Comfort

Xia Lun could tell that his wife, Aina, was not in a good mood.

Ever since Aise had said those words.

Aina sat alone by the window, her silhouette shrouded in a faint haze of gloom as she stared listlessly outside.

Luckily, Xia Lun knew how to lift his wife’s spirits.

As Aina herself had said, when you’re feeling down, you should do something that brings you joy.

“Aina…” Xia Lun placed his hand on her shoulder, gently kneading it as if hinting at something.

“I’m fine, Xia Lun. Just let me be quiet for a while.” Aina let out a soft sigh.

“Uh…” Aina’s reaction was not what Xia Lun had expected.

Usually at times like this, Aina would have already turned around, looked at him with those expressive eyes, and then leaned in on her own.

“What’s bothering you?” Xia Lun wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head, and whispered soothingly.

“You already heard it from Aise too.” Aina unconsciously traced her fingers over the broad hand in front of her. “The goddess also likes you.”

“So what?”

“The goddess can give you more than I can, surely.” Aina bit her lip. “She can treat you better.”

“What are you talking about?” Xia Lun’s tone was full of surprise.

“She’s a goddess… I hate to admit it, but there’s more she can do than I can.” Aina clenched her fist, her expression tinged with reluctance. “If you were with her, you’d definitely have a better life… Things like Aise wouldn’t happen, and you probably wouldn’t have died back then… Xia Lun, I’m being serious here, don’t pinch my cheek…”

Aina’s face was being reshaped in Xia Lun’s hands.

“Oh? Is this really that serious?” Xia Lun stopped kneading her marshmallow-soft cheek, then switched to tapping her nose. “Sorry, I thought you were joking.”

Aina: Stare—

Aina didn’t speak, just fixed her crimson eyes on him without blinking, as if protesting his lack of seriousness.

“Do you think I’d be happier with someone else?” Xia Lun ruffled her hair vigorously, messing it up. “What’s going through your mind?”

“Anyway, the goddess looks pretty much like me, so she’d definitely be your type,” Aina muttered.

“Do you really think I like you just for your looks?” Xia Lun widened his eyes in disbelief, then made an exaggerated hurt expression, clutching his chest and stepping back. “Aina, so in your eyes, I’m that shallow?”

Aina tilted her head, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes. “No?”

That retort made Xia Lun clutch his heart even more dramatically, as if struck by an arrow.

“I… I was joking.” Aina finally broke into a faint smile, then quickly explained, flustered, “Xia Lun, I know you’re wonderful—after all, you even like my feet…”

Even though Aina’s wording was strange, Xia Lun understood what she meant.

“Aina, no matter what you become, the person I love is you.” Xia Lun pulled his wife back into his arms, whispering softly in her ear. “What I love about you is your inner self.”

“Uh… you prefer my inside?” Aina’s face showed a trace of hesitation, then flushed a charming crimson. She lowered her voice, “Xia Lun, can you please tone it down? Don’t be so direct—I get shy, you know.”

Xia Lun: …

What is she thinking?! Xia Lun stared wide-eyed at his wife, who was feigning a bashful look in his arms.

“I was kidding, Xia Lun.” Seeing his shocked expression, Aina giggled again. “Of course I know what you mean… I understand; I’m not the little girl who knew nothing back then anymore.”

Seeing Aina’s suddenly bright smile, Xia Lun’s gaze softened.

Aina was feeling much better now.

“But… Xia Lun, when we first met, I bet you were just after my body, right?” Aina shot him a sly grin, as if she had caught him red-handed.

“What are you talking about, Aina?” Xia Lun’s face turned red as he stammered incoherently.

“I’m sure of it! Back then, I was so cold-tempered and had such a bad attitude. Who would ever like a personality like that for no reason?” Aina now looked quite smug, poking his chest with her finger. “I can’t think of any other reason why I’d be likable back then except for my looks… Xia Lun, I never knew you were that kind of person—a complete sucker for appearances.”

So even Aina knew she used to have a bad temper. Xia Lun couldn’t help recalling the ice-cold girl he first met, who was indeed hard to approach.

“No, that’s not true. I didn’t.” Xia Lun refuted with righteous indignation.

“Then tell me, what other reason was there? Were you a masochist? Did you like being yelled at by me? … Xia Lun, pick one: pervert or masochist.” Aina narrowed her eyes, looking as cunning as a little fox that had just pulled off a scheme.

“Of course not! Well… back then, I liked the mysterious aura about you.” Xia Lun cleared his throat a couple of times, avoiding the choice between the two options she offered, and came up with what seemed like a plausible reason to salvage his dignity. “It made me want to unravel you.”

“And now? You’ve already explored all of me, haven’t you?” Aina pressed on. “You know every part of my body inside and out.”

“Aina… now I love everything about you.”

“Heh, what a cliché answer.” Aina lifted the corners of her mouth slightly. though she said that, the look on her face clearly showed she was quite pleased.

“Then… you have to show me how much you love me now.” Aina’s body suddenly went soft, leaning back into Xia Lun’s embrace. “Just saying it with words isn’t enough.”

Without hesitation, Xia Lun scooped Aina up in his arms.

Aina let out a surprised cry, then laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

The bedroom door closed with a heavy thud, and Aina was gently laid on the bed like a feather.

“Xia Lun, it’s still daytime…”

“I know… it’s not like we haven’t indulged in daylight before.” Xia Lun sighed helplessly.

“When you first came back to life, I thought you were quite reserved.” Aina covered her mouth with a soft laugh.

“Yeah, Demon Queen, you’ve corrupted me.”

“Oh? Say that again?” Aina raised an eyebrow. “Who corrupted whom?”

Xia Lun didn’t reply; he simply silently pulled the curtains shut.