Contractual Cohabitation GL - Chapter 20

The announcer had already called her number over the loudspeaker. She didn’t say anything more, but reached out, grabbed Ye Luochen, and was about to usher her into the office. On a normal day, Jing Xiaonan wouldn’t waste her breath arguing with a passerby. With her personality, she would most likely dismiss it with a scornful smile and walk away. But today was different. Today was the day she and Ye Luochen registered their relationship. She absolutely would not allow this woman to be belittled by anyone, nor would she allow anyone to ruin this day.

After a few steps, they passed a middle-aged Caucasian woman sitting in the front row. The woman took off her glasses, stretched her neck, and looked up at the pair. She opened her mouth and spoke kindly: “Young lady, I couldn’t help but overhear the passionate speech you just gave! I guess I haven’t thought about this before in this perspective. I just have to say, my best wishes for both of you! May you have a long and wonderful life together!”

Knowing that although Ye Luochen’s English was good, she might not immediately grasp every word of such rapidly spoken English, Jing Xiaonan translated in a low voice: “The young lady, I just heard your heartfelt words. I’ve never thought about it from this perspective, but now I must wish you well.” She paused here, a flash of calculation in her eyes, then the corner of her mouth curved mischievously. She began to embroider her translation for Ye Luochen: “She said she wishes us to grow old together and be happy and joyful. She wishes you’d soon give birth to a healthy baby for both of us, and that both you and the baby will be obedient and listen to me, and then the family of three will be happy and harmonious.”

Ye Luochen listened quietly, her moon-like eyes filled with a rare, small joy, but the more she listened, the more unreliable the translation sounded. She first thanked the woman with Jing Xiaonan, then glared at the smug person next to her, and turned her head away to signal ‘I don’t want to talk to you,’ an action that looked very much like a small woman’s petulance.

Jing Xiaonan held her hand, smiling good-naturedly. Today’s weather was truly pleasant!

After this small interlude, the rest of the process at the office was unimaginably smooth.

Ye Luochen sat in the smoothly cruising convertible, looking up at the gradually darkening sky. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, and for a moment, she couldn’t distinguish her own feelings.

Regardless of the reason, she was now legally the wife of the woman beside her. From today onward, their destinies were intertwined, and it would be difficult to separate. She turned her head and gazed steadily at the woman who was relaxed, holding the steering wheel with a faint smile on her lips. As if sensing her gaze, Jing Xiaonan also turned her head to look back at her. It was only for a few seconds before she turned her head back to focus on driving. But in those few seconds, Ye Luochen found a reason to feel a little reassured in their interlocking gazes.

Closing her eyes for a brief rest, she let this legally recognized ‘lover’ take her back to their home.

The Porsche’s familiar engine quieted in the garage. Ye Luochen got out of the car with the person beside her. The small Jing house was some distance from the city center, and by the time they arrived home, the sky was full of stars. Jing Xiaonan, in high spirits, watched her gazing at the stars. She squeezed their joined hands and asked softly, “What are you thinking about?”

“That day at the farm, there were the same stars, but bigger and brighter, much more beautiful than the night sky in the city.”

Listening to her, Jing Xiaonan mimicked her action, tilting her head to look at the sky, and blinked. After remembering something, she smiled and said, “Let’s go inside. William must be hungry.”

Sure enough, upon arriving home, William clung to both of them, his furry body weaving between their long legs, greatly hindering their walking. Ye Luochen took off the light purple scarf around her neck, crouched down to soothe the cat-who-was-a-reincarnated-starving-ghost, picked him up, and headed to the kitchen.

“Where is William’s canned food?”

Jing Xiaonan had just carried the few pieces of luggage they had hauled back that afternoon upstairs when she heard Ye Luochen ask this.

“In the bottom drawer to the left of the stove.” The answer was quick. After she spoke, as if suddenly remembering something, Jing Xiaonan quickly walked into the kitchen, took the pull-tab can of cat food from Ye Luochen’s hand, expertly opened it, and handed it back: “Be careful not to cut your hand.”

Jing Xiaonan’s action was completely natural, but it made Ye Luochen pause for a moment. She took back the can, put the cat food into William’s dish, and didn’t respond. Jing Xiaonan washed her hands, took out a sample of fresh vegetables sealed with plastic wrap from the refrigerator, and put them in the microwave to heat. She said, “I figured it might be late after the formalities, so these were cooked by Aunt Chen this morning.”

She paused, then laughed childishly: “But this is only once. I won’t ask Aunt Chen to help anymore. I prefer the flavor of your cooking.”

No one replied to her.

Ye Luochen also meticulously cleaned her hands and arms, and with tacit understanding, helped Jing Xiaonan arrange dinner. As Jing Xiaonan handed her the bowls and chopsticks, her eyes inadvertently scanned the scene behind her. Reflected in her eyes was this beautiful, gentle girl, looking domestic as she lowered her head to prepare the meal, every elegant movement revealing a heart-stirring tenderness. Her heart moved, and she lowered her head to capture the lips that had tempted her for so long.

They were as soft and delicious as she remembered.

The kiss was very brief. After pulling away, the two looked at each other. A blush gradually appeared on Ye Luochen’s cheeks, and her expression was one of surprise mixed with a deliberately expressed displeasure. After a few seconds, she lowered her head and said in her melodious voice:

“Jing Xiaonan, this is…”

“This is contract cohabitation, I know.” Somewhat surprised by her own impulse, but showing no sign of regret, Jing Xiaonan cut her off and finished her sentence for her: “Alright, I was wrong. It won’t happen again.”

The two then finished dinner in silence.

“I’ve already put your bags in the upstairs bedroom, and cleared out the closet and desk.” Accompanying Ye Luochen as she took the pots, bowls, and chopsticks back to the kitchen, Jing Xiaonan followed closely behind her, detailing her arrangements.

“The air conditioner and TV remote controls are also in the first drawer of the desk. There’s a third remote control there, which is for the electric rolling shutter outside the floor-to-ceiling window. This shutter is for anti-theft, blocking light, and isolating sound. You can roll it down when you sleep at night.”

“I don’t recall seeing a TV in your bedroom last time?”

“Oh, I installed one because I was afraid you might be bored.” Seeing that she said no more, Jing Xiaonan continued: “Your room has a lock on the door, and the key is in the drawer. You can lock it when you rest or go out, so no one can enter.”

Ye Luochen listened to her arrangements while washing the dishes, and turned her head to look at Jing Xiaonan, surprised by her thoughtfulness. But as soon as she turned back, she saw Jing Xiaonan smiling back at her with bared teeth, asking softly, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Grinning, Jing Xiaonan looked quite proud: “I just wanted to tell you not to feel too secure. I have a key too.”

Well, that was more like her style. Shaking her head with a smile and not taking offense, Ye Luochen washed the tableware and cooking utensils clean, watching Jing Xiaonan take them one by one to dry them with a rag.

“I’m staying in your bedroom, so where will you be?”

“I’ve added a reclining chair to the study, and I can also sleep in the guest room.” Her hands kept working. Jing Xiaonan lifted her chin and gestured towards the room next door: “Oh, and Aunt Chen has already changed the sheets and bedding in the upstairs bedroom, and a set of bathroom supplies has been placed in the closet.”

Frowning, a question suddenly came to mind: “Have you told anyone about our cohabitation?”

“Gao Jiong and Aunt Chen know. As for others, I haven’t deliberately concealed anything.”

“What about your parents?”

Jing Xiaonan was silent for a moment: “They don’t know yet.”

Ye Luochen looked at her for a while, feeling that her understated tone was deliberately put on, but didn’t ask anything further. Ye Luochen felt slightly guilty about occupying her bedroom. After all, Jing Xiaonan was also a girl, and she didn’t need to always defer to her. But considering that her objection would likely be ineffective, she just kept it in mind and didn’t voice it.

“Then I’ll go upstairs to unpack.”

“Mhm.” Jing Xiaonan nodded happily. She finished wiping the last bowl and putting it away, then suddenly remembered something. She took off her apron and headed upstairs.

The bedroom door was open. Ye Luochen was bending over, taking clothes out of her bag to put into the closet. Her dark, glossy hair had slipped forward from her shoulder to frame her face. Wearing casual clothes now, she lacked the noble, elegant, and imposing aura reserved for Miss Ye on weekdays. Although her posture and movements were still graceful and pleasing to the eye, she carried a slight touch of a girl next door, which made Jing Xiaonan feel a strong urge to get closer.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door. After attracting Ye Luochen’s attention, Jing Xiaonan stepped into the bedroom, walked to the desk, picked up the photo frame containing her parents’ photo, and smiled: “I remembered everything else but forgot to take this one.” As she spoke, she reached out to take the smaller photo of herself doing Taekwondo.

“Mhm…” Ye Luochen watched her actions, subconsciously vocalizing to stop her, but realized there was no real reason. This caused her voice to trail off, as if she were contemplating something.

“Mhm?” Not understanding Ye Luochen’s intention, but sensing her objection, Jing Xiaonan stood by the desk with a photo frame in each hand and didn’t move, looking at the room’s occupant with some confusion.

Straightening up, Ye Luochen took two steps closer, her gaze falling on the photo Jing Xiaonan held in her right hand: “That picture is quite cute. It’s fine to leave it here.”

Jing Xiaonan looked down at the photo she indicated. It was indeed the picture of her practicing martial arts seriously when she was a little girl. The corner of Jing Xiaonan’s mouth curved. She really wanted to laugh, but considering Ye Luochen’s extremely thin skin, she tried hard to turn her mouth downwards: “Mhm, alright.” She nodded solemnly: “I can’t seem to find anywhere else to put this photo frame at home anyway.”

Naturally hearing the teasing in her words, Ye Luochen turned her head away to avoid looking at her: “You can take it away!”

A laugh finally escaped her. Since this woman had such thin skin, then she would have to be thick-skinned. Jing Xiaonan put her own picture back in its original place, but only held her parents’ photo as she smiled and backed out of the room.

“Alright, alright, I’ll leave it here. I’m leaving now!” After speaking, she quickly darted downstairs and disappeared.

Confirming that she had really left, Ye Luochen stepped over the luggage bags on the floor, and picked up the photo frame from the desk. The little girl’s silly and serious expression in the photo was so adorable, awakening the maternal side in her heart. The more she looked, the cuter she found it.

This person, so well-behaved and adorable when she was little, how did she grow up to be so annoying and exasperating?