After the Divorce, My Wife and I Were Both Reborn

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: No Drinking Coke

Holding Lin Yanwan’s hand, Jiang Xia deliberately slowed his pace to walk behind Wang Ming and Shen Ying. Those two hadn’t known each other at first, but thanks to the intentional matchmaking of their two friends, they had become quite familiar.

It was just that Wang Ming had a real smart mouth sometimes, often provoking Shen Ying into chasing him around and trying to hit him.

"Are you going straight home?" Lin Yanwan asked.

Jiang Xia nodded. "Yeah. Now that the original art is done, I still have to color it. The deadline is tight."

"I remember *Cat and Mouse* has a lot of classic sound design that goes with the action, right?" Lin Yanwan said after a moment of thought. "If you’re having trouble with it, maybe I can help."

Although Jiang Xia hadn’t told her everything explicitly, she had pieced most of it together.

’In any case, as someone who has been reborn, recreating successful works from Earth wasn’t shameful. After all, if she were the one trying to make *Cat and Mouse*, she wouldn’t even know where to begin.’

’In this world, it seemed he could put his talents to perfect use.’

"I’ll start by looking online for some suitable material, but I’ll definitely need your help for those episodes where Tom plays the piano. It doesn’t actually have to be the original piece, as long as it’s something that doesn’t exist in this world and won’t cause any copyright issues."

Lin Yanwan thought for a moment, then tried humming a few notes. "This piece?"

"Yes, yes, yes! That’s the one." Jiang Xia’s eyes lit up.

"That’s Hungarian Rhapsody. I actually used to practice it. I’ll record it and send it to you when I get back later."

Jiang Xia blinked, suddenly realizing that they complemented each other perfectly.

"Is it weird that I think I like you even more now?"

"Hmph. You’re just using me," Lin Yanwan said with a look of disdain, but she was delighted inside.

’Before, they were both always busy with their own things. Now, they could work together to polish a creation. The feeling doubled their joy.’

"Does Xiao Man have the day off today?" Jiang Xia asked.

"Mhm, around 3 PM. I have to go pick her up in a little while." She suddenly smiled. "Want to come with me? She’s actually mentioned you a few times these past couple of days."

"Me?"

The thought of his mischievous little sister-in-law made Jiang Xia smile. "Alright."

"Then... do you want to go to my place first?" For some reason, Lin Yanwan’s face flushed slightly.

’The last time she’d invited him over, they were just friends. Now, they were back to being lovers, with the familiar dynamic of an old married couple.’

Jiang Xia paused. "Your mom..."

"I just called her. I’m picking up Xiao Man today, so she won’t be home."

Now that she’d put it that way, Jiang Xia had no reason to refuse.

"Old Wang, hail us a taxi."

"Why hail a car? My place is right around the corner, just a few minutes’ walk."

Despite saying that, Wang Ming still walked to the curb and started waving at the passing taxis. School was just letting out, so you had to fight for a cab.

When they finally got one, Jiang Xia bent down and peered carefully through the window. Only after confirming it wasn’t his dad did he take Lin Yanwan’s hand and get inside.

After the fiasco last time, you couldn’t blame him for being so cautious.

"Old Wang, thanks! I’ll treat you to a glass of tap water next time."

Wang Ming stared blankly as the taxi sped away. Only then did it dawn on him that he’d been used again.

"That guy used to walk everywhere or take the bus. Now that he’s dating someone, he’s actually splurging on a taxi."

He said indignantly, "Shen Ying, you saw that, right? I help him out so much, and he won’t even buy me a single drink. What an animal!"

"Has it ever occurred to you that Yanwan might be the one paying for the taxi?" Shen Ying said darkly. She had seen this sort of thing many times, and it always felt like Yanwan was just letting him get a free ride.

’She didn’t get it. What was so great about Jiang Xia, anyway? So what if he was a little handsome?’

"No way..."

"That’s nothing. Yanwan even gave him her first kiss."

"And it wasn’t on some romantic, moonlit night, either. It was on a bumpy bus. Jiang Xia just casually stole her first kiss, just like that."

Wang Ming’s eyes widened, his face twisting with envy on the spot.

"BOO HOO HOO... That damn guy is winning at life!"

◇

Carrying the groceries they’d bought from the market, Jiang Xia walked in behind Lin Yanwan. Watching his wife enter the house, he confirmed his mother-in-law wasn’t home before letting out a subconscious sigh of relief.

Seeing him acting so furtively, Lin Yanwan couldn’t help but smile. ’Where was all that courage he had the other day when he braved the storm to come get me?’ freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"Come in, my mom’s not here."

They changed their shoes on the mat by the door, and the moment it clicked shut, Jiang Xia pulled her into his arms.

The air suddenly fell silent. Their breathing grew ragged as he slowly lowered his head and captured Lin Yanwan’s soft, tender lips.

Ever since that light peck on the bus, they hadn’t really had another chance. And yet, their feelings for each other had been steadily growing in the quiet moments between.

Their first real kiss since being reborn was not clumsy like it had been in their previous life, but neither was it as explosive as a volcano.

It was like the melting of ice and snow as their lips met and parted. Amidst soft breaths, he drank in her sweet taste without restraint.

After a long moment, Lin Yanwan felt his burning ardor. Panting softly, she pushed him away. At eighteen, her tender lips were a luscious, glistening red.

"Alright, that’s enough," she said, her face a deep, shy crimson. "I didn’t invite you over just so you could bully me."

Jiang Xia looked completely innocent. ’It’s not my fault,’ he thought. ’A young man’s body has endless energy. The slightest friction is unbearable, let alone hugging and kissing someone as beautiful as her.’

"Then can we just hug?"

"No. You’re thinking naughty thoughts."

"...That’s just the dopamine. It’s not me," Jiang Xia argued lamely.

"Do you think I’m still that naive, love-struck girl from back then, so easily fooled?"

Lin Yanwan huffed. ’Back then, his cheesy pick-up lines were exactly how he tricked her out of her first kiss. The big, fat liar.’

"Anyway, don’t even think about... *that*. Kissing you is as far as I’m willing to go!"

’In this life, she was still an innocent maiden. She absolutely couldn’t give up her virginity so easily.’

She tied on an apron. "There’s a computer in my room if you want to use it. The password is my birthday. It probably doesn’t have the software you need, though, so you’ll have to download it."

Jiang Xia gently shook his head. "There’s no rush. Let’s cook together. Same as always? I’ll be your assistant?"

"Mhm, but you have to do the frying."

Rinsing rice, steaming it, washing vegetables, slicing pork, frying eggs, marinating chicken wings... The two of them worked in perfect, unspoken harmony, just like they used to.

Jiang Xia pan-fried the chicken wings over low heat while Lin Yanwan stood far away, afraid of the spattering oil.

Once the chicken wings were golden-brown on both sides, Jiang Xia poured in over half a bottle of cola, just enough to submerge them. He added a bit of soy sauce, put the lid on, and let it simmer on low for twenty minutes before turning up the heat to reduce the sauce. Then, it was ready.

He twisted the cap off the cola bottle, intending to drink what was left, but Lin Yanwan saw him and snatched it away.

"Don’t you dare drink that."

"Why?"

She cutely wrinkled her nose.

"It kills sperm."