Chapter 77 Bedroom Negotiations Part 2

"Watching movies, I see." She said dryly. One did not need to wonder what sort of movies he was watching with this bottle next to him.

She wasn't some sheltered innocent who had no idea what it was for, which was why she would not be stepping into the bathtub unless Sun Jingwei scrubbed it clean with disinfectant.

"Ah," Jingwei said, a little embarrassed. He didn't have time to clean up because he wasn't expecting anyone to move in, let alone a woman he liked enough to possibly marry.

Well, hopefully Xue Ning wouldn't mind? She could be open-minded enough. Jingwei was willing to share his supplies if she wanted.

"Don't worry about… that. I'll tidy this place up?" Jingwei said reassuringly. "Of course, you can also use it if you want to - "

"NO," Xue Ning declared, face red. "I'M NOT USING LUBE WITH YOU."

There was a moment of silence. Jingwei's lips twitched with the herculean effort to not burst into hysterical laughter as they both registered the meaning of her reply.

Xue Ning hastily added, "I mean, I'm not using lube! Your lube! With you! Don't get the wrong idea!"

"You don't have to sound so offended!" Jingwei said, snickering as he leaned against the doorway of the bathroom, a picture of casual handsomeness, the beauty of his features highlighted under the warm bathroom lights.

Unfortunately, Xue Ning couldn't appreciate it because she was screaming internally into her hands. Her brain couldn't stop thinking about the lube, Sun Jingwei and herself, all together.

It would be hot. No. It would be gross. It was not hot at all! She refused to think about it any longer. She smacked her own cheeks, but Jingwei wasn't done spitting nonsense.

"We're living together now - so even if you don't want to, everything in this house is yours. Including lube." Jingwei said, the very picture of a generous husband. "So, if you have any other unique requests, kindly let me know, I will make the relevant purchases."

Xue Ning let out an undignified squeak as she pivoted sharply, bumping into Jingwei in her haste to leave the bathroom. She passed by Jingwei's rumpled bed, and then her head was filled with even more images of what he could be doing in it.

The lube bottle was featured.

Xue Ning's face grew redder and she stormed away.

Jingwei, to his credit, managed to wait until she left his bedroom before he started wheezing in helpless laughter.

"Fuck you Sun Jingwei! I can hear you!" Xue Ning yelled in embarrassment from outside, her face redder than the stupid tomato paintings Jingwei had on his wall.

What could Jingwei do, but stroll out to meet her, while laughing even louder? Sure, he was risking his life by teasing her, but life is short anyway. He had people trying to kill him - he might as well make the most of it.

Meanwhile, Xue Ning had found herself in the living room, where it was thankfully free of lube bottles. It would seem that even someone as horny as Sun Jingwei had some standards. She eyed the living room in approval; it was designed beautifully.

The dark greenish stone-marble tiles on the floor cast a serene, yet mysterious appeal over the room. This, paired with a dark brown L-shaped leather sofa backed against a wall and a sleek low glass table, made the room look elegant, sophisticated and calm, adjectives she would never have used to describe Sun Jingwei.

There was yet another TV mounted to the wall, this time it was twice the size of the one found in the bathroom. Underneath it were multiple gaming consoles, but they were gathering dust.

She turned back to gaze at the portrait of the smiling woman in the living room.

"Beautiful, isn't she?" Jingwei asked as he walked beside her. "I made the artist amend it until he got her smile just like how I remembered it."

"Just like how… who is she? An ex-girlfriend?" Xue Ning asked, her gut twisting at the thought. If Sun Jingwei had loved another woman so much that he got a portrait of her commissioned and hung it over his sofa in the living room, surely he wasn't over her.

There would be no place for Xue Ning, no matter what words he spewed out. After all, actions always spoke louder.

Which was good that he wasn't in love with her, she rationalised to herself. Because this whole thing was just a job to begin with, and even her living with him was to keep up a pretence.

Then why did she feel so disappointed? Why did her mouth suddenly feel like it tasted a lemon?

"Oh? Is that a hint of jealousy I'm detecting Xue Ning?" Jingwei asked, siddling even closer to her to peer at her face.

"No I'm not!" Xue Ning scowled and pushed his smug smirking face away. Urgh, why did he have to be so handsome? "Why would I care about who you like?"

She doesn't care. She doesn't.

"Right," Jingwei said, a smile growing on his face. He had years of experience in deciphering women's emotions, and Xue Ning was a terrible liar, making it even easier for him to figure out her true feelings.

She was jealous!

That meant that she wanted him. enough to be jealous of a potential ex-girlfriend!

This was proof she had some feelings for him, even if Xue Ning herself didn't notice yet. But that's fine, he could wait and win her over.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but she's the woman that will always be in my heart."

"Oh," Xue Ning said flatly, ignoring her way her heart seemed to crack just a little bit. "That's nice. Where's she now?"

"Hopefully in a better place," Jingwei said wistfully. "After all, she doesn't have to deal with my fuckups as an adult. Father already has his hands full."

She stared at him in surprise. "Don't tell me…" she looked at the painting, then back at him. Now that she was looking for it, there were more similarities between their looks.

More familial resemblance.

"Yep. You've got it." Jingwei smiled, it was softer and sweeter, yet a lot sadder than what she had ever seen from him.

"Xue Ning, meet my mother, the lovely late Mrs Sun."