Chapter 110: Let’s Talk After the New Year

(Thanks to the reader [Farewell to this feeling] for becoming the Squad Leader, much appreciated with an extra update!)

After a minute or two, Li Yan pressed Zhang Yurong down on the bed, passionately kissing her. He loosened his grip on her lips only when he noticed she was having trouble breathing, though he still held onto her body.

Zhang Yurong gasped for breath, keeping her eyes closed. After taking a few deep breaths, she slowly opened her eyes. For a brief moment, her consciousness seemed to have left her body, completely immersed in the kiss with him. Now, as she regained her senses, she felt a wave of embarrassment and shame, finding it difficult to face him.

But she had to face him, no escape was possible; he was still holding her! If she didn’t face him, he might become even more brazen...

Before opening her eyes, she had secretly prepared herself for what she might see... He might be looking at her with a smirk of triumph or teasing, or perhaps a scornful gaze, right? Honestly, why didn’t she resist until the end just now? Was it simply because she had no strength left? At least she could have cried, that would have been some form of resistance, but just now...

She opened her eyes, only to find Li Yan gazing at her with a look of admiration and sincerity, not the triumphant or mocking gaze she had imagined.

This made her feel slightly better, though she was still unsure how to deal with him.

"I... I was pretending to be unconscious just now," Li Yan admitted to his previous actions.

"Shameless!" Yurong scoffed, shifting her gaze to the side, then wriggling her body slightly, she shouted coyly, "Let go of me!"

"No!" Li Yan just held her tighter, continuing to press her onto the bed. "I know you’re angry with me. From the perspective of social ethics and legal responsibilities, I’ve said sorry to you countless times. It’s natural for you to be upset; I understand. So if you want to hit me, I won’t resist..."

"Humph!" Yurong scoffed in her heart. Do you think it’s that easy? If hitting you a few times could make everything disappear, what’s the law for?

"... According to your words, we’ve been apart for a while. We’ve cooled off and reflected on things. Perhaps your proposal for divorce isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a well-prepared outcome. Yet now, it’s really hard for me to accept... If it were within the first few months, I wouldn’t have cared if you divorced me anytime, but now, making me give up on you is really difficult..."

Yurong stared at him, trying to see through his act.

Li Yan felt a bit guilty under her gaze, and gave a dry laugh: "But no matter what, as long as you’ve made up your mind, I’ll abide by your decision. If you really want to divorce me, I can’t do anything about it. But I want to know if I still reside in your heart now, and if you still care about me..."

Zhang Yurong secretly resented, thinking, now? Had I ever had you in my heart before? Cared about you? Self-deception! Sounds nice, abide by my decision, then why hit me with a pillow?

"So, I pretended to be unconscious, wanting to see how you’d handle it. If you ignored me and left me for dead, letting me wake naturally, it would mean you truly have no feelings for me anymore, and I could despair myself. Luckily, you didn’t do that; if you went to find someone else for help or sent me to the hospital, it would indicate you’re just worried about being responsible, no longer caring for me. I might still strive a little, but the space would be slim. Fortunately, you didn’t do that either;

Upon discovering I was unconscious, your first action was to give me artificial respiration! You haven’t kissed me many times; perhaps you brush your teeth for ages after each kiss. Yet, for my safety, you didn’t care that I had just smoked, immediately administered artificial respiration repeatedly until I showed signs of waking up! This made me understand that, in your heart, I still hold a very important place, and you still care about me!"

Listening to Li Yan’s analysis, Yurong was secretly surprised. Is it really like that? My different approaches led to different interpretations in his mind?

"Humph! So you took advantage of me? Forced a kiss on me? This is your logic?" Yurong sneered sarcastically.

"I... was just overwhelmed with joy, couldn’t help myself." Li Yan laughed dryly.

"Is that so? Humph... I was just afraid you’d die on my bed! I originally wanted to find the fattest Sister Xia to give you artificial respiration; she has a large lung capacity, perhaps you’d be even more overwhelmed, couldn’t help yourself!"

Hearing her words, Li Yan broke into a cold sweat. Sister Xia is one of the full-time maidservants at her home, very burly and extremely large. If she came for artificial respiration...

Seeing his somewhat defeated expression, Yurong’s mood finally improved a little. "Are you still not letting me go? Do you want me to call the police?"

"Call the police?"

Li Yan was stunned, then burst out laughing: "Two spouses hugging each other in their home’s bed, if this prompts a call to the police, wouldn’t they be overwhelmed! Go ahead and report!"

Seeing that he wasn’t threatened but acting shamelessly, Zhang Yurong felt a bit helpless and could only say sternly, "If you don’t let me go, I’m going to be angry!"

Li Yan stayed unmoved, just watching her, making her turn her head irritably to the side.

After a while, Li Yan asked softly, "Are you done being angry? It’s not like being angry requires as much commotion as giving birth."

"Get lost!" Yurong struggled a few times with all her might.

Li Yan didn’t let go. Instead, he lay down beside her, worried about pressing too hard on her and hurting her. Then he used his arms and legs to hold her in place.

This position made it easier for Zhang Yurong to struggle, but she was truly out of strength and couldn’t break free from Li Yan.

"I think... we should have a good talk. Cooling off for over ten days is enough; any longer and it’s not cooling off—it’s a cold war. The Soviet Union disbanded ages ago, yet here we are in a cold war?" Li Yan looked at her, the two of them face to face.

Yurong didn’t want to look at him, so she turned her head to the side and stared at the ceiling. "Talk! But you have to let me go first. I’m not your hostage!"

"You’re not my hostage; I’m your hostage!"

"?" Yurong was a bit puzzled but didn’t ask further.

"Our marriage was supposed to be free, but as we’ve gone along, I’ve become your hostage, tied down. I want to leave, but I can’t do so freely!"

"Boring!" Upon hearing his artsy metaphor, Yurong snorted lightly.

"I don’t care if it’s boring or not; I’m not letting you go this time. Because right now, you’re still my wife. I can still hold you, but you’ve already thought about divorcing me. After today, maybe I’ll never have the chance to hold you again, so I want to hold you as much as I can, just like I kissed you enough earlier; only then will I have memories to keep me company..." Li Yan spoke softly and tried to hold her tighter.

This remark slightly touched Zhang Yurong’s heart, though she didn’t turn to look at him. At one time, she was also afraid that he might really leave, and they’d never have the chance to be together again. So when he moved out, she didn’t dare face him, fearing he’d open his mouth and say he was leaving the company...

Could it be... that without realizing it, I’ve also become his hostage in this originally free, non-binding marriage?

She quietly questioned herself, yet felt it was impossible. He’s such an unreasonable person; how could I be strongly attached to him? I just... I guess I’m just not used to it yet! His presence in my memory is merely a habit.

After a moment of silence, Yurong sighed lightly, "Alright, let’s not talk about this now. At least... let’s discuss it after the New Year. This year, we should still visit your family. Usually, you’re the one who’s dutiful to my parents, even if it’s just acting. I should repay you once. We’ll talk about it next year."

This was a gesture of concession and compromise. But ultimately, was it a compromise for Li Yan or for the feelings within her? She couldn’t figure it out herself! 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Upon hearing her words, Li Yan felt a surge of excitement; no matter how small, it was progress. With more than a month until the New Year, there’s still time to do many things and continue the efforts.

"So... does that mean we’re reconciled now?"

Li Yan said as he leaned in to kiss her forehead.

Yurong glared at him, "Who’s reconciled with you? I’m just continuing to fulfill the contract." She reached up to wipe her forehead.

"Hehe, call it what you want; I just know we’re not doomed." He said, then lowered his head to kiss her lips.

Having been forcefully kissed earlier and now fully aware, Zhang Yurong quickly dodged and covered her mouth with her hand, preventing him from kissing her.

Li Yan was left helpless, kissed the back of her hand instead. "If there’s no intention of reconciliation, just so... then I’ll keep living outside for now, to save you the annoyance of seeing me, and also save the hassle of packing after New Year. Rest assured, I’m not living with Yu Xiaodi. I’m currently staying at a friend’s place and sharing a rented house with a few people. I’ll... be okay, I can take care of myself."

"Self-indulgent! Who cares if you can take care of yourself?" Yurong muttered, then asked the question she was concerned about: "Why not stay with her? Didn’t you two sleep together? It’s perfect; living together is convenient. She’s young, pretty, proactive, and sweet, so why come back to see my gloomy face?"

Li Yan hesitated a bit; he didn’t want to discuss Xiaodi with her. But he felt it was necessary, as their not-so-bad relationship would benefit future plans.

He smiled bitterly, "Actually, that time... was just because it was Yu Xiaodi’s birthday. She seemed to have some premonition and wanted to leave a lasting impression. She knows she let you down and says she’ll apologize to you. It was also her first time; though we’ve been together for so long, we hadn’t slept together before."

Yurong felt a bit blocked inside, but made herself ask with generosity, "What premonition?"

(I had intended to take a day off, but in the end, I worked harder than usual, with a six-Chapter burst. Yet the Monthly Passes are still lacking, once again tearfully pleading for Monthly Passes!) (To be continued; for more updates, please log in to www.qidian.com for more Chapters, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)