He Huaiqin had been living in Xicheng Bieyuan during this period. He didn't have many belongings; three suitcases were enough to pack everything.
Back at the villa, he briefly tidied his things before taking Wen Zhaoning out again.
This time, they were going to the supermarket.
Across from the villa complex was a large, well-equipped commercial supermarket.
Wen Zhaoning had been there once before and had already purchased some basic toiletries and daily necessities.
After entering the supermarket, He Huaiqin pushed a shopping cart, and Wen Zhaoning consciously walked about two meters behind him, as if she were just a stranger happening to be going the same way.
The supermarket was bustling with people, and individuals frequently passed between them, widening the two-meter gap even further.
Several times, when He Huaiqin turned his head, Wen Zhaoning was nowhere to be seen.
He stopped, standing on the spot, his cold gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
Wen Zhaoning finally managed to squeeze through a gap in the crowd. When she looked up, she met his gloomy gaze and quickly jogged closer, but she still didn't dare get too near.
"Why are you hiding so far away? Do I have a virus or lightning on me?" he asked, displeased. "Does being with me make you uncomfortable?"
"No, it's just that I'm afraid of others seeing us."
"So what if they see?"
"You said it yourself earlier. I have to stay hidden, never see the light of day, and no one can know about our relationship. I'm trying to avoid suspicion for you, okay?"
"So, should I thank you for that?"
"You're welcome."
"Stop being cheeky." He Huaiqin pulled her to his side. "Stay close, and don't make me turn around and not find you again."
Wen Zhaoning pouted. What was wrong with this man? One moment he wanted her to stay hidden, and the next he was parading her around in public. Was he having a breakdown?
The two walked to the home goods section.
He Huaiqin glanced at the shelves, reached out, and took down two pairs of soft-soled slippers of the same style, placing them in the shopping cart.
One light, one dark, one large, one small – they were clearly a couple's set.
"Um..." Wen Zhaoning pointed to the beige pair of women's slippers. "I have slippers; I don't need new ones."
"Throw the old ones away."
"I only bought them a little over a week ago; they're not old yet."
"Throw them away and wear the new ones. Don't you understand?"
"..."
Immediately after, He Huaiqin picked up a pair of couple's mugs, couple's toothbrush holders, couple's towels, couple's bath towels... His shopping cart filled with more and more items, all in pairs.
The key point was that Wen Zhaoning had already bought all these things.
"Lawyer He, you only need to buy your own share. I already have all these daily necessities."
"Throw all the old ones away and use the ones I bought."
Wen Zhaoning thought, did He Huaiqin want them to use couple's items for everything?
Back then, when they lived together in a rented apartment for three months, they used couple's items for all their daily necessities. Even a keychain, he had to buy the same style in a different color. But they were deeply in love then, so using couple's items was understandable. Now, however, it was just a transaction; why was he still doing this?
"Why do we have to use the same things?" Wen Zhaoning couldn't help but ask.
"Because I have obsessive-compulsive disorder," He Huaiqin replied, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"You didn't have this illness before. When did you develop OCD?"
"Just now."
"..."
Fine, an instant illness. This was a real problem.
He Huaiqin's shopping cart grew increasingly full. Watching him, Wen Zhaoning felt the scene was incredibly deceptive.
This hardly looked like a transaction; it was more like a normal couple adding to their shared life.
As she thought this, she looked at He Huaiqin's cold, hard profile, which seemed to soften slightly under the warm supermarket lights.
The two walked, one after the other, to the aisle displaying family planning products.
Since it was a transaction of that nature, these items were naturally indispensable.
Wen Zhaoning's face flushed. Taking advantage of the temporary absence of people around, she quickly scanned the dazzling array of boxes and casually grabbed one, about to put it in the shopping cart.
"Wait." He Huaiqin took her hand, moved behind her, and whispered close to her ear, "That one's too small, and you didn't get enough."
Wen Zhaoning's mind went blank with a "boom," and her cheeks instantly turned crimson, even her earlobes flushing red.
He Huaiqin seemed pleased with her reaction. He didn't let go of her hand; instead, he kept his arm around her, placed the "too small" box she was holding back on the shelf, and then, holding her hand, calmly compared brands and selected appropriate sizes on the shelf, tossing box after box into the shopping cart.
Someone approached them, and Wen Zhaoning wished she could disappear into the ground.
She nudged He Huaiqin with her elbow, signaling him to stop, but he acted like a vendor of family planning products, emptying almost an entire shelf.
"So many, are you crazy?" Wen Zhaoning whispered.
"We'll use them up in a few days."
"Don't brag."
"You'll find out soon enough if I'm bragging."
"..."
On the way home from the supermarket, Wen Zhaoning was in a state of high tension and excitement.
She hadn't been intimate for six years. During those six years, giving birth to her daughter and the changes in her life's focus and her body had greatly diminished her desire for intimacy. But just now in the supermarket, the aura of He Huaiqin enveloping her from behind felt like tiny electric currents, stimulating her numb nerves. She felt her heartbeat go out of control, and the forgotten, primal stirrings of her body seemed to have been reawakened.
The car stopped in front of their home.
He Huaiqin got out of the car with the shopping bags. Wen Zhaoning silently followed behind him, looking at his tall, broad back and then at the boxes peeking out from the top of the shopping bags. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.
So many boxes, and he said they'd be used up soon. Did he want to do it multiple times a night?
Could it be that he was even more capable than back then?
He Huaiqin suddenly stopped.
Wen Zhaoning, caught off guard, bumped right into his back.
"What are you thinking about?" He Huaiqin turned to look at her with a half-smile.
"Nothing."
"Then what were you distracted about the whole way here?"
"I wasn't."
"Miss Wen, are you looking forward to it?"
"How could I be? I... I'm not."
Feeling guilty, Wen Zhaoning hurried ahead, entering the door before He Huaiqin.
He Huaiqin followed closely behind her.
The entrance hall was dimly lit.
He Huaiqin casually placed the shopping bags aside, stepped sideways, and his tall figure instantly enveloped her.
Wen Zhaoning lowered her head.
He Huaiqin gently lifted her chin with his fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze. His deep eyes churned with clear desire. "Miss Wen, I'm going to kiss you."
As he spoke, his lips met hers.
This kiss was no longer the rough, possessive one from before; it was a deep, tender exploration, a seductive grinding and temptation.
Six years of a marriage of convenience had made her body extremely sensitive. Reason told her not to be seduced, but her body was undeniably honest.
Just as Wen Zhaoning was lost in a haze of passion, He Huaiqin suddenly stopped without warning.
He withdrew from her lips and slightly distanced their bodies that had been pressed together.
Wen Zhaoning's breathing quickened, and she looked at him, confused.
"Admit it?" He Huaiqin asked hoarsely. "You're actually not tired of sleeping."
Wen Zhaoning's eyes flickered.
Damn it, this dog man had set a trap of desire just to hold a grudge and bring up old issues.
"Speak," He Huaiqin commanded, not allowing her to escape. "Miss Wen, admit that your body has feelings for me."
"Isn't it normal to have feelings? After six years without intimacy, the novelty has returned."
"Is it just novelty?"
"What else?"
He Huaiqin glared at her. The desire in his eyes was gone, replaced by a cold scrutiny.
The ambiguous atmosphere in the living room dissipated without a trace.
They faced each other for a moment, neither speaking.
After a while, He Huaiqin spoke, "Never mind. Novelty is also a feeling. I can see that you were like a hungry wolf just now, wanting it badly."
Wen Zhaoning felt like her reputation, built over a lifetime, was ruined.
"I didn't. Don't talk nonsense."
"Whether you did or not, you know yourself."
His gaze dropped, and he whispered something in her ear. Wen Zhaoning's face instantly turned bright red, and she raised her hand to hit him. "He Huaiqin, shut up."
"Embarrassed and angry, it seems I guessed correctly."
Wen Zhaoning turned her back, unwilling to deal with him anymore.
He Huaiqin, however, hugged her from behind. After whispering in her ear for a while, he said softly, "What a shame, I have a social engagement tonight, so I can't satisfy Miss Wen."
Fine, fine, fine. Wen Zhaoning finally understood. He had gone through all this trouble just to toy with her.
He Huaiqin left.
The large living room was suddenly empty, leaving only Wen Zhaoning.
Wen Zhaoning slowly squatted down, looking at the pile of newly purchased paired items and the dozen or so boxes of condoms on the floor. She silently cursed He Huaiqin's ancestors in her heart.
Just then, Wen Zhaoning's phone rang.
It was Su Yunxi calling.
"Ning Ning, I just saw your message. You said you got divorced, and it's done so quickly? Is it true?"
He Huaiqin's antics had made her almost forget that today was the joyous occasion of her divorce.
"Yes, yes, Xi Xi, I'm finally free!"
"That's great!" Su Yunxi almost jumped on the other end of the phone, her voice unable to hide her elation. "This is absolutely fantastic news! Congratulations to my sister for escaping the sea of suffering and being reborn! We must celebrate! Now! Immediately! Right away!"
"Where should we celebrate?"
"I know a new bar with a great atmosphere. I'll go ahead and book a private room, and you hurry and get ready to come over!"
"Okay!"
Wen Zhaoning also felt that tonight was a good night for a drink.
After all, He Huaiqin was out for a social engagement, and she had nothing to do at home.
Wen Zhaoning changed into a different dress, touched up her makeup, and went to the bar Su Yunxi had mentioned.
Su Yunxi was already waiting for her at the entrance of the bar.
"Ning Ning, baby!" Su Yunxi hugged her tightly upon seeing Wen Zhaoning. "Quick, quick, quick! Today is a joyous occasion, we won't go home until we're drunk!"
Wen Zhaoning hadn't been to a bar in six years.
Back when she was pursuing He Huaiqin, he had a part-time job at a bar, and to support him, she used to go to bars frequently.
Su Yunxi pulled Wen Zhaoning into the bar.
The explosive sound and vibrant lights instantly engulfed them.
The two walked through the crowded booths and went directly to a private room on the second floor.
"Ning Ning, to celebrate your new life, your sister has prepared a big surprise for you."
Before Wen Zhaoning could react, Su Yunxi waved to a waiter and whispered a few instructions.
The waiter nodded with a smile and left. Shortly after, two tall, well-built young men in black suits entered the private room.
"Hello, sisters!" the young men said in clear, enthusiastic voices. "Tonight, we will be serving you two. Please feel free to give us any instructions!"
Wen Zhaoning instantly understood what Su Yunxi's surprise was: she had hired male escorts.
Uh...
Although Wen Zhaoning often joked about liking male escorts, having them actually in front of her made her feel quite uncomfortable.
Moreover, these two male escorts were wearing makeup and looked rather greasy. Their appearance value wasn't even a tenth of He Huaiqin's.
"Xi Xi, why did you hire male escorts?" Wen Zhaoning leaned close to Su Yunxi's ear and whispered, "I'm not into that."
"I didn't ask you to actually 'consume' them, just to chat," Su Yunxi said with a grin. "You've been with that weakling Lu Hengyu for six years; you probably haven't felt the aura of male hormones in a long time. Tonight, I'll let you experience it. These two have the most perfect abs in the bar; you can ask them to take off their shirts later and feel them."
The aura of male hormones?
She had just experienced that before leaving home, and it was the top-tier kind.
Before Wen Zhaoning could say anything else, one of the male escorts, being sensible, sat down beside her.
Being in their line of work, they were adept at reading people. "Don't worry, sisters, we are legitimate salespeople. We only sell alcohol, not ourselves. If you don't agree, we won't do anything improper. Here, sisters, let me pour you some wine."
"Alright, Ning Ning, you're divorced now, why are you still so hesitant? Relax and drink!"
Under Su Yunxi's persuasion, Wen Zhaoning's tense nerves relaxed slightly.
The two began to drink.
Su Yunxi appeared to be drinking heartily, but her alcohol tolerance was actually quite low. Wen Zhaoning was about the same. After just a few drinks, they were both tipsy.
"Ning Ning, wait for me for a moment, I'm going to the restroom." Su Yunxi stood up unsteadily, not forgetting to give orders to the two male escorts, "Take good care of this sister for me!"
"Yes, sister, don't worry, we will take good care of this beautiful sister."
"Hey, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I'm not beautiful?"
"No, no, no, you are both beautiful sisters."
"That's more like it."
Su Yunxi left.
Wen Zhaoning was alone in the same space with two male escorts. She felt increasingly uncomfortable.
"Um... I'm going to the restroom too."
She quickly stood up, but before she could reach the door, she saw Su Yunxi rushing back in a flustered state.
"It's over, it's over! Ning Ning, I ran into my husband!"
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