Marriage First, True Love Later Novel

Chapter 58: Strange Phone Call

For some people, a walk after a meal was actually a joyful thing that made the tedious time fly by faster. The two of them weren’t walking that briskly. The original half-hour journey took them 50 minutes. However, since it was the two of them, it didn’t seem that long.

Su Yicheng unlocked the door and went in, while Anran twisted her neck around as she entered as well. Only when she arrived home did it dawn on her that she was really exhausted, so she took off her shoes, flung her bag onto the sofa, and just wanted to collapse onto the sofa. Yet before she could even do so, she was swooped up from behind.

“What?!—”

Anran reflexively let out a yelp, then instinctively reached out to hold Su Yicheng’s neck and stared at him blankly. “What are y-you doing?”

Su Yicheng smiled devilishly, put his mouth to her ears, and said in a low voice, “I think I should do more to let you remember that I am your husband, not your brother.”

Anran had a bad feeling and started to get apprehensive. She used her hands as a blockade between the two of them and smiled sheepishly. “I-I always knew that you were my husband, my dashingly handsome husband.”

Su Yicheng stared at her as he shook his head, then said with a serious face, “You think Song Chengxian is more handsome.”

“No, no, actually, I think Zhang Dongjian is more handsome!” Anran blurted out immediately to show her preference.

Su Yicheng smiled. “Is that so? I thought that, in your eyes, I would be more handsome than both of them.”

Anran couldn’t help but think that his smile at that moment appeared somewhat unnatural and much too sinister, so she pursed her lips, then asked tentatively, “Well then, can I change what I just said?”

Su Yicheng smiled at her mischievously, then lowered his head to kiss her lips and said with his mouth on her lips, “It’s too late.”

Anran was tossed around the entire night until she finally managed to convince Su Yicheng that, inside her heart, there was no other man more dashing and charming than him, and only then did she satisfy him enough to forgive her. Then, she was finally able to close her eyes and go to sleep.

......

When Anran woke up again at noon the next day, Su Yicheng was already long gone, and his side of the bed was no longer warm. Every time this happened, Anran couldn’t help but vent out against the injustice concerning the difference in bodily strength and energy between men and women! After a night of tossing and turning, how come he could still get up as early and energetic as always, when she was the one doing most of the work?!

Anran lay on the bed with her eyes wide open for another five minutes, until her stomach started to growl in protest, and only then did she realize that it was already noon. She remembered that she had only finished a rough sketch, and she used her hand as a prop to sit up, but the movement caused such immense aching pain that made her feel like she had been run over that she collapsed back into the bed. Anran stared at the ceiling helplessly and scolded Su Yicheng repeatedly inside.

She dragged her aching body into the bathroom to take a shower. Then, Anran changed her clothes. Just as she was heading out, she heard the phone ring in the room, and she picked up the phone. “Hello, who is it?”

The person on the other end didn’t answer, but someone was definitely there because Anran could hear the other person’s breathing, which sounded a little rapid, which suggested emotional instability to Anran.

Seeing that the other party wasn’t answering, Anran asked again, “Hello, who is it?”

Anran heard the person on the other end of the phone take a long breath, then heard a soft female voice. “I’m looking for Yicheng. Is he there?”

“Su Yicheng went to work, why don’t you—” Anran had just opened her mouth to tell her Su Yicheng’s mobile phone number, then suddenly remembered his identity and realized the potential inconvenience and trouble she could bring to him, so she changed her response by asking, “Why are you asking for him? Is there something you need? If it’s convenient, perhaps I can deliver the message to him.”

The person on the other end was silent for a while, then she chuckled and said nonchalantly, “My surname is Ling. Please help me deliver the message that I’m back.”

Upon hearing this, Anran froze a little and quickly nodded, but then realized that she was holding the phone at the moment, so the other person couldn’t see her. She said quickly, “All right, is there anything else you want me to tell him?”

The person on the other end was silent for a while, then she said, “Just tell him that I want to see him.”

Upon hearing this, Anran found her words a little strange, and an inexplicable feeling rose up inside of her. But nevertheless, she still nodded in response to her and said, “All right, will do.”

Even after she had hung up the phone, Anran still sat on the bed with a stupefied expression on her face. She didn’t know who that woman was, but listening to her tone, it didn’t seem like her relationship with Su Yicheng was that simple. Perhaps she was his ex-girlfriend?

Just as she had thought of this, her phone started ringing from the bag in the living room. Anran rushed out to take out her cell phone. Su Yicheng was calling, so she pressed it to answer.

“Already up?” Su Yicheng asked over the phone with a smile.

Being asked this made Anran blush profusely yet also reminded her of how resentful she had felt toward him moments before. “It’s all your fault.” All she did was play a little joke on him to tease him a little, yet he… plus, his morning exercises seemed to be astonishingly effective since they were providing him with so much energy and vigor. Perhaps she should join him in doing his morning exercises, so she could have more bodily strength as well and wouldn’t be so exhausted.

Su Yicheng chuckled over the phone but didn’t forget the purpose of his call, so he asked with concern, “Have you eaten yet? I made a sandwich for you and it’s in the refrigerator. Remember to eat it hot.”

“Hmm.” After hearing that, Anran headed toward the kitchen, then opened the refrigerator to see a simple sandwich in it, and an indescribable sensation of warmth and sweetness arose inside her.

“Were you calling someone just now?” He had dialed the home phone earlier, but, unexpectedly, the line was occupied.

“By the way, a woman just called and told me to relay a message for you.” Speaking of this made Anran suddenly remember the call she just received.

“Woman? What message?” His friends usually called his cell phone and rarely called the home phone. If it wasn’t his friend, then who else would know his home phone?

“She said her surname is Ling, and she told me to tell you that she’s back. She also wanted to meet with you.” Anran relayed her message to Su Yicheng, thus completing her job as the messenger.

Su Yicheng suddenly went silent on the phone and didn’t respond for a long time.

“Su Yicheng?” Anran called out tentatively, “Are you still there?” Su Yicheng’s reaction confirmed Anran’s suspicions. It appeared that this woman that went by the surname Ling indeed had a special relationship with Su Yicheng, just as Anran had suspected.

“Yes,” Su Yicheng said over the phone. “I’m aware now. I called to tell you that I might have dinner out tonight, so I don’t think I will be able to come back so early. You should remember to make something for yourself tonight, and don’t wait for me.”

Anran nodded. “I got it.” But inside, she couldn’t help feeling a little suspicious due to his silence moments before. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up first.”

“Anran.” Su Yicheng called out to her.

“Yes?”

“She was a friend of mine from a long time ago, but for certain reasons, we haven’t been in contact for a long time,” Su Yicheng confessed, giving her an explanation.

Anran froze, then muttered, “What are you telling me this?” With her head down, she stared at the slippers she was wearing. Su Yicheng had bought them for her the day after she moved in. They had a pink girly-girly vibe and had plush “Hello Kitty” figures on them.

Su Yicheng chuckled over the phone. “I’m just afraid that your imagination will run wild.”

“I’m, I’m not that bored.” Anran wouldn’t admit that she had been secretly condemning him inside, but his words made her feel as if her deepest secrets were being peeked at, so she quickly defended herself. “I-I’m going to eat the sandwich now, and I have work to get to afterward so I have to hang up now.

Su Yicheng chuckled silently over the phone, but then remembered what Anran had relayed to him, and that figure from his imagination slowly started to appear more clearly in front of his eyes. He frowned slightly. He didn’t think there was a need for the two of them to meet.