After a Traditional Straight Man Was Hypnotized by an Evil God - Chapter 2

As I moved with my wife, heat quickly returned to my body. Sweat rolled into my eyes.

Through my blurred vision, my wife’s beautiful face seemed haloed in light.

I stared at them, entranced, and they rewarded me with a deep kiss.

When it ended, my wife licked the tears from the corner of my eye. “Are you tired, husband?”

I lay against their shoulder and shook my head. “Not tired.”

That was what I said, but my eyelids were already fighting to stay open. I couldn’t hold back a yawn.

My wife’s movements slowed.

“Go to sleep if you’re tired, husband.”

“I can manage by myself.”

I shook my head.

What sort of husband left his wife to do all the work alone?

I was the head of this household. I had to contribute my share—

But I was so sleepy.

Not a shred of strength remained. I could only drift like a little boat on the ocean, rising and falling with the waves.

Rocking. Swaying. My mind began to scatter.

My wife patted my back and murmured gently, “Sleep if you’re tired, husband. Leave the rest to me.”

My wife really was so understanding.

“I’m sorry, wife. I’m leaving you to work alone again…”

I mumbled the words, rolled my eyes back, and finally passed out.

After I fell asleep, I had a dream.

The sun blazed overhead as I trudged forward with my head down. Without realizing it, I entered a desolate forest, dark green as far as I could see and riddled with swamps.

One careless step sent me tumbling into a pool of mud.

It was deep, sticky, and slick. It felt as if countless hands had seized me and were slowly dragging me under. The more I struggled, the faster and deeper I sank.

Squish… squelch…

Bubbles rose with the stench of rot. A sweet, bloody odor mingled with the scent of moss and poured straight into my mouth and nose.

I flailed, trying to claw my way out.

“H-Help… Help me!”

I opened my mouth to scream, but more muddy water flooded in. More and more, until I couldn’t breathe.

Despair swallowed me in an instant.

If I died, I thought, what would happen to my wife?

Just as grief overwhelmed me, I heard my wife’s voice beside my ear.

“Husband?”

“Husband?”

“Wake up.”

Two cool hands cradled my face.

My wife’s voice was tender. “Breakfast is ready, husband. Get up and eat.”

Then they bent down, kissing and licking my face.

My awareness returned, but the fear lingered.

“What’s wrong?” my wife asked when they noticed something was off.

I told them about the dream.

“It scared me to death. I really thought I had fallen into a mud pit and would never get out.”

My wife stroked my back. “It frightened you that badly?”

I nodded. “Of course. You have no idea how suffocating and terrifying and hopeless it felt! I thought I was really going to die.”

I collapsed into their arms for comfort.

My wife smiled without a word and lifted my lower leg.

My cheeks grew hot. “Wife, I-I can do it myself.”

What husband sat in his wife’s lap to get dressed? I wasn’t a three-year-old.

At the rejection, my wife’s lashes trembled. “But I want to, husband.”

My heart softened.

My wife wanted to take good care of me. Why shouldn’t I let them?

Permission granted.

So I sat on my wife’s lap like a three-year-old while they put my clothes and pants on me.

When it was time to wash up, my wife wanted to carry me there.

Permission granted.

At breakfast, my wife wanted to feed me one bite at a time.

Permission granted again.

After being meticulously cared for, I finished breakfast. It was time for work.

The thought of separating from my wife made me reluctant to leave.

“I don’t want to go to work. I don’t want to go to work. I don’t want to go to work…”

I buried my face in the crook of their neck, rubbing against them and unconsciously acting spoiled.

My wife caressed my nape and took my earlobe between their lips, their meaning unmistakable. “Then why don’t you take the day off and stay home with me?”

The offer was very tempting.

I almost agreed.

But as a husband, I had to provide for this family. I had to give my wife a good life. One day, I would have a child to support too.

I couldn’t lose my perfect-attendance bonus and performance pay because I had been lazy.

So, with a heavy heart, I refused my wife’s suggestion.

Carrying the lunch they had made for me, I shuffled to the door one tiny step at a time. Before I crossed the threshold, I turned and gazed back pitifully.

“Wife…”

My wife smiled in understanding, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to my lips.

“Go on. I’ll be waiting for you at home.”

Excellent. I was brimming with motivation!

I went downstairs with a spring in my step and soon reached the ground floor. Unable to resist, I looked back toward our apartment.

Sure enough, my wife stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching me leave. Slanting sunlight illuminated half of their face.

Our gazes met.

My wife’s lips moved in a silent promise.

“I’ll be waiting, husband.”

I waved and entered the subway station, perfectly content.

Happiness really could be that simple.

I wanted to live this quiet, uneventful life with my wife forever.

But life always finds a way to cause trouble.

“Shi Mo, is this your wife?”

My immediate superior was staring at my wife as he spoke.