After another ten minutes or so, You Sanmei felt much better.
It was getting late. Afraid that someone might see the light still on in their room and come over to ask questions, Chen Jinsheng sat by the heated kang and lit a kerosene lamp.
A makeshift bed on the floor had already been set up.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, head bowed low, crunching loudly into an apple.
It was the apple Second Sister-in-law had given You Sanmei—one he’d snatched away earlier.
Every crunch sent a chill down You Sanmei’s spine, though she knew full well why he was acting this way.
Still, she didn’t press him further. She was terrified that if she kept pushing, this “Black Dog Chen” might snap and take her right then and there, leaving her completely drained.
She couldn’t help shivering.
Suddenly, Chen Jinsheng mumbled gruffly, “Is it sweet?”
“…Yes!” You Sanmei answered at once. “Very sweet!”
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Hmph—told you mine would be sweeter than hers!”
“Lucky you didn’t eat this one. It’s so sour it makes my teeth ache.”
You Sanmei’s eyes crinkled as she played along perfectly. “Oh, you’re right! I can’t handle anything too sour at night—it upsets my stomach when I sleep.”
“Finished eating? Then get some rest before you start feeling sick again.”
Chen Jinsheng darted a quick glance at her, that restless, prickly feeling rising up inside him once more.
He mumbled indistinctly, “Leave the core on the table. I’ll dump the basin of water first thing tomorrow morning.”
“It’s too late—don’t go out now.”
He’d fetched a basin of water specially just now, and they’d both washed up quickly.
“Right, right.” You Sanmei set the apple core down on the table at once, then lay down on the kang as if she couldn’t wait another second.
“Time to sleep. I’m exhausted.”
Her lie rang hollow even to her own ears. Flustered, she pulled the quilt up and tucked it carefully around her stomach.
“Mm.” Chen Jinsheng replied, then quickly blew out the lamp.
Silence fell over the room instantly, broken only by the intermittent chirping of cicadas outside.
Summer had only just begun, so there weren’t many of them yet—their calls came in scattered bursts, drifting in waves.
You Sanmei had slept so much during the day; there was no way she’d be sleepy so soon. Her eyes darted back and forth beneath her eyelids, and her mind began to wander.
She told herself she couldn’t rush things with Chen Jinsheng—she’d have to dole out affection and rewards little by little, to keep him hooked, to make him learn to listen to her.
Then she thought of the rest of his family.
And the terrible deaths they’d all suffered in her past life.
Finally, her thoughts settled on Lin Mei.
Her long eyelashes fluttered sharply, and she clenched her fists tight.
If she remembered right, Lin Mei was planning to come over for a visit tomorrow.
She’d no doubt spend the whole time bragging, dropping hints, and whispering poison in her ear—trying to make her fear and resent the Chen family more and more.
Hah.
You Sanmei slowly uncurled her fingers, her resolve hardening.
Lin Mei—this life, I will never let you have it easy.
You hate seeing me do better than you, don’t you?
Then I’ll make sure you watch me thrive day after day. This family will grow stronger, happier, and more united than ever!
I’ll make you seethe with jealousy until it eats you alive!
No—that’s not enough.
She rolled over, her breathing quickening.
If you can whisper lies, so can I.
I’ll pay you back for every cruel word you ever slipped into my heart, every jab you pretended was innocent.
I’ll tear away every mask you all hide behind.
You and Li Heng—two snakes in the grass, made for each other—will get exactly what you deserve.
I hope you tear each other apart, drive your homes to ruin, burn through every bit of pride and power you have left.
And in the end… may you be hunted down and killed by the very debtors you’ve cheated, or sold off to the lowest depths!
“…Asleep?”
Chen Jinsheng’s throat felt dry and parched. He’d just reached for a drink when he heard her shift, her breathing heavier than before.
You Sanmei froze for a split second, then squeezed her eyes shut and mumbled softly, “Mm… the apple… Jinsheng’s apple is so sweet… heh…”
Chen Jinsheng blinked in surprise, then inched carefully toward the table. “Tch—since when do you talk in your sleep?”
A faint, smug grin tugged at his face in the dark. He shifted awkwardly, rubbing his nose. “Look at you—over an apple? Is it really that good?”
“Can’t even sleep without thinking about it.”
Reaching the table, he stretched out his arm, grabbed his enamel mug, and chugged down half a mug of cold water in one go.
But the heat coiling deep inside him didn’t fade one bit.
Dammit! This is driving me crazy!
His chest heaved violently. For a moment, he lifted the mug high—only to set it down with agonizing gentleness, as if afraid of breaking it.
And now he felt even more restless, more on edge.
Too tired to shift positions, he lay down right where he was, eyes wide open, wide awake.
He stared hard at the ceiling, his thoughts running wild.
Did she really mean what she said earlier?
Or was I just imagining things?
No—no way!
He shook his head, his hand drifting unconsciously to the arm she’d clung to earlier.
He was wearing a sleeveless undershirt, his arms bare.
When You Sanmei had wrapped her arms around him and pressed close, he’d felt it instantly.
Warm… soft…
Slap!
Before he could stop himself, he smacked his own face hard with his other hand.
The blow left him dazed—and suddenly clear-headed.
No. Stop thinking like that. She’s still so weak—she can barely walk without gasping for air.
Her life comes first. If anything happens to her… I lose her forever.
He shifted restlessly, stretching out his limbs and closing his eyes.
A moment later, his eyes snapped open again.
Wait—she hugged me!
She’d hugged him earlier that day too—tight, when she’d thanked him.
Neither time had she seemed uncomfortable.
Why couldn’t she hold him just a little longer? A hug… maybe a kiss or two…
His eyes half-lidded, he ran his tongue over his lips unconsciously.
Her lips were so small—he could cover them completely with his own.
On their wedding night, he’d kissed her too suddenly, and scared her. She’d dug her fingers into his arm and nipped his lip.
It had stung…
And it had felt so good.
No! Stop!
His resolve crumbled to dust.
If I keep thinking like this, I won’t be able to hold back!
He dropped flat onto the floor mattress, lying perfectly still for a few seconds.
Then he suddenly pushed himself up—
Up and down. Up and down.
Grunting softly, he started doing push-ups, one after another.
You Sanmei, who hadn’t dared move an inch this whole time, swallowed hard, trembling with fear. She pulled the quilt up over her ears, too scared to even breathe too loudly.
He’s completely lost control…
He’s burning up with pent-up desire!