Qin Baozhu hadn’t eaten much at lunch, so when Zhou Fuguang called her downstairs for dinner, she didn’t resist much.
The dining room and kitchen were combined. The incandescent lights cast a warm yellow glow, and the steaming dishes sat on the redwood table.
Aunt Feng, who ate with the family, was holding Lu Sheng when she saw Qin Baozhu come down. She greeted her with a bright smile.
“Baozhu, come on! Today we have your favorite—beef and potato stew.”
Aunt Feng sat with Zhou Jingrui, while Zhou Fuguang sat across from them.
Next to Zhou Fuguang was an empty seat with a small bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks on top. That was clearly her place.
Warm steaming food, cozy light, hungry little kids, and kind adults.
This heartwarming scene made Qin Baozhu hesitate.
She wasn’t used to these kinds of settings. It felt like she had accidentally wandered into someone else’s family meal as a stranger.
After some dawdling, she walked over and sat down at the empty spot.
Aunt Feng eagerly ladled a bowl of bone soup and pushed it toward her. “Here, corn and bone soup. Taste it—fresh, right?”
Qin Baozhu glanced at the man sitting beside her, calm and commanding, then picked up a spoon and tasted it. It was surprisingly delicious, and her eyes immediately lit up.
Seeing her expression, Aunt Feng breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, isn’t it?”
Qin Baozhu nodded vigorously. “Mm!”
Zhou Fuguang glanced at her—a simple pleasure like food instantly brightened her face—and snorted lightly to himself.
This foodie hadn’t changed one bit.
Aunt Feng was a skilled cook, and to help Qin Baozhu adjust, she had prepared all her favorite dishes.
Qin Baozhu ate heartily, lips glistening with oil.
Zhou Jingrui was happy too. As usual, he chattered about his day at kindergarten, while Zhou Fuguang casually made a few remarks during the meal.
The dinner ended with laughter and conversation between Aunt Feng and Zhou Jingrui.
Zhou Jingrui was thrilled. He had worried that after waking up, Qin Baozhu might not want him. But today, not only had she played in the snow with him, she had also eaten the candy he had begged her to try. She was still good to him!
After dinner, Aunt Feng took Zhou Jingrui to wash his face and soak his feet.
Qin Baozhu, feeling full, stood from her chair. Seeing Zhou Fuguang still talking with Aunt Feng, she seized the chance to wander around near the door to digest a bit.
This was a relatively remote rural area. Across from the door was a gravel road. Unlike the bustling streets of Shanghai, the town went quiet at night. People closed their doors and went to sleep, and there were few evening activities. The streets felt deserted and cold.
In the 1990s, there were no streetlights. One glance, and everything was pitch black, broken and worn.
How was she supposed to get home…?
Biting her lip and shivering from the cold, Qin Baozhu looked up and saw a tall, dark figure leaning against the doorway.
Zhou Fuguang had come out somehow. Arms crossed, he leaned in the doorway, watching her. When she turned toward him, he didn’t look away.
Startled, Qin Baozhu’s cat-like eyes widened. Then Zhou Fuguang finally looked away calmly and said, “Come inside. Don’t catch a cold.”
He said no more and turned into the room.
Qin Baozhu still felt a little intimidated by this so-called husband.
This household was mostly elders and children. Zhou Fuguang was the only one who could keep her in line.
She went inside and saw Zhou Jingrui and Lu Sheng sitting on small stools, soaking their feet, both smiling happily. The siblings looked very close.
Thinking about these two children—both of whom had come from her own body—made Qin Baozhu feel a little queasy.
She touched her flat stomach, but it felt unreal.
Did she really give birth to them?
Could Zhou Fuguang have tricked her…?
She withdrew her gaze and slowly walked upstairs.
As she entered, she saw Zhou Fuguang standing by the bed, with his back turned, taking off his clothes…
Qin Baozhu froze.
The man, hearing movement, paused mid-button while undressing, his dark eyes glancing toward her.
The petite girl at the doorway, her delicate face partially hidden in the snow-white fox fur, with rosy lips and a tiny nose covered by the soft fur, stared at him with her wide, upturned eyes, full of emotion.
Zhou Fuguang glanced at her once, then calmly averted his gaze.
She had slept on the sofa all night, dreaming that tonight she would continue to sleep there.
He remained composed, but Qin Baozhu was anything but calm.
What did this man mean? Was he planning to sleep in the same bed tonight? How could he have such nerve—she had only just woken up for a day!
Zhou Fuguang hung up his long coat on the rack, revealing a white cashmere vest underneath.
He then took off the vest, exposing a thin white cotton shirt.
The bedroom wasn’t cold—the air conditioner was on.
Come to think of it, the expensive AC had been installed because Qin Baozhu was sensitive to cold in winter and heat in summer. He had spent a lot to get it from the city. Installing it in town, where no one knew how, had been a huge effort.
The house had two bedrooms. Aunt Feng, Zhou Jingrui, and Lu Sheng shared one, which didn’t have AC. Only Qin Baozhu, being delicate, had it.
Otherwise, she would have been freezing in winter and suffering from prickly heat in summer.
Had she not met him six years ago, she probably wouldn’t have survived the winters.
Zhou Jingrui, feet now warm from soaking, ran up in slippers and, seeing Qin Baozhu at the door, eagerly grabbed her hand. “Mommy, can I sleep with you tonight?”
He remembered that last night, Daddy had slept downstairs. Tonight would be the same. He hadn’t slept with Mommy in a long time.
Then he saw Zhou Fuguang changing into sleepwear.
Father and son stared at each other.
Zhou Jingrui’s cute smile instantly faded.
Aunt Feng called from the next room, “Jingrui, go to bed. Don’t disturb your parents!”
“All right!”
Reluctantly, Zhou Jingrui let go of Qin Baozhu’s hand and ran to his little room.
Zhou Fuguang finished changing into sleepwear and got into bed. Seeing Qin Baozhu still standing there, he leaned against the headboard, squinting, and asked, “How long do you plan to stand there?”
Qin Baozhu, resisting, bit her lip and asked, “Is there another bed in the house?”
“No.”
Zhou Fuguang glanced at her. “Downstairs, there’s a wooden sofa for guests. If you’re not afraid of the cold, you can sleep there tonight.”
“……”
Qin Baozhu and Zhou Fuguang exchanged a look. She took a deep breath and turned, heading toward the door.