Chapter 16: Standing Me Up [6]

“The water’s cold,” Wen Xiaorou said, her face flushing all the way to the nape of her neck under Jing Nuo’s steady gaze. Jing Nuo’s mother’s words suddenly made a strange kind of sense—if Jing Nuo wouldn’t make the first move, then she might as well take the initiative. Experience truly brings cunning; no matter how much Jing Nuo disliked her, wasn’t he still drawn to her beauty? Wen Xiaorou began to feel a touch smug.

“Hmm.” To her surprise, Jing Nuo didn’t refuse. He obediently headed to the bathroom, but the image of Wen Xiaorou standing outside the shower lingered in his mind. Could it really be true that clothes make the man? Wen Xiaorou had only dressed a little more provocatively, yet he was utterly captivated. Did he have no sense of decency?

Soaking in the bathtub, Jing Nuo reflected on his behavior and scolded himself for his lack of restraint. Wen Xiaorou was definitely trying to seduce him on purpose. If she succeeded, she would gain status through their child. What if Wen Xiaorou really bore a child with the Jing family? He would be tied to this woman for life, something he absolutely did not want. Though he verbally agreed to let things remain as they were, deep down, he had no such intentions.

Inside the bathroom, Jing Nuo quickly cleared his head and saw through Wen Xiaorou’s scheme with crystal clarity. Having seen through her plan, how could he possibly let her win? He decided to play along and see what other tricks she had up her sleeve. Did she really think a set of sexy lingerie would make him fall for her so easily? She was seriously overestimating herself.

“Not asleep yet?” Jing Nuo asked as he emerged from the bathroom to find Wen Xiaorou half-hidden beneath the covers, lying on the bed reading.

“Hmm! Jing Nuo, you sleep in the bed! Grandma said you work hard every day making money to support me, you shouldn’t be sleeping on the sofa,” Wen Xiaorou said, lifting the blanket from her legs to make room for him. In doing so, her sheer shawl slipped as well, revealing her pale thigh in full view.

Jing Nuo stared, breath caught in his throat. He thought to himself that Wen Xiaorou was really going all out to seduce him. It wouldn’t be fun to resist her, so he replied with a teasing tone, “Sleeping in the bed, aren’t you afraid I’ll eat you up?”

“You wouldn’t,” Wen Xiaorou said, hearing his words as proof that he was already falling for her. She thought, he wasn’t that hard to handle after all; a change of clothes was all it took.

Jing Nuo smiled faintly, playing along with her wishes. He crawled into bed beside her, lying on his side, eyes fixed on her, watching to see what she would do next.

Wen Xiaorou was startled by Jing Nuo’s sudden compliance and didn’t know how to react. Although they had been married two years, this was the first time they were so scantily clad, squeezed together under one blanket. Her heart seemed to rise to her throat, more nervous than ever before—even more than during her thesis defense. Her body trembled involuntarily.

“Wen Xiaorou, you’re very nervous, aren’t you?” Jing Nuo frowned, his eyes searching hers.

“No, no, just a bit cold,” Wen Xiaorou quickly denied, pulling the blanket up to cover them both.

“Rou Rou, you’re really beautiful and sexy tonight. I can’t help but want to keep looking at you,” Jing Nuo said, knowing full well she was nervous, yet deliberately teasing her. As he spoke, his right hand slid mischievously to her waist, beginning to undo the shawl.

Wen Xiaorou was completely stunned. Jing Nuo had fallen right into her trap. Just as her scheme was about to succeed, fear crept in—she was utterly unprepared. She had spent every day bracing herself for Jing Nuo’s rejection, never imagining he would actually fall for it.