The Guide to Faking Innocence to Win His Wife - Chapter 37

It was night once more, and the sound of water clashed with the clatter of dishes. The leaves outside rustled in the breeze. In the second-floor room, the lights were on, and a misty warmth drifted through the air, carrying the scent of milk-scented body wash.

Before long, the water stopped and the bathroom door opened.

Jiang Zhongmu stepped out clad only in a bath towel. She used one hand to pull the corner of the towel over her head, rubbing her hair haphazardly like a puppy. Water droplets sparkled as they fell. With the onset of summer, her tanned skin had deepened in color; the redness at the corners of her eyes had spread, flushing her entire body.

She sat directly on the edge of the bed, her brain sluggish from the lack of oxygen in the steamy room. She continued to rub her hair mechanically. She had felt sticky since the morning, but things had been happening one after another. She had wanted to shower at noon but ended up falling into Xie Zhiyi’s embrace instead. Right after dinner, she had rushed through the dishes and hurried into the bathroom, unable to wait a moment longer.

A relatively cool breeze drifted in, lifting a corner of her towel and revealing half of her abdomen. The results of her diligent exercise over the past few days were obvious; the previously faint abdominal lines were now clearly visible whenever she straightened her back. Further up were her youthful curves; a faint, pale red mark lingered at the very edge, making it unclear if it was from a bump or something someone had done unintentionally.

She sat for a while to regain her bearings before slowly looking for clothes. The clothes she had bought two days ago were washed and dried, tossed in a heap on the bed along with a fresh set of sheets and pillowcases. When Grandmother saw her changing them, she had asked in surprise why she was swapping them out after only a week. Jiang Zhongmu had simply brushed it off, blaming the summer heat and sweat.

Usually, Jiang Zhongmu was lazy and didn’t bother with new clothes, wearing her old T-shirts until they were thin and loose. You could call it being sentimental, but in reality, she just didn’t want to spend mental energy on it. Her hand reached for a tank top but paused, sliding instead toward the one with the rabbit pattern. She remembered Xie Zhiyi seemed quite interested in this one, her gaze lingering on it for a long time.

She slipped the thin garment on. Since Grandmother hadn’t gone to sleep yet, Jiang Zhongmu kept her footsteps light as she climbed upstairs. She didn’t need to knock as she used to; she walked straight through the open outer door. The inner bedroom door was tightly shut, and the faint sound of a voice came from within.

Jiang Zhongmu froze. This was the first time in days she had heard Xie Zhiyi on the phone. she had assumed the woman intended to cut off all communication with the outside world during her stay. The old house had poor soundproofing; even standing at the door, she could hear clearly. Xie Zhiyi’s voice didn’t sound angry, which made Jiang Zhongmu feel a sense of relief. It meant Xie Zhiyi was finally letting go of the past.

Just as Jiang Zhongmu’s hand dropped and she prepared to turn back and give her some space, she heard her own name.

Her footsteps stopped abruptly. A flicker of conflict crossed her light amber eyes. She was young, after all; she cared too much and was far too curious about her image and standing in her beloved’s heart. Moreover, another voice came through the phone—familiar and youthful, likely a very close friend.

“So what do you think? How old is that kid?”

Jiang Zhongmu stood behind the door, her head lowered.

Xie Zhiyi answered truthfully, adding, “It’s a bit difficult to handle.”

“You know it’s difficult? Xie Zhiyi, can’t you find someone closer to your own age? That person before was a kid, and this one is about the same. Is this just your ‘type’ now?” The person’s tone was sharp, clearly aware of Xie Zhiyi’s past. “I don’t think it’s reliable—a kid who hasn’t even started university. I’m not trying to be pessimistic, but she’s still young. Her heart isn’t settled. Once she hits university, who knows what kind of regrets or drama she’ll stir up? No matter how much you want to mess around, you should find someone more stable and mature.”

Before the person could finish, Xie Zhiyi interrupted. “Her personality is very steady and attentive. She is much more mature than others her age.”

Jiang Zhongmu looked down at the light leaking through the crack of the door, casting a faint glow in the dark room.

“She’s still a kid,” the person insisted, their tone growing heavier. “Don’t forget about that other one…”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“Then what are you actually thinking?”

“Qin Sang, I…” Xie Zhiyi hesitated for a rare moment before sighing helplessly. “Nothing will happen between us.”

“You’ve already slept with her, what do you mean nothing will happen? Xie Zhiyi, who are you kidding?” The woman named Qin Sang sounded both anxious and angry. Then her tone shifted. “Unless… you’re planning to just pull up your pants and run? Since when did you become such a jerk?”

Xie Zhiyi was silent for a moment, letting the evening breeze stir her hair. The Burmese laurel outside was growing rapidly, its green branches reaching toward the window.

“Qin Sang, nothing will happen between us,” she emphasized again, her voice firm. She had already made the decision on her own. “She’s just a kid with a fleeting crush. Once I’m gone, she’ll be sad for a couple of days, but once she’s at university, she’ll realize there are plenty of people like me. She’ll find a girlfriend her own age and forget all about me in the blink of an eye.”

Xie Zhiyi leaned against the bed, her shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal her slender forearms, which looked dazzlingly white under the bright light. Her loosely hanging jade bracelet swayed. Her gaze was unfocused as she recited the reasons she had repeated to herself a thousand times. Yet, the image of that scratch paper tucked under the desk glass flashed through her mind.

Would the girl really forget her so easily?

She was only a nineteen-year-old child. Once she entered the big city, she would find so many exciting, beautiful things. In time, she would surely forget this boring, gloomy woman who had come alone to Jiang Town. Xie Zhiyi continued to deceive herself, weaving a narrative she didn’t even believe.

There was a silence on the other end of the line before the voice asked, “So you mean this is only for right now?”

“She doesn’t have any of my contact information,” Xie Zhiyi answered quickly.

“Isn’t that a bit heartless?” the person asked, their heart softening.

“Qin Sang…” Xie Zhiyi sighed, her eyelashes fluttering.

“Fine, it’s your decision,” the friend relented. Then, her tone turned playful. “So, what does she look like? How’s her ‘technique’? Was it good?”

Xie Zhiyi was mortified. Her voice rose as she shouted a warning, “Xu Qin Sang!”

“Oh, come on, I’m just looking out for you! We’ve been friends for years, what are you shy for? I’m just asking who you gave your ‘first time’ to…”

Xie Zhiyi cut her off sternly. The person on the other end flinched and gave a sheepish laugh. “I was just asking! Can’t a best friend even ask that?”

Xie Zhiyi rubbed her forehead helplessly. “It was… quite good.”

“How good?” the friend pressed.

“…If she were at a university, she’d probably have a lot of people chasing her,” Xie Zhiyi looked out the window where the white flowers were in full bloom.

“Ha! I knew you were a sucker for a pretty face,” the friend laughed.

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“You don’t know? Your attitude when you reject someone good-looking versus someone who isn’t is completely different.”

The night deepened. The small living area outside the bedroom was pitch black. The girl stood outside the door for a long time, her lean calves tensed. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides. Her upper body was hidden in the shadows, her expression unreadable. One could only barely see the water dripping from her damp hair, soaking a patch of her tank top.

She stood there for a few more minutes until enough time had passed, then knocked on the door.

Knock, knock-knock.

It was the same rhythm and force as usual. Inside, Xie Zhiyi jolted. She hurriedly said goodbye to her friend, hung up, and walked toward the door. As the door opened and the light poured out, Jiang Zhongmu instinctively squinted. She looked at Xie Zhiyi and said softly, “Sister.”

“Why are you here?” The elder was feeling guilty, so the question came out reflexively.

However, Jiang Zhongmu showed no surprise. She leaned lazily against the doorframe and gave her a smile that reached her eyes, her dimples deep. “No medicine tonight?”

“It’s still early…” Xie Zhiyi tried to refuse. It was only eight o’clock, two hours before their usual time. This was why she hadn’t expected Jiang Zhongmu to come upstairs yet.

“I missed you. Is that not allowed?” Jiang Zhongmu countered quickly, still smiling in a way that made her look like she was harborning some mischief.

Xie Zhiyi pursed her lips, expressing her “disdain” with silence. Jiang Zhongmu laughed again and leaned down to look at her, her tone finally turning serious. “I came over to blow-dry my hair first.”

“Didn’t you say I should make sure it’s dry?” she asked as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

Xie Zhiyi had no reason to object. She stepped aside to let her in. “The hairdryer is in the bathroom.”

Jiang Zhongmu didn’t hesitate. She went inside, grabbed the hairdryer, and handed it to Xie Zhiyi. “Sister, help me,” she said quite shamelessly. Her tone was so matter-of-fact that one might think Xie Zhiyi owed her money.

Xie Zhiyi was about to complain, but the girl’s expression immediately crumbled. “My arms are sore,” she claimed.

Xie Zhiyi: “…”

The elder glanced at her. This girl wasn’t even being professional about her “pity act”—the smile in her eyes was practically leaking out as she feigned a massage of her forearms. Xie Zhiyi pursed her lips, but in the end, she couldn’t refuse. Her voice softened. “Go sit over there.”

Jiang Zhongmu was still smiling, her eyes crinkled into crescents. She looked like she had just gotten away with something big. She strode over to a stool and sat down properly, hands on her knees. In her rabbit-patterned tank top, she looked strangely well-behaved. No one could stay mad at a well-behaved child, even if she had just played a little trick. Xie Zhiyi’s annoyance vanished in an instant.

The roar of the hairdryer began, startling the flowers outside. To make it easier for the woman, Jiang Zhongmu sat as straight as a bamboo stalk, her eyes submissive as she looked ahead. Xie Zhiyi stood behind her, the warm air lifting the tips of the girl’s hair while her cool fingers slid through the strands.

The room was quiet for a while. The phone on the bed vibrated twice and then went silent. After her hair was half-dry, Xie Zhiyi applied some hair oil. A faint floral scent mixed with the lingering milky fragrance of the body wash, it was surprisingly pleasant. Jiang Zhongmu kept her eyes forward, silent as usual, until Xie Zhiyi suddenly spoke.

“Why are your eyes red?” the woman’s puzzled voice murmured in her ear, sending a faint tingle through her.

Jiang Zhongmu’s gaze flickered. “Maybe I wasn’t careful in the shower and got some water in them.”

The elder smiled and advised gently, “Be more careful next time. Don’t be so reckless; it doesn’t save you that much time.”

“Okay,” Jiang Zhongmu agreed in a low voice.

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