My wife is a witch princess

Chapter 72 You're allowed to kiss me, but I'm not allowed to kiss you.

Xia Li straightened her back even more, almost taut as a line.

"Was I... impolite?" she asked, puzzled.

"It's not a matter of politeness." Song Che almost facepalmed. "You're just too serious. Relax your expression."

"I..." Xia Li tried to adjust her expression, but the more she tried, the stiffer she became. In the end, she could only awkwardly twitch the right corner of her mouth. She couldn't smile voluntarily at the moment; she only had a passive skill.

"This... does look like a villain's smile." Song Che tried hard to swallow the word "pervert." "You could try moving both corners of your mouth at the same time."

Upon hearing this, Xia Li tried to lift both corners of her mouth upwards at the same time, forming a precise but cold smile.

Looking at this smile, which was comparable to the standard template of the service industry, Song Che completely gave up.

"Alright, let's practice the Q&A first. Just keep your normal expression... Yes, like this, relax a little, don't focus your eyes so much, just be gentle."

"Go ahead and ask," Xia Li said, reverting to her usual calm expression.

"First question: Where are you from?"

"An orphan. A native of Nanhui, who has been without parents since childhood."

"Where do you go to school?"

"I didn't go to school. I do odd jobs on a regular basis."

"Hmm, very good." Song Che nodded, paused, and then posed a crucial question, "So... do you like Song Che?"

Xia Li's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she asked in return, "Would Auntie... ask this question directly?"

"She will definitely ask, and she might ask many times, in a roundabout way." Song Che didn't want to put pressure on her. "If you can't say 'you like me' for now, just nod. My mom won't press for details."

Xia Li shook her head, her expression becoming extremely serious: "Actually... I've been thinking about it for a while. I've also asked the 'Magic Mirror.' I have some thoughts about us pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Go on, I'm listening." Song Che's heart tightened for some reason. He was a little worried that Xia Li might have seen some extreme comments online and been misled.

"First of all, I've made one thing clear," Xia Li's voice was clear and steady, "what we're doing now is wrong."

"Mm." Song Che did not deny it and gestured for her to continue.

"Secondly, you're helping me now, taking me in, and teaching me. I haven't refused. You said you like me, but I haven't given you a clear response—neither saying 'like' nor clearly 'rejecting' you. This kind of behavior, according to online slang, is called 'keeping a fish on the chopping block,' which is a very bad thing. 'Stringing' someone along makes them very uncomfortable. I don't want you to be uncomfortable because of this."

...So you've finally figured it out?!

Song Che was startled, but he tried his best to keep his face calm.

"and then?"

"So, even though I'm not entirely sure what 'liking' really feels like, I'm at least sure that 'not disliking' is real. I don't want you to continue being a 'fake' boyfriend. I think... we can become a real boyfriend and girlfriend." Xia Li looked directly at Song Che, with an almost ritualistic solemnity. "For this, we can make a contract."

She spoke very seriously, as if every word had been carefully considered.

This instantly suppressed Song Che's initial urge to tease her. Xia Li valued "contracts" extremely highly, but in this world without the constraints of a goddess of magic, the so-called "contract" oath would likely only unilaterally bind her to her strict adherence to it.

Song Che didn't want her to be bound by invisible ropes because of a momentary sense of responsibility or guilt.

"Actually," Song Che softened his voice, "the contract can wait until later, when we are both more certain. Do you know what 'marriage' is? If one day in the future, we are both completely certain of our feelings, then it's not too late to make the most solemn promise."

Now, if we decide to become a real boyfriend and girlfriend, this process itself is one of getting to know and confirming each other. During this time, if you find that we're not compatible, I will absolutely not unilaterally bind you with anything.

"No." Xia Li's stubbornness kicked in, and she wouldn't listen to anything Song Che said. "The contract has to be made. Otherwise... I'll be a 'bad woman.' But I'm not. I don't want to keep you hanging on. I just... don't quite understand that feeling."

Nobody said you're a bad woman.

Xia Li stopped talking and touched her phone in her pocket.

"You...you didn't post a question online and get scolded, did you?" Song Che suddenly had a bad feeling.

"I didn't." Xia Li pursed her lips.

Well, it seems I got scolded.

Song Che felt a mix of heartache and amusement. "Xia Li, listen to me. You're completely different from those who deliberately 'string' others along. 'Stringing' usually means maintaining ambiguous relationships with several people at the same time, constantly comparing and weighing them, and finally choosing the one that's most advantageous to oneself, like picking out a product. That's why the other person feels humiliated and angry. But would you flirt with so many people at the same time?"

"I'm very serious!" Xia Li emphasized immediately, her tone carrying a hint of urgency at being misunderstood.

"I know you take this more seriously than anyone else," Song Che's voice softened. "So you really don't need to blame yourself. Some people online may not know the specifics and make judgments based on just a few words."

The fact that you took the initiative to clarify this matter today proves that you're not that kind of person at all. Although you always speak coldly and seem to lack emotion, I understand you.

Song Che was secretly overjoyed.

When you like someone, the worst thing is when they are completely indifferent.

Xia Li clearly sensed it!

As a witch, she was inherently deficient in her emotional intelligence, and she was also afraid or unsure how to confront these feelings. But now, she has taken this difficult first step.

Once you take the first step, there will be a second, a third...

The confession came rather suddenly, and was also overly plain and honest.

He thought that Xia Li would suddenly have an epiphany while feeding him strange magic potions when he was about to die.

Or...find an opportunity to coax her into drinking some alcohol?

As the saying goes, alcohol can cloud your judgment...? Yes, it can cloud your judgment!

Perhaps, slightly tipsy, Xia Li will suddenly understand what "liking" means, and then she'll take the initiative to pounce on him...

Tsk, this idea seems pretty good...

Snapped!

I got hit on the forehead again.

Why are you knocking on me?

"have no idea!"

Song Che immediately realized—why hasn't this damn mind-reading ability expired yet!

He quickly tried to smooth things over: "What I mean is, now that we're officially boyfriend and girlfriend, some things... well, should be done in accordance with the rules. For example, can I ask you to kiss me? Of course, this is a proper request."

"Didn't we just kiss last time?" Xia Li blinked.

"That's different. Last time it was me unilaterally 'acting like a hooligan,' but this time it's... the legitimate rights and interests after both parties acknowledged the relationship, so it can be considered that we acted like hooligans together."

"Is there any rule to be a hooligan?" Xia Li's logic is always on point.

"If you follow the rules, it's not considered being a hooligan," Song Che patiently explained. "It's called... expressing affection."

As he spoke, he quietly moved a little closer.

"Then... I'll kiss you." Xia Li reacted quickly this time, even with an undeniable sense of initiative. "You, don't move."

"You kissed me? I...don't want to move?"

Song Che was taken aback.

Damn it! Doesn't this make me look like I'm in a passive position?!

"Yes. You can't kiss me first, but... I can kiss you." Xia Li announced the rules seriously.

Damn it, what's the difference?

Aren't we all family?

"I don't know!" Xia Li replied confidently, using the universal answer.

"...Fine, if I don't know, I don't know." Song Che sighed resignedly. "Then...you do it."

As a result, Song Che was once again put on the defensive.

He watched helplessly as Xia Li leaned closer, her blue eyes growing larger and larger before his eyes. Damn it, His Highness isn't even closing his eyes when he kisses him!

To avoid appearing too shy, he tried to widen his eyes.

The two stared at each other in very close proximity.

Xia Li lightly touched his lips and then withdrew, not giving Song Che any chance to "pull his luck".

Song Che savored the fleeting, light touch, and the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

What does "You're allowed to kiss me, but I'm not allowed to kiss you" mean?

I'm the man, damn it! Isn't this establishing my position in the family way too early?!

Song Che's sense of male pride kicked in, and before Xia Li could completely back away, he suddenly leaned in and gave her a light, punitive kiss on her soft cheek.

Snapped!

"Why did you hit me again?!" Song Che covered his forehead.

"You kissed me too hard." Xia Li pointed to a small, light red mark on her cheek that had been sucked out, and accused her seriously. "And we agreed that you wouldn't move when I kiss you."

Xia Li's earnest and reasonable manner made Song Che feel a little guilty.

After all, he had indeed promised her... Sigh, what can he do when she values ​​"words spoken" so much? Other girls probably wouldn't care so much. But other girls... Song Che thought about it, and it seemed none of them were as good as Xia Li.

"Xia Li..." Song Che tried to change the subject, his tone slightly coaxing, "Shall we have a drink tonight? It's the dead of winter, it'll warm us up."

"I won't drink it."

"Just a little bit, it'll warm you up."

"I get headaches and dizziness when I drink." Xia Li remained unmoved, her eyes revealing a clear understanding of everything. "Besides, the tone and expression you're using right now are very much like the 'malicious' descriptions in books. I'm not stupid."

"...Okay then." Song Che just mentioned it casually, mostly out of habit to tease her.

He couldn't force Xia Li to do anything.

Do unto others, do not impose on others.

He himself disliked being controlled or forced, so he understood that feeling best. Xia Li was a witch, but now she was also the girl he cherished, his girlfriend. He wanted Xia Li to be happy, not sad.

He would never take advantage of his knowledge to deceive or mislead her.

Just then, he suddenly felt his hand being grasped by a small, slightly cool hand. Xia Li pulled his hand to hers and tucked it into her warm pocket. She seemed to want to express something, but after adjusting her expression for a while, she finally just pouted slightly and whispered, "Your hands are cold, let me warm them up for you."

Song Che didn't quite understand the logic behind her sudden action, but he was too lazy to delve into it. Just holding her hand like this, feeling its delicacy and the gradual warmth it brought, was already very comfortable.

He leaned against Xia Li, but didn't reach out to hug her. He simply closed his eyes, enjoying the moment of tranquility and the warmth of her palm.

Well, lunch break is a good time to relax, but I still have to keep working on the problems this afternoon.

After a while, Song Che felt a warm, slightly damp sensation coming from his earlobe.

Xia Li leaned closer, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"Thank you... thank you, Song Che."

"Um?"

"You've never... lied to me."

Xia Li hates being deceived the most.

Song Che hadn't specifically realized this before.

His choice not to deceive stemmed primarily from his own character and principles—whether towards Xia Li, his parents, or his friends, he abhorred lies, except for harmless jokes. He knew that many people would consider this somewhat "foolish" and lacking in tact.

But perhaps it was this "foolishness," this clumsy sincerity, that earned him equal sincerity time and time again. He had good friends who would worry about him and skip class to come see him; he had childhood friends with whom he had grown up; he had ordinary but deeply loving parents; and then there was Xia Li, who was particularly "to his liking."

What he admired was Xia Li's almost primal purity, her simple and direct nature of "rising above the mud unsullied." It seemed that nothing could easily change the principles in her heart.

This is not a bad thing.

Because Xia Li is a good girl with a pure heart.

"Hehe." Song Che couldn't help but laugh out loud as he thought about it.

He actually got to experience such good fortune first.

"But you tried to kick me out before," Xia Li suddenly brought up old grievances.

"Huh? When?" Song Che feigned ignorance.

"When I first met you, you pretended not to know me, and even said I was a glutton and an idiot. You thought about strangling me more than once."

Song Che smiled awkwardly: "It's my fault, it's all my fault."

"Then... why do you like me?" Xia Li looked up at him curiously. She couldn't seem to understand this question at all.

"Because I'm not serious," Song Che tried to bluff his way out.

"I know you're not serious," Xia Li's logic was clear, "but I don't think that's the reason."

"I told you, you wouldn't understand right now..." Song Che was about to give a perfunctory answer when he felt Xia Li gently squeeze his hand, which was in her pocket, as if she was about to pull it away. He immediately changed his tune, "Actually, I did say that. If you can remember which sentence it was, you'll understand."

"There were many times when you looked at me and thought, 'You're so beautiful,' 'I want to touch your legs,' and..." Xia Li paused, trying hard to recall, "...it seems like it was because you were so indecent that you liked me."

"Not entirely those. It seems you still haven't found it." This time, Song Che wasn't being mysterious; he had indeed said certain things, but Xia Li hadn't given a particular reaction at the time.

"I can't find which sentence it is," Xia Li said, somewhat annoyed.

"If you can't find it, take your time looking. Consider it a little test for you." Song Che didn't plan to tell her directly. He smiled and said, "Once you find the sentence I 'confessed' to you, you'll know what I like about you. By then... you should also understand what 'liking' means."

"Okay." Xia Li nodded seriously and silently made a note of another agreement.

Song Che continued to enjoy the warmth and softness from Xia Li's palms with a clear conscience. As he touched them, he sometimes wondered to himself: Why are Xia Li's hands so nice to touch? It's as if he can never get enough of touching them.

Damn it, women are such terrible creatures!