Little Miss Witch: Revenge of the Tainted Angel

For the past month, it was almost impossible for the newlywed couple to meet, even after their respective working hours. While Li Chuntao resumed her work at Li Corporation, Shen Zichen had returned to his graveyard shift at the hospital. There were also times when Li Chuntao had to attend banquets late into the night as Li Xiuying. 

Shen Zichen was starting to wonder if he should request for a change of shift at work. Although his wife was very accommodating, he didn't want the issue to persist any longer. Li Chuntao might have not said anything yet, but it was obvious that their conflicting schedule was starting to wear her patience. 

Li Chuntao could barely tolerate the ball that night. If it wasn't on her Auntie Yue's insistence, she wouldn't come here tonight. The glitz and the wealth all around was making her feel sick. The orchestra was starting to grate on her nerves while the food and the drinks were bland and tasteless in her opinion. 

It was usually Ying who attended such functions when she was still alive and Li Chuntao hated being here, knowing that her husband was waiting for her back at home, since it was his day off. He almost looked sad when she left with Su Ling earlier. 

Well, she invited him to join her tonight as her partner, but he declined as he didn't have the energy to spend on such events. Not that she could blame him. The workload he had back at the hospital must have been giving him a lot of stress lately. 

Li Chuntao would've canceled if Shen Zichen asked her to stay with him, but the moment she finished applying her makeup, Shen Zichen already started to doze off on their bed after telling her to have a good time. 

Was she having a good time? Certainly not. 

How the hell could she enjoy the night when all she wanted to do right now was to return home and snuggle next to her husband? 

"Hey," her Auntie Yue poked her side to get her attention. "You don't like being here?" 

"Is it that obvious, Auntie Yue?" 

"Well, you've been glowering ever since we got here." The older woman pointed out. 

"Sorry, I just feel tired and since Zichen is at home right now, I'm worried about him," Li Chuntao took a flute from a passing waiter and drank the wine in one go. 

"It's understandable. You only got married recently but your work is already tearing you apart from each other. Have you talked about it with Zichen?" 

"Hmm, he'd already told me he requested a change of shift." 

Li Chuntao forced a smile. It wasn't her Auntie Yue's fault that she was here. A part of her felt guilty for barely contributing to the family and running away from her obligations. 

"Whatever it is, I'm sure you two would be able to figure it out. And remember" —Zheng Yue placed a hand on her niece's back and looked around. The smile on her face was friendly and reassuring— "things will work out when the two of you try your best to fix the problem." 

From where they were standing, Li Chuntao spotted Lan Jinyao in the crowd, talking with the other guest. It wasn't surprising that the actress was getting a lot of attention lately, considering the sudden spike in her popularity these days. 

When their eyes met, Lan Jinyao's eyes lit up, while Li Chuntao raised her flute to the actress as a greeting. She didn't want to socialize with the others and wanted to go home. 

By the time Li Chuntao arrived at Shen Zichen's apartment, it was already past two in the morning. She'd left the ball as quickly as she could but everyone seemed to be in her way, wanting to inquire about her recovery and plans in the future. 

Avoiding the crowd of guests seemed impossible without her Auntie Yue's help. She was glad that she was able to sneak away before everyone noticed her disappearance. She figured Shen Zichen would be asleep in bed but she found him in the living area, on the couch, his head resting on the armrest. 

Was he waiting for her to return home? 

Li Chuntao sighed. She shouldn't have left him alone if she'd known he would wait for her like this. She tapped his shoulder, trying to wake him up. It must be uncomfortable for someone as tall as him to sleep on the couch like this. 

"Hey, why are you sleeping here? Let's go to bed shall we?" 

Shen Zichen cracked his eyes open and looked at her sleepily. 

"Hey," he let her lead him back to their bedroom and slumped back on the mattress with a thud. 

Li Chuntao peeled her dress off, removed her earring before going to the bathroom to wash her face clean. She returned wearing her nightdress and slipped under the sheets with him. Shen Zichen said something else that she didn't quite catch. 

"What?" 

Shen Zichen rolled on his side and wrapped an arm around her. "I said we have to make plans for your birthday." 

She blinked at him, not expecting that he would remember it. Li Chuntao had been so used to not celebrating her and Ying's birthday for several years and it felt foreign for her to celebrate it now that her twin sister wasn't here to share the day with her. 

"Let's talk about later. Sleep." He muttered and returned to his slumber. Now that she'd return, he wouldn't have to worry where she was. 

Her delicate presence in his arms gave Shen Zichen a small comfort. She smelled amazing, something he could never get tired of. He cherished the way she burrowed into him, so trusting. He should let her sleep as both of them had a long day earlier but he wanted to touch her, make her shudder in passion, and bury himself deeply inside her. 

Shen Zichen had this urgent need to reaffirm their love and connection to each other. He hadn't touched her since their wedding night and could feel the frustrations every time something came up, forcing them to stop midway. 

"Are you going to stop again?" Li Chuntao asked and looked at him straight in the eyes.

The sleepiness in Shen Zichen's eyes vanished instantly. His fingers came up to touch her cheek. He was aware that she had been trying to get his attention these past weeks, but they were just too busy and tired with their own schedules. He also didn't want this to feel hurried and rushed because they had time restraints. 

Now that he was allowed to get three days off from the hospital, Shen Zichen could now be with his wife without distractions. 

His lips sought hers and kissed her with the intensity that he wasn't accustomed to, his hand pressing her lower back against him before running up and down along her smooth leg. Shen Zichen felt like it had been forever since the last time he touched her and made love with her. 

Her nails were against his neck and scalp as they kissed and kissed. His lips traced the beautiful curves of her body, while his hands worked to remove her nightdress and undergarments.. He could feel the damp heat radiating from her core.