Chapter 37

Shu Shirang kissed him very quickly, almost just a brush before she straightened up, her movement so fast it stirred a breeze. She wasn't even sure if she had actually made contact. Her lips felt as though they had touched cool skin, yet it was so fleeting she couldn't be certain.

After the kiss, Shu Shirang felt too embarrassed to look at Ji Xi. Just as she was about to explain that it was for the game, her wrist, which hung at her side, was suddenly gripped tightly. She was pulled forward, forcing her to take a step, her leg brushing against Ji Xi’s bent knee, nearly causing her to press against him.

Ji Xi glanced at Xu Ying and the others watching them, immediately guessing what was going on. He retracted his gaze and looked at Shu Shirang. Her wrist was still held firmly in his grasp. His warm thumb pressed against the inside of her wrist, holding her with such intensity that she instinctively tried to pull away, wiggling her wrist. Her struggle only caused Ji Xi’s hand to move slightly; otherwise, it was entirely ineffective.

The light in the private room remained dim. Ji Xi looked straight at her, his eyes churning with unreadable emotion. Shu Shirang kept her eyes lowered, explaining in a soft voice, "It was Truth or Dare. Let me go."

When she said the latter part, her voice was so soft and gentle it sounded like she was negotiating with him. Ji Xi’s gaze merely shifted, his expression turning into one of amusement. Shu Shirang waited a few seconds, but he didn't let go, his hold remaining as forceful as before. Thinking of the group of people watching not far away, she felt a flare of shame and annoyance. She looked over at Cheng Yeshu, sitting on Ji Xi’s other side, who had already turned his head away.

"..."

Shu Shirang retracted her gaze from Cheng Yeshu, meeting Ji Xi’s smiling eyes. His look was teasing, as if he were toying with her. With many in the room looking their way and fearing that he might say something inappropriate that Cheng Yeshu would hear, she avoided his burning gaze and pinched his upper arm with her free hand.

"Let go."

This wasn't the negotiating tone from before; it sounded like a warning. It was as if she were telling him that if he continued, she wouldn't be polite, though it lacked any real power. Ji Xi chuckled and released her. Shu Shirang pulled back her hand, which felt hot from his grip, and without looking at him again, she turned and walked away.

Returning to where Xu Ying and the others were, Shu Shirang sat in her original spot. The darkness hid the blush on her face. From their perspective, it only looked like Shu Shirang had been pulled over by Ji Xi and they had exchanged a few words.

Shu Shirang’s "Dare" was completed, though the scene hadn't gone quite as some had expected. However, the card only said to kiss a member of the opposite sex present; it didn't specify where or for how long. A light peck on the face, like she had done, counted. The group started the next round.

Zheng Tingyan took advantage of the distraction to whisper, "Did you really kiss him?"

Shu Shirang gave a soft "Mm." Zheng Tingyan nodded and didn't say more. It was just a game, after all; such a light kiss wasn't too excessive. After they grew tired of Truth or Dare, they moved on to other games at someone’s suggestion. Shu Shirang remained distracted, the heat on her face never fully fading.

**

After eleven o'clock, the party broke up. Shu Shirang hadn't driven, and Ji Xi couldn't drive after drinking, so they called a designated driver to save the chauffeur from making a late-night trip. Shu Shirang, with her stained coat draped over her arm, stayed with Zheng Tingyan.

Ji Xi opened the back door of the car, his hand resting on the frame, waiting for her with languid ease. The icy, frosty air that had appeared when he encountered Ji Yang had long since vanished, replaced by his usual cold, suave demeanor.

"Let’s go? Time to head home."

Zheng Tingyan said, "My driver is here, so I'm off."

After saying her goodbyes, Shu Shirang walked over. She didn't look at Ji Xi as she reached the car. Once she was inside, the door closed. Having had a drink, she felt a bit sleepy. As the car started moving, she closed her eyes, though she didn't fall asleep, merely resting. By the time they arrived at the basement garage of Chuansong No. 1, she opened her eyes.

**

Once the car was parked and the designated driver had left, Shu Shirang prepared to get out. The moment she moved, she felt a tugging sensation. She looked back and saw that a section of the coat in her hand was pinned down by Ji Xi against the center armrest. She looked up and saw Ji Xi watching her with calm composure. He had pinned it on purpose.

"Now that there's no one around, shall we talk about earlier?"

Shu Shirang’s heart skipped a beat. "...About what?"

Ji Xi raised an eyebrow. "About you taking advantage of me."

"That didn't count as..." Shu Shirang paused, feeling too embarrassed to say the words "taking advantage." "It was just a game."

"Just a game, is it?"

Ji Xi tilted his head slightly, suddenly leaning in close. A warm breath brushed against her face. Shu Shirang’s breath hitched, her body tensed, and her fingers instinctively tightened around her coat. Ji Xi stopped very close to her, one hand resting on the back of her seat, their faces less than ten centimeters apart.

It was too close. The armrest between them offered no barrier against his invasive proximity. Shu Shirang was trapped against her seat.

"What are you doing?"

Ji Xi looked roguish and unrestrained. "Since it was just a game, why don't we play some more now?"

"No!" Fearing he might actually do something, Shu Shirang turned her face away. The light from outside the car shone in, illuminating the blush on her face. A few slightly messy strands of hair clung to her skin like brushstrokes of ink.

Ji Xi said, "Wasn't it your own words? If it didn't count as taking advantage, then why can't we?"

Shu Shirang was momentarily speechless. She tried to maintain an air of pride and justification, but her eyelashes fluttered incessantly, betraying her racing heart.

Ji Xi asked, "Shu Shirang, are you always this unreasonable?"

"..."

Shu Shirang was left speechless by his question, feeling a bit angry. She had thought turning her face away would help her avoid the suffocating heat of their mingled breath, but after doing so, his breath now fell against her cheek and neck. Not just when he spoke, but every time he breathed, it brushed over her, spreading a ticklish sensation.

Unable to bear it, and fueled by shame and indignation, she simply raised her hand to push his face away. Her touch met skin that was cooler than her own. Her fingertips pressed against his jawline. Shu Shirang pushed without much effort, and Ji Xi followed her force, turning his head as his body straightened up. As the oppressive feeling vanished, Shu Shirang exhaled in relief.

"I couldn't refuse the dare card I drew. Even though there were others there, it wouldn't have been appropriate for me to choose anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xi lifted his eyelids, looking at her with a mix of amusement and irony. "So, I suppose I should thank you for not choosing someone else? Otherwise, wouldn't I, as your husband, have lost all face?"

"..."

Shu Shirang blushed, feeling annoyed. "I didn't want to choose anyone else. Who told you to be my husband?"

Ji Xi laughed, that slight edge of annoyance vanishing. "True, I am your husband."

Shu Shirang didn't know what he was laughing at, glared at him, and opened the car door to get out. Ji Xi followed her. Their footsteps echoed in the empty garage.

"Coming over for dinner tomorrow night?" Ji Xi followed her, his pace leisurely. "Auntie Dou said she dug up plenty of spring bamboo shoots in the countryside today and wants to bring them over to cook for us."

It was the perfect time for spring bamboo shoots; they were tasting the first and freshest harvest.

**

Back on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Auntie Dou had come to Chuansong No. 1, not only cooking a meal but eating with them as well. Auntie Dou was an excellent cook, so Shu Shirang was certainly willing. However, the next afternoon, while at her firm, she received a call from Ji Xi saying he had a business engagement that evening.

Shu Shirang asked, "Should I tell Auntie Dou to come another day?"

"She already bought all the ingredients," Ji Xi said on the phone, his tone as lazy as ever.

"You can eat with Auntie Dou then."

Shu Shirang replied, "That works."

That evening, Shu Shirang had a conference call with a client and left work half an hour late. Afraid that Auntie Dou had been waiting too long, she went straight upstairs when she returned. The password to Ji Xi’s place was still the old one, "112710". Once inside, she saw Auntie Dou’s busy figure in the kitchen.

"Auntie Dou."

"Shirang, you're back."

Shu Shirang apologized, "I had a meeting this afternoon, so I'm a bit late."

Auntie Dou replied, "Not late at all, the soup needs to simmer anyway. It’ll be ready soon, why don't you go wait outside?"

Shu Shirang was shooed out of the kitchen. She went to the island counter to pour a glass of water and then checked her phone. There was a notification tagging her in their group chat.

- Zheng Tingyan: @Shu Shirang.
- Zheng Tingyan: Shirang, has Ji Xi seen Zhao Siling lately?
- Xu Ying: Why would Ji Xi see her?
- Zheng Tingyan: It seems there’s some contact with the Zhao family's company?
- Zheng Tingyan: That’s just what I heard.

Shu Shirang finished reading the messages and replied: I don't know.

She had never asked Ji Xi about his work or business social engagements.

- Zheng Tingyan: Heard they got along quite well.
- Zheng Tingyan: Though that’s probably something Zhao Siling spread herself.
- Zheng Tingyan: She’s always been this shameless.
- Zheng Tingyan: It looks like they have a meal together tomorrow too.
- Xu Ying: Ji Xi and Zhao Siling?
- Zheng Tingyan: That’s right.
- Zheng Tingyan: Shirang, does Ji Xi know you and Zhao Siling don't get along?

Shu Shirang looked at her phone screen, thinking. She had indeed never told Ji Xi about her issues with Zhao Siling.

- Shu Shirang: Probably not.
- Zheng Tingyan: You should tell him.
- Zheng Tingyan: You are his wife in name, after all.
- Zheng Tingyan: How can he get close to his wife's sworn enemy, especially when Zhao Siling is bent on stealing you away?
- Zheng Tingyan: Where does that leave your face?
- Xu Ying: Yan-yan is right.
- Zheng Tingyan: If something actually happens, Zhao Siling will be even more arrogant in the future.

"Dinner is ready." Auntie Dou brought out the soup.

Hearing the sound, Shu Shirang deleted the words she had been typing in the input box.

- Shu Shirang: I see.
- Shu Shirang: I’m going to eat now.

Auntie Dou had made 'Yan Du Xian' (a traditional spring soup). The cured salty pork belly, fresh ribs, and seasonal spring bamboo shoots were stewed together; the broth was milky and rich, so delicious it could make your eyebrows dance. Besides that, there were braised spring bamboo shoots, steamed mandarin fish, and boiled beef.

Auntie Dou said, "Ah Xi said you liked spicy food, so I made some boiled beef."

Shu Shirang was a bit surprised, then remembered that when they had first registered their marriage, she had indeed eaten Sichuan food with Ji Xi. Her thoughts drifted back to Ji Xi and Zhao Siling. While eating with Auntie Dou, the conversation inevitably revolved around Ji Xi, and Shu Shirang couldn't stop thinking about it.

To prevent her inner discomfort from ruining her meal, Shu Shirang proactively asked about things she was interested in. She was curious about the connection between Ji Xi and Auntie Dou. Although she had only spent a short amount of time with her two or three times, she could see that Ji Xi was genuinely kind to Auntie Dou, his entire demeanor softening whenever he was in her presence.