Shi Che watched the girl’s radiant smile and only felt his own heart, going from slow to fast, out of his control, gradually picking up speed, causing his voice, when he finally spoke, to waver slightly, "What’s the matter?"
Ling Chuxia chuckled, then earnestly said, "Could you start liking girls with short hair, oh, and not wearing ladylike dresses, and also, not too refined, you’re already so reserved, it would be so boring if both of us were reserved."
Ling Chuxia counted off on her fingers, listing all the things she disapproved of, demanding him to change them all.
Shi Che listened to Ling Chuxia’s soft voice, each word and sentence, which were meant to sound like a negotiation, except she wasn’t sounding negotiable at all. Shi Che lowered his eyes and, without realizing it, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
When Chuxia couldn’t meet Mrs. Shi’s expectations, she turned to him and demanded that he like someone like her. He had no idea where she got such unabashed audacity from, yet for some reason, he found he couldn’t be angry with her.
He couldn’t remember now how he had responded to her at the time; all he remembered was how his heartbeat had hammered against his chest as he looked at her, his cheeks flushing a faint red. And her demands seemed to have etched themselves onto his heart, impossible to erase.
Later on, he grew to love her short hair, her liveliness, her defiance, her fiery spirit. And then, as he had wished, he married her, but she was no longer the girl with short hair, no longer lively, no longer defiant, no longer fiery.
She had left deep marks in his heart, yet she could withdraw so indifferently. How could there be anyone more cruel than she?
The Ling Chuxia beside him suddenly turned over, her body facing him. Her petite form pressed close to him, and her head unknowingly rested on his arm.
This move from Chuxia jolted Shi Che out of his memories. He blinked, watching Ling Chuxia’s serene sleeping face nestled in front of him, even unconsciously nuzzling to find a comfortable spot to rest.
Shi Che’s breath seemed to freeze, his body stiffened, unmoving, for fear of waking her and spoiling this beautiful moment.
But Ling Chuxia did not stir further, still deeply asleep, utterly peaceful.
After a while, Shi Che exhaled softly. He lowered his gaze; Chuxia curled up next to him like a cat, her small head resting on his arm, her breathing even, her warmth spreading over his skin.
There was no formality, no reverence, no cautiousness, only... attachment.
Shi Che’s dark eyes rested quietly on her face for a long time until, finally, he couldn’t resist any longer and gently pulled her into his embrace, his lips pressing down, kissing her lips.