Chapter 8, "Lifting the Waist"
Chapter 8
Xia Xiaojiang leaped up from the sofa like a hero, his claws unsheathed, and scratched Jiang Zhiyan's arm fiercely, leaving three red marks that slowly oozed blood.
Jiang Zhiyan reacted swiftly, grabbing Xia Xiaojiang by the back of the neck, his face dark and brooding.
As soon as it landed in Jiang Zhiyan's palm, Xia Xiaojiang's limbs drooped down, and she whimpered as if she had been abused.
Those who heard it felt heartbroken.
"Jiang Zhiyan, why are you using so much force!"
Xia Zhiyu's reaction was so strong that it startled Jiang Zhiyan.
She quickly snatched Xia Xiaojiang from Jiang Zhiyan's arms and hugged her tightly.
Xia Xiaojiang shivered and curled up in Xia Zhiyu's arms, his fur standing on end, his big head constantly shrinking into Xia Zhiyu's embrace.
It can be called the Oscar-winning actor of the cat world.
"Alright, alright, my sweet baby, stop fussing," Xia Zhiyu said tenderly, stroking Xia Xiaojiang's hair.
After calming the cat down, she complained to Jiang Zhiyan again.
"Don't scare it. What if Xiao Jiang gets stressed? You know it stopped urinating for several days after it was scared last time."
"I scared it?"
Jiang Zhiyan almost laughed in anger; the wound on her arm was both hot and painful.
"Xia Zhiyu, do you want to recall who made the first move?"
Moreover, Xia Xiaojiang was inconsiderate when it was getting its injection, and it kept provoking the Alaskan Malamute, which scared it so much that it wet itself.
Could he possibly be more ferocious than an Alaskan Malamute?
Every bite of cat food and canned food that Xia Xiaojiang eats is bought by him.
You heartless bastard.
Just like its mother.
Jiang Zhiyan was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.
"If you don't go home, Xiao Jiang definitely won't remember you. What's wrong with it scratching you a couple of times when you were angry with it?"
Xia Zhiyu retorted irritably, her voice softening as she coaxed Xia Xiaojiang.
"Mommy, can you open a can of food for us babies?"
Her voice was so soft it was like you could squeeze water out of it.
Jiang Zhiyan coldly pulled out a piece of paper and kicked it around with a clatter; anyone who didn't know better would think it was a serious wound.
Xia Zhiyu was angry and didn't want to talk to him.
In the past, she would have already dug out the first-aid kit to disinfect Jiang Zhiyan.
To prevent Xia Xiaojiang from stealing the food, the canned food was placed on the top shelf of the cupboard, which Xia Zhiyu couldn't reach herself, so she had to move a stool every time.
Jiang Zhiyan specially picked out a can of rabbit meat from the cupboard, which Xia Xiaojiang disliked the most.
Tear open the metal lid, scoop out half of the canned food with a spoon, place it in the Fengrong Toys container, smooth it out, and lay a waterproof mat on the ground.
Even though she hadn't done household chores for a long time, Jiang Zhiyan's movements were still very skilled.
Before Jiang Zhiyan went abroad, he took care of all the housework.
The young master, who had never done any housework since childhood, became proficient in everything from cooking to cleaning Xia Xiaojiang's cat litter box.
Jiang Zhiyan even went to learn how to cook the hometown dishes that Xia Zhiyu loved, and he was able to do them all skillfully.
Actually, if we disregard the class differences between the two, Jiang Zhiyan is indeed an exemplary boyfriend.
Xia Zhiyu was lost in thought, a faint pang of sadness rising in her heart.
Why does Jiang Zhiyan have to do all these things so well? If he were harsh on her in daily life, she would have broken up with him long ago.
Why did he love her, yet not love her enough?
A sour feeling spread through my heart.
Xia Xiaojiang let out a howl and pounced off her arms, excitedly playing and licking her, his tongue flailing like an engine.
"I think we should just replace all its plates with food-dispensing balls. Look how fat it has become."
Jiang Zhiyan crossed his arms, his tone disdainful.
Xia Zhiyu argued illogically, like a parent who indulges their child, "It's not fat at all, it just has thick fur, all long-haired cats look like that."
"Just let it be," Jiang Zhiyan said softly.
He lowered his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a hint of complaint, "You're not even half as good to me as you are to it."
The air was still for a moment. Jiang Zhiyan crossed his arms and quietly watched Xia Xiaojiang eat and play.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the sky was perfectly clear, with the edges of the setting sun framed by a layer of golden light.
The night view of the northern part of the city is always beautiful.
Xia Zhiyu glanced at the conspicuous red mark on Jiang Zhiyan's arm, then looked at Xia Xiaojiang having so much fun, sighed resignedly, and whispered:
"The first-aid kit is under the TV cabinet."
...
Jiang Zhiyan raised her arm. The pajamas she had just changed into still carried the cherry blossom scent that Xia Zhiyu liked. When she lowered her eyes, Xia Zhiyu's fluffy head was right in front of her, and the long hair that was draped over her shoulder was loosely held back by a plain pink scrunchie.
He remembered that they bought this hair tie when they first got together at the night market. It was very cheap, only five yuan for two.
Jiang Zhiyan bought her three or four silk hair ties that cost seven or eight thousand yuan each. When Xia Zhiyu found out the price, she almost fainted from anger.
Xia Zhiyu repeatedly emphasized that hair ties and hair clips are consumables that are easily lost, and strictly forbade Jiang Zhiyan from buying her such expensive ones again.
She was lying on Jiang Zhiyan's chest, telling him with a serious expression that he shouldn't waste money.
"Houses in the north of the city are very expensive. We can't spend money recklessly, or we won't be able to afford a house in the future."
At the time, Xia Zhiyu didn't know about Jiang Zhiyan's family background, but her idea of having a home with Jiang Zhiyan in Beicheng greatly pleased him.
So, after Xia Zhiyu graduated with a law master's degree, Jiang Zhiyan bought a home in Beicheng that belonged only to the two of them.
His name and Xia Zhiyu's name were listed side by side on the property certificate.
The cotton swab soaked in iodine was carefully used to clean the wound, causing a slight stinging sensation. The wound on his back, inflicted by Jiang Jing, throbbed with a burning pain.
Jiang Zhiyan felt as if his senses had been split into two parts. One half was screaming with the dual pain of mental and physical agony, the shadow of seeing Jiang Jing always lingering there. The other half was immersed in the shampoo scent on Xia Zhiyu's hair.
He had gotten used to only showing his best side to Xia Zhiyu.
Jiang Zhiyan hopes that in Xia Zhiyu's heart, he is the peerless hero who comes to marry her riding on auspicious clouds of seven colors, rather than a loser who can never escape his original family.
Jiang Zhiyan wanted to be all-powerful in front of Xia Zhiyu.
Xia Zhiyu brushed her stray hairs behind her ears, took out a band-aid from the first-aid kit, tore it open, and touched it a few times on the three scabbed marks on Jiang Zhiyan's face.
I don't think I really need a band-aid.
"How about we just forget about it? Putting on a band-aid will only cover up the wound. How about we put a waterproof band-aid on the cut on your face instead?"
She half-squatted down, took out the medicine box, and applied the medicine to Jiang Zhiyan without sitting on the sofa.
When asked the question, she naturally tilted her head back, revealing a small, pale face with slightly disheveled hair at her temples, moist and red lips, and her eyes glistening with tears as she looked intently at him.
It seemed as if Xia Zhiyu's world consisted only of herself.
Jiang Zhiyan's breath hitched, and she suddenly asked a question that had absolutely nothing to do with Band-Aids.
He asked, "Does your stomach still hurt?"
His voice was slightly hoarse.
"The pain is gone after taking the medicine. Don't mention work next time you eat, it's really off-putting. My stomach must have hurt today because I was hungry for too long."
Taking advantage of Jiang Zhiyan bringing up the matter himself, Xia Zhiyu took the opportunity to complain a couple of times.
Xia Zhiyu hadn't applied the band-aid properly to her face; the edges were stuck together and curled up.
Jiang Zhiyan has enjoyed the best living conditions since birth, and his skin is flawless. Xia Zhiyu is even careful when tearing off a band-aid, afraid of leaving a red mark on his handsome face.
She was counting on that handsome face to make her dinner more enjoyable; she could look at Jiang Zhiyan's face for years without ever getting tired of it.
That woman isn't obsessed with looks; Xia Zhiyu has a deep affection for Jiang Zhiyan's face.
Xia Zhiyu's hot breath tickled her skin, sending an itch all the way to her heart.
The pulling sensation was very light, and Jiang Zhiyan knew that Xia Zhiyu had always been powerless against his face.
Jiang Zhiyan's pupils were a deep, dark black. He turned his head and stared intently at Xia Zhiyu, the hoarseness in his voice clearly visible.
"Fish, I want to kiss you."
Xia Zhiyu almost thought she was hallucinating.
"Why so suddenly..."
Jiang Zhiyan didn't have the patience to listen to her finish. He pressed down on Xia Zhiyu's nape with some force, eagerly raised his chin and bit Xia Zhiyu's lower lip, his tongue plunging deep inside.
Xia Zhiyu was pinned down by Jiang Zhiyan, her arms pinned to a small corner of the sofa.
When they kiss, Jiang Zhiyan always kisses very forcefully, twisting his tongue to force her to produce more fluid, which he then greedily swallows.
Xia Zhiyu felt like an overripe peach, and Jiang Zhiyan tore a hole in her body, sucking and swallowing, creating a dripping sound.
"No, I don't want it anymore..."
Jiang Zhiyan's collar was crumpled from being pulled, and Xia Zhiyu turned her head away, her damp bangs sticking to her face, her voice as wet as if she had been pulled out of the water.
"I have to go to a class reunion tomorrow, and my lips won't look good if they're swollen."
“It doesn’t matter if it’s swollen, they all know you have a boyfriend anyway,” Jiang Zhiyan said, licking his lips, his voice slightly muffled. “And Yu Yu is comfortable too, isn’t she?”
He looked up at Xia Zhiyu, his deep eyes filled with affection, his rosy lips glistening with moisture, like dew rolling on vibrant flower petals, captivating and alluring.
Who could stand being looked at like that by Jiang Zhiyan's face!
Xia Zhiyu wanted to cry but couldn't, ultimately unable to bring herself to refuse.
Jiang Zhiyan nuzzled Xia Zhiyu with the tip of his nose with satisfaction.
He liked doing this. Xia Zhiyu looked at him with bewildered and moist eyes. There was no argument, no anger. Her round, cat-like eyes were filled with his image.
Jiang Zhiyan became addicted to the feeling that seemed to occupy Xia Zhiyu's entire being.
"How about we go back to the bedroom?"
Jiang Zhiyan murmured as he kissed Xia Zhiyu's earlobe, biting the soft flesh and gently pulling and grinding it.
He was adept at using this tone, which was ostensibly for negotiation, to ask Xia Zhiyu for something.
This was the first skill Jiang Zhiyan learned in Xia Zhiyu's class.
At this time, Xia Zhiyu was always exceptionally easy to talk to. After all, who wouldn't enjoy a cold and handsome guy who is usually aloof and unyielding whispering sweet nothings in your ear?
"That can only be done once."
Xia Zhiyu grabbed her collar and, as a compromise, emphasized, "I'm going to a class reunion tomorrow, so don't leave any marks on me."
...
Xia Zhiyu bit Jiang Zhiyan's shoulder, and tears welled up uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.
Waaaaah, it's been so long since I've done this, I almost forgot! Jiang Zhiyan fits my stereotypes about Eastern Europeans in some ways!
Jiang Zhiyan grabbed the cushion Xia Zhiyu had used to throw at him, his tone subdued and brief, "Lift your waist."
Xia Zhiyu arched her body, a fragile low voice spilling from between her slightly parted lips.
Jiang Zhiyan frowned, silently supporting himself beside Xia Zhiyu, his dark pupils carefully discerning her expression.
The bedroom door swayed from side to side due to the cold air from the air conditioner.
Xia Zhiyu glanced at Jiang Zhiyan with impatience, her thin skin under her eyes flushed. She didn't say anything, but it seemed as if even her breathing was urging Jiang Zhiyan to stop.
With her brows slightly furrowed and tears welling in her eyes, Yu Yu's eyes remained moist. Her movements and responses were enthusiastic enough, but her gaze was empty, devoid of warmth, and her focus was never on him.
Even though they are very close at this moment.
From their less-than-successful first time to now, Jiang Zhiyan suddenly felt that this would be the worst pleasure they had ever shared.
The anxiety was amplified at this moment. Jiang Zhiyan's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his head and bit Xia Zhiyu's neck, his warm breath on her ear, his voice deep and resonant.
"What are you thinking about?"
Xia Zhiyu wrapped her arms around Jiang Zhiyan's neck, and suddenly smelled an unfamiliar sweet fragrance behind Jiang Zhiyan's ear.
His burning body suddenly cooled down, and even breathing became difficult.
The wind outside the window suddenly picked up, howling like a madman as it whipped up tree branches and leaves, smashing them against the glass.
Xia Xiaojiang's persistent scratching at the door could be heard from outside.
Doubt, like a thorny vine, climbed inch by inch up her heart, twisting, tightening, and squeezing out sour juice.
Here we go again, that feeling of being suspicious and paranoid.
Xia Zhiyu closed her eyes in pain. Where was her sense of security?
Why did she start speculating that Jiang Zhiyan had cheated on her?
No one understood Jiang Zhiyan better than Xia Zhiyu. She knew that given Jiang Zhiyan's personality, he would never cheat on her. But a wave of helplessness washed over her, and despair completely overwhelmed her.
Xia Zhiyu didn't understand why she was so anxious about gains and losses.
The surroundings grew quiet. Xia Zhiyu released her wrists from Jiang Zhiyan's neck, and she heard her own calm and composed voice.
"It's nothing, I'm just not feeling well today, I don't want to do it."
After saying that, Xia Zhiyu pushed Jiang Zhiyan away, rolled to her side and turned her back. The blanket was tucked in tightly, and only a furry back of her head could be seen from behind.
A moment later, Jiang Zhiyan stretched out his arm and loosely placed it on Xia Zhiyu's side. He clearly felt Xia Zhiyu's body stiffen for a moment.
A short while later, Xia Zhiyu took advantage of the moment she turned over to shake off his arm.
She didn't sleep, but refused to have sex with him or accept his hugs.
Jiang Zhiyan silently watched Xia Zhiyu's retreating figure.
The other side of the bed shook, and the soft rustling of slippers could be heard, fading into the distance.
Xia Zhiyu's eyes were tightly closed, and the silk pillowcase next to her face was cold and damp.
In the bathroom, cold water poured over his head. Jiang Zhiyan vigorously rubbed his face, water droplets sliding down his sharply defined features.
As he wrapped himself in a bath towel, a familiar wave of dizziness washed over him. Jiang Zhiyan braced himself against the sink, the bronze-carved mirror carefully chosen by Xia Zhiyu reflecting his flushed face after a fit of heavy breathing. His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.
Jiang Zhiyan raised her eyes and stared coldly at her nearly disheveled reflection in the mirror.
Cold sweat mixed with water droplets spilled from his forehead and splashed onto the washbasin.
Why has Yu Yu changed so much during the year he was away from the country?
Who made her drift further and further away from him?
Is it just Jiang Jing?
A note from the author:
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Seeing you guys asking when the breakup will happen, well, very soon! I've already finished writing the breakup storyline! [panda head emoji]
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