Chapter 121: Then How Is That Any Different From Sleeping With 2 Women?
Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Then How Is That Any Different From Sleeping With 2 Women?
Even that time he was so angry he could have killed her in bed, he couldn’t bring himself to use any real force.
He’d just been a bit rougher than usual, and she’d considered it... a punishment.
Xie Jinbai felt like he was being utterly wronged by her.
But the girl was on a tirade, dredging up the past. How could he dare argue with her? He could only promise in a low voice, "From now on, I won’t do anything you don’t like. I’ll listen to you completely. I’ll be a perfect gentleman in bed and never make you uncomfortable."
If she liked it gentle, he would be tender.
He would absolutely make sure to please her.
He considered this a concession, but Cui Lingyao’s expression darkened as she listened. She suddenly realized a critical issue. "I’m in a different body now."
Xie Jinbai froze, not yet understanding what she meant. Then he heard her continue, "If I marry you as Pei Shuyao, then I’ll be your second wife."
Although a second wife was still a wife, it wasn’t the same as the original.
Especially since the whole world knew how deeply devoted he was to his first wife.
Even though it was still her, Cui Lingyao felt inexplicably irritated.
The more she thought about it, the darker her expression grew. "If we really get married, you’ll have married two of me."
Xie Jinbai thought she disliked the stigma of being a second wife and coaxed her softly, "This business of a soul inhabiting another’s body is too strange. We can’t make it public."
If he could, he wouldn’t want the world to think he had moved on to someone else after his first wife’s death, either.
After all, he had only ever loved her.
He was the most devoted man imaginable.
Xie Jinbai was also a little displeased. He thought for a moment and said, "How about this? When the time comes, I’ll leave an imperial decree revealing the truth to future generations..."
"It’s not just that," Cui Lingyao cut him off, her tone indescribable. "You won’t just have married two of me, you’ll also..."
This body she was in was only sixteen.
After all this, marrying him again would just mean he gets a younger, newer wife.
She went through the hell of dying and coming back to life, only for him to reap all the benefits.
’How is that fair!’
Xie Jinbai vaguely understood what was bothering her. After a moment of silence, he said, "But it’s all you. I’ve only ever wanted you."
"It’s not the same," Cui Lingyao said, thoroughly displeased. "Technically speaking, this body isn’t mine. You can’t touch it."
Xie Jinbai was struck speechless. "What do you mean?"
’Can’t touch her?’
’He’d be a saint if he could hold out until their wedding night.’
’What?’
’Does she mean she’s planning to never let him touch her for the rest of her life?’
But Cui Lingyao was resolute. "If you were in my shoes, would you be willing to let me sleep with two different men?"
Her twisted logic made a vein throb on Xie Jinbai’s temple. "You’re just being difficult on purpose, aren’t you? You didn’t even care about Li Wanrong, so why are you fighting with yourself now?"
"Li Wanrong is Li Wanrong, and I am me. In any case, I can’t accept this."
Cui Lingyao couldn’t quite put her finger on why she was being so difficult, but she knew she was unhappy. "If you agree to my terms, we’ll get married. If not, then we’ll call the whole thing off."
She was always threatening to "call it off." Xie Jinbai couldn’t stand it. A nameless fire surged in his chest. "You’re not happy unless you’re finding some way to torment me every day, are you?"
"Didn’t you say I could do whatever I wanted? It’s barely been any time, and you’re already going back on your word?"
He was angry, but Cui Lingyao was even angrier. "If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be in this situation! You get to enjoy the good fortune of having two wives, while I’m the one who suffers through everything. How is that fair?!"
This body belonged to an unmarried young woman.
So how was that any different from him sleeping with two different women?
Xie Jinbai had never imagined that the "good fortune of having two wives" could be interpreted this way. He was dumbfounded for a moment before he seemed to taste the implication. For once, he sounded hesitant as he asked, "Are you... jealous?"
’Otherwise, why would she care about something like this?’
’Whether she was Cui Lingyao or the current Pei Shuyao, wasn’t it all her?’
’The body may have changed, but the soul is the same. What’s the difference?’
’How much must she care to be this hung up, even on herself?’
Hearing his question, Cui Lingyao was stunned. "What would I be jealous of? I just think it’s unfair!"
As if to prove her point, she sneered and added, "Go ahead and sleep with other women. I couldn’t care less."
Xie Jinbai had heard those words from her too many times. The initial shock, anger, and unbearable heartache were long gone.
He pressed his lips together, staring at her silently for a while. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was just being stubborn. In reality, she was nothing like she claimed; it wasn’t true that she didn’t care at all.
’Countless ways to test her true feelings flashed through his mind.’
But the consequences from three years ago had been too devastating. Xie Jinbai didn’t dare act rashly ever again.
’...Forget it.’
’Let her say whatever she wants.’
’It’s not like he could ever do anything about her anyway.’
Xie Jinbai lowered his head in surrender and kissed her cheek. "Go on, torment me."
His voice was tinged with bitterness.
Hearing that, Cui Lingyao felt a little unsettled. She steered the conversation back. "So, do you agree or not?"
She really was hung up on this.
Xie Jinbai was exasperated.
"Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
Before she could answer, he continued on his own, "The truth is, I can’t promise you that. Being with you, I can’t stay celibate for the rest of my life. The lie is, I could easily trick you into marrying me and then wear you down until you finally give in."
"You always say I’m manipulative, but I truly don’t want to deceive you."
Xie Jinbai’s lips traced a path from her jaw to the tip of her ear. He asked in a husky voice, "Even if I promised right now to never touch you again for the rest of our lives... would you believe me?"
’Believe him?’
’Like hell I would.’
Cui Lingyao had to admit her condition had been rather foolish.
Her face was a wooden mask. She said nothing.
Xie Jinbai sighed softly. "I’m not lacking for beauties, you know. Can you stop thinking I’m getting some huge bargain here? If the soul inside this body wasn’t you, I wouldn’t give it a second glance."
He still couldn’t understand what she was so hung up on.
’How could this be considered the good fortune of having two wives?’
’He had never wanted any woman other than her.’
Cui Lingyao remained silent.
Xie Jinbai inhaled the fragrance of her hair near her ear and asked in a whisper, "Yaoyao, do you not want me at all?"
’In the past, when had he ever failed to bring her...’
"I don’t," Cui Lingyao said calmly, turning her face away. "Can you get off me? You’re crushing me. I can barely breathe."
Xie Jinbai froze.
After a moment’s hesitation, he got off of her.
As he moved off her, the compressed air around her seemed to become plentiful again. Cui Lingyao took a deep breath and pushed herself up into a sitting position on the bed.
Xie Jinbai glanced at her before getting out of bed to light a lamp.
A dim, yellow candlelight flared to life, illuminating her chambers.
Cui Lingyao asked, "And my servants?"
Xie Jinbai said, "They’re all asleep."
’Asleep.’
’More like knocked out.’
Cui Lingyao’s lip twitched. "Will they notice anything when they wake up?"
"No, you don’t have to worry about such trivial things." Xie Jinbai walked over to the tea table, poured himself a cup of cool tea, and downed it in one go. He refilled the cup, returned to the bedside, and handed it to her. "Here, drink this. It’ll soothe your throat."
He had been kissing her for quite a while.
And they had talked a lot.
Her voice had even grown a little hoarse.
Once again, a warm teacup was placed in her hands. Cui Lingyao cradled it, drinking it all, one sip at a time.