It was the shackle of her destiny, and she knew she was chained, yet willingly succumbed to it.
Emma tilted her head back slightly, the fine, relentless rain falling on her cheeks, a trace gently sliding down the corner of her eye.
With a determination that seemed to have finally set in, she looked at the tombstone and whispered, "Mom, I've decided to move forward. So please forgive me."
She didn't want to leave her dad behind, but the burden was too heavy, and the longer it lasted, the tighter it bound her.
This time, she decided to let go.
Jason stood by, listening to every word she uttered, and finally couldn't help but gently reach out and hold her hand.
Emma squeezed back.
Their hands clasped tightly together.
After a long while, the two left the cemetery. As they descended the long flight of stairs, Emma glanced back and murmured, "I used to be afraid to visit my mom."
"Why?" Jason asked.
Emma took a slight sniff, "Guilt."
She said, "I always felt that if it weren't for wanting a better life for me, Dad wouldn't have chosen to go to a place like Israel. If he had stayed in Shanghai, he wouldn't have disappeared."
She gave a faint, bleak smile.
Perhaps this is human nature, to choose a target for venting after an accident occurs.
Ni PingSen had left Shanghai to take care of her and her grandmother, and Emma couldn't blame her grandmother; the only one she could blame was herself.
She had never spoken of it over the years because she had never let go.
Now that she decided to move forward, she could speak of it more easily.
Perhaps she hasn't completely gotten out of it yet, but as long as there's the great passage of time, one day it will completely soothe the pain in her heart.
Tang Mi finally managed to get Emma out for a meet-up. As soon as they met, she looked at Emma's cheek, scrutinizing it, then suddenly frowned and said, "I figured you'd be glowing these days, but you don't seem to have that sun-kissed look at all."
Her choice of words was so blunt it left Emma stunned.
After a while, Tang Mi watched as Emma's ears turned from fair to a deep crimson.
Tang Mi wished she could capture the strange sight with her phone, of course, she didn't dare.
After all, one doesn't casually touch a tiger's whiskers.
Finally, with a particularly calm glance at Tang Mi, Emma said, "Are you sure the police won't come knocking on your door for writing like that?"
"That's the boldness of our kind of social media," Tang Mi laughed.
They chose a quiet place to have coffee.
Tang Mi glanced at her and asked, "Have you and President Jason made up completely? After not seeing each other for a year, isn't there a spark between you?"
Emma thought for a moment, suddenly recalling the divorce agreement she had signed. She wasn't sure how to answer. After all, when she and Jason signed the divorce agreement, she thought only they, Tang Mian, and the drafting lawyer knew about it.
But with the divorce agreement in place, she always had doubts, were they really reconciled?
Seeing Emma's hesitant look, Tang Mi suddenly said, "You two aren't... not in sync in that department, are you?"
Actually, Tang Mi thought it was unlikely, after all, they were a married couple, they would have tried everything by now.
But Emma fell silent.
Finally, Tang Mi whispered, "You haven't seen each other for a year, shouldn't you have..."
Their first meeting?
Emma recalled that time; Jason had lain beside her, but they truly just chatted under the blanket, and he wasn't even under it.
And that time, Emma was lulled to sleep by him.
As for later, when Jason was in Israel, he even stayed in a hotel.
When they returned to the country, he did share a room with her, but their relationship could truly be described as pure and innocent.
"How old is your CEO Jason this year?" Tang Mi finally asked a heart-wrenching question.
Emma looked at her.
Tang Mi immediately raised her hands and said, "I'm not doubting him in that aspect, I just thought maybe he feels things are moving too fast between you two and wants to slow down?"
She immediately stopped talking.
It felt like the more she explained, the worse it sounded.
Emma felt that her biggest mistake today might have been talking too much with Tang Mi.
Until Tang Mi, patting her chest, guaranteed, "I've got a trick for you. If he can resist even this, then your CEO Jason might really have a problem."
When Tang Mi dragged her into the mall, Emma looked at the dazzling array of sexy lingerie.
Not the pornographic kind, but the kind with excellent design, a few pieces of fabric ridiculously expensive, and exuding two words everywhere.
Provocative.
"If CEO Jason isn't interested in this, I suggest you take him to see a doctor as soon as possible," Tang Mi said earnestly.
When Emma took the stuff home, she tiptoed upstairs with the bag and quickly hid it in the wardrobe, fortunately, Jason hadn't come home from work yet.
After nine o'clock, Emma guessed the time he would be home and got up to take a bath.
After she came out of the shower, she thought about it and put on the new spaghetti-strap nightgown. Although Emma was thin, she wasn't without curves, especially the new lingerie she bought today, just a slight squeeze, she looked at the perfect hemisphere in the mirror.
When Jason pushed the door in, Emma just came out of the bathroom in the room.
They bumped into each other, Jason's eyes fell on her clothes, the spaghetti-strap nightgown neckline was very low, her neck was slender and delicate, leading to a collarbone and chest, making her look particularly slender and fair.
Especially the slightly bulging hemisphere on the chest, it was too eye-catching.
Jason's eyes deepened instantly.
Emma was about to speak, but the suit jacket in his hand fell to the ground, and the next second he almost stepped over, pressing her against the wall, the cold wall made her shiver slightly.
His eyes stared at her, it was the look of wanting to devour her.
And immediately, devour her completely.
——If he can resist even this, then your CEO Jason might really have a problem.
——I suggest you take him to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Emma: She really believed Tang Mi's devilish advice.
Ever since Jason returned from Israel, Tang Mian could distinctly sense a brighter mood in his boss, even though he still maintained his usual calm and composed demeanor, occasionally a faint smile would play at the corner of his lips.
Even the assistants in the CEO's office whispered to him, asking if President Jason had been in an especially good mood these days.
Jason wasn't the type of boss to mistreat his subordinates; on the contrary, he was quite lenient, only naturally exuding an air of authority that no one dared to challenge.
However, these past few days, Tang Mian also felt that President Jason seemed preoccupied.
Logically, it wasn't his place to ask, but there were a few times when he sensed Jason wanted to say something to him but held back.
Each time, he didn't speak up.
It made Tang Mian a bit distracted these days.
"Tang Mian," Jason called out as Tang Mian was about to leave after reporting, looking up at him.
Tang Mian immediately furrowed his brows and waited quietly.
After a few seconds of silence, Jason, holding his fountain pen, tapped it lightly on the table: "Have you ever been in love?"
A hint of embarrassment crossed Tang Mian's features.
He replied, "I was in college. We broke up when she went to the United States after graduation."
Leaning back in his chair, Jason seemed relaxed, as if genuinely making small talk: "You haven't been in a relationship since?"
Tang Mian fell silent. Where was the time? He had always been by Jason's side. When Jason wasn't high-ranking, he was a project manager, and Tang Mian was a team member, doing everything hands-on.
Not just him, but Jason didn't have time for romance either.
But his boss's efficiency was incredible, finding the one to spend his life with, making Tang Mian feel a bit desolate in comparison.
Jason nodded, his long fingers tapping lightly on the table—a small habit of his when thinking, rhythmically tapping the table repeatedly.
After pondering for a moment, he asked, "Did you argue when you were in a relationship?"
Tang Mian didn't know what Jason was getting at. Surely he wasn't suddenly curious about how his past relationship failed.
Could it be that President Jason had a fight with his wife?
However, Tang Mian thought it unlikely. The way Jason treated Emma, he had seen it with his own eyes.
He was overly protective, as if afraid she would melt in his hands or burn in his mouth.
Too pampered.
"Argue," Tang Mian nodded.
Jason immediately took interest, of course, his expression remained calm, still with that I'm just chatting casually, don't mind look. But for someone who rarely discussed personal life, suddenly talking about this with Tang Mian was out of the ordinary.
"You guys argued and made up, and then would you..." Jason abruptly picked up the pen on the table. He opened his mouth to ask but hesitated.
Tang Mian's curiosity was piqued to the highest point when Jason waved his hand: "Forget it, you can go now."
Really, Tang Mian felt he used the utmost restraint to suppress his curiosity.
But as he turned to leave, he suddenly thought, as an assistant, isn't it his duty to help his boss with his worries?
So even if he asked, it wasn't out of curiosity.
It was his professional instinct driving him.
So Tang Mian stopped in his tracks and turned around to ask, "President Jason, is there something you want to ask me?"
Jason looked at him in silence and finally asked, "When two people who haven't been together for a long time are together again, is there an awkward period?"
Tang Mian was completely stunned. He asked, "Are you feeling awkward seeing your wife now?"
His question was too direct, so straightforward that it left Jason speechless.
Of course, it wasn't Jason's feeling. For him, as long as Emma could come back, nothing would be a problem between them.
But he could sense the change in Emma, not that her feelings for him had changed.
It was that they had been apart for a year, she was used to living without him, and now suddenly they were back to being a couple, it was indeed too fast.
So these days, Jason was considering this issue. Their feelings definitely hadn't changed, but the year's gap wasn't something that could be filled immediately; they needed to do something to make up for the lost time.
To put it bluntly, they lacked an opportunity to turn everything over completely.
Jason always had his own opinions; he wasn't the type to seek help in love. It was as if someone was born with a sense of charm, automatically graduating with a Ph.D. in love.
But even a 'Ph.D.' could malfunction occasionally, like now. He wasn't confused but thinking about how to fill the gap without being too abrupt.
At this moment, Tang Mian said, "Why don't you take your wife on a trip?"
Or send flowers, or else buy a bag?
But after thinking it over, Tang Mian felt that this wasn't something Emma would like, and he also thought he had come up with a bad idea, so Jason waved his hand and let him go.
Before Emma left, Jason had never thought about such matters because he knew he would bring her back, and she would return.
Now that she's back, he's a bit restless, which is not like his usual style.
Until just before entering the door, the consultant he found online was still sending him messages, but Jason didn't check them when he walked in with his suit.
As soon as he entered, the bathroom door was pushed open, and Emma walked out.
Jason's eyes fell on her; today she was wearing a spaghetti-strap nightgown with a loose neckline and a deep V-shape, her fair breasts perfectly shaped by her lingerie, almost piercing his eyes in an instant.
In a single breath, Jason felt all the blood in his body rush to a certain place.
What was that self-proclaimed marriage expert saying in his phone earlier in the car, that to have a harmonious marital relationship, it's best to take your partner to a romantic candlelight dinner, and occasionally a bouquet of flowers is also a lubricant between couples?
At this moment, Jason felt that what this person said was all nonsense.
He took a swift step forward, pulling Emma into his arms and pinning her against the wall. His gaze dropped to her skin, which was incredibly fair and smooth. He knew just how good it felt to the touch, like the finest silk, soft and delicate.
Jason's palms grasped her waist, the fabric of her nightgown so thin that her warm body heat seeped through. In the next moment, he tilted his head, closing the distance to her lips, their warm breaths mingling.
Finally, he lowered his head and captured her lips, his teeth nibbling on her lower lip. She gasped slightly from the force, and Jason let out a soft laugh before delving into a deeper kiss, his tongue entwining with hers in a playful dance that left them both breathless.
Only a moment had passed before Emma felt lightheaded. She tried to retreat, but the cold wall was at her back, causing her to shiver as her shoulder blades pressed against it.
Jason released her just enough to whisper in her ear, "Hold on to me," his voice not intentionally low, but naturally so due to the blood rushing through him.
His already sexy voice was even more irresistible, causing her to tighten her grip around his neck. Jason carried her into the bathroom, the heat from Emma's recent shower still lingering in the air, creating a humid and sultry atmosphere.
As she was seated on the vanity, she immediately felt the dampness through her clothes. Emma shifted, and Jason, following her movement, noticed the wet patch on her light-colored nightgown.
He asked quietly, "Not comfortable?" Emma looked at him, not speaking, but her expression said it all.
Sure enough, Jason's lips curved into a smile, "Want to take it off?" As his fingers hooked onto the thin strap on her shoulder, it seemed as if it would break with the slightest tug.
Jason didn't hesitate; he snapped it. There was something primal about a man in this situation; he wouldn't hurt her, but the garment that had ignited his desire was better off torn.
Emma heard the fabric tear and felt a coolness on her left side as the fabric fell to her waist. The visual impact was explosive. She, who had been wearing something revealing, now looked like she was draped in tattered cloth, and Jason's physical reaction was undeniable.
He glanced up at the mirror behind him, his eyes seemingly red with desire. Emma noticed his heavy breathing and realized that all thoughts had fled, leaving only one: she and this man were going to become one.
So, she grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. This time, Emma took the initiative, their lips meeting with an intensity that seemed to make the air crackle. Her legs slowly wrapped around his, gently rubbing against him.
Jason had always struggled to resist her when she didn't provoke him; now that she was deliberately teasing him, his body was in a state of heat it hadn't known in a year. He didn't need a mirror to know his eyes were truly red.
But when a woman is determined, no one can stop her. Emma seemed set on taking the lead tonight, reaching for his belt, the silver buckle of his dress pants heavy and substantial.
Her hands fumbled with it, unable to find the right grip until she pushed against his chest, ready to undo the buttons herself. But as she looked down, she saw the prominent bulge, bold and unapologetic.
Emma's hand paused until Jason took it, guiding her to unfasten the buckle, whispering in her ear, "Learn this, will you?"
As Emma's mind spun, Jason pulled her off the vanity. The next moment, the remaining strap of her nightgown gave way, and it fell to her feet. Her toes curled slightly.
Emma had never understood why, with the bed right there, he had brought her into the bathroom. But as she was turned to face the mirror, seeing herself and him, her breath seemed to stop.
This was incredibly arousing. She was half-naked in the reflection, her lingerie now unclasped from behind. His shirt was long gone, revealing a body that was undeniably well-toned. His muscles were not overly bulky but tightly defined, especially the abs that lined his waist.
Jason glanced at the mirror, then back down at her neck, which was slender and delicate, looking exquisite as it lay before him. He nibbled on it gently before wrapping his arms around her from behind.
She was so soft, so pliant, as if boneless, making him want to meld her into himself. The sensation of their skin touching was addictive.
His kisses trailed down her back, following the curve of her spine until the last vertebra...
When the bathroom filled with the sounds of intense, muffled groans, the already humid and sultry environment became even more scorching, as if their bodies would melt right there.
Emma's entire body was burning, every place his fingers touched was on fire. Yet she was so soft, enveloping him completely.
Until the sound of their bodies colliding filled the air, echoing around them, a sense of indescribable shame washing over her again.
Emma's toes curled and then relaxed, over and over, in a cycle of pleasure.
When someone who's starving takes their first bite of delicious food, they won't stop until they're full. But Emma isn't sure what the concept of being full means.
She collapses onto the bed, too exhausted to even lift her fingertips. Her eyelids droop, and she'll fall asleep in a second if given the chance.
Jason, on the other hand, seems to be in no mood to sleep. He lies contentedly beside her, not messing with her anymore, just quietly watching her as she sleeps.
Emma is lying face down, her hair covering her small face. The black strands not only make her skin look incredibly fair and delicate but also make her look younger. Jason can't help but trace his fingers on her face.
Luckily, Emma is asleep, or she'd think either she's hallucinating or he's gone mad.
But Jason isn't mad; he's particularly happy.
Finally, he gently holds her hand and pulls her into his embrace.
He's willing to do anything to keep this moment of tranquility.
In the early morning, even though the curtains are tightly closed, a sliver of light still manages to seep through the narrow gaps. When Emma turns over, she feels something warm by her leg.
In her sleep, she always seeks out the heat, so instead of moving away, she squeezes closer, as if wanting to get even closer.
Jason is awakened this way. He looks down for a moment, and then he moves.
Emma is roughly awakened. She's really tired, the kind of tired where she can't even open her eyes in the morning and would be furious if anyone dared to wake her up. But Jason holds her wrist and kisses it twice. She has no strength to resist and can only keep dodging backward.
Finally, she's fully awake.
Emma, deep down, has a rebellious streak.
Once she's truly awake, she doesn't reject him; instead, she pulls him into a playful commotion, and in the end, she entangles her legs to prevent him from leaving. After this complete and satisfying round, Emma looks up at the bedside, where there's an alarm clock for checking the time in the morning.
Not bad, it's half past eight.
Emma nestles in the blanket and provocatively lifts her chin at the alarm clock: "You're going to be late."
Only then does Jason realize what she's up to, somewhat amused and exasperated: "You've been clinging to me just for this reason?"
What else?
She can't resist, so she has to regain some ground elsewhere.
Finally, Jason shakes his head, pulls the blanket over their heads, and whispers, "How about you try making me skip work completely?"
Jason from Hengy Group, known as a workaholic.
So, should they try to make him miss work for once?
Emma: "…"
She can't help but feel that there's something off about that statement everywhere.
Proving that one should not provoke someone who has been hungry for a year, for no one knows what they might do. Emma experienced this firsthand.
That day, Jason really didn't go to work in the morning. Emma felt guilty, thinking that as a wife, she wasn't being virtuous but instead clinging to her husband and preventing him from going to work. Moreover, he wasn't just Jason; he was the young master of Hengy Group, the future leader. Wasn't this a modern version of a monarch not attending court in the morning?
So when Emma pushed him to get up, the man holding her couldn't help but sigh. He hugged Emma a bit forcefully before leisurely saying, "Stars."
Emma looked up at him.
Jason looked into her dark, watery eyes and couldn't help but chuckle, "Today is Saturday."
Although he didn't necessarily take Saturdays off, he happened to be free this Saturday.
Emma blinked, reaching out to push him away, but he was holding her too tightly. No wonder he had to hug her before speaking. She was a bit annoyed and kneed him intending to push him away.
Even Jason was surprised by her action and immediately kissed her.
Emma was dazed by his sudden attack. After the kiss, Jason said helplessly, "Are you really going to be so ruthless with me?"
He gently rubbed his nose against hers.
"Do you not want our little star anymore?"
Emma was teased but still felt a lump in her chest. However, his words suddenly softened her heart.
Their little star.
Just thinking about it made her feel happy. Perhaps it would be a child who looked like her or him, or perhaps a child who inherited the best traits from both of them.
After getting up, Aunt Qian was already making lunch downstairs. They quickly ate, and halfway through the meal, Emma thought and said, "When should we go back to the main house?"
She had been back for several days and hadn't visited the elders, and besides, she had left almost without a word a year ago.
Emma couldn't imagine how furious Huo Zhenzhong and Zhong Lan would be.
"Do you want to go?" Jason looked at her.
Emma blinked. Did she have a choice not to go if she didn't want to?
She sighed, "Actually, my mother grew to like me later on."
This wasn't an exaggeration. Since she was injured due to a revenge attack after an interview, Zhong Lan's attitude towards her had softened, and she even defended Emma in every situation.
When they held the wedding, all the details were respected according to Emma's wishes.
Now that she thought about it, she was too autocratic, leaving without a word.
"Let's go today. I should have gone to the main house as soon as I came back. It's already outrageous to wait until today," Emma said.
Jason saw that she didn't look forced and nodded, "It's good to go back, so my mom won't nag me all day."
Nag him?
Emma curiously said, "Mom still nags at you?"
"Yes, she's angry that I hid it from you and that I didn't go to Israel to bring you back, saying that I'm failing as a husband and can't compare to my dad at all." Jason looked quite indifferent.
Little did she know that Zhong Lan really said those words. When Emma left, Zhong Lan and Huo Zhenzhong naturally asked for the reason. Jason didn't hide it, as hiding it would only make the elders think it was Emma's caprice.
He took all the blame on himself.
Zhong Lan was already distressed that Emma's only relative had passed away, and now knowing about this incident, someone who always defended Jason didn't stand by him this time.
Jason didn't say anything when she scolded him.
Now that Emma was back, they should indeed visit her parents first.
In the afternoon, they packed up and drove directly to the main house. When they arrived at the door, Aunt Zhou came out first: "I just heard a car outside, and I thought it was you coming back."
Jason walked in front, blocking Emma from view.
After Aunt Zhou finished speaking and glanced over, she saw Emma and was so surprised that her mouth dropped open. It took a while before she regained her composure and kept calling out, "Ah, Jing Xi, it's Jing Xi."
"Aunt Zhou, I'm back," Emma smiled, her whole person becoming softer.
Aunt Zhou really didn't expect it and reached out to pull her, muttering, "You're finally back. That place is too chaotic. You, a young girl, being there for a year, how worrying it is."
Emma listened to her muttering, not refuting but just quietly smiling.
When they arrived at the living room at home, Aunt Zhou asked them to sit for a while, and she went to inform Zhong Lan.
Zhong Lan was upstairs, preparing to take a nap, but before she could fall asleep, Aunt Zhou came up and said that Emma and Shen Yan were here.
Zhong Lan was a bit confused at first: "Who?"
"Jing Xi. You've been worrying about how dangerous it is for her abroad. Now she and Shen Yan are downstairs."
If she didn't know that Aunt Zhou wasn't the type to joke, Zhong Lan would really think she was making fun of her. But when she came downstairs, there they were, sitting on the sofa.
Zhong Lan was really surprised, standing at the stairway and staring for a long time. It was Jason who saw her first.
As soon as Emma saw her, she immediately stood up from the sofa.
Zhong Lan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly said, "Isn't the sun fierce in the Middle East? Why aren't you tanned?"
Emma blinked, well... that's a question...