The Villain And His Sweet Wife

Shao Lin was not sure what to expect beyond Long Yat-sen's change in behaviour.

Some part of her felt nervous, while the other part of her was pumping with excitement.​​

She always felt left out of the loop when everyone in Long Yat-sen's circle knew so much.

They were raised in that world. She reminded herself. She was not, and that was the difference.

But she was tired of being closed out when she wanted to be let in. Though it was done for her protection, she was still a princess of the Ox, and she had to see it. At least once.

Long Xia dragged her to the lower level of the building to dress up at her apartment.

Her sister-in-law rummaged through her wardrobe, looking for something that would fit her. When she finally did, she said, "Ah! I found it."

Long Xia pulled out a short and black sleek dress. "I bought this some time ago but never had the chance to wear it. I told myself I might fit into it one day but never did." She handed over the dress.

Shao Lin sucked in a breath. She never imagined herself wearing anything that hardly covered skin…

Long Xia waited. "Well, put it on!"

Shao Lin undressed, and she put it on quickly, as Long Xia disappeared to change. When she finished, she stepped in front of the mirror, her eyes widening. "Isn't this a bit too…?"

"Slutty?" Long Xia replied as she returned wearing a shimmering gold dress.

"Yes."

"That's the point!" She continued. "It's to bring attention to you as Yat-sen's woman."

Shao Lin blushed. "But wouldn't this grant me too much attention?"

Long Xia thought about it for a moment. "Indeed, but you must not worry. People are allowed to look, but they won't dare touch, not when Yat-sen's by your side."

Shao Lin grinned as she glanced at herself once more. "It's only for him."

Long Xia chuckled. "Exactly!"

"And what about you?" Shao Lin countered. "Wouldn't your love get jealous if you go out looking like that?"

Long Xia laughed as she went to grab her matching purse. "Don't think Bojing is the jealous type," she said casually.

"I was talking about your fiancé, Jin Qing?" Shao Lin replied.

Long Xia froze as it took her a moment to recollect herself. "Right…Qing, yes. Well, we aren't married, and he doesn't know what I've been up to, so things should be fine." She moved toward her mini-fridge to get some water.

"Are you all right?" Shao Lin questioned.

Long Xia gulped. "Yes. It's just hot," she replied. "We should finish getting ready!"

Shao Lin then started to apply some makeup before she strapped on some heels.

When they finished, Shao Lin and Long Xia went to meet with Long Yat-sen and Yuan Bojing in the upper apartment.

Long Yat-sen's expression changed when he saw her, from a look of indifference to one where he looked as if he could eat her alive. Shao Lin flushed beneath his heated gaze, and she could not help but gulp.

Meanwhile, Yuan Bojing looked as if he wanted to sweep up Long Xia and take her back to her place, but Long Xia would not even look at him.

Shao Lin tried not to think about their situation. It was messy. Every time they were together in a room, there was always tension between them, but Long Xia had a fiancé, and once she had almost forgotten about.

Long Yat-sen moved toward her, his scent filling her nose. He leaned over her ear. "Stay by me all night," he began. "You look very lovely."

Shao Lin grinned. The black dress hugged her body tight around her rear and mid-drift, cupping her breasts. He didn't look away from her since she entered the room, and Shao Lin didn't understand why she felt such intense butterflies. They were married, they share a bed, they have sex. And yet, her heart races when he nears. Her senses were hyperaware when it came to him.

Long Yat-sen placed a hand to her waist and tucked her against him on the way out.

The four went into separate cars by Long Yat-sen's request.

In the back of the car, Long Yat-sen had Shao Lin sitting on his lap. "I almost want to ask the driver to turn back," he breathed in her neck.

Shao Lin laughed, holding onto him. "We can't."

Long Yat-sen sighed. "I know. I just want you all to myself."

"You do," she replied. "People are allowed to look, but not touch, except you."

The blue of his eyes blazed as he slid a hand up her thighs, and now Shao Lin understood why he requested separate cars. It was not possible to be this handsy around company.

They've only gone as far as light kissing and hands roaming over each other's clothes by the time they arrived. Any more was reserved for later.

The club was bigger than Shao Lin imagined and very familiar…

She glanced at Long Yat-sen and stilled. His earlier content expression had vanished, and it was replaced with something hard and cold beyond the deepest depths. His hand was still on her waist, as if he was protecting her and as if he was claiming her.

Shao Lin did not know how to explain that this sight of him excited her.

She knew the man beneath what he showed others, and she felt warm and happy to be seeing all of him now.

She straightened beneath his touch, determined to follow his lead, to look like his woman.

The man next to her was not the Long Yat-sen she'd always seen and known, but it was a different facet of him.

She wanted to reach up and peck his cheek, but she knew that it would expose too much. It would show that their relationship was, indeed, beyond that of convenience and lust.

Long Yat-sen started to move forward with her. Long Xia and Yuan Bojing caught up to them shortly behind as they entered the club.

The crowd kept partying, but they stilled for a moment to watch them, and Shao Lin was reminded of the first time she laid eyes on him, in a club, this very same one.

Her breath caught. She recalled coming to this club for a bachelorette party of Yi Xiu when she first saw Long Yat-sen and Long Xia together. Yi Xiu's fiancé had been an acquaintance of Long Yat-sen.

Oh, Shao Lin finally put the pieces together. Her friend's husband is a member of the Dragon.

At the time of the bachelorette party, Shao Lin was too swallowed by grief and alcohol to remember what the atmosphere was like, and now…

She remembered how she and Long Yat-sen were strangers that locked eyes and to think they would be here arriving together now. She glanced at Long Yat-sen. His face was neutral, but his eyes glazed as if he remembered it too.

She wanted to tell him what she was feeling now, but she couldn't say a word, not with so many people around.

Long Yat-sen gestured her to move forward, and she listened.

Many people were staring at them.

Shao Lin kept her back straight as she sauntered with Long Yat-sen by her side. The only woman he'd ever been here with before was the alternate version of Long Xia, but everyone knew they were platonic. But with Shao Lin, he made it blatantly clear that she was his woman.

Long Yat-sen took her to the VIP area of the club, and he put her on his lap, his arms wrapping around her waist. Men with women to their sides soon joined them, smoking thickly.

When no one was paying attention to them, Long Yat-sen learned to whisper, "I'm sorry I have you like this."

Shao Lin smiled as she looked back at him deeply. "As if I'm some sort of trophy?"

"Yes." his expression was lip-tight, and it did not change. He was good.

"It's not a problem," she shifted closer. "As long as everyone in the room now finally understands what we are."

Amusement danced in his eyes. "We'll keep reminding them then."