Shi Ning’s whispered words, gentle as they were, exploded within Qin Heye like magnificent fireworks. A sliver of reason still clung to him, a lingering reluctance for her to feel obligated, to please him out of anything but pure desire. He hesitated, “Aning…”
But Shi Ning bit down harder, her fingertips delicately tracing the bobbing of his Adam’s apple. Shattered his reason, leaving only an intense, possessive craving. No one in this world could love her more than he. He couldn’t trust any other man with her happiness. He had to have her, even if it meant resorting to cruel or unscrupulous measures to keep her by his side. Yet now, she was taking the initiative without his need for cunning or darkness. He would simply do his utmost to satisfy her.
In an instant, Qin Heye’s arms tightened around Shi Ning’s waist. His hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her deeper into his kiss. It was an overwhelming, possessive embrace. Shi Ning, still inexperienced, hadn’t yet learned to breathe properly during such intense moments, and she soon found herself gasping. She pressed her hands against his chest, seeking a sliver of space to catch her breath. Beneath her palms, she felt the defined ridges of his abdominal muscles, her fingers tracing downwards along his waistline. Her fingertips brushed against the towel wrapped around him, and after a moment of hesitation, she hooked them.
The towel around Qin Heye’s waist unfastened, falling silently to the floor. The quilt shifted, collapsing around them. Qin Heye leaned in closer, his kisses fervent. Shi Ning’s mind reeled, her scalp tingling with a strange discomfort. “You’re pressing on my hair…” she managed, pushing gently against his abdomen.
Qin Heye chuckled, his fingers finding her slender waist, and with a swift motion, he turned her over. Her long, dark hair fanned out like spilled ink on the pillows. His firm, powerful abdominal muscles pressed against her back, separated only by the delicate silk of her nightgown. His fingers hooked her red shoulder strap, letting it slide down her arm. He lowered his head, raining kisses along her exquisite neck, his thin lips trailing slowly downwards. Shi Ning, utterly bewildered by his seductive assault, lost all semblance of reason. A soft cry escaped her lips as she surrendered, letting him guide her.
Then, from beyond the door, a sound. Knock, knock, knock. A rhythmic rapping shattered the intimate silence. Qin Heye remained pressed against Shi Ning’s back, his lips at her ear. He gently placed a finger over her lips—a silent plea for quiet. He refused to let this moment to be ruined, unwilling to end what had just begun.
But the knocking persisted, growing louder, more insistent. “Master Qin, Madam,” came Xu Chang’s voice, “the old man asks you to come over.”
Disturbed repeatedly, Qin Heye finally snapped, his voice a chilling, sharp command directed at Xu Chang. “Get out!”
Shi Ning flinched by his roar , her body shrinking in surprise. Qin Heye looked at her, his annoyance softening into distress. He gently pinched her waist, then bit her earlobe, explaining softly, “I wasn’t being mean to you.”
Outside, Xu Chang, too, felt a shiver run down his spine at the raw, knife-like edge in Qin Heye’s voice. This… Master Qin’s temper has flared. He’s not as gentle as he was during the video call with the young madam. Xu Chang hesitated, then, risking his life, knocked again. “Master Qin, young lady, the old man wants you to come over. He has something important to say.”
For Xu Chang, the old man was paramount. All else, all other people, were secondary. He would brave even Qin Heye’s wrath to deliver the old man’s message. Inside, Qin Heye was radiating a palpable aura of violence, as if he might transform into a blade and cleave through the door to cut Xu Chang to pieces.
Shi Ning, however, gently pulled away from Qin Heye’s embrace. “Grandpa must have something important to ask us. Let’s go find Grandpa first.” Her face was flushed, her voice soft and tender. “Wait until we get home, and I’ll accompany you to do whatever you want.”
Qin Heye pulled Shi Ning back into his arms, squeezing her slender waist. He looked down at her, his voice low and firm. “Don’t regret it! Don’t break your promise!” He regretted his earlier, misguided nobility. He loved this proactive, passionate Shi Ning, and he wouldn’t let her go by all means.
Shi Ning, blushing fiercely, agreed. “Okay.”
Qin Heye gently cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “If you regret it…”
Shi Ning felt a flicker of fear, then glared at him, a mixture of shame and anger in her eyes. “No ifs! If there is, You will tie me up with a big dog chain!”
Qin Heye’s unease vanished. A soft chuckle escaped him. “Yes, tie you around my waist.”
Shi Ning’s face burned as she glared at him again. Then, addressing Xu Chang outside, she called out, “I’ll be right there.”
Xu Chang, who had been preparing to knock once more, let out a silent breath of relief.
A few moments later, Shi Ning and Qin Heye opened the door and stepped out. Xu Chang, head bowed, greeted them. “Master Qin, Young Madam.”
Qin Heye merely fixed Xu Chang with a steely glare. “Five hundred words.”
Xu Chang straightened abruptly. What?! I stayed up all night and only managed two hundred! He looked to Shi Ning for help. “Young Madam…”
Shi Ning hadn’t forgotten how Xu Chang had, like a bandit, dragged her to the old house and threatened her with dire consequences. She was not one to forget a slight. Shyly, she took Qin Heye’s arm. “My husband’s wife , only listen to husband.”
Xu Chang was utterly bewildered.
Qin Heye, too, didn’t quite grasp her meaning. “What does ‘this’ mean?” he asked Shi Ning.
Shi Ning considered it, then explained simply, “It means the wife is centered on the husband, overly dependent on the husband, and lacks independent thinking.”
Qin Heye frowned. “That’s not a good word,” he stated.
“It depends on how you use it,” Shi Ning replied. The original term, “mama’s boy,” was indeed negative, but many people now used similar phrases like “mama’s girl” or “daddy’s girl” self-mockingly, and they sounded quite endearing. She had also deliberately used it to refuse Xu Chang’s plea for help.
As they descended the stairs, Qin Heye instinctively lifted the hem of Shi Ning’s skirt. “No, don’t use that word,” he said.
“hmm,” Shi Ning hummed, then heard Qin Heye’s serious tone.
“I’m a wife-loving man; that’s sounding more good.”
Shi Ning turned to look at him, a silent question in her eyes. So hypocritical?
They arrived at the study. Xu Chang waited outside in the courtyard. Qin Heye and Shi Ning entered together, calling out, “Grandpa.”
Grandpa Qin, who had been sitting in his chair watching a skit, looked up. He smiled warmly as he saw them enter hand-in-hand, bathed in the setting sun, a picture of harmony and romance. This was the first time in their three years of marriage that he had seen them holding hands.
“I called you here in such a hurry,” Grandpa Qin began. “I hope I didn’t disturb your reunion?”
Shi Ning blushed, remaining silent. Qin Heye simply gave his grandfather a pointed look. “Grandpa, why did you call us here? What’s the matter?”
Grandpa Qin was chilled by his grandson’s gaze. It was truly terrifying. He quickly got down to business. “The drug test results are out, and it’s confirmed there’s a problem. I asked you to come and take a look.”
Qin Heye picked up the drug test results from the desk, his brow furrowing as he read. “Banned drugs. Long-term use will cause restlessness, liver fire, irritability, and explosiveness.”
Old Man Qin nodded. “Yes, if you’re not careful, you’ll become emotionally excited, suffer a cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, or a stroke.” He paused, his voice grave. “Especially when emotionally excited, about to faint, if you take it again, your grandfather will be able to see your grandmother.” He remembered yesterday, how excited he had been, how his breath had caught, the precursor to an illness. Fortunately, Shi Ning had been there. Fortunately, he had listened to her advice and not taken the medicine again. Indeed, people still needed to listen to good advice. Old Man Qin resolved that from now on, he would listen more to his granddaughter-in-law, Shi Ning!