She Seems to Struggle with Having a Wife - Chapter 28

The two walked into the barbecue restaurant, and the server seated them at a table for two. Qin Mu took the menu and first ordered two cooked dishes.

Then, she asked for a mixed set of beef and pork tenderloin. For drinks, she only ordered Sprite. Once the order was placed, she asked the server to bring the food promptly. She had ordered the cooked dishes so that Wei Qing’an could have something to fill her stomach first, she probably hadn’t eaten much all day.

Even at this hour, the number of customers in the barbecue restaurant hadn’t dwindled. Most of them were couples, and occasionally, a glance across the room would reveal a rare sight of a family of three dining together, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere.

Since entering the restaurant and sitting down, Wei Qing’an had tucked her feet close to the wall, afraid that passersby might notice them. If she were alone, she wouldn’t have minded she’d be perfectly at ease but with Qin Mu here, she didn’t want to embarrass her by association.

While waiting, Qin Mu poured her a glass of water.

Wei Qing’an thanked her, took a few sips, and then her gaze drifted unintentionally toward Qin Mu.

Before returning, Wei Qing’an had been brimming with things she wanted to say to Qin Mu. But now, sitting face to face, she felt those words were nothing more than trivial matters. She opened her mouth to speak but held back, ultimately waiting quietly for the meal.

After a while, Qin Mu’s eyes fell on her hand, and she took the initiative to ask, “How’s your hand?”

Wei Qing’an raised it for her to see. “It’s still scabbing over.”

Qin Mu reached out and held Wei Qing’an’s hand, her warm thumb pressing against the palm while her hand cradled the back of it. Under the overhead light, she examined it carefully it was healing quite well. “I asked a friend abroad to buy some scar-removing ointment. I’ll give it to you when we get home.”

As she finished speaking, Qin Mu suddenly recalled what Yan Huan had said last night. Was it her right hand that was injured?

“Mm.” Wei Qing’an withdrew her hand, resting it on her lap, and gently rubbed the spot Qin Mu had touched.

Soon, the server arrived with their food. The heated grill sizzled as oil dripped onto it, and the fresh beef placed on the rack emitted an enticing aroma. Qin Mu took charge of grilling, while Wei Qing’an focused on eating. At one point, Wei Qing’an tried to take the tongs from Qin Mu but was gently refused.

Throughout the meal, Qin Mu didn’t eat much Wei Qing’an ended up consuming most of the food. Although Qin Mu insisted she eat more, Wei Qing’an couldn’t bear it. She wrapped a piece of pork belly in lettuce and brought it to Qin Mu’s lips, pleading, “Just one bite.”

This was Wei Qing’an’s third request.

She had only wrapped one piece, eating it wouldn’t easily lead to weight gain.

This time, Qin Mu obediently opened her mouth and bit into it, chewing slowly. The previous two times, Wei Qing’an had only urged her verbally, and Qin Mu had let it pass. But this time, since she had wrapped it and brought it to her lips, Qin Mu had no reason to refuse.

Seeing her eat, Wei Qing’an wrapped another piece.

Qin Mu ate it just as obediently. Later, after feeding her a few more times, Wei Qing’an noticed that Qin Mu only ate the ones she wrapped for her.

After the meal, Qin Mu paid the bill, and the two drove home.

On the way, Wei Qing’an had intended to keep Qin Mu company while she drove, but her eyelids grew heavy. After muttering a few unintelligible words, she tilted her head and fell asleep, her round head wobbling and nodding off several times.

Afraid she might jerk her neck, Qin Mu slowed down and occasionally reached out to steady her, supporting her head. If that head were to accidentally fall off, Qin Mu would truly be left a widow.

When they arrived home, Wei Qing’an woke up on her own. Still groggy with sleep and unaware of her surroundings or who was beside her, she murmured subconsciously, “How come I just dreamed I was lying in a woman’s arms? It felt really warm.”

Qin Mu, who was in the middle of unbuckling her seatbelt: …

Her expression visibly darkened several shades.

Wei Qing’an stared blankly, her gaze unfocused, as if still savoring the warmth of that embrace in her dream.

Her voice had been soft, more like a murmur, but the parking garage was excessively quiet at that moment. Qin Mu, sitting close by, heard every word. She was right beside Wei Qing’an, yet Wei Qing’an was thinking of another woman. Qin Mu’s emotions became a tangled mess.

Though she didn’t know who the woman in Wei Qing’an’s dream was, that person’s embrace had been warm, and Wei Qing’an was reminiscing about it.

Qin Mu’s eyes dimmed as she opened the car door and got out.

Bang. The sound of the door closing startled Wei Qing’an, causing her to shiver violently. Only then did she realize she was still sitting in the car. In truth, Qin Mu had closed the door gently, but the car was parked close to the wall, amplifying the echo.

Nevertheless, that dull thud snapped Wei Qing’an back to reality. Seeing Qin Mu walking toward the front of the car, her mind cleared instantly. She cursed under her breath, hastily got out of the car, and rushed after her, not even bothering to grab her luggage or bag.

The tap-tap of her flip-flops in the silent parking garage sounded both urgent and comical. Wei Qing’an dashed into the elevator just before the doors closed, unable to stop her momentum. She ended up in a bear hug with a stony-faced Qin Mu, her lips accidentally brushing against Qin Mu’s ear.

The elevator doors slid shut behind them.

Wei Qing’an held Qin Mu tightly, her breathing uneven. In the confined, quiet space of the elevator, her panting by Qin Mu’s ear was like a seductive whisper. Yet Qin Mu remained composed, showing no reaction, her expression indifferent.

Wei Qing’an caught the familiar scent unique to Qin Mu, subtle yet distinct. She lowered her head, her nose lightly grazing Qin Mu’s skin.

Holding Qin Mu close, Wei Qing’an only now noticed the softness of her body. She loosened her grip slightly, but it somehow felt even more deliberate.

“It was you in my dream,” Wei Qing’an whispered, drawing near again to explain.

Qin Mu turned her head away, ignoring her.

The explanation felt hollow now.

Pressed tightly together, Wei Qing’an could only see Qin Mu’s profile. Despite wearing makeup, she looked naturally pristine, though her cool, thin lips were pressed into a tight line. Wei Qing’an lifted her gaze to those fair, adorable ears.

They looked very kissable.

A certain desire stirred within Wei Qing’an as she stared. She lowered her head, planting tender kisses from the curve of Qin Mu’s ear to her earlobe, even gently sucking on it.

No matter how aloof Qin Mu tried to appear, her body trembled the moment her earlobe was captured. Her expression softened with a hint of delicate vulnerability, and her breathing involuntarily grew heavier.

Wei Qing’an’s intentional teasing set Qin Mu’s body aflame. Her ears burned crimson, and she shivered uncontrollably, as if fire were raging from her feet upward. Qin Mu bowed her head, hands trembling as they clutched Wei Qing’an’s shirt hem.

Sensing the reaction of the woman in her arms, Wei Qing’an released the moistened earlobe and buried her face lower, trailing kisses along Qin Mu’s pale neck, flushed cheeks, and finally to the corner of her lips.

Qin Mu’s heart grew feverish from the kiss. She turned her head, trying to evade, but Wei Qing’an held her even tighter, pressing her lips to the corner of Qin Mu’s mouth in a soft, moist, tender kiss that still carried the lingering scent of barbecue seasoning.

“It really is you. While I was away on business, I dreamed of you every night.” Wei Qing’an confessed her feelings while tightening her embrace, as if unwilling to let go unless Qin Mu relented.

“I’m telling the truth,” she explained again.

But Qin Mu remained cold-faced and silent.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Wei Qing’an removed her left hand from Qin Mu’s waist and cupped her face instead. Her index and middle fingers toyed with the delicate earlobe, twisting and kneading, while her thumb gently stroked Qin Mu’s lower lip. As her fingers withdrew, she leaned in for another kiss.

Qin Mu’s sensitive body had already been softened by Wei Qing’an’s teasing. If this continued, she feared she wouldn’t even be able to stand steadily. So she met Wei Qing’an’s gaze directly, her eyes glistening as she pitifully said, “Alright, I believe you.”

Huh? Was she really pacified that easily?

Wei Qing’an was taken aback, slowly releasing her hold, yet feeling something was off. While Qin Mu was generally good-tempered, her anger was different, stubborn and unyielding.

Ding, the elevator arrived just then.

Qin Mu’s expression shifted as abruptly as turning a page in a book. The pitiful, endearing look vanished, replaced by a stormy glare. She broke free from Wei Qing’an’s grasp, strode out of the elevator, and headed straight for her apartment door without a backward glance.

Wei Qing’an froze momentarily, astonished by Qin Mu’s sudden change. But then, finding Qin Mu utterly adorable, a smile tugged at her lips. After all, witnessing such a range of expressions on Qin Mu’s typically icy face was its own kind of delight.

Chuckling to herself, Wei Qing’an returned to the entryway, put on her socks and sneakers, then went downstairs to retrieve her luggage.

Qin Mu hadn’t planned on showering tonight, but the strong smell of barbecue clung to her. After undressing, she decided to wash up anyway; otherwise, her bedsheets would reek of grilled meat by morning.

After blow-drying her hair, she emerged to find Wei Qing’an as usual: legs crossed, her long hair hastily tied back with a black hair tie, the smooth nape of her neck blending with her white shirt as she sat on the carpet unpacking.

Everything seemed unchanged, yet something felt different.

At least the elevator incident proved she wasn’t a nun.

Wei Qing’an was sorting through her dirty socks when a shadow fell over her arm. Pausing, she looked up and her eyes widened in surprise.

Qin Mu stood before her in a black slip nightgown that ended high on her thighs, the neckline lowered to reveal a deep cleavage. Her slightly disheveled hair cascaded over her front, presenting the alluring figure of a beauty fresh from the bath temptation at its peak.

Judging by her dazed expression, she likely had no idea how much she made one want to pounce on her right then.

Wei Qing’an’s gaze swept over her from head to toe and back again, then she remarked with satisfaction, “Does President Qin plan to summon me tonight? I’d be more than happy to serve you.”

“…” Qin Mu turned and walked away without a word.

She really shouldn’t have entertained even a sliver of fantasy.

By the time the two of them finished tidying up and lay down in bed, it was already past midnight. Tonight, Wei Qing’an wasn’t reading. Instead, she broke from her usual routine and brought a projector from the study, playing a domestic horror film.

The bedroom lights were off, the curtains drawn tightly, not letting in even a sliver of moonlight. They sat side by side against the headboard, pillows propped behind their backs, quietly watching the awkward plot unfold on screen. Surprisingly, neither of them spoke.

“Ah!” the female lead suddenly screamed, thinking there was a ghost, but it turned out to be the male lead draped in a white sheet trying to scare her. Then the two of them started bickering like elementary school kids, tumbling over and accidentally kissing.

Ugh.

Wei Qing’an rubbed her forehead in embarrassment, unable to bear watching. Did they really have to kiss?

“Should we switch to something else?” Wei Qing’an couldn’t help asking Qin Mu. She couldn’t take it anymore.

The light from the projector reflected off the wall, making Qin Mu’s naturally straight hair, which fell over her shoulders, look wavy. Paired with her black spaghetti strap nightgown, when Wei Qing’an glanced over, she suddenly felt as if she were looking at a sexy Hong Kong-style beauty.

Just how much of Qin Mu’s beauty had she been overlooking?

Qin Mu, without taking her eyes off the screen, said, “Whatever.”

So, Wei Qing’an switched to a yuri film from last year, one she had been wanting to watch but never found the time for. Watching it with Qin Mu, with whom she shared a bed but not dreams, had never seemed appropriate, but tonight felt different.

The film had an artistic vibe, featuring one character with philophobia and another with haphephobia. They meet through work, and a series of absurd and amusing events unfold. The plot was quite engaging.

As good as the story was, artistic films, always seemed to include those ambiguously romantic scenes.

“Mmm, ah, it’s my first time.”

“Mine too.”

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