Han Xiuxiu looked at Lu Yunfei’s silly grin and thought he looked like a husky wagging its tail with all its might—simple and a little goofy, yet somehow adorable. She gently shook his hand.
“I’m hungry~”
Only then did Lu Yunfei remember what mattered. His new wife hadn’t eaten yet. Whatever else happened, he had to make sure she was fed first.
The two of them left the bedroom. Lu Yunfei asked Han Xiuxiu to sit and wait while he went to the kitchen. A moment later, he returned carrying a tray with a bowl of stir-fried pork and cabbage, a plate of wedding pastries, and a bowl of steamed white rice.
Country wedding banquets didn’t feature lavish spreads of chicken, duck, or fish. The dishes simply contained a bit more meat than usual. Still, the food carried the irresistible smoky aroma of a large iron wok over a wood fire. The village women had helped prepare the feast, and these dishes had been set aside especially for the bride.
“They’re untouched,” Lu Yunfei assured her, worried she might think they were leftovers. He even placed the chopsticks into her hand himself.
As he did, their fingers brushed. He couldn’t help noticing again how small and soft her hands were.
Han Xiuxiu accepted the chopsticks and ate slowly. The dishes had cooled and were only faintly warm, but they still tasted good. The rice was perfectly cooked, while the wedding cakes were a bit too sweet. Quietly, she evaluated everything in her mind.
Lu Yunfei sat beside her on a wooden bench, watching her eat with graceful, delicate movements.
My wife looks beautiful no matter what she’s doing, he thought.
Unlike him—he could finish an entire bowl of rice in just a few bites.
As soon as Han Xiuxiu finished eating, Lu Yunfei immediately stood up to collect the dishes. When she tried to help, he gently pressed her shoulder.
“I’ll do it. You just sit.”
His thoughtfulness made Han Xiuxiu like him a little more. A man who willingly did housework on his own was rare. Such behavior deserved a reward.
She looked up at him and smiled sweetly.
“I’ll come with you.”
For the first time in his life, Lu Yunfei found washing dishes enjoyable.
He had always hated doing them. Like many men, he’d often let dirty bowls pile up until there wasn’t a clean one left before washing them all at once.
But now his wife stood beside him, smiling as she watched.
He couldn’t help trying to look more capable, determined not to appear clumsy in front of her.
After finishing the dishes, inspiration struck him. He ladled some hot water from the pot, mixed it with cool water from the water jar until the temperature was just right, and brought it over for Han Xiuxiu to wash her face.
His attentiveness earned him another soft, gentle “Thank you.”
Because it was her wedding day, Han Xiuxiu had been heavily made up with rouge and lip color. After washing her face clean, her naturally fair complexion and rosy lips emerged once more.
Compared to the elaborate bridal makeup, this fresh-faced version of her looked even more lovely.
Lu Yunfei wasn’t idle either. After she finished washing, he brought over another basin so she could soak her feet in the warm water.
As Han Xiuxiu removed her shoes and socks, she glanced at him, who was still standing nearby.
“Could you pick some pine needles for me?”
It was the first time Lu Yunfei had ever seen a young woman’s bare feet. They looked delicate and smooth, like freshly peeled water chestnuts.
Although he had no idea why his wife wanted pine needles, he obediently went outside.
Living in the mountains, pine trees were everywhere. He simply snapped off a small branch.
As he returned to the courtyard, warm yellow candlelight spilled through the window. His chest suddenly filled with warmth.
Holding the pine branch, he strode inside.
The kitchen was empty.
The main room was empty too.
When he entered the bedroom, his young wife was bent over the bed, gathering the peanuts and red dates that had been scattered across the bedding as part of the wedding tradition.
Without even looking up, she heard his footsteps and asked,
“You’re back?”
It was exactly the greeting Lu Yunfei had imagined countless times.
He had a wife now.
His dream had finally come true.
He set the pine branch down, leaned against the bed, and watched her.
“What do you need the pine needles for?”
After tidying the bed, Han Xiuxiu plucked several pine needles from the branch, dropped them into a teacup, and poured hot water over them, brewing a cup of pine needle tea.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
“I was worried… my breath might smell.”
Lu Yunfei nodded blankly.
He didn’t really understand.
Country folk usually just chewed on twigs each morning to clean their teeth. Wealthier people might use salt.
Still, he figured that whatever his wife did must have its reasons.
He copied her, brewing himself a cup of pine needle tea.
After one sip, the fresh scent of pine filled his mouth.
Having eaten so much rich food today, the tea really did cut through the grease.
Seeing him imitate her so earnestly, Han Xiuxiu simply smiled before gently nudging his arm.
“You should go wash up.”
Lu Yunfei left the bedroom.
Being a grown man, he didn’t need warm water.
He scooped cold water straight from the water jar and quickly washed his face and feet.
Then he sniffed himself.
There was still a faint smell of wine.
Afraid his wife might dislike it, he fetched more water and simply bathed in the courtyard under the night sky.
Only after finishing did he realize…
He’d forgotten to bring clean clothes.
The clothes he’d taken off had already been tossed into the washbasin and soaked through.
Now he was standing there wearing nothing but a damp pair of trousers.
Left with no choice, he called softly through the window,
“Xiuxiu… could you bring me a clean set of clothes? I forgot to take them out.”
It was the first time he’d called her by name.
Xiuxiu.
Just saying it felt like tasting a piece of candy.
Sweet.
Inside, Han Xiuxiu opened the wardrobe opposite the bed and found a fresh set of clothes.
Holding a grown man’s clothes in her arms made her own face flush.
She quickly shut the wardrobe and carried them outside.
The mountain breeze instantly cooled the heat from her cheeks.
Hearing movement, Black Panther came happily wagging his tail.
With the dog beside her, she suddenly felt much braver.
Red candlelight spilled through the window.
Lu Yunfei stood there bare-chested.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and lean-waisted. Water still clung to his body, trickling down the firm lines of his chest and abdomen.
Han Xiuxiu’s face instantly turned scarlet.
She shoved the clothes into his hands, spun around, and hurried back into the room.
Without even changing, she climbed into bed and wrapped herself tightly in the quilt.
After getting dressed, Lu Yunfei closed the door and entered the bedroom.
His eyes landed on the tightly bundled lump beneath the blanket.
He chuckled.
Lifting the quilt, he slipped underneath and pulled his curled-up wife into his arms.
He knew what was traditionally expected on a wedding night.
He simply wasn’t sure exactly how to go about it.
Holding her close, he buried his face near hers and caught a delicate fragrance—something like orchids, yet not quite.
His breathing immediately grew heavier.
Han Xiuxiu could clearly feel the warmth radiating from him.
Even though they were both still wearing clothes, she could sense his body responding.
Instinctively, his lips brushed her cheek…
then her brow…
then finally found her lips.
At first it was only the gentlest touch, lingering softly together.
The faint pine fragrance from their tea slowly deepened between their breaths.
When Han Xiuxiu parted her lips ever so slightly, he naturally found his way.
The scent of pine lingered between them.
To Lu Yunfei, it felt as though he had wandered into a mountain forest.
His body seemed to sink into a bed of soft pine needles.
He imagined himself becoming a climbing vine, forever reaching upward—for sunlight, for wind—its tendrils wrapping tightly around the branches beneath it.
The two of them clung to each other like intertwining vines winding through the mountains, discovering hidden springs and wild fruits, wandering across forests and streams, forgetting time itself as they surrendered completely to the embrace of nature.
By the time the moon had sunk behind the western hills, the long night had finally grown quiet.
Both of them lay there breathing heavily.
The wedding candles flickered as a breeze drifted through.
Somewhere in the mountains, insects chirped in the darkness.
The night was still deep.
Han Xiuxiu’s cheeks were flushed crimson.
Tiny beads of sweat covered her forehead and neck.
Her whole body felt limp, though her mind remained awake.
“I… want to wash up…”
Lu Yunfei was still lingering in the warmth of the moment.
Hearing her soft murmur, he kissed her cheek, desire beginning to stir again.
A small hand stopped him.
Her voice was soft and pleading.
“No… it hurts…”
Her body was still very young.
Tonight had already been more than enough.
Though Han Xiuxiu had enjoyed their closeness, her health mattered more.
Lu Yunfei wasn’t fully satisfied, but he also couldn’t bear to push her further.
There would be plenty of time in the future.
After washing and changing into fresh clothes, they climbed back into bed.
Though they refrained from going any further, his wandering hands still couldn’t resist holding and caressing her.
The warmth inside him refused to fade.
Eventually, Lu Yunfei quietly got out of bed and stepped outside.
Only after quite some time did he return.
Han Xiuxiu had already fallen asleep.
Her thick black hair spread across the pillow.
Her cheeks remained rosy, her breathing slow and peaceful.
He gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face before lying down beside her.
Turning onto his side, he gathered her into his arms and soon drifted into a deep sleep.
When they awoke, dawn had only begun to brighten the sky.
Roosters crowed continuously throughout the village.
The red wedding candles had burned all night, leaving wax that had blossomed into flower-like shapes.
Lu Yunfei’s parents had passed away years ago, so there was no need for the traditional morning tea ceremony.
Their home also stood far from the rest of the village, so even sleeping in wouldn’t invite gossip.
As a hunter, Lu Yunfei woke early by habit. The slightest sound was enough to rouse him.
“Awake?”
“Mmm.”
Han Xiuxiu answered but didn’t move.
He turned over and hugged her through the blanket.
“I’ll get up and take care of things first. You sleep a little longer. It’s still early.”
She softly agreed.
After getting dressed, Lu Yunfei quietly closed the bedroom door behind him.
Han Xiuxiu heard the door open.
Then came Black Panther’s excited barking and Lu Yunfei’s voice.
“Black Panther! Quiet! Don’t bark so loudly!”
She opened her eyes and stretched.
Her legs and waist were still sore.
Thinking back to the previous night, she admitted they had been surprisingly well matched.
Still, this body was rather frail.
She would need to nourish herself properly.
Her wedding dress had been thoroughly wrinkled and was beyond saving.
She took out one of the outfits from her dowry—a pink floral blouse and a slightly worn dark green skirt.
After pinning up her hair and tidying herself, she finally stepped outside.
Neither Lu Yunfei nor Black Panther was anywhere to be seen.
Standing in the courtyard, she looked around.
Then she spotted him.
Lu Yunfei was walking along the mountain path carrying two water buckets on a shoulder pole, with Black Panther trotting faithfully beside him.
The morning mist partially concealed his figure, yet it couldn’t hide his tall, sturdy frame.