Chapter 364 - 362: The Nine Nether Cold Jade Grass Has Sprouted

"He didn’t bully me, but he said he’s thought a lot recently. He feels he wronged me in the past and wants to start over, to live a good life together," Meng Qiaofei said, her voice so calm it was almost devoid of emotion.

Yang Xun didn’t reply, simply listening quietly.

Meng Qiaofei lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously toying with the hem of her skirt. "He said he’s changed now, that he’ll work hard and treat me well from now on.

"After hearing that, I didn’t feel a thing. I just felt... it’s too late."

She looked up, a layer of mist gathering in her beautiful eyes. "When we first got married, I truly wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Even though he was still playing around and drinking back then, he at least cared about me. I thought he would settle down eventually.

"But later, he spent all his time drinking and gambling outside, and whenever he came back, he would take his anger out on me. I would work at the bathhouse until midnight, but he would be fooling around with other women. Twice, he even brought them home."

Her voice choked with emotion as she continued, "He ground away whatever feelings I had for him, little by little. Now he says he wants to change, but what makes him think I’m still waiting for him?"

Seeing her slightly reddened eyes, Yang Xun felt a gentle tug at his heartstrings.

"Qiaofei, if you really don’t want to live with him anymore, then don’t force yourself. You still have a long life ahead of you. There’s no need to stake the rest of it on someone who makes you unhappy."

Meng Qiaofei looked up at him, her tearful, almond-shaped eyes brimming with complex emotions. She suddenly smiled. "You’re right. I really don’t want to force myself anymore.

"He has someone else on the outside anyway, so it’s best if we just stay out of each other’s way. I shouldn’t waste my life on him."

Seeing her smile, Yang Xun breathed a sigh of relief. He got up, walked over to the liquor cabinet, and poured two glasses of red wine. Handing one to Meng Qiaofei, he said, "If you want a divorce, both Yueyue and I will support you."

Meng Qiaofei took the glass, her fingers accidentally brushing against the pads of his. The icy touch made her pull her hand back slightly.

They drank in silence, the TICK-TOCK of the wall clock the only sound left in the living room.

The buzz of the alcohol gradually crept up along with the warm yellow glow of the lights, melting away the faint sense of distance in the air. Meng Qiaofei raised her eyes to look at Yang Xun. His profile was outlined clearly by the light, his jawline sharp and clean as his gaze rested on the potted plant on the coffee table.

She suddenly felt her heart beating faster than usual.

"Yang Xun."

"Yeah?"

She set down her wine glass. As if mustering some kind of courage, she leaned forward slightly, looking straight into his eyes.

"Tell me, am I a terrible woman?"

"How could you be? If you were terrible, would there be any good women left in the world?"

Yang Xun meant those words from the bottom of his heart. After he married Xu Yue, no one in the Xu family respected him. But every time Meng Qiaofei saw him, she was warm and gentle, and she would even speak up for him. He had even envied Xu Feifan in the past, wondering how such a scumbag managed to marry such a wonderful wife like Meng Qiaofei.

"But..." She lowered her head, her fingertip tracing light circles around the rim of her glass. "I don’t have any feelings for Xu Feifan anymore, yet I still live in the Xu family’s house and carry the title of their daughter-in-law, all while being unable to control my feelings for someone else."

As her voice faded, Meng Qiaofei suddenly looked up just as Yang Xun looked down at her. In that unguarded moment, their gazes collided.

They gradually leaned in closer until they could feel the warmth of each other’s breath. Neither of them spoke. Then, without knowing who took the first step, their lips gently met. The touch was soft and warm, tinged with the slight bitterness of the red wine.

Yang Xun’s hand gently pressed against her back, caressing her through the thin fabric. The kiss deepened little by little, transitioning from hesitant exploration to eager response, from restraint to pure indulgence.

The living room’s warm, intimate lighting cast their intertwined silhouettes against the snow-white wall. The RUSTLE of clothing friction was exceptionally clear in the quiet room, accompanied by increasingly rapid breaths and soft moans suppressed deep in their throats.

One of the wine glasses on the coffee table was knocked over. The remaining red wine slowly trickled down the edge of the table and dripped onto the light-colored carpet, blooming into a small, dark red stain.

The two entangled passionately, abandoning all caution.

"Yang Xun..." Meng Qiaofei’s voice carried a hoarse, almost shattered tremor.

She arched her neck, threading her fingers through the short hair at the back of his head as her body bowed slightly.

"Ah... slower... I can’t take it."

With a sharp cry, Meng Qiaofei’s body trembled violently. A drop of crystal-clear liquid splashed into the nearby flower pot and was quickly absorbed by the soil.

When everything finally settled, Meng Qiaofei leaned against Yang Xun’s chest. Her forehead rested against his collarbone, her breathing still carrying the lingering afterglow.

Just then, a phone BUZZED on the coffee table, its screen lighting up.

Yang Xun reached over and took a look. It was a message from Xu Yue: "We’re almost home. Can you make me a bowl of hangover soup? I drank a bit too much tonight."

"Yueyue is coming back," he said faintly.

Meng Qiaofei’s body stiffened slightly. She scrambled to sit up, grabbing her scattered clothes and hastily pulling them on, her fingers trembling as she buttoned up.

"Yang Xun, don’t let Yueyue know about this. I don’t want to hurt her, okay?" Her beautiful eyes were red, and her face still carried an unfaded flush, making her look even more alluring.

Yang Xun’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He gave a faint smile. "Don’t worry. You head upstairs first. I’ll clean up here."

He stood up, got dressed, and strode over to the window. Pushing it half-open, he let the night breeze sweep away some of the intimate scent lingering in the living room.

Looking at the mess on the sofa, Meng Qiaofei’s cheeks burned so fiercely they were practically bleeding red. Terrified of being caught by Xu Yue, she got up and quickly left. As she reached the corner of the stairs, her legs suddenly gave out. She nearly missed a step and hurriedly grabbed the handrail for support.

Near the end just now, Yang Xun hadn’t controlled his strength. She must have been hurt. Yang Xun thought that he would go apply some medicine for her tonight once Xu Yue fell asleep, lest she be unable to walk the next day.

He glanced at the disheveled sofa, bending down to fluff the crumpled cushions before wiping the spilled red wine off the coffee table with a tissue.

Just as he squatted to wipe the wine stains from the floor, his gaze was suddenly drawn to the pot of Nine Nether Cold Jade Grass on the coffee table. A hairline crack had somehow appeared on the once smooth, moist surface of the soil. Right in the center of the crack, a pale, almost transparent tender green sprout was pushing through the topsoil, delicately stretching outwards.

Yang Xun’s movements abruptly halted. He put down the tissue and crouched in front of the flower pot, leaning in for a closer look at the fresh sprout.