Chapter 27: A Fleeting Kiss

Thinking about this, Zhuang Jianxi abruptly stood up and walked towards the door, ready to go to another room.

She dared not sleep in the same room as a wild wolf.

“Do you think you can step out the door and not be brought back?”

After putting away his book, Qiu Yixun casually brushed his hair, which had quickly dried and become loose. He didn’t turn around, his voice lazy.

Zhuang Jianxi’s spine stiffened, her hand tightly gripping the doorknob, but she didn’t take another step.

The harmonious days they had spent together made her almost forget what kind of domineering and despotic person Qiu Yixun was.

After a while, she turned her head and glared at him, “What exactly do you want?”

Qiu Yixun walked towards her step by step.

Unlike his usual formal attire of suits and leather shoes, he looked less serious in his casual pajamas, more relaxed and handsome.

His usually slicked-back hair was now falling over his forehead, making him look young like a college student.

“We’ve been married for so long, isn’t it normal for us to sleep together? W-i-f-e…”

The last two words were drawn out, with a subtle hint of ambiguity.

Qiu Yixun’s eyes looked deeply at her, his tall figure like a towering mountain overshadowing her, the heavy pressure making it hard for her to breathe.

Zhuang Jianxi’s face turned pale, her clear apricot eyes couldn’t hide the slight confusion.

Married…

Yes, they had registered their marriage and were legally married.

But why couldn’t she accept it? The thought of sleeping together made her heart panic.

Seeing her drooping eyelashes trembling constantly, her whole body tense as if she were a little hedgehog, Qiu Yixun felt a pang of pity and a desire to pull out her spines and trample on her.

He reached out to embrace her slender waist, but as soon as she was touched, her body instantly tensed, instinctively struggling.

And every struggle ended with him effortlessly pulling her into his arms.

Qiu Yixun held her tightly, his chin resting on her head, his voice steady with a hint of firmness.

“Zhuang Jianxi, I won’t force you, but you must try to accept me.”

“And the first step is to get closer, to like each other.”

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t even think, “But I don’t like you.”

Hearing her firm tone, Qiu Yixun felt a pang in his heart, a sudden dull ache.

His face darkened slightly, and he suddenly scooped her up in his arms and walked towards the big bed, “It’s enough that I like you.”

Zhuang Jianxi was thrown onto the soft mattress. She rolled over nimbly, trying to get off the other side.

However, Qiu Yixun was faster. He pressed his body down, holding her tightly, then pulled the soft silk sheet over them with one hand.

This was the first time they had been so close, and Zhuang Jianxi was flustered. “You…”

Qiu Yixun hugged her from behind, his big hand gently stroking her head, coaxing her, “It’s late, go to sleep.”

At first, Zhuang Jianxi was unwilling to break free from his embrace, but when she felt something against her lower back, ready to strike, her mind went blank, and her whole body froze.

Qiu Yixun’s warm breath sprayed against her ear, hot and restrained, “If you keep wriggling, I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to walk normally tomorrow…”

Zhuang Jianxi finally quieted down completely. She didn’t dare move, her eyes fixed on the white bed canopy, afraid to close them.

The bright moonlight shone through the cracks in the curtains, filling the room with warmth and tranquility. The two of them breathed quietly, almost inaudibly.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhuang Jianxi couldn’t resist the overwhelming drowsiness and fell asleep, her stiff body gradually relaxing…

Qiu Yixun listened to the even breathing of the person in his arms and gently adjusted her to a comfortable sleeping position.

He didn’t want to force her, but he didn’t want her to keep avoiding him either. It was like an itch he couldn’t scratch, so he had to hug her to satisfy his craving.

The girl’s innocent and serene sleeping face was close at hand, her closed eyelashes long and curled, her pink and plump lips full of temptation.

Qiu Yixun stared at her for a long time, as if through her, he saw the little girl she once was.

The little girl who would call him “Brother Ayi,” who would cling to him, asking him to fly kites with her, asking him to carry her to climb mountains and watch the stars…

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed, and the little girl had grown up, becoming even more beautiful.

So beautiful that he wanted to lock her up beside him, never letting her go, never letting anyone covet her.

Unfortunately, the proud girl would not be willing to break her wings and willingly stay in a gilded cage.

She had her own thoughts and ideas, her future life had no place for him, she had long since forgotten him as a meaningless person and thing, and she no longer liked him.

Qiu Yixun’s eyes were filled with a deep, melancholic gloom.

They had known each other for so long, yet he could only use such methods to keep her by his side…

He stared at her silently for a long time, finally unable to resist leaning in and gently pressing his lips against hers.

It was a fleeting kiss, devoid of any desire, only a surge of love and pity, a touch and then gone.

The sleeping girl remained unresponsive. Qiu Yixun’s fingertip caressed her cheek for a long, long time before he gently held her in his arms again, as if holding the childhood figure in his memory…

Early the next morning, Zhuang Jianxi woke up groggily. As soon as she opened her eyes, she realized she was alone. The large bed was empty except for her, and the blanket was neatly tucked in around her.

She scratched her head and sat up, shaking her head.

The sleep had been a bit hazy, and she had a very long dream.

She dreamt of her ten-year-old self, in a small courtyard in Jiangnan where she was recuperating.

She accidentally fell into the lake, choking on a few mouthfuls of water. A tall, thin boy dove in and pulled her out, his eyes full of worry as he watched her, soothing her fears.

They spent a while together in the courtyard, drawing, kicking a ball, swinging on a swing, flying kites, and sharing hawthorn slices.

The boy even secretly carried her up the mountain to watch the sunrise, promising on Xing Heng Mountain that he would always be with her, protecting her.

But the boy ultimately didn’t keep his promise and disappeared without a word.

This angered the little girl for a long time.

They had only spent a short month together.

Although she had an extraordinary memory, even remembering people and events from when she was two or three years old, it was strange how she had completely forgotten the boy’s appearance…

Zhuang Jianxi frowned, her peripheral vision accidentally catching sight of the pillow beside her. She noticed a short, black hair strand on the pristine white pillow.

It was dark and thick, definitely not her hair!

Her face instantly turned cold and ugly. She recalled the night before, realizing she had actually slept in the same bed with a man!

Since she was old enough to understand, she had never slept with anyone, not even her mother or Long Ke’er…

Zhuang Jianxi kicked the pillow and blanket that Qiu Yixun had slept on in a fit of anger, stomped on them a few times before letting out a humph and heading to the bathroom to wash up.

While washing her face, she accidentally saw herself in the mirror. There seemed to be a red mark on her neck, a bit deep and large, not like a mosquito bite, but more like a hickey…

Zhuang Jianxi angrily threw the towel at the mirror, her delicate and beautiful face expressionless, radiating the cold air of a freezer.

This perverted wolf, he knew she wouldn’t be able to fight back while she was asleep, probably touched her all over!

Thinking about it made her feel sick to her stomach, so much so that she didn’t even want to eat breakfast. She grabbed her backpack and went downstairs.

In the downstairs hall, Butler Song was on the phone.

“Madam hasn’t woken up yet. Don’t worry, young master, breakfast is being kept warm, you can eat anytime you want…,”

Butler Song’s voice was kind, “Yes, there are her favorite sweet rice cakes.”

When he noticed Zhuang Jianxi walking down the stairs, Butler Song’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly said, “Madam is already up, young master wants to say a few words to her?”

On the other end of the phone, Qiu Yixun was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in his CEO’s office, holding the phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, taking a sip.

Hearing this, his mind stirred. He had a shareholder meeting today and left in a hurry, he hadn’t said good morning to her yet.

“Yes, give her the phone.”

Butler Song walked towards Zhuang Jianxi with the phone, his attitude gentle, “Good morning, Madam, it’s young master’s call.”

Zhuang Jianxi was still in a bad mood, expressionless as she bypassed Butler Song and headed straight for the villa’s entrance.

“Where are you going, Madam? The dining room is over here…”

Butler Song was taken aback, but quickly followed after her, “Young master wants to say a few words to you.”

Zhuang Jianxi frowned, wanting to avoid her, “Get out of the way.”

Butler Song refused to give in, blocking her path, “No, Madam, you haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”

Zhuang Jianxi was impatient, “I don’t have an appetite!”

Meanwhile, Qiu Yixun sat back in his office chair. Hearing the arguing voices on the phone, he frowned.

Just then, Assistant Xu walked in with some files. He was about to speak when Qiu Yixun waved him off.

Assistant Xu looked at Qiu Yixun’s serious and focused expression, immediately holding his tongue, carefully standing aside and waiting, afraid of disturbing the ‘important business’ of the young master.