Restraint
As dusk began to fall, a Maybach drove into Huaxi Bay and stopped in the villa’s courtyard.
The rear door opened. Xue Ling had barely set one foot on the ground when a blur shot toward her like lightning.
“Woof!”
“Paopao!”
Xue Ling crouched and wrapped her arms around the delighted dog as it rushed to greet its owner.
Paopao was a three-year-old black-and-white border collie, Xu Jingzhuo’s dog. Since Xue Ling married him, it had become their dog.
The rain had been coming down hard earlier. They’d used an umbrella the whole time, but some water had still splashed onto them. She needed a proper hot shower anyway, so Xu Jingzhuo let her and the dog cuddle and jostle against each other.
After greeting Paopao, they headed inside.
The villa was enormous. Nearly a hundred employees had been hired just to maintain the grounds and clean the house, as well as see to the couple’s daily needs.
The first-floor living room opened out in every direction, with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and a vast, minimalist ceiling. Dark, matte wood-grain flooring led the eye to a massive transparent spiral staircase, with an elevator nearby.
From the living room to the study and bedrooms upstairs, all the way down to the gym and entertainment area in the basement, the house had one remarkably consistent style.
Expanses of luxurious black, accented with just a little white and gray. The restrained look made you feel calm at a glance.
The lady of the house liked things bright, so the lights on the entire floor had been turned on before they got home. Night was almost upon them, but inside, the villa was still as bright and clear as day.
The sitting area had a huge pale-gray cashmere rug, a full set of imported dark-gray leather corner sofas, and a square black marble coffee table.
When Xue Ling had been working for a while and went downstairs to stretch her legs, she would usually sit on the sofa and rest.
There were plenty of staff, but no one ever disturbed her. It seemed Xu Jingzhuo had specifically told them to leave her alone whenever possible, so she could relax by herself.
The studies were on the second floor, and the bedrooms on the third.
They each had a spacious study, their doors facing each other.
But they shared a bedroom, sleeping together in the master suite.
They’d been married for a month, and had slept together every night since their wedding night.
Now, Xue Ling was showering in the master bathroom while Xu Jingzhuo washed up in the bathroom next door.
Xue Ling covered herself in slippery bubbles and sighed.
They slept together, but apart from that one time on their wedding night, they hadn’t been intimate again.
The box had three condoms in it. They’d used one on their wedding night, leaving two still sealed, waiting to be opened, waiting to be used, practically crying out for it.
His kisses and movements had been gentle that night, and he hadn’t hurt her at all. Even now, remembering it, she thought it had been a beautiful, wonderful first time.
Xue Ling had assumed his restraint was just for their wedding night.
After all, when she’d had a crush on him, he’d been all swaggering, unruly boyish charm, wild and wicked. He’d appeared in her dreams countless times, taking control of her desire, laughing softly in her ear and saying all sorts of things that made her blush. Those sharp canines would bite her all over, devouring her piece by piece.
It had taken a month of living together to realize that he really had changed a lot.
Her husband didn’t talk dirty, didn’t like biting, and wasn’t much interested in devouring her. Even his kisses were gentle. He had such a sexy, sensual face and body, yet he was a complete gentleman through and through.
It was fine, really. People changed, and Xu Jingzhuo was still wonderful as he was. Xue Ling still liked him very much.
That tiny, insignificant disappointment, that expectation left unfulfilled, could be put to paper just like before, poured into her art.
After all, before, it had only been a dream. Now she really had him. You couldn’t have everything you wanted in life.
Xu Jingzhuo showered faster. By the time Xue Ling had finished and dried her hair, he was already sitting in an armchair in the master bedroom, wearing a bathrobe. Beside him sat the little box they’d opened on their wedding night, with two condoms left inside.
Xue Ling’s heart stirred. She glanced down at the towel she’d loosely wrapped around herself and thought, Good thing I didn’t bother getting dressed underneath. I’d only have to take it all off again.
At last, they could use up this little box that had been sitting open for a month and throw it away.
Xue Ling said nothing. Blushing, she sat down at the foot of the bed.
She’d only dried her hair, not brushed it smooth. The moment she’d set down the hair dryer and heard Xu Jingzhuo come in, she’d hurried out of the ensuite.
Xu Jingzhuo did walk over with the little box, but he casually tossed it onto the bed and went straight past her to fetch a brush from beside the sink. Then he sat down next to her and began to brush her hair.
“If you sleep with it like this, it’ll be a mess in the morning.”
His voice sounded beside her, above her, close to her ear.
His fingers were long and warm, weaving gently through her hair alongside the brush, smoothing it until it was soft and silky.
The ends of her hair brushed coolly, ticklishly against her collarbone and back. As he brushed it out, his fingers moved over her earlobe, then grazed her shoulder and back.
Her hair was cool, his fingers warm, but soon, very soon, everything turned burning hot.
The brush fell onto the rug. His hand came around from behind and gently cupped her face, turning it to the side. At the same time, he leaned over her shoulder, his face close to hers, their breaths mingling. He asked softly, “Is this okay?”
He wouldn’t kiss her until she said yes.
“…Mm.”
Xue Ling pressed her thighs together slightly.
Her thoughts were already a mess.
Xu Jingzhuo kissed her, slowly lowering her onto the bed and loosening the towel, which was already hanging open.
The overhead light was off. Only the warm bedside lamp was on, leaving the room hazy.
His kisses and foreplay were as gentle as they’d been on their wedding night. Their breaths mingled, growing ragged. He watched her face, paying attention to her every reaction. Even as they did this, his eyes stayed clear. There was no sign that he was lost in desire, or even that he wanted to tease her.
Before entering her, he checked again. “Is this okay?”
Suddenly, Xue Ling didn’t want to answer.
She raised an arm to cover her wet eyes.
Her breathing was quick, her skin flushed and burning, her body brought to the brink by his touch. How could this not be okay?
Real desire was impulsive and unreasonable, not polite and proper like this, as though he would stop the moment she said no.
When she didn’t answer, Xu Jingzhuo really did stop for several long seconds. With her eyes covered, all she could hear was his slow, steady breathing.
“…It’s okay.”
She betrayed her own dissatisfaction.
She liked Xu Jingzhuo.
Her desire was impulsive and unreasonable.
Afterward, they lay pressed together, their breaths entwined.
He was skilled and took good care of her, but Xue Ling still felt an emptiness inside, especially when she saw how gentle and clear-eyed he remained.
She felt as if he hadn’t even gotten into it.
Why didn’t Xu Jingzhuo desire her?
Was it because he didn’t like her? Was he not very interested in her body, or in her as a person?
They were married, not dating.
Her body was still trembling with sensitivity. Hugging one corner of the quilt, she buried her face in it. That way, even if her shoulders shook a little, Xu Jingzhuo wouldn’t think she was crying.
Xu Jingzhuo was already soothing her afterward. He held her from behind, stroked her hair, and kissed her shoulder and back, but he kept his body at a distance. She could only feel his warmth through the air between them.
My husband is so good.
Gentle, perfect, beyond reproach.
Suddenly, he pinched her waist and called to her, asking her to lift her face from the quilt.
“Wife.” His lips came close to her ear as he gently kneaded her waist. “Do you want to…”
Did she want to do it again?
She did.
At least they could finish the box. It had been open for a month. Let it go out with some dignity.
His warm hand rested on her waist, massaging her. Xue Ling softened under his touch, a bashful heat rising through her.
The next second, he asked, “Do you want to go out and walk the dog together?”
“…Now?” Xue Ling asked.
“Yeah. The rain’s stopped, and it’s nice and cool out.”
“I don’t want to,” Xue Ling said.
“Okay.”
He took his hand away, ruffled her hair, and told her to rest a little before showering. Then he got out of bed and went to the bathroom.
Once he’d showered, he was going out to walk the dog by himself.
Xue Ling lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The place he’d just massaged still tingled.
Her husband was so particular.
Let feeling begin, but stop at propriety.
Let wanting begin, but stop at walking the dog.
*
It was a little after eight in the evening. The breeze was pleasant, just right for a walk after dinner.
Most of the people out were older members of wealthy families. Some walked their children, some walked their pets, and those without either walked themselves.
The younger generation living in Huaxi Bay had money to spare. They were either out partying or working hard to get ahead. At this hour, you wouldn’t see them at home.
That made the young man walking his dog stand out all the more.
He wore a plain black tracksuit, one hand in his pocket, walking a black-and-white border collie along the landscaped path by himself.
His features were striking and sharply defined, his bearing confident and fierce. Broad shoulders, long legs, tall and upright. He was eye-catching from head to toe, with an overwhelming handsomeness.
He’d finished walking the dog and was heading home, greeting people along the way. When he smiled, his sharp canines were just visible, making him seem charmingly polite.
“Uncle Chen, had dinner yet?”
“Auntie Zhao, your kitten’s adorable.”
“Sister Wang, you’re due soon, aren’t you?”
Everyone he spoke to was flattered and quick to respond. Even after a month of being treated so warmly by the young master, they still weren’t used to it.
They’d heard he was married. He’d held a quiet wedding a while ago, inviting only relatives and friends from both families and a few elders from their circle. He hadn’t made a fuss about it.
After that, his whole personality changed.
He used to look down on everyone. Now he met them eye to eye.
A short distance ahead, a young man was pushing an elderly, white-haired man in a wheelchair toward him. He waved from afar. “Brother Zhuo! Paopao!”
The border collie spotted him and jumped excitedly, ready to race over. Xu Jingzhuo tightened his grip on the leash just enough to stop it from lunging.
Man and dog made their way over at an easy pace.
“Grandpa Chen,” he greeted the old man in the wheelchair.
Grandpa Chen nodded, then looked behind him. Seeing no one there, he sighed in disappointment.
He’d attended Xu Jingzhuo’s wedding. They lived in the same neighborhood, but he rarely saw Xu’s wife. Today, he’d run into Xu walking the dog alone again, and couldn’t help worrying.
Chen Feng let go of the wheelchair and crouched to play with the dog, smiling as he rubbed its head. “Long time no see, little Paopao~”
He’d just started his first year of college and had plenty of free time. He’d often helped the young master walk the dog back in high school, so Paopao was very fond of him.
Grandpa Chen asked, “Jingzhuo, where’s your wife? We haven’t seen her in so long.”
Xu Jingzhuo answered casually, “She works best when she’s in the right mood, so it’s hard to interrupt her. She doesn’t go out much.”
Grandpa Chen nodded, remembering that the girl was an artist. She’d seemed quiet at the wedding, too, the sort who didn’t like going out.
Chen Feng was straightforward and didn’t watch what he said. Still playing with the dog, he complained, “You just got married. What kind of work takes so much focus that she can’t even find time to walk the dog with her husband?”
“If you ask me, it’s probably an excuse. She must be unhappy with something about you but won’t say it, so she’s freezing you out on purpose. Why not let my sister ask her? My sister has her WeChat…”
As he spoke, he felt a chill. He looked up to see the man standing with the streetlight behind him, looking down at him. Shadows darkened his sharply defined features, and his eyes carried a clear warning.