Chapter 47: "So Fragrant, So Tender"

Before Song Xi even had time to change her shoes, she turned and brushed against the tall, upright figure of the man.

So close, there was a faint scent of alcohol on him.

A damp patch stained the collar of his shirt; two buttons were undone, revealing a small mole near his collarbone.

Song Xi’s gaze darkened once again.

“You went out?” Jing Zhuo noticed her shoes were still on and saw the tote bag in her hand, bulging with unknown contents.

He naturally took the bag from her and hung it on the hallway wall.

Opening the shoe cabinet, he retrieved her slippers and placed them by her feet.

Song Xi said nothing, changed her shoes, and went into the living room by herself.

The alcohol smell clung to Jing Zhuo all the way, making him uncomfortable. Without much thought, he unbuttoned his shirt as he headed toward the guest bedroom.

“I’m going to take a shower first.”

Song Xi didn’t reply.

Jing Zhuo showered as fast as he could, lathering twice with body wash, tossed his dirty clothes into the hamper, slipped into a robe, and came out.

He saw Song Xi standing at the doorway, staring fixedly at him.

That look was indescribable…

“What’s wrong?”

Jing Zhuo instinctively checked himself but saw nothing amiss.

“You went to Club K tonight,” Song Xi suddenly said.

“Mm.”

“And you hugged a woman.”

“Hm?”

“And kissed two different women intimately.”

Jing Zhuo was utterly baffled.

Ignoring his shock, Song Xi pulled up some photos on her phone and held them up to him.

“Mr. Jing, someone has already sent me several sets of photos. I’ve verified them—they’re real, absolutely not fake. We…”

Jing Zhuo’s eyelid twitched slightly as he hurriedly cut her off.

“Don’t think about divorce just yet. Let me explain.”

He glanced briefly at the photos, grabbed his phone from the bed, and made a call right in front of her.

“Hello, this is Jing Zhuo.”

“Please retrieve the surveillance footage from VIP Room 001 at Cloud Summit from 10 to 11 p.m. tonight, from my entry until the end. Send it to me in ten minutes. Hurry.”

He took a deep breath and said to Song Xi:

“First, I didn’t drink tonight, didn’t smoke, and didn’t get close to any women. Second, the two girls in your photos came looking for me deliberately. I pushed them away within two seconds of their approach, but the photos were taken quickly—it means I was set up.”

“I’ve already asked the staff at Cloud Summit for the footage. Please wait ten minutes, okay?”

“Don’t divorce yet. Let’s watch the footage before deciding.”

Song Xi was stunned by his series of actions.

Set up?

Were the photos taken by Chen Mian deliberately staged?

Her gaze fell on Jing Zhuo’s chest. “Then why is the collar of your shirt still wet when you came back?”

“I pushed them away with too much force, and the alcohol spilled.”

“You only stayed at Club K for an hour?”

“Mm. I attended an engagement party in the evening, then handled some private matters at Cloud Summit afterward.”

He answered frankly.

Half an hour later, Song Xi sat on the sofa, watching an entire hour of surveillance footage sped up by Jing Zhuo.

From his entrance, to sitting down, to the end.

The footage was crystal clear with 360-degree coverage, even with sound.

She could hear a medley of military-themed revolutionary songs playing in the background.

“…They really chose some very positive energy songs.”

“Do you believe me now?” Jing Zhuo sat beside her, arm resting on the back of the sofa behind her, turning his head to ask.

Song Xi felt a little embarrassed.

“Sorry,” she sincerely apologized, “I just… got a bit reactive.”

She added, “My ex deceived me like this for two whole years. I was foolishly naive in love, so I’m especially sensitive to environments like this. I don’t want my marriage to carry such a heavy stain.”

“From now on, I’ll report to you wherever I go,” Jing Zhuo said. “I won’t go to Club K anymore.”

Hearing this, Song Xi felt she had overreacted.

“Actually, there’s no need to…”

“As long as you say it, I’ll try to change. Anything you can’t stand, I won’t touch again.”

Her heart pounded and softened.

This was the first time someone had said such words to her, made such a promise.

No conditions, no excuses, no exchanges.

Just say the word, and he would change.

As if she were worth such indulgence and care.

Song Xi parted her lips, softly uttering one word: “Okay.”

“So, there’s no more barrier between us?” Jing Zhuo put down his phone, a slight smile in his eyes.

Song Xi shook her head. “No.”

“Then… I was scared when you mentioned divorce earlier.” Jing Zhuo leaned close, voice low. “Honey, don’t you want to comfort me?”

“What?”

Before Song Xi could react, his lips captured hers.

Clean and fresh from the shower, his body carried no trace of alcohol, just a refreshing scent of toothpaste mingled with cedar from the body wash.

In a daze, Song Xi suddenly pushed him away, blinking innocently.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

“It’s okay.” He bit her lower lip gently, his voice husky and deep. “You smell good. So kissable.”

Afterward, Song Xi felt her senses filled with the minty toothpaste flavor.

She tried to get up, but the man’s arm wrapped around her waist, not letting go.

“Don’t move. Let me hold you for a while.”

She blinked, cooperating by staying still.

Jing Zhuo held her for a moment, his breath brushing against her skin, forehead resting against hers. His deep eyes, like the ocean, fixed on her.

“Song Xi,” he called softly. “I will be a good husband. Can we agree on one thing?”

“What is it?” her voice soft and gentle.

“Can we not divorce for one year?”

He stroked her face, warm breath fluttering at her nose.

“I won’t cheat, won’t bring financial burdens, won’t break laws or morals. I will respect myself, uphold integrity, honor husbandly duties…”

“Can you just… not divorce?”

Song Xi was overwhelmed by his earnest words.

She began to reflect.

Had she repeatedly hovered on the brink of divorce, giving the man PTSD?

Suddenly, she felt a pang of guilt and embarrassment.

She nodded, her voice melting like water.

“All right, I promise you. No divorce.”

Hearing her promise, Jing Zhuo exhaled in relief, his mood visibly uplifted.

He cupped her face, pecked her nose, then her lips, this time without parting.

Tossing and turning, he pressed closer.

Song Xi exclaimed, “!?!!?”

Why was he clinging on again?

Hadn’t they just… kissed?

“Addicted. One more time.”