That strange, overwhelming energy surged and crashed through his body, leaving him restless and unable to settle.
Chen Jinsheng gradually grew tormented and on edge.
It felt unbearable!
He ached to do something — anything — to release all this pent-up force!
Unconsciously, he pulled You Sanmei tighter against him, his palm pressing against her lower waist shifting from gentle to possessive.
Taken by surprise, You Sanmei winced, her voice soft and breathless: “Jinsheng… you’re hurting me…”
A roar seemed to go off in Chen Jinsheng’s mind. He bowed his head abruptly and kissed her fiercely, almost ravenously.
“Mm!”
This kiss was nothing like her earlier teasing — hungry, claiming, all-consuming. You Sanmei instantly went limp against his chest, all strength drained away.
“Jin— Jinsheng! Stop—”
She tried to pull back, to catch her breath, but before she could finish her plea, he claimed her lips again.
His arms, though not bulky, were solid as reinforced concrete, burning hot like a furnace stoked to bursting. He held her so tightly there was not a sliver of space to be found — arms wrapped around her body, his hands clamped to her waist.
Overwhelmed, You Sanmei resorted to what she’d done before: she bit down hard on his soft lower lip with every last bit of strength she had left.
“Ah!”
Chen Jinsheng jerked back at once, his eyes burning bright red.
You Sanmei slumped against him, her usually pale skin flushed a deep, rosy shade. She gasped for air, her breaths ragged and uneven.
Seeing her like this, reason finally returned to him. “I’m sorry — I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…” he stammered, filled with remorse and embarrassment.
“Wife? Are you alright?”
He’d used that name — one he hadn’t called her since their wedding night.
Tears pricked at You Sanmei’s eyes, and her heart gave a sudden, hard thud at the sound of it. She smiled, trembling faintly.
She lifted her warm, damp hand and pinched his cheek gently. “I’m… I’m fine.”
“Just… nearly out of breath.”
“…But not as bad as choking on an egg.”
Chen Jinsheng: “…”
You Sanmei glanced at his lip. “It’s bleeding. Go wipe it off first.”
“Let me lie down for a bit.”
“…Right away! I’ll be right back!”
“Don’t move, alright? Promise me!”
Chen Jinsheng nodded vigorously, then carefully laid her flat on the kang before rushing out of the room.
The door had barely clicked shut when something crashed outside.
A loud thwack.
A broom, it sounded like.
Xu Linghua’s voice rang out immediately: “What happened?! Is Sanmei having another fit? Is she unwell?”
“No — nothing’s wrong!” Chen Jinsheng replied haltingly. “She’s fine — I’m just getting her a bowl of warm water.”
Just scolded by her mother-in-law, Ge Zhaodi quickly spoke up: “I’ll take it in for her!”
Chen Jinsheng snapped, his voice sharp with anger: “No! You’re not going near her!”
“Nearly killed her trying to feed her an egg — what if she chokes on the water too?”
“No one goes in! From now on, I’ll handle everything like this myself!”
Silence fell over Xu Linghua.
Normally, she would have chided him right away — Since you were little, when have you ever looked after anyone? What have you ever done right?
But now, they’d slipped up right in front of him — and he knew it.
Her expression hardening, she shot Ge Zhaodi a sharp, displeased look. “Don’t ever do anything so foolish again!”
With that, she turned and went back inside.
Ge Zhaodi felt wronged and humiliated — scolded by her mother-in-law, and snapped at by the brother-in-law everyone said was good-for-nothing. But they weren’t wrong: she’d acted foolishly today, and nearly caused a disaster.
Still…
She’d only meant well! Did she really deserve such harsh words?
She bit her lip and clenched her fists, her throat stinging with hurt. But she was proud — just as proud as Xu Linghua. She wouldn’t let anyone see her crying. Turning on her heel, she hurried out of the house.
She’d barely gone a few steps before she crashed straight into someone.
Thud!
“Ouch!”
Ge Zhaodi was already upset, and she was never one to back down. Even though it was clearly her fault, she snapped first: “Watch where you’re going! Do you have eyes or not?!”
She wiped her face quickly, desperate to hide how flustered she was.
“…Second Sister-in-law?”
The person she’d knocked down spoke hesitantly.
“Is that Sanmei’s second sister-in-law?”
Ge Zhaodi blinked and looked up. “Oh — it’s Lin Mei.”
Even though she knew her, she couldn’t bring herself to apologize. “Honestly, you ought to look where you’re stepping!” she grumbled, reaching down to help her up.
As she did, she spotted the basket spilled on the ground, filled with fresh vegetables. She bent down clumsily to pick them up one by one. “Been to the market, have you?”
Along with Yang Cuilian, she was the one who knew Lin Mei best besides You Sanmei — and she’d always thought well of her. Lin Mei was open and straightforward, nothing like You Sanmei, who’d always stammered and could barely get a few words out without shaking.
Lin Mei noticed her mood at once. She smiled gently and took the basket from her. “It’s quite alright, Second Sister-in-law — I can manage.”
“…But you — what’s wrong? You should be more careful. It’s easy to get distracted when something’s weighing on your mind.”
“Bumping into someone’s one thing — but what if you walked right into one of those farm carts? That would be dangerous!”
“Who says I’ve got something on my mind?! I’m perfectly fine!” Ge Zhaodi’s face flushed.
Lin Mei nodded in easy agreement. “Of course you are — you’re always so brisk and capable! Probably just worn out from all your work. Come — let’s sit in the shade for a moment.”
“I don’t need—”
“Ah!”
Before she could finish, Lin Mei had gently steered her under the shade of a tree. Once they’d stopped, she sighed softly. “It can’t be easy, running the household, looking after the children… and now having to care for Sanmei too, poor thing, always so unwell…”
“I’m sure you’re just tired — overworked, that’s all.”
Ge Zhaodi stiffened, and tears pricked her eyes again.
Lin Mei saw it and felt a quiet surge of satisfaction. She took Ge Zhaodi’s hand. “I know how it is. Sanmei and I grew up together — of course I know.”
“She was always weaker than the other children. Even before anyone knew what was wrong, she’d work slower, and get breathless so easily… as her friend, I always had to look out for her. It can be tiring, you know.”
“So I truly do understand what you’re going through.”
“…Then why do you do it?” Ge Zhaodi asked, her voice thick with confusion. “Why stay friends with her? All these years — what do you get out of it?”
Lin Mei was taken aback for a moment.
“I’m her sister-in-law — I have no choice,” Ge Zhaodi went on simply. “We’re family. Even if I didn’t want to, I have a duty to look after her. But you’re not family. You don’t owe her anything. Why go to all that trouble? Are you just… looking for something to complain about?”
Lin Mei: “…”
Oh dear. This conversation wasn’t going at all how she’d planned.