After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 2

A chilly night breeze drifted through the latticed window, causing the bed curtains to flutter like dancing butterflies.

The figure on the bed remained motionless, continuing to chatter away as if she hadn’t heard him.

[Since marrying Xie Zhizhou, not a single good thing has happened. Isn’t that just bad luck?]

[It’s too late now. If I had the choice, I’d never marry Xie Zhizhou in this lifetime!]

[Well, what’s done is done. It’s not impossible for us to live our separate lives.]

[Since he never cared for me in the first place, I might as well enjoy the peace and quiet.]

[The only one benefiting from this is that scoundrel Xie Zhizhou.]

[When the time is right, I’ll pack up and return home. While I’m still young and full of life, remarrying won’t be a problem!]

[I should start making preparations early, picking from among those noble young masters who once came to propose marriage.]

Who would have thought that Lin Shengshen, usually so docile and compliant, harbored such deep resentment in private?

If that were the case, why had she stirred up trouble throughout the Xie household, inciting the elders to pressure him into consummating the marriage?

Xie Zhizhou pressed his knuckles against his jade ring, suppressing his rising anger as he strode toward the canopy bed. Lin Shengshen continued her muttering.

[I must have been blind back then. How could a man with nothing but good looks and not an ounce of warmth ever—]

“What did you say?”

“Ah!”

Lin Shengshen jumped at the sudden, ghost-like voice, nearly leaping off the bed.

[Why is he here?]

[Where’s Peilan? Didn’t I tell her to guard the door? What’s going on?]

[How does this man move around like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace!]

“So noisy.”

Xie Zhizhou’s ears were filled with Lin Shengshen’s incessant chatter. Through the layers of gauze, he could only make out her silhouette.

Lin Shengshen quickly covered her mouth, stifling her gasp. Steadying herself, she said, “Hus… Why are you here?”

[I really can’t bring myself to call him ‘husband.’ I don’t know how I managed to say it so cheerfully before.]

[Wearing head-to-black in the dead of night—if I didn’t recognize his voice, I’d think he was a burglar!]

[Am I just dreaming?]

Listening to her disjointed ramblings, Xie Zhizhou’s patience wore thin. He stepped forward and parted the bed curtains.

The room was unlit, the cold moonlight flowing softly through the gauze. Lin Shengshen sat pressed against the wall, her collar undone, revealing fair skin partly veiled by her dark, cascading hair.

Her expression was guarded, her eyes regarding him as if he were a flower thief who had barged into her bedchamber. Her fingers clutched the brocade quilt tightly, trembling with tension and fear.

This was not the familiar, obedient, and submissive woman he knew.

Xie Zhizhou suddenly found the person before him somewhat unfamiliar. Suppressing his doubts, he said coldly, “You know why I’m here.”

Xie Zhizhou was unwilling about this marriage.

Chancellor Lin was a rising star in the court, a commoner official personally promoted by the Emperor to balance the influence of noble families.

Had it not been for the restlessness among the noble families and the Emperor’s urgency to ease tensions between the old and new factions, he and Lin Shengshen would never have crossed paths in this lifetime.

Having served as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review for two years, Xie Zhizhou had devoted himself wholeheartedly to his duties without negligence, setting aside romantic affairs and matters of the heart.

Since her youth, Lin Shengshen had persistently pursued him—sending countless letters and jade pendants, often feigning chance encounters to offer solicitous care. Xie Zhizhou had never paid her any mind.

Thus, on their wedding day, Xie Zhizhou made his boundaries clear to her.

That night, Xie Zhizhou declined the toasts from his colleagues and, after brief formalities, entered the bridal chamber.

The room was awash in vibrant red, with candlelight flickering in harmony. Lin Shengshen sat by the bedside. He stepped forward and casually lifted her veil, unwilling to spare a glance at the delicate bride, then turned his back to her with his hands clasped behind him.

“From now on, we shall go our separate ways. Do not harbor any illusions of love just because you married me.”

“Brother Zhizhou…” Her voice seemed to tremble with tears.

Her fingertips hesitantly reached toward his palm before withdrawing cautiously. Xie Zhizhou departed indifferently, pausing briefly to glance at the assortment of pastries and two cups of wine on the table. “Don’t wait for me,” he said. “Retire early.”

A faint, sweet fragrance of pear blossoms lingered in the air, though it was not the season for them to bloom. It felt as if he were standing in a sea of flowers—a scent Xie Zhizhou had always disliked.

Frowning, he snapped back to reality and looked at Lin Shengshen, who was huddled in the corner.

So, was she angry that he had abandoned her on their wedding night? Or was she trying to use this opportunity to gain some leverage?

Xie Zhizhou’s expression remained cold and stern. This was merely a formality, and he had no intention of complicating matters.

He had always detested affectation and had no patience for coaxing women.

Since she had gone to such lengths to become his wife, she ought to be sensible.

[I know, of course I know! You’re here out of obligation, you’re here to go through the motions, your presence here bodes no good!]

[Oh no, oh no! Could he actually intend to consummate the marriage?]

Lin Shengshen felt a chill in front of her and hurriedly wrapped herself tightly in the brocade quilt. “I… I don’t know,” she said.

…

Bathed in the cold, pale moonlight, Xie Zhizhou noticed for the first time that Lin Shengshen’s lips were strikingly red—full and plump, like ripe cherries.

Those lips had just uttered a single sentence, but he had heard two—and many more besides:

[Is he planning to linger? Consummating the marriage isn’t that important anyway…]

[Why is he staring at me? Is there something wrong?]

[Why isn’t he leaving? Why isn’t he leaving? A man and a woman alone in the dead of night—isn’t Xie Zhizhou supposed to be a gentleman? What is he doing standing here?]

A night owl’s call echoed from outside the window, shattering the heavy silence of the night.

Beneath Xie Zhizhou’s calm and indifferent demeanor, a storm was raging. When he looked at his wife, it seemed he could hear her innermost thoughts…

And she was truly noisy.

Xie Zhizhou took another step forward, leaning in slightly to fix his gaze intently on Lin Shengshen.

Lin Shengshen’s heart clenched. Her hands, hidden within the quilt, tightened silently. Though she had pursued Xie Zhizhou for years, she had never received a direct glance from him. Now, with their eyes locked and their breaths nearly mingling, it was an unprecedented moment.

[Xie Zhizhou, what is wrong with you!!!]

Xie Zhizhou was peerlessly handsome. No matter how much Lin Shengshen detested him at this moment, she could not deny his extraordinary appearance.

In her past life, Lin Shengshen found such handsome features combined with his aloof aura utterly captivating, but now she only felt a chilling coldness.

[What does he want? If I refuse, is he going to force me?]

Lin Shengshen boldly met Xie Zhizhou’s gaze.

Clouds veiled the moon, and the bed curtains suddenly darkened.

Lin Shengshen had sharp eyesight and could still clearly see Xie Zhizhou’s face before her. On the right side of his tall, straight nose bridge was a small mole, and below his thin lips was a clean, defined jawline. When he wasn’t smiling, his face was detached and distant, like a lofty deity.

As for when he smiled… Lin Shengshen didn’t know—she had never seen it.

A sudden wave of irritation surged within her. If they were supposed to keep to their own affairs, what did Xie Zhizhou mean by behaving like this now?

[Does he really think I, Lin Shengshen, am someone he can summon and dismiss at will?]

[If you don’t leave now, I’ll call for help! A noble son from a century-old prestigious family, forcing his wife in the inner chambers—let’s see if you dare let this scandal spread.]

Xie Zhizhou let out an almost imperceptible cold laugh, straightened up, and created some distance as he said, “I thought you would be willing.”

[What’s so enjoyable about this? Aside from pain, there’s no other feeling. Who would possibly be willing?]

Pain?

It seemed his wife, who appeared obedient and demure on the surface, was actually well-read and knowledgeable about many things behind the scenes.

Xie Zhizhou released the bed curtain and moved to press closer. Layers of floral and butterfly patterns swept past behind him as the curtains closed, enclosing the two of them within.

Lin Shengshen’s exquisite face was now right before him. This was the first time he had carefully observed his wife—her almond-shaped eyes, vermilion lips, and curled lashes truly lived up to the praise his colleagues had given on their wedding day:

Bright eyes and pearly teeth, skin like ice and bones like jade, a celestial beauty.

[Ah!!! No!!!]

Xie Zhizhou paused, bracing his upper body over the bed as he studied Lin Shengshen, who wore a terrified expression, remained silent, but whose inner thoughts were as frantic as a boiling kettle.

She was really too noisy.

Following Xie Zhizhou’s gaze, Lin Shengshen saw one of her feet exposed outside the brocade quilt, the delicate sole tensely gripping the bedding.

The atmosphere grew even more awkward. Lin Shengshen quickly tucked her foot back under the quilt, shrinking further away as she said, “I’m not willing.”

[Heavens, could Xie Zhizhou actually think he’s skilled in bed? Hah.]

[It hurts like hell. Let whoever wants to do it, do it.]

…

Xie Zhizhou’s expression darkened abruptly. Gazing at his wife, who avoided him as if he were a venomous snake, he paused before saying, “Since you’re unwilling, then behave yourself.”

With that, he rose, swept the bed curtains aside, and strode away.

Lin Shengshen, bewildered, watched his tall, retreating figure and let out a sigh of relief.

Peilan hurried in. “Miss, are you all right?”

Lin Shengshen replied, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Peilan approached and rearranged the bedding for Lin Shengshen. “Miss, you used to long for the young master’s visits. Now that he’s finally here today, why did it end so unhappily?”

Seeing the young master’s grim expression and his swift departure earlier, it was likely he wouldn’t return for a long time.

Thinking this, Peilan cautiously glanced at Lin Shengshen.

To his surprise, Lin Shengshen didn’t even redden her eyes, instead showing a hint of relief at having narrowly escaped disaster.

As Peilan helped her lie down, Lin Shengshen said, “Tomorrow, bring me the account books from Baoxiang Tower. We have our own affairs to attend to—why should we care whether men are pleased or not?”

The night deepened. Xie Zhizhou walked through the darkness in silence.

“Yuan Qing, come here.”

Yuan Qing, who had been quietly following his master, steeled himself and stepped forward.

Ever since leaving Tangli Residence, the young master had worn a grim expression, clearly in a foul mood. What could he want now that he was summoning him forward?

Stopping in his tracks, Xie Zhizhou looked down at Yuan Qing and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Ah?” Yuan Qing’s heart skipped a beat. “I—I wasn’t thinking about anything.”

After a moment of silence, Xie Zhizhou said, “Speak truthfully. I won’t punish you.”

Yuan Qing knelt. “Please forgive me, young master. I was just thinking about my wife at home. Yesterday she said she’d make lamb soup noodles for me tonight.” But with how late he’d be off duty today, he ought to send word for her not to wait up and to rest early.

Xie Zhizhou stared at Yuan Qing. The silence was so profound one could hear a pin drop, with only the rustling wind whipping at their robes—

He couldn’t hear what Yuan Qing was thinking.

“Go.”

“You may leave early today.”

Overjoyed, Yuan Qing departed, leaving Xie Zhizhou standing alone in the night breeze.

Was this sudden ability to hear Lin Shengshen’s inner thoughts deliberately arranged by someone, or merely an accident?

Lin Shengshen’s earlier expression surfaced in his mind—her aloofness, fear, and detachment seemed genuine.

It appeared all those years of seemingly uncontrollable affection and desperate pursuit had been an act.

She had endured disgust while feigning fondness, performing before him for so long.

And he—he had actually been deceived by this insignificant woman for years…