The moment he kissed her, his cool, pleasant scent washed over her.
It carried an aggressive hint of danger.
Tang Wu had shared a bed with him twice before.
But in those two intimate encounters, he had never kissed her lips.
This was the very first time he had kissed her on the lips.
She raised her long eyelashes and looked at him.
His phoenix eyes behind the lenses were cold and indifferent.
Not a single ripple of emotion.
Tang Wu's heart, which had been beating slightly out of control just moments ago, instantly sank to the bottom.
Although she couldn't understand what he was saying to the man and woman from the tribe, he was probably just putting on an act.
He didn't really want to kiss her.
Tang Wu turned her face away first.
She tried to pull back, but the man's large hand held her slender waist tightly, immobilizing her.
Si Yanli looked at the leader and the woman. The woman, seemingly triggered by something, ran out with red eyes.
At the same time, Tang Wu broke free from Si Yanli's grasp.
"Translate this for the leader: the person his neighbor sister likes is not you, but the leader himself!"
After saying this, Tang Wu chased after the woman who had run out.
Si Yanli relayed Tang Wu's words to the leader. The leader's expression instantly became a mix of colorful emotions, but mostly disbelief.
About half an hour later, Tang Wu led the woman by the hand into the stone house.
Seeing the woman, the leader immediately stood up to communicate with her.
Tears fell from the woman's eyes.
Tang Wu took out the wood carving she had found and handed it to the leader. "Look, this is her carving of you."
The figure on the wood carving was incredibly lifelike; only deep affection could portray someone so meticulously and vividly.
The leader took the wood carving, holding it tightly in his hand, and stared at it for a long time.
The woman looked at the leader nervously, waved her hand at him, and tried to turn and leave. But the next second, the leader firmly grasped her hand and pulled her forcefully into his arms.
Tang Wu and Huo Zhixu couldn't understand what the two were saying. Si Yanli briefly translated for them. "The leader was originally going to marry the daughter of a tribal patriarch. The neighbor girl didn't dare to reveal her feelings. She tried to leave the tribe the day before yesterday but accidentally fainted from hunger by the stream, fortunately being saved by us."
"She suggested to the leader that she wanted to marry me to test and provoke him, to see if he had any feelings for her. When she saw that the leader really wanted her to marry me, she was heartbroken and ran out. Later, after Tang Wu persuaded her to come back, she finally dared to express her feelings to the leader."
"The leader has also always liked her in his heart, but due to the authority of the tribal elders, he didn't dare to rebel. But now, for true love, he will stand up against the elders, and he will also release us, as well as Huo Qingqing's group."
The woman lifted her head from the leader's embrace. Excited and thrilled, she held Tang Wu's hands to express her gratitude.
If Tang Wu hadn't encouraged her to bravely express her feelings, she and the leader would have missed out on each other in this life.
"She says her name is Leah and she wants to be friends with you," Si Yanli translated.
Tang Wu nodded at Leah and introduced herself as well.
"She and the leader will hold a bonfire party tonight, and they hope we can stay and join them."
Tang Wu nodded.
Leah was very enthusiastic; she took Tang Wu's hand and showed her around the tribe.
By the time Tang Wu returned to the stone house, Si Yanli and Huo Zhixu were nowhere to be seen.
Tang Wu went out to look for them, and eventually, at the side of the stone house, she spotted Si Yanli.
Just as she was about to call out to him, she realized—
He was crouching there, head down, brushing his teeth.
He had clearly brushed his teeth by the stream this morning, so why was he brushing them again?
He brushed them once, and then again.
Tang Wu saw that he was brushing until he bled, yet he showed no sign of stopping. In a flash of realization, she thought of the scene where he kissed her in front of the leader and Leah earlier.
Was he... was he disgusted by her?
She remembered those two intimate encounters. He had kissed her face, her neck, her collarbones, but the only thing he hadn't kissed was her lips.
So, he thought she was dirty!
Tang Wu suddenly felt like she had been struck by lightning.
All the blood in her body rushed to her head, and her face burned with a fiery heat, as if someone had viciously slapped her.
Humiliated and miserable!
He was too much!
It was simply too much!
Tang Wu had never been this angry before. If he found her repulsive, he shouldn't have kissed her.
Did they have to use a kiss to prove their relationship?
After their flash marriage, he had gone abroad without a word, leaving her to sleep in an empty bed for two years, and she had never resented him.
But at this moment, she truly felt that her dignity had been thrown to the ground and ruthlessly trampled on!
A blazing fire ignited in her chest, and her hands, hanging by her sides, clenched tightly into fists.
Although Tang Wu wasn't a heartthrob that everyone loved, she never lacked suitors.
This was the first time she had been so humiliated and despised!
He despised her, found her disgusting, did he?
Fine. The more he acted this way, the more it ignited her inner desire to conquer.
To deal with a man like him, she decided the best method was to make him fall for her, and then ruthlessly kick him to the curb!
Tang Wu didn't spare the man another glance. She turned and went back to her room.
Huo Zhixu came in from behind her and let out a long sigh. "Tang beauty, why did you decide to marry young? And to a man who doesn't even believe in marriage? It must have been hard for you, sleeping alone for two years, right?"
Tang Wu smiled but said nothing.
Huo Zhixu leaned closer to Tang Wu. "I heard you two are planning to get a divorce?"
Tang Wu was noncommittal.
Huo Zhixu's peach-blossom eyes lit up. "After you dump him, how about considering me?"
Tang Wu rejected him outright. "You're not my type."
Huo Qingqing and her group were released. When Huo Qingqing saw Tang Wu, her eyes filled with awe. "Wow, Sister Wu, you're the anchor for Yecheng TV, right? I thought you were beautiful when I saw you on TV, but I didn't expect you to be even more stunning in person."
Huo Qingqing was two years younger than Tang Wu, lively and cheerful, and became familiar with Tang Wu in no time.
She had already learned from Huo Zhixu that Tang Wu was Si Yanli's secretly married wife, and that Tang Wu had been left alone for two years, making her a laughingstock in Yecheng's high society.
Huo Qingqing said indignantly, "Sister Wu, Brother Yan is such a jerk. You should divorce him soon, and I'll introduce you to some handsomer, younger guys."
Tang Wu revealed a bright smile. "Sure, you can introduce me after I get divorced."
Huo Qingqing nodded. "Yes! Not only do you need to find a younger guy, but you also have to make Brother Yan regret it. I heard there's a bonfire party here tonight. Sister Wu, I have a super nice battle outfit in my bag. You can wear it later and mesmerize that dog of a man."
Tang Wu was speechless.
Young girls these days were so crazy and full of personality.
...
After brushing his teeth dozens of times, Si Yanli finally stood up.
Earlier, because the leader asked him to kiss Tang Wu to prove their marital relationship, he had kissed her without her consent. He had originally wanted to apologize to her.
But he hadn't seen Tang Wu all afternoon.
Until the bonfire party that night—
