Chapter 184: The Heart That Was Always Betraying
"This husband apologises. Let me see..."
He gently held around the back of her neck, his expression immediately turning serious as he carefully checked the injured area.
Wang Gege remained still, allowing him to inspect it.
"Does it hurt badly?" Xie Rong asked, his brows furrowing.
"A little."
His expression darkened further.
"Then we should stop."
Wang Gege stared at him.
Xie Rong, who had been kissing her only moments earlier, was now looking at her as though she had suddenly become seriously ill.
The contrast was so ridiculous that Wang Gege’s lips slowly twitched.
Xie Rong noticed.
"What?"
Wang Gege tried to press her lips together, but the moment she looked at his serious expression again, she could not hold it in anymore.
"Pfft—"
Xie Rong frowned.
"Why is Furen laughing?"
Wang Gege covered her mouth, but her shoulders had already begun shaking.
"I don’t know..." she tried to say, only to let out another laugh. "I just found this whole situation funny..."
Xie Rong stared at her for a moment.
Then, as though the absurdity of the situation had finally reached him as well, he slowly lowered his gaze.
A quiet smile gradually appeared on his lips.
Wang Gege noticed it and immediately pointed at him. "See? You find it funny too."
Xie Rong did not answer. He merely lowered his head further, the faint smile still lingering on his face as he gently held the back of her neck.
Wang Gege’s laughter gradually softened.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Yet somehow, the atmosphere that had been filled with tension only moments earlier now felt strangely warm.
"Furen..." Xie Rong suddenly called for her.
Wang Gege looked toward him.
His faint smile had disappeared, replaced by a quieter expression.
"Would you please give this husband another chance?"
Wang Gege’s expression slowly changed.
"Another chance?"
Xie Rong lowered his gaze.
"This husband knows that saying sorry will not erase everything that has happened between us." His fingers slowly curled against the blanket. "Nor does this husband expect Furen to simply forget the things I have done."
Wang Gege remained silent.
"But..." He slowly looked back at her. "Would Furen give this husband another chance to be your husband?"
The smile on Wang Gege’s face gradually disappeared.
Xie Rong did not look away.
"Not because of the past. Not because we were once married, nor because Furen has nowhere else to go." His voice lowered, "Just... give this husband another chance to start again with Furen."
Wang Gege remained silent for a long time.
Xie Rong did not rush her.
He simply waited, his gaze quietly fixed on her as though he was prepared to accept whatever answer she gave him.
Wang Gege slowly lowered her eyes.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the blanket as she thought about everything that had happened between them—the anger, the hurt, the confusion, and all the moments she had told herself that she should not trust him again.
Yet somehow...
Her heart had never truly listened to her.
After what felt like a long time, Wang Gege slowly nodded.
"I hate to admit it, but my heart has always betrayed me..."
Xie Rong’s eyes widened slightly.
Wang Gege let out a weak sigh before looking back at him.
"Every time I tell myself that I should be angry with you, it somehow keeps finding a reason to forgive you. Even when my mind is still telling me to stay away from you, this stupid heart..." She pressed her lips together. "It keeps wanting to get closer to you."
Her expression gradually became a little more serious. "So, fine."
Xie Rong remained completely still.
Wang Gege looked straight into his eyes, "I’ll give you another chance."
For a moment, Xie Rong did not react.
Wang Gege narrowed her eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He slowly smiled. "This husband was simply wondering if I heard Furen correctly."
"Don’t make me take it back." She pointed a finger towards him, acting like she was annoyed.
"This husband would never dare."
Wang Gege stared at him before letting out another soft sigh. Then, after a brief pause, she slowly reached for his hand, "But don’t think this means everything from before has been forgotten."
Xie Rong’s smile softened as his fingers carefully closed around hers. "This husband understands."
"You better."
Xie Rong looked at their intertwined hands for a moment before quietly tightening his grip. "I promise... with all my heart..."
Wang Gege immediately scrunched up her face. "No, too cringe. Let’s sleep..."
"Sleep?" Xie Rong blinked hard.
"Yes, sleep..." Wang Gege nodded as though there was nothing strange about what she had just said.
"But, Furen..." Xie Rong’s gaze slowly travelled from her face to somewhere lower before his expression stiffened slightly. "Ah, never mind."
He slowly let out a breath before turning onto his back. "Let’s sleep. This husband will wait until Furen’s neck has fully healed."
Wang Gege stared at him for a moment. Then her eyes slowly followed his earlier gaze when realisation struck.
Her eyes widened, "Oh—"
Xie Rong immediately closed his eyes. "Sleep, Furen."
Wang Gege’s lips began to twitch. "Huband..."
"Sleep."
That was all it took.
Wang Gege suddenly burst out laughing again, this time unable to stop herself as her shoulders shook beside him.
"Don’t laugh..." Xie Rong muttered without opening his eyes.
"I wasn’t—" Wang Gege tried to speak through her laughter before giving up completely. "I just—Pfft—"
Xie Rong pressed his lips tightly together.
"Furen had better sleep right now, or even your neck will not be able to protect you. This husband has been holding himself back from eating you several times already..."
Wang Gege’s laughter stopped.
She slowly turned to look at him.
Xie Rong remained lying on his back with his eyes closed, his expression perfectly calm, as though he had not just said something so shameless.
Wang Gege’s face gradually heated up. "Okay. Good night!"
With that, she immediately closed her eyes.
However, before she could calm her racing heart, a warm breath suddenly brushed against the skin beneath her chin.
Her eyes snapped open instantly.
Xie Rong was suddenly much closer than before.
"This husband changed his mind," he whispered, a charming smile appearing on his face. "I promise I will be gentle..."
Wang Gege stared at him. "You—"
Her words were once again cut off by his kiss.
This time, however, Wang Gege did not immediately push him away.
And as the night gradually deepened, the playful bickering that had filled the room slowly gave way to the sound of heavy breaths.