The Guide to Faking Innocence to Win His Wife - Chapter 31

“What’s this? Is the Little Leopard shy?”

Her voice was the same as usual light and gentle but it carried a distinct, playful amusement. It was a tone that could almost be described as flirtatious, as if a refined lady from a scholarly family had suddenly decided to take a seat in a pleasure house.

“How is that possible?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!”

“What ‘Little Leopard’?”

Jiang Zhongmu froze on the spot, her eyes wide. Her light amber gaze was filled with shock, and an unnatural flush crept across her tanned skin. Three sentences burst out of her in rapid succession.

“Sister, you…”

The Little Leopard, who usually carried herself like a predator, was frightened into this state for the first time. Although she only held the superficial upper hand in this relationship, she usually appeared formidable at the very least, a persistent young wildcat. But with this single move, Xie Zhiyi had flipped the leopard over, exposing its soft belly.

Jiang Zhongmu clutched the clothes, her eyes blinking repeatedly. She looked exactly like a virtuous young girl being toyed with. She opened her mouth and mumbled another sentence: “What are you doing…”

Xie Zhiyi simply maintained that smiling expression. Her eyes shimmered with a watery light, saying nothing yet forcing the other into a step-by-step compromise.

“Go out. I will change, okay?” The stubborn Little Leopard completely surrendered.

But the elder did not listen. Instead, she beckoned with her hand, her tone relaxed: “Come here.”

“Why come over?” Jiang Zhongmu was inexplicably wary.

Xie Zhiyi found it hilarious. She wondered who it was that had been acting so rowdy a couple of days ago, dragging people into the water and off the bed. It turned out she was a paper tiger that popped at the first poke.

“What? Weren’t you very majestic the past few days?” She couldn’t stop smiling as she took a slow half-step forward.

The person opposite her shuddered, clutching the clothes even tighter.

The fitting room was cramped. A single person had to be careful with their limbs while changing, let alone two. Retreating until she could retreat no further, Jiang Zhongmu was pressed against the wooden panel. A glance to the side revealed the full-length mirror, polished clean by the diligent clerk, clearly reflecting every bit of her bashfulness.

Finally, the child pleaded, her voice softening with an unmistakable tremble: “Sister.”

The listener did not soften her heart; instead, she pressed closer with increasing mischief. The scent of roses wound around them. This kind of intentional yet casual provocation was the most lethal.

Jiang Zhongmu’s inconspicuous Adam’s apple bobbed. She turned her head to the side, her tight jawline sharp and lean. Xie Zhiyi’s gaze stayed fixed there, and as if possessed, she leaned in.

Unlike the reckless collision of a youth, the elder’s touch was soft and moist, like a butterfly landing in a palm. It sparked a tingling sensation that spread throughout the body, leaving one paralyzed. Jiang Zhongmu stood frozen, still clutching the two sets of clothes, her breath nearly stopping.

Outside the thin wooden panel—less than a centimeter thick—was a world of noise. People were calling for clerks, laughing, and walking by with light or heavy footsteps. Callused fingers tightened, leaving messy wrinkles on the fabric.

Xie Zhiyi did not pull away after the first touch. She moved unhurriedly toward the lips, kiss after kiss, staining her cheeks, neck, and entire body with an inconspicuous red glow. Jiang Zhongmu was burning hot, like a prawn that had been to Africa and then boiled. Her thin lips moved for a long time, but no words came out.

Xie Zhiyi nipped at the soft skin near her lips. She suddenly remembered the dimples that appeared when the girl smiled—a milky, childish look that sat in total contrast to her usual gloomy steadiness.

“Sister…” Jiang Zhongmu didn’t know how to respond. She was used to being the proactive one, the leader. Combined with their current location, her back stiffened even more.

The elder was a mischievous one. The more the other yielded, the closer she drew. Using a low, laughing whisper, she grazed her lips and murmured: “You weren’t like this when you kissed me yesterday.”

The end of the sentence was intentionally drawn out. Her fluttering eyelashes brushed against Jiang Zhongmu’s cheek, making the girl’s breath stop and then turn heavy.

Foul. This was a complete foul.

The elder continued to probe inward with a gentle, soft pressure, seemingly unconcerned about whether the other would resist. It was as if by just standing there, Xie Zhiyi made Jiang Zhongmu throw down her armor and open the city gates for her.

“Don’t…” Jiang Zhongmu rasped, a powerless warning.

Xie Zhiyi lifted her eyelids, her eyes shimmering like ripples in a pond.

The clothes fell to the floor. The defenseless Jiang Zhongmu finally succumbed. A callused hand covered the elder’s cheek, lifting it slightly. Heads bowed, backs bent, and a hot breath spread between their teeth. The roses on the dress bloomed vividly, lifted again and again by the “wind.”

Outside, people came and went, while they hid in a secluded corner, embracing and kissing like lovers. The scent of roses filled the air. Xie Zhiyi raised her arms to circle the other’s neck, and Jiang Zhongmu reached down to clasp her waist. This was no longer the first time; the awkwardness was gone.

The Little Leopard knew how to please her partner now—using varying pressure, mixed with occasional playful mischief, stealing all of the other’s oxygen. The full-length mirror reflected this scene without reservation. Deep, gorgeous, half-lidded eyes were filled with a peach-pink mist. The Little Leopard refused to stop, kiss after kiss.

Footsteps approached the fitting room. Perhaps the clerk felt they had been inside too long and couldn’t help but check.

Knock, knock-knock!

The knocking sounded the next second, making the thin wooden panel vibrate.

“Young ladies, are you finished changing?” Her voice sounded, filled with doubt and confusion.

Jiang Zhongmu didn’t want to listen. She willfully tried to continue, but the elder warned her by tugging at the ends of her hair. The unsatisfied Little Leopard could only pull away reluctantly, her breathing ragged.

Xie Zhiyi didn’t answer immediately. She leaned into Jiang Zhongmu’s embrace for a moment to catch her breath, then raised her voice to speak unhurriedly: “She doesn’t want to change. I’m still trying to persuade her.”

As the last word fell, she couldn’t help but pause. Her breath hadn’t steadied yet, and it sounded incredibly messy. Meanwhile, a certain impatient Little Leopard pressed in again, like a starving ghost who hadn’t tasted meat in weeks, refusing to let go for even a second.

The person outside heard this and understood immediately, even helping to persuade: “Little girl, you should listen to your sister. Your sister is good to you. Other people wish they had someone to buy them clothes.”

Jiang Zhongmu didn’t answer. She only tightened her hold on the slender waist, pulling her deeper into her embrace.

“Listen to your sister now…”

The rest of the words were lost as the footsteps grew distant. Xie Zhiyi let the girl have her way in her arms. She reached for the girl’s collar and, without any resistance, pulled it off. The denim jacket she had just put on fell away.

The white T-shirt was lifted at the hem, revealing deep-set abdominal lines. Xie Zhiyi held the edge of the shirt and pulled it up inch by inch, revealing the edge of the undergarment beneath. Like the outer layer, it was a plain white without any patterns, tightly outlining her youthful silhouette.

Slender fingers lingered for a moment before continuing to pull upward the next second. Relatively cool air rushed in, and Jiang Zhongmu snapped back to reality for a moment. She pulled back slightly, and in her dazed state, the shirt was pulled completely off.

Before she could cover herself or feel shy, Xie Zhiyi used the opening to slip out of her embrace. She snatched the T-shirt from the floor, stuffed it into the girl’s hand, and immediately turned her back. “Change,” she said hoarsely.

The image of what she had just glimpsed still flickered before her eyes—the lean, slightly curved waist and the faint outline of abdominal muscles.

It took Jiang Zhongmu a long time to react. She didn’t understand how she had suddenly been stripped of her clothes. Looking at the elegant back facing the wall, she wanted to say something but didn’t know what. The scent of roses still lingered on her nose and lips. She pursed her lips helplessly.

The rustle of fabric sounded as Jiang Zhongmu finally did as requested, honestly changing her clothes. Xie Zhiyi stared at the white-painted wooden door, her gaze fixed forward. Aside from her eyes filled with complex emotions, there was no trace of her earlier panic.

A moment later, a muffled voice came from behind: “I’m ready.”

Xie Zhiyi finally turned around. Her gaze swept past the child’s grumpy face and quickly landed on the hurriedly changed outfit.

She wore a black printed camisole layered under a khaki plaid shirt, topped with a deep blue distressed denim jacket, paired with black cargo pants. The girl tugged at the jacket somewhat impatiently and looked up at Xie Zhiyi with unease.

“Not bad,” Xie Zhiyi nodded.

Jiang Zhongmu was naturally tall with a thin waist and long legs. Her proportions were so good she could carry off any clothes. Even her previous loose shirts and big shorts gave her a handsome look. The only thing to watch was that she didn’t suit overly feminine clothes—it would be like a little leopard on the savanna wearing a pink dress, quite comical.

The elder reached out to adjust her collar and patted her shoulder, saying in a low voice: “Turn around and squat down a bit.”

Jiang Zhongmu was the most obedient puppy. Whatever the “Sister” said, she cooperated. She turned and bent her knees. Fingers slid through her hair as the casually draped locks were carefully tied back into their usual style.

“All done.”

Jiang Zhongmu stood up and looked in the mirror. Recognizing the hair tie as her usual one, she asked: “Where did it fall? I looked for it all morning and couldn’t find it.”

“Under the pillow,” Xie Zhiyi answered casually.

Jiang Zhongmu rubbed her nose, hiding a smile.

The closed fitting room door was finally pushed open. The clerk rushed forward, a smile plastered on her face as she said: “It looks very good! Your sister has great taste.”

“You should listen to your sister. Look at how well she picked these for you.”

Jiang Zhongmu wasn’t quite used to it. She tugged at her hem. She was used to being rough and simple; this layered, colorful outfit felt quite awkward. Meanwhile, the clerk continued to praise, having figured out who the real buyer was and speaking entirely to Xie Zhiyi. Xie Zhiyi nodded slightly, and the matter was settled.

The red sun sank in the west, and the temperature grew cool. Most of the pedestrians on the road had disappeared. Jiang Zhongmu carried a bunch of bags, walking beside Xie Zhiyi. They had shopped for an hour, and every item was for Jiang Zhongmu. No matter how slow she was, she now realized the purpose of this trip, though she wasn’t sure if it was Xie Zhiyi’s idea or Grandmother’s request.

Whenever she brooded over something, she would lower her head and frown, staying silent. Xie Zhiyi, beside her, ignored her, her eyes glancing at the bags—looking quite like a heartless person who stops coaxing as soon as the goal is achieved.

Returning to where they started, Jiang Zhongmu hung the bags on the motorcycle. Xie Zhiyi sat on sideways, gripping the girl’s hem. A cool breeze blew past their ears, and the orange glow of the sunset dyed everything.

Xie Zhiyi looked at her. The redness on the girl’s body had faded, leaving only a trace on her earlobes. The usually thick-skinned Little Leopard was now being completely led by her. Earlier in the fitting room, she had been blocked so many times that eventually, she didn’t even want to try things on anymore; as soon as Xie Zhiyi spoke, she wanted to pay.

The image of Jiang Zhongmu’s embarrassed and bashful face surfaced. The mischievous elder smiled and tightened her grip on the girl’s hem.

“What are you laughing at?” Jiang Zhongmu, who hadn’t spoken for a long time, interrupted.

“Nothing,” Xie Zhiyi didn’t want to say, fearing the other would bristle.

But Jiang Zhongmu had been stifling her curiosity all afternoon. She couldn’t let it go. After a pause, she asked: “What is a ‘Little Leopard’?”

When the other had mentioned it earlier, she had been confused, but her questions had gone unanswered. She had held it in until now.

“You,” Xie Zhiyi said directly, as there was no point hiding it.

Jiang Zhongmu frowned. After thinking for a moment, she still didn’t understand. “Why am I a Little Leopard?”

The silence behind her was sudden. Xie Zhiyi had let go of the hem, but the next second, the bike hit a stone in the road. The jolt made her lose her balance and fall forward, causing her to wrap her arms directly around the girl’s waist.

“Why?” Jiang Zhongmu forced down a triumphant smile and asked again.

The scenery on both sides flashed past, pushing aside previous memories. Xie Zhiyi gave a casual, perfunctory answer: “Because I think you’re cute.”

Cute…

Jiang Zhongmu, who had never been praised like that, froze, her back stiffening. Meanwhile, Xie Zhiyi felt another surge of mischief and asked with a light laugh: “What, am I wrong?”

How are leopards cute?

Jiang Zhongmu didn’t know if the other was bullying her for her lack of experience or if she just thought children were easy to fool, not even bothering to find a good excuse. She twisted the handlebars and rode directly into a small pothole. Another jolt. Xie Zhiyi pressed even closer to her, the familiar scent of roses wrapping around them.

“Jiang Zhongmu!” The person behind her wasn’t as slow as her; she realized immediately and tried to issue a warning.

But how could Jiang Zhongmu stop? The next second, another bump. The elder was pressed tightly against her back.

“Jiang Zhongmu!”

“Here!” A shameless reply filled with youthful rowdiness. Jiang Zhongmu had finally won a round back.

The person behind her was so annoyed she slapped her shoulder, but it only made Jiang Zhongmu even more emboldened.

The sun gradually set, and the evening breeze blew, scattering leaves across the ground. Returning birds perched on branches, chirping incessantly.

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