Ye Wenxi and Lu Weidong had just stepped through the front door when Liu Xiuyun called them into the inner room.
“Wenxi, come, sit here. Mom wants to tell you something.”
Liu Xiuyun’s tone was softer than usual.
Ye Wenxi obeyed, sitting down with a bit of unease in her heart.
Liu Xiuyun pulled a small, deep-red velvet box from the drawer.
Inside wasn’t jewelry—it was a brand-new bank passbook.
“There’s five thousand yuan here. Take it to help with household expenses.” She pushed the passbook toward her.
“Aunt… no, Mom, I can’t take this.”
Ye Wenxi waved her hand quickly, as if burned.
“Take it!” Liu Xiuyun held her hand firmly, her tone decisive.
“We didn’t prepare a dowry the old way. You two are going back to the unit soon, and the family quarters there are empty—pots, pans, bedding, furniture—all will need adding.
“Weidong’s pay is enough for himself, but to support a whole household, you need a bit of a foundation. This money is for you to settle in.”
She looked at Ye Wenxi, her gaze less scrutinizing than before and more genuinely concerned.
“Your father and I have pensions, we don’t need this. This is just to help you at the start. From now on, you’ll need to manage on your own.”
Ye Wenxi tried to refuse again, but before she could, Lu Weidong reached for the passbook.
“Thank you, Mom.” He smiled calmly, then naturally handed it back to Ye Wenxi, gently squeezing her fingers to signal her to accept it.
Ye Wenxi still wanted to decline, but he held her wrist lightly and led her out of Liu Xiuyun’s room.
“Hey, what are you doing?” she whispered, letting him lead her along.
Lu Weidong didn’t answer, taking her straight to his room and closing the door behind them.
The soft click of the door left only the two of them inside. Afternoon light filtered through the curtains, hazy and warm.
Ye Wenxi looked at the closed door, her heart skipping a beat.
“Why did you close the door?”
Her voice betrayed a nervousness she hadn’t realized.
Lu Weidong turned and walked toward her.
He didn’t speak—just looked at her, his eyes deeper than usual, as if some hidden emotion surged beneath.
Ye Wenxi felt flustered under his gaze and instinctively stepped back until her lower back hit the edge of the wooden desk. No more room to retreat.
But he kept moving closer.
He raised his hand, unbuttoned his uniform jacket, and casually draped it over the chair.
Beneath, he wore only a fitted army-green tank top, showing the strong lines of his chest and the tight curve of his waist.
The raw, masculine energy and heat seemed to radiate silently with his approach.
He leaned over, hands braced on the desk, trapping her between him and the table.
The distance between them shrank suddenly. Ye Wenxi could see the sweep of his lower eyelashes and feel the warm breath brushing her forehead and cheeks.
She had never looked at his face this closely, this clearly.
His eyes were bright, with a dark, aggressive current that made her heart flutter.
“It… it’s still broad daylight…” she heard her voice tremble slightly.
“And… we haven’t even had the wedding yet.”
Her gaze couldn’t help falling on his chest, so close in front of her.
The muscles under the thin tank top were clear and inviting, radiating heat that seemed to wrap around her.
Her face burned, ears red as well.
She lowered her lashes and gripped the edge of the desk nervously.
Sensing what might happen, she finally shut her eyes, long lashes fluttering like startled butterfly wings.
She waited for the expected kiss.
But instead, Lu Weidong reached behind her and opened a desk drawer.
Then he stood straight and took out a passbook.
He looked at her, eyes closed and tense, waiting.
A mischievous curve slowly lifted his lips, shifting his aura from oppressive to teasingly triumphant.
“What are you expecting?”
His voice was low, playful, teasing.
This wasn’t the usual calm, upright Lu Weidong.
Ye Wenxi opened her eyes sharply, saw what he held, and then his mischievous grin.
Her blood rushed to her head. Embarrassment and anger mingled as she felt utterly humiliated.
A modern woman who prided herself on knowing the world… was actually being flirted back by a “seventies old-timer”?
And she had behaved like an innocent little girl, closing her eyes and waiting?
Humiliating!
“You…!” She was too embarrassed and angry to speak clearly, face burning as if she could fry an egg on it.
In a flash of shame and indignation, she clenched her fist and punched his solid chest.
Thud.
Lu Weidong’s chest was firm and tight. Her punch hit like striking a hard wooden board wrapped in thick cotton.
Her hand tingled from the impact, but he didn’t flinch—his brows didn’t even move, and he smiled even more.
Ye Wenxi shoved him away, turning to leave.
Her wrist was caught again by Lu Weidong.
“No more fussing,” he said, voice deepening. “Let’s get serious.”
He handed the deep-red passbook to her.
“Comrade Ye Wenxi, this is my wage passbook. From now on, you hold the financial reins at home.”
Ye Wenxi glanced at him and grabbed it.
“Hmph. Not a penny of allowance left for you.”
Lu Weidong’s eyes twinkled slightly but he ignored her remark. He led her to the desk and opened another drawer.
It was packed with all kinds of ration tickets: grain tickets, cloth tickets, oil tickets, industrial coupons… all neatly bundled with rubber bands.
“These tickets are yours to manage, too.”
“Some may go unused and expire. I have some fixed quota tickets in the unit I don’t use. Whenever the household needs something, just take them.”
She nodded, voice softening. “Okay, got it.”
Lu Weidong pulled a bag of malt sugar from his pocket, slightly sticky and soft.
He pinched a small piece and brought it to Ye Wenxi’s lips.
She didn’t open her mouth immediately, eyes dropping to the tiny sugar stuck to his thumb.
He had teased her earlier; she hadn’t forgotten.
A sly smile curved her lips.
Suddenly, she leaned forward, gently taking the tiny sugar between her warm lips.
Lu Weidong stiffened as if struck by a tiny electric shock, from his fingertip all the way to his spine.
His ears burned crimson.
And it wasn’t over.
Her lips brushed over his thumb, tongue swirling to pull the sugar away.
Lu Weidong froze, breath quickening.
His eyes darkened, and he leaned forward suddenly.
Ye Wenxi, however, slid aside like an eel, avoiding him.
She deftly opened the door, looked back at him with a victorious, mischievous grin.
She shook the passbook in her hand, voice light: “I’m going to buy something now.”
Click—the door closed.
Lu Weidong stood frozen, hand that she had touched tightening instinctively, then relaxing.
His fingertips seemed to still remember that soft, moist touch.
He stared at the closed door for a long moment, then slowly smiled, helplessly.
“This girl…”
If you want, I can also make a shorter, snappier version that keeps the playful tension and flirty humor but reads faster in English.
Do you want me to do that?