Chapter 42: Chapter Forty-Two

Lu Bao'er dared not meet Xie Junling's gaze; she glanced at him furtively, feeling ill at ease.

Was he joking with her? Yet Xie Junling's expression didn't look like he was joking. Lu Bao'er had thought he would wait a moment and then naturally find an excuse to shift the topic, but seeing his demeanor, it seemed he had no intention of letting her off.

Who asks for a kiss in broad daylight? Ah… but outside the window it was a little dark, as if night had already fallen.

It was merely asking for a reward; Lu Bao'er wasn't stingy, so she ought to give him one. Thinking thus, she actually stood up and moved her face closer.

Just as Lu Bao'er was about to touch Xie Junling, he dodged. Xie Junling propped his head with one hand, facing outward, and with the other hand he casually picked up a sweet cake and shoved it into Lu Bao'er's mouth.

It turned out the grandma had ordered the dishes to be served; she was just entering the Flower Hall.

Lu Bao'er jumped in fright, she lowered her head timidly and nibbled the sweet cake in small bites. Fortunately Xie Junling noticed quickly, otherwise it would have been embarrassing! Lu Bao'er would surely have been mortified to the point of smoke pouring from her seven orifices, not daring to go out for three days.

The newlywed couple's reaction seemed off, and the grandma worried they might have quarreled, so she dared not speak a word. She diligently served the dishes, picked up chopsticks to pull the shredded chicken for Lu Bao'er, and said: "This cold dish is well made; it uses free-range three-yellow chicken from the hills, the fat has been rendered out by running, leaving only firm meat—do try it."

Lu Bao'er belatedly put the shredded chicken in her mouth; it was indeed delicious. Perhaps because she had eaten something good, and seeing the grandma notice nothing amiss, she gradually relaxed and could even crack a couple of jokes.

Don't let Xie Junling's usual unassuming demeanor fool you—he is actually the most thin-skinned. At this moment, going along with Lu Bao'er's words, he ate his vegetables without changing expression.

The meal passed just like that. When night came and they had finished washing up and lay on the bed, Lu Bao'er turned to face Xie Junling, who sat on the outer side sipping tea, and said: "Husband, do you really want me to kiss you?"

Xie Junling was just drinking water when he turned his head and was choked by those words, his soul nearly leaving his body. At the time, at the dining table, seeing Lu Bao'er's red lips and white teeth, her lovely appearance, he didn't know what came over him and actually said such a thing. A modest gentleman also cares about face, so this matter had better not be brought up again.

At this moment Lu Bao'er, like a simpleton, bluntly blurted it out, which startled Xie Junling; he pursed his lips for a while, then softly said: "Actually, I'm not that keen."

"Oh." Lu Bao'er replied softly, then muttered to herself: "But… husband, it's been so long since we've shared a room—could there be some unspoken difficulty?"

Xie Junling had just swallowed the tea meant to calm his nerves, yet he spat it out again. He coughed, his face flushed red, contrary to his usual steady and restrained demeanor, showing instead a youthful, awkward fluster.

Xie Junling furrowed his brows, glared at Lu Bao'er, and said in a hoarse voice: "Who told you these improper things?"

Lu Bao'er answered candidly: "No one, it's just that Elder Sister Ye Qiying became pregnant again last year, while I have shown no sign at all; whenever the topic of children comes up, I can't get a word in."

Xie Junling gave her a strange look and asked: "Do you really want a child?"

"Not really, I'm a bit afraid of the pain, afraid of suffering."

"Hmm, you're still young; don't think about such nonsense, get a good sleep."

"Oh." Lu Bao'er knew Xie Junling was about to lie down, so she proactively rolled inward, clearing a large space.

Seeing the opening, Xie Junling slipped into that space and lay down; this time he deliberately lay closer to Lu Bao'er. The indoor candlelight went out, and they could hear only each other's breathing.

Lu Bao'er kept recalling Xie Junling's earlier words, him gazing at her and uttering that ambiguous remark.

Did Xie Junling really want a kiss? Lu Bao'er wrung her fingers, her palms sweaty. She and Xie Junling were husband and wife—wasn't some intimacy normal? If he wanted it, shouldn't she give it to him?

At this moment, Xie Junling seemed to sense Lu Bao'er's unease, and he lightly coughed: "Earlier I had thought about that remark I made during the meal."

"Hmm?" Lu Bao'er felt a little apprehensive, waiting for his continuation.

"As a husband, I am a man who keeps his word; I hope you, my wife, are the same." Perhaps because it was night, Xie Junling's voice inexplicably took on a hoarse tone; he added slowly: "Therefore, since you promised that kiss, you ought to fulfill it—you cannot be someone who goes back on your word."

"……" After all that back and forth, did Xie Junling still want her to kiss him?

Lu Bao'er summoned her courage and moved closer; she carefully approached Xie Junling and swiftly placed a kiss on his cheek.

Xie Junling froze, his whole body stiffening.

Lu Bao'er also felt embarrassed; at that moment she opened her mouth but couldn't utter half a sentence.

"You don't like it?" Lu Bao'er asked him.

Xie Junling lowered his long black eyelashes; his fingers unconsciously touched his cheek, where the sensation was intense— the only drawback was that it was too quick.

Could he actually be anticipating a kiss from a young lady? Ridiculous… to the extreme.

After thinking that, Xie Junling suddenly turned his head and, speaking slowly and deliberately to Lu Bao'er, said: "You're doing it wrong."

"What… wrong?" Lu Bao'er did not understand.

"Let me teach you." Xie Junling, for some reason, felt a sudden surge of solitary courage; he reached out to support Lu Bao'er's soft cheek and sealed his lips to hers.

Was he drunk? Or had he lost his mind? To actually take the initiative to kiss Lu Bao'er. Clearly he was noble and restrained, would never be attracted by a little maid, let alone tempted.

He simply couldn't stand to look on. Unaccustomed to Lu Bao'er's ignorant innocence, he wanted to drag her into the mire of worldly entanglements, to sink together with Xie Junling.

What else happened that night? Lu Bao'er felt dazed and somewhat confused. She only felt like a small boat, being pushed by Xie Junling to sway up and down.

When had Xie Junling become so bothersome? Normally he wouldn't even share a blanket, yet today he actually coaxed her into his embrace and wouldn't let her escape!

Evidently… men are all domineering and barbaric!

The next day, when Lu Bao'er woke up she felt her whole body sore; she propped herself up by the waist, and the grandma had someone bring in water for her to wash.

Xie Junling went to the Hanlin Academy early in the morning, and he also ordered the servants not to disturb the lady.

The grandma, being experienced, had sharp eyes and naturally knew what had happened. She couldn't contain her joy; she had previously worried that Xie Junling and Lu Bao'er were merely nominal spouses, but this closeness was good—if they bore an heir early, wouldn't that secure the husband's heart?

Lu Bao'er, on the other hand, hated Xie Junling intensely in her heart—was he a dog? He had nibbled and bitten all night, yet in the morning he was still full of vigor. This fellow must certainly be a yin‑sucking, yang‑supplying demon, or perhaps one with a thousand years of cultivation!

Lu Bao'er felt uneasy about marital relations in her heart; she thought once would be enough—who would crave such things, but don't keep coming to torment her every day!

Who knew that once a man indulges in meat, there would be no time to restrain himself? That very night he made Lu Bao'er repeatedly cry out "good older brother" for an entire hour.

——————Side note——————

Actually this book isn't very long; do you like candy? Later I can send out more sweets~!