The Guide to Faking Innocence to Win His Wife - Chapter 35

A quiet afternoon. Heat shimmered up from the blue bricks, and the emerald leaves reflected fragmented light like fish swaying lazily and gently in a river.

The scorching sunlight was blocked by the curtains, leaving only a hazy halo in the second-floor room, dissolving the intermittent scent of roses.

The girl sitting by the bed looked composed. Her shoulder-length hair was draped over her shoulders, covering certain suspicious marks, while her light amber eyes reflected the figure on the bed.

In the end, she couldn’t help herself; she couldn’t stop looking.

The woman was still buried in the deep blue quilt. The weakened sunlight fell on her, highlighting a jade-like pearly whiteness and making those scattered marks stand out even more—like a silent accusation.

Perhaps because the room was muggy and breathless, the woman unconsciously tugged at the quilt. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and the tip of her nose.

Finally having a suitable excuse, the person keeping watch beside her carefully reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind the woman’s ear.

But she forgot how rough her hands were. Over a decade of studying jade carving had layered her fingertips with thick calluses, as abrasive as coarse sand. The woman immediately frowned, showing a rare touch of childishness in her sleep. Yet Jiang Zhongmu, oblivious, continued her task, thinking she was being attentive.

Whether it was due to careful maintenance or natural texture, the elder’s hair was as soft as silk, feeling as though it might slip through the fingers at any moment. This caused Jiang Zhongmu to concentrate even harder, applying the same focus she used for jade carving.

Eventually, the woman drifted out of her light sleep, instinctively raising a hand to cover her eyes against the light.

Xie Zhiyi had a bit of a “waking temper”—not a severe one, but she liked to lie with her eyes closed for a while after waking up. Whether for school or work, she would always set her alarm ten minutes early for this reason.

Jiang Zhongmu noticed she was awake. Though she didn’t understand this small quirk, she didn’t speak to disturb her. She simply stood up, grabbed a thin book from nearby, and returned to fan Xie Zhiyi.

Mindful that the woman had just woken up, Jiang Zhongmu didn’t fan too quickly. She sent gentle, rhythmic pulses of cool air toward her, only enough to stir the stray hairs near her temples.

To someone who had just woken from a sweltering sleep, this was undoubtedly a huge temptation. Like a block of ice in the peak of summer, Xie Zhiyi abandoned her years-long habit and shifted her body to lean toward the source.

However, the cool breeze wasn’t necessarily more comfortable just because she was closer; it all depended on the strength of the person fanning. Fearing the woman might catch a chill, Jiang Zhongmu didn’t dare go too fast, but she overlooked the other’s feelings. This weak breeze was like having a block of ice right in front of you that you could only touch lightly—it was maddeningly teasing.

Xie Zhiyi’s eyelids fluttered. In a voice still thick with sleep and slightly hoarse, she commanded softly, “Faster.”

But Jiang Zhongmu ignored her, even moving the fan a bit further away. The “mischievous Little Leopard” sensed an opportunity and deliberately pulled the bait back, attempting to lure her prey into the trap.

Greedy for the coolness and still groggy, Xie Zhiyi nudged herself toward Jiang Zhongmu bit by bit, finally resting her head on the girl’s lap, exactly as Jiang Zhongmu had hoped. Her carefully tidied hair spilled out again, some strands trailing over the edge of the bed and dangling in mid-air like swaying vines.

Xie Zhiyi couldn’t be bothered to care. She had been exhausted the day before and had practically collapsed into sleep. Now, she was still being pulled back by drowsiness; if it weren’t for the stifling heat, she would have returned to her dreams long ago.

The person fanning was very unprofessional. Even though the prey had walked into the trap, she didn’t offer a reward, maintaining that intermittent pace. Displeased, Xie Zhiyi tugged at the girl’s hem to urge her.

This girl had no idea how “bony” she was. It was a huge sacrifice for Xie Zhiyi to give up her soft pillow to lean in her lap, yet the girl had the nerve to reach out with her “dog paws.”

In truth, you couldn’t blame Jiang Zhongmu. With her beloved in her lap, who could maintain total self-control? Her dark gaze lowered, staring at the person in her embrace.

Xie Zhiyi had an exquisite, soft face. Shattered light fell across her slightly furrowed brow. Her former girlishness had completely faded, replaced everywhere by the languid, mature allure of an older woman.

She mumbled a dissatisfied sound and turned her head to hide in the girl’s embrace. The thin quilt slipped further down, revealing the pale, moon-white curves beneath her straight collarbones. Like a ripe peach in mid-summer, the skin was thin and full, looking as though it might burst with juice at a single touch.

Jiang Zhongmu thought so, and she acted on it. She left crisscrossing marks on the excessively delicate skin—fingerprints mingled with patches of red, falling undisguised into the sunlight. It was as if a holy nun in a cathedral had been pulled from her pedestal, stained with the dust of the mortal world.

The culprit felt no guilt; instead, she felt a secret, quiet joy. Her rough fingertips grazed the woman’s cheek, creating a sensation that was both itchy and slightly painful.

Xie Zhiyi tried to hide, attempting to bury her face in the girl’s chest. But how could this “nuisance” let her off so easily? She explored further down—from the bridge of the nose to the thin lips, then down to the hollow of the collarbones… and then continued lower.

She was no longer that green Little Leopard from before. Having had her “first taste,” she wasn’t going to hover only above the neck as she used to.

The fabric made a rustling sound as it was lifted. Jiang Zhongmu wanted to cover her, but her hand was slapped away first. With a crisp sound, her meddling hand was swatted aside. Xie Zhiyi hadn’t held back at all; even on the girl’s tanned hand, a faint red mark appeared.

Jiang Zhongmu arched an eyebrow, feeling no shame at being caught. Instead, she looked over unhurriedly.

Forced to open her eyes by this shameless girl, Xie Zhiyi gave her a look filled with both bashfulness and annoyance. Her watery eyes shimmered, the corners still holding the redness of the previous night.

“Don’t,” she scolded, though it lacked any real threat.

“I’m not,” Jiang Zhongmu laughed. In front of the elder, she always acted like a mischievous child, her dimples faintly visible.

The elder was helpless. This girl was exactly like this—she wouldn’t act properly even after getting what she wanted, practically wearing her “badness” on her face. Seeing Jiang Zhongmu about to reach out again, Xie Zhiyi pulled the quilt tight, covering herself completely.

The child pouted but didn’t stop her.

Still struggling with sleepiness, Xie Zhiyi looked dejected. She lay there for a while before asking, “What time is it?”

Jiang Zhongmu answered honestly and added, “I brought your lunch up.”

Xie Zhiyi nodded, but she didn’t have much of an appetite. Sleeping too much during the day often did that, and the muggy weather didn’t help. Jiang Zhongmu didn’t rush her. She continued fanning with one hand while reaching for a fruit plate with the other. The watermelon had been cut into bite-sized pieces and arranged neatly.

She pricked a piece with a toothpick and brought it to Xie Zhiyi’s lips. The bright red juice slipped through the gap, bringing a burst of icy, lingering sweetness. Xie Zhiyi instinctively opened her mouth and bit into the ripe flesh. The stifling summer heat seemed to diminish instantly.

“Where did the watermelon come from?” she asked with half-closed eyes. She looked like a queen being served in ancient times, lazily uttering a few words as a great favor to her servant.

“From Xun’s family,” Jiang Zhongmu replied as if it were nothing, continuing to feed her. “My godfather bought the seedlings from elsewhere. He said they’re a new variety—sweeter than normal watermelons and with fewer seeds.”

“It is sweet,” Xie Zhiyi nodded in confirmation.

“They’re good, but the yield is low. Only half as much as normal vines,” Jiang Zhongmu’s movements were gentle. She was more focused on feeding the woman than she was during jade carving. She looked down and smiled. “If you like them, I’ll go to their field and pick more in a couple of days.”

She felt no guilt about using her godfather’s things as a gift. The two families were close and shared everything; Jiang Zhongmu’s family had even let the Jiang Nanxun family farm half their land, since an old woman and a young girl couldn’t manage that much.

Xie Zhiyi glanced at her, not saying whether she accepted or not, but simply took another bite of the offered watermelon.

“Are you on break?”

“Mhm. I won’t head over until later in the afternoon. It’s too hot to sit still; I can’t carve anything anyway,” Jiang Zhongmu responded in a low voice.

These few weeks were the hottest of the year in Jiang Town. The pace of life was slow, and people were spoiled by the climate; they didn’t want to move if it was too hot or too cold. Even if Jiang Zhongmu hurried over, she might be forced to turn back because the people inside were too lazy to open the door.

“Okay,” Xie Zhiyi agreed. She raised a hand to block the girl’s wrist when she reached out again, not wanting to eat any more. While the cold watermelon was refreshing, she couldn’t eat too much at once. She was naturally prone to feeling cold and had just woken up; now that her drowsiness was fading and her rationality returning, she began to exercise restraint.

Jiang Zhongmu didn’t insist. She turned the toothpick toward her own mouth and commented, “It really is sweet.” Her gaze remained on the woman in her lap; it was unclear if she was talking about the melon or the person. Either way, she sounded a bit “off.”

Xie Zhiyi ignored her, closing her eyes and refusing to engage. But Jiang Zhongmu was persistent. When Xie Zhiyi ignored her, she “wagged her tail” and leaned closer to her face. The “Little Leopard” who had just tasted meat was incredibly clingy, wishing they wouldn’t be apart for even a minute.

The sweetness of the watermelon spread across their lips. Jiang Zhongmu, having learned some of the elder’s composure, unhurriedly pressed her thin lips against the other’s, touching them again and again. Xie Zhiyi tilted her chin slightly, neither encouraging nor resisting, letting her have her way with her eyes closed.

Jiang Zhongmu followed the contours of her face, kissing every inch carefully. The soft, jelly-like touch made her heart tremble.

“Sister…” Jiang Zhongmu called softly.

“Hmm?” Xie Zhiyi opened her eyes slightly, and the next second the girl seized the opening, prying open her lips to probe deep.

She was still that same reckless, overbearing Little Leopard. She couldn’t stay gentle for more than a few minutes before starting to act up, bossily occupying every space. Her curved back was slightly prominent, her spine stretching her thin shirt. The loose hem swayed, and her untied hair fell, entangling with the long curls in an inseparable mess.

The heavy curtains acted like a bright veil, and the shadows on the floor stretched, winding around her slender ankles.

Jiang Zhongmu grew dissatisfied with this position. Her hand slid down, and with a gentle pull, she gathered the woman into her arms, pressing closer with increasing intensity. The thin quilt was forced aside. Xie Zhiyi tried to reach for it, but the girl caught her hand, refusing to compromise.

The scent of roses from the night before hadn’t completely vanished; it grew stronger as the temperature rose. The “mischievous Little Leopard” gradually shifted elsewhere—the jade-pendant-like earlobes, the slender neck, the pearly, warm shoulders. Her palm covered the woman’s lower back, supporting her as she lifted her closer. The straight collarbones rose like wings, making it easier for someone to press down and deepen the chaotic marks.

“Jiang Zhongmu…” Xie Zhiyi didn’t dare let this continue. The soreness from last night hadn’t faded; she couldn’t handle this now. Her slender fingers tugged at the girl’s collar as she coaxed softly, “Stop messing around.”

“Hmm?” The little girl had tasted sweetness; how could she let go so easily? Instead of stopping, she moved further down. The quilt fell further and further, nearly slipping off the “hills.”

Jiang Zhongmu was about to try some other mischief when the woman’s voice pulled her attention back.

“Stop it,” Xie Zhiyi tried to sound serious, but her voice, husky with desire, distorted her words. It sounded less like a protest and more like “refusing while inviting.”

“No,” Jiang Zhongmu said, acting tough now.

“You can’t,” Xie Zhiyi wouldn’t yield, but her waist was lifted again, and the quilt slid completely to the floor.

The next second, the long-scheming Little Leopard pressed her down into the bed. The wooden frame let out a creak, and the long curls fanned out across the pillow like seaweed. Xie Zhiyi’s mind went blank. Before she could react, the girl bit down directly. Like a wolf pup that hadn’t had a full meal, she nipped and refused to let go.

“It hurts,” Xie Zhiyi hissed in pain and slapped the girl’s shoulder.

Jiang Zhongmu had some conscience left; hearing this, she immediately softened her grip and held her coaxingly.

“Move,” the elder didn’t buy it, still pushing at her shoulders. This sort of thing required two people to agree; if one wasn’t cooperating, no matter how much the other tried, it wouldn’t work.

So the Little Leopard could only piteously move closer, using the small tricks she learned last night to plead into Xie Zhiyi’s ear: “Sister.”

It was a mystery how the cold-faced, silent “Zhongmu jie” of the outside world could drop her dignity, draw out her voice, and act so clingy and spoiled. Xie Zhiyi felt both helpless and amused, but she didn’t dare indulge her anymore. Though she was older, she was also inexperienced in these matters; it was hard to endure. Meanwhile, the child had endless energy and curiosity, and had kept at it until midnight without wanting to stop.

When she had first woken up, Xie Zhiyi’s consciousness was hazy and the discomfort wasn’t so bad. Now that she was clearer, she felt her waist was sore and her legs were weak. Her body felt as if it had been dropped and shattered; every part was aching. Regardless of how others might be, the elder made the rational choice to rest.

She reached out and tugged at the “clingy puppy’s” hair, cruelly shaking her head: “No.”

Jiang Zhongmu was young, after all; no matter how steady she seemed, she couldn’t resist the urge to have another taste. Hearing this, she grew dejected, persistently begging her “Sister.”

“Just once. Just once.” “Sister.”

Xie Zhiyi didn’t believe her. After last night’s “one last time,” how could she trust those words? She patted Jiang Zhongmu’s back and urged, “Get off.” Seeing no reaction, she urged again, “Hurry up.”

The weather was hot enough as it was, and this person insisted on pressing against her. In no time, she was sweltering. If she had a worse temper, she would have kicked her off long ago. Unfortunately, Xie Zhiyi was gentle and her body was too soft and weak to kick her; otherwise, she would have sent Jiang Zhongmu to see the world under the bed.

“Just once!” Jiang Zhongmu persisted. “No,” Xie Zhiyi was firm. “But…” Jiang Zhongmu tried to think of an excuse. “No ‘buts’,” Xie Zhiyi interrupted ruthlessly. “Yesterday you…” “You dare mention yesterday?”

The guilty Little Leopard was silenced. She had the “warm fragrance and soft jade” in her arms, yet she couldn’t move; she felt totally drained, lying on top of the elder and refusing to budge.

“Move,” Xie Zhiyi said, finding her heavy. “Just a little bit longer,” Jiang Zhongmu made a final struggle, looking at her with piteous light amber eyes.

Unfortunately, Xie Zhiyi was determined to be “iron-hearted” today. She only said, “Get off. My waist is sore; I can’t take it.”

Jiang Zhongmu was completely defeated. Bracing herself with her long arms, she flopped over to the side like a useless heap. But she wasn’t completely honest—though she moved to the side, she stayed pressed against Xie Zhiyi, her long arm draped over the woman’s shoulder. The elder glanced at her and finally gave up resisting. She couldn’t keep pushing her away.

She closed her eyes to soothe the irritation the girl had stirred up. The room suddenly fell quiet, leaving only the sound of rhythmic breathing. Outside, the wind blew but couldn’t reach the interior; it could only aimlessly strike the leaves, raising waves of green. At this hour, even the most playful children refused to go out. The bluestone path was baked until it cracked, and the river level had dropped slightly, revealing the weed-choked banks.

By the time Xie Zhiyi had recovered her strength and turned to look, the previously rowdy girl was already fast asleep on the pillow. Last night hadn’t been exhausting for only Xie Zhiyi; Jiang Zhongmu had also stayed up until dawn, and she had woken up earlier than Xie Zhiyi to do jade work and come back to cook. She had been running on pure excitement.

The elder was helpless. She didn’t know what the girl had been making such a fuss about just now. Truly a young person, never tiring of such things.

“Stinky kid,” she scolded lightly. She turned slightly and pulled the thin quilt back over them. Jiang Zhongmu was oblivious, lying there like a big dog. She looked much better than when she was awake; her features were relaxed, revealing the youthfulness she tried so hard to hide. At times like this, she looked much better behaved than usual.

Xie Zhiyi reached out and poked the Little Leopard’s forehead. The sleeping person didn’t resist; even her eyelashes didn’t move. She was sleeping very deeply.

“Honestly…” she sighed softly. “Little pervert.”

Someone, taking advantage of the other’s sleep, whispered her dissatisfaction. Eventually, her voice grew weaker and faded away. The arm draped over her refused to fall. In the end, it was unclear who moved closer, but the two of them were stuck together again. Jiang Zhongmu held her tight, and Xie Zhiyi closed her eyes as well.

The scorching sun continued to beat down. The willow tree by the river looked diseased, its leaves curled and covered in dust, too lazy to even move, drooping despondently.

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