Chapter 32: Husband Comes to Inspect

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Lu Zhihan let out a mocking laugh.

“You’re adorable, sis. Talking about cutting off hands and making your husband sound like some cheesy domineering CEO. If that’s your thing, you can play with me instead~”

“Have you watched my latest drama? I’m playing a domineering CEO in it. Why don’t you come to my room tonight? I’ll perform the role for you personally.”

So his reputation really did precede him. He was shameless enough to hit on the staff.

Song Xi took out her phone, switched to the front-facing camera, and snapped a picture.

“Since you like me so much, come take a photo with me. I’ll post it in your fan group~”

The moment Lu Zhihan heard that, he immediately released her hand.

He had only recently become popular and was just beginning to build a following. Most of his fans were the girlfriend type. If rumors about his love life broke out, his career would take a serious hit.

“We were just chatting. Why are you trying to ruin my career?” Lu Zhihan complained weakly.

Song Xi did not waste time arguing. With a cold expression, she ordered, “Go over there and stand properly. We’re starting.”

The peacock had failed to display its feathers, and the beauty remained out of reach.

Reluctantly, Lu Zhihan went over and continued striking poses beneath Song Xi’s lens.

This shoot went unexpectedly smoothly and wrapped up in just forty minutes.

As dusk gradually fell, the photography crew began packing up.

Yezi whispered in Song Xi’s ear, “Xi-jie, you were so cool just now. Lu Zhihan has eight million followers, and you didn’t give him even an ounce of face.”

“He was harassing me. Why should I show him any courtesy?”

“You still don’t understand. Our industry runs on connections. If you offend a celebrity’s studio, the boss may blame you when fewer jobs come in. And if Lu Zhihan holds a grudge, he might even persuade the boss to fire you. Wouldn’t that be a terrible loss?”

“That still doesn’t give him the right to harass someone at work.”

Song Xi packed away her camera and reassured Yezi, “Don’t worry. I have leverage over him. If he dares interfere with my career, I’ll make sure his reputation collapses.”

Only then did Yezi relax.

Their industry was different from most. They dealt with all kinds of people, including every sort of strange and difficult character.

Most of the time, people simply endured it and moved on.

After all, offending a celebrity rarely ended well.

When it was fully dark, Lu Zhihan came over again like a ghost that refused to disappear. He claimed he wanted to thank the photography crew for their hard work and treat them all to dinner.

Just then, Jing Zhuo called.

Song Xi swiped to answer and launched straight into her performance.

“Hello, darling… What? You miss me terribly and want to video-chat? All right, I’m heading back to the hotel now. We’ll see each other when I get back. Muah~”

She finished in one breath, then pointed at her phone with an apologetic look.

“Sorry, my husband is checking up on me. I won’t be joining you for dinner. I’m going back to keep him company. Goodbye.”

Everyone present was stunned.

They watched helplessly as Song Xi hoisted her camera onto her shoulder and walked away, leaving the team assistants to handle the remaining cleanup.

Lu Zhihan murmured, “When photographers are working, they’re sharp, efficient, and cool as hell. How is she such a hopeless romantic in private?”

Yezi added, “That’s because her husband is handsome. If I were Xi-jie, I’d want to go back to the hotel and video-chat with him too.”

“Can he really be more handsome than the domineering CEO I play?” Lu Zhihan asked in disbelief.

Yezi silently fumed: If you’re so capable, become a real domineering CEO! What are you so proud of just because you played one?

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Show-off.

Darling…

Hearing the intimate way she had addressed him over the phone, Jing Zhuo’s breathing stalled.

Song Xi had called him her husband.

She had even said she would spend the evening with him. She had him in her heart.

The moment she finished work, she had thought of him.

Jing Zhuo’s Adam’s apple moved. He was just about to speak when Song Xi’s voice came through again.

“Jing Zhuo, are you still there?”

“I’m here.”

“Sorry. There was a dinner gathering just now, but I didn’t want to go, so I used you as an excuse.” Song Xi lowered her voice as she walked toward the hotel and explained.

Being married was very convenient when traveling, especially for warding off unwanted romantic entanglements.

Jing Zhuo’s throat tightened again.

“If I’m your husband, why are you apologizing for calling me that?”

Song Xi did not quite understand. “Huh?”

Jing Zhuo said from the other end, “I really am your husband, and I really… did miss you. Whenever you need to use me, do it openly.”

Song Xi paused, feeling rather touched.

They had only just gotten married, and she still was not accustomed to living with a husband.

But this excuse was genuinely useful. In the future, whenever she encountered a dinner gathering she did not want to attend, she could simply invoke the words “my husband” and solve the problem perfectly.

“All right. I’ll get used to using you often.”

Song Xi smiled brightly. “By the way, why did you call me just now?”

Jing Zhuo remembered his original reason for calling and said, “I just got home and saw that the clothes you washed had fallen onto the terrace. I’m washing them again for you.”

“Then I’ll have to trouble you!” Song Xi said gratefully.

“Don’t mention it. Washing clothes for my wife is what a husband should do.”

The sound of rushing water came from the other end, followed by Jing Zhuo’s voice.

“Go back to the hotel first. I have something to do. We’ll video-chat tonight.”

Song Xi hung up, still puzzled.

The clothes only needed to be put in the washing machine. Why had she heard running water? Was he washing them by hand?

They were only two shirts. Surely that was unnecessary.

She did not think much more of it. Carrying her camera, she returned to the hotel. Sanya’s climate was hot, and she had worked up a sweat all afternoon.

The first thing Song Xi did was take a shower. When she came out, her phone chimed.

She picked it up and saw that Jing Zhuo had sent her a photo.

Resting in the man’s long-fingered palm was a small, delicate piece of lace fabric, freshly washed and spotlessly clean. It was impossible not to notice.

“!!!”

So that was the clothing he had mentioned!

Song Xi’s face instantly flushed crimson.

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She usually hand-washed her underwear and hung it somewhere sunny. A few hours of direct sunlight helped kill bacteria, and she would normally bring it in every evening.

But today, Jing Zhuo had found it.

He had even washed it by hand for her.

Even though they were married, the thought of a man rubbing her intimate clothing between his palms was still deeply embarrassing.

Besides, this particular piece was made of silk with lace trim. Zhang Hening had given it to her before, saying it was both sexy and comfortable.

Song Xi sent back a smiling emoji to ease the awkwardness.

The man sent another picture. Her underwear had been stretched open neatly and hung on a clothes hanger, then placed back on the terrace.

Under the light, its shape was perfectly clear, and every detail of the lace trim could be seen.

“I hung it up for you.”

Song Xi: “…”

“I’ll bring it in for you after work tomorrow.”

Song Xi: “…”

“There’s also a pale green one with a small floral pattern. I’ll go wash that one too.”

Song Xi thought: What a helpful man!

Her dignity was completely gone.

—

With Song Xi occasionally invoking her “husband” on set, Lu Zhihan became much more restrained.

By the end of the shoot, nearly everyone at the location knew that Song Xi had a clingy, jealous, hot-tempered husband who loved threatening to cut off people’s hands and demanded a phone call the moment she finished work.

They would be returning home the next day.

Her colleagues suggested spending the evening wandering around Sanya’s night market and taking in the nighttime scenery.

Song Xi went along and bought quite a few souvenirs to bring home.

She also posted on her social media feed:

Sanya, until we meet again~

After learning that Song Xi would be coming back, Jing Zhuo left work early the next day. Once home, he put two small cakes in the refrigerator and prepared some snacks in the living room.

At nine that evening, he showered and changed into a new set of pajamas.

At nine ten, he dried his hair.

At ten, he changed the sheets in the master bedroom and poured her a cup of warm lemon water.

At midnight…

Jing Zhuo sat in the living room until late into the night, but no message came saying Song Xi had returned to the capital. Outside, everything was silent. Not a single person could be seen.

Ding~

His phone suddenly chimed. Jing Zhuo opened the message at once.

“Sorry, I canceled my ticket at the last minute, so I won’t be returning to the capital just yet. My cousin is getting married, so I’ll be staying in Su City for a few days. I’ll come back after the wedding.”

Jing Zhuo: “…”

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