anything. Have a seat for now. Your uncle and I will be done soon, and we can eat."
Wen Yifan offered, "Let me help you."
Sang Rong, Sang Yan's father, declined. "No need, we're almost done. You can watch TV with Zhizhi for a bit."
The entire time, their actual son, Sang Yan, seemed completely unbothered by being ignored. He lazily chimed in, as if trying to remind them of his existence and disrupt the warm atmosphere. "Then I’ll watch TV too?"
The moment Sang Yan spoke, the mood turned awkward.
The two elders fell silent.
Sang Zhi, like an amused spectator, watched the scene unfold from the sidelines.
Wen Yifan couldn’t understand why the atmosphere had shifted so suddenly.
She suddenly recalled how Sang Yan was always scolded during phone calls with his parents. Especially during the time he was injured—she had even overheard Li Ping angrily saying, "If you don’t come back soon, your father and I will just have another child."
To which Sang Yan had cheekily replied, "Sure, I wouldn’t mind having a little brother."
"..."
Wen Yifan instinctively glanced at Sang Yan before turning her gaze back to his parents.
Just as she was wondering whether to say something to ease the tension—
Li Ping’s smile faded slightly as she scrutinized Sang Yan. "Fine."
As if their grievances had been piling up for a while, Sang Rong seamlessly played along, as if they had rehearsed this. He walked over, placed a hand on Sang Yan’s shoulder, and opened the front door. "Go watch it at your own place."
"..."
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