After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 54

The last time she had visited Xie Zhizhou’s study seemed to be in her previous life, on his birthday.

Since that Immortal Child Holding Lotus jade pendant shattered here, Lin Shengshen had never set foot in this place again. In her memory, this study was vast—with a heavy writing desk, towering bookshelves that reached the ceiling, and a row of pearwood lamp stands.

Lin Shengshen instructed Peilan to keep watch at the door while she herself picked up a small lamp to illuminate the solemn bookshelves and writing desk.

Ancient texts, travelogues, and scrolls were neatly arranged in rows, not a single page corner out of place. On the curio shelf above the desk stood a rugged Taihu Lake stone, while a Buddha’s hand citron rested in a tray, its faint fragrance drifting through the room.

One could easily imagine Xie Zhizhou sitting stern-faced at the desk during ordinary days, handling official matters.

She continued inward.

Passing the cloud-inlaid chair, circling around the folding screen depicting a secluded bamboo pavilion, lifting the mottled bamboo blind, and stepping through a half-open rhombus-patterned small door, she finally reached the inner chamber of the study.

Under the small window, green gauze curtains billowed in the night breeze. Below the window stood a wide daybed, neatly arranged with a soft pillow at each end and a folded quilt placed against the inner side.

Lin Shengshen had no time to admire Xie Zhizhou’s meticulous orderliness. Carrying the lamp, she crouched beside the daybed near the qin table, reached out her hand, and felt around in the darkness until her fingers brushed against a small set of treasure boxes.

She let out a sigh of relief, brought the lamp closer, and began counting as her fingers traced the small handles of the treasure boxes.

First layer…

Second layer…

Third—

“Who’s there?” a voice suddenly echoed in the empty room.

Lin Shengshen was startled, barely suppressing a scream. She hastily covered the lamp with the hem of her outer robe, dimming its light, and shrank further beneath the qin table.

Footsteps gradually drew nearer. Lin Shengshen held her breath.

[Why is Xie Zhizhou here!]

[No, no, I mustn’t think, mustn’t think…]

The surroundings grew so quiet that only the chirping of insects remained.

“So no one’s here after all.”

The footsteps moved again, and from the sound, they had already left the inner chamber. Lin Shengshen exhaled deeply, thinking she must hurry—Xie Zhizhou must have woken in the middle of the night, noticed her absence, and come searching.

Her feet had gone numb. The slightest shift sent a tingling sensation shooting to her brain, nearly bringing tears to her eyes. She hissed softly, carefully retrieved the lamp, and resumed her search for what she wanted.

This time, her fingers found the third layer immediately. She pulled it out and, enduring the numbness in her calves and soles, leaned forward to look.

Empty?!

“Caught you—”

“Ah!” Lin Shengshen fell back onto the floor with a thud, looking up sharply at the man who now loomed over her small hiding spot.

“Xie Zhizhou, how dare you play tricks on me?!”

In an instant, Lin Shengshen had figured it out.

Xie Zhizhou had been lying since earlier tonight! He had long hidden those items away, yet deceived her into believing they were in this treasure box, making her lose sleep searching for them in the dead of night—only to be caught red-handed by him!

Was he treating her like a rabbit to be hunted?!

Furious, Lin Shengshen burst into tears immediately. Ignoring the cold floor, she remained frozen in her previous position.

“You…” Xie Zhizhou panicked, unsure what to do. He circled around the qin table and crouched before Lin Shengshen. “Shengshen…”

“Stop staring! My feet are numb…” Tears still streaked Lin Shengshen’s cheeks, her nose tip flushed red.

Xie Zhizhou knew he had teased her too harshly this time. He quickly stood, bent down, and scooped her into his arms, his chin brushing against her temple.

“Shengshen… don’t cry, I’m sorry.” He carried her to the daybed and began removing her shoes and socks.

Lin Shengshen grabbed Xie Zhizhou’s shoulder and bit down hard, not releasing her grip for a long while before finally letting go.

Xie Zhizhou remained silent, his hands continuously working as he removed her silk socks and set them aside, then began massaging Lin Shengshen’s feet.

Having vented her anger, Lin Shengshen said resentfully, “Doesn’t it hurt? Why don’t you beg for mercy?”

Xie Zhizhou shook his head.

It didn’t hurt – it was ticklish. The warm breath she exhaled against his shoulder sent a tingling numbness spreading throughout his body, making him harden uncontrollably…

Not daring to look again at Lin Shengshen’s tear-streaked face, he lowered his head and focused on massaging her feet.

Her slender, pale feet looked like handfuls of snow in the moonlight.

Xie Zhizhou suddenly remembered that time during Lin Shengshen’s menstrual cycle when the physician had asked him to help remove her socks – he hadn’t lifted a finger then, much less dared to look.

But now…

Suddenly recalling a certain page from a book, he gripped the sole of her foot with one hand, pressing that leg firmly against her front while trapping the other leg beneath his own, then…

Xie Zhizhou’s throat moved as he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, “Feeling better now?”

Lin Shengshen didn’t stand on ceremony, offering her other foot as well. “This one’s still numb.”

Xie Zhizhou took it, grasping both softly curved ankles with one large hand and lifting slightly.

He could actually lift them quite easily. If he were to lift both legs before him as described in that book, then…

Xie Zhizhou’s heart raced wildly as he patiently continued massaging Lin Shengshen’s feet.

After a while, Lin Shengshen twisted her ankles and said, “They feel much better now, but my calves are still uncomfortable.”

Xie Zhizhou’s hands slowly moved upward, applying more pressure as he massaged her calves. “Here?”

Lin Shengshen wiped the tear stains from her face with her sleeve, letting out a few moans under Xie Zhizhou’s pressure. “Mmm… yes… be gentler, ah… Xie Zhizhou, why are you so strong?”

“…” Xie Zhizhou’s breath hitched.

The room was dark, with only moonlight filtering through the small window. Xie Zhizhou saw Lin Shengshen supporting herself with her hands behind her, her chin raised high from the pain, the smooth skin of her neck glowing coldly in the moonlight.

If she could support herself with her hands, he could wrap his arms around her legs and lift her, then…

He absolutely couldn’t let his thoughts wander there anymore.

Xie Zhizhou even misquoted a few lines of the Heart Sutra in his mind.

He felt something surging and burning within him, worse than that time he’d been drugged on the Jade Capital River.

Finally relieved of the discomfort in her calves and feet, and with her pent-up frustration dissipated, Lin Shengshen rolled over on the small couch. Peering through the gaps in the blue gauze curtains, she saw a bright moon hanging high in the sky, gleaming like a round plate.

“No wonder you like sleeping in the study. The inner chamber is so well arranged – for several years, I almost suspected you were hiding a beauty in your study.”

Lin Shengshen was teasing him again.

“I don’t like sleeping in the study.” Xie Zhizhou lay down beside her. “If I could hide a beauty, I would definitely hide Shengshen here where no one else could see her.”

Lin Shengshen shifted further inward as he crowded her, suddenly noticing that Xie Zhizhou’s arm felt burning hot, and even his voice carried an inexplicable hoarseness.

She sat up, hugging her knees and hiding herself completely. “I haven’t settled accounts with you for teasing me yet. Tell me, where did you hide all the letters I wrote?”

Xie Zhizhou lay still. “If Shengshen gives me a kiss, I’ll tell you.”

“You! Don’t push your luck!”

Xie Zhizhou smiled faintly. “Then let me kiss you instead – that works too.”

Lin Shengshen flushed crimson. They were in the study, late at night when all was quiet—what if someone overheard any commotion?

Besides, Peilan was still outside!

If she really let Xie Zhizhou kiss her, it would surely be like the other day—endless, leaving her lips red and swollen, with him taking many liberties, kissing his way downward…

If she had to kiss him—

Lin Shengshen swiftly pressed a kiss to the corner of Xie Zhizhou’s lips, then quickly lifted her head, hugging her knees and shrinking to the side.

“Will you tell me now?”

Xie Zhizhou finally stopped lounging. He sat up and slowly leaned toward Lin Shengshen, like a mountain gradually closing in, trapping her within its confines.

The moonlight flickered, spilling in and retreating from beneath the blue gauze curtains. Lin Shengshen could clearly see Xie Zhizhou’s eyes—dark and intense, somewhat frightening, like a starving wolf from a painting of the wilderness.

“I didn’t feel it just now. Do it again.”

Lin Shengshen was cornered against the low divan, engulfed by Xie Zhizhou’s scorching breath. The faint scent of bergamot in the room now seemed like an aphrodisiac, warm and flowing incessantly between them.

Her back stiffened, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “Xie Zhizhou…”

The dangerous aura drew closer. Xie Zhizhou acted as if he couldn’t hear, continuing to approach until their noses touched and their cheeks brushed.

Suddenly snapping back to her senses, Lin Shengshen scrambled toward the edge of the divan in a panic. “No, no—Peilan is still waiting for me at the door.”

“What do you mean, no?” Xie Zhizhou pulled her back and pressed her against the wall again. “Peilan left long ago.”

“Left? But I—I clearly told her to wait for me…”

“I sent her to prepare the bathwater.”

“Prepare the bathwater…” Lin Shengshen’s cheeks flushed bright red. She balled her fists and pounded them twice against Xie Zhizhou’s chest. “You! You planned this all along, didn’t you?!”

“Shengshen…”

Originally pressed against the wall, Lin Shengshen was pushed back onto the small divan. Xie Zhizhou’s kisses descended upon her like a storm, now gentle sucks, now light pecks, making her tremble softly.

Her outer robe had long come undone, and the ties of her sleeping gown were loose. Lin Shengshen watched helplessly as Xie Zhizhou swiftly stripped off his clothes, revealing a body of taut, vigorous muscles. He was so pale…

Too embarrassed to look, she hurriedly covered her eyes with her hands, but Xie Zhizhou caught her wrists and pinned them beside her ears. “Shengshen, do you like it?”

“I don’t—”

Before she could finish, her lips were captured again. Dizzy and tingling all over, Lin Shengshen went limp, allowing Xie Zhizhou to lay her on the spread-out bedding.

The night breeze stilled, the moonlight calm. Shadows intertwined on the divan, the room filled with a sweet fragrance.

Lin Shengshen couldn’t free her hands to protect the silk ribbon at her front, and could only watch as Xie Zhizhou used his teeth to tug it loose. In an instant, it gave way, and the tingling sensation coursed even more freely across her skin.

“Don’t bite…”

“Shengshen, did you know there’s a tiny mole below your collarbone?” Xie Zhizhou’s lips brushed against it lightly, his hot breath washing over her. “Right here.”

Lin Shengshen felt dazed, as if she had a fever like in childhood. Her lips murmured incoherently as she felt Xie Zhizhou’s scorching kisses. He lingered for a long time—so long that her scalp tingled and she nearly cried out for mercy. An indescribable pleasure and a void she had never experienced washed over her. She whimpered, trying her best not to make any strange sounds.

Finally, he released that spot and moved lower. “Do you know about this mole on your lower abdomen?”

“This one is beautiful, right here.” He gently kissed it.

Lin Shengshen finally cried out, “Xie Zhizhou, you… mustn’t…”

Xie Zhizhou held her waist, watching her slender, pale fingers tightly gripping the back of his hand under the moonlight. She seemed to be using all her strength, yet it felt like a kitten’s scratch—ticklish.

Lin Shengshen thought she must be mad. Otherwise, how could she have been coaxed and tempted by Xie Zhizhou despite her repeated refusals? When she suddenly regained her senses, it was already too late. Her knees felt as if wrapped in two balls of fire, and Xie Zhizhou’s palms were scorching hot.

Her face was now flushed crimson, pleasure and shyness crashing over her. The sensations were so vivid, so unmistakably… At this moment, as he kissed her, she had no time to think further. A sudden tremor seized her, an unfamiliar torrent stripping away and shattering her reason. Tears welled up and spilled over.

So, one could shed tears even without pain…

“Xie… Zhizhou, you…” she sobbed, her words fragmented.

Xie Zhizhou wiped the corners of his mouth and cheeks with her undergarment, then gently kissed the trembling figure in his arms, kissing away her tears, his lips brushing over the corners of her eyes.

“Shengshen, I’m here.”