The breeze from lifting the quilt was slightly chilly. She shivered, bewildered, and lifted her head, her gaze already unfocused. “Did my making noise disturb you?”
In Lu Beizhen’s eyes, dark ripples stirred as he raised his hand to touch Song Tian’s forehead.
Her temperature was slightly higher, but it was probably just from being wrapped up in the quilt and feeling stifled.
Song Tian, sensing his suspicion, weakly spoke, “I’m not running a fever… it’s just… my period.”
This body had been harshly disciplined since childhood and was particularly weak, so when her period came, it felt as if a demolition team was operating inside her abdomen.
Song Tian was too weak to get out of bed, and afraid of waking Lu Beizhen, so she endured under the quilt.
Lu Beizhen stood by the bedside, looking down at her.
She was clearly in pain, her lower lip nearly bitten through, yet she could still speak so casually.
This woman really never changed—say one thing, do another!
Thinking this, Lu Beizhen strode toward the door.
Song Tian wanted to ask where he was going, but the pain was so intense she couldn’t even open her lips, curling up tighter, wishing someone would just knock her out with a punch.
Downstairs, Fang Shuqin was lying in bed, eyes closed, replaying the events of the day in her mind.
The more she thought, the more excited and happy she became.
Her smile was almost reaching her ears!
Suddenly, a knock on the door startled her.
She could guess who it was without thinking and pretended not to hear.
Outside, Lu Beizhen said, “I know you’re awake. Come out for a moment. She’s on her period and her stomach hurts.”
Hearing this, Fang Shuqin jumped up in alarm, ready to run upstairs to check on Song Tian.
She even put on her slippers but thought better of it and lay back down.
“Then just take good care of Xiao Tiancai. Why come tell me? I’m sleeping so well, don’t disturb me.”
With that, she began snoring, the room rumbling like a motorcycle engine, shaking even through the door.
No matter how much Lu Beizhen knocked, she didn’t budge.
Lu Beizhen glanced toward the stairs, lips tightly pressed.
Just blame it on that strap!
He turned and walked to the kitchen.
He filled a small pot with water and placed it on the gas stove to heat some water.
Just as tiny bubbles began forming at the bottom, Fang Shuqin’s faint voice called, “Just let Xiao Tiancai drink hot water. There’s brown sugar in the left cabinet—break off a piece and dissolve it in the water.”
“…Since you’re awake, come over and do it.” Lu Beizhen prepared to put down the spoon.
Fang Shuqin immediately raised both hands, mumbling, “I personally think the No. 8 wrench should be cooked with rice; it strengthens hair resilience. Don’t ask why—that’s the ultimate secret of postnatal care for sows.”
Lu Beizhen: “…Sleepwalking doesn’t require raising your hands. Raising your hands is for zombies.”
He tightened his grip on the spoon and turned to open the cabinet for the brown sugar.
Fang Shuqin quickly lowered her hands.
Why didn’t you say so earlier? My arms are killing me.
She peeked at the kitchen and quickly closed her eyes again. “There’s a hot water bag in the living room cabinet; put it on Xiao Tiancai’s stomach.”
After saying this, she shuffled back to the bedroom, muttering, “Don’t eat dead mice on rainy days, because weasels come to greet the tiger…”
Finally, she returned to bed.
Sigh, every single day, getting Lu Beizhen to take care of Xiao Tiancai early is really not easy!
Song Tian was in a haze from the pain.
Suddenly, a warm sensation spread across her lower abdomen, easing some of the pain.
Half-dazed, it seemed someone was urging her to open her mouth.
She obediently did, and the sweet brown sugar water flowed in.
Cup after cup, the warmth spread through her body, making her feel much better.
But that alone wasn’t enough—she sensed something even warmer beside her and instinctively pressed herself against it.
It was a little firm, yet elastic.
So big. She wrapped herself around it with arms and legs, finding a comfortable position, and drifted into deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was the next morning.
As soon as Song Tian opened her eyes, she came face-to-face with Lu Beizhen’s deep black eyes.
They were like a whirlpool, pulling her in.
Her mind raced. She quickly looked around and realized she was actually in Lu Beizhen’s arms.
Remembering what had happened last night, her heart began pounding.
So that big warm water bag last night… was actually Lu Beizhen?
He had tried to push her away a few times, but she clung tightly, refusing to let go. He could only let her hold on, and had done so all night…
Heavens, it’s just her period! Why did she act like a drunkard and… misbehave with Lu Beizhen!
Song Tian quickly let go, but moving caused a bit of leakage.
Worried about messing up the bed, she jumped off and rushed to the bathroom outside.
Lu Beizhen slowly sat up, a storm of clouds covering his face.
What was this?
Use it and toss it aside?
His gaze darkened with a terrifying anger.
He looked at the hot water bag Song Tian had kicked to the foot of the bed and, expressionless, picked it up.
Bang!
He smashed it directly into the trash can by the desk!
By the time Song Tian returned to the room, Lu Beizhen was gone.
The quilt on the floor had been folded neatly into a square, topped with a pillow, and placed at the foot of the bed.
On the desk lay the now-cold red vinyl hot water bag.
For some reason, Song Tian felt the hot water bag looked abused—crumpled, like something fished out of the trash.
But she didn’t dwell on it and turned to go downstairs.
Downstairs, Lu Beizhen was still nowhere in sight.
“Xiao Tiancai, what are you looking for?” Fang Shuqin, busy in the kitchen, asked while peeking out.
“I’m looking for Lu Beizhen,” Song Tian replied.
He had taken care of her last night, and she wanted to properly thank him.
“He already left,” Fang Shuqin said.
Left?
That was so sudden—she hadn’t even said thank you!
A tinge of regret crossed Song Tian’s eyes.
But to Fang Shuqin, it was just the disappointment of waking up to find her husband gone.
Ah, she hadn’t expected that in just one night, their relationship would advance so fast.
They had already started feeling reluctant to part.
Even though her sleepwalking last night was exhausting, it had been worth it!
Fang Shuqin beamed and went back to the kitchen to continue preparing breakfast.
Knowing Song Tian was on her period, she had made brown sugar steamed egg custard and even dug up some dried mugwort leaves to make a moxa stick, using it to warm Song Tian’s lower abdomen.
Her care was overwhelming, and Song Tian felt embarrassed.
“Mom, brown sugar is already scarce at home. Don’t give it all to me.”
“You bought such an expensive dress for me, and now you’re worried about brown sugar? That would make me a cruel mother-in-law! Drink it all. Once it’s gone, I’ll buy more. We still have a few sugar coupons at home!” Fang Shuqin said, glaring.
Besides, Xiao Tiancai was her daughter-in-law—the one who would spend her life with her son.
Taking care of her meant safeguarding Lu Beizhen’s happiness.
“If this brown sugar reaches your mouth, it’s fulfilled its purpose. You’re our family’s lucky star, Xiao Tiancai. Drink up—plenty!”
Song Tian laughed through tears.
Lucky star? Who could disassemble a door with their bare hands!
Speaking of which, the door still hadn’t been repaired—she didn’t even know how much it would cost.
As she thought this, Song Tian glanced upstairs and realized the door had been reinstalled.
It was intact and quietly closed, as if it had never been taken off.
Rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn’t imagining things, she asked, “Mom, this door?”
Fang Shuqin waved it off. “Lu Beizhen put it back on when he left.”
Song Tian was deeply touched.
No need to hire anyone to fix the door—her wallet was safe!
Just as she was thinking this, there was a knock at the door.
Fang Shuqin jumped up. “Could it be Lu Beizhen? Wait here, I’ll open it!”
The brat must miss his wife already.
But when the door opened, it was a plump middle-aged woman.
Fang Shuqin hadn’t even spoken when the woman slipped inside like water through a crack, her flesh squeezing through, leaving Fang Shuqin defenseless.
“Hey, wait a moment! Who are you?” Fang Shuqin hurriedly asked.
The woman kept moving inward, eyes darting around. “Has Lu Beizhen come back? I’m looking for him, I have something important!”
“What is it?” Fang Shuqin asked again.
The woman smiled mysteriously. “A happy event!”