Chapter 14: Behave Yourself and Sleep

We chatted for a while longer, then Xu Zhitang got a call and was about to leave. “I have something to do.  I’ll treat you to dinner next time.”

I knew what she was up to, even without her saying it.  I reminded her, “Don’t blame me if I didn’t warn you.  Tone it down.”

Xu Zhitang lifted her chin, her eyes narrowed.  “The word ‘tone down’ doesn’t exist in my dictionary.”

I shook my head.  I was afraid she’d be slapped in the face too quickly.

Xu Zhitang left, and I left the coffee shop.  I looked up at the sky.  The sun was blinding.  After getting in the car, I called my people.

“Check on someone…”

The call lasted less than a minute before I hung up.

I looked at the driver.  “Go to Ge’an Mall.”

Ge’an Mall was in the city center.  People called it the rich people’s mall.

I spent two hours shopping there.  When I came out, my hands were full of shopping bags from different brands.  The driver took them from me.

“Go to Kyoto University.”

While I was at the mall, I saw the limited-edition figurine that Cen Luoluo had been talking about.  I bought it on impulse.  I had planned to give it to her the next time I saw her, but I figured she would be busy for the next month and probably wouldn’t come home, so I decided to go to school and give her a surprise.

Cen Luoluo would be so grateful.

I curled my lips.  When I saw Cen Luoluo, she reacted exactly as I expected.  I gave her a look of disdain, took her to a nearby restaurant for lunch, and transferred some pocket money to her before leaving.

As I left, Cen Luoluo shouted from behind, “Cen Wan!  You’re the best sister in the world.  I love you.”

Her shout drew the attention of many students.  Cen Luoluo didn’t care at all, but I covered my face and got in the car, urging the driver to drive quickly.

So embarrassing.

We were only a year apart, but Cen Luoluo’s childishness made me feel like we were at least ten years apart.

What a child.

Cen Luoluo was a true comedian.

Besides the figurine for Cen Luoluo, I had bought the rest of the things for Lu Beixun: ties, tie clips, suits, and two sets of casual clothes for home.

Dinner, at the dinner table.

Lu Beixun saw the two familiar dishes on the table.  The corners of his lips curved up, and his expression softened.  He mostly ate those two dishes.

Cen Wan didn’t show any emotion on her face, but she was secretly delighted.  I still have a talent for cooking.

I never thought that one day, I would willingly cook for a man.

After dinner, I went to the bathroom to digest the food.  I looked at myself in the mirror and felt a little troubled.  Lu Beixun hadn’t been so cold to me these past few days, but our relationship seemed to have stalled there.

Besides sleeping together, hugging each other, and holding hands, there was nothing else.  No one would believe we were legally married.

Should I just go for it?

Lu Beixun could lift me like a chick.  He was much stronger than me.  I wouldn’t succeed, and I might even get beaten up for being a creep.

Other couples’ lives were so sweet, but I was still chasing after my husband.  It was truly a case of “Heaven forgives, but I don’t.”  It was all karma.

I couldn’t just go for it.  I could only use some tricks with my clothes.  The rest was up to Lu Beixun’s self-control.

I usually didn’t wear nightgowns, but today, I specifically chose a slightly sexy black silk slip dress.  I sprayed some perfume.  The slip dress showed off my good figure.  My legs were long, my skin was fair and smooth, and my collarbone was delicate.

My hair was loose on my shoulders.  I stood in front of the mirror, examining myself.  I nodded in satisfaction.  Before leaving the bathroom, I used a peach-flavored mouth spray.

Lu Beixun was leaning back against the headboard, looking lazy.  When he saw me come out, his gaze lingered on me for a few seconds, but he didn’t show any emotion.  He shifted his gaze away without a sound.

I was a little disappointed, but if I had looked closer, I would have seen a flash of amazement in his dark eyes.

I sat down next to Lu Beixun and leaned closer.  My soft hair brushed against his arm.  I smiled sweetly.  “This is my new limited-edition perfume.  Does it smell good?”

I smiled innocently, as if I was genuinely just asking if the perfume smelled good.

The dress was low-cut, and my curves were subtly visible.  Lu Beixun’s Adam’s apple bobbed.  He moved away from me.  “It smells good.”

Lu Beixun didn’t look at me again.  He looked restrained.  He got out of bed.  “I’m going to shower.”

He went straight into the bathroom without another word.  By the time I reacted, the bathroom door was already closed.

Didn’t he just shower?

This time, Lu Beixun showered first, and I was going to shower after him…

I tiptoed to the bathroom door and pressed my ear against it, listening for sounds from inside.  I could only hear the sound of water running.  Showering twice in an hour?  What was he doing?

Cen Wan went back to bed, feeling frustrated.

Was he rejecting me?

That couldn’t be right.  If he rejected me, he wouldn’t sleep in the same bed with me, and he wouldn’t hug me to sleep.  Could it be that he lost his self-control and was taking a cold shower?

Cen Wan felt like she had discovered a new world.  To confirm my suspicions, when Lu Beixun came out of the bathroom, I gave him a meaningful look and went into the bathroom.  I turned on the shower and tested the temperature.

My suspicions were confirmed.  It was cold water.  The bathroom didn’t have the steam from a recent shower.

I got into bed and looked at Lu Beixun beside me.  I turned over and straddled him, my arms wrapped around his neck, a smile playing on my lips.

Lu Beixun frowned at me, his eyes dark.  He grabbed my wrist, trying to pull me off him.  I hugged him tightly, refusing to let go.  Lu Beixun was helpless.  He tried to pull me off him, but he was afraid of hurting me, so he gave up.

Lu Beixun said coldly, “Get off.”

“No!  Why did you take a cold shower just now?”

Lu Beixun said, “It’s hot.”

Cen Wan didn’t believe him.  The room was temperature-controlled.  It couldn’t possibly be hot, especially since he had just showered.

“Lu Beixun, we’re married, legally recognized.  You don’t have to hold back.  I can help you,” Cen Wan said with an innocent look, but her words weren’t so innocent.  “I know.  It’s not good for your health to keep holding back and taking cold showers.”

Lu Beixun: “…”

Cen Wan blinked innocently.  “So, don’t take cold showers anymore…  You know what I mean?”

I was being so straightforward.  If he didn’t understand now, he was being unreasonable.

Lu Beixun: “?”

He remained silent.

I waited for a while, but he didn’t say anything.  Did he understand or not?  I had been so clear and easy to understand.  This man couldn’t be that slow.

That wasn’t right.

Cen Wan asked, “Do you understand?”

They were very close.  Lu Beixun could smell her fragrance.  Cen Wan was teasing him without realizing it.  His brow furrowed, and there was a subtle hint of restraint in his dark eyes.

Lu Beixun’s thin lips parted.  “Behave yourself and sleep.”

His words instantly crushed my mood.  He wasn’t stupid.  He was playing dumb.  He just didn’t want me.  I got off him.  I couldn’t help but mutter resentfully, “I’m your legally recognized wife, not someone else.”

Lu Beixun knew that, of course.  If those things hadn’t happened, he would have pressed her down without hesitation and ruthlessly taken advantage of her.  But he couldn’t yet.

He wasn’t sure if she would change her mind.

He had originally planned to let her go.