The moonlight was heavy, and the wind had gradually stopped.
Large snowflakes, as big as mats, rustled down onto Song Jin's shoulders, as if if she stood there a little longer, she would be buried by the snow and turned into a snowman.
This was the scene Xie Qiao saw when he opened the door.
Song Jin was holding a quilt, her neck pitifully tucked in, only half of her small face exposed, and that dimple was also hidden inside the quilt.
Because she hadn't received his permission, she hadn't moved a step, just standing at the door.
She looked very obedient and compliant.
Despite the freezing cold, Xie Qiao's heart couldn't help but soften.
Although it was improper for a man and a woman to be alone together in a room, he was currently living in Song Jin's house.
Moreover, his situation now was different from when he was in the capital, so he didn't need to adhere so strictly to etiquette.
He stepped aside: "Come in."
A snowflake landed on Song Jin's nose, but her heart relaxed.
The corners of her mouth hidden in the quilt lifted, and the unseen dimple deepened.
Look, look, look, she knew it!
Although her husband was cold, he still cared about people!
Seeing her freezing alone outside, he must be feeling so distressed!
"Thank you, husband."
She responded cheerfully, then wrapped the quilt tightly and moved her steps lightly, like a little cat, into the room.
As she passed by Xie Qiao standing at the door, her snow-covered hair tips brushed against his chest, leaving traces of moisture.
A few drops also landed on Xie Qiao's fingertips.
Suddenly cold.
Song Jin obediently entered the room and stood beside the square table, still wrapped in the quilt, listening for sounds.
Why was there no sound?
Could it be that her husband had left as soon as she came in?!
She quickly turned around and saw her husband still standing at the door, lost in thought.
His fingertips seemed to be rubbing something.
But there was clearly nothing on his fingertips.
She blinked, tilted her head, and called out: "Husband?"
The coldness on his fingertips had completely disappeared. He subtly withdrew his fingers and placed them behind his back.
His movements were graceful and fluid, showing no sign of anything improper.
But only he himself knew that he had been lost in thought.
He had actually been lost in thought?
His brows lightly furrowed, and he turned to close the door: "What is it?"
Song Jin lowered the quilt a bit; the snow on her hair melted completely in the warmth.
He was fine just a moment ago, but why did he frown when she called him?
Could he have noticed?!
Song Jin whispered an explanation: "Husband, a large wall in my room suddenly collapsed, so…"
"I heard it." Xie Qiao had originally wanted to go and check, but just from the sound, he knew that the wall had collapsed significantly.
He walked to the washbasin and handed a clean cotton towel to Song Jin.
Song Jin smiled and accepted it: "Thank you, husband."
She placed the quilt wrapped around her on the chair and raised her hand to wipe her hair.
Under the faint yellow candlelight, the girl wore cotton sleeping clothes in a water-pink white color, which made her face look even more delicate.
The sleeping clothes weren't thin, but they outlined the girl's lovely figure.
She looked slender and weak, but her chest was round and full, making her waist appear slender, her long neck delicate and fair, and her small earlobes pink and tender.
Xie Qiao only caught an unexpected glimpse and quickly turned his head away, casually picking up a book and sitting on the chair.
He said calmly: "You can sleep on the bed later."
Seeing that Xie Qiao only glanced at her briefly and then did nothing else, Song Jin felt somewhat discouraged.
To appear more pitiable, she deliberately wore only a light pink sleeping gown.
She always looked her best in this sleeping gown, like a tender, pink peach. Even she couldn't help glancing at herself in the mirror a few times, sometimes even wanting to kiss the little dimples on her cheeks.
But her husband only gave her a faint glance.
A glance…
Just one…
And it was faint at that.
Was that tattered book really so captivating?
She slowly dried her hair, continuing until it felt almost split at the ends, yet Xie Qiao didn't look at her again.
Fine.
She hadn't lost out today, after all—she had made it into the room!
She set down the cotton towel, originally planning to bring her own quilt to bed, but her quilt had gotten damp from the snow on her way over and was now too clammy to use.
Holding the quilt, she stood hesitantly in place.
Xie Qiao finally looked up, though not at Song Jin, and said, "There's a quilt on the bed. If you don't mind, you can use that for now."
Song Jin's eyes lit up.
The quilt on the bed was her husband's! Did that mean she could share the bed with him tonight?
Finally, they could snuggle together, warm and cozy as husband and wife!
"Mhm, I don't mind at all!" Song Jin said, scampering over to the bed. She lifted the Blue Gauze Bed Curtain and slipped inside, leaving only a pair of delicate shoes outside.
Xie Qiao glanced at the embroidered shoes, then slowly averted his gaze, his fingertips stiffening slightly.
Inside the curtain, it was dim and warm. The candlelight outside had been faint to begin with, and now, within the curtain, she could hardly sense any light from outside.
Song Jin burrowed under the covers, finding a comfortable position to lie down.
Her cheeks flushed slightly pink.
This was her first time sleeping inside this curtain!
Even though the bed was hers, the room was hers, and she had even bought this curtain herself and hung it with her own hands, and the bedding was washed by her…
Every inch of this place was filled with Xie Qiao's scent.
Fresh and clean, nothing like those foul-smelling, potbellied men whose stench could be detected from afar!
She reached out and touched the soft bed curtain, suddenly recalling when Xie Qiao had first arrived.
Back then, there had been no bed curtain on her bed. Though the bed was comfortable enough, Xie Qiao had frowned every night, unable to sleep well.
Later, on one occasion, she had hung a bedsheet in the room to separate the bed from the rest of the space, and she noticed that Xie Qiao slept soundly that night.
So the next day, she went to the fabric shop and bought a bed curtain—a blue one, just right for him.
When she bought the bed curtain, she had secretly imagined that one day she, too, would lie inside it.
But she hadn't expected that day to take so long.
As she thought this, Song Jin's slender, pale hand reached toward the corner of the bed.
Nothing seemed unusual on the surface, but only Song Jin knew that inside was a Heart-Connecting Talisman, carefully hidden in a brocade pouch—one she had concealed there herself.
Outside, the snow fell thicker and thicker, and the snowy night was so quiet that not a sound could be heard.
Occasionally, there was the rustle of turning pages, as if afraid of disturbing Song Jin's sleep.
Song Jin hugged the quilt inside the bed curtain, waiting and waiting, but Xie Qiao never came in. She waited until her eyes grew heavy, yet Xie Qiao still hadn't joined her.
Oh well…
Song Jin blinked her barely-open eyes.
She would wait a little longer.
All around was silence. Only when he heard the soft, steady breathing from within the bed curtain did Xie Qiao set down the book in his hand.
Inside the blue bed curtain now slept a soft, gentle girl. Dressed in a pink-and-white sleeping gown, she was sound asleep, peaceful and sweet.
He had already lost his composure too many times tonight.
Song Jin's face was unlike other country girls; it was soft, delicate, and lovely, no less beautiful than the noble ladies of the capital. What's more, she lacked their haughty air, making her exceptionally pleasant and comforting.
She was seventeen this year, the prime of youth. Had she grown up in the capital, suitors would have long since worn out her doorstep.
He, on the other hand, was eight years older than her—not exactly an ideal match.
Moreover, the marquisate had many rules. Marrying him would mean becoming the lady of the house, managing the household affairs.
The Xie Family was not only a marquisate but also an aristocratic lineage, with strict family rules and social standing. The lady of the house should be versatile and capable, able to help him manage the household.
As for Song Jin, though she was gentle and comforting, she lacked the ability to help him uphold the marquisate.
He rubbed his fingertips, still vividly recalling the slight chill from earlier today, when a sudden thought occurred to him—
If he took her back to the capital and acknowledged her as a cousin of the marquisate, with the Xie Family and himself backing her in the capital, no one would dare bully her. Then, he could find her a suitable young man of equal standing, and she could live a stable life.
Thinking this, Xie Qiao couldn't help but glance toward the bed curtains again.
There was no light inside the curtains, but he could vaguely make out a small figure curled up under the quilt.
Though it was cold outside and not particularly warm inside, he suddenly felt a surge of restlessness. Only after drinking a cup of cold tea did he manage to suppress it somewhat.
He dared not look toward the bed curtains again.
Once the wall was repaired by the mason tomorrow, she could return to her own room to sleep—or perhaps he could sleep there instead.
It should only be for this one night.
The snow fell heavily all night, finally stopping completely just before sunrise. Not long after, the sound of footsteps crunching through the snow could be heard.
Song Jin usually woke early to make steamed buns, but last night she had run a long way and been exposed to the cold wind, so she only woke up now.
Opening her eyes, she was still a bit dazed.
After blinking a few times, she remembered—this was her husband's room, and she had slept here last night!
She quickly turned to look but found no one beside her.
Last night, she considerately slept on the inner side of the bed, leaving space for Xie Qiao, but she waited for a long time without him joining her, until she eventually fell asleep.
She had actually fallen asleep!
Such a perfect opportunity last night, and she had fallen asleep!
Song Jin silently scolded herself as a "fool," but the space beside her was clearly cold.
Xie Qiao hadn't come to bed.
Did he not want to sleep with her?
Song Jin felt a little disappointed.
But she wasn't one to linger in bed. Once awake, she fidgeted for a moment before gathering her hair and getting up.
Her feet emerged from the bed curtains first, finding her shoes on the floor. Then, she slowly lifted the curtains a little and slipped out.
At first glance, she saw Xie Qiao sitting at the square table.
He was resting his head on one hand, eyes closed, his expression slightly gentler than during the day.
Without his gaze visible, only his handsome features could be seen.
Before Song Jin could indulge in looking her fill, Xie Qiao seemed to sense her stare.
He opened his eyes, meeting her beautiful almond-shaped gaze directly.
And there it was again—that faintly visible dimple.
Song Jin had been caught red-handed!
She averted her eyes, pretending she hadn't been looking at him.
But truthfully, she didn't want to hide. This was her husband, her husband alone—what was wrong with looking at him openly and honestly?
It was just that her husband seemed to prefer reserved and proper girls, so what harm was there in pretending a little?
She knew exactly how to cater to his preferences!
Last night, Xie Qiao hadn’t slept with her, which had initially disappointed her. But after some thought, she realized that since she had entered his room and slept under the Blue Gauze Bed Curtain last night, tomorrow she might just get to sleep with him!
This was already significant progress!
With this in mind, Song Jin obediently got out of bed. She put on her shoes, walked over to stand opposite Xie Qiao, and said softly, "Husband, I’m off to set up the stall. You’ve been studying hard—you should go catch up on some sleep."
After saying this, Song Jin wrapped herself in the quilt she had brought with her the night before and dashed out in a flash.
The door opened and closed so quickly that not even a hint of the outside chill could seep in. Inside the room, only Xie Qiao remained.
He pressed his fingers to his temples. Having stayed awake all night, his eyes felt sore and tired.
Once Song Jin was up, she wouldn’t return to bed. He really should get some rest.
With this thought, Xie Qiao walked over to the bed, removed his outer robe, and lay back down on the bed he had been away from for just one night.
In just a few short hours, the bed curtain was already filled with the sweet, delicate fragrance of the young woman. The scent lingered everywhere, as if Song Jin were still lying beside him.
He turned on his side, resting his head on his hand.
Suddenly, his fingertip tightened. Xie Qiao opened his eyes and discovered a long, soft strand of hair wrapped around his finger.
The hair was soft and long, with a glossy sheen and a lingering fragrance.
This hair wasn’t his.
It belonged to Song Jin.
He reached out and gently pulled the soft strand of hair free with his fingertip, only to find that it had somehow become entangled with one of his own.
Just like the fragrance Song Jin had left behind.
His finger paused, and for a moment, he felt slightly dazed. The restlessness from the night before surged within him once more.
It seemed he wasn’t so tired after all.