章 14: Chapter 14: Carving the Mark of Love on Her
Qiao Zhiyi reluctantly nodded at Ah Gui.
The awkwardness hit by Ah Gui, coupled with her own discomfort, made it impossible to greet with a smile.
"Don't be so fierce, sister-in-law. You've finally settled down; you should be nicer to your sister-in-law," Ah Gui patted Shi Jingzhou's shoulder, "A kind-hearted person like sister-in-law should be cherished."
Shi Jingzhou glanced at him, "You talk too much."
Then, with a look, he signaled Qiao Zhiyi to follow.
Qiao Zhiyi trailed a few steps behind the two, maintaining a distance of three or four stairs.
Just by looking up at their backs, she could actually forget what their faces looked like.
They stood tall, with broad shoulders and narrow waists, subtly exuding a sense of safety.
She must be seeing things to have such an illusion.
Qiao Zhiyi followed them into the tattoo parlor, which wasn't very big. The walls were hung with various tattoo designs, and all kinds of tools, giving off an eerie vibe.
"Want something to drink?" Ah Gui pulled up a small table and took out two cans of ice-cold beer from a fridge hidden in a dark corner, and then brought over two plastic stools, "Sister-in-law, sit."
Qiao Zhiyi glanced at Shi Jingzhou, unsure of why he had brought her here.
It couldn't possibly be to watch him and his brother drink late at night.
"Come sit over here," Shi Jingzhou cast a glance at Qiao Zhiyi.
Under the urging of his gaze, Qiao Zhiyi took a seat on a chair inside.
Shi Jingzhou asked Ah Gui, "Do you have any unused tattoo needles?"
Ah Gui glanced at Qiao Zhiyi and, hearing Shi Jingzhou's question, he knew what he intended to do.
"Yeah," Ah Gui handed over a new packet to Shi Jingzhou, "I just bought this, try and see how it works."
Shi Jingzhou opened it.
Without a second thought, Qiao Zhiyi attempted to bolt.
"Stop right there."
Qiao Zhiyi already understood his intentions.
This guy wanted to tattoo a design on her.
"I do not accept," Qiao Zhiyi stated firmly.
Shi Jingzhou narrowed his eyes, "Say that again."
"Repeat it ten times, and it's still the same," Qiao Zhiyi didn't want to indulge his madness, "I have my parents to thank for my body and looks. I will not allow others to harm me."
No matter what, she wouldn't let her body be marred with those strange things.
Shi Jingzhou stared at her intently for a few seconds, "What if I insist?"
The air pressure was so low in the cramped room that not even Ah Gui's ice-cold beer could suppress the tension Jingzhou was feeling now.
"Brother Jingzhou, don't scare sister-in-law like that," Ah Gui quickly intervened to smooth things over, "Sister-in-law, actually, it doesn't hurt. Brother Jingzhou wants to etch the mark of love on your body. It's also kind of romantic."
Others might not know their real relationship, but Qiao Zhiyi was fully aware.
There was no love between her and Shi Jingzhou, let alone romance.
Shi Jingzhou was simply a lunatic. He always did whatever he wanted without considering whether others were willing or not. These past few days, he had been forcing her every day.
"One phone call, and Sen Ge won't come," Shi Jingzhou said nonchalantly as he slowly sterilized the tattoo needle, subtly threatening her.
Qiao Zhiyi bit down hard on her teeth—if murder wasn't a crime, she would surely kill him.
She wanted to leave defiantly, but he was grasping her Achilles' heel, and she didn't dare to leave.
Ah Gui could tell that Brother Jingzhou had gotten sister-in-law under his control.
But treating sister-in-law like this now, was he sure that their future days would be any good?
Women shouldn't be forced; they need to be coaxed.
A couple coming to get tattoos was definitely not just about the tattoos.
"Err... suit yourselves, I'm going to step out for some air," Ah Gui quickly made himself scarce to give them room, just hoping they wouldn't make too much of a mess of his shop later.
...
Qiao Zhiyi's breath became rapid. Those with a penchant for tattoos would get some designs in private places or very conspicuous places.
If it was a loved one, a little tattoo might be fine.
But...
She didn't want her body to be defiled by him.
"Sit down," Jingzhou was ready.
Qiao Zhiyi, completely under his control, sat down.
She wondered if the next instruction would be to take off her clothes.
She made a silent vow to herself; the humiliation she suffered today, she would definitely reclaim it one day!
"Hand." Shi Jingzhou didn't know what she was thinking, but by the look on her face, he feared she was cursing him.
Qiao Zhiyi, like a marionette, mechanically obeyed his order and handed over her hand.
Shi Jingzhou took her right hand, sprayed the ring finger with disinfectant, then positioned it properly before picking up the tattoo needle and carefully inserting it into her ring finger.
So, he wasn't planning to do a large, random tattoo on her.
That spot was exactly where a ring would sit.
Her heart stirred slightly.
If she didn't want to wear a ring, was he giving her a tattoo of one?
In her mind, that was something only passionately in-love couples would do.
With their kind of relationship, was there a need to do something that seemed romantic?
Qiao Zhiyi didn't quite understand why he was so insistent on her wearing a ring, given that they were bound to go their separate ways sooner or later.
Because of his action, Qiao Zhiyi felt a slight turbulence in her heart.
Her gaze fell on him, he was looking down with seriousness, his movements surprisingly gentle. It was completely different from his words and attitude.
For a moment, Qiao Zhiyi actually felt that he might care deeply for her.
The slight pain quickly brought her back to her senses.
How could he possibly care about her?
If he really cared, he wouldn't have given her a tattoo.
It wasn't long before he stopped.
Shi Jingzhou scrutinized his handiwork, a very simple design. A small "JZ" put together, followed by a thin line of blue circling the ring finger.
He seemed pleased with his own work, the corners of his mouth lifted in a smile that was somewhat ferocious.
Qiao Zhiyi frowned tightly, "JZ," Jingzhou?
What did this mean?
They weren't lovers, nor in love, did they have to act as if they were so intimately entwined?
Once they divorced, she would have it removed.
No, once her mother's illness was cured, she would get rid of it.
"Don't think about removing it. As long as I live, it must stay," Shi Jingzhou put away his things, very proud.
Qiao Zhiyi wanted to curse at him.
But when she encountered his sinister gaze, she swallowed the words back.
Let it be.
After all, it was just a small thing, she could endure it.
He had suffered such a serious injury two days ago, he certainly must have offended someone. It's possible that one day he could be hacked to death outside, then would he still have control over her?
Heh.
Just as Qiao Zhiyi was about to touch the spot, Shi Jingzhou seized her left hand abruptly and said sharply, "Don't touch!"
"…" She couldn't even touch her own hand now.
Why not just chop off her hand and keep it in a box?
Upon seeing the suppressed anger in her, Shi Jingzhou said, "Are your hands clean? If it gets infected, this finger is going to be ruined."
"Are you done playing?" Qiao Zhiyi tried to calm down, realizing she couldn't resist much in front of him.
Just let it be.
Shi Jingzhou raised an eyebrow, "Are you angry?"
"I wouldn't dare."
"You'd better not dare," Shi Jingzhou, staring at his work, seemed more and more pleased with it, still sporting that insufferable and arrogant expression, "Remember, as long as I don't let go, you belong to me."
Qiao Zhiyi felt like rolling her eyes.
Such words sounded domineering to her, without a hint of love.
Therefore, laughable.
She was being tormented, and she was holding in a surging resentment.
She glanced at the tools he had put away, "Since it's a ring, shouldn't you have one too?"
Shi Jingzhou glared at her, "Do you want to live and die together with me?"
Bullshit about living and dying together.
She just didn't want to be the only one suffering.
"You do it." Shi Jingzhou extended his hand in front of her, and gave her the tool kit, his gaze unfluctuating.
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