The confusion on Jiang Jiang's face was not fake at all. Only then did Ji Xu'an realize that she seemed never to have explained the meaning of this form of address to Jiang Jiang.
But before she could speak, Jiang Jiang continued asking, "Do you call other people that too?"
She did not specify who that "other people" was, but Ji Xu'an inexplicably had the intuition that Jiang Jiang meant Zhou Zisuo.
Subconsciously she raised her hand to circle Jiang Jiang's wrist. At the same time, the arm Ji Xu'an had around Jiang Jiang's waist tightened slightly, preventing Jiang Jiang from truly slipping out of her embrace.
"I don't." There was a trace more fluster in Ji Xu'an's tone, yet a faint, indescribable secret joy surged up in her heart.
The fact that Jiang Jiang cared about this question, did it mean she still cared about her?
Ji Xu'an explained seriously, "It's just a relatively intimate way of addressing someone."
As she spoke, she slowly lowered her head, her eyes never leaving Jiang Jiang's.
Because they were too close, their breaths intertwined. Ji Xu'an's voice was pressed very low when she spoke. In her usually cool and clear tone, there was now a hint of stickiness.
"Everyone can call you Jiang Jiang. If I also call you Jiang Jiang, then what difference is there between me and other people?"
Jiang Jiang was rendered speechless.
She had never been asked like this before. For a moment she truly did not know how to answer.
Actually, what Ji Xu'an said was not wrong. She was Jiang Jiang's fiancée. She ought to have privileges that were different from others.
Seeing Jiang Jiang remain silent, Ji Xu'an grew a little anxious as well. It seemed she had never been this plagued by gains and losses before. Even the slightest reaction from Jiang Jiang was enough to make her feel flustered and at a loss.
"If you don't like this form of address, I won't call you that in the future."
Jiang Jiang came back to her senses. The blush on her cheeks showed signs of spreading toward her earlobes. "It's not that I dislike it."
The two of them seemed to be whispering secrets. Both spoke especially softly. They could clearly hear each other's breathing.
Jiang Jiang moved her nose slightly. She could even smell the sweet grape scent on Ji Xu'an, as well as the warm fragrance emanating from her hair.
The dim environment intensified the ambiguous atmosphere. Clearly Jiang Jiang had only said something very proper, yet her tone somehow carried a hint of coquettishness.
Ji Xu'an was no better.
She was best at seizing an opportunity. Seeing that Jiang Jiang was showing signs of softening, she immediately pressed on, "Then if I don't call you baby, can I call you something else?"
Jiang Jiang answered instinctively, "What?"
Ji Xu'an licked her lips. There was also an abnormal flush on her face. Her heartbeat was faster with each passing second. "For example, wife?"
The instant she heard those two words, Jiang Jiang's pupils seemed to dilate.
She froze for a moment. Her lips opened and closed, yet for a long time she could not make a single sound.
Ji Xu'an stared at Jiang Jiang without blinking. She was so nervous she nearly forgot how to breathe, yet on the surface she still pretended to be calm and natural. "Can I?"
There was confusion in Jiang Jiang's eyes. "But we haven't yet…"
Ji Xu'an took a deep breath. "Mm, I know."
She explained as if nothing were wrong, "Actually this form of address is very normal between couples."
"But I can understand. For you it might be a bit too much. It's normal if you can't accept it."
As Ji Xu'an spoke, she even gave Jiang Jiang a very light smile. "It's okay. I'm fine with anything."
Jiang Jiang: …
Jiang Jiang felt as if she had done something wrong. Although Ji Xu'an said it was okay, what her eyes revealed clearly was not that meaning.
Jiang Jiang even felt that if she really nodded along with Ji Xu'an's words at this moment, Ji Xu'an might very well cry on the spot for her to see.
No.
She actually kind of wanted to see it.
Jiang Jiang shook her head, forcing herself to suppress this inappropriate thought. "It's not that I can't accept it…"
She had not even finished this sentence when Ji Xu'an quickly cut in, "Then you agree?"
Jiang Jiang paused for two seconds and silently nodded.
Ji Xu'an finally could not suppress her excitement any longer. A huge smile curved her lips. After the ice on that cold and beautiful face melted, she inexplicably gained a trace of silliness.
After a brief loss of control over her heartbeat, Ji Xu'an came back to her senses and looked at Jiang Jiang with eyes full of anticipation.
"Wife." She called out carefully.
Jiang Jiang: "…Mm."
At her response, Ji Xu'an's body suddenly tensed. She took several deep breaths. The redness spread from her face all the way to her neck. In those deep black eyes, apart from Jiang Jiang's figure, there was only brilliant laughter.
It was the first time Jiang Jiang had seen Ji Xu'an this happy. Even when she had agreed to marry Ji Xu'an, Ji Xu'an had not lost composure like this.
Did she like this form of address that much?
Jiang Jiang tentatively called it once in her heart. It did not seem that unusual. She opened her mouth, only to realize that no matter what, she could not say it out loud.
It seemed a bit too intimate.
Jiang Jiang did not dare to look into Ji Xu'an's eyes at all. Ji Xu'an, however, kept staring straight at Jiang Jiang. After an unknown amount of time, she spoke again, "Wife, can I kiss you?"
There was a subtle hoarseness in her voice.
Jiang Jiang pressed her hand against Ji Xu'an's shoulder. Her face was almost burning. "No."
The invisible ears on top of Ji Xu'an's head instantly drooped. "Why?"
Jiang Jiang finally barely regained her train of thought. "I've already confessed everything I know to you, Ji Xu'an."
Her expression became much more serious. "Just like you said earlier, my ability to accept new things really isn't as strong as yours."
"Maybe…" Jiang Jiang said slowly, "I need enough time to adapt to the relationship between us."
Actually, it was because Jiang Jiang had secretly searched online in the bathroom earlier. Many netizens had said that the more easily something was obtained, the less it would be cherished.
Xie Xiao had also said that she should not let Ji Xu'an taste sweetness too quickly.
Jiang Jiang agreed.
Moreover, acting this way better fit her persona. After all, she had come from the "ancient" world. It was normal for her not to be highly accepting of certain things.
But Ji Xu'an was obviously somewhat unwilling.
"I know. I should give you time to accept all of this." Ji Xu'an brushed aside the loose hair by Jiang Jiang's cheek. Her palm naturally came to rest at the side of Jiang Jiang's face. "It's just that I like you too much."
"So sometimes I might do some very rude things. Don't completely deny me because of that, okay?"
She paused for two seconds, then added, "For example right now, I really want to kiss you."
Her hand gently cradled Jiang Jiang's face. The force was not strong. Jiang Jiang could completely break free.
"Can't I really kiss you once, wife?" Ji Xu'an said in a low voice.
Jiang Jiang could not figure out how everything had developed to this step.
Clearly half an hour ago, the atmosphere between her and Ji Xu'an had been tense like drawn swords and bent bows. The two of them had been questioning each other, as if in the next second they would tear their faces apart and start arguing.
But now Ji Xu'an was coaxing her softly, her posture humble to the extreme, just to exchange it for a kiss from her.
Jiang Jiang was almost unable to think.
She was not good at handling situations like this. Although when she had secretly seduced Ji Xu'an before, she had been calmer than anyone, now that it truly came to this moment, Jiang Jiang seemed somewhat at a loss.
Seeing that she did not refuse, Ji Xu'an pleaded again, "I'll only kiss once. Two minutes. Okay?"
Jiang Jiang clenched her teeth. Her voice seemed squeezed out from her throat, so muffled it was almost indistinguishable.
"Stop asking…"
Ji Xu'an seemed to understand. Her hand moved from the side of Jiang Jiang's face to the back of her neck, gently yet irresistibly pressing down on it.
"Good girl, close your eyes."
—
Author's note:
President Ji: I wish everyone someone to kiss. Anyway, I got my kiss.
—
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