Xie Hejing’s hands refused to behave, roaming restlessly as he leaned in to nibble at her, strands of her hair brushing against Nan Xu’s collarbone.
Nan Xu sucked in a breath, then suddenly said, “I don’t want to hold back.”
“What?”
Xie Hejing didn’t catch it. He paused, thinking for a moment, then decided to spare the “sweetness” before him. Lifting his head, he asked again, “What did you just say?”
“I said I’m not going to beg you.”
Nan Xu was still trembling all over, yet she abruptly grabbed the back of Xie Hejing’s neck and leaned in, her burning lips pressing hard against his. “And I’m not going to hold back.”
The moment their breaths tangled, Xie Hejing froze. A flash of shock crossed his reddened eyes.
This wasn’t the Nan Xu he was used to—no, he had almost never seen her like this, taking the lead.
Sensing his brief stiffness, Nan Xu lowered her lashes. If he wanted her to be the one to take initiative, then she’d try a little harder to do exactly that.
Judging from his reaction, even he seemed taken aback by her sudden boldness.
Nan Xu fully wrapped her fingers around his restless hand. Her teeth grazed the corner of his lips with a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.
Her tongue pushed in recklessly, boldly, even imitating the way he usually bit and nipped. Nan Xu’s teeth tightened little by little.
Her sudden aggression sent a jolt through Xie Hejing’s tongue, and the grip he had on her waist loosened without him realizing it.
Hearing the breathy sound escape his throat, Nan Xu bit down harder on his lower lip, not stopping until the sting spread sharply through Xie Hejing’s whole body.
He finally snapped out of it, but he didn’t stop Nan Xu from biting him. Instead, he slowly guided her down onto the bed.
Only when the back of her head touched the pillow did Nan Xu pull away from his lips with a sharp inhale. She had been the one to kiss him first, but now she was panting hard.
Xie Hejing chuckled at her. “Already worn out?”
Nan Xu’s breathing was still loud and uneven, yet she insisted, “I’m still fine.”
Seeing how just a kiss was enough to leave her breathless—and with tears welling in her eyes from sheer overstimulation—Xie Hejing continued, “Catch your breath first. Don’t accuse me of ‘murdering’ you later.”
Nan Xu: “…”
Of all things, he really remembered that clearly.
But since she was already lying down, Nan Xu let every bit of strength drain from her body, completely relaxing and letting her mind go blank.
Right in front of her was the sight of Xie Hejing slowly undressing. This time, Nan Xu didn’t look away. She just stared, watching every movement.
Xie Hejing had never known what it meant to be shy. In fact, her gaze only excited him more. He raised an eyebrow. “Do you like what you see?”
Nan Xu nodded. “It’s very nice to look at. You don’t realize it until you compare, but…” She looked him up and down twice more. “Xie Hejing, I think your body is actually way better than other men’s.”
Other! Men!
A chill flickered through Xie Hejing’s eyes. He clenched his teeth, but the smile on his lips was icy. “Really? Compared to who?”
Nan Xu’s mind was still in a soft, relaxed haze, completely unaware that danger was creeping in.
“Just… there are a lot on my phone.”
She really did come across them sometimes while scrolling.
Not that she felt anything—she had only thought of it because she’d just watched Xie Hejing undress.
A lot on her phone…
A lot?
Nan Xu’s words hit Xie Hejing’s fuse directly.
“Were they nice to look at?” he asked, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke, the tail end of his voice laced with frost.
“They were okay. There was that trend, remember? Those posts with hundreds of thousands of likes… I clicked on a few…” Nan Xu slowly realized something was off, her voice getting softer and softer.
“Heh…” Xie Hejing let out a low laugh again.
Nan Xu snapped back to full awareness.
“They weren’t that good-looking. Honestly, nothing memorable. I forgot them right after.”
But clearly, it was far too late for damage control now.
Xie Hejing leaned over her, reaching up to flick on both bedside lamps.
The room brightened instantly.
“What are you turning the lights on for?” she asked.
“To see more clearly.”
Nan Xu wanted to cry from frustration. She had finally had a chance to take the lead tonight—who knew she’d manage to irritate Xie Hejing out of nowhere again.
“Fine, then look. Who’s afraid of who?” She said it bravely enough, but the panic in her eyes gave her away.
“Okay.”
Xie Hejing grabbed both of her legs and dragged her closer. The mattress dipped sharply under his weight.
Nan Xu braced her hands against his chest. “Get up first.”
Not only did Xie Hejing ignore her—he leaned in even further. His knee pressed between her thighs, and the familiar necklace around his neck swung down, the cold pendant brushing across the heat of her chest.
“I’m not enough to look at? Or do you prefer looking at other men?”
Nan Xu froze. She had no idea how to answer that and could only mutter a stiff, “I don’t.”
“How many times have you looked?” His voice sounded like it was squeezed out from between clenched teeth.
“Uh… not that many.”
His fingers tightened around her wrist, gripping so hard it almost hurt. His breath was scorching as it washed over her skin.
“Not that many? And you still remember that my body’s better than theirs?”
Nan Xu: “…”
She really had talked herself into trouble. She’d only wanted to compliment him—who could’ve guessed it would backfire so badly?
She didn’t want to keep arguing about this. After thinking it over carefully, she said, “Just… two or three times. I didn’t look again after that.”
Seeing the disbelief in Xie Hejing’s eyes, Nan Xu wanted to swear on the spot. “I swear, I really didn’t look after that.”
“Nan Xu, you really know how to piss off your man.”
Before she could react, Xie Hejing suddenly bit down on her earlobe and gave it a hard tug. “If you dare lie again…”
Before the last syllable even fell, he had already pried open the curl of her body, his hand sliding in, finding the spots that made her jolt.
“I’ll tie you in front of the mirror,” he growled, “then project every video you’ve watched onto the wall… and make you watch while I…”
He paused to consider the feasibility, then asked, “Would that be more exciting? Should we try it?”
“No! Not exciting! I don’t want to try!” Nan Xu shouted.
She was now fully aware of just how terrifying Xie Hejing’s jealousy could be.
He yanked her nightdress aside completely, sinking his teeth into the softness on her chest, grinding down hard with a vindictive edge.
“Xie Hejing! Are you a dog? That hurts!”
He eased the pressure of his bite, but his hands didn’t stop—still roaming, kneading, provoking with no restraint at all.
Nan Xu had no idea where to even begin telling him to stop. Xie Hejing was lighting fires everywhere, not giving her a single moment to breathe.
Suddenly, Xie Hejing’s calloused fingers dug into the hollow of her waist.
“Trembling… begging… losing control…”
His tongue brushed over the dip of her collarbone, his voice low and certain.
“They’ll never be able to teach you any of that.”
Then he gave a wicked, almost mocking smile.
“But I can.”
“You… can’t.” Nan Xu protested, afraid that once he got excited, he would lose all restraint.
“And why not?”
He caught her fingertips, forcing her hand to glide across the burning heat of his abdomen. Every tight line of muscle beneath her touch made Nan Xu shiver.
Warm breath brushed against her ear.
“I can,” he repeated.
His body radiated heat, Nan Xu didn’t want to feel it.
“Enough, stop fooling around.”
“Fooling around?”
Xie Hejing’s anger spiked again.
If it had been anyone else, he would never allow someone who kept provoking him to remain unscathed and within reach.
But with Nan Xu, it was always different.
Before she had the chance to provoke him further, Xie Hejing flipped her over. His palm slid behind her knee, pushing until she was kneeling on the bed.
“Be good,” he murmured, his voice gentler even though his actions were firm. “I want you to beg me.”
“No way.” Nan Xu bristled right back. “Don’t even dream about it.”
Before meeting Nan Xu, almost no one had ever stirred Xie Hejing’s emotions like this—turned him into someone who could be provoked to anger by just a few of her sentences.
His tone lost the softness it had earlier. He pinned her down, lowered his head, and leaned into her neck.
His teeth grazed her trembling skin as he deliberately asked, “And what does it feel like when a tongue draws circles?”
Nan Xu buried her face in the pillow, pretending she couldn’t hear a thing—anything to avoid answering such shocking words.
“Be good, listen.”
He laughed softly against her ear. Feeling her shrink away like a frightened quail in his arms, he added, “You’ve never been good at hiding anything from me.”
Nan Xu shook violently, unable to run or hide. She tried to struggle, but he held her firmly, leaving her only muffled whimpers.
Xie Hejing lowered himself and bit into her shoulder, touching her with a slow, almost reverent intensity.
His breath came fast. “Look at me. Look into my eyes. Tell me you only want me. And then… beg me.”
His voice was hypnotic. He rolled her onto her back and kissed her flushed earlobe again.
“Good girl, ask me to let you come.”
Nan Xu bit down hard on her lip, feeling as if she were floating at sea—rising, falling—barely able to form a complete sentence.
Just as her voice cracked with the beginnings of tears, Xie Hejing stopped, smiling as he leaned close. His breath curled teasingly around her ear.
“Baby… beg me to enter you.”
Nan Xu clamped down on her lower lip.
“Don’t you want all this to end? Or do you want me to continue just like before?”
Xie Hejing’s tone dipped into a low murmur. “Right… how did it feel just now? You still haven’t told me.”
Nan Xu shook her head. “Not good.”
She really knew how to be stubborn.
Breathing hard, Xie Hejing leaned over her, intent on breaking whatever fragile resistance Nan Xu still had left.
“Mm—!” Nan Xu’s whole body jolted violently.
Xie Hejing narrowed his eyes. “I’ll ask you again. Are you going to say it or not?”
In the end, Nan Xu simply couldn’t withstand him—not when he came at her like this.
When she finally choked out her pleas through broken sobs, Xie Hejing bit down on her shoulder, swallowing her trembling voice.
“That,” he said darkly, “is the first lesson you should learn.”
“To lose your mind for me.”
His nose brushed the corner of her reddened eyes, kissing away the tears before they could fall. “Don’t cry. It’ll only make me more excited.”
The salty taste of tears touched his lips, everything was spiraling into something almost too wild.
Nan Xu turned her head away amid the overwhelming sensations, her tear-streaked cheek rubbing against the damp pillowcase.
“You bastard… I hate you.”
Her protest was stifled by Xie Hejing, who blocked her mouth and wantonly plundered it. He bit her tongue in a punitive, increasingly frantic manner.
“I’ll only do bastard things in front of you,” he growled, “until you’re crying and can only scream my name for mercy.”
“You… you’re shameless,” Nan Xu cursed.
Xie Hejing’s smile curled. “New insult? Go on.”
“You…”
Nan Xu could barely form a word with how thoroughly he dominated her mouth.
How could anyone be such a bastard?! and even act like it was only natural?!
. . . . .
She didn’t know how long had passed. Her hoarse voice was still stuck in her throat when he suddenly silenced her with a gentle kiss.
His pace eased. His hot palm slid from her waist to her back, tracing up and down her spine in slow, calming strokes.
“Don’t cry anymore. You’re turning into a little crybaby.”
Nan Xu didn’t listen. Tears kept spilling in big drops. “This is your fault… your fault!”
Xie Hejing pulled her trembling body tightly into his arms. His fingertips wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes, delicate and careful.
“If you keep crying and I lose control again… what then? You think you can handle that?”
That worked. Nan Xu had to force her tears back, glaring at him with grievance. “Then move away from me.”
Xie Hejing could agree to everything she wanted, except anything related to this.
But he did slow down, matching her rhythm, his voice low and coaxing: “Feel me properly.”
This time, Xie Hejing left marks. Nan Xu knew he’d done it on purpose.
. . . . .
The next morning, as she pulled a long-sleeved shirt over her shoulders, she shot him a murderous glare. “When I get home, I’m moving back to my parents’. I’m not living with you again until the wedding.”
The satisfied, lazy expression on Xie Hejing’s face vanished instantly. “No.”
Nan Xu turned her face away. “I don’t care. You’re always bullying me.”
“I’ll have my parents come pick me up.”
If Wen Qiu and Nan Xiaocheng came to get her, Xie Hejing wouldn’t be able to say anything to make her stay—after all, she was their daughter.
But she was also his wife.
“Do you believe I won’t just move in with you?” Xie Hejing said. “I’m absolutely not living apart from my wife. I’m sure your parents will understand.”
Nan Xu was stunned by how shameless he could be—and the worst part was, she couldn’t do anything about it.
Another message popped up on her phone—Wen Qi again, asking why she and Xie Hejing still hadn’t shown up. Nan Xu didn’t mind being late by herself, but being late with him made her cheeks burn.
She sped up, pulling on her clothes. “Hurry up. Oh, today’s probably our last day here.”
“Feeling reluctant to leave?” Xie Hejing had finished getting ready long ago, taking his time. “I can bring you back next time.”
When they finally rushed out, the looks people gave them were the same as usual, but Nan Xu suddenly felt they were loaded with meaning.
Xie Hejing had deliberately lost control last night, and added even more on purpose. There were plenty of marks on her body, some near her neck. She’d covered them with foundation, but she wasn’t sure if she’d missed any.
Nan Xu kept glancing at the mirror every chance she got, terrified something would show.
While she was checking, Xie Hejing suddenly leaned in close. “Let me see too.”
“See wha…” Nan Xu’s voice stopped abruptly.
Her gaze froze on Xie Hejing’s neck.
There, clear and unmistakable, was a deep bite mark.
It was a mark she’d bitten out of sheer frustration yesterday. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, and since they rushed out this morning, she hadn’t noticed there was still something on Xie Hejing’s neck.
Only now did she realize that anyone with slightly good eyesight would be able to spot it.
Xie Hejing, of course, couldn’t care less. He wanted Nan Xu to leave marks on him, especially marks other people could see.
To him, it was pure satisfaction.
Nan Xu sucked in a breath. She had been so careful about herself, yet the slip-up happened on Xie Hejing’s side instead.
Right then, Wen Qi sent another message.
[Xuxu, the mark on Xie Hejing’s neck is way too obvious. Xiang Weishi has been snickering the whole way.]
Nan Xu: “…”
She rummaged through her bag for the foundation and snapped at Xie Hejing, “Come here.”
“What’s wrong?” Xie Hejing leaned over, amused.
Nan Xu didn’t say a word. She aimed straight at the mark and dabbed foundation onto it.
An Nian hadn’t seen the bite mark earlier, but noticing their sudden movements, she blinked and asked, “Sister Nan Xu… does this brother also need makeup in the morning?”
Before Nan Xu could figure out what to say, Xie Hejing answered first with a straight face: “Mm. Yes.”
“Your Sister Nan Xu prefers how I look when I’ve got makeup on.”
An Nian’s eyes widened.
If someone with Xie Hejing’s looks still needed makeup just to get a girlfriend, then wouldn’t her cousin Xiang Weishi be single for the rest of his life?
As far as she knew, Xiang Weishi seemed completely clueless about makeup.
While An Nian drifted off in her thoughts, Xie Hejing asked Nan Xu with a quiet smile, “Isn’t that right, jiejie?”
Nan Xu’s hand froze at that. She turned her face away and mumbled a vague “Mm.”
Why was he suddenly calling her jiejie? Maybe he was just copying An Nian.
But… why did her heart skip a beat when he said it?
Nan Xu lowered her head, pretending to busy herself with the compact case to hide her smile.
Watching the two of them, An Nian suddenly remembered what Xiang Weishi once told her, that these two had already gotten their marriage certificate ages ago.
But looking at them now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were still in the honeymoon phase.
Her lashes fluttered as she asked out of the blue, “Will you two always stay in love?”
“Of course,” Xie Hejing replied without hesitation.
“Love shouldn’t come with an expiration date.”