So, You’re the Henpecked One? 18

Chapter 18

The room fell into a brief, strange silence, but it didn’t last long. As Lin Zhao took a step, the silence was broken.

Chu Xihuan heard her movement and glanced over casually, then fell silent for a moment.

Was it that she was intimidating, or was Lin Zhao just too nervous? She was even walking with her arm and leg on the same side moving in unison.

Seeing her like this, Chu Xihuan lowered her gaze and chuckled.

Like a silly goose.

Strangely, Chu Xihuan didn’t feel as nervous or uncomfortable anymore.

Lin Zhao came up behind Chu Xihuan, her eyes darting for a quick glance before immediately looking away.

From this angle…

Lin Zhao’s face was practically beet red.

“Xi-Xihuan, do you really want me to massage your shoulders?”

C-can I really?

Lin Zhao remembered the wedding night when she had asked to kiss her, and she had said she needed time.

Was she ready now?

“Naturally.” Chu Xihuan closed her eyes and relaxed, her voice a little lazy. “What, are you unwilling?”

“Of course not!” Lin Zhao quickly retorted, afraid that Chu Xihuan would misunderstand her. She pouted. “How could I possibly be unwilling…”

Hearing the hint of grievance in her voice, Chu Xihuan’s lips curved slightly. “Then what are you waiting for?” she urged lazily.

Lin Zhao quietly took a deep breath and tremblingly placed her hands on Chu Xihuan’s smooth shoulders. She slowly applied pressure, her voice trembling slightly. “If the pressure isn’t right, just tell me.”

Xihuan’s skin… is so delicate.

It was like the jade ring hanging around her own neck, but even smoother, with a warm, gentle feel.

“Mm,” Chu Xihuan hummed. The moment Lin Zhao’s hands touched her, her own heart couldn’t help but tremble.

It was strange. She was used to being served by Simeng and the others, and she never felt anything when they massaged her shoulders or scrubbed her back. But with Lin Zhao…

This person’s presence was too strong.

Her hands… were too warm.

Chu Xihuan closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart. “A little harder on my neck and shoulders,” she said softly.

She had been looking down for a long time today, and that area was stiff and sore.

“Okay, okay…” Lin Zhao pressed her lips together, her face tense. She moved her hands to her neck and shoulders and applied a little more pressure. “Were you looking down all afternoon?” she couldn’t help but ask in a low voice.

“Mm,” Chu Xihuan replied lazily.

Seeing her like this, Lin Zhao said no more and focused on massaging her, relaxing her muscles. It wasn’t until she felt the stiffness ease that she quietly sighed in relief.

Chu Xihuan was comfortable. She leaned forward, resting her arms on the edge of the tub and exposing her back.

“Help me scrub my back,” Chu Xihuan said.

Lin Zhao’s face grew even more tense. Perhaps it was the steam, but her face was so red it looked like it could bleed.

Lin Zhao realized she still needed time to get used to this, but… but she also really liked this Chu Xihuan…

Lin Zhao’s eyes were moist. She bit her lower lip and picked up a towel to scrub Chu Xihuan’s back.

Chu Xihuan’s back was so delicate and soft that Lin Zhao didn’t dare to use much force, afraid of hurting her.

Chu Xihuan rested her head on her arm. “Are you trying to scratch an itch?”

The pressure was so light it wouldn’t even be effective for scratching an itch.

Lin Zhao pouted but still used a little more force. Seeing the faint red marks she was leaving on Chu Xihuan’s back, she asked worriedly, “Is it too hard?”

She hadn’t used much force. Why did it turn red so easily?

“No, it’s just right.” Chu Xihuan’s voice grew even lazier. She felt drowsy and sleepy, but the last bit of consciousness held on, telling her she couldn’t fall asleep.

She could let Lin Zhao massage her shoulders and scrub her back, but that didn’t mean she was ready for her to wash her entire body so soon.

Neither of them spoke again. The atmosphere was so quiet that Lin Zhao’s shame grew with every passing moment.

She didn’t know when it would end.

She also didn’t want it to end so soon.

“That’s enough. You can go out now,” Chu Xihuan said suddenly.

Hearing her voice, a flicker of disappointment appeared in Lin Zhao’s heart, but she obediently put down the towel and, with a soft “okay,” walked out from behind the screen.

Chu Xihuan opened her eyes and glanced at her drooping back, finding it inexplicably amusing.

She was no longer being ordered around, and yet she was unhappy.

After washing herself, Chu Xihuan stepped out from behind the screen and saw Lin Zhao slumped over the table, occasionally poking a teacup with her finger, still looking a little dejected.

Chu Xihuan ignored her and went into the courtyard to let down her long hair, letting the breeze dry the tips that had been dampened by the steam.

Seeing Chu Xihuan walk right past her, Lin Zhao pouted and got up to dispose of the remaining bathwater. After she was done, she brought a small stool and sat down next to Chu Xihuan, taking out the money she had earned that day.

“This is what’s left after buying the sweet soup.” Lin Zhao placed the money in Chu Xihuan’s hand. Seeing the coins pile up in her palm, a sense of satisfaction from deep within her made her forget all her previous disappointment.

She was finally not just spending Chu Xihuan’s money.

Chu Xihuan looked down at the copper coins in her palm, her heart touched and softened.

“Why are you giving it all to me?”

“For you to manage, of course. I still have the fifty wen you gave me. That’s enough,” Lin Zhao said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Chu Xihuan looked at the person beside her. Her still somewhat youthful features were filled with complete trust in her. Her fingertips curled slightly, and her voice unconsciously softened. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll run off with the money?”

This person, the first time they met, had looked like her world was ending when she had confiscated her money. But now, she was voluntarily handing over her hard-earned wages.

Lin Zhao’s eyes widened. She clearly hadn’t expected Chu Xihuan to say such a thing. She pouted and looked at her, a little annoyed. “You wouldn’t!”

Although she knew she wouldn’t, Lin Zhao still didn’t like her saying such things.

It felt like the reason she could say such things so easily was because, in her mind, leaving her was not a difficult or hard decision to make.

Lin Zhao didn’t like that. It made her feel like she was someone who could be abandoned at any time.

Having angered her, Chu Xihuan’s eyes instead held a hint of amusement. “Alright, I’ll save it for you.”

“Spend it!” Lin Zhao said very seriously.

Chu Xihuan’s smile grew wider. “Are you willing?”

Lin Zhao nodded vigorously. “If you spend it, I’m willing.”

She had only been willing to go out and find work for Chu Xihuan’s sake. If it were just for herself, she would have just gotten by.

Chu Xihuan looked at Lin Zhao’s serious expression, reached out and ruffled her head, and said softly, “Go and rest. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

Being treated so gently, Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up, and she stared at Chu Xihuan as if she could never get enough.

Her gaze was so clear and direct, and seemed to carry a scorching heat, that Chu Xihuan actually felt a sense of awkwardness. She looked away slightly. “What are you standing there in a daze for?”

The atmosphere was so strange that Chu Xihuan couldn’t even manage a harsh tone. In fact, there was a hint of a playful pout in her voice.

Lin Zhao’s face turned red again. “I’ll go rest now,” she said in a small voice. “Are you coming too?”

Chu Xihuan stood up and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Mm.”

Lin Zhao’s eyes grew even brighter. She went back to the room with Chu Xihuan. After Chu Xihuan had gotten into bed and lay down, she blew out the candle and then climbed into bed in the dark.

She climbed into bed a little too quickly, as if she were being chased by a monster. After getting in, she quickly pulled the covers over herself.

Perhaps because she hadn’t controlled her strength well in the dark, when she lay down, she ended up right next to Chu Xihuan’s arm.

In an instant, the distance between them was so close.

Lin Zhao’s heart started to race uncontrollably.

She could smell the faint, pleasant fragrance from Chu Xihuan. She clutched the covers, her head a little dizzy.

I really want to… get close to Chu Xihuan.

“Xi-Xihuan, can I hold you while I sleep?”

**

Author’s Note:

A second installment of “Can I kiss you?” [Dog Head]

Give Zhaozhao a ladder and she’ll climb. [Dog Head]