My wife is a witch princess.

However, Song Che is the master, and in Bruce's heart, he will always be number one.

It's been so long since I've been a stray... Woof! I haven't thanked my owner for taking me in yet!

Bruce rolled around and cuddled skillfully in Xia Li's arms. Every time it rubbed against Xia Li, she would feel a little helpless and could only awkwardly imitate Song Che's actions, gently scratching its chin, stroking its round head, and finally picking up the increasingly chubby cat with both hands and looking into its big, dark eyes.

Bruce is getting fatter and fatter. This cunning fat cat seems to know his cuteness advantage and is always trying to please Xia Li.

Unfortunately, it miscalculated—Xia Li was completely unaware of the power of the word "cute".

As for Tao Yao, the black cat who always calls herself the Fox King, she is still impossible to tame and always sneaks out.

When she gets hungry, she transforms back into Peach Blossom's form and comes back to mooch a meal.

Song Che didn't bother with it, and would always add a little extra food when serving Tao Xiang—because he once discovered that Tao Xiang would secretly hide some food, probably for her older sister. It seemed that the two cats' appetites and energy levels couldn't be fully shared.

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

The snow and ice from a few days ago have already melted away, and it looks like it won't snow again until around the Lunar New Year.

Waiting for the last snow to fall.

Spring should be coming soon.

Song Che finally closed the book and let out a long sigh of relief.

The used draft paper next to it had already piled up into a thick stack.

His talent ceiling is limited; if he lacks talent, he can only compensate through hard work. Sometimes, learning simply requires gritting your teeth and giving it your all, just so you won't have any regrets in the future.

He chose the college entrance examination route not because other routes were easier, but because this route was relatively the most stable.

He had too many things to consider, even thinking about the distant future—what would happen to Xia Li after he, a mortal, died?

At that time, he would have to teach her how to perfectly hide her identity, or... like in those movies, make her a big shot who has connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds and secretly controls everything.

In that case, the issue of identity would naturally no longer be an issue.

...However, given Xia Li's quirks, it's probably hopeless.

Her way of solving problems is probably still to simply suppress them with magic.

Song Che shook his head, temporarily setting aside those distant worries, and got up to make lunch.

Drinking hot soup in winter will warm you up a lot.

Xia Li followed to the kitchen door as usual, waiting to help.

Actually, she doesn't need to help with anything, but as soon as Song Che says "No need, you can rest," she will purse her lips, her eyes showing displeasure, and the next second she might smack him on the forehead... To be honest, she really needs to find an opportunity to change this habit.

Fortunately, her "reprimands" are currently only directed at him. If she were to do the same to someone else one day, things would get complicated.

“I’ve learned how to make this soup too,” Xia Li said suddenly, watching his busy figure.

"Yes, you're learning very quickly. When my mom comes, you'll be in charge of making soup for us so she can taste your cooking." Song Che said while stirring the soup with a spoon.

"Okay," Xia Li agreed solemnly.

As the two sat down to drink soup, Song Che suggested, "Xia Li, let's rehearse our statements beforehand and simulate the scene after my mother comes back, so we don't give ourselves away."

Xia Li immediately put down her spoon, straightened her back, and with a serious expression, spoke clearly and distinctly to the air: "Hello, Auntie, I am Xia Li, I am eighteen years old, and I am an orphan..."

"You've already given yourself away; it's obvious you're acting!"

Chapter 72 You're allowed to kiss me, but I'm not allowed to kiss you (4k)

Xia Li straightened her back even more.

"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 hard 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 to swallow the word “pervert” back. “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 a standard template in the service industry, Song Che gave up completely.

"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 keep asking for details.”

Xia Li shook her head, her expression becoming extremely serious: "Actually... I've been thinking about it for a while now. 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 said in a clear and steady voice, “that we are not doing things the right way right now.”

"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'. This kind of behavior, according to online terms, is called 'keeping a fish on the chopping block,' which is a very bad thing. 'Stringing' someone along will make 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 the feeling of ‘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 took the "contract" very seriously, but in this world without the constraints of a goddess of magic, the so-called "contract" oath would probably only unilaterally bind her to strictly abide by 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 sure of our feelings, it’s not too late to make the most solemn promise then.”

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 'keep' others on tenterhooks. 'Keeping someone on tenterhooks' 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 be ambiguous with many people at the same time?"

“I’m very serious!” Xia Li immediately emphasized, 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?

"do not know!"

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 acknowledge the relationship, so it can be considered as both of us acting like hooligans.”

"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... 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?!