A Favor Done, A Husband Won-Chapter 519 - 513: Putting the Wedding on the Agenda

The conversation quickly reached a point where Shi Su couldn’t interject.

Mr. Jing and Mrs. Jing had already moved from discussing which elementary school Mianmian would attend this year to what kind of milk powder Mianmian’s future brother or sister would drink, and which kindergarten to enroll in. Then, they talked about a renowned kindergarten teacher in Jiang City, who could teach kids writing, painting, and chess, cascading into discussions about the Jing family’s business landscape twenty years from now, even addressing inheritance issues decades ahead. The elderly couple’s topic transferred from being merely expansive to fantastical, as if Shi Su was already carrying at least two children in her belly...

Shi Su: "..."

At first, Shi Su could barely partake in the conversation, but as it delved deeper, she gradually found herself unable to keep up.

This was surely a classic case of pretending not to understand even when you clearly do.

Jing Jihan was helping her remove fishbones, timely passing her the fish meat: "They haven’t been together for over twenty years; now, reuniting all under one roof, it’s inevitable they’ll use various topics to assert the network and skills they’ve accumulated over the years. Just eat quietly and pretend you didn’t hear."

Seeing the high-neck sweater Shi Su wore around her neck reminded him of when she wore a cervical collar for several days before discharging from the hospital in the imperial capital, prompting him to remind her: "You’ve just been discharged not too long ago. Since you’re back in Jiang City, rest well. Avoid wire stunts for at least a year." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Shi Su lowered her voice: "Lately, my agent has turned down quite a few scripts for me. Not just those requiring wirework, even ordinary scenes haven’t been accepted. However, I’ve signed a six-month variety show contract with Mr. He. Surely, when the recording begins, I’ll have to go over; he’s helped me a lot this time, so I must help him promote the variety show, both emotionally and rationally."

Jing Jihan ladled her some soup: "It’s your work. I don’t restrict you, but since you’re resting, ensure you take care of your health."

When Shi Su fell into the river in the imperial capital, the car may not have hit the underwater rocks, but the river water was chillingly cold. She was rescued swiftly, yet with a body naturally sensitive to the cold exposed to such bone-piercing temperatures, she inevitably needed some time to recuperate.

-

"Have you eaten so little? Are you really full?"

"Really full."

"Let me know if you get hungry later, the kitchen’s been simmering soup all the time; I’ll bring it for you this afternoon."

"...Alright."

During her week’s stay at the Jing Family, Hui seemed bent on raising her like a pig. Apart from normal three meals a day, she constantly brought fresh food throughout the morning, afternoon, and night to replenish the weight she lost while in the capital.

When the doctor came for a check-up, Shi Su had just eaten quite a bit, pacing back and forth in the room trying to digest it. Her neck, due to an old injury, had its new injury, although not overly severe, tended with significant care.

Following Jing Jihan’s wishes, her neck was to be treated thoroughly to avoid future discomfort.

The doctor massaged her neck for half an hour, applied circulation-boosting medication as per daily routine, and insisted on her wearing cervical treatment apparatus with electronic acupuncture before sleep each night.

The electronic acupuncture’s discomfort persisted until ten thirty PM, and upon removing the apparatus, Shi Su lay exhausted and sore on the bed, having bathed earlier, only wanting to sleep directly.

Hui was just about to bring her a late-night snack when she saw Mr. Jing, busy with work, entering the room calmly.

Shi Su lay on the bed, face buried in the pillow, exhausted beyond measure.

These days, she felt like a newlywed bride, her husband busied with work while she was pampered at home by Mr. Jing, Mrs. Jing, and household staff, all feeding her like a pig while undergoing various treatments.

Assuming the newcomer was Hui, she weakly tugged down the neckline of her nightgown from her shoulder, exposing pale white skin.

"Hui, this hurts here. Can you apply some medication? I’ll skip the late snack."

She wore a nightdress, having bathed not long ago, her exposed calf casually resting on the quilt, and her neck indeed slightly reddened from the electronic acupuncture.

Soon after, a cool ointment was applied to the back of her neck, fingertips gently massaging. Shi Su abruptly tensed, stifling a moan mixed with pain and comfort: "Lighter. Hui, you can find the neck acupuncture points? It’s aching but feels great... just a little lighter and it’d be perfect..."

The pressure on her neck instantly eased up, then moved to her shoulder, evenly spreading the ointment.

Shi Su comfortably closed her eyes, murmuring in satisfaction: "Has Jing Jihan been absent for two days? Year-end work held up for so long, upon returning immediately dealing with piled-up business affairs, I wouldn’t feel right to urge him over the phone, but he’s been staying at the company for two days, no idea if he’s rested sufficiently."

The hand at her neck paused, yet instead of pulling her shirt back up, a hand slipped up her leg under the hem of her dress, climbing her back, and as Shi Su shivered she turned to see, only for her body to be flipped over. The man leaned in, in her eyes’ joyful gaze, kissed her at the mouth’s corner: "Missed me?"

"How did you..."

His kisses dropped upon her cheeks, returning again to her lips, nose, eyebrows, forehead, then back to her lips, lingering softly, seamlessly pressing her beneath him: "Slept at the office for two days. Fearing you’d be lonely in an empty house, took time off to accompany you, must leave on business tomorrow."

Assuming he’d finished his work, hearing of his business trip for tomorrow, Shi Su promptly wrapped her arms around his neck, unwilling to let go, her already delicate nose now adorably crinkled: "How much longer will be busy? Delays from those days spent in the imperial capital mess up year-end work processes?"

His deep voice whispered near her lips: "A week at most."

Seeing the petite woman act upon her rare whim due to his absence for two days, Jing Jihan’s gaze shifted deep, eyes lingering from her hair cascading to her shoulders, down to the slightly exposed collar of her nightdress.

Late as Shi Su realized, glaring at his handsome face barely an inch away, murmuring in protest, she tried to sit, but only ended up with limbs melting under him like water.

As warmth intertwined into the night, amidst the overwhelming wave, she seemed to hear his hushed voice: "Prefer a Chinese wedding or a Western wedding?"

What...

Is he planning to schedule the wedding too?

Yet Shi Su remembered her thoughts were completely scattered by him, forgetting even her answer, just faint cries of "husband" echoing in broken murmurs...