After Marrying the Aloof Beauty, I Totally Fell for Her - Chapter 36

Chapter 36:  You Secretly Kissed Me Before

Teacher Mu kissed me?!

An Ning, who had been pretending to be asleep, nearly jumped up from the gentle, fleeting touch on her forehead.

Actually, she had woken up as soon as Mu Yan did. The reason she kept pretending to be asleep was because she had no idea how to explain to the teacher why she had ended up dozing off by her bedside—while holding her hand, no less.

Everything had been going smoothly up until then. When Mu Yan had stroked her hair, she had almost given in to the urge to nuzzle into her hand.

Maybe this was a good opportunity to pretend to wake up.

That was her plan originally.

But now, she could only keep her eyes tightly shut, terrified that Mu Yan would realize she was faking it.

There were a number of explanations for why Teacher Mu kissed her forehead. Maybe she’d imagined it—it was such a brief moment, and her eyes had been closed, so she couldn’t be sure.

But if Mu Yan figured out she had been pretending to sleep, the consequences were crystal clear. If nothing went wrong, she probably wouldn’t get a word out of her for the rest of the trip.

In that split second, An Ning’s thoughts were frighteningly clear. She made the swift decision to keep pretending to sleep without moving a muscle.

Mu Yan didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. She gently pulled her hand away from An Ning’s relaxed grip and got off the bed from the other side.

An Ning felt a soft warmth cover her shoulders—Mu Yan had draped a blanket over her.

The bedroom door made a quiet sound—opening, then closing.

Mu Yan had gone downstairs.

But An Ning still didn’t dare move a muscle.

Even though she always found Teacher Mu adorable, she never once believed she was easy to fool.

What if she opened her eyes and saw Teacher Mu standing silently at the doorway, watching her? That would be too awkward.

She slowly stretched her body like someone just about to wake up, eyes hazy as she glanced around the room.

All right—no sign of Teacher Mu.

She trusts me this much?

A little embarrassed, An Ning wrapped herself in the blanket. It was probably Mu Yan’s own blanket, and it carried her scent. That sweet fragrance made An Ning’s heart stir as she leaned against the bed and started thinking.

Teacher Mu had been so gentle when she stroked her hair. And she did kiss her, right?

And she also said “sorry” to her.

Why?

Everything else could be explained away. In another context, An Ning herself liked to stroke the heads of her younger cousins, boys and girls alike.

But that kiss—it didn’t fit into any of the explanations. It stood out like a sore thumb.

Besides, she would never kiss the head of a younger cousin who was taller than her to show affection. And not a girl cousin either.

So was that kiss meant for the old version of her?

There’s a saying: “If your heart is full of Buddha, you see Buddha everywhere.”

In other words, if someone insists on overthinking things, they’ll find endless rabbit holes to fall into, no matter how big the world is.

The more An Ning thought about it, the more it made sense. The more she thought, the more wronged she felt. Eventually, she wrapped herself into a ball under the blanket, feeling like one of those tragic drama characters who’d been used as a stand-in by their lover.

Too bad she didn’t even have the luxury to go full villainess—those characters usually got dramatic makeup and vowed revenge on the main couple.

But her problem was, before she lost her memory, she was the female lead. So what could she do—fight herself?

And now she was still worried about whether the “male lead’s” menstrual cramps had eased up.

Forget going dark—she didn’t even have the guts to confront Teacher Mu directly.

After sulking alone in the room for a while, An Ning finally composed herself. She even turned on her phone camera to make sure her expression looked normal before pushing open the door and stepping out.

From upstairs, she saw the slender woman lying comfortably in the armchair by the fireplace, a cup of brown sugar water in her hand.

An Ning didn’t bother to soften the sound of the door opening. Downstairs, the woman looked up and met her eyes. Her voice was calm:

“You’re awake?”

Mu Yan looked much better.

An Ning felt a wave of relief—followed by a strange pang of sadness.

She had kissed her just moments ago, and now she was speaking so coolly.

She nodded and mumbled, “Mm.”

She walked downstairs and sat by the fireplace too. She didn’t intend to speak, but after glancing at the woman next to her a few times, she couldn’t hold it in.

“Does it still hurt?”

“Mm.” Mu Yan nodded. After a long silence—so long that An Ning thought their conversation had ended—she finally spoke again. “Thank you. And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”

An Ning smiled. “There’s nothing to apologize for. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that, either. And you’ve already thanked me. You really don’t need to be so polite with me.”

There was one thing she didn’t say out loud: “You already said sorry once too.”

Mu Yan looked at the smiling girl, feeling like something wasn’t quite right.

As an artist, she was particularly sensitive to people’s microexpressions—especially An Ning’s.

The girl’s face looked normal enough, but the corners of her mouth and her facial muscles were a bit stiff.

It was like a forced expression.

Was she still angry?

Mu Yan’s heart felt uneasy, but she had no idea what to do.

This was something An Ning had spoiled her into. With An Ning, all she ever had to do was apologize—everything else was left to An Ning to forgive.

In the days that followed, even though Mu Yan repeatedly said she was fine and wanted to go out and explore, An Ning always refused, saying that she should avoid cold wind during her period.

Feeling guilty, Mu Yan didn’t protest against the girl’s overprotectiveness.

Before they knew it, it was the day before they were to return home. While lying on the couch watching TV, they received a call from the service center.

The staff member was very polite. “Hello, we noticed that your check-out date is tomorrow, and your luxury couples package still includes an unused castle candlelight dinner. Do you have time to use it tonight?”

An Ning: “…”

She’d completely forgotten about that.

The call was on speaker. Mu Yan directly picked up the receiver and said, “We have time. Please go ahead and arrange it.”

Seeing the confused look on An Ning’s face after she hung up, Mu Yan said, “Why waste it? We’ve been here for seven days, spent five of them indoors. Are you here to test how comfortable the mattresses are?”

“Hehe…” An Ning laughed sheepishly and a little embarrassed. “I was worried you weren’t feeling well.”

“I’m fine now,” Mu Yan looked at her and said helplessly. “Really.”

The luxury couples package was the most expensive offering at Ice Snow City. The castle candlelight dinner was its main highlight. After all, what romantic couple wouldn’t want to confess their love in a European-style castle?

Of course, An Ning was sure she and Mu Yan weren’t that kind of couple.

She didn’t have the courage, and Teacher Mu didn’t have the intention.

Soon, there was a knock at the door. The two had changed into casual winter clothes. When the staff saw them, they all showed surprise.

“Is something wrong?” An Ning looked down at her clothes in confusion. Nothing was torn or dirty.

“Not at all,” the staff member smiled awkwardly. “We just thought you’d be dressed a bit more formally.”

Seeing her innocent confusion, he added an explanation but, catching a glimpse of Mu Yan’s blank face, quickly shut up and opened the door of the extended limousine. “Please, get in.”

He’d just been operating on instinct. Most young couples who attended this dinner dressed more extravagantly than medieval nobles. He just assumed every guest took it that seriously.

Maybe for the truly wealthy, this was just another meal—not worth dressing up for.

If An Ning had known what the staff was thinking, she probably would’ve laughed through tears.

She and Mu Yan simply didn’t feel the need to dress up for this kind of thing.

Leaning back in the soft leather seat, An Ning looked out the window. The world outside was still a vast field of white. The car left the residential area, turned onto a side road, wound through layers of snow-covered forest, and eventually pulled up to a majestic white castle.

It looked like a life-sized version of those 3D puzzle castles she used to play with—only more refined and beautiful.

Its snowy white exterior gave the illusion that it was made of snow and ice. But up close, you could see the stone texture in the walls. It was likely made from some treated kind of stone.

The car stopped in front of the castle. Under a staff member’s guidance, they entered and were led to the top-floor banquet hall.

Inside was a dazzling blend of white elegance and vivid color. The whole castle had a cold-yet-passionate aesthetic.

The banquet hall was the most beautiful of all. A soft red carpet embroidered with golden floral patterns covered the floor. Small crystal round tables were set beside the spotless floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the snowy landscape outside.

Now An Ning understood the staff’s surprised looks earlier. In this lavish hall, she and Mu Yan were clearly the least formal ones.

Mu Yan didn’t seem fazed at all. She walked gracefully to her seat, draped her coat over the chair, and sat down.

And honestly, with her face, she could be wearing a sack and still look like a fallen princess.

An Ning hurried to sit down too. The staff began serving the food. The cold appetizers were paired with red wine. The deep red liquid sparkled in the clear glass like flowing gems.

An Ning picked up her glass and gave it a sniff—immediately feeling lightheaded from the scent alone.

She looked up and met a pair of amused dark eyes. Embarrassed, she quickly put the glass down and gave an awkward smile.

She knew what Mu Yan was thinking—because she was thinking the same thing.

Their reunion had started with her getting drunk and climbing into the wrong room.

“She can’t handle alcohol. Please bring her juice instead.” Before An Ning could finish being embarrassed, Mu Yan calmly instructed the staff.

Her tone was like a parent telling the waiter that their child couldn’t handle spicy food.

I’m not a kid anymore.

A strange defiance rose in An Ning’s heart. That thorn called “the past” had never truly been pulled out. It didn’t show much in day-to-day life, but at moments like this, it pricked deep, reminding her of its presence.

“What about you, Teacher Mu?” An Ning asked, brows drawn together, voice filled with grievance.

Mu Yan blinked, puzzled by the sudden shift in mood. But she still answered, “This kind of wine won’t get me drunk.”

Then she watched, stunned, as the girl across from her raised her glass like a small, rebellious kangaroo and declared, “If you can drink, so can I!”

Before Mu Yan could stop her, she had downed half the glass in one go.

Mu Yan: “…Impressive.”

Of course, An Ning had exaggerated. The moment the wine hit her tongue, her face flushed, her eyes brimmed with tears, yet she stubbornly stared at Mu Yan like a rebellious teen arguing with a parent.

A soft and featherlight kiss landed on her neck, like the delicate touch of a downy feather, carrying with it a trace of damp warmth.

Mu Yan shivered involuntarily, every nerve in her body tense. She wanted to open her eyes, but didn’t dare.

The breath brushing against her skin grew heavier, accompanied by the faint sound of soft, restrained sobs.

“…You kissed me here just now, didn’t you?” An Ning’s voice was hoarse from crying, and slightly nasal. “You thought I was asleep, so you kissed me here…”

Mu Yan remained motionless, unable to offer any excuse.

In fact, she had indeed kissed her.

At that moment, she’d felt overwhelmed with emotions, but had no idea how to express them properly—so all she could do was gently press a kiss to her forehead, hoping it could somehow convey the apology and the affection she couldn’t put into words.

She didn’t think An Ning would actually know.

How could she have known?

“I was awake,” An Ning murmured again, forehead resting against her neck, voice muffled. “When you touched my hair, I woke up. I just didn’t dare move… I was afraid you’d be embarrassed, and ignore me again.”

“…You were awake?” Mu Yan’s voice was quiet, almost breathless.

“Mm,” An Ning nodded slightly.

Mu Yan didn’t know what to say. She only felt as if her heart had been slowly lifted and then gently dropped into warm water—aching, but relieved.

An Ning continued, as if venting all the grievances she’d bottled up, “You kissed me, but then when I came downstairs, you acted like nothing happened… You didn’t even want to talk to me. You just said ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry,’ like I was just a guest… I thought, maybe you were thinking of someone else…”

Her voice got smaller and smaller until it trailed off completely.

Mu Yan raised her arms slowly and hugged her tightly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?” An Ning tilted her head slightly, her eyes still filled with tears. “You said you liked me, but you didn’t dare kiss me when I was awake. You only dared to kiss me when you thought I wouldn’t know.”

Mu Yan was speechless.

She really didn’t know how to explain her panic, her guilt, and the chaos in her heart when facing An Ning.

“Is it because you think I’m different from before?” An Ning asked again.

“No.” Mu Yan shook her head. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

Mu Yan was silent for a while. Then, in a low voice, she said, “Because I like you.”

She paused and gently added, “So I don’t dare… not anymore.”

An Ning froze.

Mu Yan lifted her hand and gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eye.

“I did too many things wrong in the past,” she murmured, “Back then, I didn’t understand. But now I do… so I’m afraid. I’m afraid I’ll ruin it again.”

An Ning stared at her in a daze, and after a long time, finally let out a small snort, as if both mocking and sighing.

“You’re scared, I’m scared too. You think I’m not scared? I’ve been scared every day since I woke up without my memory.”

She sniffled and leaned into Mu Yan’s chest again. “But I’m still here, aren’t I?”

Mu Yan’s arms tightened around her.

“…Yes,” she said softly. “You’re here.”

The room was quiet. The only sound was the ticking of the wall clock, and the shallow breathing of the two people nestled together on the sofa.

After a long time, An Ning moved a little and muttered, “So… can I kiss you again?”

Mu Yan’s voice was warm and indulgent, carrying a smile, “You already did, didn’t you?”

An Ning’s face turned red.

“That doesn’t count. That was me settling the score from earlier.”

Mu Yan chuckled softly, the sound low and gentle. “Then… go ahead.”

This time, An Ning didn’t hesitate.

She leaned forward slowly and kissed her lips.

No longer a fleeting brush, no longer sneaky or full of misunderstanding—this kiss was sincere, deliberate, and full of all the emotions they’d buried for too long.

And Mu Yan responded gently, holding her close.

The snow outside the window had not stopped, the sky still covered in thick clouds. But in this room, there was warmth—like a fire that had finally been lit after a long, cold winter.

That night, the girl who once sobbed in grievance and the woman who once only dared love in silence finally found the same heartbeat in each other’s arms.