You're my wife, don't doubt it!

After calling her twice more without getting a response, Xiao Yao had no choice but to place the lunchbox on the bedside table, lift the blanket, crawl inside, and hug Shen Jie from behind.

The girl did not turn around and hug him with a soft moan as he had expected—she did not move, except for a slight tremor in her shoulders, and she curled her body up even tighter.

The feel of the fabric in his hands told Xiao Yao that while he was out, Shen Jie had already put her pajamas back on.

She curled up gently, seemingly sinking into the softness of the bed. Her medium-length black hair fell onto the white pillow, and her delicate face was furrowed with worry, as if in pain. She hugged herself tightly, as if seeking warmth and comfort.

This scene seemed familiar; Xiao Yao felt as if he had seen it somewhere not long ago.

Ah, right, I remember now.

It was the morning after I met Shen Jie in 2034, the morning I parted ways with her. After I got up, I looked back at her and she was sleeping in the exact same position.

Aside from the difference in hair length, it's almost impossible to tell these "two people" apart.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yao couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic for that woman again.

I wonder what Shen Jie is doing "at this very moment," or where she is flying around in the world?

and many more.

What are those two marks on Xiao Shenjie's face?

……

Xiao Yao saw two tear stains that had been dried by the wind.

At first, he couldn't believe it. He examined it under the light for a long time before he was sure that it was indeed a tear stain.

The dried tear stains on the girl's face were like subtle lines etched on her smooth skin. The two tear stains were a light gray color, starting from the corner of her eye, extending down the curve of her cheek, and finally disappearing at her soft jawline.

These tear stains weren't completely dry; they had a slight sheen, seemingly shimmering softly in the dim light. They weren't glaring, but they revealed the girl's inner fragility and unease.

A wave of inexplicable guilt washed over Xiao Yao.

He lowered his head tenderly and gently kissed the two tear tracks on the girl's cheeks, as if by doing so he could use his love to smooth away all the wounds in her heart.

Shen Jie was awakened by his kiss.

Before the girl even opened her eyes, she uttered a muffled sound: "Doggy...you're back..."

Just as Xiao Yao was about to speak, he was pecked hard on the lips.

He suddenly realized what was in the girl's mouth and immediately felt something was off.

However, if you have to criticize her for even this, then you're really being inhuman.

Xiao Yao shook his head, shifting his attention: "Want to eat?"

"Eat," Shen Jie said, her eyes still closed, "feed me."

"Okay," Xiao Yao said.

The boy picked up the lunchbox from the bedside table and opened the lid: inside were fragrant baked chicken, sliced ​​beef and tripe in chili sauce, sweet and sour pork ribs, and two large portions of rice.

Xiao Yao sat on the edge of the bed, placed the lunchbox on his lap, broke open a pair of disposable wooden chopsticks, picked up a piece of baked chicken, and gently brought it to Shen Jie's lips: "Ah~~~"

Shen Jie glanced at the lunchbox on the bedside table: "Why isn't there any vegetarian food?"

“Uh,” Xiao Yao said, “doesn’t this ‘husband and wife lung slices’ come with vegetables?”

“You bought all the things you like to eat,” Shen Jie pouted.

Xiao Yao: "?"

Didn't you say "whatever"?

Didn't you say, "I want to eat anything that's yours"?

Besides, how come these are all dishes I like to eat? I don't like "husband and wife lung slices" at all; I just bought them because of the auspiciousness of the dish's name.

"Okay, I was just teasing you." Shen Jie changed to a smiling expression.

Xiao Yao: "..."

Shen Jie looked up at the food in Xiao Yao's hand, a warm light flashing in her eyes. She gently opened her mouth, letting Xiao Yao put the baked chicken into her mouth.

Xiao Yao carefully fed Shen Jie, each bite filled with care and warmth.

They ate dinner together in a quiet room, chatting non-stop.

"What? You ran into Uncle Johns?" Shen Jie was so startled that she forgot to chew the food in her mouth and swallowed it down.

Xiao Yao recounted the entire incident to Shen Jie.

"Why didn't you say so sooner!" Shen Jie complained.

"Sure."

“It seems this place is no longer safe to stay in,” Shen Jie said. “Let’s check out tomorrow and look for a short-term rental together.”

"Mm." Xiao Yao nodded.

The boy kept a close eye on Shen Jie's expression, making sure she ate comfortably and without getting tired. During the feeding, their eyes met; Xiao Yao's gaze conveyed deep affection, yet he felt he couldn't understand Shen Jie's expression.

Regardless, Xiao Yao's heart was filled with happiness and contentment. He was grateful to God for being qualified to do his best to take care of Shen Jie.

The girl picked up a remote control and turned on the large television set directly opposite her bed.

"Hey, hey, hey, right, there's the Asian Cup tonight, let's watch it together?" Xiao Yao suddenly got a little excited, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“But,” Shen Jie said hesitantly, “I wanted to binge-watch dramas and variety shows.”

“Okay, okay,” Xiao Yao quickly said, “Then let’s watch dramas and variety shows together, I’ll keep you company.”

“No,” Shen Jie thought for a moment and then said, “I’d rather watch the game with you.”

"Let's watch variety shows," Xiao Yao insisted.

"Watch the game." Shen Jie wouldn't budge an inch.

The two argued about it and eventually chose to play rock-paper-scissors, which Xiao Yao won.

"Alright, let's watch the game," Xiao Yao said.

Shen Jie: "?"

"I misspoke, I meant watching variety shows," Xiao Yao said.

Gradually, the food was almost all eaten.

Xiao Yao tidied up the remaining food and placed it aside. He took out a tissue and gently wiped the soup from the corner of Shen Jie's mouth, asking with concern, "Mommy, are you full? Would you like some more?"

Shen Jie shook her head: "I'm full—put the rest of them in the refrigerated display case."

After Xiao Yao finished packing his things, he went to the bathroom to urinate. When he came back, he found that Shen Jie had already crawled out of bed, was sitting on top of the blankets, leaning against the headboard, hugging her knees, and watching TV casually.

Shen Jie wasn't wearing a nightgown today, but a set of pajamas. In the darkness, Xiao Yao couldn't quite make out the color, but he could still tell they were expensive. The pajamas were loose and comfortable, revealing a soft texture, and she was still wearing those sheer stockings underneath.

In the dark room, the fluorescent light from the television illuminated Shen Jie's face. She seemed to be staring intently at the television screen, and the light made the girl's face appear as if it were alternating between pale and bluish.

On the girl's feet were some recently dried, milky-white marks, like spilled milk. These spots, formed from the drying of liquid, were a dull white, varying in size and shape—some small dots, others thin lines. They were scattered across different areas of the socks, sometimes clustered together, sometimes scattered.

Xiao Yao jumped onto the bed and sat to Shen Jie's right, hooking his arm around her left shoulder and resting his arm behind the girl's neck like a cushion.

The boy gently stroked Shen Jie's left shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort and warmth.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Xiao Yao asked in a low voice, "Were you secretly crying when I went out just now?"

Shen Jie was silent for a moment, then looked up, a hint of grievance and helplessness flashing in her eyes. She gently bit her lip: "Xiao Yao, I cried in my sleep because I was tired, don't interpret it as crying. I won't cry anymore. I've cried enough."

Xiao Yao held Shen Jie's hand tightly and said gently, "Mommy, no matter what difficulties or problems we encounter, we can face them together."

Shen Jie suddenly stood up and put one foot on the edge of the bed: "Do you even need to tell me? Of course you have to face this with me. Meow meow, from today onwards, I am a free cat. I can feel it... I will definitely have a brand new future."

This time, it was Xiao Yao's eyes that welled up with tears. He gently hugged Shen Jie and rested his head on her lower abdomen so that she wouldn't see his tears.

"Hehe, my dog ​​can be affectionate now?" Shen Jie chuckled as she ruffled Xiao Yao's hair, making it a mess.

Xiao Yao thought with heartache, when will she stop pretending to be strong in front of him? When will she dare to show her vulnerability without restraint in front of him? When will she be able to rely on him like a real man?

Chapter 263 The Attack of the Cat Mom (Part 2)

2023-07-14

Xiao Yao thought with heartache, when will she stop pretending to be strong in front of him? When will she dare to show her vulnerability without restraint in front of him? When will she be able to rely on him like a real man?

The boy thought for a moment, then let go of his hand and said, "I think we still need to find a way to reconcile with your father."

“This time is different from last time. It’s not that I don’t want to go back, it’s that I can’t go back,” Shen Jie told Xiao Yao. “You’ve heard what my dad is thinking. In the past, all I could get in that family was money, and the price was everything. If I go back now, I won’t even get the money.”

"But……"

"Do you know why I've been sleeping all the time? It's not because I'm tired, nor because I'm depressed, I just really need sleep. I've been living in a daze at home these past few days, I don't know how many days have passed, I don't know if I'm awake or asleep, I just have a splitting headache. Until that day, when I saw you outside the window, I realized again that I was still alive."

“But your ideal has always been…” Xiao Yao was somewhat moved, but still didn’t think what she said was entirely true.

“I did look forward to studying in the US,” Shen Jie said, “because I thought I could finally breathe the air of freedom. But now I realize that both the No. 7 Girls’ High School and Harvard University are just exquisite cages woven by my father with money.”

“I used to be used to that kind of luxurious life, and I did feel that I could only be a canary in a cage, enjoying the best life and unable to be independent. But living with you made me realize that I am not a canary, I am a cat, a free hunter in this city, and I am fully capable of surviving on my own!”

Really? Xiao Yao wondered.

“But inside the palace…” Xiao Yao recalled the scene where Shen Jie was trapped inside the palace and felt that her grand words were not very convincing, but he ultimately did not continue.

"While in the hall, I did feel a glimmer of hope, that I might be able to reach an understanding with my father through communication. Although his proposed solutions were completely unacceptable, I genuinely saw that he was willing to communicate with me, willing to have a proper talk with me. He said he loved me..."