Chapter 255: Journey to Lingxi (Part 2)
The car circled the street a few times before turning into a residential compound. The buildings here were more spacious and open. Under the glow of the courtyard lights, one could see rockeries, pavilions, small bridges, and green lawns in the central courtyard, along with a tennis court and a basketball court.
Li Jing hung on Hou Weidong’s arm like a delicate bird, asking, “You’ve been driving for so long. Are you hungry?”
As soon as Hou Weidong entered the compound, he understood what was about to happen. Although he felt a flicker of resistance, a deeper, subtle excitement stirred within him. “Of course I’m hungry,” he said. “We’ve been non-stop from Yiyang to Lingxi.”
Li Jing knew well enough that Hou Weidong was hungry, yet she was still pleased with his answer. “That makes things easier,” she said happily.
“Easier for what?”
“If you’re hungry enough, you won’t be picky about my cooking.”
As they walked, Hou Weidong’s arm accidentally brushed against Li Jing’s chest. He swallowed hard and said, “Right now, I’d wolf down even a bowl of plain noodles in clear broth.”
They entered the elevator with another couple. Hou Weidong and Li Jing were merely linking arms, but the other couple, though young, was far more open. They stood close, arms around each other’s waists, heads bent together in quiet laughter. The man said something that made the girl raise her hand as if to playfully strike him, but seeing Hou Weidong and Li Jing nearby, she shyly withdrew her hand, only to secretly pinch the boy’s side with her other hand.
Li Jing wore a mid-length coat and stood quietly beside Hou Weidong, serene and gentle. Seeing the other couple’s intimacy, the corners of her mouth turned up in a faint smile.
Once inside the apartment, Li Jing said, “This is my little nest. No one has ever been here except you.”
The air conditioning was already on. Stepping in from the cool outside world, it felt like dropping into a warm spring. Li Jing casually took off her mid-length coat and hung it on a wooden rack in the corner. She wore only a thin, tight-fitting sweater; from the side, her chest appeared firm and full.
After Hou Weidong took off his jacket, Li Jing enthusiastically took his hand and led him on a tour of the apartment.
It was a three-bedroom, one-living-room unit. The decor was modern—fresh, minimalist, and elegant. The furnishings were up-to-date, and the home appliances were top-of-the-line models available on the market. The master bedroom was about twenty square meters, containing a large bed nearly two meters wide. Directly facing the bed was a vanity table with a mirror reflecting the bed.
The master bedroom included an ensuite bathroom and a viewing balcony. The balcony was enclosed by floor-to-ceiling windows. Standing before them, one could take in the magnificent night view of Lingxi. Li Jing pointed into the distance. “That’s the Jinxing Hotel. It’s a five-star hotel, but it’s nowhere as comfortable as home. When you come to Lingxi in the future, you’re not allowed to stay in hotels. You must come here. My door is always open for you.”
Li Jing looked up at Hou Weidong. Under the elegant lighting, her features seemed exceptionally delicate. Hou Weidong couldn’t help but kiss her cheek. This gesture was typically reserved for lovers, and Li Jing, with her high emotional intelligence, naturally understood its implication. She tightened her grip on Hou Weidong’s arm, thinking to herself, Hou Weidong is truly a man who understands romance. It’s easy and pleasant to be with him. She suddenly recalled a local saying: “Better to marry a loafer than a wooden hammer.” She couldn’t help but suppress a smile.
“What are you giggling about to yourself?”
“Who’s giggling?” Li Jing shot Hou Weidong a reproachful glance and instructed, “Go watch TV in the living room. I’ll make you a few dishes.”
In Hou Weidong’s impression, Li Jing was always graceful and impeccable in her work, the standard image of a strong career woman. He had never seen her in a domestic setting, so he followed her to the kitchen doorway.
A clay pot was steaming on the stove. Judging by the aroma drifting out, it was stewed chicken soup. Li Jing held a large cleaver, skillfully slicing meat into strips. She turned and smiled. “Don’t just stand at the door like a door god. The dishes are almost ready; we can eat soon.”
The sounds of sizzling rose from the kitchen. Li Jing’s movements were surprisingly professional. She lifted the wok handle and used the tossing technique common among male chefs. The meat strips flipped in the air before she slid them directly onto a plate.
“I never expected you to have such good cooking skills.”
“This is just home-style shredded pork with green peppers. Anyone can learn to make it.” Although Li Jing spoke modestly, pride shone on her face.
There was clear stewed chicken soup, shredded pork with green peppers, Mapo tofu, and a small bowl of rice. The colors were green, red, white, and green; the flavors were fresh, tender, numbing, and spicy. Hou Weidong, who had been starving, picked up his bowl and devoured the food in a whirlwind.
After finishing one bowl, Li Jing, sitting nearby, proactively served him another. By the third bowl, Li Jing assumed he couldn’t possibly eat more and asked, “Are you full?” Hou Weidong replied seriously, “I’m still hungry.” Thinking of how she usually ate only half a bowl of rice, Li Jing said sincerely, “You really are a big eater. In hard times, no family could afford to keep you.”
When Hou Weidong finally put down his chopsticks, Li Jing cleared the table and went into the kitchen.
***
Hou Weidong sat on the sofa watching TV, listening to the crisp sound of dishes clinking in the kitchen. Suddenly, a错觉 (illusion) struck him, as if he were back at his home in Xinyue Building, with Xiaojia washing dishes in the kitchen. At that thought, he felt guilty for staying at Li Jing’s place, betraying Xiaojia.
Since his marriage, Hou Weidong had basically avoided places of ill repute. He had only had one intimate encounter with Duan Ying, whom he had been close to in the past. Spending the night at Li Jing’s was another betrayal of Xiaojia. Yet, thinking of the expectation in Li Jing’s eyes and her body radiating mature charm, he hesitated.
He flipped his mobile phone over and over in his palm. When Li Jing emerged from the kitchen with a radiant smile, he knew there was no turning back. He quickly switched the phone to silent mode and put it back in his pocket.
While washing dishes in the kitchen, Li Jing had many reflections. Although she had a wide social circle, she held a near-obsessive love for her private sanctuary. She did not want outsiders to step into this quiet harbor. Whether men or women, whether powerful or wealthy, none were allowed to enter her territory.
Only by crossing this threshold did Li Jing become her true self. In this room, she shed her thick outer shell, revealing the carefree, simple-minded Li Jing beneath.
Li Jing went to the bedroom to fetch pajamas. “You go take a shower first. I’ll turn up the temperature a bit more. You can come out in your pajamas in a while.” The implication in her words was rich, yet she said it with perfect naturalness, without a hint of affectation.
Hou Weidong was a sharp man. He took the pajamas silently, nodded to Li Jing, and entered the bathroom. The bathroom was decorated warmly, with light red flooring. The walls were white but embedded with over a dozen animated pattern tiles. In a basin in the corner lay a few unwashed clothes, with a pair of transparent underwear on top.
Looking at the small item in the basin, Hou Weidong felt his hormones rise like a thermometer dropped into a hot water bottle. He could imagine how sexy Li Jing looked in those underwear. At that moment, desire flooded like the waters of the Yellow River, drowning out reason. Hou Weidong pushed Xiaojia out of his mind.
He recalled a book he had once read: “From a biological perspective, ancient men needed to sow seeds at all times to ensure the survival of the species, while women had to remember who the father was to ensure the quality of the offspring. Therefore, men have an innate tendency toward infidelity.”
Li Jing sat on the sofa with her legs curled up, watching cartoons with great interest. When she looked up and saw Hou Weidong coming out in his pajamas, looking exceptionally handsome under the soft light, her eyes lit up. “Weidong, you look really handsome after a shower,” she blurted out. Only then did she realize the awkwardness of her phrasing and covered her mouth with a laugh.
At this point, any further pretense would be hypocritical. Hou Weidong said, “The clothes fit well.”
They looked at each other. Li Jing’s expression suddenly became a bit unnatural. She got up from the sofa. The room had grown warm. “I’ll go wash up too,” she said, lowering her head as she walked toward the bathroom. Unexpectedly, Hou Weidong grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace.
Li Jing’s body went soft. She hugged Hou Weidong’s waist tightly but asked, “What are you doing?”
Hou Weidong’s large hand slipped inside Li Jing’s clothes, stroking her smooth back, moving slowly to her chest. He cupped her firm breasts, which were bare of a bra, in his hands, his fingers pinching and rubbing her nipples.
Right at the entrance to the living room, Hou Weidong stripped Li Jing completely naked. He looked at her jade-like body with appreciative eyes, his fingertips wandering over her lower abdomen. “You’re truly a beauty,” he praised. “Your body is top-notch.”
Li Jing’s breathing had grown heavy. “I am your beauty. Ah… since I bought this house, you are the first person to enter this room, and you will be the last. Ah… don’t go in there. I need to take a shower.”
As she spoke, Li Jing’s hands were also exploring inside Hou Weidong’s clothes. They clung to each other, unable to separate. Entering the bathroom, they were already naked. Li Jing fumbled with the showerhead, just wetting her body, when Hou Weidong roughly lifted her up.
After a few adjustments, they fit together like exquisitely crafted Ming dynasty furniture—without a single iron nail, yet tightly bonded, with zero distance between them.