Synopsis: Ceiling-level combat power retired special forces soldier x top-tier jealous, obsessive, and crazy patron.
This is a revenge story, an alternative 'canary' tale, and a journ...
Chapter 161: Extra Chapter Seven: The Truth Game
As dusk settles in the depths of winter, the vibrant atmosphere of the bustling city adds a touch of warmth to the chill.
Cheng Sangluo discovered a problem: after falling into a sweet and passionate relationship with her lover, no matter where they chose to go on a date, it was never as comfortable as staying at home and being affectionate.
She carried heavy shopping bags in both hands, and still had to free one arm for Lin Jin to hold as they walked slowly.
The young couple strolled slowly through the courtyard of the residential complex, occasionally looking up at the lights of thousands of homes in the high-rise buildings.
This scene is nothing more than the daily routine of every household, but the more ordinary it is, the more heartwarming it feels.
Life should be like this; no one's life is always full of ups and downs, and the peace after the turmoil is all the more precious.
Cheng Sangluo exhaled a thin, hot breath and couldn't help but sigh, "This is wonderful."
Lin Jin smiled and rested his head on her shoulder, as if he understood the hard-won nature of her sigh, and echoed, "Yes, that's great."
"Are you cold?" Cheng Sangluo turned her head to look at Lin Jin's pale face. Although she had just asked the question, her concern was already mixed in with her quick hug.
She switched to carrying two large bags in one hand, and used her other hand to lift her coat so that the large, long cotton coat could wrap around her lover.
Lin Jin nestled into her arms, feeling the warmth that carried the faint scent of laundry detergent, and suddenly realized that this winter was not as damp and cold as usual.
She half-raised her cheek, carefully examining her lover's features, and couldn't help but smile, her eyes crinkling. "It seems like this year is going to be a mild winter."
"Really?" Cheng Sangluo tightened his arms around his wife, and couldn't help but rub his nose against her ear. "When we get home, you can take a nice hot bath while I prepare dinner, okay?"
"No." Lin Jin disagreed with this arrangement, tempting him with a shushing tone, "I want to take a bath with you~"
Cheng Sangluo couldn't stand her lover's soft, coquettish voice. Her ears turned bright red instantly, and she smiled foolishly, "Then I'll prepare dinner, what are you going to do?"
Lin Jin blinked playfully, "I'm going to go make a mess in the kitchen~"
"Are you going to cause trouble in the kitchen?" Cheng Sangluo laughed heartily, then suddenly became serious, raising her hand to rub her lover's head, "I hope you'll always be a little girl who never grows up in my eyes."
Lin Jin paused, then gave a half-smile: "Why are you suddenly using such a serious tone?"
Cheng Sangluo explained honestly, "Because I feel sorry for you. Ajin worked so hard in her childhood, it's not too late for Luoluo to make up for it now, is it?"
"You're just like a candied hawthorn berry in winter," Lin Jin said with a strange analogy, her smile as warm as a spring breeze. "It's so sweet it hurts my teeth, but I love it~"
Cheng Sangluo smiled without saying a word. After entering the elevator, she sneakily cornered Lin Jin and quickly lifted her clothes to cover him completely. A hasty kiss landed on her lover's forehead, which more or less relieved the bitterness of not being intimate for half a day.
Lin Jin seemed even more greedy. A fleeting touch was hardly enough to express their deep affection. She simply grabbed the puppy's chin and eagerly offered her burning lips.
Before they could even savor the sweetness of a kiss, the elevator doors opened, ruining the couple's mood.
Cheng Sangluo let out two impatient groans, quickly put his arm around his wife's waist, picked up two large bags in one hand, and walked impatiently towards the front door.
With the sound of the door slamming shut, a sense of carefree exhilaration arose in the undisturbed space.
Lin Jin was blocked at the door by the anxious little dog, but she deliberately showed a calm and unhurried expression, with a subtle allure hidden in the glint in her eyes.
She smiled gently, meeting the affectionate gaze of the person before her.
The atmosphere instantly became subdued, like the calm before a storm.
Lin Jin's slender figure always highlighted Cheng Sangluo's tall stature, and the difference in their physiques could create a unique tension at certain times.
Just like now, she was completely enveloped in that broad embrace.
That embrace was the gentle haven she had longed for, a small corner that offered her all the warmth and security she needed.
A blush crept onto Cheng Sangluo's face, her usual cautiousness and awkwardness remaining unchanged. This awkwardness was precisely the part Lin Jin loved most—a pure, kind, and gentle portrayal.
Lin Jin smiled at her with a slight tilt of her head, easily pulling her into the abyss of desire.
"I love you..." Cheng Sangluo gently brushed the hair behind her ear with his fingertips, whispering softly, "As clear as the sun and moon..."
Even when this person is overwhelmed with emotion, their words of love are still so clumsy, yet the phrase "I love you" is filled with so much feeling.
Seemingly dissatisfied with such a rudimentary expression, she pouted, frustrated and unsure how to express her love, so she resorted to a kiss to convey her wholehearted devotion.
She was originally gentle, her fingertips lightly stroking her lover's face, as if carefully touching the bright moon, but in the chaotic kiss, she became unrestrained.
She ruffled her lover's hair, forcefully gripping his soft nape, attempting to control him while greedily demanding more, letting her tongue explore his honey-coated lips.
No matter how many kisses they shared, they still felt unsatisfied. Even with their lips pressed together and their breaths warm and moist, they couldn't shake off the emptiness that remained despite being so close.
It's a strange feeling. Even though you're right in front of me, and I have you, I'm still apprehensive and fearful. Perhaps it's because being together is so hard-won that every hug and kiss feels so precious.
Even with their breaths catching in their throats from kissing, they still felt it wasn't enough. Whether it was from lack of oxygen or from being lost in the moment, Cheng Sangluo's mind went blank, with only one thought remaining—wanting to be with Lin Jin at all times, unwilling to part, yet also afraid of being separated.
The two kissed passionately, stumbling and falling through the living room before collapsing into each other's arms on the sofa as if they had sunk to the bottom of a valley.
Lin Jin burst into laughter as her clothes became increasingly disheveled.
Cheng Sangluo tried to steady her rapid breathing, her eyes filled with a pitiful look, "What...what are you laughing at..."
Lin Jin lazily propped her head up, her fingertips dancing on the puppy's nose. "I'm laughing at how proactive you are now. It's like night and day compared to before."
The puppy wrinkled its itchy nose and said irritably, "Hey, you mean you're starting to dislike me because I'm being too proactive?"
"No way!" Lin Jin hurriedly hugged her neck and kept burrowing into her arms. "I've already taken ninety-nine steps toward you. If you don't put in some effort and take the initiative for this last step, it won't be right."
Cheng Sangluo placed his arm under her head, gently nuzzling her ear, "Mmm... I tried my best... I'm glad you saw it..."
"Alright, alright, if you keep being so lovey-dovey, dinner can be turned into a midnight snack." Lin Jin sat up, urging expectantly, "Didn't you say you were going to have a confession session? Hurry up and get ready."
"We packed so much food for lunch, we can just heat it up and we're ready to eat. I'm quick." Cheng Sangluo was reluctant to let his wife leave, so he pulled her onto his lap and made her sit down. "You're used to eating delicacies, won't you mind if we make dinner simpler?"
"The most appetizing thing isn't the dishes, it's you! I won't mind." Lin Jin deliberately leaned forward, letting her full breasts brush against her lover's nose, and cooed, "I'm so hungry~ When are you going to feed me, my little puppy~"
Cheng Sangluo stood up as if she had been injected with chicken blood, "How could I let you go hungry? I'll finish it in no time!"
After saying that, she snorted, took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves, and plunged into the kitchen. Anyone who didn't know the situation would think she was going to start a fight in the kitchen.
Lin Jin watched the figure busy in the kitchen, and a happy smile naturally appeared on her face.
She slipped away to the bedroom, quietly closing the door and making sure to lock it from the inside, afraid that the persistent person would suddenly come and cling to her again.
Once inside the walk-in closet, she rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a while. She thought that it had been a long time since she had been intimate with her beloved, and if she didn't do something special tonight, it would be a real shame to waste all the time she had spent alone in the house.
Thinking of this, she had already half-penetrated the wardrobe and started picking and choosing underwear.
Beautiful women always have extremely high standards for underwear. Their wardrobes are filled with all sorts of items, and any set they pick out costs an astonishing amount of money, not to mention the variety of styles and designs, which are dazzling.
Lin Jin spent a long time choosing, but couldn't find a style that satisfied her. She thought about taking Cheng Sangluo shopping sometime and buying whatever the bastard liked. After all, clothes are meant to please one's beloved.
But when she thought of Cheng Sangluo's clueless nature, she suddenly puffed out her cheeks and sulked, complaining that the simple-minded person didn't understand flirting and teasing, and was as clueless as a stone!
But I have to dress nicely, otherwise that idiot will be too drunk to see beauty later. But tonight is long, and the night will understand.
Lin Jin finally chose a light pink lingerie set, with diamonds that sparkled dazzlingly, conveying the relaxed feeling of a sunny summer beach, yet also exuding a playful sexiness.
She changed into the lingerie she had chosen, walked to the dressing mirror and twirled around a few times, nodding with great satisfaction before wrapping herself in a soft, thick robe, concealing the surprise inside completely.
In the kitchen, Cheng Sangluo was busy reheating leftovers in front of the gas stove, while the steamer on the other side was steaming, filling the whole house with the aroma of food.
After serving all the dishes, she arranged them in a nice way before putting them on the table, and also neatly arranged the beer she had bought.
"Wife, dinner's ready!" She craned her neck to look into the bedroom, but luckily Lin Jin came out just in time, saving her the trouble of knocking on the door.
Lin Jin tightened the belt of his bathrobe and swayed as he walked to the dining table. Seeing that the newly plated dishes still looked and smelled delicious, he couldn't help but take a pleasant sniff. "Not bad, they don't look like leftovers at all. Xiao Sangzi, take your reward."
"Yes, Your Majesty~" Cheng Sangluo moved closer to her, pouting her little lips and smacking her lips, "Thank you for your grace~"
The man was very attentive, pulling out a chair for his wife and bringing her the washed dishes, saying, "Have something to eat first to fill your stomach, then we can drink slowly~"
"I'm afraid you'll eat too much. Be careful you don't get too tired after just two cans," Lin Jin joked, then urged, "Stop busying yourself and sit down. I can't eat if I'm watching you."
The young couple sat facing each other, constantly passing food back and forth, exchanging loving glances and smiles. If there were a third person in such a situation, they would all groan that they were being fed too much dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).
After eating for a short while, Cheng Sangluo eagerly opened a can of happiness.
With the crackling sound of beer, the most anticipated confession round of the night officially began.
"Ahem—" Cheng Sangluo coughed lightly twice, handed the beer to Lin Jin, and said, "Let's have a toast first, to wish us... um..."
She scratched her head, unable to think of a suitable toast. Saying "Happy Wedding" was inappropriate, since they had been married for almost half a year. Saying "Happy Cohabitation" sounded like they had just started dating. It wasn't quite right.
She looked at Lin Jin with a troubled expression, then grinned foolishly and said, "I hope we can finally make up."
"Idiot," Lin Jin muttered, clinking glasses with him. She straightened up and added, "We should be celebrating the good days when we finally start enjoying new things without being schemed against!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I wish we could finally start living a good life!" Cheng Sangluo echoed repeatedly, tilting her head back and gulping down half a can of beer.
She grimaced and squinted, secretly lamenting that the beer didn't taste good. Although it was refreshing at first, why did it turn bitter after a while?
Lin Jin noticed something amiss and sighed with a smile, "You've always been the one sitting at the kids' table. This is the first time we've drunk like this, so you'd better take it easy."
"Don't look down on me!" Cheng Sangluo retorted, picking up a peanut and popping it into her mouth to chew it carefully. She then took a sip of wine with relish. "First round of the Truth Game: I ask, you answer. No hiding anything, no dodging, no changing the subject. Whoever gets a satisfactory answer after asking the questions drinks half a can. How about that?"
Lin Jin leaned back lazily and readily agreed, "Sure, go ahead and ask."
"Ahem... um..." Cheng Sangluo paused, then got straight to the point: "Who was that strange woman I met at the villa on the hillside that day? Why did she give you roses?"
She regretted saying that as soon as she said it, realizing that it wasn't a topic that should be troubling Lin Jin, but rather that it had brought up her own petty and narrow-minded nature.
Lin Jin held the wine jar and shook it slightly. Hearing the slightly accusatory tone from the other person, she was secretly delighted and couldn't help but ask, "Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder you went to Shu Wan's bar to drown your sorrows that night. So you were jealous?"
"I...I...Where did I?!" Cheng Sangluo stammered stubbornly, realizing that this question was digging a hole for her, but she quickly regained her composure, "Hey, hey, hey, this round is me asking and you answering, and we agreed not to change the subject!"
This man's face flushed easily after drinking; in no time, his cheeks turned as red as a monkey's bottom. His wife, realizing his jealousy, turned even redder, his neck turning bright red.
Lin Jin curled her lips indifferently and answered truthfully, "Her name is Qin Shuhuai. My mother is her dance teacher. She provided a lot of evidence to help bring down Ruan Jinxian this time. As for the roses, it's obvious that she likes me."
"What!?" Cheng Sangluo screamed like a shrill chicken. "She likes you!?"
"That's normal. Lots of people like me and pursue me." Lin Jin winked at the dog smugly, then added haughtily, "Be careful, your wife is very charming~"
"Tch!" Cheng Sangluo clicked her tongue in annoyance, reluctantly drank the remaining half can of wine, and crushed the can while cursing. "Fine, it's your turn to ask."
"Finally, I've been waiting for you." Three words flashed in Lin Jin's eyes—"Up to the difficulty."
She looked at the rosy-cheeked puppy with great interest, then tilted her head and asked, "Since we're talking about liking someone, then I need to interview Miss Cheng properly. Have you ever had feelings for Shu Wan? In other words, if we weren't together, would you choose to be with her?"
"Hiss—" Cheng Sangluo gasped, a chill running down her spine. She protested, "False proposition, this is a false proposition..."
"Hey, we agreed on the three rules a long time ago: no hiding anything, no avoiding anything, and no changing the subject. Besides, this isn't exactly a false proposition; it's just a sensitive topic." Lin Jin raised her hand to stop the little dog from barking. "Come on, start your performance."
Cheng Sangluo opened another can of beer and explained earnestly, "First, I had someone I liked, but I didn't know it was you behind the glass at the time, right? Second, my first impression of Shu Wan was that she was gentle and easy to talk to, at most I had a crush on her. I have to emphasize that this crush was just a simple friendship, I didn't think about dating at all. Third, I have thought about it, if we can't be together, I'll probably stay single for the rest of my life."
Lin Jin was initially quite satisfied with the puppy's answer, but the word "favorable" popped into her head, causing her expression to instantly turn serious.
She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the slightly tipsy Cheng Sangluo, her sarcastic tone turning colder: "Oh~ so you have feelings for her~"
It's sour! Hundreds of tons of lemons have been used to spoil the aged vinegar across the country. The sourness seeps into your very bones, turning it into a completely sour dish.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't get stuck on this! It can't be anyone but you, it's destiny!" Cheng Sangluo hurriedly waved her hands to explain herself, pitifully clutching the wine jar and muttering, "I told you it's a false premise, see, see, you start doubting me at the slightest hint of trouble."
"Hmph, I'll let it slide for now." Lin Jin's expression softened slightly, and she asked in a drawn-out tone, "Then tell me, why would you choose to remain single if we're not together?"
"I've only ever loved one person in my entire life. You're my first love, you're my wife, so my life partner can only be you, and..." Cheng Sangluo's eyes were glazed with intoxication, her laughter smug and silly. She shyly buried her face, fidgeting for a long time before continuing, "The first person you love is so stunning that everyone else you meet in the rest of your life pales in comparison. You are that stunning person to me. It seems that apart from teasing me, there's nothing wrong with you. My love is beautiful and incredibly smart, rich, powerful, and generous. Most importantly, you are devoted to me and unwavering in your love. Are you some kind of domineering CEO from a novel who fell in love with me? Hahahaha!"
"Be serious. You're not allowed to suddenly burst into laughter when you're saying sweet nothings. Otherwise, your sweet nothings will turn into jokes. You're such a spoilsport, you idiot!" Lin Jin pretended to criticize with a stern face, but she was secretly delighted. She then drank half a can of beer with satisfaction. "Come on, round three."
Cheng Sangluo used a wine jar as a microphone and held it up to Lin Jin for an interview: "Miss Lin, even if you missed me on the second day in the cave, with your connections and influence, finding me wouldn't be difficult. You clearly had plenty of opportunities to see me, so where were you? Where were you? Where were you? Where were you...?"
Lin Jin leaned back with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow, and said confidently, "Who said I didn't find you?"
"Huh?" Cheng Sangluo blinked in confusion. "You found me? Why didn't we meet? Why, why, why, why..."
"Are you a broken record?" Lin Jin laughed at the puppy's silly and cute appearance, then reached out and pinched her cheek, casually asking, "If you used your brain a little, you could figure out who was sent to Zhongyao Technology to conduct combat data collection tests. Otherwise, why would they have been so preoccupied with the shadow of someone just a wall away for so long?"
"Huh!? Oh right!!!" Cheng Sangluo's eyes widened, and she exclaimed in surprise, then asked, "But you didn't come to find me. Why didn't you meet with me?"
“I’ll stand behind the one-way mirror in the lab and come to see you every day without fail. I was thinking of catching up properly after you’ve finished your collection mission, and I was even thinking of giving you a big watermelon when we meet.” Lin Jin lowered her eyes, as if regretting that she should have met Cheng Sangluo earlier. If she hadn’t procrastinated back then, perhaps she wouldn’t have gone through so many detours today.
She sighed, slumped her shoulders, and continued to explain, "It's just that we were destined to be apart. Even though we were so close, we couldn't change the situation. The day before you finished your mission, Senyao, which had just started, ran into some trouble. I went back to Zhouhai to deal with it and then rushed back to Zehai. On the way, I encountered a car accident caused by Lin Sheng. Although I was unharmed, I suffered some minor injuries, which delayed me. Since then, I have been planning the development of GPS chips. I had to balance my career, be wary of Lin Sheng, and plan my revenge. No matter how I tried, I couldn't compress the time. By the time I heard news of you, you had already had an accident."
The chattering puppy suddenly became quiet, picked up the beer and gulped it down until the entire can was empty. Half of the beer was for the game rules, and the other half was for getting drunk out of frustration and resentment.
"Alright, drink less." Lin Jin couldn't stop the drunken puppy, so she could only smile and coax her, "It's all in the past now, aren't we doing well? Why are you still sad?"
Cheng Sangluo's nose stung, and her eyes were red and moist. "You were right in front of me, but I was blind and didn't see you. I missed you for so many years. I can't stand it!"
“It’s my turn to ask a question~” Lin Jin was eager to try. She got up and went straight to sit down next to her lover. “Well, you need to look me in the eye to answer this question, because when a person’s thoughts are evasive, the easiest way to reveal their weakness is through their eyes.”
"You're pushing me too hard again!" Cheng Sangluo shouted indignantly, but soon her eyes crinkled with a drunken smile. "It's okay, if you want to cut open my heart to see what's inside, I'd be happy to find a knife."
Lin Jin could tell that her lover was so drunk that she was starting to talk nonsense, so she simply cupped her face in her hands and asked seriously, "Look into my eyes and tell me, when did you truly fall in love with me?"
This topic caused the atmosphere to fall silent instantly.
The answer was actually stuck in Cheng Sangluo's mouth. Her face, already a deep purplish-red, turned an even deeper shade of red. It was impossible to tell whether she was drunk or embarrassed.
Her eyes trembled slightly, with a hint of evasion, but because she listened to her wife, she could only gaze at her tenderly.
She hesitated for a long time before vaguely answering, "Falling in love with you isn't something that happens overnight; that feeling comes gradually."
Maybe it was you falling into the sea in front of me, smiling at me even as your body sank; maybe it was you suddenly appearing at the Seventeen Port pier when I was beaten to a pulp by Xu Songheng's men, stripping away your arrogance, and I realized you were the only light of salvation in that moment; maybe it was you secretly buying a convenience store to play house with me; or maybe it was after being stunned by Sheng He, I desperately followed the GPS to save you...
I don't even know exactly when my heart fluttered, because you left me with so many memories, so many that they overflowed. That's why, in a moment of panic, I actually thought of kissing you.
At that time, I couldn't control my feelings for you anymore. I even went through all the things I used to hate about you, and found that those hateful experiences had all turned into liking.
Dear Miss Lin, are you satisfied with this answer?
Lin Jin smiled with a lump in her throat, thinking that all her efforts in tormenting this poor little dog had been worthwhile, as she had managed to deeply imprint herself in the dog's memory.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she moved closer to his face, gently kissing his burning cheek, and tenderly replied, "If satisfaction is a ten out of ten, I'll give you a hundred. This is what you call 100...100% satisfied~"
With a 'sizzle' sound.
Cheng Sangluo unzipped the beer can and suddenly raised her voice, urging, "Satisfied, why aren't you drinking it yet! Are you raising fish?!"
Damn it, this bastard actually tried to get his wife to drink at the most emotional moment!
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