Chapter 2: No, Don't Kiss Me

“No.”

Still half asleep, Su Jingwan reached back to push him away. “Don’t kiss me.”

The man behind her went still. “Wanwan,” he said in a low voice, “tell me why.”

“I’m sleepy. I’m not interested.”

Huo Congli checked the time. It was ten at night.

Jingwan usually stayed up until midnight, and sometimes kept him busy until dawn.

He remembered what his assistant had told him earlier: she had gone to see Ji Huaizhi today.

His breath caught. “…Tomorrow I’ll send Little Yu to my mother’s. You can do whatever you like with me. Would that be all right?” Despite himself, his voice trembled.

More than anything, he feared he couldn’t compare to Ji Huaizhi, that Jingwan craved the other man physically.

Jingwan was genuinely exhausted. All she wanted was a good night’s sleep. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Why was sex all he could think about? He hadn’t always been like this.

Congli tightened his arm around her waist, betraying the depth of his insecurity.

“All right.”

* * *

Jingwan woke early the next morning.

She sat bolt upright in a panic and found Congli tying his tie. He hadn’t left yet.

Only when she took in the sight before her did she truly believe she’d been given another life.

“Why are you up so early?” he asked softly.

She used to sleep past ten every morning, and he had to bring breakfast upstairs and feed her before she’d agree to eat even a few bites. It was thanks to Congli that she hadn’t developed stomach problems over the years.

Jingwan calmed herself. “I went to bed early last night.”

She threw back the covers and got up to wash. As she passed Congli, she glanced at his tie and frowned. “Why do you always wear the same few colors? I’ve never seen you in anything else.”

His lips tightened, and he looked a little awkward. “The ties you bought me aren’t suitable for the office.”

She tried to remember what she’d bought him. They had mostly been flashy ties meant for bedroom games. He was right; he couldn’t wear those to work.

She looked at him. He was strikingly handsome, with cool, refined features, an air of distance about his eyes, and a high, straight nose. Just standing there, he was a beautiful sight.

The more composed and self-possessed he was, the more she wanted to tease him.

She wound a finger around his tie and gave him a sultry look. “I think you look sexier in those ties than in these respectable ones.”

“I’ll wear one for you tonight.” He caught her hand, his breathing tightening. “Are you… going out again today?”

He knew she went to see Ji Huaizhi every time she left the house.

Jingwan yawned. “No. Our son’s sick. I’ll stay home with him.”

Disbelief filled Congli’s eyes. When had she ever stayed home to keep their son company?

“You…”

She raised her eyes. “What? Don’t you trust me to look after him?”

“Little Yu gets clingy when he’s sick. I’m afraid you might have trouble managing him.”

So Congli had been planning to take the boy to the office with him.

Jingwan released his tie, her enthusiasm fading. “Whatever, then. Ask him who he wants to go with.”

She’d never really looked after a child herself. If Little Yu started crying for Congli, she wouldn’t know what to do either.

It was rare for the three of them to sit down to breakfast together. The housekeeper and servants were astonished, and even Little Yu hadn’t expected to see his mother at eight in the morning.

All those eyes made Jingwan uncomfortable. She looked down at herself. She was wearing ordinary loungewear, her long hair gathered casually in a low bun. Had she left toothpaste on her face? Or was it because she wasn’t wearing makeup?

“Why are you all staring at me? Can’t I eat breakfast in peace?”

Her temper was notorious. The servants promptly lowered their heads and scattered back to their work.

Congli spoke up. “Is breakfast to your liking? Is there anything else you want? I’ll have the chef make it.”

The Huo family’s table offered both Chinese and Western dishes, from toast and sweet spreads to dim sum and wontons. “There’s plenty. I’ll just have a little.”

She rarely had much appetite in the morning, and the mere thought of Ji Huaizhi’s face made her stomach churn.

Little Yu sat beside her, unable to take his eyes off her. He reached out cautiously to touch her sleeve. “…Mommy,” he called in a soft little voice.

The word echoed his cry from her previous life.

Jingwan’s hand stopped. “What is it? Do you want this soup dumpling?”

She placed the dumpling she was holding into his bowl.

Beside them, Congli’s eyes flickered. It was the first time she had ever served their son food. What had happened to her? She seemed like a different person overnight.

Little Yu nearly burst into tears. He gazed at her with watery eyes. “Thank you, Mommy. I like anything you give me.”

He had inherited the best of both his parents’ looks, though he was more like a miniature Congli.

Seeing him on the verge of tears, Jingwan awkwardly patted his head twice, as though petting a fluffy puppy. “You need to eat more when you’re sick. It’ll help you get better faster.”

“I’ll listen to Mommy.”

He was so easy to please. Looking after him shouldn’t be too hard.

“Do you want to go to the office with Huo Congli today, or stay home with me?” Jingwan still wasn’t used to calling herself Mommy.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Huo Yujing wrapped his arms around hers. “Mommy!”

He turned to Congli. “Daddy, can I stay home with Mommy today?”

Congli took a sip of coffee. Oddly enough, it didn’t taste as bitter as usual. “You may. Be good and listen to Mommy.”

* * *

After breakfast, Jingwan wanted to go upstairs for another nap.

Little Yu went to the door alone to see Congli off to work. “Bye, Daddy.”

Congli picked him up and gave him a kiss. “Be good and wait at home with Mommy until Daddy gets back.”

He glanced toward the staircase. Jingwan had just set foot on the first step when, on impulse, she looked back. Their eyes met.

The sudden silence was awkward. Was she supposed to say something?

“Be careful on the way,” she said stiffly.

Those simple words were enough to send Congli’s heart racing.

She was worried about him. She loved him.

“I will. I picked out a set of jewelry for you on my last business trip. It’ll be delivered this afternoon. See if you like it.”

Jingwan was used to his frequent gifts and felt little excitement. “Okay. You’d better get going.”

* * *

Assistant Li was already waiting outside. When Congli approached, he inclined his head. “Good morning, Mr. Huo.”

Congli lowered his eyes and adjusted his cuffs, concealing the conspicuous marks beneath. That was also why he wore a wristwatch year-round.

Jingwan could be wild when she played.

He settled into the back seat and picked up his tablet. Even the faintest furrow of his brow carried the composure of a man in command.

Years of navigating the business world had made him reserved and disciplined. His emotions rarely showed on his face; he was a born leader. Traffic swept past the window, and across the vast city of Jing, much of the business world was closely connected to the Huo family.

Special Assistant Li watched him in the rearview mirror, then spoke hesitantly. “Mr. Huo, there’s something I’m not sure I should say…”