Ruan Qingli’s hesitant behavior, however, sent Han Sheng’s thoughts wandering.
Ah Li was being so shy…
Could it be that she wanted to…
After lingering for a while, Ruan Qingli finally removed her outer robe before lying down beside Han Sheng.
The mattress dipped slightly beneath her weight, and the room instantly fell silent.
It was the first time they had ever shared a bed.
Naturally, they were both nervous.
Ruan Qingli didn’t move.
Han Sheng didn’t dare move either.
In the darkness, only their slightly uneven breathing could be heard.
After a moment, Han Sheng quietly reached out and gently took Ruan Qingli’s hand.
The instant he held it, her face turned crimson.
In Ruan Qingli’s understanding, if a husband and wife slept in the same bed, then they had truly become husband and wife.
But when she had been married to Fang Shubai, they had always slept separately, each with their own quilt.
Fang Shubai had never secretly reached beneath the blankets to hold her hand.
Han Sheng’s palm felt warm.
Her own palm had already become damp with sweat.
They lay there quietly for quite some time before they suddenly spoke at the same time.
“Ah Li…”
“Han Sheng…”
Their voices overlapped, and both of them immediately fell silent again.
Han Sheng quietly shifted a little closer.
Soon, even through their clothes, their arms were touching.
Sensing Ruan Qingli’s nervousness, he didn’t move any closer.
Although they had already registered their marriage, they had yet to hold their wedding ceremony.
Ah Li wasn’t the sort of woman to act casually.
If she wasn’t ready to take the initiative tonight, then he would wait.
Still…
Simply lying beside her like this was its own kind of torture.
He was a healthy young man.
Some things simply couldn’t be controlled by willpower alone.
“Ah Li… may I hold you while we sleep?”
“Hold me?”
“May I?”
“…Alright.”
Han Sheng turned onto his side and gently gathered Ruan Qingli into his arms.
It was the first time Han Sheng had ever held her like this.
The feeling was completely different from when Fang Shubai had embraced her.
Han Sheng’s chest was broad and firm, radiating strength.
Being wrapped in his arms gave Ruan Qingli an inexplicable sense of safety.
She buried her face against his chest.
Listening to his strong, steady heartbeat…
She soon drifted peacefully to sleep.
The next day, Han Sheng went out to take care of some business.
Ruan Qingli stayed home sewing clothes.
When Aunt Zhang came in, she found Ruan Qingli smiling foolishly to herself.
“Qingli, what has you so happy?”
Ruan Qingli didn’t hide it.
“Aunt Zhang, Han Sheng and I registered our marriage yesterday. We’re holding our wedding banquet in a few days.”
The news came so suddenly that Aunt Zhang stammered with excitement.
“W-When did this happen? How did it happen so quickly?”
“We got our marriage certificate yesterday. Han Sheng says the wedding banquet will be held seven days from now. You have to come have a drink with us.”
“Of course I will! How could I miss such wonderful news? Qingli, if there’s anything I can help with, just tell me.”
Ruan Qingli smiled.
“There actually is. Aunt Zhang, do you know how to cut paper ‘Double Happiness’ decorations?”
“I certainly do!”
“I bought some red paper. Could you cut a few for me?”
“Of course! Leave it to me.”
Ruan Qingli brought out the red paper and scissors, and Aunt Zhang began cutting.
After working for a while, she suddenly remembered why she’d come in the first place.
“Qingli, I brought two boxes of pastries. Young Master Fang asked me to deliver them to you… Do you still want them?”
Ruan Qingli shook her head.
“Aunt Zhang, from now on, no matter what Fang Shubai asks you to bring me, please refuse him for me. I won’t accept anything.”
“Qingli… you two…”
Aunt Zhang had intended to persuade her.
But remembering that Ruan Qingli was now married, she realized there was no point.
Besides, Qingli had married well.
Although Constable Han was poor, he was an exceptionally good young man.
As Ruan Qingli escorted Aunt Zhang outside, she spotted Fang Shubai peeking around the front gate.
The moment he saw them, he hurried over.
“Ah Li, did you eat the pastries? Did you like them?”
Ruan Qingli instinctively stepped back, putting some distance between them.
“Young Master Fang, please don’t send me things anymore. I’m afraid Han Sheng might misunderstand.”
Fang Shubai smiled.
“Ah Li, I already know everything. You don’t have to keep pretending. Constable Han already has a fiancée.”
Ruan Qingli couldn’t be bothered explaining.
Nor did she feel any need to.
After Aunt Zhang left, she turned to go back inside.
Unexpectedly, Fang Shubai suddenly rushed forward and pulled her into his arms.
“Ah Li, stop avoiding me. You’ve been angry for so long. When will you finally forgive me? Be good… come home with me.”
Ruan Qingli struggled to break free.
But Fang Shubai held her tightly.
Left with no choice, she stomped hard on his foot.
Fang Shubai cried out in pain and looked at her in disbelief.
“Ah Li… you never treated me like this before.”
Ruan Qingli snapped angrily,
“That was before. This is now! Fang Shubai, listen carefully. Han Sheng and I are married now. I have a husband. Keep your hands off me.”
“I don’t believe you!”
“Believe it or not.”
As Ruan Qingli tried to leave again, Fang Shubai grabbed her once more.
“Ah Li, I don’t believe you’d marry Han Sheng. You loved me so much. How could you suddenly stop loving me? Just because of that little misunderstanding between us? You’re going to abandon me?”
Ruan Qingli finally exploded.
“A little misunderstanding?
“You tricked me into leaving, ruined my reputation, and left me homeless afterward. And you call that a little misunderstanding?
“And who abandoned whom? You were the one who threw me away!
“Fang Shubai, why are you pretending to be devoted now?
“Don’t you know?
“A love that comes too late is cheaper than a stray dog.”
Knowing he was in the wrong, Fang Shubai hurriedly changed the subject.
“But Ah Li, no matter what happened, my feelings for you are genuine. What is Han Sheng anyway? He already has a fiancée, yet he still says he’ll marry you. He’s deceiving you.”
Ruan Qingli answered calmly,
“We registered our marriage at the magistrate’s office.”
“What?”
“That’s impossible! He’d never marry you.”
“Fang Shubai, stop saying ‘impossible.’ It’s the truth. So from now on… whenever you see me, please walk the other way. I don’t want to say another word to you.”
Ruan Qingli turned around, bolted the gate from the inside, and ignored Fang Shubai completely.
Fang Shubai stood there dejectedly.
Just as he was about to leave, he noticed the young lady who had visited his house a few days earlier standing behind him.
Jiang Tang smiled.
“My surname is Jiang. My given name is Tang. You must be Young Master Fang.”
Fang Shubai bowed politely.
“Greetings, Miss Jiang.”
He was refined and scholarly, with handsome features.
Jiang Tang found herself holding an unusually favorable impression of him.
“You still have feelings for your former wife?”
“I do. There are some misunderstandings between Ah Li and me. I want to win her back.”
Jiang Tang smiled again.
“I have a plan… provided Young Master Fang is willing to cooperate.”
As she spoke, she handed him the divorce letter he had written for Ruan Qingli.
A trace of malice flashed beneath her smile.
“I found this in my cousin’s house the other day. I believe it may be useful to you.”
The moment Fang Shubai saw it, he was overjoyed.
As long as he tore up the divorce letter…
Ah Li would still be his wife.
There was only one troublesome problem.
Back then, determined to cut off all of Ruan Qingli’s options, he had officially registered the divorce with the magistrate’s office.
Seeing the troubled expression on his face, Jiang Tang asked,
“Young Master Fang, what’s wrong?”
Fang Shubai bowed once more.
“Miss Jiang, to be honest, there’s one complication.”
He explained everything in detail.
After listening, Jiang Tang didn’t seem concerned at all.
“Leave that matter to me. You only need to do what I ask.”
Fang Shubai looked puzzled.
“Why are you helping me, Miss Jiang?”
Jiang Tang smiled faintly.
“Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”