Picked Up a White Cut Black Wife - Chapter 19

“Don’t even think about it!” Shen Zhao retorted without hesitation.

“You ate my lunch. What’s wrong with giving me a kiss?” When her attempts at coaxing failed, Shen Qiao resorted to moral blackmail, her voice ringing with righteous indignation.

Of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world! I’ll never eat anything she gives me again!

“Stop fooling around. I really need to get to work.”

“Wife~” When force didn’t work, Shen Qiao switched tactics, instantly adopting a softer demeanor. She toyed with the buttons of Shen Zhao’s shirt, murmuring about her miserable state: “You have no idea how cold it is outside. My hands are frozen red, and the wind is making my face ache so much…”

Here she goes again with this act, huh?

Shen Zhao watched her performance silently for a long moment before suddenly remarking, “Shen Qiao, I think there’s a profession perfectly suited for you.”

Interrupted mid-sob story, Shen Qiao looked up, puzzled. “What?”

“Acting. It would be a waste if you didn’t become an actress.”

Shen Qiao froze for a second before realizing what Shen Zhao meant. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes, her voice trembling with feigned anguish. “Wife thinks I’m lying to you? Waaah, now my heart hurts too…”

Shen Zhao couldn’t help but smile, her eyes crinkling with amusement. She suddenly felt that this woman wasn’t so annoying after all.

“Wife,” Shen Qiao said, lifting her head and meeting Shen Zhao’s still-smiling gaze. She froze, forgetting what she was about to say.

Shen Zhao remained motionless, the close proximity creating a palpable tension. Qiao swallowed mechanically, her gaze darting around, unable to settle.

Their breathing became distinctly audible, warm and drawn out. Shen Zhao felt the subtle shift in the air, yet her body seemed frozen, her eyes fixed on the figure drawing closer.

Their noses were about to touch when Qiao suddenly stopped, tilting her head to study Shen Zhao’s expression.

Shen Zhao, irritated by the scrutiny, pushed Qiao away by the shoulder.

The next moment, Qiao leaned back against her, burying her face in Shen Zhao’s chest and nuzzling against her.

“Get up. I need to go to work,” Shen Zhao said calmly, patting Qiao’s back with a frown.

“Okay,” Qiao replied, tilting her head up and offering her cheek. “Then kiss me. Just one kiss before you go. A kiss on the cheek.”

Shen Zhao glanced at her profile, then awkwardly shifted her gaze. “Stop teasing me.”

“Wife, just one kiss. Please?”

Seeing her persistence, Shen Zhao gritted her teeth. For the sake of her afternoon work, she steeled herself and, as if facing certain death, leaned in for a swift kiss.

But just then, Shen Qiao suddenly turned her head. Before Shen Zhao could react, her lips brushed against something soft, slightly cooler than her own, with a distinct texture.

Her mind went blank. By the time she recovered, she saw Shen Qiao skipping away with her lunchbox, like a kitten who had successfully stolen a treat.

Shen Zhao remained frozen in place for a long moment, then pinched her earlobe to cool down.

A kitten who steals once will steal again, and again…

Over the next few days, though Shen Zhao would initially refuse with righteous indignation before each meal, she always succumbed to the kitten’s charms and… the increasingly delicious food.

Eventually, Shen Qiao timed her appearances perfectly, appearing the moment Shen Zhao finished her work, leaving her no chance to argue.

Gradually, Shen Zhao grew accustomed to it. Although the woman harbored ulterior motives, beyond occasional cuddling and clinging, she hadn’t crossed any serious boundaries.

Until one night.

Shen Zhao had finished washing up and was about to get into bed when a knock came at the door.

The woman stood there in a silk nightgown, clutching a pillow to her chest. When the door opened, she pitifully grasped Shen Zhao’s finger. “Wife, I can’t sleep.”

“Can’t sleep?” Shen Zhao saw through her little act immediately. “Then coming to me won’t help. I’m not a sleep specialist.”

“Wife can,” Shen Qiao insisted, shaking Shen Zhao’s hand. “I’m too far from Wife. I miss you so much I can’t sleep.”

Shen Zhao ruthlessly exposed her lie. “We’re separated by a single wall. How is that far?”

“It’s not just far, it’s also cold,” Shen Qiao countered.

“The air conditioning is on. How can you be cold?”

“My heart is cold,” Shen Qiao said, biting her lip and hugging the pillow tighter.

Shen Zhao stiffened, cutting to the chase. “So, what do you want?”

Sensing victory, Shen Qiao cautiously asked, “Can I sleep with Wife?”

Shen Zhao gave her a I knew it look.

“I’ll sleep on the floor, I promise I’ll be good and won’t bother you, Wife,” Shen Qiao pleaded, her assurances falling flat. She clung to Shen Zhao, showering her with clumsy affection. “Wife, just let me sleep with you! I won’t do anything, I swear.”

The room was warmly heated, and both women wore thin pajamas. When Shen Qiao’s soft body pressed against her, Shen Zhao recoiled as if electrocuted, stumbling several steps backward. “What are you doing? Let go of me immediately!”

The pillow fell to the floor as Shen Qiao staggered after her, her arms loosely circling Shen Zhao’s waist, barely grasping the sides of her pajama top. Just an inch closer, and she would be in Shen Zhao’s arms. This tantalizing nearness only heightened the intimacy.

Afraid she might fall, Shen Zhao hastily steadied Shen Qiao by the waist, feeling her slender frame, so delicate it seemed she could crush it with a single hand.

“Wife, let’s go to sleep,” Shen Qiao murmured, hooking her foot behind her and slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

“Shen Qiao!”

“Wife, let’s go to sleep,” Shen Qiao insisted, pushing Shen Zhao further into the room. “I can’t sleep without you. If I don’t sleep well, I’ll be so uncomfortable tomorrow. I’ll get distracted while chopping vegetables or cooking soup, and what if I cut myself or get burned? It’ll hurt so much, Wife!”

“Shen Qiao, you’re really—” Shen Zhao gritted her teeth, afraid to touch her yet forced to retreat step by step.

“Wife, it’s getting late. Let’s go to sleep,” Shen Qiao said, rubbing her eyes and yawning. “I’ll be good and won’t bother you. I’ll just sleep in that corner.”

Shen Zhao was so exasperated she had no energy left to argue. “Shut up and go lie down over there.”

“Okay!” Finally getting her way, Shen Qiao quickly grabbed her pillow, tossed it into the designated corner, and flopped down.

Shen Zhao retrieved a thick quilt from the closet and turned to find Shen Qiao already curled up in a tiny ball on the floor.

“Sleeping on the floor when there’s a perfectly good bed? If you get cold, don’t come crying to me.” She walked over and tossed the quilt over Shen Qiao. “Cover yourself properly.”

“Thank you, Wife.”

“I’m going to sleep now. No talking. Understand?”

Shen Qiao nodded vigorously.

Having someone else in the room felt strange to Shen Zhao. She turned off the light and lay awake for a long time, listening to Shen Qiao’s shallow breathing below.

Gradually, Shen Zhao’s consciousness drifted, and she slipped into a hazy dream.

In the middle of the night, she suddenly felt something heavy pressing against her chest, making it hard to breathe. After struggling for a moment, she jolted awake.

Her mind still foggy, Shen Zhao shifted uncomfortably and accidentally bumped into something soft and warm.

She sat up in alarm and quickly switched on the night light. In the soft, pale yellow glow, Shen Qiao was sleeping soundly. Sensing something missing, she had stretched out her hand, trying to pull Shen Zhao back into her embrace.

Shen Zhao’s teeth itched with anger. She slapped Shen Qiao’s hand hard.

This finally woke Shen Qiao. She blinked sleepily, her eyes meeting Shen Zhao’s furious gaze.