“Sister-in-law, what did the doctor say about you being weak?”
“Your brother and I have been trying for a child for a long time, but we haven’t succeeded. We’ve visited various hospitals all over the country, undergone all sorts of check-ups, and all our indicators are normal, yet we still can’t conceive. Later, a doctor said my constitution was weak and I suffered from cold uterus, making conception impossible. They advised me to pay attention to my diet and eat less spicy food.”
“Sister-in-law, let me have your hand,” Guo Xuyang said.
Wu Aili hesitated, glanced at Wu Youzhi, and then extended her hand to Guo Xuyang. When Guo Xuyang took her hand, he found it ice-cold. Although it was winter, this chill was abnormal. Guo Xuyang fully released his senses, perceiving a faint chill that seemed to perpetually cling to her.
“Mr. Wu, has sister-in-law been pregnant before?”
“Yes, that was a long time ago, over ten years, wasn't it?” Wu Youzhi said, looking at Wu Aili. “But Aili wasn’t careful while cleaning at the time, and she had a miscarriage.”
“Did it happen in this house?”
“Yes. We had just bought this house not long before that.”
“Did it happen in this living room?”
“Brother, are you saying that my inability to have children is related to this house?”
“It has nothing to do with the house. What did you do at the time?”
“After she started bleeding, we went to the hospital. Later, after the operation, we came back.”
“Which room did you stay in after you returned?”
“The room at the farthest west end, to make it convenient for your sister-in-law to go to the bathroom.”
“And ever since then, you haven’t been able to conceive?”
“It was a few years later that we wanted to, and then we couldn’t.”
“Sister-in-law, please hold the wine and go to the door of the westernmost room and light the wine.”
“What’s going on, brother? Don’t scare me,” Wu Youzhi said, his face turning pale.
“It’s nothing. Sister-in-law, just do as I say, go light the wine,” Guo Xuyang replied.
“Brother?” Wu Aili hesitated.
“Go ahead. I’m here, it’s fine. Just light it and that’s it, don’t put down the wine cup, just hold it.”
“Aili, listen to Brother Guo. He won’t harm us.”
Wu Aili didn’t hesitate any further. She picked up the wine cup in front of her, took the lighter handed by Wu Youzhi, and walked over.
“Sister-in-law, open the door. Stand at the doorway and just light the wine. It will be fine after the wine burns out.”
Wu Aili opened the door as instructed. Inside, there was neatly made bedding covered with a bedspread. As it hadn't been occupied for a long time, it was rarely cleaned. When she pushed the door open, she felt an instant chill envelop her body. Without hesitation, she directly used the lighter to ignite the wine in the cup she held. The high-proof liquor caught fire immediately, and a blue flame shot up. Wu Aili felt the chill dissipate, and her body felt indescribably comfortable. Holding the wine cup, she watched as all the wine burned out. The cup became a little hot. She cupped it with both hands, feeling the warmth spread through her entire body, expelling all the cold from within. She even felt a slight sweat, her palms and soles of her feet becoming damp.
“Mr. Wu, let’s continue drinking,” Guo Xuyang said, raising his cup. “I wish you and sister-in-law a son soon.”
Wu Youzhi was a bit bewildered, not understanding what was happening. Seeing Guo Xuyang drink, he followed suit and drank a cup. Pi Xiaoqian looked at Guo Xuyang, then at Wu Youzhi, wondering what game they were playing.
“I say, brother, you have the potential to be a charlatan.”
“Get lost. Drink your wine.”
Wu Aili walked over at this point.
“Sister-in-law, let me have your hand,” Guo Xuyang said.
This time, Wu Aili didn’t hesitate. She directly clasped Guo Xuyang’s hand. The icy feeling was gone, replaced by a warm, gentle sensation. Wu Aili’s hand was large, fair, and beautiful, with long, slender fingers and a plump palm. Her nails were meticulously trimmed.
“I say, brother, have you seen enough? Be careful, President Cheng might get jealous,” Pi Xiaoqian’s teasing voice rang out.
Wu Aili quickly withdrew her hand, her face flushing crimson.
“I told you, if you can’t speak properly, just shut up. Look how embarrassed sister-in-law is,” Guo Xuyang said with a laugh, scolding him. Guo Xuyang truly embodied the saying, "If I’m not embarrassed, then whoever is, will be."
“Come, come, let’s drink. President Pi was just joking,” Wu Youzhi said, quickly raising his wine cup to mask his awkwardness. When Guo Xuyang had looked at Wu Aili’s hand earlier, Wu Youzhi had felt a hint of jealousy. However, ever since Wu Aili had lit the wine at the doorway of the west room, the temperature of the entire room seemed to have risen significantly.
“Brother, what exactly happened just now?”
“It’s nothing. If President Cheng seizes this opportunity today, he might have a son. If things go well, it could lead to a good match,” Guo Xuyang said.
“I’m your brother, shouldn’t you really be a charlatan? Why are you being so cryptic here today?”
“Shut up. Drink up quickly, so we can go back. Don’t disturb President Cheng’s good fortune.”
Wu Aili’s face turned even redder at Guo Xuyang’s words. She felt a peculiar surge of impulse at that moment.
“Mr. Wu, Fatty and I will come back to have a drink with you another day. With the same wine. That’s all for today,” Guo Xuyang said, raising his cup and draining it.
“I say, brother, it’s barely been any time. There’s still plenty of time,” Wu Youzhi said, quickly stopping him.
“If we miss the auspicious hour, what I said earlier won’t count anymore. Fatty, aren’t you getting up? Let’s go.”
“Huh? We’re leaving already?” Pi Xiaoqian couldn’t understand what Guo Xuyang was up to.
“Quickly! Mr. Wu, we’ll come back later for wedding wine.” Guo Xuyang nudged Pi Xiaoqian with his foot.
“Also, you’d best sleep in that west room later.”
“Ah? Oh. Thank you, brother, then I won’t see you off.”
If Wu Youzhi didn’t understand now, he would truly be a fool. Guo Xuyang was creating space for them. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have rushed off with Fatty.
After Guo Xuyang left the room, Wu Youzhi impatiently pulled Wu Aili into the west room. The ensuing intimacy need not be elaborated. Both felt an unspeakable sense of release; it had been a long time since they felt this way.
“Old Wu, do you think Manager Guo is really a charlatan?”
“Nonsense. What charlatan? There are even more magical things than this. If it weren’t for Brother Guo, how could I have built such a large business? In just over three months, I’ve earned more than we made in all previous years combined. How did you feel when you went to light the wine earlier?”
“I just felt comfortable all over. I always felt a chill before, but after lighting the wine, I felt a fine sweat break out, expelling the cold from my body. And I felt a strong urge for that.”
“For what?” Wu Youzhi asked.
“What do you think? What did you just do?”
“Oh, so that’s why Brother Guo left so suddenly,” Wu Youzhi realized.
“Were you jealous just now?” Wu Aili asked, tracing Wu Youzhi’s body with her hand.
“Of course not! Don’t talk nonsense. What would I be jealous of?”
“You really weren’t jealous?” Wu Aili said, her hand moving lower.
“You little vixen!” Wu Youzhi roared, mounting her. “I’ll show you for being so flirtatious, I’ll show you again!” As a man in his thirties, it didn’t take long before he was completely spent. Later, no matter how much Wu Aili teased him, Wu Youzhi dared not respond.