My Husband's Eyes Have Been Looking Different Lately After Our Marriage of Convenience - Chapter 22.2

Chapter 22.2: “Song Ai, do you want it again…?”

Song Ai said nothing. First, because he knew speaking now would only add fuel to the fire; second, because he truly felt guilty—his chat log with Madam Song was a wall of white bubbles with zero green.

After a moment, Madam Song calmed down and returned to a normal tone. “Fine. I just got back from a business trip out of province. I’ve been working non-stop and I’m exhausted; I don’t have the energy to settle old scores with you now… You don’t have plans tomorrow, do you?”

Song Ai lowered his eyes, his tone flat. “No.”

“Good. Then come out for dinner with me tomorrow. Any other questions?” Madam Song was used to being a CEO; she was a natural at giving orders and making arrangements. Song Ai, having lived under her pressure since childhood, was naturally accustomed to it.

There weren’t really any problems, but Song Ai was curious: “When did you… go on the trip?”

Song Huaiwan: “…”

The mother and son were cut from the same cloth when it came to being infuriating—though in recent years, the son’s growing skill usually won by a narrow margin. The line went dead with a “beep.”

Song Ai curled his lips and walked back into the shop to play his game.

The three of them hung out until evening, parting ways around 8 PM when Li Shang’s mother called him home. Wang Ruijing had intended to stay longer with Song Ai but received a call from an unknown number. His expression changed after a few words; when Song Ai asked what was wrong, he simply made an excuse about having something to do and left as well.

Song Ai drove around the city’s outer ring a few times. Being alone was too boring, so he eventually returned to the Lu residence. Before going in, he checked the time: 9:05 PM.

He wasn’t sure if Lu Tingyun was back yet. Song Ai didn’t know much about the other’s schedule; in the past, one left early and came back late while the other left late and came back even later. They almost never met. However, the number of times they’d seen each other recently probably equaled the past six months combined.

After some internal struggle, Song Ai decided to just go with the flow. Whatever—just go in!

Considering it might rain tomorrow, Song Ai drove into the underground garage. As he got out, he saw a black Cayenne parked nearby—the one Lu Tingyun usually took.

He’s back?

Speculating, Song Ai entered the elevator. The elevator stopped at the living room. It was pitch black outside the glass doors, creating a perfect horror atmosphere. Song Ai opened the door and saw a short “ghost” in black pajamas drifting around the dining room.

He thought for a moment, pressed the side of his phone screen, and silently crept up behind the short “ghost.” When the other person sensed something was wrong and turned around, Song Ai instantly turned on his screen and held the light under his chin, letting out a low “Heh—”

“AHHH!!!”

Cheng Chao was indeed startled, nearly falling over. Once he saw the magnified “ghost” face, he realized it was just Song Ai’s prank!

“You, you, you…”

“What about me?” Song Ai brushed aside his pointing hand and took the initiative: “Spill it. What are you doing sneaking around the dining room in the middle of the night?”

He didn’t speak loudly, but the villa’s living and dining areas were connected and very spacious; even a small sound would be amplified.

Cheng Chao, with a guilty conscience, held up a finger. “Shh! Keep it down! Don’t let my brother hear.”

Song Ai noticed the half-eaten bun in his arms and understood instantly. He said dismissively, “What’s there to be careful about? Your brother isn’t a tyrant who forbids eating at night. Besides, it’s not even that late. Eat in peace.”

It was the truth. Song Ai often returned late and sometimes, on a whim, would cook a feast in the kitchen in the early hours without anyone bothering him. In these trivial details, Lu Tingyun was actually quite tolerant.

Cheng Chao looked around half-believing. “Really? This is my first time staying at my brother’s house. I thought he was just like my mom…”

“Like what?” Song Ai felt a bit of interest. He grabbed a can of Coke from the fridge, opened it with one hand, and watched him expectantly.

It surely wouldn’t be anything good.

Cheng Chao swallowed his words and changed the subject: “…Nothing. Why are you just getting back?”

Song Ai was too lazy to explain. “Adult business, none of your… kid business.”

Cheng Chao, promoted to “kid”: “…”

Though annoyed, Cheng Chao didn’t back down. He counterattacked by seizing the main point: “Speaking of ‘adult business’… what were you guys doing last night? Clattering around—why was it so noisy? I finally felt sleepy and it almost woke me up.”

Hearing this, Song Ai nearly choked on his Coke. He coughed several times, even squeezing out tears. “What… what did you hear?”

Cheng Chao actually hadn’t heard much. He was already asleep and was vaguely woken up by the noise. He’d wanted to get up and look but couldn’t leave the warmth of the blanket. Plus, the house was soundproofed well, so he hadn’t heard anything clearly before falling back asleep.

Based on the noise, he speculated: “Not much, just some footsteps and a loud thud. Did you… get into a fight?”

Song Ai: “…”

He breathed a sigh of relief. Since the kid hadn’t heard anything substantial, he simply used silence to confuse him.

As expected, Cheng Chao strayed further down the wrong path, looking shocked. “Holy crap, did you actually get into a fight with my brother??”

Song Ai cleared his throat and replied casually, “Mhm. I can’t help it; I have a bad temper. When I’m annoyed, I get physical. You saw how well I fought last time—taking on your brother is a piece of cake.” Then, he narrowed his eyes and said mockingly, “If you don’t believe me, you can come and try.”

“…”

Cheng Chao blinked blankly. Recalling the scene from that night, the shock on his face turned to fear, and he immediately went silent. “Uh, well, my homework isn’t finished yet. I’m going to study. Bye!”

Song Ai chuckled as he watched the boy bolt away. Teasing idiots was fun. But then his smile faded. Damn, does Lu Tingyun look at me the same way??

Although he couldn’t remember exactly what happened, based on the memory of the first time he’d forced Lu Tingyun, he could guess how embarrassing he’d been yesterday!

Song Ai speculated wildly for a while, his ears turning red within two minutes. Eventually, he couldn’t bear to think deeper. He finished the rest of his Coke and headed upstairs.

The second-floor hallway was long, with several doors—including his and Lu Tingyun’s bedrooms, the study, the walk-in closet, and two empty guest rooms. There were a few more guest rooms on the third floor for visitors like Cheng Chao. However, in the six months Song Ai had lived there, he hadn’t seen any other guests actually use them.

Song Ai’s bedroom was in the middle, so he inevitably had to pass Lu Tingyun’s room. Normally, Song Ai wouldn’t spare that door a single glance. But this time, whether due to guilt or something else, he didn’t just glance—he looked several times.

Lu Tingyun’s door wasn’t fully closed, leaving a narrow slit with a soft light glowing through, though he couldn’t see anything inside. That light was mysterious, making one want to peer in.

…Is he working or already asleep?

Song Ai thought, then was startled by his own thoughts. To hell with it, whether he’s asleep or not has nothing to do with me! He shook his head and moved quickly into his own bedroom.

He took a quick shower and changed into his comfortable shark-print pajamas. Just as he turned off the light and was about to lie down and play on his phone, there was a knock at the door.

Who knocks this late?

Song Ai initially thought it was Housekeeper Wu, so he opened the door without guard, only to see a solid wall of muscle.

It took him 0 seconds to realize who it was. Then it took 0.1 seconds to close the door back to a sliver.

Lu Tingyun was wearing casual loungewear. The hallway light above made his eyes seem a bit obscure, but his expression was as calm as ever.

Song Ai, confused, leaned against the door and asked, “Something wrong?”

Lu Tingyun nodded. His gaze lingered briefly on his wife’s loose collar before he stated his purpose. “For the time being, I’m afraid we’ll have to sleep in the same room.”

His tone was so calm that it took Song Ai a moment to process the meaning. “…Do you even hear what you’re saying??”

Compared to Song Ai’s slight agitation, Lu Tingyun was much more composed, even sounding a bit matter-of-fact: “Cheng Chao is here.”

“And?”

“If he sees us sleeping in separate rooms, he’ll probably overthink. When you had your back injury, it was excusable, but now your injury is healed.”

“…”

Song Ai couldn’t quite understand. “So what if he overthinks?”

Lu Tingyun analyzed: “I’m not sure, but at worst, he might accidentally mention it to his mother—my gossip-loving cousin. She’s someone who can never keep a secret. Once it spreads, word of our contract marriage will…”

Lu Tingyun trailed off, and Song Ai understood the gist of it. Initially, outsiders only knew the Song family had hitched a ride with the Lu family; they didn’t know about the private agreement or the three-year limit.

This was both a big and a small deal. Although the Song family’s methods were less than noble, the relationship with the Lu family was real. No matter how much others looked down on them, they would show some respect to the Song family and Madam Song for the sake of the Lu family’s connections. But if the world knew the marriage wasn’t permanent, things would likely change.

But do other Lu family members have to be kept in the dark too?

Song Ai was a bit confused. “Cheng Chao doesn’t know about the contract marriage?”

Under his gaze, Lu Tingyun nodded and explained cryptically: “This is the wish of my grandmother and father. The Lu family… isn’t as united as it seems on the surface.”

Wealthy families were always full of intrigue and hidden agendas. Though Song Ai’s family relations were simple and he hadn’t experienced much turmoil, he understood enough. He realized that the idiot Cheng Chao actually thought Lu Tingyun was completely under his thumb—no wonder he had been so hostile before.

However, knowing this didn’t mean he would just let Lu Tingyun in.

“That’s not the only solution.” Song Ai’s eyes darted as he came up with an idea. “For example, you could tell him… you’re not feeling well and the doctor said you need quiet rest, so you have to sleep alone for a while.”

Lu Tingyun asked, “What if he asks what illness it is?”

Do I have to think of that too?

Song Ai “tsk”-ed. “There are so many major and minor illnesses; just pick one.”

Lu Tingyun chuckled softly. “I think you’re missing the point. This isn’t something that can be solved by brushing it off. Once Cheng Chao realizes we’re in separate rooms, he might tell others, which brings unpredictable risks.”

“…”

Song Ai felt Lu Tingyun was bluffing, but he had no proof. Even so, his knee pressing against the door showed no sign of letting up.

“I’ll think about it,” he said.

Lu Tingyun seemed very patient. “How long will you think?”

Song Ai was annoyed. “None of your business. I have my own rhythm.”

Lu Tingyun smiled ambiguously again. “You can take your time, but there isn’t much of it. If…”

Halfway through his sentence, he seemed to hear something, and the curve of his lips stiffened. Turning into a bitter smile, Lu Tingyun whispered, “It sounds like Cheng Chao is coming out of the study.”

Song Ai didn’t realize the severity. “So what if he is?”

Lu Tingyun stared into his amber eyes. “Have you forgotten where the study is? Once he’s out, whether he’s going downstairs or back to his room, he has to pass through here first.”

That meant Cheng Chao would definitely see this scene.

“…”

Damn that Cheng Chao, why come out now of all times?!

Song Ai’s teeth itched with annoyance. Before he could think through the logic, he heard Lu Tingyun say, “He seems to be coming this way.”

Song Ai’s eyes widened, and he reached out decisively.

Whoosh!! Bang!!

In the blink of an eye, the door opened and closed. The world spun, dust rose and settled. One second Lu Tingyun was blocked outside, and the next, he was pulled inside.

His gaze moved from the slender fingers gripping his collar to the youth’s beautiful face. His body temperature seemed to rise uncontrollably once again.

Song Ai was leaning against the door, listening to the outside. There were indeed footsteps, mixed with a teenager’s lively bounce. There were no other minors in the villa; Cheng Chao had indeed passed by.

Lu Tingyun hadn’t lied; it wasn’t a deliberate prank.

Song Ai pouted, his ear leaving the door. He turned his head and, in the dark void, felt a scorching gaze. He had turned the light off earlier, so he could only see Lu Tingyun’s silhouette by the moonlight reflecting through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Perhaps because the darkness added to the atmosphere, Lu Tingyun seemed to possess a mysterious charm at this moment.

Very strange.

In the stalemate, Lu Tingyun broke the silence: “How long are you going to keep holding onto me like this?”

His tone held no blame; instead, it contained a strange… pleasure.

Song Ai blinked, finally realizing he was still gripping Lu Tingyun’s collar. “…” He let go silently, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. It was an emergency just now!

Lu Tingyun showed no anger at his messy collar. Instead, he asked calmly, “Where am I sleeping?”

“…” Song Ai’s face turned even redder.

He wanted to say “wherever,” but then he realized something… wait. Even if Cheng Chao passed by and saw Lu Tingyun being blocked by Song Ai, they could just say they were having a lover’s spat. It wouldn’t necessarily reveal that they slept in separate rooms.

Song Ai’s mind was sharp; he figured it out in seconds. He looked up and questioned, “Are you playing me?”

Lu Tingyun’s eyes looked innocent. “No.”

“What do you mean ‘no’?” Song Ai argued his case. “Didn’t you deliberately tell me Cheng Chao was coming out just to make me pull you in?”

“Let me correct you,” Lu Tingyun pursed his lips and said slowly, “I didn’t ask to come in; you… pulled me in.”

In other words, he was forced.

“…” Song Ai was suddenly in the wrong. He changed his tone: “Fine, then it was a misunderstanding. Since the misunderstanding is cleared and I haven’t finished thinking, can you go back out?”

Lu Tingyun didn’t say a word this time. He looked down. Although Song Ai couldn’t see his face clearly, his eyes seemed to glisten under the moonlight, giving an illusion of being wronged, silently protesting: Must you treat me this way?

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

In less than half a minute, Song Ai gave in. “Fine, fine, fine. It’s your house anyway; sleep wherever you want.”

With that, he turned and flipped the light switch.

The entire room was revealed.

Lu Tingyun scanned the area, his gaze lingering for a few extra seconds on the large bed. Song Ai didn’t have the habit of making the bed; the sheets still bore the traces of their activities from the previous night, every wrinkle preserved.

Song Ai followed his gaze, and his heart immediately grew uneasy. This unease mostly stemmed from guilt. Why did I drink too much and exhaust him twice?

“Ahem.” To divert attention, Song Ai pointed at the sofa in the corner and warned, “That’s your bed. Don’t move around at night. If I’m woken up, I’ll hit people.”

Lu Tingyun had no objection. “Okay. Is there a spare blanket?”

“No,” Song Ai said. His wardrobe was stuffed with clothes; there was no room for spare bedding. He had told the servants to move them to other rooms months ago. “There’s a throw blanket over there; that’s enough for you.”

Lu Tingyun nodded, being unexpectedly compliant. He even walked straight toward the sofa.

Song Ai wasn’t used to this level of obedience. He stood there like he was in a military drill for a long time before he regained control of his limbs. He had already finished his nighttime routine, so with nothing else to do, he turned off the light and climbed into bed.

Having had experience sleeping in the same room as Lu Tingyun before, he adapted well, focusing on his phone to invite sleep. Lu Tingyun rustled on the sofa for a few minutes before quickly settling down.

The two didn’t speak, gradually drifting off. In the narrow, dark space, only the sound of their breathing remained.

Around the early hours of the morning, Song Ai rolled over. In his dazed state, he felt something hard poking him. He rarely slept deeply, especially when his subconscious remembered an outsider in the room. His eyelids fluttered briefly before snapping open—

In the blurry darkness, he saw Lu Tingyun’s face.