Сhaptеr 14: Slеерing Рeacеfullу
After сhatting a whilе lоngеr, Хu Zhi Таng reсеivеd а call аnd preparеd tо leаvе: “I hаvе sоmething еlsе tо do. I’ll treаt уou tо a meal nеxt timе we meet.”
Еven if Хu Zhi Tаng didn’t sаy it, Cеn Wan knew what shе wаs gоing tо do. Cеn Wаn rеmindеd her: “Don’t blаme mе for not wаrning you—tоne it down а bit.”
Xu Zhi Tang rаisеd hеr chin slightlу, thе corners оf her еуes lifting: “Thе word ‘tonе down’ hаs nеvеr eхisted in this ladу’s dictionаrу.”
Сen Wan shook her head, worriеd thаt the slap of rеаlity would cоmе too quickly.
After Xu Zhi Tang left, Cen Wan exited the café. She looked up at the sky—the sunlight was glaring. Once in the car, she made a call to one of her people.
“Go investigate someone…”
The call lasted less than a minute before she hung up.
Cen Wan glanced at the driver: “Go to Ge’an Mall.”
Ge’an Mall was located in the city center, known as the “mall for the wealthy.”
Cen Wan spent two hours shopping inside. When she came out, her hands were filled with various brown paper shopping bags from different brands, which the driver took from her.
“Go to Kyoto University.”
While at the mall, she had seen the limited-edition figurine that Cen Luo had been talking about for ages, so she bought it on a whim. She had originally planned to give it to her the next time they met, but considering how busy she had been lately and that she probably wouldn’t return home for nearly a month, she decided to go directly to the university to deliver some warmth.
Cen Luo would probably be moved to tears when she saw her.
Cen Wan smiled slightly. When she saw Cen Luo, it was exactly as she had imagined. Cen Wan feigned annoyance, took her out for lunch near the campus at noon, and before leaving, transferred some pocket money to Cen Luo.
As she was leaving, Cen Luo shouted from behind: “Cen Wan! You’re the best sister in the whole world. I love you!”
Cen Luo’s loud exclamation drew the attention of many university students, but she didn’t seem to care at all. As for Cen Wan, she covered her face with both hands, got into the car, and urged the driver to leave quickly.
So embarrassing.
Even though they were only a year apart, Cen Luo’s childish behavior made Cen Wan feel like there was at least a ten-year gap between them.
Such a childish goofball.
Cen Luo was truly a certified funny girl.
Aside from buying the figurine for Cen Luo at the mall, everything else Cen Wan purchased was for Lu Beixun: ties, tie clips, suits, and two sets of casual loungewear.
During dinner at the dining table.
Lu Beixun looked at the two familiar dishes on the table, the corners of his lips lifting slightly, his expression softening. He mostly only ate those two dishes.
Outwardly, Cen Wan remained expressionless, but inwardly she was secretly delighted. She did have some talent for cooking, after all.
She had never imagined that one day she would willingly cook for a man.
After dinner, she waited a while to digest before heading into the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt a bit troubled. These past few days, Lu Beixun hadn’t been as cold toward her, but their relationship seemed to have stalled at this point.
Aside from sleeping while embracing each other and holding hands in daily life, there was nothing else. If someone said they were a legally married couple, no one would probably believe it.
Should she just take the initiative and force the issue?
Lu Beixun could lift her as easily as picking up a chick—their strength was too mismatched. She wouldn’t succeed and might even be treated like a pervert.
Other couples enjoyed sweet, intimate lives, while she was still on the path of pursuing her husband. Truly, heaven’s misfortunes can be forgiven, but self-inflicted ones cannot—this was all retribution.
Since she couldn’t just force the issue, she could only resort to a little trickery in her attire. The rest would depend on Lu Beixun’s self-control.
Not usually one to wear nightgowns, today she deliberately chose a slightly sexy black silk spaghetti-strap nightgown and sprayed on a bit of perfume. The spaghetti-strap nightgown showcased her lovely figure perfectly—her long legs and the exposed skin on her body were fair and smooth, with delicate collarbones.Her hair cascaded over her shoulders. Cen Wan stood before the mirror, gave herself a once-over, nodded in satisfaction, and before leaving the bathroom, spritzed on some peach-flavored mouth spray.
Lu Beixun leaned lazily against the headboard. When Cen Wan emerged, his gaze lingered on her for a few seconds, devoid of any emotion, before he subtly shifted his eyes away.
Cen Wan felt a twinge of disappointment, but if she had looked closely, she might have caught the fleeting flash of admiration in Lu Beixun’s dark eyes.
Sitting down beside Lu Beixun, she leaned in, her soft hair brushing against his arm. Cen Wan smiled sweetly. “I just bought a limited-edition perfume. Does it smell nice?”
Her expression was one of innocent harmlessness, as if she were genuinely just asking about the perfume.
Her nightgown had a low neckline, hinting at the curves beneath. Lu Beixun’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he distanced himself from her. “It smells nice.”
He refused to look at her again, his expression restrained as he got out of bed. “Going to shower.”
With those words, he headed straight for the bathroom. By the time Cen Wan processed it, the bathroom door was already closed.
Hadn’t he just showered earlier?
Tonight, Lu Beixun had showered first, and she had gone after him…
Tiptoeing to the bathroom door, she pressed her ear against it, listening for any sounds inside. All she could hear was the running water. Showering twice in an hour—what was that about?
Cen Wan returned to bed, feeling frustrated.
Was he disgusted by her?
That couldn’t be. If he were disgusted, he wouldn’t share a bed with her, let alone hold her while sleeping. Could it be that his self-control had slipped, and he was taking a cold shower?
Cen Wan felt as though she had stumbled upon a revelation. To confirm her suspicion, after Lu Beixun emerged from the bathroom, she gave him a meaningful glance before stepping inside. Turning on the shower, she reached out to test the temperature.
Her guess was confirmed—it was cold water. The bathroom also lacked the lingering warmth of a recent shower.
Returning to bed, she looked at Lu Beixun beside her, then flipped over and straddled him, her slender arms wrapping around his neck, a playful smile on her lips.
Lu Beixun frowned, his gaze darkening as he grabbed her wrists, trying to pull her off. But Cen Wan clung tightly, refusing to let go. Lu Beixun was at a loss—forcing her off might hurt her, so he relented.
Lu Beixun said coldly, “Get down.”
“I won’t! Why did you take a cold shower earlier?”
Lu Beixun replied, “It’s hot.”
Cen Wan wasn’t convinced. The room was temperature-controlled, so it couldn’t be that hot, especially since he had just showered.
“Lu Beixun, we’re husband and wife, recognized by law. There are some things you don’t have to hold back. I can help you.” Cen Wan wore an innocent, harmless expression, though her words were anything but pure. “I know it’s not good for your health to hold back often and take cold showers.”
Lu Beixun: “…”
Cen Wan blinked innocently. “So, don’t take cold showers anymore… You know what I mean, right?”
She had already spelled it out so plainly. It would be too much if he still didn’t understand.
Lu Beixun: “…”
He remained silent.
Cen Wan waited for a while, but he said nothing. Did he understand or not? She had already made it so clear and straightforward. Surely this man’s comprehension wasn’t that poor.
It shouldn’t be.
Cen Wan asked, “Do you understand?”
The two were very close, and Lu Beixun’s senses were filled with her delicate fragrance. Cen Wan was teasing him without realizing it. His brow furrowed slightly, his dark eyes betraying a barely noticeable restraint.
Lu Beixun’s thin lips parted slightly. “Behave and go to sleep.”With those words, Cen Wan’s mood instantly plummeted to rock bottom. He wasn’t clueless; he was playing dumb, simply because he didn’t want her. Climbing off Lu Beixun, she couldn’t hold back and muttered resentfully, “I’m your legally recognized wife, not some stranger.”
Lu Beixun naturally knew. If those things hadn’t happened, he would have pinned her down without hesitation and thoroughly claimed her. But he couldn’t—not yet.
He wasn’t sure if she would change her mind again.
Originally, he had intended to let her go.