Chapter 44: I Want You

“Wake up and eat first,” Qi Yanjing said as he watched Wen Zhixian put on her shoes. He headed to the kitchen to warm up the food for her.

Wen Zhixian thanked him politely. Qi Yanjing flicked her forehead lightly, feigning annoyance. “Do you have to be so formal with me?”

She rubbed her slightly sore forehead and looked at him pitifully. “It hurts.”

Qi Yanjing stared at her messy, sleep-tousled hair with a deep gaze. “Your hair’s all messy.”

Wen Zhixian looked up at him, stunned for a moment. She wasn’t sure if she understood his meaning correctly, but she leaned in slightly closer to him.

Qi Yanjing chuckled softly, reaching out to gently straighten her hair, his hand lingering for a few seconds.

So, she hadn’t overthought it—his meaning was exactly what she’d guessed.

A silent understanding passed between them.

Qi Yanjing handed her the chopsticks. “Eat.”

Wen Zhixian took the chopsticks, but as she gripped them, she noticed something odd. Her palm felt unusually warm and slightly red. She opened her hand and inspected it carefully, realizing it felt a little feverish.

Her strength was nothing compared to Gu Yuchen’s. Judging by the sound of the slap, she hadn’t hit him as hard as he had her that day.

But in that moment of rage, she had smacked him. If she’d swung her hand more forcefully, it probably would have hurt more. Back then, she’d completely lost her senses.

Qi Yanjing followed her gaze to her palm, and just as she looked up at him, she said, “I slapped Gu Yuchen.”

Then she added, “If I had swung harder, it might’ve hurt more.”

She sighed as she finished.

Qi Yanjing: “…” Pfft…

He really shouldn’t laugh in such a situation, but he couldn’t help it—his lips twitched upward.

Wen Zhixian only ate a little before setting the chopsticks down. Qi Yanjing spoke up, “Go take a shower. I’ll clean up.”

Listening to him, Wen Zhixian grabbed her pajamas and went to take a shower. When she came out, she noticed a cake on the living room table.

He had bought the cake because he thought she might feel upset.

Wen Zhixian walked over, sat on the sofa, and unwrapped the cake. She scooped a bite with a spoon and took a taste.

“Is it good?” Qi Yanjing asked as he sat down beside her.

“The cake isn’t what’s good—it’s you.” Wait, what? That wasn’t the right answer to his question!

Her words were a bit bold. “Because you bought it,” she added.

Qi Yanjing chuckled softly.

“Why didn’t you get angry?” Wen Zhixian asked. The question felt oddly familiar, as if Qi Yanjing had asked her the same thing not long ago while sitting in this very spot.

Qi Yanjing answered her, “You said before that you and I are the closest to each other. If I had truly fallen into his trap, wouldn’t that have been letting him win?”

He would always remember those words.

If there was doubt, it should be addressed with communication—not by hurting your loved one and giving others an opening to exploit.

“What were you thinking when you thought I was angry?” He looked at her calmly, curious about her thoughts.

Wen Zhixian lowered her gaze, her long lashes trembling. “I was thinking that I couldn’t let the trouble I caused make you upset. If separating was what it took, so be it. I was meant to be alone, anyway. Your presence has already brought me so much comfort. But… at that moment, I really wanted to see you one more time.”

As she spoke, she held the spoon by its handle between her thumb and forefinger.

Qi Yanjing thought about how he would have felt if Wen Zhixian had ignored him because of Shen Zhi’s matter. What would he have done?

No matter what, the two of them would always listen to each other completely. They would never let suspicion take root.

He pulled Wen Zhixian into his arms. “Don’t think like that next time.”

Wen Zhixian nodded earnestly, her mood much lighter as she finished the cake.

Qi Yanjing leaned back lazily in the chair, watching her from the side as she ate. Her cheeks puffed out adorably with each bite. Hmm… so cute.

He straightened his posture, took a moment, and finally spoke. “Zhixian.”

Wen Zhixian turned her head to look at him, radiating a calm and serene beauty.

“You’ve never kissed me first,” he said, his voice inexplicably tinged with grievance.

Wen Zhixian put down the cake, slowly leaned closer to his handsome face, and tentatively pecked his lips twice.

In truth, she had no experience initiating a kiss. Even with Gu Yuchen, things would always stop at the threshold, and sometimes she couldn’t even be sure if their lips had actually met.

“That’s it?” Qi Yanjing raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding the situation. “You don’t know how, do you?”

His slightly upturned lips made Wen Zhixian feel mocked. Embarrassed and annoyed, she pressed forward again, first kissing him and then trying to recall how Qi Yanjing had kissed her before.

Qi Yanjing was happy to let her practice, but it seemed she still couldn’t quite get the hang of it.

He caught her hand, pressing it against the side of her head, and pushed her down onto the sofa. Her head rested against the soft leather armrest as he murmured, “Pay attention.”

Taking the lead, he effortlessly turned the tables. With subtle movements, he teased her until she abandoned all resistance.

As Wen Zhixian became immersed, Gu Yuchen’s previous taunts toward Qi Yanjing flashed through her mind. A sudden surge of boldness arose within her, and she wrapped her free hand around Qi Yanjing’s neck.

Pulled down by her grip, Qi Yanjing’s body pressed against hers. Through the thin layers of their clothing, he felt a strange heat rising in his body. If this continued, he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back.

He used his hands to gently put a few centimeters of distance between them.

Just as he was about to sit up, his dark eyes suddenly narrowed.

Wen Zhixian had unfastened one of the buttons on his pajamas and was slowly moving downward.

Qi Yanjing gazed down at her, their eyes meeting.

With such a bold and unmistakable gesture, even a fool would understand. In a hoarse voice, he asked, “Are you sure?”

He hadn’t even planned to ask. He’d wanted this for a long time. His heart pounded wildly as he felt an uncontrollable surge of excitement—he wanted her.

Wen Zhixian undid the last button of his pajamas. “I want you.”

Do you know how powerful that moment was? His wife, with her innocent and clear eyes, said something so completely at odds with her usual demeanor. It was like a shot of pure adrenaline for him.

Qi Yanjing silently observed her expression, etching this scene into his memory forever.

Wen Zhixian thought he was being too much of a gentleman. He’d even said he wanted her to take the initiative. With that thought, she leaned forward slightly, pressing her lips to his in a kiss, imitating his earlier moves. Her fingers slid to his shoulders, slowly pushing his pajama top off.

Her hands rested on Qi Yanjing’s strong, well-defined shoulders. She couldn’t deny it—his physique gave her an unparalleled sense of security.

With his loose pajamas hanging precariously on his frame, Qi Yanjing scooped her up effortlessly and carried her into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him.

He gently laid Wen Zhixian on the bed and leaned over her.

The room was filled with an intoxicating ambiance.

…

Afterward, he turned to look at Wen Zhixian, who was fast asleep beside him.

He moved a little closer, noticing the faint redness at the corners of her eyes—a sight that stirred a deep tenderness in him.

This brought to mind Wen Zhixian’s previous chat history with Qin Zhaoli, where she’d praised him for being a gentleman, calm, composed, and dignified…

Hmm…

In truth, he simply wasn’t interested in many things. Gentlemanly demeanor and self-restraint had little to do with him. She’d probably experienced that firsthand tonight.