Chapter 88

Chapter 88

It was warm today, and the night market was much more crowded than before.

Lu Yuan's prepared youtiao, tofu, soy milk, and even the freshly brewed soy milk later on were all sold out before midnight.

After packing up and returning home, Lu Yuan tirelessly counted the night's earnings.

Once done, she wrote down the amount in the ledger.

With more ingredients prepared tonight and everything sold out, the profit was at least two hundred and fifty coins.

A good income.

She placed the string of coins into a box and, hearing noises outside, called out, "Heat up more water, I want to bathe."

Qi Cheng responded, "Alright."

A short while later, he called her to bathe.

Lu Yuan picked up her clothes, and an item of clothing slipped out. As she reached to pick it up, her hand brushed against it, and she inadvertently recalled the conversation she had with the old lady earlier that day.

She was certain Qi Cheng liked her. The way he looked at her was so sweet it could drip honey—it was impossible not to like her.

But people often said that emotions were hard to control, that when feelings ran deep, one couldn’t restrain themselves. Yet Qi Cheng had only startled her a couple of times and never actually crossed any lines.

The peck last time didn’t count.

Could liking someone and physical attraction really be separated?

Lu Yuan didn’t believe it.

She glanced at the undergarment on the floor, raised an eyebrow, withdrew her hand, turned around, and left the room.

After Qi Cheng brought the water in for her, he continued heating more water.

Once the water boiled, Qi Cheng removed the firewood, extinguished it, and scooped water into the pot. Just then, Li Niang’s voice called him from outside the courtyard.

"Qi Cheng, Qi Cheng."

Qi Cheng responded, "Wait a moment."

He filled the pot about seventy percent full, closed the lid, set it aside, and walked out into the courtyard. "What is it?"

Lu Yuan said, "I can’t find my undergarment. Could you check if it fell in the room?"

Qi Cheng paused slightly but went back inside.

As soon as he entered, he saw the pale pink undergarment on the floor—still the same cropped style, not yet replaced.

He’d washed it before, so there was nothing to avoid.

He picked it up and walked out into the courtyard, considering how to hand it over the top of the door. Just then, the wooden door of the bathing room pushed open, and a head peeked out, along with a damp arm and a half-exposed shoulder.

Even in the dim light, her skin seemed to glow with a pale radiance.

Qi Cheng’s gaze lingered for a moment before he looked away. He placed the undergarment in her hand and quickly turned to leave.

Lu Yuan frowned. What did that mean?

A cold breeze swept in, making her shiver. She immediately withdrew into the bathing room to get dressed.

Wrapped in her clothes, she returned to the room, took off her outer garment, lifted the quilt, and slipped into bed.

Qi Cheng had placed a bed warmer in the bed, making it nice and warm.

After warming up for a while, Lu Yuan undid the first two buttons of her nightclothes and waited for Qi Cheng to return.

Qi Cheng finished bathing and returned to the room. Seeing her lying with her back to him, he quietly sighed in relief.

Lu Yuan, facing away, said, "Let’s leave the light on tonight."

Qi Cheng, without suspicion, replied, "Alright."

Once he’d mostly air-dried, he lifted the outer quilt and got into bed.

As soon as he lay down, the person on the inner side turned over and looked at him.

Qi Cheng turned his head and met her shining eyes, which seemed to hold expectation and amusement.

That mischievous look made Qi Cheng sense something unusual.

"What are you planning?" Qi Cheng asked hesitantly.

Lu Yuan blinked innocently. "What could I be up to? I just want to talk with you."

Qi Cheng thought to himself that her eyes didn’t seem like she just wanted to talk—it felt more like she was hiding some mischief.

"What do you want to talk about?"

Lu Yuan: "Just chatting... I’m a bit thirsty. Could you get me a cup of water?"

Qi Cheng threw back the covers, got up, and went to pour water.

Lu Yuan sat up quickly, tidied her hair and clothes—her loose hair and slightly open collar.

As Qi Cheng turned around with the water, he noticed her appearance. His eyes paused slightly, but he kept a straight face as he brought the water to the bedside.

Lu Yuan noticed Qi Cheng didn’t seem to react much. Was her approach not daring enough? Not impactful enough?

She looked down at the water in the cup, thinking about how to let it drip from her chin to her neck and then slide under her collar.

But after a moment’s thought, she decided letting water trickle from the corner of her mouth would make her look silly. Besides, this was her only set of clean clothes. Better not.

After drinking the water, she handed the cup back to him.

Watching Qi Cheng turn to put the cup away, Lu Yuan, annoyed, remembered she wasn’t the type to be coy. Why was she being reserved now?

The moment Qi Cheng turned around, Lu Yuan boldly tugged open her outer garment, revealing her shoulder.

Qi Cheng’s left foot stopped mid-step. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Lu Yuan stared at him and asked, "Do you have any thoughts right now?"

After a long moment, Qi Cheng’s voice was deep and raspy: "Aren’t you cold?"

Lu Yuan: ...

She quickly pulled her clothes closed and scowled at him.

Qi Cheng walked to the bedside and sat with his back to her, asking, "You've been acting strange tonight. What's going on?"

Lu Yuan draped herself over his back, resting her chin on his shoulder, and said, "The old lady said we haven't consummated our marriage because I'm not attractive."

Qi Cheng was momentarily speechless.

After letting out a breath, he asked, "So that's why you've been like this tonight?"

Lu Yuan replied, "Do you think I have charm?"

Instead of answering, Qi Cheng grabbed her wrist, turned halfway, and pulled her into his arms.

The world seemed to spin, and before Lu Yuan could react, he pinched her chin and captured her lips.

Lu Yuan’s mind screamed—He's finally catching on!

As they slowly lay down, Lu Yuan’s hands climbed onto his shoulders.

A flurry of light kisses fell on her cheeks, neck, and shoulders...

He lifted his head, his gaze dark and intense, and asked, "So, do you still think you lack charm?"

Lu Yuan’s mind was filled with dirty thoughts, but when he suddenly stopped, she was dazed for a moment before pulling him back down.

Once you’ve stirred someone up, why waste time with words?

Though her mind was full of racy thoughts, she still spared a moment to think about contraception...

But then she thought, to hell with it, drinking contraceptive herbs once wouldn’t hurt.

Qi Cheng was stunned for a moment, surprised by her directness, then chuckled and leaned down again.

The next day, after the two children woke up, had breakfast, and played for a while, they sat by the doorstep, keeping their eyes glued to the gate.

The grandmother glanced at their backs and said, "Your mother must be exhausted from running her stall late last night. She’ll probably sleep in and have to walk back, so she might not return until the afternoon."

After a moment’s thought, she added, "Or she might wait for your father to finish work and come back with him."

Hearing this, the children’s faces fell. Chun Hua said listlessly, "That means it’ll be really late before they’re back."

The grandmother smiled. "Still, it’s much better than when we were in Weishan Village, when they only came back once a month."

The children thought about it and agreed.

The grandmother urged, "Hurry back inside. If you catch a cold, we’ll have to pay for medicine."

Chun Hua, hearing her great-grandmother’s words, took her sister’s hand and went back into the yard.

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan, whom the children were missing so much, was still asleep in bed.

By noon, just past midday, the courtyard gate creaked open.

Qi Cheng led his horse into the yard. It was quiet, as if no one was home.

But knowing his wife’s habits, he didn’t think much of it.

He carried food, medicine, and a prepared chicken into the kitchen, lit the stove, and started cooking.

With multiple braziers at home, he simmered the soup and medicine simultaneously.

After setting the soup and medicine to boil, he wiped his hands and entered the room.

Sure enough, the quilt was bunched up, and she was still lying down, but her eyes were open, fixed on him.

Lu Yuan had heard the noises earlier, including the sound of hooves, and knew it was Qi Cheng. But it was too cold, so she hadn’t gotten up.

Qi Cheng’s gaze softened as he asked softly, "Do you want some water?"

Lu Yuan hummed in agreement.

The water in the room had long gone cold.

Qi Cheng said, "Wait a moment."

He took the teapot outside, removed the pot of chicken soup from the stove, placed the teapot on it to heat for a while, then brought it back inside.

Qi Cheng poured water into a cup and tested the temperature himself. Finding it just right, he poured another cup and brought it to the bedside.

Lu Yuan sat up, wrapped in the quilt, and said coyly, "Feed me."

Qi Cheng obliged, feeding her the water.

As he watched her drink, he asked cautiously, "Are you feeling better?"

Lu Yuan nearly spat out the water.

If he hadn’t asked, she wouldn’t have felt embarrassed, but now she couldn’t help but blush.

Qi Cheng was well-endowed, but even after having two children, her body wasn't quite ready for him.

Plus, Qi Cheng was inexperienced, and while the beginning was tingling and pleasant, later on, she had found it quite uncomfortable.

Lu Yuan swallowed the water with difficulty and said, "I’ll be fine as long as you don’t ask."

Seeing this, Qi Cheng wisely dropped the subject and said, "I only have half an hour for my midday break. I have to leave in a moment. I’ve prepared your medicine and chicken soup in the kitchen. Have some with the buns later, and I’ll come pick you up in the evening."

"Medicine? What medicine?"

Qi Cheng explained, "I went to the clinic and got contraceptive medicine, just in case."

After a pause, he added, "I won’t make you take medicine next time. I asked the doctor and learned how to avoid pregnancy."

Lu Yuan nodded and asked, "Were you late today?"

They had returned late the previous night, and with all the commotion, he probably hadn’t gotten much sleep.

Qi Cheng shook his head. "No, I’m full of energy."

When he went to the public office in the morning, someone even asked why he seemed so spirited and if something good had happened.

Lu Yuan looked him over and saw no trace of fatigue.

It's frustrating how some people have all the energy.

She gestured with her chin toward the foot of the bed. "Hand me my clothes. I’m getting up."

Qi Cheng stood up and brought her inner and outer garments.

Lu Yuan reached out, pulled the clothes under the quilt, and planned to warm them up before putting them on.

As she moved her arm, faint marks were visible on her shoulder and arm.

Qi Cheng coughed awkwardly and said, "I’ll heat some water for you to wash up."

With that, he left the room.

Lu Yuan rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that even though she was an inexperienced woman at heart, she wasn’t embarrassed. Yet he, the one who had left the marks, was acting shy first.