Pretty Wife Insists I Live Off Her - Chapter 31.1

Chapter 31.1: She Kissed Slowly and Lightly

Tang Jinzhi shook her head without a second thought. “No, I’m fine. You can be the workhorse; I need to rest.”

What was the point of being a freelancer at home? Wasn’t it for freedom?

“I don’t want to become a beast of burden who’s constantly busy. If I’m tired, I rest. I don’t accept exploitation.”

Xie Xiangyi the Workhorse’s eye twitched. She had reason to suspect Tang Jinzhi was mocking her in a roundabout way.

Xie Xiangyi tried to convince both herself and Tang Jinzhi: “I’m not working right now; I’m studying. This doesn’t count as being a workhorse.”

Tang Jinzhi burst out laughing. “Have you ever heard people debate a certain question?”

Though annoyed that Tang Jinzhi was laughing at her, Xie Xiangyi played along: “What question?”

Tang Jinzhi shrugged and laughed for a moment before saying, “Which is harder: going to school or going to work?” She looked back at Xie Xiangyi, still smiling. “I think you, who have to juggle both, seem to have the toughest life.”

She didn’t even have a moment to catch her breath, yet she was trying to convince herself it wasn’t hard.

Xie Xiangyi forced a bitter smile. She was strong; she wouldn’t be broken that easily. But she inexplicably wanted to punch Tang Jinzhi. She turned her head away and muttered, “It’s fine, I’ll just get through it.”

Tang Jinzhi, likely a professional mood-breaker, smiled and chimed in, “Only to catch your breath and find there’s still more to endure.”

Xie Xiangyi: “…”

In that moment, she once again asked herself why she chose to study medicine.

Tang Jinzhi stopped teasing her, grabbed a book, and walked over to the tatami area. She sat down leaning against a cushion and addressed Xie Xiangyi: “Why are you wearing such uncomfortable clothes at home? You should change into something more comfortable. I already switched into my pajamas.”

Xie Xiangyi swiveled her chair to face her: “You were the one who pushed me straight in here.” At the time, Tang Jinzhi hadn’t suggested she take a break.

Tang Jinzhi blinked: “Oh, did I?”

Xie Xiangyi got up from the chair and walked over to Tang Jinzhi. She stood over her, staring down. Tang Jinzhi felt a chill, wondering if Xie was about to settle the score. Her mind raced until she belatedly realized Xie Xiangyi’s gaze had moved to her hand.

Tang Jinzhi followed the line of sight. Xie Xiangyi was looking at her hand. Ah, wait, she was looking at the book in her hand.

Xie Xiangyi finally spoke: “Are you interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine?”

Tang Jinzhi quietly closed the open book, sat up straight, and handed the book back to Xie Xiangyi, answering her question with action. She preferred reading novels over textbooks.

The smile in Xie Xiangyi’s eyes was hard to hide. She took the book and flipped through a couple of pages. “Why don’t you go watch TV outside?” When Tang Jinzhi took breaks before, she was always binge-watching shows with Zhang Yueqi. This was unusual.

Tang Jinzhi smiled broadly: “Of course, I’m here to keep you company.”

Xie Xiangyi froze: “What?” She hadn’t said she wanted Tang Jinzhi to keep her company.

Tang Jinzhi’s smile conveyed a hint of helplessness, as if she was at her wit’s end with Xie Xiangyi: “Even though we didn’t go to the movies, you still wanted me to accompany you. Being here is the same. Watching a movie outside is just sitting together, and being home without outsiders is even more comfortable.”

Xie Xiangyi’s cheeks flushed, and she got slightly agitated: “Did I say I wanted you to accompany me?” She just wanted them to spend more time together and build their relationship. That was completely different from being clingy, as Tang Jinzhi implied! Tang Jinzhi was deliberately twisting her words.

Tang Jinzhi pursed her lips and stopped smiling: “No, you didn’t say it. I wanted to keep you company, but if you don’t want me here, I’ll just leave.”

Her tone sounded as if she were coaxing someone.

Xie Xiangyi lost her patience, angrily pushing Tang Jinzhi’s shoulder.

Tang Jinzhi wobbled to the side, finally unable to suppress her laughter, completely amused by Xie Xiangyi’s childlike gesture. If Xie Xiangyi weren’t generally mature and steady, she would expect her to say, “I hate you, I’m not playing with you anymore,” in the next second.

Tang Jinzhi laughed while continuing her merciless teasing: “Alright, don’t be mad. I won’t leave. I’ll just stay here and keep you company.”

Xie Xiangyi: “…”

“If you want to stay, just stay. Why say so much?” They had spent time together in the study before, but they were both busy, so it wasn’t a deliberate attempt to keep someone company.

Xie Xiangyi refused to continue the childish banter with Tang Jinzhi. She knew she couldn’t win against the shameless Tang Jinzhi, whose nature was truly mischievous when it came to teasing her.

Tang Jinzhi leaned back against the cushion, her smile unrestrained, but her words finally returned to normal. Her voice was lazy: “Mhm, now hurry up and go change.“

Xie Xiangyi ignored her, turned, and left the study for a while.

When she returned, Tang Jinzhi had changed her posture. She was kneeling on the tatami, looking out the half-open window. She turned back to look at Xie Xiangyi when she heard her return.

Tang Jinzhi’s eyes brightened. Her usually cool and imposing wife, dressed in pajamas, had an instantly softer aura, with less oppressive pressure. Tang Jinzhi’s brow lifted slightly, feeling like Xie Xiangyi was now easier to bully. In Tang Jinzhi’s eyes, Xie Xiangyi was a completely pure-hearted soft persimmon, easy for anyone to tease.

Unaware of Tang Jinzhi’s thoughts, Xie Xiangyi looked at her suspiciously, not understanding why she kept staring. She had worn these pajamas before. As Tang Jinzhi’s expression grew more excited, Xie Xiangyi felt strange. She took two steps closer and waved her hand in front of Tang Jinzhi’s eyes.

“Why are you staring at me?”

Tang Jinzhi blurted out: “Because you’re pretty.”

Xie Xiangyi’s gaze flickered. She subconsciously touched her face, then, on a whim, asked, “You like it?”

“Like it? Of course, I like it. Everyone likes it.” Tang Jinzhi nodded quickly, openly admitting her fondness for Xie Xiangyi. It wasn’t just her looks; Tang Jinzhi liked all aspects of her.

Xie Xiangyi managed a smile: “Then I like you too.”

Tang Jinzhi froze for a moment, her heart skipping a beat, but she quickly realized Xie Xiangyi was referring to her face. I almost misunderstood.

Xie Xiangyi also realized the ambiguity of her words. Her cheeks flushed, and she awkwardly turned around, hurriedly sitting down at the desk. She didn’t offer an explanation; their relationship didn’t require her to specify what she liked, and it didn’t matter even if Tang Jinzhi misunderstood.

Before she could say anything to change the topic, Tang Jinzhi became self-absorbed. She touched her jawline, her tone incredibly confident: “I knew you liked me. I’m so gorgeous; anyone who says they don’t like me should go get their eyes checked.”

Xie Xiangyi rubbed her forehead. She swiveled her chair back around and moved closer to Tang Jinzhi, crossing her arms and studying her face: “Are you always this narcissistic?”

Tang Jinzhi scanned her with dissatisfaction: “How am I narcissistic? Isn’t that the truth? Didn’t you just say you liked me?”

Xie Xiangyi said, “It’s the truth, but it sounds arrogant.”

Tang Jinzhi narrowed her eyes, lifted her hand in front of Xie Xiangyi, slightly stretched her fingers, and clenched them into a fist: “I’ll give you one more chance. You, speak nicely.”

Xie Xiangyi smiled slightly. Forced by Tang Jinzhi’s “lustful intimidation,” she actually complied, giving a childish response: “Fine, you really are too gorgeous. No one dares say they’re number one if you’re number two.” The praise was completely devoid of skill.

But Tang Jinzhi was delighted. Xie Xiangyi is so much fun. Where is the coldness? Zhang Yueqi was talking nonsense. She smiled shyly and waved her hand: “You’re exaggerating, you’re exaggerating. Be humble. If I’m number one, you’re definitely qualified for number two.” She said she was being humble, but her words were anything but modest.

Xie Xiangyi: “…” If possible, she would prefer not to participate in this ranking.

She skipped the childish topic entirely: “Wake up early tomorrow. We’ll go to the hospital together.”

Tang Jinzhi was stunned. Why was she going to the hospital? After a moment of thought, she understood: she was due for a hospital visit.

But… Tang Jinzhi looked up at Xie Xiangyi, her sly smile impossible to hide. She opened her mouth to tease her again: “Is Dr. Xie so clingy now that she needs her wife to accompany her to work?”

Constantly teased and stared at with Tang Jinzhi’s smirk, Xie Xiangyi finally snapped. She angrily snatched the plate of grapes Tang Jinzhi had brought in, picked one up, and shoved it into Tang Jinzhi’s mouth.

Always talking! Xie Xiangyi said indignantly: “Shut up! You’re due for a follow-up check.” I shouldn’t worry about her.

Seeing Xie Xiangyi’s aggressive stance, Tang Jinzhi decided to open her mouth. If she didn’t, the grape juice would surely make a mess. She ate the grape quickly. The grapes were easy to eat without peeling. Tang Jinzhi chewed, and the sweet burst of flavor made her eyes light up. After a second’s hesitation, she asked, “Another one?”

Xie Xiangyi grabbed two more and stuffed them in. Tang Jinzhi ate them as usual. She wasn’t talking anymore, but the expression on her face was one of pure enjoyment.

The sequence of events was becoming increasingly strange. Xie Xiangyi fell silent. It had suddenly become her feeding Tang Jinzhi grapes, even though she was just angry a moment ago.

After feeding her several grapes, Xie Xiangyi was numb, but as the numbness wore off, her face started to flush. Her fingers unavoidably touched Tang Jinzhi’s lips, and her gaze was unconsciously drawn there.

After feeding one more grape, she didn’t withdraw her finger. Her fingertip pressed against Tang Jinzhi’s lips, gently massaging them.

Tang Jinzhi, immersed in the thought that Xie Xiangyi was highly amusing, froze. Her chewing stopped. She lowered her eyes and met Xie Xiangyi’s gaze, which had just lifted.

The eye contact lasted only a brief moment before both simultaneously looked away. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became ambiguous and feverish.

Tang Jinzhi swallowed the juice in her mouth, feeling a sudden surge of nervousness. She felt Xie Xiangyi’s recent movement was full of implication. She might have played too far.

In that unexpected moment of eye contact, she had seen desire in Xie Xiangyi’s eyes—desire for her. Tang Jinzhi hoped she was mistaken, feeling a mix of confusion and a faint excitement.

Tang Jinzhi wrestled with her thoughts. She wasn’t opposed to Xie Xiangyi kissing her, but she had never been kissed before, so she was bound to be nervous. She never thought she would skip the dating process and go straight to marriage. She was completely inexperienced. Tang Jinzhi was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn’t realize her face was gradually turning red.

But if Xie Xiangyi really wanted to kiss her, she wouldn’t refuse. That would be disrespectful.

Xie Xiangyi’s gaze darkened. She shoved the plate of grapes into Tang Jinzhi’s arms, her voice cool: “Eat them yourself.” She then turned and went back to her desk, opening her notes.

Tang Jinzhi came back to her senses, holding the plate of grapes, utterly bewildered.

What? That’s it?

She hadn’t even had a chance to play hard to get yet. No kiss? She hadn’t said no!

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