After the Divorce, My Wife and I Were Both Reborn

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Sickness of Missing You

Lin Yanwan stared blankly at the person in front of her. The umbrella in her hand slipped from her grasp without her noticing, and the air itself seemed to freeze in that instant.

"What... what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you sooner. Got lucky and caught the bus right as I was heading downstairs," he said with a smile.

"Are you crazy...?" Lin Yanwan felt a sting in her nose. So he was even more impatient to see her than she was.

The moment the door closed, Jiang Xia pulled her forcefully into his arms. He buried his face in her soft hair and whispered into her ear.

"Yeah. Lovesick for you."

"Idiot."

She mumbled, wrapping her arms around his back in return. The emptiness in her heart was finally filled at this moment.

Jiang Xia chuckled, inhaling her fragrance, his heart filled with an unprecedented sense of contentment. They must have hugged like this countless times before, yet only now did his heart pound so violently. ’Could it be that you only learn to cherish something after you’ve lost it?’

"Isn’t that enough hugging? We’re right outside my apartment, you know. Shouldn’t you show a little restraint?" Lin Yanwan pushed him away and couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, though the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

"What’s there to be afraid of? Worst case, I’ll just have to call her ’Mom’ again," Jiang Xia pouted.

"Knowing my dad’s temper, I’d be more worried about you getting your legs broken."

The thought of his rather stern father-in-law made him back down instantly. The first time he’d gone home with her for the New Year to meet her parents, her father had been quite lukewarm toward him.

After all, he’d painstakingly raised his precious daughter for twenty years, only for some other man to snatch her away. It was only natural for him to feel a bit sour about it. freewebnσvel.cѳm

And now here he was, getting handsy with his daughter right outside their door? ’I must have a death wish. If he found out, my father-in-law would probably chase me down the street with a knife.’

"Then let’s go hug in the elevator for a bit."

Lin Yanwan: "..."

The two walked to the elevator bank and saw that all four elevators were descending from the twentieth-something floor. They had plenty of time now, unlike yesterday when they had to rush down the stairs.

"Can’t you think about something more useful for a change?"

Jiang Xia froze for a second, then reached out to touch her lower stomach, even attempting to slip his hand under her clothes.

Lin Yanwan, blushing, swatted his hand away. "What are you doing?" she asked, eyeing him warily.

"Helping you rub your belly. Didn’t you say to do something useful? I’m worried you’re in pain," he said with a completely straight face.

Lin Yanwan was speechless. ’Yup, this shamelessness is the real him. The moment we made up, he showed his true colors.’

"No way! There are cameras. Besides, my stomach doesn’t even hurt right now!" Even if they had once been husband and wife, she was a bona fide innocent young woman now. She had her reputation to think about.

"At most... I’ll let you touch it through my clothes." Her face was flushed, resembling a ripe apple under the elevator bay’s lights.

"Then I might as well not touch it at all," Jiang Xia muttered under his breath.

"You’re really not going to?" Lin Yanwan raised a delicate eyebrow.

"I am!"

Jiang Xia gently put his arm around her waist, his palm resting on her lower abdomen. Then, he sneakily slipped his hand up under the hem of her jacket.

Lin Yanwan’s body stiffened. She quickly grabbed his hand. "Not under there..."

"I didn’t go all the way. There’s still a wool sweater in the way. Is a wool sweater not considered clothes?" Jiang Xia argued righteously.

The corner of her mouth twitched. ’This damned hooligan is just twisting my words. Oh, whatever. No one’s around, and I did agree to it.’

Jiang Xia rested his palm on her lower abdomen, intending to gently rub it, and then... he felt a heating patch. Needless to say, that thing was definitely warmer than his hand.

He sullenly pulled his hand out. Lin Yanwan shot him a glance, suppressing a laugh. "I told you it doesn’t hurt." freewebnσvel.cѳm

"Isn’t it because the heating patches I bought are good?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Thank you, alright?"

Jiang Xia took a thermos from his backpack and handed it to her. "I made this for you. Take a few sips whenever. External application and internal remedy—the fastest way to get rid of period cramps."

He then took out a pack of wet wipes. "Use these to wipe your hands after you use the restroom. Don’t touch cold water."

"Mm-hmm." Feeling enveloped by his immense affection, Lin Yanwan couldn’t help but smile as she looked at him.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Can’t I smile if I want to?"

"You can. You’ve always been the one who calls the shots in our family anyway."

The elevator slowly stopped at the fifth floor. The two of them walked in, hand in hand, only to see two other people already inside. Jiang Xia’s plan for more hugging was ultimately foiled.

As the night breeze blew, they walked out into the rain, sharing a single umbrella. Lin Yanwan subconsciously shrank back from the cold. Jiang Xia took her icy hand and tucked it into his own pocket. They walked pressed close together, just like they used to.

"Bus or taxi?" she asked.

"Bus."

Jiang Xia answered without hesitation. Ever since running into his dad in a taxi yesterday, he had subconsciously ruled out that unpredictable variable.

If he ran into him again, it would be undeniable proof that he was dating someone.

Plus, it would be really awkward.

"Are you scared of Dad?"

"Oh? You figured it out. Your reward is a hug."

Lin Yanwan gave him a look of disgust and scoffed lightly. "Is that a reward for me? I’m just being too polite to call you out on it."

As they bickered, the bus arrived. At this time of day, the bus was mostly filled with day students, but thankfully it wasn’t too crowded.

Lin Yanwan took out two yuan and dropped it into the fare box, then pulled Jiang Xia to a seat in the back of the bus.

She thought she saw a few "acquaintances," but she didn’t care. The two of them continued to act like a deeply affectionate couple.

The bus stopped at one station after another, and the number of passengers gradually increased. Shen Ying finally managed to squeeze her way to the back, grabbing a hand strap to keep from falling, and that’s when she saw the couple sitting in the last row.

Jiang Xia was resting his eyes, his head leaning on Lin Yanwan’s shoulder, their hands intertwined. Shen Ying’s eyes went wide in an instant, her mind immediately flooded with countless theories.

’Wait, why is Jiang Xia on this bus route?’

’Could it be... that they spent the night together?’

’No way, right?’

’But my best friend’s face is all rosy, and her boyfriend looks totally drained. Don’t tell me his energy was... sapped? Mmm... it must be! All the books say that after a man and a woman do *that*, the woman gets revitalized and becomes more beautiful, while the man becomes weak and feeble.’

In an instant, Shen Ying’s mind was filled with all sorts of R-rated images.

Sensing the stare, Lin Yanwan turned her head from the window and her gaze met Shen Ying’s.

She blushed slightly but didn’t plan on offering any explanation. The whole class was already gossiping that they were dating anyway, so this was actually perfect.

The bus stopped at the school gate, and a crowd of students got off.

Lin Yanwan turned and gently nudged Jiang Xia. He slowly opened his eyes, looked at her delicate little face, and tilted his head up slightly to give her a quick peck on the lips.