Chapter 40: "I Want to Kiss You"

What a seductive voice!

Song Xi scrambled to turn off the audio message, but it was too late; anyone with ears could have heard that clear, electrified, breathy sound.

The car fell into a heavy silence.

Song Xi cast a cautious glance at the man in the passenger seat. He sat perfectly still, his long wrists draped over his eyes as if he were asleep. She simply turned off her phone, didn't reply to the message, and focused on driving.

Once they reached home, Song Xi had to support him out of the elevator. Jing Zhuo reeked of alcohol, and the hand resting on her shoulder was flushed, with blue veins bulging on the back of it. It was clear he had truly had too much to drink. He hadn't eaten much at dinner but had consumed a significant amount of alcohol; his stomach must have been in knots.

Song Xi poured him a glass of water and went to the kitchen to make some hangover tea. When she returned with the bowl, she saw Jing Zhuo suddenly stand up and sway toward the study. A moment later, he emerged and placed two bright red marriage certificates on the coffee table.

Song Xi was puzzled. "What are you doing with our marriage certificates?"

Jing Zhuo opened the two booklets with a serious expression, his finger pointing at the official seals as he spoke, enunciating each word carefully. "According to Article 4 of the Marriage Law, husband and wife shall remain faithful to each other."

Song Xi couldn't help but laugh. "You're studying the law while drunk?"

Jing Zhuo squinted. "You, Song Xi." He poked one marriage certificate. "I, Jing Zhuo." He poked the other. "We are legal."

Jing Zhuo looked up at her, his eyes clouded with alcohol and a strange, persistent intensity. "Communicating with a blind date candidate behind your legal husband's back constitutes cheating."

Song Xi: "???"

How did she suddenly get saddled with such a heavy accusation? So that was why he hadn't said a word in the car—he had been waiting for this moment.

"I didn't! I wouldn't... that was just him sending messages unilaterally," Song Xi argued.

"Emotional infidelity is still infidelity."

How did this turn into emotional infidelity? Song Xi realized she couldn't reason with a drunk person. She took out her phone, opened the blind date's WeChat, and deleted him right in front of Jing Zhuo.

"Does that count as cheating anymore?"

Jing Zhuo’s dark gaze lingered on her screen for a long time, seemingly disbelieving that she could act so decisively.

"Then tomorrow..."

"I'm not going on a blind date tomorrow, either," Song Xi interrupted. "I have a husband now, why would I go on blind dates? Don't worry, I strictly abide by the Marriage Law."

Besides, Grandma wasn't even in the city. If she really called, Song Xi would have an excuse ready—she would just say they weren't a good match. For now, the priority was coaxing this man into a good mood.

"Now, are you feeling any better?" Song Xi asked, tilting her head.

Jing Zhuo stared at her without speaking. Song Xi picked up the hangover tea and was about to offer it to him when he suddenly spoke, out of the blue.

"I want to do something legal."

"Hm?"

"I want to kiss you."

Before Song Xi could fully process his words, the man gripped the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss.

The scent of alcohol mingled with his breath, flowing between their lips and teeth. It wasn't a gentle peck, but a deep, lingering, and tangled embrace. He was already quite skilled. He held her and kissed her for a very, very long time. Song Xi was completely enveloped in his arms, surrounded by his presence.

At one point, she felt like she couldn't breathe and tried to push him away, but as soon as she caught her breath, he grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her back into his embrace.

He really loved kissing. It was endless; even when they were both breathless, he wouldn't let go.

Afterward, Song Xi’s face was flushed, her breathing still uneven. She felt as if she, too, had been soaked in alcohol—perhaps even more affected than he was. She really should have brewed an extra bowl of hangover tea.

"Can you drink the tea now?" Song Xi brought the bowl to him. If he didn't drink it now, it would be stone cold.

This time, Jing Zhuo didn't refuse; he obediently took the bowl and downed the liquid in one gulp.

Finally, he settled down. Song Xi breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to help him to the bedroom, but he spoke up again.

"I want to read."

"?"

He was drunk enough to pass out, yet he wanted to read? His drunken behavior was surprisingly refined. But drunk men were notoriously stubborn. Song Xi had once seen her uncle get drunk and insist on cooking a four-course meal in the middle of the night; her aunt hadn't stopped him, just humored him like a child.

She had once said: "A man is a giant book of child psychology."

Song Xi followed suit, asking patiently, "Which book do you want to read?"

Jing Zhuo: "The Marriage Law."

"..." Was this topic never going to end tonight?

Song Xi randomly grabbed an English book from under the coffee table and shoved it into his hands. "This is the English version of the Marriage Law. Read this."

Jing Zhuo sat upright on the sofa, flipped through a few pages, and suddenly said, "There's no bookmark."

"Reading requires a bookmark."

So...

He reached into the drawer with practiced ease, opened the box of bookmarks she hadn't yet given to Zhang Heming, took one out, and tucked it into the book. Then, he opened another book, took out another bookmark, and tucked it in as well.

Song Xi watched this sequence of events, stunned. It turned out that the entire bag of souvenirs she had brought back from Sanya hadn't been given to the Zhang siblings at all—her husband had claimed them all for himself.

...

The next day.

When Song Xi woke up and finished freshening up, Jing Zhuo was already sitting at the dining table waiting for her.

He was sober today, dressed in a sharp, crisp suit, his hair neatly styled. If she hadn't seen his childish drunken antics the night before, Song Xi would never have believed this man could have such two-faced behavior.

The housekeeper had come early to prepare a steaming breakfast and had already tidied up the living room before leaving. Since both of them would be out for lunch, the housekeeper would only come back in the evening.

"I'm sorry," Jing Zhuo said, taking the initiative to apologize while eating. "I was careless last night and used the bookmarks you bought for your friend. I'll pay you for them, and you can transfer the money to her."

Song Xi’s mouth twitched slightly. It was just a box of bookmarks, costing 36.8 yuan at the tourist spot; she didn't lack that amount of money.

"Forget it, just keep them. Heming doesn't like to read anyway," Song Xi said, deciding to just give them to him.

Besides, Zhang Heming only read novels. The novels she read were all "spicy"—the plot was secondary, the goal was the "action," and there was no chance they would ever be published in physical form.

Hearing her say this, Jing Zhuo’s brow relaxed slightly. "Well... then I shall accept your generosity."

Song Xi thought to herself: *Was she generous?* He was the one who had snatched them away with his own hands.

She quickly finished her breakfast, packed her equipment, and left for work. Jing Zhuo left with her. In the elevator, he asked, "Are you going to the He residence tonight?"

He had almost figured out Song Xi’s routine; she was always heading to the He residence. Since she hadn't gone last night because of the dinner, she would surely be unable to let go of her simple-minded best friend today.

Sure enough, Song Xi nodded. "Yes, I am."

"Hm."

*Hm?* Did he just "hm" and leave it at that? He hadn't tried to stop her this time. Song Xi, feeling carefree, headed to work with high spirits.

At Baihe Group, as soon as Jing Zhuo arrived at his office, Chen Feng brought him the itinerary.

"Boss, there are five meetings and one dinner banquet this week. I've reassigned the business trips to other executives; your schedule is entirely within the city this week."

Chen Feng was a sharp assistant. Ever since their trip to Suzhou, he had been very savvy about cutting out unimportant projects to earn favor with his boss. "Financial magazines and the Commercial Daily wanted to interview you, but I declined them."

*How's that for efficiency? Give me a raise!*

"Magazines?" Jing Zhuo repeated.

"Yes."

"Does that involve taking personal portraits?"

Chen Feng was momentarily confused. "...Yes, it does."

Jing Zhuo said, "Take on a couple more of those jobs. Why did you turn them down?"

Chen Feng was shocked. "Mr. Jing, when did you start liking magazine covers? I thought you hated being interviewed the most?"

"Change the interviews to a written format; you can answer the questions for me. As for the photos, have them taken by the Sando Studio."

Jing Zhuo thought for a moment and added, "Sando Studio has a new photographer named Song Xi. You know how to arrange this, right?"