Endless Fall

211 Wifey

In order to fulfill her promise, Lin Jiao went back to Ming Xin Mansion alone the next evening to find a new nightgown she had bought before the new year.

She picked up the black bag and walked into the convenience store outside Red Maple Forest.

The reason she came to the convenience store was very simple. She wanted to buy condoms.

The variety of packaging was confusing.

She stood on the spot, hesitating which one to buy. The tips of her ears that were hidden under her hair gradually turned red, but she did not move for a long time.

“Half price for the second box.” The cashier smiled at her and continued to scan the code.

While there were no other customers around, Lin Jiao quickly placed a box on the counter.

She did not look at the cashier. After paying for it, she left and quietly put the box in her pocket.

“Is it cold outside?” Pei Zhi, who was wearing an apron, took the bag and led her in.

“Not really.”

“Watch TV for a while.” He kissed her forehead and turned to go into the kitchen to cook.

After the door was closed, Lin Jiao took off her coat.

She held the box, not knowing where to put it. After thinking for a long time, she stuffed it back into her pocket.

The sizzling sounds came out of the kitchen from time to time.

A fragrance wafted out from the door and filled the air.

Pei Zhi came out with bowls and plates. He poured the wine into a wine glass and placed it in front of her.

He picked up her favorite sweet and sour pork ribs and fed it to her before asking, “What did you get when you went back?”

“Clothes.”

“Isn’t there still a lot of clothes in the cloakroom?”

“The style is different.” Lin Jiao ate two mouthfuls of rice with her chopsticks.

She only started drinking after filling her stomach. Perhaps to boost her courage, she even refilled her glass twice.

Pei Zhi put away the wine bottle when he was clearing the dishes.

He wiped the water off his hands and realized that she was frequently casting glances at the down jacket. Thinking that she wanted to hang it up, he subconsciously picked it up.

Plop—

A box fell to the ground.

Pei Zhi bent down to pick it up and chuckled.

He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, Mrs. Pei?”

Lin Jiao’s heart skipped a beat and her face turned red. She did not answer.

She took a step forward with the bag in her hand. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“You can’t take a shower right after dinner.”

“Then I’ll go brush my teeth.”

“There’s no hurry.” Pei Zhi put his arm around her waist and lay on the sofa comfortably. “Wash up at nine.”

He put the box aside and twirled a strand of hair between his fingers, his actions indescribably ambiguous.

Listening to his breathing in her ear, Lin Jiao’s thoughts became even more chaotic, and her face turned even redder.

Pei Zhi could feel her anxiety. “Jiaojiao, can we still watch the movie from last time?”

“I think so.”

“Then can you project it on the screen?”

Lin Jiao swiped open her phone and found the movie in the cloud storage before projecting it on the screen.

She leaned into Pei Zhi’s arms and asked him to turn off the chandelier before enjoying the movie with him.

The scene on the screen changed from the bar to the bedroom. Soft music and a touch of light created a hazy vibe.

The two of them hugged each other on the sofa and their breaths intertwined. Neither of them was in the mood to continue watching the movie.

“Aren’t you going to take that?” When he carried her to the bedroom, Lin Jiao looked back.

“There’s one in the cabinet.”

“When did you buy it?”

Pei Zhi lowered his head to look at her and smiled. “Before the new year.”

He kicked open the bedroom door and closed it heavily to isolate the outside world.

From the living room, the sound of a piano played in the movie could be heard.

The overlapping and harmonious black and white keys were closely pressed together, creating a melody that belonged to this winter.

The sound of the piano stopped when the snow became heavier. It seemed like the piano song had never played, but every note left a faint warmth in the living room.

Lin Jiao, who had done admiring piano music, nestled in the soft blanket on the bed and frowned.

She cleared her throat. “Pei Zhi.”

“Wifey, I’m here.” Pei Zhi came back from the living room with a glass of warm water and sat by the bed to feed her.

His eyes were filled with joy, and the smile on his thin lips was still there.

His smile was like the sun that could melt the snow, but Lin Jiao was not in the mood to admire it. “I think I’m allergic.”

...

“Where?”

“Leg.” She pointed at the red skin and couldn’t help but want to scratch it. “I’m having a rash.”

Pei Zhi frowned. “Don’t scratch it.” He held her ankle. “Is it caused by shower gel?”

“No.”

“What else did you touch?”

“I didn’t touch anything else.” Lin Jiao thought for a second and finally pointed at the bedside table. “Maybe it’s because of this.”

Pei Zhi frowned.

“Ask Qian Yue.” He came back to his senses and covered her with the blanket. “I’ll go get a towel.”

“Okay.” Lin Jiao made a call.

She explained the situation to Qian Yue on the phone and sent her a photo. Looking at Pei Zhi, she said, “Qian Yue said there’s an eighty percent chance it’s an allergic reaction.”

“Ask her what to apply on the skin first.”

...

“Right away.” She forwarded the name of the ointment Qian Yue mentioned to Pei Zhi and asked him to find it in the first aid kit.

Lin Jiao: “I’m actually allergic to condoms. Weeping.jpg.”

Yue: “Link.”

Yue: “This one is antiallergic. Snicker.jpg.”

Lin Jiao: “Shy facepalm.jpg.”

“What did she say?” Pei Zhi squeezed out some ointment on the cotton swab and gently applied it on her.

Lin Jiao let out a long breath when the cold ointment came into contact with her skin and showed him the chat history.

She picked up the cup to take a sip. “Buy another one.”

“Let’s go to the hospital tomorrow.” Pei Zhi was afraid that she would have an allergic reaction even if they tried another one, so he did not plan to buy it for the time being.

“That works too.”

“Are you still feeling unwell?” He stroked her soft hair, his eyes filled with heartache.

“I’m much better now.” Lin Jiao looked down at his neck where there was a bite mark.

She called the scene just now and touched it. “Does it hurt?”

“No.” Pei Zhi lifted the blanket and lay down.

He pressed his forehead against hers and looked at her with his long and narrow eyes. “Wifey, you look good in that nightgown.”

Hearing him call her “wifey” in a hoarse voice, Lin Jiao went weak. Even the tips of her ears felt numb.

“I don’t want to wear it anymore.”

“But I want to see it.”

“In your dream.” Lin Jiao retracted her hand from his grip, a smile flashing across her eyes.

Pei Zhi saw that smile.

He whispered into her ear, trying to soften her heart. “Wifey, can you wear it for me a few more times?”