The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

Jiang Shaocheng wanted to pull his hand away and cover her with his coat, but Tang Qiu’s soft and delicate voice almost made him collapse.

He turned around and roared, “Yin Shulai, turn off the movie!” No one responded. He clenched his fists. When he got out, he was going to pound Yin Shulai into the ground.

“Dear… I want a kiss…” Tang Qiu embraced him and tried to plant her lips on him.

“Get a hold on yourself, Qiu. Not here…” Jiang Shaocheng felt deeply uncomfortable himself.

“I see no reason why not.” Tang Qiu smiled foolishly, her eyes glazed. She had obviously lost her mind. Her husband had said no, and she took it as an invitation.

Jiang Shaocheng took a deep breath, took off his jacket, and tied her hands together. He covered her eyes and rose from his wheelchair to find a way to open the door. The movie was still playing in the background, flushing him with heat. Tang Qiu squirmed, rolling off the sofa onto the ground.

Worried that she was injured, Jiang Shaocheng quickly turned around and picked her up. “Are you okay, Qiu?”

Tang Qiu whined and snuggled into his arms. Jiang Shaocheng immediately flinched back and kept his distance from her, but his avoidance only seemed to fuel her. He was trapped. Without meaning to, he stared at her lush red lips. “Qiu…”

“Dear…” Her soft voice sparked an even fiercer itch in him than the movie had.

Unable to contain himself, Jiang Shaocheng lowered his head and kissed her. But when their lips touched, it set his instincts and desire alight, and it was as if a beast had been released from its cage…

***

Outside, He Lei stared at the door of the theater. The room was soundproofed, so he couldn’t hear anything. “Will the young master be… okay?”

Yin Shulai chuckled. “He’s pretending to be a cripple. What can he do? Even if something really happens, it’s your young mistress whom you should be worried about. He should be able to manage, with a film to guide him.”

“But… the young mistress…” He Lei was still worried.

“Relax. I spiked her drink. She won’t remember a thing tomorrow, so she can’t expose your young master for pretending to be disabled,” Yin Shulai said confidently.

He Lei swallowed and faced him. “I think you might be in danger. If your life is threatened, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Yin Shulai shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, he should be thanking me!”

Suddenly, the hallway lights flashed. A few of them shattered and went dim.

“What’s going on?” Yin Shulai took out his phone to check the electricity network of his mansion and found that there was a short circuit in the movie theater. “Is Jiang Shaocheng possessed? He actually smashed my big screen!”

He Lei pinched the space between his eyebrows. Only his young master could do such a thing! “Hurry up and open the door, before he tears down the room.”

Yin Shulai rolled his eyes. “Why didn’t your young master just take the chance to get intimate with the woman he loves? He didn’t have to break my things! I bet he couldn’t get it up. No wonder the film was useless and he became so violent.”

He Lei chose not to grace him with a reply.

Yin Shulai found the key and opened the door. Jiang Shaocheng was sitting on the sofa with Tang Qiu in his arms. He leveled a vicious glare at the other man, and Yin Shulai flinched back in fear.

He Lei hurried over and asked, “Young Master, are you alright?”

“Get a room for her to rest. Yin Shulai, bring the damn antidote!” Jiang Shaocheng’s tone turned even more terrifying.

Yin Shulai chuckled. “You’re the only antidote for each other.”

Jiang Shaocheng stared at him icily. Yin Shulai felt a chill on the back of his neck and quickly said, “She should be fine after a cold shower.” freℯ𝓌e𝚋𝐧𝘰vℯl.𝐜𝚘𝗺

“My wife’s wound was infected a few days ago, and you want her to take a cold shower? Yin Shulai, just how badly do you want to die?” Jiang Shaocheng’s eyes were murderous.

How was Yin Shulai supposed to know that Tang Qiu was still injured? “Then there’s nothing we can do.” As soon as the words were out he felt a chill descend upon him. His fingers grazed his neck, as if expecting to find a noose circling his throat.

***

When they reached the guest room, Jiang Shaocheng took Tang Qiu to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face to cool her down. 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝒆𝘸𝚎𝙗𝒏oν𝙚𝘭.𝐜𝒐m

She still wasn’t herself, clinging to his neck and groping for kisses. Unable to push her away, Jiang Shaocheng fell into the water with her, until they were soaked and pressed against one another. Uncomfortable, Tang Qiu tried to remove her clothes, but Jiang Shaocheng seized her wrist and kissed her again to distract her.

After a long time, Tang Qiu stilled. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep in his arms. Jiang Shaocheng carried her out to dry her off, but when he caught sight of the water beading her skin, he rubbed his brow. Whatever illusions he had harbored about his self-control had been shattered…