Skadi, My Wife

Swire turned her face aside awkwardly, ultimately too embarrassed to admit that she actually had nothing to say.

But that was fine, because Chen An saw through her.

He was momentarily speechless. After a brief pause, he said, "Can't think of how to start? How about this: go change, and we'll take a walk downstairs together. Once you figure out what you want to say, tell me on the way."

"Okay."

As if granted a pardon, Swire agreed without hesitation.

Chen An and the changed Swire went downstairs and walked along the road illuminated by streetlights.

Not far behind them were three figures in pajamas, sneaking along as they tailed them.

They were none other than Texas, Exusiai, and Skadi.

After following them for a while, Texas said, "Why did we come out after them? They're just taking a walk downstairs."

"I don't know. Exusiai said we should come out and take a look."

Skadi shook her head. Since she was talking and not watching where she was going, she went duang! straight into a streetlamp.

She was fine, but the lamp post shook, making the light spilling onto the road sway too.

Texas: "..."

Exusiai: "..."

Just hearing that sound made their foreheads hurt, yet she only rubbed her head and showed no reaction. How was this girl so sturdy?

Forcibly suppressing the blazing urge to complain, Exusiai declared righteously, "She's clearly a rich young lady, yet she moved into a place like this and is taking a walk with Chen An so late at night. That woman called Swire must be up to no good with Chen An. If we don't follow them and keep an eye on things, what if Chen An loses control? Wouldn't Skadi suffer a huge loss then?"

Skadi nodded thoughtfully, looking as though it made some sense.

But in truth...

Ah, why would Chen An lose control? And why would she suffer a loss if he did?

Skadi did not understand any of it.

Texas gave Exusiai a sidelong glance, utterly speechless. A thief crying thief, the guilty party accusing first—wasn't that exactly what this girl was doing?

Exusiai felt a little guilty under her gaze, but she immediately puffed out her chest and stood righteous and unafraid.

She and Chen An were only friends. It wasn't like she lusted after his body, so why should she feel guilty? Texas was the one who ought to feel guilty.

Trying to drug a friend's man—what a bad woman!

Other than Exusiai taking it seriously, Texas and Skadi had not put any real effort into hiding themselves.

So not long after they began following, Chen An noticed someone trailing behind them.

What was that Exusiai up to now?

Though speechless inside, he did not expose them and simply continued walking with Swire.

At this hour, there was no one left on the road.

Only insects drawn to the light fluttered beneath the streetlamps, gathering and scattering as they buzzed, casting shifting shadows.

After walking in silence beside Chen An for a while, Swire suddenly asked, "Hey, when are you planning to leave Lungmen?"

"You've got some nerve saying I never call you by name when you always call me 'hey,' too."

After teasingly complaining, Chen An smiled. "I'm not sure. Maybe one or two months, maybe half a year or a year. It could even be one or two years. It depends on what happens in the future."

Wasn't that the same as saying nothing?

Swire felt frustrated. She wanted to ask more, yet did not know what else to ask, so she could only lower her head gloomily.

Chen An took the opportunity to ask, "I've noticed you haven't seemed to be in a good mood lately. Did something happen? Beatrix."

Swire froze. This was the first time Chen An had called her by name.

Why?

She looked at Chen An in surprise, saw the concern on his face, and suddenly understood. At the same time, she could not help grumbling inwardly, Do you think I'll be happy just because you finally called me by name after failing to do it all this time? The young lady of the Swire family isn't that easy to please, idiot!

Her tail began swishing happily against her will. Rather than answer Chen An's question, she said, "I have a friend. She likes someone, but that person doesn't seem to feel the same way, and he may even leave her. What do you think she should do?"

Chen An was silent for a moment before looking at Swire and asking cautiously, "Tell me honestly. Is that friend you?"

Swire's tail stiffened. She nearly jumped, her voice booming, "What nonsense are you talking about!? Who do you think I am? The people who want to pursue me could line up from the Lungmen Guard Department all the way outside Lungmen, okay!? I said it's my friend, my friend, idiot!"

Chen An let out a breath. Good, it wasn't her. Good, it wasn't her.

He did not suspect Swire was lying, because he did not think she needed to lie about something like this. More importantly, he knew Swire quite well, and they were neighbors now, yet he had never heard of anyone like that around her.

What? Could it be him?

What a ridiculous thought.

He and Swire were friends, the kind whose bond was stronger than gold and could be witnessed by heaven and earth.

Swire was pretty and rich, yet he had never lusted after her body. Other than being handsome, he had nothing going for him. How could Swire possibly lust after him?

He said very casually, "If she likes him, then pursue him. What's there to agonize over?"

Swire said indignantly, "Easy for you to say. How is she supposed to pursue him?"

"Obviously..."

Chen An's voice suddenly caught.

Wait, how was one supposed to pursue someone?

He looked up at the sky, then down at the ground. Unable to come up with an answer, he clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth with a furrowed brow.

After thinking it over and over, racking his brains for ages, Chen An realized he seemed to have no experience with this. He could only say regretfully, "You'll have to ask Exusiai about that. She has lots of wild ideas, so maybe she can give you an answer. As for me..."

He hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "I don't have experience pursuing people, but I have plenty of experience running away from marriage. Why not ask your friend whether she has a marriage she wants to run from? If she does, I can offer my experience."

Swire: "..."

Suddenly feeling that Chen An was a bit of a fool, Swire could not help bursting into laughter.

"Who would want that kind of experience, you dummy?"

Her smile was dazzling, so beautiful it was beyond compare.

Love Master Exusiai

At home.

Skadi's room.

The three of them sat on the bed.

They had followed Chen An for a while and discovered that they really seemed to be merely taking a walk. They wanted to hear what the two were saying, but they were too far away, and their voices were too quiet to make out. So after following them a little longer, the three returned home first.

However, Exusiai was not about to let it go.

Based on her extensive romantic experience—gained from games, comics, and novels—she was certain beyond all doubt that Swire was up to no good with Chen An and wanted to steal him away from her... ah, no, Skadi.

As Skadi's good friend, Exusiai absolutely could not tolerate such a thing. So after returning home, she started a discussion session, intending to discuss with her companions how they should deal with Swire in the future.

Well, just like with the stalking earlier, Exusiai was the only enthusiastic one. Skadi and Texas had both been dragged along to make up the numbers.

"Ahem."

Holding a hand to her mouth, Exusiai put on a show of coughing before solemnly announcing, "The discussion for the Chen An Defense Plan now officially begins. Skadi, Texas, do either of you have anything to say?"

Texas was playing on her phone. What did she have to say? She had nothing to say!

Skadi was staring at the wings behind Exusiai with wide-eyed fascination. The wings appeared and disappeared at times, and she found them incredibly interesting.

Exusiai was a little annoyed. "Hey, can you two cooperate a little? How am I supposed to keep this meeting going if I'm the only one talking?"

Texas kept playing on her phone, while Skadi continued staring at Exusiai's wings in fascination.

Exusiai: "..."

A vein twitched on her forehead as she clenched her fists, feeling like cursing. Someone was practically about to ride roughshod over them, yet these two had no sense of crisis at all. Were they really not afraid of having their man stolen away!?

Realizing she could not rely on her two deadweight companions, Exusiai had no choice but to speak herself. "That Officer Shi..."

"It's Swire." Skadi looked away from Exusiai's wings and kindly reminded her, "Chen An said her surname isn't Shi."

Exusiai really wanted to roar, Is that the point?

But seeing Skadi's earnest, naturally airheaded expression, Exusiai inexplicably felt guilty. After hesitating, she waved it off. "Same thing, same thing."

She pulled the topic back. "That Officer... Officer Swire. I think we can't give her any more chances to be alone with Chen An. At the very least, we should let her know Chen An is taken and that she has no chance... Uh, Skadi, what are you doing?"

Hearing Exusiai's words, Skadi turned around from the mirror. She was wearing the white sunhat Chen An had given her some time ago, and her face bore an innocent, delighted smile.

"This hat is pretty, right? Chen An gave it to me."

Exusiai: "..."

She clutched her chest, suddenly feeling as though she were having a heart attack.

Sure enough, this girl had no sense of crisis at all, did she?

"Chen An, you're back. Come with me, I have something good for you."

The moment Chen An returned home, before he even had a chance to catch his breath, Skadi grabbed him and pulled him into her room.

Exusiai and Texas came out of Skadi's room. Exusiai wore a smug smile and was about to say something when she suddenly realized there was no one in the living room. Swire, who she had expected to return with Chen An, had not actually come back with him, leaving her completely bewildered.

"What's going on? Why isn't that Officer Shi here?"

"Maybe she went back first," Texas replied casually.

Exusiai looked unwilling to accept it. "Damn it, I finally came up with the perfect plan, and that cop didn't cooperate at all... Hmph, forget it. She was only a side target anyway. As long as the plan goes smoothly and Skadi can win over Chen An, that's enough."

"If you help Skadi succeed, then you can act without restraint or guilt, right?"

"..."

Pretending she had not heard that hateful Lupo, Exusiai slipped over to the door of the neighboring room, pressed her ear against it, and began eavesdropping.

"Couldn't you say whatever it is in the living room? Why did you drag me in here?"

"Because it's something important, of course."

Skadi raised the fist she seemed to be holding something in and gave it a mysterious little shake at Chen An. "Chen An, close your eyes. I have something tasty for you. Exusiai taught me this."

"What kind of food needs to be this mysterious?"

Chen An gave Skadi an odd look, but did not think much of it and closed his eyes.

Then he heard the sound of something being torn open, and after that...

Orca stealing a kiss.jpg

A familiar softness, carrying a hint of sweetness, touched his lips. At nearly the same moment, something was passed into his mouth.

Round, cool, and sweet—it was a mint candy.

Chen An opened his eyes in surprise and met Skadi's gaze. Her eyes curved with delight, her hands were behind her back, and her face was full of smiles.

Skadi said proudly, "Isn't it sweet? Exusiai taught me this. It's called imported candy."

Chen An said nothing and instead fell into thought.

Though he did not want to admit it, Chen An had already tacitly accepted that Skadi would occasionally steal a kiss from him.

So he was silent not because he felt helpless about Skadi kissing him again, but because...

He asked in confusion, "Why is it called imported candy instead of ferry candy? The candy clearly got ferried from your mouth into mine."

Skadi froze, then her eyes widened in shock. Right, it was mouth to mouth. Ferry candy was obviously more fitting, so why was it called imported candy?

Outside the door, Exusiai, who was eavesdropping: "..."