"It's late, and your father and I will be turning in. Li Shu, you and Xing Dong should head to your room," Li Xiulan said, seeing Chen Li Shu still standing there, knowing she might be shy. She resolutely blew out the lamp in the room.
"Third, the room is dark, so help your wife along."
"Okay."
Chen Li Shu heard a response from not far away, then her hand tightened as it was enveloped by a steady, dry, large hand. Chen Li Shu's face instantly flushed red.
The half-moon had risen, and although the room had no lamp, two blurred figures, one tall and one short, could still be vaguely seen leaving the room.
"Old man, did you see that? Our Third is clearly fond of our Li Shu. How was my performance just now? At the critical moment, it's still me, the mother, who has to give a push..."
Gu Shou Fu listened to her rambling voice, fumbling in the dark to get blankets from the cabinet on the kang, nearly tripping over a pile of things placed on it.
"I think this old woman of yours isn't helping your son, she's purely harming her man!" Gu Shou Fu couldn't help but whisper-complain to her.
Chen Li Shu lowered her head, letting Gu Xing Dong lead her, feeling the masculine aura of the man beside her wash over her, almost drowning her like a surging tide.
Suppressing the urge to pull her hand away, she was led all the way back to their room. As soon as the door was pushed open, Chen Li Shu immediately pulled her hand away and went to the table to light the candle. The small room was instantly illuminated.
The softness in Gu Xing Dong's hand disappeared, and his heart felt a bit empty.
Seeing her light the candle, Gu Xing Dong's gaze unconsciously swept across the room. Although it was still his room, the furnishings inside were vastly different.
When he lived there, there was only a kang, a table, and a chair. Now, not only were there a kang cabinet and a five-drawer chest, but the five-drawer chest was neatly topped with several books. The chair had a cushion made of scraps sewn into a sunflower shape. There were also two patchwork bolster pillows placed by the kang. The window near the kang was also covered with similarly pieced curtains. The entire room was simple, clean, and tidy, looking particularly cozy.
Chen Li Shu saw his gaze sweep across the room and finally land on the stack of books on her table. She pursed her lips, "What do you think about what Second Sister-in-law said?"
Gu Xing Dong withdrew his gaze. "What did she say? Speculation and profiteering?"
Chen Li Shu nodded.
Gu Xing Dong knew what she was worried about and revealed a faint smile. "Not stealing or robbing, but still making money. That's good."
Chen Li Shu was stunned. "You don't object?"
"Why should I object?"
"It will implicate you."
Gu Xing Dong shook his head. "It won't."
His military merits were earned through real combat, not something that a minor charge of speculation and profiteering could erase.
After they finished speaking, silence fell over the room again.
"I need to go wash up. You must be tired too, why don't you rest first?" Chen Li Shu bent down to retrieve the washbasin from beneath the five-drawer chest.
Only when he slept could she feel more at ease.
Gu Xing Dong saw the enamel basin in her hand, neatly holding a toothbrush cup, a towel, and soap. His brow twitched slightly. This time, he was truly a bit surprised.
Let alone people in the countryside, even in the city, very few people could be as meticulous as her.
"It's dark outside, I'll go fetch water," Gu Xing Dong said, taking the basin from her hand and heading out directly.
With his departure, the air in the room seemed to regain its sense of freedom. Chen Li Shu let out a light sigh. She turned and went to the kang to arrange the bedding.
Although they were husband and wife, this was their first meeting. If anything were to happen, Chen Li Shu truly couldn't accept it. But if Gu Xing Dong wanted something, she seemed to have no reason to refuse.
With a troubled mind, she arranged the two quilts. Just then, Gu Xing Dong returned with the water and pushed the door open.
Chen Li Shu collected her thoughts. After washing up, Gu Xing Dong took the basin out again, emptied the water, and also did a simple wash himself. When they had both tidied up and were ready to go to sleep on the kang, the atmosphere in the room became tense again.
"You sleep on the inside," Gu Xing Dong said, his eyes dimming slightly as he glanced at the two quilts laid out side-by-side on the kang.
"Mmm," Chen Li Shu nodded obediently, took off her coat and shoes, climbed onto the inner side, and burrowed into the quilt. Gu Xing Dong blew out the candle. Soon, he lifted the quilt and lay down as well.
The kang was not large to begin with, and there was also a kang cabinet placed on it. Chen Li Shu didn't feel it when she slept alone, but now their quilts were almost pressed tightly together.
As Gu Xing Dong lay down, Chen Li Shu felt her tense breathing almost stop. Her body under the quilt was held rigidly straight, afraid to move.
"Sleep,"
After a long pause, a deep voice came, which seemed to truly ease her tension, and Chen Li Shu unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
Cool, watery moonlight filtered in through the gaps in the curtains. Gu Xing Dong turned his head, looking at Chen Li Shu in the dim light.
Chen Li Shu's breathing was shallow and steady. Her small, palm-sized face was buried in the pillow, her almond-shaped eyes closed. A few strands of her scattered hair playfully hooked her delicate chin, making her fair face look charming and cute.
As if possessed, Gu Xing Dong reached out a finger and lightly poked her slightly chubby cheek. The feel was indeed as good as he had imagined.
As if addicted, he reached out again and touched her once more. Even in her sleep, Chen Li Shu seemed to sense it. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed unconsciously, then she turned over, completely facing away from Gu Xing Dong.
Gu Xing Dong paused for a moment, then his long arm reached out, pulling her and the quilt into his embrace, holding her tightly. He buried his head in her neck, which smelled of soap, and finally closed his eyes with satisfaction. Soon, he too fell asleep.
Chen Li Shu had nightmares all night. In her dreams, she was carrying a heavy backpack and desperately fleeing. The heavier the load on her back became as she ran. Finally, her footing faltered, and as she stumbled, about to fall, Chen Li Shu suddenly woke up.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt an arm tightly encircling her waist. At the same time, her back was pressed against a broad, solid chest as sturdy as stone. The warm breath exhaling from the person brushed against her neck, making her feel ticklish. She moved uncomfortably.
"Awake?" a deep voice said, hoarse with the sleep of early morning.
Chen Li Shu's spine stiffened. She twisted her neck, and with a "creak," turned her head, her gaze meeting Gu Xing Dong's eyes, as black as obsidian. Their noses were inches apart, their breaths mingling and warm.
Chen Li Shu was greatly startled. "How did you..."
She wanted to question why he was in her bed, but she felt that asking such a question would sound a bit affected. They were husband and wife, and it was perfectly normal for them to be in the same bed.
So, Chen Li Shu remained there, her mouth half-open, frozen.
Gu Xing Dong looked at her pretty, petal-like pink lips, his throat bobbed, and he suddenly leaned forward and quickly pecked her.