Chapter 56

The night was dim when Ji Jing returned with Ji Ling, surprisingly early.

Tang Ruan hadn’t gone to bed either. She had been waiting for them to return, unable to shake her worry. After changing into some clothes, she went downstairs to prepare some hangover tea for them.

Ji Ling had certainly drunk a lot. She had been talking things out with her sister-in-law earlier, but unexpectedly, she ran into someone she knew at the bar. Seeing this familiar face, Ji Ling, who had never experienced much hardship, started feeling uneasy and only wanted to drown her sorrows in more alcohol.

At this age, fresh into adulthood, they weren’t very mature yet, and didn’t understand the kind of trust Tang Ruan had spoken about.

After all, Ji Ling was probably still harboring a secret crush.

The thought made her feel even more upset.

…

Before she could get too drunk or pass out, she thought she saw a hallucination. Her brother appeared, his face darkened, standing right in front of her.

And then—

Ji Ling, almost as if unaware, was picked up like a small chicken and tossed into the car, only to be driven back home.

Ji Jing had been in a bad mood the whole time. After watching her for a moment, Ji Ling realized she had probably messed something up, and she clung to the car door, refusing to get out.

“Brother…” she pleaded. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Still not drunk?” Ji Jing asked coldly.

Ji Ling shook her head, “I’m still a little sober.”

Ji Jing sneered, casting a side glance at her. “Get out of the car.”

He turned to the driver in the front seat and said in a low voice, “Take her back to rest.”

“Understood, Mr. Ji.”

Once they were back at the house, Ji Jing looked at Ji Ling, who still wouldn’t get out of the car. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache. Honestly, Ji Jing didn’t pay too much attention to Ji Ling. He did what was necessary, and Ji Ling rarely caused trouble. She was mischievous but cute.

Seeing her sulking now, Ji Jing was truly at a loss.

While they were at a standoff, Tang Ruan stepped out of the house.

“Why aren’t you coming in?”

“Sis-in-law, my brother’s going to hit me,” Ji Ling complained first.

Ji Jing: “…”

Tang Ruan: “…”

She couldn’t help but laugh as she patted Ji Ling’s head. “He won’t. He can’t bear to. Just get out of the car first. I’ve made some hangover tea for you. Drink it, then go sleep.” She coaxed Ji Ling gently, “Are you upset? How about talking to me tomorrow? For tonight, just get some rest.”

“Mm.”

Ji Ling nodded. “Then my brother…”

Tang Ruan winked at her and whispered, “Leave it to me.”

Ji Jing watched them and exchanged a glance before heading straight into the house.

–

Ji Ling had a good tolerance for alcohol, and after drinking the hangover tea, she really did go back to her room and sleep soundly, choosing a room on the third floor with the attitude of not wanting to disturb anyone.

Honestly, Ji Ling’s temper was only a bit childish, but a little coaxing was all it took.

When Tang Ruan left her room, Ji Jing was waiting by the door.

“She’s asleep?”

“Mm.” Tang Ruan looked at him. “Let’s go back. A good night’s sleep will help.”

“Mm.”

Tang Ruan added, “You should at least show a little concern for Ji Ling.”

Hearing this, Ji Jing nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. “I’ll check in with her tomorrow.”

The two went back to their room, one following the other.

Once inside, the conversation seemed to halt, and the mood shifted.

Tang Ruan opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words. Ji Jing, standing beside her, said nothing either. The room’s chandelier had been turned off, leaving only the nightstand lamps glowing softly.

They exchanged a silent look, their emotions speaking through their eyes.

Tang Ruan sensed something might happen, but instead of feeling embarrassed, she felt a sense of shyness. And when she got shy, her courage grew bolder than usual.

Ji Jing looked at her and leaned in, his breath warm. “The words you said before I left—are they still valid?”

Before he left to pick up Ji Ling, Tang Ruan had told him that she would wait for him to return, and whatever he wanted to do afterward was fine.

Tang Ruan: “…”

Her toes shifted awkwardly inside her fuzzy slippers, curling briefly. She then reached out to hug Ji Jing, taking the initiative to kiss him. She suckled on his lips and whispered softly, “It counts.”

At this point, if Ji Jing could still hold back, he wouldn’t be Ji Jing.

Besides… Ji Jing had already intended to properly handle his mischievous wife. The only reason he hadn’t touched her was because he thought she was nervous and wanted to give her enough time to feel comfortable. But now, she wasn’t the least bit shy—teasing him boldly, lighting fires in him, and then retreating with a playful grin.

–

The bedroom door was locked, and the lights inside were dim, creating just the right atmosphere.

To avoid interruptions, Ji Jing even turned off his phone in frustration. He bent down to kiss the woman before him, filled with a desire to claim her entirely.

The room was already warm with the heat on, and the temperature only climbed higher.

As Ji Jing kissed her deeply, Tang Ruan could feel the changes in his body—things she had never felt before. Their breathing grew heavier and more labored.

Both of them knew what was coming, knew exactly what would happen next. The tightly shut window kept every bit of the cold out, but it also made the air feel suffocating and hot, as if it would swallow them whole.

After a while… Tang Ruan, unsure of how things had progressed so far, gently pushed against Ji Jing’s shoulder and whispered, “Turn… turn off the light.”

Even though only the bedside lamp was on, she felt overwhelmed with embarrassment. To her, lighting was a terribly revealing thing, something that heightened her self-consciousness. She firmly insisted that Ji Jing turn it off.

Ji Jing exhaled deeply, planting a kiss somewhere on her delicate skin before he reached out to turn off one of the bedside lamps. However, he left the other, dimmer one still on.

His breath was hot and heavy, right beside her ear. In the dark, physical sensations became sharper and more pronounced. Every touch, every graze heightened her awareness of him.

Words failed her; she couldn’t describe the rush of sensations filling her mind. She could only do her best to follow his lead, surrendering to the moment and to him.

…

Ji Jing had been holding himself back for far too long. Having been interrupted earlier, he had no intention of letting go now.

This was his wife. The woman he had fallen deeply in love with.

Their kiss grew deeper and more consuming, reluctant to part even for a second…

Suddenly, Tang Ruan whimpered softly and whispered in his ear, “You didn’t… buy anything, did you?”

“I did.” Ji Jing’s lips grazed hers as he spoke, his breath labored and thick with desire.

Tang Ruan: “…”

With that, it seemed she had run out of excuses.

What followed came as naturally as the tide meeting the shore.

–

Neither of them had an easy time—it was uncharted territory, unfamiliar and full of discovery. It took them a long while to find some semblance of rhythm.

Throughout the night, the room was filled with soft, fragmented sounds that spilled through the air. The door remained firmly closed, the walls insulating their shared intimacy from the world outside. Unless someone pressed their ear against the door, nothing would be heard.

By the end, Tang Ruan’s voice was hoarse, yet Ji Jing still wasn’t ready to release her.

Time blurred. It was likely two or three in the morning when Tang Ruan finally lay down to rest, feeling as though she would fall asleep the instant her eyes closed.

Compared to Ji Jing, she felt utterly lacking in stamina.

Men, it seemed, had an innate and infuriating talent in this realm. He had been so clumsy at first, but by the second time, he had already figured out how to torment her.

Back under the covers, Ji Jing placed a tender kiss on her eyelids, his voice husky and low. “Sleep.”

Tang Ruan, using the last of her strength, gave him a weak kick before murmuring her agreement.

She was truly exhausted, too drained to say another word. Letting him soothe her, she closed her eyes and drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Ji Jing: “…”

He chuckled quietly, pulling her tightly into his arms. His gaze lingered on her serene face for a long time before he, too, allowed himself to sleep.

–

The next morning, the pale light of dawn filtered through the curtains. A soft winter sun crept into the room, casting a faint glow.

Tang Ruan had overslept.

Ji Jing… hadn’t gone to work either.

When she woke, her entire body felt sore. Every inch of her seemed unfamiliar, as if it no longer belonged to her. Grumbling under her breath, she rubbed her temples and muttered curses about Ji Jing from beneath the covers until her irritation finally subsided.

She had told him enough was enough so many times the night before. But no—he had kept coaxing her with sweet words and pushing her limits.

Tang Ruan struggled to sit up. Glancing at the clock, she nearly leaped out of bed in alarm.

In her haste to get up, she stepped onto the floor and immediately felt her legs buckle. She was about to fall forward when the door opened, and Ji Jing appeared just in time to catch her.

“Sore?”

Tang Ruan: “…” She shot him a glare. “What do you think? Why didn’t you wake me? I’m late for work!”

Ji Jing’s eyes darkened as he took in her disheveled state.

The clothes she wore last night after her bath were his—a hastily chosen shirt that hung loosely on her. The buttons hadn’t been properly fastened, and from his angle, he could catch glimpses of the marks he had left on her skin.

As he stared, images of the previous night flooded his mind—her tear-filled eyes, her pleading voice, her soft protests. The memory stirred something deep inside him.

Tang Ruan noticed his gaze and quickly looked down, realizing how exposed she was. She grabbed the edges of the shirt and scolded him, “Pervert!”

Ji Jing chuckled, turning away slightly as he pulled her into his arms. “Already guilty of that.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

She was stunned by his shamelessness.

“You’re unbelievable…”

“Hmm?”

Tang Ruan lightly slapped his shoulder. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

Ji Jing chuckled and carried her into the bathroom, speaking softly, “I’ve already requested leave for you. Stay home and rest today. No need to go to work.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

Even if she wanted to go, her body wouldn’t cooperate. She didn’t realize her stamina was so poor. She still felt drained, her strength far from recovered.

As she mulled over her physical state, Ji Jing suddenly suggested, “How about you start jogging with me?”

“No way.” She refused outright, rolling her eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.”

The corner of Ji Jing’s mouth lifted, and he whispered something suggestive into her ear. Tang Ruan immediately turned red, kicking him a few times until he relented. Embarrassed, she focused on brushing her teeth, ignoring him completely.

Ji Jing smiled and tousled her hair.
“What do you want to eat?”

“Nothing.”

After washing up, Tang Ruan promptly returned to bed. All she wanted was to stay under the covers and do nothing.

More importantly, the thought that the servants downstairs likely knew what had happened between her and Ji Jing last night made her even more reluctant to leave the room.

“Not hungry?”

Tang Ruan murmured an affirmative sound and wrapped her arms around Ji Jing, pouting, “Are there many people downstairs?”

Ji Jing raised his eyebrows, chuckling softly. “Feeling shy?”

He kissed her earlobe, gently sucking on it as he murmured, “We’re married. Everyone understands.”

Tang Ruan: “…”