I'll Take It All

Shen Yi lay on the bed, idly playing with his phone while listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom.

The two of them had often used "quitting drinking" as an excuse for their little games, testing each other's willpower—whoever cracked first would lose.

When it came to serious matters, she had a mature personality, handling everything with meticulous care.

In their simulated life, whether it was teaching, later managing social media accounts, or even raising their daughter, she was second to none, never giving Shen Yi a single thing to worry about.

But in private, it was the complete opposite. Professor Shu was a master of saying one thing and meaning another.

Despite her poised, intellectual beauty, behind closed doors, she was stubborn, prone to tantrums, sharp-tongued, vindictive, absent-minded, and hopeless at taking care of herself.

It took Shen Yi’s persistent efforts to adjust her habits, and she did improve—at least becoming a bit more diligent.

Shu Yunyi was the kind of person who was dignified in public but full of contradictions in private. Being her lifelong partner was Shen Yi’s blessing.

As Shen Yi reminisced about their playful moments in the simulation, the door clicked open.

Shu Yunyi stepped out, still damp from her shower. Even after seeing her countless times, Shen Yi couldn’t help but be stunned by her beauty.

She wore nothing but a white T-shirt on top, her slender arms exposed, her ample curves impossible to hide.

On her feet were a pair of sandals, her lower half completely bare—her calves slender, her thighs soft and pale. The rest was obscured by the loose hem of her T-shirt, shadows concealing the details.

Noticing Shen Yi’s dazed expression, Shu Yunyi smirked inwardly.

"Hah, still got you hooked, don’t I?"

She walked out, one hand holding a towel wrapped around her hair, the other gripping a hairdryer.

Her steps were light, her body swaying gently, like branches trembling under the weight of snow.

Shen Yi’s heart felt heavy, rising and falling with her every movement.

Reaching the table, she set the hairdryer down and unwrapped the towel, letting her slightly damp hair tumble loose.

"Xiao Yi, come dry my hair for me," she called over her shoulder.

"Okay, coming..." Shen Yi replied without thinking.

He wasn’t a saint—his eyes hadn’t left her since she stepped out. At this point, he was practically a fish on the hook. The moment Shu Yunyi called, he was already on his feet.

Who could resist her figure and face? Especially now, with Shen Yi full of energy, she was even more irresistible.

Seeing him approach, Shu Yunyi’s smile deepened, though she hid it well.

Perhaps to get back at him for earlier, a mischievous urge took hold, and she decided to tease him.

Deliberately, she placed both hands behind her back, smoothing the hem of her T-shirt as she sat on the stool. Then she straightened her posture, pressing her legs together without a single gap.

No matter how oversized the T-shirt was, it was still just a piece of fabric. Tugged this way and that, it couldn’t cover everything, leaving just enough to set the imagination aflame.

Shen Yi took the hairdryer, using one hand to spread her hair as he adjusted it to the lowest setting, drying it strand by strand.

The warm air blew over her scalp, occasionally accompanied by the press of his fingers. Shu Yunyi closed her eyes, utterly relaxed.

Slowly, she leaned back against him, her playful mood fading as she simply enjoyed the moment.

Before long, Shen Yi finished drying her hair. Seeing her still unresponsive, he set the hairdryer aside and began massaging her scalp with both hands.

"Mmm..." Shu Yunyi hummed lazily, eyes shut, her body limp—but her heart pounded uncontrollably.

"Honey, I'm so tired. Carry me to bed."

She murmured the words lazily, feigning drowsiness.

Shu Yunyi rarely addressed him this way—usually, it was "Xiao Yi" or, on rare impatient occasions, "Shen Yi."

It wasn’t for any particular reason other than her stubborn insistence on maintaining a sense of seniority, convinced that she was older than Shen Yi and should hold the upper hand in their relationship.

Calling him "honey" now was undeniably a signal.

Shen Yi chuckled but kept massaging her without moving.

After all, Shu Yunyi only needed to relax and enjoy, while Shen Yi had far more to consider.

When she received no response, she gave up pretending and opened her eyes, casting a watery glance at him.

Shen Yi laughed heartily, glanced at the time—nearing midnight—and decided it was about time. With that, he scooped her up in his arms.

"Ah!"

Amid Shu Yunyi’s soft gasp, the world spun, and she found herself on the bed.

The sight before him was like ink dispersing in clear water—spreading, blending, flowing unrestrained.

This breathtaking view belonged to Shen Yi alone, and he instinctively held his breath as he drew closer.

Even though they were long-married, Shu Yunyi couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her chest.

She pressed a hand against Shen Yi’s chest and hurriedly said,

"Wait a second."

Sitting up, she gathered her hair behind her slender neck and secured it with a hair tie from her wrist, ensuring it wouldn’t tangle or cause discomfort later.

Once done, she shook her head slightly to adjust, then turned back to Shen Yi with a smile full of quiet allure.

A young wife’s tousled hair could drive even a mature man wild.

Though Shen Yi was no longer a youth, the scene before him was enough to rekindle that recklessness.

"Hey, be gentle..."

In the darkness, the rustling of fabric mingled with Shu Yunyi’s shy whispers, filling the room.

The next morning.

Shen's Father and Shen's Mother were already up. Normally, they had breakfast around seven, but to accommodate the younger couple’s habits, they had adjusted it to past eight.

Before Shen's Mother could call for him, Shen Yi was already descending the stairs.

Despite his nocturnal escapades, his boundless energy ensured he woke early—he never needed much sleep.

"Awake? Go wash up; breakfast is ready."

Shen's Mother spoke while carrying a quilt to the courtyard to air it out. The clothesline was a bit high, and she struggled to hang it properly.

"Yeah."

Shen Yi responded and walked over to help his mother drape the quilt over the line.

Shen's Mother patted the quilt under the sunlight, then seized the moment to lean in and whisper,

"Is Xiao Shu up yet?"

Shen Yi shook his head.

"I just peeked in—still asleep."

"Oh..."

Shen's Mother let out a quiet sound, then tugged at Shen Yi’s sleeve.

"Tell me honestly... are you two-timing?"

"Uh... yeah."

There was no point hiding it from the person closest to him. Shen Yi admitted it—though technically, it was three, but he figured that detail would only worry her unnecessarily.

Liu Huijuan’s eyes flashed with anger when he confessed without a hint of shame. She reached up and pinched his ear.

"You have the nerve to admit it! Do they know about each other?"

"Ow, ow, ow..."

Her grip wasn’t painful, but Shen Yi exaggerated his reaction to ease her frustration, bending slightly so she wouldn’t have to strain.

"Right now... they don’t know about each other."

"Then what exactly are you thinking? Which one are you planning to choose, Nan Zhi or Yunyi?"

Shen's Mother stared intently at Shen Yi, eager to know his answer.

"I... I don't want to choose either."

"I want both."