Better Than Summer: A Marriage Before Love Romance - Chapter 2

During that physically and mentally satisfying hour, Shen Tingxia held absolute control.

She initiated it, and she called it to an end.

She dictated the positions, and she guided him on how to please her.

Afterwards, Shen Tingxia walked to the bathroom to wash off the lingering stickiness.
Finally, something went her way.

At 10 PM, satisfied and dressed, Shen Tingxia prepared to leave. As she changed shoes by the entryway, she asked, “What shift are you on tomorrow?”

Xi Chengnan leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked down at her. “Just come straight over if you want to. Didn’t I tell you the code?”

Shen Tingxia understood. “Alright, got it,” she said, and left Xi Chengnan’s apartment.

The next day, just before noon, Xi Chengnan drove to his parents’ house. The family lunch had been scheduled two weeks prior. Given their professions, coordinating a meal together was difficult and required advance planning.

Xi Chengnan had barely stepped inside when his younger sister, Xi Sibe, rushed over. Standing beside him, she whispered, “Bro, do you know why Mom and Dad called us back?”

“Why?” Xi Chengnan humored her with a nonchalant question, though he wasn’t particularly invested in the answer.

Xi Sibe leaned closer, pursing her lips. “Because they want you to go on a blind date! They’ve already found someone for you.”

This genuinely surprised Xi Chengnan. His parents had never inquired about a girlfriend or pressured him about marriage. This direct setup felt abrupt. “Where are Mom and Dad?” he asked.

Xi Sibe glanced towards the kitchen. “Cooking.” Her gaze returned to her brother, her voice dropping even lower. “Bro… I don’t really want you to get married. If you do, can I still come over whenever I want, like before? Will you forget your sister once you have a wife?”

Xi Sibe was ten years younger than Xi Chengnan. Their parents’ presence in her childhood had been scarce; it was her brother who raised her. Xi Chengnan, in turn, had largely raised himself. Compared to their reserved parents, Xi Sibe felt closest to her brother.

Xi Chengnan chuckled at her words. He ruffled her hair, avoiding a direct answer. “What nonsense are you thinking about all day?”

“Cheng Nan, you’re back.” His father emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of ribs.

Xi Chengnan’s smile faded. He looked up. “Dad.”
“Wash up first. Lunch is almost ready.”
Xi Chengnan nodded and headed to the bathroom.
Xi Sibe followed. “Bro! Answer me properly!”
Xi Chengnan looked at her, his expression serious and firm. “Whether I get married or not, or who I marry, I will always be your brother. Whatever a sister can do with her brother, you can do with me.”

Finally, Xi Sibe smiled for the first time since he’d arrived.

At the lunch table, Duan Xiyun served Xi Chengnan a bowl of soup, using the moment to speak. “Cheng Nan, Auntie Wang introduced you to a girl. Find some time to meet her. I’ll send you her WeChat.”

Xi Chengnan paused, hand on the bowl. “Do I have to?”
Duan Xiyun withdrew her hand, speaking matter-of-factly. “You’re not getting any younger. Your father and I are always busy, no time to manage this for you, and you don’t seem concerned yourself. We can’t just watch you end up alone. Just go meet her. Auntie Wang says the girl was quite impressed with your profile.”

As she finished, Xi Chengnan’s phone chimed. He glanced at it – his mother had sent the girl’s WeChat ID. He didn’t open it. His eyes caught the notification just below: a message thread with a contact saved simply as “沈” (Shen).

Suddenly, her image surfaced in his mind: a striking face – a high, rounded forehead, prominent cheekbones, a slightly squared yet smoothly defined jawline. Slanted, elongated eyes with upturned corners radiated a captivating blend of allure and liveliness. When unsmiling, she projected an icy, untouchable beauty; when she smiled, it brimmed with self-assured confidence.

Before Xi Chengnan could respond, Xi Sibe interjected, “Mom, does Brother have to go on a blind date? I don’t really get it. Why does he have to get married?”

Duan Xiyun replied sternly, “You’re still young. There are things you don’t understand yet. You’ll get it when you’re older. Not just your brother will marry; you will too someday.”

Xi Sibe opened her mouth to argue, but Xi Chengnan gently squeezed her hand under the table. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll find a time.”

Xi Sibe immediately looked at him, pouting with displeasure.
Xi Chengnan patted her hand under the table, a silent reassurance. True to Xi Sibe’s words, the lunch’s sole purpose was the blind date arrangement.

After lingering at home for a while, Xi Chengnan prepared to leave around 3 PM.
Xi Sibe protested, “Bro, why leave so soon? Stay a bit longer!”
Xi Chengnan lowered his voice. “Got some things to do.”
He actually didn’t. But Shen Tingxia had asked about his shift yesterday, implying she planned to come over. Given her precedent of arriving before 8 PM, and unsure when she’d appear today, he felt it best to return early. He was off duty today – it wouldn’t do to keep her waiting.

At 8 PM that night, Shen Tingxia stepped out of her parents’ apartment. Leaning back against the door, she exhaled deeply, finally enjoying some peace and quiet.

That morning, Shen Tingxia had been awakened by another call – this time from her father. He demanded she come home because her mother had developed high bl00d pressure… because she was angry with her.

Though Shen Tingxia doubted the cause, she went. The high bl00d pressure was real, but it wasn’t her fault; Madam Qu had simply forgotten her medication. After taking two Nifedipine pills, she was perfectly fine.

For almost the entire day, Shen Tingxia’s ears were assaulted by her mother’s relentless nagging: calling her heartless, accusing her of caring only about work, lamenting her lack of a personal life…

Initially, Shen Tingxia had the energy to retort. Eventually, she gave up. In her view, her mother was simply bored and making trouble. The pre-retirement Madam Qu had never been like this.

Finally, worn down by her mother’s persistent “matchmaking,” Shen Tingxia capitulated. She added the man on WeChat, promising to meet him. Only then did Madam Qu crack her first smile of the day.

During dinner, the lecturing continued. Shen Tingxia’s head felt ready to explode. She finished eating, skipped water, and made a hasty exit, citing urgent business.

It wasn’t entirely an excuse. She did have business: the PowerPoint presentation for Monday’s meeting wasn’t finished. She’d planned to do it yesterday after leaving Xi Chengnan’s place, but once home, the motivation vanished.

She was on the verge of giving up on her chronic procrastination. Rushing homework in school, racing deadlines at work – Shen Tingxia fully admitted she was a pressure-driven performer.

Back home, Shen Tingxia poured herself a glass of hot water, sat down at her computer, opened her laptop, took a deep breath, and started the PPT. She worked until 1 AM, saving the final version. Only after a thorough review did she shut down her laptop, ready to shower and sleep.

Walking into the bathroom, it hit her: her water heater was broken. She’d showered at Xi Chengnan’s yesterday. And then she remembered her parting words to him.

Her original plan was to go again today, shower there, and have her mother oversee the repair on Monday. Once fixed, she could use it Monday evening. But now…?

A flicker of relief washed over her. At least she’d agreed to meet that man her mother found. Otherwise, how would she ask her mother for help tomorrow?

Standing in the bathroom, Shen Tingxia didn’t bother trying the heater. She washed up quickly with cold water and crawled into bed.

Early Monday morning, just as Xi Chengnan parked in the hospital lot, a WeChat notification lit up his phone. It was from his sister: 【Bro, what shift today? Can I come over for dinner tonight?】

Reading the first few words, Xi Chengnan heard Shen Tingxia’s voice in his head: “What shift are you on tomorrow?” He’d been off yesterday. He’d come home early specifically because of her implied visit. Yet, by 10 PM, there had been no sign of her, not even a text.

Suddenly, Xi Chengnan chuckled softly to himself, a hint of self-mockery. What was I expecting? We’re just friends with benefits. Maybe she was just making conversation. He dismissed the thought.

He replied to his sister: 【Day shift. Tell me what you want to eat before you finish work】, pocketed his phone, unbuckled his seatbelt, and got out of the car.

Waiting for the elevator, he ran into Luo Jichen, a colleague from his department. Luo slung an arm around Xi Chengnan’s shoulder, his tone gossipy. “What was so important last night? Skipped dinner with us. You wouldn’t happen to be seeing someone, would you?”

Xi Chengnan calmly removed the arm. “Screw dating. Who has the time?” He offered no explanation for his absence the previous night.

Luo Jichen seemed to ponder this. “Yeah, true. When things get crazy busy, you still squeeze out time to publish SCI papers. Even on your days off, you never relax – investing, working out, constantly studying and upgrading yourself… basically, you won’t stop until you’ve outworked everyone else. Definitely no time for dating.” He nudged Xi Chengnan playfully. “But acting like this, Director Xi and Director Duan must be worried sick, right?”

The elevator doors opened. Xi Chengnan shot him a glance and stepped in. Luo followed. Xi Chengnan pressed the button for the 17th floor, Neurosurgery Department, and quipped with a smile, “If the Emperor isn’t worried, why should the eunuch worry?” He saw no need to mention the blind date setup orchestrated by the “Emperor” and “Empress.” It wouldn’t lead anywhere anyway.

With time pressing, they dropped the banter and switched into work mode. Shortly after changing into scrubs, the entire department followed the Chief on rounds.

Shortly after 10 AM, sitting at his desk, Xi Chengnan habitually checked his phone. A notification caught his eye: 1 Missed Call – from five minutes ago.

The caller wasn’t just anyone. It was the woman who’d left him waiting all night.

Xi Chengnan picked up his phone and dialed back. It rang three times before connecting. A magnetic female voice filled his ear: “Hello?”

Xi Chengnan plucked a pen from his chest pocket, twirling it idly in his fingers. “Just stepped out. Didn’t have my phone on me. What’s up?”