21 – Chapter 21
Young people don’t know restraint
Si Nian and Xie Zhi drew closer and closer until their whispered breaths finally landed by his ear.
He still didn’t respond.
Si Nian noticed his Adam’s apple move and smiled as she pulled away. “Alright, I won’t bother you anymore. Let’s sleep.”
“Mmm…”
The room’s light source went out, plunging them into immediate darkness.
In the dark environment, hearing and smell seemed to become sharper than usual.
Xie Zhi heard the soft, rhythmic breathing near his ear and realized Si Nian had already fallen asleep.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t sleep.
It wasn’t the usual loneliness of feeling like the only person left in the world – it was because he felt somewhat exhilarated now.
As if his blood had been heated, burning with an urgent need for release.
He turned over to face Si Nian. Through the faint moonlight, he could barely make out her silhouette.
His hand moved uncontrollably to pull down the blanket. His deep, domineering gaze swept past her neck and collarbone, as if surveying his own territory… finally settling on the raised area.
That place rose and fell with her breathing…
Unable to resist, he lifted his hand to cover it, the sensation making him sigh.
“Mmm…” Si Nian suddenly pursed her lips and frowned, as if having some nightmare.
Xie Zhi wanted to withdraw his hand, but unexpectedly found himself being hugged tightly.
He tried to gently pull away but couldn’t break free. A smile tugged at his lips – fine, let it be like this.
Si Nian’s dreams that night were bizarre – one moment she was being chased and running desperately, the next she fell into a rocky cave, getting bruised and battered.
When she woke in the morning, she found herself lying face down on the bed, her sleeping posture really not ideal.
Kneeling up on the bed, she yawned as a gentle male voice came from beside her.
“Good morning…”
Only then did Si Nian remember she was sleeping with a certain man. She quickly smoothed her hair and smiled at him. “Mmm, I’ll go wash up first then.”
“Okay…”
While brushing her teeth in front of the mirror, Si Nian suddenly felt some soreness in a certain spot. She pulled down her camisole nightgown and discovered a blue-purple bruise there, as if someone had pinched her…
Was it really from being pinched? Impossible… Si Nian shook her head – it couldn’t be.
She quickly concluded that she must have accidentally bumped into something while sleeping.
By the time they finished getting ready and went downstairs, it was already 10 AM. Although the Si family had finished breakfast, they had left plenty for the two.
Xie Zhi’s condition was much better than usual because he had surprisingly slept for seven hours yesterday, including deep sleep.
In comparison, Si Nian seemed somewhat listless, yawning repeatedly.
Mother Si frowned at the sight, finally looking at Xie Zhi with a reproachful expression. “You just spent a week in that kind of place, your body hasn’t recovered yet. Young people don’t know restraint.”
Hearing this, Si Nian quickly pulled her mother aside. “Oh no, Mom, you’ve misunderstood.”
“You’re still defending him? When you’re young, you think your body can handle anything, but after thirty you’ll understand how important maintenance is. Especially in your line of work, with no distinction between day and night…”
Si Nian had no choice but to nod: “I know, I know, Mom. You’re right. I’ll definitely take better care of my health from now on. Let’s eat, let’s eat.”
Mother Si still wasn’t satisfied, glaring at Xie Zhi: “What about you?”
Xie Zhi maintained his usual expression and also nodded: “I understand, Mom.”After having brunch at the Si family home, the two prepared to leave. Before their departure, Si Nian’s mother pulled her aside for a private talk.
“Your father may be stubborn at times, but he means well… You don’t have to follow everything he says. If you want to continue being an actress, then do so – what matters is your happiness. A married couple’s life is their own to live, and we shouldn’t interfere too much. But there’s one thing I must remind you…”
Recalling Si Nian’s past pursuit of Bai Yanlin, her mother shook her head repeatedly: “Men shouldn’t be spoiled too much. They tend to get carried away and stop valuing you.”
Si Nian replied earnestly, “Mom, I know I didn’t handle things well before. I promise you now, I’ll take extra good care of myself from now on!”
“It’s a relief to hear you say that…” Her mother smiled, though a trace of worry soon resurfaced. “Another thing – Xie Zhi is only twenty-two after all. Youthful men aren’t as considerate as mature ones, and with so many temptations in the entertainment industry, I can’t help but worry…”
“Mom, don’t you trust your daughter’s charm?” Si Nian blinked.
“You silly child…” Her mother chuckled. “Of course you’re beautiful – I gave birth to you!”
Finally, Si Nian’s mother reminded them that the following day was Grandfather Si’s birthday. There would be a small celebration at his private estate, and they must make time to attend.
After agreeing, the couple drove off.
Seated in Xie Zhi’s sports car heading toward her apartment, they traveled in silence for a while.
Suddenly, Si Nian spoke up, “Are you free tomorrow?”
Xie Zhi replied, “I’ll clear my schedule.”
Si Nian: “Good. Any plans later?”
Xie Zhi: “Heading to the company, then meeting a producer.”
Si Nian: “Do you have a new film?”
Xie Zhi: “Still in negotiations.”
After a long pause, Si Nian gazed at him with starry eyes: “I really admire you. Your films must have grossed over ten billion in total, right?”
Xie Zhi thought for a moment before responding, “You could achieve that too with more dedication. I’ve seen clips of your dramas – you show promise, though repetitive role choices have limited your growth.”
“If only we were signed to the same agency…” Si Nian sighed. “Then we’d be colleagues, and I could easily consult you whenever I had questions.”
“You can still consult me without being colleagues,” Xie Zhi remarked.
When the car stopped outside Si Nian’s apartment building, she waved goodbye to Xie Zhi before heading inside.
Xie Zhi remained parked downstairs for fifteen minutes before driving away.
He had thought she might invite him to stay in their marital home, but she hadn’t.
She truly was like a cat – occasionally scratching you playfully, making your heart itch, yet never initiating an embrace…
Well then, he wouldn’t hold back either.
When a cat’s claws grow too long, they need trimming. Otherwise, future scratches might really hurt…