Volume One, Chapter 40: Wanting to Kiss

Near the factory stood a bustling open-air eatery. Song Qingyu sat on a chair, her face still flushed from the lingering heat. Just moments ago, Pei Jingmo had embraced her in front of everyone; if Liu Dazhuang hadn’t reminded them in time, the cake would have been squashed. Now, with all eyes on her, she felt a bit embarrassed.

Pei Jingmo’s excitement was only now beginning to subside. He glanced at Xiao Man, “Go and urge the owner to speed up the food.”

“Alright!”

Xiao Man was about to leave when Pei Jingmo pulled him back. “Make sure all the ingredients are fresh and clean.”

Usually, when they came here to eat, they weren’t so particular. But tonight was different, since the fairy-like sister-in-law was present.

“Got it.”

Soon, the waiter arrived, carrying plates of various stir-fried, fried, and braised dishes. Liu Dazhuang took charge, and everyone poured themselves a glass of white liquor.

“Everyone, today is Black Earth’s birthday. Let’s raise our glasses together and wish him a happy birthday!”

Everyone lifted their glasses. Song Qingyu took hers as well, but Pei Jingmo pressed her hand down. “Can you drink?”

Before Song Qingyu could answer, Liu Dazhuang chuckled, “We got her fruit wine—low in alcohol. Shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“No problem,” Song Qingyu gave Pei Jingmo a reassuring look.

During this time, Pei Jingmo had cared for her and accompanied her, giving her much warmth. Tonight, all she wanted was to make him happy. After all, in a partnership, making your other half happy was important.

“Black Earth, happy birthday.”

The men from the factory all had booming voices; Song Qingyu’s gentle “Jingmo, happy birthday” was drowned out entirely.

Seeing everyone drain their glasses, Song Qingyu tipped her head back and finished hers too.

Pei Jingmo gently tugged her sleeve, “Drink a little less.”

“The fruit wine is sweet and sour—I won’t get drunk.”

Pei Jingmo smiled, his eyes filled with unspoken tenderness.

“They call you ‘Black Earth’... doesn’t that bother you?”

Pei Jingmo shook his head. “No, I’m not the type to get angry.”

Song Qingyu nodded. True enough, though Pei Jingmo looked fierce, she had never seen him lose his temper.

After a few rounds, the gossip began.

“Sister-in-law, we never expected you’d really be Black Earth’s wife. Tell us, how did he win you over?”

Liu Dazhuang laughed, “Exactly! When Black Earth showed us the marriage certificate, we thought he was so desperate to marry, he’d Photoshopped a beautiful woman’s face onto it. Who knew he was secretly making big moves?”

Xiao Man, mouth full of food, chimed in, “Yeah, last time some guys tried to corner Black Earth—Black Earth—”

Pei Jingmo stuffed a chicken drumstick into Xiao Man’s mouth. “Eat up. Grown-ups are talking; children shouldn’t interrupt.”

Xiao Man chuckled, gnawing on the drumstick, “I’m eighteen—not a child!”

Realizing that most men didn’t want their embarrassing stories aired in front of their wives, Liu Dazhuang shifted the topic back to Song Qingyu.

She glanced at Pei Jingmo, who, rare for him, didn’t try to rescue her, wanting her to answer herself.

Thinking back to marrying Pei Jingmo, Song Qingyu still found it a little surreal.

“I was the first to fall for him.”

A chorus of “Ohs” and laughter erupted. Song Qingyu cleared her throat, raising her glass, “Thank you all for looking after Jingmo. I’d like to toast you.”

Even fruit wine had alcohol. Pei Jingmo worried she’d get drunk. But then again, being tipsy—might not be a bad thing.

Song Qingyu wanted some barbecue. Pei Jingmo carefully wiped a skewer clean and handed it to her, “Careful, it’s hot.”

“Mm.”

The others couldn’t help but tease again at the sight.

“Who would have thought our Black Earth, the tough guy, would be so gentle?”

“Right! When he first came, he once ran out at night to box, hands all bloodied, face terrifying. I used to wonder who’d dare marry him. Thank goodness sister-in-law did.”

Song Qingyu remembered Pei Jingmo mentioning his sleepwalking at the construction site. It seemed his condition was quite serious; she’d have to watch over him carefully.

Unnoticed, she had already finished a glass of fruit wine. She hadn’t felt much while drinking, but now she was a bit dizzy.

The cake was brought out. Song Qingyu took out the birthday hat, intending to place it on Pei Jingmo’s head, but he took it from her and put it on her instead.

Already somewhat tipsy, Song Qingyu gave a silly smile. “It’s your birthday, why put it on me?”

“I’ll blow out the candles, you wear the hat—we’ll celebrate together.”

Their eyes met, and the tenderness in his gaze left Song Qingyu speechless.

“Black Earth, sister-in-law… look this way…”

The two turned toward Liu Dazhuang’s voice.

Click—

Liu Dazhuang snapped their photo.

A handsome man and a beautiful woman—a striking pair.

“My, you two look so perfect together. Your child will surely be beautiful.”

A child?

How could there possibly be one?

Yet Pei Jingmo replied, “Thank you for your kind words.”

After the cake was cut, seeing Song Qingyu swaying and unable to sit upright, Pei Jingmo paid the bill and told the others to keep celebrating while he took her home.

Leaning against Pei Jingmo, Song Qingyu suddenly noticed something odd about his scent. She leaned in close to his neck and sniffed, “Strange… the scent of gardenia on you isn’t as pure as usual.”

Pei Jingmo stiffened.

Damn, he’d left in such a hurry he forgot to shower; there was still perfume on him.

“I was sweating.”

“Oh…”

Luckily, Song Qingyu was so drunk she was easily fooled.

She looked up at the sky and smiled softly, “The moon is so big and round tonight.”

Pei Jingmo glanced up. “Yes, it’s the fifteenth.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen such a big moon. Can we stay here and look at it a while longer?”

The moon would still be visible at home, but clearly, Song Qingyu was too drunk to remember that.

Pei Jingmo, however, indulged her without hesitation. “Of course.”

He spotted a bench nearby and gently settled her onto it, sitting close by to shield her.

When Song Qingyu was drunk, she was quiet and well-behaved.

She gazed up at the sky, a faint smile on her lips. “Do you think there really is a fairy living in the moon?”

Had anyone else asked Pei Jingmo such a question, he’d have thought them simple-minded. But Song Qingyu was different.

“Probably.”

“Then she must be lonely, right? The Moon Palace must be so cold, with only a rabbit for company.”

She turned to him, still smiling, “But I’m not the same. I have you with me—it’s very warm.”

Pei Jingmo’s breath caught. In his dark eyes, emotion surged. Did she have any idea how tempting she was when she acted like this, how she made one want to sin?

He struggled to restrain himself—

A taut string in his mind nearly snapped. On the edge of losing control, he forced himself to remain composed and asked, “Can I kiss you?”

Song Qingyu, her thoughts muddled, looked confused. “Why?”

Isn’t a kiss something only people who like each other do?

Pei Jingmo took a deep breath. “Because I want to.”

Song Qingyu tilted her head. “If you want to, does that mean you can?”