Gu Shaoyuan’s arm fell around the waist of the girl in his embrace. Her waist was slender, easily encircled by a light grip.
She was also light, lighter than the weights he usually carried during training. His large hand unconsciously stroked her waist.
He had never felt such delicate softness before.
Qiao Yu was startled, instinctively wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
“What are you doing?”
Gu Shaoyuan carried her straight into the room. Hearing her question, he suddenly felt the urge to tease her.
“You’re my wife now. What do you think I’m going to do?”
Qiao Yu’s face flushed instantly. This man certainly spoke boldly after drinking.
Held in his arms like this, she could clearly feel the firm muscles of his chest, solid and unyielding.
Although she admired his physique, it didn’t mean they could get intimate tonight.
“Put me down.”
“No.” Gu Shaoyuan insisted, his voice low and husky. “I’m not drunk. I’m just carrying you back to the room.”
Back when he lived in the military barracks, he’d heard his comrades exchange suggestive, blush-inducing remarks. At the time, he paid them no mind.
Now, with this delicate beauty in his arms, he couldn’t help but admit his self-control was truly lacking.
Gu Shaoyuan carried her steadily back to the room and placed her on the bed.
Qiao Yu instinctively scooted backward, only to see the man crouch down and gently grasp her foot.
“?!”
Gu Shaoyuan lowered his head, helped her take off her small leather shoes, and slipped on a pair of comfortable slippers.
So he was just helping her change into slippers? Qiao Yu breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Just moments ago, indecent thoughts had uncontrollably flooded her mind, and she couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild.
She was even thinking that with his robust build, if this were a novel, he’d probably last at least three or four hours.
After helping her change into slippers, Gu Shaoyuan looked up at her.
Under the glow of the kerosene lamp, her face was flushed, her skin as delicate as if dusted with gold powder.
He suddenly felt his throat grow dry.
Qiao Yu noticed his scorching hand still gripping her slender ankle and quickly pulled her foot back from his palm.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
Gu Shaoyuan’s palm felt empty, thinking she was rejecting him.
He began to wonder if he had been too hasty and frightened her.
His wife was a pampered young lady from Shanghai, raised in luxury since childhood. It was only natural she wasn’t used to his forceful actions yet.
But it didn’t matter. He would give her time to adjust gradually.
With only the two of them in the room on their wedding night, Qiao Yu caught a glimpse of the bright red quilt behind her out of the corner of her eye, and her face couldn’t help but flush.
“I… need to take a bath.”
Qiao Yu grabbed her nightgown and hurried into the bathroom.
Gu Shaoyuan watched her fleeing figure, a slight smile curling his lips, before heading to the courtyard sink to splash cold water on his face.
He needed to sober himself up.
…
Once inside the bathroom, Qiao Yu, unaccustomed to bathing there, entered her Spatial Dimension instead.
She stood before the bathroom mirror, gazing at her reflection—her eyes slightly upturned at the corners, cheeks flushed crimson, lips like cherries soaked in honey.
She looked utterly enchanting.
With her appearance as if she’d just been thoroughly cherished, who wouldn’t be captivated?
Not just Gu Shaoyuan—even she had fallen in love with herself.
Qiao Yu patted her pink-tinged cheeks to calm her emotions, quickly took a hot bath, and after finishing, didn’t forget to water the vegetables in her garden.
If only she could bring the seeds out of the Spatial Dimension. She still hadn’t decided what to plant in the areas Gu Shaoyuan had built for her in the yard.
Exiting the Spatial Dimension, Qiao Yu returned to her room.
Finding Gu Shaoyuan not in the room, she inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
After tidying up the yard, Gu Shaoyuan returned to the room and saw his wife sitting with her back to him at the dressing table, humming softly as she applied snowflake cream to her face.
His dark eyes flickered. She seemed so relaxed when alone, yet grew incredibly tense whenever she was with him.
Gu Shaoyuan began to wonder if he was too intimidating.
He was accustomed to maintaining a stern expression, and his subordinates and soldiers were all afraid of him. But when it came to Qiao Yu, he didn’t think he had been particularly severe, did he?
After applying the snowflake cream, Qiao Yu sensed an intense gaze from behind and turned around to look.
Her eyes met Gu Shaoyuan’s deep, slightly probing gaze.
Gu Shaoyuan pursed his lips and said something contrary to his true feelings, “I reek of alcohol. I’ll sleep in the small room tonight. You should rest early.”
Qiao Yu blinked. Was he not planning to sleep with her tonight?
“Should I help you tidy up then?”
Gu Shaoyuan felt as if he could hear his heart breaking. She really had no intention of asking him to stay.
“No need. You’ve had a long day too. Get some rest early.”
He knew his wife was somewhat particular about cleanliness. Having drunk tonight, he wasn’t sure if the smell of alcohol would wash off completely, and he was afraid Qiao Yu might find him unpleasant.
Qiao Yu nodded obediently, “Alright.”
Seeing Qiao Yu obediently sit on the bed, the bright red quilt beneath her making her skin appear even fairer and more delicate, Gu Shaoyuan stole a few more glances before closing the bedroom door.
There were two rooms on the first floor. Qiao Yu occupied the main bedroom, so Gu Shaoyuan had no choice but to take the quilt to the small room.
Standing at 190 cm tall, he curled his legs slightly, barely fitting onto the small bed.
…
Surprisingly, Qiao Yu didn’t sleep in the Spatial Dimension that night. Gu Shaoyuan must have padded cotton under the mattress.
It felt soft and quite comfortable to sleep on.
Gu Shaoyuan might seem like a straightforward man, but he was actually quite considerate.
At the break of dawn, Qiao Yu walked to the bathroom yawning. She instinctively pushed the door open to wash up, only to be met with the sight of well-defined, sculpted abdominal muscles.
Her eyes widened instantly, and her mind cleared considerably.
Wow, such perfect muscles!
Qiao Yu’s gaze trailed down along his firm, well-defined muscles, just as it was about to reach the critical area.
The man suddenly blocked it with a towel.
Gu Shaoyuan had been restless all night, unable to sleep after being stirred by Qiao Yu’s presence.
Early in the morning, he decided to take a cold shower.
Halfway through, he realized the bathroom door had been opened by his still-groggy, just-awakened wife.
Completely naked, Gu Shaoyuan’s eyes darkened as he quickly covered his important parts with the towel.
His wife seemed unaware of what shyness meant—her moist, almond-shaped eyes were still fixed intently on his thighs.
“Ahem!”
Gu Shaoyuan’s ears flushed red, and he couldn’t help but clear his throat to remind Qiao Yu.
Snapping back to reality, Qiao Yu met Gu Shaoyuan’s deep gaze. As their eyes locked, she suddenly covered her own eyes.
“Sorry, I saw everything.”
Except for the critical area, she had indeed seen him completely exposed.
Hearing her words, Gu Shaoyuan couldn’t suppress a low chuckle from escaping his throat.
What did it matter? They were legally married now. If his wife wanted to look, she was free to do so.
Qiao Yu’s heart pounded wildly, not daring to look any longer. She quickly closed the door for him.
Such an intense start to the morning was more than she could handle.
Qiao Yu went to the courtyard to wash up, calmed her emotions, and then entered the kitchen.
Looking at the stove and the cornmeal stored in the cabinet, she suddenly had no idea where to begin.
She wasn’t from this era, so naturally, she didn’t know how to light a fire or cook.
Gu Shaoyuan came out after bathing and saw his wife standing motionless in front of the stove, seemingly studying how to use it.
He walked over and asked gently, “What would you like to eat? I’ll make it.”