207: Chapter 201 Ordinary Days

Yu Heng's hand still rested on Qin Lu's waist, stroking it idly.

Her skin was warm, slightly damp from the sweat earlier.

Qin Lu lay on her side, her face buried in the crook of his shoulder. Once her breathing had steadied, she suddenly spoke softly, "I'm going to divorce Lin Liyan."

Yu Heng's fingers paused. "Did he agree to leave with nothing?"

"Mm-hmm." Qin Lu's voice was muffled. "Actually, it wouldn't make much difference if he disagreed. He has no pre-marital assets, and what little money was in the household... has pretty much been frittered away these past two years."

Yu Heng didn't speak. His hand slid from her waist to her back, slowly stroking down along her spine.

Qin Lu gave a soft, contented hum at his touch.

"Divorcing is for the best," Yu Heng said. "Less trouble."

Qin Lu was silent for a few seconds, then nestled closer into his embrace. "You mentioned wanting revenge on him before. Thinking about it now... let's just forget it."

Yu Heng looked down at her.

Qin Lu lifted her eyes; her eyelashes fluttered faintly in the dim light. "There's no need to waste any more energy on him. I... I have you now, and that's enough."

"Alright," he acknowledged. "I understand."

The room fell quiet again. Qin Lu's fingers unconsciously traced circles on his chest. After a while, she sighed once more.

"What worries me most right now is Xiao Ya," she said, her voice dropping lower. "That child... what will become of her in the future?"

Yu Heng's hand stilled on the small of her back. "Let her continue streaming for a while longer to settle her mind. When school starts in September, we'll send her back to study."

Qin Lu was taken aback, propping herself up slightly to look at him. "School? Is she even willing to go?"

"She has to go to school," Yu Heng said matter-of-factly. "In today's society, a junior high school education isn't enough. She's still so young, she has a long road ahead."

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing. Hearing this, the unsettled feeling in Qin Lu's heart suddenly felt a bit more grounded.

It seemed that with him around, these troublesome matters would always find a direction.

This man, though not much older, had the bearing of a real man.

"But her temper..." Qin Lu still worried. "What teacher at school could possibly manage her?"

"Then she won't board at school," Yu Heng said. "I'll look after her during the week."

Qin Lu thought it over carefully. This might actually work; that girl was genuinely afraid of Yu Heng.

"What about... the streaming?" she asked.

"She can stream if she wants to, just treat it as a hobby," Yu Heng said, his fingers twirling a strand of her hair. "It's better than her being cooped up in the house all day."

Qin Lu made a sound of agreement and settled back against his chest.

"I'll talk to Xiao Ya about her situation," Yu Heng said, continuing to massage her back. "Don't you worry."

"Mm..." Qin Lu's response was vague, her attention fully captured by his hands.

"Her student status is still active anyway," Yu Heng continued. "If public school doesn't work out, we'll find a private one."

Qin Lu's mind was feeling a bit hazy, and she could only nod. "Alright..."

"Sleep now," he said. "You have work tomorrow."

Qin Lu was momentarily stunned. Was that it?

Her body was still burning, but Yu Heng had already rolled onto his back, lying flat and closing his eyes.

—

Life began to move forward with a steady, regular rhythm.

The Douyin Guild expanded steadily. The screening process for new Streamers became increasingly refined, with high-quality Streamers continually being recruited and nurtured. The overall revenue curve climbed upward resolutely.

The "Soul Pawnshop" account also began producing content consistently. The data feedback for each video was very good, and they had already started negotiating some small commercial deals.

Several new products designed by Bai Xinran had entered the production phase. The brand "Pleasing Oneself" was gaining some recognition within specific circles, and the follower count on the Little Blue Bird account was growing slowly but steadily.

Yu Heng also poured most of his energy into these concrete matters. However, no matter how busy he was, he always kept weekends free, allocating that time to the women who didn't live in the Villa.

Every two or three weeks, Yu Heng would drive back to Ancheng.

Sometimes it was just to have a meal at home, see his little nephew, chat about everyday things with his mother Liu Jianfen, and then "happen" to bring over some things Zhou Wanyi needed.

Zhou Wanyi seemed to have grown accustomed to this rhythm, no longer as flustered as she had been initially.

Their occasional exchanged glances, or the brief touch when passing something, all carried a sense of tacit understanding.

Perhaps it would be possible soon.

Sundays were usually reserved for Qin Lu and Qin Ya.

The procedures for Qin Ya's return to school were progressing. Yu Heng would sometimes take her to bookstores to buy study guides, or to the arcade to relax as a "reward."

Although Qin Ya still complained verbally, she was clearly much more obedient, especially in front of Yu Heng.

She would secretly observe the interactions between Yu Heng and her mother. The previous hostility in her eyes was gone, replaced instead by a hint of dependence.

Qin Lu's divorce proceedings were underway. She herself seemed much more relaxed, the gloom that had clouded her brow largely dissipated.

She would chat with Yu Heng about trivial matters from work, about the changes in Qin Ya, and occasionally even touch upon vague thoughts about the future.

Their intimacy also became more natural, losing some of the intense, taboo-breaking fervor of the beginning and gaining more of the affection found in daily life.

As for Lin Yu, her work continued as usual.

The weekly photoshoots were unshakeable.

Yu Heng paid the high fees, and she fulfilled her duties as a model.

She ultimately signed the agency contract, but requested the addition of some supplementary clauses clearly defining the rights and obligations of both parties, especially protections for her "private time" and "boundaries of contact."

Yu Heng readily agreed. Thus, their relationship settled into a peculiar yet balanced state.

During work, she was a calm, even somewhat numb model, and he was a demanding yet professional photographer.

During breaks, he was the observer tossing out various philosophies of life and sharp questions; she was the one who sometimes resisted, sometimes pondered, sometimes rebutted.

The money was still taken, the cooperation continued, but that line—she guarded it with immense difficulty, yet also with immense determination.

Yu Heng wasn't in a hurry. He enjoyed this tug-of-war, observing her every subtle wavering and her every act of fortitude.

The days slid forward in this ordinary manner.

In the blink of an eye, the end of the semester was approaching.