After a Contract Marriage with a Cold and Older Person - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Sad Expression

Ji Wenxu finally stopped the topic after receiving a solid thwack on the head from Song Tingyun.

They lay with their backs to each other. Ji Wenxu silently lamented, “You hit so hard, my head is going to break.”

Song Tingyun just huffed, thinking Ji Wenxu deserved it.

Although he was hit, Ji Wenxu wasn’t angry, because the conversation just now made him feel like he and Song Tingyun had closed the distance between them a little more.

However, he wasn’t sure why, but he felt a little unhappy inside. After thinking for a long time, he figured he must be angry that the person Song Tingyun liked was so blind that they didn’t appreciate him.

He indignantly said, “Song Tingyun, that person is a real jerk!”

Song Tingyun: ?

Ji Wenxu continued, “Even I think you are great. The fact that they don’t like you just means they’re blind, you know? Don’t stress yourself out; it’s definitely their fault.”

Song Tingyun chuckled a few times. The sound was very light, like a feather scratching, lightly brushing against Ji Wenxu’s heart. He rubbed his chest, confused, “Why are you laughing?”

Song Tingyun, “You’re absolutely right…”

Ji Wenxu nodded emphatically, “So, even after we divorce, you don’t have to be fixated on them, right?”

Song Tingyun took this in. He lowered his lashes and said faintly, “Yes. After we divorce, I will cut ties with them.”

Song Tingyun rolled his eyes, unwilling to say more.

Ji Wenxu reached out and put his hand on Song Tingyun’s shoulder again, pushing lightly, “Song Tingyun, we aren’t divorced yet, so you can’t cheat.”

Song Tingyun raised his hand into a fist, “Take your hand away.”

Ji Wenxu quickly pulled his hand back. Only then did Song Tingyun say, “I’m not that immoral.”

“That’s good,” Ji Wenxu lay back down on the bed with relief.

“But Song Tingyun, are you really not going to tell me who it is? I can help you talk some sense into them!” He didn’t actually intend to persuade anyone; he just wanted to know what kind of person could capture Song Tingyun’s affection.

Song Tingyun closed his eyes, pretending not to hear him.

Ji Wenxu knew he was unwilling to talk to him and silently closed his mouth.

That night, both of them slept with their own thoughts.

The bed was large enough to fit another person between them, but in the middle of the night, Song Tingyun dreamed he was tangled up by an octopus.

He opened his eyes and realized Ji Wenxu was tightly holding him in his arms, as if he were a plush toy.

Song Tingyun’s face grew darker and darker.

He struggled to free one leg and kicked Ji Wenxu to the other side of the bed.

Just as he was starting to feel sleepy again, a pair of large hands and two legs wrapped around him once more.

Song Tingyun: …

He lifted his foot and kicked the person away again.

He had just closed his eyes when the warm, broad embrace from behind chased after him again.

The large hands and feet wrapped around him skillfully, as if they had built-in navigation.

He closed his eyes in resignation.

…

The night was swallowed by the dawn light climbing across the sky.

Ji Wenxu’s biological alarm clock went off on time. He suddenly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling for a few seconds.

Damn, why does my waist hurt so much.

He realized he was holding something soft and warm in his arms.

He slowly looked down.

He saw Song Tingyun, who he was tightly embracing.

Song Tingyun was sleeping very soundly.

The hand resting on his chest was tightly clenched into a fist. Ji Wenxu was so startled that his hair stood on end. He had no doubt that this fist would land on his face when Song Tingyun woke up.

Ji Wenxu quickly released his hold, carefully crept to the edge of the bed, and then slipped off.

It was still early. Ji Wenxu had planned to go back to sleep, but now he was too frightened to feel sleepy at all.

He picked up his slippers and tiptoed out of the room and downstairs.

Meng Ying hadn’t woken up yet.

Although the rain had stopped outside, the roads were still wet. Ji Wenxu didn’t want to go out for a run, so he stayed in the gym on the second floor for over half an hour before coming out.

Meng Ying had just woken up and was brewing snow fungus soup for herself in the kitchen.

Seeing Ji Wenxu approach, she quickly made him a cup of coffee, “Why didn’t you sleep more? I thought you wouldn’t be like you used to be after getting married.”

Ji Wenxu took the coffee, thanked her, and said, “Once I’m awake, I can’t fall back asleep. Why don’t you sleep more and get your beauty rest?”

“Your dad will be home in an hour. I’ll make breakfast for you and leave,” Meng Ying’s cheeks were flushed.

Ji Wenxu, “You and Dad really are loving.”

“Of course. Only by your father and I being loving could you grow up so happily, you know?”

Ji Wenxu, “Yes, I owe my current happiness to you and Dad’s love.”

Meng Ying laughed again, “But you and Tingyun must also be loving and happy, you know?”

Ji Wenxu thought about last night and mentally noted, Your son does want to be loving and happy with him, but the man is hung up on someone else.

He hummed, “Got it.”

“Then go sit and entertain yourself. Mom is preparing breakfast for you,” Meng Ying waved Ji Wenxu out of the kitchen to clear the space for her.

Ji Wenxu, however, took down an apron from the wall and tied it on, saying, “I’ll do it. You go sit and rest.”

Meng Ying looked at him absentmindedly again, tears welling up in her eyes. She held her son’s shoulder, deeply touched, “Xiaoxu, you really have grown up…”

Ji Wenxu, “I’ve always been sensible, okay?”

Meng Ying had subtly noticed yesterday that since the two of them lived together, Ji Wenxu must have cooked before. It was incredible; she, his own mother, had never eaten food cooked by Ji Wenxu.

So, she didn’t refuse, saying, “Alright, you do the cooking. Just be sure to call Mom if you need anything!”

Ji Wenxu nodded and said he understood.

Since he had been the one preparing breakfast, Ji Wenxu had become more efficient. It didn’t take long for him to prepare breakfast for three.

Meng Ying looked at the table full of rich breakfast dishes, too astonished to close her mouth, “Oh my goodness, Xiaoxu, Mom never knew you were so good at cooking!”

Ji Wenxu sat down across the table, his pride swelling from the praise, “There’s a lot more you don’t know!”

Meng Ying smiled, looked back confusedly, and then asked, “Where is Tingyun? Why isn’t he here for breakfast?”

Ji Wenxu took a bite of a fried dough stick, “He won’t wake up until past eight. You don’t need to worry about him.”

“Then you should save some breakfast for him.”

“I know, it’s all in the microwave,” Ji Wenxu pointed toward the kitchen.

Meng Ying, “Oh dear… my precious son has really grown up and knows how to care for his partner.”

Ji Wenxu looked disgusted, “What are you talking about…”

Meng Ying smiled even more gently.

After finishing her breakfast, she left.

Ji Wenxu timed his climb upstairs to wake Song Tingyun, “Song Tingyun, aren’t you getting up yet?”

He leaned against the door frame and knocked on the bedroom door. Before he could say as much as usual, the door was opened from the inside.

Before he could finish his sentence, a forceful hand landed heavily on his head. Ji Wenxu yelped, covering his head, “Why did you hit me?!”

Song Tingyun glared at him and brushed past him. Ji Wenxu immediately understood the reason for the blow. It seemed Song Tingyun knew he had been hugging him all night.

“I didn’t mean to. I just sleep badly…” Ji Wenxu followed behind him, saying, “Besides, I planned to sleep on the sofa, but you were the one who told me to sleep with you.”

Song Tingyun’s steps halted. He turned to look at him, “So, you think it’s my fault?”

“That’s not your fault. It’s just my poor sleep posture,” Ji Wenxu still couldn’t detect the anger on his face. “Don’t be mad. We won’t sleep together again anyway, right?”

Song Tingyun turned and walked away, not bothering to reply.

Once downstairs, seeing no sign of Meng Ying, Song Tingyun asked him, “Where is Mom?”

“Oh, she went home. She just left.”

Song Tingyun frowned and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me in advance that Mom would leave this early?”

“I only just found out this morning myself. But why are you angry again?” Ji Wenxu always failed to grasp the reason for Song Tingyun’s anger.

“It’s extremely impolite that I didn’t see an elder off when they left the house. Don’t you know that?”

Ji Wenxu lightly patted his shoulder, “Relax. My family doesn’t stress over things like that.”

Song Tingyun ignored him and took out his phone to send Meng Ying a WeChat message.

Ji Wenxu had realized long ago that Song Tingyun held onto unchangeable principles, like an old fuddy-duddy.

Or perhaps that was simply the nature of his upbringing.

Ji Wenxu compressed his lips and silently went to the kitchen to bring out Song Tingyun’s breakfast from the microwave and placed it on the dining table.

Although he found it strange, Ji Wenxu was surprisingly good at understanding him.

“See? Didn’t my mom tell you not to worry too much?” After Song Tingyun received Meng Ying’s reply, his expression visibly softened. “Our family truly doesn’t care about those things. If it were anyone else, I would have definitely woken you up.”

Song Tingyun’s cold face gradually grew warmer. He said, “I shouldn’t have been harsh with you just now.”

“Oh dear.” Ji Wenxu immediately feigned surprise, “Well, I’ll be! There’s actually a day when you apologize to me.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he received another solid slap on the head from Song Tingyun.

Ji Wenxu covered the spot where he was hit, but wasn’t angry. He had guessed he would be hit when he made that sarcastic remark. He pushed the breakfast toward Song Tingyun, “Hurry up and eat. Don’t be late for work.”

Song Tingyun picked up the warm milk and took a sip, “When are you leaving?”

Ji Wenxu, “Oh, I was just about to discuss that with you. I plan to fly to City A today.”

Song Tingyun’s hand paused. He looked up at him, “Can you manage?”

“Just rest assured, one hundred percent,” Ji Wenxu said.

“If you can’t negotiate with them, it’s okay. I can continue talking to the Art Museum about the terms here,” Song Tingyun instructed.

Ji Wenxu leaned closer to him, “I’m going personally because I know I can handle it. Just wait to throw me a victory party.”

Song Tingyun, “Do you also need me to pat your head and praise you for being a good boy?”

Ji Wenxu’s face immediately showed an expression of disgust, “Do you take me for a three-year-old?”

Song Tingyun, “Pretty much.”

Ji Wenxu didn’t argue with him. He turned and walked upstairs, “I’m going to change. Send all the relevant documents to my computer. I’ll read them on the way.”

Song Tingyun stared at his retreating back, his expression gradually deepening.

Perhaps Ji Wenxu had indeed matured into the person Ji Chenghua and the others expected him to be.

If he could successfully complete this negotiation, they might divorce even before their one-year wedding anniversary.

Song Tingyun’s expression held a faint sorrow.

Ji Wenxu happened to catch a glimpse of it when he looked back. But when he looked closer, the face had returned to its usual aloofness.

How strange.

Why did he look so sad?