Better Than Summer: A Marriage Before Love Romance - Chapter 29

Inside the dim and quiet car, Shen Tingxia turned her head to look at the driver’s seat for a few seconds. All the questions she was curious about rose to the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she didn’t ask them.

“Nothing,” she said.

With that, Shen Tingxia opened the car door and got out.

However, the moment her feet touched the ground, a sudden sharp pain stabbed through her abdomen. She couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

After pausing for a couple of seconds, the pain eased somewhat. By then, Xi Chengnan had also gotten out of the car. Shen Tingxia glanced at him and walked towards the elevator lobby on her own.

Xi Chengnan locked the car and followed behind Shen Tingxia.

When they reached the elevator lobby, the elevator was already waiting on their floor. Pressing the up button, the doors opened, and they stepped inside one after the other. Xi Chengnan reached out and pressed the button for the 25th floor. Then he turned slightly to look at Shen Tingxia. He had seen her reaction and the way she moved when she got out of the car clearly; he knew it was most likely stomach pain, but he still asked, “Where does it hurt?”

Shen Tingxia, holding her bag with both hands, turned her head towards him at the sound of his voice. She didn’t speak but freed one hand and placed it on her upper abdomen, indicating where the discomfort was.

Because Xi Chengnan’s parents didn’t cook regularly, they weren’t adept at controlling the heat or the amount of seasoning. The dishes were unevenly seasoned—some too salty, some too bland—and probably didn’t suit her taste very well either. Shen Tingxia hadn’t eaten much at dinner. At lunch, likely because she was upset, she hadn’t eaten much either.

Coupled with her pre-existing stomach problems, it was no wonder she was in pain.

“Take some medicine and drink some hot water when we get home,” Xi Chengnan said.

Shen Tingxia didn’t act coy. “You should have aluminum magnesium carbonate at home, right?” She used a name that sounded close but wasn’t quite correct.

Hearing the slightly off but recognizable name of the medicine, Xi Chengnan smiled faintly. “Aluminum magnesium carbonate?”

Shen Tingxia replied expressionlessly, “Yeah, that’s the one. The stomach medicine.”

“Yes, plenty.”

Other households might always have Jiangzhong brand digestive tablets handy, but in his home, stomach medicine was more abundant than any other kind of medicine.

Once home, Shen Tingxia listlessly kicked off her shoes, slipped into slippers, and walked towards the sofa, clutching her stomach.

Xi Chengnan followed behind her, neatly arranged both pairs of shoes, went to the kitchen, washed his hands, poured a glass of hot water, found the aluminum magnesium carbonate in the cabinet below the TV, and brought both to Shen Tingxia.

Shen Tingxia took the water, chewed the tablets, and then took a couple of sips.

Only when the hot water slid down her throat and reached her stomach did she feel slightly more comfortable.

Xi Chengnan sat down on the sofa too, leaving a space for one person between them. Looking at her wilted state, he wasn’t sure if it was purely physical discomfort or if she was still angry.

Whatever it was, he would resolve it step by step.

“Are you still upset about this morning?”

Shen Tingxia lifted her head upon hearing this and looked into his deep black eyes. She shook her head. “I’m not angry anymore. But I think you owe me an explanation.”

She stated her position first: “Xi Chengnan, I want to say I don’t need your sense of responsibility. You don’t have to treat me like your wife just because we got a marriage certificate. All those times I referred to ‘your wife’ in front of you were just me mouthing off. What happened between us was consensual. You elevating it to a matter of responsibility puts a lot of pressure on me. I can’t bear the weight of your responsibility because I can’t reciprocate with the same level of commitment.”

The moment Shen Tingxia finished speaking, the light visibly dimmed in Xi Chengnan’s eyes. He stared at her without blinking.

This woman before him had just spoken very bluntly. From her perspective, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable. It was an inherently unhealthy relationship; there was no need to assign it greater meaning.

Xi Chengnan had once considered himself quite apathetic. In his view, Xi Sinan was his responsibility; taking care of his sister was all he needed to do. He had few hobbies. He dabbled in many things because his mind was quick and he learned fast. But apart from Xi Sinan and his ability to wield a scalpel, titles, professional ranks, and the like didn’t matter much to him. His life was equally mundane, revolving between the hospital and home.

He also disliked any kind of binding relationship. Relationships implied responsibility. Without responsibility, there was relative freedom. Apart from the unbreakable bonds of family, the only relationships he could accept were those between doctor and patient – fluid connections, not binding ones.

However.

Before sleeping with Shen Tingxia, Xi Chengnan hadn’t considered getting involved with any woman. After sleeping with her, he never thought about having any relationship with another woman.

Before marrying Shen Tingxia, Xi Chengnan hadn’t considered marriage. He had been prepared to dedicate his entire life to the medical profession like his parents. After marrying Shen Tingxia, regardless of the reasons for the marriage, he hadn’t considered divorce, nor did he want to sacrifice family for work and career like his parents had.

Xi Chengnan hadn’t initially understood why he thought and acted this way. But after Shen Tingxia raised the question that morning, he had thought about it seriously. This marriage to Shen Tingxia was a relationship he had chosen to enter, so he had to bear the corresponding responsibility. Therefore, he attributed his actions to his sense of responsibility, as that seemed the most logical explanation.

It couldn’t possibly be love, right?

At this moment, time seemed to stand still. The living room was silent, the soft yellow lighting appearing exceptionally gentle.

And they looked at each other.

Finally, it was Shen Tingxia who broke the stillness, saying something contrary to her feelings: “If you don’t want to explain, it’s fine. It’s not that important anyway.”

Shen Tingxia put down her cup and stood up. Xi Chengnan suddenly called her name in full, looking up at her. She instinctively turned towards the sound upon hearing her name.

As their eyes met, he said, “My treating you well, seeing you as my responsibility, isn’t because I want to extract the same things from you. We are married. You are my wife in the eyes of the law. This kindness, in my view, is only natural. The responsibility is only natural. It’s a requirement I place on myself, something I choose to do. So you don’t need to feel pressured.”

Shen Tingxia listened with her head bowed, then gave a low “Oh.” She didn’t want to delve too deeply anymore. Don’t be too curious, don’t care too much, just maintain the state they were in before – physical intimacy without emotional entanglement.

After all, her original goal had only been to satisfy a physical need; vibrators and suction toys really weren’t as good as the real thing.

“Do you have anything else to say?” Shen Tingxia asked.

Hearing her flat tone, Xi Chengnan confirmed, “So, is this matter resolved?”

Shen Tingxia gave a reluctant nod, signaling that it was.

“Does your stomach still hurt?” He was concerned again.

She had just taken the medicine; it hadn’t taken effect yet. The pain still lingered faintly, but Shen Tingxia stubbornly shook her head. “Just a little. If you’re done, I’ll head back to my room first.”

“If it gets worse, tell me. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Shen Tingxia murmured an “Mmm.” “Good night, Dr. Xi.”

With that, she didn’t pay attention to Xi Chengnan’s expression and turned towards the master bedroom. After changing into pajamas, she sprawled on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind felt like a tangled mess of yarn, unable to find the end to unravel it.

After tossing and turning for a while, Shen Tingxia got up to take a shower when her phone vibrated. Unlocking it, she saw a message from Xi Chengnan’s sister.

Xi Sinan: Sister-in-law, you guys must be home by now, right?
Xi Sinan: I should have left with you earlier. Being with my parents now, facing their sudden concern… I really don’t know what to say (crying)(crying).

Shen Tingxia couldn’t quite imagine the scene of a child being with parents but having nothing to talk about, since her own family always had endless things to say when together.

St: We’re home. Maybe tell them about your recent life?
Xi Sinan: They probably aren’t that interested. It’s just because my brother said those things (sigh).
St: Then I’ll go scold your brother on your behalf.
Xi Sinan: Hahahahaha, my brother had it worse than me. When I was little, I had him and grandma taking care of me. When he was little, he only had the nanny. I was very mischievous as a kid, but my brother was incredibly patient. He taught me so many things. Even during his busiest times studying, he never neglected me. I really admire him. If I ever have kids in the future, I couldn’t just ignore them, and my brother definitely wouldn’t either.
Xi Sinan: Ah, sis-in-law, gotta go, mom’s calling me.

Reading his sister’s words, Shen Tingxia’s buried curiosity about Xi Chengnan resurfaced. Perhaps she could learn more about him from Xi Sinan someday.

After the events of the day, regardless of whether she had genuinely been angry or not, she needed to dispel Xi Chengnan’s concerns on that front. Her own mindset needed to shift too; she didn’t want them to be awkward with each other going forward.

Just as Shen Tingxia was thinking about doing something for Xi Chengnan, the bedroom door was suddenly knocked on. Shen Tingxia called towards the door, “It’s unlocked.”

Xi Chengnan pushed the door open upon hearing her voice. Seeing Shen Tingxia lying prone on the bed with her head tilted, he walked over carrying a glass of hot water and placed it on the bedside table.

Shen Tingxia watched him silently the entire time. He had changed into black loungewear. As his tall figure approached the bed, she caught a whiff of the clean, crisp scent of shower gel – he must have showered.

The shower gel was from the guest bathroom’s ensuite; she had used it a few times before but didn’t particularly like it. She usually preferred floral scents. Yet, that fragrance suited him perfectly without any sense of incongruity.

Suddenly, Shen Tingxia wanted to invade him.

It was also a way to vent some of the bad feelings stirred up today.

Propping herself up slightly, Shen Tingxia spoke without thinking, uttering two words: “Wanna do it?”

Xi Chengnan’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly upon hearing this. “You’re not feeling well. Another time.”

“Have you lost interest in me? If so, then maybe it’s better to just call it qui— Mmmph…”

The unfinished words were swallowed by Xi Chengnan as he leaned down, cupped her chin, and kissed her lips without hesitation.

What followed happened naturally.

But this time, it felt different from every other time before.

For them, it felt more like angry s3x.

Outside the window, the street buzzed with traffic, forming a stark contrast to the fragmented sounds inside the room.

Shen Tingxia’s body trembled lightly, but she was desperately trying to hold back her moans, her face contorted with the effort.

Xi Chengnan released his grip higher up, his thumb gently stroking her lower lip, which she had been biting down on. He brushed against the corner of her mouth, seeming to pluck at her tightly wound nerves.

“What are you holding back for?”

His voice seemed to possess some kind of magic. Shen Tingxia, her body slightly arched, could no longer withstand his rhythm and let out a choked sob.

Accompanied by Xi Chengnan’s measured movements, various sounds of intimacy rose and fell in the room.

A breeze rustled the leaves outside the window; the tree shadows swayed. Some unruly wind slipped through the window crack, brushing against the two people on the bed, making her shiver involuntarily.

By the time it was over, Shen Tingxia had no energy left; she didn’t even want to move a finger.

But the sheets were stained and had to be changed.

Shen Tingxia was carried to a small sofa. She watched as he stripped off the soiled sheets, took a fresh set from the closet, and deftly spread them over the mattress. She called his name: “Xi Chengnan…”

Only when she spoke did she realize her voice was exceptionally hoarse.

Xi Chengnan straightened up and looked at Shen Tingxia curled up in the corner. She looked like a frightened hedgehog, hugging her legs tightly, curled into a ball, motionless.

Hearing her raspy voice and understanding her intent, he asked, “Water?”

Shen Tingxia, hearing her own voice, decided not to speak again and simply nodded.

The sheets were already changed. Xi Chengnan walked over to her, carried her back to the bed, covered her with the quilt, then turned to pick up the glass of water that had gone cold. Taking the glass, he left the room, returned with a fresh cup of hot water, and handed it to her.

After drinking the hot water, Shen Tingxia’s throat felt much better, and her stomach also felt more comfortable.

She started shooing him away: “It’s very late, Dr. Xi. Get some sleep.”

Xi Chengnan nodded. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

Only after Xi Chengnan left did Shen Tingxia finally let out a sigh of relief.

During their lovemaking, she had cooperated and also made demands.

But Shen Tingxia understood more clearly that the fundamental issue standing between them hadn’t actually been resolved.

That night, separated by a wall, neither of them slept well.

Due to work, Xi Chengnan got up early. Thinking of her stomach pain the night before, he cooked red bean congee.

Shen Tingxia was still asleep when he left for work. He left the congee warming in the pot. He found a sticky note in the study, wrote “Breakfast in the kitchen,” and stuck it on the tissue box on the dining table. Worried she might miss it, he also texted her.

Only after doing all this did Xi Chengnan drive to the hospital.

However, Shen Tingxia woke up unusually early, before her alarm. As it was almost time for work anyway, she didn’t go back to sleep. Moving her aching, almost disassembled body, she took a moment to recover and got straight out of bed.

She had seen Xi Chengnan’s text when checking her phone earlier. After washing up, she went straight to the kitchen.

Shen Tingxia wasn’t in the habit of eating breakfast, but she was genuinely hungry now, having eaten practically nothing the entire day before.

When she took her first spoonful of congee, she suddenly felt conflicted. She didn’t want Xi Chengnan to be too good to her, yet she was readily accepting his kindness.

This feeling made Shen Tingxia very uncomfortable. So, after finishing breakfast, she headed straight to the company.

Getting busy meant she wouldn’t overthink. Getting busy meant she could forget.