After Rebirth, My Aloof Husband Can Hear My Inner Thoughts [Transmigration & Rebirth] - Chapter 63

Three more days passed. The wound on Lin Shengshen’s arm had healed, leaving only a scab and faint bruising around it. She could already lift heavy objects freely.

But Xie Zhizhou still forbade her from moving recklessly, so Lin Shengshen had no choice but to stay confined indoors, crafting some Scented Pills.

Noon arrived again. Once all the dishes were served, Lin Shengshen didn’t start eating. Instead, she asked Peilan, “Is he still not coming to eat together today?”

Peilan replied, “This morning, the young master said he had to enter the palace today. I heard it’s regarding Young Master Xu’s matter.”

“Yu Zheng?”

“Young Master Xie secured a good position for Young Master Xu, though it’s rather far—he has to go to Bingzhou.”

Lin Shengshen fell silent. Just a few days ago, the two of them had been at odds, tension simmering beneath the surface. Why was Xie Zhizhou being so kind now?

Suddenly, she recalled last night. Xie Zhizhou seemed to have stayed awake the entire night. First, he gently smoothed her hair, then remained by her side for a long, long time—so long that Lin Shengshen’s thoughts drifted and she nearly fell asleep.

Then, he softly pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips.

Like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface—completely different from how he used to kiss her relentlessly, coaxing her tongue to intertwine with his—Lin Shengshen woke up wondering if it had been a dream. Yet at that moment, she had truly felt her heart tremble.

Xie Zhizhou was acting far too strangely.

Just as she was lost in thought, footsteps echoed from the corridor—unhurried and composed. It was Xie Zhizhou arriving.

It was already autumn. He wore a robe the color of twilight, his hair tied high. Beneath the white jade crown, his face bore an unhealthy pallor, more translucent than jade, as if he had been ill for a long time or had lost too much blood.

His entire demeanor was listless, and the small mole beside the bridge of his nose stood out even more, adding an inexplicable touch of delicacy.

Yet his tall, imposing frame seemed mismatched with such a face. Broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, the contours of his arm muscles subtly shifted beneath the fabric as he moved. His chest was solid and robust—that night in the study, Lin Shengshen had wept against it before he coaxed her onto the desk.

Lin Shengshen frowned, swallowing hard as she forced herself to look away. “What a coincidence, just in time to eat together.”

Hearing her voice, Xie Zhizhou smiled faintly, as if suddenly roused from some distant thought. The cold, weary expression on his face softened considerably.

“Shengshen.”

Lin Shengshen handed him chopsticks and glanced at him tentatively. “Is Prince Su’s matter still giving you trouble lately?”

Xie Zhizhou didn’t touch his utensils, answering earnestly, “Everything is going smoothly. Don’t worry, Shengshen.”

“Oh…” Then what exactly was going on?

Silence fell between them once more.

Lin Shengshen picked at her food quietly, and Xie Zhizhou followed suit.

“Xie Zhizhou, my injury has healed.” Lin Shengshen stole another glance at him. Xie Zhizhou’s Adam’s apple was strikingly defined, jutting prominently from his fair skin, bobbing with each swallow and word. Against the twilight-colored fabric, it resembled a piece of exquisite jade.

Xie Zhizhou paused mid-bite. Without looking at her, he simply hummed in acknowledgment.

Another stretch of silence ensued.

Since her rebirth, Lin Shengshen was no longer the proactive person she once was. In her previous life, she believed that liking was liking, and dislike was dislike—everything should be straightforward and unconcealed. Back then, she had been fearless, pursuing Xie Zhizhou boldly and even offering herself after marriage.

But now, she had changed. Perhaps that night of passion had left her with a lingering craving, or maybe these days of interaction hadn’t been entirely unpleasant. But so what?

Lin Shengshen could reel herself in just as easily.

If Xie Zhizhou had only been toying with her out of fleeting interest, then she could do the same.

Though she couldn’t fathom why Xie Zhizhou seemed so different by day and by night, Lin Shengshen had no desire to dwell on it.

After lunch, as usual, Lin Shengshen waited for Xie Zhizhou to leave indifferently so she could return to her desk and continue researching her Scented Pills.

But Xie Zhizhou didn’t leave. Instead, he picked up a book and settled into the armchair.

“Don’t you have official duties to attend to today?”

“Already finished.”

Lin Shengshen hummed in response and sat at her desk, sketching and writing. Yet she could feel Xie Zhizhou’s scorching gaze fixed on her—inch by inch, layer by layer. That gaze was devouring, consuming Lin Shengshen until nothing remained.

For the entire afternoon, her mind was in disarray. Suddenly lifting her head, she found Xie Zhizhou steadily reading his book—

He had withdrawn his gaze once more.

“……” Lin Shengshen steadied her emotions and continued with her tasks.

But the moment she lowered her head, that gaze crept up again like a hungry beast.

Finally, by evening, Lin Shengshen could bear it no longer. She looked up and stared at Xie Zhizhou. “Why are you looking at me?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“……”

Xie Zhizhou fell silent, tacitly admitting it, then resumed reading.

Lin Shengshen grew somewhat annoyed. She set down her brush, walked over to Xie Zhizhou, bent down to meet his eyes at the same level, their noses almost touching.

Staring into his dark, profound eyes, she demanded sharply, “Are you really not looking at me?”

Xie Zhizhou drowned in her gaze and slowly replied, “I am.”

Lin Shengshen pressed further, “Why are you looking at me?”

Her eyes were bright, like shimmering moonlight, and the lingering fragrance of flower tea from after dinner still clung between her lips. Xie Zhizhou’s lips twitched as he restrained his wildly beating heart. “You’re beautiful.”

“……” Lin Shengshen suddenly blushed. “Nonsense.”

She straightened up, intending to leave, but Xie Zhizhou grabbed her wrist. His palm was slightly cool, unlike its usual scorching heat—this was the first time in half a month he had actively touched her during the day.

Lin Shengshen turned back, her gaze shifting from his hand to his face.

Xie Zhizhou seemed deeply conflicted, hesitating to speak, completely unlike his usual decisive and authoritative self.

Finally, he spoke, “Is your injury truly healed?”

If it is, will you leave?

Lin Shengshen raised an eyebrow and smiled. “That day I felt like I was dying, but after resting for half a month, I’ve recovered completely. Don’t you think my constitution is quite robust?”

Xie Zhizhou nodded—Lin Shengshen’s vitality was indeed vigorous.

“These past few days, my parents and brother have been terribly worried. I need to rest for a couple more days, then return to the Lin residence before the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.”

Xie Zhizhou lowered his lashes. Once you go back, you won’t return, will you?

Lin Shengshen’s wrist ached from his tight grip. She tried to shake him off, but he held on even tighter.

“Shengshen, do you remember we still have a game of Pai Gow to settle?”

Hearing this, Lin Shengshen’s eyes lit up, and she laughed. “I never expected you to take the initiative to play this with me.” She had always assumed he would disdain such games.

Xie Zhizhou said, “How about we play today?”

Lin Shengshen was delighted and called for Peilan to bring wine. The two set up wine cups on the small couch, and Lin Shengshen skillfully shuffled the tiles.

“Let’s be clear—this time it’s not like last time with small Pai Gow. Don’t think you can rely on luck to beat me again.”

Xie Zhizhou nodded. “Last time there was a wager. What about this time? Just drinking?”

Lin Shengshen said, “Don’t underestimate me. When Peilan and Baidou play with me, they get carried out drunk. What? Isn’t drinking enough?”

Xie Zhizhou proposed, “How about the winner gets to ask the loser a question? If the loser refuses to answer, they drink.”

Lin Shengshen thought this was a great idea. Xie Zhizhou had always been the one probing her thoughts; she had never had a chance to explore his. Either way, she wouldn’t lose out.

Lin Shengshen agreed readily.

Shuffling and exchanging tiles created a clattering noise. They competed fiercely, and in the end, Lin Shengshen narrowly won.

She smiled, filled a wine cup, and asked, “What has been bothering you these past few days?”

Xie Zhizhou froze slightly, remained silent, took the cup, and drank it in one go.

Lin Shengshen frowned slightly, her suspicions growing stronger, but she kept them to herself and continued shuffling and exchanging tiles.

The second round, Lin Shengshen won again. This time she filled the wine cup to the brim, tilting her head as she asked Xie Zhizhou, “Why do you keep looking at me? Don’t talk nonsense.”

Xie Zhizhou lowered his eyelids, concealing his somber gaze, picked up the wine cup, and drained it in one gulp.

The third round, after several struggles, unexpectedly Xie Zhizhou won.

Xie Zhizhou only poured half a cup of wine, not handing it over, and looked at her seriously as he asked, “Do you like me?”

Lin Shengshen froze, staring at his handsome face, broad shoulders, and the elegant robe he wore. She pondered for a moment, forcing herself not to think anything in her mind, afraid Xie Zhizhou might overhear her thoughts.

She took the wine cup from Xie Zhizhou’s hand and drank it in two or three sips.

It was sweet wine. She guessed Peilan, seeing the two of them in the mood for a late-night drink, had deliberately chosen a wine with a pleasant taste that could bring a slight tipsiness after just a few sips.

The fourth round, Lin Shengshen won. She didn’t pour any wine, holding the empty cup as she asked, “What about you?”

Xie Zhizhou replied, “I like you, I really do. I like you very much, Lin Shengshen.”

The alcohol was starting to take effect. Lin Shengshen’s cheeks flushed red, and she felt her heart beating wildly. She filled a cup and handed it to Xie Zhizhou: “That’s not what I was asking. You answered wrong.”

Xie Zhizhou didn’t press further about what she had actually meant to ask. He obediently took the wine and drank it all in one go. A few drops of the sweet wine trickled down his chin to his Adam’s apple, then soaked into his collar.

Lin Shengshen thought to herself that the wine must be strong, otherwise why would she keep staring at Xie Zhizhou’s Adam’s apple?

The fifth round, Xie Zhizhou won. Lin Shengshen felt somewhat frustrated.

This time, Xie Zhizhou filled the cup to the brim and asked her, “Do you like me?”

The same question again. Lin Shengshen took a deep breath, picked up the wine cup, and took four or five sips before barely finishing it.

She turned the cup upside down and shook it, looking at Xie Zhizhou as she said, “I didn’t spill a single drop.”

Xie Zhizhou couldn’t hear what she was thinking, nor could he hear any response from her. Outside the window, the night grew deeper, swallowing his heart along with it.

The sixth round, Xie Zhizhou won again. Watching Lin Shengshen across from him tightly close her eyes and then open them, staring blankly at his face, her lips like sugar-preserved cherries, red and glistening with a sweet gloss.

Xie Zhizhou steeled himself, filled another cup to the brim, and asked, “Do you like me?”

Lin Shengshen propped herself up on the low table with one hand, her eyes downcast, her breath soft and light, as if she had fallen asleep or was lost in thought over the question.

Seeing her swaying and almost unable to support herself, Xie Zhizhou moved to sit beside her, leaning close to her ear as he asked, “Lin Shengshen, do you like me?”

His tone was both coaxing and pleading.

Lin Shengshen, held in his embrace, reached for the wine cup, but Xie Zhizhou held it high above her. Sitting, she couldn’t reach it, so she straightened up slightly to try again. Unsteady, she slipped and fell forward against Xie Zhizhou, her nose bumping right into his Adam’s apple.

His Adam’s apple was indeed hard. The tip of Lin Shengshen’s nose ached sharply, and she nearly cried.

She reached out and tapped his Adam’s apple, saying resentfully, “I don’t like you!”

Xie Zhizhou took a deep breath, his eyes darkening, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His large hand cupped the back of Lin Shengshen’s head, forcing her to look directly at him.

“Do you like me?”

The distance was close, reminiscent of their intimate moments days before. Their mingled breaths and the sweet scent of wine were like a stone dropped into water, creating ripples that swayed between them. Lin Shengshen struggled to think about the question, no longer caring whether Xie Zhizhou could hear her thoughts. But after pondering for a while, she still had no answer.

Lin Shengshen replied, “I want to drink.”

Xie Zhizhou closed his eyes, concealing the pain within them, released her, and downed the wine in his hand in one gulp. “You’re drunk. I’ll drink for you.”

Lin Shengshen was furious. Since childhood, while playing dominoes, she had never cheated—how could she let Xie Zhizhou drink on her behalf this time?

She pounded on Xie Zhizhou’s chest, hard as stone and unmoving, without even a grunt from him. Defeated, Lin Shengshen went limp, leaning into Xie Zhizhou’s embrace, her delicate skin inadvertently brushing against his waist and legs as she muttered under her breath.

“Who told you to steal my wine? Another round.”

Holding her warm, soft form in his arms, Xie Zhizhou’s heart bled with pain. She said nothing, and he couldn’t hear her thoughts. Perhaps Lin Shengshen truly didn’t like him.

In a few days, she would leave, wouldn’t she?

Lin Shengshen straightened up and shuffled the tiles again.

The cool dominoes passing through her palms sobered her slightly. Earlier, in her disarray, when she had thrown herself into Xie Zhizhou’s arms, she had even felt the urge to bite his throat… Now, thinking back, she felt a pang of regret.

In the seventh round, Lin Shengshen won, and with surprising ease—perhaps Xie Zhizhou couldn’t hold his liquor well.

Lin Shengshen filled a cup to the brim. “You drank for me earlier; this time, I’ll drink for you.”

Xie Zhizhou watched her sway unsteadily and frowned. “You can’t drink anymore.”

“Then tell me honestly,” she said, lifting the cup. “What has been upsetting you these past few days?”

Xie Zhizhou’s palm rubbed against the curve of her waist, his once cold hand now burning hot. His gaze, laden with desire and pain, fixed on Lin Shengshen’s face, intense and unguarded.

The longing he had fiercely restrained and the farewell he had slowly grown accustomed to were utterly shattered by Lin Shengshen.

Was she asking out of concern for him?

Did she, after all, like him?

Xie Zhizhou was no bottomless drinker; the alcohol was taking its toll, clouding his mind.

Let him believe Lin Shengshen cared. Let him believe she liked him. Let him indulge in this longing one last time.

When Lin Shengshen received no answer, she cupped Xie Zhizhou’s face with both hands, her warm palms pressed against him, and asked, “Tell me.”

Before the words faded, Xie Zhizhou pinned her to the small couch in an instant. Sweet wine from the side table spilled, trickling over Lin Shengshen’s collarbone, the fragrant liquid flowing down her fair skin into her robes.

Xie Zhizhou tore open her front with a fierce motion.

The sound of fabric ripping sobered Lin Shengshen halfway. A sudden chill swept over her chest, and before she could cry out, Xie Zhizhou buried his face against her, drinking the wine from her softness, sucking with audible sounds.

Her gasp melted into a sigh of pleasure. Spurred by the alcohol, Lin Shengshen boldly tugged at Xie Zhizhou’s clothes.

Xie Zhizhou lifted his head, taking in her enchanting eyes and the snow-white skin that stirred his blood. Following her lead, he removed his upper garment, revealing well-defined muscles, and guided her hand to caress them.

“Like me a little more,” he murmured, his voice hoarse and deep.

Touching with her hands and gazing with her eyes, Lin Shengshen felt utterly content. Another wave of intoxication shattered her reason, her lips parting slightly, tongue pressed between her teeth as if enticing the man above to explore further.

Xie Zhizhou’s eyes were bloodshot. “Don’t you dare complain about pain or exhaustion this time.”

Lin Shengshen’s voice was delicate and alluring. “Xie Zhizhou… have some mercy on me…”