Chapter 41 Four MistakesThe convenience store in the housing estate was rich in goods. Xia Xiaoluo bought instant noodles and a shopping bag of snacks, for she was reluctant to do the cooking due to the hurt in her b.u.m. Instant noodles would do, which were both convenient and delicious!
In ease and leisure, Xia Xiaoluo walked towards home with a shopping bag in one of her hands and an ice cream in another. She bought it before she left the convenience store and ate it while she walked home, feeling extremely pleasant.
Pressed the b.u.t.ton, Xia Xiaoluo was waiting for the elevator while licking her ice cream. When the door of the elevator opened, however, she was stupefied. Ling Tianyi was reclining on the wall of the elevator, glaring at her.
Ling Tianyi had told her not to go out, but she did that anyway. This little woman dared to turn a deaf ear to his warning.
“What are you waiting for? Come in!” Ling Tianyi said in a cold voice. A sudden chill ran over Xia Xiaoluo.
d.a.m.n! What a coincidence! Didn’t this old man say that he wouldn’t come back home until dinner time? Why would he be back before 4 o’clock? She was caught by him. Looking into Ling Tianyi’s deep eyes, Xia Xiaoluo found coldness and chilliness in them and she knew she must be “dead meat” this time. She wondered how violent the storm would be after they got home.
Ling Tianyi stood still in the elevator without a word. He did not help Xia Xiaoluo with her stuff. Facing the silence, Xia Xiaoluo was too scared to say anything.
After a moment, the elevator stopped. Ling Tianyi dragged Xia Xiaoluo into their home as if she were a chick when she stood still blankly.
“Ah! The ice cream. My ice cream!” shouted Xia Xiaoluo. While she was grabbed by Ling Tianyi, the ice cream got on her small pale pink T-shirt and then it fell down right on the floor.
“Xia Xiaoluo, are you dumb? Right now, you should worry about your ice cream! Have you ever seen me as your husband?” Ling Tianyi shouted at Xia Xiaoluo, giving her an angry glare.
Xia Xiaoluo’s failure to be obedient to his words had enraged him, but it was her att.i.tude to value the ice cream much more than him that finally infuriated him.
“I didn’t mean it! I’m just afraid that my ice cream may possibly stain the carpet in your home. I really cannot afford to pay you back.” Squatting down, Xia Xiaoluo began to deal with the fallen ice cream with grievance.
“What did you mean by ‘your home’? If the carpet was stained, then just buy a new one! Pay me back? It was even more expensive than you!” Ling Tianyi was even more infuriated by her words. They had been registered for marriage, but the little woman felt so estranged from him, making him fly into a rage out of nothing.
Xia Xiaoluo remained silent, for she guessed that it would be better to stop talking. Otherwise, she may answer wrong and would then be doubly wrong.
Sitting on the sofa, Ling Tianyi loosened his tie and threw it beside him. Xia Xiaoluo cleaned up the ice cream on the floor, and then she cleaned carefully the stain on the carpet with a wet towel. Xia Xiaoluo’s seriousness in the cleaning work somewhat mollified Ling Tianyi a little. He liked virtuous women and Xia Xiaoluo basically met this demand, for she could do the cooking and cleaning for him.
After finishing her work, Xia Xiaoluo found Ling Tianyi staring at her, which made her feel ill at ease. So, she said to him, “I am about to prepare the lessons.”
As soon as she finished her words, Xia Xiaoluo intended to go to the study room, for she did not dare to remain in front of Ling Tianyi for fear that she would be swallowed up by him.
“Stop!” Ling Tianyi said in a low but commanding voice.
“Let me bring a gla.s.s of water for you. You just got off work and drove all the way. You must be thirsty.” Said Xia Xiaoluo, trying to find an excuse to leave. But Ling Tianyi stretched over and took his little wife beside him.
Sitting next to Ling Tianyi, Xia Xiaoluo felt anxious all over. She went out presumptuously and was caught by Ling Tianyi. He would not let her off this time.
“Just say it. Why didn’t you obey my orders? If you can persuade me, then you will get a pardon for physical pain. Or, yuck…” Tough Ling Tianyi did not finish his words, Xia Xiaoluo knew clearly what he would say.
“I didn’t have the phone number of the takeout place, so I have to go out to buy something to eat. Besides, I rested for a whole night and I am much better. Taking a seat won’t hurt that much. It doesn’t matter if I walked, either. So, I really did not need more rest in bed.” Thinking for a while, Xia Xiaoluo decided to tell him the truth.
“Oh? Really?” Ling Tianyi looked at her pensively.
“Yes, really!” Xia Xiaoluo replied immediately with confidence, for she had told the truth.
“So, it means that you haven’t had lunch until now. It’s almost 4 o’clock now. I just wanna ask you what you did during such a long time. You didn’t play on the computer, did you?” Ling Tianyi squinted at Xia Xiaoluo, watching her facial expression carefully.
“I did… not… I just overslept.” Xia Xiaoluo hummed and hawed, thinking to herself that she was really doomed. If she was found to have not only gone out but also secretly surfed the Internet, she must be seriously punished by him. But, luckily, she had turned off the computer before she went out. She could just refuse to admit it, and Ling Tianyi would not get the evidence.
However, how shrewd Ling Tianyi was as he had gone through numerous hardships in the business circle. He could immediately figure out what Xia Xiaoluo was thinking about. He stood up and went straight to the study room. Immediately, Xia Xiaoluo followed him.
As soon as he stepped into the room, Ling Tianyi found the cushion on the chair. He took it and threw it onto the floor where Xia Xiaoluo stood, saying, “I’m afraid that only the one who suffers beating on the bottom will need this cushion!”
“It’s my fault! I promise not to do it again!” Lowering her head, Xia Xiaoluo acknowledged her mistake, hoping to get leniency from Ling Tianyi.
“Again? You mean, you won’t be so careless next time in case I catch you again.” Ling Tianyi was in a bad mood. This little girl turned a deaf ear to his words and dared to deceive him.
“How many mistakes did you make today? Go and bring the note that I wrote for you. I guess you did not read it earnestly.” At this moment, Ling Tianyi behaved like a feudal autocratic parent.
“There’s no need to take the note. Today, I made four mistakes as follows. Firstly, I should not go out without your permission. Secondly, I should not surf the Internet secretly. Thirdly, I should not throw the note into the trash can. Last but not least, I should not lie to you. I have known I was wrong, and I promise I won’t do that again.”
Finishing her words, Xia Xiaoluo lowered her head. She had both a bad performance and poor academic records since childhood. She was a typical poor student at school and her teachers had reproved her for countless times. Therefore, Xia Xiaoluo concluded her experience to respond to such criticism. To be more specific, she must acknowledge her mistakes after making them. Then she must lower her head to accept the criticism. After that, the teacher would ask her to write a self-criticism at most and she survived.
“What? You dare to throw away the note I wrote. How could you!” Ling Tianyi suddenly flew into a great rage, but he did not know how to punish this naughty girl. He was too soft-hearted and reluctant to beat her as he said before. However, considering the fact that she did not comply with what he said, he could not calm down before teaching her a lesson seriously.
Ling Tianyi clenched his fists, causing a terrible sound.
“Ah! You…you did not mean to beat me for real, right? Yesterday I was already injured, and I have not recovered from it!” Xia Xiaoluo saw Ling Tianyi’s anger in his eyes, feeling timid in her heart and beginning to speak with a stammer.
Carrying Xia Xiaoluo under his arm like carrying a file folder, Ling Tianyi took her to the bedroom. He took off his jean shorts to check her injured bottom. The bruise was still very clear though the swelling had gone to some extent. Looking at her bruise, Ling Tianyi was finally soft-hearted.
Ling Tianyi really did not have the heart to beat her!
“For the sake of your injured bottom, I won’t beat you today.” Ling Tianyi felt really sorry and touched her bruise gently.
Xia Xiaoluo still had not had the time to rejoice when she heard Ling Tianyi continued, “But, you must be punished for your mistakes.”
“What? What punishment?” Xia Xiaoluo pouted and asked.
Ling Tianyi showed a charming but evil smile and took Xia Xiaoluo in her arms, “To punish you by doing exercises together with me.”
“No. All you think of is how to do bad things to me. I haven’t recovered yet!” Xia Xiaoluo blushed, making her face more beautiful.
“Today, you made four mistakes and I had intended to teach you a lesson. But I’m inclined to give you a chance for redemption. If you make me happy, then I will let your mistakes pa.s.s. Or, I will punish you by having you copy 100 Chinese characters.” Ling Tianyi frowned. He now finally knew Xia Xiaoluo’s weakness, namely, she was not fond of studying. Reading and writing would be the greatest torture for her.
Xia Xiaoluo frowned for a moment, stared the next, and then curled her lips. Her facial expression was really wonderful.
In the end, Xia Xiaoluo found herself really unwilling to copy 100 Chinese characters. She took Ling Tianyi’s arm and acted coquettishly to him, saying, “Hubby, let me do exercises together with you! But you should not make me painful, for I was injured on my bottom.”
How could Ling Tianyi stand this? With his throat moving, he immediately kissed Xia Xiaoluo on her rosy cheeks.
They came so close that Xia Xiaoluo smelled a faint cologne, which was the exclusive smell of Ling Tianyi.
Gradually, she had begun to be fascinated by him!
This time, Ling Tianyi was very gentle, not as overbearing or fierce as he used to be. He knew well how to behave, and he did not intend to hurt his sweetheart in his arms.
At the end of their exercise, Xia Xiaoluo’s stomach rumbled with hunger.
“I’m so hungry! You know, I didn’t have lunch.” Xia Xiaoluo said, feeling embarra.s.sed.
“You stupid! You should forget to have your lunch! Eat this.” Ling Tianyi gave Xia Xiaoluo a box of Ferrero Rocher, which was given to him by one of his subordinates. Today, the man was distributing chocolates to other colleagues while Ling Tianyi was pa.s.sing by. Naturally, he would give a share to the boss. Ling Tianyi himself did not like eating snacks, but he guessed his little wife may love it. Therefore, he put the chocolate into his pocket.
But such a small chocolate ball simply could not fill Xia Xiaoluo’s stomach.
“Hubby, I am still starving!” Looking at Ling Tianyi, Xia Xiaoluo asked faintly. But she was still eager for his answer, “I bought the instant noodles, could I…”
“No! Xia Xiaoluo, I told you that you are not permitted to eat any junk food at any time.” Ling Tianyi finished. His words dimmed Xia Xiaoluo’s eyes in an instant, for she really missed the taste of the junk food mentioned just now.
“Don’t you want to go out? Let’s dine out. How about seafood?” Actually, Ling Tianyi had booked a private room in a seafood restaurant.
“Yes!” Xia Xiaoluo cheered up immediately, reaching out to her clothes.
“Do not wear short pants like that to go out anymore.” Ling Tianyi threw Xia Xiaoluo’s shorts into the trash can without asking.
“You!” Xia Xiaoluo did not dare to set herself against Ling Tianyi. After searching the wardrobe, Ling Tianyi found a pair of long pants and said, “Put this one on.”
“It’s too hot! It’s early autumn, and we are going through the scorching heat!” Xia Xiaoluo was really unwilling to wear the pants. But when she saw Ling Tianyi’s cold eyes, she could do nothing but put them on.
Looking in the mirror, Xia Xiaoluo found it very corny and pouted.
“Hum, that’s good! Rest a.s.sured! There’s the air conditioner in the car.” Ling Tianyi said with satisfaction. This little girl belonged to him, so he did not allow other men to see her soft, delicate and thin legs.