Sparring

Sylus had thought she meant boxing.

Xiao Yan changed into workout clothes but didn't put on boxing gloves.

Once she entered the ring and threw a punch, Sylus raised an eyebrow. Martial arts?

He stepped back to dodge Xiao Yan's attack, then took off his boxing gloves and tossed them out of the ring.

Xiao Yan stared at her hands in shock. Had she actually... inherited the original owner's abilities?

Instinctively, she seemed to be really good at fighting!

Ahahahaha! Then hurry over and get your beating, Sylus!

She charged in with a fierce little combo!

Sylus raised an arm to block one blow, then lifted a leg to block a kick.

His wicked smile widened. "So you're not just all flash and no substance? Interesting."

Seizing the opening, Xiao Yan spun neatly around, raised her right leg, and delivered a powerful back kick!

With a thud, her heel slammed into Sylus's arm, actually kicking him a staggering step sideways!

"Ha..." Sylus tilted his head, a sigh of outright pleasure escaping his parted lips.

He rubbed his aching arm briefly, his gaze showing clear interest in Xiao Yan. "You're so fierce. Looks like I can't afford to let my guard down."

Xiao Yan took a fighting stance, one leg forward and the other back, and beckoned him with a finger. "Come on. Fight me!"

Sylus's red eyes lit up. "You really are an interesting wife."

No kidding!

Seeing that he wouldn't attack, Xiao Yan simply gave a cold laugh and charged again!

Less than three minutes later, Sylus had her pinned to the floor, unable to move.

Xiao Yan struggled desperately. "You're cheating! Is that even martial arts?"

Sylus held both her wrists firmly in his left hand, pinning them above her head, his expression caught between a smile and something else.

"From what you were after, you weren't looking to practice any particular moves with me. You clearly wanted a brawl. If we're already brawling, why bother arguing about technique?"

Straddling her, Sylus caught Xiao Yan's chin in his right hand.

His sharply sculpted face drew steadily closer. "Let me teach you a lesson. Fighting like that tells your opponent: the moves don't matter. Whoever loses kneels."

This was so unfair!

Sylus hadn't even changed out of his leather jacket and pants into workout clothes, yet he was still so agile, his movements so explosive!

Xiao Yan protested shamelessly. "It's not fair. You're so big, and you're way stronger than me!"

"So you weren't trying to fight me, but reason with me?" Sylus's gaze swept over Xiao Yan's palm-sized face.

The tip of his nose almost touched hers as he loomed threateningly over her. "I thought you were trying to commit domestic violence. I was only defending myself."

"Who was trying to commit domestic violence against you?!" Xiao Yan squirmed a few more times.

Sylus kept her under that close, oppressive scrutiny for another dozen seconds before chuckling and getting up. "I've been away from home for over a month. Don't you want to punish me?"

Xiao Yan got up from the floor.

She was a terrible loser.

She ducked out of the ring and stalked toward the exit, grumbling. "Sylus, you're awful. I'm never fighting you again. That wasn't any fun at all. I hate you."

Sylus watched Xiao Yan's indignant retreating figure.

He lowered his head with a quiet laugh, then called, "Hey, Little Tabby, all claws and fangs. Weren't we going to eat together?"

"Who wants to eat with you? I'm already full of anger. Eat by yourself!" Xiao Yan turned back and made a face at Sylus.

When she turned away from him again, she smiled.

Sylus would like this unrestrained, flamboyant side of her.

Little Tabby?

She hadn't expected him to be the first to rediscover his pet name for her. Hearing it... really did make her heart flutter.

Xiao Yan had calculated perfectly. She had successfully caught Sylus's attention.

When she came out of the shower back in her room, a friend request from Sylus popped up on her phone.

After she accepted, Sylus sent several photos in succession.

The first four or five showed the lavish breakfast on the dining table at home.

The last was taken in the home gym, with him holding up two boxing gloves in one hand, one large and one small, pressed snugly together.

Even a crime boss had to announce on his Moments that he had a wife.

Xiao Yan saw it as soon as she scrolled through her Moments.

Sylus had captioned the picture, [How can such little fists hurt so much?]

Xiao Yan liked it and replied, [Who hit you?! Why are you putting me on trial on Moments?]

Sylus replied quickly, [You clearly hit hard. My arm still hurts.]

He had even added a little yellow crying-face emoji after that sentence.

But his arm hurt because she had kicked it, not punched it with her little fists!

That wasn't the point. Xiao Yan: [Does it really hurt that much?]

Sylus: [Do you believe other people that easily?]

Tsk. So he was teasing her. Bad dragon.

Still, reading Sylus's replies to the other comments on Moments was pretty entertaining.

[Yes, she's my little wife. She's very skilled. I can't beat her.]

[So what? Who says a dragon beastman has to win every fight?]

[I wouldn't even need a second finger to knock you down.]

[Yes, that's the ring at home in the background. But this is my home, and you're not welcome to interrupt my sweet married life.]

A little over ten minutes later, someone knocked on Xiao Yan's door.

Sylus's voice came through. "I brought you something to eat. It's on the little cart outside your door. I've got things to do, so I'm leaving."

Tch. Go on, then.

She waited a while, until it had gone quiet outside.

Xiao Yan went over and opened the door.

Who knew a dark figure would suddenly slip in from outside, followed by a large hand that caught her jaw with unerring precision!

Xiao Yan was spun around and pinned against the wall beside the door by Sylus!

"Here's another lesson." Sylus bent down, bringing his face close to the tip of Xiao Yan's nose, his smile thoroughly smug. "Don't casually open the door for a husband you don't know well yet."

But!

Xiao Yan was wearing a silk bathrobe right now!

After Sylus had moved her around so forcefully, the fabric at her shoulder slid down her arm the very next moment!

Sylus instinctively lowered his eyes. Her skin was that smooth? Even her clothes couldn't stay on?

Uh... those curves... eighteen?

He snapped to his senses and quickly looked up at the ceiling. "I didn't see anything."

That only made it more obvious!

Xiao Yan pried away the hand Sylus held her with and hurriedly pulled her robe back up.

"Sylus, let me teach you something too."

She slammed her forehead into his raised chin. "Ow!"

Right in front of Sylus, she slid down the wall into a crouch.

Sylus rubbed his chin in bewilderment.

He didn't dare look at Xiao Yan again, but he still had to tease her. "Are you trying to teach me that an egg can win against a rock?"

Xiao Yan held her head, almost crying.

Only then did Sylus tentatively lower his gaze.

Xiao Yan had straightened her clothes reasonably well.

He sighed, dropped to one knee, slipped his hands behind her back and under her knees, and scooped her into his arms.

As he carried her toward the big bed, he remarked, "A thin-shelled egg, at that."

Once she was lying on the bed, Sylus pulled Xiao Yan's hands away from her head.

He leaned in to examine her forehead carefully.

There was a small red patch, but it didn't look as though it would swell.

"So sensitive to pain?" Sylus gently touched the red mark. "The impact didn't seem that hard. If it hurts that much, shall we have the family doctor take a look?"

Xiao Yan had only exaggerated a little to keep Sylus with her longer.

The man saw that the girl before him looked reproachful and very aggrieved.

As though conceding, he said, "Let's put some ice on it. I'll stay with you and watch it for another half hour. If it doesn't get better, I'll have Uncle Sang call the doctor."

He rubbed Xiao Yan's head with his large hand and frowned. "You didn't even dry your hair? You really know how to take care of yourself."

He went out and soon returned with an ice pack.

Sylus wrapped the ice pack in a towel and had Xiao Yan hold it against her head herself.

He brought over a hair dryer, plugged it into the outlet by the bed, and dried Xiao Yan's hair with a whir.

Then he fetched a large comb and gently combed Xiao Yan's hair smooth, stroke by stroke.