The young girl clutched her little shoe, looking as if she were on the verge of tears.
Su Liumeng’s heart ached in tandem with her.
This was—the scene that hurt her the most.
Si Xinyan’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her guilt beginning from accidentally kicking Su Liumeng at the start, then deepening as she suffered Su Liumeng’s deliberate, vengeful teasing. Holding onto her shoe and refusing to let go, she couldn’t help but make all kinds of unnecessary connections.
Had she really been that out of line just now, to make Su Liumeng retaliate in such a nearly humiliating way—forcing her to hold someone else’s shoe, keeping her standing on just one foot, having to plant the other on the ground in such a helpless, almost pathetic posture?
Not wearing shoes was a personal habit.
But if only one foot was bare, it would easily offend others’ sense of dignity, just like being stripped naked in public on the street—a special kind of lonely vulnerability under everyone’s gaze.
Especially for someone like Si Xinyan, so used to having her routines and boundaries, the slivers of grievance welling in her heart all turned into sparkling tears at the corners of her eyes.
At this moment, Su Liumeng suddenly found herself at a loss for words, unsure how to explain that she had merely been spacing out a moment ago, lost in admiration of her wife’s beautiful, silken-clad legs. Especially seeing those little feet, white as mutton fat jade, wrapped in sheer stockings—her heartstrings, most easily stirred, had been mercilessly plucked.
“Don’t go.”
My legs were suddenly hugged tightly from below. Su Liumeng, in an almost intimate posture, pressed her head against my silk-clad calf. For a moment, it was impossible to tell if she was apologizing or rewarding herself in a different way.
“You—”
“Hurry up and let go.”
I bit my lip tightly, my voice already trembling. Remembering that I was still holding her shoe—a rather rude thing to do—made me even more upset, almost to the point of tears.
“Su Liumeng…”
Su Liumeng still refused to let go.
Seeing her like this, I felt a strange twist inside.
My grievance and helplessness, as soon as my heart softened, transformed into words about to slip from my lips.
“Fine, I—”
“I’m not angry…”
“Stop hugging me. Let me… calm down for a bit.”
My tone was a bit helpless, my eyes still misty.
Seeing Su Liumeng like this, all my earlier grievances and guilt seemed to melt away. “At the very least, let me put my shoe back on.”
Su Liumeng—
Still afraid I might leave her?
Flustered, Su Liumeng hurriedly explained, “I didn’t mean to hold you back and keep you from putting your shoe on. I was just… so scared.”
“Scared that if you walked away like this, you’d never want me again.”
“I was just spacing out, thinking about how you look in white stockings, and then…”
Su Liumeng’s eyes flashed with a hint of embarrassment. She probably never imagined something so awkward would happen to her, but if she didn’t explain the whole truth, how could her baby ever believe there was no intent to humiliate her? “And then… I got my period.”
My face stiffened. Did that even relate to what she’d said before?
But seeing how sincere Su Liumeng was, I softened my tone. “Get up. Stop kneeling on the floor all the time—if people found out, who knows what rumors they’d spread about you, saying you’re always kneeling on a washboard at home. Come on, help me to the sofa.”
Su Liumeng grinned, “That’s just because I have such a beautiful wife. Other people would love to kneel but never get the chance.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Listen to yourself, as if having a beautiful wife means you’re supposed to kneel on the washboard a few times. Like it’s some big regret otherwise.”
Su Liumeng gave another silly laugh, carefully supporting my arm and leading me over to the sofa.
I stared at my shoe on the floor, then glanced at Su Liumeng watching me. I decided to share what was on my mind, “Su Liumeng, I kicked you by accident. I did feel guilty, so I thought of your reaction as punishment for me… Because I believed it wasn’t on purpose, it felt like you were punishing me without considering how I felt.”
When someone loves another with all their heart, the sudden sense that they’re no longer loved—even in a small detail—can be shattering.
Su Liumeng stood by the sofa, quietly listening to the young girl’s honest confession.
Si Xinyan was someone with a sensitive heart, which meant her thoughts often took twists and turns.
Paths others wouldn’t even imagine.
Add to that her naturally reserved personality, and it became even harder for her to express herself.
Su Liumeng was already used to this side of Si Xinyan. In daily life, she could guess at many things.
Running her knuckles through the girl’s black hair, Su Liumeng met a pair of eyes that were no longer sad but shining.
She gave her head a little shake.
Watching Su Liumeng tilt her head, I suddenly clapped my hand over my mouth and let out a soft giggle.
When the girl smiled, her brows and eyes curved into pretty crescents. The remaining tears only made her look more dazzling—like a star in Su Liumeng’s eyes.
She even thought, how could such a fairy-like girl be willing to descend to the mortal world, to come to her side and change her life?
“Xinxin.”
“You’re so beautiful.” Su Liumeng was already entranced.
Hearing that, I laughed even more happily, as if there were stars in my eyes. “I was just about to ask you the same—why do you keep imitating me…”
“You… You don’t really think it’s cute, do you?”
I puffed my cheeks, pretending to be angry, staring at the girl in front of me. “You’re not yourself when you do that, and even if you act like that, I don’t find it cute at all. Honestly… your head-tilt has zero charm!”
I looked at her with twinkling eyes, in the mood to tease. “Also, you’re not allowed to seduce me in such clumsy ways again… Didn’t I tell you? My standards for a partner won’t change. No matter how much you try to seduce me with your current body, it’s useless… Besides, you’re Su Liumeng. I like you because you’re Su Liumeng. Even if you don’t do those things, I’d still love you.”
“You’re Su Liumeng. That’s more than enough.”
Right then, Su Liumeng almost blurted out that she could turn back to her original self, but thinking of the bigger surprise she’d prepared for the night, she restrained herself.
“What I want isn’t just to be liked.” Su Liumeng was becoming greedy after receiving so much love.
She continued, “I also want my baby to feel the same way about me, the way I do about you—to have those desires that only lovers share…”
This was her quiet way of working on their otherwise quiet life.
“Oh…” I licked my lips. “You want me to get all lustful too?”
I said, half musing.
Then, I looked at her seriously. “That’s not right, you know. I don’t think I’m very passionate. And I really believe that the happiest thing for a couple is just talking and living together happily.”
Huh? Su Liumeng’s eyes widened.
She felt like she’d stumbled upon a secret hidden behind Si Xinyan’s conservative nature.
Could Si Xinyan be a born asexual?
That… was a little hopeless.
But she wasn’t sure—she’d have to test it a few more times.
Su Liumeng looked at her slender fingers, a contemplative look in her eyes for the first time.
Surely… she wasn’t really asexual?
She felt sure she could make Si Xinyan change her tune.
After all, many people who claimed to be asexual were just saying it; in truth, they weren’t nearly so resistant.
Su Liumeng’s fighting spirit was reignited.
Watching her suddenly bristle like a rooster about to fight, her eyes even burning with determination, I asked, confused, “What’s wrong with you, getting all worked up? You want to fight me or something?”
A cunning glint crept into my beautiful eyes. In a good mood, I couldn’t help but joke even more. “If you hit your wife, that’s domestic violence! Careful, or I’ll trigger the ‘remarry’ option.”
Su Liumeng instantly deflated. “I was just wondering if you might be asexual.”
I was bewildered but answered crisply, “I’m not. Don’t go labeling me like that.”
“I’m really not asexual.”
“It’s just… now that I’ve become a girl, there’s really not much we can do, is there?”
It’s tiring and not much fun anyway. Recalling our wedding night, my hand had practically fallen apart.
I didn’t get the least bit of enjoyment out of it, so I gave up thinking about it.
I figured Su Liumeng felt the same way, so I didn’t want her to exhaust herself either.
But if—
If Su Liumeng really wanted it, after Zhizhi was born, I’d definitely satisfy her.
After all, that’s a wife’s duty, right?
So… that’s how it is? Su Liumeng suddenly saw the light.
So her wife wasn’t asexual at all, just uninitiated!
True, Si Xinyan was different from her—never reading adult novels, no chance to pick up that sort of knowledge.
This made Su Liumeng a bit eager, wanting to personally guide Si Xinyan into a brand new world full of discovery and desire.
No, no.
Still three months to go.
Su Liumeng, caught between anticipation and disappointment, found herself looking even more forward to their life three months later.