The bathtub had been refilled with hot water.
The water was so full that even the slightest touch would make it spill over.
Her slender fingers slid into the man’s hair as Shen Ruanruan spoke in broken breaths,
“W-Why are you… so good at this…?”
“Jealous?” Lu Mingye caught the hidden meaning in her words. He lifted his head with a low chuckle, leaned close to her ear, and whispered something softly.
The water rippled.
Shen Ruanruan’s ears instantly turned bright red. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she cursed shyly,
“You… beast!”
“Be good. Let me clean you up properly so you don’t catch a cold.”
This time, neither of them had clean clothes left.
Out there in the open air, the man carried her back to bed.
The night breeze was slightly cool, but their bodies pressed together burned with heat.
And the newly built kang bed was huge—big enough that no matter how much they rolled around, no one would fall off.
The moment they collapsed onto the bed, their positions reversed.
As if possessed, Shen Ruanruan lowered her head and kissed him.
Their breaths tangled together. Just as she was about to lose herself completely, her eyes suddenly widened.
“Easy, sweetheart. Relax.”
The man coaxed her in a low voice.
Shen Ruanruan had always believed that when two people weren’t compatible, they should learn to let go.
But Lu Mingye personally proved otherwise.
Like a military coat paired with little floral prints.
Were they the same kind of thing?
No.
Yet somehow, together, they created an indescribable harmony.
During the time Lu Mingye had been taking care of her, Shen Ruanruan had discovered that he was someone with an extremely strong ability to learn—and an even stronger instinct to care for others.
And that didn’t only apply to daily life.
He was a very good partner.
He took excellent care of her, unlike those selfish, macho men who only cared about themselves.
Other than being slightly inexperienced at first.
At noon, Shen Ruanruan groggily opened her eyes and stared at the cement ceiling, feeling completely unwilling to move.
Her whole body felt limp and sore.
Like finally exercising again after a long time—the kind of aching exhaustion that lingered the next day.
Come to think of it, she’d probably taken a third bath sometime during the night.
As expected of a soldier’s stamina.
After all that chaos and exertion, he’d still managed to wake up early in the morning.
Just as she was thinking that, the door opened gently and the man walked in.
Mm. He looked like he’d secretly taken some kind of miracle tonic—completely refreshed and glowing.
“You’re awake?”
Lu Mingye walked over, bent down, and brushed away the messy strands of hair covering her eyes.
Then he gently kissed the corner of her forehead.
The movement was so natural, as if he’d practiced it countless times in his dreams.
“Hungry?”
“Huuungry~”
Shen Ruanruan pouted, her voice hoarse.
“I don’t want to move at all. I’m exhausted.”
“Then don’t move.”
He coaxed her softly.
“I’ll bring the food over. You can eat in bed.”
Lu Mingye helped her sit up and lean against him before bringing a half cup of warm water to her lips.
“Drink some first. Your throat’s completely hoarse.”
Shen Ruanruan glared at him.
He still had the nerve to say that? Whose fault was her throat hoarse in the first place?
Seeing her expression, Lu Mingye immediately understood and smiled apologetically.
After feeding her the water, he stared at her moist red lips for a moment before failing to resist and kissing them lightly.
“Lu Mingye!”
Shen Ruanruan kicked him angrily, only to accidentally pull something sore and hiss in pain.
The man’s expression changed instantly.
“Did I hurt you? I’ll go to the hospital and buy some ointment later. If you want to hit me to vent your anger, just say the word. I won’t dodge.”
The moment she heard “hospital,” Shen Ruanruan immediately stopped him.
“You are absolutely not going to the hospital!”
If this shameless man could survive that embarrassment, she certainly couldn’t!
“It’s just ordinary anti-swelling medicine. Nobody will know what it’s really for.”
Lu Mingye tucked a pillow behind her waist and smoothed her hair gently.
“I won’t say anything.”
“That still won’t work! We just got married yesterday, and today you’re already buying medicine? If people in the family compound see that, how am I supposed to face anyone? Besides, I’m a doctor too. I know my own condition. I’ll be fine without medicine.”
Then she looked at him meaningfully.
“As long as someone behaves himself tonight.”
Lu Mingye rubbed his nose awkwardly.
At his age, full of youthful vigor, having finally experienced this kind of happiness… even the slightest stimulation now made him instantly react.
Like just now, when he watched her drink water.
Never mind sharing the same bed tonight.
He honestly wondered if he’d accidentally eaten something he shouldn’t have.
“Alright.”
He compromised obediently.
“But if you feel uncomfortable, you have to tell me.”
Then he tucked the blanket around her carefully and went to get the food.
Leaning against the warm kang bed, Shen Ruanruan recalled last night and clicked her tongue softly.
How could this man act like he’d never seen a woman before?
Compared to that useless “ex-husband” from her previous life, she truly had to admit—
the gap between men could really be enormous.
Her gaze drifted toward the bed again.
Looks like he’d changed the sheets already.
Still, the kang bed really was better than the old broken bed—big, sturdy, and completely silent.
Her sleeping posture had never been good.
She’d been spoiled since childhood and had almost always slept alone. The beds her parents prepared for her were always huge, specifically so she could roll around however she pleased.
As her thoughts wandered aimlessly, Lu Mingye returned carrying food.
He placed the small kang table down, pulled her into his arms, and started feeding her like she was a child.
“What time did you wake up?” Shen Ruanruan asked while eating.
Lu Mingye thought for a moment.
“Around seven.”
More accurately, he’d woken up at six.
But he truly hadn’t wanted to leave his warm little paradise.
He’d held her and lazed around in bed for another hour before finally forcing himself up, worried that if he stayed any longer, Shen Ruanruan wouldn’t be able to keep sleeping.
Nestled in his arms, Shen Ruanruan looked utterly drained, like someone had stolen all her life force.
“It’s so unfair. You clearly did most of the work last night, so why am I the one exhausted like this?”
“Your stamina really is a little weak.”
Back when he’d kept her behind after the bath, she’d been excited once.
Then after returning to the room, when things truly began, she’d gotten excited again.
And after that, she was already exhausted—she’d nearly fainted.
“How about training with me from now on?”
“Huh? On the kang bed?”
Her mouth spoke faster than her brain.
Lu Mingye paused mid-feeding and looked at her deeply.
“If you’re willing, I’d gladly cooperate.”
She immediately panicked.
“I’m not willing!”
The moment the words left her mouth, hurt flashed across the man’s face.
“So Miss Ruanruan wasn’t satisfied with my performance last night after all.”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant!”
Even she felt embarrassed saying it, but denying it didn’t feel right either.
Finally, Shen Ruanruan gave up struggling entirely.
“I mean normal exercise is fine. Just… not that kind all the time. You understand, right?”
Seeing how genuinely flustered she looked, amusement flashed through Lu Mingye’s eyes.
To him, this was praise in its own way.
He leaned down and kissed her immediately.
“I understand. I’ll restrain myself a little in the future.”
Feeling certain undeniable reactions beneath the blanket, Shen Ruanruan rolled her eyes.
Yeah right. As if she’d believe him.