Chapter 22: A Reluctant Bride and a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Xia Zhiquiu froze upon hearing her daughter’s words. Gazing at the girl nestled in her embrace, she asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice.

“Xia Wei, aren’t you angry?”

Xia Wei, however, simply tilted her head, a bewildered expression on her face as she replied.

“Why should I be angry?”

“While I may not understand why Mama is cross-dressing (TL Note: Literally ‘a woman disguised as a man’), I know you must have your reasons. So, if you’re not ready to talk about it, you don’t have to for now.”

“Xia Wei only needs to know that Mama loves me.”

As she finished speaking, the young girl offered a sweet smile, a gesture that stirred an even deeper wave of emotion within Xia Zhiquiu’s heart.

This resolve solidified her decision: no matter what trials she herself faced, she would never allow any harm to come to her daughter.

After all, what was signing a marriage certificate with that boy, still wet behind the ears (TL Note: Literally ‘whose hair hasn’t even fully grown’), compared to her daughter’s safety? It was utterly insignificant.

***

Meanwhile, outside the Ninghai District Civil Affairs Bureau.

Bai Hao checked the time on his phone, then scratched his head with a flicker of uncertainty, muttering to himself.

“Aunt Xia isn’t going to stand me up, is she?”

This wasn’t merely Bai Hao’s lack of confidence; rather, after their prolonged interactions, he had come to see Aunt Xia as an incredibly stubborn individual.

However, this situation directly concerned Xia Wei’s safety, so rationally, Aunt Xia wouldn’t fail to appear.

Few in this world knew the method to eradicate the Shadow-Devouring Ghoul, and Bai Hao was absolutely certain that the specific arcane martial arts required were utterly unknown to anyone else alive.

Just as Bai Hao’s thoughts spiraled, a graceful figure finally emerged from a car—it was none other than the tardy Xia Zhiquiu.

At the sight, Bai Hao’s eyes immediately brightened.

Today, Xia Zhiquiu was still clad in a white shirt and suit trousers, yet her ample bosom, like two plump, eager rabbits, seemed poised to burst forth from her collar.

The snow-white skin of her décolletage appeared so delicate, it could be bruised by a mere touch, as flawless and translucent as solidified cream.

Her alluring physique was further accentuated by a waist so impossibly slender it seemed it could not be encompassed by a single hand, yet it curved with a soft, full grace, swaying with the delicate pliability of a young willow branch in a riverside breeze.

Beneath that supple waist, her suit trousers hugged a pair of ample, rounded buttocks, firm and naturally perky, creating a striking, disproportionate curve between her waist and hips, exquisitely shaped and alluring.

With her hair gently tousled by the breeze and lips a vibrant red even without the aid of cinnabar (TL Note: A traditional red pigment often used in makeup), anyone who beheld her would surely marvel at such a stunning, mature beauty.

“Aunt Xia, you’re finally here.”

As Bai Hao watched the approaching beauty, his ‘second brother’ (TL Note: A euphemism for male genitalia) instantly paid its respects. He stepped forward, intending to grasp her delicate, jade-like hand, only for Xia Zhiquiu to deftly evade his touch.

She shot the young man a disdainful look before speaking in a frigid tone.

“You may want me to agree to marry you, but once we’re wed, I will not sleep with you!”

Even now, Xia Zhiquiu’s mindset remained unchanged; she absolutely could not countenance being ‘violated’ by a man.

Yet, her words sounded utterly ludicrous to Bai Hao. ‘Aunt Xia truly is adorably foolish,’ he thought. ‘Does she really believe she can escape unscathed after marrying me?’

He was no gentle lamb, content to coexist peacefully with her in a sheepfold. No, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, intent on devouring this buxom, naive aunt until not a single bone remained.

Considering this, the young man naturally nodded vigorously, assuring her.

“Rest assured, Aunt Xia, I would never force you to fulfill a wife’s duties.”

Upon hearing his words, Xia Zhiquiu finally exhaled a small sigh of relief, though a hint of displeasure still lingered as she spoke.

“I hope you keep your word! And furthermore…”

Noting her intent to continue listing demands, Bai Hao’s patience wore thin. He swiftly seized her delicate hand and began pulling her towards the Civil Affairs Bureau entrance.

“Alright, alright, Aunt Xia, if you keep talking, the Civil Affairs Bureau will be closed before we know it. Do you still want to save Xia Wei?”

Xia Zhiquiu’s red lips parted slightly at the young man’s words, but she ultimately clamped them shut, offering no further retort.

Inside the Civil Affairs Bureau, the scene was a mix of young couples either marrying or divorcing, alongside elderly spouses attending to various administrative matters.

Thus, when Xia Zhiquiu and Bai Hao made their appearance, they instantly drew all eyes. After all, the pairing of an ‘aunt’ and a ‘student’ was, by any measure, ripe for gossip.

Confronted by the gazes and hushed whispers of those around her, Xia Zhiquiu felt a surge of shame and indignation. In her helplessness, she shot the young man another furious glare.

‘If not for him, how would I have found myself in such an embarrassing predicament?’ she fumed inwardly.

It was soon Xia Zhiquiu and Bai Hao’s turn. The staff member, a hint of curiosity in their voice, specifically inquired, “Are the two of you getting married?”

Bai Hao, hearing the question, deliberately withheld his answer, instead turning his gaze to the beautiful woman beside him.

Having no other option, Xia Zhiquiu could only nod her head in mortified embarrassment, her cheeks tinged a faint red.

In response, the staff member handed them a marriage registration form, offering a gentle smile.

“Then please fill out the form. Oh, and have you taken your wedding photos?”

Xia Zhiquiu and Bai Hao exchanged a glance, then both shook their heads.

The staff member seemed somewhat surprised by this. It was perhaps understandable for the young man, but the woman, who didn’t appear to be a first-time bride, why hadn’t she thought to prepare wedding photos in advance?

“It’s perfectly fine if you haven’t taken them yet. We also offer photography services here, though the aesthetic might not be as refined as professionally retouched photos.

However, with such a handsome groom and a beautiful bride, you hardly need any retouching anyway.”

Though clearly intended as a compliment, the words grated on Xia Zhiquiu’s ears, leaving her far from pleased.

In response, Bai Hao leaned his head close to the woman’s earlobe, whispering suggestively.

“Aunt Xia, let’s go take our wedding photos.”

Xia Zhiquiu merely let out a soft huff in response, allowing the young man to tug her along as if she were a puppet on strings.

The click of the camera, followed by the resounding thud of the final stamp, seemed to echo directly in Xia Zhiquiu’s heart.

She stared at the red booklet in her hand, still feeling somewhat disoriented, while Bai Hao, beaming with delight, declared.

“Aunt Xia, from today onwards, you are my wife.”

Xia Zhiquiu froze for a moment at his words, then promptly shoved the marriage certificate into her pocket, adhering to the adage: out of sight, out of mind.

“Enough with the nonsense! Quickly, tell me how to eliminate that Shadow-Devouring Ghoul!”

Bai Hao, sensing her current displeasure, glanced around before speaking.

“Wife, do we really want to discuss this right here, outside the Civil Affairs Bureau?”

Xia Zhiquiu paused, startled by his address, then flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

“Get over here! And stop calling me that!”

With that, Xia Zhiquiu began leading the young man towards her car.

As they walked, Bai Hao mumbled aloud.

“Wife, Aunt Xia, Teacher Xia… Hmm, ‘Aunt Xia’ still feels the most comfortable to say.”

Hearing the young man’s murmurs behind her, Xia Zhiquiu couldn’t help but roll her eyes repeatedly, muttering under her breath.

“Little pervert…”

Once they were both inside the car, Bai Hao inhaled the distinct, alluring scent that belonged solely to the mature woman beside him, and spoke in a tone of intoxication.

“You smell so wonderful, Aunt Xia. What perfume do you usually wear?”

Xia Zhiquiu stiffened at his words, then let out a cold huff.

“I don’t use perfume!”

And was there truly a scent? Why couldn’t she detect it? Puzzled, she even gave her delicate nose a slight twitch, yet still perceived nothing.

This was, however, quite normal. Individuals, being constantly enveloped in their own unique scent, gradually become immune to it over time.

This applied to everything from the natural allure of a beauty’s body fragrance to the pungent odor of a lazy man.

But for the young man, the voluptuous, delicate form of the woman before him perpetually exuded an intoxicating fragrance, an irresistible allure that tempted him towards transgression.