It was rather dark in the private room, and Lin Yanwan couldn’t see anyone at first, so she called out for Jiang Xia.
"Hm?" he answered softly, subconsciously.
The next second, the lights in the room came on. Seeing Jiang Xia lying asleep on the sofa chair, Lin Yanwan let out an unprompted sigh of relief.
"Phew, I thought you weren’t here."
She walked over to Jiang Xia in a couple of steps. Seeing his still-swollen cheek, her heart ached. "How is it? Does it still hurt?"
"It’s much better now." Jiang Xia opened his eyes, looking at his wife’s concerned gaze, and forced a smile.
She slowly raised her hand to touch his injury. Jiang Xia narrowed his eyes and reflexively flinched away.
"Really, Dad... Why did he have to hit you so hard?" Lin Yanwan said, her heart aching. She couldn’t bear to hit him that hard herself—the only time she used any force was in bed.
"Wasn’t it to protect you? He’s a worried old dad. It’s understandable."
Jiang Xia gently took her hand and rubbed it against his cheek. "It’s all my fault, really. If I hadn’t been so fixated on your feet, you wouldn’t have fallen. We wouldn’t have ended up in a heap together, and your dad wouldn’t have seen me on top of you and given me a lesson in ’fatherly love.’ In some other timeline, my father-in-law and I might be having a cordial, friendly chat right now."
"Alright, stop blaming yourself for everything." Lin Yanwan took a can of Diannan White Medicine from her pocket and said softly, "Close your eyes. I’m going to spray some medicine on it. It’s for bruises and sprains."
Jiang Xia glanced at the old box. It didn’t look like it was newly bought. "Did Dad give this to you?"
"How did you know?" She was a little surprised. ’I don’t think I told him, did I?’
"The fact that Dad let you come see me means he’s calmed down. Even though his first impression of me as his son-in-law wasn’t great, he’s not a fundamentally violent person. He’s probably regretting it right now, but he’s too proud to admit it. Having you bring this Diannan White Medicine to me is his roundabout way of apologizing."
Jiang Xia saw these things very clearly—or rather, he understood his father-in-law’s personality perfectly. How could he really break up the happy couple and destroy a relationship his daughter cherished so much? Wouldn’t that create a rift between father and daughter that would last a lifetime?
For a doting father, that would be worse than beating him up.
"You’ve taken the punch, and you’ve had your say. Have you learned your lesson now? Next time we’re at home, don’t be so handsy with me all day. My dad said if he can hit you once, he can hit you twice." Lin Yanwan couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.
"Lesson learned. But I’ll still do it next time," Jiang Xia said seriously.
Lin Yanwan’s eyes widened. "You want to get hit again?"
"Let him hit me. I know Dad can’t stand seeing the precious cabbage he raised being ravaged by a pig. If that’s the case, he should watch more often. He’ll get used to it," Jiang Xia said cheekily.
Lin Yanwan’s face flushed red. "You’re the one being ravaged by a pig!"
"If you’re willing to admit you’re the pig, then I don’t mind being the cabbage. I promise, for every nibble you take, I’ll let out a cry. If you keep nibbling, I’ll keep crying out," he chuckled mischievously.
"???"
’What kind of shameless, predatory words are these? His face is swollen like that, and he still dares to flirt with me. Hmph, he really deserved to get hit!’
"Just close your eyes!" she said, annoyed.
Jiang Xia obediently closed his eyes. Lin Yanwan shielded his eyes with her hand, then sprayed the Diannan White Medicine on his swollen cheek a few times. She took out a tissue and carefully wiped away the dripping liquid to keep it from getting into his mouth.
She looked at Jiang Xia’s naturally pursed lips, leaned in gently, and softly pressed her delicate lips against his.
Jiang Xia’s body stiffened, then he wrapped his arms around her and responded with passion.
The lights went out at some point. In the dark room, their lips and tongues met in a particularly fierce clash, mixed with soft gasps. A sweetness spread between their lips.
After a long while, Jiang Xia gently cupped her face, caressing it. "What was that for? A special reward because you think I’ve been wronged?"
"Thank you," Lin Yanwan said softly.
She knew in her heart that everything Jiang Xia had endured today was for her. If it wasn’t true love, he would have thrown in the towel and left long ago.
"Baby, we’re husband and wife. I never even signed those divorce papers. Even if I’ve been reborn and all traces of the past have been erased, it can’t hide the fact that we were once married. I married you in my last life, and in this life, I’m going to marry you again."
"Mm..."
Feeling his sincere love, Lin Yanwan wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled Jiang Xia into her embrace with force, like mountains flattening into plains.
"Right now, you can be a little more brazen with me..." she whispered shyly near his ear, her moist, warm breath brushing against his cheek, enough to make one’s heart race.
Jiang Xia didn’t hesitate, kissing his way down her delicate neck.
She tilted her neck back and let out a soft moan. "Wait... the door..."
◇
Chen Yao stared speechlessly at the security monitor. There were no cameras inside the private room, but after Lin Yanwan went in, the room’s light turned on and then off again. The system console didn’t show the two of them being online either.
Most importantly, the door to the private room had been quietly closed.
Her heart skipped a beat. ’No way, right? They wouldn’t be bold enough to fool around so brazenly in an internet cafe, would they? Besides, his face is injured. He can’t possibly be thinking about *that kind of thing* right now.’
’Then again, you never know. Couples who are deeply in love are most likely to get carried away in a dark, secluded place. It’s especially thrilling.’
She hesitated, wondering if she should go knock on the door or find a way to remind them to tone it down a bit. If they were discovered, they would probably be the top story in tomorrow’s Yu Du Morning Post.
*Shocking! Tsinghua-bound sweethearts caught doing THAT in an internet cafe’s private room!*
But after thinking about it, she decided against it. ’I just hope they locked the door while they’re at it.’
Time passed slowly. About ten minutes later, Lin Yanwan emerged from the private room, acting all sneaky. She peeked her head out, looked left and right, and then headed for the restroom.
Chen Yao watched the monitor with a deadpan expression. As a future law student, even though the video quality was poor, she could tell from Lin Yanwan’s body language that she was guilty of something.
’In those ten-odd minutes, the two of them definitely did something in that room that would make a person blush and their heart race.’
’I really didn’t see you as this type, Old Jiang. You’ve got some serious nerve. Really love living on the edge, don’t you?’
Chen Yao calmly averted her gaze, her mind already at work. She pondered how to use the existing evidence to get him thrown in jail, and then, how to act as Jiang Xia’s defense attorney and argue for his acquittal.
For a moment, the two little figures in her mind were at war.
...
*(I’ve been so, so busy these past two days, I really have no free time. I thought about how this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I originally wanted to take a break. But then I thought, no matter what, I have to release a Chapter. Finally, my mother-in-law and father-in-law are the best in the world!)*