Chapter 3

After changing my shoes in the entryway, Tan Xu took off his coat and automatically rolled up his shirt sleeves.

He glanced back and asked casually,

“What do you want to eat today?”

“Just so we’re clear, I’m not making kung pao chicken again.”

He made it far too well.

I’d ordered the same dish for a week straight.

As he headed toward the kitchen, Tan Xu continued, “That shrimp pasta you like? Or steak with red wine?”

Before he could finish, the housekeeper emerged from the kitchen carrying several dishes.

He stopped dead.

I rushed over to her and explained to him,

“This is the housekeeper I hired to make dinner. You won’t have to cook for me anymore.”

I’d thought Tan Xu would be delighted.

Instead, his gaze settled on me.

His eyes were dark and unreadable.

After a long pause, he dropped a single chilly word.

“Oh.”

Then he walked to the bedroom without another word.

Before leaving, he said, “I’m not hungry. I’m very full.”

Naturally, I didn’t dare bother him.

That night, I obediently went to sleep in the guest room.

I was drifting in and out of sleep when it suddenly became unbearably hot behind me. By the time I registered what was happening, Tan Xu’s gritted voice sounded beside my ear.

“You don’t need me to serve you anymore, Princess?”

My mind was still foggy.

The comments woke me up considerably.

【Is this my reward for staying up late?】

【Online, everyone claims they’re giving up sex. In real life, who doesn’t get all worked up and rip their pants off immediately?】

【Wait, what? What’s the male lead doing? Why did he come looking for the villainess?】

【Spring is here, that’s all. The villainess shouldn’t read too much into it—it’s just the instinct to reproduce.】

Something pressed strangely against my waist.

I shoved Tan Xu away at once.

In the moonlight, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Before, I might have slapped him across the face.

I was a spoiled heiress, after all. I couldn’t tolerate the slightest grievance.

But things were different now.

Tan Xu was the male lead. According to the comments, one day he might hold my life and death in his hands.

Until we divorced, I had better avoid offending him.

I poked his shoulder and pretended to pout.

“I thought I was dreaming.”

His expression eased, only to tense again in an instant.

“So who else does this to you in your dreams?”

What?

Wasn’t that a little unreasonable?

Unable to think of an excuse, I changed the subject.

I yawned. “I don’t know. I’m so sleepy.”

“Let’s sleep. We both have work tomorrow.”

I lay down again, but Tan Xu remained in the same position.

“Su Mo, something is wrong with you.”

My heart clenched.

After learning he didn’t love me, I had laid down one rule for Tan Xu.

“You are not allowed to sleep in a separate room.”

Even if I couldn’t have his heart, I would possess his body.

At first, we were both inexperienced. He had rushed things too…

I got so angry that I kicked him out of bed.

“Tan Xu, a man needs to understand service in bed, got it?”

Little by little, he changed. His foreplay became gentle, his technique increasingly skilled, and he learned to pay attention to my pleasure.

Apart from the days when I had my period, we had hate sex almost every night.

But today, not only had I slept alone, I’d rejected his advances.

Even in the darkness, I could feel Tan Xu’s gaze locked on me.

Guiltily, I lowered my eyes.

“I’m a little tired today. I don’t really feel like it.”

“Because of work?”

Yes and no.

But for now, it had to be yes.

“Mm.”

“Besides, I’m worried you’ll be tired too, Tan Xu.”

“Why don’t we sleep here together tonight?”

I reasoned with him instead of acting spoiled or overbearing, my voice gentler than it had ever been.

After a long moment, he lay down and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“If you run into trouble at work, you can always come to me. I’ll handle it.”

Before I could answer, the comments appeared.

【The delicate little trophy-wife villainess depends on the male lead for everything.】

【Without the male lead, Su Mo is absolutely useless.】

【Just wait. The female lead and male lead grew up together, and she’s hardworking, resilient, and ambitious. They’re so shippable.】

【The female lead is destined to catch his eye. Thanks to the high-maintenance villainess for planting the tree so our heroine can enjoy the shade.】

For some reason, a sharp little ache pricked my heart like a needle.

Tan Xu’s breath stirred behind my ear.

I patted his hand softly. “All right.”

Yet, without making a fuss, I slipped out of his embrace.

“I have a deadline tomorrow. I’m going to sleep.”

Behind me, his breath caught.