The Guide to Faking Innocence to Win His Wife - Chapter 21.1

The shade by the riverbank swayed with the breeze, the heat rising as the morning mist dissolved. The scorching sun cast everything into a hazy, dreamlike shimmer, leaving behind a pastoral scene reminiscent of an oil painting.

Jiang Zhongmu, the one labeled as “annoying” and “haunting” was currently floating on her back in the water.

 

She hadn’t strayed far from home; she was at a bend in the riverbank just a dozen meters away. The water was deep here with plenty of reeds, making it the best spot for catching big fish. A familiar bamboo cylinder floated emptily among the weeds, looking utterly hopeless.

 

But Jiang Zhongmu wasn’t in a hurry. She had plenty of time to kill, her eyes reflecting the drifting clouds as she nursed secret thoughts. Those small, hidden desires she could never mention to anyone else.

 

She thought of the other woman’s stumbling explanations and her flustered state on the bed. A stray smile touched her lips, a flash of boyish triumph and mischief in her eyes.

 

That was when Xie Zhiyi walked to the edge of the embankment, dressed simply in a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, leaning over slightly to look down at her.

 

The cool river water surged around Jiang Zhongmu’s ears, blurring all sound except for the woman standing in the dappled light and shadow. Xie Zhiyi looked elegant and poised; even a casual glance from her was enough to turn Jiang Zhongmu’s mind into a total blank.

 

She called out: “Jiang Zhongmu.”

 

Jiang Zhongmu opened her mouth but made no sound, deliberately refusing to answer. The “little leopard” got her way, hearing the woman say her name once more.

 

Jiang. Zhong. Mu.

 

She chewed the three syllables on the tip of her tongue, feeling an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, like a child who had finally been given a piece of candy.

 

With a sweep of her long arms, Jiang Zhongmu swam toward her. The water level was high and the bank was low here; she pressed herself against the stone edge, propping her forearms up and tilting her head to look at Xie Zhiyi.

 

Sunlight hit her light amber eyes, and water dripped from her soaked hair, revealing her handsome features without reserve. She pulled back her smile, feigning her usual stoic boredom. “Xie Zhiyi.”

 

But her emotions couldn’t vanish that quickly, especially under the bright sun. She was like a puppy trying desperately to tuck its tail and hide its excitement, her sincerity naked in her clear eyes.

 

The woman on the bank pursed her lips, her tone turning unexpectedly soft. “Didn’t I tell you not to soak in cold water?”

 

“It’s hot, it’s fine. I’ll go back once I catch a fish,” Jiang Zhongmu’s gaze flickered away, her voice losing its edge. For a child raised by the river, staying away from cold water in the summer was practically a death sentence.

 

“Did you catch any?” Xie Zhiyi wanted to keep scolding her, but the words shifted as they reached her lips. She was trying to pull back the distance.

 

“Not yet,” Jiang Zhongmu replied, unconcerned.

 

Xie Zhiyi felt a flicker of curiosity. As someone raised in the concrete jungle, fishing was something that only existed in books and videos. Seeing it in person felt novel. “How do you catch them?”

 

“They just swim into the bamboo cage on their own. You just wait,” Jiang Zhongmu explained, sounding a bit thick-headed because the task was so mundane to her that she didn’t know how to elaborate.

 

“A bamboo cage?” Xie Zhiyi was puzzled. Last time she saw a cage, it was for crabs. Now it was for fish?

 

“I’ll bring it up for you to see in a bit.” Tilting her head up was making her neck ache, so Jiang Zhongmu looked back down. She noticed that the woman, who had worn dresses almost every day, was now covered from head to toe in a long shirt and pants that nearly touched the ground.

 

She frowned slightly. Humans are strange creatures—last night she was happy the woman was being defensive, and now she was annoyed by it.

 

Pretending to be oblivious, Jiang Zhongmu asked, “Xie Zhiyi, aren’t you hot?”

 

It was the peak of June; there was no way she wasn’t suffering. But Xie Zhiyi lied through her teeth: “I’m okay.”

 

Once the topic moved away from fishing, her expression flattened out. Jiang Zhongmu didn’t miss it. Her eyes dimmed as she asked, “Why are you here?”

 

“Grandma told me to come.”

 

A stiff, silent atmosphere flooded the space. Ever since Jiang Zhongmu’s “confession,” they had been trapped in this rigid tension. Last night was an exception; one was embarrassed and the other was jubilant, so they had both ignored it. But now, no matter how much Jiang Zhongmu wanted to move closer, she couldn’t stop Xie Zhiyi from retreating.

 

“You got burned a few days ago?” Xie Zhiyi asked suddenly.

 

Jiang Zhongmu’s heart tightened. She stopped hiding it and hummed in affirmation.

 

“Be careful from now on,” Xie Zhiyi said. She didn’t pry further, offering only a shallow, polite bit of concern.

 

“Okay,” Jiang Zhongmu’s voice grew lower, her joy completely replaced by her usual gloom.

 

“Your ‘brother’ brought some ointment for you,” Xie Zhiyi added.

 

“Oh,” Jiang Zhongmu’s response grew even more perfunctory.

 

“He’s very good to you,” the woman suddenly remarked.

 

In the water, Jiang Zhongmu froze. She remembered Xie Zhiyi mentioning him several times recently. Is she bothered by how close we are? she wondered wildly.

 

But then Xie Zhiyi continued: “Are you really sure you like girls? You’re still young. It’s normal to have feelings for the same sex at your age. Don’t limit yourself so easily.”

 

She meant well. She knew how difficult this path was. Even if the world was becoming more inclusive, there were always those who couldn’t accept it. It was fine on the internet, but in reality… those persistent, miserable memories surfaced again. She wanted the girl to avoid that pain if possible.

 

As her words drifted on the wind, Jiang Zhongmu’s face turned cold. Young people hate being told they don’t know themselves. She knew the elder meant well, but she couldn’t stand having her identity questioned. It felt like an adult saying, You’re too young, you don’t understand, just listen to me. It was infuriating.

 

Xie Zhiyi started again, “That brother of yours—”

 

“Can you swim?” Jiang Zhongmu interrupted.

 

Xie Zhiyi answered reflexively, “Yes, I’ve learned.” Then she continued her lecture: “I think you’re still at an age where it’s normal to be confused…”

 

Jiang Zhongmu raised her eyes and stared at her, the final warning of a provoked leopard. But Xie Zhiyi didn’t care. Jiang Zhongmu had threatened her like this as a child only to be teased into a huff, and besides, the girl had been so “obedient” and “thoughtful” lately that Xie Zhiyi had no guard up.

 

The tanned forearm propped on the bank tensed, clear muscle lines appearing and vanishing.

 

“I think you should think it over—”

 

Arms surged upward. Water splashed everywhere as a rough, calloused palm suddenly grabbed the back of Xie Zhiyi’s knee and yanked hard.

 

Caught off guard, Xie Zhiyi lost her footing and tumbled into the water.

 

Jiang Zhongmu, prepared, leaned back and kicked off the stone wall, gliding away as the surface erupted.

 

—Splash!

 

Jiang Zhongmu caught the falling woman perfectly in her arms, and together they submerged.

 

Dark silk and white cotton tangled. Xie Zhiyi instinctively clung to the girl like a piece of driftwood. The river water rushed into every gap, cold and terrifying. But the palm pressed against the small of her back was broad and warm. Through the haze, she saw a pair of eyes filled with mischievous laughter, which felt both grounding and infuriating.

 

Before she could scold her, they hit the riverbed. Her long curls drifted upward as Jiang Zhongmu held her tight. Though she was the elder, she was shorter and finer-boned than the girl. Her slender waist and soft legs were entirely under the control of the younger girl, hidden in her embrace.

 

Her back hit the riverbed, stirring up silt. Jiang Zhongmu took the impact without a sound; a child who does something bad must take their punishment.

 

The hands clutching her neck and hair tightened, a reminder of the woman’s panic. No matter how well someone can swim, a sudden fall like that drains the oxygen from their lungs.

 

The next second, Jiang Zhongmu tilted her head up and pressed her lips against the other woman’s. It was a reckless, impulsive move. She pried open the woman’s lips without effort as bubbles surged around them.

 

Xie Zhiyi’s mind went blank. Driven by a primal instinct for survival, she sought out the sparse oxygen. Boundaries and age gaps meant nothing in the face of survival; she actively pressed into Jiang Zhongmu’s mouth.

 

Jiang Zhongmu let her take charge. Now that she had actually reached this step, she didn’t know what to do. She had never practiced; even her theoretical knowledge was just a few hurried glances. She hadn’t expected to do this out of pure, indignant spite.

 

Otherwise… she would have treated this with the same dedication as her jade carving and studied hard.

 

And so, the “aggressive” little leopard became the passive one, her touch uncoordinated. The faint taste of mint toothpaste spread as their lips bumped and swelled—a bit of pain, but strangely sweet. Jiang Zhongmu even found herself wondering what the sweetness tasted like before being pulled back by the woman in her arms.

 

Bubbles rose continuously. A small fish swam close, saw them, and darted away in a hurry.

 

The palm around the woman’s waist tightened, and finally, unable to hold out any longer, they surged toward the surface.

 

Splashes rippled across the river as the two surfaced, looking utterly disheveled. Jiang Zhongmu didn’t give her a chance to react. Having tasted the sweetness, the little leopard wasn’t about to let go. She scooped her arm under the woman’s knees, forcing Xie Zhiyi to wrap her legs around her waist, and pinned her against the stone embankment.

 

Slowed by oxygen deprivation, Xie Zhiyi couldn’t respond in time. She had just opened her eyes when she saw the girl’s head tilt and descend.

 

It wasn’t gentle. It was like a mask of harmlessness had been ripped away. The girl’s curved spine strained against her wet shirt like the spines of a beast, violent and reckless as she forced her way back into the woman’s mouth.

 

Even here, she was more powerful than an average girl. Though she didn’t know how to proceed, she dominated the space, conveying a feverish, burning heat.

 

Dark shirt and white T-shirt tangled in the water. Water dripped from their hair as they pressed tight against each other. Xie Zhiyi was forced to tilt her chin up, her thin back pressed against the rough stone. Loose pebbles fell as the “greedy” leopard pressed against her—bony, lean, and as hard as an iron plate.

 

She was squeezed between the two, unable to move, even breathing becoming a luxury. Jiang Zhongmu knew nothing of pacing herself, relying only on the lung capacity she’d built up in the river since she was a child. Her grip on the back of the woman’s knees tightened until it left red marks on the delicate skin.

 

Xie Zhiyi frowned, her lashes trembling. Her damp eyes were rimmed with red, looking increasingly fragile and piteous.

 

The wind swept through the treetops. In the scorching noon heat, the streets were empty, as if they were melting under the sun.

 

“Let…” “Mmm…”

 

The raspy protest was stifled. Xie Zhiyi tried to push her away, but her arms fell limp.

 

Finally, just as she was about to give up the struggle, Jiang Zhongmu pulled away. The cool river water rushed into the gap, bringing a moment of relief. Ragged breaths echoed between them.

 

Jiang Zhongmu looked down at her, her light amber eyes dark and obscure. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking, but it felt incredibly dangerous. The “elder” who had been dragged into the water finally felt a spark of fear.

 

“You…” she tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Water droplets slid down her graceful features, robbing her of any authority.

 

“Is this enough?” Jiang Zhongmu asked, her voice hoarse.

 

“Is this enough to prove it?”

 

“To prove that I really like girls? That this isn’t just an overactive adolescent hormone phase or a misunderstanding of my own orientation?” Her words, interrupted by gasps, were firm and undeniable.

 

“Sister, I’m not a kid. I’m an adult. I have my own judgment,” she emphasized seriously.

 

“I… I understand,” Xie Zhiyi stammered, her gaze flickering to the girl’s swollen lips before darting away.

 

“Let me go. I want to go back.” She wanted to escape this awkward situation immediately.

 

“You didn’t like it?” Jiang Zhongmu didn’t release her. Instead, her fingers tightened around the back of the woman’s knees, her eyes carrying a mischievous smile. There was no “obedient” child here; she was full of mischief to the core, hidden under a mask that had fooled the elder.

 

“Jiang Zhongmu!” The woman in her arms raised her voice, trying to snap her out of it. “Stop messing around, or I’ll… I’ll…” She lost her words.

 

Jiang Zhongmu smiled and finished for her: “You’ll what? You didn’t like it?”

 

Xie Zhiyi stared, thinking this girl was utterly shameless. Who would like such a rough touch? It felt like being gnawed on by a big dog. She wanted to kick her away, to be far from this annoying creature.

 

But the girl kept leaning in, her heat brushing against the woman’s face as she asked again in a raspy voice: “Really? You didn’t like it?”

 

“Get lost,” Xie Zhiyi cursed, though it lacked any real sting.

 

“Then who was it that kept peeking at me?” Jiang Zhongmu’s skin was as thick as a city wall.

 

The elder turned her head, refusing to look at her. Water droplets fell from her fluttering lashes. Her collar had been pulled open at some point, revealing a stretch of straight collarbone that was blindingly white in the sun.

 

“Xie Zhiyi, you peek at me all the time,” Jiang Zhongmu said with certainty. Then she shifted: “I like girls. What about you?”

 

“Do you like them?”

 

Xie Zhiyi didn’t answer. Her rounded earlobes turned red. She only said: “Let me go.”

 

“Xie Zhiyi,” Jiang Zhongmu whispered her name, her gaze heavy, desperately needing a clear answer.

 

“Let me go,” Xie Zhiyi insisted, knowing the consequences if she admitted it. But she hadn’t considered the consequences if she kept denying it. She raised her hand to push the girl away, a physical show of resistance.

 

Jiang Zhongmu’s expression darkened. Her jawline tensed as she warned once more: “Xie Zhiyi.”

 

But the woman wouldn’t yield so easily and kept trying to push her back.

 

Jiang Zhongmu gave a sudden, mirthless laugh. She loosened her grip, letting the woman fall. Xie Zhiyi hurried to steady herself, but before she could catch her breath, the girl loomed over her again…

 

A calloused palm gripped her slender waist while the other cradled the back of her head—both a protection and a claim, forcing her close.

 

“If Sister doesn’t want to answer, I’ll just find the answer myself,” Jiang Zhongmu said, pressing back into that swollen, red mouth.

 

Xie Zhiyi’s fair hand suddenly gripped the girl’s collar, twisting the fabric into a mess. Whatever words she had were stifled once more, filled with an aggressive presence.

 

This time, Xie Zhiyi was in a better state; she’d had a moment to breathe, and with oxygen returning to her brain, she thought of fighting back.

 

Since she couldn’t push her sharp canines clamped down on the soft flesh of the girl’s lip.

But Jiang Zhongmu seemed utterly oblivious to the pain. She continued her reckless advance, utilizing the “knowledge” she had just gained through practice to press her advantage.

Xie Zhiyi couldn’t even tell who was the one doing the biting anymore. The bridge of her nose was accidentally brushed, sending a sharp throb through her face, and the girl’s prominent, bony frame was an added torment. Finally, the usually gentle and polite elder was pushed to her limit. She released her grip, and the metallic tang of blood filled the air.

Xie Zhiyi gripped the girl’s collar with force and tilted her chin up, shifting from passive endurance to a full-blown counter-attack. She was, after all, several years older. She might not have “eaten the pork,” but she had certainly “seen the pig run”—how could Jiang Zhongmu, someone who would blush and skip over provocative research materials, possibly compare?

In contrast to the girl’s frantic clumsiness, Xie Zhiyi was unhurried. She was like warm water slowly enveloping her prey. Slow and deliberate, she traced the distinct lines of the girl’s lips as if savoring a piece of candy. Having regained her composure, the elder possessed more than enough patience to wait for the perfect moment for retribution.

Jiang Zhongmu didn’t understand the woman’s intentions; she was simply drawn in by her beloved’s proximity, letting the numbing sensation travel all the way down her spine. She became the vulnerable party, her defenses utterly shattered. Xie Zhiyi was a natural; even without a guide, she quickly learned how to pace her breathing. Moreover, she became a massive obstacle in Jiang Zhongmu’s “learning” path—every time the girl tried to adjust, Xie Zhiyi would deliberately lean in, depriving her of every scrap of oxygen.

The “aggressive” little leopard was forced to brace herself against the stone wall just to stay upright. In this long game of tug-of-war, the younger one was inevitably the loser.

Xie Zhiyi was truly annoyed by her recklessness. Even as Jiang Zhongmu’s face turned a deep red and she struggled to stand, Xie Zhiyi refused to let go. She stayed pressed against her, their cool and burning skin meeting in a slick of fine sweat. Jiang Zhongmu didn’t beg for mercy, either. Even though it was a punishment, she looked as if she were getting the best end of the deal.

Xie Zhiyi felt no sense of victory and eventually pulled back with a cold face. Only Jiang Zhongmu was left gasping for air, looking quite piteous. The little leopard had turned into a big, watery-eyed dog; it looked as if she would cry if someone pinched her cheek. This finally eased Xie Zhiyi’s anger a little. She pursed her lips and pressed her back against the stone wall.