Crossing the Line – Chapter 45
by Little PandaThis Time, Her Throat Grew Even Tighter
“So it turns out you like me.”
Their eyes met. The ambiguity beneath the literal words was like a white rabbit suddenly leaping out of the snow, catching one completely off guard.
It made Jiang Siyi’s eyes widen slightly.
The words had been perfectly normal; she hadn’t thought there was anything wrong with them.
But once Lin Ji repeated them like that, something seemed not quite right…
Lin Ji’s gaze quietly invaded her eyes inch by inch. Jiang Siyi, unsettled by the direct look, turned her gaze away.
As if one more second of being looked at would allow this clever woman to see straight into the depths of her heart through her eyes, easily dismantling her suppressed feelings.
Seeing her avoid the gaze, Lin Ji didn’t continue to tease her. She held Xueqiu steadily and said they should give it a bath.
Jiang Siyi: “Do you… know how to bathe a dog?”
She hadn’t said the reason directly, but from their first interaction with Xueqiu, Lin Ji seemed somewhat wary of dogs.
She probably had little contact with dogs normally, might not know how to bathe one, and certainly might not enjoy doing it.
Lin Ji: “I don’t.”
As expected.
Jiang Siyi: “Then…”
Lin Ji stroked Xueqiu’s fluffy head with somewhat unpracticed movements.
“I can learn. It shouldn’t be complicated.”
Jiang Siyi’s thick eyelashes blinked slowly, a moment of daze crossing her face.
Even for something simple, not necessarily everyone would be willing to learn it immediately for another person.
Having stayed in passive circumstances for too long, the feeling of being actively cared for was truly unfamiliar.
Yet, very happy.
A small cluster of nameless flowers at the tip of her heart couldn’t help but bloom because of Lin Ji.
Jiang Siyi pressed down the smile at the corner of her lips and said,
“I’ll go with you.”
Lin Ji: “Mm.”
There was only one master bedroom, but several bathrooms.
Lin Ji said the bathroom closest to the courtyard would be reserved for Xueqiu, so it could come inside and wash directly after getting dirty playing in the yard.
The bathroom had a bathtub specifically for bathing pets.
The kind with temperature control, water jets, and even a bubble bath function—a multi-purpose bathtub.
Previously, Xueqiu’s baths had been in an ordinary bathing bucket that Jiang Siyi bought for 9.9 yuan at the downstairs supermarket.
Crude as it was, because its owner’s massage technique was so comfortable, it would stick its tongue out in bliss every time, absolutely loving bath time.
Now the bathing bucket had been upgraded, the poop scooper serving it had increased by one, and the water even had dedicated massage jets.
It should have liked it.
But upon seeing the large bathtub and so much water, the memory of nearly drowning in the river last time was triggered, and it became a bit anxious.
Bichon Frises were already small-bodied with fluffy coats, their swimming skills no match for longer-legged breeds.
Being timid and having nearly drowned once made it even more afraid.
Seeing its anxiety, Lin Ji and Jiang Siyi didn’t fill the tub with a lot of water right away. Instead, they poured water over it little by little and gave it a basin to float on safely first.
Before long, Xueqiu had adapted to the bathtub. It curiously looked at the water outside the basin, paddled a few times, then jumped out of the basin on its own, splashing Lin Ji with water.
Lin Ji’s clothes were soaked by Xueqiu, but she wasn’t the least bit angry. She even smiled and rubbed its head.
Soaking in warm water with a dollop of bubbles on its head, the silly dog hummed contentedly.
They could now proceed to the official dog-washing routine.
Lin Ji started as Jiang Siyi’s assistant, handing her the pet shampoo as instructed.
She paid attention to how Jiang Siyi massaged Xueqiu, and learned it after watching once.
Since Xueqiu was very well-behaved and cooperative, washing it was simple. Lin Ji took over for the second half.
After washing and blow-drying, it became a fluffy, sweet-smelling little dog again.
Xueqiu was well-behaved, but no matter how cooperative it was, bathing it alone used to drain quite a bit of Jiang Siyi’s energy.
This time, with a pet bathtub at the right height—no bending over—and Lin Ji’s help, she didn’t feel tired at all.
Xueqiu also knew who treated it well. After the bath, it kept following Lin Ji around, trailing her wherever she went.
Lin Ji was completely unaccustomed to having a fawning cotton ball following at her feet, and nearly stepped on it.
Jiang Siyi had no choice but to pick Xueqiu up, turn the whole dog around, and send it off to eat.
While Xueqiu wolfed down its food, Lin Ji brought in a takeout bag from the door.
She set it on the teak dining table and opened it—three dishes and a soup inside.
“Time was a bit tight today, so I had the steward bring some takeout. The community clubhouse’s head chef is decent. Let’s just have something simple. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be in charge of breakfast and dinner.”
Jiang Siyi was surprised. “You can cook?”
Lin Ji was about to give her habitual concise retort—Doesn’t seem like it?
But running the phrase through her mind, it felt a bit harsh. She adjusted her tone slightly and added a particle.
“Does it not seem like it?”
One extra syllable at the end, and the gentleness instantly doubled.
Jiang Siyi: “No, I just… it’s a bit unexpected.”
Those who lived alone and worked knew best how tiring and energy-draining cooking could be.
Having someone willingly take on this chore—even if it were Lin Ji, whose taste buds were different from ordinary people’s—Jiang Siyi felt she had no grounds for complaint.
Even if they really had fermented bean drink1 over rice, she could absolutely clean her plate.
After the meal, Lin Ji had an online meeting she had to attend in the afternoon. She told Jiang Siyi she needed to be busy for a while.
“You can wander around the house first. If you need anything, just message me on WeChat.”
Lin Ji went to the study. Jiang Siyi also wanted to familiarize herself with the place as soon as possible—at least to know the layout—so she carried Xueqiu and explored around.
She didn’t go back into the bedroom areas. Having just arrived, Jiang Siyi still felt somewhat reserved, with no sense of being the lady of the house. She went to see the other spaces first and memorize the layout.
The Linyu Shuian community was located in J City’s prime district, and Lin Ji’s Courtyard No. 1 sat in the golden area of the entire community.
Access was very convenient. The three-story villa came with two yards. The front and back yards, aside from a patch of jasmine in full bloom climbing the trees and a small greenhouse in the corner, were still in an undeveloped state.
Approaching the small greenhouse for a look, she was surprised to find strawberries growing inside.
Thinking of the incredibly delicious strawberry juice from that morning—could it have been from strawberries Lin Ji grew herself?
It was truly hard to imagine that Lin Ji, who was always immaculately clean, had a hobby of personally growing things.
And building a greenhouse too—what skillful hands.
Upstairs was a pool, and the basement had a private theater and gym.
The sunken space connecting the first floor and basement had been arranged as an open library, with many professional books and tattoo-related albums.
Carrying Xueqiu, Jiang Siyi walked to the theater entrance. Before going in, she wasn’t quite sure, so she politely knocked. When no one answered, she pushed the door open and went inside.
Other than being smaller than a regular theater, the facilities here were complete.
The wine cabinet was filled with bottles, and the snack cabinet was stocked with all kinds of casual snacks and beverages.
Jiang Siyi didn’t recognize most of the beverage brands. She pulled out a can and checked—0 sugar, 0 calories, 0 additives.
Classic Lin Ji—completely ascetic.
She put the overly health-conscious drink back and noticed a popcorn machine and an ice cream maker standing side by side in the corner.
Truly a full theater atmosphere.
Hard to imagine enjoying this alone at home.
She used the ice cream maker to make herself a cup of pistachio ice cream, sat on the sofa, and scrolled through the control panel to see what movies were available.
The film list actually featured all the recently released hit movies, synchronized with theatrical releases.
Jiang Siyi selected a suspense film she’d been wanting to see but hadn’t found the time for.
Watching a movie in an empty space where you could pet the dog, walk around, scroll on your phone while watching, do anything—this kind of experience was so relaxed and pleasant.
Perhaps because the earlier bath was too comfortable and lunch was filling, Xueqiu dozed off on her lap after a while, letting out a big yawn before falling into a deeply relaxed sleep, snoring softly.
By the time the movie ended and she carried Xueqiu out of the theater, it was already dark outside.
The pathway lights from the sunken space through the courtyard to the main house had all been turned on.
The outdoor temperature control system released comfortable cool air into the courtyard. Even walking outdoors in summer, her skin remained dry without a drop of sweat.
Strolling back to the house, the moment she stepped inside, she caught the aroma of food drifting from the kitchen.
Lin Ji had finished her meeting and, keeping her promise, was cooking dinner in the kitchen.
Wearing an apron with her hair tied back, she was cooking with great focus.
Her meticulous profile carried a serene, stirring beauty.
Without even turning around, still focused on the pan in front of her, Lin Ji said,
“Wash your hands. It’s time to eat.”
Jiang Siyi, who had been peeking: …
The dinner’s main course was pan-seared aged halibut with vegetable salad.
Along with a drink blended from kale, nuts, and a splash of milk, plus a bowl of vivid red strawberries.
Another meal that balanced nutrition, taste, and health.
Jiang Siyi took a bite of the fish and was astounded.
Lin Ji could actually cook—and cook very well.
Confirmed: her taste buds were fine.
That time with the calming tea, Lin Ji must have forced herself to drink it and lied about it tasting good.
Jiang Siyi stole a glance at the woman sitting across from her, eating quietly. On top of her guilt, she was also drawn in by her features.
How could someone be this beautiful and also this kind…
Having already forgotten how much she used to fear this person, Jiang Siyi took another bite of fish.
The aged halibut had a very unique flavor, rich in fat.
It was a bit rich after finishing, but a sip of the refreshing drink followed by a few sweet-tart strawberries, and the greasiness vanished completely.
She could eat to her heart’s content without any burden at all.
The strawberries were probably picked from the backyard.
The strawberries at the breakfast shop Lin Ji had taken her to last time—the one with the soft peach-colored Juliet roses—had this same taste.
Not the blandness of force-ripened fruit, nor cloying sweetness.
Perfectly sweet and tart, with intensely concentrated fruit flavor.
She had been amazed at the time, and it left an impression.
Jiang Siyi liked strawberries. She had tried growing strawberry plants before—one pot got eaten by bugs, and the other pot barely managed to produce two berries. One bite, and the sourness was unforgettable for life.
Lin Ji truly seemed to be exceptionally favored by heaven—even the strawberries she grew were extraordinarily delicious.
It had been a long time since she’d eaten so peacefully and comfortably in the evening.
Lin Ji: “Is it good?”
Jiang Siyi said from the bottom of her heart: “Mm-hmm, it’s really delicious.”
The beautiful woman across the dining table ate her dinner at a leisurely pace, seemingly savoring the moment.
The two pendant lights overhead illuminated the dining area perfectly, catching the hint of a smile at her lips.
Lin Ji smiled faintly. “Then remember to come home for dinner every night from now on.”
…
Eventually, it was time to share a bed.
Jiang Siyi had already finished her shower. Wearing the cotton separates—long pants and long sleeves—she’d brought from her rented apartment, she sat on the bed.
The projector cast the news onto the screen straight ahead, but Jiang Siyi’s attention kept drifting from the broadcast.
The sound of water in the bathroom stopped. In the silence that followed, Jiang Siyi’s heartbeat thundered so loudly it nearly drowned out the news.
Soon, Lin Ji would come out in her sleepwear…
When putting away clothes earlier, she had caught a glimpse of Lin Ji’s sleepwear in the closet—just the general shape—and hadn’t dared to look closely.
Jiang Siyi was still mentally preparing herself when the bathroom door opened.
Lin Ji stepped around the corner into Jiang Siyi’s peripheral vision, her long hair blown dry, carrying the scent of shower gel and a faint trace of moisture.
It was the familiar scent of camellia bath gel.
When moving, she had noticed the bath gel wasn’t finished yet, so she brought it along.
The bath gel naturally went into the bathroom, so Lin Ji had used the half-used one.
Taking on the same scent as hers.
Even though she didn’t deliberately look, an expanse of striking fair skin and full, soft curves forcefully pushed into her field of vision.
Jiang Siyi, who appeared to be sitting properly upright and watching the news, was actually secretly gripping the edge of the blanket.
Even from the corner of her eye, she could tell Lin Ji was wearing a deep V silk nightgown, slightly cinched at the waist, the hem reaching mid-calf.
Whether it was the cut being exceptionally waist-defining or Lin Ji’s figure being too good, her alluring, mature curves were on full display.
And it was the pink lace style—Jiang Siyi’s favorite.
Compared to this sexy, elegant nightgown that so perfectly hit Jiang Siyi’s preferences, the one she wore when staying at Auntie Lin’s place seemed ordinary.
Her heartbeat, which she had been trying so hard to control, suddenly spiraled out of rhythm.
She stared even more intently at the news screen.
Her back was rigid, and she’d even forgotten to blink.
The mattress gave a slight compression—Lin Ji had sat down beside her.
Lin Ji’s signature sandalwood perfume seeped into Jiang Siyi’s camellia bath scent, blending into a strange, intertwined fragrance.
Like a solemn, oppressive, and austere ancient temple suddenly permeated by a bewitching, intoxicating exotic scent.
The two scents endlessly entangled, clung, and merged.
Each within the other, each part of the other.
Jiang Siyi’s thoughts had already been made hazy by the scent when she suddenly heard Lin Ji say,
“Could you help me grab something?”
“Mm?”
Jiang Siyi responded, turning her face slightly, but her gaze didn’t shift to the person beside her—pretending the news was so absorbing, so engrossing.
A very unnatural sidelong glance.
Lin Ji: “Help me get the charger. It’s on your side.”
“Oh, oh.”
Jiang Siyi immediately turned to get it for her.
Lin Ji watched the half of the small wing tattoo revealed below her collar, and her narrow, slender back—with a heavy, undisguised gaze.
The charger reached Lin Ji’s hand. She thanked her.
When Jiang Siyi said “You’re welcome,” her eyes still didn’t meet hers.
She seemed to have no reaction, but her index fingers were already nervously hooking together.
Lin Ji plugged in her phone and said,
“I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to prepare other sleepwear.”
Jiang Siyi: …
Why apologize for that.
An apology like this just lets me know you’ve seen through my nervousness, doesn’t it?
Am I really that obvious?
Jiang Siyi maintained her last shred of dignity and said with proper composure:
“It’s fine.”
The news ended. The projector was turned off. It was time to sleep.
Lin Ji’s reading light was on. She said, “I’m used to sleeping with a light on. The light shouldn’t reach your side. If it affects your sleep, let me know.”
Jiang Siyi gave a soft “Mm.”
That night light was easy to ignore. With the projector off, the bedroom was so quiet they could hear each other’s breathing.
The thought of lying in the same bed as Lin Ji—and as her wife, no less—made sleep impossible for Jiang Siyi.
She turned over.
But memories came to add to the chaos.
—”We got the certificate. Whatever you do is legal.”
The words Lin Ji had spoken, along with the expression on her face when she said them, flooded Jiang Siyi’s mind together.
She turned over again.
Strange. The central air conditioning and fresh air system were both running, so why did it still feel stuffy, a bit warm?
Lin Ji, who had been lying still without changing position, suddenly turned to face Jiang Siyi’s defenseless back.
Jiang Siyi’s spine tensed. She could feel Lin Ji’s breath silently drawing closer.
Her breathing suspended, Jiang Siyi stared unblinking at the draped, closed curtains not far away.
The woman behind her asked gently, “Can’t sleep?”
She couldn’t tell if it was relief or disappointment, but Jiang Siyi gave a soft “Mm.”
Lin Ji tapped Jiang Siyi’s small ear cartilage.
“Does touching your ear not help you sleep either?”
Jiang Siyi turned her head to look at Lin Ji, who was propped on one arm, lying on her side watching her.
With this turn, the distance between them suddenly drew very close.
Lin Ji lay on her side while she lay flat on her back—her entire body was enveloped in Lin Ji’s shadow.
Their breaths exchanged in the dark.
Jiang Siyi gave another slow “Mm.”
Compared to just now, this time her throat grew even tighter.
Lin Ji tucked her cascading long curls behind her ear, fully revealing her beautifully shaped right ear.
“Then… would you like to touch my ear?”
The author has something to say:
Lin Ji: Wife-pampering Step 17—initiate physical contact with wife
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