Online Romance with an Iceberg Professor Backfired - Chapter 25.1
Chapter 25.1: The Wooden Head
Jiang Xianhan’s right hand covered Ji Pei’s hand and gently massaged the back of her hand.
“No, you can keep leaning.”
Ji Pei’s voice was a bit heavy with a nasal tone. She took a sip of mineral water and said, “My alcohol tolerance is really low. I actually get tipsy from just a little red wine.”
Jiang Xianhan looked at the scenery outside the window and asked, “Where are you taking me? This isn’t the way home, is it?”
“…”
Home?
Jiang Xianhan wanted to go home with her now? But she wasn’t ready yet.
“My love, my parents… I haven’t…”
Jiang Xianhan extended a finger, poked Ji Pei’s head, and laughed. “Silly, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then I’ll find a chance to take you home to meet them.” Ji Pei quietly snuggled against Jiang Xianhan again, sticking to her and refusing to let go. As if possessed, she secretly pecked Jiang Xianhan’s cheek. “I also want to meet your parents.”
A warm, soft sensation touched her cheek, but it was just a fleeting, quick touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, and it disappeared immediately.
“They’re both gone. It’s just my sister and me.”
Ji Pei: “…”
What is going on these two days? Yesterday she had just poked Aunt Shen Yuan’s heartache, and today she had upset Jiang Xianhan again. Ji Pei’s voice was soft and gentle, tinged with apology. “I didn’t mean to.”
Jiang Xianhan reassuringly patted Ji Pei’s back. “Everyone has to face sickness, old age, and death someday. Just look forward.” Seeing Ji Pei nestled in her arms like a soft kitten, Jiang Xianhan’s heart nearly melted. “You still haven’t told me where you’re taking me.”
Ji Pei opened her phone photos and zoomed in on an art photo for Jiang Xianhan to see. “The art gallery, the place where I helped move things yesterday.”
Jiang Xianhan’s focus, however, wasn’t on the vases and pots. “The woman who invited you to dinner yesterday?”
Ji Pei’s eyes widened. She climbed out of Jiang Xianhan’s arms and put her phone away. “Professor Jiang, you’re a highly educated person. Why are you so petty?”
Jiang Xianhan’s lips curved slightly. “Who told you that a highly educated person must be completely open-minded and without any selfish motives?”
Ji Pei mumbled softly, “Hmph, so possessive.”
After mumbling, a sudden thought struck Ji Pei. “Then, Professor Jiang, if—I mean if—I ran away right now, would you capture me and lock me in a small dark room or something?”
Ji Pei had been heavily influenced by domineering CEO novels recently, and her mind was always playing out dramatic scenarios of she runs, he chases. Jiang Xianhan didn’t seem to realize she was joking. She pondered for a moment and then solemnly nodded.
“You can try.”
Ji Pei: “…”
Why did she suddenly feel a little tempted?
The art gallery was in another district. Uncle Zhang drove for twenty minutes and dropped the two off at the entrance.
Initially, Ji Pei had worried that Winter Sun might not like art exhibitions, but now she didn’t need to overthink it. A highly educated person like Professor Jiang must be a sophisticated and cultured individual who appreciated high art. Aside from her tendency to be handsy, she was a perfect human being.
Shen Yuan had been waiting anxiously for Ji Pei. Ten minutes ago, she received a message from Ji Pei saying she was bringing her girlfriend. Immediately after, she saw a Bentley pull up not far away, and a person slowly stepped out—it was Ji Pei. Shen Yuan smiled and walked over, only to see someone who shouldn’t have been there. It was Jiang Xianhan. How could she be getting out of the same car as Ji Pei? Could the girlfriend Ji Pei mentioned yesterday be her?
“…”
She had guessed countless possibilities, but when she saw Jiang Xianhan actively take Ji Pei’s right hand, Shen Yuan took a deep breath.
“Aunt Shen, I think I’m late. There was a bit of traffic just now.”
Shen Yuan looked at the two people holding hands intimately and smiled. “It’s fine. It was a bit crowded in the museum earlier, but it’s not so bad now.” Shen Yuan’s gaze fell on Jiang Xianhan again, looking surprised. “President Jiang, why are you here?”
Jiang Xianhan subtly assessed her subordinate, showing no boss-like airs. “I came to look around with her. You organized this art exhibition?”
“President Jiang?” Ji Pei looked at Jiang Xianhan curiously, calling out again with a smile, “President Jiang.”
Shen Yuan gasped upon hearing Ji Pei’s words, her entire demeanor reflecting the trepidation of meeting a superior. She never expected the ‘adorable girlfriend’ Ji Pei spoke of to be her direct boss. If Ji Pei knew how decisive and efficient Jiang Xianhan was at the company, would she still be holding Jiang Xianhan’s arm, clinging to her like this?
“It’s not work hours today, and we’re not superior and subordinate. Just be casual.”
Although she said this, the feeling of pressure was still strong, and Ji Pei clearly sensed a slight awkwardness. Aunt Shen Yuan seemed a little afraid of Jiang Xianhan. However, this reaction was normal. Every employee wished to keep their distance from the boss.
Ji Pei held Jiang Xianhan’s hand. “Shall we go in now?”
Entering the art gallery, Shen Yuan offered to give Jiang Xianhan a dedicated introduction, but Ji Pei understood Shen Yuan’s predicament. “Aunt Shen Yuan, I’m here. I can give President Jiang a private explanation.”
After Shen Yuan left, a subtle smile played on Jiang Xianhan’s lips. She repeated Ji Pei’s words. “‘President Jiang’?”
Ji Pei rested one hand on the glass cabinet, unable to hide the smile on her lips. “Isn’t that right? President Jiang just scared Aunt Shen Yuan away.”
Jiang Xianhan examined the Gothic-style vase in the glass cabinet and laughed. “I didn’t do anything.”
Ji Pei was eager to show Jiang Xianhan her artwork, but she held back. She wanted to hear Jiang Xianhan’s honest opinion of her work. However, was it inappropriate to bring her girlfriend to such a dull art exhibition on the first day of meeting in person? Ji Pei secretly opened her phone’s memo app and reviewed the dating tips she had compiled earlier. There were over a hundred things they could do on a date.
While Jiang Xianhan wasn’t paying attention, Ji Pei looked at a few.
The first tip: Take your partner to watch a horror movie. When a scary scene comes on, grab your girlfriend’s hand and gently reassure her not to be afraid. Ji Pei immediately ruled this one out. She was afraid of ghosts. When she was little, her parents, Liu Yanfen and her husband, left her alone at home to go on a date and left her a disc. The moment the disc started, four terrifying words flashed on the screen: Troublesome Night. Ji Pei watched the entire movie while clutching a doll and crying. It left her with a deep psychological trauma, making her afraid of blue clothes even now.
The second tip: Take your partner to an escape room haunted house. When the NPC scares her to tears, hold her tight and gently comfort her. Ji Pei: “…” Why does it keep coming back to that terrifying word?
Just as she was about to look at the third tip, Jiang Xianhan walked over. “What are you looking at?”
Ji Pei stammered when she lied. “I… I’m just looking casually.”
The two arrived in front of a painting of vibrant red Eustoma flowers. Ji Pei recognized it as her own work and wanted to lead Jiang Xianhan away. She had painted this three years ago. Initially, she didn’t plan for Shen Yuan to exhibit it, but Shen Yuan insisted it was an excellent painting and kept it.
“Professor Jiang, there’s Su embroidery over there. Let’s go look at that.”
Jiang Xianhan didn’t say anything. She stopped in front of the painting, her eyes fixed on the insect holes on the blooming Eustoma.
“Professor Jiang, why are you…”
Jiang Xianhan stared at the signature beneath the painting. When she saw the name Ji Pei, her eyes lit up. “Did you paint this?”
Ji Pei nodded, slightly embarrassed. “Mhm, I painted it when I was eighteen. My technique wasn’t mature enough then. I painted it…”
“It’s beautifully painted.”
Jiang Xianhan looked at the insect holes on the originally flawless Eustoma, the subtle touches that added life, and couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you think of painting insect holes?”
The mention of ‘insect holes’ instantly brought back unpleasant memories for Ji Pei. “I thought it looked nice when I bought it, so I put it by my bedside. Then one night, I discovered the Eustoma had worms.” Ji Pei rubbed the goosebumps on her arm. “It was absolutely terrifying.”
After being tormented by the Eustoma, a flash of inspiration struck Ji Pei, and she painted this work. She had a phobia of green Eustoma, so she simply painted the entire bouquet fire-red. Jiang Xianhan didn’t expect such a backstory. But then again, the art people create unintentionally can often become a timeless classic.
Jiang Xianhan really wanted to buy and collect this painting, but being displayed in the art museum meant more people would see it. With the praise and critique of others, the painting’s existence would be validated.
Ji Pei initially thought Jiang Xianhan wasn’t interested in the art exhibition, but she was surprisingly enthusiastic. Every time she saw Ji Pei’s work, Jiang Xianhan would linger for a long time, even taking pictures on her phone, which made Ji Pei a little self-conscious.
“Why are you blushing again? Art exists for more people to interpret.” Jiang Xianhan smiled, pinching Ji Pei’s warm, soft cheek. “Don’t think I’m being complimentary just because I love the artist.”
Ji Pei was a little bashful about being pinched by Jiang Xianhan in front of so many people. “I know.”
Ji Pei accompanied Jiang Xianhan until the afternoon. During this time, she constantly checked her dating tips. Searching through them, she found that, apart from the haunted house tips, the rest were acceptable.
“You’ve been distracted all afternoon. What are you thinking about?” Jiang Xianhan sat on a chair in the rest area, holding a bottle of mineral water.
Ji Pei quickly took the bottle, twisted the cap open, and handed it to Jiang Xianhan. “I was thinking about how to make sure you have a good time.” Ji Pei’s gaze fell on Jiang Xianhan’s right foot. “We walked quite a bit just now. Does your foot hurt?”
Jiang Xianhan’s shoes had a slight heel, making them a bit harder to walk in than other shoes, but she felt fine. “It doesn’t hurt much. The doctor said I shouldn’t always rest it and should move it around more.”
Considering Jiang Xianhan’s ankle, Ji Pei decided they should stop browsing and go home. As the sun began to set, it was quickly four or five o’clock. Ji Pei called Uncle Zhang to pick them up and take them home.
On the way home, Jiang Xianhan noticed the car’s route was heading toward Ji Pei’s villa in Maple Woods. “Where are we going?”
Ji Pei’s fingers scratched Jiang Xianhan’s palm. “Back to the villa.”
Jiang Xianhan’s lips curled up. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Didn’t you say I would go back to S City after my foot was better?”
Ji Pei pretended not to know. “I never said that.” After a moment, she added, “You’re not fully recovered yet. I don’t feel comfortable with you going home. You should stay with me first and go back in another one or two hundred days.”
“Why one or two hundred days?”
Ji Pei explained, “A broken bone takes a hundred days to heal. To fully recover, shouldn’t it take at least two hundred days?”
Jiang Xianhan smiled, her ink-wash-like eyebrows subtly lifting. “Mhm, you’re right.”
Jiang Xianhan no longer needed the caregiver. Ji Pei could take care of her alone. In fact, she felt Wang Ma was somewhat superfluous, so she gave Ji Pei the idea to give her time off to rest at home.
In the large villa with only the two of them, Jiang Xianhan sat on the sofa. After taking off her shoes, Ji Pei lifted her right foot. They had walked quite a bit today, and Jiang Xianhan’s right ankle was slightly swollen. Ji Pei took out an ice pack, wrapped it in a towel, and gently placed it on Jiang Xianhan’s ankle with a look of concern. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have taken you to that art exhibition. Now your foot is swollen.”
Ji Pei no longer held back. Her fingertips rested on Jiang Xianhan’s ankle, gently massaging it. Her smooth, fair skin easily developed faint red marks, which quickly faded. Jiang Xianhan was wrapped in long sleeves and trousers all year round. She wasn’t afraid of heat, only cold. Her body didn’t get much sun exposure, so her skin was finer and softer than most, and her complexion was fairer.
It was dinner time. Ji Pei asked Jiang Xianhan to watch TV in the living room while she prepared dinner in the kitchen. They had Western food for lunch, so tonight they would have some Chinese food to soothe the stomach. She noticed that Jiang Xianhan didn’t seem to be a picky eater. In those novels, CEOs were usually extremely picky, nine out of ten having stomach problems, and one with cyclothymia. Ji Pei was washing vegetables in the kitchen and deliberately poked her head out to ask Jiang Xianhan if she had any dietary restrictions.
“Do you eat scallions?”
“Yes.”
“Cilantro?”
“Yes.”
She eats everything. Ji Pei held a bunch of scallions and walked over. “Is there anything wrong with your stomach?”
Jiang Xianhan couldn’t help but smile wryly. “What could possibly be wrong with my stomach?”
Ji Pei stared at her. “Usually, those CEOs, don’t they all have stomach problems, and some strange illnesses? I’m just concerned about you.”
Jiang Xianhan bent her fingers and gently flicked Ji Pei’s nose with her knuckle. “No, nothing. I’m very healthy.” Jiang Xianhan withdrew her hand and noticed a layer of white foundation on her index finger, which she secretly hid. “Also, I’m not a CEO. I’m the Chairman of the Board.”
Ji Pei picked up her pig apron, shaking the scallions. “Alright, Chairwoman Jiang.”
In the kitchen, Ji Pei was stir-frying vegetables, and a pot of pork rib soup was simmering on the stove. The strap of her apron wasn’t tied tightly and came undone. Ji Pei put down the wok and reached behind her to tie it, but instead, felt a pair of soft hands.
“Chairwoman Jiang, could you please help me tie my apron?”
Jiang Xianhan chuckled and embraced Ji Pei from behind. Her two hands grasped the apron strings that had slipped to the front. “Chairwoman Jiang? Why do I have so many titles? Are you not calling me ‘my love’ anymore?”
Ji Pei gripped the spatula, her shoulders slightly hunched. She had tied all her hair back while cooking, exposing her long, fair neck. Jiang Xianhan’s hair brushed against Ji Pei’s neck, subtly yet frequently, causing a tingling sensation. Ji Pei tilted her head, but it didn’t help.
“There’s a lot of cooking fumes in the kitchen. Could you go out first? I’ll call you when I’m done.”
Jiang Xianhan didn’t leave. After tying the apron, her hands mischievously found their way to Ji Pei’s abdomen, gently caressing it through the soft sweater. “Your waist is so thin.” Ji Pei’s body tensed, but Jiang Xianhan felt the solid, firm muscle definition through the clothes. “The texture is really nice.”
When the soft fingers slipped through the sweater and touched the soft yet smooth muscle lines, Jiang Xianhan’s eyes darkened. She refused to take her hands away. Ji Pei desperately wanted to shoo Jiang Xianhan away. How could she be so handsy in the kitchen?
“Jiang Xianhan, stop touching me. I’m cooking.”
“Is cooking more important than me?”
“We’re together now. Why are you so shy, like a block of wood?”
“You can do other things while cooking.”
“You can do the same things to me, too.”
Jiang Xianhan’s soft lips pressed against Ji Pei’s earlobe. Her two hands tightly wrapped around Ji Pei’s slim, delicate waist, holding her close. Ji Pei was tossing the wok with one hand, afraid the tomatoes would burn, while the other hand held Jiang Xianhan’s hand, preventing her from causing mischief. Why did Jiang Xianhan reveal her true nature as soon as they got home? She looked quite respectable outside. When they were alone at home, she was completely possessed by Winter Sun.
“What do you want to do?” Ji Pei felt unsafe with her back to Jiang Xianhan. She moved slightly to the side, looking cautious.
Jiang Xianhan’s low, husky voice seemed to penetrate Ji Pei’s eardrum. Her chin rested in Ji Pei’s shoulder hollow, turning her head to rub against Ji Pei’s jaw. “Be good. Don’t move. Let me kiss you.”