Drawn by My Wife

In this world, the wife was the head of the household. No matter how many husbands she had, all their income belonged to her.

Unless she no longer wanted to be their wife.

But Xavier had originally attended Xiao Yan's husband-selection banquet thinking that, if he happened to be chosen, his workplace would stop forcing him to attend a husband-selection event every month.

Going again and again, deliberately upsetting the other party each time, and getting rejected.

It was actually quite a hassle.

He might as well cooperate a little with Xiao Yan. If she chose him, so be it. As long as they didn't live together, it wouldn't be much of a problem.

As for his income, Xavier's workplace provided meals, accommodation, and even uniforms. He didn't have much to spend money on.

If his marriage were dissolved now, Xavier would be back in that old cycle of having to go through a selection once a month.

Just thinking about it was painful.

Xiao Yan watched Xavier's expression change and knew he was worrying.

About what? She didn't know.

But the worry was plain to see.

He still looked very handsome, though. His black urban SWAT uniform made him look exceptionally upright and dashing.

The sight of him lost in thought also made her want to bury her face in him and take a few deep breaths.

She hurriedly banished those distracting thoughts. Not yet.

She had to coax him into getting comfortable with her, coax him properly, until he was all soft and adorable and started tempting her again. Only then could she do that.

"I mean you can spend your income yourself," Xiao Yan answered.

Xavier froze. "Although I know the Xiao Family's young lady doesn't need me to support her, I'm married. Not handing over my income would be against the rules."

"Then just say it's the living allowance I gave you." Xiao Yan smiled.

Something stirred in Xavier.

Granted, Xiao Yan was exceptionally attractive, young and pretty, and today's T-shirt and short skirt were very appealing too.

But he hadn't expected this woman-no, she was only eighteen, so she should be called a girl.

This girl was actually so composed and practiced in handling their relationship after marriage, and so matter-of-fact about it.

She didn't seem to insist on anything, unlike the other wives in this world.

With a more overbearing wife, Xavier's failure to come home for over a month after registering their marriage would already have been enough to warrant corporal punishment.

Legal corporal punishment.

In fact, he had been prepared to get beaten when he came back. He had even considered putting a bulletproof vest over his uniform.

As it turned out, he had worried for nothing. No one was going to hit him.

Xavier pressed his lips together. "Then, thank you."

Xiao Yan noticed his attitude taking a slight turn for the better.

She followed up with, "Do you have time to eat at home today? I'll have Uncle Sang ask the kitchen to make some extra meat to build you up."

Build me up? What for?

Xavier grew wary. "I'm in good health. I don't need that."

"That's not what I meant." Xiao Yan stood up. "I just thought your work must usually be tiring. Now that you're home, you should at least have a hot meal, relax, and get some rest."

Was she... showing concern for him?

Xavier wondered whether a wife needed to please her husband.

Apparently not.

On the contrary, a husband defying his wife was a grave taboo.

By rights, Xavier should have been the one trying to please Xiao Yan.

Unfortunately, Xavier didn't want to, so he certainly wouldn't do anything to please her.

"Charcoal-grilled lamb chops?" Xiao Yan tilted her head and smiled as she listed the dishes. "Beef strips in black pepper sauce, braised pork belly, fried chicken with sweet chili sauce, seafood tom yum soup?"

Xavier swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing twice.

He had digested his breakfast, and he really was hungry.

"Have something to eat before going back to work." Xiao Yan walked over and raised her hand.

She had only meant to pat Xavier's arm, using physical contact to bring them closer.

But Xavier turned aside to dodge her and frowned.

"Sorry." Xiao Yan lowered her hand. "I'll have Uncle Sang get everything ready. Eat plenty."

With that, Xiao Yan turned and went upstairs.

Before long, she had arranged to meet a few classmates at a café to work on a group assignment.

Xavier had just started eating in the dining room when he saw Xiao Yan come skipping in.

She used a small bamboo skewer beside the plate of fried chicken to spear a piece, then skipped back out while eating it.

He heard a bodyguard in the living room ask Xiao Yan, "Miss, the car is ready. Shall we leave now?"

"Mmm~ Let's go~" Xiao Yan said.

Then Xiao Yan seemed to leave the house.

So she wasn't planning to eat this meal with me, Xavier thought.

Did she have something to do?

She didn't say what it was, either. Had she left home to avoid being there while I ate?

At the café, she met up with five other classmates.

They gathered around a table and cheerfully ordered some food and drinks first.

Her classmates started asking about Xiao Yan's married life.

They were all humans and naturally regarded beastfolk with a sense of superiority.

They had assumed Xiao Yan's married life must be sweet and fulfilling, with several husbands competing to please and pamper her.

Xiao Yan gave a dry laugh to cover her embarrassment.

Please me? And I'm supposed to expect pampering too?

I can't even get a glimpse of them. Talking about this nonsense really hits a sore spot.

After eating and drinking his fill, Xavier returned to the urban SWAT office.

He, too, was surrounded by coworkers asking all sorts of questions.

"She didn't ask you to move home?" A male beastfolk coworker named Bai Yang was stunned. "Wow, your wife really respects you."

Being respected and treated as equals was the greatest luxury beastfolk husbands could hope for.

Xavier thought for a moment and shook his head slightly. "I'm not sure."

Bai Yang laughed. "My wife gives me a thorough scolding if I don't go home for three days. If I stayed away for over a month like you, I'd definitely get slapped and made to kneel."

His smile was rather bitter.

Xavier said nothing. He didn't think Xiao Yan would do that sort of thing.

"Ugh, I really want to order milk tea, but my wife gave me too little spending money this month. I've already used it all up," Bai Yang said in distress.

"I'll treat you all to milk tea," Xavier said.

"Huh?" Bai Yang was positively jealous. "How much spending money did your wife set for you each month?"

Well, it was just moving money from one hand to the other. However much he earned was however much spending money he had.

Xavier unlocked his phone and passed it around so his coworkers could choose the milk tea they liked.

Only once no one was crowding around him anymore did he spin a pen in his hand and begin to think.

After thinking for a long while, he decided to send Uncle Sang a message.

When his phone came back to him, he placed the order.

He typed a sentence and sent it.

[Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Sang. Could you send me my wife's V ID?]

Uncle Sang replied immediately.

Over on Xiao Yan's side, they had already begun discussing their assignment.

Everyone liked studying and was quite absorbed.

Her phone vibrated. A new friend request had arrived, with an introduction identifying the sender as Xavier.

She promptly accepted it.

Neither of them said hello first.

Xiao Yan would still have to be the one to break the ice.

She picked up her phone, took a photo of the table, and sent it over.

She added, [The Americano here is so sour. Hiss...]

When Xavier saw the message, the corners of his mouth lifted a little without him realizing.

When the milk tea arrived, Xavier also took a photo of the things on his desk and sent it to Xiao Yan.

[The pearl milk tea here is very sweet. Also, lunch was delicious. Thank you.]

Then Xiao Yan sent another photo.

She had let herself get distracted and drawn a chibi portrait of Xavier in her notebook.

[Does it look like you?]

[A little, but I seem to look a bit angry.]

Xiao Yan sent over a grinning sticker, then said nothing more.

Sipping his milk tea, Bai Yang rolled over in his chair and sneaked a glance at Xavier's phone. "Oh wow, you two are so innocent. It's like watching high schoolers date."

Xavier looked bewildered. "This... is dating?"

"If it isn't dating, what are you doing?" Bai Yang asked. "Isn't that your wife? Are you having an affair?"

Xavier fell silent.

"It really is an affair?" Bai Yang immediately grew nervous and lowered his voice. "Don't say I didn't warn you. You need to be careful. You can't knowingly break the law."

Xavier cleared his throat. "It's my wife."

"Oh." Bai Yang sighed in relief. "If my wife drew me a profile picture, I'd be showing it off everywhere. I'd be happy for more than two months~"

That seemed to make sense.

Xavier saved the photo of the portrait Xiao Yan had drawn to his album.

He thought about it...

I might as well post it on Moments. We've been registered for over a month, and my superior has asked several times whether we aren't getting along.

He captioned the picture, [I wasn't angry.]

His goal was achieved. His direct superior, the unit captain, liked it in under a minute.

He asked, [Your wife drew that? Were you having a little tiff? Did she draw this to coax you? Living the good life now, Xavier!]

He didn't know why the captain was so good at imagining things, but he replied, [Mm.]

Xiao Yan liked it too. [Then smile next time.]

Xavier replied, [Okay.]