After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 51

Faint insect chirps drifted in from beyond the window, leaves rustled softly, and a cool breeze swept in, causing Lin Shengshen’s nightgown to flutter.

Xie Zhizhou went to close the window, then returned to stand before Lin Shengshen, wrapping his arms around her. “Are you cold?”

The sensation felt novel—the person she had adored for years but who had never shown her any kindness was now unexpectedly gentle and tender.

Lin Shengshen felt the urge to tease him again.

“I’m very hot.”

Xie Zhizhou stiffened for a moment, loosening his hold slightly. “Really?”

Lin Shengshen deliberately remained silent, not wanting to dwell on the matter.

After hesitating briefly, Xie Zhizhou reluctantly withdrew his arms.

“Still hot?”

“Much better.”

“Your monthly cycle is approaching—you mustn’t catch a chill.”

Lin Shengshen was surprised. “You know about that too?”

“Naturally.”

They fell into silence again. This newly clarified relationship felt like the apprehension of nearing home after a long absence—both thrilling and unsettling.

“You—”

“You—”

They spoke at the same time, then stopped simultaneously. Lin Shengshen said, “You go first.”

Xie Zhizhou didn’t stand on ceremony. “Were you really just talking nonsense last night? Did it really not hurt?”

“…”

[I should have spoken first!]

Lin Shengshen’s face flushed again. Suddenly, she recalled how he had pressed her against the desk earlier, his slender, jade-like fingers brushing that spot, and her heart inexplicably tightened.

She lowered her head and shook it.

Xie Zhizhou took a step closer, his waist and abdomen pressing against her knees. Gripping her shoulders, he asked seriously, “Then did it feel good?”

“…” Lin Shengshen wanted to flee.

Because she was genuinely afraid of being caught and interrogated about exactly which parts felt good.

Lin Shengshen avoided answering the question. “Your injuries haven’t healed yet. It’s late—you should go back and rest early.”

But Xie Zhizhou said, “Go back? Go back where?”

“To the Golden Moon Pavilion.”

Xie Zhizhou stated matter-of-factly, “The bed frame split down the middle. It’s unusable.”

Lin Shengshen was both shocked and skeptical. “How is that possible?”

As she spoke, she made to jump down from the desk to go check the Golden Moon Pavilion, but before she could move, she suddenly paused. Forget it—if Xie Zhizhou could break the small couch a few days ago, what’s so strange about him breaking a bed today?

He was burning his bridges, determined not to rest until he slept in the same place as her.

Lin Shengshen chuckled. “Since it’s broken, the newly purchased small couch in my room is quite spacious—much better than the last one. You can sleep there tonight.”

Xie Zhizhou didn’t respond. After a moment, he released her shoulders, turned, and went to the inner chamber’s square-corner cabinet to fetch a thin set of bedding, then headed toward the small couch.

The nights had been growing gradually colder lately, yet he specifically chose such thin bedding—was he planning to use the “suffering gambit” again? Lin Shengshen laughed softly, swinging her legs as she sat on the desk. “It’s quite chilly by the window—I wonder if the small couch will be cold—”

Before she could finish, Xie Zhizhou had already tossed the bedding aside, strode over, gripped Lin Shengshen by the waist, lifted her up, and slung her over his shoulder as he marched toward the bed. “The small couch is freezing cold. Nowhere is as warm as my wife’s bed.”

Lin Shengshen gasped in surprise, then pounded his back upside down. “Put me down! You scoundrel!”

“Oh? Shengshen has learned a new word. This time it’s not ‘shameless and vulgar’?”

Lin Shengshen was tossed into the brocade quilt. Before she could shrink toward the wall, he grabbed her ankle and pulled her down.

Xie Zhizhou pinned down the restless figure, unable to resist first kissing Lin Shengshen’s cheek. “Since I’m allowed to like you, can’t I do it in my own way?”

Lin Shengshen froze for a moment, then found it reasonable. In her past life, she had also liked Xie Zhizhou in her own way—making incense for him, bringing him umbrellas, stealing glances at him during banquets, arranging coincidental encounters, and scouring the world for gifts to give him.

She nodded blankly.

Xie Zhizhou continued, “I want to make you feel good.”

Her face, which had just cooled from the feverish blush, flushed red again. Lin Shengshen pushed him away. “Don’t.”

Xie Zhizhou kissed the corner of her lips. “I’ll just kiss you a little.”

Amid their movements, Xie Zhizhou’s robe loosened, revealing a broad expanse of his chest. The contours of firm muscles lay hidden beneath the fabric, his fair skin—rarely touched by sunlight—clean and beautiful, exactly the type Lin Shengshen liked.

Lin Shengshen wavered slightly.

Xie Zhizhou caught her moment of hesitation. He lowered his head to capture her lips, sucking and teasing the plump, rounded curve of her mouth until the body beneath him trembled softly.

The glimpse of spring scenery was quickly blocked, and Lin Shengshen’s mind cleared again. She tried to push him off but couldn’t, her hands instead captured and pinned above her head amidst her scattered hair.

A long while later, when Lin Shengshen felt utterly limp and powerless to struggle, Xie Zhizhou finally released her lips, gently pecking the corner of her mouth as if to comfort her.

“Mmm…” Lin Shengshen’s chest heaved rapidly.

Following her gaze, Xie Zhizhou glanced down at his disheveled robe and chuckled, then swiftly removed it.

“Do you like this?”

Lin Shengshen closed her eyes, refusing to look. Xie Zhizhou kissed her eyelids.

She still didn’t open her eyes. Suddenly, her wrist was seized by a large hand and pulled forward—

Beneath her fingers was skin that rose and fell gently, and under her palm lay a distinct prominence…

Just as Lin Shengshen realized what she was touching, her eyes flew open to see Xie Zhizhou guiding her hand over his chest, even making her fingers knead it lightly.

She shut her eyes again, feeling her nose grow warm—afraid she might lose composure if she kept looking.

Xie Zhizhou didn’t release her hand, leaning close to her ear as he breathed warmly, “Why won’t you look?”

“Didn’t you say you’d only kiss me a little…?”

Xie Zhizhou laughed. “Fine, then just a kiss.”

Lin Shengshen suddenly felt deceived—like suggesting to break a window would be met with refusal, but proposing to tear down the house would make others settle for the window.

Her tongue grew numb, even sore from his sucking. She bit his lip in retaliation, only to be met with fiercer nibbling and licking. She felt like crying but had no tears left.

Xie Zhizhou, rarely receiving any response from Lin Shengshen, was naturally overjoyed and repaid her twofold. In the end, he even brushed away the tears at the corner of her eyes with his thumb, straightened her tea-white sleepwear, and tucked the red-marked curves of her skin back into the robe. Holding her soft, fragrant form, he soothed her with gentle kisses.

The night passed peacefully. Lin Shengshen, still in possession of her senses, ultimately prevented him from going further. She slept in her clothes, while Xie Zhizhou, bare-chested like a furnace, held her in his embrace all night.

Early the next morning, Xie Changxing indeed sent someone with gifts to inquire when Young Master Xie and Miss Lin would return home.

Although Chen Yuying tended to turn a blind eye, she still had some knowledge of the situations at Golden Moon Pavilion and Shuying Pavilion.

She had heard that the bed in Golden Moon Pavilion broke last night, and after Young Master Xie went to Shengshen’s residence, he never came out. What exactly were these two up to last night? She discreetly asked the matron at Shuying Pavilion and learned that no hot water had been requested during the night.

Her daughter had her own ideas, and she didn’t feel it appropriate to interfere. Judging by the current situation, Shengshen and Young Master Xie hadn’t reached the point of tearing up their marriage contract and seeking a divorce.

So Chen Yuying received the Xie family’s envoy with utmost politeness, leaving no room for criticism.

At noon, the family gathered for a meal together. Lin Xunen had fallen ill since last night and didn’t attend, while Lin Zhiping rushed to the palace to deal with corrupt officials implicated in the spring floods and was also absent.

Coincidentally, Xu Wei came to the residence for a visit. Though he missed Lin Zhiping, he happened to arrive right at mealtime, and Chen Yuying cheerfully invited him to join them.

Xu Wei readily agreed.

During the meal, Xie Zhizhou was no different from before—reserved and indifferent, only adopting a gentle demeanor occasionally when responding to Chen Yuying’s questions.

Lin Shengshen’s lips were still slightly swollen and hadn’t fully subsided. Too embarrassed to look up, she kept her head down and focused on eating.

Xu Wei, as youthful and talkative as ever, chattered away.

“Did you like the trinkets I brought yesterday, Sister? If not, next time I go to Gusu, I’ll pick out some more interesting ones for you.”

Lin Shengshen nodded repeatedly, saying she liked them and there was no need to trouble himself further.

Xie Zhizhou picked up a piece of food and placed it in her bowl.

It happened to be the braised pork knuckle she loved, so she continued eating.

This time, Xie Zhizhou took on the demeanor of an elder brother and asked Xu Wei, “What insights have you gained from your studies on water management in Jiangnan?”

Since Xu Wei was so fond of playing the younger brother role, he might as well commit to it fully.

Xu Wei was taken aback. Though somewhat resentful, he had to acknowledge that Xie Zhizhou had risen rapidly through the ranks, now holding the position of Vice Minister and serving as His Majesty’s right-hand man—a genuine senior in the field.

He offered a few responses.

Xie Zhizhou nodded faintly and said coolly, “A few theoretical points alone aren’t enough. With the heavy autumn rains this year, you should be assigned to the prefectures and counties to gain practical experience.”

If it were anyone else, such guidance would have been met with delight, but Xu Wei was far from pleased.

Xu Wei glanced at Lin Shengshen. The marriage between the Xie and Lin families had stirred up gossip in Yunjing, with rumors suggesting a divorce was inevitable within the year. If he were to spend the autumn busy with water management in the provinces, by the time he returned, it would likely be the New Year. And if Wen Lingzhou succeeded in the northwestern campaign, he might even petition for a marriage grant before his troops returned to the capital.

By then, Xu Wei would truly be too late and unable to wait any longer.

Xu Wei shook his head. “I’m still young and in no hurry to go to the provinces. I’ll stay in Yunjing for a couple of years and focus on settling down first.”

His gaze drifted toward Lin Shengshen but was blocked by Xie Zhizhou’s arm as he poured tea for her.

Xie Zhizhou resumed his usual aloof and indifferent tone. “Oh? A true man should establish his career before starting a family. What can a young man absorbed in comfort and luxury possibly achieve?”

His words carried the weight of an elder brother’s authority.

Xu Wei sneered. “If I meet the one I love, should I make her suffer and wait until I’ve achieved fame and success?”

Xie Zhizhou ladled another bowl of sweet soup for Lin Shengshen. “I wouldn’t know. After all, when I married Sister, I had no such worries.”

“Shengshen, have some more hot soup.” He didn’t forget to whisper a reminder.

This was showing off, and it was the kind of showing off that left no room for argument. How many young talents were there in all of Yunjing? Xie Zhizhou was among the best. By bringing up these achievements, wasn’t he just shutting down everyone else’s words?

Xu Wei gritted his teeth and, setting that aside, said, “Marriage isn’t just about success and fame; it also depends on whether both parties are in love.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Zhizhou leaned back in his armchair, adopting a very relaxed posture. “Naturally, mutual affection is the most important. One-sided love is the most ridiculous, don’t you think, Yuzheng?”

Lin Shengshen glanced at him. Wasn’t Xie Zhizhou currently in a one-sided situation? Yet he pretended as if he had everything under control.

Xie Zhizhou turned his head and met Lin Shengshen’s gaze, offering a gentle smile. “Would you like some more honey-preserved plum blossoms?”

These words and actions truly stabbed Xu Wei right in the heart. Lin Shengshen had always treated him like a younger brother; even his marriage proposal back then was taken as a joke. It seemed she really had no feelings for him…

But, fortunes change. Once Shengshen grew tired of Xie Zhizhou, the next one might just be him.