Chapter 41

The accompaniment continued to play, like a lingering game. In this playful dance between two hearts, one embodied Shen Jingsong, the other Xia Zhuxi.

Xia Zhuxi wrapped her arms around Shen Jingsong’s slender waist and sank back into the sofa. She heard the pillows tumbling off one by one, but she had no attention to spare for those pitiful little things. Right beneath her nose, Shen Jingsong’s trembling breaths wove a sticky web that ensnared her completely.

It was the same iced whiskey, but in different mouths it tasted worlds apart—Xia Zhuxi savored only bitterness flooding her tongue, while Shen Jingsong’s exhales carried pure sweetness.

Liking sweetness was human nature, and Xia Zhuxi craved to drink it in.

She dipped her head lower.

Shen Jingsong lay there like a captured little creature—warm, soft, quivering faintly. Her misty eyes gazed upward, soft and yearning. Xia Zhuxi committed that look to memory, then closed her own eyes and bent down to claim her lips.

—That plump, heart-shaped pout, the peach heart tattooed in the hollow of her neck all those years ago.

And right now, this one: their soft breasts pressed together, hearts pounding against each other through yielding skin in the heat of passion.

Mouths grew hot and slick, breaths mingling in a tangled dance. Xia Zhuxi licked and kissed Shen Jingsong’s tender lips, her tongue probing without finesse.

Yet even this raw, unpolished advance sent tingles racing across Shen Jingsong’s scalp, waves of softness rippling through her core and below. She bore the weight of Xia Zhuxi’s descent, her hands cradling the back of Xia Zhuxi’s head to deepen their awkward, fervent kiss.

Xia Zhuxi’s grip on Shen Jingsong’s waist tightened, and a soft clatter sounded from behind—Shen Jingsong’s toes could no longer cling to her high heel, and one shoe slipped to the floor.

Xia Zhuxi’s other hand braced beside Shen Jingsong’s ear, brushing a few stray strands aside. Fearing she might hurt her, she shifted it quickly. In her haze, she found Shen Jingsong’s hand and threaded their fingers together, locking them tight.

It was a greedy clash of lips and teeth, her mind tumbling into a kaleidoscope where colors spun wildly, showering down in a dizzying haze.

The playlist ran dry, and the system shuffled to the next track at random.

As the music faded to its close, Xia Zhuxi sensed no air left in Shen Jingsong’s nose or throat before finally pulling away from those glistening lips. The flushed, swollen pout trailed a shimmering thread.

Xia Zhuxi’s breaths came heavier now, her lashes fluttering as she gazed down. Shen Jingsong’s eyes shimmered with wetness, her long hair tousled, crimson lips heaving with urgent gasps.

“Sorry, Sister Jingsong.” Xia Zhuxi stroked her lip corner tenderly, then scooped her up with gentle care, cradling her close to her chest. Shen Jingsong’s arms wound around her neck, and Xia Zhuxi buried her face in the silky black strands, inhaling deeply. “I was sulking and didn’t eat the shrimp you gave me.” She knew Shen Jingsong had seen right through her.

Shen Jingsong had brought her here to sing, poured her drinks, performed “Kiss Me” just for her… When Xia Zhuxi had felt trapped alone in a forgotten box, Shen Jingsong had already peered inside, unlocking her with quiet, enveloping warmth.

Shen Jingsong’s breathing was still ragged, her voice a fragile thread. “Why bottle it up alone instead of telling me?”

Xia Zhuxi pulled her closer—but not too close, lest it discomfort her, so she eased off just a little.

Truth be told, Xia Zhuxi had never been even-tempered as a child. She’d gotten into fights, acted out. It was only in high school that she started reining it in, and as the years passed, her fuse grew longer.

She seldom stewed in silence; any anger usually erupted right away.

With Shen Jingsong, though, it was different. She never dared show anger. If it bubbled up, she’d shove it down and ignore it.

She’d thought she could process it on her own, never realizing that avoidance only twisted the knot tighter.

Xia Zhuxi nuzzled into the crook of Shen Jingsong’s neck, mumbling low. “I didn’t want you thinking I was petty. Like some kid.”

Shen Jingsong paused thoughtfully. “I see…” Then her tone shifted. “Because of the bracelet?”

Xia Zhuxi buried her face even deeper, falling silent.

Shen Jingsong’s voice dropped softer still. “And Shang Mingrong?”

Xia Zhuxi nibbled at a lock of Shen Jingsong’s hair.

Shen Jingsong grew earnest. “That’s not pettiness.”

Hm?

Shen Jingsong cupped Xia Zhuxi’s cheeks, gazing deep. “You’re right. Because you’re my wife.”

“If even you don’t mind on my behalf, who in this world would care about Shen Jingsong?”

Of course someone would.

More than the Xia Zhuxi who cared in this moment was tomorrow’s Xia Zhuxi.

More than tomorrow’s was the one after that.

Next year led to the year beyond, one year to a decade.

I care for you—how could it ever be just a fleeting day?

Xia Zhuxi half-knelt at the sofa’s edge, drawing Shen Jingsong against her heartbeat, her arm sweeping those inky tresses into a gentle arc.

Their pulses fell into sync, a rhythm to carry her through spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Dawn by dawn, dusk by dusk, year upon year.

~~~

Palms pressed together, they walked home hand in hand.

The door had barely shut behind them—no time for lights—before Xia Zhuxi pinned Shen Jingsong against the entryway cabinet, leaning in to check if her lip corner still held that trace of whiskey sweetness.

Shen Jingsong leaned against the cabinet door and gave her a soft, tender smile.

The phone chimed with a series of dings. Xia Zhuxi didn’t want to deal with it. Her kiss landed, but Shen Jingsong shifted slightly, so it brushed her chin instead.

“Phone call?” Shen Jingsong asked.

Xia Zhuxi pouted unhappily. “Just an alarm.” She captured Shen Jingsong’s lips and rubbed against them. “It’s nothing.”

Shen Jingsong wasn’t convinced. “What alarm?”

Xia Zhuxi froze, then yanked out her phone to check. “I forgot—I have a meeting tonight.”

She wrapped her arms around Shen Jingsong and apologized, flipped on the light, grabbed her laptop from the table, and headed to the study. “Damn, the battery’s almost dead.”

Shen Jingsong followed her. “Just plug it in—it’ll charge quick. I topped it off a bit last week.”

Xia Zhuxi pressed her palms together. “Thanks, Sister Jingsong—you’re a lifesaver!”

Jian Ge had notified her half a month ago about a video conference at nine tonight to discuss the team’s schedule for the second half of the year.

But first there had been the Fragrant Pill, then the bracelet, then the singing, drinking, kissing… ahem! Xia Zhuxi had gotten so carried away that she’d completely forgotten about the meeting.

If Shen Jingsong hadn’t asked, she really would have snoozed the alarm and chucked her phone into the laundry basket.

Xia Zhuxi powered up the laptop—thirty percent battery. Shen Jingsong watched from the doorway as it booted smoothly, then turned to head to the kitchen and slice some fruit.

By the time Shen Jingsong returned with a fruit platter and some soda, Xia Zhuxi had logged into the meeting app, but her screen was still black.

She set the tray down and noticed a faint glimmer on the ring finger of Xia Zhuxi’s left hand. In the time it took to prepare the fruit, Mrs. Shen had slipped on her wedding ring.

Shen Jingsong’s gaze drifted to her own bare left hand, then back to Xia Zhuxi’s wedding ring. Understanding dawned, and a doting smile curved her lips.

“Xiao Xi.” Shen Jingsong’s voice was soft.

Xia Zhuxi looked up, her cheeks warming as two soft lips pecked hers lightly.

Her eyes widened in surprise. Shen Jingsong lowered her lashes and drew back slowly, murmuring, “You were amazing just now.”

“……”

Xia Zhuxi had her Bluetooth earpiece in, and a chorus of “Ooooh~~~” erupted from it.

Her face burned. She immediately slapped her hand over the laptop’s camera.

The screen suddenly lit up, revealing eight video feeds in a nine-square grid.

The meeting room exploded:

“Xia God was amazing~~~”

“I saw Sister-in-law kiss Captain Xia!”

“Sister-in-law is so pretty!”

A ding signaled the return of the host in the center square.

Chu Yun appeared on screen, leaning back in her leather chair with a grin and a raised eyebrow. “What was ‘just now’? How was it ‘amazing’? Do it again!”

The chat below the grid went wild with “oooohs,” the text scrolling so fast it quickly turned into demands for “do it again.”

Xia Zhuxi shouted into her mic, “If we don’t start the meeting, I’m out!”

The video square at the top center of the grid was black—blocked by Xia Zhuxi’s hand.

Shen Jingsong couldn’t hear their voices, but she saw the chat and pieced it together from Xia Zhuxi’s words.

Her lashes fluttered as she pressed a hand to her collar and turned away. “I-I won’t disturb you.”

Xia Zhuxi grabbed her hand, snapped the laptop shut, turned off her earpiece, stood, and planted a quick kiss on Shen Jingsong’s forehead. Their foreheads touched. “I’ll be late with the meeting. You go to bed.”

Shen Jingsong hugged her. “Don’t stay up too late yourself.”

Xia Zhuxi returned to the meeting room, where the chaos continued.

Chu Yun led the teasing. How could they not?

Xia Zhuxi rapped on the table. “Keep gossiping about my private life, and I’ll ramp up training!”

Lao Jin from the main team chuckled shamelessly. “Hey, I don’t mind!” One person outside Xia Zhuxi’s control.

Chu Yun threw up both hands. “Me neither!” Two people outside Xia Zhuxi’s control.

The rest of the team: Muted!

~~~

The moon and stars shone faintly, their light filtering through the swaying branches in the garden.

Autumn deepened with heavy dew, and the poetry calendar by Shen Jingsong’s bed was nearly at Frost Descent.

The current page featured a moon under a glass dome, printed with small crimson letters: Don’t think you’ve caught me. It’s I who coveted your light.

Xia Zhuxi gently caressed Shen Jingsong’s sleeping face and wondered silently: Does kissing me mean you like me?

She simply gazed at Shen Jingsong, losing track of time. Xia Zhuxi yawned, her eyelids growing heavy.

The night was truly deep.

Xia Zhuxi bent down and flipped the calendar to the next day.

~~~

It took Lu Guanlan two days to reply to Xia Zhuxi.

Yao Yao’s designs were rare and hard to come by; even the preview exhibition for the fashion show had only sold three pieces.

Lu Guanlan had tracked down the other two from clients. Xia Zhuxi was willing to pay top dollar, so Lu Guanlan was happy to make the introduction.

One of Lu Guanlan’s clients had a kid who wanted to join Star Lion Club. Xia Zhuxi had some time, so she took the kid there. On the way back, she carried two Yao Yao-designed bracelets and a large envelope stamped with Star Lion’s cartoon mascot.

By the time Shen Jingsong finished her recording session and returned home, Xia Zhuxi was sitting primly at the dining table.

She had laid out the lace tablecloth from the day Shen Jingsong had fed her fortune cookies, and she had lit a Snow Pine Romance candle. A crystal vase shaped like a pregnant belly overflowed with blooming pink roses.

“Is today… Valentine’s Day in some country?” Shen Jingsong guessed, eyeing Xia Zhuxi’s sparkling gaze. It wasn’t February 14th, nor Qixi.

Xia Zhuxi shook her head with a smile.

Shen Jingsong guessed again: “Did Boss Chu give you a promotion and raise?”

Xia Zhuxi still shook her head.

Shen Jingsong let out an “oh”: “Did the company sign a big project? Did the stock rise?”

Xia Zhuxi couldn’t help but burst out laughing: “No, silly.”

Shen Jingsong caressed the delicate petals of a rose: “Then what is it? Suddenly recreating this scene, and it’s not even an anniversary.”

“It’s not yet, but today I have something very important to do.” Xia Zhuxi was dressed in a white cocktail dress, her makeup bright and radiant. “Next week, you’re heading to Yu’an for filming. I want to get this done before we part.”

Shen Jingsong sat down across from her, her expression turning serious.

They sat at opposite ends of the table, the roses between them, their eyes locked.

“Today, I want to revise the Trial Marriage Contract together with my dear wife, Ms. Shen Jingsong.”

“First, we’ll add a new clause: Neither wife may accept jewelry gifts from anyone other than her partner.”

“Especially, neither may accept assistance from others in wearing such jewelry, or any similar intimate gestures.”

Xia Zhuxi announced solemnly, while Shen Jingsong listened intently, her face unable to hide her tenderness as her eyes curved into a smile.

“Sister Jingsong, do you agree?” Xia Zhuxi’s gaze fell on her, and Shen Jingsong nodded eagerly. “Good, I’ve got it memorized.”

Xia Zhuxi picked up her pen and added it to the A4 paper, then said: “Pause for a moment—I want to insert a little interlude.”

She pulled out two pink boxes from behind her and took out a pair of bracelets, slipping one onto each of Shen Jingsong’s wrists.

There was also a large envelope on the table.

“Thank you, Xiao Xi.” Shen Jingsong stroked the bracelets and noticed the envelope. “What’s this?”

Xia Zhuxi opened the envelope and took out a box of reward stickers, handing it to Shen Jingsong. It was the set she’d brought back from Star Lion—little red flowers and thumbs-up stickers for teaching kids.

Shen Jingsong opened the box of stickers, and at the very end was a wish passbook for collecting them, with the account opened in Xia Zhuxi’s name.

“Sister Jingsong,” Xia Zhuxi said, “from now on, if you think I’ve been good, give me a reward sticker—that’ll make me try even harder. If I mess up, punish me by making me eat wasabi.” It was the one thing she hated most.

Shen Jingsong asked: “What about me? What if I mess up?”

Xia Zhuxi replied gravely: “How could you ever mess up?”