He Jingyao gave a teasing smile as he pinched her chin, "Moved to tears?"
"Not at all!" she huffed, turning her head away, "I’m going to sleep."
Hearing her hoarse voice, the man chuckled softly, "If you’re going to cry, just don’t smear your tears and snot on me."
Furious, Su Zixi shouted, struggling to get out of bed, "I want to sleep separately from you!"
However, no sooner had she stretched out a leg than He Jingyao, quick as a flash, pulled it back.
"Okay, I’ll stop teasing you," he chuckled lowly, kissing her cheek, "Go to sleep."
Immediately, Su Zixi calmed down, like a petted cat, and murmured a contented sound, nestling in his embrace motionlessly.
He Jingyao turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into total darkness.
Unlike before, Su Zixi did not fall asleep immediately but lay with her eyes open, gazing at the man’s handsome profile in the faint moonlight.
Her tears slid unnoticed, running down to her ears and finally seeping into her thick hair.
A few days later, at the President Mansion.
Following a lady-in-waiting, Su Zixi entered and unexpectedly found Ye Shutong there too.
But she seemed to be kept out in the courtyard, not allowed to come in.
Ye Shutong’s complexion looked somewhat unhealthy as she argued quietly with the lady-in-waiting, "I don’t believe my aunt wouldn’t give me even a chance to explain."
"Sorry, Miss Ye." The lady-in-waiting replied firmly but respectfully, "The mistress specifically instructed that she’s not available to see you these days."
Impatience flickered across Ye Shutong’s face, "Please pass a message to my aunt for me, tell her that I really didn’t mean to."
"I’m sorry." The lady-in-waiting still shook her head.
Ye Shutong bit her lip, then turned around and saw Su Zixi.
Her eyes immediately took on a complex expression.
Su Zixi nodded to her as a greeting and was about to walk inside, but Ye Shutong reached out to stop her.
"Young Mistress He," her eyes twinkled with a hidden excitement, "long time no see."
"Sorry, but I’m almost due for my appointment with the lady," Su Zixi said expressionlessly.
"I have something to tell you about your husband," Ye Shutong spoke rapidly, "It’s about his health, you must..."
"I know about it," Su Zixi interrupted her with a smile, "Is there anything else you wanted to say?"
Ye Shutong was momentarily stunned, her voice turning sharp, "You actually know?"
"Yes, Jingyao never hides anything from me," Su Zixi observed her suddenly discolored face, her eyes twinkling even sweeter, "Is there something strange about that?"
"Knowing that, you still dare to stay by his side?" Ye Shutong scoffed, "Su Zixi, I never thought you could be such a selfish woman!"
"But Jingyao likes me," Su Zixi maintained her smiling face, "He refuses to let me go; what can I do?"
Ye Shutong seemed as if something was choking her throat, her face turning extremely ugly.
"If there’s nothing else, please feel free to do as you please, Miss Ye," Su Zixi said coldly with a smile.
"If you need, I can also help you..." Ye Shutong suddenly spoke up softly, her voice carrying a hint of seduction.
"I do indeed have something I need Miss Ye to clarify," Su Zixi paused, then asked earnestly, "I’m really curious, Jingyao clearly never treats you kindly, yet you insist on approaching him, why is your skin so thick?"