Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Pei Yufeng's footsteps came to an abrupt halt the moment he heard her.

The streetlight stretched his shadow long and straight. He stood motionless in that dim pool of yellow light, as if someone had hit pause on him. Everything around him was still moving—the evening breeze blowing, leaves rustling, faint voices drifting from the residential buildings in the distance—but he was completely still, his breath hitching for a moment.

Pei Yufeng rarely lost his cool.

A child like Ji Yunshu?

Of course he had thought about it.

He'd already pictured it the night Ji Yunshu said yes to his proposal. That day, after he finished writing the paperwork and submitting the marriage application, the sky had already darkened. As he passed the Ji family's courtyard, he saw the light in Ji Yunshu's room flick on. Her silhouette drifted past the curtain, and he couldn't help stopping, waiting to see when she'd appear again.

Pei Yufeng had no idea how long he stood there—ten minutes, half an hour, maybe more—before Ji Yunshu finally came back to the window. Her figure was reflected on the curtain, quiet and beautiful.

Only then did it hit him: Ji Yunshu was going to marry him, and they'd have a home together.

That thought was like a seed planted in his heart without him realizing it, quietly taking root and sprouting. While he anxiously waited for Ji Yunshu to appear, he kept imagining what their home would be like.

He pictured Ji Yunshu sitting at the table every morning sipping porridge, complaining that his cooking was terrible, fanning her to cool her down on the island—and amid these small, tender daydreams, one image would occasionally surface: a little girl with pigtails, her laugh crisp and bright, with Ji Yunshu's features and Ji Yunshu's stubborn streak, pouting when she was upset, and when happy, running over to hug his leg and shout "Daddy!"

He'd thought about it.

He'd just never told a soul.

A child like Ji Yunshu—his own child—just thinking about it made his blood run hot.

Ji Yunshu was the prettiest girl in the compound, so her kid would obviously be the prettiest too.

That wasn't just his opinion—it was common knowledge in the compound. As far back as he could remember, whenever the uncles and aunties in the compound talked about the Ji family's daughter, no matter what they said—even if they griped about her temper—they'd always finish with, "That girl's a real beauty, just doesn't look much like Old Ji."

Ji Yunshu's beauty straddled the line between innocent and striking—vibrant, full of life. Her eyebrows were slender as willow leaves, her eyes slightly upturned at the corners, and when she smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, her whole face lighting up and making people smile without realizing it. When she wasn't smiling, she had a cool, crystalline beauty—a delicate chin, a long, slender neck, like a swan gliding upstream on a spring river. Her lips were naturally peach-colored, parting and closing as she talked, and sometimes he'd get distracted watching them—like right now.

Ji Yunshu's lips parted and closed, flashing a hint of white teeth. She hadn't had much to drink all afternoon, so her lips were a little dry, but the corners were turned up. The streetlight caught her face, warming one half while the other stayed hidden in the dark, the line between light and shadow soft as an oil painting still wet. Her eyes held laughter, curiosity, and a hint of mischief—she was waiting for him to answer.

Pei Yufeng's ears went red in an instant, the heat spreading from the tips all the way to the roots. He looked away for a second, then couldn't help looking back, his gaze landing on Ji Yunshu's face and sticking there like glue.

His breathing got heavier, his voice dropping low with a deep, barely suppressed rasp: "Yes."

Just one word, but he drew it out. His voice was low, yet Ji Yunshu somehow caught a barely restrained possessiveness in it.

Ji Yunshu had meant to tease him, but that one "yes" made her blush instead. She turned her head, pretending to study the poplar leaves by the road, her heart thumping.

The two returned home. Grandma had dinner ready, and the family sat down together, warm and cozy. Ji Yunshu tried on the new dress she had bought and showed it to Grandma.

Grandma kept going on about how pretty Ji Yunshu was and how good she looked in everything, then reminded Pei Yufeng again to buy her the best sewing machine out there. Pei Yufeng agreed, saying the big department stores in Yuecheng were sure to have one, and it'd be easier to buy it there and ship it over.

Grandma was pleased with how much Pei Yufeng cherished Ji Yunshu. Now that they were husband and wife, he naturally had to give her the best of everything.

When Ji Yunshu got out of the shower, Grandma was already asleep. She tiptoed upstairs, Pei Yufeng following behind. The stairs were narrow, and they went up single file back to their wedding room.

When they entered the bedroom, before the light was even on, Ji Yunshu reached for the pull cord. Before her hand found it, she felt an arm tighten around her waist. Pei Yufeng wrapped his arms around her from behind, chin on her shoulder, breath hot against her ear, making her flinch.

"You said it," Pei Yufeng murmured by her ear, all the restraint from earlier gone, his voice thick with affection. "A child like you."

Ji Yunshu's ears burned. She was pinned in his arms, unable to move. Pei Yufeng turned her around. In the dark, his eyes gleamed like black gemstones, brimming with uncontainable tenderness. He lowered his head, but instead of kissing her, he paused, pressing his forehead to hers. His nose grazed hers, their breath mingling. "Xiaoshu, let's go a few more rounds tonight, okay?"

On their wedding night, they'd only managed twice, but since both were inexperienced, it had gone on so long that Ji Yunshu couldn't take it anymore and nearly blacked out. Pei Yufeng had carried her to the bath, and while washing her, he couldn't help himself and had to take care of things once more.

That morning too, when he woke, Ji Yunshu was still lying peacefully in his arms, hair messy across her face, breathing even and shallow. He gently brushed her hair aside, kissed her forehead, and—unable to hold back but not wanting to wake her—had to go to the bathroom again to take care of himself.

"N-no... no," Ji Yunshu stammered. "It takes too long. We have to go to the hospital tomorrow."

"Then just one more." Pei Yufeng gave her no chance to refuse, kissing her hard.

The second their lips met, Pei Yufeng felt like he'd been set on fire. His hand slid from her waist to her back, pulling her flush against him, kissing her hard and urgent, like he wanted to crush her and swallow her whole. Ji Yunshu's back pressed against the door, nowhere to retreat, kissed breathless by him. She pushed against his chest, and he pulled back slightly, but before she could catch her breath, he was kissing her again.

One of Pei Yufeng's hands held Ji Yunshu's lower back, keeping her fixed against him, while the other cradled the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair, his fingertips gently stroking her scalp. The gesture carried an intense possessiveness that Ji Yunshu had no defense against.

"Pei Yufeng, slow... slower..." Ji Yunshu's voice was so soft it didn't even sound like her own.

Pei Yufeng kept his eyes lowered, watching her tear-filled eyes. Moonlight filtered in through the window, falling on Ji Yunshu's face. Her lips seemed slightly swollen, her upper lip pouting a little, her teeth unable to fully close together—she looked both pitiful and tempting to tease.

Pei Yufeng lowered his head and kissed Ji Yunshu's lips again. This kiss was different from yesterday's. Yesterday, they had just been newlyweds, and kissing was still new and shy for both of them; Ji Yunshu had only lightly touched her lips to his. But just one day later, Pei Yufeng's kissing skills had improved dramatically. He cupped her cheeks, sucked on her upper lip, their breaths intertwining as he slowly taught her how to breathe between kisses.

A long, lingering kiss finally ended. Pei Yufeng leaned against Ji Yunshu's neck, their cheeks brushing together.

In the quiet night, cicadas occasionally chirped in the compound, but Ji Yunshu had no energy to pay attention to any sound. She was completely under Pei Yufeng's control—one kiss ending, another beginning—her thoughts entirely consumed by him.

...

After who knows how long, Ji Yunshu groggily felt Pei Yufeng cleaning her up. His movements were gentle, using a towel to wipe her neck and shoulders, changing her into a new nightgown. Then he tucked the blanket under her chin and brushed her scattered hair away from her cheeks.

"Xiaoshu did it," Pei Yufeng whispered by her ear, his voice carrying a smile, very low. "Sleep now."

Ji Yunshu hummed in response, her eyes already unable to stay open. She felt a warm kiss land on her forehead, then the spot beside her dipped slightly as Pei Yufeng lay down, his arm reaching over from under the blanket to wrap around her waist.

The two were very different in size, and Pei Yufeng completely enclosed Ji Yunshu in his arms. Ji Yunshu felt a bit warm and mumbled a complaint, but Pei Yufeng only held her tighter.

Ji Yunshu couldn't help but curve her lips upward in the darkness, then fell asleep.

The next morning, Ji Yunshu woke up in Pei Yufeng's arms. The back of her head rested against his chest, his arm looped around her waist, holding her completely in his embrace. When Ji Yunshu stirred slightly, Pei Yufeng's voice sounded by her ear.

"Awake?" He even tightened his arm, pulling her closer.

"You woke up so early." Ji Yunshu's voice was still hoarse from just waking. Without any awareness, she nuzzled against his chest. "What time is it?"

Pei Yufeng glanced at the alarm clock on the table: "Eight thirty."

"Still early..." Ji Yunshu curled deeper into his arms, closing her eyes. "Sleep a little more."

Pei Yufeng didn't move, letting her nestle quietly in his arms. After a while, Ji Yunshu fell asleep again. When she opened her eyes next, it was already ten thirty. Pei Yufeng was fully dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her, holding a bowl of porridge.

Another round of massage, and Ji Yunshu's waist finally felt a bit better. But last night was a completely different experience from the night before. Pei Yufeng had improved greatly, seeming to know how to please her, how to make it easier for her to take him fully. That way, she didn't suffer as much—at least last night, she had genuinely felt a faint pleasure.

The two ate breakfast, got ready, and headed out. Pei Yufeng wore a clean white shirt today, his beard freshly shaved, looking very sharp. Ji Yunshu changed into a plain outfit, combed her hair neatly, and the two went out, taking the bus to the Medical University Affiliated Hospital.

Coming here for the second time, Ji Yunshu was already familiar with the place. The OB-GYN doctor was a woman in her fifties with a very pleasant attitude, asking detailed questions. Ji Yunshu explained her situation, and the doctor asked about her menstrual cycle, daily diet, and sleep habits, recording everything one by one in the medical record.

"My period isn't very regular. Last time was June thirtieth, but it didn't come in July, and now it's already August," Ji Yunshu thought for a moment. "The time before that was fairly regular—it came at the end of May."

"My daily diet is pretty healthy. I really like eggplant, eggs, potatoes, and I eat vegetables too, but not a lot..." Ji Yunshu felt a bit guilty.

"My sleep schedule..." Ji Yunshu had been forced to stay up late and wake up late these past two days due to excessive activity, but before that, she had mostly kept early hours! Her voice grew weaker. "Most of the time I wake up at seven or eight in the morning and sleep around ten at night, but occasionally not so regular..."

The doctor looked at her calmly, saying nothing, but Ji Yunshu could read the helplessness in her eyes.

"Let me feel your pulse," the doctor said while waiting for the test results.

The gynecologists at the affiliated hospital of the medical university mostly combine Chinese and Western medicine. Ji Yunshu obediently extended her hand, and the doctor briefly took her pulse and checked her tongue. "Anemia?"

"Mm." Ji Yunshu nodded. "I've been taking Bazhen Pills and Danggui Blood-Nourishing Paste regularly. I'm much better than before."

"The medication is fine—keep taking it. With anemia, you shouldn't have sex too often; keep it moderate. Go home and eat more red dates, pork liver, and brown sugar to replenish your blood," the doctor said. "From the pulse, your uterus looks healthy. If you don't have a child yet, it may be due to the anemia. You can build up your health a bit more before trying to conceive."

"...I'd like to get a full gynecological checkup," Ji Yunshu said directly.

The doctor was slightly taken aback. She instinctively glanced at Pei Yufeng standing behind Ji Yunshu. The man's face was blank, and he looked a little intimidating.

The doctor was puzzled. In her thirty-plus years of practice, she rarely got it wrong using the four diagnostic methods. Though this young woman was indeed not in the best health, it wasn't enough to stop her from getting pregnant. Maybe she hadn't gotten pregnant yet and was being pushed into getting all these tests?

But this was ultimately a private family matter, and the doctor didn't feel she should say anything. She wrote out the lab orders and told Ji Yunshu to undergo the complete gynecological examination, saying to come back once the results were ready.

Ji Yunshu thanked the doctor, and Pei Yufeng stuck close to her, going with her to each test.

The tests were quick, and the results took about two hours. Ji Yunshu and Pei Yufeng sat by the hospital waiting. When the results came out, the doctor reviewed them and said her body showed no issues with conception. Ji Yunshu let out a long breath, the weight that had been on her chest finally lifted.

The doctor glanced at Pei Yufeng again, noticing he stood nearby with a blank face, lips pressed tight—looking a little nervous and a little annoyed. She frowned a little, and her tone was a bit disapproving.

"How long have you two been married?" the doctor asked.

Ji Yunshu only then realized she might have been a bit hasty: "We just, just got married recently."

"You just got married—how could you have a kid this fast?" The doctor closed the medical record and looked at Pei Yufeng with a hint of scrutiny. "You young people shouldn't rush—just let nature take its course. And if there's no baby, it's not always the woman's fault. The man should get checked too."

The doctor paused, then shifted the topic: "Some guys are the ones with problems but blame the woman. I've seen plenty of those types."

Hearing this, Pei Yufeng gave the doctor a knowing look, nodded, and offered, "I really should get a thorough check-up as well."

The doctor was even more surprised—this couple was rather interesting. She hadn't expected Pei Yufeng to volunteer. Not many men are willing to get checked, and even fewer volunteer. Most men get all worked up at the mention of a full exam—she was used to that—but she'd never seen a guy volunteer like this.

She looked at Pei Yufeng for a moment, and her tone got a lot softer: "Alright, go to the second-floor clinic and register, then come back after it's done."

Pei Yufeng nodded, told Ji Yunshu softly to wait for him, and left directly. Ji Yunshu stayed to listen to more advice from the doctor about building up her health and getting ready for pregnancy.

After about half an hour, Pei Yufeng came out holding a report.

Ji Yunshu stood up and went to meet him: "How is it?"

Pei Yufeng handed her the sheet: "No problems."

Ji Yunshu took it and read it—the report said all of Pei Yufeng's functions were normal. A smile tugged at her lips, but before she could speak, her eyes caught a small line at the bottom of the page and froze.

"Past medical history: comminuted fracture of the right arm (November 1960)."

Ji Yunshu froze for a moment, then looked up at Pei Yufeng: "You broke your right arm? A comminuted fracture?"

Pei Yufeng's expression didn't change. He reached out, took the report back, folded it, and put it in his pocket: "That's all in the past."

"When did it happen? Why didn't I know?" Ji Yunshu asked him. "In 1960, did you get hurt on a mission at sea?"

Pei Yufeng was silent for a moment, then nodded: "There was a sudden emergency at sea back then. A comrade got swept away by the waves, and during the retreat, I got hit by a big piece of shrapnel from an enemy shell. It's healed now—basically no lasting effects."

Ji Yunshu stared at his right arm. His sleeve was rolled up to his forearm, and the exposed wrist looked the same as his left—normal size, no sign of injury, with just a faint scar so light you'd barely see it unless you looked closely. But she suddenly remembered: yesterday at the department store, when he carried the dress and fabric, his right hand hung slightly lower than his left. She hadn't paid attention then, assuming the weights on each side were different.

Ji Yunshu's nose stung.

She'd only ever known that Pei Yufeng had earned a lot of honors, served on the front lines, and was the youngest regular officer at the battalion level in his unit. But she'd never really thought about how he'd earned them. His right arm had a comminuted fracture—how long did it take him to heal? Did it hurt so bad he couldn't sleep? Would there be lasting damage?

She didn't know. She had never asked about any of it.

She suddenly recalled the year he hadn't come home for leave. She'd complained to herself at the time, wondering if he just didn't want to come back. With just her grandmother at home, the holidays were lonely and quiet. She'd wanted to ask but felt she had no right to, and eventually she forgot. Now she got it—it wasn't that he didn't want to come home; it was that he couldn't. With his right arm in a cast and a sling, how could he come home? Her grandmother was elderly; he was afraid she'd worry if she saw him like that, afraid she'd lie awake all night. So he chose to tough it out alone, waiting until the injury healed and the scar faded, then put on a long-sleeved shirt and stood in front of them like nothing had happened.

Being a frontline soldier, scars were no big deal. Ji Yunshu had known since she was a kid that Ji Haiguo had two bullet wounds, and among the uniformed uncles in the compound, who didn't have a couple of scars on their arms or an old knee injury? But she'd never imagined Pei Yufeng could be hurt that badly. If she remembered right, the year after he got hurt, he still earned a collective first-class merit for outstanding performance in a major combat readiness mission.

It takes a hundred days to heal bones and tendons, and a comminuted fracture takes even longer to recover from fully. Yet in less than two years, he'd gotten back to top form and earned a first-class merit.

Ji Yunshu still remembered how happy she'd been when she found out Pei Yufeng got the first-class merit. But now she realized that the Pei Yufeng she saw was always the mature, steady man standing in front of her. She'd never seen him fall, so she figured he never would.

But it wasn't that he couldn't fall—it was that he just wouldn't let her see it.

Ji Yunshu walked over and took Pei Yufeng's hand. His fingers curled a little, then slowly relaxed, letting her hold on. Ji Yunshu laced her fingers through his, palm to palm, finger roots pressed together, all ten fingers locked. She could feel the lines in his palm, the rough calluses pressing into her soft skin—marks of a soldier she'd never really touched before.

The bright overhead light made Ji Yunshu's eyes look amber, glistening like they were about to rain: "Brother Pei, I won't cause you trouble anymore."

Pei Yufeng looked down at her, his gaze unfathomable.

"Before, you carried everything alone. Not anymore." Ji Yunshu tightened her grip on his hand and said word by word, "From now on, you protect the country, and I'll protect you."

Pei Yufeng looked at her, reached out and gently wiped the tear from the corner of Ji Yunshu's eye. He didn't speak, but his eyes were so gentle—like a warm sun rising over a winter sea, turning the cold gray water into golden ripples that spread out inch by inch, almost to the horizon.

Pei Yufeng opened his mouth, wanting to say something. He wanted to say thanks, to say sorry for making her worry, to say this was nothing—there were way worse injuries than this... But all those words got stuck in his throat, unable to come out. In the end, he just lowered his head, pulled Ji Yunshu into his arms, rested his chin on top of her head, and closed his eyes.

From this angle, Ji Yunshu couldn't see the emotions swirling in Pei Yufeng's eyes. She just stood there quietly, holding him the way he was holding her.

She knew Pei Yufeng didn't want her to see him vulnerable—he'd always been strong and controlled around her. But from the day she decided to marry him, she'd already gotten ready to protect him too. So Ji Yunshu added, "From now on, you're not alone. If you get hurt, you have to tell me. If you don't, that's when I'll worry even more."

After a long moment, Ji Yunshu heard Pei Yufeng's voice from above her head: "Okay."

Then he added, "But I want to protect you too."

Author's note:

Thanks for reading. A sweet two-in-one chapter from Miao.