Chapter 29: Has He Become Addicted to Kissing?

Song Xi was momentarily stunned.

Was he kissing her this frequently? Was he addicted?

As soon as she looked up, she met his devastatingly handsome face. Thinking back to the kiss at noon, it actually... felt quite nice. A clean, upright husband wanting a kiss—what kind of bad intentions could he possibly have?

"Wait a moment," Song Xi said. "I need to brush my teeth."

"..."

After dinner at the He residence that evening, she had snacked on a few more of Zhang Hening’s treats, including some spicy dried tofu. Song Xi slipped into the bathroom, scrubbed herself clean from head to toe, and spent five full minutes brushing her teeth in front of the mirror. It was only after she had dried her hair and changed into pajamas that she slowly made her way back to the living room.

Then, she discovered that Jing Zhuo had also showered.

The guest room door was open. When he emerged, his hair was still damp, and he was wearing a loose, pale gray bathrobe that draped over his frame, radiating a faint, fresh scent of water.

With both of them smelling fresh and clean, Song Xi parted her lips slightly.

"Shall we begin?"

"Alright."

The main lights in the living room were dimmed, with only the soft, warm glow of a floor lamp illuminating a corner, bathing the entire room in amber hues. On the sofa, the man sat with his legs splayed, leaning lazily against the cushions.

The woman was held on his lap. Her long hair cascaded downward as they kissed, his hand firmly gripping her slender waist, the intimacy deepening with every turn. This time, Song Xi was more proficient; she had learned how to breathe. In the long, lingering friction, their breathing patterns—one long, one short—merged together until their senses began to tingle.

It drew out a deeper desire.

At the very last moment, Jing Zhuo pulled away, gasping for air. Under the light, his bathrobe hung loosely, the collar disheveled and open, revealing a view of the scenery beneath from top to bottom.

Song Xi remained sitting on his lap, feeling the roots of her ears burning hot. It was clearly just a kiss, yet why did this position make it feel like they had done so much more?

A cool sensation brushed against her wrist. Song Xi looked down to see a diamond bracelet shimmering with a subtle light. The delicate chain rested against her porcelain-white skin, glowing with beauty.

"Do you like it? This is a token of gratitude for the kiss."

Did he have to give a gift every time they kissed? Song Xi was stunned by his opulence. She shook her wrist and offered a smile.

"Thank you, the bracelet is beautiful," Song Xi added earnestly. "But we’re married now. Since we have our certificate, it’s perfectly legal and proper for you to kiss me. You don't need to give me gifts for that."

This man was truly too sincere. If he continued like this—trading a piece of jewelry for every kiss—she would be able to open several jewelry stores before long.

Jing Zhuo’s voice was raspy, still carrying the huskiness from their kiss. "Just keep it. Otherwise, I’ll feel like I’m taking advantage of you, and it would weigh on my conscience."

Huh? How was he taking advantage of her? Wasn't this mutually consensual?

Song Xi didn't quite grasp the meaning behind his words. Jing Zhuo then pulled a large box from a paper bag beside him and handed it to her.

"Is this for me too?"

"It’s for your best friend."

"You even got something for Hening?"

Jing Zhuo replied, "I’ll be taking up more of her time and stealing her best friend from now on, so I should show some sincerity."

Hearing this, Song Xi couldn't help but chuckle. So, he wanted to carve out some time from Hening to cultivate their own relationship. Given Hening’s possessive nature regarding their friendship, she did indeed need a gift to appease her.

Song Xi accepted the gift readily. "Alright, then thank you on my best friend's behalf!"

It was late, and their session of kissing had lasted nearly half an hour. Song Xi had been tired all afternoon and was feeling sleepy now. She hugged the gift box, stood up, and bid him goodnight.

"I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight."

"Mm."

Jing Zhuo didn't stop her this time. Song Xi took two steps before turning back. "Your hair isn't dry; you'll catch a cold. Remember to dry it before you sleep."

The man’s lips curled upward, his voice rising slightly. "Alright, I know."

Back in the master bedroom, she closed the door and patted her burning cheeks, replaying the scene just moments ago frame by frame. So, this was what kissing felt like. She had dated Chen Mian for three years—one year of pure campus romance and two years of long-distance—and the most they had done was hold hands or kiss her hair and forehead. Chen Mian had said their love was the purest kind, untainted by lust, and that he was willing to hold back his desires for her until their wedding day.

He had held back, alright. He had been too busy kissing someone else in a KTV lounge to bother with his urges for her.

Wait... had she just insulted herself? Song Xi shook her head to clear away those humiliating memories.

They had kissed for too long; she was thirsty. Before going to bed, she went out to get a glass of water. As she passed the guest room, she heard the sound of a shower running inside.

?

Hadn't he just showered? Why was he washing again?

Strange.

-

On Monday morning, Zhang Hening received the gift Song Xi had sent via same-day delivery and was absolutely touched.

"Your husband is truly amazing! I’ve been eyeing this LALA blind box series for ages; you can't buy it even with money. I asked my brother to put in a good word with the CEO of the LALA Group to set one aside for me, but he said it was a 'sucker product' and refused to help! Your husband is so cool!"

"I hereby announce that my acceptance of your husband has risen from negative 99 to positive 98. If he lets me see his face, I’ll add another point!"

Song Xi had just come from the hospital after her pre-marital check-up and was sending voice messages to Zhang Hening while walking. "As long as you two can get along, I’ll be at ease."

"Don't worry, don't worry! As long as your husband doesn't act up, I won't scold him. If you two fight, I’ll still take your side."

Zhang Hening was holding the unboxed limited-edition figurine as she entered the elevator. When the doors closed, she turned around and saw Jing Zhuo following silently behind her, nearly scaring her out of her skin.

"Big Brother! Why do you always follow me without making a sound? You scared me again!"

Jing Zhuo stepped into the same elevator, closed the door, and pressed the floor button. "No phone calls during work hours. Hand your phone over to Assistant Chen when you get upstairs, and you can take it back when you leave at noon."

Zhang Hening didn't dare vent her frustration. "Understood!"

She stood next to her brother, happily examining her figurine. Seeing Jing Zhuo’s gaze sweep over, Zhang Hening felt even more smug. She held up the two grinning dolls to show off.

"Pretty, right? My best friend’s husband gave them to me."

"If you won't buy them for me, plenty of others will."

"If I can't sponge off my brother and parents, sponging off my best friend is a kind of happiness too."

Jing Zhuo glanced at her, and for once, he spoke at length. "Since you're sponging off someone's husband, learn to know your place. Don't go bothering their married life when you have nothing to do. Have some self-awareness and don't be a nuisance."

Zhang Hening refused to accept that. "I am not a nuisance. If I were so annoying, why would her husband give me gifts? Clearly, he likes me enough to want to please me."

Jing Zhuo: "..."

You certainly have a lot of nerve.

Zhang Hening’s peripheral vision caught the dark red patterned tie under Jing Zhuo’s suit jacket, and she spoke in surprise.

"Hey, Big Brother, isn't this tie the one Xi-bao bought?"

"I recognized it as soon as I saw it. We picked it out for her husband at the Ginza Mall. See this pattern? There’s an extra line in the bottom right corner—it’s a one-of-a-kind piece. How did it end up on your neck?"