Crossing the Line – Chapter 47

Kissed Ever Deeper

“Wife.”

Jiang Siyi’s smile at this moment was even stiffer than the one on their marriage certificates.

            

“Why are you here?”

In the distance, Manager Wu’s eyes went wide, and the Short-haired Female Colleague beside her had just taken a sip of pearl milk tea and nearly turned into a Peashooter.

Lin Ji had already made their marriage public among her circle of friends and colleagues, and Jiang Siyi felt she had nothing left to hide.

            

Beyond making the girl who refused to believe she was married back off, more importantly, Jiang Siyi didn’t want Lin Ji to misunderstand anything.

Within their marriage, Lin Ji had promised her a loyal partner, and she would return the same.

But this was her workplace after all, with many colleagues watching her.

            

And she herself knew this was an act—waiting for Lin Ji’s reaction, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

Her scalp tingled, her fingers curling involuntarily.

She only hoped Lin Ji would play along…

            

The scrutinizing gazes of others didn’t fall within Lin Ji’s line of sight.

Struck in the chest by the sudden address of “Wife,” even knowing she had said it in a moment of panic, Lin Ji’s heart was nonetheless rubbed by some emotion, sprouting a tingling, numbing sense of satisfaction.

She took hold of Jiang Siyi’s hand.

            

Not enough—her fingertips slipped into the gaps between Jiang Siyi’s fingers, slowly threading into her palm.

Opening her fingers, intimately interlacing all ten.

Focused and intimate, using action to claim the title of “Wife.”

            

An exclusive pose of possessing Jiang Siyi entirely.

“I had a meeting upstairs. I saw the promotion for your lecture and came over. I took some videos and photos—my Wife looked beautiful today too.”

Not only did she play along, but their fingers remained tightly interlaced without a single gap.

            

The tender, sweet words made one blush even more.

Jiang Siyi’s breathing grew a little disordered, trying her best to control her expression.

Not far away, Shen Miao saw Jiang Siyi linking arms with the woman she had just called “Wife”—why did she look a bit familiar, yet she couldn’t place her at the moment.

            

At the last auction, after Jiang Siyi helped her out of an awkward situation, Shen Miao had been sent abroad, but that hadn’t stopped her from being unable to forget Jiang Siyi.

She had scrolled through the videos of Jiang Siyi’s auctioneering online several times.

The gentle, refined beauty’s charm had been carved into her brain—she thought about her day and night, completely captivated.

            

The first thing she did upon returning to the country was to confirm Jiang Siyi’s schedule, buying flowers and showing up directly at the lecture.

She never expected—she was actually married.

Jiang Siyi was so young, and already married.

            

Shen Miao had known she was beautiful since childhood, with so many suitors around her that she found them annoying.

She had never pursued anyone. Jiang Siyi was the first.

Shen Miao, who was extremely confident in her own looks, compared herself against Jiang Siyi’s wife in her mind—from height to presence, to temperament and appearance, she didn’t win in a single category… leaving her mind momentarily blank.

            

“Is your work finished?”

Lin Ji asked Jiang Siyi.

“Mm.”

            

“Let’s go home together.”

“Mm-hm.”

Walking over to Manager Wu’s side, she said the lecture was over and she was heading out first.

            

The remaining wrap-up would be handled by dedicated colleagues; Jiang Siyi could have left anyway.

Manager Wu waved goodbye to them.

The two had barely turned around when Manager Wu’s sleeve was tugged by the Short-haired Female Colleague.

            

The Short-haired Female Colleague couldn’t even straighten her tongue. “D-d-did I just see Chairman Ji?”

Manager Wu put on the calm demeanor of someone who had seen it all. “Mm, you’re not blind.”

The Short-haired Female Colleague: “Xiao Jiang and Chairman Ji? Wife? Xiao Jiang’s marriage partner is Chairman Ji? Huh?”

            

Manager Wu calmly sipped her milk tea. “Mm, you’re not crazy.”

---

Walking into the fully air-conditioned parking garage, the noise of the crowd receded like a tide, replaced in Jiang Siyi’s mind by a different sound.

Wife.

            

That word that she herself had spoken aloud transformed into different volumes, materialized into different colored solid characters, shuttling through her mind in an endless loop.

That’s right…

I called Lin Ji “Wife.”

            

I really just called her that in front of so many people in public.

Some people look calm and collected on the surface, as if nothing happened, but deep inside they’re wrapped in shame, their spirit shrinking smaller and smaller until it curls into a tiny ball.

Smaller than the Shi Shi Ru Yi¹ Persimmon Pendant hanging on Lin Ji’s handbag.

            

Along this entire walk, Jiang Siyi didn’t say a word.

Lin Ji propped her chin on one hand, a smile involuntarily spreading across her lips from time to time.

But seeing Jiang Siyi remain silent, she didn’t speak either.

            

Arriving home and entering the house, Lin Ji was a bit thirsty and wanted to ask Jiang Siyi what she’d like to drink.

“Jiang Siyi.”

The moment she turned around and called her name, she realized she had actually used her full name.

            

It hadn’t been that long since she switched to calling her “Siyi”—occasionally slipping up was normal.

But Jiang Siyi froze three steps away.

Lin Ji stood before the open refrigerator, half her face illuminated by its cold light.

            

From Jiang Siyi’s perspective, this cold light added an unapproachable chill to Lin Ji’s already sharp features.

Combined with the just-uttered full name, the pressure was immense.

It was entirely the tone of someone demanding Jiang Siyi come clean.

            

“I only met that Miss Shen once at the auction.”

Jiang Siyi suddenly said.

Lin Ji: ?

            

“No, I also saw her once at the preview—so twice.”

Jiang Siyi recalled carefully.

Lin Ji: …

            

So she was explaining about that young woman, worried I’d mind.

“Other than that, we’ve had absolutely no private contact. Why she did what she did today, I don’t know either. But… anyway, now that she knows I’m married, she probably won’t pester me anymore.”

Jiang Siyi’s face was slightly flushed, her words a bit jumbled, but very earnest.

            

Her tone carried a hint of anxiety.

Looking directly into Lin Ji’s eyes, she explained sincerely.

Lin Ji quietly gazed at her for a moment, then closed the refrigerator.

            

Walking over, she leaned one hand on the counter beside Jiang Siyi.

Both of them were wearing indoor slippers.

Jiang Siyi’s pair were the capybara ones she had brought from home; Lin Ji was wearing the matching pair she had bought later—the same style as Jiang Siyi’s.

            

Insisting on making them a couple set.

With a ten-centimeter height difference, Jiang Siyi had to slightly lift her eyes when looking at the woman before her.

A little nervous, not knowing what Lin Ji would say.

            

Her eyelashes fluttered unnaturally.

All her unnatural little details fell within Lin Ji’s line of sight.

Just calling her full name once, and she was this nervous.

            

Explaining so cautiously.

The fear of making others angry was a stress response forged through years of oppressive living.

“Siyi.”

            

Cool fingertips tapped the back of Jiang Siyi’s hand.

“Do you know why that girl likes you?”

Jiang Siyi’s throat tightened, not knowing what to say or how to react.

            

Lin Ji leaned closer, flecks of light falling on her dense eyelashes, a smile slowly spreading from the corners of her eyes.

“Because you really are easy to like.”

Jiang Siyi’s tense expression was stunned by Lin Ji’s words.

            

She thought Lin Ji would say something she didn’t know.

Like how Shen Miao’s actions actually had ulterior motives, or some business connection, or some behind-the-scenes entanglement beyond imagination.

These were words she hadn’t expected at all.

            

So much so that upon hearing them, it took her a moment to parse their true meaning.

You really are easy… to like.

To like.

            

Her face, slightly flushed from the effort of explaining, was now replaced by a different kind of redness born of a different emotion.

Her eyes held surprise too, glinting shyly.

Seeing that Jiang Siyi was no longer anxious, Lin Ji continued at her leisurely pace with the plan to help her cool down.

            

“Strawberry juice, watermelon juice, or cola? Strawberry juice, right?”

Jiang Siyi: “…Right.”

Lin Ji: “Want some milk added?”

            

Jiang Siyi: “Okay…”

Lin Ji didn’t waste any more time on the topic of other people, turning around to prepare the drink Jiang Siyi loved.

This was the real priority.

            

Jiang Siyi should have been able to breathe a sigh of relief, but her heartbeat couldn’t settle back into place.

Quietly watching Lin Ji’s back—happy, yet terrified she was reading too much into things.

Temporarily occupying the position of Lin Ji’s wife, receiving her kindness, accepting her care—her feelings of attraction kept deepening.

            

The boundary she had drawn for herself, the rule that she must not cross, was now teetering on the edge of collapse.

Like someone protesting too much, she told herself again—don’t overstep, don’t be greedy, don’t get addicted.

You’ve already received more than enough.

            

…

For a period of time after that, Lin Ji noticed that aside from meal times and sleeping hours, she and Jiang Siyi always just happened to miss each other.

When she was in the living room, Jiang Siyi was in the bedroom.

            

When she went to the bedroom, Jiang Siyi had moved to the library to read.

When she followed to the library, she found Jiang Siyi had already gone to the gym to run on the treadmill.

Under the same roof, they had somehow managed to live as if in different time zones.

            

She had no proof, but Lin Ji felt that Jiang Siyi was deliberately going out of her way to avoid her.

Avoiding her again.

How was this like turning back time?

            

Lin Ji was a little exasperated.

After she called her “Wife” and she gave such a sweet, careful explanation about not having been involved with anyone outside—she had actually started dodging her all over again.

As cute as it was, Lin Ji really wanted to grumble—

            

Calling her “Wife” and then running away—who exactly doesn’t know how to date?

---

Fan Qing had returned from vacation, a bit tanner and a bit thinner.

She brought some souvenirs for Lin Ji and Jiang Siyi—some snacks and local specialties.

            

After Jiang Siyi thanked her, she asked if she had enjoyed her trip.

Fan Qing hesitated, her response somewhat difficult to articulate.

She had wanted to say “very tired.”

            

But then she thought of the image of Qiao Jin smiling faintly at her beneath the beach umbrella.

She remembered Qiao Jin treating her as a friend, sharing some old stories, thanking the young woman for being willing to accompany a boring middle-aged woman on vacation.

It seemed that saying only “tired” wasn’t quite objective—and a bit ungrateful.

            

Fan Qing changed her words: “Tired as it was, quite happy.”

Jiang Siyi fell silent.

Her thoughts had been a bit wayward lately—how did she read so much into such a short sentence?

            

The car still drove to the underground parking garage, dropping Jiang Siyi off at the elevator lobby.

As Jiang Siyi was about to go upstairs, Lin Ji asked her: “Will you be at the company this afternoon?”

“Mm, I’ll be there all day.”

            

“Okay.”

“What is it?”

Lin Ji was usually forthcoming with information, but after being given the cold shoulder these past few days, she felt a bit aggrieved, and changed her response:

            

“You’ll find out this afternoon.”

If Jiang Siyi hadn’t been so busy today, Lin Ji might have actually kept her in suspense the whole time.

In the morning, Manager Wu called a department-wide meeting to continue discussing the autumn auction theme, and after eating lunch out, they came back to continue working.

            

When Jiang Siyi went to the storeroom, Zhao Yong showed up again.

This time, however, he didn’t buy everyone in the Gold, Stone, and Jade Department a round of trendy snacks.

Instead, he carried only a small cake for himself, walking to the space between the Short-haired Female Colleague and Duan Ning’s desks, eating it bite by bite while sighing:

            

“They released new items again, and they’re selling like crazy. Sigh, I had originally pre-ordered fifteen portions for your department, but she’s married now—if I kept sending food and drinks, that would be me not knowing my place. Wouldn’t want to cause misunderstandings with her family. Don’t you agree?”

The Short-haired Female Colleague, who was making a PPT, and Duan Ning, who was communicating with a client online, both looked askance at him simultaneously.

Zhao Yong: “So none of you get to enjoy the treats either.”

            

The Short-haired Female Colleague: “Zhao Yong, did you take promotional fees from this shop? You’re pushing it so hard.”

Duan Ning was indeed a bit hungry and somewhat craved the snacks, but Zhao Yong had come specifically to taunt her, and his snide remarks were infuriating.

Duan Ning was mentally cursing Zhao Yong to gain three pounds with every bite, when she suddenly spotted three delivery workers in uniform, each pulling a cart, walking up to Jiashibi’s entrance and saying something to the receptionist.

            

The receptionist told them to wait a moment and quickly walked to Manager Wu’s office.

Manager Wu came out of the office with her, looking surprised. “Afternoon tea? I don’t know who ordered it.”

Manager Wu walked to the entrance and communicated with the delivery workers.

            

Duan Ning and the Short-haired Female Colleague craned their necks to look outside—what was going on?

The Short-haired Female Colleague had sharp eyes. She said, “Holy shit, Duan Ning, did you see the LOGO on the delivery bags? It looks like it’s from Yunding Restaurant.”

Duan Ning: “It just looks similar… how could it be? Do you know how much Yunding’s afternoon tea costs per person?”

            

When Yunding’s afternoon tea went viral last year, Duan Ning had also wanted to try it.

But after seeing the price of 899 per person, she immediately backed out.

The two walked closer to check the LOGO—it was correct. It really was Yunding Hotel’s wildly popular afternoon tea.

            

Delivered straight to the Jiashibi Gold, Stone, and Jade Department’s office.

And in accordance with their department’s headcount, they had brought a whopping fifteen portions.

Almost every type of pastry was included.

            

The two exchanged a glance, stunned.

Which boss was so generous? What a grand gesture.

Manager Wu was also bewildered. She asked the delivery workers: “Who ordered it? Do you have the order form?”

            

The delivery worker produced the order, and Manager Wu glanced at the name on it: Ms. Fan.

The delivery worker explained: “It’s already been paid for.”

Hearing that she didn’t have to pay, Manager Wu breathed a huge sigh of relief.

            

“There’s no one with the surname Fan in our department.”

Duan Ning heard the surname and immediately understood.

“Xiao Fan—I know her, Chairman Ji’s assistant.”

            

If Chairman Ji’s assistant placed the order, didn’t that essentially mean Chairman Ji herself ordered it?

Manager Wu immediately recalled running into Lin Ji in the fire escape corridor during Xiao Jiang’s lecture a few days ago.

At the time, she had blurted out something about it being such a pity that Xiao Jiang was married and they wouldn’t get to enjoy Zhao Yong’s snacks—Lin Ji had probably overheard her.

            

Chairman Ji hadn’t reacted at the time, and Manager Wu had already forgotten about it.

And then, just like that, a wave of Yunding afternoon tea was delivered.

Manager Wu’s mouth twitched, both delighted and apprehensive.

            

Duan Ning rushed to the storeroom to fetch Jiang Siyi.

Jiang Siyi was wearing a mask and gloves, carefully reviewing the details of the auction items.

Duan Ning gently took the item from her hands, set it down properly, and pulled her out the door.

            

When Jiang Siyi saw the Yunding afternoon tea buffet with a portion for everyone, she was also stunned.

Jiang Siyi asked Duan Ning: “What’s going on?”

Duan Ning: “You don’t know either? Your Wife sent it.”

            

“My Wife…”

Not yet accustomed to this form of address, Jiang Siyi’s mind had to make a slight detour before connecting this title to Lin Ji.

Her colleagues happily thanked her, already cheerfully enjoying their first round.

            

Zhao Yong didn’t say another word. The trendy little cake in his hand suddenly looked shabby—quite embarrassing—and he quietly slipped away.

Jiang Siyi hadn’t known why Lin Ji did this, but seeing Zhao Yong leave with his half-eaten cake, she understood.

So that was why she had asked if she would be at the company this afternoon.

            

Though she had been quite full of herself lately—this year’s quota of narcissism already overdrawn—Jiang Siyi still couldn’t help but think:

Was this Lin Ji’s possessiveness?

Duan Ning had originally been dismissive of this overpriced afternoon tea—it was just hype, just consumerism—surely it looked better than it tasted, definitely not worth craving.

            

Now that she was eating it for free, the soft, delicious flavors filled her palate—so good her eyebrows nearly flew to the top of her head.

She started thinking again: it really was delicious, there was a reason it cost what it did—the taste genuinely demolished all the flashy trendy desserts on the market—was this what eating RMB felt like?

The entire department knew that Jiang Siyi’s marriage partner was Lin Ji.

            

And now, thanks to her, they were enjoying Yunding afternoon tea.

The colleagues who had once lamented that Chairman Ji and their department were star-crossed, who had thought Jiang Siyi was “beyond teaching,” now looked at her with the relieved eyes of “how did she become so teachable after all.”

The Yunding staff who delivered the order even registered each person’s preferences, noting which flavors they liked so they could send more next time.

            

Manager Wu’s eye wrinkles deepened from smiling—the entire Gold, Stone, and Jade Department basked in the glory, happily eating and drinking.

But Jiang Siyi’s mind was entirely elsewhere.

The more thorough Lin Ji was, the more a certain delusion in her heart became impossible to suppress.

            

Sitting at her desk, slowly eating the pastries, she quietly opened her phone and found the photos taken at Huanwei’s fifth anniversary.

After Lin Ji had asked the girl who took the photos for them, even though Jiang Siyi hadn’t actively requested them, Lin Ji had still sent them to her.

In the photos, Lin Ji’s smile was enchantingly beautiful.

            

Using two fingers, she zoomed in on her face, again and again.

Her gaze traced over those mature, striking features, one stroke at a time, unable to look away.

…

            

In the evening, Lin Ji had a meeting and couldn’t come pick her up, so Jiang Siyi rode a shared bike home.

After arriving, she took Xueqiu for a walk in the community.

Before even completing half a loop, Xueqiu was exhausted into a dog pancake, flopping on the ground and refusing to walk, insisting that Jiang Siyi carry him.

            

Jiang Siyi couldn’t win against him, so she had to carry him home.

Just as she entered the courtyard, she saw the kitchen light was on.

Lin Ji was back.

            

Jiang Siyi absentmindedly wiped Xueqiu’s paws and the dust off his body, then went inside.

Xueqiu immediately ran to Lin Ji, happily twisting his butt and whimpering at her feet, nudging her legs with his round head.

Lin Ji placed the oxtail she had started simmering that morning onto the stove to continue cooking, patted Xueqiu’s head, and looked at Jiang Siyi.

            

“You’re back?”

Jiang Siyi avoided her gaze. “Mm-hm.”

She felt like the frequency of her “mm-hm”s had been increasing lately.

            

She quickly changed into her slippers, under Lin Ji’s dark gaze, heading toward the living room.

Tap, tap, tap—

The slippers dragged listlessly across the floor.

            

Jiang Siyi rubbed her head, frustrated with herself. She had clearly wanted to properly greet Lin Ji when she came inside, but being looked at by her made her nervous again, and she had avoided her once more.

If this kept up, Lin Ji would think she was strange.

And then discover her improper desires—which would be even worse.

            

She resolved to find a topic and face Lin Ji properly in a moment.

Suddenly, she heard a “careful” from behind her.

Jiang Siyi instantly snapped back to the present, discovering that a Pieris japonica branch was at an extremely close distance, nearly poking her eye.

            

She instinctively pulled back, but Lin Ji was right behind her.

Jiang Siyi thought “oh no” to herself—she was about to bump into or step on Lin Ji, causing a terrible “traffic accident.”

But Lin Ji didn’t move half a step, unconcerned about being bumped or stepped on. She opened her arms and steadily caught the off-balance Jiang Siyi in her embrace.

            

Held so tightly against her, an unbidden heat immediately permeated Jiang Siyi’s body without warning.

The fragrance filled her nose. As she slowly turned her head back, her gaze grew somewhat hazy.

Lin Ji, who had been about to remind her to be careful, realized that because of the woman in her arms turning to the side, the already minimal distance between them had nearly vanished in an instant.

            

The close embrace, the soft lips within reach, the eyes gradually losing focus as they fell upon each other’s mouths.

In this moment, whether in posture or atmosphere, it was the perfect setting for a kiss.

Her hand had unknowingly traveled from Jiang Siyi’s waist to her spine, gliding up to the back of her neck, spreading open, holding her in place.

            

An instinctive desire surged like a tidal wave in her heart.

But Jiang Siyi had been avoiding her lately—deep down, was she afraid?

If she really kissed her, would it frighten her?

            

Lin Ji was weighing this in her mind.

Then she saw Jiang Siyi’s eyes completely surrender.

Amidst her chaotic breathing, her full pink lips slightly pursed, and her tightly closed lips suddenly revealed a sliver of an opening.

            

At the same time, she closed her eyes.

Like a timid yet expectant little lamb, trembling lightly in her arms.

Is this… wanting to be kissed?

            

In the gaps between Jiang Siyi’s thundering heartbeat, a voice said—

If a kiss is what’s wanted… then as an obedient wife…

This must be it.

            

Thump—

Lin Ji’s heartbeat, which she had always been able to control steadily, instantly lost its rhythm.

Pressing Jiang Siyi against the wall, she parted those bewildered lips, and heard a short, fractured moan escape from her throat.

            

Her lips and teeth had no way to resist.

Easily breached.

The unfamiliar softness and scorching heat made Jiang Siyi’s slender body visibly tremble.

            

A desire long suppressed heavily ground against those fragile, soft petals—kissed deeper and deeper.

Effortlessly setting her ablaze.

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The author has something to say:

            

Lin Ji: Wife-pampering step 18. I’ll say no more—if you know, you know.

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