A simple question elicited no response from Nian Jiaojiao for a long time. Instead, she found the other person seemed lost in memory. She couldn't help but call out:
"Yuchuan, Yuchuan?"
Yuchuan's body jolted as he snapped back to reality. His wife was calling his name.
Sensing the change in her attitude, Yuchuan replied without time to think:
"Wife, my mother is well."
"I find that you speak differently from everyone else," Nian Jiaojiao suddenly smiled.
This man spoke with the air of an ancient scholar, his words rich with learning and pleasant to hear.
However, Nian Jiaojiao's comment caused Yuchuan's expression to change. His wife had always disliked his manner of speaking, calling him a bookworm, dull and unappetizing.
"Yuchuan has spoken incorrectly," Yuchuan said.
"What did you say wrong?" Nian Jiaojiao was bewildered.
Their thoughts, however, were not aligned. Yuchuan mistook her question as an interrogation and lowered his head:
"What Yuchuan said was unappetizing to my wife."
Nian Jiaojiao stared, mouths agape. What were these people thinking?
At this moment, she realized everyone was guessing her thoughts based on the original owner's perceptions.
She looked at Yuchuan and said seriously:
"Yuchuan, what I said before no longer counts. I think the way you speak now is very good, not at all unpleasant, truly!"
She even emphasized her words, afraid he wouldn't believe her, her eyes wide and fixed on him.
Only then did Yuchuan notice Nian Jiaojiao's eyes, clear as water, without a trace of impurity.
Being looked at by such eyes, for some reason, his heart skipped a beat, and a blush spread across his cheeks.
Nian Jiaojiao, oblivious to his shyness, continued to express her gratitude:
"Thank you for returning when I was ill."
"Ah… no, it's nothing, it's what I should do."
Yuchuan felt his ears must be playing tricks on him. For years of devotion, he hadn't received a single "thank you" from her, and now, merely for returning to help her take medicine, he received such gratitude?
He suddenly found the wife before him somewhat unfamiliar.
Nian Jiaojiao smiled slightly:
"Don't overthink it. This time I was gravely ill, I almost returned from the gates of hell. Lying in bed, I reviewed the past and realized some of my past actions were indeed wrong…"
"Now, I intend to make amends. Are you willing to accept me?"
As she spoke, she watched his eyes, only to find Yuchuan's gaze darting away, causing her heart to chill.
Did this gentle man not forgive her?
Or had he fallen for the one who truly saved him?
Alas… she would let him go.
With that thought, Nian Jiaojiao pondered for a few seconds, mentally preparing her words:
"It was my fault before. The person who saved you wasn't me, yet I deceived you. What are your thoughts now?"
"If you like that woman, I can even help you propose and have her marry you."
Upon hearing Nian Jiaojiao's words, Yuchuan's stance faltered. He took two steps back and laughed bitterly:
"Heh, hehe, Wife, are you trying to force me to die? Fine, I will die now, and I will never obstruct your view!"
With that, Yuchuan made to rush outside, but Nian Jiaojiao stopped him in time.
Confused, she asked:
"You… why are you crying? You misunderstood me. I thought you liked that woman, I just wanted to help you."
"Help me? Wife, I am already married to you. A good man does not serve two women. You saying this to me, I will be gossiped about!"
"Then, didn't you like the person who saved you? But the one who truly saved you wasn't me."
Yuchuan looked up at her, his eyes tear-filled:
"But I married you, who has been my wife for a year. It is you who have lived with me for two years. Although the debt of saving my life was an excuse, I will only be with my wife."
Nian Jiaojiao felt his tightly clutched hand on her sleeve and sighed inwardly.
Clearly, the man before her was extremely bound by convention.
It was impossible for such a person to break tradition and pursue true love. Not to mention, the person before her likely wouldn't even have the thought of liking another woman.
Nian Jiaojiao wiped away his tears, helped him sit back on the chair, and comforted him:
"Since you feel that way, I will never mention this again. I don't want you to leave either, after all, you are such a good person."
These words were from her heart.
Yuchuan's tears stopped, and he seemed a little embarrassed.
He wasn't a man who cried easily. His upbringing had taught him to be a gentleman. Despite suffering so much, he had never shed a tear.
For some reason today, he had lost his composure in front of his wife.
Moreover, his wife said he was a good person, she was praising him, wasn't she?
Seeing that his emotions had stabilized, Nian Jiaojiao finally managed a smile. The oppressive feeling in her chest dissipated significantly, and she felt relieved.
"Gurgle…"
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao's stomach rumbled. She had only drunk a bowl of rice soup all day. Famished, the sound from her stomach was very noticeable in the small living room.
She felt embarrassed, and her face flushed.
Yuchuan said very naturally, "Wife, are you hungry? I'll go help in the kitchen and have the dishes served quickly."
"Uh, okay, okay, go ahead," Nian Jiaojiao said softly.
After Yuchuan left, a sardonic voice came from behind.
"Wife, what skillful means you have."
Nian Jiaojiao turned to see her third husband leaning against the door of the secondary bedroom. It was clear he had overheard her entire conversation with Yuchuan.
"Why are you eavesdropping?" Nian Jiaojiao frowned.
"This room is so small, it's hard not to hear~"
"I was asleep, and every word was bouncing into my ears. What could I do?"
The refined person's words were completely incongruous with his appearance.
"Can you stop speaking with such barbs?"
This sudden malice annoyed Nian Jiaojiao. What a waste of a face that looked so detached from worldly affairs, yet spoke so acidly and sharply.
"Yes—Wife, it is your husband's fault, your husband misspoke."
While apologizing, his attitude was anything but sincere. His nonchalant demeanor made Nian Jiaojiao's teeth itch.
"You!!!" Nian Jiaojiao was truly getting angry.
"Oh dear~ I really did wrong, is Wife going to punish this blind person?"
"Alas… it's a pity I am blind and don't know where the ground is, so I cannot kneel for Wife. If Wife wishes to hit me, then strike away, I have no complaints."
Nan Qing made no move, as if waiting for Nian Jiaojiao to hit him.
Nian Jiaojiao confirmed once more that this man harbored the most ill will towards her in the household.
When she had been lying in bed earlier, it was surely this person who had told everyone to ignore her!
Nian Jiaojiao pouted and stopped being polite:
"Hmph, a good woman doesn't argue with a wicked man. Hit you? I'd be wasting my energy!"
Nan Qing, seeing Nian Jiaojiao, this usually fiery woman, verbally spar rather than physically, was left somewhat speechless:
"...I didn't expect Wife's tongue to be so sharp too."
"Heh, likewise," Nian Jiaojiao retorted, unwilling to back down.