MY HUBBY IS TOO CLINGY!

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER FIVE

~♡~

The market buzzed with life, filled with merchants shouting about their wares and the rich smells of roasting meats and fresh herbs. Yan Ling walked beside Aoshu, her fingers brushing over soft silks as she pretended to shop. Her eyes darted through the crowd, watching for Chuiye. The spicy revenge she’d pulled off had felt good, but she wasn’t ready for the consequences just yet.

Then, trouble came.

A sharp, familiar voice sliced through the market’s noise. “Aoshu? Is that really you?”

Yan Ling turned and saw a woman dressed in fine, colorful robes. Her eyes were sharp, and her smirk didn’t touch them. She stood with a group of friends, all staring at Yan Ling with curious, judging looks.

Aoshu’s shoulders stiffened, but only slightly. “Mei,” he said, his voice calm but guarded.

Mei’s smile was thin, like a blade. “It’s been years, hasn’t it? I heard you got *married*.” Her eyes slid to Yan Ling, looking her up and down slowly. “And this must be the famous Lady Yan.”

Yan Ling felt the woman’s hostility like a cold hand on her skin. Before she could say anything, one of Mei’s friends giggled, hiding her mouth behind her sleeve.

“Oh, the one from the Yan family?” the friend said, her voice sweet but sharp. “The one with all those political ties?”

Another friend chimed in, her tone dripping with meaning. “How convenient for the General, marrying into such a well-connected household.”

Yan Ling’s fingers twitched with irritation.

Yan Ling put on her sweetest smile and gently slipped her arm through Aoshu’s, pressing close to him. “Husband, you never told me you had such lovely friends,” she said, her voice warm and sugary, like fresh honey.

Aoshu glanced down at her, his eyebrow lifting just a little, curious but calm.

Mei’s smirk flickered, like a candle caught in a breeze. “How… affectionate you two seem,” she said, her tone sharp despite the smile.

Yan Ling tightened her hold on Aoshu’s arm, her smile never fading. “Of course we are! My husband is so caring. Just this morning, he insisted on coming with me to the market himself. Didn’t you, darling?” She tilted her head up at him, her eyes sparkling playfully.

Aoshu’s eye twitched slightly, but he didn’t pull away.

Mei’s friends exchanged quick glances. One leaned over and whispered something behind her hand, making Mei’s face tighten with annoyance.

“Is that so?” Mei said, her voice cool and sharp, like a winter breeze. “Funny. The Aoshu I knew would never bother with something as small as a market trip.”

Yan Ling opened her mouth to snap back, but Aoshu’s voice cut through first, steady and low. “People change,” he said, his words clear and firm. “Or maybe you never knew me as well as you thought.”

Mei’s face paled for a moment, then turned red with embarrassment. Her friends stood straighter, their eyes wide with surprise.

Yan Ling blinked up at Aoshu, her heart skipping. Did he just… defend her?

Aoshu didn’t wait for Mei or her friends to say another word. He gently but firmly took Yan Ling’s arm and guided her away through the bustling market. The group of women stood frozen, mouths open, watching them leave.

When they were far enough that the crowd’s chatter drowned out any chance of being overheard, Yan Ling leaned closer and whispered sharply, “What was that all about?”

Aoshu’s jaw tightened, his face unreadable. “An old misunderstanding,” he said, his voice low.

Yan Ling squinted at him, her mind racing. “She liked you, didn’t she?” she asked, her tone accusing.

Aoshu stayed silent, his eyes fixed ahead.

Yan Ling let out a groan, throwing her hands up. “Great. Another childhood friend with feelings. Is there anyone you grew up with who didn’t want to marry you?”

Aoshu gave her a sideways glance, his expression dry. “My male friend.”

Yan Ling rolled her eyes, but Aoshu sighed, rubbing his temple as if the conversation was giving him a headache. “Mei and I used to be friends. Nothing more. She wanted something else. I didn’t. So she didn’t take it well.”

Yan Ling watched him closely, her annoyance fading. For the first time, she wondered if Aoshu’s cold, distant nature wasn’t just who he was. Maybe it was his way of protecting himself. Too many people seemed to want something from him, his attention, his affection, his status.

Still, she couldn’t help muttering, “Well, now the whole market probably thinks you married me for my family’s connections.”

Aoshu stopped walking abruptly. He turned to face her, his dark eyes steady and serious. “I don’t care what they think,” he said, his voice firm but calm.

Then he added, “And you shouldn’t either.”

Before she could find words to reply, Aoshu turned and started walking again, his long strides carrying him ahead. Yan Ling stood there for a moment, her heart pounding for reasons she couldn’t quite understand, before hurrying to catch up with him.

★

The afternoon sun poured softly through the garden pavilion, casting dappled light on the wooden floor. Yan Ling sat on a cushioned bench, pretending to admire the bright peonies blooming nearby. Chuiye had invited her for tea, and the timing—right after the spicy chicken incident—made Yan Ling wary.

Chuiye smiled sweetly, her movements graceful as she poured steaming tea into two delicate porcelain cups. “Sister, I want to say sorry if I’ve been… distracting the General lately,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. She slid one cup across the table toward Yan Ling. “Let’s start fresh, shall we?”

Yan Ling glanced at the tea. It smelled normal—jasmine with a faint touch of honey.

Hmm.

She kept her face calm, but her instincts prickled. When Chuiye turned slightly to adjust her long, flowing sleeve, Yan Ling moved quickly. With a flick of her wrist, she swapped their cups, making sure the motion was silent.

Chuiye turned back, completely unaware. She lifted her cup with elegant ease, her smile bright. “To new beginnings,” she said, raising the tea in a toast.

Yan Ling copied her, lifting her own cup with a polite smile. She took a tiny, careful sip. The tea was delicious. She watched Chuiye closely over the rim of her cup.

They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their tea. Chuiye set her cup down first, her fingers tapping lightly on the table, a restless little rhythm.

“You know,” Chuiye began, her voice light and casual, “Aoshu and I used to—” She stopped suddenly. A strange look crossed her face, her eyes widening just a fraction.

Yan Ling tilted her head, her expression innocent. “Yes?” she prompted, her voice soft and curious.

Chuiye’s smile tightened, like it was painted on. She shifted in her seat, her posture stiffening. “Ah, we used to…” she tried again, but her words faltered. Her fingers gripped the edge of the table, knuckles paling slightly.

Yan Ling took another slow, careful sip of her tea, her eyes fixed on Chuiye. Chuiye’s face grew pale, her cheeks losing their usual rosy glow.

All of a sudden, Chuiye shot to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor of the pavilion. “Excuse me... I just remembered something urgent—” she stammered, her voice high and shaky.

She rushed out of the pavilion, her long robes swirling around her. In her hurry, she nearly tripped over the hem, catching herself just in time before disappearing down the garden path.

Yan Ling sat still, counting silently to three. Then she burst into laughter, the sound echoing softly in the quiet pavilion.

Chuiye stayed in her room for the rest of the day. Servants whispered that they heard frustrated groans coming from behind her closed door.

★

The study was calm, filled only with the soft crackle of the oil lamp flickering on the table. Yan Ling’s voice bounced around the room as she chattered on about hairpins.

“…and the silver ones look so pretty, but the jade ones keep slipping out of my hair, and I was thinking maybe I should try—”

Aoshu wasn’t listening. He hadn’t been for the past hour. He sat at his desk, eyes on a pile of reports, nodding every now and then to keep her happy. His pen moved slowly, as if he was reading, but his mind was elsewhere.

Then, Yan Ling’s voice stopped abruptly, like a string cut mid-song.

Aoshu looked up, his brow creasing.

Her face had gone pale, her eyes wide and staring at something he couldn’t see. Her lips parted slightly, frozen in shock.

[SYSTEM ALERT: FINAL CHALLENGE.]

[KISS HIM BEFORE MIDNIGHT OR RESET INTIMACY TO ZERO.]

[TIME REMAINING: 7 MINUTES.]

Yan Ling’s mouth fell open. 'What kind of cruel trick is this?!' she thought, her heart racing.

Aoshu’s frown deepened. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low and steady.

Yan Ling didn’t answer. Her eyes darted to the water clock on the shelf. The steady drip showed 11:53 PM.

Seven minutes.

'Seven minutes to kiss a man who barely tolerates me.' she thought, panic bubbling inside her.

Her gaze flicked to Aoshu’s lips, slightly parted as he watched her, confused. Then her eyes snapped back to his.

Aoshu went still, his pen pausing mid-air.

Yan Ling’s stare was intense, her eyes locked on Aoshu. The silence in the study grew heavy, broken only by the soft drip of the water clock. Her fingers dug into her knees, gripping so hard her knuckles turned white.

The water clock showed 11:56 PM.

Suddenly, Yan Ling shot to her feet, her chair squeaking against the floor.

Aoshu stood too, his eyes narrowing with concern. “Yan Ling—” he started, his voice cautious.

The clock dripped. 11:57 PM.

Panic flashed across Yan Ling’s face, her breath coming fast.

11:58 PM.

With a strange, choked sound, Yan Ling threw herself at him.

Aoshu’s instincts kicked in. He caught her in his arms, but her force made them stumble. In a swift move, he twisted his body, taking the fall so he hit the floor first. Yan Ling landed safely on his chest, his strong frame absorbing the impact.

11:59 PM.

“Wait, no—!” Yan Ling yelped, her voice frantic.

Before Aoshu could react, she grabbed his face with both hands and pressed her lips to his in a clumsy, desperate kiss.

Aoshu froze, his whole body stiffening. His eyes went wide, shock rushing through him like a wave. Her lips were warm but pressed too hard, awkward and rushed. His heart pounded wildly, thumping against his ribs as if trying to break free.

Then—

Darkness.

His vision blurred, the world fading. His last thought, faint and confused, flickered through his mind: 'What just happened?'

★

Aoshu’s head throbbed as he slowly woke up. His ears buzzed, his vision blurry, and why is someone shaking him like a rag?

“Aoshu! Wake up! Please!” Yan Ling’s voice, sharp with panic, cut through the haze in his mind. Her hands gripped his shoulders, shaking him so hard his teeth rattled.

“Oh god, oh god, I killed him! Aoshu, don’t you dare be dead!” she cried, her voice breaking.

Aoshu groaned, his head pounding. His eyelids felt like stones, but he forced them open. Yan Ling’s terrified face hovered just inches above his. Her eyes were wide, sparkling with tears that hadn’t fallen. Her hair was a mess, strands slipping from their pins, and her lips—

Her lips.

The memory hit him like a wave. The tackle. The fall. The kiss.

His hand shot up, grabbing her wrist to stop the shaking. “Stop.” he said, his voice rough but firm.

Yan Ling froze, her mouth open. For a moment, she just stared at him, her breath shaky. Then, with a choked sob, she threw herself at him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck.

“You’re alive!” she gasped, her voice muffled against his shoulder. Her grip was so tight it almost hurt. “I thought—I thought I killed you! Why did you faint?!”

Aoshu winced, his head still aching and his ribs now sore from her hug. He gently pried her off, holding her at arm’s length. “I’m fine.” he said, his tone calm but tired.

Yan Ling wasn’t listening. “I’m so sorry about the—the kissing thing! It was an accident! Well, not really an accident, but I’ll never do it again! I swear!” Her words spilled out in a rush, her face turning redder with every syllable.

Aoshu watched her closely. His thoughts were still jumbled.

Before he could ask, Yan Ling kept talking, her voice frantic. “It was so stupid! I don’t know what I was thinking! It won’t ever happen again, so just—just forget it, okay? Please!”

Aoshu’s hand moved without thinking, his fingers sliding from her wrist to her cheek. His thumb brushed gently against her warm skin, wiping away a tear she didn’t seem to notice.

Yan Ling’s breath caught, her eyes wide with surprise.

For a heartbeat, they just looked at each other, Aoshu’s gaze steady and searching, Yan Ling’s startled and unsure.

Then, like a snapped string, Yan Ling jerked back, her face burning bright red. She scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping over her long robes. “I—I have to go!” she blurted. “It’s late! You’re fine! Good! Great!” She backed toward the door, still babbling. “Sorry again! Sleep well! Don’t—don’t faint anymore!”

The door slammed shut behind her.

Aoshu sat alone on the floor, the room suddenly quiet. His lips still tingled from the kiss.

Slowly, he reached up and touched them, as if to make sure it had really happened.

'She kissed me...'

He let out a long breath, running a hand through his messy hair.

What the hell was going on with his wife?

---

Yan Ling ran down the hallway, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst.

'Stupid, stupid, STUPID!' she thought, her face still hot.

She skidded into her room, slammed the door, and threw herself face-first onto her bed with a muffled scream into the pillows.

'Why did he touch my face like that?!'

'Why did I like it?!'

She groaned loudly, burying her face deeper into the soft fabric, wishing she could disappear.