Chapter 7: His Heart Itched Again, Restless and Stirring
Xie Youci felt like he must have owed her something in a past life.
She’d taken advantage of him while drunk last night, refused to acknowledge any of it this morning, and somehow he was still the one waiting on her hand and foot—making sure she had good food to eat and a luxurious bed to sleep in.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Chi Yang darkly.
Yet she sat there with her chin tilted up, eyes curved into bright crescents, not showing the slightest trace of guilt after so shamelessly taking advantage of him.
Xie Youci was furious.
Grinding his teeth, he said, “Go take a shower first. Lunch will be ready soon.”
Chi Yang tilted her head.
“You’re the best, husband~”
Xie Youci: “…”
Damn it.
His useless heart started itching again.
Chi Yang went off to shower.
Meanwhile, Xie Youci headed downstairs to prepare lunch.
Steam filled the bathroom.
Through the frosted glass door, the graceful silhouette of a young woman could be vaguely seen.
Her wet hair cascaded over her fragrant shoulders and pale skin.
Water flowed down from above, gliding slowly across every inch of her body as though stealing intimate kisses along the way.
The bathroom door opened.
Moist air carrying the scent of flowers rushed out, instantly filling the cool-toned bedroom.
Fresh from her bath, Chi Yang stepped into the room.
Her fair bare feet sank into the soft cashmere rug, as though she were walking on clouds warmed by sunlight.
She hummed cheerfully while drying her hair.
As if everything that had happened last night had absolutely nothing to do with her.
As if the moment she blacked out, those memories had been mercilessly tossed aside.
Only Xie Youci was still troubled by them.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
Still rubbing her hair, Chi Yang looked up.
Xie Youci was leaning lazily against the wall outside, one hand raised after knocking.
His gaze lowered casually toward her—and met her shimmering eyes.
A woman who had just stepped out of the bath always seemed especially radiant.
A faint mist still lingered on her fair cheeks. Her long eyelashes were damp and clustered together in delicate little strands. Even a casual glance from her somehow carried a subtle, irresistible allure.
Xie Youci: “…”
Suppressing the restlessness stirring in his chest, he deliberately looked away.
But her honey-sweet voice nearly hooked its way back into his heart.
“Is lunch ready already?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Without warning, he remembered last night’s kiss.
Her lips had been warm and soft.
When they brushed against his skin, they felt like drifting clouds.
Just like she looked now—fresh from her bath, soft and harmless.
“Xie Youci!”
The furious shout shattered his wandering thoughts.
He snapped back to reality and turned his head.
His gaze landed on her bathrobe.
She had been tilting sideways while drying her hair, loosening the collar without realizing it. A stretch of snowy skin was exposed.
Completely oblivious, Chi Yang looked at him with mild annoyance.
“Did you even hear what I said?”
Pressing his lips together, Xie Youci quickly looked away again.
He lifted a hand to rub his burning ear.
“Yeah, I heard you.”
His voice was lazy and casual.
“Fix your clothes and come downstairs for lunch.”
Chi Yang blinked.
She hadn’t noticed his reddened ears at all.
Confused, she lowered her head to look at herself—and immediately yanked the bathrobe closed in alarm.
Then she stamped her foot at his retreating figure.
“Ah! Pervert!”
Xie Youci couldn’t even be bothered to respond.
He merely snorted inwardly.
As if she had any right to call someone a pervert.
Last night, who exactly had been the hooligan?
In the end, Chi Yang changed into a proper outfit.
Xie Youci was still a man, after all.
Even though they were legally married, she wasn’t ready to take that step with him yet.
When she came downstairs, Xie Youci was already sitting in the dining room.
A high-quality black dress shirt and matching trousers made him look effortlessly handsome—wild, carefree, and impossibly attractive.
At least he would have looked perfect…
…if not for the bite mark on his chin.
Chi Yang’s gaze lingered.
She studied it for a moment before commenting thoughtfully,
“Who bit you there? It’s kind of artistic, actually.”
Xie Youci: “…”
Slowly, he lifted his eyes to look at her.
Then he merely let out a cold hum.
No answer.
Chi Yang wasn’t actually that interested anyway.
After thinking about it, she figured it was probably Xue Rang.
That idiot must have gotten drunk and randomly bitten him last night.
So she happily turned her attention to lunch.
Sticky rice pork ribs.
Lemon chicken wings.
Pan-fried peppers.
Golden tofu.
Stuffed eggplant rolls.
Old duck soup.
She had to admit—
Xie Youci might be a pain in the ass, but he had surprisingly good taste when it came to food.
Everything on the table happened to be her favorite.
Even the seasoning was perfect.
Meanwhile, Xie Youci had little appetite.
He poked at his rice one grain at a time while constantly stealing glances at her.
She really had nothing to say?
No intention of taking responsibility for what she’d done last night?
Not even admitting she was wrong?
Or did she genuinely remember nothing?
Then why had she kissed him?
Was it really just drunken mischief…
Or had she secretly liked him all along?
“Xie Youci.”
Chi Yang suddenly called his name.
His eyes lifted almost instantly.
Every nerve in his body tightened.
“What?”
He thought she was finally going to talk about last night.
His response came far too quickly.
But Chi Yang merely picked up a piece of sticky rice rib.
“Did you cook all this yourself, or did you order takeout?”
Xie Youci: “…”
“Takeout.”
His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her.
As though assessing her.
Testing her.
“That’s all you wanted to ask?”
She looked puzzled.
“What else would I ask?”
Silence.
Xie Youci couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling.
All he knew was that being left hanging without an answer was driving him crazy.
It left him frustrated.
Unwilling to let it go.
So he continued studying her expression.
Chi Yang eventually grew uncomfortable under his stare.
Finally, she slammed down her chopsticks.
“Xie Youci.”
“What?”
“Can you stop staring at me while you’re eating?”
She crossed her arms.
Then narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Wait… don’t tell me you’re secretly in love with me?”
Xie Youci: “…………”
A mocking laugh escaped him immediately.
“In love with you?”
His tone dripped with sarcasm.
“Shouldn’t I be asking who’s secretly in love with whom?”
“Chi Er’er, don’t try to turn this around on me.”
Chi Yang: ?
What was that supposed to mean?
She wasn’t secretly in love with him.
And since when could people use idioms that carelessly?
She felt like Xie Youci had been acting weird all day.
Still, considering the feast in front of her, she decided not to argue.
She lowered her head and continued eating.
But Xie Youci had already lost his appetite entirely.
Every so often, he would glance at her again, scrutinizing her as though trying to uncover some hidden clue.
Yet no matter how hard he looked, he found nothing.
When it came to what happened last night—
It felt as though he was the only one caught in a battle of wits.
Meanwhile, this heartless woman refused to give him even the slightest reaction.
From that day onward, whenever Xie Youci had a spare moment, he found himself wondering:
Does Chi Yang actually like me?
But reality soon proved one thing—
He had overthought the whole matter.
Because Chi Yang had never planned on living there in the first place.
And after being taken advantage of twice, Xie Youci found himself newly married and sleeping alone night after night.
Their married life appeared remarkably peaceful.
Neither seemed interested in provoking the other.
Yet summer in the capital blazed fiercely.
The pagoda trees lining Chang’an Avenue spread vast patches of shade overhead. Sunlight filtered through layer upon layer of green leaves, while the relentless chorus of cicadas echoed through the air.
At noon, everything was bright.
Warm.
And vividly alive.
