Chapter 31 031 Husband’s Kiss

Chapter 31: Husband's Kiss

Summer heat causes sweat, which sticks uncomfortably to the skin. Qin Yan first changed his clothes, then sat in the room drinking tea. With the door open, he had a clear view of the corridor opposite, so if Qiao Wanyue returned from outside, he would know at once.

After finishing a cup of tea, Qin Yan suddenly found his own behavior ridiculous. She had only gone out for a while, so why did he want to see her immediately? Like a child waiting for his favorite candy, eager yet tinged with worry.

The man shook his head with a wry smile, got up and walked inside. Just then, a woman's cheerful laughter came from outside—she was back.

Qiao Wanyue had gone out to lift her spirits and returned in a good mood, making even the dreary marquis residence feel lively. She smiled and said to Hongmei that she had brought back some delicious pastries and invited them in to try them.

She was looking up with a smile when she caught sight of Qin Yan coming out of the room. Her smile faltered for a moment, then she waved at him. He had come back quite early today.

"Marquis, are you hungry?"

Every day when she returned to the mansion, Qiao Wanyue's most frequent question was whether he was hungry. Otherwise, she would ask why he came back so early. Apart from these two phrases, Qin Yan had never heard anything else and had grown accustomed to it.

Qin Yan didn't answer her but stepped out of the room and walked straight toward her. Qiao Wanyue wrinkled her small face and made a sound of discontent. Such a taciturn man—she asked him a question and he wouldn't reply. Let him go hungry then.

Qiao Wanyue had barely entered when Qin Yan arrived. Hongmei and the others tactfully withdrew, missing out on the pastries she had mentioned.

Having just returned from outside, her hair was ruffled by the wind, with a few strands falling loose by her ears. She brushed them back with her hand, giving her a slightly disheveled beauty. Her small face was pale with a rosy flush, pink and adorable, full of vitality.

Qin Yan moved closer, sniffed, and caught an unfamiliar fragrance emanating from her. His gaze circled her several times, so intense that Qiao Wanyue keenly noticed it. She glanced back at him.

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

His scrutiny made her feel a little uneasy and self-conscious.

"Did you go out with Su Su?" he asked.

She arranged the pastries she had brought back. Since Qin Yan wouldn't eat them, she would eat them herself. Qiao Wanyue picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. Hmm, not bad—even cold, it tasted good.

"Yes, I strolled around and then went to a restaurant for a meal."

Luckily, she hadn't gone to Feiyun Manor. If he found out, he would have something to say. Qiao Wanyue cast a sidelong glance at him. Qin Yan hadn't been so talkative before; why was he so chatty now? And he kept asking questions.

"What did you buy?"

Qiao Wanyue pointed at the items. "Over there—those are what I bought."

Qin Yan spotted the cosmetics she had bought at a glance. No wonder she smelled like that. But he still preferred her natural, unadorned look—equally fragrant and soft, with a light scent that could refresh his mind and relax his whole body.

He said nothing more, watching her busy herself back and forth, fiddling with rouge one moment and comparing clothes the next. Suddenly, he asked, "Didn't you buy any jewelry?"

"I didn't have time today. I'll go another day."

Qiao Wanyue put away her purchases, then walked to the table and took another piece of pastry. She stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out, and casually handed him one.

"Try it."

Qin Yan didn't like sweets, so he shook his head to refuse. But she insisted, shoving it directly into his mouth.

"Eat it."

Left with no choice, Qin Yan reluctantly ate it.

Qiao Wanyue looked at his expression and wanted to laugh. She stared at him intently, making him feel too embarrassed to spit it out.

"Good, right? The money for the pastries came from the accounts office today."

Qiao Wanyue subtly reminded him, "Marquis, if I spend a bit too much, would you be angry?"

Qin Yan raised his eyelids and glanced at the pastry in his hand. So that was why she was being so solicitous—it was a setup.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "You know how much you spend. You don't need to ask me."

At his words, Qiao Wanyue's clear eyes brightened even more, and her look toward him changed. She had always known Qin Yan wasn't stingy, and indeed, it felt good to be trusted.

She took small bites, her soft lips parting and closing, alluringly. She was so focused on eating that she didn't notice the crumbs at the corner of her mouth. Qin Yan watched, his fingers at his side twitching. Hesitantly, he reached out halfway, paused, pointed at her mouth, and said, "Wipe it."

Qiao Wanyue couldn't find a handkerchief on the table, so she simply stuck out her tongue and licked the corner of her mouth clean.

The man's eyes darkened, and his breath suddenly grew heavier. He took a big gulp of tea from the table, slightly easing the surge of heat.

Unaware, Qiao Wanyue finished eating and rubbed her lips with her fingertip. "Marquis, is there a drought in the south? I heard many people can't get enough to eat."

Qin Yan put down the half-eaten pastry and nodded. "Yes. How did you find out?"

"Su Su told me when I went out today."

So she also donated some money to help the people.

Qin Yan said nothing. He was always a man of few words, mostly silent. Besides, he didn't discuss state affairs with her in detail, as she wouldn't understand. After a moment, he advised her, "Next time you go out, bring more attendants."

Today she had taken only one maid. Qin Yan was always uneasy.

"Mm."

She propped her chin lazily, sounding a bit perfunctory. She wouldn't take guards next time either—too conspicuous and uncomfortable.

Qiao Wanyue yawned and looked sideways at Qin Yan. She was sleepy and wanted him to leave first. Why was he still sitting there? Should she hint at it?

"Don't call me 'Marquis' anymore. It's too formal. Change it."

Qin Yan's sudden remark made her eyes widen in surprise.

"Huh? Change it to what?" She blinked and thought for a moment. "What about 'Sir'? Wouldn't that be even more formal?"

The man's lips moved, a suggestion on the tip of his tongue, but in the end, he swallowed it back. Too proud to lower himself, it was harder than climbing to the sky.

Those two words, Qin Yan ultimately didn't say. He smoothed his robe, stood up, and said, "I'll go back now. You've been out half the day, so get some rest."

"Oh."

She responded lightly, studying him with a strange expression. She felt something odd about him but couldn't figure it out. It was too mind-boggling. Forget it—she'd lie down and rest for a while.

The courtyard fell silent again in the afternoon. One was reading, the other sleeping, each busy with their own things, perfectly comfortable.

After some time, Qin Yan heard laughter from the yard. He got up and looked out the door to find Qiao Wanyue awake, playing shuttlecock with a few maids.

Laughter echoed in every corner, bringing life to the silent yard.

He didn't find the noise and laughter annoying; rather, he liked it.

-

At dusk, fiery clouds appeared on the horizon, red all over, the light tinged with crimson—a rare sight.

Qiao Wanyue sat in the pavilion admiring the view for a while before going inside when dinner was served. Qin Yan came unbidden and was already waiting at the table.

During meals, Qin Yan rarely spoke. She occasionally said a few words, but he found her annoying, saying not to talk while eating. So now she also spoke little and stopped talking once she was done.

The man glanced over, wondering why she was so quiet today, even the way she ate was lighter, which puzzled him.

Qin Yan ate little in the evening, afraid of feeling unwell later, so after a few bites, he set down his chopsticks and watched her.

Qiao Wanyue looked up, saw he had finished, and said, "If you’re done, go ahead and get busy. Don’t wait for me."

He had wanted to stay a while longer, or at least hope she would ask him to stay with her for a bit, but instead, she told him to leave. He was flattering himself.

His face turned stern, he gave her a deep, piercing look, then he stood up and walked out, his steps slow, as if waiting for something. As he crossed the threshold, the person behind him remained calm, and Qin Yan finally couldn’t help but sigh. Oh well, he thought, stop overthinking and just go back.

The night was quiet, and no one from her side came over, not even a greeting. Qin Yan glanced over, closed the door, and rested. But tonight, he couldn’t sleep well, drifting between sleep and waking, unable to distinguish between dream and reality.

In a daze, he felt someone approach him and sit down beside him.

"Husband," a familiar voice called. It was Qiao Wanyue.

Qin Yan sat up immediately, staring at her intently. "Why are you here?"

The woman shyly lowered her head and smiled. "Don't you want me to come, husband?"

He didn’t speak. The night wind blew in through the window, hot and stuffy, making it hard to breathe.

The woman bit her lip and leaned in, stopping just before his lips, whispered suggestively, "I want my husband to kiss me."

Without waiting for him to take the lead, her soft lips pressed against his, sweet and tender, making him crave more. She clung to his shoulders, her kisses were clumsy, moving only between his lips, not deep or satisfying enough.

The man swallowed hard, his iron arms wrapped around her, holding her tight in his arms, kissing her fiercely.

Their breaths mingled, their bodies rubbing through their clothes, an erotic tension filled the air, hot and unstoppable.

Soon, the woman spoke urgently, "Husband, I feel uncomfortable."

"Where? Hmm?"

His hand explored, trying to soothe her. "Here?"

The woman didn’t answer, and her image started to fade.

Qin Yan’s hand tightened, and he woke with a start. He didn’t see the person from his dream, only felt his physical reaction and the tightly clutched blanket in his hand.

He exhaled deeply, realizing he had been dreaming—and about that, of all things. That must have been triggered by her calling him "husband." He wished he could just put it out of his mind. Then he got up and changed his damp clothes.

The next day, Qin Yan left for court with a stony face and returned looking just as sour.

Someone in the corridor saw him and remarked, "You’re back so late today. Busy?"

Qin Yan glanced over and walked past him. "Mm."

His tone and attitude were cold and indifferent, which annoyed Qiao Wanyue. After he was out of earshot, she said to Hongmei, "What does he mean? He gets upset outside and takes it out on me?"

"That’s not what the Marquis meant."

Hongmei explained for Qin Yan, "It’s probably just official business. It has nothing to do with you."

She waved dismissively. "Don't mind him. I’m going to find Su Su the day after tomorrow. Go to the treasury and get some silver."

"Yes."

Hongmei followed her instructions and went to the treasury to get some silver. After several times, someone noticed and took the account book to Madam Yang.

Nanny Liu brought this month’s account book to Madam Yang and said, "This month’s ledger just arrived."

-

Madam Yang had a headache and was resting. She hummed and gestured for her to put it aside. Nanny Liu placed it on the side table and leaned in to say, "Everything else is fine, but Madam has spent a good amount of silver recently."

"How much?" Madam Yang opened her eyes, her voice cold and sharp.

"Including today's, a total of a hundred and fifty taels."

A hundred and fifty taels—ordinary people might not spend that much in several years, yet Qiao Wanyue had spent that much in just a few days.