20 – Chapter 20
So soon to share a bed
The words slipped out almost without thought, and even Xie Zhi himself was momentarily stunned after speaking.
Wasn’t this essentially promising to take good care of their daughter right in front of her parents?
Upon hearing this, Si Nian’s father raised his glass and clinked it with Xie Zhi’s. In truth, he knew his daughter’s temperament all too well.
The Si and Bai families had a prearranged marriage alliance, and Si Nian had indeed always been fond of Bai Yanlin, chasing after him with passionate intensity. However, Bai Yanlin’s attitude toward Si Nian had always been rather indifferent.
Then suddenly one day, Si Nian became involved with Xie Zhi. The two were caught staying together at a hotel when both families happened to come for a meal.
The marriage agreement had been settled by the older generation, with many interests entangled, so Si Nian ended up marrying this illegitimate child of the Bai family.
The Si family knew the arranged marriage was unfair to their daughter, so they turned a blind eye to her post-marital life, letting her do as she pleased.
They were also aware that she still couldn’t forget Bai Yanlin.
Thus, if this marriage with Xie Zhi worked out, well and good; if not, they could always divorce after a year or two.
But now it seemed there might still be room for change.
Si Nian’s father said to Xie Zhi, “You’re still young with a long road ahead. Regardless of the past, you’ll have to build a life together from now on. Prove yourself worthy, and don’t let my daughter suffer!”
“Yes, Dad,” Xie Zhi nodded.
The old father maintained a calm facade but secretly cast an approving glance at Xie Zhi.
He had met Bai Yanlin several times before—a thirty-year-old man with undeniable capability, yet carrying an arrogant demeanor devoid of courtesy. He truly couldn’t compare to this boy Xie Zhi, who was pleasing to the eye just to look at…
He thought to himself that if Xie Zhi genuinely treated Si Nian well and they built a stable life together, he might offer some assistance in the future, ensuring Xie Zhi wouldn’t be trampled underfoot by the Bai family or Bai Yanlin.
However, it was still an observation period—too early to draw definitive conclusions.
Xie Zhi drank a few more rounds with the Si father and son, discussing some investment matters. Before they knew it, three hours had passed, and it was already 9 p.m.
Si Nian’s mother coughed lightly. “Had enough to drink? It’s getting late…”
Her father looked up, his words slurred from intoxication: “Right, you… you two should stay tonight. It’s not often you come back home.”
“Yes,” Xie Zhi agreed almost without hesitation.
The young couple went upstairs one after the other. Watching their retreating figures, the corners of Si Nian’s father’s mouth finally curved into a smile. “Si Lin is thirty and doesn’t even have a shadow of a girlfriend. If only Si Nian could give me a grandson to dote on soon…”
Si Nian let the alcohol-scented Xie Zhi use the bathroom first to shower. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the frosted glass door, where the man’s silhouette was faintly visible.
He seemed to be taking off his clothes…
So, were they really going to share a bed already? Wasn’t this moving too fast?
What was Xie Zhi really thinking? Were his earlier displays sincere, or was he just pretending?
“Little system, do you know what Xie Zhi is thinking inside?”
The system responded: “That exceeds my knowledge scope…”
“Then how can I determine whether my mission is completed?”
“I can see the Black Mist permeating the air due to the antagonist’s resentment. When the mist dissipates, the entire world will be reborn.”
“So difficult…”
“I will assist you, host. No need to worry.”Si Nian was chatting with the system, completely unaware that the sound of running water in the bathroom had stopped. She sat directly facing the bathroom door until the sliding door opened, revealing a man wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. The ends of his hair were still dripping wet…
“Why didn’t you dry your hair before coming out?” Si Nian’s pupils dilated slightly.
Although she had seen similar scenes at the beach, there had been other guests and staff around then. It was far less impactful than being alone together in this enclosed room, facing each other directly.
Xie Zhi picked up a towel to dry his hair: “I was afraid you couldn’t wait.”
“Huh?” Wait for what? Who couldn’t wait? Did he mean what she thought he meant? Si Nian clenched her right fist, her heartbeat skipping a beat.
Xie Zhi curved his lips into a smile, as if guessing what she was thinking, “How can we sleep without bathing?”
Oh, so he meant bathing…
Si Nian studied Xie Zhi for a moment, feeling convinced he was doing this on purpose, deliberately teasing her with mischief.
“By the way…” she asked, “If you feel uncomfortable, should I prepare bedding for you on the sofa?”
Xie Zhi paused drying his hair, tilting his head as if puzzled: “You want me to sleep on the sofa?”
“Well, are you unhappy about that? Should we sleep together then?”
“Either way is fine with me.”
“Okay…” Si Nian blinked at him, “I sleep very properly and definitely won’t lay a finger on you.”
“Mmm…”
After Si Nian entered the bathroom, Xie Zhi finished drying his hair and leaned against the headboard. Immediately, that faint yet familiar fragrance surrounded him from all directions, softly enveloping him…
He took a deep breath, half-closing his eyes in an extremely relaxed state, though he occasionally glanced toward the bathroom with dark, profound eyes.
Only when Si Nian emerged from the bathroom did he return to his usual demeanor.
With his freshly dried hair lacking any styling, it softly framed his forehead and temples, making him appear even more harmless.
Anyone seeing this scene would let their guard down, and Si Nian was no exception.
Having just finished recording the program, all she wanted was to rest well at home and enjoy a good sleep.
She stretched, lifted the blanket, and settled on the other side of the bed.
“Tired? Let’s turn off the lights and sleep then. It’s getting late,” Xie Zhi said.
“But I still want to talk with you for a while,” Si Nian yawned, her voice slightly nasal, sounding almost like she was coquettishly complaining.
“Looking at me like this now, can you still remember what you wanted to say?”
“I…” Si Nian faltered, feeling teased again.
“Let’s sleep early. We can talk tomorrow if you have something to say?”
“Mmm… no, some things shouldn’t wait too long. I’ll feel more at ease after clearing them up.”
Si Nian herself had been reborn and understood how foolish her former self had been. But in Xie Zhi’s eyes, she had just been chasing after Bai Yanlin, yet now she was showing interest in him. The sudden change would understandably seem strange.
“What did you want to tell me?”
“I just wanted to say… besides you, I’ve never been with any other man.”
Xie Zhi naturally understood what Si Nian meant, though he hadn’t expected her to be so direct.
“Mmm, I understand,” Xie Zhi’s voice noticeably deepened.
“What about you?” Si Nian looked into Xie Zhi’s eyes.
Again, those slightly upturned almond-shaped eyes, innocent yet sensual, made Xie Zhi’s throat tighten. He nodded: “I haven’t been with anyone else either.””Hmm…” Si Nian smiled, “And also, I really wanted to choose you during the final segment of the show, but I was afraid you would choose Lin Yulan, so I… Are you angry?”
“No.” Xie Zhi shook his head.
“So what are your thoughts about Lin Yulan?” Without waiting for Xie Zhi to answer, Si Nian answered herself, “Like a younger sister?”
Xie Zhi silently agreed…
“What about me? An older sister?”