Chapter 233: His Gaze Was Too Deep, Too Intense; He Locked Her Against the Wall Tightly
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Thank you?” Mo Jingshen’s voice was low and heavy, his gaze fixed on her. “Who are you speaking to?”
Ji Nuan was quiet for a moment before she took a sip from the bottle. She then answered naturally and honestly, “To you.”
Just as Ji Nuan was about to turn around to head out of the kitchen, he hauled her back. The little woman carefully tried to keep the water from spilling as he pushed her forward and kept her locked against the wall across the refrigerator.
Realizing that the man was angered by her words, Ji Nuan finally believed that he was not always as he appeared; capable of indifferently controlling her emotions, her anger, and her happiness. He could not always maintain his composure.
So, he was actually a mortal, with his own joy and anger.
She raised her unperturbed eyes to him. “What are you doing? Nan Heng and Feng Ling are right outside.”
“They wouldn’t dare to enter even if I gave them a hundred guts.” Mo Jingshen’s voice was as cold and low as before. “Repeat your words from earlier. Who are you thanking? Ji Nuan, how am I related to you?”
Ji Nuan’s expression was as per normal. Her tone was also calm. “Previously, you were my husband. After a month of no contact, who knows how you’re related to me?”
Mo Jingshen raised his brows. “Aside from the unreasonable venting, your attitude before and after drinking is basically the same. So, you don’t plan on explaining why you went to drink behind my back?”
“Why do I need to explain?” Ji Nuan calmly returned his gaze. “What I should be on my guard to carefully defend isn’t the issue on drinking, but my heart, isn’t it?”
She was unable to remember everything she had said in her drunken stupor that night, but she had some vague impressions.
Even though it hadn’t been easy waiting for his appearance; even though this one month had been sufficiently grueling, she was unable to place her pride down. It didn’t matter that a portion of the blame was on her head.
Right now, she simply could not bring herself to smile.
After receiving the cold shoulder for a month, she felt as though she was standing in an ice cellar.
A hint of a smile gradually rose in Mo Jingshen’s eyes. Her stiff face made her appear like a disobedient little kitten. Even though she had clearly softened and was waiting for him to pet her, she insisted on maintaining such a tense, distant appearance. He lowered his head and leaned closer to her lips. “What is it? Even when you’re conscious, you’re going to be this unreasonable?”
Ji Nuan frantically tried to move back, but the man had already approached. He left a kiss on her lips before leaning backward. Under her glare, he shifted his hands away from her shoulders and pressed them against the wall, lowering his eyes to watch her.
“What are you still mad about? It’s been a month. You haven’t thought things through?” The man stood under the kitchen lights. He towered over her; his long shadow enveloping her and blocking most of the light.
“How would I dare to get mad? A temper tantrum left me with a cold shoulder for a month. If I were to be mad at you for not answering my call, based on such an irrational reason, you might directly cut off all ties with me, wouldn’t you?” Ji Nuan coldly glanced at him. “Don’t stand here to block me. Let me out.”
She tried to push him away.
However, the force she applied was completely futile. He did not budge a single inch, and instead, his gaze became deeper.
She shifted her eyes away from him, knitting her brows to say: “Feng Ling is still injured. Right now, I don’t wish to talk about…”
“Not answering your phone? Compared to you, who intentionally dialed my phone for only a moment before hanging up, who is more out of line?” Mo Jingshen stared at her, softly speaking, “That day, I contacted a branch company before arriving in Hai City and had to attend an emergency meeting the moment I touched down. After leaving T University, a car from the company immediately came to pick me up. My phone was placed aside on silent mode. I only saw your missed calls after I finished reading the company’s files.”
Ji Nuan did not speak, her eyes remained unhappy.
“It’s interesting that you brought it up.” The man’s hand shifted to the side of her neck. “In this entire month, the first call you made to me was hung up after a single ring. The second call was made an entire month later. I didn’t answer it, and you immediately went to drink your sorrows away. From the look of things, you’re really living confidently and easily. No matter if you’re happy or upset, you can be as willful as you like. Even your excuse for running off to drink is perfect and flawless.”
These words were clearly mocking. Although the intention to mock was not strong, his words were teasing and meant the exact opposite of what he had said.
It teased her into wanting to attack.
Ji Nuan was left speechless. Nan Heng and Feng Ling were still outside. She really did not wish to cause any trouble here. Furthermore, the two had stayed long enough in the kitchen; it was time they stepped out.
She raised her hand to push him away once more, but the man did not let go. “If there are any more complaints, say it. Don’t suppress them in your heart. Say them directly.”
His gaze was too deep, too intense. He locked her tightly against the wall; there was no way of escape whatsoever.
Looking at Mo Jingshen, who was close, she suddenly recalled the feeling of being unable to touch him for an entire month. She gritted her teeth to say: “Didn’t I say it earlier? How can I dare to have any complaints? If we’re going to talk about temper, my temper isn’t as big as yours. If we’re going to talk about being cruel, I’m not as cruel as you.”
While speaking, she leaned further back against the wall. Even if the difference was only less than 0.001 millimeter, she still wanted to distance herself from him. However, she could not escape his embrace.
Mo Jingshen watched her and saw her subconscious movement to reject his approach. His expression was indifferent and, without allowing her to move further away, he leaned down further. Using an absolutely oppressive posture, he took away her freedom and approached her lips, speaking heavily: “You wanted to cool off, so I let you cool off. Was one month too long? Previously, didn’t you say that you wanted to be away from me for three months, to experience the so-called long-distance relationship?”
Ji Nuan: “…”
One month was not long.
But one month without being able to see him or receive any news from him was really, really long. Long to the point where she began to doubt if she could live.
Ji Nuan could not hold it in any longer. Since they were already on this topic, there was no point in restraining. She abruptly said, “Even if my words touched your bottom line that day, and you were unhappy that I didn’t trust you, you left for an entire month. Giving me the cold shoulder for an entire month, was your heart at peace?”
“I didn’t give you the cold shoulder.”
“Then why were you silent for a whole month?”
“I took time to settle a past that should no longer exist.”
Settle?
Past?
Although his words were not straightforward, Ji Nuan vaguely understood.
A month ago, when she questioned him on that so-called fiancée, he said that he would settle it.
So, he had actually…
Ji Nuan stared at him. Her tight grip around the bottle immediately loosened. Mo Jingshen’s eyes were sharp as he caught hold of it before it fell, placing it on the shelf by the side.
Chapter 234: When You’re Cold, You’re Completely Absent, And When You’re Warm, You’re Like a Butler Trying to Manage Me
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In the past month, he had left to resolve those issues?
How did he manage to resolve them?
This man always moved silently; Ji Nuan thought that he had given her the cold shoulder for a whole month purely because he was angry at her.
But he had actually managed to resolve things so decisively.
She suddenly shifted her gaze downward. All of a sudden, she was unsure of what she was even mad about. After a whole month, did she manage to calm down?
She did calm down, but perhaps she had gone beyond calm…
She eyed Mo Jingshen again: “On my birthday, why didn’t you tell me that you had personally baked those cakes?”
While speaking, she inflated her cheeks unhappily. Her unhappiness did not arrive from anger, but from frustration. She was frustrated that her past life had left her overly conscious and defensive in the way she perceived matters, causing her to neglect too much warmth and details. It was likely that all she could feel now was frustration.
“You actually know I had baked those cakes? When you were cutting into them one by one, I didn’t see your heart aching,” the man said half-teasingly, gently touching her hand. “Don’t be mad anymore, en?”
How could she still be angry? She wasn’t as unreasonable as to abandon such a good man and throw out such a good piece of meat for someone else to bite.
She didn’t have masochistic tendencies.
Ji Nuan suddenly tugged down his hand on her back. Looking at the hand bigger than hers, it was difficult to imagine how he had the energy to bake so many cakes that day. Furthermore, the taste of the cream and the layers were all especially sweet and soft. This man was always able to complete each task well. There was really nothing left to pick at.
She gripped his hand in her palm before touching his slender fingers, softly whispering, “What sort of compensation do you want?”
Mo Jingshen watched her; his eyes filled with smiling intent. He returned the grip around her hand and lowered his head to press a kiss against it, before leaning down to kiss her lips. He huskily whispered against her lips, “What sort of compensation do you think I need?”
Ji Nuan immediately melted from his kiss. She pursed her lips for a moment before replying, “How about I cook 21 dishes for you tonight? Afterward, you can smash every one of them right in front of me?”
“Do I look that childish?”
“…do you mean to say that I’m childish?”
It was a long time since Ji Nuan last cooked. After arriving in T City, she never once approached the kitchen. She wanted to make up for her mistake and give him an opportunity for revenge and for him to feel better. But he didn’t appreciate it. This blame could not be placed on her head.
All of a sudden, ‘Tok tok’ noises came from behind the kitchen wall. Nan Heng casually knocked against it: “The two of you, don’t go overboard! You’ve been in there for so long. Do you need me to bring Feng Ling away and leave the entire room to the both of you?”
Ji Nuan subconsciously tugged Mo Jingshen’s hand down and tried to leave.
Mo Jingshen did not move and pulled her back. He smoothly pressed the woman, who was earlier leaning against the wall, into his embrace, softly whispering into her ear, “It’s not a bad choice for him to leave the room to us.”
Ji Nuan: “…”
She pressed against his chest: “Feng Ling was injured, and it’s clear that she is being pursued by an unclear power with the intent to kill. She’s the person you employed. At the very least, you should say some words of concern. How can an employer be so cold-blooded?”
“With Nan Heng around, she doesn’t need my concern.” His words were blunt. Following which, he spoke as though to warn and order her, “In the future, whenever you see such ambiguous conflict or foreign people taking illegal actions, you’re not allowed to approach. Although Feng Ling is capable, her background isn’t simple. When danger is near, you have to first take care of yourself. Are you taking these words to heart?”
Today, Ji Nuan had raised the baseball bat to charge in because Feng Ling was inside. She felt that Feng Ling would be able to turn things around and was thus able to find the courage to charge in.
She naturally had the intention to protect herself, but she was not weak. Hiding the moment she encountered trouble was not Ji Nuan’s way.
Of course, she would never let someone worry about her.
“I understand. When you’re cold, you’re completely absent. And when you’re warm, you’re like a butler trying to manage me,” Ji Nuan complained.
Mo Jingshen: “…”
When Ji Nuan stepped out of the kitchen, she saw that Feng Ling had on her black, sports jacket. If it weren’t inconvenient to only wear a pair of sports bra underneath, she most likely would have taken off Nan Heng’s black t-shirt as well. Feng Ling sat on the sofa, appearing as though she was not injured. Aside from a paler complexion, she did not appear different at all.
Was it because she had once undergone training? Was she not allowed to shout even though it hurts? No matter how she felt, did she always have to act as though nothing had happened?
“Finally, willing to appear? I thought you little couple were going to stay in my kitchen until the end of time.” Nan Heng leaned against the wall by the kitchen, sneering coldly. Looking at Ji Nuan’s softened expression, he could tell that the woman had been successfully coaxed.
Mo Jingshen placed his arm around Ji Nuan’s waist, keeping the little woman from escaping toward the sofa. His mild gaze shifted toward Feng Ling and the first aid kit by her feet, before flitting toward Nan Heng. “They made such a big roundabout. Was the goal you or her?”
Nan Heng appeared uncaring as he smiled lazily. “Issues against XI Base’s people; does it matter if the final goal is her or me?”
Mo Jingshen watched him, indifferently speaking, “Your own woman has been hurt to this degree, and you clearly wish to be able to go reduce those few trashes to dust, yet you’re able to stand here and smile as though nothing has happened. Even Ji Nuan is not as generous as you are.”
Nan Heng. “…”
Ji Nuan: “???” How was this related to her?
“Mr. Mo, I’m not his woman. Although you’re my employer right now, please do not casually put labels on me,” Feng Ling spoke up, protesting unhappily.
Mo Jingshen appeared not to have heard anything, coldly watching Nan Heng.
Nan Heng was silent for a few seconds and temporarily kept his lazy attitude away. “At this age, it’s not easy to raise a woman. Prioritizing and not prioritizing her is a mistake. Keeping her by your side is a mistake. Letting her out is also a mistake.”
Ji Nuan could not understand the meaning behind his words, but Feng Ling’s expression immediately turned cold.
Nan Heng tossed away the cigarette he had just brought out. When he raised his eyes once more, his earlier teasing and smiling expression had turned much colder. “You know it as well. Those people plan to make use of their underground relations to wash off all their charges. The car Feng Ling had intercepted back then is vital for them to succeed in this. In other words, Feng Ling is holding evidence that can doom them to death. No matter what, they will always find Feng Ling’s existence an eyesore. They’ve already made several attempts against her, but Feng Ling’s ability and instincts have always been good. The fact that they’ve now dared to reach into the country means that they’ve decided to sacrifice their own lives.”
Chapter 235: Turning the Shower Knob with One Hand, He Wrapped His Arm Around Her Waist and Lifted Her Up
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Although Ji Nuan was already held in Mo Jingshen’s embrace, she silently shifted closer to him.
Although she could not grasp the meaning between their words clearly, she could smell the vague gunpowder scent in the air.
She had already known that Nan Heng’s background wasn’t simple. Someone involved in the ammunition business could never be simple. But this was far more serious than she had imagined.
This incident involved not only ammunitions but various countries and the underground world. The different areas and the many more intertwined issues were all things Ji Nuan had never once been in contact with.
At this moment, the only thing on her mind was if Nan Heng’s background was this complex, what sort of relationship did he really have with Mo Jingshen and Qin Siting?
She vaguely remembered Qin Siting mentioning that he had once saved Feng Ling’s life in America.
What about Mo Jingshen? Among them, what sort of role did Mo Jingshen play?
Compared to the ice in Nan Heng’s gaze and the suspicion in Ji Nuan’s, Mo Jingshen was completely unperturbed. “The death road was their own choice. Bringing you with them on their way down isn’t too big of a price to pay.”
It was clear that Mo Jingshen was giving him a reminder.
Nan Heng naturally knew this as well.
Nan Heng curved his lips upward into a cold edge. “There was no way I would have brought Feng Ling into the country purely for the sake of being your woman’s bodyguard. Since I’ve brought her here, I’ve naturally hidden the necessary ambush. If they wish to come, let them come. I promise that no one will leave alive.”
Mo Jingshen rubbed Ji Nuan’s waist with pauses in between, his expression composed. “Using your own woman as a bait; You, Nan Heng, are truly the only cold-blooded and heartless person who would be able to do this.”
Nan Heng. “…”
“Mr. Mo, I was already informed of the mission and its process when I was at the base. Everything is of my own choice.” Feng Ling spoke up. This was likely the first time Feng Ling had spoken up for Nan Heng before them. However, her tone did not contain much warmth.
“Letting your woman protect you, is this what a man should be doing?” Mo Jingshen did not look at her. As though intentionally provoking Nan Heng, he tossed one harsh knife after another toward him.
Nan Heng: “Look at the both of you echoing after one another. I almost suspect if Feng Ling has been brainwashed by your woman. When did she learn to cooperate so well with you?”
Ji Nuan suddenly spoke up: “Nan Heng, Feng Ling was clearly speaking up for you earlier. Won’t your conscience hurt from saying those words?”
She did not understand the situation well, but Mo Jingshen did, and he was taunting Nan Heng so strongly; he appeared to be having so much fun doing so, that Ji Nuan could not resist the urge to speak up and join in.
Nan Heng did not reply as he coldly and abruptly narrowed his eyes. He glanced toward Feng Ling meaningfully.
Feng Ling did not continue speaking as she stood like a pole in that blood-stained sports jacket.
—-
By the time they stepped out of Nan Heng’s hotel, it was late in the evening. Although they had yet to pass T University’s curfew, Ji Nuan already understood that there was little chance for her to return to the dormitory tonight.
Mo Jingshen brought her back to the condo near T University. On the way back, she asked in the car: “Previously, when you said you’ve resolved everything… did you return to America in the last month?”
“The promises I made to you had to be fulfilled. Without heading there personally, how can I give you a satisfying answer?” The man’s tone was soft and low.
Guessing was one thing, and actually hearing it from his lips was another.
Ji Nuan’s heart was instantly scalded and frantically pounding. “I don’t mean to fuss over small matters. That incident had frightened me too badly. It was normal to become irrational and to doubt and vent. If I hadn’t done so, it would have meant that I don’t care enough about you. But I didn’t mean to force you into doing anything, nor did I wish to make things difficult for you…”
“You haven’t made things difficult for me. There isn’t a need for you to worry further about this incident either. I’ve said that I’ll settle this; that I’ll resolve this. I naturally won’t leave any complications to show up in the future.”
Ji Nuan glanced at him.
Did he mean that the person that wanted to snatch this piece of meat from her lips was already out of the picture?
With Mo Jingshen personally dealing with it, perhaps the problem was really easily and decisively resolved.
The enemy was almost executed before she even met her. Wasn’t this far too boring?
—-
They alighted from the car to head back to the condo. The moment Mo Jingshen stepped out, he immediately held her hand.
The man’s palm completely engulfed hers. She turned to size him up and found that Mo Jingshen was always able to maintain his composure. He never had any abrupt changes. His character, his appearance, and even his way of dressing were always very steady.
“That night, the reason I was able to drink without any worries was because I knew Feng Ling would be by my side. That’s why I wasn’t worried.” Ji Nuan glanced at him once more to say, “Did you really show up at the place we were at to bring me away?”
“Did you not want me to see the way you were a sloppy mess when Feng Ling supported you out or did you not want me to know that you were intoxicated to the point of not recognizing me?” Mo Jingshen had no intention of entertaining her as she brought the matter of her drinking up. As he tugged her into the elevator, he finally tossed her a sharp look.
Ji Nuan: “…”
She was not going to ask anymore. It was clear that he had found her at that pub.
At that time, had she been unable to recognize him?
That wasn’t right. At that time, she had only dismissed it as mistaken identity, as a hallucination. How could she possibly not recognize Mo Jingshen’s face?
After they entered, Mo Jingshen scanned the elevator card and did not pay her any more attention.
Ji Nuan had promised him not to drink, yet she intentionally used alcohol to vent her feelings. She knew Mo Jingshen did not wish to fuss about this right after he had managed to coax her, but he was still clearly dissatisfied that she had touched alcohol.
Ji Nuan stood right by his side, watching their reflection on the elevator door. When he met her gaze, she leaned against his arm. “In the future, even if I drink, I’ll only drink when I’m happy. For celebratory purposes. I’ll never use alcohol to vent my emotions or be angry with you again.”
The man finally raised his brows, tossing another look at her through the reflection. “You completely don’t intend to stay clear of alcohol. Only when you’re happy? You’ve even managed to add several new conditions to your alcohol ban.”
Ji Nuan pursed her lips. When the elevator arrived at the highest floor, she stepped out with him.
Before returning, they had a meal with everyone at Nan Heng’s place. Right now, Ji Nuan was not hungry. After entering through the door, she turned on the lights and changed her shoes.
The man who had disappeared for an entire month was finally back. Her empty heart was instantly filled. She was unable to define the emotions she was experiencing but found herself releasing a breath of relief.
Recently, Ji Nuan’s lifestyle was especially healthy. When the time was appropriate, she naturally became sleepy; after all, it was already nearing eleven. She removed her outerwear and headed into the bathroom. She planned to sleep after washing up.
Because she was too sleepy, she directly took a shower instead of drawing a bath.
However, the bathroom door was abruptly opened. She lifted her tired expression and was unable to react in time. She watched as the man dressed in his shirt and pants stepped on the water-covered ground. He approached through the mist and wrapped his arm around her waist. After turning the shower knob off, he wrapped his arm around her and lifted her up.
Ji Nuan was slightly dazed from the drowsiness: “I’m not done showering. What are you doing?”
“We’ll shower together later.”
“…?!”