Sweet Post-Marriage Love: The Secret Crush Diary

Qiao Zhen picked up the wolf-ear headband and held it out to him, her tone filled with anticipation: "Let me put this on you."

Qin Yichi gave a haughty, light hum, but his body was very cooperative, obediently lowering his head.

Qiao Zhen took the opportunity to tidy his ink-black hair, securing the grey wolf ears in place, and immediately afterward, she heard the sound of her own chaotic heartbeat.

Help... it suits him so perfectly!

Qin Yichi was the quintessential "wolf-type" man; his facial features were sharp and well-defined, his eyes deep and piercing, and his entire being radiated a sense of wildness and a desire for conquest.

He happened to be wearing dark grey silk pajamas, which subtly revealed his collarbones and healthy, wheat-toned skin...

It was lethal.

Qiao Zhen’s heart rippled continuously, fluttering endlessly.

She hugged Qin Yichi affectionately and whispered, "Because it’s your birthday, so... tonight, you can be a little bit excessive."

Qin Yichi raised an eyebrow, his tone heavy with meaning: "A little bit?"

Qiao Zhen nodded: "Yes!"

She recalled the scene from that night when Qin Yichi had been so restless.

The man must have been having a nightmare, as he kept repeating, "Don't forget me, don't leave me."

He seemed to be in so much pain.

That was why Qiao Zhen had been thinking seriously about whether there was something she wasn't doing well enough that made Qin Yichi feel so insecure and so anxious about losing her...

While she was lost in thought, before she could even react, she was thrown onto the large bed, sinking into the dark-colored sheets.

Qin Yichi lunged forward to pin her down, one hand resting on her waist, the other firmly gripping her wrists and pressing them above her head.

Dense, heavy kisses, accompanied by scorching breath, rained down on her, completely enveloping her.

Qiao Zhen’s eyelashes trembled lightly as she lay limply on the bed.

Qin Yichi kissed her with deep satisfaction, holding her wrists pinned down as he stared straight at her. His gaze was profound and bewitching as he murmured:

"Be good, let's play something different this time."

As the words fell, Qiao Zhen’s eyes gradually welled up with moisture, and suddenly, she regretted it.

She regretted telling him to be a little excessive.

She had a sinking feeling that tonight would be very difficult to endure, as if she were truly about to be devoured alive by this wicked wolf.

The night was pitch black and thick, and the stars twinkled incessantly.

Outside the window, all was silent and serene, save for the rustling of leaves—a stark contrast to the intensity within the room.

Qin Yichi was urgent, burning, frantic, and out of control...

"Ding—"

At 00:00 on November 10th, the phone notification sounded.

The bedsheets were crumpled into a mess.

Qiao Zhen’s hair was disheveled, a thin layer of sweat glistening on her forehead, her eye corners wet and flushed, her voice intermittent:

"Qin Yichi, ha-happy birthday!"

Unfortunately, the man remained unmoved.

Qiao Zhen couldn't take it anymore and said piteously, "The birthday cake, I’m so hungry, can we eat the cake first..."

Qin Yichi stared at her for a few seconds, and seeing how truly pitiful she looked, he slowly stopped and pulled her up.

Qiao Zhen sat on the bed, leaning against the soft pillows, having just felt like the bed might collapse.

Her whole body ached and she was drained of strength. She said aggrievedly: "I want to eat cake."

Qin Yichi thought for a moment, a profound look in his eyes: "I'll feed you."

He sat on the edge of the bed, opened the black box, and took out the strawberry Oreo cream cake.

On top of the cake sat a bunny and a grey wolf made of buttercream, with a red heart-shaped chocolate between the two little animals.

It was incredibly delicate and cute.

Qiao Zhen had made it all by hand.

"How is it?" Qiao Zhen’s eyes were full of anticipation; the words "Praise me" were practically written on her face.

Qin Yichi’s eyes smiled, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly: "This is the most beautiful cake in the world. Whatever my wife makes is the best."

He placed the bouquet of red and black roses next to the cake, unlocked his phone to take a photo, found the perfect angle, and even "accidentally" included the card in the shot.

The card read: I will love you forever, fervently and steadfastly.

The corners of Qin Yichi’s mouth curled up involuntarily, and he sent the post to his social media feed with satisfaction.

Caption: [Wife celebrating my birthday with me]

Within two minutes, a flood of likes and comments appeared.

Qiao Zhen tilted her body slightly, watching the comments under his post, and her ears began to burn.

Most were birthday wishes, but a small portion...

[Yo yo yo~ A bunny and a wolf? In the city, they call this "cosplay"~]

[Brother Ma, you're eating well, your little brother bows down to you.]

[You kid, don't think I don't know you did that on purpose to get the flowers and the card in the shot! You schemer!]

[God damn it, here comes another huge bowl of dog food, big brother, I really give up on you!]

[Happy birthday! May Brother Chi and Sister Qiao be happy and loving forever, until you're old and grey! (Remember to Venmo me 500)]

[Aside from everything else, this cake looks really delicious...]

[If someone like Niu Yifeng above was cured, he'd still be drooling.]

After reading his social media, Qiao Zhen suddenly thought of something and pointed to her own phone:

"Qin Yichi, you can look at my phone too, the password is our wedding day."

Would doing this help increase his sense of security just a little?

She paused and added silently: "My husband can check in on me anytime, anywhere."

Hearing this, Qin Yichi smiled and brushed her messy hair aside, even pinching her rabbit ears: "No need, I trust my wife."

She was just so, so well-behaved.

Qin Yichi lit the candles for himself and made a wish.

His wish was that he and Qiao Zhen would be together for all eternity, never to be separated.

The moment he blew out the candles, as the flames vanished, the panic and anxiety he had felt for days began to fade away.

He sliced a piece of cake and, with great patience, fed it to Qiao Zhen spoonful by spoonful.

Afraid that the cream might be too cloying, he poured a glass of orange juice and fed that to her slowly as well.

Qin Yichi couldn't quite explain why, but he truly enjoyed the process of feeding Qiao Zhen; it brought him immense satisfaction, and before he knew it, they had finished the large cake.

Qiao Zhen leaned against the headboard, having finally regained a tiny bit of strength.

And she could finally rest for a while.

She half-closed her eyes and murmured softly: "Qin Yichi, you eat too."

The cake was made with animal-based cream, which would melt if left out too long, and it wouldn't taste good once melted.

Suddenly, the dense sensation of cream landed on her chest.

Qiao Zhen’s eyes widened abruptly. She saw Qin Yichi calmly smearing the cream, the man wearing the wolf ears, radiating an air of unruliness, a smug, wicked smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

In an instant, alarm bells rang in Qiao Zhen’s mind, and she struggled to move to the side.

But she was firmly gripped by a warm, powerful hand and yanked back.

Qin Yichi’s sexy, alluring voice fell slowly from above:

"Don't worry, baby, I'll finish it all."

...

In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, in front of the mirror, in the bathroom, on the dining table and the sofa... all over the house.

Qin Yichi had truly gone mad.

It was too excessive, too excessive.

Qiao Zhen didn't know how much time had passed; she only felt that every minute and every second was agonizing and endless.

She swore she would never bake him a cake again.

Qin Yichi carried her from the front, hugging her as they walked up the stairs.

His pace was very, very slow, each step taking a long time, and he even paused on the spot for every few stairs he climbed.

Qiao Zhen’s pure white rabbit ears swayed along with the movement.

She wrapped her arms around Qin Yichi’s neck, her eyelashes trembling constantly, crystalline tears still hanging from them.

She really couldn't take it anymore.

Her mind was a blank slate, her eyes unfocused, and she sobbed weakly: "Husband, please, don't... don't bully me..."

Qin Yichi’s pupils were as dark as ink; he leaned down to bite her earlobe, his tone serious:

"Qiao Zhen, you will never leave me, right?"

Qiao Zhen’s cheeks were pale with a rosy flush; she couldn't help but cry, her sweet, soft voice exceptionally slurred: "Yes, I promise, forever."

After saying this, her consciousness gradually faded away...

In the afternoon.

Qiao Zhen woke up feeling groggy, without a shred of strength in her body.

She endured the soreness, rubbed her eyes, and her usually clear voice sounded somewhat hoarse:

"Thirsty."

During the night, she had been forced to call out "Husband," "I love you," and "I only like you" countless times; her throat felt like it was going to smoke.

Qin Yichi was guarding her side; he poured a glass of warm water and thoughtfully helped her up to feed her.

After Qiao Zhen finished the water, she suddenly felt it was unfair.

Why! Why was it that when she woke up, every part of her was sore, like a fish that had left the ocean? Yet Qin Yichi was so happy and satisfied, and even more energetic than before.

Qiao Zhen used all her might to lift the blanket and saw the various distinct, terrifying marks on her body. Feeling even more aggrieved, she stared resentfully at the culprit:

"Qin Yichi, starting tomorrow, you’re sleeping on the floor."

Qin Yichi placed the glass on the nightstand, leaned down to wrap his arms around her, and asked in a muffled voice:

"Why? Was I not working hard enough last night?"

Qiao Zhen turned her head away, muttering discontentedly: "Anyway, you said before that you just like sleeping on the floor."

Qin Yichi: "..."

He thought back seriously, wondering when he had ever said such a thing.

It was... back when they weren't together yet, when Qiao Zhen had gotten drunk and begged to stay over, not only taking over his bed but insisting on holding him while they slept.

He had been afraid that Qiao Zhen would be scared off after waking up and wouldn't pay attention to him anymore, so he had made up an excuse that he liked sleeping on the floor.

Past memories turned into a boomerang, piercing deep into his heart.

Qin Yichi chose selective amnesia and shamelessly hugged his soft, fragrant wife, coaxing and wheedling, calling her "Zhenzhen," "Baby," "Princess," "Little Darling," "Wife," one after another...

Qiao Zhen couldn't take it and, with a blushing face, told him to get lost.

Qin Yichi obediently rolled away, heading out to buy Qiao Zhen a pile of snacks and fresh ingredients.

Qiao Zhen lay in bed for a long time before getting up to pack her luggage and put everything away.

She opened the bottom drawer of the nightstand to put things inside when her gaze was suddenly drawn to an old notebook nearby.

It looked so incredibly old.

The edges were yellowed and slightly curled, as if it had weathered over a dozen years of wind and snow, looking as though it would crumble to pieces if touched too lightly.

Qiao Zhen paused, and as if guided by a mysterious force, she picked up the notebook and carefully flipped to the first page.

There were only two lines of text, blurry but neat.

—"I am waiting"

—"Waiting for the pearl's heart to flutter"

Caught off guard, Qiao Zhen’s heart gave a violent tremor, and her fingertips tightened involuntarily.

This must be Qin Yichi’s diary.

Qiao Zhen lowered her eyes, took a deep breath, put the book back, and closed the drawer, pretending she had never seen it.

She felt that peeking at someone else’s diary was a very bad thing to do, even if the person was her closest loved one.

Qiao Zhen lay in bed, trying hard to forget the scene, rolling back and forth.

Ten minutes passed, and her mind was still full of the diary; she became increasingly curious. She couldn't take it anymore and sent a message to Qin Yichi:

[There is a brown notebook in the nightstand drawer, can I open it to look?]

[If not, it's okay too! [Little rabbit holding heart.jpg]]

The other party was typing...

He was probably struggling, typing and deleting repeatedly. After a long time, Qin Yichi replied:

[You can, if you really want to see it.]

Having received permission, Qiao Zhen happily opened the diary and, filled with anticipation, began reading quietly in bed.

She had expected Qin Yichi’s diary to record many of his own trivial matters, or perhaps racing events, but no—there was nothing of the sort.

Every single entry was about her, and only her.

—"Qiao Zhen, you said you would marry me in the future, so I will definitely protect you well."

—"Today you gave me a brown teddy bear doll and asked me if it was cute... Actually, you are much cuter than the doll."

—"Dreamed of you again."

—"It's great, we got into the same middle school; I can walk with you every day from now on."

...

As Qiao Zhen flipped through the pages, her fingertips trembled slightly, and her mood grew heavy.

So it had started from so long ago.

So, so long ago.

Qiao Zhen’s eye sockets slowly grew hot.

Although it was a diary, Qin Yichi rarely expressed his own moods; he mostly recorded the little details about her.

Tucked inside were many photos of her—graduation photos, pictures she posted on social media, and various photos Qin Yichi had taken of her...

—"Qiao Zhen, can you please not like him? They aren't good to you; they all bully you."

—"Why did you dodge when I tried to pick a fallen leaf for you... Don't stay away from me."

—"Qiao Zhen, you used to teach me math problems, now I've learned them all, and I can teach you, but why don't you come and ask me?"

—"Every time I get close to you, I need a lot of courage. But you still hide the moment you see me."

...

These were words devoid of emotion, yet in that moment, a sour, poignant feeling swept over her, revealing intense, deep-seated emotions.

Every page Qiao Zhen turned was like stirring up a patch of soil, digging deeper into Qin Yichi’s inner world.

He was such a shining, burning boy, rebellious and flamboyant; everyone thought he was cool and arrogant, and that even if he liked someone, he should have been the one in control.

But his diary made him seem so... humble and sensitive.

Qin Yichi silently recorded everything about her. When she liked someone else and focused her attention on others, Qin Yichi was secretly liking her and secretly watching her.

How could this be, how could he be like this...

Qiao Zhen’s vision blurred, her eyes filled with moisture.

With every page turn, her nose grew sourer, and she couldn't help but choke up.

—"Very fortunate to have gotten into the same university as you. But the school is too big; I really can't seem to find you."

—"What should I do, I still like you so much, so much."

—"As long as you turn back, I will always be here."

"Plop," a tear fell onto the diary, blurring the original black ink.

When he confessed, Qin Yichi had mentioned his unrequited love, and later said he was jealous to the point of madness.

But Qiao Zhen had never imagined it was such a poignant, indelible love; it was too bitter, too heavy...

Qiao Zhen tried hard to calm her emotions, but Qin Yichi’s past feelings could still be conveyed through the diary:

Lonely, sour, jealous, suffocating, sad... these emotions turned into an ocean, drowning her bit by bit.

Qiao Zhen didn't have the courage to finish the whole diary and hastily closed the book.

It felt as if a heavy hammer was pounding against her heart, making it hard for her to breathe...

Qin Yichi returned home carrying a pile of goodies. As soon as he opened the door, he was pounced upon.

Qiao Zhen hugged his waist tightly, faint tear tracks still on her face, choking up: "Husband..."

Qin Yichi’s throat tightened.

So, she must have seen those things that were never meant to see the light of day.

Qin Yichi put down the bag, reached out to stroke her head, and coaxed her gently: "I'm here."

But the more he coaxed, the more tears Qiao Zhen shed. She sobbed into his chest, her voice trembling slightly:

"Unrequited love is very bitter."

Qin Yichi sighed, leaned down to cradle her face, and wiped away her tears:

"Actually, it wasn't entirely bitter. Sometimes, just seeing you made me feel very happy and lucky."

The warmth and hope Qiao Zhen brought him were far, far greater than the sourness and pain of unrequited love...

Late at night.

After much coaxing, Qin Yichi finally got her to settle down, his voice low and hoarse: "Wife, do I still have to sleep on the floor?"

Qiao Zhen was exhausted from crying, her eyes slightly swollen, and she wrapped herself tightly in the small blanket:

"I’ll allow you to sleep on the bed tonight."

As the words fell, Qin Yichi dived into the covers, turned off the light, and held her tightly, as if he wanted to rub her into his very bones and blood.

Qiao Zhen had her back to him: "You clingy person."

"Mm."

"You cuddle monster."

"Mm." Qin Yichi was fidgeting, pinching her cheek one moment, touching her waist the next, and then pulling at her small hands.

"..." Qiao Zhen couldn't take it anymore, "Qin Yichi, do you have ADHD or something?"

As soon as she finished, Qin Yichi said in a muffled voice: "You dislike me."

Qiao Zhen stifled a laugh, turned around, and buried herself affectionately in his arms:

"I don't dislike you, I like you the most!"

Outside the window, the night was hazy, and the moonlight cast a faint silver glow, gentle and lingering.

Inside the room, Qiao Zhen looked up and, following her instincts, kissed Qin Yichi’s Adam’s apple...

(Honey Love Chapter - End)