NMBJ2 - EXTRA 4 (END)

Author: Shen Tai

After Huang Xitang and Zhao Pingjin got married, both were very busy. Xitang was filming in Shanghai, and Zhao Pingjin had just picked her up from the airport and drove her straight to a hotel. Tonight, they were having dinner with Gao Jiyi and Fang Langxi, who hadn’t seen each other for a while.

Zhao Pingjin parked the car, held Xitang’s hand, and entered the hotel lobby, where they saw Gao Jiyi.

“Hey, the big star graces us with her presence today,” Gao Jiyi greeted playfully. Xitang smiled but didn’t respond.

“Alright, stop making fun of people,” Zhao Pingjin lightly kicked Gao Jiyi.

They entered the private room, where Fang Langxi and Qingqing were already waiting.

Qingqing hadn’t seen Xitang since her wedding, but when she saw Xitang, she immediately walked over.

“Xitang, it’s been so long since I saw you! Just finished filming?”

“Not yet, I need to go back to Shanghai the day after tomorrow. This time the filming period is a bit long.”

“What kind of drama is it this time? Can I visit the set?”

“Sure, this time it’s a period drama, based on Eileen Chang’s novel Half a Lifetime.”

“Great, then next time when Zhou Zhou goes, I’ll ask him to bring me along. Does he go often?”

“Him? Not at all.”

While Zhao Pingjin was talking to his second brother, he heard this sentence and immediately became displeased.

“Hah, when have I not sent you to the set every time you go to Shanghai?”

“Last time when I stayed in Shanghai for more than a month filming, you didn’t visit even once.”

“Miss, I didn’t go? I did go to visit you. You were too busy with rehearsals, and I couldn’t pull you away, so I stayed at the set for so long and only managed to have a quick lunch with you.”

“That doesn’t count.”

“Alright, alright, next time I’ll go with you and be your assistant, okay?”

“I don’t have money to pay Zhao Dong for an assistant.”

The people in the room watched them bickering and felt relaxed. It had been a while since they felt so comfortable. Fang Langxi and Qingqing exchanged knowing smiles.

They returned home, and while Xitang went to take a bath, Zhao Pingjin sat in the living room watching TV. After a short while, he remembered that Xitang only had some vegetable leaves for dinner to maintain her figure. So he got up, went to the kitchen, heated a glass of milk, and placed it on the dining table. Just as he sat back down, he heard Xitang calling him from the bathroom.

“What’s up?”

“Can you get my bathrobe? It’s the one I bought recently, the one with the embroidery.”

“So many things to do.”

After handing Xitang the bathrobe, Zhao Pingjin lost interest in watching TV, so he took the glass of milk back to the bedroom.

Xitang had finished drying her hair and came out of the bathroom. Zhao Pingjin was reading with the bedside lamp on. Xitang walked over, lifted the blanket, and lay in his arms.

After looking at her phone for a while, Xitang suddenly sat up, almost hitting Zhao Pingjin’s chin.

“Huang Xitang! What are you doing?”

“Sorry, sorry, did I hit you?” Xitang leaned in to check his face.

“I’m fine.” Zhao Pingjin glared at her, slightly irritated.

“I want to discuss something with you.” Xitang cautiously said.

“Go drink the milk on the table first.”

Xitang quickly ran barefoot to grab the cup. Zhao Pingjin called out behind her, “You’re not wearing shoes!”

She drank it in one go, didn’t wipe her mouth, and ran back to the bed. She kissed Zhao Pingjin, who quickly wiped his mouth in disgust.

“You won’t catch a cold. We have underfloor heating.” Xitang said as she hugged his neck. “What did you want to discuss?”

She let go of him, reached for her phone on the bedside table, and handed it to Zhao Pingjin. On the screen was a cat, an English Shorthair, a mix of white and light brown.

“Isn’t it cute? It’s Qingqing’s.”

Zhao Pingjin had a bad feeling.

“Look, when I’m filming outside, you’re alone at home. How lonely.” Xitang reached out to stroke his neck.

“I used to be alone too.” Zhao Pingjin was not fooled.

“Wasn’t there Yu…” Xitang murmured before Zhao Pingjin shot her a sharp look. She immediately shut up.

“Oh my, I’m just concerned about you.”

“Don’t! It bothers me. You want to keep a cat? When you’re home, fine. But when you’re filming, isn’t it me who has to take care of it?”

“But I really want to keep one.” Xitang looked at him with big eyes.

“If you can pluck all its fur and make it stop shedding, then I’ll agree.”

“Zhao Pingjin!” Xitang pinched him.

“Grandmother! Be gentle!”

“Let me keep it.” Xitang shook his head.

Zhao Pingjin didn’t respond, but gave her a cold glance.

“You see, cats aren’t like dogs, they don’t need to be walked every day. If you get a cat tower, it can play by itself. It’s usually very quiet and won’t disturb you.”

Zhao Pingjin still didn’t reply. Xitang noticed his cold expression, so she turned and started undoing his bathrobe buttons.

Zhao Pingjin knew what she was up to. “This trick won’t work.”

“Oh? Really?” Xitang didn’t stop, continuing to undo the buttons and traced circles on his chest.

Xitang had been sitting on his lap for a while, rubbing against him. He had already been feeling restless, and now, with her teasing him like this, his desire was quickly ignited. He leaned down to kiss her. Xitang took advantage of the moment and pushed against his chest.

“Will you let me keep it?”

“Fine, fine, fine!” He finally couldn’t hold back and kissed her.

From then on, every time Xitang went away to film, Zhao Pingjin and the cat would just stare at each other.

“Well, your mom leaves, and she’s all light and free, while it’s just the two of us, staring at each other.”

(End of the extra chapter)

Thank you for reading!