Wooing my Bodyguard Wife

Jingwei makes a small pleased fist pump at getting Lady Yu’s help. With her on his side, Xue Ning would get everything she ever needed to rest and recover after a long grueling day.

He vows to be a spectacular host so that she would not want to leave in the morning. His brain immediately provides him with various scenarios…

Perhaps after they’ve showered and had a good supper, Xue Ning might want to choose a movie or TV series to watch in his home theatre. They could sit together on the soft leather loveseat and Jingwei could ‘accidentally’ stretch out an arm to curl around her shoulders.

A good romcom would be perfect to set the right mood. Or maybe a horror movie would be the better choice, so Jingwei could look brave and capable and not like the coward he was deep down.

Or perhaps Jingwei would mention his family’s dogs over supper, and Xue Ning would also say she loved dogs, then he could bring her to visit the kennels at the back of the house. The path to the kennels was uneven, for the cobblestones were old, so he would hold her hand and lead her slowly to the kennels.

His family kept a variety of dogs, of various sizes and breeds. It was not a stretch to say that his father treated the dogs better than he did his children at times. He could introduce them to her… if she was going to be a part of his family, she would have to know them.

Or maybe, most likely, Xue Ning would be exhausted after such a long day and would just like to turn in for the night. As such, Jingwei would ensure she gets one of the best rooms in the mansion, with a sturdy king-sized bed and the best mattress that money could buy.

She would sleep on silk sheets with a thread count of over 3000, and there would be large, fluffy pillows for her to hug. He would even put on soft music and light up aromatherapy candles if she wished.

Of course, his biggest wish was for her to let him sleep in the same bed as her. He’s sure he’s nicer than a pillow to hug.

“Oi, why do you have such a dopey look on your face?” Xue Ning asks, walking closer to wave a hand at Jingwei’s face.

After hanging up the phone, he had merely stood there and smiled to himself like a moron. This was so suspicious – it was like he was thinking of a lover. Was the person on the other end of the line his ex? Was that why he didn’t want her listening in?

Her intestines writhed uncomfortably at the thought, before she reminded herself that it didn’t matter who Sun Jingwei dated or didn’t date. She’s his bodyguard, not his lover.

“Xue Ning! Why do you look so constipated?” Jingwei asks, jogging back to her.

“No I don’t,” Xue Ning grumbles, crossing her arms. The thought that Sun Jingwei might possibly not be over his previous lover crossed her mind, and she subconsciously frowned harder.

“My dear, don’t frown like this! You’ll get wrinkles early!” Jingwei chides her gently, using a gentle finger to smooth out the furrow between her eyes. She bats away his hand. Jingwei took no offence, instead he looked highly amused, the same way one person playing with a kitten would be.

“I would not,” Xue Ning replies.

“Would too, but that’s okay, I have face masks for that.” Jingwei replies blithely. Skincare was important no matter your gender, and it was a pity more men did not know that.

“More importantly, romance or horror?”

“Huh?” Xue Ning blinks at the sudden change in conversation topic.

“Just pick one.”

“Horror I guess,” Xue Ning shrugs, before bitterly adding. “Technically romance is also horrifying.”

Jingwei senses some sadness, and immediately makes sure to distract her by wrapping an arm around her shoulders, ignoring her surprised expression.

“Horror it is!” Nevermind that Jingwei was a consummate coward who was afraid of the supernatural. If Xue NIng preferred horror movies, that was what he would gladly watch. “You won’t regret staying over at my house!”

“If you say so,” Xue Ning says. Jingwei seems highly enthusiastic in having her over. Was it because he had no real friends to invite to his house?

That was kind of sad. She vows to treat him a bit better.

“Oh look! Ge is done, let’s go!” He eagerly pulls her along and wraps another arm around Sun Tianwei, who looks exhausted after the questioning. “Bye again Officer Tang! Remember to kiss your wife goodnight!”

Xue Ning catches Officer Tang taking a long deep breath in response. Poor man.

“I’ll drive,” Jingwei says, giving no room for argument as he leads them to his car. “You’re injured and Ge just Grand-Theft-Autoed a man.”

“I am perfectly capable of driving,” Tianwei states, but he still slides into the shotgun seat. Xue Ning, by unspoken agreement, sits at the back of the car. It was smaller than the two front seats, but then she didn’t need much room.

Jingwei does a double-take at his brother sitting shotgun. He thought Xue Ning would sit there. Tianwei merely gives him an incredulous face. Jingwei could read the meaning in his face.

‘Do you expect me to sit in the backstead Didi? After I saved both your lives?’

He gives his brother a sheepish smile in apology. ‘No Ge. But I did want Xue Ning to sit with me…’

Meanwhile Xue Ning had no clue of this silent conversation happening in front of her. She yawned widely, leaned back on the smooth leather seat and promptly conked out in the back seat, surrounded by the scent of Sun Jingwei.

The drive home was mostly silent, but Jingwei couldn’t help checking on Xue Ning’s sleeping figure at the back of his car. Tianwei noticed.

“Focus on the road,” he scolds. “If you get into a car accident, she’ll be done for.”

“Okay okay! I know!” Jingwei nods, but he still can’t resist one last glance at Xue Ning. She looks like she is sleeping peacefully.

“You have very strong feelings for her,” Tianwei states, deceptively casual. Jingwei flushes to his ears, but doesn’t lose control of the wheel.

“So what if I do? Are you going to laugh at me, Ge?”

“I already did,” was his callous reply. “It was funny to see your sad face when she rejected your help in the ambulance.”

“Ge, before you laugh at me, please get a girlfriend.” Jingwei pleads. “Get someone to stop you from becoming a workaholic. Or you’ll end up bald and alone.”

“Hmph. Worry about yourself.” Tianwei says curtly. “Your romance doesn’t seem to be going well either.”

“It’s going, it’s going,” Jingwei says, taking a quick look at Xue Ning to check if she’s really asleep. “I want to marry her, no matter what.”

“Then did you plan on our dear father approving?” Tianwei asks. “Because we both know that he might just keel over from the news.”

“Who knows?” Jingwei says, optimistic. “Maybe he’ll be so happy that I’m serious about someone for once that he’ll let it go.”

“If only you had been so serious about Zhou Yu, your ex-fiancee,” Tianwei grumbles. “Pardon Ge for being blunt, but what’s so special about her?”

“Xue Ning? What isn’t special about her?” Jingwei replies, sighing besottedly. Tianwei gives him a disgusted look, before realising that it was his own fault for bringing her up.

Jingwei continues without any encouragement, “I like how blunt and honest she is with me, and I like how she pretends not to care about me, but she actually cares a lot. And she’s smart and funny, and she’s really cute. Do you know that she smells like a warm blanket on a cold day? Isn’t it incredible? And she is so strong, did you see her thighs? Ge you should see her kick -“

“Nevermind, I’m sorry I asked.” Tianwei says, stopping his brother from preaching about the various charms of Xue Ning. He hadn’t seen his brother so interested in anyone, or anything in years. The last time… was probably before Wu Shang Jing’s incident.

“More importantly, does she know you like her enough to propose?”  Tianwei asks.

Jingwei falls silent at that. Tianwei stares incredulously at him. Jingwei focuses on the road to avoid his brother’s judgemental gaze.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Tianwei has his head in his hands. “You can say all this to me, but have you actually said all this to her before even planning your future wedding in your head?” And Jingwei was someone who would plan his wedding in vivid detail before he even confessed. His brother was just an optimistic dreamer like that.

“…Not in these words, but she should know. I think I’ve been quite obvious?” Jingwei replies, his last word trailing off into a question.

Tianwei shakes his head. “If you have been as obvious as you claim, then it would mean that you’ve been rejected. Better work harder then.”

“Wait Ge, does it mean you’re supporting me?” Jingwei asks excitedly, before remembering to keep his voice down.

“…At least she has a good head on her shoulders,” was Tianwei’s response, “which is more than I can say about the other women you used to have around.”

“I am a changed man now,” Jingwei replies, his voice low and serious. “If it’s not Xue Ning, I don’t want anyone else.”

Behind them, Xue Ning’s sleeping heart skips a beat.