Chapter 40: Newlywed Bliss

“Shouldn’t a married couple share the same bed?”

When Shang Jie said this, his expression remained as businesslike as ever, as though he were negotiating a deal.

Jiang Xingxing blinked, her surprise so evident it nearly overflowed from her eyes.

“You want to sleep with me?”

He cleared his throat lightly. “Yes.”

“Just… sleep?”

“Hmm?”

The tips of his ears turned red.

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Jiang Xingxing: …

Why did this feel like a company meeting?

As a long-time bachelor and CEO, Shang Jie had the habit of catching up on financial news and stocks before bed.

He pulled out his phone.

Jiang Xingxing leaned over to peek at his screen, so he moved the phone closer for her to see—even though she likely didn’t understand any of it.

Awkward.

Wasn’t the man supposed to take the initiative?

Or maybe she was overthinking it. Perhaps Shang Jie genuinely just wanted to sleep. Meanwhile, her mind was stuck on something entirely different.

Seeing a company’s stock price drop, Jiang Xingxing grasped for conversation to ease the awkwardness. “Hubby, are you good at the stock market?”

“I’m alright.”

“Got any tips for making big money? Any good stocks to recommend?”

Shang Jie glanced at her. “My advice is: don’t invest in stocks.”

Jiang Xingxing: …

If there were a contest for killing conversations with a straight face, Shang Jie would win second place—no one could take first.

“I have a shoot tomorrow. I’m going to sleep,” Jiang Xingxing said, yawning as she turned her back to him and lay down.

Shang Jie looked at his phone screen, then at her silhouette. Her waist was so slender, her curves smooth and delicate, making his breathing quicken.

With his mind elsewhere, he turned off his phone, laid down, and pulled the covers over himself, his entire body tense.

Jiang Xingxing asked again for confirmation, “Goodnight, Mr. Shang?”

“Hmm.”

So, they were really just going to sleep.

She forced herself to close her eyes, determined to clear her mind; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink.

Even though she used to playfully climb into Shang Jie’s bed, she always knew her reserved husband would kick her out.

But tonight, his unusual initiative left her feeling uneasy.

In the darkness, his deep, magnetic voice broke the silence. “Are you asleep?”

“Hmm.”

“Do you want to talk?”

Jiang Xingxing turned over to face him and softly replied, “What do you want to talk about?”

In the dark, his chiseled profile stood out, sharp and handsome.

Under the same blanket, she could feel the heat radiating from his body.

“There are some things I’m not very good at,” he admitted. “Interacting with women, getting along, and navigating the challenges of shared life.”

Jiang Xingxing blinked and listened attentively. Maybe the night truly had a way of breaking down walls, allowing honesty to flow freely.

Staring at the ceiling, he calmly said, “If you’re willing, we can try to live as a real couple or as lovers for a while and see how it goes.”

Jiang Xingxing felt his maturity and gentlemanly restraint. Even while sharing a bed and blanket, he maintained his composure, discussing their future with her.

Any other man in this situation would likely have already thrown caution to the wind.

Jiang Xingxing shifted closer, resting her head against his firm, sturdy arm. Shang Jie adjusted his position, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders to make her more comfortable.

“You’re not going to divorce me anymore?”

In the dark, she could hear his warm breath above her head.

“He did a lot of absurd and unbearable things, but the one thing I don’t entirely dislike—perhaps even feel grateful for—is that you stayed by my side.”

Jiang Xingxing looked up in disbelief, her gaze meeting his soft, downturned eyes.

“So now, I want to try doing something I’ve never done before.”

Her heart raced as she nervously asked, “What do you want to do?”

His lips curled slightly, and his warm fingers gently tilted her chin upward.

“To fulfill the duties of a husband.”

With that, he lowered his head and kissed her.
…

It might have been the first time in Shang Jie’s life that he slept in.

As a workaholic boss, Shang Jie had a near-unchangeable routine: wake up at 6 a.m., jog for an hour, shower, eat breakfast, and arrive at the office by 8 a.m.—a full hour before the staff. There, he would organize documents, create plans, and water the balcony plants.

In short, Shang Jie never lingered in bed.

But this morning, when his alarm went off, Jiang Xingxing grabbed his phone and threw it against the wall with a loud thud.

He quietly got out of bed, retrieved the phone, reattached the battery, and checked the screen—it wasn’t damaged. Then, he climbed back into bed, wrapped his arms around her, and fell asleep again.

By late morning, his assistant Lin Chuan, too wary to call, sent multiple messages:

• “Boss, not up yet?”
• “Reply if you see this!”
• “Still sleeping?”
• “[Spinning in circles emoji]”
• “Morning meeting’s already overdue!”
• “You had a 10 a.m. appointment with President Liu from Yuewen Group!”
• “Never mind. President Liu has left. Do whatever you like. [Smiling emoji]”

Shang Jie groggily glanced at his phone. The girl in his arms stirred slightly, and he immediately tossed the phone aside to hold her tighter.

The phrase “spring nights are short, and rulers stop attending court” clearly didn’t come from nowhere.

At 10:30 a.m., Jiang Xingxing finally woke up. When she opened her eyes, she found Shang Jie gazing at her.

His striking features were so close that his long eyelashes nearly brushed her face.

Her breath caught.

Recalling the events of last night, a faint blush spread across her fair cheeks, and she shyly turned away from him.

Clearly, his long restraint had snapped, and he was like an insatiable beast. Three times—each lasting far longer than she thought humanly possible.

Jiang Xingxing began to feel a bit afraid of him.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she muttered. “I want a divorce.”

Shang Jie pulled her waist close, fingers playing with the bunny pattern on her pajamas. Burying his face in her hair, he murmured, “Not happening.”

Having tasted sweetness, how could he let her go so easily?

“Pack your things. You’re coming home with me today.”

Jiang Xingxing grumbled, “I’m perfectly fine living here.”

His voice deepened. “Be good.”

She sat up, looking into his eyes. “Dr. Lawrence warned me that staying with you might interfere with your treatment.”

“He doesn’t know—”

Shang Jie restrained his frustration, took a deep breath, and softened his tone. “You’re my wife. There’s no reason for us to live apart. Especially when…”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and planted a light kiss on the back of her neck. “…we’re newlyweds, and our relationship is so harmonious.”

The kiss tickled, making Jiang Xingxing shiver slightly.

Last night was indeed “harmonious.” She had cried, screamed, and begged for mercy, but he wouldn’t stop. He comforted her while relentlessly teasing her—this was the most unique “newlywed bliss” she had ever encountered.

At that moment, Lin Chuan’s call came through.

“Boss, the lunch meeting with the board is starting. Should we keep waiting for you or begin without you?”

Lin Chuan’s voice practically dripped with despair.

“Give me half an hour.”

After hanging up, Shang Jie showered. When he emerged, Jiang Xingxing had prepared breakfast and ironed his suit.

“You’re late today, Mr. Shang,” she teased, dragging out the words with a playful smirk.

Shang Jie replied seriously, “I don’t need you to remind me.”

He was painfully aware of how much time he had wasted, to the point even Lin Chuan had given up hope.

Jiang Xingxing smiled as she helped him with his tie. Shang Jie lowered his gaze to her—the loose pajama fabric clung to her skin, revealing a slender shoulder and a neck marked with faint red traces of last night’s indulgence.

Her skin was exceptionally fair and sensitive, bruising easily under even the lightest touch. Shang Jie felt a surge of affection as he gently cupped her face, brushing his nose against her forehead.

“Hey!”

Jiang Xingxing hadn’t expected this sudden intimacy. She pushed him away. “People are waiting for you. Stop dawdling!”

Lin Chuan had even sent her a message with a crying bunny emoji, holding a noose.

“I’ll come back tonight.”

Jiang Xingxing quickly countered, “I have a night shoot. You should go home instead of waiting for me.”

“What kind of night shoot?”

“It’s a scene where the male lead, Xia Jie, and I go for a nighttime run around the lake. It’s going to be exhausting, so I need to rest during the day.”

He resumed his usual serious demeanor. “Try to wrap up early. Don’t stay up too late.”

“Got it.”

Jiang Xingxing practically shoved him out the door, finally seeing the persistent man off. She collapsed back into bed, not wanting to move a muscle.

She had once thought that a self-disciplined, restrained man like Shang Jie would never lose control in such matters.

But men—ha.

The more controlled they appear, the more unbridled they become when their inner desires find an outlet. Last night, Jiang Xingxing felt as if she were being thrown between heaven and earth. The entire night was an endless whirlwind.

She would fall asleep from exhaustion, only to be awakened again.

His stamina was terrifying.

To top it off, he was absurdly polite, always asking:

“How’s this?”

“Shall I go up?”

“Tired?”

“Do you like this?”

“Should I go faster?”

“Could you cooperate a little?”

“Can you… make some noise?”

By the end, Jiang Xingxing only wanted to say, “Just let me go, and I’ll be happy.”

After Shang Jie left, she sank into bed, sleeping as if the world had ended.

Her evening shoot involved a running scene with Xia Jie around the school track—a weight-loss workout.

Jiang Xingxing was wearing an exaggerated special effects makeup look. Her face and body were covered in materials resembling layers of fat, which conveniently concealed the scars on her face but were also incredibly heavy.

Because of this, her character, Ah Cheng, had to exert far more effort than the average person to walk or move.

This particular scene required her to run while speaking with Xia Jie, leaving her breathless. It turned out to be a fitting performance, as she was genuinely exhausted.

Fortunately, she made very few mistakes, often nailing the scene in one take. Xia Jie, played by Gu Lun, was also in top form that day, so there weren’t many retakes.

Although she had anticipated shooting until dawn, they wrapped earlier than expected. By the time her makeup artist removed her prosthetics, it was just past 1 a.m. Gu Lun, ever the gentleman, kindly offered to drive her home.

To avoid any potential rumors, Jiang Xingxing politely declined.

As she stepped out of the school gate, she spotted a sleek black Rolls-Royce parked by the roadside, its headlights flashing briefly.

Jiang Xingxing glanced around, ensuring there were no paparazzi or crew members nearby, before jogging to the car and slipping inside.

Sure enough, Shang Jie was seated inside.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“To take you home,” Shang Jie replied. He signaled Lin Chuan to start the car, then removed his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Are you tired?”

Jiang Xingxing was about to shake her head, but when she met his eyes, the memory of last night’s insatiable man flashed in her mind. She yawned dramatically. “So tired, so sleepy. I just want to rest.”

“You can sleep in the car,” Shang Jie said, adjusting the jacket around her.

The fabric was a bit stiff, carrying the warmth of his body and his signature scent—clean, refined, and distinctly him.

Clutching the suit, Jiang Xingxing asked curiously, “Where are you taking me?”

“Home.”

“I don’t feel like going back right now.”

“I meant your home.”

Relieved, she yawned again, leaned against the headrest, and drifted off to sleep.

Shang Jie glanced at her.

Her eyes were closed, her thick lashes curled beautifully. Her peaceful sleeping face and gentle breathing were captivating. Her cherry lips, glossy with a touch of lip balm, glistened faintly under the car’s soft lighting.

Shang Jie’s throat felt dry.

Lin Chuan, observing through the rearview mirror, lowered his voice. “Boss, this would be a good time to let your wife rest on your shoulder.”

Shang Jie shot him a glare that clearly said, I don’t need your advice.

Lin Chuan immediately turned his attention back to the road, focusing intently.

Between the two bosses, Lin Chuan thought the younger one was surprisingly better at wooing women. Despite being a late bloomer, Shang Jie had managed to marry an adorably charming girl.

But whether the straightforward and by-the-book Shang Jie could keep such a lively young wife? Lin Chuan wasn’t so sure.

Shang Jie shifted closer to Jiang Xingxing, casually offering his shoulder.

But her head tilted the other way, pressing against the car window as she slept soundly.

Suppressing a sigh, Shang Jie extended a finger, gently guiding her head back and carefully resting it on his shoulder.

The added weight on his shoulder brought an unexpected sense of comfort. For the first time, he truly felt like a man.

In the past, whether it was academics or career pursuits, he had always done things out of necessity.

But now, for the first time, he was doing something because he wanted to.

He had someone he wished to care for. The once-dull landscape of his emotions and life was gradually being filled with vibrancy.

It felt good.

In her half-asleep state, Jiang Xingxing reached out with her slender, fair arm and wrapped it around Shang Jie’s shoulder.

His breath hitched.

Stay calm. Stay calm.

Still nestled against his chest, Jiang Xingxing mumbled something incoherent before wrapping her arms around his neck and softly sniffing him. “Husband, I like the way you smell.”

Oh!

A subtle, unconscious move, yet utterly lethal.

Shang Jie’s face flushed bright red. His hand gripped the door handle nervously, prompting Lin Chuan to worry that his boss might actually fling the door open in his flustered state.

Without hesitation, Lin Chuan pulled the car over and quickly stepped out. “Boss, I’ll just leave you two alone.”

Shang Jie: …

For the first time, the urge to give Lin Chuan a raise was this overwhelming.

After Lin Chuan left, Shang Jie’s trembling hand gently rested on the small of Jiang Xingxing’s back. By then, she was starting to wake up, her sleepy eyes blinking as she looked at him.

“Hmm? Are we there?”

Her soft, drowsy tone felt like a kitten pawing at his heart. The corners of his lips curved slightly as he looked down at her. “Not yet. You can sleep a little longer.”

Noticing the glimmer of something in his eyes, Jiang Xingxing’s drowsiness quickly dissipated. She waved her hand nervously. “N-no, I’m awake.”

“Really awake?”

“Yes.”

“Then play with me for a bit.”

“What are we playing—”

Before she could finish, Shang Jie pulled her close and kissed her.

Recently, Jiang Xingxing’s body had been feeling a certain inexplicable soreness, and even walking sometimes left her legs trembling.

Two weeks later, she was sitting in front of her makeup mirror, having special effects makeup applied, when she received a text message from Shang Jie:

“I need to go abroad for a few days. Watching the movie together will have to wait until I return. Is that okay?”

His messages were always so proper, just like the man himself—serious and meticulous, not even a punctuation mark out of place.

Jiang Xingxing replied: “I’ll wait for you to come back. -3-”

Shang Jie: “If anything happens, call me or Lin Chuan anytime.”

Jiang Xingxing: “Okay~”

Shang Jie: “Hmm?”

Jiang Xingxing: “What do you mean, ‘hmm?’”

The screen displayed, “The other party is typing…” for what felt like a whole minute.

Jiang Xingxing wondered if he was crafting some kind of essay. When his message finally arrived, it was just one sentence:

“Will… you miss me?”

Jiang Xingxing almost burst out laughing.

The makeup artist warned, “Please control yourself, or we’ll have to redo your makeup.”

“Sorry, sorry,” she said, holding back her amusement.

Jiang Xingxing composed herself, looking at the phone. Seeing the serious and slightly nervous inquiry from him, she replied: “Depends on how busy I am.”

Shang Jie: “I sincerely hope you’ll find time to think of me. I’ll be thinking of you too.”

Jiang Xingxing: …

Why does texting this man feel so formal and polite, like negotiating a multimillion-dollar business deal?

She recalled how Lin Chuan once mentioned in private that Mr. Shang, apart from business interactions, had almost no social life and didn’t know how to interact with women, let alone make them happy.

This was a stark contrast between his first and second personalities.

The second personality had excellent social skills, remembering even the names and preferences of the four gardeners at home.

The first personality, however, was especially inept at socializing.

Smiling to herself, Jiang Xingxing replied: “Alright, I’ll miss you. -3-”

Shang Jie: “😊”

Of course, his 😊 was probably just a sincere and literal interpretation of the emoji’s friendly meaning.

---

Sansukini: Secretary Lin is funny. And Shang Jie accepting his feelings is like a dam bursting. It’s so cute.

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