CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: CAN I KISS YOU?

Feeling the touch and warmth on his arm, He Chen’s breath caught.

This time, he didn’t hold back and turned his head to look over.

Ye Manman was sleeping soundly, her eyes closed, so he couldn’t see her sometimes sly, sometimes playful eyes, and he didn’t feel the intense shyness he usually did when meeting her gaze.

He Chen’s gaze followed her long eyelashes, moving to her small, upturned nose, and was once again drawn away, finally fixating on her rosy lips.

Those lips, which he imagined tasted like jelly, were exposed to him defenselessly, so close that it seemed with just a slight lowering of his head, he could taste them.

He Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed several times again, and his breathing quickly turned scorching.

He clenched his fists, like a cat burglar, carefully leaned closer, his gaze fervently fixed on those rosy lips, yet unable to bring himself to kiss them.

Instead, it was his overwhelmingly hot breath that woke Ye Manman.

She drowsily opened a sliver of her eyelid, instinctively hugging the warm source tighter, vaguely seeing He Chen’s face very close to hers, his gaze sincere and cautious, full of love.

Seeing the dumbfounded expression on his face, Ye Manman thought she was still dreaming.

Just now, she was pinching his abs in her dream; he was so shy, holding his chin high and not looking at her, his body hard as a rock.

What does it mean when he doesn’t look at her yet sneaks peeks?

Upset, Ye Manman suddenly tilted her head and kissed him.

However, the sensation was completely different from the dream.

Her muddled brain suddenly cleared a bit.

She was hugging him, a little puzzled.

"Not a dream?"

Her expression was confused and filled with fatigue, rendering He Chen utterly speechless.

Unconsciously, he licked his lips, the flames within him flaring up once more.

"He Chen?"

Ye Manman was gradually waking up, reaching out to stroke his face, yawning slightly, her eyes also misty.

"Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

Her soft hand barely touched his face when it retracted.

However, He Chen, for some reason, found himself with an unprecedented burst of courage.

He grabbed her wrist, his gaze like a torch as he looked at her.

"What’s wrong?"

Ye Manman was still in a daze, yawning again after she spoke, and even trying to pull her hand back.

But He Chen didn’t let go; instead, he held her small hand, swallowed nervously.

"You... you just kissed me."

His tone was a mixture of surprise, anxiety, and a multitude of complex emotions, among which the most delightful was that not only did Ye Manman kiss him, but she thought it was a dream.

Which meant she was willing to kiss him in her dreams, even actively did it.

What about in reality...

Would she be willing...

Before he could figure it out, Ye Manman suddenly smiled at him, then leaned over and kissed him again, raising her refined chin assertively.

"Kiss is a kiss, I did it again. So what? You don’t want me to kiss you?"

By now, she was fully awake, but He Chen was simply being endearing.

They’d been married for so long, papers signed, wedding photos taken, yet he hadn’t made a move on her; he was quite burly yet terribly timid.

Every time she gave him a little sweetness, he’d act silly, making her just want to tease him.

She came over today to sleep with him firstly because she was really scared of the thunder, and secondly to see what he truly thought.

After all, if he really liked her, how could he endure so well? Could it be he believed in a platonic marriage?

However, Ye Manman hadn’t expected to fall asleep so quickly, not even start the conversation.

It was all because she felt too safe next to him, warm and obedient.

He Chen, caught by her smiling eyes, recalling the fleeting softness on his lips, unconsciously licked his lips again.

"I’m willing to let you kiss..."

He Chen had no idea how inappropriate his actions were when he raised his chin, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he licked his lips.

When he lowered his head to look at Ye Manman again, under his sincere and passionate gaze, even she, who prided herself on having thick skin, couldn’t help but feel her cheeks heat slightly.

"Then,"

"Can I kiss you?"

He Chen had endured for too long, always worried that she hadn’t fully accepted him or didn’t really like him, afraid that his desire for closeness would scare her.

But today, Ye Manman’s initiative made his tense string begin to relax, allowing him to start wondering if she might be beginning to accept him?

Ye Manman knew he wasn’t eloquent, but she hadn’t expected him to be so straightforward, without a hint of subtlety.

Who asks permission to kiss their wife, anyway?

Unbelievable.

Ye Manman didn’t want to waste words with him anymore, directly cupping his face and kissing him again.

"Let me teach you what it means to express without words!"

Ye Manman’s heart was full of such thoughts as she boldly kissed him.

Then she quickly paid the price for her boldness.

Neither of them had much experience; they didn’t know long kisses required breathing breaks, and He Chen only knew he wanted to keep kissing once they started, flipping her over, kissing nonstop.

In the end, Ye Manman felt like she was nearly suffocating, pounding his chest until He Chen reluctantly pulled back, still bright-eyed and longing.

Their distance was incredibly close, with their breaths mingling, Ye Manman turned her flushed face aside, taking deep breaths to gradually calm her rapid breathing.

But before she could start scolding, a warm droplet of liquid suddenly fell on her eyelid from above.

Ye Manman blinked twice, left speechless.

She reached for He Chen’s face, feeling the wetness beneath his eyes, her heart suddenly quivered.

"He Chen, why are you crying?"

There was no thunderstorm now, and in the darkness, Ye Manman could barely make out He Chen’s face, realizing with surprise that he was actually smiling.

At her words, He Chen leaned down and kissed her again, then turned to hold her tenderly, his head leaning against the pillow on her right side.

"Manman, I love you."

"Thank you for accepting me."

"I’m just so happy, I’m sorry."

His voice carried so much gratitude, so much emotion, and sincere, passionate love that was both restrained and intense, holding her like a precious lost treasure found again.

Ye Manman was stunned for a moment, unable to hold back a smile crossing her lips.

What’s with the apology?

What a silly man.

Ye Manman couldn’t explain why, but although deeply touched, He Chen in this moment brought out an unexpectedly tender feeling of heartache within her.

Even listening to his somewhat choked voice made her nose tingle slightly.

Damn it, she originally wanted to scold him just now.

She reached out to embrace him, softly patting to soothe.

"Alright, don’t cry, I’ve already agreed to tie the knot with you for a lifetime, so what’s there to cry about? If you keep crying, I might take it back."

At her words, He Chen’s body stiffened slightly.

He paused, slowly lifted himself on his arms, and looked down at her with a gaze that was both heated and somewhat pleading.

"I won’t cry anymore."

"Can I kiss you again?"