Chapter One Hundred and Six: Mind the Consequences

“Just close your eyes and lie on my back,” Song Chengyi said with a soft laugh.

All the way home, he carried Luo Yixia on his back.

To say he was not tired would have been a lie. He had spent the entire afternoon searching for her, running until his legs felt ready to give out, and yet he still could not resist the urge to carry her.

When they got home, Luo Yixia obediently lay against his back, looping her arms around his neck and burying her face there.

Sure enough, everyone was watching them as soon as they stepped inside.

“What happened to Xixia?” Zhou Yun stood up at once, wanting to go over and check on her, thinking she might have been hurt.

“I’m taking her upstairs. She fell asleep,” Song Chengyi said calmly, not waiting for Zhou Yun to come any closer, and carried Luo Yixia upstairs.

The whole family could only stand there and watch.

On the contrary, Yu Wenjing and Luo Hongtao felt somewhat uneasy.

Luo Hongtao said guiltily, “Xixia really is too thoughtless. She’s already grown up, and yet—”

Who would have thought that Zhou Yun would suddenly stride over to Song Zeming and smack him on the head.

“Mom? What are you doing?” Song Zeming clutched his head in grievance.

“Look at your younger brother. He already knows how to spoil his wife. And you? You don’t even have a girlfriend. If I don’t hit you, who am I supposed to hit?”

Song Zeming obediently shut his mouth. He had no way to refute that. It was painfully reasonable...

“Let’s eat first. Eat first. Just leave a portion for them,” Zhou Yun called everyone to the table.

What was happening downstairs had nothing to do with the upstairs.

Once upstairs, Luo Yixia opened her eyes.

Song Chengyi set her on a chair, then went into the bathroom to get a towel and wipe her face.

“Your face is all smudged from crying,” Song Chengyi said with a smile.

“Hmph...” Luo Yixia pouted, feeling deeply wronged.

“Don’t move. I was the one who carried you back just now. Otherwise, you’d be sleeping on the street tonight.” Song Chengyi steadied her face.

“And you still have the nerve to say that. There were so many people downstairs, and you actually said I was asleep. I had no face left... It was so embarrassing...” Luo Yixia covered her face.

“What else was I supposed to say? That you were too embarrassed to see anyone?” Song Chengyi countered.

“You’re really awful,” Luo Yixia said in exasperation.

“All right, let me wipe your face first.” Song Chengyi took the towel again and gently wiped her face.

Luo Yixia still looked displeased.

Then she said miserably, “I’m hungry.”

“I can already smell the food downstairs...” Luo Yixia suddenly regretted everything. She should have gone down to eat with everyone.

Besides, if anyone was going to cry, it was because Song Chengyi had provoked her. They should be lecturing him, not making her suffer.

“Then should I take you downstairs?” Song Chengyi said helplessly.

But Luo Yixia still shook her head. “Forget it...”

No, that would just mean they would all end up lecturing her together.

“You stay here obediently. I’ll bring your food up.” Song Chengyi pressed lightly on her arm, then stood and went out.

Only after hearing that did Luo Yixia finally feel satisfied.

When Song Chengyi went downstairs, everyone had already started eating.

“Chengyi, come and eat. Haven’t you eaten yet?” Yu Wenjing asked as soon as she saw him.

“I’ll take two portions up for Xixia,” Song Chengyi said, heading to the kitchen for bowls and chopsticks.

“Don’t spoil her. Eat your own meal. If she wakes up, let her come down and eat on her own,” Yu Wenjing said, showing her daughter no mercy at all.

At that moment, Luo Yixia was crouched at the top of the stairs, eavesdropping. When she heard Madam Yu Wenjing’s words, she nearly coughed up blood.

This was outrageous... She was her own flesh and blood, after all...

“It’s fine... I’ll bring it up and eat with her,” Song Chengyi said with a smile as he started serving the dishes.

Seeing her son spoil his wife like this, Zhou Yun was naturally delighted. She immediately ladled out soup and added plenty of dishes as well.

By the time Song Chengyi went upstairs, his arms were full of bowls and plates.

Luo Yixia was waiting at the stair landing.

The moment she saw the delicious food, her eyes lit up.

“Quick, quick,” she said, reaching out to help lighten his load.

Song Chengyi smiled and shook his head before following her into the room.

Then Luo Yixia sat down straight on the bed.

Song Chengyi’s eyes widened.

“Come to the table and eat.” He carried everything over to the table.

Luo Yixia had indeed wanted to eat lying on the bed.

But this was Song Chengyi’s room, after all, so she had no choice but to sit obediently in the chair.

Unable to wait, she picked up her chopsticks and immediately reached for a piece of braised pork.

“Drink the soup Mom served,” Song Chengyi said, pushing both bowls of soup toward her.

“I only need one bowl.” Luo Yixia pushed the other back to him.

The two of them ate in silence.

Only Luo Yixia’s table manners were not particularly graceful.

Luo Yixia did not mind, and Song Chengyi was already used to it.

After she swallowed the last mouthful of soup, Luo Yixia reached for a tissue to wipe her mouth.

But Song Chengyi beat her to it and handed her one first.

Luo Yixia accepted it with an awkward smile.

She still had not gotten used to this...

Song Chengyi was fastidious, while she herself was so careless.

Afterward, Song Chengyi took the dishes back downstairs.

No one knew what was said below, but afterward no one came upstairs for a long while.

Otherwise, with Yu Wenjing’s personality, she would surely have come up to lecture her.

That was good. If no one came, then by tomorrow her eyes would have gone down.

Seeing that Song Chengyi was not around, Luo Yixia went into the bathroom to shower by herself.

They had been living together for more than a day or two already, so she was quite familiar with everything; using the things in there came very naturally to her.

Luo Yixia had always washed her hair frequently to begin with, and today she had cried so much she was drenched in sweat.

After her shower, she changed into a cartoon-print nightgown and let her hair down.

When Song Chengyi came back in, Luo Yixia was curled up against a large teddy bear.

He frowned. “Go sit in the chair. I’ll dry your hair for you.”

“It’s fine. It’ll dry in a while,” Luo Yixia said carelessly.

“Come here.” Song Chengyi beckoned.

“Okay.” She had no choice but to stand and walk over.

Song Chengyi took the dry towel from her and carefully dried her hair.

Luo Yixia’s long hair really had no fault to speak of, except that it was simply too long.

Besides, every time Song Chengyi went into the bathroom, he would find hair all over the dressing table and even on the floor.

“Should we... cut your hair a little shorter?” Song Chengyi asked hesitantly.

“Why?” Luo Yixia turned back warily, clutching her hair and refusing to let Song Chengyi touch it.

“It’s too long...”

“If you dare touch my hair, I’ll fight you to the death.” Luo Yixia puffed up her cheeks and said angrily.

Song Chengyi looked at her and knew there was no room for discussion.

So he continued drying her hair.

Once he had dried the top, he stood in front of Luo Yixia again, wrapped the towel around her head, and rubbed it back and forth.

Luo Yixia unconsciously looked up at him.

Song Chengyi was a whole head taller than her, and she had to tilt her head back just to see him.

From her angle, she could just make out Song Chengyi’s lips.

Red... moist... they looked as if one bite would be lovely...

Or perhaps a kiss would be even better...

In fact, Luo Yixia did just that.

She rose slightly onto her tiptoes, lifted her face, and kissed him.

Song Chengyi had been concentrating on drying her hair and had no idea she would suddenly act so boldly.

Before he could react, Luo Yixia had already succeeded.

He was briefly stunned...

But Luo Yixia had only touched him lightly before pulling away.

Even she seemed not to realize what she had done; after all, her body had once again been quicker than her mind.

“I... um...” Seeing Song Chengyi’s shocked expression, Luo Yixia only then came to her senses.

Had she just taken advantage of her own idol?

But then she thought, no... She was his rightful wife. Was she not even allowed a kiss?

With that thought, her courage returned. “You said you wouldn’t abandon me, so I just kissed you once.”

She was already shorter than Song Chengyi, and now she even stood on tiptoe as she spoke, making herself seem all the more imposing.

“What, you’re not convinced? Even if you aren’t, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to kiss you anyway...” Seeing that Song Chengyi still had no reaction, Luo Yixia grew bolder.

Then she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, making him lower his head a little.

With a crisp smack, she kissed him again.

But after that kiss, seeing that Song Chengyi still had that unreadable expression, she suddenly lost her nerve. Had she gone too far?

Somewhat timidly, Luo Yixia was preparing to step back and put some distance between them.

To her surprise, Song Chengyi suddenly seized her arm, turned, and pressed her against the wall.

Without another word, he kissed her.

This time, Luo Yixia was the one left stunned...

This time, Song Chengyi was nothing like before, when he had merely sampled and withdrawn. This time, it was as if he had been provoked by Luo Yixia.

One hand held the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss.

He even pried open her lips...

Luo Yixia had not yet grown used to this side of Song Chengyi, and panic surged through her at once. She wanted to hide, but Song Chengyi would not give her the chance.

She did not know how long they kissed. Only after a very long while, so long that the air in Luo Yixia’s mouth had nearly been exhausted and she almost felt she was about to suffocate, did he finally let her go.

Luo Yixia went limp, burying her face in Song Chengyi’s chest.

At that moment, her cheeks were red—whether from shame or from being out of breath, she could not tell.

Song Chengyi rested against the side of her neck, breathing softly.

“Will you still sneak kisses from me in the future?” he asked, lifting her face to look at him.

Luo Yixia only stared at his reddened lips, dazed...

“Mm.”

“Mm?” Song Chengyi raised a brow.

“What?” Luo Yixia came back to herself and looked at him.

“It seems you still haven’t learned your lesson,” Song Chengyi said after a brief pause.

Then, once more, he cupped her small face and kissed her.

Luo Yixia felt like crying... At least let me catch my breath and get ready first...

Clearly, Song Chengyi was not going to grant her that.

In helplessness, Luo Yixia had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck as well...

“Cough, cough...” Suddenly, two coughs broke the silence.

The two of them turned in embarrassment and saw Song Zeming standing outside the door, leaning lazily against the doorframe.

“Could you be a little more mindful? At least there’s still a single guy living across from you, okay? And if nothing else, could you close the door?”