Chapter 34

Her futile attempts to redirect the conversation only made Cheng Mushi find it more amusing.

In truth, Tang Ruan’s emotions were written all over her face, making it obvious that the “friend” she kept referring to was herself. Most people use “my friend” when they’re too embarrassed to talk about their own problems directly.

Cheng Mushi, familiar with Tang Ruan’s personality, played along lightheartedly. “Fine, fine. Your friend. Got it.” Then she raised her head and asked, “So, are you going to see your husband later? If you have something on your mind, it’s better to talk about it. Communication is key in marriage. And if talking doesn’t work… well, there’s always bedroom communication.”

“…”

Tang Ruan hadn’t expected her high school classmate, who used to be quiet and studious, to have turned into someone so cheeky. While she didn’t mind these topics—having read plenty of novels—hearing them from Cheng Mushi felt strangely unsettling.

“Are you even the same Cheng Mushi I knew?”

Cheng Mushi shrugged. “People change, especially as adults. Besides, these conversations are perfectly normal. The more you communicate in the bedroom, the happier the marriage.”

Tang Ruan muttered, “You really need to stop talking.”

Her protests were half-hearted, though. Deep down, Cheng Mushi’s candid advice made sense. Tang Ruan realized that running away wouldn’t solve anything. It was time to face her emotions and think things through.

She nodded slightly. “I understand now.”

Cheng Mushi smiled slyly. “So, are you going to see your husband later?”

Tang Ruan glanced at her. “Probably not. I’ll talk to him when I get home tonight.”

“Good idea. Don’t be too eager right now. It’s better to let the man take the initiative at this stage.”

Their conversation meandered after that. After lunch, they spent the entire afternoon shopping and didn’t head home until they were both exhausted.

–

Tang Ruan hadn’t checked her phone all day, so she missed the numerous messages Ji Jing had sent. By the time she got home, Ji Jing was already back.

This time, his apology gift was an enormous collection of makeup products.

Tang Ruan stared, wide-eyed, at the array of cosmetics filling the room. She crouched down to inspect them and then turned to the butler, who was busy in the kitchen. “Butler Li, what’s all this?”

Butler Li glanced over and chuckled. “Young Madam, these were sent by the Young Master. He said they’re for you since you like them.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

Feeling a bit exasperated, she forced a smile. “Where’s your Young Master?”

“In the study,” Butler Li replied.

“I’ll go find him.”

Tang Ruan ascended the stairs unhurriedly. Standing before the study door, she took a deep breath before knocking.

A voice from within replied, “It’s not locked.”

She hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and stepping inside. Ji Jing glanced up, meeting her eyes. Their gazes locked, neither of them speaking, as if time had momentarily frozen.

After a brief silence, Ji Jing stood up and walked over to her, stopping just a step away. His eyes softened as he looked down at her. Before Tang Ruan could say anything, he apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Her lashes fluttered slightly.

“For last night,” Ji Jing said softly. “I acted impulsively.”

Tang Ruan opened her mouth, but no words came out. She feared what he might say next—words she wasn’t ready to hear.

“Oh,” she murmured, nodding awkwardly. “It’s fine… I didn’t really take it to heart. Let’s just treat it as if—”

“But I don’t regret it,” Ji Jing interrupted firmly before she could finish.

Tang Ruan froze, staring at him in shock. “What did you just say?”

Ji Jing chuckled and repeated slowly, “I said, I apologize for kissing you without your consent last night, but I don’t regret it.”

Tang Ruan blinked, utterly stunned. Her voice came out annoyed but flustered. “Just because you say you don’t regret it doesn’t make it okay!”

Hearing this, Ji Jing leaned closer, the warmth of his breath brushing against her cheek. It was so light, almost imperceptible, yet she couldn’t help but notice it. And worse, she focused on it.

They were so close now that if she leaned forward just a centimeter more, their lips would meet again.

Tang Ruan’s eyelashes quivered as her heart raced uncontrollably. She was utterly tense.

Unexpectedly, Ji Jing studied her reaction closely, his gaze filled with a teasing glint. Then, with a soft chuckle, he murmured, “Wife.”

His voice was low and slightly hoarse, with a hint of laughter in it.

It was the first time Ji Jing had called her “wife” so seriously. In the past, he’d only ever referred to her as such to others: “Tang Ruan is my wife.” He’d never addressed her directly this way. More often, he’d call her by her full name, something Tang Ruan didn’t particularly mind. After all, a name was just a name.

But now, hearing him call her “wife” for the first time, she realized it felt… different. It stirred something within her, however faint.

She blinked, her heart racing, and nervously stepped back. “What are you doing?”

She tried to mask her nervousness and excitement with a fierce tone.

Ji Jing smiled faintly and was about to respond when the sound of the housekeeper calling out from downstairs interrupted them. The study door wasn’t fully closed, so the voice carried in easily.

Ji Jing paused, then said softly, “Let’s talk after dinner?”

–

Dinner was prepared by Butler Li, consisting of dishes that both Tang Ruan and Ji Jing loved. The vibrant spread was a feast for the senses.

Having spent the whole afternoon out, Tang Ruan was genuinely hungry. She focused on eating, but whenever she lifted her gaze unintentionally, she’d meet Ji Jing’s eyes—always with that faint, teasing smile. It was unnerving.

She tried her best to ignore him, but he refused to give her that courtesy, his gaze unwavering.

Under such scrutiny, Tang Ruan felt like she was losing her appetite. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and snapped, “If you keep staring at me, I’m going straight to my room after this.”

Butler Li, standing nearby, blinked, clearly caught off guard.

Her words seemed to work, though. Ji Jing finally averted his eyes, ceasing his playful gaze. However, he didn’t stop watching her altogether.

Butler Li now understanding the situation, quietly excused himself. “Young Master, call me if you need anything.”

Ji Jing nodded. “Take a break.”

Once Butler Li left, the atmosphere at the table turned even stranger.

Tang Ruan couldn’t endure it any longer. She quickly finished her meal and stood to leave. But just as she turned to go, Ji Jing gently grasped her wrist.

“Can I come find you later?”

“Suit yourself.” She flung out the words and dashed upstairs, her steps echoing in the quiet house.

Ji Jing watched her retreating figure, the corners of his lips curving upward into a silent smile.

–

Back in her room, Tang Ruan removed her makeup. Ji Jing hadn’t come up yet. She hesitated briefly before climbing into bed and opening her Weibo. She wasn’t an avid user, mostly because the platform often felt heavy with negativity. These days, she only checked it sporadically, and even then, only to post her makeup videos.

Recently, she had been intrigued by traditional Chinese makeup styles, particularly ancient ones like the “bitten lip” look, which had origins in historical times. She was considering trying her hand at recreating some of those styles.

Her Weibo followers were steadily increasing, though her content remained simple—just makeup videos without much commentary.

Scrolling through her latest post, she noticed that within just half an hour, it had already garnered thousands of comments and countless private messages.

——”Your makeup is stunning! Does anyone know what she does for a living?”

——”I’m not even into makeup, but wow, she’s gorgeous! Ever considered joining the entertainment industry?”

——”Ahhh, this is my favorite look so far! I need to try it tomorrow. But honestly, could you consider making a slower tutorial or maybe a written guide?”

——”Daily updates? I don’t even have time to keep up anymore!”

——”Would you consider live streaming? It’d be great to see you answer questions in real-time since watching and actually doing it are two completely different things.”

…

Tang Ruan scrolled through the comments, her mind distracted by the flurry of activity on her posts.

Tang Ruan scrolled through the comments, observing everyone’s feedback.

Cheng Mushi had suggested to her before that there was no need to upload a new video every day—posting one a week would maintain freshness and keep viewers engaged. Tang Ruan found this to be reasonable advice. After mulling it over for a moment, she decided that she would clarify her schedule in the next video update.

Once she was done with the comments, she checked her private messages. Recently, she had received quite a few, and to avoid missing anything important, she made it a point to open those with numerous messages. One sender had sent over a dozen messages—someone from an entertainment company.

“Hello, Miss. I came across your live video online. May I ask what you do?”

“Would you be interested in participating in our talent show?”

“Have you signed with a management company? If you’re interested, we’d love to talk.”

…

They even left a contact number. Tang Ruan thought about it briefly before replying:
“I’m not interested, but thank you for your support.”

With that, she logged out of Weibo.

She glanced around; Ji Jing hadn’t arrived yet. So, she grabbed her clothes and went to take a shower.

–

Ji Jing was delayed by some work matters. Just as he finished his meal and was about to go find Tang Ruan, his father called to discuss some business issues.

There were lingering issues at their overseas branch—problems left unresolved before Ji Jing took over. Since his father had been handling the negotiations, Ji Jing wasn’t fully briefed on the situation, and now the matter was being passed to him.

“What’s the current status?” Ji Jing asked, frowning.

His father’s voice was low. “Go to the study and start a video call. I’ll explain it. You might need to make a trip there soon.”

“Understood.”

Father and son had a lengthy discussion, followed by a quick meeting with the branch’s management team to finalize decisions. By the time everything was settled, more than an hour had passed.

Ji Jing checked the time. Seeing his father about to continue, he interrupted, “Dad, is this urgent?”

Startled, his father raised a brow. “Why? Do you have more work?”

“Not exactly. I have personal matters.”

“Personal matters?” His father’s surprise was short-lived before amusement flickered in his eyes. He waved a hand. “Go ahead. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Ending the call, Ji Jing grabbed his phone and headed straight for his destination.

–

When he knocked on the door, Tang Ruan had just finished her shower. She thought he wasn’t coming after all.

Opening the door, she leaned against the frame and looked up at him. “What time is it now?”

Ji Jing’s lips curved slightly. “I got held up by work.”

“Oh.” Her eyes swept over him. “Whatever it is, let’s talk here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Not worried about the butler coming upstairs?”

Tang Ruan: “…”

After a brief pause, she reconsidered. The butler had a wild imagination and often conjured up elaborate scenarios whenever nothing was happening between her and Ji Jing. Given the late hour, she figured the butler wouldn’t show up tonight.

Unless… something dramatic happened upstairs, even then, the butler might not come.

Xiao Lan had mentioned this to her last time

Remembering it made Tang Ruan’s face heat up. She cleared her throat, feigning composure. “Fine. You get three minutes.”

Ji Jing chuckled softly and stepped into her room.

It was the first time either of them had entered the other’s personal space. Ji Jing was already familiar with her room’s design—he’d reviewed the plans when they purchased the villa.

Tang Ruan followed, closing the door behind her, holding a white towel in her hand.

“So, what’s this about?”

Ji Jing turned back, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Can’t you guess?”

She paused mid-motion, drying her hair. “I don’t feel like guessing.”

Suddenly, the towel slipped from her hands. Ji Jing took it, leaning forward slightly. “Drying your hair first?”

“…Okay.”

–

The hum of the hairdryer filled the room. Tang Ruan turned her head slightly to avoid his intense gaze. Her ears flushed pink, unsure of his intentions.

When he finally finished drying her hair, she faced him again. “Now, can you tell me?”

In response, Ji Jing reached out, pulling her into his lap. Tang Ruan gasped and quickly protested, “Ji Jing!”

“No more ‘husband’?” he teased.

She glared at him, startled. “What are you trying to do?”

He lowered his head, inhaling the subtle fruity scent of her freshly washed hair and skin—a mix of her shampoo and body wash, a scent that was light but intoxicating.

Tang Ruan could feel her composure slipping. He was doing this on purpose. Where did he learn such tactics?

Reciting calming thoughts to herself, she opened her mouth to scold him, only to be silenced by his words.

“Tang Ruan, have you ever considered changing the way we interact in this marriage?”

She blinked, her breath hitching. “What do you mean?”

“You’re smart enough to know what I mean,” Ji Jing said.

Tang Ruan rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. Be more specific.” She could guess, but she didn’t feel like it.

Ji Jing chuckled. His lips curved into a playful smile, his brow arching slightly before he lowered his head to steal a quick kiss. “How do couples in love behave?”

Tang Ruan froze, her eyes widening as her face flushed. “Who’s talking about falling in love with you?”

Ji Jing responded simply, “You.”

“That’s robbery! I never agreed to it!”

Who just jumps into talking about romance like that? And considering their situation—how could they even begin dating? No confession, but he wanted a relationship? Tang Ruan thought Ji Jing was daydreaming. He was certainly the epitome of a thoughtless man.

“Tang Ruan,” Ji Jing gently squeezed her hand, his voice calm and sincere, “I know how absurd the beginning of our marriage was. Let’s leave the past behind. Let’s start over—from dating.”

He understood that women often longed for love like a first romance—sweet and beautiful.

Tang Ruan thought it over. It was a bit difficult for someone like Ji Jing to explain himself clearly. She understood his intentions, but to start with “Let’s date”? Wasn’t his emotional intelligence a bit… lacking?

“Who starts with dating right off the bat?”

Ji Jing responded earnestly, “Then I’ll pursue you.” He added, “I can’t say it’s love yet, but I won’t lie—I feel something for you. More than just liking.”

It wasn’t love, not yet. To declare love now would be insincere. Tang Ruan didn’t need that.

Hearing his words, Tang Ruan’s lips curved in amusement. She raised her eyebrows at him. “Are you sure?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re serious about pursuing me?”

She figured there was no need to act coy anymore. She had indeed developed feelings for Ji Jing. A man like him—kind, good-looking, and unmatched in every aspect—wasn’t someone you could ignore. Spending so much time with him, anyone would be moved.

Besides, Ji Jing was treating her incredibly well now.

Still, she had never been pursued before and was curious to experience it.

Ji Jing nodded firmly. “Yes. I’ll pursue you.”

Tang Ruan burst into laughter, her eyes twinkling as she looked at him. She didn’t say anything further.

The air between them thickened with warmth and an undeniable sense of intimacy.

Feeling self-conscious under Ji Jing’s gaze, Tang Ruan shifted slightly. Still sitting on his lap, she tried to rise, but he held her by the shoulders, gently turning her to face him.

Her heart raced. “What… what are you doing?” she stammered.

His eyes darkened as he stared at her lips. “Taking a little interest first.”

Before she could react, he wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer, and claimed her lips as his “interest.”