On the other end of the call, Lin Xi’s father spoke with a slightly stern but also warm tone, “Xu Fang, I heard from your parents that you’re studying for your master’s degree in B City, right?”
Xu Fang paused for a moment and replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”
“Well, you see, our daughter Xi Xi has been having some arguments with us lately. Could you please talk to her and persuade her to come back home for a visit?” Lin Xi’s father sighed, “We might have neglected her a bit in recent years, but it wasn’t intentional.”
Xu Fang remained silent.
Lin Xi’s father continued, “She’s been so busy with her studies and her relationship with you. We miss her and want to see her, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival. It’s a family tradition to gather during the holidays. I hope you can understand.”
Xu Fang finally spoke, his voice calm and composed, “I understand, Mr. Lin. I’ll talk to Lin Xi and see if she’s willing to visit home during the festival.”
Lin Xi’s father sounded relieved, “Thank you, Xu Fang. We appreciate it. Please let her know how much we miss her.”
“I will, Mr. Lin. Take care,” Xu Fang replied politely before ending the call.
As he hung up, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility. Lin Xi’s family was concerned about her, and it was clear that they wanted her to come back home for the Dragon Boat Festival. He knew he had to discuss this with Lin Xi once she finished her shower.
Meanwhile, Lin Xi continued to shower in the bathroom, unaware of the phone call and conversation between Xu Fang and her father. She was lost in her thoughts as the warm water cascaded over her, thinking about her family and the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival.
“Her mother just called her grandfather, and she’s been crying. You should talk to her and persuade her to come back and apologize to her mother. She may be stubborn, but we’ve all had our difficulties. Her mother has had a tough time these past few years…”
Lin’s father’s voice seemed to search for understanding, seeking approval. He couldn’t stop himself once he started talking, sharing their challenges.
Time has a way of changing people, and experiences shape one’s perspective.
He remembered a time when he and Lin’s mother were patient and organized parents, strict but attuned to their daughters’ emotions. They set daily routines and made time for outings.
But now, they pushed responsibilities away.
They simply didn’t have the energy for anything else.
They felt responsible for losing Lin Deng and the hardships she endured. Their guilt consumed their energy, leaving them unable to face new responsibilities, even if they recognized their mistakes.
After a long pause, Lin’s father’s voice grew heavier, mixed with shallow sighs. “Let’s think of a solution. But, Listen, I have to say this, Lin Xi is stubborn. She won’t listen to anyone. But you two…”
With pursed lips, Lin’s father waited for what was to come.
“It’s just not suitable.”
“A soldier’s profession carries risks. When you join the army, you won’t have as much time together as you do now.”
“Let me be blunt: if you get into an accident during a mission, what will she do?”
“I’m not suggesting you separate, but I hope you won’t bring up marriage until you’ve left the military. It’ll be better for Lin Xi.”
…
…
By the time Lin Xi emerged from the bathroom, half an hour had passed.
She didn’t bother to dry her hair and wrapped a towel around her head, droplets of water trickling from the tips. Her face was fair and moist, her large eyes clear and bright.
Meanwhile, Xu Fang remained in his original spot, his phone set aside. He sat with his head bowed, lost in thought, showing no sign of what was on his mind.
When Lin Xi finished her bath, Xu Fang still seemed unaware of her presence. He remained motionless. As she approached him, he slowly raised his head.
His expression didn’t reveal anger, but it had dimmed compared to before she went to bathe.
Lin Xi squatted in front of him like an eager puppy, pinching his fingers. She finally began to earnestly cajole him. “You’re still angry?”
“…”
“I wanted to make things right with you,” Lin Xi lamented. “But let’s forget it. I’ll dry my hair myself. So, don’t be angry anymore. What I did earlier was just my way of cheering you up, consider it a selfless act.”
Before she could finish her sentence, Xu Fang reached out, taking the towel that had been draped over her head. Silently, he began to rub her hair.
Lin Xi blinked at him, then sat beside him as he continued to towel dry her hair. She muttered, “I thought you liked that nickname. Otherwise, why not call you Xu Fang like everyone else? It would have been so impersonal.”
Xu Fang remained quiet.
Lin Xi leaned against his side, her face nuzzling against his abdominal muscles, playfully taunting him. “You! Don’t! Be! Mad! Okay!”
Xu Fang finally spoke, his lips curving slightly. “Who the hell is angry?”
Lin Xi kicked him playfully. “You’re just pretending!”
Xu Fang chuckled. “Pretending.”
Lin Xi pouted, resting her head on his chest. She muttered, “You know, I wanted to return the favor after you dried my hair. But never mind, I can do it myself. So, don’t be angry anymore.”
Xu Fang’s smile deepened. “I wasn’t really angry.”
Lin Xi smirked and teased him, “Good to know.”
Their moment of tranquility continued as they basked in each other’s presence, the earlier tension dissolving like mist in the morning sun.
Xu Fang glanced at her and finally spoke, his tone laced with frustration. “Who the hell is angry?”
Hearing his response, Lin Xi cautiously looked at him. “Then why are you not happy?”
He chuckled lightly. “Just pretending.”
Lin Xi sighed in relief but didn’t let him off the hook. She began issuing commands. “Go fetch the hairdryer for me. I don’t want to move; I’m tired.”
Xu Fang raised an eyebrow. “When are you not tired?”
Lin Xi replied matter-of-factly, “When you’re not around.”
Xu Fang didn’t say anything more and got up to fetch the hairdryer from the bathroom.
Lin Xi lay on the bed, picked up her phone from the bedside table, and started searching the web for “Regulations and Procedures for Active Military Personnel Marriage.”
When Xu Fang returned, she changed positions, lying on his lap, and continued reading the content on her phone. After going through the general procedures, Lin Xi suddenly came across a statement: “The military encourages late marriages in response to the national call, and men are advised to marry after reaching the age of twenty-five.”
Twenty-five.
Lin Xi mentally calculated.
After Xu Fang’s birthday this year, he would be twenty-five.
Perfect.
Lin Xi nodded in satisfaction.
She scrolled down and stumbled upon a line: “Chinese criminal law stipulates the crime of disrupting military marriages and provides special protection for military marriages. The law states, ‘If an active-duty soldier’s spouse requests a divorce, it must be approved by the soldier.’”
Reading this, Lin Xi froze, then raised her head to look at Xu Fang.
The hairdryer was still running, making a loud whooshing sound, which added to the tension in the room.
Her actions had been abrupt, and Xu Fang had almost caught her hair in the dryer. Now, he was startled, quickly turning off the hairdryer and furrowing his brows as he asked, “What are you doing?”
Lin Xi showed him the content on her phone. “Is this true?”
Xu Fang casually glanced at it, not paying much attention. He simply responded, “Yeah.”
Lin Xi let out a sound of disbelief and stared at him, stuttering, “What if it’s you who requests a divorce?”
He looked at her with a displeased expression. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Lin Xi interpreted his response as meaning that if he requested a divorce, she would have no choice but to agree. She suddenly sat up, pressing herself against him, and couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Xu Fang! Do you have no shame?”
Xu Fang retorted, “What nonsense.”
Their conversation was filled with underlying tension, and the room was still echoing with the sound of the hairdryer, but their words had ignited a different kind of heat between them.
“I don’t care; I’m not going to agree,” Lin Xi declared stubbornly. She leaned down and bit his neck in frustration. “This is so unfair! After all my pestering for marriage, you think you can just divorce me with a single word? Dream on!”
With determination, Lin Xi raised her head and looked directly into his eyes. “I’m going to draw up a prenuptial agreement. If you ever want to divorce me, you’ll have to castrate yourself! Castrate! Do you hear me?”
He was left speechless.
What kind of image did he have in her mind?
Lin Xi was like a child throwing a tantrum, and she didn’t care about anything. She loved to be playful and mischievous, but it never went beyond words when it came to teasing Xu Fang. She would never dare to take it any further.
Lin Xi licked her lips nervously and realized the ambiguous atmosphere in the room. She had been caught up in the moment.
She had thrown a fit and ended up on top of him. Their bodies were pressed together as if the layers of fabric between them didn’t exist. Xu Fang could feel her softness against his chest, and her legs were entwined with his. The touch was cool and gentle, providing comfort in the summer heat.
Xu Fang had initially wanted to argue with her, but her actions changed everything. Lin Xi was acting like a spoiled child, and Xu Fang couldn’t resist her charms.
Lin Xi’s actions were impulsive, and she didn’t think much about the consequences. She had the heart of a mischievous child. She leaned down to him, gnawing on his neck while speaking her mind.
Summer clothes were thin, and their bodies were pressed close together. Xu Fang could clearly feel her warmth, her softness, and her legs against him.
Feeling her body heat and softness, Xu Fang’s mood changed. His throat moved as he was overwhelmed, and he remained still, not uttering a word.
The sensation of her lips left on his neck was warm and moist. It felt like a spark had ignited within him.
Xu Fang’s eyes became dark and intense, like hidden flames burning deep inside. Her actions had awakened something in him.
Lin Xi, noticing Xu Fang’s expression, suddenly became aware of the increasingly ambiguous atmosphere. She had been acting on impulse and didn’t realize the effect of her actions.
She swallowed hard, and the fierce determination she had just shown disappeared. With one hand supporting herself on the bed, she tried to sit up.
In the next moment, Xu Fang made a low grunt, gripping her wrist and pulling her back towards him.
Lin Xi wasn’t prepared for this and ended up falling back onto him. Her nose was about to bump into his, and they were incredibly close. Just one inch lower, and they would have kissed.
But before she could make any move, Xu Fang used one hand to support her hip and half-sat up against the bedhead. She almost fell into him again. Their distance had become incredibly close, and if she leaned down just a bit more, their lips would meet.
However, she hadn’t started any action yet when Xu Fang suddenly lowered his head, impatiently pressing his lips against hers.
This kiss was different from any before.
It was as if he couldn’t control himself any longer, as if he had been holding back for a long time.
Xu Fang’s lips were scalding, wrapping around her tongue and gradually moving outward, as if he wanted to devour her. His movements were rough and unpolished, and his lips moved lower, licking her earlobe.
And then, he continued downwards—
This level of passion made Lin Xi feel like she was drowning, choking her. His breath enveloped her from all directions, and she couldn’t escape, nor did she want to.
She felt the clothes she had just put on being effortlessly removed by him.
His slightly calloused palms roamed every corner of her body, leaving warmth and electricity in their wake. Her body slowly heated up.
Xu Fang bit into her soft flesh with patience, nibbling away at that spot.
Lin Xi’s hand grabbed his head, unable to control herself anymore. Her legs moved instinctively, rubbing against him. Her gaze became hazy, her throat making faint sounds, both soft and hoarse, as if begging.
Just as she wished, she felt Xu Fang’s fingertips slide into her pants, touching that softness, and he pressed firmly.
Her arms felt weak, resting on his neck. Her body was tense, and her voice was a combination of soft cries and hoarse murmurs. She clung to him, overwhelmed, not knowing what she was craving.
And, as she wished, she felt Xu Fang’s fingers delve inside her pants, touching that softness, exerting pressure.
Her legs stiffened, her mind went blank, and her breathing became shallow. She clung to him, pressing her nose against his chest, making no sound.
Xu Fang’s eyes were red, and he took a deep breath, biting her neck, gradually regaining his composure. He pulled the nearby blanket over her, and his chest still heaved.
Looking at the reddened corners of her eyes and the marks he had left on her exposed skin, Xu Fang closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. He pulled her into his embrace again, lowering his head to kiss her lips. His voice was low and hoarse, almost unintelligible but still clear to her ears.
“I’ll make you pay for this in the future.”
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