CHAPTER 160: 93, YET AGAIN, CAN’T HELP MYSELF_4

Until...

His hand involuntarily slid down the side of her neck, supporting the back of her neck, and his lips traced down her jawline, wanting to kiss her neck... She shivered and quickly pushed him away.

His eyes filled with a light purple haze. Shi Nian was so startled she hurriedly reached out, opened the door, and fled outside.

God...

She couldn’t keep doing this... If she continued, she feared it would become increasingly hard to push him away.

.

Returning to the room, afraid Spicy Girl would notice something, she quickly burrowed under the covers. She pretended to sleep for a long time, but couldn’t fall asleep. So she grabbed her phone, thought for a moment, and decided to insert her SIM card.

Dialing Xiang Yuan’s number, in that moment of waiting, she suddenly became so nervous she could hardly breathe.

She felt that she was... really a mess at this moment.

"Time." Xiang Yuan’s warm voice came through the receiver, with a hint of drowsiness: "Hey darling, you finally decided to call me. I miss you so much, when can you come back?"

Shi Nian carefully adjusted her breathing: "A Yuan, I’m sorry. Oh, how have you been these days?"

"Not good." Xiang Yuan unexpectedly began to pout over the phone: "Days without my wife at home are so hard to endure."

Shi Nian took a deep breath: "I called you to let you know that I’m doing well here, so don’t worry."

Xiang Yuan chuckled softly: "Why are you talking like you’re writing me a letter? Don’t hang up so quickly; talk to me a bit longer. You don’t know that I’ve been obediently coming home straight after work these past days, making dinner for the both of us, only to realize you’re not home. Not wanting to waste food, I end up eating both portions myself. Then it’s hard to digest, and I can’t sleep, hoping maybe I’ll receive a call from you."

Xiang Yuan sighed: "You know, I called you countless times. But it never got through... Shi Nian, I miss you, I’m going crazy."

Feelings swirled within her, and Shi Nian tried to discern them one by one, striving to find a bit of happiness or comfort. Unfortunately, she couldn’t seem to find any.

Such a tone, close to pouting, she had heard many times from Tang Yanqing. She began to feel itchy all over, but as she listened, she got used to it; yet when Xiang Yuan used that kind of tone to speak to her tonight—she felt very uncomfortable.

But thinking of those two kisses with Tang Yanqing today... she couldn’t help but feel sorry towards Xiang Yuan.

No matter what he himself had done, that was his business; but she herself actually... at least, it didn’t align with the education she received in her homeland over the years. She felt guilty.

She closed her eyes: "Okay, I’ll try to find time to go back."

"This weekend then." Xiang Yuan sounded joyful: "It’s the day after tomorrow. I’ve already made an appointment with the marital counselor. Shi Nian, don’t forget you promised me, you’d try to save our marriage with me... let’s talk to the counselor together, okay?"

Shi Nian was taken aback, struggling, said: "A Yuan, I heard it’s very expensive."

"It is very expensive." Xiang Yuan laughed: "Just like our lawyer, charging by the hour. And I’ve found the best, who charges triple my rate."

Shi Nian frowned: "Since it’s so expensive, I think we better not..."

"Shh, silly girl, money isn’t something for you to worry about, I’ll take care of it. I’ve already prepaid for a four-month course. If you don’t come, the money will be wasted." He playfully coaxed: "Wife, you have to come, just consider it as saving money for our family, okay?"

Shi Nian felt the corners of her forehead starting to throb again, she clenched her phone and said softly: "A Yuan, listen to me..."

But Xiang Yuan interrupted with a smile: "Alright darling, let’s not say more. It’s settled. I can tell you’re sleepy and yawning. So go have a good sleep. Goodnight, my love."

Before Shi Nian could say more, the call was already disconnected. Shi Nian, trapped in the darkness, stared at her phone, her heart a tangled mess of boundless confusion.

.

On the weekend, classmates from the behavior analysis class suggested going out together to play. They said they wanted to lift the gloom from S’s case and help everyone find happiness again.

However, Shi Nian politely declined and went home instead.

No matter how much she wanted to avoid it, this nominally surviving marriage, and Xiang Yuan, were issues she ultimately had to confront.

－

[Thanks to Lan for the red envelope, and Mu Zi Gezi for the red envelope.]