A Favor Done, A Husband Won-Chapter 414 - 408: The Man’s Suppressed Breath Lingering at Her Nose
He released her lips, yet still held her against the door, his forehead pressed against hers, forcing her to look up at the man’s face so close to hers, the suppressed breath of the man lingering near her nose.
This distance, it was too close.
So close that all the love and nerves that had long been withdrawn and extended were burned into sensibility, and something seemed to break out from within and burrow into her forcibly self-possessed mind.
Breath lingering.
In Shi Su’s mind, a string was wound too tightly, wanting to push him away. But the kiss just now had made her legs weak, she hadn’t realized her eyes were momentarily reddened from the kiss. The hand she managed to pull away with difficulty was trembling, pushing against his chest, trying to speak despite the distance where speaking might almost lead lips to touch.
Jing Jihan spoke first.
"Brave?" The man’s coat was open, bringing the outside chill: "Faced with obstacles you didn’t think to ask me for my plan, just said cut it off and could drop the knife fast and ruthless, that’s brave? Hm?"
"The experiences from childhood made it intolerable for you to accept any possible harm to your own and your daughter’s dignity, preferring to live hard and convinced you’re as tough as nails rather than grow a soft spot under your spikes for anyone to touch, even if that person is I."
Jing Jihan pressed her hand again against her side, seemingly oblivious to her strenuous struggle within his embrace, locking her gaze marked by obvious emotional fissures: "You fear Mianmian facing scorn and aggrieved, for her you willingly shrink together into what you think is a protective shell, is this your bravery?"
He knew.
He knew everything.
Shi Su was not surprised that Jing Jihan knew about those things back then, because he knew, he was disappointed with her choices and her ruthlessness, so he rejected her.
So even without clearing any misunderstanding, the two could maintain an almost civil relationship today, not even reaching friendship, providing mutual respect no matter how veiled under adult propriety.
She thought this result was peaceful enough, everyone staying parallel, without any accidental divergence or intersections, there would be no further entanglements.
After all, in life, there truly isn’t anyone who cannot live without another, nor is there a need for lifelong fidelity, nor does loving someone mean eternal companionship, this world isn’t filled with those unwavering till death, sometimes separation is just separation, a broken mirror doesn’t need to be mended, it’s just a story within a script, not real life.
Especially with someone like Jing Jihan, rational and self-possessed, she always believed he shared the same thoughts, they would briskly reunite, each donning masks in the world, shaking hands occasionally, passing by lightly, as though never meeting.
Isn’t this reality?
Shi Su closed her eyes.
As if instantly breaking through a two-year barrier, the mask worn too long felt almost unremovable, yet suddenly torn off with flesh and blood intact.
Yes, she could abandon her pride, facing the high walls of the Jing Family, she could charge forward even if her limbs broke.
But she couldn’t not consider Mianmian.
She wasn’t alone.
She was Shi Mianmian’s mom, she had the responsibility to protect her child.
Shi Su closed her eyes in silence for a long time, without explaining a single word, turning her head, saying: "Can you let go of me now?"
Jing Jihan saw her stubbornness, pulling her chin back: "Open your eyes."
Shi Su frowned, suddenly forcefully pulling her hand out of his, pressing the brim of her hat low, turning to leave.
The man didn’t give her the chance to walk away, swiftly lifting a hand over her head: "This is a hat, not your hedgehog’s shell, wearing it is useless, I want you to open your eyes."
Shi Su didn’t move, but because her hat was lifted, she was so angry, she leaned back against the door to feign defeat.
The air stilled for a moment, until the man spoke faintly: "Afraid to face me? Are you afraid of seeing me utterly disappointed in you, or afraid I won’t let go? What do you think I’ll choose?"
Her rationality weakened, triggered into abruptly opening her eyes, but before seeing Jing Jihan’s face clearly, she was suddenly grabbed by the man at the nape of the neck, his head tilting down, kissing her directly, not giving her a chance to react or breathe.
Shi Su gasped low: "Jing Jihan, you—"
Outside the door, it seemed someone approached the dressing room door, murmuring sounds not knowing whether passing by or hearing something leaned against the door to eavesdrop.
Shi Su instantly fell silent.
...
Ami, carrying four or five shopping bags out of the store, found that everyone was missing from the car.
Shi Su and Chu Jiu weren’t waiting in the store either.
Ran back to ask the store clerk earlier, who said the two people accompanying her seemed to have gone to the bathroom on the second floor.
Chu Jiu hadn’t gone originally, but after waiting for ages without seeing Shi Su return, started worrying and went to find her, but even after ages neither came back.
Ami had no choice but to carry the shopping bags and run upstairs to find them.
Just reaching near the bathroom, suddenly saw Chu Jiu sitting on a sofa near the bathroom, waiting patiently, not knowing what for.
"Where’s Shi Su?" Ami leaned over to ask.
Chu Jiu quickly pulled her to sit beside him: "Shh, keep your voice down."
"?"
"Wait quietly."
"What’s wrong? Did someone sneak photos of Shi Su going to the bathroom? Are domestic paparazzi really that twisted?" Ami looked puzzled while scanning her eyes around for someone raising a phone or camera: "Eh? No one?"
Chu Jiu didn’t bother explaining, just sat on the sofa, propping his chin with one hand, glancing towards the temporary dressing room next to the bathroom direction.
Ami looked too and saw the door closed, not minding, turned her gaze towards the women’s bathroom direction.
Thought Shi Su’s stomach might be uncomfortable or something, otherwise why gone so long and not come out?
-
Behind that door.
The man’s kiss had turned meticulous and tender, seeming to soothe, or like cherished fondness found again.
Shi Su’s two hands were completely freed from restraint, nervously sharp nerves numb, momentarily unsure what action to take next.
Outside the door, Ami was initially at the women’s bathroom entrance wanting to ask if Shi Su had fallen inside, happened by the dressing room door, seemed to hear some noises inside but hadn’t seen anyone enter, instinctively about to push the door open to see.
The door wasn’t locked, already slightly ajar.
"Bang—" The door shut tight again, Shi Su was pressed once more against the door.
Ami outside the door: ????
What’s happening?
