The Marriage Harbor CH26
Chapter 26: "Does this count as a date?"
Tang Zhisong was careful not to disturb her during business hours. He waited until 12:30 PM to place the call. Jiang Bin answered almost instantly.
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
He wasn't one for idle calls, and neither of them had developed the habit of small talk. There was a brief silence on the other end. "Have you eaten?" he finally asked.
"I’m eating now."
"What did the chef prepare today?" he followed up, casting about for a topic.
Uncertain of his aim, Jiang Bin rattled off a few dishes.
"No juice?" Tang Zhisong asked. Influenced by their trip to the Lu family home, he’d come to assume she had a penchant for it. Jiang Bin caught his drift and twirled her chopsticks with a smile.
"I’ve had quite enough juice lately, but I wouldn't mind a fruit salad." During summer afternoons, it was her go-to, but as the weather turned, the cafeteria had stopped serving it. Her private chef usually brought fruit along, but never a prepared salad, and by this hour, the chef would have already returned to the Tang Estate.
"I’ll have someone prepare one for you," Tang Zhisong said without hesitation. He had the staff and the ingredients ready.
Then, impulsive and unbidden, Jiang Bin asked: "Will you deliver it?"
She froze the moment it left her mouth. Regret followed instantly. The last time he’d brought her food, she had been ill and now, in the middle of a workday, the request felt overly indulgent—the kind of pampered behavior she hadn't displayed since her grandfather was alive. Back then, a man who sat at the helm of a massive corporation would personally prepare her salads and walk her home for a nap.
Just as she was about to retract the request before he could refuse, his voice came through: "Alright."
Then he hung up. Tang Zhisong, sitting in his private dining room before a lavish spread, washed his hands and instructed his chef to pack a fruit salad to go.
Ten minutes later, he was on his way. Within twenty minutes, he reached the Jiang Group’s underground parking lot and texted her: [Underground Parking. I’m at B1.]
Jiang Bin had been sitting in a daze since the call ended. She finished her meal hurriedly, checked her makeup in the mirror, and tightened her silk scarf before heading down. The building was quiet, her team resting with eye masks on. She kept her heels muffled as she exited the elevator. Near her usual spot sat a custom Rolls Royce—low-profile but with an exquisite finish. It was unmistakably his. Tang Zhisong stepped out, dressed in a tailored black suit and a crisp white shirt without a tie, his expression calm and steady.
Despite the hour, there were several people in the garage, though the executive parking zone remained relatively secluded. Their eyes met briefly. Jiang Bin felt a flicker of bashfulness she refused to show, while Tang Zhisong remained his usual stoic self, his dark gaze tracing her with a silent, searching intensity. She led him toward a small meeting room near the elevators used by the property staff. Taking him upstairs was too ostentatious, and he didn't have the time to linger. The room was sparse—a long table, a few chairs, and a water dispenser.
"Water?" she asked.
He didn't care for the office tea, but he shook his head even at the bottled water. "I have water in the car."
He was clearly fastidious, and standing in this windowless, basement-level room, his elite, clean-cut aura felt entirely out of place. He was "condescending" to be here, in a way he likely never had to before.
"Thanks," she said, opening the box and eating a spoonful. Tang Zhisong didn't sit—perhaps distrusting the cleanliness of the chairs—so she stood with him.
He didn't take his eyes off her. Ordinarily, he would have found such a request "bratty", but with Jiang Bin, it felt different. Was she finally acting spoiled with him? Was she starting to care? Just as he was about to ask if it was to her taste, voices echoed from the elevator lobby. Jiang Bin moved fast, reaching the door and bolting the lock.
Tang Zhisong’s expression shifted. What was this? A legally married couple, acting as if they were having a scandalous affair.
Jiang Bin sensed his irritation but forced herself to keep eating. They stood in a "half-baked" silence—not quite the comfort of an old married couple, not quite the sweetness of lovers, yet far from strangers after their "negative distance" encounter that morning.
"It's good," she said eventually.
"If you like it, we can rotate the chefs," he suggested.
"They’re both from the Tang Estate, it's no trouble." He pulled out his phone and messaged the family's private management group. Within moments, his mother replied, surprised by his sudden interest in domestic logistics.
When he replied: [Jiang Bin likes it], Madam Tang was delighted and immediately invited them to the estate for a seafood feast.
Tang Zhisong paused at the name his mother used: Bingbing.
He had always assumed when others said it, they were using the character for "Bin." He wasn't sure if it was a pet name or her childhood name, and he didn't want to ask and reveal their distance.
He sent Jiang Bin an invite to the group chat. "Join this. If you need anything, just say it here."
Jiang Bin accepted, and her phone was instantly flooded with red envelopes and welcome messages from the staff and her mother-in-law. Tang Zhisong’s phone remained silent, he had clearly muted the group long ago.
As she finished, she didn't notice a bit of salad dressing on the corner of her lip. Tang Zhisong watched her, wanting to offer a tissue but fearing it would be awkward. He lacked the 'instinct' to wipe it for her himself, so he simply looked away until she wiped it clean.
"I’ll get you some water from the car?" he offered.
"It’s fine," she smiled, drinking a cup of the office water instead. She packed the container and handed it to him. Despite his high-and-mighty aura, he never actually made her do any manual work.
At the door, Tang Zhisong glanced at the lock and shook his head wordlessly. Jiang Bin remained unfazed, she had a professional image to maintain, especially after teasing her own assistant about "love being a distraction". As she unlocked the door, a soft huff of annoyance came from the man behind her.
She turned, and they were close—her head level with his chin. Her eyes landed on his sharp, sexy Adam's apple. I haven't kissed that yet, she thought. Maybe I’ll try it next time. Tang Zhisong saw her reddened ears and knew he could pull her into his arms with a single move, but he held back, fearing he wouldn't be able to stop.
"President Jiang," smirking, he asked with a mocking tilt of his head, "should we leave separately?"
"If President Tang is shy, you’re welcome to wait until work starts again." she retorted, slipping out of the room with a grin.
* * *
Back at her desk, Jiang Bin watched the Rolls Royce merge into traffic and, for once, lost herself in thought. Perhaps a marriage of convenience could be quite nice. But there was no time for sentimentality, she had a workload to finish. As she restructured her assistant team, her lead assistant Li Yang briefed the new hire, Chen Dao, on the "President's Taboos": No bitter or strong tea, and to never ever make her sit in the passenger seat.
Later that evening, her cousin Mu Yun’s birthday derailed her plans with Tang Zhisong. She called to report her absence.
"Is it an outing or overtime?" he asked.
"My cousin's birthday. I have to celebrate with him." There was a pause.
"Alright. Contact me if you need anything." He hung up.
The evening at Mu Yun’s was complicated by the presence of Jiang Bin’s mother, Mu Lingshu, and her half-sister, Lu Yingying. The tension was palpable, especially as Jiang Bin watched her mother dote on her younger siblings. Yet, Jiang Bin remained composed. After the elders left, the atmosphere lightened as she drank and chatted with her friends. When Mu Yun complained about her meddling in his love life, she realized she was hardly an expert herself.
Returning home at 10:00 PM, she found Tang Zhisong in a meeting.
On Saturday, both were back at their respective offices—the standard for the tech industry. At 3:00 PM, Tang Zhisong received a call from his friend Cheng Yanjun, inviting him to a supercar club gathering.
"Bring your President Jiang," Cheng Yanjun said. "My wife wants to meet the legendary Jiang Bin."
Tang Zhisong smiled and called her.
"Do you have plans tonight?" he asked.
"What's going on?" she replied, sitting up straight.
"I’m taking you out to play," he said directly.
It was a rare invitation. Jiang Bin felt a shift in her chest. Looking out at the city skyline, she asked softly, "Does this count as a date?"
Her voice was magnetic, carrying an unintended allure. Tang Zhisong removed his glasses and rubbed his brow, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone.
"Yes."
"I finish at six," she said, her heart fluttering.
"I'll come get you."
After hanging up, Jiang Bin sat in silence. A "date" was a first for her, and a first for them. At 5:30 PM, she decided she needed to put in some effort. She texted him: [Pick me up at the apartment. Give me thirty minutes.]
There had been no ceremony when they married but today, she wanted a sense of ritual.
Translator's Notes:
Tang Zhisong was careful not to disturb her during business hours. He waited until 12:30 PM to place the call. Jiang Bin answered almost instantly.
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
He wasn't one for idle calls, and neither of them had developed the habit of small talk. There was a brief silence on the other end. "Have you eaten?" he finally asked.
"I’m eating now."
"What did the chef prepare today?" he followed up, casting about for a topic.
Uncertain of his aim, Jiang Bin rattled off a few dishes.
"No juice?" Tang Zhisong asked. Influenced by their trip to the Lu family home, he’d come to assume she had a penchant for it. Jiang Bin caught his drift and twirled her chopsticks with a smile.
"I’ve had quite enough juice lately, but I wouldn't mind a fruit salad." During summer afternoons, it was her go-to, but as the weather turned, the cafeteria had stopped serving it. Her private chef usually brought fruit along, but never a prepared salad, and by this hour, the chef would have already returned to the Tang Estate.
"I’ll have someone prepare one for you," Tang Zhisong said without hesitation. He had the staff and the ingredients ready.
Then, impulsive and unbidden, Jiang Bin asked: "Will you deliver it?"
She froze the moment it left her mouth. Regret followed instantly. The last time he’d brought her food, she had been ill and now, in the middle of a workday, the request felt overly indulgent—the kind of pampered behavior she hadn't displayed since her grandfather was alive. Back then, a man who sat at the helm of a massive corporation would personally prepare her salads and walk her home for a nap.
Just as she was about to retract the request before he could refuse, his voice came through: "Alright."
Then he hung up. Tang Zhisong, sitting in his private dining room before a lavish spread, washed his hands and instructed his chef to pack a fruit salad to go.
Ten minutes later, he was on his way. Within twenty minutes, he reached the Jiang Group’s underground parking lot and texted her: [Underground Parking. I’m at B1.]
Jiang Bin had been sitting in a daze since the call ended. She finished her meal hurriedly, checked her makeup in the mirror, and tightened her silk scarf before heading down. The building was quiet, her team resting with eye masks on. She kept her heels muffled as she exited the elevator. Near her usual spot sat a custom Rolls Royce—low-profile but with an exquisite finish. It was unmistakably his. Tang Zhisong stepped out, dressed in a tailored black suit and a crisp white shirt without a tie, his expression calm and steady.
Despite the hour, there were several people in the garage, though the executive parking zone remained relatively secluded. Their eyes met briefly. Jiang Bin felt a flicker of bashfulness she refused to show, while Tang Zhisong remained his usual stoic self, his dark gaze tracing her with a silent, searching intensity. She led him toward a small meeting room near the elevators used by the property staff. Taking him upstairs was too ostentatious, and he didn't have the time to linger. The room was sparse—a long table, a few chairs, and a water dispenser.
"Water?" she asked.
He didn't care for the office tea, but he shook his head even at the bottled water. "I have water in the car."
He was clearly fastidious, and standing in this windowless, basement-level room, his elite, clean-cut aura felt entirely out of place. He was "condescending" to be here, in a way he likely never had to before.
"Thanks," she said, opening the box and eating a spoonful. Tang Zhisong didn't sit—perhaps distrusting the cleanliness of the chairs—so she stood with him.
He didn't take his eyes off her. Ordinarily, he would have found such a request "bratty", but with Jiang Bin, it felt different. Was she finally acting spoiled with him? Was she starting to care? Just as he was about to ask if it was to her taste, voices echoed from the elevator lobby. Jiang Bin moved fast, reaching the door and bolting the lock.
Tang Zhisong’s expression shifted. What was this? A legally married couple, acting as if they were having a scandalous affair.
Jiang Bin sensed his irritation but forced herself to keep eating. They stood in a "half-baked" silence—not quite the comfort of an old married couple, not quite the sweetness of lovers, yet far from strangers after their "negative distance" encounter that morning.
"It's good," she said eventually.
"If you like it, we can rotate the chefs," he suggested.
"They’re both from the Tang Estate, it's no trouble." He pulled out his phone and messaged the family's private management group. Within moments, his mother replied, surprised by his sudden interest in domestic logistics.
When he replied: [Jiang Bin likes it], Madam Tang was delighted and immediately invited them to the estate for a seafood feast.
Tang Zhisong paused at the name his mother used: Bingbing.
He had always assumed when others said it, they were using the character for "Bin." He wasn't sure if it was a pet name or her childhood name, and he didn't want to ask and reveal their distance.
He sent Jiang Bin an invite to the group chat. "Join this. If you need anything, just say it here."
Jiang Bin accepted, and her phone was instantly flooded with red envelopes and welcome messages from the staff and her mother-in-law. Tang Zhisong’s phone remained silent, he had clearly muted the group long ago.
As she finished, she didn't notice a bit of salad dressing on the corner of her lip. Tang Zhisong watched her, wanting to offer a tissue but fearing it would be awkward. He lacked the 'instinct' to wipe it for her himself, so he simply looked away until she wiped it clean.
"I’ll get you some water from the car?" he offered.
"It’s fine," she smiled, drinking a cup of the office water instead. She packed the container and handed it to him. Despite his high-and-mighty aura, he never actually made her do any manual work.
At the door, Tang Zhisong glanced at the lock and shook his head wordlessly. Jiang Bin remained unfazed, she had a professional image to maintain, especially after teasing her own assistant about "love being a distraction". As she unlocked the door, a soft huff of annoyance came from the man behind her.
She turned, and they were close—her head level with his chin. Her eyes landed on his sharp, sexy Adam's apple. I haven't kissed that yet, she thought. Maybe I’ll try it next time. Tang Zhisong saw her reddened ears and knew he could pull her into his arms with a single move, but he held back, fearing he wouldn't be able to stop.
"President Jiang," smirking, he asked with a mocking tilt of his head, "should we leave separately?"
"If President Tang is shy, you’re welcome to wait until work starts again." she retorted, slipping out of the room with a grin.
* * *
Back at her desk, Jiang Bin watched the Rolls Royce merge into traffic and, for once, lost herself in thought. Perhaps a marriage of convenience could be quite nice. But there was no time for sentimentality, she had a workload to finish. As she restructured her assistant team, her lead assistant Li Yang briefed the new hire, Chen Dao, on the "President's Taboos": No bitter or strong tea, and to never ever make her sit in the passenger seat.
Later that evening, her cousin Mu Yun’s birthday derailed her plans with Tang Zhisong. She called to report her absence.
"Is it an outing or overtime?" he asked.
"My cousin's birthday. I have to celebrate with him." There was a pause.
"Alright. Contact me if you need anything." He hung up.
The evening at Mu Yun’s was complicated by the presence of Jiang Bin’s mother, Mu Lingshu, and her half-sister, Lu Yingying. The tension was palpable, especially as Jiang Bin watched her mother dote on her younger siblings. Yet, Jiang Bin remained composed. After the elders left, the atmosphere lightened as she drank and chatted with her friends. When Mu Yun complained about her meddling in his love life, she realized she was hardly an expert herself.
Returning home at 10:00 PM, she found Tang Zhisong in a meeting.
On Saturday, both were back at their respective offices—the standard for the tech industry. At 3:00 PM, Tang Zhisong received a call from his friend Cheng Yanjun, inviting him to a supercar club gathering.
"Bring your President Jiang," Cheng Yanjun said. "My wife wants to meet the legendary Jiang Bin."
Tang Zhisong smiled and called her.
"Do you have plans tonight?" he asked.
"What's going on?" she replied, sitting up straight.
"I’m taking you out to play," he said directly.
It was a rare invitation. Jiang Bin felt a shift in her chest. Looking out at the city skyline, she asked softly, "Does this count as a date?"
Her voice was magnetic, carrying an unintended allure. Tang Zhisong removed his glasses and rubbed his brow, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone.
"Yes."
"I finish at six," she said, her heart fluttering.
"I'll come get you."
After hanging up, Jiang Bin sat in silence. A "date" was a first for her, and a first for them. At 5:30 PM, she decided she needed to put in some effort. She texted him: [Pick me up at the apartment. Give me thirty minutes.]
There had been no ceremony when they married but today, she wanted a sense of ritual.
Translator's Notes:
- "Negative Distance" (负距离): A popular internet slang commonly used in Chinese web novels for sex.
- "Bingbing" (冰冰 vs. 彬彬): The Chinese language is rich with homophones. Jiang Bin's name (彬) means refined/elegant. "Bing" (冰) means ice.
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