My wife is a witch princess

Chapter 63 The frugal master is often the troublemaker

The next day, Song Che got up very early.

Surprisingly, he didn't have insomnia after last night's conversation; instead, he slept soundly.

I woke up refreshed in the morning, and even the chill in the winter air didn't feel so biting.

He put on his coat and walked out of the bedroom, just in time to see Xia Li brushing her teeth at the sink. She was hunched over, her silver hair loosely tied back.

As Song Che watched, the feeling from last night kept replaying in his mind.

...Xia Li's lips were soft and cool, like jelly.

Xia Li paused noticeably while brushing her teeth, pulling out the toothbrush which was covered in white foam. She hesitated for a moment, then expressionlessly shoved the toothbrush back in and continued brushing.

...It should still have a hint of toothpaste mint. It must feel sweet and soft to kiss...

"You talk too much," Xia Li said vaguely, her voice muffled by the water and foam.

"What's wrong? You think I'm annoying?" Song Che leaned closer, teasing her on purpose. "You think I talk too much?"

He turned on the tap, filled the water, and prepared to brush his teeth.

"no."

"It's clearly disdain." Song Che laughed as he squeezed toothpaste. "Last night you were talking about respect and manners, and I thought you were such a proper girl. But you've already shown your true colors this morning—all that respect was just an act, wasn't it?"

"I don't."

After rinsing her mouth, Xia Li wiped the foam from the corners of her mouth with a towel. She wanted to refute, but was speechless for a moment.

She was clumsy with words and terrible at explaining things, and besides, there didn't seem to be anything to explain about this. So she just stood blankly in front of the mirror, her brows slightly furrowed, looking frustrated and unable to think of a solution.

However, she had a vague feeling that it wasn't her fault.

Song Che glanced at the living room.

Bruce was curled up in a ball on the sofa, while Peach Blossom had run off somewhere again. He couldn't be bothered to care; since the cat wasn't around, it wouldn't get breakfast.

"Oh, right, Xia Li, I need to remind you of something." Song Che walked over and stood beside her at the sink, starting to brush his teeth. "My parents should be back in two weeks. Do you remember your role?"

"Remember."

"One more thing: you're not a student now, you're out working, but you're temporarily unemployed. If they ask what kind of jobs you did before, just say they were all odd jobs, like handing out flyers or being a restaurant server. Oh right, Momoka is your cousin now, so don't give yourself away."

"Um."

Song Che thought about it again and seemed to have no other loopholes. The fact that Xia Li was a "witch" could not be said under any circumstances. The character setting of being an orphan who came out to make a living on her own was more reasonable and would easily evoke sympathy.

My mom is gentle but also very serious, and she'll definitely interrogate him about finding a girlfriend.

After getting ready, the two left one after the other. The hallway was quiet in the early morning, with only the sound of their footsteps.

Song Che walked and thought. Women seem to be all like this, with a stubborn streak in their bones. Just like her mother insisted on going out to work back then, simply because she wanted to prove herself and didn't want to be outdone by other parents.

His family was of modest means; no matter how hard they tried, they were just one of the most ordinary people, with enough to eat and wear but not enough to be wealthy.

To truly change one's fortunes, both ability and luck are indispensable. My mother wasn't unaware of this, but she just couldn't swallow her pride. Approaching forty, she still resolutely ventured out to make her way in the world. My father followed her, searching for opportunities all over the country. But after two years, the money they saved seemed almost the same as what they had managed to make back in their hometown of Nanhui.

Song Che had thought before that great wealth and status were things that could only be encountered by chance, and that it was enough to live a comfortable and carefree life.

No house, no car, just rent a two-bedroom apartment and ride an electric scooter when you go out. It may not sound like a grand ambition, but it's easy and carefree.

Eat what you want, play what you want, it won't cost too much money. Doing this will only make relatives and neighbors think you're "unambitious." But Song Che is too lazy to care what others think; living happily is the most important thing.

However, he could somewhat understand his mother's desire to "prove herself." Just like how he liked Xia Li, he couldn't bear to let her actually rent a house with him, ride an electric scooter, and be looked down upon by others.

Humans are strange like that. To put it bluntly, they're a bit pathetic. They might be able to laugh it off when they're looked down upon, but the thought that the people they care about also have to endure those stares makes them feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

Song Che himself couldn't figure out why. Xia Li probably understood even less. She "listened" to Song Che's endless thoughts, and finally extracted only one core meaning: Song Che thought she was quite troublesome.

She understands.

Therefore, she tries her best not to bother Song Che with many things.

Xia Li also needs to work hard to earn money, at least... she can't be a burden.

Your Highness has always been the one who shelters and helps others. When did you become a burden to others?

...That seems to be the case now.

Xia Li pursed her lips, their color appearing very pale in the morning light.

"Let's go, Xia Li." Song Che called out as he saw her suddenly stop.

"……oh."

Following Song Che onto the bus, Xia Li watched as he tossed two coins into the coin box with a clang, silently adding two yuan to her debt bill in her mind.

As she watched the street scene slowly receding outside the window, she suddenly asked, "If I walk back, won't I save two yuan?"

"Theoretically, yes. But the road is too far, it's unnecessary."

Wait, you don't actually want to come back, do you?

Song Che's heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah, it saves money." Xia Li said, then fell silent for a moment.

Because she immediately "heard" Song Che calling her a "little idiot" in his mind.

It's strange. I used to call someone an "idiot," but lately I always add the word "little."

In short, Song Che was cursing.

She was actually quite angry.

Ever since she came here, she's always been called "stupid." But she feels she's not stupid at all, she just doesn't understand. That little rascal Song Che is clearly trying to take this opportunity to get back at him for the "bullying" she caused back in Hit.

She understands.

So I kept enduring it.

"I walked back myself," Xia Li added, her tone somewhat stubborn.

"Sure, do you know the way?"

"I've got it."

"Alright, you can go by yourself then."

"..."

Xia Li pursed her lips and turned to look out the car window.

The bus swayed slightly, and her expressionless profile was reflected in the window. She "heard" Song Che muttering a few words to herself again. Thinking about it, before he gained the ability to read minds, he didn't know how many times he had silently cursed her in his heart.

Xia Li is unhappy.

"I can save money by walking," she emphasized again, her voice muffled.

"It's only one dollar, you can't do much with the money you save, and it's tiring to walk."

Even a dollar is still money.

"It's money, but it's not very useful."

"I'm going to keep walking."

"Alright, alright, as long as you don't try to fly back on a broomstick. Walking counts as exercise too."

"..."

The bus swayed and rattled along, the carriage filled with the weary silence of the early risers. Song Che leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes to doze off for a while, but opened them again after a few seconds. In the end, he couldn't bear to let her walk such a long way alone.

Damn it, Xia Li, you're such a big idiot!

He cursed inwardly, then sighed helplessly.

"Fine, I'll come too."

"...Okay." Xia Li responded softly, silently crossing out one yuan from the "bill" in her mind. Having saved another yuan through her own efforts, Xia Li felt... a little happy.

Seeing that Xia Li had stopped pursing her lips and her eyes had relaxed slightly, Song Che could only mutter to himself: "I'll indulge her this once, but don't let it happen again." Who would walk this far just to save a dollar?

Only Xia Li would think that way.

Why didn't he just suggest she eat less at each meal? That way she could lose weight and save money at the same time.

"I can eat less in the future," Xia Li suddenly said, then paused and added, "Although I eat a lot, I'm not fat, so I don't need to lose weight."

……

Upon arriving at the venue rented by the drama club, they found a rather spacious old classroom with some simple backdrops and props around the perimeter. Jiang Xiaoxiao was already waiting in a seat and waved with a smile when she saw them enter.

"Brother Song Che, Sister Xia Li, you're here!"

"Hmm, just the three of us? There seem to be other characters in the script." Song Che looked around the empty classroom.

"They haven't arrived yet, probably still sleeping in." Jiang Xiaoxiao shrugged. "Anyway, today is mainly about rehearsing lines, as long as the most important lead actors are here. They don't have many lines, they just need to remember their entrance times and a few key actions."

"Alright, Xia Li and I will take another look at the script and try to rehearse the lines." Song Che said, turning to look at Xia Li beside him, his face suddenly adopting a high-pitched, theatrical tone as he shouted:

"Oh no! Your Highness! That terrible queen, with her henchmen, is about to storm the castle and capture you! We must run!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Li's aura suddenly changed.

The girl who had been called an "idiot" by him for trying to save a dollar on the bus vanished instantly.

Her back was straight, her chin slightly raised, and when her blue eyes swept over us, they carried a natural aloofness and majesty that came from someone who had long held a high position.

Although she was wearing an ordinary sweatshirt and trousers, just by standing there quietly, she made people feel as if she was not standing on the terrazzo floor of an old classroom, but on the cold, shiny black marble of a castle.

Song Che blinked.

Don't let his constant use of "idiot" to insult Xia Li fool you; if Xia Li were truly at her peak, he'd probably only dare to say one thing with utmost respect:

"Your Highness, your magnificent skirt... seems to be dusty."

……

……

Xia Li always gave Song Che a misconception.

She was still the witch princess standing atop the clouds, looking down upon all living beings. She was proud yet polite, indifferent yet unable to bear the suffering of the world; she seemed invincible, but inside she hid a softness unknown to others.

At this moment, she was looking at Song Che and reciting the lines from the script about the princess protecting the knight, word by word.

But a princess's destiny is always intertwined with that of a prince.

How can a mere knight withstand the pressure of worldly trends?

Song Che felt the plot was a bit melodramatic, but seeing how well Xia Li was acting, he went along with it, playing the role of the one being protected, occasionally adding his own personal comment: "Your Highness, you... will take responsibility for me, right?"

Pooh.

This doesn't fit the image of a knight at all.

Even if the princess and the knight end up together, it should be the knight protecting the princess.

Song Che knew in his heart that being a kept man might not be so bad, but it was ultimately just a "maybe." He wanted to be the one who had the ability to stand by her side.

Which man hasn't dreamed of "embracing a beautiful woman and conquering the world"?

Now, things have taken a turn for the worse. The dream is there, but the roles have been reversed—she's now a princess in a gorgeous dress, wielding a sword, breaking through enemy lines.

But the key point is, Xia Li... she really is a witch.

Song Che composed himself and continued reciting his lines, occasionally whispering a reminder to Xia Li: "Keep it to yourself. There are no enemies in front of you. Don't let your murderous aura get the better of you... Look, you've scared Xiao Xiao."

Jiang Xiaoxiao, clutching the script, shrank back timidly, her eyes wide: "Sister Xia Li...did you study acting before?"

"I guess I've... learned a little bit," Song Che replied casually.

"But just now... she seemed like she really wanted to kill someone..."

Is it possible that she really did this?

Song Che suddenly reached out and gently pinched Xia Li's cheek.

Xia Li's imposing aura froze instantly, dissipating like a punctured balloon. She struggled to turn her face away, her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a word for a long time.

"This part isn't in the script," she finally managed to say, her voice muffled.

"I know." Song Che released his hand, his fingertips still lingering on the soft touch of her cheek. "I told you to be more careful. Look, you scared Xiao Xiao."

Xia Li lowered her head and remained silent, her toes tapping the ground.

Anyway... she felt it wasn't her fault.

"My fault, my fault, please continue." Song Che turned to Jiang Xiaoxiao and smiled. "She's not usually like this."

As she spoke, she took out her phone, pulled out a photo she had secretly taken of Xia Li with black makeup and a blank look in her eyes, and handed it to Jiang Xiaoxiao: "Look, this is what her eyes usually look like, doesn't she look like a bewildered big black goose?"

Jiang Xiaoxiao leaned over to take a look and couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh: "I remember! Last time you two did each other's makeup, one of you had a face full of purple and the other had a face full of black."

After laughing for a while, she said seriously, "Actually, Xia Li's acting was really good. I just wasn't used to it at first... The aura and authority she had when she delivered her lines were so real. I think it was more moving than the performances of many art students."

Song Che nodded, swallowing his words.

Is it possible that... she wasn't actually "acting" at all?

He recalled the battle in Hitt. Under the moonlight, she stood in mid-air, exchanging magic with the enemy's archmage. Brilliant flames tore through the sky, and the aftershocks of the explosions sent him, who was watching from afar, flying away.

Fortunately, she has lost her magic. Otherwise, given the size of Nanhui City, it probably wouldn't be enough for a single high-level spell to dismantle.

This world has no gods, nor any top-tier individual combat power capable of restraining her. If Xia Li were to descend upon this world in her complete form, it wouldn't be a fairy tale, but a catastrophe.

Thinking of this, he felt an itch to pinch Xia Li's cheek again.

Such opportunities are rare.

Snapped!

Xia Li raised her hand and tapped his head lightly.

Song Che didn't feel any pain at all. Instead, he couldn't help but laugh foolishly as he looked at her puffed-up cheeks.

No matter how you look at it, he's the one who benefited.

Jiang Xiaoxiao silently hugged the script, retreated to a chair in the corner of the classroom, and went to read the lines by herself.

After rehearsing the scene several more times, the classmate playing the villainous queen still hadn't arrived. Jiang Xiaoxiao made a few phone calls to inquire, but the other party hesitated and finally admitted: it was too cold, and she really couldn't get out of bed.

He's a villain after all, so let's be understanding.

The script wasn't very long, and Song Che had already memorized it.

As for whether he would be nervous when he actually went on stage and faced the audience—he estimated that Jiang Xiaoxiao would probably be the only one in the entire audience who would be so nervous that her palms would sweat.