That sentence really reminded Shi Nanbei of something. Her eyes curved with laughter as she exclaimed, “Oh, right! You’re my wife!”
Seeing Shi Nanbei finally come to her senses, Zhao Xunyin couldn’t help but laugh as well. Shi Nanbei said, “Then I suppose I should let you show off about it from now on.”
“From now on?” Zhao Xunyin doted on her wife without restraint. “Why not show off now? I don’t mind.”
Shi Nanbei gave her a strange look. “I’m still in school. What would I say that for—invite hate comments? I’m going to be a doctor. My image has to stay spotless!”
Zhao Xunyin had lost count of how many times this girl had belittled her. She was confident in herself, but even she couldn’t help feeling a little deflated after being looked down on so often by her own wife. “So what, marrying me feels like a loss to you now?”
She was the Best Actress, after all!
Shi Nanbei replied seriously, “Not exactly.”
Zhao Xunyin breathed a quiet sigh of relief—at least the girl still had some sense. But before that breath was even finished, Shi Nanbei added, “Even though you’re a little older, you’re still really good-looking. I don’t feel like I lost out marrying you or anything.”
Zhao Xunyin: “…”
You know what, maybe she should feel like she lost out. The marriage was still fresh—annulment wasn’t off the table.
Driven past the limits of patience by her silly wife, Zhao Xunyin “administered justice on the spot” right there in Shi Nanbei’s room. In the middle of it, Shi Nanbei protested righteously, “How can you be such a beast? My grandma’s still in the house!”
Zhao Xunyin raised an eyebrow. “Meaning if she wasn’t home, it’d be fine?”
Shi Nanbei just smiled slyly, looking for all the world like a mischievous soap opera villain. “I didn’t say that.”
So, Zhao Xunyin got out of bed and walked into the living room. Grandma Shi was sitting there wearing a pair of Bluetooth headphones, watching a movie.
“Grandma?” Zhao Xunyin called.
No response. She walked closer and patted the old lady’s shoulder.
“Oh, Xiao Yin, what brings you out here?”
“Are you watching a movie?” Zhao Xunyin asked curiously. “Why the headphones?”
Grandma Shi waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, this? I just didn’t want to hear her screaming when you were beating her up.”
Zhao Xunyin: “…”
Right. Disturbance confirmed. Retreating immediately.
When she went back to the bedroom, Shi Nanbei had already stripped and crawled under the blanket, posing lazily with her head propped on one hand. She turned her head, lifted one long, beautiful leg, and crooked a chubby finger toward her wife. “My lord, come make merry.”
Zhao Xunyin: “…”
Zhao Xunyin said nothing, climbed onto the bed, and traced her hand down Shi Nanbei’s slender waist. “Tell me,” she said softly, “just how many more surprises do you have that I don’t know about?”
How could this child make her fall for her all over again every single time?
Now that she was a married woman, Shi Nanbei had absolutely no shame left. Maybe it was her medical background, but she seemed unusually open-minded about these things. When playing around with Zhao Xunyin, her imagination could be impressive. “How about the emperor come in for a closer inspection?” she teased.
Zhao Xunyin gladly accepted the invitation, and so, in that childhood bedroom of Shi Nanbei’s, the two engaged in what Jinjiang would absolutely forbid to write or even hint at. But let’s just say—it was a thorough, in-depth study of human body art.
Afterwards, Shi Nanbei didn’t feel the least bit tired. She lay sprawled on Zhao Xunyin’s body, murmuring lazily, “Turns out the old saying’s true.”
“What saying?”
“‘At thirty like a wolf, at forty like a tiger,’” Shi Nanbei said with a grin. “You’re amazing—you don’t even look tired.”
During their “research,” Zhao Xunyin’s advantage as the older, more experienced one had been undeniable. She guided the newly initiated Shi Nanbei through every twist and turn—fast, fierce, and thrilling—leaving the younger girl dazzled and thoroughly addicted.
Even after everything, Shi Nanbei still found the breath to flatter her.
Zhao Xunyin tried to hold it in, but couldn’t resist giving her a playful smack on the rear. “Can you keep your voice down? What if your grandma heard? How am I supposed to face her?”
Honestly, a few years ago, Zhao Xunyin never would’ve imagined herself doing something so impulsive—with someone else still in the house.
“What’s the big deal?” Shi Nanbei replied carelessly. “Grandma said people’s desires are natural. Totally normal. She even warned me not to make too much noise and disturb her. And I didn’t even go that long—just once! You’re the one who dragged me into another round last night.”
“Shut up!” Zhao Xunyin groaned. She really didn’t understand—how could this girl, who looked so pure and innocent, have no filter when she spoke?
“Oh.” Shi Nanbei wilted, looking pitiful.
Zhao Xunyin: “…”
After all that commotion, they ended up napping until past three in the afternoon. Once they woke and chatted with Grandma for a bit, they announced they were heading out.
“Fine by me,” Grandma said breezily. “I wasn’t planning to cook dinner anyway.”
Zhao Xunyin had long known that Shi Nanbei’s grandmother was unlike most grandmothers—and as her biological granddaughter, Shi Nanbei knew it even better.
“I’ll come back and visit you often, Grandma,” Shi Nanbei said sweetly.
“Don’t bother,” Grandma rolled her eyes. “It took me ages to get Xiao Yin to take you off my hands. Don’t come running back here all the time. You’re married now—go live your life. The less you visit, the better.”
Shi Nanbei: “…”
Whimper.
Grandma didn’t think she was being harsh at all. She turned to Zhao Xunyin with a satisfied smile. “Nanbei’s yours now. My job’s finally done. I’m going to start planning my trip abroad.”
Zhao Xunyin knew about Grandma’s situation. While Shi Nanbei was in her room packing, Zhao Xunyin lowered her voice and said, “Don’t worry. Medicine’s come a long way. I’ve made arrangements—there’ll be professionals with you once you arrive. I’ll also”
Grandma interrupted with a laugh. “I’m not worried. Ever since Nanbei got together with you, I’ve had no more regrets. Even if things don’t work out, I’ll have no complaints. Xiao Yin, you’re a good girl. Nanbei won’t let you down.”
At those words, Zhao Xunyin’s eyes misted. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise.”
Just then, Shi Nanbei came skipping out of the room. “What are you two talking about? Complimenting how cute I am again?”
Before Zhao Xunyin could say anything, Grandma shot her another couple of sharp-tongued remarks, leaving Shi Nanbei looking pitiful all the way to the elevator.
Inside, she sulked to Zhao Xunyin, “I think Grandma’s stopped loving me. Every time, she can’t wait to send me away.”
It was clear her mood had soured after leaving Grandma’s place. Zhao Xunyin reached out and ruffled her hair. “Little one, you can’t bear to part with her, huh?”
Shi Nanbei nodded, her voice low. “I’ve always been scared of marrying far away.”
She’d been raised by her grandmother, who loved her deeply despite all the scolding and threats to “break her legs.” No one loved her more.
Zhao Xunyin smiled gently. “Then when Grandma’s done traveling, how about we settle down in Chengdu?”
“Really?” Shi Nanbei’s head shot up, her big eyes shining like stars. “You’d really live in Chengdu? I thought someone like you would only want to stay in Shanghai or Beijing.”
“Of course,” Zhao Xunyin said, eyes crinkling with amusement. “Wherever you are, I’ll be there too.”
Shi Nanbei’s nose stung with emotion. She tilted her head back, eyes glistening. “You’re so good to me.”
Just a few heartfelt words, and she was already getting teary-eyed. Zhao Xunyin couldn’t decide if her wife was simply easy to move or just too adorable. She patted her head and teased, her dark eyes glinting with mirth. “Then how are you going to repay me?”
Shi Nanbei thought about it seriously before declaring solemnly, “Tonight, I’ll be a proper top!”
Zhao Xunyin burst out laughing. “Oh? So last night you weren’t?”
“No.” Shi Nanbei’s ears turned pink. “I was too shy last night.”
Not just shy—she’d been a nervous wreck. Who wouldn’t be, sleeping with their idol? To her credit, Shi Nanbei hadn’t frozen up completely. Given how flustered she’d been, staying conscious and vaguely functional had been quite the achievement.
“Is that so?” Zhao Xunyin’s eyes softened into a smile as she gazed at her. This wasn’t the aloof star from the screen—it was just Zhao Xunyin, a woman in love, smiling like anyone else. Shi Nanbei’s heart pounded uncontrollably.
She admitted it—she was utterly smitten.
She’d fallen for the glamorous Zhao Xunyin of the screen, the woman of a hundred faces. But what she loved even more was this Zhao Xunyin—the one who smiled softly, sighed helplessly, and rolled her eyes when teased. This Zhao Xunyin wasn’t dazzlingly untouchable or coldly perfect. She was human, warm, and real.
Shi Nanbei had always known Zhao Xunyin was breathtakingly beautiful—the kind of beauty that could destroy empires or wield a sword as a fearless heroine. That was what had first drawn her in.
But the longer they were together, the more she realized—what she loved most wasn’t the star, but the woman behind the light.