Chapter 172

Chapter 172 - 172 165 Indulgent and incredibly sweet daily love life Chapter 172: 165: Indulgent and incredibly sweet daily love life (second update) Chapter 172: 165: Indulgent and incredibly sweet daily love life (second update) There was a box of medicine on the washstand, and Wen Changling was unwrapping it.

The medicine had been purchased in advance by her.

Xie Shang did not make any moves to prevent her, only tightening his arms around her waist and pleading softly, “Can you not take the medicine?”

“No,” Wen Changling said without hesitation, removing the packaging and taking out the pill, “I won’t have children.”

Once her revenge was complete, she planned to go see Ah Na and her mother, and the Hooked Cymbidium she had been nurturing for so long in the courtyard. She picked up the cup from the washstand and swallowed the medicine.

Xie Shang apologized softly in her ear, “I’m sorry.”

He had foolishly hoped that if they had a child, it might be for the better, thinking that she might soften her heart with a child. Had he known she would take the medicine, he would not have let her go without contraception.

Wen Changling turned toward him: “It’s not your fault, it’s mine.” She didn’t want to talk about it, grabbing the clothes at both sides of Xie Shang’s waist, “It’s a bit bitter.”

“I’ll go get you some sugar.”

She didn’t let go of Xie Shang, her voice coquettish, “Xingxing.”

She tilted her head back, gave a little hum, and asked for a kiss from Xie Shang.

She was very good at being adorable.

Hearing her, Xie Shang’s heart softened, and worried lest she hurt herself on the washstand’s edge, he protected her lower back with one hand, braced himself on the countertop, and leaned down to kiss her. With the tip of his tongue bringing a trace of moisture, he didn’t taste any bitterness.

They kissed for a long time, then embraced.

Xie Shang might have an aggressive personality, but the pace of their relationship had always been dictated by Wen Changling.

They had been together for five months, and prior to this, they hadn’t kissed much—countable on both hands and still not as much as tonight. Love was like this, longing for closeness, to possess and to be possessed.

Resting in Xie Shang’s arms, Wen Changling caught her breath, “Xingxing.”

“Hmm.”

“Xingxing.”

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, her damp eyes staring at Xie Shang for a while.

Xie Shang had a very upright appearance, but only she had seen him after their affairs, full of desire. She had firmly believed that she wouldn’t be swayed by appearances; even the finest features were superficial, and she was indifferent to such things.

Now she realized she had been arrogant. Viewing beauty under the lamplight, it was easy to be swept into the vortex.

She had thought she didn’t know how to love Xie Shang, but it seemed everything came naturally, requiring just a bit less logic and permitting her true feelings to run wild.

She couldn’t help but kiss him again.

Xie Shang was very cooperative, always waiting until she had her fill before taking the initiative back.

Wen Changling did whatever felt comfortable; she pushed Xie Shang away, “Xingxing, I’m so tired standing.”

Xie Shang was too tall.

He padded the washstand with a towel and lifted her onto it, “Is this better?”

She kicked off her shoes, her fair feet fidgeting restlessly, tapping Xie Shang’s shirttail on and off. Looking out the window, the bathroom’s venetian blinds let light filter through but obscured the view of the people inside. The thunderstorm had paused in the wee hours, leaving the outside quiet, punctuated only by occasional chirping birds.

Darkness at the edge of dawn was scattering, revealing a veiled whiteness, like smoke or mist.

“Xingxing, it’s almost dawn.”

“Should we sleep a bit?”

Wen Changling hadn’t slept long.

She shook her head, “I don’t want to sleep.” She drew Xie Shang’s hand, placing it on her lower abdomen.

She was sending a signal.

Xie Shang locked the door.

“Changling.”

“Hmm.”

“Are you cold?”

“Not cold.”

In the mirror, Xie Shang held onto one of Wen Changling’s ankles, his head lowered.

Outside the window, the shadows of pines and bamboo rustled, and the fragrance of osmanthus gently floated.

*****

Wu Haomin had the day off today and came over early with Tongtong. Granny Zhu was frying dumplings in the kitchen, the aroma drifting into the courtyard.

Wu Haomin entered the kitchen, lifted the pot lid, and checked what was being steamed on the stove: sweet potatoes and corn.

“Where’s Changling?”

“She probably hasn’t gotten up yet.”

Wu Haomin picked up a corn cob, the heat forcing her to pass it from her left hand to her right, rolling the warm cob back and forth, “I’ll go call her for breakfast.”

Granny Zhu stopped Wu Minhao, “No need to go.”

Wen Changling had mentioned last night not to leave the door for her. She was still over at Xie Shang’s place.

“She told me yesterday that she wouldn’t have breakfast today.”

The mornings of autumn were perfect for sleeping, especially with a little rain, the wind playing with the leaves, rain tapping on the window ledge, hypnotic and comfortable—this was Wen Changling’s favorite white noise.

The blackout curtains were very effective, making the room quite dark. She woke up somewhat confused, uncertain if it was day or night. Xie Shang had already gotten up, leaving her alone in the room.

Last night, they had changed the blanket because her body temperature tended to be low, so Xie Shang had put on a thicker blanket. She put on her hearing aids, reached for her phone on the bedside table, glanced at the time: 10:21 AM.

She got up, changed clothes, went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

Xie Shang wasn’t in the yard. He had a separate room specifically for making incense. Wen Changling headed there. As soon as she entered, she smelled the scent of agarwood powder.

“What are you doing?”

“Making incense sticks.”

Next month, for Liang Shuchuan’s father’s birthday, Ms. Su Nanzhi had entrusted Xie Shang to make some incense sticks. Liang Shuchuan’s father was very fond of the art of incense, particularly incense made by Xie Shang.

Xie Shang put the sieve down.

“Are you hungry? I made porridge.”

Wen Changling hadn’t had breakfast either.

“I’ll eat in a bit.” She sat next to Xie Shang, glancing at the various tools on the table she didn’t recognize, leaned lazily on Xie Shang’s arm without protest, adopting a very dependent posture. Yawning, she resembled a sleepy, indolent cat, “So sleepy.”

She hadn’t had enough sleep; her eyes nearly brimmed with tears of tiredness.

With her there, Xie Shang lost the desire to continue making incense, “Go back to sleep for a bit, hmm?”

Wen Changling shook her head, “I don’t want to sleep, sleeping feels like such a waste of time.” Her time wasn’t plentiful.